WORKSHEET
19 The Environment
Things that harm the environment
A Choose the correct word in each sentence.
1 The number of fish in major world oceans and rivers is becoming dangerously low because of
overfishing / upfishing / underfishing.
2 Extensive / Intensive / Intense farming is sometimes criticised for damaging the environment
because too many crops are grown on areas of land.
3 The cutting or burning down of all the trees in an area is called forestation / deforestation /
reafforestation.
4 Exhausting / Exhaust / Exhaustable fumes from cars cause air pollution.
5 Coal and oil are called stone / iron / fossil fuels.
6 Farmers are trying to reduce their use of pesticides / repellants / pests on their crops.
7 Some world cities have very high pesticide / pollution / fume levels.
8 There are too many people living in many cities, and they are uppopulated / unpopulated /
overpopulated.
Things that are good for the environment
B Work with a partner. Write the meanings of the words in the box. Then check
their meanings in your dictionary.
Word Definition
1 green
2 organic
3 biodegradable
4 biofuel
5 recyclable
6 wind farm
7 solar energy
8 conservation
C Write a list with your partner of things that are good and things that are bad
for the environment. Write a sentence for each thing to explain why it is good
or bad.
Photocopiable worksheet © Pearson Education Limited 2009
Teacher’s Notes for Worksheet 19:
The Environment
Objectives: To learn vocabulary connected with the environment
Dictionary skills: Checking the definitions and spelling of topic vocabulary in the dictionary
Tasks: A Choose the correct word
B Write the definitions of words connected to the environment
C Write sentences about things that are good or bad for the environment
Procedure
A Students choose the correct word for each sentence. Students then check the words in their dictionary.
Time: 15 minutes
Answers: 1 overfishing (n)
2 Intensive - found in entry for intensive (adj)
3 deforestation
4 Exhaust - found in entry for exhaust (n)
5 fossil
6 pesticides
7 pollution
8 overpopulated
B Students work in pairs to explain what they think the definition is of each word. They then check their
answers in their dictionary.
Time: 15 minutes
Answers:
1 connected with the environment or its protection
2 relating to farming or gardening methods of growing food without using artificial chemicals, or
produced or grown by these methods
3 materials, chemicals etc that are biodegradable are changed naturally by bacteria into substances that
do not harm the environment
4 a substance made from plants or animal waste that can be used to produce heat or power
5 used materials or substances that are recyclable can be recycled
6 a place where a lot of windmills have been built in order to produce electricity
7 using the power of the sun’s light and heat
8 the protection of natural things such as animals, plants, forests etc, to prevent them from being
spoiled or destroyed
C Students can use the vocabulary from Parts A and B for this exercise, or they can do an advanced
search on the DVD-ROM if they would like to find more environment-related vocabulary (by searching for
environment in definitions, for example). Monitor as students work to check their sentences. Ask students
to feed back to the class at the end of the activity.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Photocopiable worksheet © Pearson Education Limited 2009