ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

 

PROBLEM SOLUTION
1. Too much lead in air from car exhausts a. Make laws to control factory gas emissions
2. Logging forests to make pine bark b. Organise car-pooling between workers
3. House is too hot in summer and too cold in winter c. Better regulation of chemicals made and used by factories
4. Slowly rotting grass clippings make too much methane gas d. More regular car maintenance
5. Detergents in rivers kill fish e. Plant more trees
6. Electricity bill is too high f. Build dams that are friendly to the environment
7. Flooding g. Turn off lights when not in use
8. Old car that ‘blows smoke’ h. Use unleaded petrol
9. Too many poisonous factory gases i. Spread grass clippings out to speed up decay
10. Overpopulation j. Have fewer children
11. Too many car exhaust fumes k. Put insulation in roof and walls
12. Cats kill wildlife l. Make laws to control the movement of oil tankers
13. Too many toxic chemicals in waterways m. Use detergents that are phosphate-free
14. Non-decaying packaging n. Have air-circulating areas in the roof to release hot air
15. CFC gases from spray cans destroy the ozone layer o. Solar or wind-powered power stations
16. Noise pollution p. Walk or ride a bike more often
17. Oil spills in the ocean q. Use safer gases in spray cans
18. Detergents in rivers kill fish r. Kill cats in national parks
19. Too much sunlight enters windows to heat the house in summer s. Wash the car on the grass not the road so soapy water does not enter storm water drains
20. House is too hot in summer and too cold in winter t. Make bottles from recycled plastic
21. Plastic bait bags that strangle marine animals u. Install a solar hot water system
22. Too much litter v. Put litter in the bin
23. Electricity bill is too high w. Build wide verandahs to shade the windows
24. Too many insect pests x. Put all plastic bags in the bin and not in the ocean
25. Pollution from coal-burning power stations y. Use natural predators to kill insects pests not pesticides
26. Destruction of animal habitats by mining z. Have shorter showers
27. Damage to beaches by 4WDs aa. Restrict mining leases and encourage land reafforestation
28. Overfishing bb. Save the habitats of animals so they can breed successfully
29. Waste of too much fresh water in houses cc. Ban fishing in fish breeding grounds
30. Endangered or extinct animals dd. Ban 4WDs from certain beaches
31. Too much air pollution from tyre rubber vaporising into air ff. Use cardboard and not plastic packaging
32. Too many cars on the road with just one person gg. Make laws to have parks in new housing estates
33. Land clearing for more and more housing estates hh. Plant more trees to reduce soil salinity
34. Too many polluting soft drink bottles ii. Walk or ride a bike more often
35. Too much salt in the soil jj. Fine people who operate noisy

Exercise 12:Make a poster, depicting ecological problems and their solutions.

 
 

 


Exercise 13: Listen to the song “Pollution” and fill in the missing information:

Pollution

By Tom Lehrer, 1965

If you visit American city, You will find it very pretty. Just two things of which you must __________: Don't drink the water and don't __________ the air!   Pollution, pollution! We got smog and sewage and mud. Turn on your tap And get hot and cold __________ crud! See the halibuts and the sturgeons Being wiped out by detergeons. __________ gotta swim and birds gotta fly, But they don't last long if they try.   Pollution, pollution! You can use the latest __________, And then rinse your mouth With industrial waste.   Just go out for a breath of air And you'll be ready for Medicare. The city streets are really quite a thrill – If the hoods don't get you, the __________ will.   Pollution, pollution! Wear a gas mask and a veil. Then you can breathe, Long as you don't__________!   Lots of things there that you can drink, But stay away from the kitchen sink! The breakfast __________ that you throw into the Bay They drink at lunch in San Jose.   So go to the city, See the crazy __________ there. Like lambs to the slaughter, They're drinking the water And breathing [cough] the air!