Environment
1. pollution – damage caused by water, air harmful substances, waste
2. pollute (verb)
3. extinct – no longer existing as an animal species
4. habitat – the natural environment of a plant, animal
5. smog – an extreme form of air pollution
6. biodiversity – variety of plants and animal life in a region
7. conservation – the act of preserving and protecting from loss, destruction or waste
8. deforestation – cutting down forests
9. endangered species – a species of plant or animal that is in danger of becoming extinct
10. (industrial) waste – poisonous unwanted material
11. toxic waste
12. domestic waste – household waste
13. fumes/emissions – gases that are produced by cars, factories that cause pollution
14. global warming – the increasing temperature of the world brought about by gases
15. contaminate – to make impure, to pollute
16. source of energy (collocation)
17. renewable energy – sources of energy such as wind power or solar power
18. natural resources – for example water, coal and gas
19. issue – problem
20. threat – sth that is a source of danger
21. be under threat – a danger that sth unpleasant might happen
22. fossil fuels – a collective term for coal, petrol and gas
23. recycling – using again
24. unleaded petrol
25. public transport
26. hybrid cars
27. ozone layer – a layer of air high above the earth which contains a lot of ozone and which
prevents harmful ultraviolet light from the sun
28. climate – the general weather condition in a particular place
29. climate change
30. disposable products – an item that is intended to be thrown after use
31. desertification – the process by which land changes into desert
32. acid rain – rain that contains large amounts of harmful chemicals as a result of burning
substances
33. wind turnibes – modern windmills used to create power from the wind
34. to litter: to throw rubbish in inappropriate places.
35. provide oxygen
36. die out (ph. v.) – become extinct
37. environmentally-friendly – behaviour and and products that do not harm the environment
38. environmetal awareness – understanding and being conscious about environmet
39. poaching – to hunt and kill animals illegally
40. air quality
41. consistent lack of rainfall
42. shortage of fresh drinking water
43. extreme temperature
44. preserve – to keep sth in its original state
45. pesticide – a chemical that is sprayed on crops to stop insects from destroying them
46. throw away (ph. v) – to get rid of sth you don`t want
47. freeze over (ph. v) – turn into ice
48. wipe out – destroy sth completely Whole villages were wiped out by the flood (árviz).
49. cut down – kill trees
50. run out of – finish the supply of sth
51. dry up – (river or lake) lose all its water
52. go green (idiom) -to adopt an environmentally friedly lifestyle
53. a green belt – an area of land around large cities where no buildings are allowed in order to
protect the environment
54. bring someone down-to-earth – to help someone face reality
Questions
1. Are there environmental problems in your country?
2. What can you do to protect the environment?
3. Why is it important to have green areas in big cities?
4. What is the greatest threat to the Earth today?
5. Should people who litter be fined? How much is an appropriate fine?
6. Do you recycle? If so, what kinds of things do you recycle?
7. Do you try to buy environmentally friendly products? If so, please give some examples.
8. What is global warming?
9. Who is more responsible for pollution, individual or the government?
10. Are young people in your country taught to save energy or to protect their local
environment?
11. Do you think it is easier to learn about the environment when you are a child or when you
are older?
12. Do you think people should be encouraged to use public transport more?
13. Have you seen a television programme about the natural world lately?
Environmental Problems
destruction of the rainforests (deforestation)
melting of the icecaps
extinction of many species (loss of biodiversity)
destruction of the ozone layer
global warming / the “greenhouse effect”
rising sea levels
pollution of land, sea and air
increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes, landslides, floods
Causes of Environmental Problems
excessive emissions of greenhouse gases, eg carbon dioxide
chemical and industrial waste
emissions from cars and planes
improper dumping of household waste
overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels
genetic modification
over-consumption
over-urbanisation
Solutions to Environmental Problems
recycling
using renewable sources of energy, eg solar heating, wind-farms
replanting trees
cutting carbon emissions
cleaner waste disposal
sustainable consumption and development
buying products with less packaging
buying organic products
buying products made from recycled material / renewable sources
using natural remedies as alternative medicine
Useful linkers for explaining cause & effect
caused by
due to
because of
as a result of
leads to
results in
causes
http://ielts-up.com/speaking/ielts-speaking-vocabulary-environment.html
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-lesson-environment.php
https://www.englishclub.com/reading/environment/
https://www.ieltsspeaking.co.uk/ielts-vocabulary/
https://www.eslbuzz.com/phrasal-verbs-environment-health/
