Ecotourism involves visiting fragile, pristine areas intended as a low-impact alternative to mass tourism. It aims to educate travelers and support local communities while respecting different cultures and the environment. Ecotourism focuses on responsible travel, personal growth, and sustainability by visiting places where nature and culture are primary attractions in order to foster environmental appreciation and influence. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize tourism's negative effects on the environment and local cultures, as well as promote recycling, energy efficiency, and local economic opportunities.

1. TOPIC: WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENT
READING COMPREHENSION PRACTICE 1
ECOTOURISM (opposed to “mass” tourism).
Read the text and complete the chart below with a word from the list you have after the
text. Every word can only be used ONCE. There are three words that you do not need to use.
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving (1) _________ fragile, pristine, and usually
protected areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to
standard commercial (mass) tourism. Its purpose may be to (2)_________ the
traveller, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic
development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for
different cultures and for human (3)_________. Since the 1980s ecotourism has been
considered a critical endeavour by environmentalists, so that future generations may
experience destinations relatively (4)__________ by human intervention.
Generally, ecotourism focuses (5)___________ socially responsible travel, personal
growth, and environmental sustainability. Ecotourism typically involves travel to
destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural (6)____________ are the primary
attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists insight into the impact of human
beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural
habitats.
Responsible ecotourism includes programs that (7)____________ the negative aspects
of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local
people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an
integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy (8)____________,
water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities. For
these reasons, ecotourism often appeals to advocates of environmental and social
responsibility.
EDUCATE UNTOUCHED IN VISITING RIGHT ON HERITAGE
ENTERTAIN MINIMIZE EFFICIENCY MAXIMIZE
WRITE YOUR ANSWERS IN THE CHART BELOW.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8.

2. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 2 TOPIC: WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENT
READING COMPREHENSION PRACTICE 2
Read the webpage below and complete the stories 1 – 6 with the
sentences a –f.
a) A series of underwater turbines are to installed in the River Thames.
b) And none of these people are actually born here.
c) Even the car dealers are refusing to take them in part exchange.
d) I’m trying to cut down on my energy consumption.
e) The black carbon powder that is normally used is refined from pure oil and the end
product costs more than vintage champagne.
f) This causes widescale water pollution, chronic illness in farmworkers and devastating
effects on wildlife.
ECOCHAT : NEWS AND VIEWS FOR A GREENER WORLD.
1. How green is your T-shirt? Unless it’s made with organic cotton –
not very. Cotton is one of the most environmentally damaging crops
grown in the world. In developing countries, more than 50% of all
pesticides used in agriculture are sprayed on cotton fields. (1) ____
In the USA, cancer rates in cotton-producing states are significantly
higher than in neighbouring states. And as if that wasn’t enough,
the final fabric is bleached, dyed and sprayed with a fire retardant
before it’s converted into the fashion item you buy in the shops.
Organic cotton is grown without using any chemical pesticides or
fertilisers and the final cloth is unbleached and dyed with natural
plant dyes. So make a difference this summer and wear a green T-
shirt.
2. Cheap printer ink? All lovers of creative recycling will be happy to
hear about a new use for car tyres. A group of British inventors have
found a way to extract the carbon from used car tyres to make
printer ink. (2) _________ With more than one million tyres being

3. dumped every year, this new system should open the way to
cheaper, greener printer ink.
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 2 TOPIC: WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENT
READING COMPREHENSION PRACTICE 2
ECOCHAT : NEWS AND VIEWS FOR A GREENER WORLD.
3. Victims of oil shortage? The much-loved American SUV (sports
utility vehicle) is quickly losing its appeal. With petrol prices rising
dramatically, more and more of these gas-guzzling four-wheelers
are finding themselves out on the streets with a For Sale sign in
their windows. But it seems that no one loves them anymore.
(3)________.
4. On her Majesty’s service? Windsor Castle, the main residence of
Elizabeth II, is to get a hydroelectric power system. (4)________ The
€ 1,185,100 project will provide the castle with one third of its
electrical needs, resulting in a reduction of approximately 600
tonnes in CO2 emissions every year. Engineers insist that the
underwater turbines will have very little impact on the ecology and
marine life of the river.
5. It’s an ill wind… Plans to erect to a wind farm on the picturesque
Island of Skye off the west coast of Scotland have provoked
thousands of complaints from local residents. But who exactly is
complaining? It seems that all the letters sent to the local Member
of Parliament have been written by the same sixteen people.
(5)_______ They are all wealthy second homeowners who don’t
want to see the value of their holiday property plummeting as the
wind farm “destroys the local landscape”. Local farmers, on the
other hand, welcome the farm as it will help subsidize their
lifestyles on this remote, but beautiful island.
6. A shaving query. Can anyone help me out with this problem?
(6)______ One of the things I want to get rid of is my electric razor.

4. But what is the best alternative? What is the most eco-friendly way
of shaving? Any advice you could offer will be greatly appreciated.
TomC.
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 2 TOPIC: WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENT
READING COMPREHENSION PRACTICE 2
ECOCHAT : NEWS AND VIEWS FOR A GREENER WORLD.
Write your answers on the chart below.
Story 1 2 3 4 5 6
sentence

5. KEY TO READING COMPREHENSION PART 1.
1. 1.VISITING; 2.EDUCATE; 3.RIGHT; 4. UNTOUCHED; 5.ON;
6.HERITAGE; 7.MINIMIZE; 8. EFFICIENCY
KEY TO READING COMPREHENSION PART 2.
2. 1f; 2e; 3c; 4a; 5b; 6d,

6. KEY TO READING COMPREHENSION PART 1.
1. 1.VISITING; 2.EDUCATE; 3.RIGHT; 4. UNTOUCHED; 5.ON;
6.HERITAGE; 7.MINIMIZE; 8. EFFICIENCY
KEY TO READING COMPREHENSION PART 2.
2. 1f; 2e; 3c; 4a; 5b; 6d,