Inside Listening and Speaking, Sustainable vs. Unsustainable Activity

 By Nate Feldman

I will mention some situations.  Discuss with a partner if what these people are doing is sustainable, or can last a long time, or unsustainable, it can't last for a long time.  Explain why you have this opinion.  

Example: Devin is training for a marathon, so he has to run several miles a day, and sometimes he has to run several miles, twice a day.

I think this is sustainable because athletes need to make sure they are in great shape always, and if he is committed, he will be fine.

I think this is unsustainable, because if he runs too much like this all of the time, eventually he will hurt his knees.  

1. John has a new job at a major company in his city.  He is excited about his work, but his manager says that he must work 10 hours a day, from 9-7 Monday through Friday.  

2. Kelly wants to get in shape.  She goes to the gym for 3 hours a day, seven days a week.  

3. Bob wants to lose some weight.  For that reason, every couple of weeks, he decides to do a juice fast, where he only drinks juice for an entire day, sometimes for two days in a row. 

4. Paige likes to travel so much that she tries to travel to a new country at least once every month or two.  She has a very adventurous spirit.  

5. Mark is married to Megan.  They have three children, but they fight a lot.  Mark and Megan argue at least once a day, and sometimes they scream at each other.