The Water Hyacinth
The water hyacinth grow in tropical countries. It
has beautiful purple-blue flowers, but everybody hates it. Why?
Millions and millions of these plants grow in rivers and lakes.
Sometimes the plants become so thick that people can walk on them.
People cannot fish in it. The plants stop the water from moving. Then the water
carries diseases. Farmers cannot use the water on their land.
Now
scientists think that water hyacinths can be useful. The plants are really a
free crop. No one has to take care of them. They just grow
and grow and grow. What can farmers use them for?
Some fish
like to eat them. Farmers can grow these fish in the lakes and rivers.
Workers can
collect and cut the plants with machines. Then they can make fertilizer
to make their crops grow better. They can also make feed for their farm
animals.
` Maybe it will
be possible to make methane gas (CH4) for energy.
(We burn gas from petroleum for energy.
Methane gas comes from plants.) Then poor tropical countries will not
have to buy so much expensive petroleum.
Maybe in the
future people will love the water hyacinth instead of hating it.
Photo credit: The Water Hyacinth
A Vocabulary
feed machines energy hates
water hyacinth diseases crop millions
so just lakes methane gas
become better fertilizer petroleum
1. Workers can collect and cut the plants with__________________.
2. Then they can make ___________________ to make their crops grow ________________.
3. Maybe it will be possible to make ____________________ (CH4) for _________________.
4. It has beautiful purple-blue flowers, but everybody _______________ it.
5. The plants are really a free ________________________.
6. Sometimes the plants __________________ _______________ thick that people can walk on them.
7. The _____________________ grows in tropical countries.
8. They ____________________ grow and grow and grow.
B Vocabulary (new context)
just hate tropical disease
better petroleum become lakes
travel feed fertilizer energy
machines crop so flowers
1. Rice is an important ______________________is Asia.
2. Tom became very sick with a ___________________. He died.
3. A grade of 90% is ________________________ than 60%.
4. I am ____________________ tried that I can’t study.
5. Patty is ____________________________a baby. She cannot walk
6. Farm __________________make the work easier.
7. Many farmers in China make their own ______________________.
8. Some students________________________ to study. They just want to have a good time.
9. Mary wants to_______________________ an engineer.
10. We use gas and oil for __________________.
C Vocabulary Review
Match the words that mean the same.
Column A
1. Also
2. Different
3. Modern
4. Both
5. Enjoy
6. Toward
7. Hearing-impaired
8. Expensive
9. Percent
10. group
Column B
a. two
b. can’t hear well
c. not cheap
d. not easy
e. %
f. Leaves
g. Like
h. Too
i. New
j. Own
k. To
l. several
D Questions
1. Where does the water hyacinth grow?
2. Why do people hate this plant? Tell three reasons.
3. Water hyacinths are a free crop. What does this mean?
4. How can people use water hyacinths? Tell four ways.
5. What is the difference between methane gas and other gas?
6. *Cheap energy is very important for poor countries. Why?
E Comprehension
_______1. Water hyacinths grow very thick on some tropical lakes and rivers.
_______2. Sometime the water under the plants cannot move.
_______3. Water hyacinths help make water clean.
_______4. Maybe farmers can use water hyacinths.
_______5. *Water hyacinths grow in parts of Asia and Africa.
_______6. Some kinds of fish like to eat water hyacinths.
_______7. Water hyacinths can make petroleum.
_______8. These plants can give farmers more money.
F Main Idea
Match the details with the main ideas. Write the letter under the correct main idea. Two details do not belong under a main idea.
1. People hate water hyacinths. 2. Water hyacinths can be useful.
a. Some fish like to eat them.
b. The plants stop the water from moving.
c. People cannot travel on the water.
d. People can make fertilizer out of them.
e. Maybe people can make methane gas.
f. They have beautiful flowers.
g. People can feed them to animals.
h. We burn gas from petroleum for energy.
i. The water carries diseases.
1 comments:
why don't we have answer!?
EmoticonEmoticon