Page 173 - Real English 2024 Book 8

FOREST FIRES

A Reflect

A1 Based on your reading of the poem, think carefully about the points given below and form your
own views.
1. A matchstick or a campfire that is not fully extinguished can lead to a major disaster.

 Can you think of something small and negligible that can have a tremendous effect
on everything around it? Remember, the effect can be either positive or negative.

 Have you ever been affected by someone’s careless actions or words?
2. While the matchstick and campfire lead to the forest fires, the people who left them behind
may not even have realized the consequences of their actions.
 Do you think it is possible that others suffer the consequences of your actions or
words? How important is it to be careful about every word you say or everything you
do?
 Find out the precautions against a wildfire.

B Understand

B1 Complete the following sentences.

1. The two possible origins of the forest fire are . . .
2. The person who threw the burning matchstick was careless because . . .

3. The phrase ‘so stealthily it ran’ describes . . .
4. The speaker feels sad to see . . .

5. The speaker wonders why . . .

B2 Answer these questions.
1. How did the forest fire spread?

2. Mention three reasons why someone who saw the fire did not put it out?

C Think

C1 Think carefully and answer in detail.
1. In the last stanza, the poet mentions that someone saw a little fire but did not stop to put
it out. Even though he was not the one who had started the fire, do you think he is still
responsible for the consequences?

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