Reading about the climate and fairness: idioms and compound nouns
In a text about a problem, read for the main idea of each paragraph and ask: what is the cause, and what is the effect? Connectors show the link: because, so, as a result and therefore. Four idioms help to talk about fairness. To bear the brunt is to suffer the worst part of a problem. To take the heat is to accept criticism. To shoulder the burden is to accept a hard job or a responsibility. To face the music is to accept the unpleasant result of what you did. Compound nouns are two nouns used together as one idea: climate change, energy efficiency, carbon footprint and rainfall pattern. The first noun tells us what kind of thing the second one is. In this unit we talk about a school, a family or a town, and we do not blame any country. Your book has an article on pages 37 and 38; read it after this lesson. Then talk about how young people in your community can help.
| Idiom | Meaning | Our example |
|---|---|---|
| bear the brunt | suffer the worst part | The front row bore the brunt of the sun. |
| take the heat | accept criticism | The captain took the heat after the match. |
| shoulder the burden | accept a hard job | The class shouldered the burden of cleaning the yard. |
| face the music | accept the result of your actions | He forgot his project and had to face the music. |
This autumn was hotter than usual, and every class in our school felt it, but Class 12B felt it most. Their room faces the afternoon sun, so the pupils bear the brunt of the heat, while Class 12A, on the shady side, stays cool. “It isn’t fair,” said Layla, the class representative. She took the heat from a few classmates who did not want to change rooms, but she kept explaining her idea. With the school council she studied the problem. They found that the cool rooms used their fans all day, and that the school’s energy efficiency was poor, because lamps stayed on at noon. “If we all shoulder the burden, nobody has to carry too much,” said the head teacher. Some teachers had to face the music and admit that they had left their lamps on. The school made a plan: fans in cool rooms are switched off at noon, the lamps use less electricity, and the classes swap rooms every month. After one month the electricity bill was lower, and the hottest room was a little cooler. The carbon footprint of the school was smaller, and Layla smiled.
Ideas for young people. Make a list of three small ways in which pupils can help to protect the environment at school, for example switching off lights. Talk about them with a grown-up and say which one is the easiest and why.