Help Our Planet By Going Dark For Earth Hour

[1] Don’t be alarmed if your city, town, or neighborhood, goes dark from
8:30 - 9:30 PM local time tonight (March 24). The blackout is not due to a
sudden electricity outage, but a voluntary gesture to celebrate Earth Hour,
which will be observed worldwide and include iconic landmarks like the
Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, and the Sydney Opera House. The
simple action, designed to demonstrate what can be achieved if we all unite to
help reverse climate change, is the brainchild of the Australian chapter of the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

[2] Earth Hour was first observed in Sydney on March 31, 2007, when, at the urging of the non-profit, 2
million households and 2,100 businesses turned off all lights and non-essential devices for an hour. In doing
so, they helped save 10% of the electricity, the equivalent of carbon dioxide emitted by 48,000 cars, consumed
by the city's residents in a regular evening hour. The environmental impact of the one-hour event inspired
people worldwide to join the movement. In 2008, 50 million people in over 5,000 cities observed Earth Hour
and the numbers have only grown since. In 2017, tens of millions of people from an unprecedented 187
countries and territories participated and over 3,100 monuments and landmarks switched off their lights.

[3] The date of the annual event varies from mid-to-late March to coincide, as
much as possible, with the spring and autumn equinoxes in the northern and
southern hemispheres, respectively, when both experience sunset at about the same
time. This ensures the best visual impact and makes for impressive images of the
usually glimmering city skylines going dark.

[4] The WWF says the worldwide participation demonstrates people's desire to do their share to reverse
climate change. For those that want to make a difference beyond the hour, the organization suggests simple
lifestyle changes. These include air-drying dishes, unplugging all devices when not in use, walking or cycling
to work, and washing clothes in cold water.

[5] Not sure what to do without your phone, tablet, and television for a whole hour? WWF suggests
organizing a candlelight dinner for your family or, even better, a picnic under the stars. If that sounds “lame”,
how about a late night hike or bike ride? Those that want to make it an Earth “Night” could plan a camping
trip complete with an old-fashioned bonfire and yummy **s'mores! Ready to take the Earth Hour challenge?
Sign up at earthhour.org and commit to “switching on your social power” to help spread the word. Climate
change can be reversed if we all do our part!

By Meera Dolasia on March 25, 2018, DOGO News

**Some interesting facts about “s’mores”:

A s'more is a traditional night-time campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada,
consisting of a fire-roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two
pieces of graham cracker.

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Part 1 Decide if the following statements are true (T), false (F) or not state (NS).
Statement T F NS
1. People switch off lights voluntarily to celebrate Earth Hour.
2. The first Earth Hour was observed in America.
3. It is believed that businesses consume more electricity than households.
4. The number of participants in the movement has significantly increased.
5. Not many people welcome the idea of having a candlelight dinner during Earth Hour.

Part 2 Complete the text below with ONE word per blank.
First (1)__________________ in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has become an (2)__________________ event
where people and even famous (3)__________________ worldwide participate. Lights and
(4)__________________ that are not essential are switched off to save (5)___________________. It shows
that if everyone is willing to make an effort, (6)__________________ __________________ can be reversed.

Part 3 Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. How long does the event Earth Hour last for?
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the aim of the movement?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Who is the organizer of the event?
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. How did the first Earth Hour spread to other countries?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why is it important for Earth Hour to coincide with the spring and autumn equinoxes in the northern and
southern hemispheres?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
6. Has Earth Hour achieved encouraging results? Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
7. Name two other simple lifestyle changes we can make to save our earth.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
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8. How can we participate in the movement?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Part 4 State what the words refer to.

1. the non-profit (para. 2) _________________________________________________________
2. they (para. 2) _________________________________________________________
3. both (para. 3) _________________________________________________________
4. that (para. 5) _________________________________________________________

Part 5 Replace the underlined words with the highlighted words in the text.
1. If our schedules are the same, we will go on the trip together.
If our schedules __________________, we will go on the trip together.
2. Big Ben is one of the most famous and representative landmarks in London.
Big Ben is one of the __________________ landmarks in London.
3. Most of the world’s resources are used by human activities.
Most of the world’s resources are __________________ by human activities.
4. It is important for everybody to play their part in order to succeed.
It is important for everybody to ________________________ in order to succeed.
5. The damaged caused by pollution cannot be undone.
The damaged caused by pollution cannot be __________________.
6. As she persevered, she showed dogged determination.
As she persevered, she __________________ dogged determination.
7. The proposal was his idea. He came up with it all by himself.
The proposal was his __________________. He came up with it all by himself.
8. Some of the customs are still obeyed by the older generations.
Some of the customs are still __________________ by the older generations.
9. The participation has never happened before, which is very encouraging.
The participation has been __________________, which is very encouraging.
10. We hope you will communicate the message to lots of people and invite your friends to join us.
We hope you will __________________________ and invite your friends to join us.
11. If the groups join each other and work together, they will become very strong.
If the groups __________________, they will become very strong.
12. We can see the village shining with a weak light in the distance.
We can see the village _________________ in the distance.

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ANSWER KEY
Part 1 Decide if the following statements are true (T), false (F) or not state (NS).
Statement T F NS
1. People switch off lights voluntarily to celebrate Earth Hour. 
2. The first Earth Hour was observed in America. 
3. It is believed that businesses consume more electricity than households. 
4. The number of participants in the movement has significantly increased. 
5. Not many people welcome the idea of having a candlelight dinner during Earth Hour. 
Part 2 Complete the text below with ONE word per blank.
First (1)___observed___ in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has become an (2)__annual___ event where people
and even famous (3)__landmarks__ worldwide participate. Lights and (4)__devices__ that are not essential
are switched off to save (5)___electricity__. It shows that if everyone is willing to make an effort,
(6)__climate__ ___change__ can be reversed.
Part 3 Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. How long does the event Earth Hour last for?
It lasts for an hour.
2. What is the aim of the movement?
It is to demonstrate what can be achieved if people unite to help reverse climate change.
3. Who is the organizer of the event?
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the organizer of Earth Hour.
4. How did the first Earth Hour spread to other countries?
Due to the impressive environmental impact achieved, people worldwide were inspired to participate.
5. Why is it important for Earth Hour to coincide with the spring and autumn equinoxes in the northern and
southern hemispheres?
This ensures the best visual impact and makes for impressive images of the usually glimmering city
skylines going dark.
6. Has Earth Hour achieved encouraging results? Why or why not?
Yes, it has achieved encouraging results because the worldwide participation demonstrates people's desire
to do their share to reverse climate change.
7. Name two other simple lifestyle changes we can make to save our earth.
Suggested answer: We can avoid food waste and reduce the use of paper.
8. How can we participate in the movement?
We can sign up at earthhour.org, invite our friends to take part and switch off our devices together during
Earth Hour.

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Part 4 State what the words refer to.
1. the non-profit (para. 2) WWF
2. they (para. 2) the 2 million households and 2,100 businesses
3. both (para. 3) the northern and southern hemispheres
4. that (para. 5) organizing a candlelight dinner or a picnic under the stars

Part 5 Replace the underlined words with the highlighted words in the text.
1. If our schedules are the same, we will go on the trip together.
If our schedules __coincide___, we will go on the trip together.
2. Big Ben is one of the most famous and representative landmarks in London.
Big Ben is one of the __iconic___ landmarks in London.
3. Most of the world’s resources are used by human activities.
Most of the world’s resources are __consumed__ by human activities.
4. It is important for everybody to play their part in order to succeed.
It is important for everybody to ___do their share__ in order to succeed.
5. The damaged caused by pollution cannot be undone.
The damaged caused by pollution cannot be __reversed___.
6. As she persevered, she showed dogged determination.
As she persevered, she __demonstrated___ dogged determination.
7. The proposal was his idea. He came up with it all by himself.
The proposal was his __brainchild___. He came up with it all by himself.
8. Some of the customs are still obeyed by the older generations.
Some of the customs are still __observed__ by the older generations.
9. The participation has never happened before, which is very encouraging.
The participation has been ___unprecedented___, which is very encouraging.
10. We hope you will communicate the message to lots of people and invite your friends to join us.
We hope you will __spread the word__ and invite your friends to join us.
11. If the groups join each other and work together, they will become very strong.
If the groups __unite___, they will become very strong.
12. We can see the village shining with a weak light in the distance.
We can see the village __glimmering__ in the distance.