Modern school
Yüklə 5,56 Mb.
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| Land clearance leaves the soil bare and at risk of serious erosion.
logging – to cut down trees for their timber. Uncontrolled logging is destroying vast areas of our precious rainforests. pollution – damage to water, air or land by harmful substances and waste materials. In some cities, the air pollution is so bad that people have to wear face masks when they go out. to pollute – to contaminate water, air or land with harmful substances and waste materials. In many countries, heavy industry continues to seriously pollute the environment. emissions – the production and discharge of something, especially gas. Many countries are reluctant to reduce toxic emissions as the huge expense involved can affect the rate of economic growth. carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual or organization. I have reduced my carbon footprint by cycling to work instead of driving. global warming – a gradual increase in world temperatures caused by polluting gases, such as carbon dioxide, which are collecting in the air around the Earth and preventing heat from escaping into space. It’s not too late to reverse the effects of global warming but we must act right now. Collocations: to fight / to combat / to tackle global warming – take action to reverse the effects or promote the issue of global warming. contribute to global warming – to add to the problem of global warming. the effects of global warming – the environmental changes caused by global warming such as climate change. disposable products – items that are intended to be thrown away after use, generally after just one or a few uses. 24 When I was young, things were made to last a long time and be used over and over again, but now we live in a world of disposable products and have a huge waste problem. dumping ground – a place where things that are not wanted are left If we continue treating our oceans as a dumping ground, it will eventually become too polluted to sustain life. acid rain – rain rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution caused by burning fossil fuels that it causes environmental harm, especially to forests and lakes. In Poland, large areas of forest have been destroyed by acid rain. to contaminate – to make something poisonous as a result of adding waste or chemicals. Pesticide and fertilisers used on the field can contaminate rivers and kill all the fish. degradation – the process in which the quality of something is damaged or destroyed. Soil degradation due to over-farming means that many farmers have had to move to the cities in search of work. depletion – the reduction in the number or quality of something. Over-fishing has led to the depletion of the ocean’s fish stocks. fumes – strong, unpleasant and sometimes dangerous gas or smoke. - Car exhaust fumes are a major contributor to air pollution. smog – a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals, especially in cities, that makes the atmosphere difficult to breathe and harmful for health. Some days the smog is so bad that people are forced to stay indoors. air quality – the extent to which the air is free of pollution. When the company was forced to install filters in their factories chimneys, the air quality in the area improved considerably. poisonous – having chemical properties that can cause harm or kill. Hundreds of people became seriously ill when poisonous chemicals from the nearby factory seeped into the water system. toxic – poisonous. The dumping of toxic waste in the ocean is totally unacceptable and must be stopped. threat – something or someone that is a risk or a danger. The greatest threat to the environment comes from the actions of human beings. to endanger – to expose something to harm or destruction. Organised poaching is endangering the survival of the African rhino. poaching – the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals. Elephant’s valuable tusks make them a target for poaching. drought – a long period when there is little or no rain. The severe drought meant that the crops failed for the second year running and many people faced starvation. flooding – when an area of land that is normally dry is covered with water. We have been told to expect more violent storms and frequent flooding as a result of global warming. 25 flash floods – a sudden, local flood caused by very heavy rainfall. - The flash flood washed a whole village from the hillside, killing dozens of people. Environment Vocabulary Set 5: Protecting the environment to protect – keep safe from harm, injury or damage. - Many charities have been set up around the world for the purpose of protecting endangered species. to preserve – to keep something as it is If we don’t take steps to preserve the environment, we will lose some important natural habitats in the very near future. Collocation: wildlife preservation – the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats. to recycle – to collect waste materials and process them to create new materials and products that can be used again. We can dramatically reduce the amount of rubbish we send to landfill sites by recycling our waste plastic. biodegradable – able to decompose naturally without harming or polluting the environment. I always try to buy products with biodegradable packaging. carbon-neutral – replacing the same amount of carbon dioxide as we produce through actions such as planting trees. Becoming carbon-neutral is something for both individuals and industries to work towards. sustainable – involving methods that do not use up or destroy natural resources. With advances in technology, it is hoped that we will eventually be able to replace fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources. sustainability – the idea that we should meet our own needs in ways that do not damage the environment and that do not use resources that cannot be replaced. It is encouraging to see an increasing number of companies making a commitment to environmental sustainability. renewable energy – energy from a source that is not depleted when used. Where I live, both solar power and wind power are important sources of renewable energy. solar power – power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun's rays. Hussan fitted solar panels to his roof last year and is now able to produce all the energy he needs to run his home from solar power. energy-efficient – using only as much energy as is needed without any waste. When I buy a new appliance, I look for one that is energy-efficient as it will be cheaper to run and be more environmentally-friendly. wind turbine – a tall structure with blades that are blown round by the wind and produce power to make electricity. 26 Many farmers in my area have installed wind turbines to provide the electricity they need. wind farm – a group of wind turbines. We were horrified when they got permission to build a wind farm in our beautiful countryside, but we’re used to it now and understand how important it is to generate renewable energy. clean energy – energy produced from renewable energy resources and which doesn’t produce emissions that contribute to global warming. Scientists predict that clean energy could reliably and affordably provide up to 80 per cent of U.S. electricity by 2050. organic farming – farming without the use of synthetic chemicals. Concern for the environment is leading to changes in agricultural methods and especially to a greater interest in organic farming. afforestation – the action of planting trees on an area of land in order to make a forest. Yüklə 5,56 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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