500 places to see before they die Advanced

NEWS LESSONS / 500 places to see before they die / Advanced•P

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E© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

500 places to see before they dieLevel 3 Advanced

Key words2

dwindling devastation eco-conscious intriguing intact derelict burgeoning irrevocably degenerating merit folly vulnerable

When something is ___________________, it is in a weak position and in danger. (para 1)

Damage and destruction affecting a large area or a lot of people: ___________________. (para 2)

When you are aware of what is happening to the environment and show your concern you can be called ___________________. (para 2)

When you ___________________ something, you deserve or are worth it. (para 3)

Something that is becoming worse is ___________________. (para 4)

Something that is becoming smaller or gradually less until (almost) nothing remains is ___________________. (para 4)

Something that is ___________________ is very interesting and a bit strange or mysterious. (para 5)

Something that is ___________________ is growing or developing quickly. (para 5)

When applied to a building this means old, run-down, not looked after, empty, and in a bad condition: ___________________. (para 6)

A ___________________ is a building that has no practical use and is built as decoration. (para 6)

Something that is ___________________ is complete, unharmed, all in one piece, despite something negative having happened. (para 7)

An adverb meaning no longer possible to change or stop: ___________________. (para 8)

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Warmer1

What do the Tower of London and the Everglades in Florida have in common?a) They have both won environmental tourism awards.

b) They are both up for sale.

c) They are both at risk from climate change.

Skim-read the beginning of the article to check your answer.


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500 places to see before they dieA new guidebook for travellers shows the sites most at risk Amelia Hill, social affairs correspondent October 26 2008

The first guidebook of ‘last chance’ holidays will be published tomorrow for travellers who want to visit the most endangered tourist destinations across the world. Frommer’s 500 Places To See Before They Disappear provides a list of sites where it is still possible to see rare and vulnerable animal species, special landscapes and unique cultural sights in their unspoilt glory.

Co-author Holly Hughes, a former executive editor of Fodor’s Travel Publications, said: ‘The devastation brought on by climate change and direct man-made interference is familiar to all of us. But this book is a carefully chosen list of last-chance destinations that eco-conscious travellers can enjoy – if they move quickly – for possibly the last time.’

According to Hughes and co-author Larry West, an award-winning investigative journalist once nominated for a Pulitzer prize, more than 20 of Britain’s best-loved landmarks – and lesser-known gems – merit a place in their collection. The Tower of London and Greenwich Maritime Museum, for example, are at risk from rising sea levels which will lead the River Thames to flood its banks.

With 500 threatened destinations to choose from, she suggests heading to the Everglades in southern Florida. Filled with rare species, this ecosystem is degenerating with alarming rapidity. Already half has been lost to agricultural and urban development. Dwindling water levels and pollution have severely compromised what remains. ‘The number of bird species has fallen by 93 per cent and many of the fish and even the alligators who remain show high mercury levels,’ said Hughes.

The Dead Sea may only be a tourist destination for three more decades. By then, says Hughes, ‘it could be completely dry, because the rivers that feed it are being diverted’. Marine life around the Falkland Islands is under severe threat from

dumping by sanitation companies and ships. The Nazca lines in Peru, one of the world’s most intriguing ancient sites, face destruction as roads are built and global warming and deforestation cause floods and mudslides. Also under threat is New York’s Little Italy. ‘Though a small part of the area, made famous by films such as The Godfather and Mean Streets, has been preserved, it is being gradually squeezed by the burgeoning Chinatown and SoHo districts.’

Tourists could also visit some of Britain’s ancient architectural treasures which, she says, risk becoming derelict because of a lack of funding. Strawberry Hill, Sir Horace Walpole’s folly in Twickenham, west London, which sparked the Gothic revival in the early 19th century, is struggling to raise £8m. One of the oldest parish churches in England, St Mary’s, in Stow in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, needs £3m for renovations. Another London landmark, Battersea power station, becomes more run-down every day as government, developers and local community boards argue over its future.

Hughes also urges a trip to Kentish Town, north London, to visit Little Green Street, one of the last intact Georgian streets in London. ‘This perfect slice of Regency London was celebrated by the poet John Betjeman and used as the setting for numerous music and photo shoots. Further north, the Holderness coast, in East Yorkshire, loses nearly 6ft a year due to rising sea levels caused by climate change and man-made interference, she said.

West points out that the guidebook’s message is not all gloom. ‘Some of the destinations are already on the road to being saved, usually because they’ve been championed by preservationists,’ he said. ‘And even in the cases where a site has been lost, or irrevocably damaged, it often has become a rallying point for activists, inspiring them to fight on so that the same mistakes aren’t made again. The planet is poorer every time we allow something beautiful to die.’

© Guardian News & Media 2008First published in The Observer, 26/10/08


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Comprehension check3

Reading for detail4

How many tourist destinations can you find in the article? Underline them. Have you been to any of the places that are mentioned?If not, would you like to go to any of the places?

Find these ecological words or phrases and make notes on what their connection is with the article.e.g. agricultural and urban developments These are taking away land and are damaging the ecosystem in the Everglades in Florida, USA, negatively affecting rare plants and wildlife that can be found there.

a) deforestation _________________________________

b) dwindling water levels _________________________________

c) high mercury levels _________________________________

d) lack of funding _________________________________

e) rising sea levels _________________________________

f) dumping by sanitation companies _________________________________

Discussion5

The guidebook will probably encourage (even) more tourists to visit these destinations. What positive and negative implications might this have?Look back at the article for some suggestions, then expand your opinion as much as possible and try to have a balanced discussion.

Webquest6

Choose one of the destinations in the article and pinpoint it on Google Earth (weblink: http://earth.google.com/).Does the destination have an official website?What can you see or do there?How could you get there?Where can you stay while you’re there?How much would a trip to visit this destination cost?What is the weather like there today?

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b)c)d)e)f)g)


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2 Key words

vulnerable devastationeco-consciousmeritdegeneratingdwindlingintriguingburgeoningderelictfollyintactirrevocably

3 Comprehension check

deforestation (para 5) “The Nazca lines in Peru, one of the world’s most intriguing ancient sites, face destruction as roads are built and global warming and deforestation cause floods and mudslides.”dwindling water levels (para 4). “Dwindling water levels and pollution have severely compromised what remains” of the Everglades.high mercury levels (para 4) “The number of bird species has fallen by 93 per cent and many of the fish and even the alligators who remain show high mercury levels.”lack of funding (para 6) “Britain’s ancient architectural treasures which, she says, risk becoming derelict because of a lack of funding” e.g. Battersea power sta-tion, St Mary’s Church, in Stow in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and Strawberry Hill, in Twickenham, west London.rising sea levels (paras 3 & 7) “The Holderness coast, in East Yorkshire, loses nearly 6ft a year due to rising sea levels caused by climate change and man-made interference”. “The Tower of London and Greenwich Maritime Museum, for example, are at risk from rising sea levels which will lead the River Thames to flood its banks”.dumping by sanitation companies (para 5) “Marine life around the Falkland Islands is under severe threat from dumping by sanitation companies and ships.”

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4 Reading for detail

The Tower of LondonThe Greenwich Maritime MuseumThe Everglades in FloridaThe Dead SeaThe Falkland IsalndsThe Nazca Lines in PeruLittle Italy in New YorkStrawberry Hill in LondonSt Mary’s Church in Stow in LindseyBattersea power station, LondonLittle Green Street, LondonThe Holderness coast, East Yorkshire

Teachers’ notes

Here you can see photos of some of the places and wildlife (in Britain) mentioned in the book: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2008/oct/26/en-dangered-britain-ireland?picture=338973178You could show the pictures as a warmer or anytime during the lesson.

This links directly to the book: http://www.frommers.com/bookstore/047018986X.html

The new book title is an homage to / is inspired by the bestseller 1000 Places To See Before You Die: http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/

The webquest can be done during class time if you have the technology available. If not, it can be set as homework and the students can present their findings in the next lesson.

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500 places to see before they die Advanced