Reading Task 4 Read the text and write if the following statements are true (T) or false (F) or doesn’t say (DS):
GANGES RIVER
The River Ganges is about 2700 km long. The river starts from a glacier in Himalayas. It begins in the southern Himalayas, near India’s border with the Chinese region of Tibet. The Ganges flows through north India, and ends at the Bay of Bengal in eastern India. After emerging from the mountains, the river flows onto the plains. It flows through Nepal, India and Bangladesh.
For millions of people in India, river Ganga is the most sacred river. It is important especially for those who live on the banks of its course and depend on it for their daily needs. They believe that if they bathe, dip themselves in its waters, the waters can wash away all sins, cure them of illness. Hindus have built many temples to burn the dead in the Ganges.
But the River Ganges is very polluted. Water from the Ganges has been used for irrigation for more than 2,000 years. Rice and other crops grown in the Ganges region feed most of India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh and some Indian states transport jute, tea, grain, and other agricultural products to markets where they can be sold on the River Ganges.
River Ganga is the third largest river in the world by the amount of water that flows through it. It is the longest river in India. The river water of Ganga is used for irrigation, transportation and fishing. Though the Ganga is the most worshipped river, it is also the dirtiest one. It carries metals thrown out waste produced by industries and urban waste from different cities. Another major reason that makes the Ganga river polluted is the coal based power plants on its banks which burn tons of coal every year and produce a lot of fly ash. This ash goes into the waters of the river.
The river Ganga is important for its cultural and spiritual significance. It hosts more than 40% of the country’s population. The Ganges River is a popular place with travelers in India.
 
18 They believe that bathing in the Gange will improve their next life. 
19 There are numerous temples along the side of the river.  
20 The soil around the Ganges River is poor.
21 Hindus do not believe the Ganges connects the departed soul with heaven.  
22 Varanasi, situated on the banks of River Ganges, is the most holy city of India.
23 People do not throw waste into the waters of the Ganges.
24 There are coal factories near the Ganges which burn tons of coal every year.


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