The paper-making business uses a lot of water, and people are worried because there isn’t enough water for everyone and the Earth is getting warmer. People thought paper was better than plastic for the Earth, but now they see it can also cause problems. A big new place to make paper opened in a country called Uruguay, and it’s using lots of water from a river. This is happening when there isn’t much rain, and people need water to drink.

In the city of Montevideo in Uruguay, there wasn’t enough water for people to drink this year. People are upset because the places that make paper from wood are using too much water. The new paper place uses 129 million liters of water every day. The company that owns it says they are trying to use less water and clean it before putting it back, but some people are still worried about the dirty water.

Trees like eucalyptus and pine are grown a lot for making paper, but this can also cause problems for the Earth. In Uruguay, people are talking about how these tree farms might make the water go away, hurt the soil, and harm plants and animals. The paper business needs to find better ways to work without hurting the Earth so much. They need to take care of the water and the land.

Original news source: Does the paper industry need to cut its water usage? (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Start the class by summarizing the article in simple terms. Ask students to listen carefully. After the summary, have students write down three key points from the article in their notebooks. Pair students up and have them compare their notes. Discuss as a class to ensure understanding of the main issues presented in the article.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the paper-making business and its environmental impact based on the article (e.g., “The paper-making business should use less water,” “It’s okay to use water for paper production if it is cleaned before being returned to the environment”). Students will walk around the room and sign their names next to the statements they agree with. Afterward, discuss the results as a class and encourage students to explain their opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., “paper-making,” “eucalyptus,” “environment”). Divide the class into two teams. One student from the first team draws a word on the board without speaking or writing letters or numbers, while their team guesses the word. Alternate between teams and keep score. This activity helps reinforce new vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to list the pros (positive aspects) and the other group to list the cons (negative aspects) of the paper-making industry as described in the article. After a set amount of time, bring the class back together to share and discuss their lists.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to reflect on the article and write down their predictions about the future of the paper-making industry and its environmental impact. Students can then share their predictions with a partner and discuss what changes they think could be made to improve the situation. Finally, have a few pairs share their thoughts with the whole class to spark a group discussion.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the paper-making business using a lot of?
2. What are people worried about when it comes to paper-making?
3. Where did a big new place to make paper open?
4. What problem is the city of Montevideo in Uruguay having?
5. How much water does the new paper place use every day?
6. What kind of trees are grown for making paper?
7. What do people in Uruguay think the tree farms might do to the environment?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The paper-making business uses a lot of water, and people are worried because there isn’t enough water for everyone and the Earth is getting warmer. People thought paper was better than (1)______ for the Earth, but now they see it can also cause problems. A big new (2)______ to make paper (3)______ in a country called Uruguay, and it’s using lots of water from a river. This is happening when there isn’t much (4)______, and people need water to (5)______.

In the city of Montevideo in Uruguay, there wasn’t enough water for people to drink this (6)______. People are upset because the places that make paper from wood are using too much (7)______. The new paper place uses 129 million (8)______ of water every day. The company that owns it says they are (9)______ to use less water and clean it before putting it back, but some people are still worried about the dirty water.

Trees like eucalyptus and pine are grown a lot for making paper, but this can also cause (10)______ for the Earth. In Uruguay, people are (11)______ about how these tree farms might make the water go away, hurt the soil, and (12)______ plants and animals. The paper business needs to find better ways to work without hurting the Earth so much. They need to take care of the water and the land.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is paper made from?
2. How would you feel if your city didn’t have enough drinking water?
3. Do you think it’s important to save water? Why or why not?
4. Do you like using paper products? Why or why not?
5. What are some things you can do to use less water every day?
6. Do you think companies should be allowed to use a lot of water? Why or why not?
7. How do you think we can make paper without hurting the Earth?
8. What is a tree farm and do you think they are good or bad for the environment?
9. Have you ever seen a river with dirty water? How did it make you feel?
10. Do you think trees are important for the Earth? Why or why not?
11. Can you think of something that is made of plastic that can also be made of paper?
12. Do you think it’s a good idea to clean water before putting it back into rivers? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. paper
2. water
3. Earth
4. Uruguay
5. trees
6. drink
7. river
8. business

Meanings:
(a) Something you do when you’re thirsty
(b) The planet we live on
(c) Something we need to live, that comes from the tap
(d) A place where people work and make money
(e) Tall plants with leaves and branches
(f) A material made from wood or other plants
(g) A long, flowing stream of water
(h) A country in South America
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main concern about the paper-making business?
(a) It uses too much plastic
(b) It uses a lot of water and the Earth is getting warmer
(c) It is causing too much pollution
(d) It is cutting down too many trees

2. Where did a big new paper-making place open?
(a) Brazil
(b) Uruguay
(c) Argentina
(d) Chile

3. How much water does the new paper place in Uruguay use every day?
(a) 50 million liters
(b) 200 million liters
(c) 75 million liters
(d) 129 million liters

4. What are the trees that are grown a lot for making paper?
(a) Eucalyptus and pine
(b) Oak and maple
(c) Redwood and cedar
(d) Birch and poplar

5. What are people in Uruguay worried about regarding the tree farms for making paper?
(a) They might cause too much pollution
(b) They might cut down too many trees
(c) They might make the water go away, hurt the soil, and harm plants and animals
(d) They might not produce enough paper

6. What does the paper business need to find better ways to work without doing?
(a) Hurting the Earth so much
(b) Using too much plastic
(c) Cutting down too many trees
(d) Causing too much pollution

7. What does the company that owns the new paper place in Uruguay say they are trying to do?
(a) Use more water and put it back dirty
(b) Stop using water altogether
(c) Use the water for other things besides making paper
(d) Use less water and clean it before putting it back

8. What is the main concern for the people in Montevideo, Uruguay?
(a) There is too much pollution in the river
(b) The paper-making place is causing too much noise
(c) There isn’t enough water for people to drink
(d) The trees are being cut down too quickly

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. A big new paper-making place opened in Uruguay and it’s using a lot of water from a river.
2. The new paper place uses 129 thousand liters of water every day.
3. People in Uruguay are talking about how tree farms for paper-making might replenish the water, improve the soil, and benefit plants and animals.
4. Growing trees like eucalyptus and pine for making paper can cause problems for the Earth.
5. In Montevideo, Uruguay, there wasn’t enough water for people to drink this year.
6. The company that owns the paper place says they are trying to use less water and clean it before putting it back, but some people are still worried about the dirty water.
7. People used to think paper was worse than plastic for the Earth, but now they see it can also solve problems.
8. Paper-making conserves a lot of water, and people are relieved because there is enough water for everyone and the Earth is getting cooler.
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 are people worried about the paper-making business?
2. What is happening with the water in the city of Montevideo?
3. How much water does the new paper place in Uruguay use every day?
4. What is the company that owns the new paper place trying to do with the water?
5. What problems can growing trees for paper cause for the Earth?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the paper-making business using a lot of?
The paper-making business is using a lot of water.

2. What are people worried about when it comes to paper-making?
People are worried that paper-making uses too much water and it’s not good for the Earth because the Earth is getting warmer and there isn’t enough water for everyone.

3. Where did a big new place to make paper open?
A big new place to make paper opened in Uruguay.

4. What problem is the city of Montevideo in Uruguay having?
The city of Montevideo in Uruguay doesn’t have enough drinking water for people.

5. How much water does the new paper place use every day?
The new paper place uses 129 million liters of water every day.

6. What kind of trees are grown for making paper?
Trees like eucalyptus and pine are grown for making paper.

7. What do people in Uruguay think the tree farms might do to the environment?
People in Uruguay think the tree farms might make the water go away, hurt the soil, and harm plants and animals.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) plastic
(2) place
(3) opened
(4) rain
(5) drink
(6) year
(7) water
(8) liters
(9) trying
(10) problems
(11) talking
(12) harm
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. paper
Answer: (f) A material made from wood or other plants

2. water
Answer: (c) Something we need to live, that comes from the tap

3. Earth
Answer: (b) The planet we live on

4. Uruguay
Answer: (h) A country in South America

5. trees
Answer: (e) Tall plants with leaves and branches

6. drink
Answer: (a) Something you do when you’re thirsty

7. river
Answer: (g) A long, flowing stream of water

8. business
Answer: (d) A place where people work and make money
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main concern about the paper-making business?
Answer: (b) It uses a lot of water and the Earth is getting warmer

2. Where did a big new paper-making place open?
Answer: (b) Uruguay

3. How much water does the new paper place in Uruguay use every day?
Answer: (d) 129 million liters

4. What are the trees that are grown a lot for making paper?
Answer: (a) Eucalyptus and pine

5. What are people in Uruguay worried about regarding the tree farms for making paper?
Answer: (c) They might make the water go away, hurt the soil, and harm plants and animals

6. What does the paper business need to find better ways to work without doing?
Answer: (a) Hurting the Earth so much

7. What does the company that owns the new paper place in Uruguay say they are trying to do?
Answer: (d) Use less water and clean it before putting it back

8. What is the main concern for the people in Montevideo, Uruguay?
Answer: (c) There isn’t enough water for people to drink
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. A big new paper-making place opened in Uruguay and it’s using a lot of water from a river. (Answer: True)
2. The new paper place uses 129 thousand liters of water every day. (Answer: False)
3. People in Uruguay are talking about how tree farms for paper-making might replenish the water, improve the soil, and benefit plants and animals. (Answer: False)
4. Growing trees like eucalyptus and pine for making paper can cause problems for the Earth. (Answer: True)
5. In Montevideo, Uruguay, there wasn’t enough water for people to drink this year. (Answer: True)
6. The company that owns the paper place says they are trying to use less water and clean it before putting it back, but some people are still worried about the dirty water. (Answer: True)
7. People used to think paper was worse than plastic for the Earth, but now they see it can also solve problems. (Answer: False)
8. Paper-making conserves a lot of water, and people are relieved because there is enough water for everyone and the Earth is getting cooler. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧