GRAMMAR POINT

Definite Article: the The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example: "The dog that bit me ran away." >>> Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me. "I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" >>> Here, we're talking about a particular policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman because it is the one who saved the cat. "I saw the elephant at the zoo." >>> Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is only one elephant at the zoo. Countable and Uncountable Nouns The can be used with uncountable nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely. "I love to sail over the water" (some specific body of water), or "I love to sail over water" (any water). "He spilled the milk all over the floor" (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier that day), or "He spilled milk all over the floor" (any milk). "A/an" can be used only with count nouns. "I need a bottle of water." "I need a new glass of milk." Geographical use of the There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns. Do NOT use the before: - names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States - names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami - names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.

- names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes - names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn - names of continents (Asia, Europe) - names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands Do use the before: - names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific - points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole - geographical areas: the Middle East, the West - deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula No article (Zero article) We use zero article with plural and uncountable nouns when we are referring to things in general. For example: Tennis is a beautiful game. French chefs make the best cooks. Cheese in France is usually made from cows' or goats' milk. But note, when we want to be specific, the definite article is needed: The tennis played by Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon this year was awesome. The French chef at La Caprice is one of the best in the south east. I'm still eating the cheese I bought in France last month. It's delicious. Common nouns: no article With commonly used nouns when there is general reference and when they are used with prepositions there is normally no article: school, college, university By law in England you have to go to school when you reach the age of five. At college or university you have more time for self-study.

work, home, bed After work I like to meet my friends before I go home. She was not at home or she was in bed asleep when I called. prison, hospital, church If you commit a crime, you may have to go to prison. If you have a serious illness, you will get the best care in hospital. I used to go to church every Sunday when I was a child. breakfast, lunch, dinner For breakfast I need lots of orange juice and strong coffee to get me going. After lunch I always have a snooze before starting work again. And then I can work on without a break until dinner. Seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter In winter I always seem to need more sleep than in summer. You can harvest strawberries in early spring in Spain and Morocco. Holidays: Christmas, New Year, Easter After Christmas with my parents I like to spend New Year with my friends. On New Year's Eve there are lots of fireworks on the river in our town. Means of transport: bike, train, foot, bus, car You'll get there faster by bike than by bus or car. It's probably safest, though, to go on foot. Note, however, that for specific reference, the definite article will be necessary: The church I went to as a child has been converted into a bingo hall. The lunch they prepared to celebrate my birthday was stunning. The summer of 1979 remains one of the wettest on record.

Practice: Fill in the article a, an or the where necessary 1) I like _____ blue T-shirt over there better than _____ red one. 2) Their car does 150 miles _____ hour. 3) Where's _____ USB drive I lent you last week? 4) Do you still live in _____ Bristol? 5) Is your mother working in _____ old office building? 6) Carol's father works as _____ electrician. 7) The tomatoes are 99 pence _____ kilo. 8) What do you usually have for _____ breakfast? 9) Ben has _____ terrible headache. 10) After this tour you have _____ whole afternoon free to explore the city. 11) Whats _____ date today? Its _____ 9th of June. 12) She wants to be _____ architect but she isnt good at _____ Maths. 13) Please clean up _____ bathroom. You left _____ terrible mess there. 14) He is fourteen but he behaves like _____ small child. 15) Lets wait for _____ others. Perhaps they will want to go to _____ cinema with us. 16) What is _____ capital city of _____ Czech Republic? 17) She is not working at _____ moment. She is _____ unemployed technician. 18) We arrived _____ home at six oclock in _____ morning. 19) Dont make _____ noise. I have _____ headache. 20) She bought _____ American car. 21) Whats the capital of _____ France? 22) He likes listening to _____ radio and to records. 23) She lives in _____ north of _____ Spain but her parents _____ live in _____ east. 24) Its _____ shame that we dont live in _____ same city. 25) Do you like _____ exams?

READING
(5 minutes)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

(30 45 seconds / question) 1. According to the article, what causes 40% of the world's premature deaths? A. air pollution B. soil pollution C. water pollution D. a combination of the above 2. What is the main reason people die of waterborne illnesses? A. people pollute the water while fishing B. climate change affects the quality of the water C. water treatment facilities are too expensive D. people don't clean with hot water 3. Which is the main cause of lung cancer in third world countries? A. carcinogens in the water supply B. indoor air pollution C. hazardous waste in the home D. Los Angeles factories 4. According to the article, where is cancer the leading cause of death? A. California B. Toronto C. Beijing D. Europe 5. Which is NOT mentioned as a source of soil pollution? Choose two. A. dumping of hazardous wastes B. use of pesticides C. smoke from factories D. acid rain

VOCABULARY THE ENVIRONMENT WORDS

acid rain (n)
ma acid

animal rights activist(s) (n) battery farming (n) = factory farming # free range farming
trang tri cng nghip, chn nui cng nghip

biodegradable packaging : boxes, cartons and cans which can easily be decomposed by organisms such as bacteria, or by sunlight, sea, water, etc.
ti sinh hc

breed (v) (bred bred) : produce (offspring); give birth to

gy ging

captivity (n) : the condition of being captive imprisonment

s giam cm

carcinogen (n)
cht gy ung th

contaminated (a) : polluted, poisoned

nhim

domestic (a)
trong nh, trong nc

dump (n/v)
rc/x rc

(urban) dweller(s) (n)

dn, c dn (thnh th)

ecosystem(s) (n)
h sinh thi

emission(s) : gases and other substances

kh thi

endangered species (n) environmentalist(s) (n)

nh mi trng hc

erosion (n) : gradual wearing away

xi mn

extinct (a) : no longer existing or living

tuyt chng

fossil fuels (n) genetically modified (GM)

bin i gene

global warming (n) greenhouse (gases / effects) (n)

(kh thi/hiu ng) nh knh

Green Belt (n) : area of farming land or woods and parks which surrounds a town
vnh ai xanh, vnh ai thc vt

hazardous (a) : dangerous, risky (hazardous waste)

nguy him (cht thi nguy him)

natural behavior(s) (n) organic (a) : cultivated naturally, without using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
hu c, t nhin

outbreak (n/v)
bng n

poach (v) : hunt or fish illegally

sn trm, cu trm

rainforest(s) (n)
rng ma nhit i

rare breed(s) (n) : unusual animals

th him

sewage (n)
nc cng, rc cng

unleaded petrol/gasoline (n)

xng khng ch

ventilation (n)
thng gi, thng hi

Practice: 'Environmental degradation is a major world problem. What causes this problem, and what can we do to prevent it?' There is no doubt that the environment is in trouble. Factories burn 1._______________ which produce 2._______________, and this kills trees. At the same time, 3._______________ gases rise into the air and contribute to 4._______________, which threatens to melt the polar ice cap. Meanwhile farmers clear huge areas of 5._______________ in places such as the Amazon to produce feeding land for cattle or produce wood for building. Rivers and oceans are so heavily 6._______________ by industrial waste that it is no longer safe to go swimming. Cars pump out poisonous 7._______________ which we all have to breathe in. 8._______________, and overfishing are killing off millions of animals, including whales, elephants and other 9._______________ . In fact, all around us, all living things large and small which comprise our finely balanced 10._______________ are being systematically destroyed by human greed and thoughtlessness. There is a lot we can all do, however, to help prevent this. The easiest thing, of course, is to 11._______________ waste material such as paper and glass so that we can use it again. We should also check that the things we buy from supermarkets are packaged in 12._______________ packaging which decomposes easily. At the same time, we should make a conscious effort to avoid foods which are 13._______________ (at least until someone proves that they are safe both for us and for the environment). If you are truly committed to protecting the environment, of course, you should only buy 14._______________ fruits and vegetables, safe in the knowledge that they have been naturally cultivated. Finally, of course, he should buy a small car that uses 15._______________ which is less harmful to the environment or, even better, make more use of public transport. The serious 16._______________, however, do much more. They are aware of the global issues involved and will actively involve themselves in 17._______________ by making sure our forests are kept safe for future generations. They will oppose activities which are harmful to animals, such as 18._______________. And they will campaign to keep the 19._______________ around our towns and cities free from new building. We cannot all be as committed as them, but we can at least do our own little bit at grass roots level. We, as humans, have inherited the earth, but that doesn't mean we can do whatever we like with it.