This list + English Vocabulary in Use upper intermediate
ozone depletion - reduction in the ozone layer
overpopulation - having too many people living in one place.
air pollution - dirty air that can harm people and animals.
hazardous - dangerous
global warming - the increase in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere
water pollution - dirty water that can make people sick.
rainforest destruction - cutting down trees in the forest, which hurts
the animals and plants.
smog - dirty air that makes it hard to see far away.
acid rain - rain that is harmful to the environment because it has
chemicals in it.
species-types
endangered-at risk of no longer existing
extinct-no longer in existence
A variety of environmental problems now affect our entire world. As
globalisation continues, local issues become international ones,so today there
are few places in the world that do not suffer from environmental problems.
Some of the major problems now affecting the world are acid rain, air
pollution, global warming, hazardous waste, ozone depletion, smog, water
pollution, overpopulation, and rainforest destruction. People are also worried
about the greenhouse effect, where an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide
[CO2] and other gases in the Earth’s atmosphere causes a gradual warming of
the surface of the Earth. This global warming is leading to the thawing of the
polar ice caps and all this is causing concern about climate change. Both
human behaviour and climate change have led to many animal and plant species
becoming endangered or even extinct.
What environmental problems are mentioned in the text?
Environmental problems
Answer each question, using a word or expression from the box.
acid rain, carbon dioxide, endangered species, extinct, global warming,
globalisation, hazardous waste, ozone layer, polar ice caps, destruction of
rainforests, smog, water pollution
1. What happened to dinosaurs about 65 million years ago?
They became extinct.
2. What is the name for a special layer in the Earth’s atmosphere which helps
protect our planet?
3. What word can be used to describe the increasing contact between countries
that has a major impact on life today?
4. What causes problems because it is difficult to dispose of safely?
5. What have scientists shown to be melting worryingly fast at the North and
South Poles?
6. What does the chemical symbol CO2 represent?
7. What has been happening in the Amazon area and in other tropical areas like
Indonesia and Malaysia?
8. What problem is a type of air pollution?
9 What can cause harm to plants or other life when it falls on the land or sea?
10. What is the Siberian tiger an example of?
11. What has caused much plant and animal life in rivers in industrial areas to
die out?
12. What is the term for the phenomenon describing the rise in the Earth’s
average temperature?
WORD FORMATION
1. _______________(pollute) is a major problem in many cities.
2. _______________(globe) warming is a serious issue affecting the planet.
3. We need to _______________(reduction) our use of plastic products.
4. Proper _______________(dispose) of waste is important for the environment.
5. _______________(globalize) has led to increased interconnectedness
between countries.
6. _______________(destroy) behavior can harm the natural world.
Dealing with the problems
1. Worldwide efforts __ (MAKE) to improve the situation.
2. Green parties and green or ecological policies ___ mainly ___
(CONCERN) with protecting the environment.
3. Conservation organisations ___ (DEVELOP) nature reserves where
plants and animals are protected.
4. More companies try___ (BEHAVE) in a way that is environmentally
friendly or ecologically sound.
5. Societies attempt to dispose of waste in a more responsible way, by, for
example, ___ (RECYCLE) as much as possible. People aim to reduce
their carbon footprint by using cars ___ (LITTLE) so that they cut down
on their use of fossil fuels, for example.
ECOTOURISM
Ecotourism is the fastest growing area in the holiday business, aiming to
preserve and sustain the (1) diversity/difference of the world's natural and
cultural resources. It is intended as a (2) low-effect/low-impact alternative to
mass conventional tourism. Environmentalists hope it offers tourists an
invaluable (3) understanding/insight into the impact of humans on the
environment. The purpose may be to educate the traveller and provide funds for
the (4) conservation/keeping of vital resources such as energy and water. It is
also of huge (5) profitable/economic benefit for the local community. Since
preserving resources is a high priority on these holidays, travellers are urged to
(6) recycle/reclaim wherever possible and take away non-biodegradable (7)
mess/litter such as tins, plastic bags and empty bottles, cut noise (8) pollution/
impurity and generally make a positive impression on society, the environment
and economy. However, as many of the destinations require people to travel by
air, the lack of ecologically-friendly transport is a critical issue as it contributes
to greenhouse gas emissions and therefore to (9) world/global warming and (10)
weather/climate change.
Answer these questions.
1. Which of the environmental problems exist in your country?
2. Do you think climate change is having any impact in your country?
3. How much support do green parties have in your country?
KEYS
VOCABULARY
2. OZONE LAYER
3. GLOBALISATION
4. HAZARDOUS WASTE
5. THE POLAR ICE CAPS
6 CARBON DIOXIDE
7. DESTRUCTION OF THE FORESTS
8. SMOG
9. ACID RAIN
10. AN ENDANGERED SPECIES
11. WATER POLLUTION
12. GLOBAL WARMING
WORD FORMATION
1. POLLUTION
2. GLOBAL
3. REDUCE
4. DISPOSAL
5. GLOBALISATION
6. DESTRUCTIVE
GRAMMAR
1. ARE BEING MADE
2. ARE MAINLY CONCERNED
3. ARE DEVELOPING
4. TO BEHAVE
5. RECYCLING
6. LESS
ECOTOURISM
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