Discussion Starters

Deforestation
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. What do humans use forests for?

2. How does deforestation affect the food chain?

3. Why are consumers partly

to blame for deforestation?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with

the correct meanings on the right.

1. conversion a) the removal of a large portion of a forest

2. clear-cut (adjective) b) the natural home of a plant or animal

3. destruction c) the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

4. eliminate d) the effect something has on someone or something

5. habitat e) a rule that prevents or limits something

6. clear-cut (noun) f) likely to be harmed

7. impact g) the destroying of something

8. reforestation h) the replanting of a forest that has been destroyed or removed

9. susceptible i) to remove entirely

10. restriction j) definite, specific

11. carbon emissions k) the change from one form to another

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 Deforestation
Discussion Starters

Reading
DEFORESTATION
Do we need a clear-cut plan?

1. Deforestation refers to the destruction and conversion of forests. “To be without trees
Humans are largely responsible for the loss of forests. The cleared would, in the most
land is used for farming, housing, businesses, mining, and roads.
The resources are used for building materials, fuel, medicine, food,
literal way, to be
and paper. According to some estimates, up to half of the world’s without our roots.”
tropical rainforests have already been cleared for these purposes. —Richard Mabey
2. The majority of the earth’s plants and animals live in forests.
Deforestation disrupts the food chain. What will come of the
remaining species if we eliminate their habitat? According to
some experts, we will soon find out. Based on the current rate of
deforestation, the world’s rainforests could vanish within 100 years.

3. How did humans let this happen? Survival is the main reason.
Converting forests to agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation.
Farmers use clear-cutting to make land available for livestock and
crops. They rely on the income and the resources for survival. For
many years, farmers were unaware of the impact of deforestation.
Consumers are also to blame. Do you ever think about the trees
that were lost so that you could enjoy your daily coffee, tea, rice,
or peanuts? We are all contributors to deforestation.

4. Humans in many parts of the world are feeling the effects of

deforestation. Can the damage be undone? New restrictions
on clear-cutting have been introduced in some of the most
heavily forested nations, including Africa, South America, and
Southeast Asia. Governments are focusing on reforestation methods,
and are exploring ways to reverse the damage. Planting mixed forests
that are less susceptible to disease is one method. Learning how to
prevent soil erosion is also crucial.

5. When a tree falls, it releases carbon into the atmosphere.

What does this mean for global warming? According to some
scientists, approximately 20% of global carbon emissions result
from deforestation. That’s more than the carbon emissions
of all of the vehicles in the world!

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 Deforestation
Discussion Starters

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. Define deforestation.

2. What is the leading cause of deforestation?

3. Why does the reading mention coffee and tea?

4. What two reforestation methods are mentioned?

5. How does deforestation contribute to global warming?

Vocabulary Review
A. Chunking

Create five words or expressions Word List

by pairing the words that are • reverse • susceptible • the damage • to disease • emissions
commonly together in English. • global • warming • tropical • rainforest • carbon
Write a sentence for each example.

# Word/Expression Sentence

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 Deforestation
Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review cont.

B. Odd One Out

Circle the word or phrase that does NOT belong in the group.

1. a) habitat 3. a) clear-cut 5. a) carbon emissions

b) home b) definite b) atmosphere
c) restriction c) distinct c) environment
d) environment d) loss d) estimate

2. a) damage 4. a) eliminate 6. a) limitation

b) destruction b) affect b) rule
c) ruins c) impact c) restriction
d) impact d) influence d) destruction

Discussion Questions Critical Thinking

1. Discuss how the subtitle in this reading is a play IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS
on words. How would you answer the question?
Trees are useful for humans in so many different
2. Should reforestation be a global priority?
ways that it seems they are meant for us to use.
If yes, what can an everyday person
Do you think humans can find ways to use trees
do to help make it one? If no, why not?
without abusing the environment, or should
3. How does deforestation contribute to disasters forests be left untouched?
such as flooding and landslides? Can we call these
“natural disasters” if humans helped cause them?

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 Deforestation
Discussion Starters

Listening – Gap Fill

 http://blog.esllibrary.com/2014/02/19/deforestation/

Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

DEFORESTATION
Do we need a clear-cut plan?

1. Deforestation refers to the destruction and 4. Humans in many parts of the world are feeling
conversion of forests. Humans are largely the of deforestation. Can
for the loss of forests. the damage be undone? New restrictions
The cleared land is used for farming, housing, on clear-cutting have been introduced in some
businesses, mining, and roads. The resources are of the most heavily forested nations, including
used for building materials, fuel, medicine, food, Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.
and paper. According to some , are focusing on reforestation
up to half of the world’s tropical rainforests methods, and are exploring ways to reverse the
have already been for damage. Planting mixed forests that are less
these purposes. susceptible to disease is one method. Learning
how to prevent soil erosion is also crucial.
2. The majority of the earth’s plants and animals
live in forests. Deforestation 5. When a tree falls, it releases carbon into
the food chain. What will come of the the . What does this mean
remaining species if we eliminate their for global warming? According to some scientists,
habitat? According to some experts, we will approximately 20% of global carbon emissions
soon find out. Based on the current rate of result from deforestation. That’s more
deforestation, the world’s rainforests could than the carbon emissions of all of the
within 100 years. in the world!

3. How did humans let this happen? Survival

is the main reason. Converting forests to
is the leading cause of
deforestation. Farmers use clear-cutting to
make land available for livestock and crops.
They the income and the
resources for survival. For many years, farmers
were unaware of the impact of deforestation.
are also to blame. Do you ever
think about the trees that were lost so that you 5. atmosphere, vehicles
could enjoy your daily coffee, tea, rice, or peanuts? 4. effects, Governments
We are all contributors to deforestation. 3. agriculture, rely on, Consumers
2. disrupts, vanish
1. responsible, estimates, cleared

ANSWERS:

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 Deforestation
Discussion Starters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: TEACHING TIPS: LEVEL: Intermediate–Advanced

Students read about deforestation. See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide TIME: 1.5–2 hours
The lesson includes vocabulary review (https://esllibrary.com/courses/72/lessons/)
TAGS: discussion, environment,
exercises, comprehension questions, for a variety of ways to use the reading.
deforestation, clear-cutting,
and discussion questions. Audio is available for this lesson. Students can
global warming
access the audio via our podcast and iTunes.

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS A. CHUNKING

Have students work in small groups or as a class. Individual answers for sentences.

1. reverse the damage 4. tropical rainforest

B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
2. global warming 5. carbon emissions
1. k 3. g 5. b 7. d 9. f 11. c 3. susceptible to disease
2. j 4. i 6. a 8. h 10. e
B. ODD ONE OUT

Reading (and/or Listening) Invite students to explain why a word doesn’t fit.
Can they think of another word that does fit?
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. Discuss the quote.
1. c 2. d 3. d 4. a 5. d 6. d
You can also play the listening as your students read along. A gap-
fill version of the reading is available on page 5. Help your students
with vocabulary and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.
Discussion Questions & Critical Thinking

Comprehension Individual answers.

1. Deforestation is the destruction of forests for other purposes. AUTHOR’S NOTE:

2. The leading cause of deforestation
If you’re looking for an interesting film or book on deforestation,
is converting forests to agriculture.
try The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. It’s a great story for discussion!
3. The reading mentions coffee and tea to show that land
is cleared for the use of consumers around the world.
We are all contributors to this environmental problem.
4. The two reforestation methods mentioned are:
1) planting diverse forests that aren’t as susceptible to disease,
and 2) preventing soil erosion.
5. When trees fall, they release carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere.

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