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The World's Highest Junkyard
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- Parent Category: Upper-Intermediate News Lessons
- Category: Environment Lesons
- Written by Chris Cotter
Mt. Everest is the world's tallest peak at 29,029 feet (9,848 meters), and no one had successfully climbed to the summit until 1953. At that time, the mountain was an untouched area of unique plants and animals. Unfortunately, that is no longer true, and the mountain has been described as a trash heap.
Despite the dangers and risk of death, hundreds of sport enthusiasts make an attempt on the mountain each year. The hikers hire Sherpas too, and this means there is a lot of traffic up and down the mountain. As a result, many items are tossed aside, such as oxygen canisters, sleeping bag parts, broken tents, and food wrappers. And of course, there is also human excrement too, which contaminates drinking water elsewhere.
There has been a concerted clean-up effort in recent years. For example, environmentalists have conducted fund-raising campaigns to remove the trash. The Indian Army has also climbed the mountain to remove the trash; it's most recent expedition likely removed more than 8,000 pounds (4,000 kilograms). Teams of Sherpas have hiked into the dead zone, which is an area above 26,247 feet (8,000 meters). Oxygen is very thin there, yet they managed to haul off 4,000 pounds of garbage. And perhaps the idea with the greatest impact is a new law which requires each hiker to bring down eighteen pounds of garbage. Failure to do so results in a permanent ban from all future attempts to climb the mountain.
However, even with recent efforts, the amount of garbage continues to increase. Mt. Everest has been called "the world's highest junkyard." Perhaps the days of a pristine wonder of the world are long gone.
Preview some of the lesson material:
Warm Up: Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- Pollution is a serious problem for current and future generations.
- In general, people don't do enough to recycle and protect the environment.
- I should probably do more to recycle and protect the environment.
- There is a lot of pollution in my country.
- I'm very worried about the environment.
Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence from today's article.
- Unfortunately, that is no longer true, and the mountain has...
- Despite the dangers and risk of death, hundreds of sport...
- For example, environmentalists have conducted...
- And perhaps the idea with the greatest impact is a new law which...
- However, even with recent efforts, the amount of...
post-Comprehension: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers!
- Do you think this is a serious problem? Why / not?
- Have you ever heard of ecotourism? Please check your dictionary and discuss the meaning.
- Traveling to exotic destinations is becoming more common. What negatives are there? Why?
- Would you volunteer to clean up Mt. Everest? How about a place more local? Why / not?
- How do you feel about the environment and global warming? Please explain.
Google Search: Type "Mt. Everest" into Google. Look at the websites, and/or read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.
