Unit 10
SKILLS
Reading
Go green
1. Look at the tourist map of Costa Rica, a country in Central America. Work with a partner. Discuss what tourists can do or see in Costa Rica.
Tourists can swim in the sea, visit marine national parks, see the volcanoes, watch the monkeys in national parks, etc.
2. Read two opinions about ecotourism. Choose the best title for them.
-pros and cons =
-contribute (v)
-discharge (v)
-species (n)
-fauna (n)
-flora (n)
-brochure (n)
-exotic (a)
-adapt (v)
-key: b

3. Match the words with their definitions
1. e
2. c
3. a
4. b
5. d
4. With a partner, make a list of the positive and negative effects of ecotourism according to the two speakers.
-positive effects: more money for the local government to preserve nature; tourists’ awareness of how to protect the environment; more jobs and higher income for local people.
-negative effect: change local people’s way of life.
5. Who may say these things? Tick (۷) the appropriate boxes.
۷ ۷
۷
۷
۷
۷
۷
۷
6. Do you agree with Marco that ecotourism can truly solve the problem of pollution? Think about what happens to the environment when there are more visitors to a destination.
To some extent, the answer is yes. The money from ecotourists may be used to preserve nature. However, the local people have to use up their resources (such as energy sources, food and water) to provide good service for tourists. More tourists mean more vehicles, more water and food consumption, and more waste. Even though the discharge of waste and consumption of natural resources by tourists are minimised , air, water and noise pollution is unavoidable.