Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Rachel Carson. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) was a pioneer of the global environmental movement through her writing about conservation. Her 1962 book ‘Silent Spring’ made her famous. It describes the harmful effects on the environment of using toxic chemicals on farmland. It is widely recognized as the first serious account of mankind’s negative impact on farming and nature.
Carson’s career started as a biologist in the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1951 she published her first book, ‘The Sea Around Us’, which became a bestseller. It made her rich enough to quit her job and devote her life to writing. She was a gifted writer. Her next two books were also about the oceans and both topped the book sales charts.
Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ transformed the way America thought about nature. It painted a bleak future for the whole natural world. It led to a nationwide ban on the use of a deadly chemical called DDT, and other toxic pesticides that farmers sprayed on their crops. Many people say the book inspired the creation of America’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Since her death, Carson’s name has continued to be associated with protecting the environment. There is now an annual Rachel Carson Book Prize. Norway awards the Rachel Carson Prize to women who have made worthy contributions to the field of environmental protection. In 1980, 16 years after her death, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.
241 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
pioneer
a.
talented
2
toxic
b.
dedicate
3.
account
c.
poisonous
4.
quit
d.
innovator
5.
devote
e.
gave up
6.
gifted
f.
description
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
transformed
g.
yearly
8.
bleak
h.
led to
9.
inspired
i.
changed
10.
associated with
j.
area
11
annual
k
dark
12
field
l
linked to
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
a pioneer of the global
a.
mankind’s negative impact
2
the harmful effects on the environment
b.
honor in America
3.
the first serious account of
c.
thought about nature
4.
It made her rich
d.
environmental protection
5.
She was a
e.
of using toxic chemicals
6.
transformed the way America
f.
sprayed on their crops
7.
It painted a
g.
enough to quit her job
8.
toxic pesticides that farmers
h.
gifted writer
9.
the field of
i.
environmental movement
10.
the highest civilian
j.
bleak future
LISTENING GAP FILL
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) _____________ the global environmental movement through her writing about conservation. Her 1962 book ‘Silent Spring’ _____________. It describes the harmful effects on the environment _____________ chemicals on farmland. It is widely recognized as the first serious account of mankind’s _____________ on farming and nature.
Carson’s career started _____________ in the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1951 _____________ her first book, ‘The Sea Around Us’, which became a bestseller. It made her _____________ quit her job and devote her life to writing. She was _____________. Her next two books were also about the oceans and both topped the book sales charts.
Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ transformed the way America ________________. It painted a bleak _____________ whole natural world. It led to a nationwide ban _______________ deadly chemical called DDT and other toxic pesticides that farmers _____________ crops. Many people say the book inspired the creation of America’s Environmental Protection Agency.
_____________, Carson’s name has continued to be associated with protecting the environment. There _____________ Rachel Carson Book Prize. Norway awards the Rachel Carson Prize _____________ have made worthy contributions to the field of environmental protection. In 1980, 16 years after her death, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the _____________ honor in America.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) was a pioneer of the global / globally environmental movement though / through her writing about conservation. Her 1962 book ‘Silent Spring’ made her famous. It describes the harmful effects / efforts on the environment of using toxic chemicals on farmland. It is widely recognized as the first serious account of mankind’s positive / negative impact on farming and nature.
Carson’s career started as / with a biologist in the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1951 she published her first book, ‘The Sea Around Us’, which became a bestseller. It made her rich / wealth enough to quit / quite her job and devote her life to writing. She was a gifted / presented writer. Her next two books were also about the oceans and both topped the book sales charts.
Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ transformed the way America thought about natural / nature. It painted a bleak future for the all / whole natural world. It led to a nationwide band / ban on the use of a deadly chemical called DDT and other toxic pesticides that farmers sprayed on their crops. Many people say / speak the book inspired the creation of America’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Since her death, Carson’s name has / was continued to be associated with / in protecting the environment. There is now an annual Rachel Carson Book Prize. Norway awards the Rachel Carson Prize to women who have made value / worthy contributions to the field of environmental protection. In 1980, 16 years after her died / death, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a pioneer of the global environmental metvenmo
2.
the mfhualr effects on the environment
3.
xioct chemicals
4.
mankind’s naeietgv impact on farming and nature
Paragraph 2
5.
Carson’s career started as a ogitoilbs
6.
It made her rich ueghon to quit her job
7.
She was a eftigd writer
8.
Her next two books were also about the csaeon
Paragraph 3
9.
transformed the way America ththgou about nature
10.
It painted a bleak urutfe
11.
a laddye chemical called DDT
12.
toxic pesticides that farmers paersyd on their crops
Paragraph 4
13.
oirpntgtce the environment
14.
There is now an annaul Rachel Carson Book Prize
15.
the iledf of environmental protection
16.
the highest vnliicia honor in America
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
environment of using toxic chemicals on farmland. It is widely recognized as the first
( )
Carson’s career started as a biologist in the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1951 she published her first
( )
a bleak future for the whole natural world. It led to a nationwide ban on the use of a deadly chemical called DDT and other
( )
Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ transformed the way America thought about nature. It painted
( )
book, ‘The Sea Around Us’, which became a bestseller. It made her rich enough to quit her job and devote her life
( )
serious account of mankind’s negative impact on farming and nature.
( )
to writing. She was a gifted writer. Her next two books were also about the oceans and both topped the book sales charts.
( )
she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.
( )
environment. There is now an annual Rachel Carson Book Prize. Norway awards the Rachel Carson Prize to women
( )
who have made worthy contributions to the field of environmental protection. In 1980, 16 years after her death,
( 1 )
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) was a pioneer of the global environmental movement through her writing
( )
toxic pesticides that farmers sprayed on their crops. Many people say the book
( )
Since her death, Carson’s name has continued to be associated with protecting the
( )
about conservation. Her 1962 book ‘Silent Spring’ made her famous. It describes the harmful effects on the
( )
inspired the creation of America’s Environmental Protection Agency.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of global movement pioneer the environmental a
2.
toxic harmful the using the on of chemicals effects environment
3.
her rich job enough It to made quit her
4.
were Her also next about two the books oceans
5.
the topped both charts sales book
6.
way thought nature the America about transformed
7.
natural painted future whole It bleak the world a for
8.
that pesticides toxic crops their on sprayed farmers
9.
associated the with environment protecting
10.
to contributions worthy protection environmental of field the
RACHEL CARSON DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Rachel Carson?
2.
Would you like to have met Rachel Carson?
3.
What would you like to know about Rachel Carson and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Rachel Carson. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. RACHEL CARSON POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Rachel Carson. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Rachel Carson. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she did every day and what she thought about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Rachel Carson. Ask her three questions about her life. Tell her how important she is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Rachel Carson expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
pioneer
a.
innovator
2
toxic
b.
poisonous
3.
account
c.
description
4.
quit
d.
gave up
5.
devote
e.
dedicate
6.
gifted
f.
talented
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
transformed
g.
changed
8.
bleak
h.
dark
9.
inspired
i.
led to
10.
associated with
j.
linked to
11
annual
k
yearly
12
field
l
area
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
a pioneer of the global
a.
environmental movement
2
the harmful effects on the environment
b.
of using toxic chemicals
3.
the first serious account of
c.
mankind’s negative impact
4.
It made her rich
d.
enough to quit her job
5.
She was a
e.
gifted writer
6.
transformed the way America
f.
thought about nature
7.
It painted a
g.
bleak future
8.
toxic pesticides that farmers
h.
sprayed on their crops
9.
the field of
i.
environmental protection
10.
the highest civilian
j.
honor in America
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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