The government of England has said that they will be adding more places where people can swim in rivers and be monitored. They have chosen 27 new spots, mostly on rivers, where they will test the water for pollution during the summer. But it’s important to know that just because a place is officially designated as a swimming spot, it doesn’t mean that the water is clean. Right now, two of the river spots on the list are rated as “Poor”. Even so, people who like to swim in rivers, like Alison Biddulph from Shropshire, are hopeful that the designations will make local communities take action to clean up the water.

The Water Minister, Robbie Moore, has said that he is committed to making sure that the water in the sea, rivers, and lakes is clean for everyone to use and for the environment. Last year, out of the 423 swimming spots they tested in England, 405 met at least the minimum standard. But the number of spots rated as “Excellent” went down, and the number rated as “Poor” was the highest it’s been since 2015. The designated spots are tested by the Environment Agency during the swimming season, and the results are put on their website for everyone to see.

The testing process involves looking at samples of the water to see if there are any bacteria, like e. coli and intestinal enterococci, which could mean that there’s poop in the water. If a swimming spot has too much bacteria, it gets a “Poor” rating and a sign is put up to tell people not to swim there. The Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxford is an example of a river spot that has had a hard time. Even though it was designated as a swimming spot two years ago, the water quality has always been rated as “Poor”. But because it was designated, more people have been paying attention and trying to make the water better.

It’s important to know that if a swimming spot is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row, it loses its designation and they stop testing it. So it’s really important to fix the water pollution problem and make sure that the swimming spots meet the right standards.

Original news source: 27 new wild swimming sites for England – but are they clean? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and then create a brief summary of the main points. They should focus on the government’s plan to add more swimming spots, the issue of water pollution, and the impact on local communities. Afterward, groups can share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Students will be divided into groups and given a set of questions related to the article. They will take turns asking and answering the questions, recording their group members’ opinions. The questions can include: Do you think it’s important to have designated swimming spots? Should the government do more to clean up water pollution? What actions can local communities take to improve water quality? After the discussion, each group will share their findings with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Students will work in pairs or small groups. Each group will be given a list of vocabulary words from the article related to water and pollution. One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture representing it, while the rest of the group tries to guess the word. They can use English definitions, synonyms, or descriptions to guide their guesses. The group that correctly guesses the most words wins.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to create catchy headlines related to the article. The headlines should capture the main idea and attract readers’ attention. Once they have brainstormed their headlines, they can share their ideas with the class and discuss why they chose certain words or phrases.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Students will work in pairs or small groups to discuss the pros and cons of designating swimming spots and testing water quality. They should consider the benefits and drawbacks for both individuals and the environment. After the discussion, each group will present their arguments to the class and engage in a debate, taking turns defending their positions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the government of England planning to do with the rivers?
2. Does the designation of a swimming spot guarantee that the water is clean?
3. Why are some people hopeful about the new designations?
4. What is the Water Minister’s goal regarding the cleanliness of water?
5. How many swimming spots met the minimum standard last year?
6. How are the results of the water testing made available to the public?
7. What does the testing process involve?
8. What happens to a swimming spot if it is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The government of England has said that they will be (1)______ more (2)______ where (3)______ can swim in rivers and be monitored. They have chosen 27 new spots, mostly on rivers, where they will test the water for pollution during the summer. But it’s important to know that just because a place is officially designated as a (4)______ spot, it doesn’t mean that the water is clean. Right now, two of the river spots on the list are rated as “Poor”. Even so, people who like to swim in rivers, like Alison Biddulph from Shropshire, are hopeful that the designations will make local communities take action to clean up the (5)______.

The Water Minister, Robbie Moore, has said that he is (6)______ to making sure that the water in the sea, rivers, and lakes is clean for everyone to use and for the (7)______. Last year, out of the 423 swimming spots they tested in (8)______, 405 met at least the minimum standard. But the number of spots rated as “Excellent” went down, and the number rated as “Poor” was the highest it’s been since 2015. The designated spots are tested by the Environment Agency during the swimming season, and the results are put on their website for everyone to see.

The testing process involves looking at samples of the water to see if there are any (9)______, like e. coli and intestinal enterococci, which could mean that there’s poop in the water. If a swimming spot has too much bacteria, it gets a “Poor” rating and a sign is put up to tell people not to swim there. The (10)______ Mill (11)______ in Oxford is an example of a (12)______ spot that has had a hard time. Even though it was (13)______ as a swimming spot two (14)______ ago, the water quality has always been rated as “Poor”. But because it was designated, more people have been paying attention and trying to make the water better.

It’s important to know that if a swimming spot is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row, it loses its designation and they stop testing it. So it’s really important to fix the water (15)______ problem and make sure that the swimming (16)______ meet the right standards.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think about the idea of adding more places to swim in rivers?
2. How would you feel if you found out that a designated swimming spot had poor water quality?
3. Do you like swimming in rivers? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for local communities to take action to clean up the water in swimming spots? Why or why not?
5. What do you think the government should do if a swimming spot is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row?
6. How do you think the environment can be affected by polluted water in swimming spots?
7. Have you ever swum in a river? How was your experience?
8. Do you think the government is doing enough to ensure clean water in swimming spots? Why or why not?
9. What actions can individuals take to help improve the water quality in rivers and lakes?
10. How do you think the designation of swimming spots can raise awareness about water pollution?
11. What do you think are the consequences of swimming in polluted water?
12. How would you feel if a swimming spot you often visit was no longer designated due to poor water quality?
13. Do you think it’s important for the government to regularly test and monitor swimming spots? Why or why not?
14. What measures do you think can be taken to prevent water pollution in rivers and lakes?
15. How do you think the testing and monitoring of swimming spots can impact tourism and local economies?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. designated
2. pollution
3. communities
4. committed
5. standard
6. bacteria
7. intestinal
8. enterococci
9. quality
10. samples
11. rating
12. attention
13. environment
14. agency
15. standards

Meanings:
(A) A type of bacteria found in the intestines
(B) Related to the intestines
(C) A level of quality or achievement
(D) Groups of people living in the same area
(E) Notice or focus on something
(F) How good or bad something is
(G) Dedicated to a cause or activity
(H) Officially chosen for a specific purpose
(I) A score or grade given to something
(J) An organization that provides a service
(K) Accepted levels of quality or achievement
(L) Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil
(M) Tiny living organisms that can cause disease
(N) The natural world around us
(O) Small parts taken to show what the whole is like
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the purpose of designating certain spots as official swimming spots?
(a) To provide more places for people to swim in rivers
(b) To monitor the water for pollution during the summer
(c) To encourage local communities to clean up the water
(d) To ensure that the water meets the minimum standard for swimming

2. How many swimming spots in England met at least the minimum standard last year?
(a) 423
(b) 405
(c) 27
(d) 2015

3. What happens if a swimming spot is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row?
(a) It loses its designation and is no longer tested
(b) It gets a sign telling people not to swim there
(c) It becomes an official swimming spot
(d) It is cleaned up by the local community

4. What bacteria are tested for in the water samples?
(a) salmonella and listeria
(b) streptococcus and staphylococcus
(c) e. coli and intestinal enterococci
(d) giardia and cryptosporidium

5. What is the highest rating a swimming spot can receive?
(a) Good
(b) Average
(c) Poor
(d) Excellent

6. Who is responsible for testing the designated swimming spots?
(a) The Environment Agency
(b) The Water Minister
(c) Local communities
(d) The government of England

7. How many new swimming spots have been chosen by the government of England?
(a) 405
(b) 27
(c) 423
(d) 2015

8. What is the main goal of the Water Minister?
(a) To designate more swimming spots in England
(b) To test the water for pollution during the summer
(c) To encourage local communities to take action to clean up the water
(d) To ensure clean water for everyone to use and for the environment

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. In the previous year, all of the tested swimming spots in England met at least the minimum standard.
2. The government of England plans to increase the number of monitored swimming spots in rivers.
3. The new designated swimming spots will be tested for pollution during the summer.
4. The official designation of a swimming spot guarantees clean water.
5. Swimmers like Alison Biddulph are doubtful that the designations will encourage communities to clean up the water.
6. Two of the river spots on the list are currently rated as “Poor” in terms of water quality.
7. The testing process involves checking for algae, which could indicate the presence of pollution in the water.
8. The Water Minister, Robbie Moore, is dedicated to ensuring clean water for everyone and the environment.
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 is the purpose of the government of England adding more swimming spots?
2. Does the designation of a swimming spot mean that the water is clean? Why or why not?
3. According to the Water Minister, what is his commitment regarding the cleanliness of water?
4. How are the swimming spots tested for pollution?
5. What happens to a swimming spot if it is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the government of England planning to do with the rivers?
The government of England is planning to add more places where people can swim in rivers and monitor the water for pollution.

2. Does the designation of a swimming spot guarantee that the water is clean?
No, the designation of a swimming spot does not guarantee that the water is clean.

3. Why are some people hopeful about the new designations?
Some people are hopeful because they believe the new designations will encourage local communities to take action and clean up the water.

4. What is the Water Minister’s goal regarding the cleanliness of water?
The Water Minister’s goal is to ensure that the water in the sea, rivers, and lakes is clean for everyone to use and for the environment.

5. How many swimming spots met the minimum standard last year?
Last year, 405 out of 423 swimming spots tested in England met at least the minimum standard.

6. How are the results of the water testing made available to the public?
The results of the water testing are made available to the public on the website of the Environment Agency.

7. What does the testing process involve?
The testing process involves taking samples of the water and checking for bacteria, such as e. coli and intestinal enterococci, which could indicate the presence of feces in the water.

8. What happens to a swimming spot if it is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row?
If a swimming spot is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row, it loses its designation and the testing is stopped.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) adding
(2) places
(3) people
(4) swimming
(5) water
(6) committed
(7) environment
(8) England
(9) bacteria
(10) Wolvercote
(11) Stream
(12) river
(13) designated
(14) years
(15) pollution
(16) spots
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. designated
Answer: (H) Officially chosen for a specific purpose

2. pollution
Answer: (L) Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil

3. communities
Answer: (D) Groups of people living in the same area

4. committed
Answer: (G) Dedicated to a cause or activity

5. standard
Answer: (C) A level of quality or achievement

6. bacteria
Answer: (M) Tiny living organisms that can cause disease

7. intestinal
Answer: (B) Related to the intestines

8. enterococci
Answer: (A) A type of bacteria found in the intestines

9. quality
Answer: (F) How good or bad something is

10. samples
Answer: (O) Small parts taken to show what the whole is like

11. rating
Answer: (I) A score or grade given to something

12. attention
Answer: (E) Notice or focus on something

13. environment
Answer: (N) The natural world around us

14. agency
Answer: (J) An organization that provides a service

15. standards
Answer: (K) Accepted levels of quality or achievement
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the purpose of designating certain spots as official swimming spots?
Answer: (c) To encourage local communities to clean up the water

2. How many swimming spots in England met at least the minimum standard last year?
Answer: (b) 405

3. What happens if a swimming spot is rated as “Poor” for five years in a row?
Answer: (a) It loses its designation and is no longer tested

4. What bacteria are tested for in the water samples?
Answer: (c) e. coli and intestinal enterococci

5. What is the highest rating a swimming spot can receive?
Answer: (d) Excellent

6. Who is responsible for testing the designated swimming spots?
Answer: (a) The Environment Agency

7. How many new swimming spots have been chosen by the government of England?
Answer: (b) 27

8. What is the main goal of the Water Minister?
Answer: (d) To ensure clean water for everyone to use and for the environment
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. In the previous year, all of the tested swimming spots in England met at least the minimum standard. (Answer: False)
2. The government of England plans to increase the number of monitored swimming spots in rivers. (Answer: True)
3. The new designated swimming spots will be tested for pollution during the summer. (Answer: True)
4. The official designation of a swimming spot guarantees clean water. (Answer: False)
5. Swimmers like Alison Biddulph are doubtful that the designations will encourage communities to clean up the water. (Answer: False)
6. Two of the river spots on the list are currently rated as “Poor” in terms of water quality. (Answer: True)
7. The testing process involves checking for algae, which could indicate the presence of pollution in the water. (Answer: False)
8. The Water Minister, Robbie Moore, is dedicated to ensuring clean water for everyone and the environment. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧