Pastimes vary This class is about “Pastimes vary”. “Pastimes vary” is part of Lesson-5, of Unit-2 (Pastimes) of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today of SSC. That means the “Pastimes vary” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Pastimes vary

 

A. Read the conversation. What is it about? Do you agree or disagree? : 

Tiya: Anusha, I really wonder how pastimes vary from generation to generation.
Anusha: Oh yes. I can tell you how.

Tiya: Although I don’t know exactly, I think time is a big factor.

 

 

Anusha You are right. Time changes many things. It changes our tastes and abilities. Technology has roles too. Look, there was a time when playing in the fields was very popular because we had many open fields around. Going to neighbors’ houses and hanging out in groups were popular pastimes as well.

You won’t see these activities now. The process of urbanization, the aggression of satellite television, and people’s dependence on technology have changed our lifestyle. Now boys and girls in urban and semi-urban areas are more dependent on the computer for social networking, video games, or computer-assisted programs.

Tiya: Right. But how do you know all these things, Anusha?

Anusha: Oh…I read an interesting article on people’s changing pastimes. It analyses the issue through a graph. Here it is. Read it, and I’m sure you will enjoy it.

 

B. Read the article. Underline the words/expressions used in the article to show the changes in the data. The first one is done for you in the text.

        (গ্রাফ চার্ট আছে……)

 

There is a change in people’s preferences for pastimes. A recent survey shows that during the last twenty years, teenagers have gone through significant changes in choosing their pastimes. The survey results are presented through a graph which shows that there is a steady rise in young people’s tendency to watch TV. In 1990, 41% of teenagers liked watching TV which increased to 48% in the next ten years and it further increased to 52% in the next decade.

Unfortunately, the picture is grim in terms of young people’s attraction to field games and sports. While 50% of youngsters opted for games and sports in the 1990s, the figure was 12% less after a decade at 38%. Unfortunately, the falling tendency persisted through the next ten years, and by 2010 it came down to 25%. Though young people have dissociated themselves noticeably from games and sports, there is a sharp and steady rise in their association with online or computer-assisted programs.

 

 

 

In 1990 when the users of online or computer for pastimes were only 9%, in 2000 the number nearly doubled and reached 14%, and with a rapid increase in the next ten years it shot up to 23%.

The survey also explains the reasons for this change. It says that television has become a part of everyday life even for the underprivileged section of society. This has resulted in a larger number of young people opting for watching TV as one of the most favorite pastimes. The increasing urbanization has reduced the number of open fields.

Therefore, there is a fall in selecting games and sports as favorite pastimes, though it’s not good news for the country. The reason for selecting computer-assisted or online programs is that computer technology is getting cheaper, easier, and more popular every day. Indeed, our young generations are stepping into the e-world.

 

C. Now work in groups and analyze the following graph.

Elderly people’s changing attitude to pastimes in a community

………………………..(গ্রাফ চার্ট আছে……)

 

 

Details about Pastimes vary – English Grammar :

 

Change in pastimes in Bangladesh This class is about “Change in pastimes in Bangladesh”. “Change in pastimes in Bangladesh” is part of Lesson-4, of Unit-2 (Pastimes) of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today of SSC. That means the “Pastimes vary” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Change in pastimes in Bangladesh

 

A. Tiya and Anusha decided to make a survey on students’ pastimes in their classes. After the survey, they presented their findings in a chart. Look at the chart and read how they explain their findings.

 

 

Tiya: Hello everyone! My name is Tiya. My friend, Anusha, and I are going to do a presentation on Pastime Habits of Classes 9 and 10 students in our school. There are 120 students, 60 in class 9 and 60 in class 10. The classes have gender equity. Each class has 30 male and 30 female students. The survey shows that 22.3 percent of students in classes 9-10 like games and sports as their favorite pastime, which is the 4th option given by classes 5-6 students.

Watching television is the second choice (17.2%) by the first group in contrast to 31.2% of the second group. It is noteworthy that watching television is the first choice of the second group. A considerable number (13.7%) of 9-10 students like to chat with their friends and thus it becomes the third popular choice in the chart while this becomes one of the less important choices by the younger kids. Only 6.7% of the kids take it as their first priority.

It’s interesting that both groups like reading books. 12.9% of students in classes 9-10 take it as their favorite pastime. The number is 11.7% for Classes 5-6 students. Besides, gardening is voted (10.7% of students) to be the 5th preference by the grown-up group though it is not that much liked by the younger group. Only 6.1% of the young kids are involved in it.

This is interesting that though a higher number of students in classes 9-10 prefer attending social programs (9.1%) than students of classes 5-6 (7.8%), as a choice it is preferred by the latter group. It is the 5th choice for them while to the older group, it is the 6th.

Young kids have a greater fascination for playing games on the computers (20.9% like it as their first choice). The chart shows that as the kids grow up, they lose their passion for computer games. According to the chart, the ratio declines to 8.2% from 20.9% when the kids are students of classes 9-10. Finally, it can be said that the influence of television has an impact on both groups but the more students grow up, the more they opt for fields/gyms.

 

 

Questions:
1. What are the gender policy of the surveyors?
2. What are the survey findings regarding watching television?

3. Which age group is more interested in socializing with others?
4.  According to the chart, how do the kids change their pastimes when they are grown up? What changes does the chart for 9-10 reflect?

 

B. Work in groups. Make a chart on the pastimes of the students in your class and present it to your class.

 

 

Details about Change in pastimes in Bangladesh – English Grammar :

 

Change In Pastime – Pastimes of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today of SSC. That means the “Pastimes vary” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Change In Pastime – Pastimes

 

A. Read the text.
Childhood outdoor pastimes ‘in decline’ Traditional childhood pastimes of climbing trees and playing conkers are in decline, according to a survey by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It’s a charitable organization registered in England and Wales. The survey shows that people under 34 recall far fewer such childhood outdoor experiences than people over 55, according to a survey by RSPB.

 

 

People were asked which of the twelve childhood outdoor experiences they could remember. The answers included making dens, daisy chains, climbing trees, playing conkers, and feeding birds. Four out of five boys climbed trees and the same number of girls made daisy chains. However, the survey showed the numbers declining among the newer generations. Some 15% more of those aged over 55 had these outdoor experiences in their childhood, compared with those between 15-34 years old. Some 92% of the public agreed that experiences of nature were still important to children, and 82% agreed that schools should play a role in providing them to all children.

The survey has highlighted the positive impact of contact with nature on a child’s education, health, well-being, and social skills. At the same time, there has been a decline in these RSPB opportunities, with negative consequences for children, families, and society conditions now known as nature deficit disorder.

Mike Clarke, chief executive of the RSPB, will meet parliament members to urge the government to join other organizations in providing children with first-hand experiences of the natural environment. . . . “We believe this guidance should include the many positive impacts to children of having contact with nature and learning outside the classroom.”

 

B Read the following words and write their meanings as you understand them from the context. If you don’t understand, check the words from a dictionary.
Conkers…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Dens……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Decline…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Highlight…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Impact……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Consequence……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disorder…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Urge………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

 

C. Read the following statement taken from the text in A and say what the subject of comparison is. Find out the other comparison in the text above.

People under 34 recall fewer such childhood outdoor experiences than people over 55, according to the survey by Ipsos Mori for RSPB.

D.  Do you agree that if children have more contact with nature, they may have a positive impact on them? Make a list of the benefits or harms they may have if taken to nature frequently.

 

E. Speak to the senior citizens in your home or community. Ask them about their pastime activities and take notes on them. Then write a paragraph in the style of the text given in Section A to show the differences. Also, mention why these differences have taken place.

 

 

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Reading really helps ! – Pastimes This class is about “Reading really helps!”. “Reading really helps!” is part of Lesson-2, of Unit-2 (Pastimes) of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today of SSC. That means the “Pastimes vary” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Reading really helps ! – Pastimes

 

1. Read the conversation and tell what Anusha is going to read.

Anusha: Tiya, hope you enjoyed the article on yoga.

Tiya: Yes, it’s great. By the way, Anusha, how did you enjoy the London Olympics as a sports lover?

Anusha: People rightly say that it is the greatest show on earth. I’m still thrilled to

remember what Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt have shown. Amazing!

Tiya: Right you are. They are incredible. However, I’ve got an interesting article on the net on Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. You might like it and take part in the debate on who is better between these two greats. Please read it.

 

 

Anusha: Ahh… Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt! Thank you Tiya! I would love to read it.

Read the text and answer the following questions.

Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt are great, but who’s better?

With the curtains closing on the 2012 London Olympics, it’s impossible not to look back and reflect on the greatest performances by Olympic athletes.

The Olympics have many memorable moments and athletes we’ll remember by name alone. The list is quite big. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt are the latest additions to this list of the best. They make the London Olympics stand apart. If there is any question like this: “What is the standout performance of London 2012?, perhaps the answer is ” The London Games gave us Michael Phelps vs. Usain. Bolt.” The first one

is an already decorated Olympian, who puts the finishing touches on his great athletic careers And another comes up with a new definition of fast. Two of the most popular Olympic sports, sprinting, and swimming, saw their two biggest stars and captivated, audiences. They’d also dominated the 2008 Beijing Games, but Phelps and Bolt cemented their legacies in London. Phelps, the American swimmer, passed gymnast Larissa Latynia for the most Olympic medals ever.

Bolt was the third man to repeat as a 100-meter gold medalist and the first as a 200-meter gold medalist, and he broke his own Olympic record by running the 100 in 9.63 seconds. Once Phelps and Bolt were back in their pool and track, the storylines changed.

Phelps is the most decorated Olympian ever, with 22 overall medals: 18 gold, two silver, and two bronze. Bolt is the most accomplished Olympic sprinter, with an unprecedented double, making clear that he’s the fastest man in the world.

 

 

But there’s a debate: Who had the better Olympics? It’d be tough to top Phelps’ eight gold medals in Beijing, but what if we’re only talking London?

London was Phelps’ grand finale. He won four golds and two silvers in seven events, and he says he’ll never race again.

London was Bolt’s chance to prove he’s still the greatest. Bolt won six gold medals in six Olympic finals. He is the first man ever in the history of the modern Games to sweep the 100 and 200 in back-to-back Olympics. Not to mention the addition of back-to-back relay golds.

And Bolt became a legend, in his own words. Phelps already was. Bolt is just 25 years old, so there is no telling how long he can be on top of the sprinting world. What if he decides to “retire” from sprinting to focus on the 400 meters, just to break another world record or two? It would be amazing- and entirely plausible for him to accomplish.

Who had the better 2012 Games? You tell. us, let the debate begin.

 

Questions

1. What makes the London Olympics 2012 exceptionally sensational?
2. How are Phelps and Bolt brilliantly similar and different?
3. Between these two Olympians who has bagged the highest honour within the same time frame?
4. What is special in Bolt so far?
5. flow does Bolt evaluate himself?

 

 

Details about Reading really helps ! – Pastimes – English Grammar :

Responsibilities Good Citizens This class is about “Responsibilities”. “Responsibilities” is part of Lesson-4, of Unit-1 (Good Citizens) of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today of SSC. That means “Responsibilities” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Responsibilities Good Citizens

 

A. Read the text.

Rony’s mother gave him 50 taka to buy salt and chillies. On his way to the market, Rony found a poor passer-by trying to hold a boy up, who was lying on the road, groaning. Coming near, Rony saw that it was his classmate Tanim, who was hit by a speeding motorbike. Immediately he stopped a baby taxi and took Tanim to a clinic. From there he phoned Tanim’s parents. When they came to the clinic, Rony returned home without the salt and chillies. He had used the money to pay the taxi driver.

 

 

Now discuss in groups the following questions.

1. Did Rony do right or wrong? Why?

2. What do you think his mother did when Rony returned home without the salt and chillies?

3. What else could Rony do in the situation?

4. What do you understand by responsibility?

 

B. Read the text and answer the following question: What is responsibility?

A responsibility is a duty or an obligation TO DO something. For example, you have the responsibility to attend school and pursue your studies properly, to take care of your parents in their old age, and so on. You also have a responsibility to your society and the government, e.g. to help a neighbour in trouble or to cast your vote if you are 18 or over.

A responsibility is also an obligation or a duty NOT TO DO something. For example, you have the responsibility not to steal a book from a public library or not to pile up your building materials on the footpath. These are your responsibilities as citizens. But there are responsibilities of the government as well. Our government has the responsibility to provide for its citizens “the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care”1.

 

 

 

The government also has the responsibility to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens which include freedom of speech and expression, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, equality of all before law etc.

The knowledge, skills and attitudes you have gained at home, at school and in society will help you to be aware of your responsibilities and to carry them out effectively. Remember, discharging your responsibilities will be good for you, good for your family and friends, and good for your society and country as a whole.

Notes

1 The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Part II.

2 Part m, ibid (Ibid: abbreviation from Latin ibidem which means in the same book or piece of writing as the one that has just been mentioned.)

 

 

Details about Responsibilities Good Citizens – English Grammar :

 

 

Knowledge, Skill and Attitudes – Good Citizens This class is about “Knowledge, skill and attitudes”. “Knowledge, skill and attitudes” is part of Lesson-2, of Unit-1 (Good Citizens) of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today at SSC. That means the “Knowledge, skill and attitudes” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Knowledge, Skill and Attitudes – Good Citizens

 

1. Discuss in groups the possible answers to the following question. Then read the text in B and answer the questions.

What else do you need in addition to food, shelter, and company to become a good citizen?

 

 

1. Read the text.

To be a good citizen, you have to prepare yourself to do good work in society. Well, then how can you prepare yourself?

First, you need knowledge. Today’s society is knowledge-based. Without having modern sciences, technologies including ICT and other necessary subjects, you will have difficulty living a good life.

The other areas you, as a good citizen, should have knowledge about are:

our country, its constitution, geography, and people

our state, its executive and legislative powers

our judicial system

our government and its structures and functions

our history, cultures, traditions, literature, moral values, and religions

our socio-economic activities and educational system

Second, you need skills to do things. Knowledge is not enough. You must be able to apply your knowledge to do things practically.

Finally, knowing and doing things will bring about a change in your behavior towards others. This behavioral change will show your attitudes towards others, that is, it will show how you think and feel about a person or thing.

Let’s take an example. Suppose you, as a student, need to know about `group work’ in the classroom. So you ask yourself or your teacher or anybody, “What is group work?” Or you may find out about it in a book. In this way, you can know, or you may have the knowledge, about group work: To do group work. the class has to be divided into groups.

Each group is to do some tasks given by the teacher or in the textbook. The group members will discuss and share ideas and points, and finally, one member will write the answer. All this is knowledge about group work.

Then you start working in groups. In each group, you take turns discussing points, answering questions, etc. In this way, you actually do the task. Your teacher may monitor and help you to do the work.

 

 

Lastly, through regular group work, it is expected that there will be noticeable changes in your behavior. Possible changes are:

You will develop the attitude of freely mixing and talking with your classmates and teacher.

Your shyness will gradually disappear.

You will develop the attitude of helping and cooperating with each other.

You will learn to behave in a democratic way.

Most importantly, these behavioral changes taking place in you inside the classroom will be carried over outside the classroom, in real-life situations.

1. Suppose you have learned at school how to make your drinking water safe & when and how much you should drink it in a day. Now write what changes the knowledge and skills from this lesson can bring about in your behavior.

1. Read the text below. Then discuss with your partner and write K (if the text is knowledge-based) S (if the text is skill-based) or A (if the text refers to attitude) against each text.

1. Abraham Lincoln, a former president of the United States, advocated a “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people” This means that the people have the right to control their government.
2. Two students are making a kite with colored paper, sticks, glue, and string.
3. Tisha’s room was always messy. She could not find things easily. Recently she visited her cousin Ritu in Chittagong. She saw that Ritu’s room was very neat and tidy. Everything was exactly in its place. Ritu could instantly find what she wanted. After getting back home, Tisha spent a whole weekend making her room well organized.
4. “It is the duty of every citizen to observe the constitution and laws to maintain discipline, to perform public duties and to protect public properties.” (The Constitution of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh)
5. Students in pairs are acting out a dialogue in a class.
6. Mouli is back from school. She is very hungry and looks exhausted. “What’s wrong, Mouli?” asks her mother anxiously. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m OK. I just didn’t have my tiffine today.” “But why?” “Our peon died this morning. With other students, I gave my tiffin money to the widow.”
7. The students of the physical education class are practicing stretching exercises in the schoolyard.
8. The affairs of Dhaka City were run by the Dhaka Municipality until 1978 when the city came under the Dhaka City Corporation.

 

 

Details about Knowledge, Skill & Attitudes – Good Citizens – English Grammar :

 

Can you live alone? – Good Citizens This class is about “Can you live alone?”. “Can you live alone?” is part of Lesson-1, of Unit-1 (Good Citizens) of SSC English 1st Paper. This book is a lesson of English Today at SSC. That means “Can you live alone?” class is useful for students of Class 9 and Class 10.

 

Can you live alone? – Good Citizens

 

Learning outcomes

After we have studied the unit, we will be able to

narrate incidents.

participate in discussions,

listen, and understand others.

describe something in writing.

 

 

Lesson 1: Can you live alone?

 

1. Look at the pictures and discuss in pairs the following questions.
2. Can you live alone in a house?
3. Make a list of the problems you think you will have if you live alone in a house, e.g. having accidents, cooking, etc.

 

1. Read the story and answer the questions that follow

Long ago, a young man who lived in a village, found his life full of problems and suffering. Quarrels, ill feelings, jealousy, enmity – all were part of everyday life there.

So he left his house and went to a jungle to live by himself. There he made a nice little hut with wood, bamboo, and reeds. “Ah, how happy I am here!” said the man to himself.

But one day he found some mice in his hut. The little creatures soon made holes in his blanket. So he brought a cat to kill the mice. The cat needed milk. So he brought a cow. The cow needed grass and hay. So he brought a cowboy.

The cowboy needed food. So he took a wife to cook meals. Then children were born to them, and the man found himself again in a family.

 

 

So nobody can live alone unless that person is either angles or a devil. People need food, shelter, companions, and cooperation. They need to help each other. And if they live in a family or community, their need can be fulfilled. Hence living in society can make people good and happy citizens.

1. Close your book and answer the question. What five things did the young man do in the jungle? Now divide into groups of five. Tell the story to the groups sequentially.

2. Answer the following questions. First, discuss in pairs, then write the answers individually.

1. Why did the young man leave his house?
2. Where did he make a hut? What did he make the hut with?
3. Was the man happy in his hut?
4. How did he find himself again in a family?
5. Where and how can a person be happy?
6. What is the moral of the story?

1. Look at the pictures (a—j). Read the following texts (1—10). Match the pictures with the texts. Write the numbers of the texts next to a, b, c, etc. The first one is done for you.

 

 

Details about Can you live alone? – Good Citizens – English Grammar :

Do you have any favorite pastime? This video contains the lesson “Have you any favorite pastime?”. Have you any favorite pastime? is the lesson on unit 2, lesson 1 of SSC Class 9 10 English First Paper.

 

Do you have any favorite pastime ?

 

Learning outcomes

After we have studied the unit, we will be able to

narrate incidents and events in a logical sequence.

participate in conversations, discussions, and debates.

read maps, charts, graphs, etc.

 

 

Look at the pictures. What are the people doing here? When do people do these kinds of work?

B. Read the dialogue and answer the questions.

 

Tiya : Anusha, what happens? You’ve sports trousers, T-shirts, sports

shoes, and a carry bag! Where are you coming from? And you look tired!

Anusha: Not exactly, Tiya. I’m great because I’m just from the gym.

Tiya: Do you go to the gym regularly?

Anusha: Yes, I do. I go twice a week. It’s one of my favorite pastimes.

Tiya: Really! Going to the gym is your favorite pastime! You make me

laugh!

Anusha: Why not? I like sports because I like to be fit. I’m not a

lazy person like you!

Tiya: What do you do there?

Anusha: I do yoga.

Tiya: Don’t you have any other pastimes?

Anusha: Hmm… yes, I have. I like playing chess, painting, and reading

books when I’m free. I also like photography but I’m yet to learn it. What do you do for pastime?

Tiya: I like watching TV, listening to music, reading books and

magazines, and playing games on the computer. I do like

gardening. But we don’t have sufficient space. So I do pot planting. By the way, I don’t know much about yoga. Would you please tell me about it?

Anusha: Sure! I’ll give an article on it. It will help you know about it. Okay?

 

 

Questions

1. Why does Anusha like going to the gym?
2. what are her pastimes?
3. Make a list of Tiya’s pastimes.
4. How will Tiya learn about yoga?

 

Read the following texts. Then check (√) the statements below:

Yoga: Tap into the many health benefits

Suppose your kids are demanding the latest video game, your boss wants that report done today by five, and your partner wants to know what’s for dinner tonight. Stress and anxiety are everywhere. In this situation, to keep fit as well as to give them the best you need to do something. And here comes yoga to help you.

Understanding yoga

Yoga is a kind of posture and breathing exercises. It brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peace of body and mind, helping you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Traditional yoga puts emphasis on behavior, diet, and meditation. But if you’re just looking for better stress management –and not an entire lifestyle change, yoga can still help. Yoga trainers gradually choose easier to complex activities for participation. However, all practitioners do not necessarily need the same kinds of practice.

The health benefits of yoga

The potential health benefits of yoga are numerous and may include.

Stress reduction. With its quiet, precise movement, yoga draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and towards calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.

Increased fitness. As you learn and refine new poses, you may enjoy improved balance, flexibility, range of motion, and strength. This means you’re less likely to injure yourself in other physical endeavors or in your daily activities.

Management of chronic health conditions.  Yoga might help with a variety of health conditions, such as cancer, depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia, fatigue, and mood. Yoga can also help reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

Weight loss. If you’re overweight or have an eating disorder, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to change control of your eating and drop those extra pounds.

While you should not expect yoga to cure you are offer you relief 100 percent, it can help some health conditions when combined with standard treatment. And if you already enjoy good health, yoga can be an enjoyable supplement to your regular fitness routine.

1. Work in pairs. Talk about these questions. Give your own opinions.
2. How does exercise work on our memory?
3. What other benefits can you think of from exercise?
4. What is the most important benefit of exercise to you and why?
5. Complete the sentences.
6. Yoga is a practice of [dash]
7. Traditional Yoga works through [dash]
8. Yoga is very effective in managing [dash]
9. Through the poses of balance and concentration Yoga [dash]
10. [dash] results in increased fitness.
11. Yoga can reduce or work for [dash]
12. Yoga can control [dash]
13. Yoga cannot cure 100 percent, but [dash]

 

 

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A Friend of the Earth This lesson is about “A Friend of the Earth” article of SSC English 1st Paper. A Friend of the Earth is a lesson of the unit “Climate Change”. A Friend of the Earth explains the issue of reusing and recycling resources. This article is part of Lesson 5, of Unit 5 (Climate Change) of English 1st Paper (English for Today) of Class 9 & Ten. This lesson also discusses the Question / Answer of A Friend of the Earth article.

 

A Friend of the Earth

 

Read the following text carefully to learn about how we can save our environment.

LET’S SAVE OUR PLANET!

Everyone must play a part in protecting the environment. There are many things you can do on your own every day to help save the planet. Here are some suggestions.

 

 

REDUCE!

Really, the best thing we can do for the planet is to use less of it. Our consumer society is mainly responsible for the environmental crisis. Here are some questions you can ask yourself before buying something, “Do I really need this?” or “Is there another product that would do the same thing but more sustainable?” Or ask the question, “Will this last a long time?” Some other questions may be, “Do I know how this item was made, how it will be used, and how it will be disposed of?”

 

REUSE!

What do you think of using your own ceramic cup or mug at your school or local club? It means there are no plastic cups to throw away. You can wash it and reuse it every day. Unfortunately, we are encouraged to buy a new “improved” item even if the one we have can be repaired or reused. When we buy things, we should buy items that are durable; we should use them properly, and have them repaired when necessary.

If we practise this, many things can not only last a lifetime, but also be passed on to future. However, If something is truly unusable for its original purposes, try to be more creative and think of how else it might be used. When you’re done with it, think of whether someone else might be able to use it. You can donate some of the things to the poor. You may also sell some of your used items through personal ads in a local newspaper.

 

 

RECYCLE!

Rather than throwing an item out when neither you nor anyone else can make use of it, have it recycled. And while recycling is not possible, it is better to send goods to a landfill or have them burned up. Find out what types of materials can be recycled in your area. Clean and sort the materials before putting them out in the bin. Recycling your drink and food cans means there will be less trash in a resource recovery facility or landfill. Moreover, a company can use the old cans to make new ones.

 

C. Now ask and answer these questions in pairs.

1. How can you cut down your shopping list?

2. What can you do to reuse things.

3. What kind of household goods, clothes and toys, can be donated?

4. How can you sell your used items?

5. How recycling may help save our environment?

 

D. Complete the blank spaces in table below.

To do this exercise, you will need information about recycling in your local community. If you don’t know, ask your teacher to help you learn what you can recycle from your home. Then choose one item from the box to talk about it following the model below.

A: What are you going to do with these old magazines?

B: I don’t know what to do with these.

A: Why don’t you reuse/recycle them?

B: How can I do that?

A: It’s easy. Take it to a shop that buys old newspapers and magazines for recycling.

 

Household items

glass bottles and jars, containers and toys, aluminum foils or trays, aerosol cans, box boards, magazines and catalogs, old CDs

 

 

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