Litter can kill
Every year the RSPCA has to rescue and treat animals that have been trapped and injured by
carelessly disposed of rubbish. You can help just by following these top ten tips to keep rubbish
animal-friendly.
Plastic bags - can blow away, or trap and suffocate animals that climb inside. They may even be
mistaken for food. Tying a knot in plastic bags before you throw them out can stop them blowing
about. Or better still - re-use them!
Cans - can cut and trap animals that come in contact with them. So if you can't take your cans
for recycling, remove the lid, drop it to the bottom of the can and pinch the top shut.
Yogurt pots - animals can get their heads stuck inside. Take the lids off completely and scrunch
them up.
Plastic drinks can holders - animals can easily get tangled up or strangled. Cut the loops holding
the binding together before you throw them out. Or buy drinks with a cardboard carrying box
that can be recycled!
Glass - can cause serious injuries to both animals and people and is a fire hazard. It should never
be left lying around. Glass bottles can be recycled. Plastic bottles can also be recycled but if
there isn't a recycling point near you, cut them in half before you throw them away. This will stop
small animals getting trapped inside.
Rubber bands - can trap and entangle animals. Snip them up before you put them in the bin.
Unwanted fishing tackle - hooks, lines, etc can seriously injure and even kill water birds and other
animals. Take fishing tackle home and dispose of it safely.
Solvents and sump oil - can pollute streams and rivers if they are poured down the drain. Some
garages have collection points for sump oil which can be recycled. Some local councils also
offer a service.
Supermarket trolleys - believe it or not farm animals and wildlife have been found stuck in them
and badly injured. Please make sure that you take them back.
Balloon releases - don't take part in them. Balloons can end up in fields or the sea where animals
can mistake them for food. Floating balloons look just like tasty jellyfish to sea birds and turtles.
Before throwing out used balloons, snip them up into tiny pieces.
Finally, if you live in the UK and are not sure about what you can and can't recycle in your area
contact the recycling officer at your local council.
Source: http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/Campaigns/Littercankill
(August 12th 2005)
A. Global comprehension. Answer the questions.
1. What sort of document is it? Who does the RSPCA address it to?
2. What is the RSPCA? What do the letters stand for?
3. What is the main problem the RSPCA is confronted to every year?
4. Make a list of potential victims (at least 10).
B. Detailed comprehension. Circle the correct statements and justify by quoting from the text.
1. Animals can lack oxygen and die if they get stuck in a plastic bag.
2. Cans can be a nice place to sleep in for animals.
3. Yogurt is their favourite snack.
4. It is better to buy drink containers made of cardboard.
5. People should never dispose of glass in nature.
6. Fishing equipment is particularly harmful to the fauna.
7. Chemicals only pollute the kitchen.
8. Shopping trolleys can be a danger to children.
9. Animals often think ballons are food.
10. The RSPCA encourages people to ask for further information at their local councils.
C. Match up the following expressions with the definitions below.
1. trapped
a. danger
2. injured
b. take off
3. dispose of
c. very small
4. rubbish
d. imprisoned, caught, stuck
5. remove
e. a transparent and slimy animal living in the sea
6. hazard
f. wounded, suffering after an accident or an assault
7. tasty
g. objects that have been used and are not needed any longer
8. jelly fish
h. very good to eat
9. tiny
i. throw away, discard, abandon
D. Deduce the meaning of the following words in context.
tips - knot - lid - scrunch - loop - hook - streams - trolleys
E. Find the nouns derived from the verbs given in column 1. Then write a sentence of your own
with each new word you have found.
Verbs
treat
injure
dispose
recycle
remove
kill
pollute
Nouns
F. Make a collage using as many elements from the text as possible (at home).
G. Grammar.
Look at the underlined expressions in the text. What do you call them in English?
1. What do they express here? Choose the correct answer:
a) “You can help” = prohibition – ability – obligation
b) “They may even be mistaken for food” = possibility – permission – ability
c) “if you can't take your cans” = prohibition – inability – impossibility
d) “It should never be left lying around” = permission – suggestion – obligation
2. Complete with CAN – CAN’T – MAY – SHOULD – SHOULDN’T:
a) Batteries __________________ be thrown into a normal bin.
b) It ___________ rain today. You _______________ take an umbrella with you.
c) ____________ you see that hedgehogs don’t like meat?
d) The RSPCA ____________ help you if you need advice about pets.
e) You ____________ park here, it is forbidden!
f) Emma ______________ send an e-mail to the local council. I’m sure they will help
her for her school project.
g) John _________________ eat so many sweets; it’s bad for health...
h) Students ___________ study texts about the environment this year, so they
_____________ know enough vocabulary to be able to write essays about
environmental problems.