Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- dam /dam/
- habitat /HAB-i-tat/
- extinction /ik-STINGK-shuhn/
- distribution /dis-truh-BYOO-shuhn/
- predator /PRED-uh-ter/
[noun] – a wall built across a river that stops the river’s flow and collects the water, especially to make a reservoir (= an artificial lake) that provides water for an area
The dam secured the city from the flood.
[noun] – the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually lives
Many species of wildlife are losing their natural habitat as large areas of forest are cut down.
[noun] – a situation in which something no longer exists
The dinosaur extinction occurred millions of years ago.
[noun] – the way in which people or things are spread out in a place
The map shows the distribution of the global population.
[noun] – an animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals
Lions and wolves are predators in that forest.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The global growth of hydroelectric dams has had a negative impact on the habitats of tigers and jaguars. According to researchers, dam development, mainly in Asia, has harmed more than one-fifth of the world’s remaining tigers. The dams are thought to have caused tiger extinction in several local woodland areas. Dams on their ranges are predicted to treble, posing a huge threat to jaguars.
Tigers have not fared well in the modern world. The animals have vanished from almost 90% of their original range in the last century, despite their iconic and terrifying reputation. While their numbers have increased in recent years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) still lists them as an endangered species, with a population of roughly 3,500. Jaguars have a similar story. The distribution of these slender predators, which stretch from the southwest of the United States to Argentina, has been cut in half. A recent study shows that global efforts to create hydropower for energy have had a negative influence on these species’ ecosystems. Over a thousand current dams cross the territories of tigers and jaguars, according to the study.
They methodically calculated the number of forest areas affected by the dams and discovered that almost 13,000 square kilometers of tiger habitat had been flooded to create reservoirs for the dams. This is believed to have had a major impact on tiger populations. As a result of the development of a massive reservoir smack in the center of the landscape, that forest was broken into smaller parts, and those tigers were often unable to survive in that fragmented forest landscape.
Tigers have not fared well in the modern world. The animals have vanished from almost 90% of their original range in the last century, despite their iconic and terrifying reputation. While their numbers have increased in recent years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) still lists them as an endangered species, with a population of roughly 3,500. Jaguars have a similar story. The distribution of these slender predators, which stretch from the southwest of the United States to Argentina, has been cut in half. A recent study shows that global efforts to create hydropower for energy have had a negative influence on these species’ ecosystems. Over a thousand current dams cross the territories of tigers and jaguars, according to the study.
They methodically calculated the number of forest areas affected by the dams and discovered that almost 13,000 square kilometers of tiger habitat had been flooded to create reservoirs for the dams. This is believed to have had a major impact on tiger populations. As a result of the development of a massive reservoir smack in the center of the landscape, that forest was broken into smaller parts, and those tigers were often unable to survive in that fragmented forest landscape.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Where is the nearest dam in your area? Could you tell me something about it?
- What benefits does the dam give to your area? Please explain your answer.
- If you could do something about the extinction of tigers and jaguars, what would you do? Why?
- Do you agree with the idea of building more dams?
- What do you think about building hydroelectric dams? Please explain your answer.
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- development
- predict
- vanish
- hydropower
- calculate