UNIT 6

AIR POLLUTION

Activity 1. Brainstorming
Answer the following questions.
1. What is meant by Air Pollution?
2. Do you think it’s harmful? Why?
3. What actions should be taken to prevent it?

For teacher: This activity is given in order to know student’s understanding about the
air pollution. The answers of the questions are in the form of description which may
involve the use of adjectives and adverbs. Teacher can observe how students use
adjectives and adverbs to express their ideas.

Activity 2. Adjectives and Adverbs

A. Adjectives

Adjectives are one of the four major word classes, along with nouns, verbs and
adverbs. It is a word or set of words that modifies (i.e., describes) a noun or pronoun.
Examples of adjectives are: big, small, blue, old, rich and nice. They give us more
information about people, animals or things represented by nouns and pronouns.
Adjectives can come before nouns or after linking verbs. The following table contains
the examples of how adjectives are used in sentences.

Before the Noun After a linking verb

 He dropped the hot plate.  He seems tired.
 I have a black cat.  The view is beautiful.
 The small boy ran down the street.  The weather became cold.
 What a beautiful view!  My cat is black.

*Linking verbs are verbs like 'be', 'become'

and 'seem' which are not actions but
instead link the subject to an adjective,
noun or phrase that gives us more
information about the subject.

There is no general rule for making adjectives. We know they are adjectives usually
by what they do (their function) in a sentence. Some adjectives are made from nouns
and verbs by adding suffixes. The following are some suffixes that can be used to
form adjectives from nouns or verbs.
 Suffixes Examples
-able, -ible comfortable, readable, incredible, invisible
-al, -ial comical, normal, musical, industrial, presidential
-ful beautiful, harmful, peaceful, wonderful
-ic classic, economic, heroic, romantic
-ical aeronautical, alphabetical, political
-ish British, childish, Irish, foolish
-ive, -ative active, alternative, creative, talkative
-less endless, motionless, priceless, timeless
-eous, -ious, -ous spontaneous, hideous, ambitious, anxious, dangerous,
famous
-y angry, busy, wealthy, windy

Prefixes such as un-, in-, im-, il- and ir- change the meaning of adjectives. Adding
these prefixes makes the meaning negative:

Prefixes Examples
un- fair – unfair,
happy – unhappy,
sure – unsure
in- active – inactive,
appropriate – inappropriate,
complete – incomplete
ir- responsible – irresponsible,
regular – irregular,
reducible – irreducible
im- balance – imbalance,
polite – impolite,
possible – impossible
il- legal – illegal,
legible – illegible,
logical – illogical

As stated above, adjectives are used to give information about things, person, or
animals represented by nouns and pronouns. If there are more than one adjective
that is used to modify a noun, then you should follow the order of adjectives in front
of a noun.

opinion size age shape colour origin past noun

participle
a nice large old round brown French handmad table
e
Adjectives can also be used to compare differences between two or more objects
they modify. This what we call comparative adjectives. They are used in sentences
where two nouns are compared, in this pattern:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object)*.

* The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context

Examples:

 My house is larger than hers.

 This box is smaller than the one I lost.
 Your dog runs faster than Jim's dog.
 The rock flew higher than the roof.
 Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better.

When we want to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality,
we can use superlative adjectives. They are used in sentences where a subject is
compared to a group of objects.

Noun (subject) + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun (object)

*The group that is being compared with can be omitted if it is clear from the context

Examples:

 My house is the largest one in our neighborhood.

 This is the smallest box I've ever seen.
 Your dog ran the fastest of any dog in the race.
 We all threw our rocks at the same time. My rock flew the highest.

Forming comparative and superlative adjectives can be done based on the following
rule:

1. One-syllable adjectives
Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a
consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled
before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Tall taller Tallest
Fat fatter Fattest
Big bigger Biggest
2. Two-syllables adjectives
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by
preceding the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by
adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are
used, although one usage will be more common than the other. If you are not sure
whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative or superlative ending, play it
safe and use more and most instead. For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i
before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Happy Happier Happiest
Simple Simpler Simplest
Busy Busier Busiest
Tilted More tilted Most titled
Tangled More tangled Most tangled

3. Three or more syllables adjectives

Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in
front of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Important More important Most important
expensive More expensive Most expensive

There are some adjectives that do not follow the above rules, those are irregular
comparative and superlative forms. The following are some common adjectives that
have completely irregular forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

good better Best
bad worse Worst
little less Least
much more Most
far Further / farther Furthest / farthest

B. Adverbs

Adverbs are one of the four major word classes, along with nouns, verbs and
adjectives. We use adverbs to add more information about a verb, an adjective,
another adverb, a clause or a whole sentence and, less commonly, about a noun
phrase. Adverbs have many different meanings and functions. They are especially
important for indicating the time, manner, place, degree and frequency of
something. The following table shows the types of adverbs.

Types of Function Examples Examples in sentence

Adverbs
Time Adverbs of time already, lately,  Have you seen
tell us about when early, now, soon, Laurie today?
something yesterday, yet,  I’d prefer to leave early.
happens today
Place Adverbs of place Nearby, there,  There was somebody
tell us about where here, upstairs standing nearby.
something  Is that your scarf there?
happens or where
something is
Manner Adverbs of manner accurately,  She spoke very loudly.
tell us the way beautifully,  We waited anxiously by
something expertly, the phone.
happens or is professionally,
done. badly, loudly,
Some common quietly
manner adverbs
have the same
form as adjectives
and they have
similar meanings
(e.g., fast, right,
wrong, straight,
tight)
Frequency Adverbs of Always, usually,  I am always late.
frequency frequently, often,  You never tried hard
generally answer sometimes, seldom enough.
the questions How
often?
Degree Degree adverbs absolutely,  It all happened pretty
express degrees of enough, perfectly, quickly.
qualities, entirely, pretty,  Mary will be staying a
properties, states, terribly, a lot, bit longer.
conditions, and quite, a bit
relations
Duration Adverbs of a long time,  The room was briefly
duration tell us forever, briefly, occupied
 how long someone permanently  The phone was
does something or temporarily out of order
for how long
something lasts
Focusing Focusing adverbs Especially, just,  I just wanted to ask you
point to something only, simply, what you thought.
generally, largely  I
wouldn’t particularly lik
e to move to a modern
house.
Viewpoint Viewpoint adverbs honestly.  Personally, I think the
modify a whole personally, in brief show was great.
sentence. It is
especially used to
express one’s point
of view

Activity 3. Reading Comprehension

Read the text and answer the following questions!

Air Pollution

When the air is dirty it has become polluted. Air pollution is made up of
gases, dust, odors, particles, smoke, fumes, and other substances which can be
harmful to humans, animals, plants, and all living organisms. The air is
contaminated and unclean.
Air pollution affects the Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere of the Earth is
like a blanket of air which protects all life. Without the atmosphere, life would not
exist. The atmosphere protects living organisms from the heat of the Sun during
the day, and at night it prevents the warm air from escaping. Basically, the
atmosphere helps keep the living things on Earth from burning up or freezing.
The pollution in the air, though, may affect this 'blanket' and becomes
harmful to life on Earth. The substances in the air causing the dirty air are
called pollutants. Some examples of pollutants may include gases called carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and others. There may also be sand, dust
particles, and other substances that evaporate and become pollutants.
A primary pollutant is one that is directly released into the air causing
pollution. An example is carbon monoxide, which comes from cars and trucks on
the road. A second primary pollutant is sulfur dioxide, which comes from the
burning of coal.
A secondary pollutant is a substance or substances mix together in the air
due to a chemical reaction. When these substances mix together, the air pollution
 is much more dangerous and harmful to organisms. An example is photochemical
smog.
It is difficult to avoid the pollution in the air since it is the place where people
get the oxygen to breathe and live. Pollution can travel with the wind from one
place to another and spread over a large number of miles.
Pollution can be caused by humans or it can also occur naturally. For
example, natural pollution may come from volcanoes, forest fires, wind storms,
pollen in the air, and other sources in nature.
The three main causes of pollution by humans includes the release of smoke
and fumes from manufacturing plants and various industries. Power plants release
carbon monoxide and furnaces that burn waste are two examples of manmade
pollution. Gasoline refineries also release dangerous chemicals in the air called
hydrocarbons. The second cause is the burning of fossil fuels such as from cars,
trucks, trains, airplanes. This type of pollution occurs often because people rely on
transportation every day. Another main cause of pollution is from household and
farming chemicals. On farms crop dusting may pollute the air, homes may be
sprayed with chemical to kill bugs or to help the grass grow.
There are several effects of air pollution including acid rain, which is when
rain is mixed with the pollution in the air. This acid rain can cause harm to trees,
animals, fish, and other living organisms. It can cause problems with breathing and
irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat. Sometimes people can also get headaches or
have allergic reactions. Long-term effects can include lung cancer, heart disease
and other health problems.
In summary, air pollution is basically dirty air caused by chemical pollutants.
There are primary and secondary pollutants and both can cause short-term or
long-term problems for living things.

Source: https://www.softschools.com/language_arts/reading_comprehension/science/100/air_pollution/

1) Which of the following is like a blanket of air that protects the Earth?
A. Pollution
B. Pollutants
C. Atmosphere
D. Smog
Answer: …………………….

2) All of the following are examples of pollutants, except:

A. Carbon monoxide
B. Acid rain
C. Nitrogen oxide
D. Hydrocarbons
Answer: ……………………
3) Which of the following is carbon monoxide?
A. Primary pollutant
B. Secondary pollutant
C. General pollutant
D. Natural pollutant
Answer: ……………………….

4) Which of the following describes pollution from volcanoes, forest fires, and
pollen?
A. Manmade pollution
B. Natural pollution
C. Primary pollution
D. Secondary pollution
Answer: ……………………….

5) Gasoline refineries release which of the following pollutants into the air?
A. Carbon monoxide
B. Acid rain
C. Nitrogen oxide
D. Hydrocarbons
Answer: ……………………….

6) Which of the following may be a long-term effect of air pollution?

A. Allergies
B. Headaches
C. Lung cancer
D. Eye irritation
Answer: ……………………….

Activity 4. Vocabularies
After you read the text above, it can be seen that there are several uses of adjectives
and adverbs. Identify the words and classify them (decide whether they belong to
adjectives or adverbs). Consult the dictionary for the meaning of the words!
No Word Word class Meaning
Activity 5. Grammar Exercise

Arrange the following words into a good sentence. Begin each sentence with I am
looking for ………………

1. clock radio – white – Taiwanese – cheap – for my bedside table

I am looking for a cheap white Taiwanese clock radio for my bedside table___________
2. sports car – well maintained – second-hand – with a low mileage
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Polished – beautiful – antique – dining table – mahogany – English
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Canvas – American – a pair of – trainers – grey and red – which I can use for
jogging
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Cottage – stone-built – small – old – country
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6. Cotton – dress – summer – pink and white – for my holiday
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 6. Context

Put the missing adjectives and adverbs. Add -ly or make other changes where you
need to.

Beautiful, best, careful, cheap, early, far, fast, full, hurried, important, last, new, past,
quick, rapid, silly

A Splash of Colour
1
………………… Thursday I had an 2……………………….. interview for a job. I got up
3
……………… and dressed 4……………………….. I put my 5………………………….. jacket and
trousers, to look my 6…………………… I had to travel by train, so I walked to the station
which is not 7………………………… from my house. I was walking quite 8…………………………
when I saw a man just ahead painting his fence with red paint. He didn’t notice me as
I walked ………………………….
9
Then he turned suddenly and splashed my
10
………………………… trousers! He had acted 11
………………….. and he apologized, but the
damage was done. There was a bog store on the corner, so I decided to by a new
pair 12
…………………………. I could change on the train. I …………………………. Found a
13

nice pair, which I bought quite 14…………………………… The shop was 15

……………………, so
I paid 16 …………………………… grabbed my shopping bad and left. On the train, I went to
the toilet to change. I took off the stained trousers and threw them out the window.
Then I opened the bag to get my 17
…………………….. ones, but all I found was a pink
woolen sweater.

Activity 7. Structured Assignment (Pair Work)

Compose a conversation with your friend discussing one of the following topics.
Practice the conversation and record a video of you and your friend doing the
conversation. Don’t forget to use adjectives and adverbs in your conversation.
Submit the video via OASE.

Topics of conversation.

1. Similarities or differences of the quality of air in urban and rural area.

2. Comparison of the quality of air before, during, and after the Covid-19
pandemic in some regions in Indonesia.
3. Air pollution which causes the climate change