3 Discussing environmental issues Listening: Not a new idea – Severn CullisSuzuki’s speech at the UN Earth Summit 1992 a) You are going to listen to a speech by environmental activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki from Canada, which she held at the Earth Summit when she was 13 years old. First you will have 45 seconds to study the task below, then you will hear the recording twice. While listening, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) for each question (1–5). Put a cross ( ✘) in the correct box. The first one (0) has been done for you. 0 Who paid for Severn’s trip to Rio? a) Severn’s parents asked the ECO for help. b) Her friends Vanessa, Morgan and Michelle gave her the money. c) The UNO raised the money to travel there. d) She paid for the trip herself. ✘ 1 What has Severn stopped doing because of environmental issues? a) going out in the Sun b) going fishing c) doing sports outside d) using chemicals to protect her plants 2 According to Severn, how is she similar to the adults at the Summit? a) Neither she nor the adults can solve all environmental problems. b) When the adults were her age they also worried rainforests would cease to exist. c) They are both afraid of the holes in our ozone layer. d) Everyone is a father or mother of someone else. 3 What does she say about the behaviour of the Western world? a) People spend more money than they have. b) People refuse to donate to underprivileged people. c) They have set an example in acting together towards a single goal. d) They are afraid to talk about their thoughts and feelings openly. 4 What did Severn think when she saw children her age living in poverty? a) The place in which you are born determines your opportunities in life. b) People should donate more money to help children in Somalia. c) More children than adults are victims of war in the Middle East. d) She would give all the street children food, clothes and medicine. 5 What does Severn expect from grown-ups? a) to compile a list of priorities b) to let their children decide in what kind of world they want to grow up c) to take active measures to protect the future of the planet d) to attend more of these conferences b) Listen to the speech again and make a list of: • the points she raised • the arguments Severn used • the rhetorical devices in her speech c) Comment on your observations: Which arguments and rhetorical devices do you find most convincing? Why? VIP file Severn Cullis-Suzuki was born in 1979 and raised in Vancouver. When she was 13, she gave this speech at the Rio Earth Summit, for which she received a standing ovation. She is now an environmental activist who travels around the world talking with people about their roles in enforcing a sustainable, responsible future for our planet. V 1 06c 44 Saving the planet Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU2NDQ5MQ==