Pre-reading Activities 
 
First Listening
Please listen to a short passage carefully and prepare to answer some questions.
    Environmental awareness hardly exists. Most countries are more interested in economic development than world environment. Increasing damage has led many countries to start new environmental programs. Canada protects its fish supply by closing fishing areas and setting strict limits. To protect its rain forest, Costa Rica issued new laws and created parks and nature reserves. Brazil has protected its Amazon rain forest. Many rivers, land, and forests in Eastern Europe, the most polluted industrial area in the world, are biologically dead. Ghana strengthened its agricultural base and developed a new source of income. Indonesia must encourage birth control and provide enough food, shelter and employment.  
  
Second Listening
Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following questions with your own experiences.

1) Why are most countries not concerned about environmental awareness?
2) Which two countries have taken steps to protect their rain forests?
3) Which is the most polluted industrial area in the world? What is the result of this pollution?