Chap 3 : The Oceans

Words	Inferred Meaning	Synonyms
Pioneer	A person who is among the first to explore or settle a new area.	Trailblazer, explorer, settler, founder
Garbage patch	An area of the ocean where debris and plastic pollution accumulate due to ocean currents.	Debris gyre, trash vortex, plastic patch
Intercept	To obstruct or cut off someone or something in transit.	Block, stop, detain, seize, interrupt
Entrepreneur	A person who organizes and operates a business, taking on financial risks to do so.	Businessperson, mogul, tycoon, innovator
Sieve	A tool with a mesh or perforated bottom used to separate solid from liquid or finer particles from coarse ones.	Strainer, colander, filter, separator
Barge	A long, flat-bottomed boat used for transporting goods in canals or rivers.	Lighter, scow, flatboat, tender
Skirt below	To pass or move along the edge of something, often to avoid it or to remain hidden.	Edge, border, flank, go around

1. Skim the article from WWF and discuss its main idea:

The main idea is that coral reefs are a vital part of the world’s ecosystem and are facing significant threats.

2. Share your opinion about coral reefs and the damage they suffer due to human activities:

What will happen to human beings and the overall environment if coral reefs became extinct?

If coral reefs were to become extinct, the consequences for both humans and the environment would be severe. For the environment, the loss of coral reefs would lead to a massive collapse of marine biodiversity, as they are essential habitats for countless species. This would disrupt food webs and ecosystems. The lack of a natural physical barrier would also make coastlines more vulnerable to tsunamis, hurricanes, and coastal erosion.

For humans, the impact would be devastating. The extinction of coral reefs would destroy the livelihoods of the 850 million people who depend on them for food and income from fishing and tourism. The global economy would suffer a multi-billion-dollar loss. We would also lose a valuable resource for medicinal research, including potential treatments for diseases like cancer and asthma. Ultimately, the extinction of coral reefs would be a significant ecological and humanitarian disaster.

3. What do you think these people have done to help?

I’ve chosen one of the personalities, Boyan Slat, to create a list of his actions. I will use the definite or indefinite article as instructed.

• a. An inventor and entrepreneur, he founded The Ocean Cleanup.
• b. The Ocean Cleanup is an organization dedicated to removing plastic from the world’s oceans.
• c. A large-scale cleanup system he invented is designed to passively collect marine debris.
• d. His goal is to remove 90% of the plastic pollution from the oceans.

4. When do we use the zero article?

The zero article is used when we don’t need “a,” “an,” or “the.” Here are two rules for its use:

• a. We use the zero article with plural or uncountable nouns when speaking in a general sense. For example, “Plastic is a major threat to oceans.”
• b. We also use the zero article with proper nouns like names of continents, countries, cities, and specific lakes or mountains, unless they are part of a specific phrase. For example, “Boyan Slat is from the Netherlands.”

5. Mind Map: Ocean Conservation

TITLE: Saving Our Oceans

WHAT THREATENS OCEANS?

• Plastic Pollution: Debris from single-use items like plastic bags and bottles that form large garbage patches.
• Climate Change: Causes ocean warming, which leads to coral bleaching and ocean acidification.
• Human Activities: Overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and coastal development.

HOW IS MARINE LIFE AFFECTED?

• Ingestion: Animals mistake plastic for food, causing illness or death.
• Habitat Loss: Coral reefs, which are home to a quarter of all marine species, are dying off.
• Food Chain Disruption: Entire ecosystems are harmed, impacting biodiversity and food sources.

WHO IS FIGHTING FOR CONSERVATION?

• Boyan Slat: An inventor and entrepreneur who founded The Ocean Cleanup.
• David Attenborough: A broadcaster and naturalist who creates documentaries to raise awareness.
• Sylvia Earle: A marine biologist and oceanographer advocating for ocean protection.
• Paul Watson: An environmental activist who founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

WHICH INNOVATIONS AND INVENTIONS CAN SAVE OCEANS AND MARINE LIFE?

• The Ocean Cleanup: A system designed to remove plastic from ocean gyres.
• Sustainable Fishing: Developing better practices to prevent overfishing.
• Recycling and Waste Reduction: Reducing the amount of plastic and debris that enters the ocean.