English For Today chapter 7: The Sundarbans

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1.1 Look at the pictures. Ask and answer the following questions in pairs.

Figure

Labels: a, b, c Description: Three pictures side by side, labelled a, b and c below them. Picture a shows a river channel between mangrove-like trees, with many small root stumps along the bank. Picture b shows a tiger standing among tall trees. Picture c shows a spotted deer standing in a forest clearing.

a) What do you see in the pictures? b) Where do these animals live? c) Have you ever visited a forest?

1.2 Listen and read.

The Sundarbans is a large forest of mangrove trees in Bangladesh. It protects our country in many ways. The strong roots of the mangrove trees save the land from the big waves. The roots keep our lands safe from coastal erosion. The Sundarbans is in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. It is located

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in Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1997.

The Sundarbans provides a large number of wildlife. The Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, saltwater-crocodile, Irrawaddy dolphins and various types of beautiful birds are the main attractions of this forest. People visit here from home and abroad to enjoy the natural beauties and the wildlife. The Sundarbans helps us in many ways. It guards our land from tsunamis, cyclones, and tidal waves. The Sundarbans is a habitat for many endangered animals. It is also a good source of palm leaves, wood and honey. Local people collect these resources for their livelihood. To keep our country safe from natural disasters, we should protect the Sundarbans.

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2.1 Read the text again and answer the following questions.

a) Where is the Sundarbans located? b) What kind of trees make up the Sundarbans forest? c) What animals are found in the Sundarbans? d) What do people collect from the Sundarbans for their livelihood? e) Why is it important to protect the Sundarbans?

3.1 Rearrange the following sentences to make a meaningful story.

a) It was a stormy night and it rained heavily. b) However, the Sundarbans protected him from the cyclone. c) Suruj Mian lived in a small village near the Sundarbans. d) He thought that his house, cattles and everything would be washed away. e) He was very scared on the night of the Cyclone ‘Remal’.

…………………………………… …………………………………… …………………………………… …………………………………… …………………………………… ……………………………………

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4.1 Work in groups. Discuss and make a list of how the Sundarbans help us. Present your list to the class.

Figure

Labels: The Ways the Sundarbans help us: Description: A notebook sheet with a red margin line on the left and a red header line under a blank top area. The heading "The Ways the Sundarbans help us:" is written in italics on the first ruled line. Blue ruled lines continue down the rest of the page for writing a list.