Focus on Vocabulary: Match the expressions with their meanings:

1. Environment (e) a. birds/plants/species animals or plants which

may soon not exist because there are very few
now alive.
2. carbon dioxide (i) b. variety of plant and animal species that
exist in a particular environmental area.
3. Flood (k) c. the poisonous gas formed by the burning of
carbon, especially in the form of car fuel.
4. natural resources (n) d. the cutting down of trees in a large area; the
destruction of forests.
5. global warming (f) e. air, water and land in or on which people,
animals and plants live.
6. greenhouse effect (l) f. increase in world temperatures caused by
polluting gases.
7. deforestation (d) g. a layer of oil that is floating over a large area
of the surface of the sea.
8. oil slick (g) h. damage caused to water, air.... by harmful
substances or waste.
9. endangered species (a) i. the gas formed when carbon is burned, or
when people or animals breathe out.
10. pollution (h) j. a long period when there is little or no rain.
11. drought (j) k. a large amount of water covering an area
that is usually dry.
12. fumes (m) l. an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide
and other gases in the atmosphere.
13. waste (o) m. strong, unpleasant and sometimes
dangerous gas or smoke.
14. carbon monoxide (c) n. things such as minerals, forests, coal, etc.
which exist in a place and can be used by
people.
15. biodiversity (b) o. unwanted matter or material of any type,
often that which is left after useful substances
or parts have been removed.

Listening: listen to these items about environmental issues and complete the sentences with the
following words.

oil spill - poor air quality - extreme weather - water scarcity - sustainable environment - Pollution -
Flooding - Oil spills - carbon footprint - melting ice cap - wind power - drought - Fracking - forest
fires.

Item a: There is a global water crisis, water scarcity and drought have left to 844 million people
lacking access to clean water

Item b: Oil accidents at sea can cause oil spills which contaminate the ocean water resulting in the
death of sea birds and other forms of marine life.
Item c: Growing trees, plants and your own vegetables help contribute to a sustainable
environment.

Item d: Fracking or drilling on the ground for oil and gas, often contaminates the water supplies.

Item e: Increased flooding is a consequence of deforestation which is the cutting down of too
many trees.

Item f: One of the most common forms of renewable energy is wind power which is electricity
generated by wind turbines.

Item g: Air pollution and poor air quality is a big problem in many cities around the world

Item h: Extreme weather includes tornados, cyclones and extremely high or low temperatures.

Item i: Cars and planes burn fuel, when you travel by plane or car, you contribute to the burning of
fuel; this is your carbon footprint.

Item j: Polar bears living in the artic are impacted by the melting ice cap.

Item k: Forest fires seem to be hotter and worst every summer.

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