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environment

on Basic words
4
Towards academic reading

Smart readers always ask themselves why the writer is telling us something. To answer this question, they “read between the lines” to see if the text has additional messages that the writer has not said openly and directly.

Read this paragraph and answer the question below.

What Does the Seven Billionth Baby Really Mean?

In October 2011, the seven billionth baby was born on earth. Seven billion means seven thousand million – but what does this really mean? What would have to happen in order for planet earth to support 7,000,000,000 people? The research is clear: Environmental damage in one country also affects people in other countries. Air pollution in China does not stay in China. Scientists in the USA found that air pollution in Seattle came from across the ocean. Similarly, cutting down rain forests in Brazil affects the climate in many countries, not only in Brazil.

Now let’s see if you can “read between the lines”.

 

In the above paragraph, the writers are giving us some facts about environmental damage in order to get a message across. The facts are clear, but you have to "read in between the lines" to understand the writers' message. This message is the writers' main purpose in this paragraph.

 

To find the writers' purpose, ask yourself:

Why are the writers giving us this information?

What are they trying to say without actually directly saying so this?

 

Choose ONE correct answer.

If people in one part of the world don't protect the environment, this will have negative effects also on other parts of the world.

Unless we reduce damage to the environment, earth will not be able to support a constantly growing population. The writer is trying to convince us to do more to protect the environment by telling us what will happen if we don't do this.