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Vocabulary and ideas to discuss the environment

Environmental problems

The natural world

 

Pollution

Energy

 Useful verbs

 Speaking and discussion

1. 
   In pairs, ask and answer the following questions.
   

• 
  What place on the Earth would you most like to be in and why?
  
• 
  What kind of weather do you like and dislike?
  
• 
  What do you do in that kind of weather?
  
• 
  What kind of natural scenery do you like best? Why?
  

2) Match the words to make phrases.

1. Clear blue a) zero

2. Pouring b) climate

3. 
   Below c) winters
   
4. 
   Moderate d) skies
   
5. 
   Mild e) rain
   

(the key: 1d, 2 e, 3 a, 4 b, 5 c)

3. 
   Match the words that go together.
   

A). Air/water a) rubbish

B). Wind/water/solar b) effect

C). Sort c) warming

D). Global d) rain

E). Greenhouse e) petrol

F). Acid f) species

G). Unleaded g) pollution

H).. Animal h) power

The key: Ag, Bh, Ca, Dc, Eb, Fd, Ge,Hf)

Ideas to discuss the environment

The best way to learn vocabulary is in context, so in addition to useful list of words I have recorded 4 sample parts using some of the vocabulary. This way you can understand how to use it in practice.

The Ideas

In this section there are 4 speaking parts to listen and to read. The environmental vocabulary is highlighted.

Our Effect on the natural world

When we’re discussing the environment, it’s important not to forget that our actions have an impact not only on us but on the natural world and other species. So, for example, certain species are now endangered because of our actions. It’s not just because of hunting, but because we have destroyed their natural habitats. They do not have enough food or anywhere to live. If we carry on in this way, the biodiversity of the planet is under threat.:

Pollution

One of the most serious environmental problems today is of course pollution. It’s a very pressing green issue and if you travel to any of the large cities in China, for example, you’ll find that there is very bad air pollution and there is a layer of smog hanging over the cities. It’s just air pollution, but there is also water pollution in many parts of the world. The quality of the water is not good because rivers have been contaminated by all sorts of industrial wastes, by chemicals and fertilizers. And what we need to do is to recycle our waste and take care of the planet and try use renewable resources where we possibly can.
Energy

Another extremely important green issue is of course energy. There are two points to be made here. The first point is that the way we use energy is causing harm to the environment. Most of us get energy in the form of electricity. This electricity is produced by power stations. These power stations emit all sorts of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide up into the atmosphere. And these gases cause acid rains which does harm to our ecosystem and environment. The second point to make about energy is we need to make sure that we are using energy in a sustainable way. There is a limit to the Earth’s natural resources and there is a danger that we use so much energy the Earth is no longer going to be able to provide us with sufficient coal and fossil fuels. What we need to do is look for more renewable sources of energy such as wind or perhaps solar energy from the sun.

Global Warming

What is the greatest threat to the Earth today? It’s probably a combination of global warming and the greenhouse effect. Our planet is slowly but steadily getting warmer, and one of the results is that the polar cap is melting and the levels of the ocean are rising. All this is caused by deforestation particularly of rainforests and particularly in the Amazon Basin. And this means that we may be doing irreparable harm to the planet and the future of the planet for our children and our children’s children looks rather bleak.
Questions for discussion:

2. 
   What is the ecological situation in the place where you live?
   
3. 
   How do you and the people around you contribute to the situation?
   
4. 
   Are any measures taken to improve the ecological situation in your place?
   
5. 
   Do you often discuss environmental issues in your family or at your school?
   

How Much Do You Know about Elephants?

Choose the correct word or words in these sentences, then decide whether the sentences are true or false.

1. 
   The elephant has the longer/ longest nose (or trunk) in the animal kingdom. T/F
   
2. 
   The elephant does much/ more with its nose than/that any other animal. T/F
   
3. 
   There are most / more than of 40 000 muscles in an elephant trunk. T/F
   
4. 
   Elephants have worse / worser memories than most animals. T/F
   
5. 
   An elephant can run more fast/faster than a human being. T/F
   
6. 
   The mammoth was as big/ no bigger than the present day elephant. T/F
   
7. 
   Elephants are the largest/most large land animals. T/F
   
8. 
   Elephants can be trained more easily/ easier than any other animal. T/F
   
9. 
   The Asian elephants’ ears are just as bigger/big as/than the African
   

elephant’s T/F

10. 
    An elephant eats as more/ much as 225 kilos a day. T/F
    

The key:

1. 
   longest; 2. more, than; 3.more , than; 4.worse; 5.faster; 6. no bigger; 7. largest; 8. more easily; 9. big, as;
   

much;

The answers:

1. 
   True.
   
2. 
   True. An elephant does all of the following with its trunk: smells; breathes; sprays water (or sand) over its body; puts its food in its mouth; blows trumpet calls, pulls down trees, detects insects in the air and carries heavy objects)
   
3. 
   True.
   
4. 
   False. They have good memories; if you attack them, they won’t forget it.
   
5. 
   False. The world record for a human runner is 43.37 km per hour. The top speed of an elephant is 40km per hour.
   
6. 
   True. It was about the size of an African elephant.
   
7. 
   True.
   
8. 
   False. Dolphins and primates are easier to train.
   
9. 
   False. They are smaller.
   
10. 
    True.
    

Reading.

Read the text and choose correct options( A, B, C or D).

GROCERY STORE BANS PLASTIC BAGS

Many people are asked “Paper or plastic?” when their groceries are being bagged in the supermarket. Soon one grocery store won’t be asking shoppers that question. The store is eliminating plastic bags to (1) ____ on the amount of trash in the environment.

The owners of Whole Foods Market said in January that they will no (2) ____ use disposable plastic bags after Earth Day 2008, which is 22 April. They hope shoppers will bring their (3 ) ____ reusable bags. If shoppers don’t bring their own bags, the store will (4) ____ paper bags made from recycled paper.

The store’s (5) ____ to end use of plastic bags is its gift to the planet this Earth Day, said A.C. Gallo. Whole Foods’ president. “We estimate we will (6) ____ 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of our environment between Earth Day and the end of this year”, he said.

Scientists say that plastic bags are bad (7) ____ the environment because they (8)____ drains, harm wildlife, and (9)____ too much space in landfills.

Some countries have (10) ____ plastic bags and others tax people who use them. Last year, San Francisco, California, became the first US city to forbid disposable plastic bags (11) ____ stores.

Some people say we should stop ‘trashing’ plastic bags. Plastic bags are (12) ____ and take less energy to produce than paper bags, they say. Plus, they can be used over and over.
A B C D

1. cut in cut off cut down cut for

2. greater further farther longer

3. own private individual peculiar

4. suggest offer propose nominate

5. dream ambition plan scale

6. show bring put keep

7. against on for off

8. seal clog tie hinder

9. take up take down take after take off

10.closed banned restricted shut

11.of from off on

12.cheap cheaper cheapest costly
(The key: 1. C, 2.D, 3.A 4.B, 5.C, 6.D, 7.C, 8.B, 9. A,10.B, 11.B, 12.B)
Use of English.

Read the following text about an interesting way to measure the temperature. For gaps 1-9 choose the correct option A-D

NATURE’S THERMOMETER

According to reliable sources (1) ____ The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we can measure outdoor temperature without the help of a traditional thermometer.

(2)____ you need is good ears, a bit of countryside and silence. Your natural thermometer will be nothing (3)____ a small green insect: a cricket. We all listen to the concerts these animals give on warm summer evenings, but what (4)____ this have to do with the temperature?

Crickets chirp as they rub their legs or wings together. That is, male crickets (5) ____. Although we often find their music relaxing, it is not (6)____ to be that. The sound is a cricket’s way to serenade his lady and to keep other males as far as possible. In 1897 physicist Amos Dolbear suggested that counting the chirps of the cricket’s will tell us (7)___ temperature is.

There are various formulas for making one’s calculations. If you understand Celsius, rather than Fahrenheit, you need (8)____ the number of chirps in 25 seconds, divide it by 3 and then add 4 to get the current temperature. But do remember – you will only be able to find out the temperature in this way when (9)____ crickets around. Below 15°C you may not have many of them. Or if they are there, they will probably not be in the mood for love.

1. A similar B like C alike D for

2. A All B And C Which D --

3. A and B but C then D because

4. A is B does C did D do

5. A were B did C are D do

6. A intended B intend C intends D to intend

7. A how much B which C what D how high

8. A counter B counted C to count D counting

9. A they are B there are C are D --

(The key: 1.B, 2.A, 3. B, 4.B, 5. D, 6. A, 7. C, 8. C, 9. B)

Composed by Chepelianska G.O.