pollution fighters
Judy is collecting some facts for a class project on pollution
She is interviewing Doctor Ray, a scientist , about trees.
JUDY: Why are you so interested in trees, Doctor Ray?
DR RAY: They’re the biggest and oldest living things on earth , Judy.
JUDY: Yes , but what good are trees ? They make streets more beautiful and less noisy ,
but what else can they do ?
DR RAY: Well , there’s wood in your pencil and the bench ,rubber on the end of your
pencil ,and paper in your notebook-all from trees . And
while you're studying at home ,do you like to eat an orange , or sip a Coke
or a coffee ?
JUDY: Sometines .
DR RAY: Well , the fruit , the nuts for the Coke , and the beans for the coffee all come
from trees .And , I suppose you also enjoy breathing pure ,cool air .
JUDY: Of course .
DR RAY: Then you must thank trees for that , too . Trees are natural air ,and release
oxygen into the air . How many people are there in your class , Judy ?
JUDY: Forty-six .
DR RAY: Well , one and a half hectares ofs trees could produce enough oxygen to
keep your whole class alive and healthy for a year .
JUDY: That's wonderful!
DR RAY: Trees cool the air as well as clean it .Three trees can do the job of 15 air
conditioners running almost all day .
JUDY: You certainly know a lot about trees ,Doctor Ray .
DR RAY: Thank you ,Judy ,but I don't ,really . Scientists are only now beginning
to understand them . For example , did you know that when insects attack
a tree , it can warn its neighbours ? The trees can then protect
thenmselves by producing a chemical that makes their leaves taste
nasty . And some trees can join their roots together underground ,and
pass food and water around . Trees are communicating with one another ,
but we don't know how .
JUDY: Are trees in danger ?
DR RAY: In great danger . We cut down and burn millions every year but we
replace hardly any of them .We are destroying our best fighters
against polluting.