Read the article. Then do the exercises on the following pages.
Welcome to Hong Kong Wetland Park!
On 20th May 2006, Hong Kong Wetland Parkofficially opened its doors to visitors, receiving widespread praise. According to Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who spoke at the grand opening ceremony, the park is a world-class ecotourism facility whose primary task is to promote environmental protection and ecological harmony. Mr Tsang encouraged the public to goto the park with friends and family.
Located in Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong Wetland Park is the territory’s first major ecotourism facility. The site of the park was originally to remain undeveloped, since much of the wetlands had been lost as a result of Tin Shui Wai’s rapid urban expansion. However, in 1998, the Governmentconducteda study to weigh the pros and cons of developing the site into anecotouristattraction. As the study concluded that it was possible to develop a park while keeping the site as a wetland, the Government named Hong Kong Wetland Park as one of its ‘Millennium’ projects.
The park consists of a 60-hectare wetland reserve with bogs, swamps and forests, which are home to nearly 190 species of birds, 40 species of dragonflies and 200 species of butterflies. Within the reserve, there is also a 10,000-square-metre indoor ‘Wetland Interactive World’, with three major exhibition galleries. The park was designed by the Architectural Services Department (ASD), which was responsible for making sure that thelayoutpromoted harmony with the environment. The design was such a huge success that the government department was awardedthe ‘Medal of the Year’ by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
Hong Kong Wetland Park is already a popular attraction, but not allvisitors respect its ecological aims. According to media reports, littering of food containers and cigarette butts has become a serious problem in the park. In response, the Government has announced that it will prosecute anyone caught littering in the park and that if the problem persists, it will banpeople from bringing food and beverages and smoking inthe park. Enforcing such ruleswill not be easy, though, as more than 500,000 visitors are expected in the park’s first year alone.
AMatch the half-sentences in Column A with their endings in Column B. Write the correct letters in the spaces provided.
Column A / Column B1 The wetland park was one of / F / A from urban development.
2 Mr Donald Tsang wants people to / C / B for designing the park.
3 Wetlands often suffer / A / C visit the wetland park.
4 Tin Shui Wai grew / H / D live in the wetland park.
5 The Government study supported / G / E expected to visit the park.
6 Many different species / D / F the Government’s projects.
7 The ASD won an award / B / G the park’s construction.
8 Many people are / E / H very quickly.
BChoose the best answer for each question. Circle the correct letter.
1 MrDonald Tsang …Acame up with the idea to build the wetland park.
Bbelieves the wetland park is the best of its kind in the world.
Cis highly supportive of the wetland park. / 2 In Tin Shui Wai, …
Asome of the wetlands had to make way for the town’s development.
Bthere have never been any natural wetlands.
Cthe environment is in danger of being destroyed.
3 In paragraph 2, ‘pros and cons’ means …
Acauses and effects.
Bprofits and costs.
Cadvantages and disadvantages. / 4 Hong Kong Wetland Park …
Awas completed in 1998.
Bwas designed by the Government.
Chas damaged the ecology of the area.
CAnswer and discuss the questions below.
1Have you ever visited Hong Kong Wetland Park? If so, describe to your classmates what you liked and / or disliked about it. If not, tell them what you would like to see there.
2Hong Kong Wetland Park is a popular new attraction. What other attraction in Hong Kong have you recently visited? What did you like about it?
3Hong Kong Wetland Park was designed to promote environmental protection. Discuss with your classmates other ways in which you think the Government could protect the environment.
4According to media reports, littering has become a problem in Hong Kong Wetland Park. Can you think of ways to prevent littering in the park? Explain your ideas to your classmates.
5Apart from visiting a wetland park, how else can people learn about the environment and the need to protect it?
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