Now you will see the reading passage for minutes. Remember that it will be available to you again when you write. Immediately after the reading time ends, the lecture will begin, so keep your headset on until the lecture is over.
Because of climate change, more and more land that was once used to grow crops or provide food for animals is turning to dry, unusable desert land. There are many proposals about how to stop this process, known as desertification. A number of proposals involve growing trees because trees can help protect soil and provide many other benefits to fight against desertification. Some scientists have proposed that the best way to grow trees in dry areas in danger of desertification is by using a box-shaped device surrounding the young tree. The device collects water that condenses from vapor in the atmosphere and helps the tree to grow. However, other scientists believe that this device will not be successful in fighting against desertification for the following reasons.
First, at a cost of 25 U S. dollars each, the device would make growing trees a prohibitively expensive process. Meaningful efforts to fight desertification involve growing millions of trees. Some countries most affected by desertification cannot afford to buy devices for millions of trees
Second, plans for fighting desertification involve asking local people to install and maintain the devices. People living in some of the areas most affected by desertification work long days in harsh conditions: sometimes barely managing to provide food for their families. It would be difficult to motivate these people to look after trees that cannot serve as a source of food for them.
Third, the device’s ability to collect and conserve water is limited. Each one provides only enough water to keep a small tree alive. Trees that have outgrown the device have to deal with unforgiving environmental conditions on their own. In some places where the devices are being tried, six months can pass without a drop of rain. Once the trees become too big for the device, they may not be able to survive in such a harsh environment.
Directions: You have 20 minutes to plan and write your response. Your response will be judged on the basis of the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the points in the lecture and their relationship to the reading passage. Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words.
Sample Answer:
The reading passage discusses concerns regarding the use of box-shaped devices to grow trees in combating desertification. However, the lecturer counters these concerns and supports the implementation of these devices. This essay will summarize the lecturer’s points and their response to the concerns raised in the reading passage.
The first concern is the cost of the devices, making tree growth financially burdensome. The lecturer argues that the devices can be reused multiple times, significantly reducing the cost per tree.
The second concern is the involvement of local people in installing and maintaining the devices. The lecturer suggests possible rewards, such as allowing locals to use some devices for their vegetables, which can motivate their participation in the project.
The third concern questions the device’s ability to support trees once they outgrow it. The lecturer explains that the devices help trees develop long roots, enabling them to access underground water sources and survive without the devices.
In conclusion, the lecture counters the concerns raised in the reading passage. The devices’ reusability reduces the cost, possible rewards motivate locals, and trees can thrive after outgrowing the devices. These points support the effectiveness and practicality of using box-shaped devices to combat desertification.
Vocabulary and Expressions:
- Implementation – the act of putting a plan or idea into effect. Example: The successful implementation of renewable energy policies helped reduce carbon emissions.
- Financially burdensome – causing a heavy financial strain or difficulty. Example: The high cost of healthcare has become financially burdensome for many families.
- Participation – the act of taking part or being involved in something. Example: The company encouraged employee participation in the decision-making process.
- Motivate – to provide a reason or incentive for someone to take action or behave in a particular way. Example: The coach’s pep talk motivated the team to give their best performance.
- Reusability – the ability to be used again or repeatedly. Example: The company focused on developing eco-friendly products with reusability in mind.
- Thrive – to grow, develop, or prosper vigorously. Example: The business thrived in the competitive market due to its innovative approach.
- Practicality – the quality of being useful, effective, or suitable for a particular purpose. Example: The design of the new smartphone focused on both style and practicality.
- Counter – to respond to an argument or criticism with opposing evidence or viewpoints. Example: The lawyer countered the prosecution’s claims with strong evidence of his client’s innocence.
- Concerns – worries or anxieties about something. Example: The parents expressed their concerns about their child’s safety at the new school.
- Effectiveness – the degree to which something is successful in producing the desired results. Example: The effectiveness of the new marketing strategy was evident in the increased sales.
- Access – the ability or right to use, enter, or make use of something. Example: The library offers free access to a wide range of books and resources.
- Burden – a heavy load or responsibility that causes difficulty or stress. Example: The financial burden of student loans can be overwhelming for recent graduates.
- Sustainable – capable of being maintained or continued over the long term without causing harm or depletion. Example: The company’s commitment to sustainable practices includes reducing waste and carbon emissions.
- Incentive – a reward or motivation to encourage someone to do something. Example: The company offered financial incentives to employees who achieved their sales targets.
- Effectiveness – the degree to which something is successful in producing the desired results. Example: Regular exercise and a healthy diet are essential for the effectiveness of weight loss efforts.
Transcript
Professor:
The reasons against using the box-like devices to grow trees are not very convincing. It is worthwhile to use these devices to help grow trees in the fight against desertification.
First, the cost. You have to take into account that once the young tree growing inside the device gets bigger the device can be removed and used to start growing a new tree. In other words, the devices can be reused. Each can be used twenty times or more. If you divide the cost of one device by the number of trees you can use it for, the cost becomes much more reasonable.
Second, about installing and maintaining the devices. It’s true that people are being asked to maintain trees that they cannot use for food, but still, there are possible rewards for the local people who help with this project.For one thing, the devices can be used to collect water for other plants, not just trees. If the locals are allowed to use some of the devices for their vegetables for example, that should help them grow more food.
Another benefit to the locals is that once the trees become larger, the tree’s branches can be used for firewood. Having access to more food and more firewood should provide motivation for the local people to take part in the project.
Third, a tree can survive very harsh conditions once it outgrows the box-like device. That’s because the devices help young trees grow long roots. Those long roots are able to reach down to the moist soil that lies beneath the dry desert surface.Once the tree roots reach the sources of water underground, the trees can survive without the devices. In a recent effort to grow trees in the Sahara Desert using the devices 90% of the trees were still thriving two years after the devices had been removed.
