The Amazon rainforest is very dry this year, the driest it has ever been. This is bad for the people and animals living there. Rivers are too low for boats, fires are burning, and plants are dying. Scientists are worried because the rainforest helps control the weather for the whole world.

People who live in the rainforest are having a hard time. One man, Oliveira Tikuna, says it’s never been this dry before. Rivers are so low that it’s hard for people to get things they need, like food and medicine. Many trees and plants are starting to die because it’s so dry.

If the rainforest keeps getting drier, it could change into a different kind of place with fewer trees, called a savannah. The rainforest holds a lot of carbon, which is important for keeping the air clean. But if it changes, it won’t hold as much carbon anymore. A scientist named Carlos Nobre says if we cut down too many trees and the world gets too warm, the rainforest could reach a point where it can’t go back to the way it was. People are trying to stop cutting down trees, but we need to do more to help the rainforest.

Original news source: Amazon drought: ‘We’ve never seen anything like this’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of flashcards with words related to the article (e.g. rainforest, dry, fire, tree, boat). One student from each group will pick a flashcard and act out the word without speaking, while the other group members try to guess the word.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students take turns summarizing the main points of the article in their own words. Encourage them to use the present tense and include key details such as the dryness of the rainforest, the impact on people and animals, and the potential consequences.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of statements related to the article (e.g. “Cutting down trees should be completely stopped” or “The Amazon rainforest will recover from the dryness”). Have the students discuss each statement and indicate whether they agree or disagree. Afterward, have a class discussion to share and compare opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Create a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. rainforest, dry, fire, carbon). Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will choose a word and draw it on the board while the other group members try to guess the word. Encourage the students to use gestures and facial expressions to convey meaning.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group the task of listing the pros of the rainforest getting drier (e.g. potential for new habitats, changes in biodiversity) and the other group the task of listing the cons (e.g. impact on people and animals, potential loss of carbon storage). Have each group present their lists and then facilitate a class discussion on the topic.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is it bad that the Amazon rainforest is very dry this year?
2. What are some problems that the people and animals living in the rainforest are facing because of the dryness?
3. Why is Oliveira Tikuna having a hard time in the rainforest?
4. What could happen if the rainforest keeps getting drier?
5. Why is it important for the rainforest to hold a lot of carbon?
6. What could happen if we cut down too many trees in the rainforest?
7. What can we do to help the rainforest?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The Amazon (1)______ is very dry this year, the driest it has ever been. This is bad for the people and animals living there. Rivers are too low for boats, fires are (2)______, and plants are dying. Scientists are worried because the rainforest helps control the (3)______ for the whole (4)______.

People who live in the rainforest are having a hard time. One man, (5)______ Tikuna, says it’s never been this dry before. Rivers are so low that it’s hard for people to get things they (6)______, like food and medicine. Many trees and plants are starting to die because it’s so dry.

If the rainforest keeps (7)______ drier, it could change into a different kind of place with fewer (8)______, called a savannah. The rainforest holds a lot of carbon, which is important for keeping the air clean. But if it (9)______, it won’t hold as much carbon anymore. A (10)______ named Carlos Nobre (11)______ if we cut down too many trees and the world gets too warm, the rainforest could (12)______ a point where it can’t go back to the way it was. People are trying to stop cutting down trees, but we need to do more to help the rainforest.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is the Amazon rainforest?
2. How do you think the people and animals living in the rainforest feel when it’s very dry?
3. Do you think it’s important for the rainforest to have a lot of trees? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you couldn’t get the things you need, like food and medicine?
5. Do you like plants? Why or why not?
6. What do you think will happen if the rainforest keeps getting drier?
7. How do you think the world would be different if the rainforest turned into a savannah?
8. Do you think it’s important to keep the air clean? Why or why not?
9. What do you think will happen if we cut down too many trees?
10. Do you think it’s good or bad that people are trying to stop cutting down trees? Why or why not?
11. How do you think we can help the rainforest?
12. Why do you think it’s important to protect the rainforest?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. rainforest
2. control
3. savannah
4. carbon
5. medicine
6. scientist
7. dry
8. worried
9. change
10. important
11. cutting
12. trying

Meanings:
(A) A place with lots of grass and not many trees
(B) A person who studies things to learn how they work
(C) To be in charge of something or make it work the way you want
(D) To make or become different
(E) Something that really matters or is needed
(F) Not wet; without water
(G) Feeling that something bad might happen
(H) A big forest with lots of rain, trees, and animals
(I) A stuff in the air that trees help keep clean
(J) To cut something down with a tool
(K) To make an effort to do something
(L) Things that help you feel better when you’re sick
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is the Amazon rainforest dry this year?
(a) There are too many rivers
(b) There are too many trees
(c) The animals drank all the water
(d) It hasn’t rained enough

2. How are people and animals affected by the dry rainforest?
(a) The animals are having a party
(b) It’s hard for people to get food and medicine
(c) People are swimming in the rivers
(d) The animals are building boats

3. What could happen if the rainforest keeps getting drier?
(a) It could turn into a desert with lots of water
(b) It could turn into a snowy forest
(c) It could turn into a savannah with fewer trees
(d) It could turn into a city with tall buildings

4. Why is the rainforest important for the whole world?
(a) It helps control the weather
(b) It has the best food
(c) It has the most animals
(d) It has the tallest trees

5. What does the rainforest hold a lot of?
(a) Water
(b) Rocks
(c) Air
(d) Carbon

6. What could happen if we cut down too many trees?
(a) The rainforest won’t hold as much carbon anymore
(b) The rainforest will become a desert
(c) The rainforest will have more trees
(d) The rainforest will become a snowy forest

7. What does Carlos Nobre say about the rainforest?
(a) It will always stay the same
(b) It could reach a point where it can’t go back to the way it was
(c) It will become a desert
(d) It will become a city

8. What do people need to do to help the rainforest?
(a) Cut down more trees
(b) Build more boats
(c) Stop cutting down trees
(d) Swim in the rivers

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The low water levels in the rivers are making it difficult for boats to navigate and for people to get the things they need, like food and medicine.
2. Efforts are being made to stop deforestation, but more needs to be done to protect and help the rainforest.
3. If the rainforest continues to get wetter, it could transform into a different type of environment called a desert, with fewer trees.
4. Scientists are not concerned because the rainforest plays a crucial role in controlling the weather for the entire world.
5. Planting more trees and global warming could reach a point where the rainforest can recover and return to its original state.
6. The Amazon rainforest is experiencing its driest year ever, which is causing problems for the people and animals living there.
7. The rainforest holds a lot of carbon, which helps keep the air clean, but if it changes, it won’t be able to hold as much carbon anymore.
8. The dry conditions are not causing fires to burn in the rainforest, further damaging the plants and trees.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why is the Amazon rainforest very dry this year?
2. What are some problems that the dry rainforest is causing for the people and animals living there?
3. How are the low rivers affecting the people who live in the rainforest?
4. What could happen to the rainforest if it keeps getting drier?
5. Why is it important to stop cutting down trees in the rainforest?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why is it bad that the Amazon rainforest is very dry this year?
It is bad because it can cause problems for the people and animals living there, and it can also affect the weather for the whole world.

2. What are some problems that the people and animals living in the rainforest are facing because of the dryness?
Some problems include low rivers which make it hard for boats to travel, fires burning, and plants dying.

3. Why is Oliveira Tikuna having a hard time in the rainforest?
Oliveira Tikuna is having a hard time because the rivers are too low for him to get things he needs, like food and medicine.

4. What could happen if the rainforest keeps getting drier?
If the rainforest keeps getting drier, it could change into a different kind of place with fewer trees, called a savannah.

5. Why is it important for the rainforest to hold a lot of carbon?
It is important because the rainforest helps keep the air clean by holding a lot of carbon.

6. What could happen if we cut down too many trees in the rainforest?
If we cut down too many trees in the rainforest, it could harm the rainforest and it may not be able to go back to the way it was.

7. What can we do to help the rainforest?
We can help the rainforest by not cutting down too many trees, and by doing more to protect and preserve it.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) rainforest
(2) burning
(3) weather
(4) world
(5) Oliveira
(6) need
(7) getting
(8) trees
(9) changes
(10) scientist
(11) says
(12) reach
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. rainforest
Answer: (H) A big forest with lots of rain, trees, and animals

2. control
Answer: (C) To be in charge of something or make it work the way you want

3. savannah
Answer: (A) A place with lots of grass and not many trees

4. carbon
Answer: (I) A stuff in the air that trees help keep clean

5. medicine
Answer: (L) Things that help you feel better when you’re sick

6. scientist
Answer: (B) A person who studies things to learn how they work

7. dry
Answer: (F) Not wet; without water

8. worried
Answer: (G) Feeling that something bad might happen

9. change
Answer: (D) To make or become different

10. important
Answer: (E) Something that really matters or is needed

11. cutting
Answer: (J) To cut something down with a tool

12. trying
Answer: (K) To make an effort to do something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is the Amazon rainforest dry this year?
Answer: (d) It hasn’t rained enough

2. How are people and animals affected by the dry rainforest?
Answer: (b) It’s hard for people to get food and medicine

3. What could happen if the rainforest keeps getting drier?
Answer: (c) It could turn into a savannah with fewer trees

4. Why is the rainforest important for the whole world?
Answer: (a) It helps control the weather

5. What does the rainforest hold a lot of?
Answer: (d) Carbon

6. What could happen if we cut down too many trees?
Answer: (a) The rainforest won’t hold as much carbon anymore

7. What does Carlos Nobre say about the rainforest?
Answer: (b) It could reach a point where it can’t go back to the way it was

8. What do people need to do to help the rainforest?
Answer: (c) Stop cutting down trees
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The low water levels in the rivers are making it difficult for boats to navigate and for people to get the things they need, like food and medicine. (Answer: True)
2. Efforts are being made to stop deforestation, but more needs to be done to protect and help the rainforest. (Answer: True)
3. If the rainforest continues to get wetter, it could transform into a different type of environment called a desert, with fewer trees. (Answer: False)
4. Scientists are not concerned because the rainforest plays a crucial role in controlling the weather for the entire world. (Answer: False)
5. Planting more trees and global warming could reach a point where the rainforest can recover and return to its original state. (Answer: False)
6. The Amazon rainforest is experiencing its driest year ever, which is causing problems for the people and animals living there. (Answer: True)
7. The rainforest holds a lot of carbon, which helps keep the air clean, but if it changes, it won’t be able to hold as much carbon anymore. (Answer: True)
8. The dry conditions are not causing fires to burn in the rainforest, further damaging the plants and trees. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧