Environmental engineering.

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

These three "Rs" are not less important today than when they were first introduced. The overwhelming amount of garbage produced each year -- hundreds of millions of tons in America alone -- is one of the biggest obstacles to a healthy environment.

We can play a part in improving the trash situation by reducing our waste. This means buying fewer items and reducing our overall consumption. If we consume less, we use less energy and produce less waste. But regardless of how we limit our consumption, we inevitably produce some waste. We can buy in bulk to reduce packaging we throw away, but to make a difference; we also have to focus on recycling and reusing.

We can make simple changes, like shopping with reusable bags and keeping food and other items in reusable containers, rather than using plastic bags and disposable containers. And recycling obviously refers to buying recycled products and organizing waste into the appropriate categories: aluminum cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard. However, the definition of recycling can be expanded to encompass donating items you no longer need or want to Goodwill or the Salvation Army so others can reuse them. If you can't reduce your consumption or find a way to reuse a product, recycling is a better choice than simply throwing something into the trash.

Drive Less and Drive Smart

Cars not only consume gas, they also emit loads of CO2 into the atmosphere, making them a major player when it comes to damaging the environment. While it may not be possible to give up

driving completely, it's entirely possible to cut down on driving and to drive in a smarter way. One easy way to reduce driving is by joining a carpool. This not only benefits the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road, but it can also help get you into the HOV lane during rush hour.

When possible, forego the car and take public transportation, instead. If public transportation isn't a viable option, transportation of the two-wheeled variety (i.e. a bike) is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint and stay in shape. Who doesn't like killing two birds with one stone?

If you are going to drive, at least make sure to drive smart by always having enough air in your tires and by staying within the speed limit, which will also help you save on gas. Drivers with some cash to burn on making their commute more earth-friendly can consider investing in a hybrid car, which will go even further in saving the atmosphere from CO2 and saving you from exorbitant gas prices.

Plant Trees and Protest Deforestation

This list has talked a lot about ways to cut down on undesirable CO2 emissions, but what about proactive ways to put good things back into the atmosphere? One of the best ways to do this is by planting trees, which is a favorite Earth Day activity. Trees play a critical role in keeping our air clean, both by releasing oxygen into the air and by trapping carbon. The more trees we have, the better our air quality, and that's why planting trees is an excellent step to take toward saving the environment. While you're at it, plant a tree in a spot that will give your house shade, as that will help reduce your need to crank up your air conditioning in the summer months.

It's also important to take a stand against deforestation. Losing large swaths of forest, such as the rainforest, to development or industry means that we're losing millions of trees that would otherwise be cleaning the air for us. Protesting deforestation, both through activism and by refusing to buy products that are created at the expense of the world's forests, can help slow and even halt deforestation.

Planting trees and fighting deforestation can make a big difference in keeping our air clean.

Encourage Others

Gandhi wisely said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." That's certainly true when it comes to saving the environment, and each of us has an individual responsibility to make the changes and decisions that will benefit the natural world around us. But even our most concerted efforts will have a minimal impact if we're the only ones making them, or even if we're part of a small group making such environmental choices. The power in the steps on this list comes from getting everyone to take them together. After doing all the other things mentioned here -- cutting energy consumption, conserving water, driving less and everything else -- the most important thing is to be bold and vocal about encouraging others to do the same. The environment won't be saved by a handful of activists or even by a collection of powerful world leaders. It will be saved by the collective action of mankind. So play your part by taking the first nine steps and then asking everyone you know to join you. You never know … you might just end up being one of the heroes that help save our environment.[pic 5]

VI.-Find the opposites of the following words in the text above.

1.-Turn off ___________________

4.-Increase ____________________

2.-Persist _____________________

5.-Turn on ____________________

3.-Throw away ___________________

6.-Release _____________________

VII.-Complete the paragraph “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” taken from the text above. Use the synonyms of the words from original text.

a.-one-use

b.-vigorous

c.-vast

d.-extended

e.-garbage

f.-impediments

g.-unpackaged

h.-overall

i.-rubbish

j.-correct

k.-recyclable

l.-packing

[pic 6]

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

These three "Rs” are not less important today than when they