Vocabulary:
- reservoir [REZ-er-vwahr]
- defer [dih-FUR]
- adhere [ad-HEER]
- allocation [al-uh-KEY-shuhn]
- thriving [THRAVYV-ing]
(noun) a natural or artificial lake for storing and supplying water for an area
This reservoir provides water to the whole city.
(verb) to delay something until a later time
You can order the furniture now and defer payment until September.
(verb) to conform to or follow rules exactly
All drivers must adhere to speed limits.
(noun) the act or process of giving out parts of a whole
The allocation must be made according to a strict set of criteria.
(adjective) characterized by prosperity
Her thriving business has been making a buzz online.
Day Zero, the day when water reservoir runs dry in Cape Town, South Africa, the day dreaded by its citizens. The government foresees Day Zero to be on April 16, 2018. The worst drought in centuries has been declared as a national emergency. The evidence of the Day Zero is palpable in the streets of Cape Town, from electronic billboards flashing words like “critical” and “severe”, to dead grass in parks.
To defer the dreaded Day Zero, the citizens must adhere to the government’s drastic measures. The government has limited the daily water allocation into 50 liters per household. Experts are saying that this allocation is not enough to keep a household clean and safe in the long run. The imminent threat encompasses all citizens, from the elites to the poor. The alarming problem has drawn a setback for Cape Town and it’s thriving economy.
True or False:
- Reservoirs in Cape Town may run dry by April 16.
- 50 liters water allocation per household is more than enough according to experts.
- The Capetonian government is developing a new water system.
- Day Zero only affects the middle class.
- The residents of Cape Town can only use 50 liters of water weekly.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think that conserving water is important? Why or why not?
- If you were your country’s leader, how would you encourage your citizens to conserve water?
- Do you agree that parents should teach water conservation to their children? Please explain your answer.
- If you were a Capetonian, how would you utilize 50 liters of water in a day?
- In your opinion, what are the factors that lead to shortage of necessities like water and food?
Express Your Opinion:
- “We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” – Thomas Fuller
- “I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau