BreakingNewsEnglish - Many online quizzes at URL below

Most of world's rivers True / False

damaged by humans a) Humans have damaged over 85% of the
world's rivers. T / F
21st February, 2021 b) Researchers looked at data on more than
2,500 rivers. T / F
A new study shows that
86 per cent of the c) Scientists looked at biodiversity loss over the
world's rivers have past 2,000 years. T / F
been damaged by
d) Farming is one reason for the damage done to
human activity. The
rivers. T / F
study was conducted
by researchers from a e) The worst-hit rivers are those in South
university in Toulouse, America. T / F
France. They examined
f) The River Thames in London is now very
data on over 2,500
clean. T / F
rivers around the
world. They did not g) The rivers with the least damage are in Africa
look at rivers in the polar regions of the Arctic and and Australia. T / F
Antarctica or in deserts. The scientists looked into
h) Rivers today look very different to how they
changes to biodiversity over the past 200 years.
looked 200 years ago. T / F
They discovered that biodiversity in over half of
rivers has been seriously damaged by humans. The
researchers said there were many reasons for this Synonym Match
damage. A big reason is the introduction of new (The words in bold are from the news article.)
species of fish into rivers. Other reasons include
1. damaged a. wealthy
pollution, dams, overfishing, farming and climate
change. 2. conducted b. found

The researchers say the worst-hit rivers are in 3. regions c. unidentifiable

western Europe and North America. This is because 4. discovered d. areas
these regions have large and rich towns and cities.
The lead researcher said: "Rivers which have the 5. reason e. affected
most economic development around them, like the 6. rich f. harmed
Mississippi River, are the most strongly impacted."
The River Thames in London was one of the worst- 7. impacted g. cause
affected rivers in the study. The least-impacted 8. due to h. speed
rivers are in Africa and Australia. The researcher
said: "This is probably due to a slower rate of 9. rate i. carried out
industrialisation in Africa and low population density 10. unrecognisable j. because of
around rivers in Australia." He added that rivers in
many rich nations are unrecognisable compared
with how they were 200 years ago. Discussion – Student A
Sources: theguardian.com / newscientist.com / bloomberg.com a) What do you think of rivers?
b) What is your favourite river?
Writing
c) What childhood memories do you have of
Everybody should spend time cleaning up rivers. rivers?
Discuss.
d) How do humans damage rivers?

Chat e) What do you think of your country's rivers?

Talk about these words from the article. f) What rivers around the world would you like
to see?
study / rivers / human activity / data / polar
g) What do you know about biodiversity loss?
regions / deserts / biodiversity / climate /
regions / towns / cities / development / h) How do you feel when you see polluted
industrialisation / population / 200 years ago rivers?

LOTS MORE at https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2102/210221-rivers.html COPYRIGHT Sean Banville 2021

BreakingNewsEnglish - Many online quizzes at URL below

Phrase Match
1. 86 per cent of the world's rivers a. development
2. They examined data on b. the Arctic
3. the polar regions of c. and rich towns
4. The scientists looked into changes d. of fish
5. the introduction of new species e. 200 years ago
6. the worst-hit rivers are f. have been damaged
7. these regions have large g. to biodiversity
8. economic h. of industrialisation
9. due to a slower rate i. over 2,500 rivers
10. compared with how they were j. in western Europe

Discussion – Student B Role Play

a) What do you think about what you read? Role A – Space
You think space is the thing we most need to protect
b) What do you think of rivers in cities? from human activity. Tell the others three reasons
c) What responsibility do city people have for why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also,
their rivers? tell the others which of these is the least in need of
protection (and why): Antarctica, oceans or
d) What should polluting companies do to clean rainforests.
up rivers? Role B – Antarctica
You think Antarctica is the thing we most need to
e) What activities do you like doing in rivers? protect from human activity. Tell the others three
f) What damage is done when a river dies? reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their
things. Also, tell the others which of these is the
g) How might rivers have looked 200 years ago? least in need of protection (and why): space, oceans
or rainforests.
h) What questions would you like to ask the
Role C – Oceans
researchers? You think oceans are the things we most need to
protect from human activity. Tell the others three
Spelling reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their
things. Also, tell the others which of these is the
1. The study was dtcneocdu by researchers least in need of protection (and why): Antarctica,
space or rainforests.
2. in the polar segiorn
Role D – Rainforests
3. the Arctic and Antarctica or in steerds You think rainforests are the things we most need to
protect from human activity. Tell the others three
4. osbvdtiieyri in over half of rivers reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their
things. Also, tell the others which of these is the
5. Other reasons include uonlpliot least in need of protection (and why): Antarctica,
oceans or space.
6. letmica change

7. eetnswr Europe Speaking – Human Activity

8. the most niecmoco development Rank these with your partner. Put the things we should
protect from human activity at the top. Change partners
9. one of the worst-eadtcffe rivers often and share your rankings.
• Deserts • Space
10. The least-mitadpec rivers
• Mount Everest • Antarctica
11. low onopuptlia density • Oceans • Amazon River
12. paercomd with how they were • Rainforests • Ancient sites

Answers – True False

Answers – Synonym Match
1. f 2. i 3. d 4. b 5. g a T b T c F d T e F f F g T h T
6. a 7. e 8. j 9. h 10. c Answers to Phrase Match and Spelling are in the text.

LOTS MORE at https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2102/210221-rivers.html COPYRIGHT Sean Banville 2021