Catastrophes and international organisations

1. Match each word with its corresponding definition.

1. hurricane a) an unpleasant event, especially in a vehicle, that happens

unexpectedly and causes injury or damage;

2. earthquake b) the state of being poor;

3. tsunami c) a long period of time when there is little or no rain;

4. war d) a sudden, violent shaking of the earth’s surface;

5. flood e) an extremely large wave in the sea caused, for example, by an

earthquake;

6. drought f) a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western

Atlantic Ocean - cyclone, typhoon;

7. hunger g) when the air around the world becomes warmer because of pollution

8. poverty h) a disease that spreads over a whole country or the whole world;

9. epidemic i) a situation in which two or more countries or groups of people fight

against each other over a period of time;

10. pandemic j) the use of violent action in order to achieve political aims or to

force a government to act;

11. accident k) flames that are out of control and destroy buildings, trees, etc;

12. terrorism l) a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry

13. fire m) a large number of cases of a particular disease happening at the

same time in a particular community;

14. global n) the state of not having enough food to eat, especially when this

warming causes illness or death;

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2. Divide the catastrophes into the following columns.

A catastrophe is a sudden event that causes many people to suffer.

HUMAN CATASTROPHES NATURAL CATASTROPHES / DISASTERS

3. Choose 3 words and write 3 sentences using them in context.

1)

2)

3)

4. Test your general knowledge.

What happened …?

on 26th December 2004

on 11th September 2001

on 1st November 1755

on 7th July 2005

Between 1914 and 1918

In September 2005, in the USA

Between 1939 and 1945

Source: Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary

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 HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR WORK

 All the campaigns are run on a shoestring budget.

We urgently need your donation and/ or
membership to carry on the fight.

 Persuade your friend to j oin FoE – the more

supporters we have, the more work can we do.

 Join a local FoE Group - there will be one not to

far from you – or form a new one. We have staff
and materials to help you.

 Many FoE groups and supporters devise and run job creation schemes such as home
insulation, bottle recovery, wastepaper collections and cycle route building.

Ex.1 - List four things you can do to help the Friends of the Earth fight pollution

______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________

Ex.2 - Look at the text again. Find words which mean:

a) a gif t of money __________________________

b) to organize __________________________
c) People who agree with you __________________________
d) To make people agree with your ideas __________________________

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 Ex.3 - Reporting statements and requests

Do you still remember?

Friends of the Earth : “Join us, don’t waste things”´´

They told us to join them and not to waste things

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Imperative Infinitive

Tell + someone + (not) to + infinitive

a) “Be a member of the FoE.”

He told me _________________ ______________________________________________

b) “Don’ t go on polluting our planet.”

He told her ________________ _______________________________________________

c) “Help us. Keep every empty bottle separat e. Don’ t put them in the dustbin.”
They told everybody ________________________________ ________________________

d) “Don’ t throw things away.”

They told us ________________ _____________________________________________

e) “Keep recyclables separate.”

FoE members told us ________________________________ ________________________

f) “Join Foe and start helping the environment.”

He told me _________________ ______________________________________________

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 P a ss i v e v o ic e

Part I

To be + Past Participle

Ex. Someone stole my car. My car was stolen.

Analisa o que se segue:

(Sujeito da activa) (complemento directo)

Activa Richard sold the car without his father consent.

Passiva The car was sold by Richard without his father consent.
(sujeito da passiva) (agente da passiva)

NOTA BEM!!!!

A Voz Passiva vem assim dar ênfase ao complemento, transformando-o em

sujeito!

O tempo verbal do auxiliar “to be” tem de corresponder rigorosamente ao

tempo verbal da activa.

O agente da passiva só aparece expresso quando isso se reveste de especial

importância ou interesse. Normalmente, apenas se subentende, sendo
simplesmente omitido.

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 You made it!
Congratulations!!!

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By CAROLYN GIBB VOGEL
GUEST COLUMNIST

Widely known for being falsely accused by the Bush administration of selling uranium to Iraq to
build the notoriously non-existent weapons of mass destruction, Niger is facing a genuine
scandal. One-quarter of its population is facing a yearly food shortage and the government is
in denial about the alarming situation. A similar crisis is brewing among the population in
Malawi, where the cycle of drought and poverty is quickly spiraling out of control.

It is amazing that so little has changed since I worked in Niger as a Peace Corps volunteer
nutritionist more than 15 years ago. The global policy outlook hasn't really changed. Much is
promised, but little is delivered and nothing ever really addresses the problems of persistent
hunger, poverty and famine. I met many children du ring my time in Niger, but one stands out
in my memory. Her name was Salamatou, but they called her Juma. I found her and her
teenage mother waiting for a lift at the intersection of two dusty roads.

As we've learned from our own Katrina, natural disasters happen. But unlike hurricanes, poverty and
its resulting hunger c an be prevented. In Niger and Malawi, the food supply is being stretched
beyond its limits and other resources -- financial and natural -- are being overburdened by rapid
population growth.

Many young girls in Niger still begin childbearing in their early teens and each woman has an
average of eight children (the highest birth rate of any country in the world). Its population (14
million) is projected to nearly double by 2025 -- to 26 million. Niger's plight is hardly unique.
Poorly functioning government institutions and the spread of HIV, which now affects
approximately 15 percent of the population, ex acerbate the food shortage in Malawi.

One clear solution to slowing population growth in Africa exists: Increase access and availability of
reproductive health c are. As a result, the burdens on a country's financial and natural resources
decrease. Families improve their chances of avoiding poverty. More girls and young women continue
their education. Women also become able to contribute to the financial well-being of their families.
This money increases access to food.

Unlike so many, Juma was a lucky little girl. She was sent to a nutritional recuperation center in the
nearest town. When I visited her several weeks later, Juma had doubled her weight, and when she
was tickled, a faint smile would cross her lips. I've wondered over the years what became of Juma, or
if she is even alive today. She'd be 18 years old and most likely a mother
herself -- probably several times over. I doubt she has access to reproductive health c are,
and I fear she does not have enough food for herself and her children. Unless more is done to
give people like Juma the information and contraceptives they need to plan and space their
childbearing, the fate of her children and grandchildren is likely to be grim.

Carolyn Gibb Vogel, MPH, is a senior research associate at Population Action International and
was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger from 1988-1990.

Source: Hunger in Afric a (adapted)

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 1. Fill in the following scheme with information from the text.

Problems:
Pla ces:

Solutions:

Consequences:

2. According to Carolyn Vogel what is the most important difference between hurricanes
and poverty?

3. Why is overpopulation such a serious problem in Africa?

4. Who is Juma?

5. Is Carolyn optimistic about Juma’s future? Justify your answer with a quote from the
text.

6. In your opinion, is there a solution to Africa’s human catastrophe? Give suggestions.

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 Aid to the Third World
Since the end of the Second World War, most developed nations have given aid to the Third World. Also,
several organisations have been created to help the developing countries. Here’s a list of the most
important.

UNESCO- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation- is a part of the larger United
Nations organisation. I t sends money, equipment, teachers and scientists to developing countries.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION and THE RED CROSS and THE RED CROSS. - Disease is one of the Third World
biggest problems. These organisations work to prevent and cure disease. They also send teams to
introduce bir th control programmes and to help in times of disaster.

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND and THE WORLD BANK – These organisations cont rol the world’s
currencies and lend money to developing countries – but the developing countries must pay interest on
the money they borrow.

OXFAM and THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND- These are just two of the many independent charities which
raise money to help the Third World. They also send and distribute food, blankets and medical equipment
when there is an emergency in the third World – for example the recent famine in Ethiopia.

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Ex. 1 List the main problems that affect the third world countries.

______________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Ex. 2 Do you think that the above mentioned organisations are important? State your reasons.

______________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________________ _________________________________

Ex. 3 Read the following letter:

3.1 Suppose you would like to send your cont ribution. Which part of the world would you send it
to? Justify.

______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________

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 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
An international organization is an organization of
international scope or character. There are two main types of
international organizations:

 international governmental organizations (GOs),

whose members are sovereign states or other
organizations (like the European Union and the WTO).
 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which are
private organizations.

Generally and correctly used, the term international

organization is used to mean international governmental
organizations only.

Legally speaking, an international organization must be established by a treaty providing it with legal recognition.
International organizations so established are subjects of international law, capable of entering into agreements
among themselves or with states.

International organizations differ in function, membership and membership criteria. Membership of some
organizations (global organizations) is open to all the nations of the world. This category includes the United
Nations and its specialized agencies and the World Trade Organization. Other organizations are only open to
members from a particular region or continent of the world, like European Union, African Union, ASEAN and so on.

Finally, some organizations base their membership on other criteria: cultural or historical links (the Commonwealth of
Nations, La Francophonie, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries), level of economic development or
type of economy (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization of
Petroleum- Exporting Countries (OPEC)), or religion (Organization of the Islamic Conference).

www.about.com (adapted)

1. Answer the following questions.

a) What is the main difference between NGO’s and GO’s?

______________________________________________________________________________

b) Identify the main membership criteria of most international organizations.

______________________________________________________________________________
c) Due to its history and culture, Portugal is a member of an impor tant organization referred to in the text.
Identify it.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 or·gan·iza·tion (BrE also or·gan·isa·tion)
1[C] a group of people who form a business, club, etc. together in order to
achieve a particular aim:
to work for a business / political / voluntary organization
the World Health Organization
He’s the president of a large international organization.

1. What is a NGO? Give an example of a NGO.

2. What do the following abbreviations stand for?

NATO
UN or UNO
FAO
UNESCO
UNICEF

3. Match the abbreviations in ex.2 with the logo?

1 2 3

4 5

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 P A SS I V E
part ii

Have to

Mr. Smith has (had) to solve a difficult problem.

A difficult problem has (had) to be solved by Mr. Smith.

REWRITE IN THE PASSIVE VOICE:

1. Polly had to leave the factory.

2. Elizabeth had to choose a special diet.
3. The scientists have o solve the problem of pollution

4. The citizens have to protect the atmosphere

Modal Verbs

Wealthy countries should support the poor ones

The poor countries should be supported by the wealthy countries

REWRITE IN THE PASSIVE:

1. We should encourage our pupils to use the dictionary.

2. Miss Massey couldn’t repeat the questions.

3. You must decline the offer.

4. They might hide their disappointment.

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 and n o w t h e e x e r ci s e s…
Rewrite the following sentences in the passive.
1) My boss offered a promotion.

2) The detective solves the mystery.

3) ennifer doesn’t tolerate bossy colleagues.

4) This company will employ a lot of people.

5) Jane organised the children’s birthday parties.

6) Phil will cancel the meeting.

7) Mark tells a lot of jokes.

8) They didn’t reward our productivity.

9) Mrs Dollison values our creativity and intelligence.

10) My colleagues usually accept my ideas.

You’re doing well! Go on!

1) The Egyptians built lots of pyramids.

2) The fire damaged all our goods.

3) We will reduce costs.

4) He always delivers the letters on time.

5) A small mistake will cause an accident.

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 Idiomatic Passive Voice

(Sujeito da activa) (c. indirecto) (c. directo)

Activa The manager made him a good offer.

Passiva He was made a good offer by the manager.

Idiomatica (sujeito da passiva) (agente da passiva)

Alguns verbos com dois complementos podem ser usados na Passiva Idiomática
(promise, give, send, teach, lend, allow, ask, tell, call, recommend, make, offer,
refuse, order, pay, deny, answer or appoint)

Passiva: A good offer was made to him by the manager.

(sujeito da passiva) (c. indirecto) (agente da passiva)

Rewrite the following sentences in two ways (normal and idiomatic passive):

1. Books teach us new and important things.

2. He won’t tell you anything.

3. He hasn’t told me his cousin’s name.

4. He won’t tell you anything.

5. The doctor is going to prescribe Gary a lot of medicines.

6. This firm can offer them a wide range of opportunities.

7. Her parents had given her every chance of becoming a champion.

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 GRAMMAR CHECK
Rewrite in the passive voice:

1) Mrs. Millet has sent Andy and Jenny some eggs from the farm.

2) They gave Richard a bicycle on his fourteenth birthday.

3) Aunt Rose had promised me a lovely pullover.

4) The girls are going to show Tim how to use a computer.

5) The detective is telling them about the robbery.

6) The postman brings us lots of letters everyday.

7) He gives his son the envelopes and the stamps.

8) The old woman will offer the children a lot of nice food.

9) I’ll lend you a box of smashing slides.

10) They didn’t teach him any Chinese words.

11) They must do the exercise.

12) She had to ask him Jane’s name.

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GRAMMAR EXERCISES

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