Water pollution has two main causes and various damaging effects. The primary cause is emissions from vehicles and factories which contain pollutants that enter water sources through rainwater runoff infiltrating the water table and contaminating rivers and lakes. The secondary cause is the accidental or deliberate dumping of waste outside of regulated disposal areas, allowing small amounts of waste to seep into groundwater supplies. Effects of water pollution include harm to the biosphere as polluted water impacts animal life, and consequences for human society as contaminated water sources affect public health.

1. Topic: Nature, the environment
and energy
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2. Do & Don’t for the topic
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Do use Academic
English
Don’t use
emotional words
Regrettable
Worrying
Inadvisable
Admirable
Helpful
Invaluable
Terrible
Shocking
Disgusting
Wonderful
Fantastic
Brilliant

3. Statement
Pollution of rivers, lakes and seas is a major
concern for people who seek to protect the
environment. What are the possible causes of
water pollution, and what effects does this have
on animal life and human society?
• Explanation of the task:
– Type: ideas > causes/ effects
• Tasks:
– Possible causes
– Effects
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4. Introduction
• Water contamination is a serious form of
pollution, and one that can be challenging to
rectify. There seem to be two main causes
involved, and a variety of damaging effects on
people and the biosphere, which we will
discuss here.
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5. Cause 1
• Emissions from cars, factories and other human
activities is probably the main factor. These emissions
contain damaging pollutant particles which can
contaminate rainwater run-off and thus enter the
water cycle, by transferring through the water table
into aquifers, streams and rivers.
• Filtration and processing are not really viable options
for such large volumes of water, and so the water table
remains tainted with these elements over long
periods, as we see in Eastern Europe today. In
situations where soil erosion and logging have already
damaged the local environment, the accumulation can
be very serious.
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6. Cause 2
• The other major cause is accidental or
deliberate dumping of waste products in
places outside of controlled landfills or waste
processing centres. Even small amounts of
abandoned waste can enter water supplies
through the ground, often undetected.
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7. Contamination
Info Details
Pronunciation /kənˈtæm.ɪ.neɪt/
Meaning = pollution by poisons or dangerous elements
Example The atmosphere in large cities is often contaminated by smog, as we
can see in China.
Notes
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8. Rectify
Info Details
Pronunciation /ˈrek.tɪ.faɪ/
Meaning = to correct something or make something right
Example She is determined to take whatever action is necessary to rectify the
situation.
Notes
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9. Emissions
Info Details
Pronunciation /iˈmɪʃ.ən/
Meaning = gases entering the atmosphere
Example Scientists spend their whole careers studying the effect of emissions
on the climate.
Notes
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10. Aquifers
Info Details
Pronunciation /ˈæk.wɪ.fər/
Meaning = underground, natural water stores
Example My family tried to dig a well which connects to an aquifer, giving very
pure water.
Notes
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11. Run-off
Info Details
Pronunciation /rʌn/
Meaning = water that runs from the ground into rivers and lakes
Example We should try to collect and use more run-off water, to avoid having
to recycle water so much.
Notes
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12. Water table
Info Details
Pronunciation /ˈwɔː.tər/ /ˈteɪ.bəl/
Meaning = the layer of water below ground
Example In my village, the water table is very high, and water will appear in
even a small hole.
Notes
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13. The biosphere
Info Details
Pronunciation /ˈbɑɪ·əˌsfɪər/- n
Meaning = the relationship between all living things on the planet
Example Children from the city should be educated on the biosphere through
field trips and practical experiments.
Notes
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14. Filtration
Info Details
Pronunciation /fɪlˈtreɪ.ʃən/n
Meaning = the process of filtering and removing impurities /ɪmˈpjʊə.rə.ti/
Example Water filtration might be a solution to water shortages in very hot
countries.
Notes
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15. Tainted
Info Details
Pronunciation /fɪlˈtreɪ.ʃən/n
Meaning = polluted or contaminated
Example The Mediterranean is badly tainted in some areas by sewage
pollution.
Notes
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16. Process of Studying one Topic
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