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Showers Use More Water Than Baths (23rd November, 2011)

A new report shows that taking a shower can use twice as much water as having a bath. Many people believe the opposite – that bathing uses more water than having a shower. The report is from the British company Unilever. They studied 2,600 showers across the U.K. to measure how much water people use. They said an average bath uses 80 litres of water, while some power showers use up to 136 litres in an eight-minute shower. Showers may be quick, but a bath seems better for the environment.

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Unilever also looked at people’s showering habits – what they do in the shower. They discovered that the average shower lasted eight minutes. Energy expert Dr Paula Owen advised people to take four-minute showers to save water and electricity. She said it was important people understand that showers waste more water and energy than baths. "People always consider the running costs of cars and phones, but no-one considers the…costs of everyday appliances such as showers, washing machines and TVs," she said.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.

taking a shower can use twice

a.

uses more water

2

people believe

b.

for the environment

3.

bathing

c.

as much water

4.

measure how

d.

uses 80 litres

5.

an average bath

e.

the opposite

6.

a bath seems better

f.

much water

 

Paragraph 2

1.

people’s showering

a.

more water

2

the average shower lasted

b.

appliances

3.

save water

c.

costs

4.

waste

d.

eight minutes

5.

running

e.

habits

6.

the…costs of everyday

f.

and electricity


LISTENING GAP FILL

___________________ that taking a shower can ___________________ water as having a bath. Many people believe the opposite – ___________________ more water than having a shower. The report is from the British company Unilever. They studied 2,600 showers across the U.K. ___________________ much water people use. They said ___________________ 80 litres of water, while some power showers use up to 136 litres in an eight-minute shower. Showers may be quick, but a bath seems better ___________________.

Unilever ___________________ people’s showering habits – what they do in the shower. They ___________________ average shower lasted eight minutes. Energy expert Dr Paula Owen ___________________ four-minute showers to save water and electricity. She said it was important people understand that ___________________ water and energy than baths. "People always consider ___________________ cars and phones, but no-one considers the…costs of everyday app___________________ liances such as showers, washing machines and TVs," she said.


MULTIPLE CHOICE

A new report (1) ____ that taking a shower can use twice as much water as having a bath. Many people believe the (2) ____ – that bathing uses more water than having a shower. The report is from the British company Unilever. They studied 2,600 showers (3) ____ the U.K. to measure how much water people (4) ____. They said an average bath uses 80 litres of water, while some power showers use (5) ____ to 136 litres in an eight-minute shower. Showers may be quick, but a bath (6) ____ better for the environment.

Unilever also looked at people’s showering (7) ____ – what they do in the shower. They discovered that the average shower (8) ____ eight minutes. Energy expert Dr Paula Owen advised people to take four-minute showers to (9) ____ water and electricity. She said it was important people understand that showers (10) ____ more water and energy than baths. "People always consider the (11) ____ costs of cars and phones, but no-one considers the…costs of everyday appliances such (12) ____ showers, washing machines and TVs," she said.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.

(a)

shower

(b)

shows

(c)

showing

2.

(a)

opposite

(b)

other

(c)

anti

3.

(a)

along

(b)

at

(c)

across

4.

(a)

usage

(b)

use

(c)

uses

5.

(a)

up

(b)

over

(c)

as

6.

(a)

seen

(b)

seam

(c)

seems

7.

(a)

usual

(b)

routinely

(c)

habits

8.

(a)

lasted

(b)

wasted

(c)

fasted

9.

(a)

invest

(b)

save

(c)

cost

10.

(a)

paste

(b)

baste

(c)

waste

11.

(a)

running

(b)

jogging

(c)

walking

12

(a)

was

(b)

as

(c)

has


SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

A new torper

2.

people believe the opeiopst

3.

arsmeeu how much water people use

4.

an aearvge bath

5.

worep showers

6.

a bath essme better

 

Paragraph 2

7.

showering bhsait

8.

dltsea eight minutes

9.

Energy xepter

10.

it was oipmarttn people understand

11.

no-one ioscensrd the costs

12.

hawings machines


PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

important people understand that showers waste more water and energy than

(    )

bath uses 80 litres of water, while some power showers use up to

1  )

A new report shows that taking a shower can use twice as much water as

(    )

people to take four-minute showers to save water and electricity. She said it was

(    )

than having a shower. The report is from the British company Unilever. They studied 2,600 showers across

(    )

Unilever also looked at people’s showering habits – what they do in

(    )

the shower. They discovered that the average shower lasted eight minutes. Energy expert Dr Paula Owen advised

(    )

baths. "People always consider the running costs of cars and phones, but no-one considers

(    )

the U.K. to measure how much water people use. They said an average

(    )

the…costs of everyday appliances such as showers, washing machines and TVs," she said.

(    )

136 litres in an eight-minute shower. Showers may be quick, but a bath seems better for the environment.

(    )

having a bath. Many people believe the opposite – that bathing uses more water


THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

twice     water     a     use     much     Taking     can     as     shower.    

2.

people     Many     opposite     the     believe.    

3.

the     across     showers     2,600     ,     studied     They     U.K.    

4.

average     of     bath     water     uses     80     An     litres.    

5.

bath     A     environment     the     for     better     seems.    

6.

habits     showering     people’s     at     looked     also     Unilever.     

7.

shower     8     average     lasted     minutes     The.    

8.

understand     people     important     was     it     said     She.    

9.

waste     water     energy     Showers     more     and.    

10.

appliances     The     such     costs     as     of     showers     everyday.    


DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________


WRITING

Write about showers for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________


HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. SHOWERS: Search the Internet and find more information about showers. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about showers. Include an imaginary interview with someone who loves showers but hates baths, and with someone who loves baths but hates showers. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to a shower expert. Ask him/her three questions about showers. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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