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pollution / forest fires / record highs / hazardous / life-threatening / face masks / strained relations / choking smog / recklessness / hypocritical / cultivation / dry season

How bad it is

How to control it

haze

from cars

in rivers

noise pollution

by factories

of our minds

• pollution
• crime
• traffic
• e-mail spam

• rain
• unemployment
• influenza
• inflation

a.

Fires in Singapore have resulted in record levels of pollution.

T / F

b.

Pollution levels are over twice those considered to be unhealthy.

T / F

c.

Singapore's government has told people to wear face masks indoors.

T / F

d.

Singapore's government will soon hand out 200,000 face masks.

T / F

e.

Singapore has shared blame for the fires with Indonesia.

T / F

f.

Indonesia said Singapore was being hypocritical.

T / F

g.

Indonesia said it would not say sorry to Singapore for the fires.

T / F

h.

The pollution could be a problem until October.

T / F

1.

previous

a.

put out

2.

deemed

b.

carelessness

3.

sustained

c.

hand out

4.

citizens

d.

prior

5.

distribute

e.

considered

6.

strained

f.

insincere

7.

recklessness

g.

continued

8.

hypocritical

h.

nationals

9.

tackle

i.

awkward

10.

extinguish

j.

deal with

1.

continuing to

a.

defined as "hazardous"

2.

The previous

b.

to tackle the problem

3.

anything above 300 is

c.

one million masks

4.

It has advised all of its citizens

d.

out of control

5.

Authorities will distribute

e.

reach new record highs

6.

strained

f.

the end of the dry season

7.

letting fires get so

g.

relations

8.

fires are being set to clear

h.

to stay indoors

9.

everything was being done

i.

forests for cultivation

10.

the haze could last until

j.

high was in 1997

Pollution levels in Singapore caused by forest fires in Indonesia are (1) ____________ to reach new record highs. The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 on Friday, the highest ever (2) ____________ in Singapore. The previous (3) ____________ was in 1997 when the PSI reached 226. A PSI of 150 is deemed to be "unhealthy", while anything above 300 is (4) ____________ as "hazardous". Singapore's government said a (5) ____________ above 400 sustained for 24 hours "may be life-(6) ____________ to ill and elderly persons". It has advised all of its citizens to stay indoors and to wear face masks if they have to go outside. Authorities will (7) ____________ one million masks free to the poorest 200,000 (8) ____________ starting from Sunday.

distribute
defined
recorded
households
continuing
reading
high
threatening

The haze has (9) ____________ relations between Singapore and Indonesia over who is responsible for the (10) ____________ smog. Singapore has accused Indonesia of (11) ____________ and irresponsibility in letting fires get so out of control. Indonesia responded by calling Singapore (12) ____________, as many of its companies own plantations where fires are being set to clear forests for (13) ____________. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry would not apologise for the haze crisis, but insisted that everything was being done to (14) ____________ the problem. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said "all the country's resources" would be mobilised to (15) ____________ the fires. Singapore's Prime Minister warned that the haze could last until the end of the (16) ____________ season in October.

tackle
hypocritical
dry
choking
cultivation
strained
extinguish
recklessness

1)

Pollution levels in Singapore caused by forest fires in Indonesia are continuing to reach ______

a.  new recording highs
b.  new records highs
c.  new record highs
d.  new recorded highs

2)

The previous high was in 1997 when the ______

a.  PSI reached 226
b.  BCI reached 226
c.  PXI reached 226
d.  BSI reached 226

3)

anything above 300 is ______

a.  defined as "hazards us"
b.  defined "as hazard as"
c.  defined as "has a dose"
d.  defined as "hazardous"

4)

a reading above 400 sustained for 24 hours may ______

a.  be life-threaten in
b.  be life-threatening
c.  be life-threat an inn
d.  be life-treating an

5)

Authorities will distribute one million masks free to the poorest ______

a.  200,000 houses hold
b.  200,000 how solders
c.  200,000 householders
d.  200,000 households

6)

The haze has ______ between Singapore and Indonesia

a.  stained relations
b.  stringed relations
c.  strayed  relations
d.  strained relations

7)

Singapore has accused Indonesia of ______

a.  recklessness and responsibility
b.  reckless and irresponsibility
c.  recklessness and irresponsible
d.  recklessness and irresponsibility

8)

Indonesia responded by calling ______

a.  Singapore hippo-critical
b.  Singapore hypocritical
c.  Singapore hip or critical
d.  Singapore hype or critic all

9)

plantations where fires are being set to clear ______

a.  forests for cultivation
b.  forests for cultivating
c.  forests for cult aviation
d.  forests for colt ovation

10)

all the country's resources would be mobilised to ______

a.  distinguish the fires
b.  ex-anguish the fires
c.  exiting wish the fires
d.  extinguish the fires

1.

What does PSI mean?

2.

When did the PSI first hit 226?

3.

What PSI level is considered to be hazardous?

4.

Who is at risk with PSI levels above 400?

5.

Who will get a free face mask?

6.

What adjective was used to describe the smog?

7.

What did Indonesia call Singapore?

8.

Who will not apologise?

9.

What is Indonesia doing to tackle the problem?

10.

Until which month could the haze continue?

1.

What does PSI mean?

6.

What adjective was used to describe the smog?

a) Polluting State Information
b) Pollution Searching Inspection
c) Pollutant Standards Index
d) Polluted Singapore Initiative

a) unacceptable
b) choking
c) grey
d) smoggy

2.

When did the PSI first hit 226?

7.

What did Indonesia call Singapore?

a) 1997
b) last week
c) earlier this year
d) October 21, 2004

a) complaining
b) inferior
c) unlucky
d) hypocritical

3.

What PSI level is considered to be hazardous?

8.

Who will not apologise?

a) 280
b) 300
c) 150
d) 226

a) Singapore's government
b) Indonesia's Foreign Ministry
c) those slashing and burning
d) plantation workers

4.

Who is at risk with PSI levels above 400?

9.

What is Indonesia doing to tackle the problem?

a) athletes
b) babies
c) Singapore's government
d) the elderly

a) this and that
b) everything
c) talking
d) nothing

5.

Who will get a free face mask?

10.

Until which month could the haze continue?

a) elderly people
b) models
c) the poorest households
d) Singapore's government

a) October
b) August
c) September
d) November

Role  A – Singapore leader

You are furious with Indonesia for the haze. Tell the others three reasons why. You want the Indonesian government to extinguish all fires immediately. You also want promises that there will be no more fires in the future. You will call for a global ban on Indonesian goods if nothing happens.

Role  B – Indonesian leader

You are very angry with Singapore for overreacting to the haze. Tell the others three reasons why. Many of the plantations that started the fires are owned by Singaporean companies. You are doing your best to limit the haze. Singapore should be more patient and not make threats.

Role  C – Plantation owner

You have no time for the governments of Singapore or Indonesia. Tell the others three reasons why. You have employees with mouths to feed. You must burn the forests or you and your workers will have no money. Tell both leaders that they are hypocrites.

Role  D – Singaporean

You are fed up with your government and Indonesia's leader. Tell the others three reasons why. Ask your leader why he can't guarantee breathable air. Ask Indonesia's leader why he thinks it's OK to let such pollution affect other countries. Ask if they care that people's health is suffering.

record

level

• caused
• ever
• 226
• 400
• wear
• free

• relations
• control
• own
• apologise
• tackle
• dry

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'pollution'?

c)

What do you know about the Singapore haze?

d)

How would you feel about your city being polluted by another country?

e)

Who is at fault – Indonesia or Singaporean plantation owners?

f)

What can Singaporeans do to live normally?

g)

Could this be the future of the Earth?

h)

Do governments and big companies really care about ordinary people?

i)

Would you stay indoors?

j)

Would you consider moving away from Singapore if you lived there?

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

How can Singapore and Indonesia improve relations?

c)

What's the worst pollution you've experienced?

d)

Should the world ban the produce the forests are being burnt for?

e)

Why are all governments so incapable of helping people?

f)

How hypocritical is Singapore?

g)

What is your answer to this crisis?

h)

Should Singaporeans get compensation for this?

i)

What damage will the haze do?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Singapore's Prime Minister?

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

1.

(a)

highs

(b)

height

(c)

heightens

(d)

high

2.

(a)

history

(b)

earliest

(c)

previous

(d)

precedent

3.

(a)

doomed

(b)

domed

(c)

deemed

(d)

damned

4.

(a)

being

(b)

for

(c)

by

(d)

as

5.

(a)

threats

(b)

threatens

(c)

threatening

(d)

threat

6.

(a)

homeowner

(b)

households

(c)

homemakers

(d)

houses

7.

(a)

stained

(b)

strained

(c)

stoned

(d)

streamed

8.

(a)

lets

(b)

letting

(c)

let

(d)

lettings

9.

(a)

wet

(b)

let

(c)

set

(d)

net

10.

(a)

distribution

(b)

aggravation

(c)

motivation

(d)

cultivation

11.

(a)

distinguish

(b)

anguish

(c)

languish

(d)

extinguish

12.

(a)

fast

(b)

past

(c)

mast

(d)

last

Paragraph 1

1.

totPnulal Standards Index

2.

the riepsvuo high

3.

defined as "dzhauraso"

4.

may be life-gienthnaert to ill and elderly persons

5.

Authorities will eudsiribtt one million masks

6.

the poorest 200,000 ohlhsudoes

Paragraph 2

7.

siantdre relations

8.

Singapore has cecsuad Indonesia

9.

recklessness and yiinslbrpeoriist

10.

set to clear forests for lcvonatitui

11.

iesidtsn that everything was being done

12.

xigetiuhns the fires

(  1  )

Pollution levels in Singapore caused by forest fires in Indonesia are continuing to reach new record

(    )

smog. Singapore has accused Indonesia of recklessness and irresponsibility in letting fires get so

(    )

plantations where fires are being set to clear forests for cultivation. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry would not

(    )

out of control. Indonesia responded by calling Singapore hypocritical, as many of its companies own

(    )

apologise for the haze crisis, but insisted that everything was being done to tackle the

(    )

to the poorest 200,000 households starting from Sunday.

(    )

high was in 1997 when the PSI reached 226. A PSI of 150 is deemed to be "unhealthy", while anything above 300 is defined

(    )

as "hazardous". Singapore's government said a reading above 400 sustained for 24 hours "may be life-

(    )

and to wear face masks if they have to go outside. Authorities will distribute one million masks free

(    )

the fires. Singapore's Prime Minister warned that the haze could last until the end of the dry season in October.

(    )

The haze has strained relations between Singapore and Indonesia over who is responsible for the choking

(    )

problem. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said "all the country's resources" would be mobilised to extinguish

(    )

threatening to ill and elderly persons". It has advised all of its citizens to stay indoors

(    )

highs. The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 on Friday, the highest ever recorded in Singapore. The previous

1.

fires     Singapore     caused     Pollution     by     levels     forest     in.    

2.

Anything     as     above     300     "hazardous"     is     .     defined

3.

advised     its     stay     has     of     to     It     all     citizens     indoors.    

4.

they     Wear     masks     face     .     to     outside     go     if     have

5.

will     Authorities     free     masks     million     one     distribute.    

6.

responsible     Who     choking     for     is     smog     the.    

7.

letting     so     control     in     get     of     Irresponsibility    fires    out.    

8.

clear     Fires     cultivation     set     are     forests     to     being     for.    

9.

fires     mobilised     to     Resources     extinguish     would    the     be.    

10.

haze    The    season    dry    the    of    end    the   until    last     could.    

PollutionlevelsinSingaporecausedbyforestfiresinIndonesiaarecontinuingto
reachnewrecordhighs.ThePollutantStandardsIndex(PSI)hit401onFriday,the
highesteverrecordedinSingapore.Theprevioushighwasin1997whenthePSI
reached226.APSIof150isdeemedtobe"unhealthy",whileanythingabove300
isdefinedas"hazardous".Singapore'sgovernmentsaidareadingabove400
sustainedfor24hours"maybelife-threateningtoillandelderlypersons".Ithas
advisedallofitscitizenstostayindoorsandtowearfacemasksiftheyhavetogo
outside.Authoritieswilldistributeonemillionmasksfreetothepoorest200,000
householdsstartingfromSunday.Thehazehasstrainedrelationsbetween
SingaporeandIndonesiaoverwhoisresponsibleforthechokingsmog.Singapore
hasaccusedIndonesiaofrecklessnessandirresponsibilityinlettingfiresgetsoout
ofcontrol.IndonesiarespondedbycallingSingaporehypocritical,asmanyofits
companiesownplantationswherefiresarebeingsettoclearforestsforcultivation.
Indonesia'sForeignMinistrywouldnotapologiseforthehazecrisis,butinsisted
thateverythingwasbeingdonetotackletheproblem.PresidentSusiloBambang
Yudhoyonosaid"allthecountry'sresources"wouldbemobilisedtoextinguish
thefires.Singapore'sPrimeMinisterwarnedthatthehazecouldlastuntiltheend
ofthedryseasoninOctober.

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

T

1.

previous

a.

prior

2.

deemed

b.

considered

3.

sustained

c.

continued

4.

citizens

d.

nationals

5.

distribute

e.

hand out

6.

strained

f.

awkward

7.

recklessness

g.

carelessness

8.

hypocritical

h.

insincere

9.

tackle

i.

deal with

10.

extinguish

j.

put out

1.

Pollutant Standards Index

2.

1997

3.

Anything above 300

4.

Ill and elderly persons

5.

The poorest households

6.

Choking

7.

Hypocritical

8.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry

9.

Everything

10.

October

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a