© CNN
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- numerous /NOO-mer-uhs/
- excrete /ik-SKREET/
- comprehensive /kom-pri-HEN-siv/
- feasible /fee-ZUH-buhl/
- building block /BIL-ding blok/
[adjective] – many
Numerous studies have shown that pets can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and improve overall mood.
[verb] – to get rid of material such as solid waste or urine from the body
Open pores in our skin excrete sweat and dirt outside our bodies.
[adjective] – complete and including everything that is necessary
Fred and his team gave a comprehensive report to the committee last week.
[adjective] – able to be made, done, or achieved
We are not yet sure if this is feasible, but we will try.
[noun] – something that is necessary for making or developing another thing
Protein is the building block of our bodies.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Research has found that beetle larvae or mealworms have the ability to eat certain types of plastics. Mealworms can grow more than 2 cm long and have bacteria inside their guts that can degrade plastic. These worms can eat polystyrene and polyethylene – materials that are often used in numerous types of packaging. Approximately, 3,000 to 4,000 mealworms are needed to eat one coffee cup made of Styrofoam in one week. The worms then excrete the half as carbon dioxide, and partly as degraded particles.
Non-biodegradable materials such as plastics are one of the most serious environmental issues that we are facing. A comprehensive report from The Pew Charitable Trusts forecasted that by 2040, plastics could triple to 29 million metric tons per year which is almost equivalent to 50 kilograms per meter of Earth’s coastline. Anja Malawi Brandon, a plastics and bioplastics sustainability expert, mentioned that for mealworms to be a feasible recycling solution, there should be a system to accumulate and treat the waste they excrete. It is because the bacteria from the mealworm’s excretions were also seen as a potential to break down plastics into “monomers” or the building blocks of some plastics. Brandon’s team hopes that through further research, this breakthrough can be a promising technology.
Non-biodegradable materials such as plastics are one of the most serious environmental issues that we are facing. A comprehensive report from The Pew Charitable Trusts forecasted that by 2040, plastics could triple to 29 million metric tons per year which is almost equivalent to 50 kilograms per meter of Earth’s coastline. Anja Malawi Brandon, a plastics and bioplastics sustainability expert, mentioned that for mealworms to be a feasible recycling solution, there should be a system to accumulate and treat the waste they excrete. It is because the bacteria from the mealworm’s excretions were also seen as a potential to break down plastics into “monomers” or the building blocks of some plastics. Brandon’s team hopes that through further research, this breakthrough can be a promising technology.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
- Mealworms can grow only up to 2 cm long.
- The bacteria inside the digestive system of these mealworms can break down certain types of plastics.
- By 2050, plastics could triple to 29 million metric tons per year in a forecast by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
- For mealworms to be a viable recycling solution, there should be a system to gather and treat the waste they excrete.
- Bacteria found in mealworms excretions was also seen as a potential to break down plastics into monomers.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What can you say about this plastic solution?
- What can you say about the report forecasted by The Pew Charitable Trusts?
- Do you think that it is too late to reverse the effects of pollution done to our environment? Why or why not?
- What can we do to minimize our use of plastics?
- What questions would you like to ask scientists regarding environmental pollution?
Express Your Opinion:
I will read each sentence. Then, please tell me if you agree or disagree, and why.
- “Only we humans make waste that nature can’t digest.”
– Charles Moore, oceanographer - “It is the worst of times but it is the best of times because we still have a chance.”
– Sylvia Earle, marine biologist - “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
– Robert Swan, explorer