TOEFL 4

TOEFL 4
Air Quality

Warm-up Activity
Speaking Activity
Reading Activity
Listening Activity
Reading Activity 2
TWE
Answer Key

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¤ Warm-up Activity: top

Instructions: Working with the people in your group, discuss the following vocabulary related to ‘air quality’ and complete the chart.

Vocabulary	Word Form	Definition/Explanation
Hazardous	Adjective	Something which is harmful to your health.
Carbon monoxide
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Emissions
Fossil Fuels
Ozone Layer
Pollution
Smog
Depletion
Respiratory
Haze
Carcinogen

Independent Task

E Speaking Activity: top

Instructions: Read the following question. On a piece of paper, take notes on the main points of a response. Then respond to the question.

----- Preparation Time: 15 seconds ----- Response Time: 45 seconds -----

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

“Many inventions which are designed to make our lives more comfortable

and convenient have had a detrimental impact on our environment."

Note to instructor: For a variation on this activity, assign the students 10 minutes to formulate their answer to this question on a piece of paper. Have the students share their responses with the rest of the class/group. As a follow-up, select two students to write their responses on the board for peer/instructor editing.

Integrated Task Part 1

$ Reading Activity top

Instructions: Read the following public service announcement. On a piece of paper, take notes on the main points of the reading passage.

----- Reading Time: 2 minutes -----

Air pollution can be detrimental to our health and has both short-term and long term consequences. Certain sectors of the population are at greater risk, especially young children and the elderly. Poor air quality can exacerbate many pre-existing health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease. Numerous factors such as duration of exposure and type of exposure determine the severity of the effects.

Short-term effects include upper respiratory infections (i.e. pneumonia and bronchitis) and mild irritation to the eyes and throat. Allergic reactions as a result of exposure to smog can trigger symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

Long-term health effects may entail chronic heart and lung disease, cancer and damage to vital organs (liver, kidneys). From an economic perspective, poor air quality costs provincial and federal governments millions of dollars every year in healthcare expenditures and losses due to absenteeism.

NOTES:

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Integrated Task Part 2

O Listening Activity top

Instructions: Listen to the following lecture given in an Earth Sciences Class. On a piece of paper, take notes on the main points of the lecture.

NOTES:

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¤ Now answer the following question:

----- Writing Time 20 minutes -----

How does the information presented in the listening passage relate to the ideas presented in the

reading passage?

Follow-up Task

$ Reading Activity top

Instructions: Read the text and answer the questions which follow.

[1] Although this may sound unbelievable to you, especially in light of the increasing number of smog advisories issued annually, the air above your head may be becoming cleaner. In an article published in the June (1984) issue of The European, Paul Novelli of the University of Colorado states that: “It seems as if the planet's own cleansing service has suddenly got a new lease on life. Suddenly, there are a lot of changes going on up there.” Fortunately for those of us who choose to reside in urban centers, this surprising reversal of decades of atmospheric deterioration extends from the mid-Pacific Ocean all the way to Antarctica. Consequently, this cleaning trend could have a dramatic impact on decreasing deaths and illnesses brought on by poor air quality.

[2] Scientists report that there has been a significant reduction in atmospheric pollutants such as carbon monoxide from car emissions and forest fires. In addition, methane which originates in the guts of cattle, and in natural gas fields and paddy fields, has shown a steady decline. According to the study published in The European, “levels of carbon monoxide have experienced the most dramatic reduction. In fact, concentrations have doubled since pre-industrial times, and were rising by one to two percent a year in the 1980's. But since 1991, they have fallen by a staggering six to seven percent each year.”

[3] So what’s to account for Mother Nature’s purging of toxins released into the atmosphere? Two theories have been put forth to account for the drop in atmospheric pollution. First, stricter emission laws and better emission controls are leading to cleaner air. Second, our planet appears to be getting more efficient in detoxifying our air. The primary planetary clean-up agent is known as hydroxyl. This atmospheric compound consists of tiny molecules that remove pollutants from the atmosphere through a process of oxidation. Ironically, one of our most pressing global concerns, the hole in the ozone layer, may actually be contributing to cleaning our air. According to Novelli, this may be “because of the ozone hole which allows more ultraviolet radiation into the lower atmosphere, where it manufactures hydroxyl.” Adding to this are the uncountable particles that are released into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions which are directly responsible for thinning the ozone layer. A case in point was the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 which spewed volcanic dust into the upper atmosphere. For the two years immediately following this geological event, scientists witnessed a significant reduction in levels of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. With the enlarging of the hole in the ozone layer comes an increase in the ultraviolet radiation which helps to burn off pollutants and in a sense, purify our air.

[4] I’m almost certain that hydroxyl is not the panacea to all of our environmental woes, but it’s sure nice for a change to have some good news about the environment. It’s also important to note that even if the air is becoming marginally cleaner, the hole in the ozone layer poses a significant health risk to everyone young and old.

1. The phrase “consequently” (in paragraph one) could be replaced by: (a) accordingly (b) notwithstanding (c) yet (d) a case in point

2. The word “staggering” (in paragraph two) is closest in meaning to: (a) obstruct (b) incredible (c) mundane (d) ubiquitous

3. The word “uncountable” (in paragraph three) is: (a) a noun (b) a verb (c) an adverb (d) an adjective

4. Based on the context of this passage, the phrase “the air is becoming marginally cleaner” (in paragraph four) most probably means: (a) The atmosphere has purged itself of all pollutants. (b) The outer border of our atmosphere is cleaner than it’s ever been. (c) Air quality has undergone a slight improvement. (d) Our environment has undergone drastic changes.

5. Provide your own synonym for the word “primary” (in paragraph 3) _________________.

Can you provide an antonym? ______________________

6. Use the word “witnessed” (in paragraph three) in your own sentence.

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7. What is a “panacea” (in paragraph four) and why would the author choose to use this word in this context? (Write your answer using sentence format.)

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8. Why does the author use the expression “a case in point” (in paragraph three)?

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Independent Writing Task

? TWE (Test of Written English) top

----- Writing Time 30 minutes -----

There is no doubt that our society is becoming increasingly reliant on the automobile for both business and pleasure. What can be done to curb our dependence on this mode of transportation in hopes of creating a ‘greener’ society? Use specific reasons and examples to defend your response.

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