Speech 1 wqyF"^It"  
Hi. We are three children from three different continents and we'd like to tell you what we think about the environment. The children of the world are disappointed because too many adults are too interested in money and wealth to take notice of serious problems that affect our future. Young people from all over the world have many things to say about the environment, but we all agree on one serious problem most leaders don't listen. We are here today because we want you to listen - to listen to everybody. 3v)`` n@  
Here's what the children of the world are saying: 2F ~
SH  
Governments of the world must: vQ{mEaH  
· make sure that all people from developing countries have free access to clean drinking water; }IKU^0M9<T  
· limit the number of cars per family; [Fr <tKtB  
· stop cutting down trees without replacing them. ;Udx|1o  
|(9l_e|  
People of the world must: Angt=q
 
· make use of alternative transportation such as walking, biking and car-pooling; =8DS~J{  
· reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. z>spRl,dr  
We are worried that many governments listen too much to those who care very little for the environment and people. Remember, we cannot buy another planet, and our lives and those of future generations depend on this. We are not asking too much! You said this Summit is about taking action! We need more than your applause and comments of "well done" or "good speech". We need ACTION! j8ac8J,}c  
Thanks for having us here and for listening to the voices of children. Ia>~ph#]{`  
TZ PUVOtL_  
Speech 2 tU>4?`)E  
Ladies and Gentlemen,  E_K32)J-  
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. I wish, however, we could do more than just talk. The Earth Summit is not just about good speeches and big words; it is about doing something about the problems we are facing. I will try to do something right now, right here. That's why I have brought this big bag. What do you think is in it? Well, I'll show you. Yes, that's right, rubbish! On my way over here, I picked up the rubbish I saw in rubbish bins on the street so that I could talk to you about what rubbish really is. Some of you might think that rubbish is what we throw away, something useless that only causes problems. Well, I say that that's rubbish. Let me explain what I mean. What is really in this bag? Resources, possibilities, money, jobs and solutions! What we call rubbish today is actually the resources of tomorrow. Let me tell you how we can use rubbish - some left-over food, a milk carton, and an empty bottle - to make the future greener, cleaner, and better, and to make money.

Part 1 1kD1$5  
I: Can you tell me about the project you worked on in Egypt? s#(7D3Pr#  
C: Egypt has developed a large programme to clean up and protect its water. One of the projects is to help small farmers build small channels to make sure that the water supplied by the government can be used in the best way possible. B5+$VQ  
I: So what was the problem? Asy2jw\V  
C: It was often difficult for farmers to keep the channels clean and in good order. The channels were used as rubbish bins and too many plants grew where the water should flow. SwaMpNXL  
I: How did you solve the problem? =1xVw5^F  
C: At first, we thought that the farmers simply didn't understand the situation and that we could solve the problem by educating them. But just to make sure, we interviewed some farmers and observed what they were doing. r?dkE=B  
I: What did you do to learn more about the farmers and their work? a54S,}|  
C: Well, we visited many farmers and their families. We also formed small discussion groups in which we talked about the problem and what could be done about it. j,Qb'|f5  
I: What did the farmers think and do? AS0mMHJk  
C: We found that the farmers did know about the problem and had paid a company to clean the channels. But they didn't do it often enough. !& >LLZ  
44KWS~  
Part 2 %eGD1.R  
I: Why didn't the farmers clean the channels often enough? 6z
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C: They thought that the government was responsible for the channels and they only cleaned them up when there was too much rubbish. They felt that this was unfair and didn't believe what the government said. CK_\K,xVT  
I: And how did the government react to this? z6 h/C{  
C: Well, they were very surprised. They decided to show the farmers that they were serious about the problem. Farmers and the government would work together. The farmers formed a group that would oversee the work. A special channel cleaning day was chosen and the farmers and the government decided to share the costs. The farmers would pay for the cleaning equipment and the government would pay for taking the rubbish away. ?%/*F<UVQ  
I: That sounds like a good solution. =/4}!B/  
C: It was. Working together also gave people a chance to understand the dangers of throwing rubbish in the channels. It stopped the water from flowing and made it dangerous for children to swim in the channel and for women to use the water at home. ,S~A]uH'  
I: Were the farmers happy about the solution? Eh[NKgYL  
C: Yes, they were. The project was a success. By working together, more things were achieved and everybody learnt from the experience.

LIAO MINGYU'S JOURNEY y+ 4#Iy  
The future of our planet is at stake. If we do not act now, we may never be able to save the earth. There is good news too: we can make a difference. We may think that what we do in our everyday life has no effect on big problems, such as environmental pollution. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is exactly what we do - you and I - that changes the world. It is important to have big meetings like the Earth Summit to educate people and make them aware of the situation, but nothing will be improved until ordinary people like you and me start acting differently. One person who learnt about the importance of taking action is Liao Mingyu from Shenzhen. In 2002, the then 11-year-old Mingyu went on a journey that she would never forget. After having been chosen to represent all children in the world by the United Nations Environment Programme, she travelled to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.  `7oYXk  
Together with four other children, Mingyu appeared on the stage at the opening ceremony. They expressed both hopes and fears about the future. Mingyu and two other children made a speech in which they asked the governments of the world to do more to provide access to clean drinking water and to take action to reduce pollution and improve health care. V`rxjv}!  
When asked about the experience in an interview with China Daily, Mingyu said that she hopes that adults will listen to what young people have to say. The leaders at the summit applauded the speech, but for Mingyu, that is not enough: "I don't know if they will listen and take action. They probably will." L) UCVm  
Mingyu's journey to Johannesburg is only a small part of the action she is taking. Ever since she entered primary school, she has been a true activist. Her school has made environmental protection part of what the students have to learn. She and her classmates look for ways to improve the environment and they remind their parents and other adults of the danger of keeping environmentally unfriendly habits. TAq[g|N-;  
If we change our habits, if we refuse to buy products from companies that harm the environment, and if we learn more and take action, we can save the planet. For Mingyu, her journey was only a beginning. The real work, she says, starts when she goes back to her normal life: "One thing I have learnt from this experience is that environmental protection is really important. When I get back, I am going to tell my classmates of ways to protect the environment."

And now the weather forecast for Tuesday, June 24. Cooler and drier air over the Northwest will advance towards the East on Tuesday. But as it does so, it will meet with warm and moist air already in place resulting in showers and thunderstorms. +Kp8X53  
Thunderstorms are possible in areas from the Southern states to the Northeastern states where we might see some pretty bad weather, with wet snow and strong winds, perhaps even some storms. UCo`l~K)qg  
The showers and thunderstorms that hit the Midwest on Monday may still be around part of Tuesday, but will disappear during the afternoon. W1JvLU5L*r  
Comfortable temperatures around 75 degrees are forecast for the South, 68 to 72 for the Midwest and similar temperatures for the Northeast, while higher temperatures, up to 88 will be found in the east along the coast. While the Southwest may see some rain or even thunderstorms, the rest of the West will be hot with temperatures over 100 degrees and no hope of a cooling shower. Far to the Southeast, the storm, which had looked as if it would grow into a hurricane, fell apart on Monday. This year has already seen an unusually high number of hurricanes. Hurricane Danny in the Atlantic Ocean last week has put 2003 in third place behind 1997 and 1959 for having the most tropical storms or hurricanes this early in the season. The fourth storm usually arrives towards the end of August, so Danny, formed on Wednesday, came a month and a half early. R0urt  
VA @  
If the fifth named storm - the "E" storm - develops before July 22, this year will have the hurricane season with the fastest start. Its name would be Erika. The hurricane season is from June 1 till the end of November. A typical Atlantic hurricane season has 10 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. The latter can be a real disaster when they hit the coast. Tropical storms such as hurricanes and typhoons are given names to avoid confusion. Their names start with letters in the order of the alphabet. The first five storms in 2005 will be named Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis and Emily.

Are there any typhoons in the area where you live? d2U+%%Tdw  
There are sometimes but not very many. eD,'M  
Are you afraid of them? Ow50M;E  
Yes, I remember one that happened last summer. It was a bit scary, but I wasn't really afraid. I saw the top of trees moving in circles, and sand and pieces of wood were swept up into the air. What about you? Have you ever experienced one? :LxsiDrF[  
No, but I know about a friend whose parents live in Guangdong. One day a real typhoon hit their village. It was very frightening，and destroyed most of the houses. My friends said he was scared to death. Some people got into a total panic, when the typhoon pulled the roofs off their houses and cars went up in the air. ?D_^8
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Oh, terrible! O)
8$aAJ)V  
Yeah, man. Now that kind of thing would really frighten me.

UNDER THE VOLCANO wAvnj  
My dear Tacitus, I&Z4?K  
You asked me to write you something about the death of my uncle Pliny, who died in an unforgettable disaster. I will tell you all I remember and read in my uncle's notes. I hope you can use it for the history book that you are writing. eVetG,["  
We lived in southern Italy. On the 24th of August in 79 AD, between two and three in the afternoon my mother drew my uncle's attention to a cloud of unusual size and shape. We watched it rising from a mountain - at such a distance we couldn't tell which one, but we later learnt that it was Mount The Vesuvius. Some of the cloud was white; in other parts there were dark spots of dirt and ash. The sight of it awoke the scientist in my uncle to go and see it from closer at hand. )ZQ>h{}D  
He ordered a boat to be prepared. As he was leaving the house, he was brought a letter from his friend's wife Rectina, who was frightened by the danger. Her house lay at the foot of The Vesuvius, and there was no way out except by boat. She begged him to save her. He changed his plans. What started out as a trip for knowledge now called for courage. He hurried to a place from which others were fleeing, and held his course directly into danger. Was he afraid? I don't think so, because he wrote a report about all he observed during his trip. Bs!F |x(  
Ash and bits of rock that were burnt black were falling onto the ship now, darker and more, the closer they went. He paused for a moment wondering whether to turn back as the captain urged him. But after rescuing Rectina he wanted to rescue his friend Pompy. $SbgdbX  
On the other side of the bay, Pompy had made his ships ready even before the danger arrived. He had to wait for a good wind, blowing the other way than the one that carried my uncle right in. Upon arrival, my uncle hugged Pompy and tried to give him courage. In order to help the other calm down, he asked to be taken to the baths. He bathed and had dinner, giving everyone the impression that there was no danger at all. After dinner my uncle said he wanted to sleep, and it seemed as if he really did so. Flames lighted up many parts of The Vesuvius; their light scared people but my uncle told them that the flames came from the homes of farmers who had left in a panic with the kitchen fires still on. Of course this was not true. They discussed what to do: to stay in the house or to try the open air. There were earthquakes and a rain of burning rocks was coming down. They decided to go outside. u(Kof 'p7  
They tied pillows on top of their heads as protection against the shower of rocks. It was daylight now in other parts of the world, but there the darkness was darker and thicker than any night. They carried torches. My uncle drank some cold water. Then came a smell of sulphur, and then flames. Helped by two slaves he stood up, and immediately fell down dead. When daylight came again two days after he died, his body was found. He looked more asleep than dead. t9\}!{<s  
I will stop here. I have written down everything that I saw and heard while memorises are still fresh. You can pick out the important bits, for it is one thing to write a letter, another to write history, one thing to write to a friend, another to write for the public. Farewell. ^Mmsja5K  
Pliny, the Younger

TYPHOON Q|DVB  
The Nanshan was on her way from the south to Fuzhou, with Chinese workers on board, returning to their home villages in the province of Fujian. The morning had been fine, for there was no ,R-T( <r  
wind. The heat was close. qM$4c7'4P6  
Observing the fall of the barometer, Captain MacWhirr thought, "There's some dirty weather knocking about." He lifted his eyes to the sky. " What's up?" Jukes, the engineer, asked. "It looks as if a typhoon is coming on," said the Captain. kE8\\}B7  
"Whatever there might be," said Jukes, "we are moving straight into it." "A storm is a storm, Mr Jukes," answered the Captain, "and a full-powered steamship has got to face it." THVF(M4v  
I must have been asleep. What was that loud noise? Wind? Why had I not been called? "Came on like this," shouted Jukes, "five minutes ago... all of a sudden." The storm grew stronger and huge waves swept over the ship. It was unbelievable how much water came down on the ship. Something told Captain MacWhirr that the Nanshan was lost. "She's done for," he said to himself. This weather was simply impossible. They were all on the bridge when the full force of the hurricane struck the ship. "Will she live through this? Ship may through this all right yet." the Captain shouted. "Do you think she may?" Jukes screamed. But the wind swallowed the reply, and Jukes heard only one word, spoken with great energy, "Always". !nBE[&  
This was their work - to move the ship over the high sea and into the very eye of the wind. Captain MacWhirr saw a white tower of water, so high that he couldn't believe his eyes, advancing towards them. It raced to meet the ship. The Nanshan jumped. With a tearing crash, tons of water fell upon the deck, as though the ship passed under a waterfall. "Another one like this, and that's the last of her," cried the Captain. tFi'RRZ  
"Seems as if the wind had dropped, Sir." There was no wind, not a breath. The unexpected silence made Jukes feel uncomfortable. "We have done it, Sir," he whispered. "Wind fell all at once." )w t mc4'  
"The trouble's not over yet," said Captain MacWhirr, half aloud. He went to the bridge. There was no light there; he struck a match, and held out the little flame towards the barometer. It stood very low - incredibly low. There was no mistake. It was the lowest reading he had ever seen in his life. The worst was to come yet! K&\ q6bU  
He listened for the first sounds of returning wind. Not yet. "It will come very sudden," said Captain MJzY|  
MacWhirr, "and from over there. I think." A minute passed. F3%8E<QZd;  
"What's that? A puff of wind?" The roar of the winds drew near fast. The hurricane, with its power to sink ships and to destroy strong walls, had found this little ship in its path. Before the second storm fell on his ship, Captain MacWhirr swore, "I wouldn't like to lose her."

K: Hi, Linda, how's your life in Taiwan? Do you like it there? paG^W&`;  
L: It's fine, Kate. Thanks. Bill and I like China very much. &&\HE7*  
K: I've heard that Taiwan is quite often hit by typhoons. How do you feel about that? 6AW{qU6  
L: That's right. They are quite common between the months of May and November. }%;o#!<N(@  
K: Terrible. I would not want to live in a place like that. O DLRzk(  
L: Oh well. You'll get used to it. With a bit of common sense and taking the right measures, typhoons need not be a big problem. [A.ix}3mm  
K: So what should you do when you know a typhoon is coming up? \9 %SR~  
L: You should always keep some plastic sheets ready to cover furniture. Important papers are best kept in plastic boxes or bags that don't let any water through. Buy some extra food in metal or in glass containers, and keep a torch, batteries, a first-aid kit, a radio and such things ready. Id/-u[-yo  
K: What else do you do when you know there will be another typhoon? 7t@r}rC,K  
L: If a typhoon is expected to hit within 24 to 48 hours, you should make some extra ice to keep food cooled when the electricity falls away. Fill the bath with water for cooking, and make sure there is enough drinking water; move furniture away from windows; put loose objects, such as furniture and plants in pots, baskets or boxes from the balcony and the yard into the shed. You must close the curtains and take shelter where you cannot be hit by glass that is flying around, for example the hall or a room without windows. b85r=tm   
K: Have you ever experienced a big one? yyj?hR@rZ  
L: Oh, yes. It was a very frightening experience. DhVF^=x$  
K: What happened? kma)DW  
L: When the storm hit, we heard all the windows breaking and furniture being pushed around. The roof made a cracking noise. We thought it would be blown away. Then the storm seemed to die down. But it was the eye of the storm. A few minutes later it came back with full force. I was afraid the whole house would be swept away. " aEk#W  
K: Have you thought of moving to another part of the country, where there are fewer natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons? \%qzTk.&r  
L: My husband and I have thought about that. But we really like Taiwan, and we prefer to stay here.

Are you looking forward to your holiday in Baihai this summer? $S_G:}tna  
Yes and no. I think it'll be great to spend three months in the south, but the fact that south China is often hit by typhoons worries me. pJ;4rrSK  
Are you serious? WEVV2BJ  
Yes, I even thought of cancelling my trip when I heard about it. NNM+Z:
 
Oh, you don't need to worry about that. Most typhoons aren't much stronger than a storm. Just like we sometimes had here. And in case of strong typhoon, you could be prepared for them. 2,.;M
dl  
You don't know what you are talking about. Typhoons can destroy hourses and carry cars and even people over miles before they are dropped to the ground. 9Vh>ty1|_  
True. But you should not make yourself afraided by thinking about the worst. When you know that a typhoon is going to hit, ought to take a few simple measures and some common sense. You will be fine, don't worry. LA%t'n h  
Oh, thanks. I feel a bit better now.

Integrating Skills #s0Wx47~  
Using the key words natural disaster, volcano and hurricane on the computer, you have found the following book descriptions for an essay that your teacher wants you to write. RZTC+ylj  
1. Title:_________________________________________ c|(&6(r  
Here is an exciting guide to the eruptions and quakes that shape our planet. Look at the beautiful colour photographs of volcanoes. Learn about the earliest instruments to study earthquakes, rocks that float in water, and the great eruption of Vesuvius. Find out how animals can sense earthquakes before people. Where to hide during an earthquake, and much, much more! {]3Rk  
2. Title:_________________________________________ 1Gh3o}z  
It is an amazing novel and some of the best writing I have ever read. The novel is about a single day in the life of a British official who drinks too much. The whole book is set in 1938, in a town at the foot of two volcanoes. I am amazed by the beautiful writing. Stay with this book...it will stay with you. epQdj=h  
3. Title:_________________________________________ ,]Q i/m  
Hawaii remains as popular as ever, and this guide shows how to discover its least crowded island. The book invites readers to experience popular attractions - such as diving coral reefs and climbing active volcanoes - but also to go further by exploring hidden spots other guides do not mention. Each title in the Hidden series offers readers the comfort of detailed maps for hiking and diving tours. :y3e-lr  
4. Title:_________________________________________ uYAMW{AT  
On the morning of April 18, 1906, a terrible earthquake hit San Francisco, destroying almost the whole city and causing a fire that lasted for three days. The author writes about the human drama. Following more than 100 different characters over several days, he shows some of the extreme courage in those days, such as the tired firefighters who fought the fires. This new book, appearing exactly 95 years after the disaster, should be very popular with people who like reading about disasters, particularly those who enjoy the thrill of reading about danger from the safety of their favourite reading chair. u>h|A(<  
5. Title:_________________________________________ [@`K
i  
Big hurricanes are not often seen in the north of the USA, but on September 21, 1938 just as many summer tourists were on the beach, closing up their seaside cottages, a disaster hit. Walls of water, 50 feet high, swept homes and whole families out to sea. According to the author, no one could have been prepared for the 1938 storm. Only the captain of a ship 150 miles north of Florida might have given warning. He did use his radio to tell the coast guard that his barometer showed one of the lowest readings ever in the North Atlantic. Although other books have been written about this terrible disaster and the destruction it caused, this book has interviews with hurricane survivors, their families and friends. 2qe]1B;  
6. Title:_________________________________________ VY_<c98v  
The book is about a woman who lived her life, from earliest childhood, at the centre of the Vietnam War. This is her story of love and loss. It is the story of all women who have lived through a war, with only their love, hope and faith in God to give them the strength to go on living. A great biography of an amazing family! &N\4/'wV  
7. Title:_________________________________________ 2kV{|`1  
If you think the world's weather disasters hit us more often and with more power, you are right. Ten of the last eleven years have been the hottest in the past 150 years, filled with hurricanes, floods and droughts worse than ever. Why? The book explains the extreme weather that we experience today, as the result of human history and environmental pollution. The book reads as a terrifying forecast for the twenty-first century.