Photosynthesis

1.

Objectives
Reading: an article about photosynthesis (matching)
Skills ― reading for gist
― reading for specific information
Project: explaining photosynthesis

2.

1 What do green plants need to make food?
Read the definition to check
Photosynthesis [N-UNCOUNT] is
the way that green plants make
their food using sunlight
Green plants need sunlight to make food

3.

2 Write down two questions you have about photosynthesis,
then read the text. Can you answer your questions?
Why is photosynthesis needed?
(It provides the plants with food)
How many stages are there in photosynthesis?
(Two)

4.

2 Read the text
Match the paragraphs to the headings
A
FOOD FROM THE SUN
Energy moves along the food chain from one life form to
another. Some animals eat plants to get energy. Other
animals then eat these animals to obtain the energy they
need. Plants, on the other hand, produce their own food
using energy from the sun. They do this through a process
called 'photosynthesis'.

5.

2 Read the text
Match the paragraphs to the headings
B
carbon ['kɑːb(ə)n] углерод
oxygen ['ɔksɪʤən] кислород
WHAT IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS?
Photosynthesis uses energy from the sun to change
carbon dioxide (C02) and water (H20) into carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are chemicals that contain hydrogen,
carbon and oxygen and they are the plant's food. To start
the process, the plant absorbs carbon dioxide through
tiny holes in its leaves and sucks up water from the soil
through its roots. A green substance in the plant's leaves
called chlorophyll absorbs energy from the sun. The plant
now has all it needs for photosynthesis to begin.

6.

2 Read the text
Match the paragraphs to the headings
C
adenosine triphosphate
аденозинтрифосфат, АТФ
THE LIGHT AND DARK REACTIONS
There are two stages to the photosynthesis process. In the
first stage, called the light reaction, light energy from the
sun is converted into chemical energy. This energy is
stored in a chemical called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
The second stage of the process is the dark reaction. In
this reaction, the plant converts the carbon dioxide and
water into carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide the plant
with the energy it needs in order to grow.

7.

2 Read the text
Match the paragraphs to the headings
D
NOW FOR THE SCIENCE BIT!
The chemical reaction involved in photosynthesis can be
summarised by this equation

8.

2 Read the text
Match the paragraphs to the headings
E
A LIFE-GIVING PROCESS
The equation shows how important photosynthesis is
for life. As well as providing food for the plant from the
sun's energy, the equation shows that the reaction also
produces the oxygen that animals need to breathe.
Without photosynthesis, our planet could not support
life as we know it.

9.

3b Explain the words in bold
process: a series of actions performed to achieve an objective (процесс:
серия действий, выполняемых для достижения цели)
absorbs: soaks up (поглощать: впитывать)
sucks up: draws a liquid upwards using force (высасывать: тянуть
жидкость вверх с помощью силы)
roots: part of a plant that grows into the ground (корни: часть растения,
что растет в земле)
substance: a solid, liquid or gas (вещество: твердое, жидкое или в
газообразном состоянние)
reaction: a chemical process in which two substances combine to form
another substance (реакция: химический процесс, при котором два
вещества образуют другое вещество
converts: changes sth into sth else (преобразовывать: изменить чтолибо на что-либо)
equation: a mathematical statement to explain a process (уравнение:
математическое утверждение, чтобы объяснить процесс)

10.

4 Use the words in the box to complete the following
Photosynthesis is the production of carbohydrates
carbon dioxide and 2 ………….
water using
from 1 ……………………..
3……………….
chlorophyll
light energy from the sun and 4………………….
which exists in the cells of green plants