Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on World Water Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Water is one of the most precious resources we have, but how often do we take time to value it? That's why the United Nations started International World Water Day (IWWD). The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development recommended an international day to celebrate freshwater. The United Nations General Assembly decided this was important and made 22 March World Water Day. The UN website says IWWD is "a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources." On IWWD, people should not use their taps for a whole day to make us understand how important water is.
The UN focuses on a different aspect of freshwater every year. The idea is to spread different messages about all the complicated issues surrounding water. Past campaigns included a focus on water and cities, water quality, sanitation, and water and disasters. The water.org website has many sad and shocking statistics about water. Here are three: First, around 780 million people have no access to clean water. Second, a child dies every 20 seconds because of drinking dirty water. Finally, women in poorer countries spend 200 million hours a day collecting water. Make sure you keep your taps turned off on IWWD. Or get involved in the different global events organised by water.org. You can make a difference.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
Water is one of the most precious
a.
to value it
2
take time
b.
freshwater resources
3.
an international day to
c.
taps for a whole day
4.
focusing attention on the
d.
resources we have
5.
the sustainable management of
e.
celebrate freshwater
6.
people should not use their
f.
importance of freshwater
Paragraph 2
1.
The UN focuses on a different aspect
a.
no access to clean water
2
all the complicated issues
b.
a difference
3.
a focus
c.
of freshwater every year
4.
780 million people have
d.
involved
5.
get
e.
on water and cities
6.
You can make
f.
surrounding water
LISTENING GAP FILL
Water is one of the (1) ________________________ we have, but how often do we (2) ________________________? That's why the United Nations started International World Water Day (IWWD). The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development recommended an international (3) ________________________. The United Nations General Assembly decided this was important and made 22 March World Water Day. The UN website says IWWD is "a means (4) ________________________ the importance of freshwater and advocating for the (5) ________________________ of freshwater resources." On IWWD, people should (6) _______________________ a whole day to make us understand how important water is.
The UN focuses (7) ________________________ of freshwater every year. The idea is to (8) ________________________ about all the complicated issues surrounding water. Past campaigns included a focus on water and cities, (9) ________________________, and water and disasters. The water.org website has many sad and shocking statistics about water. Here are three: First, around 780 million people (10) ________________________ clean water. Second, a child dies every 20 seconds because of drinking dirty water. Finally, women in poorer countries spend 200 million hours a day collecting water. Make (11) ________________________ turned off on IWWD. Or get involved in the different global events organised by water.org. (12) ________________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Water is one of the most (1) ____________ resources we have, but how often do we take time to (2) ____________ it? That's why the United Nations started International World Water Day (IWWD). The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development recommended an international day to (3) ____________ freshwater. The United Nations General Assembly (4) ____________ this was important and made 22 March World Water Day. The UN website says IWWD is "a (5) ____________ of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and (6) ____________ for the sustainable management of freshwater resources." On IWWD, people should not use their (7) ____________ for a whole day to make us (8) ____________ how important water is.
precious value celebrate decided means advocating taps understand
The UN focuses on a different (9) ____________ of freshwater every year. The idea is to spread different (10) ____________ about all the complicated issues surrounding water. Past campaigns included a (11) ____________ on water and cities, water quality, sanitation, and water and disasters. The water.org website has many sad and shocking (12) ____________ about water. Here are three: First, around 780 million people have no (13) ____________ to clean water. Second, a child dies every 20 seconds because of drinking (14) ____________ water. Finally, women in poorer countries spend 200 million hours a day (15) ____________ water. Make sure you keep your taps turned off on IWWD. Or get (16) ____________ in the different global events organised by water.org. You can make a difference.
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Water is one of the most precious / preciously resources we have, but how often do we take time to worth / value it? That's why the United Nations started International World Water Day (IWWD). The 1992 United Nations Conference on / in Environment and Development recommended an international day to celebrate / celebratory freshwater. The United Nations General Assembly decided this was important and did / made 22 March World Water Day. The UN website says IWWD is "a means / ways of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating / advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources." On IWWD, people should not use their taps for a whole / all day to make us understand how important water is.
The UN focuses on / in a different aspect of freshwater every year. The idea is to spear / spread different messages about all the complication / complicated issues surrounding water. Past campaigns included a focus on water and cities, water quality, sanitary / sanitation, and water and disasters. The water.org website has many sad and shocking statistics / statisticians about water. Here are three: First, around 780 million people have no access / accesses to clean water. Second, a child dies every 20 seconds because of drinking dirty water. Finally, women in poorer countries spending / spend 200 million hours a day collecting water. Make sure you keep your taps turned off on IWWD. Or get involved in the different global events organised by water.org. You can make a difference / different.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Water is one of the most (1) ____ resources we have, but how often do we take time to (2) ____ it? That's why the United Nations started International World Water Day (IWWD). The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development recommended an international day to (3) ____ freshwater. The United Nations General Assembly decided this was important and (4) ____ 22 March World Water Day. The UN website says IWWD is "a means of focusing attention (5) ____ the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources." On IWWD, people should not use their taps for a (6) ____ day to make us understand how important water is.
The UN focuses on a different (7) ____ of freshwater every year. The idea is to spread different messages about all the complicated issues (8) ____ water. Past campaigns included a focus on water and cities, water quality, sanitation, and water and disasters. The water.org website has many sad and shocking (9) ____ about water. Here are three: First, around 780 million people have no access (10) ____ clean water. Second, a child dies every 20 seconds because of drinking dirty water. Finally, women in poorer countries spend 200 million hours a day (11) ____ water. Make sure you keep your taps turned off on IWWD. Or get involved in the different global events organised by water.org. You can make a (12) ____.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
precious
(b)
precocious
(c)
previous
(d)
pretentious
2.
(a)
worth
(b)
market
(c)
price
(d)
value
3.
(a)
drink
(b)
celebrate
(c)
make
(d)
store
4.
(a)
did
(b)
made
(c)
put
(d)
told
5.
(a)
in
(b)
of
(c)
on
(d)
at
6.
(a)
whole
(b)
entire
(c)
every
(d)
all
7.
(a)
prospect
(b)
circumspect
(c)
inspect
(d)
aspect
8.
(a)
surrounding
(b)
surrounds
(c)
surrounded
(d)
surround
9.
(a)
numerals
(b)
statisticians
(c)
statistics
(d)
numeracy
10.
(a)
of
(b)
to
(c)
at
(d)
to
11.
(a)
collection
(b)
collector
(c)
collecting
(d)
collects
12.
(a)
contrast
(b)
gap
(c)
imbalance
(d)
difference
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of the most psieocru resources
2.
take time to vueal it
3.
ecndmedrmoe an international day
4.
focusing naeottitn on the importance
5.
sianlutseab management
6.
not use their taps for a howle day
Paragraph 2
7.
The UN focuses on a different tecspa
8.
spread different eeasmsgs
9.
apcomdctiel issues
10.
shocking tcsiisastt about water
11.
ogctlnleci water
12.
get dvovnlie
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
and cities, water quality, sanitation, and water and disasters. The water.org website has many sad
( )
clean water. Second, a child dies every 20 seconds because of drinking dirty water. Finally, women
( 1 )
Water is one of the most precious resources we have, but how often do we take time to
( )
value it? That's why the United Nations started International World Water Day (IWWD). The 1992 United Nations Conference
( )
and shocking statistics about water. Here are three: First, around 780 million people have no access to
( )
22 March World Water Day. The UN website says IWWD is "a means of focusing attention
( )
messages about all the complicated issues surrounding water. Past campaigns included a focus on water
( )
in poorer countries spend 200 million hours a day collecting water. Make sure you keep your taps turned
( )
on Environment and Development recommended an international day to celebrate
( )
The UN focuses on a different aspect of freshwater every year. The idea is to spread different
( )
off on IWWD. Or get involved in the different global events organised by water.org. You can make a difference.
( )
on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources." On IWWD, people
( )
freshwater. The United Nations General Assembly decided this was important and made
( )
should not use their taps for a whole day to make us understand how important water is.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
resources we have Water is one of the most precious.
2.
time it often take value How we to do?
3.
day international an Recommended freshwater celebrate to.
4.
on of attention importance Focusing the freshwater.
5.
for a whole day People should not use their taps.
6.
different freshwater UN a of The on aspect focuses.
7.
is idea The messages different spread to.
8.
about statistics shocking and sad Many water.
9.
clean water Around 780 million people have no access to.
10.
global different the in involved Get events.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about World Water Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about World Water Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about World Water Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
