ATIVIDADE INGLÊS – FAVOR NÃO ESCREVER NA FOLHA.

THE WATER WE DRINK

The water we drink usually comes from reservoirs, lakes, or rivers. A large number of cities uses river
water and dumps it back into the river. Sometimes another city downstream uses the same water. This water
may be badly polluted with chemicals and pathogenic bacteria. Many different chemical treatments are
necessary to make it safe and palatable.
Chemical engineers usually place the water into a settling basin to purify it. Then, they treat it with
slaked lime and aluminum sulfate. The chemical reaction of these elements forms a gelatinous mass. This
mass carries down dirt particles and bacteria.
Many communities add some form of fluoride to their water. Fluoride in concentrations of 0.7 to 1.0
ppm (parts per million) can significantly reduce tooth decay in children.
Some communities, usually the smaller ones, obtain water from wells. Even they have problems
because sometimes the ground water is contaminated. In some parts of the country the contamination of
nitrates in well water is above the maximum safe level of 1.0 ppm. These nitrates come from agricultural
fertilizers and from the decomposition of organic wastes.
What can we do? We can fight for clear water and convince our neighbors to do the same. We can
demand an end to water pollution by industries and cities. And finally, we must know how to use the water of
the earth because that is all we have.
VOCABULARY
dumps: despeja dowstream: rio abaixo , corrente abaixo
badly: mal; muito (sentido negativo, de coisa ruim) fluorine: flúor nitrate; nitrato
smaller: menores wells; poços
demand: exigência tooth decay; carie nos dentes
place the water into a settling basin: colocar a água em uma bacia de decantação

COMPREHENSION
A. Choose the correct alternative.
1. Aluminum sulfate reacts with: 2. A gelatinous mass:
a) ( ) a gelatinous mass. a) ( ) reduces tooth decay.
b) ( ) bacteria. b) ( ) purifies the settling basing.
c) ( ) slaked lime. c) ( ) contaminates ground water.
d) ( ) nitrates. d) ( ) carries down dirt particles and bacteria.

3. We obtain safe and palatable water: 4. We can:

a) ( ) from wells. a) ( ) demand an end to water pollution.
b) ( ) after chemical treatments. b) ( ) stop the decomposition of organic wasters.
c) ( ) from lakes. c) ( ) use river water.
d) ( ) from agricultural fertilizers. d) ( ) convince our neighbors to use fluoride.

5. Some small communities:

a) ( ) obtain nitrates from wells.
b) ( ) have purified well water.
c) ( ) also have problems with their water.
d) ( ) obtain agricultural fertilizers from nitrates.

B. Write T for True and F for False:

1. Nitrates pollute the water. ( )
2. People dump purified water into the river. ( )
3. We drink water from reservoirs. ( )
4. Fertilizers purify the water. ( )
5. Chemical reactions carry bacteria into a settling basing. ( )
6. Fluoride doesn't reduce tooth decay. ( )
7. The smaller communities obtain water from lakes. ( )
8. Many cities use river water. ( )
9. Chemical treatments are necessary to make water palatable. ( )
10. The maximum safe level of nitrate in water is 1.0 ppm. ( )