MODULE 3: TEXT B

Death Flows

1 A Devon farmer empties 250,000 gallons of diluted cattle slurry into

a river 15 miles upstream from a public water source. A leak of
silage liquor from a dairy farm in the north-west enters a feeder
stream to a fish farm, killing off many full-grown trout. These are just
two examples of a rising number of cases of pollution caused by
slurry and silage liquor.

2 Slurry is a mixture of animal faeces, urine and water. Silage liquor is

made when grass, which was once cut and dried to make hay, is
processed. This process involves compressing and fermenting of
cut grass. After this process, it becomes known as silage which is
far more nutritious food than hay. One fifth of all recorded incidents
of water pollution are caused by farming. Farm effluents can
consume all the oxygen in rivers and streams. This destroys aquatic
life.

3 Pollution has increased greatly because farming methods have

changed. One major change that has taken place is in the way
farmers raise animals. More and more animals are being housed
indoors on small holdings instead of on spacious farms with
spacious fields. Too much slurry which cannot be got rid of safely, is
being produced. It often leaks from storage tanks or runs off the
land when it is spread or sprayed without having first been treated.

4 Modern farms have shifted from hay-making to silage production for

winter feed. A powerful fluid with a lot of acid in it seeps into
streams from the compressed grass in the silage stores. This wipes
out the fish.

5 Less than four out of every hundred pollution cases end in

prosecution. When a farmer is prosecuted, he is likely to pay only
around 400. This is less than it costs to take him to court in the
first place.

6 In the past, there have been no laws that have forced farmers to
have responsible attitude towards the environment. It has been left
up to their goodwill and common sense. Now, however, damage to
the environment by pollution has become a very serious problem.
Ordinary people are becoming worried and are getting involved in
campaigns to save the environment from more damage. Added to
this, there is increasing pressure from EEC to tighten the rules. The
question is who should pay the cost of putting things right?

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Comprehension

Terms and Expressions

1 A public water source is:

A place where people can swim.

A place where people can find water.
A place where water is taken, cleaned and used in the home.

2 A feeder stream is:

A water supply for animals to drink.

A stream that flows into another stream, river, a lake or a pond.
A stream used to mix with dried grass to make silage.

3 A mixture of animal faeces, urine and water is:

Waste passed by animals, mixed with water.

Rotten parts of dead animals mixed with water.
Pieces of animal skins mixed with water.

4 Compressing cut grass means:

Squashing it so that it takes up less space.

Drying it to turn it into hay.
Letting it rot for use as fertiliser.

5 Aquatic life is:

Plants that live in water.

All things that live in water.
Small fish that could live in aquariums.

6 Small holdings are:

Buildings that have to house too many animals.

Small compartments for housing animals in farm buildings.
Small farms.

7 A responsible attitude towards the environment is:

Using it in a caring and sensible way.

Feeling strongly that it should be protected.
Talking about its beauty and usefulness.

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 8 Getting involved in campaigns to save the environment means:

Thinking and getting worried and depressed about damage to the

environment.
Joining with others to get something done about the damage to the
environment.
Getting to know a lot of information about damage to the
environment.

True and False statements

1 The Devon farmer empties over half a million gallons of slurry into a
river.

2 The public water source is situated between Devon farm and the
sea.

3 The number of cases of pollution by slurry is increasing.

4 Slurry is made from cut grass that has been compressed and
fermented.

5 Silage is good quality animal feed.

6 20% of recorded incidents of water pollution are caused by farming.

7 Farm effluents add oxygen to rivers and streams.

8 Modern farming methods involve raising more animals on larger

farms.

9 Treated slurry is used as fertiliser.

10 Silage contains a strong liquid that leaks out of storage tanks.

11 14% if pollution cases end in prosecution.

12 It costs less than 400 to take a farm to Court.

13 Until recently, farmers have been trusted to protect the

environment.

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Wordpower

Building words and meanings

Write out the following words in alphabetical order:

liquor faeces fermenting nutritious effluents

consume aquatic spacious prosecution attitude
campaigns

Using the dictionary

Copy the table below and find the dictionary meaning for each of the following
words:

eg liquor = rich strong fluid

faeces
fermenting
nutritious
effluents
consume
aquatic
spacious
prosecution
attitude
campaigns

Learn these spellings and test yourself on a spelling tape. Show your tutor
your score.

MODULE 3: TEXT B

Writing: Using Notes

Writing is made a lot easier if you have already jotted down the main points of
what you want to say.

TASK 1

In your own words and using your notes from Death Flows, write a fictitious
formal letter to the Farmers Association (27 Meadow Road, Surrey, S17 4JH)
outlining your concern about slurry and silage liquor. Express and discuss in
detail your worries about the following: -

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 - its effects on the environment
- its increase
- the effectiveness of measures and controls to prevent it.

These three main ideas can be written on three separate paragraphs in your
letter.

(See information sheet on Layout of a letter/paragraphs)

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Study Skill: Making Notes

It is helpful when making notes to present the main ideas or points in the
following ways:

a) a tree diagram
b) a flow chart
c) block notes (using numbers or letters)
d) a spidergram

The exercise below gives examples of each.

TASK 1

Copy and complete the following notes for the paragraphs below using
information from the passage Death Flows.

a) Paragraph 1: Tree Diagram

2 causes of pollution

2 effects

b) Paragraph 2: Flow chart on Processing of silage liquor

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Sort out the notes into the correct order:

Grass becomes silage

Grass is fermented

Grass is cut

Grass is compressed

c) Paragraphs 3 & 4: Block notes (using numbers or letters)

1 Increase in pollution due to:

a)_____________________

b)_____________________

c)_____________________

d)_____________________

d) Paragraphs 5 & 6: Spidergram

a) b)

Measures
to prevent
pollution

d) c)

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Information Sheet

Layout of a letter/paragraphs

NB: The beginning word of each paragraph should be indented or begin at

least 4cm away from the margin or side of paper.

your address

date

address of
farmers
Association

Dear Sir/Madam
Heading

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

signing off

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Language Awareness: Register/Style

The kind of language we use changes to suit the situation. Language which is
used only for particular situations is called a register and has its own style.

Eg Watcha Mum!
Good morning, Mrs Green do sit down.
On behalf of the Council, may I welcome

It is important that we know what kind of language is appropriate for each

situation.

TASK:

Copy and complete the table below by sorting out the mixed-up phrases into
the correct columns.

Informal Situation Semi-formal Formal Situation

Situation
Morning all!
See you babes!
Take Care!

I hope you will look after yourself.

We wish every happiness to our colleague on her retirement.

Its been nice seeing you again.

We say a reluctant farewell.

I have the honour to introduce.

Good morning.

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Punctuation: Hyphens

1 Hyphens can be used to make two or more words in an adjective

(see Grammar exercise).
2 Hyphens can also be used with certain numbers between 20 and
100.
eg 21 = twenty-one
46 = forty-six
3 Hyphens can be used with dates and figures.
eg She helped in the 1914-18 War.
I would like a house in the 40,000 - 50,000 price range.
4 Hyphens can also be used in journeys.
eg The Sheffield-London motorways are busy.

Exercise: Copy out the words/sentences below and put the hyphens in
their correct place.

1 Ninety nine.
2 Sixty four.
3 My uncle was killed in the 1939 45 war.
4 The Sheffield Leeds coach service is very good.
5 Ninety second.
6 I am going to spend between 200 300 on a new TV.
7 I am twenty one again on my birthday!
8 Lend me seventy five pence for a coffee and bun.
9 I had the time of my life in the time 1960 1965.
10 The Sheffield Skegness road link will soon be open.

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Grammar: Adjectives

Hyphens can be used to make two or more words into an adjective.

eg Full-grown.

The hyphen helps to bring about a difference in meaning.

eg A handful of five pound notes.
and
A handful of five-pound notes.

Exercise: Use hyphens to make adjectives in the sentences below: -

1 Sheffield United were a low scoring team last year.

2 Sheffield sells many crafts person made goods.
3 The cloth was oil stained.
4 Im now a director she said with wide eyed wonder.
5 The ivy covered walls of the college looked nice.
6 I have a Monday morning feeling on Tuesday too!
7 He was a strong willed man.
8 The spine tingling film was on late.
9 She was a well liked person.
10 Sugrah was a hard working manager.

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Group Work: Discussion/Presenting a Point of View

TASK 1: Preparing a discussion

Copy out the grid below. This is another way of making notes.

Topic Title: How far do you think an increase in pollution in the countryside is
due to farmers?
My opening view:

a) Supporting facts b) Supporting Opinions c) Other views

My concluding view

Fill in the grid columns using both the information from the passage Death
Flows and your experience.

TASK 2: Small Group Discussion

With a partner or tutor discuss the topic title.

Use your notes to help you; try to use facts to support your opinion.

Record your discussion on a tape.

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Working with Concepts

TASK 1

Look at the cartoon carefully and write down what you think is the main point
of the cartoon.

Do you think it is a good point? If so, try and explain your reasons.

A concept is an abstract idea or notion. It exists in the mind. It is a label for

actions, for what people do and with one another.

Change

When new developments are made, change can be said to happen. Change
can bring both good and bad consequences.

To change is the action.

Change is the concept.

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TASK 2

Read Text B (Death Flows) and find line 15:

Modern farms have shifted from hay-making to silage production for winter
feed. A powerful fluid with a lot of acid in it seeps into the streams from the
compressed grass in the silage stores. (Text B: Death Flows line 15).

This is an example of change. It tells the reader about the consequences of

that change for others. Find another example of change in Text B: Death
Flows and write it down. Be sure to put Text B: Death Flows line(s) number(s).

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TASK 3

Look at the cartoons below and write down what is going on and what might
be said or thought in each cartoon.

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TASK 4

Write down 4 examples of change that has taken place in your life and the
consequences or results of each change for yourself and others.

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TASK 5

Go back to the cartoon and write down any more ideas that come to mind
about what is going on. Add these to where you have written in Task 1, using
a different coloured pen.

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