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Cross-curricular page LessonLink Science

www.ien.edu.sa

A. Discuss.
• Do you think it’s important to protect the environment?
• What do you do to protect the environment?

B. Why do you think people install GREEN ROOFS
gardens on their roofs?
Read and find out.

The hanging gardens of Babylon were one of the seven wonders
of the ancient world. It’s unknown what they looked like, but
they were probably some kind of rooftop gardens. In the modern
world, green roofs are environmentally friendly and are becoming
very popular in cities. So, it seems people of the ancient world
were eco-friendly, too.

A green roof works well in all seasons. In summer, it keeps the
temperature low in the house and in winter, it keeps the heat inside
and warms up the house. Also, green roofs absorb rain very well and
help prevent flooding. A green roof can also make a roof much nicer to
look at. There are two types of green roofs, intensive and extensive:

Intensive roofs

These are like normal gardens, but on your roof. You can have flowers,
bushes or even trees. However, they need at least 30cm of soil and
aren’t suitable for most buildings. They need big buildings with strong
roofs that can take the weight of all the soil and plants. They aren’t
easy to look after, but they can be very attractive.

Extensive roofs

These roof gardens have grass and don’t need much soil. You can install
them on any roof and there’s a great variety of grasses that you can use.
Plants that you find on cliffs survive very well, too. Extensive roofs are
more common than intensive roofs and they’re easier to look after.

Green roofs can be expensive, but they are worth it. Just think of
the many advantages for your home and for the environment,
especially in major cities. Imagine looking out from one of the
modern wonders of the world, the Empire State Building, and
seeing a sea of green rooftops. That’s what cities should be like.

POEM C. Read again and answer the questions.
1. According to the text, why were people of the ancient
“Modern life”
world eco-friendly?
Go to page 78. 2. Why is a house with a green roof useful in winter?
3. On what kind of green roof can you have trees?
4. What kind of buildings can have intensive roofs?
5. Where can you install an extensive roof?
6. What are the best kind of plants for extensive roofs?

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