The environment
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 1248.
Language Focus: Vocabulary
The living planet
UNIT 7
1) You are going to read a text about environmental change.
1 Look at the photos and describe what is happening. What environmental issue does each one illustrate?
2 Read the introductory paragraph below and fills in the gaps with words from the box.
| resources destruction ecology environment habitats |
| We have come to the end of millennium of relentless and accelerating (1) ………… of the world around us. While human creativity and technology have blossomed, we have steadily been destroying the (2) ………… of the planet on which we depend for our survival. The sad fact is that every day the diversity of life on Earth gets poorer because of our overuse of (3) ………… and our disregard for the riches of nature. Ecologically, our natural (4) ………… provide services without which life on the planet would become impossible. When we tamper with the (5) …………, it is not just nature which suffers. Our own way of life is under threat. |
2)Read the next part of the text and identify the key environmental issues being described. Then use words and phrases from the box below to fill in the gaps.
| Since the industrial revolution, man has burned ever larger quantities of (6) …………, first coal and then oil, with the result that the composition of the atmosphere has starred to change. Burning the fuels produces (7) ………… such as carbon dioxide, which act in the atmosphere like glass in a greenhouse and trap the heat of the sun – this is known as the (8) ………… . The overall global temperature has already begun to rise. Global warming is expected to lead to extreme (9) …………, with more frequent floods, droughts and heat waves. No person, animal, bug or bird will be unaffected. In addition to greenhouse gases, industrial processes procedure poisonous substances which can be virtually impossible to dispose of safety. If these (10) ………… are buried in underground storage sites, there is the danger that they may (11) ………… into lakes and rivers, with serious long-term effects on living organisms. Emissions from industrial plants, such as sulphur, can (12) ………… around the planet. They may also fall back to Earth as (13) ………… and story plants and trees. All these are examples of types of (14) ………… that could be prevented. |
| acid rain changes in climate fossil fuels gases greenhouse effect pollution ozone layer toxic waster leach |
3) Now read the continuation of the text. Fill in the gaps with words from the box below.
| We drain (15) ………… near rivers and coastal areas to create land for building. Through (16) …………, the large-scale cutting down of trees, the (17) ………… that allow species to survive are changed and the amount of land available for (18) ………… decreases. Some species are so reduced in number that they are in danger of (19) ………… . At this stage they are known as an (20) ………… and are only one step away from total (21) ………… . We are now beginning to manipulate nature in new ways, without thought for the possible consequences. Technology now allows us to create (22) ………… of plants which are resistant to diseases and which can survive extremes of temperature or salinity (salt content). The danger of this process of (23) ………… is that producing new plants or other (24) ………… like bacteria may bring disaster as well as apparent advantages, as experience has already shown. So, with the new millennium, we need a new beginning, a fresh start. We need to reverse the major threats to our environment. Above all, we need to understand that we cannot go on consuming and polluting which no thought for tomorrow. |
| deforestation wildlife ecosystems endangered species extinction genetic engineering living organisms dying out wetlands strains |
4) In technical texts, the writer often helps the reader to understand difficult words or concepts by giving examples or definitions, describing causes and effects, using synonyms, and so one. In this sentence from the text, two examples of ‘fossil fuels' are given, which explain the meaning of this term.
‘Since the industrial revolution, man has burned ever larger quantities of fossil fuels, first coal and then oil,…'
With a partner, discuss what methods the writer has used to help the reader understand the following concepts.
1 emissions
2 deforestation
3 salinity
4 genetic engineering
5) Work in pairs. Without looking back at the text, take turns to explain the following concepts to your partner.
1 the greenhouse effect and global warming
2 industrial pollution
3 species loss
4 genetic engineering
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