UNIT 7: National assets
Key Unit Competence: To use language learnt in the context of national assets.
Introductory activity
Picture observation and interpretation
After observing the pictures, answer the following questions:1. What do you understand by the term national assets?
2. Explain the reason why national assets should be taken care of?
3. What measures should be applied in order to protect and
conserve national assets?
4. Examine their contribution to the development of the country?7.1. Talking about national assets
7.1.1 Learning activities: Reading and text analysisActivity 1Reading comprehension
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:All human activities that are designed and implemented for the economic
growth of a country and the social needs may impact on the environment
either directly or indirectly. However, in as much as human beings strive to
achieve social development, environmental conservation should be observed.
Economic development is associated with technological and industrial
advancement. If people are not sensitive to the environment, so much can go
wrong in matters of the environment while pursuing economic growth.Some economic activities can be destructive to the environment even though
they are income generating. For example, in commercial agriculture, farmers
may have to use fertilizers and pesticides in order to have higher produce
that maximises profits. The practice can lead to economic growth but at the
same time the chemicals are likely to destroy the natural resources such as
the soil and water.Other human activities that can have adverse effects on the environment
include: diversion of water courses, the extraction of minerals, emission of heat
and gases into the atmosphere due to industrial processes, deforestation as
a result of people using trees as raw materials to make commercial products
and genetic manipulation of natural plants to have more produce at lower
costs.It is also important to note that environmental degradation can be quite costly to
a country. The cost of land reclamation is high. These may involve restoration
of green cover, cleaning up of landfills and protection of endangered species.
The economic impact can also be in terms of loss of tourism industry. When
the natural resources that serve as tourists’ attraction sites are polluted and
diminished, this impacts negatively on the tourism sector. When there are
fewer tourists visiting a country, the revenue also goes down and as a result
the socio-economic development of that country is affected.Another way in which environmental protection is related to socio-economic
development is that pollution can cause diseases on the population. Disease
is an economic aspect in the society because it means incurring costs in
medical procedures and incapacitating a part of the population since when
people get sick, they are less productive.Therefore, even as we strive for economic growth and social development,
we should avoid over-exploitation of natural resources to avoid depletion. We
should pursue development that encourages environmental sustainability.Adapted from General studies and communication skills, senior 4, p. 105-107A. Comprehension questions
1. Describe the extent to which economic activities can be destructive to the
environment.
2. Identify other economic activities that can have negative effects on the
environment.
3. Justify how environment degradation can be costly to the country.
4. Examine the negative impact of economic growth on the tourism industry.
5. Prove that environment protection is related to socio-economic
development as shown in the sixth paragraph.B. VocabularyActivity 2Use a dictionary or a thesaurus to find out the meaning of the words in the
table below.
7.1.2 Application activities: Writing skillsActivity 1Composition writing
Construct grammatically correct sentences with each of the above terms.Activity 2Summary writing
Summarize the above passage in not more than 80 words.Activity 3Composition writing
Conduct a survey on the impact that mining activities have on environment
conservation.7.2 Talking about the role of national assets
7.2.1 Learning activities: Reading and text analysisActivity 1Reading comprehension
Read the passage below and answer the questions that followPublic places and assets include museums, national parks, forests,
industries, genocide memorial sites, schools, public gardens, hospitals and
police stations.Public places and assets are very significant. For Example, they provide
us with different services, generate income to us, and help us preserve our
culture and aid in recreation.It is through the natural resources like vegetation that we feed. The environment
provides fresh air to humans, animals and plants. From our environment, we
get rainwater that flows into our rivers, lakes, wetlands and swamps.Buildings are constructed by funds obtained from the exploitation of various
national resources. From the forests, we get firewood, charcoal and building
materials. We also get natural gas from our environment. Let us preserve
public places and assets by cleaning, employing people to take care of
environment and the natural resources at their disposal.Adapted from geography for Rwandan schools senior 4 student’s bookA. Comprehension questions:
1. Which national assets are described in the above passage?
2. According to the passage discuss the importance of national assets to
human being.B. VocabularyActivity 2Use a dictionary and thesaurus to look for the meanings of the words in the
table below.
7.2.2 Application activitiesActivity 1Writing skills
In not more than 300 words write about the ways of preserving public places
and assets.7.3 Talking about problems related to national assets
7.3.1 Learning activities: Reading and text analysisActivity 1Reading comprehension
Read the passage below and answer the questions that followVolcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park is located in the Northwestern region of Rwanda.
The park is also known as the Volcanoes National Park. It is connected to the
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga
gorilla national park Uganda. The establishment of Virunga National Park
dates to 1925 under King Albert I of Belgium.This was part of the first African national parks known as the Volcanoes
National Park. The Volcanoes National Park is known for its mountain gorillas
which are an endangered species. The Rwandan government has conservedand protected this habitat to ensure that the population of these endangered
animals increases. This has been achieved through intervention measures
such as the mountain gorilla naming locally known as “Kwita-Izina.”The Volcanoes National Park sits on five of the eight volcanoes. They are
the Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo Mountains. The
mountains have rain and bamboo forests. The Volcanoes National Park is
naturally endowed with tourist attractions that have placed it on the world
map as the most well conserved and protected environment and homeland
to the mountain gorillas. The park also has the forest giraffe, African
elephants and buffaloes.The park is threatened by poaching and encroachment from neighboring
communities. Poachers from neighboring countries especially the
Democratic Republic of Congo kill elephants for their ivory and kidnap the
young mountain gorillas for trafficking.The government together with other international partners has created
a team of professional game rangers to ensure that poaching and other
human related threats are minimized in the park. This park is the major
source of foreign exchange in the country. It contributes the greatest
percentage of the tourism earnings in Rwanda.Adapted from geography for Rwandan schools senior 4 student’s book p376.A. Comprehension questions:
1. Where is Volcanoes National Park situated?
2. Mention some animals which are found in the Virunga national park.
3. Examine what is threatening the existence of the Volcanoes national park?
4. According to the passage, explain the reason why Virunga National Park is
regarded as a national asset.
B. VocabularyActivity 2Use a dictionary and thesaurus to find out the meanings of the words.
1. endangered
2. species
3. endowed
4. threatened
5. encroachment7.3.2 Application activitiesActivity 1Fill in the gaps in the passage with appropriate words in the box below.Parks, all visit in which favourable on makes
through helps highest a number inhabited place
located covered when loved thing the sourceOne good reason to _____1_____ Rwanda would be the numerous
national _____2_____. They cover almost _____3_____ different types
of geographical terrain _____4_____ the country. The Volcanoes National
Park is a mountain range _____5_____ rises and is _____6_____ a volcanic
mountain. Crowned with natural plants, _____7_____ it even one with
_____8_____ number of tourists visiting it. There, _____9_____ of Gorillas,
buffaloes and warthogs roam the forests.Akagera National Park is _____10_____ in an entirely different terrain. It is
found on the great plain, _____11_____ by a long stretch of grassland. It is
_____12_____ by lions, antelopes, hyenas, etc.Nyungwe forest is also a good _____13_____ to observe animals and plants
_____14_____ one drives up the middle of the mountain, he/she would pass
_____15_____ great natural jungles and mountain forests all the way up
to the top. Being covered by giant plants _____16_____ this place to be
_____17_____ by botanists.One more _____18_____ about Nyungwe forest is the view of _____19_____
of the Nile deep down in the valley. The climate of the place is also
_____20_____ for both humans and other creatures. Neighbouring this
forest are tea plantations, which look so natural creating a very attractive
environment.Activity 2Writing skills
Discuss the importance of Volcanoes National Park to the development of
the country, don’t exceed 300 words.7.4. Language structure – Adverbs of frequency and
determiners of quantity7.4.1 Adverbs of frequencyWhat are adverbs of frequency?
We use adverbs of frequency to say how often we do things or how often things
happen. These come in two types – definite and indefinite.There are adverbs that describe definite frequency (we know exactly how often
something happens) such as: weekly/every week, daily/every day, or yearly/
every year.For example:
1. John plays tennis weekly
2. I go to the shops every day.Then there are adverbs that describe indefinite frequency (they give us an idea
about frequency but don’t tell us an exact time frame) such as: always, usually,
occasionally, or never.For example:
1. He usually sits at the front of the classroom.
2. I never listen to rock music.Activity 1. Choose and fill in the appropriate adverb of frequency.Always usually generally normally often
frequently regularly sometimes occasionally seldom
rarely hardly ever nevera) Ngabo practises soccer every day, so he __________ has time to watch
television.
b) There is no TV in Mutesi’s home, but she __________ listens to the news on
radio. She likes to know what is happening in the country.
c) Ngabo __________ listens to the weather forecast to find out if it is going to
rain the next day.
d) Neza __________ watches television because she does her homework in the
evenings.
e) Ngabo __________ watches soccer on television when his favourite team
plays.
f) Neza __________ reads an English newspaper because she wants to improve
her English.
g) If it was not so expensive Ngabo would read a sports magazine __________.
h) Neza likes to read fashion magazines, but she __________ has enough money
to buy one.i) Mutesi __________ goes to the library to read the newspapers.
j) Neza goes with her because there are__________ some fashion magazines7.4.2 Determiners of quantity
When we talk about quantity we use determiners of quantity such as few, little,
many, much, lots of, a lot of.We use these determiners with countable and uncountable nouns.
• Countable nouns: many, a lot of, lots of, few, a few, some, any
For example: Many trees are cut down. (trees: countable noun).• Uncountable nouns: much, a lot of, lots of, little, a little, some
For example: A lot of pollution is taking place (pollution: uncountable noun).The use of much, many, (a) little, (a) few, some, any – quantifiers
A lot of and Lots ofA lot of and lots of are used to express that there is a large quantity of something.
We use a lot of in positive sentences, negative sentences and questions. This
expression can be used with countable or uncountable nouns.
1. There are a lot of dogs in the street. (Countable noun)
2. I have a lot of time to answer your questions. (Uncountable noun)
3. I saw a lot of people waiting in the queue. (Countable)
4. We did have a lot of fun, didn’t we? (Uncountable)We use lots of in positive and negative sentences, however it is more informal. It
can be used with countable or uncountable nouns, and occasionally in questions.1. We have lots of time to catch the plane, let’s relax. (Uncountable noun)
2. There are lots of people in the queue today. (Countable)
3. Oh my, you have spent lots of money on clothes! (Uncountable)
4. I have lots of questions. (Countable)She has a lot of money = She has lots of money.
Much and ManyMuch and Many are used to express that there is a large quantity of something.
Much and Many are used in negative sentences and questions.
Many is used with countable nouns.
Much is used with uncountable nouns.
1. I don’t have many CDs in my collection. (Countable noun)
2. They don’t have much money to buy a present. (Uncountable noun)
3. How many brothers do you have? (Countable noun)
4. Is there much milk in the fridge? (Uncountable noun)Note: we almost never use Much and Many in positive sentences, we almost
always use a lot of or lots of.For example:
1. I have much money. (Incorrect because the sentence is positive /
affirmative)
2. I have a lot of money. (Correct)With the word “times” we use many times more than a lot of times / lots of
times. It sometimes means frequently or often.Example:
1. That is my favourite book. I’ve read it many times.
2. Don’t worry, I’ve done this many times.
3. We have stayed at this hotel many times over the years.Few and Little
We use a few and a little to suggest a small quantity or not much of something.
A few is used with countable nouns (= some; not many)
A little is used with uncountable nouns (= some; not much)There are only a few days left until Christmas. (Countable noun)
I have a few crazy friends. (Countable noun)
I would like a little milk for my coffee. (Uncountable noun)
While Few and Little usually have negative meanings, especially when used with
very.
1. He is sad because he has few friends. (Countable noun)
2. There are few honest politicians. (Countable noun)
3. There is little hope of finding your wallet. (Uncountable noun)
4. They have very little knowledge about politics. (Uncountable noun)
SOME and ANYAs a general rule, we use ‘some’ for affirmative sentences, and ‘any’ for questions
or negative sentences.Usually, both ‘some’ and ‘any’ can only be used with countable plural nouns or
uncountable nouns.
For example:
1. “I have some questions.”
2. “I don’t have any questions.”
3. “Do you have any questions?”Activity 1: Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences
below:
1. There are __________ envelopes on my desk. (much; some; any; a little)
2. There isn’t __________ money in my pocket. (no; some; any of; any)
3. Have you got __________ good computer games? (any; any of; a lot;
many of)
4. Do you like Madonna? Have you got __________ her records? (some;
every of; any; all)
5. There isn’t __________ time before our flight leaves. (much; many; some;
no)
6. I’ve got __________ idea where Clever is. (none; none of; no; any)
7. Do you know __________ people living in England? (much; many; much
of; many of)
8. You’ve had __________ interesting experiences. (any; a lot; much; a lot of)
9. Would you like __________ more milk? little; a little; few; a few)
10. __________ my friends want to see the concert. ( No; Any of; None; None
of)7.5 End unit assessmentActivity 1Reading comprehension
Read the passage below and answer the questions that followThe exploitation of natural resources in Rwanda
All of us, particularly the rural population, rely heavily on the natural resources
of the country for our livelihood. Conservation is not a pie-in-the-sky
ideology.Exploitation can have a positive and a negative meaning. When we use
our natural resources, we need to do so sustainably. We cannot reduce
and destroy them. For example, we need factories to create jobs. However,
if factories pollute our air and water, we are solving one problem, but
creating another. Industries should find ways to deal with the pollution from
manufacturing processes. They are sometimes reluctant to do this, because
it means extra expenditure.The rapidly-increasing population is placing additional strain on our resources.
Every year we need more water, more land to be cultivated and more fuel
for cooking. We also need more food to feed the people and animals and
more jobs. We can only satisfy these needs if we use our resources in a
sustainable way.We must not pollute our water sources. We can prevent sewage pollution by
building latrines far away from water sources. We need to maintain efficient
sewerage works in the cities. Fertilizers on farms should be used with care
so that they do not pollute water sources. We should cultivate land so that it
does not cause erosion. This will prevent soil and fertilizer from being washed
away and polluting the rivers.Trees are cut down to provide fuel for cooking, charcoal and more land. Trees
are the ‘lungs’ of the earth, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
Their roots also lock moisture in the soil. Without trees, we will experience
erosion and a build-up of carbon dioxide. When trees are cut down, they must
be replaced. But trees take a long time to grow. We must control the removal
of trees to prevent deforestation.A. Comprehension questions
1. With examples explain the importance of forests.
2. Why do you think it is important to prevent the pollution of our water?
3. How can the pollution of water by sewage be prevented in the cities?
4. What does the author mean by trees being the ‘lungs’ of the earth?
5. Explain the reason why do people cut down trees?
6. How can deforestation be prevented?B. VocabularyActivity 2Use dictionary and find out the meaning of the following words
1. Conservation
2. Ideology
3. Exploitation
4. Pollution
5. Sustainable
6. SewageActivity 3Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.
1. We haven’t got __________ petrol. We need to stop and get some.
a) much b) many c) little
2. We had __________ rain last autumn.
a) lot of b) much c) many
3. There was __________ food in the fridge. It was nearly empty.
a) little b) a little c) fewChoose the correct option to complete the sentences below.
4. You travel a lot. Have you been to __________ countries?
a) much b) many c) few5. It costs __________ money to give your children a good education.
a) much b) many c) a lot of6. There was __________ space for all the people who came.
a) very little b) very few c) many7. “Have you got any coins for the vending machine?” “Yes, I have
__________ ”
a) a little b) a few c) few8. There’s __________ of sun cream in the bottle.
a) a bit b) a little c) a few9. We need to go to the greengrocer’s. There are __________ potatoes
left.
a) few b) a few c) a little
10. There was __________ traffic so we arrived very early.
a) a little b) a few c) littleActivity 4Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.
Make grammatically correct sentences using the following terms and phrases.
a) Natural resources
b) Poachers
c) charcoal burning
d) farming
e) national assets
f) Land management
g) Deforestation
h) National museums
i) Encroachment
j) National parks