Why Is the Environment Important?
*Why Is the Environment Important?
Irini and her twin sister Katerina wake up each morning to the song of birds drifting through their window.
*Irini and her twin sister Katerina wake up each morning to the song of birds drifting through their window.
“Katerina, let’s race to the river!” Irini laughed, slipping on her sandals.
*“Katerina, let’s race to the river!” Irini laughed, slipping on her sandals.
“Last one there has to plant flowers!” Katerina teased back, her green eyes sparkling just like Irini’s.
*“Last one there has to plant flowers!” Katerina teased back, her green eyes sparkling just like Irini’s.
One sunny morning, the sisters crept close to the kitchen door and heard their mother speaking in hushed tones.
*One sunny morning, the sisters crept close to the kitchen door and heard their mother speaking in hushed tones.
“Do you remember that withered forest by the old hill?” their mother asked softly. “Acid rain almost killed every tree, but now the saplings are coming back thanks to the environmental protection team.”
*“Do you remember that withered forest by the old hill?” their mother asked softly. “Acid rain almost killed every tree, but now the saplings are coming back thanks to the environmental protection team.”
“Acid rain?” Katerina tilted her head. “What causes that?”
*“Acid rain?” Katerina tilted her head. “What causes that?”
Their mother explained how factories once poured harmful gases into the sky, which fell as rain and hurt the forests of Europe.
*Their mother explained how factories once poured harmful gases into the sky, which fell as rain and hurt the forests of Europe.
Later that day, Irini and Katerina arrived at the environmental protection facility, their small hands clutching saplings.
*Later that day, Irini and Katerina arrived at the environmental protection facility, their small hands clutching saplings.
“Here are old photographs,” the guide said, pointing to black-and-white pictures of barren hills.
*“Here are old photographs,” the guide said, pointing to black-and-white pictures of barren hills.
“It looks so sad,” Katerina whispered, her voice trembling.
*“It looks so sad,” Katerina whispered, her voice trembling.
Irini squeezed her sister’s hand. “But we can help it grow green again.”
*Irini squeezed her sister’s hand. “But we can help it grow green again.”
They donned gloves and knelt in the soft earth together. “Ready, Katerina?” Irini asked.
*They donned gloves and knelt in the soft earth together. “Ready, Katerina?” Irini asked.
“Ready!” Katerina planted her sapling beside Irini’s, both faces lit by a shaft of sparkling sunlight.
*“Ready!” Katerina planted her sapling beside Irini’s, both faces lit by a shaft of sparkling sunlight.
A scientist approached with a small device.
*A scientist approached with a small device.
“This tests soil pH. Too acidic, and trees can’t grow well.”
*“This tests soil pH. Too acidic, and trees can’t grow well.”
“Will our trees be okay?” Katerina asked, eyes wide.
*“Will our trees be okay?” Katerina asked, eyes wide.
“If we keep monitoring and planting more, they’ll thrive,” the scientist smiled.
*“If we keep monitoring and planting more, they’ll thrive,” the scientist smiled.
On the walk home, Irini and Katerina chatted excitedly about the day.
*On the walk home, Irini and Katerina chatted excitedly about the day.
“I never knew a single seed could make such a difference,” Irini said.
*“I never knew a single seed could make such a difference,” Irini said.
“And imagine hundreds, maybe thousands, all growing into tall trees,” Katerina added.
*“And imagine hundreds, maybe thousands, all growing into tall trees,” Katerina added.
That night, beneath the stars, the twins held hands and promised each other:
*That night, beneath the stars, the twins held hands and promised each other:
they would protect their world, learn from past mistakes, and never stop planting hope.
*they would protect their world, learn from past mistakes, and never stop planting hope.
＜Review Questions (Multiple Choice)＞
*＜Review Questions (Multiple Choice)＞
What lesson did people learn after the forests were destroyed by acid rain?
*What lesson did people learn after the forests were destroyed by acid rain?
a. Planting fast-growing trees fixes everything.
*a. Planting fast-growing trees fixes everything.
b. Remembering and learning from past failures is crucial.
*b. Remembering and learning from past failures is crucial.
c. Rain chemistry has no long-term effects.
*c. Rain chemistry has no long-term effects.
How did Irini and Katerina help the forest recover?
*How did Irini and Katerina help the forest recover?
a. They held a festival in the cleared area.
*a. They held a festival in the cleared area.
b. They planted young saplings and monitored soil and rainwater health.
*b. They planted young saplings and monitored soil and rainwater health.
c. They built houses in the forest.
*c. They built houses in the forest.
What device did the scientist use to ensure the sap lings could grow?
*What device did the scientist use to ensure the sap lings could grow?
a. A soil pH tester.
*a. A soil pH tester.
b. A meteorological station.
*b. A meteorological station.
c. A tree height gauge.
*c. A tree height gauge.
＜Let’s Think!＞
*＜Let’s Think!＞
Why is it important not to forget past environmental mistakes?
*Why is it important not to forget past environmental mistakes?
What small action can you take to protect nature and honor the lessons of those who came before us?
*What small action can you take to protect nature and honor the lessons of those who came before us?
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