Pre-reading questions:
- How do you save water in your country?
- Have you experienced a water crisis in your country? Please explain your answer.
Vocabulary:
- drought /drout/
- consumption /kuh n-SUHMP-shuhn/
- recycle /ree-SAHY-kuhl/
- precaution /pri-KAW-shuhn/
- dread /dred/
[noun] a long period when there is little or no rain
The crops were destroyed because of the drought.
[noun] an amount of something that is used
Gas and oil consumption always increases in cold weather.
[verb] to use something again, often for a different purpose
Recycling is important to help protect our environment.
[noun] an action taken to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous
I took the precaution of buying a case for my new cellphone.
[noun] to feel worried or frightened about something that has not happened yet
The witch dreaded old age.
The residents of Cape Town, South Africa can’t afford to waste water these days. It’s because they are facing the worst drought in more than a century. Climate change and their fast-growing population have complicated the situation. This is why the Capetonian government is limiting their water usage.
The government limits the Capetonians’ water consumption to 50 liters per day. The residents must save water by recycling it as many times as possible. The government will fine those who will ignore these measures. The 50-liter consumption is a precaution for the dreaded “Day Zero” or the day when the tap water runs dry.
Comprehension Questions:
- What are the residents of Cape Town facing these days?
- How long have Cape Town residents been experiencing drought?
- What complicated the drought in Cape Town, South Africa?
- How much water can the Capetonians use in a day?
- Why do the people dread “Day Zero?”
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think should the Capetonian government do to solve their water crisis?
- Do you think allotting 50 liters of water per day is enough? Please explain your answer.
- If you were a resident of Cape Town, what will you do to survive this crisis?
- Do you think that water should be free for everyone? Discuss.
- Do you think everybody should save water? Why or why not?