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Unit 24 Lesson 2

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Unit 24 Lesson 2
Kalim Majhee's boat
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• read a conversation about the present and projected population in Bangladesh
• answered comprehension questions based on the conversation
• written a paragraph using sentences and words as shown in the example in D below
• written a paragraph about the disadvantages of overpopulation in Bangladesh
Function: making arguments, giving opinions
A Look at the following pictures. Discuss in small groups why people are in trees, on roads house-train-and bus-roofs.


Picture

B Road the conversation between the teacher and students to answer the questions that follow.
Entering the class Mr Joynal Abed in. the English lecturer, found the room crowded and noisty. So he changed scheduled topic and started the class this way:
Mr Abedin: Well, Class. We say Bangladesh is overpopulated - has too many people. My question is: Is it good or is it bad for us to have such a such a big population country.
Rafiq: Sir, before I answer, could I tell you what happened to Kalim
Majhee last week?
Mr Abedin: Ok. But say briefly.
Rafiq: Thank you, sir. It was a hat* day. The weather was getting worse
with black clouds gathering in the sky. Many hat-goers were returning home with their shopping in bags, sacks and baskets. Everybody was trying to get into Kalim Majhee's boat ahead of each other, though he was shouting all the time, "Wait, wait. There are too many of you. My boat can't carry you all in one trip". But nobody listened and the boat sank in the middle of the river.
Naznin: What are you trying to say, Rafiq? Is the country going to sink like
Kalim Majhee's boat?
Rafiq: Wait a minute. I didn't say that, did I? I simply want you to be
aware of the situation — its magnitude: Look at the simple arithmetic: 123 million people living in an area of only 144 thousand sq km! So we have the highest population density in the world — about 850 people living in 1 sq km. Like Kalim Majhcc's boat, can our land support this huge population?
Noushin: And the future may be even worse. With the present growth rate of 1.5%, our population in 2020 is projected to be around 210 million. Can you guess what pressure our Sand will be under? Wouldn't then at least some people need trees, house-and train-roofs to live on?
Mr Abedin: Thank you, everybody. I want you to be more critical about this Number One issue and the causes of overpopulation in the country.
C Choose the best answer.
1 Bangladesh is overpopulated.
Here the underlined word means
a too many people.
b more people in cities.
c people in trees and train-roofs.
d over-crowded trains and buses.
2 Many 'hat'- goers were returning home with their shopping in bags and baskets. Here the underlined word refers to
a going shopping.
b buying things.
c things bought,
d shopping centres.
3 The carrying capacity of Kalim Majhee's boat that evening was not sufficient because
a his was the only boat in the river.
b his boat was very small
c the number of people was too big.
d. the storm was coming soon.
4 The population density of Bangladesh refers to
a the number of people living in the country.
b many people living with little space between them.
c how thickly or thinly the country is populated.
d 850 people living in 1 sq km in the country.
5 In 2020 the population of Bangladesh is projected to be 210 million. Here the underlined word can be replaced by
a updated.
b estimated.
c devoted
d crowded.
D Work on your own. Imagine, or you may find in reality, a poor family with half a dozen or more children who live in your neighbourhood. You want the children to be hard-working, honest, etc. You also like the parents to be aware of the children's education, future, etc.
Now write a paragraph expressing what you want each member of the family to be. You may start with the parents in this way: ''I am sure you are facing serious is disadvantages of having such a big family. But I want you all to be happy..."
Use these words as much as necessary: good, punctual, aware, serious, conscious,
critical, hard-working, honest, careful, choices, responsible, informed, help, services, community, support.
E Imagine the area you live in either in a city / town or in a village. Write a paragraph about the difficulties you think you are likely to face twenty years from now. Include among other things such points as: housing, relationships, children's education and recreation, road communication, transport, business, etc.




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