Unit 8 Academic reading
Bolivia’s remarkable salt flats
1 Work in groups and discuss these questions.
1 Which places in your country do visitors enjoy visiting most?
2 What are some of the benefits of a significant increase in tourist numbers in a particular place?
3 What are some of the negative effects of a dramatic increase in tourism?
SKILLS FOCUS: Genre, Audience, Purpose and Style (GAPS)
When you read a text, you should be able to identify the following:
• the Genre – what type of text it is, e.g. a magazine article
• the typical Audience who will be reading the text, e.g. teenagers
• the Purpose of the text, e.g. to convince people to do more sport
• the chosen writing Style, e.g. informal and conversational
2 Quickly skim the text and choose the correct options.
What kind of text is this?
1 Genre: This is …
the introduction to a book about South America / an article in a travel magazine / an article from an environmental
website.
2 Audience: A typical reader of this text is someone who …
is looking for an unusual place to visit on their next trip / is interested in environmental issues / wants to find out the
origins of salt.
3 Purpose: The author’s purpose in this text is to …
entertain readers with a humorous account of her experiences / alert readers to the importance of a little-known
environmental issue / warn readers about the dangers of travelling alone.
4 Style: The text is written in a style that is informal / formal / neutral.
3 Read the text and choose the correct sub-heading (1–5) for each section of the text (A–D). There is one extra heading
that you do not need to use.
1
2
3
4
5
Why is it special?
What can you do?
What is it?
How can you find out more?
Why is it under threat?
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4 Read the text again and choose the best answer, A, B, C, or D for questions 1–4.
1 In the first paragraph, what does the writer say makes Salar de Uyuni so unique?
a
b
c
d
It’s the biggest of its kind.
It’s the oldest in the world.
It’s the highest on Earth.
It’s the purest in nature.
2 Apart from tourism, what is Salar de Uyuni’s other main industry?
a
b
c
d
electronics
wildlife tours
scientific research
agriculture
3 According to the third paragraph, why has Salar de Uyuni only now become popular with tourists?
a
b
c
d
because it is cheaper than other holiday destinations
because of a marketing campaign from the Ministry of Tourism
because of the widespread sharing of photos on social media
because the Bolivian economy has improved
4 In the final paragraph, what does the author advise readers to do to help Salar de Uyuni?
a
b
c
d
go and see it for themselves before it’s too late
stop buying lithium batteries
contact the Bolivian government
share information about it in the media
© 2024 Cengage Learning, Inc.
5 Find these words (1–11) in the text and match them with the definitions (a–k).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
vista (n)
evaporate (v) horizon (n) geometric (adj) transform (v) boost (n) ecosystem (n) inhospitable (adj)
remote (adj) pristine (adj) influx (n) a the line at which the earth and the sky appear to meet
b an improvement or increase
c a group of inter-dependent organisms in their environment
d a sudden arrival in large numbers
e harsh or difficult to live in
f a beautiful view
g far away from civilisation
h lose moisture
i decorated with regular lines or shapes
j to change, alter or modify
k pure and unspoiled
6 Arguments for and against Work in pairs. This article considers the impact of tourism and industry on the Salar de
Uyuni. Discuss these questions (1–3). Then share your ideas with another pair.
1 What arguments does the author make for and against the changes in Salar de Uyuni?
2 Do you think the author is mainly for, or mainly against the changes? Why?
3 What other positive outcomes could these developments have for the region?
7 Work in pairs. Take it in turns to talk for two minutes about one of the topics below. Ask your partner to time you! Before
you start, spend a few minutes thinking about what you want to say and make notes if it helps you.
Tell your partner about a beautiful place to visit in your country. You can talk about:
• where it is located.
• how to get there.
• what you can do when you are there.
You should also explain why you recommend this place.
Tell your partner about an environmental problem that has occurred in your country. You can talk about:
• the cause of the problem.
• what effect it has had on people.
• what has been done to solve the problem.
You should also explain why you think this environmental issue is important
© 2024 Cengage Learning, Inc.
Environmental issue of the week:
The threat to Bolivia’s remarkable salt flats
A …..
With its remarkable vistas, Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni is beginning to capture the world’s attention. For those not familiar
with the name, salar is Spanish for salt lake. Salar de Uyuni is in a remote location, high up on the vast Altiplano plateau
in the Andes mountain range. Stretching more than 4,050 square miles, it is the world’s largest salt flat, created after
prehistoric lakes evaporated thousands of years ago. Here, a thick crust of salt extends to the horizon, covered in raised
geometric patterns.
B …..
At certain times of the year, lakes in the region overflow and a thin layer of water covers the flats, transforming them into
a spectacular reflection of the sky. This endless horizon allows photographers to play with perspective and many of them
share their photos on social media. For this reason, Salar de Uyuni has become the latest ‘must-see’ tourist destination.
The rise in visitor numbers has resulted in more jobs for locals as guides, drivers and hotel workers, and has provided a
much-needed boost to the local economy. Salar de Uyuni is also of interest to scientists because of its unique ecosystem.
Certain rare species of animals and plants have adapted to survive in this inhospitable environment. For example, it is
home to three species of flamingo.
Another reason why Salar de Uyuni is attracting the world’s attention lies beneath the surface. Underneath Salar de
Uyuni is one of the world’s richest deposits of lithium, a rare and precious metal used in the batteries that power our
smart phones and laptops. The Bolivian government has recently opened a lithium production plant in the area.
C …..
This remote, pristine and naturally stunning place is now under threat from tourism and mining. Experience in other
tourism hotspots shows that an influx of tourists can lead to unexpected and unwanted problems, such as excess
rubbish, damage to the environment and the disturbance of wildlife. Mining could bring much-needed wealth to the
country, but at the same time, it could potentially destroy Salar de Uyuni’s unique eco system.
D …..
As an individual, you may feel that there is little you can do to help. However, there are some positive contributions that
you can make. First, you can consider making a donation to UNESCO. They are dedicated to preserving precious sites
around the world through their World Heritage List, and they recently sponsored research into the risk factors of lithium
mining in Salar de Uyuni.
Another action that you can take is to write a letter to the editor of your national newspaper, alerting people to the issue
and outlining your concerns. You can also tell your friends about Salar de Uyuni by writing a post on social media. In this
way, you can help to raise awareness of the importance of protecting this unique place for future generations.
© 2024 Cengage Learning, Inc.