The paper industry is under scrutiny for using a lot of water. Even though paper is seen as better for the environment than plastic, making paper uses a ton of water. With the climate changing, people are worried that the industry isn’t moving fast enough to use less water.
Uruguay recently opened one of the world’s biggest pulp mills, the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility. This happened during the country’s worst-ever drought, which made people start talking about how much water the industry uses. The mills turn wood into cellulose, which is then sent out to make paper. The new facility is expected to double Uruguay’s total cellulose output, which has people worried about how it will affect water resources.
UPM says it’s using new technologies to save water. For example, the company reuses water many times before treating and putting it back into the river. But some people are worried that the treated waste water might pollute the water and harm the local environment.
People are also worried about how eucalyptus and pine tree plantations affect water levels and biodiversity. While industry experts say there’s no proof that the plantations lower water levels, environmental scientists warn that the plantations could change the soil and reduce biodiversity.
Even though the industry is trying to use less water and be better for the environment, we need to keep checking on it to make sure it’s doing things in a sustainable way and not harming the environment too much.
Original news source: Does the paper industry need to cut its water usage? (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Pair up with a classmate and take five minutes to discuss the article and summarize it in your own words. Focus on the main points: the paper industry’s water usage, the new pulp mill in Uruguay, concerns about water resources, and the measures being taken to address these issues.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: I will read a series of statements related to the article. On a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), rate your opinion on each statement. We will then discuss the results as a class and compare our views on the sustainability of the paper industry.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Individually, you will draw a simple diagram that illustrates the process of paper production and the potential environmental impacts mentioned in the article. Include the water cycle in the paper industry and any measures to mitigate environmental damage. Share your diagram with a partner and explain it in English.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: You will be divided into two teams. One member from each team will come to the front and be given a word or phrase related to the article (e.g., cellulose, biodiversity, sustainable). Without speaking, the player must draw the word while their team tries to guess it within a time limit.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In groups, discuss and write down your predictions about the paper industry based on the article. Consider the advancements in technology, environmental concerns, and resource management. Share your predictions with the class and discuss the likelihood and implications of these future scenarios.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What environmental concern is the paper industry facing due to its production processes?
2. How does the public perceive paper in comparison to plastic in terms of environmental impact?
3. What significant event in Uruguay has brought attention to the paper industry’s water usage?
4. What does the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility do with wood?
5. How might the new pulp mill in Uruguay impact the country’s water resources?
6. What measures is UPM taking to address concerns about water usage?
7. What are the concerns regarding eucalyptus and pine tree plantations?
8. Why is it important to continue monitoring the paper industry’s environmental practices?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The paper industry is under scrutiny for using a lot of water. Even though paper is seen as better for the environment than (1)______, making paper uses a ton of water. With the (2)______ changing, people are worried that the industry isn’t moving fast enough to use less water.
(3)______ recently opened one of the world’s biggest pulp (4)______, the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility. This (5)______ during the country’s worst-ever (6)______, which made (7)______ start talking about how much water the industry uses. The mills turn wood into cellulose, which is then sent out to make paper. The new facility is expected to double Uruguay’s total cellulose (8)______, which has people worried about how it will affect water resources.
UPM says it’s using new technologies to save water. For (9)______, the company reuses water many times before treating and putting it back into the river. But some people are worried that the treated waste water might pollute the water and harm the local (10)______.
People are also worried about how eucalyptus and pine tree plantations affect water levels and (11)______. While industry (12)______ say there’s no proof that the plantations lower water levels, (13)______ scientists warn that the plantations could change the soil and reduce biodiversity.
Even though the (14)______ is trying to use less water and be better for the environment, we need to keep (15)______ on it to make sure it’s doing things in a (16)______ way and not harming the environment too much.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is one thing you use every day that is made of paper?
2. How would you feel if we ran out of water because industries use too much?
3. Do you think it’s better to use paper bags or plastic bags when you shop? Why?
4. What are some ways you can save water at home or school?
5. Do you like the idea of big factories in your town? Why or why not?
6. How important is it to you that companies care about the environment?
7. What is biodiversity, and why do you think it might be important?
8. Do you think planting lots of trees could ever be bad for the environment? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever seen a river or lake get polluted? What happened?
10. What is one thing you think factories could do to use less water?
11. How would you feel if a new factory opened near where you live?
12. Do you think your country should make rules for how much water industries can use?
13. What is climate change, and how do you think it could affect our water supply?
14. Can you think of any products that could replace paper and be better for the environment?
15. Do you believe that big companies usually tell the truth about how they protect the environment? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. industry
2. scrutiny
3. pulp
4. facility
5. biodiversity
6. plantations
7. cellulose
8. sustainable
Meanings:
(a) The process of carefully examining something
(b) The practice of using resources in a way that doesn’t harm the environment
(c) The material that makes up the cell walls of plants
(d) A group of trees that have been planted in a specific area
(e) The range of different species in an ecosystem
(f) The variety of living things in a specific area
(g) A place where something is made or produced
(h) The economic activity of processing raw materials into goods
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the main concern about the paper industry’s water usage?
(a) It uses too much electricity
(b) It uses a lot of water
(c) It produces too much waste
(d) It emits too much CO2
2. What did Uruguay recently open?
(a) One of the world’s biggest pulp mills
(b) A new plastic factory
(c) A large recycling plant
(d) A new shopping mall
3. What does the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility turn wood into?
(a) Cellulose
(b) Plastic
(c) Metal
(d) Glass
4. What are people worried about regarding the new UPM facility in Uruguay?
(a) How it will affect air quality
(b) How it will affect wildlife
(c) How it will affect water resources
(d) How it will affect traffic
5. How does UPM say it’s saving water at the new facility?
(a) By using less water
(b) By using water from the ocean
(c) By not using any water at all
(d) By reusing water many times
6. What are some people worried about regarding the treated waste water from the UPM facility?
(a) That it might be too clean
(b) That it might not be treated properly
(c) That it might pollute the water and harm the local environment
(d) That it might not be enough to water the plants
7. What are people concerned about regarding eucalyptus and pine tree plantations?
(a) How they affect the weather
(b) How they affect the price of paper
(c) How they affect the local economy
(d) How they affect water levels and biodiversity
8. What is the main message of the article?
(a) We should stop using paper altogether
(b) We need to make sure the paper industry is using water in a sustainable way
(c) The paper industry is doing a great job at conserving water
(d) We should focus on other environmental issues instead
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Some people are unconcerned that the treated waste water from the pulp mill could pollute the water and harm the local environment.
2. Despite paper being considered less environmentally friendly than plastic, making paper requires an insignificant amount of water.
3. Despite efforts to increase water usage and be less environmentally friendly, ongoing monitoring is unnecessary to ensure the paper industry is operating in a sustainable manner and causing excessive harm to the environment.
4. There is debate over whether eucalyptus and pine tree plantations, used as a source of wood for the pulp mills, affect water levels and biodiversity.
5. The opening of a small pulp mill in Uruguay has raised no concerns about the industry’s water usage, especially during a severe drought in the country.
6. The paper industry is being criticized for using a large amount of water in its production process.
7. The new pulp mill in Uruguay is expected to double the country’s cellulose output, leading to worries about its impact on water resources.
8. UPM, the company behind the new pulp mill, claims to be using new technologies to save water, such as reusing water multiple times before treating and returning it to the river.
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. What environmental concern is associated with the paper industry, and why is it a problem?
2. What significant event in Uruguay has brought attention to the paper industry’s water usage?
3. How is the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility planning to address the issue of water usage?
4. What are some people worried about regarding the treated waste water from the mills?
5. Aside from water usage, what other environmental impact is associated with eucalyptus and pine tree plantations?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What environmental concern is the paper industry facing due to its production processes?
The paper industry is using a lot of water, which is a big problem, especially with climate change causing more droughts.
2. How does the public perceive paper in comparison to plastic in terms of environmental impact?
People usually think paper is better for the environment than plastic.
3. What significant event in Uruguay has brought attention to the paper industry’s water usage?
The opening of the UPM Paso de Los Toros pulp mill, one of the world’s biggest, during a severe drought has made people notice how much water the paper industry uses.
4. What does the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility do with wood?
The facility turns wood into cellulose, which is then used to make paper.
5. How might the new pulp mill in Uruguay impact the country’s water resources?
The new mill might use a lot of water, which is concerning because it could affect the already limited water resources.
6. What measures is UPM taking to address concerns about water usage?
UPM says it’s using new tech to save water by reusing it many times and then treating it before putting it back into the river.
7. What are the concerns regarding eucalyptus and pine tree plantations?
People worry that these tree plantations might lower water levels and hurt biodiversity.
8. Why is it important to continue monitoring the paper industry’s environmental practices?
It’s important to keep an eye on the industry to ensure it’s being sustainable and not damaging the environment too much.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) plastic
(2) climate
(3) Uruguay
(4) mills
(5) happened
(6) drought
(7) people
(8) output
(9) example
(10) environment
(11) biodiversity
(12) experts
(13) environmental
(14) industry
(15) checking
(16) sustainable
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. industry
Answer: (f) The variety of living things in a specific area
2. scrutiny
Answer: (g) A place where something is made or produced
3. pulp
Answer: (a) The process of carefully examining something
4. facility
Answer: (c) The material that makes up the cell walls of plants
5. biodiversity
Answer: (b) The practice of using resources in a way that doesn’t harm the environment
6. plantations
Answer: (d) A group of trees that have been planted in a specific area
7. cellulose
Answer: (h) The economic activity of processing raw materials into goods
8. sustainable
Answer: (e) The range of different species in an ecosystem
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the main concern about the paper industry’s water usage?
Answer: (b) It uses a lot of water
2. What did Uruguay recently open?
Answer: (a) One of the world’s biggest pulp mills
3. What does the UPM Paso de Los Toros facility turn wood into?
Answer: (a) Cellulose
4. What are people worried about regarding the new UPM facility in Uruguay?
Answer: (c) How it will affect water resources
5. How does UPM say it’s saving water at the new facility?
Answer: (d) By reusing water many times
6. What are some people worried about regarding the treated waste water from the UPM facility?
Answer: (c) That it might pollute the water and harm the local environment
7. What are people concerned about regarding eucalyptus and pine tree plantations?
Answer: (d) How they affect water levels and biodiversity
8. What is the main message of the article?
Answer: (b) We need to make sure the paper industry is using water in a sustainable way
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Some people are unconcerned that the treated waste water from the pulp mill could pollute the water and harm the local environment. (Answer: False)
2. Despite paper being considered less environmentally friendly than plastic, making paper requires an insignificant amount of water. (Answer: False)
3. Despite efforts to increase water usage and be less environmentally friendly, ongoing monitoring is unnecessary to ensure the paper industry is operating in a sustainable manner and causing excessive harm to the environment. (Answer: False)
4. There is debate over whether eucalyptus and pine tree plantations, used as a source of wood for the pulp mills, affect water levels and biodiversity. (Answer: True)
5. The opening of a small pulp mill in Uruguay has raised no concerns about the industry’s water usage, especially during a severe drought in the country. (Answer: False)
6. The paper industry is being criticized for using a large amount of water in its production process. (Answer: True)
7. The new pulp mill in Uruguay is expected to double the country’s cellulose output, leading to worries about its impact on water resources. (Answer: True)
8. UPM, the company behind the new pulp mill, claims to be using new technologies to save water, such as reusing water multiple times before treating and returning it to the river. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
