Business English

Level B2
Prof.ssa Giulia Gentili

II semestre
A.A. 2022/2023
giulia.gentili@uniroma2.it
 MODULE 3:
the environment

LESSON 6
LISTENING, VOCABULARY,
READING AND WRITING
13/03/2023
 WARM UP
Look at the pictures which show some of the effects of climate change.
From the words in the box create and match phrases/words that best describe each image.
 SPEAK UP
Read the following statements and decide if you agree or disagree.
Explain your answers to your partner

1. This is the "decisive decade" for dealing with climate change.

2. The least developed countries should not be expected to do anything without more help
from richer countries.
3. Individual people, as well as governments and companies, have a responsibility to act
against climate change.
4. Reducing meat and dairy consumption is essential.
5. Electric vehicles are the environmentally-friendly future of transportation.
6. I believe the annual negotiations on climate change targets will lead to positive results.
7. I feel more concerned about climate change now than I did five years ago.

8. I currently do enough to limit my impact on the planet.

 VOCABULARY FOCUS
Match the phrases to their definitions to create a glossary.
CO2 emissions fossil fuel greenhouse gas
net zero renewable energy source the greenhouse effect

1_____________: a source of energy formed over millions of years from parts of dead animals or
plants
2. _____________: carbon dioxide that planes, cars, factories, etc. produce
3. _____________: the slow rise in the temperature of earth’s atmosphere, caused by certain gases
trapping the heat of the sun
4. _____________: any of the gases that are thought to cause the greenhouse effect, especially
carbon dioxide
5. _____________: a type of energy that can be replaced naturally
6. _____________: a situation in which the harmful gases produced by a particular company,
region or country have no impact on the climate because they have been balanced by actions
that protect the environment
 FOCUSED LISTENING
Watch this video “Sir David Attenborough Presents: Breaking Boundaries: The
Science of Our Planet”.
 READING
Complete the reading task on your own.
 NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!

Now prepare a 6-minute speech on global warming: causes and possible solutions.

Then, write its abstract.

 • Unless, on condition that, in case of, as long as, provided
that, what if, supposing
• Before; prior; earlier; formerly; previously • However, whichever, whoever, no matter
• While; as; just as; during; throughout; at the very moment • Under any circumstances
• After; then; after that; afterwards; following
• When; as soon as; once; on that occasion
• In the meantime; till then; since then; by the time
CONDITION

TIME
CAUSE,
REASON,
LINKING WORDS PURPOSE AND
ADDITION RESULT

CONCESSION
AND
CONTRAST
 Linking words: CAUSE AND REASON
• Owing to the icy conditions, the two lorries collided.
• The collision was due to the icy conditions.
• The collision was caused by ice on the road.
• The cause of the collision was ice on the road.
• The rise in prices sparked off a lot of political protest. [used for strong and violent
reactions to events]
• The President’s statement gave rise to/provoked/generated a lot of
criticism. [less strong than spark off]
• The new law has brought about/led to great changes in education [often
used for political and social change ]
• The problem stems from the inflation of recent years. [explaining the direct origin
of events and states]
• The court-case arose out of allegations made in newspapers.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
 REASONS FOR AND PURPOSES
• Her reason for not going with us was that she had no money.
• I wonder what his motives were in sending that letter? [purpose]
• I wonder what prompted him to send that letter? [reason/cause]
• She wrote to the press with the aim of exposing the scandal. [purpose]
• I’ve invited you here with a view to resolving our differences.
• He refused to answer on the grounds that his lawyer wasn’t there. [reason]
• The purpose of her visit was to inspect the equipment.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
 RESULTS
• He didn’t work. As a result/ As a consequence / Consequently, he failed his
exam.
• The result/consequence of all these changes is that no one is happy any
more.
• His remarks resulted in everyone getting angry.
• The event had an outcome that no one could have predicted.
• The upshot of all these problems was that we had to start again. [less formal]
• When election results were announced, chaos ensued.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!