American President Barack Obama has said the oil company British Petroleum (BP) is responsible for paying for cleaning up the huge oil spill off America’s southern coast. The oil slick has started washing up on beaches in Louisiana. Obama told reporters that BP "is ultimately responsible under the law for paying the costs of response and cleanup operations". US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called on BP to take urgent action to send resources to tackle the disaster. BP’s Chief Executive Tony Hayward is in the area to personally direct the emergency mop-up and damage limitation exercise. President Obama has also visited the area.
The catastrophe began last week when a BP offshore oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico. As much as 5,000 barrels of oil a day are now pouring into the sea. Experts believe it is on its way to becoming the worst oil spill in U.S. history; even worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. The spill could cause enormous environmental and economic damage to the southern U.S. states. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi have all called a state of emergency. One of the biggest problems is the difficulty of cleaning up the oil. The affected coastline is full of wetlands that are difficult to reach by boat. Hundreds of different species are under threat including very rare bird and marine life.
A.COMPREHENSION
1.Are the following statements true or false according to the text?
a.The U.S. president has said that the oil company BP is responsible for oil-spill cleanup costs.
b.The oil spill caused by the Bp’s offshore rig is worse than the Exxon Valdez catastrophe.
c.It was easy to reach the affected coastline areas by boat.
2.Answer the following questions according to the text .
a.How did the catastrophe begin?
b.What do experts believe about the catastrophe?
c.What negative effects could the oil spill cause?
B. TEXT EXPLORATION
1.Match each word with its corresponding similar meaning.
Word meaning
Clean up Catastrophe
Disaster Spill
Pour Endangered
Under threat Mop up
2.Complete sentence “b” so that it means the same as sentence “ a” :
1) a. The oil spills polluted the sea.
b.The sea…………………………………
2)a. Strict measures will be taken by the US government to stop environmental disasters.
b.The US government………………………
3. Complete the following situations using “should have / shouldn’t have” :
1. a. Some pupils threw rubbish in the classroom?
b: They ..............................................
2. a. You made a lot of noise yesterday ; I couldn’t sleep.
b: Sorry! I...........................................
4.Complete the following dialogue :
A..........................................................?
B. There are four types of pollution: water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution and noise pollution.
A...........................................................?
B.Water pollution affects rivers, seas and oceans.
A...........................................................?
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Topic 1 :You are the chief executive of the Bp company. After the catastrophe, you made a press release to apologise for the damage and promise reparation .Write this press release using the notes below and the future simple passive.
The problem of water pollution in America’s southern areas -solved / Beaches in Louisiana - clean / oil -recuperate / birds - wash out /marine life –restore ...etc
Topic 2: What solutions do you suggest to limit the negative impact of pollution on our environment? Use the following notes to write a short composition. (Limit Co2 emissions into the air/ plant more trees/ stop deforestation/ use clean energies/stop oil spills into seas and oceans/ preserve marine life…etc)
B.The main effect of this form of pollution is the death of fish .
The catastrophe began last week when a BP offshore oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico. As much as 5,000 barrels of oil a day are now pouring into the sea. Experts believe it is on its way to becoming the worst oil spill in U.S. history; even worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. The spill could cause enormous environmental and economic damage to the southern U.S. states. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi have all called a state of emergency. One of the biggest problems is the difficulty of cleaning up the oil. The affected coastline is full of wetlands that are difficult to reach by boat. Hundreds of different species are under threat including very rare bird and marine life.
A.COMPREHENSION
1.Are the following statements true or false according to the text?
a.The U.S. president has said that the oil company BP is responsible for oil-spill cleanup costs.
b.The oil spill caused by the Bp’s offshore rig is worse than the Exxon Valdez catastrophe.
c.It was easy to reach the affected coastline areas by boat.
2.Answer the following questions according to the text .
a.How did the catastrophe begin?
b.What do experts believe about the catastrophe?
c.What negative effects could the oil spill cause?
B. TEXT EXPLORATION
1.Match each word with its corresponding similar meaning.
Word meaning
Clean up Catastrophe
Disaster Spill
Pour Endangered
Under threat Mop up
2.Complete sentence “b” so that it means the same as sentence “ a” :
1) a. The oil spills polluted the sea.
b.The sea…………………………………
2)a. Strict measures will be taken by the US government to stop environmental disasters.
b.The US government………………………
3. Complete the following situations using “should have / shouldn’t have” :
1. a. Some pupils threw rubbish in the classroom?
b: They ..............................................
2. a. You made a lot of noise yesterday ; I couldn’t sleep.
b: Sorry! I...........................................
4.Complete the following dialogue :
A..........................................................?
B. There are four types of pollution: water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution and noise pollution.
A...........................................................?
B.Water pollution affects rivers, seas and oceans.
A...........................................................?
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Topic 1 :You are the chief executive of the Bp company. After the catastrophe, you made a press release to apologise for the damage and promise reparation .Write this press release using the notes below and the future simple passive.
The problem of water pollution in America’s southern areas -solved / Beaches in Louisiana - clean / oil -recuperate / birds - wash out /marine life –restore ...etc
Topic 2: What solutions do you suggest to limit the negative impact of pollution on our environment? Use the following notes to write a short composition. (Limit Co2 emissions into the air/ plant more trees/ stop deforestation/ use clean energies/stop oil spills into seas and oceans/ preserve marine life…etc)
B.The main effect of this form of pollution is the death of fish .