Air Pollution Reading

How are you doing? Circle your mood.

Look at the picture.

Which global problem do you think we're going to discuss today?

• Famine

• Pollution

• Endangered species

• Global warming

• Poverty

What do you think causes air and soil pollution?

The problem
The problem starts here. Cars burn petrol, factories and power stations burn coal and emit toxic fumes. So, the air that we breathe becomes polluted.

Match the following picture to the words below.

• types of fossil fuels

• 
• emit toxis fumes

• 
• burn fuels

• 
• power plant / power station

• 

Air pollution and acid rain. This pollution is gathered in clouds and with the oxygen and water in the atmosphere it becomes acid. The winds carry the polluted clouds across long distances, far away. When it rains, this pollution lands on trees, houses, buildings, cars, clothes, everywhere!!! This is called acid rain.

What is acid rain?

• poisonous rain

• harmful rain

• rain with harmful chemicals

• dangerous rain

Water and soil pollution. When acid rain falls into lakes, rivers and seas, they become toxic. This is water pollution and it harms and kills fish and plant species. When acid rain flows through the soil, it poisons trees and plants. Acid rain also causes serious damage to important buildings and objects.

What does acid rain cause?

• It damages houses

• It destroys animals

• It harms plants

• All of the above

Good news The good news is that governments try to reduce the air pollution that causes acid rain. Some industries use new technologies for some time to help make factory smoke less harmful to the environment. But we need to do more! We can help reduce the amount of acid rain by using our cars less or by using solar power to heat our homes.

Match the following picture to the words below.

• harmful to the environment

• 
• reduce air pollution

• 
• government

• 
• solar power

• 

What is the main cause of acid rain?

• Trees and plants

• Cars, factories, and power stations

• Rain clouds

• Water pollution

What is the effect of acid rain on the soil?

• It helps trees and plants grow

• It harms trees and plants

• 
  It has no effect on the soil

What is one way that you can help reduce acid rain?

• Drive cars more often

• Use more solar power

• Burn more coal at home

• Reduce factory smoke