environmental problems

Question 1

climate (n) Scientists are trying to provide data in order to predict
future ~ changes.
a ~ of hostility /
distrust / suspicion
the environment (n)
environmentally
friendly (adj)
an environmentalist (n
Are we doing enough to protect the ~ or do we need
stricter laws?
Every consumer can protect the environment, e.g. by
buying ~ products such as returnable containers.
~s are concerned about the rate at which people are
depleting non-renewable resources, e.g. crude oil, and
about the pollution caused by their extensive use.
= a conservationist (n)
protect sth (v)
protection (against sth)
(n)
Conservationists try to ~ tropical rainforests from
further destruction.
The best ~ against skin cancer is still to avoid
excessive sunbathing.
protective (adj)
offer / provide ~

ecology (n) ~ is the study of the relationships between organisms
and their environment.
ecological (adj)
interdependent (adj) Nations have become increasingly ~ as such problems
as pollution and the reduction of natural resources have
grown too big for any government to handle alone.
= they depend on each
other
(become) extinct (adj) There are several theories about why dinosaurs became
~, including the inability of dinosaurs to compete
successfully with mammals for food
= die out (v)
extinction (n)
an endangered species
(pl. species)
~ are animals or plants that are likely to become extinct
in the near future, e.g. the giant panda bear.
= is in danger of dying
out /becoming extinct
acid rain (n) ~ is a term for rain, snow or sleet that has been polluted
by acids.
an acid (n)
greenhouse effect (n)
tropical rain forests
~ is a warming of the atmosphere and surface of our
planet caused by a complex process involving sunlight
and gases, and the rapid reduction of ~.
greenhouse tomatoes
the tropics (n)
fossil fuels (n) Most of the increase in greenhouse gases has been due
to the burning of ~
= coal, oil, and natural
gas
global warming (n) Scientists assume that an increase in carbon dioxide has
raised the surface temperature, thus leading to ~.
all around the globe
(n)
contaminated (adj) Drinking water becomes ~ if sewage leaks into the
water supply.
= polluted (adj)
radiation (n) However, nuclear ~ can be extremely dangerous.
Exposure to radioactive materials can result in a
condition called ~ sickness.
radioactivity (n)
X-rays
waste sth (v)
waste (n)
We should stop ~ing energy and other valuable
resources.
- nuclear / chemical / toxic / household ~ -
= squander sth (v)
= refuse / litter / junk
dump sth (v) Environmental protesters call attention to risks such as
the ~ing of radioactive and hazardous waste at sea.
She has ~ed her
boy-friend again.
genetic engineering

genetically modified
~ is the term applied to techniques that alter the
hereditary material in an organism.
GM food, i.e. ~ food such as tomatoes with increased
flavour and shelf life are becoming more widespread.
a gene (n)
= genetically
manipulated
cloning (n) In 1996, a group of Scottish scientists achieved the first
successful ~ of a sheep, which they named Dolly.
a clone of (a sheep)
a famine (n) Many of the developing nations suffer regularly from
food shortages and ~s.
starve (v) /
die of starvation
malnutrition (n) Roughly half a billion people on the earth suffer from ~,
either from having too little food or from eating the
wrong food.
nutrition (n)
nourish sb (v)
fertile (adj) ~ soil yields good crops, whereas deserts are unsuitable
for agriculture.
fertility (n)
a donation (n) The world’s least developed countries depend on
support from wealthy nations, e.g. disaster relief and
private ~s

Answer 1

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