Wildfires and Your Health (Intermediate)
Updated: Aug 26
Wildfires and Your Health
I. Read the following passage and answer the questions:
In recent years, Canada has experienced longer, hotter, and drier summers. Due to climate change, these extreme weather patterns have become more common. This dry environment makes it easy for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly through our forests.
Wildfire smoke is carried by the wind for hundreds of kilometers. This smoke contains high levels of PM2.5, which are microscopic particles that pollute our air. When the concentration of these particles is high, the sky appears hazy and smells strongly of wood smoke. Breathing in this heavy smog is dangerous because these tiny particles bypass our natural defenses and travel deep into our lungs and bloodstream.
While healthy adults might only experience temporary symptoms like a cough or scratchy throat, smoky air is highly dangerous for vulnerable populations. This group includes elderly citizens, infants, pregnant individuals, and anyone with respiratory conditions like asthma or heart disease.
To protect the public, Canadian health officials monitor the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) daily. The AQHI is a scale from 1 to 10+ that measures air health risks:
1 to 3 (Low Risk): Safe to enjoy typical outdoor activities.
4 to 6 (Moderate Risk): Vulnerable groups should consider reducing strenuous outdoor activities if they experience symptoms.
7 to 10 (High Risk): Everyone should reduce or reschedule heavy outdoor physical activity.
During high-risk smoke events, the best way to stay safe is to remain indoors with windows closed. It is also highly recommended to use an air purifier inside the home and to wear a certified respirator mask (N95) if you absolutely must spend time outdoors.
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II. Vocabulary:
1. Climate change (noun): Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, resulting in more extreme heat and dry periods.
2. Wildfire (noun): An unplanned, destructive forest fire that spreads rapidly over woodland or brush.
3. Ignite (verb): To catch fire or to cause something to start burning.
4. Particles (noun): Extremely small pieces of matter, such as dust, dirt, or soot in the air.
5. PM2.5 (noun): Fine particulate matter; microscopic particles in the air that measure less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
6. Microscopic (adjective): So small that it can only be seen clearly under a microscope; invisible to the naked eye.
7. Hazy (adjective): Lacking clarity or brightness in the air due to dust, smoke, or light mist.
8. Smog (noun): Air pollution caused by a mixture of smoke, chemicals, and atmospheric fog.
9. Bypass (verb): To go around or avoid a barrier or obstacle. (In the text: smoke particles bypass our body's natural filters in the nose and throat).
10. Vulnerable populations (noun phrase): Specific groups of people who face a higher risk of health complications (e.g., children, seniors, those with illnesses).
11. Asthma (noun): A chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes breathing difficulties, coughing, and wheezing.
12. Monitor (verb): To watch, observe, or check something carefully over a period of time to track changes.
13. Air Quality Health Index / AQHI (noun phrase): A standardized scale used in Canada to measure the health risks associated with local air pollution.
14. Strenuous (adjective): Requiring great effort, energy, or physical strength (e.g., running, heavy lifting).
15. Air purifier (noun): A device designed to filter and remove airborne contaminants (like smoke particles) from indoor air.
16. Respirator mask (N95) (noun phrase): A protective device worn over the mouth and nose that is rated to filter out at least 95% of very small airborne particles.
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III. Comprehension Questions. Answer the following questions:
1. According to the text, what is the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) scale, and what are the three risk levels mentioned?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. List three specific safety recommendations the text suggests doing when the air quality is high-risk.
a. ___________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________
3. Why are PM2.5 particles able to bypass the body’s natural filters and enter the bloodstream?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Compare how wildfire smoke affects a healthy adult versus how it affects a member of a vulnerable population.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Look at the AQHI guidelines. Compare the instructions for a vulnerable person on a "Moderate Risk" day (4–6) versus a "High Risk" day (7–10).
__________________________________________________________________________
6. The text mentions that a respirator mask (N95) is recommended if you absolutely must go outside. However, it says staying indoors with windows closed is the best way to stay safe. Why do you think staying indoors is safer than just wearing an N95 mask outside?
__________________________________________________________________________
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IV. Listen to the following forecast and answer the questions:
Part 1: Find the Word That Means...
Listen to the weather warning and find the matching word for each definition below:
1. ______________________ (verb): To catch fire or start burning. (In the text: "caused several major forest fires to...")
2. ______________________ (adjective): Unclear, cloudy, or dusty air that makes it difficult to see clearly. (In the text: "you will notice very... conditions")
3. ______________________ (noun): Air pollution caused by a mixture of smoke and atmospheric fog. (In the text: "The biggest health threat from this...")
4. ______________________ (adjective): Extremely tiny; too small to be seen without a microscope. (In the text: "These are... smoke particles")
5. ______________________ (verb): To go around or avoid a defense or filter. (In the text: "they easily... your body's natural defenses")
6. ______________________ (verb): To watch, check, or observe something carefully over time. (In the text: "Please... the Air Quality Health Index")
7. ______________________ (noun phrase): Groups of people who are at a higher risk of getting sick or hurt. (In the text: "First,...—including seniors...")
8. ______________________ (adjective): Requiring great effort, energy, or physical strength. (In the text: "avoid... outdoor activities")
Part 2: Do or Don't.
Based on the information and advice in the weather forecast, decide if the following actions are Do's (things you should do today) or Don'ts (things you should avoid today).
1. Go outside for a short strenuous run or physical workout.
2. Open your windows early in the morning to let a "fresh breeze" blow through your house.
3. Turn on an air purifier inside your living room.
4. You don't have to check the weather forecast as long as you're wearing a mask while you're outdoors.
5. If you don't have a health issue, wear a standard mask while walking to the store.
6. Cancel an outdoor soccer practice for young children.
7. You can exercise outdoors with an N95 mask if you feel perfectly healthy and have no asthma.
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V. Speaking Task: "My Action Plan"
Discuss the following scenarios with your group. Be prepared to share one of the plans you discussed.
Scenario A: The Young Family
Who: A family with a 2-year-old child and a pregnant mother.
The Problem: The AQHI reaches 8 (High Risk) on a Saturday afternoon. The family had planned to go to an outdoor birthday party in the park.
Discussion Questions: What should this family do? Why are they considered "vulnerable"? What is their alternative plan?
Scenario B: The Grandfather with Asthma
Who: An elderly grandfather who has asthma. He loves to sit on his outdoor porch and read the newspaper every morning.
The Problem: The morning AQHI is at 7 (High Risk). The house does not have air conditioning, so the family usually leaves the windows open to keep cool.
Discussion Questions: What danger does the grandfather face? What changes does this family need to make inside their house today to keep him safe?
Scenario C: The Active Worker
Who: A healthy 28-year-old construction worker with no history of health issues.
The Problem: The AQHI is at 7 (High Risk). He has a 10-hour shift working outdoors. He hates wearing masks because they make him feel hot.
Discussion Questions: Is he safe just because he has no health issues? Why or why not? What safety equipment or work adjustments must he use today?
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VI. Writing Activity: My Family’s Smoke Safety Plan
Part 1: Sentence Combining (Cause & Effect)
Connect the two clauses using the word in brackets. You may need to change the punctuation or word order slightly.
Example:
Cause: My grandfather has asthma.
Effect: He must stay indoors when it is smoky.
(using "Since")
Since my grandfather has asthma, he must stay indoors when it is smoky.
1. Cause: The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is at a High Risk level of 7.
Effect: We must cancel our outdoor soccer game.
(using "due to")
________________________________________________________________________ 2. Cause: Young children are a vulnerable population.
Effect: We need to keep them inside on hazy days.
(using "Because")
________________________________________________________________________
3. Cause: We left the windows open early in the morning.
Effect: Microscopic PM2.5 particles entered our living room.
(using "As a result")
________________________________________________________________________
4. Cause: PM2.5 smoke particles are microscopic.
Effect: They easily bypass our body's natural defenses in our nose and throat.
(using "because")
________________________________________________________________________
5. Cause: The weather is extremely hot and dry.
Effect: Major wildfires ignite much more easily in the forests.
(using "because of")
________________________________________________________________________
Part 2: Paragraph Writing
Think about your own family, or choose one of the scenarios we discussed (The Young Family, The Grandfather with Asthma, or The Active Worker).
Your Task: Write a short paragraph (5 to 8 sentences) explaining your safety plan for a day with a High Risk AQHI of 8.
You must use at least three of the sentence starters below in your paragraph:
Since ________ has ________, they should...
Because ________ is a vulnerable population, we need to...
If we keep the windows open, the PM2.5 will...
We must ________ due to the High Risk AQHI.
Instead of going outdoors, we could...
Write your paragraph here:
_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
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Grammar Quick-Guide
1. Cause and Effect: Because of & Due to
Both are followed by a noun phrase or noun (NOT a subject + verb).
Rule: Connector + Noun / Noun Phrase
Example: We stayed inside due to the smoke. / The game was canceled because of poor air quality.
2. Contrast: In spite of & Despite the fact that
In spite of is followed by a noun or a -ing verb (gerund).
Rule: In spite of + Noun / Verb-ing
Example: He went running in spite of the haze. / In spite of feeling sick, she went to work.
Despite the fact that is followed by a full clause (subject + verb).
Rule: Despite the fact that + Subject + Verb
Example: He went running despite the fact that the air quality was poor.
Task 1: Combine the two sentences using the target word in brackets. Adjust punctuation as needed.
The forest fire spread quickly. The weather was extremely dry. [due to]
👉 __________________________________________________________________
The sky was very hazy. He decided to go for a walk. [In spite of]
👉 __________________________________________________________________
She had severe asthma. She wanted to play outside. [Despite the fact that]
👉 __________________________________________________________________
The outdoor concert was postponed. The AQHI level was high. [because of]
👉 __________________________________________________________________
It was very hot and smoky. The firefighters worked for twelve hours. [In spite of]
👉 __________________________________________________________________
Task 2: Choose the correct connector to complete each sentence.
____________ the thick smog, health officials advised everyone to wear N95 masks.
A) Because of
B) Despite the fact that
C) Because
Many people experienced coughing ____________ they stayed indoors all day.
A) due to
B) in spite of
C) despite the fact that
The family canceled their picnic ____________ the high risk air quality index.
A) despite the fact that
B) due to
C) in spite of
____________ wearing a tight mask, the worker inhaled some dust particles.
A) In spite of
B) Due to
C) Because of
____________ wildfires ignite easily in dry weather, residents must be extremely careful with campfires.
A) Due to
B) Because
C) In spite of
Task 3: Correct the Mistakes
Find and fix the error in each sentence.
Correction needed: Many flights were delayed due to the sky was covered in thick smoke.
👉 __________________________________________________________________
Correction needed: In spite of the air was high risk, they left their windows open.
👉 __________________________________________________________________
Correction needed: He went running outdoors despite of the heavy smog.
👉 __________________________________________________________________
Correction needed: Because of the weather was hot and dry, the fire spread rapidly.
👉 __________________________________________________________________
Correction needed: She felt sick due to she breathed in microscopic PM2.5 particles.
👉 __________________________________________________________________
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