Now read the text carefully to find out what mercury really is

4. What is the main idea of paragraph 3? 5. Our environment can be easily contaminated with mercury. Complete the table below to see how the substance can enter our environment Kinds of mercury Air Water Soil Food chain 6. When a small fish eat the methilmercury in food, it goes into their tissues. last paragraph. What does “it” refer to? 7. What is the purpose of the text? 8. Underline the adjectives used in the text 4. Match the underlined words below with the synonyms in the box One number may have more than one answer.

1. Mercury enters the environment as the result of the normal breakdown of minerals

in rocks and soil from exposure to wind and water, and from volcanic activity. par. 1 2. Human activities since the start of the industrial age have resulted in additional release of mercury to the environment. par. 1 3. Estimates of the total annual mercury releases that result from human activities range from one-third to two-thirds of the total mercury releases. par. 1 4. The levels of mercury in the atmosphere are very, very low and do not pose a health risk; however, the steady release of mercury has resulted in current levels that are three to six times higher than the estimated levels in the preindustrial era atmosphere. par. 1 English for Biology Teachers PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

5. Approximately 80 of the mercury released from human activities is elemental

mercury released to the air, primarily from fossil fuel combustion, mining, and smelting, and from solid waste incineration. par.2 6. About 15 of the total is released to the soil from fertilizers, fungicides, and municipal solid waste. par. 2 7. With the exception of mercury ore deposits, the amount of mercury that naturally exists in any one place is usually very low. par. 3 8. As a result, the larger and older fish living in contaminated waters build up the highest amounts of methylmercury in their bodies. par. 6 impure yearly polluted natural firm common supplementary essential fundamental little recent hard

5. Find a news article in magazines or newspapers which talk about cases

caused by mercury. Discuss with your partner how and why it happens Write your comments in the following blank space English for Biology Teachers PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 33 Achievement indicators: Learners are able to... • answer questions about specific details and inferences of the text • find main idea of the text • identify the communicative purpose of the text • find the meanings of some words used in the text • use some words related to the text • identify coordinating conjunctions used in the text • use coordinating conjunctions • list important points of a text express their ideas related to the topic in written way PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI