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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. agony
    • ex. She was in agony after falling and hurting her leg.
  2. extreme
    • ex. People could not stay outside for more than a few minutes because of the extreme heat.
  3. replenish
    • ex. I replenished my water bottle after a long walk.
  4. a shortage
    • ex. The store had a shortage of bread, so many people left without buying any.
  5. take (something) for granted
    • ex. Please don’t take clean water for granted because we may not have enough of it in the future.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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People in Kashmir near the Himalayas watched in agony as a famous ancient spring ran dry because of extreme dry weather. This was the first time the spring water disappeared. Fortunately, fresh rain and snow replenished the spring in February. However, people now worry that climate change might affect more bodies of water in the region.

In recent weeks, many springs and parts of the Jhelum River in Kashmir have dried up. This has caused a water shortage in the region, known for its beautiful mountains and lakes. The people’s concern is shown in a viral video of an old woman crying and praying at the dry spring in Achabal. The spring is important as it provides water to 20 nearby villages.

According to local news, officials are trying to find out why the spring dried up. Weather experts say that the region has over 80% less rain and snow this year. Experts say the changes in Kashmir’s weather are linked to climate change and global warming. Because of this, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked everyone not to take water for granted and to take more steps to manage and save water.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Weather

  • Describe the most extreme weather you’ve ever experienced (ex. very hot, biting cold). Discuss.
  • What are some problems that people might face in areas with extreme dry weather? Discuss.
  • Do you believe that extreme dry weather will become more common in the future? Why or why not? Discuss.

Saving Water

  • Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked everyone to save water and not take it for granted. Do you think a lot of people take water for granted? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • In your country, what programs are there to protect water and not take it for granted? Discuss.
  • Aside from water, what other resources should people not take for granted (ex. food, forests)? Discuss.