Look at the pictures. Match the pictures with the appropriate word or phrases. (Nhìn vào những bức tranh. nối những hình ảnh với các từ hoặc cụm từ thích hợp.)

Guide to answer

1. diesel vehicle (xe động cơ diesel)

2. melting of the Arctic (tan chảy băng ở Bắc Cực)

3. soot (bồ hóng, bụi than)

Read the following article about soot pollution. Choose the appropriate heading (a-d) for each paragraph. (Đọc bài viết sau về ô nhiễm bụi than. Chọn tiêu đề thích hợp (a-d) cho mỗi đoạn.) 

a.  Soot and global warming

b.  The effect of soot on human health

c.  The origin of soot

d.  Ways to reduce soot emissions 

Nowadays we know a lot about the link between carbon dioxide (C02) emissions and global warming. However, we seem to be unaware of one very dangerous pollutant, soot also called black carbon.

1.________

Soot comes from the incomplete combustion or coal, oil, wood and other fuels. In other words diesel 

engines, vehicle exhaust pipes, farming machines, construction equipment, or simply fires in grills, fireplaces, and stoves are potential sources of soot. It appears in our daily life and can easily affect every one of us.

2._______

Soot like all black things absorbs sunlight and heats up the atmosphere. According to recent research, it is the second most damaging greenhouse gas after C02, and twice as harmful to the climate. Although black carbon remains in the atmosphere for no more than seven days it is particularly damaging to frozen areas. Soot emissions might be responsible for the quick melting of the Arctic. Controlling black carbon can help to slow down global warming.

3._______

Soot does not only have an impact on globs warming and climate change, but is also unhealthy. A soot particle is very tiny – smaller than dust and mould, and about 1/30 the width of a human hair. It can easily go into our bloodstream and lungs via the nose and throat.  As a result, breathing in the tiny particles car cause asthma attacks, heart disease, bronchitis and many other respiratory illnesses.

4._______

Large quantities of man-made soot enter the atmosphere every year. The effects are most damaging regionally, especially in South and East Asia, Latin America and parts of Africa. In developing countries, reducing soot emissions can be achieved by replacing traditional stoves with clean, alternative fuel cookers and heaters. Installation of filters to remove black carbon from diesel vehicles can also reduce soot. Changing to electric or hydrogen vehicles will also reduce the impact on the environment.

In conclusion, reducing black carbon will have immediate benefits in slowing down global warming and the melting of the Arctic snow and ice. It would also prevent many soot-related deaths and illnesses.

Guide to answer

1. c

2. a

3. b

4. d

– Đoạn 1: “… are potential sources of soot” (là nguồn tiềm năng của bụi than) => nguồn gốc của bụi than

– Đoạn 2: những cụm từ như “damaging greenhouse”, “quick melting of the Arctic”, “global warming.”… => liên quan đến global warming.

– Đoạn 3: những cụm từ “unhealthy”, “…bloodstream and lungs”, “asthma attacks, heart disease, bronchitis and many other respiratory illnesses.” => những bệnh gây ra bởi bụi than tới sức khỏe con người.

– Đoạn 4: by … replacing traditional stoves with clean, alternative fuel cookers and heaters. ” => cách giảm bụi than

Work in pairs. Complete each of the following sentences with no more than five words. (Làm việc theo cặp. Hoàn thành mỗi câu sau đây với không nhiều hơn năm từ.)

Guide to answer

1. We know about carbon dioxide and its impact on global warming, but we know little about soot./don’t know much about soot. (Chúng tôi biết về carbon dioxide và tác động của nó đối với việc nóng lên toàn cầu, nhưng chúng ta biết rất ít về bụi than / không biết nhiều về bồ hóng.)

2. Soot comes from the burning of coal, oil, wood, and other fuels. (Bồ hóng đến từ việc đốt than, dầu, gỗ, và các nhiên liệu khác.)

3. Black carbon is the second most damaging greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. (Cacbon đen là khí nhà kính gây tổn hại  thứ hai sau khi carbon dioxide.)

4. Soot particles can be easily breathed in because they are smaller than dust and mould/very tiny. (Bồ hóng có thể dễ dàng hít vào người bởi vì chúng nhỏ hơn bụi và nấm mốc / rất nhỏ.)

5. People can reduce black carbon emissions at home by using clean, alternative fuel stoves for cooking and heating. (Mọi người có thể làm giảm lượng khí thải carbon đen ở nhà bằng cách sử dụng bếp nhiên liệu  sạch thay thế để nấu ăn và sưởi ấm.)

Discuss with a partner. Are soot emissions a problem in your community or in Viet Nam in general? (Thảo luận với một người bạn. Chất thải bụi than là một vấn đề trong cộng đồng của bạn hay ở Việt Nam nói chung?)

Guide to answer

– the effect of soot on the environment and human health

– Soot does not only have an impact on globs warming and climate change, but is alsc unhealthy. 

– It can easily go into our bloodstream and lungs via the nose and throat.  As a result, breathing in the tiny particles car cause asthma attacks, heart disease, bronchitis and many other respiratory illnesses.