November 27, 2009 Topic 1: “Will our planet survive?” Language focus: First conditional Topic 2: “Getting around in cities” Language focus: Second conditional.

November 27, 2009Topic 1: “Will our planet survive?”

Language focus: First conditional

Topic 2: “Getting around in cities”

Language focus: Second conditional

Vocabulary: Environmental issues

Match the photos with the headlines

bd

e

fc

a

1. Global warming-real or imagined? 2. Hope for forests? 3. One planet is not enough 4. US puts economy first 5. Wildlife habitats disappearing 6. Water – a global crisis

Answers

1 = b 2 = c 3 = a 4 = e 5 = d 6 = f

Vocabulary practice 1 Match the underlined words in A with their meanings in B1. the world’s resources

2. destroy

3. essential

4. destruction

5. global warming

6. habitat

7. incredible

8. survive

a. damage very badly

b. 100% necessary

c. impossible to believe

d. continue to exist

e. the noun of to destroyf. increase in the planet’s

temperature

g. oil, forests, waterh. natural home of a plant,

bird, or animal

Answers 1 = g 2 = a 3 = b 4 = e 5 = f 6 = h 7 = c 8 = d

Language focus 1 Read the sentences and answer the questions below1. If we don’t save these habitats, 20% of the world’s birds, animals,

and plants will disappear for ever.

2. If the USA works with other countries to reduce global warming, we’ll be able to limit the damage.

WHAT TENSES ARE THE UNDERLINED VERBS? DOES ‘IF’ INTRODUCE A PRESENT OR A FUTURE

CONDITION? DOES ‘WILL’ + INF. PREDICT A LIKELY (=PROBABLE) OR

UNLIKELY (=IMPROBABLE) EFFECT/RESULT? WHAT DO WE CALL THIS VERB TENSE (PART 1 + PART 2)?

Answers

1. …don’t save… & …works…: Present simple

…will disappear… & …’ll be able…: ‘will’ future

2. A future condition

3. A likely effect / result

3. First conditional

Language analysis 1 Use the First Conditional to express _________ and _________.

Write will or the Present Simple:

In a First Conditional sentence, use ________ after ‘if’

and _______ to express _______.

Answers

Use the First Conditional to express a future possibility and its result.

Write will + inf. or the Present Simple:

In a First Conditional sentence, use the Present

Simple after ‘if’ and will + infinitive to express

the result.

Language analysis 2 Read these sentences and answer the questions1. Some people say we can’t be sure global warming is

really happening. They say they’ll worry about it when we are sure.

2. It won’t be possible to save the planet if we don’t take action now.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE IN MEANING BETWEEN ‘WHEN’ IN SENTENCE 1 AND ‘IF’ IN SENTENCE 2?

WHICH WORD IS MORE CERTAIN?

Answers1. ‘When’ means that something will happen at a certain

moment in the future whereas ‘if’ means in case something happens.

2. ‘When’ is more certain than ‘if’.

NOW WRITE ‘IF’ AND ‘WHEN’ IN THE RIGHT PLACE:

Use ______ to express a possibility and ______ to express a certainty.

Reading practice Read the information and fill in the gaps

The world warms upThe world warms upIf we ______ (do) nothing to stop global warming, we _______ (see) big changes in the future. If world temperatures _______ (continue) to rise, as scientists have predicted, there _______ (be) less snow and some countries _______ (lose) their skiing industry. We ______ (have) hotter, drier summers and more wind and rain in winter.

The world warms upThe world warms upIf we ______ (do) nothing to stop global warming, we _______ (see) big changes in the future. If world temperatures _______ (continue) to rise, as scientists have predicted, there _______ (be) less snow and some countries _______ (lose) their skiing industry. We ______ (have) hotter, drier summers and more wind and rain in winter.

Answers

The world warms upThe world warms upIf we do nothing to stop global warming, we’ll see big changes in the future. If world temperatures continue to rise, as scientists have predicted, there will be less snow and some countries will lose their skiing industry. We’ll have hotter, drier summers and more wind and rain in winter.

The world warms upThe world warms upIf we do nothing to stop global warming, we’ll see big changes in the future. If world temperatures continue to rise, as scientists have predicted, there will be less snow and some countries will lose their skiing industry. We’ll have hotter, drier summers and more wind and rain in winter.

Reading practice Read the information and fill in the gaps

World’s capitals at riskWorld’s capitals at riskScientists believe that temperatures in Greenland ______ (increase) more than in other parts of the world. If this _______ (happen), the ice will melt completely and sea levels ______ (rise) by about 7 metres. They say this ______ (put) most of the world’s capitals under water.

World’s capitals at riskWorld’s capitals at riskScientists believe that temperatures in Greenland ______ (increase) more than in other parts of the world. If this _______ (happen), the ice will melt completely and sea levels ______ (rise) by about 7 metres. They say this ______ (put) most of the world’s capitals under water.

Answers

World’s capitals at riskWorld’s capitals at riskScientists believe that temperatures in Greenland will increase more than in other parts of the world. If this happens, the ice will melt completely and sea levels will rise by about 7 metres. They say this will put most of the world’s capitals under water.

World’s capitals at riskWorld’s capitals at riskScientists believe that temperatures in Greenland will increase more than in other parts of the world. If this happens, the ice will melt completely and sea levels will rise by about 7 metres. They say this will put most of the world’s capitals under water.

Reading practice Read the information and fill in the gaps

Water warsWater warsIn the future, people ______ (not fight) wars over oil, or religion, or politics, but over water. Nearly 40% of the world’s population depends on rivers from which two or more countries get their water. If these countries _______ (not have) enough water, they ______ (fight) wars to get it because without water they _______ (not survive).

Water warsWater warsIn the future, people ______ (not fight) wars over oil, or religion, or politics, but over water. Nearly 40% of the world’s population depends on rivers from which two or more countries get their water. If these countries _______ (not have) enough water, they ______ (fight) wars to get it because without water they _______ (not survive).

Answers

Water warsWater warsIn the future, people won’t fight wars over oil, or religion, or politics, but over water. Nearly 40% of the world’s population depends on rivers from which two or more countries get their water. If these countries don’t have enough water, they’ll fight wars to get it because without water they won’t survive.

Water warsWater warsIn the future, people won’t fight wars over oil, or religion, or politics, but over water. Nearly 40% of the world’s population depends on rivers from which two or more countries get their water. If these countries don’t have enough water, they’ll fight wars to get it because without water they won’t survive.

Which strategy/ies has each of these cities

implemented to reduce traffic congestion? Trondheim, Norway

Trondheim became the first city in the world to reduce traffic congestion by charging motorists to drive in the

city centre.

Singapore

Singapore also charges motorists, and its efficient public transport system makes private cars unnecessary for

most city journeys.

Zürich, Switzerland

In Zürich 40% of journeys are by public transport compared with 10 to 15% in most European cities and only 3% in

the USA.

Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba has a population of 2.5 million and has very few traffic jams. It is not a rich city but its fast, efficient bus

system transports 75% of city commuters.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Seven thousand employees who work at the Edinburgh

Business Park in Scotland’s capital city have been invited to join a car-sharing scheme.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

In the Netherlands and in Denmark more people use

bicycles than in other countries in Europe. There are cycle paths everywhere in city centres.

Listening practice 1 Listen to a TV panel discussion programme called Ask the panel. Match the speakers with their suggestions for reducing traffic congestion in cities.

John ___ Susanna ___ David ___ Kate ___ Nick ___

A Make people park outside the city centre and then take a bus.B Charge motorists for driving in city centres.C Get companies to organize car-sharing schemes for their staff.D Provide a really good inexpensive public transport system.E Encourage people to use bikes.

Answers

John = b

Susanna = d

David = e

Kate = a

Nick = c

Language focus 2 Read the sentences and answer the questions below1. If they organized car-sharing schemes, people from different

companies would join in.

2. If more people used bikes for short journeys, we’d have less traffic.

WHAT TENSE ARE THE UNDERLINED VERBS? DOES ‘IF’ INTRODUCE A REAL OR AN UNREAL SITUATION? DOES THE ‘IF’ CLAUSE EXPRESS A PRESENT OR A FUTURE

POSSIBILITY? OR BOTH? DOES ‘WOULD’ + INF. EXPRESS A LIKELY OR UNLIKELY

EFFECT/RESULT? WHAT DO WE CALL THIS VERB TENSE (PART 1 + PART 2)?

Answers

1. …organized… & …used…: Past simple

2. An unreal (or improbable) situation (=something that we imagine)

3. Both

4. An unlikey effect/result

5. Second conditional

Language analysis 3 Use the Second Conditional to talk about _________ and _________.

Write Past Simple or would + inf.:

In a Second Conditional sentence, use ________ after ‘if’

and _______ to express _______.

Answers

Use the Second Conditional to talk about an unreal or imaginary present or future possibility and its result.

Write Past Simple or would + inf.:

In a Second Conditional sentence, use the Past Simple

after ‘if’ and would + infinitive to express the result.

N.B. We often use ‘d instead of ‘would’

Language analysis 4 Conditional sentences with ‘be’:

1. If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling.

2. If cycling were safer, more people would travel that way.

3. If you were taller, you’d be more handsome.

We often use ‘were’ instead of ‘was’ after if with I / he / she/ it (see sentence 2). This is more correct, although people also say ‘was’. So sentence 2 would sound:

‘If cycling was safer, more people would travel that way’.

But in the expression ‘If I were you’ or if ‘I were in your shoes’ we

can only use ‘were’!!

Example: If I were you, I’d work hard to learn English

Language practice Complete the sentences using the Second Conditional

1. If I _____ (live) near my office, I _____ (walk) to work.2. She ______ (not drive) to work if there _____ (be) a good bus

service.3. If public transport _____ (not be) overcrowded, more people _____

(use) it.4. He ______ (cycle) to work if it _____ (be) safer.5. If our roads ______ (be) less crowded, journeys ____ (be) quicker.6. Fewer people _______ (drive) into city centres if we _______

(introduce) charges.

Answers

1. If I LIVED near my office, I’D WALK to work.

2. She WOULDN’T DRIVE to work if there WERE a good bus service.

3. If public transport WEREN’T overcrowded, more people WOULD USE it.

4. He’D CYCLE to work if it WERE safer.

5. If our roads WERE less crowded, journeys WOULD BE quicker.

6. Fewer people WOULD DRIVE into city centres if we INTRODUCED charges.

Listening practice 2 Listen to an extract from a radio programme about the best cities to live in. Tick to show which cities have the 1. best quality of life & 2. best restaurants, culture and leisure facilities City Best quality Best City Best quality Best

of life restaurants… of life restaurants…

Budapest Prague

B.Aires Sydney

Copenhagen Tokyo

Geneva Vancouver

London Vienna

Los Angeles Warsaw

Montevideo Washington DC

New York Yokohama

Paris Zürich

Answers

City Best quality Best City Best quality Best of life restaurants… of life restaurants…

Budapest + Prague +

B.Aires + Sydney + +

Copenhagen + Tokyo +

Geneva + Vancouver +

London + Vienna +

Los Angeles + Warsaw +

Montevideo + Washington DC +

New York + Yokohama +

Paris + Zürich +

Further reflection on topic & language: You can find explanations and further practice on First Conditional

(Periodo ipotetico 1° tipo) & Second Conditional (Periodo ipotetico 2° tipo) in English Grammar Gold Units 17.4 & 17.5.

You can also consult these websites:http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_2.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_3.htm http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/firstconditional/menu.p

hp http://www.english-for-students.com/Second-Conditional.html

info on topic ‘environment’ and on the coming meeting in Copenhagen ‘Countdown to Copenhagen’ at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006r4wn