1. Describe the image. What point is it making?

The images represent the subject of the text. The first image shows the pollution of the cities. In
the second one you see a closed store. In the third one you see a landscape with fresh air and in
the last one you see the virus. The virus is helping us to see what is important and in what we
must improve.

2. True or false? Correct the false sentences

1. Something unusual is going on in the world right now. True

2. In major cities, pollution is increasing. False

In major cities, pollution is decreasing.

3. Coronavirus has influenced the world economy in a beneficial way. False

Coronavirus has negatively influenced the world economy.

4. China’s usual carbon emissions are less than those of Britain. False

Carbon emissions have fallen to more than half of Britain's annual emissions.

5. Coronavirus is causing more people to be admitted to hospital. True

6. Coronavirus is a permanent threat. False

Coronavirus is temporary

7. Climate change is a threat which will pass one day. False

Climate change will stay with us for years.

8. Attempts to help global economies recover are currently underway. True

9. We need to take the opportunity presented by Coronavirus to improve the environment.

True

10. We should seize this opportunity to promote cleaner energy. True

3. Answer the questions in full sentences.

a) List the measures mentioned in the article, currently being undertaken to control
coronavirus.

The measures being taken are the closing of borders, bars and schools, the hoarding of wipes and
disinfectants, the orders to remain inside

b) In your own words, explain what is happening in Venice and why.

In Venice the canal is normally polluted by boat traffic, currently the water is being cleaned and
now the water is crystal clear
c) Why have global carbon emissions gone down recently?

By closure of economic activity and a reduction in the use of fossil fuels

d) What happened to emissions from China during February?

In China, measures to contain the virus in February alone caused a drop in carbon emissions

e) In what sense is the pandemic a human tragedy?

The pandemic of a human tragedy because there is overcrowding of hospitals, unemployment and
social isolation.

f) What is ‘the other global crisis’?

The other global crisis is climate change

g) What, according to the UN secretary general is the essential difference between

coronavirus and climate change?

The essential difference between coronavirus and climate change is that coronavirus is temporary
and climate change will always exist

h) How should we go forward, according to the article?

We have to take the opportunity to do things differently and allow the planet to recover from
negative human activity, that is, to promote cleaner energy.