Will or going to - The future of planet Earth - Reading and writing exercises (short text)

Read the text to answer activities 1 and 2.

Fire and rain

This year, communities around the world have experienced a dramatic increase in climate-related natural disasters, [...] leaving behind devastation. [...]

The extreme fires and storms of 2017 signify more than just a ‘new normal’. With each fraction of a degree that Earth’s average temperature increases, these fires and storms will increase in intensity.  […] Some evidence suggests that by midcentury, fires and storms could double in their destructive power. […]

The ‘new normal’ will be constant change; a growing intensity of storms, fires, and other extreme weather […]

Available at: <https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/11684/fire-and-rain/>. 

1. Based on what you read, answer: what is the objective of the text?

a) To tell a story about fire and rain.

b) To sell a product that helps people recycle.

c) To teach people how to be safe from fires and rains.

d) To alert people about the future environmental problems of our planet.

2. What sentence from the text represents a prediction for the future of the weather in planet Earth?

a) “[…] leaving behind devastation.”

b) “The extreme fires and storms of 2017 signify more than just a ‘new normal’.”

c) “The ‘new normal’ will be constant change; a growing intensity of storms, fires, and other extreme weather.”

d) “This year, communities around the world have experienced a dramatic increase in climaterelated natural disasters […]”

3. Match the parts to complete the questions about having a sustainable lifestyle.

a) Will you help

b) Are you

c) How are you going

d) What will you

(  ) to help stop global warming?

(  ) do to save energy?

(  ) your family recycle?

(  ) going to take long showers?

Now, find the answers to the questions above.

(  ) No. I’m going to take a 5-minute shower to save water.

(  ) I’m going to plant trees and ride a bike to reduce the CO2 production.

(  ) Yes. I will help my family separate plastics, glasses, papers and metals.

(  ) I will turn off the lights during the day and when they are not necessary.

4. You are going to create a short paragraph about the future of planet Earth. How will our planet be 50 years from now? Before you start, think about what will happen to the items below and organize your ideas in the chart.

5. Now, using the ideas you organized in activity 4, write your paragraph about the future of the planet 50 years from now. Tip: Don’t forget to use will or going to in your text.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Considering the paragraph you created on activity 5, answer the questions below:

a) Is your text organized in a paragraph?

Yes. ( ) No. ( )

b) Does your paragraph discuss the future of the planet 50 years from now?

Yes. ( ) No. ( )

c) Did you use will or going to in your text?

Yes. ( ) No. ( )

d) Did you mention every item from activity 4 in your paragraph?

Yes. ( ) No. ( )