Environment / natural resources
Call Kai
Learn
Practice Test
Spaced Repetition
Match
Flashcards
Knowt Play1/77
There's no tags or description
Looks like no tags are added yet.
Name | Mastery | Learn | Test | Matching | Spaced | Call with Kai | Chat |
|---|
No analytics yet
Send a link to your students to track their progress
78 Terms
The atmosphere in large cities is often contaminated by smog, as we can see in China
Children should be educated on the biosphere through field trips and practical experiments
Scientists spend their whole careers studying the effect of emissions on the climate
I remember going to a factory and seeing the snow covered with pollutant particles
We should try to collect and use more run-off water, to avoid having to recycle water so much
Scientists believe the water cycle is responsible for various natural events, especially in
coastal areas
My family have a well which connects to an aquifer, giving very pure water
Water filtration might be a solution to water shortages in very hot countries
In my town, the water table is very high, and water will appear in even a small hole
The Mediterranean is badly tainted in some areas by sewage pollution
Deforestation has increased soil erosion seriously in Brazil
Logging has endangered many species throughout the world
In most countries, dumping rubbish is a criminal offence
In my country, we use waste from cotton manufacture for lighting fires
Surprisingly, Britain still sends most of its domestic waste to landfill sites
My brother has a waste processing company, which is subsidised by the local authority
Elephant poaching should be a much higher priority for the world authorities, as elephants are
an endangered species
Logging has caused substantial habitat loss for wildlife in many countries
The food chain has been disrupted by the loss of certain species, with widespread impacts on
all animals
Dinosaur extinction may have been caused by a meteor or volcano, but scientists seem unsure
about this
Many singers help make charity songs to raise funds for famine relief
Drought in central Africa can continue for many years, apparently
If we want quick solutions to famine, better irrigation and farming methods would probably be
the first step
The continuing destruction of the rain forests is a catastrophe for the global biosphere
exacerbate
to make an existing problem worse, accidentally or deliberately) Famine in Africa has been exacerbated by civil war and political instabilit
environmental degradation
Meaning: the process or fact of the environment becoming worse
Example: Africa is a continent in which environmental degradation is evident in the spread of deserts and the extinction of animal species.
to take action on global warming
Meaning: to do what has to be done on problems related to global warming Example: There have been numerous international conferences to warn of the dangers, but many governments have refused to take action on global warming.
state by the action of bacteria
Example: Most plastics are not biodegradable, and remain as waste products
in the environment for thousands of years.
Example: Timber companies must not be allowed to deplete
naturalresources by cutting down trees without planting new trees to replace
them
ozone layer depletion
Meaning: refers to a steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere
Example: Ozone layer depletion has the effect of allowing harmful radiation from the sun to penetrate the atmosphere and this increases the risk to humans of skin cancer
an ecological crisis
Meaning: a serious situation that occurs when the environment of a species or a population changes in a way that destabilizes its continued survival Example: Environmental degradation caused by human activity is provoking an ecological crisis which threatens our existence
carbon footprint
Meaning: a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by the daily activities of a company or person
Example: By providing subsidies, governments should encourage companies to reduce their carbon footprint through energy efficiency or other ‘green measures’.
to cut down on emissions
Meaning: to reduce the amount of gases sent out into the air
Example: People must be made aware of the need tocut down on emissions from their cars if we are to reduce air pollution.
to fight climate change
Meaning: To try to prevent changes in climate patterns, such as rainfall, temperature and winds.
Example: Unless we consume less of the Earth’s natural resources, it will be impossible to fight climate change and safeguard our future.
to reduce the dependence/reliance on fossil fuels
Meaning: to decrease people’s consumption of fossil fuels, like oil, coal or gas. Example: Governments must invest heavily in solar and wind energy projects in order to reduce our dependence/reliance on fossil fuels.
to alleviate environmental problems
Meaning: to make bad environmental problems less severe
Example: Everyone can assist in the effort to alleviate environmentalproblems in the local community through simple actions such as recycling waste or planting a tree in their garden.
to hold somebody accountable for something
Meaning: to consider someone responsible for something; to blame something on someone
Example: Companies which discharge chemical waste from their factories into the sea or into rivers must be held accountable for their actions and be fined heavily.
to achieve sustainable development
Meaning: economic development that is achieved without depleting natural resources
Example: Organic methods must be introduced everywhere in order to achieve sustainable development in agriculture.
alternative energy sources
Meaning: refers to any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel Example: Clean energy which does not pollute the Earth can only come from greater reliance on alternative energy sources.
food miles
Meaning: Distance food has to travel between where it is grown or made and where it is consumed
Example: We can all reduce our carbon footprint by flying less, and reduce our food miles by buying local products.
captive breeding
Meaning: the reproduction of animals in confinement, not in their natural habitats.
Example: A successful captive breeding program in zoos has resulted in an increase in the world’s panda population.
to stem from
Meaning: to be caused by
Example: Scientists say that global warming partly stems from the increase in car exhaust emissions.
environmental impact assessment
Meaning: a study into how a development, like a new road, a new dam or other construction activity will affect the plants, animals and local communities living in an area.
Example: The government must commission an independent environmental impact assessment whenever a new development is proposed.
the greenhouse effect
Meaning: the natural process by which the sun warms the surface of the Earth. The greenhouse effect occurs when Earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation because of the presence of certain gases, which causes short wavelength visible sunlight shines through the glass panes and warms the air and the plants inside.
Example: Our burning of fossil fuels is increasing the greenhouse effect and making the Earth hotter, endangering all life on the planet.
global warming
Meaning: the process by which the Earth is getting hotter, as a result of the greenhouse effect – in particular the increase in carbon dioxide in the air. Example: Perhaps the major environmental challenge which faces humanity today is global warming, because it threatens our survival.
habitat destruction
Meaning: the process that occurs when a natural habitat, like a forest or wetland, is changed so dramatically by humans that plants and animals which live there.
Example: The elephant population in the world is declining because of habitat destruction caused by human exploitation of the environment.
endangered species
Meaning: plants or animals that only exist in very small numbers, so that in future they may disappear forever
Example: One example of an endangered species is the lowland gorilla, which has almost disappeared as a result of the destruction of its forest habitat.
on the brink of extinction
Meaning: an animal or plant which has almost disappeared from the planet Example: Before the captive breeding program in zoos, the giant panda was on the brink of extinction.
renewable energy
Meaning: energy is renewable when it source, like the sun or wind, cannot be exhausted or can easily be replaced (like wood, as we can plant trees for energy)
Example: More funding is required from government funds to help companies to develop renewable energy, such as companies which produce solar panels for buildings.
wind farms
Meaning: an area of land on which there are a lot of windmills or wind turbines for producing electricity
Example: Wind farms should be constructed in mountainous areas or in the sea, close to land.
environmentally friendly
Meaning: behavior or products that do not harm the environment
Example: We can help to protect the environment by using detergents and cosmetics that are environmentally friendly.
toxic waste
Meaning: poisonous, unwanted waste produced by factories
Example: Many species of fish are endangered as a result of the toxic waste dumped by industries into the rivers and the sea.
the green movement
Meaning: all the organisations concerned with the protection of the environment
Example: Individuals should join one of the organisations which form part of the green movement, in order to campaign for changes in official policy on the environment
acid rain
rain that contains large amounts of harmful chemicals as a result of burning substances such as coal and oil
aftershock
a sudden movement of the earth's surface that often follows an earthquake and is less violent than the first main movement:
The initial earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks.
cattle
a group of animals that includes cows, buffalo, and bison, that are often kept for their milk or meat:
beef/dairy cattle
Deforestation
the cutting down of trees in a large area, or the destruction of forests by people:
Deforestation is destroying large areas of tropical rain forest.
desalination
the process of removing salt from sea water:
a desalination plant (= factory)
erosion
a process in which soil, stone, etc. is gradually damaged and removed by the waves, rain, or wind, or the result of this action:
coastal erosion The figures do not take account of environmental losses such as coastal erosion.
soil erosion The landscape is marked by gullies and ravines formed by soil erosion.
herbivores
an animal that eats only plants:
Cows and sheep are herbivores.
puddle
a small pool of liquid on the ground, especially from rain
reservoir
a natural or artificial lake for storing and supplying water for an area
A reservoir is also a large supply of something that could be used if needed:
There’s a tremendous reservoir of goodwill out there.
torrential
used to refer to very heavy rain:
torrential rain
a torrential downpour/storm
a storm in a teacup
(idiom)
a lot of unnecessary anger and worry about a matter that is not important
It is a storm in a teacup: in terms of international waste disposal, we are talking about microscopic amounts of material.
be snowed under with something
(idiom) to have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all:
I'm absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.
every cloud has a silver lining
(idiom) said to emphasize that every difficult or unpleasant situation has some advantage
Every cloud has a silver lining, so we must ask who benefits from the demise of post offices, small newsagents and high street chemists.
in the cold light of day
(idiom) If you think about something in the cold light of day, you think about it clearly and calmly, without the emotions you had at the time it happened, and you often feel sorry or ashamed about it:
The next morning, in the cold light of day, Sarah realized what a complete idiot she had been.
which way the wind is blowing
(idiom)
If a person tries to discover which way the wind blows/is blowing, they try to discover information about a situation, especially other people's opinions, before they take action:
I think I'll see which way the wind is blowing before I vote at the board meeting.
not have the foggiest idea
(idiom)
to not know or understand something at all:
I didn't have the foggiest idea what he was talking about.
the calm before the storm
(idiom)
a quiet or peaceful period before a period during which there is great activity, argument, or difficulty:
I like to get everything done before the guests arrive and relax for a moment in the calm before the storm.
vicious circle of
a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem that then makes the first problem worse:
Many people get caught/trapped in a vicious circle of dieting and weight gain.
weather the storm
idiom
If someone or something weathers the storm, they successfully deal with a very difficult problem:
In the next few days we will see if the ambassador can weather the political storm caused by his remarks.
cultivate
o prepare land and grow crops on it, or to grow a particular crop:
Most of the land there is too poor to cultivate.
The villagers cultivate mostly maize and beans.
sow
to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow:
Sow the seeds in pots.
We'll sow this field with barley.