Lesson 8

Task 2
The Environment
Question 1
Fresh water is a limited resource in some parts of the world. Today, increasing demand has
made it a global problem. What are the causes of this growing demand? What can governments
and individuals do to respond to the problem?
CAUSES
- Waste of water, unnecessary uses
+ amusement parks
- Industrialization / modernization / urbanization
+ more water is needed to produce: manufacturing plants
+ urban areas
SOLUTIONS
- INDIVIDUALS - Use more responsibly
+ save water: small habits, turn off the taps; dishwashers => washing by hand; instead of bath
- GOVERNMENTS - invest in water insfrastructure
+ expand water facilities: sewage treatment, build dams, reservoirs
[] -
One of the major causes leading to this growing demand is overpopulation. This phenomenon
has led to the increase in human consumption and overconsumption [overconsumption]. For
instance, in this day and age, there are people who satisfy themselves by purchasing
unnecessary goods such as clothes and household items which may need tons of water to
produce. Moreover, it is climate change that also contribute [climate change that also
contributes] to the decrease of fresh water. Climate change may result in disasters such as flood
or drought which [disasters such as flood and drought, which] also have negative impact on the
supplement of water around the world.
[] -

The problem of rising water demand is caused by several factors. The first cause of this burning
problem is the irresponsible use of water in unnecessary activities. For example, golf clubs and
other recreational facilities consume vast amounts of water to maintain their grassland and
decorative plants. As a result, these activities strain local water supplies, leading to a lack in
daily living needs. Secondly, industrialization is another major contributor to this problem. In
addition to using enormous quantities of water to operate and cool down manufacturing

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facilities, untreated waste from factories has poisoned the already-limited fresh water supply.
Additionally, with growing population, the clean water demand of all countries around the world
has grown significantly, intensifying the pressure on the resources [resource / this resource].

There are several reasons why fresh water demand increases nowadays. To begin with,
population growth plays an important role which [role, which] is the main cause for this demand.
It is true that rapid population increase has led to higher consumption of water for drinking,
sanitation and food production. Therefore, the fresh water [the amount of fresh water] spent on
such activities would likely keep rising to serve the people's demand. Besides, another factor
explaining this demand is industrialization. Today, we could witness the speedy industrialization
of countries around the world. The construction of buildings, industries serving this
transformation is increasing, which consumes large amounts of fresh water.

There are several compelling reasons why people nowadays require more water than before. A
vital determinant to this trend is the development of industry, since most of the industrial fields
need a large amount of water to process their production. For example, the amount of water
needed to run a factory in a day is equal to the consumption of nearly 100 households in a
month. Furthermore, instead of using water in irrigation systems or farming, people are building
some entertainment institutions that waste water futilely like [such as] water parks, pools, etc…
[etc.] Those buildings need a magnificent amount of water to maintain.

Question 2
Many animals are being hunted to the brink of extinction in order to fulfil the demand and greed
of mankind for decorative purposes as well as for other reasons, such as traditional medicine.
How can this issue be tackled?

- Individuals
+ change behaviors: fashion industry - customers
+ raise awareness
- Governments
+ laws, regulations to protect, encourage, punish

Question 3
Some people think that current environmental issues are global problems and should therefore
be dealt with by the government while others believe that these problems can only be tackled by
individuals. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

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Body 1: view 1 - should therefore be dealt with by the government
- require extensive / long-term solutions
+ renewable energy
- international cooperation
+ standards
Body 2: view 2 - can only be tackled by individuals
- individual awareness
+ more people gain awareness => better

HOMEWORK
Question 4
Although many people value their public parks, this space could be better used for other
purposes such as residential areas for the ever-growing population or to develop business and
boost economies. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this?

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 Collocations
1. to discharge chemical waste
Meaning: to dispose of waste products from chemical processes.
Example: Nowadays, more and more company and industrial zones have been discharging chemical
waste into rivers, causing death to many fish and other aquatic animals.

2. environmental degradation
Meaning: the process or fact of the environment becoming worse
Example: Africa is a continent in which environmental degradation is evident in the spread of deserts and
the extinction of animal species.

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3. to take action on global warming
Meaning: to do what has to be done on problems related to global warming
Example: There have been numerous international conferences to warn of the dangers, but many
governments have refused to take action on global warming.

4. to be bio-degradable
Meaning: a substance or chemical that can be changed to a natural harmless state by the action of
bacteria
Example: Most plastics are not biodegradable, and remain as waste products in the environment for
thousands of years.

5. to deplete natural resources

Meaning: To reduce the amount of natural resources.
Example: Timber companies must not be allowed to deplete
naturalresources by cutting down trees without planting new trees to replace them.

6. ozone layer depletion

Meaning: refers to a steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere
Example: Ozone layer depletion has the effect of allowing harmful radiation from the sun to penetrate the
atmosphere and this increases the risk to humans of skin cancer.

7. an ecological crisis
Meaning: a serious situation that occurs when the environment of a species or a population changes in a
way that destabilizes its continued survival
Example: Environmental degradation caused by human activity is provoking an ecological crisis which
threatens our existence.

8. carbon footprint
Meaning: a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by the daily activities of a company
or person
Example: By providing subsidies, governments should encourage companies to reduce their carbon
footprint through energy efficiency or other ‘green measures’.

9. to cut down on emissions

Meaning: to reduce the amount of gases sent out into the air
Example: People must be made aware of the need tocut down on emissions from their cars if we are to
reduce air pollution.

[Link] fight climate change

Meaning: To try to prevent changes in climate patterns, such as rainfall, temperature and winds.
Example: Unless we consume less of the Earth’s natural resources, it will be impossible to fight climate
change and safeguard our future.

[Link] reduce the dependence/reliance on fossil fuels

Meaning: to decrease people’s consumption of fossil fuels, like oil, coal or gas.
Example: Governments must invest heavily in solar and wind energy projects in order to reduce our
dependence/reliance on fossil fuels.

[Link] alleviate environmental problems

Meaning: to make bad environmental problems less severe
Example: Everyone can assist in the effort to alleviate
environmentalproblems in the local community through simple actions such as recycling waste or planting
a tree in their garden.

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[Link] throw one’s weigh behind sth
Meaning: To use one’s influence to help support
Example: The council is to throw its weight behind a campaign to save one of the borough’s best-loved
beauty spots.

[Link] hold sbdy accountable for + noun/gerund

Meaning: to consider someone responsible for something; to blame something on someone
Example: Companies which discharge chemical waste from their factories into the sea or into rivers must
be held accountable for their actions and be fined heavily.

[Link] achieve sustainable development

Meaning: economic development that is achieved without depleting natural resources
Example: Organic methods must be introduced everywhere in order to achieve sustainable development
in agriculture.

[Link] energy sources

Meaning: refers to any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel
Example: Clean energy which does not pollute the Earth can only come from greater reliance on
alternative energy sources.

[Link] miles
Meaning: Distance food has to travel between where it is grown or made and where it is consumed
Example: We can all reduce our carbon footprint by flying less, and reduce our food miles by buying local
products.

[Link] breeding
Meaning: the reproduction of animals in confinement, not in their natural habitats.
Example: A successful captive breeding program in zoos has resulted in an increase in the world’s panda
population.

[Link] stem from

Meaning: to be caused by
Example: Scientists say that global warming partly stems from the increase in car exhaust emissions.

[Link] impact assessment

Meaning: a study into how a development, like a new road, a new dam or other construction activity will
affect the plants, animals and local communities living in an area.
Example: The government must commission an independent environmental impact assessment
whenever a new development is proposed.

[Link] greenhouse effect

Meaning: the natural process by which the sun warms the surface of the Earth. The greenhouse effect
occurs when Earth’s atmosphere traps solar radiation because of the presence of certain gases, which
causes short wavelength visible sunlight shines through the glass panes and warms the air and the plants
inside.
Example: Our burning of fossil fuels is increasing the greenhouse effect and making the Earth hotter,
endangering all life on the planet.

[Link] warming
Meaning: the process by which the Earth is getting hotter, as a result of the greenhouse effect – in
particular the increase in carbon dioxide in the air.
Example: Perhaps the major environmental challenge which faces humanity today is global warming,
because it threatens our survival.

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[Link] destruction
Meaning: the process that occurs when a natural habitat, like a forest or wetland, is changed so
dramatically by humans that plants and animals which live there.
Example: The elephant population in the world is declining because of habitat destruction caused by
human exploitation of the environment.

[Link] species
Meaning: plants or animals that only exist in very small numbers, so that in future they may disappear
forever
Example: One example of an endangered species is the lowland gorilla, which has almost disappeared as
a result of the destruction of its forest habitat.

[Link] the brink of extinction

Meaning: an animal or plant which has almost disappeared from the planet
Example: Before the captive breeding program in zoos, the giant panda was on the brink of extinction.

[Link] energy
Meaning: energy is renewable when it source, like the sun or wind, cannot be exhausted or can easily be
replaced (like wood, as we can plant trees for energy)
Example: More funding is required from government funds to help companies to develop renewable
energy, such as companies which produce solar panels for buildings.

[Link] farms
Meaning: an area of land on which there are a lot of windmills or wind turbines for producing electricity
Example: Wind farms should be constructed in mountainous areas or in the sea, close to land.

[Link] friendly
Meaning: behavior or products that do not harm the environment
Example: We can help to protect the environment by using detergents and cosmetics that are
environmentally friendly.

[Link] waste
Meaning: poisonous, unwanted waste produced by factories
Example: Many species of fish are endangered as a result of the toxic waste dumped by industries into
the rivers and the sea.

[Link] green movement

Meaning: all the organisations concerned with the protection of the environment
Example: Individuals should join one of the organisations which form part of the green movement, in order
to campaign for changes in official policy on the environment.

Vocabulary
The Environment

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