Chloe Morton A

The Great Barrier Reef has become one of the global symbols of just how fragile nature can be. There's no doubt that the reef is something we have to preserve very carefully for future generations. The diversity of life in the area is breathtaking! I had an exciting opportunity to help out with a team of marine scientists to see what effect human activity is having on the reef. The area is divided up into zones and there are limits on different activities within each zone. This minimises the impact of some activities, such as diving, while still allowing people to enjoy the

stunning natural beauty of the reef. If we had done something like that years ago, the reef would be in a much better state now! Unfortunately, past mistakes and a changing climate mean that parts of the reef are struggling to recover. Let's hope we can improve its cultivation for the future.

Manuel Garcia

Tikal National park, Quatemala

B

Tikal is an amazing place with over 3,000 buildings from the Mayan civilisation! From about 900 BC to 900 AD, a major city of 100,000 people developed and you can still visit the ruins. The park is also home to jaguars and other animals. I visited with my class, and it was awesome to think we were walking in the footsteps of people from so long ago! The temples were very striking, but it was the courts for ball games that really stuck with me. It gave us some insight into what their lives were like. It's fascinating to think that they played sport just like us! We often look at constructions and monuments and think they represent what a culture was like, but my own view is that it's the ordinary aspects of everyday life.

1. visited a place that is seen as a good example of problems faced by nature? 5. thinks that important buildings don't tell the complete story of people's lives? 4. visited a place that preserves both wild creatures and a way of life? 6. thinks we should have done things differently in the past? 3. was impressed by the range of different creatures in the park? 2. found a connection with the past through everyday experiences? Choose the correct item: Use of English