Holland ordered to cut greenhouse gases

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A Dutch court has ordered the government to cut greenhouse gases by at least a quarter. This is, "to ensure that the Dutch emissions in the year 2020 will be at least 25 per cent lower than those in 1990." Environmentalists hope other nations will do the same. A Dutch politician said the court's ruling would have "far reaching consequences" around the world. The NGO Climate Analytics said the ruling was a "judicial warning" to governments worldwide.

Over 900 Dutch citizens took the Dutch government to court. Holland was behind other countries in cutting CO2 emissions. Its target was a 17 per cent reduction by 2020. The court said this was unacceptable and embarrassing for Holland. The Dutch government will work harder to close coal plants, increase the use of windmills, use more solar energy, and use other renewables. It will also cut the amount of gas it gets out of the ground.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33253772
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/06/24/dutch-class-action-suit-forces-government-to-cut-global-warming-emissions-faster/
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/06/24/Dutch-court-orders-government-to-cut-greenhouse-gases/2031435154828/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	ordered the government to	a.	lower
2.	by at	b.	the same
3.	25 per cent	c.	worldwide
4.	other nations will do	d.	politician
5.	A Dutch	e.	warning
6.	far reaching	f.	cut greenhouse gases
7.	a judicial	g.	least a quarter
8.	governments	h.	consequences

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Over 900 Dutch	a.	embarrassing
2.	took the Dutch government	b.	other countries
3.	Holland was behind	c.	renewables
4.	cutting CO2	d.	citizens
5.	unacceptable and	e.	energy
6.	use more solar	f.	out of the ground
7.	use other	g.	to court
8.	cut the amount of gas it gets	h.	emissions

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A Dutch (1) ___________________ the government to cut greenhouse gases by at least a quarter. This is, "(2) ___________________ the Dutch emissions in the year 2020 (3) ___________________ 25 per cent lower than those in 1990." Environmentalists hope other nations (4) ___________________. A Dutch politician said the court's ruling would have "far (5) ___________________ " around the world. The NGO Climate Analytics said the ruling was a "(6) ___________________" to governments worldwide.

Over 900 (7) ___________________ the Dutch government to court. Holland was behind other countries (8) ___________________ emissions. Its target was a 17 per cent (9) ___________________. The court said this was (10) ___________________ for Holland. The Dutch government will work harder to close coal plants, (11) ___________________ windmills, use more solar energy, and use other renewables. It will also cut the amount of gas it gets (12) ___________________.

GREENHOUSE GASES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about greenhouse gases in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about greenhouse gases for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site