28 Describing the world Climate Travelling from north to south in Nigeria, you pass through a fascinating series of > landscapes. Rainfall’ in the south-east can be extremely high in the wet season, eet": Rnenontatneertcttecotiitel ear(acandysrenetelcronsntgainne ne dry season. + the amount of rain that fll, for example ina month orinayear dry _* tending to have a particular negative characteristic “long period without rain Vegetation Kr More than 30% of the landscape of Canada lies inside the Arctic Circle, where the land can stay frozen for up to nine months of the year. In these regions, known as the tundra’, vegetation’ is limited, Further south, dense, coniferous® forests known as taiga cover large areas of land, Towards the border with the United States are the grasslands of the prairies‘ and the mixed, temperate forests. 2 area in the north with no trees and permanently frozen ground“ plantlife trees that are evergreen [in leaf all year round] and produce cones, unlike deciduous trees, which lose theireavesin winter “flat grasslands in Canada and northern USA (similar to steppes in Asia or pampas in South America) Agriculture Rice is the main crop grown in the south of China, along with tea, cotton, fruit and vegetables. The rice is planted in flooded paddy fields’. A good year can see two crops of ©, rice and one of vegetables harvested. In the drier, hillier north and west, farmers generally * harvest a single crop of cereals? and, in addition, tend? sheep and cattle. * fields planted with rice growing in water type of grass cultivated to produce a grain, e.g food plant like rice, wheat ormaize take care of Industry France is one of the world’s leading developed’ nations. It is home to large manufacturing”, steel and chemical industries. The country is an important and major producer of aircraft and cars ands at the forefront’ of technology and engineering. Its sizeable nuclear industry generates* a significant proportion of the nation’s electrical power. Like many developed countries, France provides alot of help and aid to developing® countries. 2 with a modern, industrial economy 7 producing goods in large numbers in an important position * produces/ereates 5 describes a country thatis poor and does not have a modern, industrial economy Population Brazil isa vibrant mixture of peoples. Some are descended from’ indigenous" tribes, others from the Portuguese, who were the colonial power in Brazil for 300 years. Many Brazilians have African ancestors? brought over in the 17th century as slaves to work on sugar plantations. During the 20th century, large numbers of European migrants" settled® in the south. » are related to someone who livedin the past existing naturallyin that place * relatives from earlier times: we are our ancestors’ descendants“ people who move to lve In another country or another part of their own country (often for reasons of economic need; an emigrant is someone who leaves @ country, an immigrants someone who movesto vein a country) * made their homes English Vocabulary n Use Advanced28.1 28.2 28.3 28.5 Exercises Match the two parts of the collocations from the opposite page. Note the words are not allin bold. 1 coniferous Q 2 plantation 2 developed ag b industry 3 paddy a © forest 4 chemical a 4 field 5 sugar a e nation Here are some other words which collocate with the words in the right-hand column in the exercise above. There are three for each of the five words. Can you match them? coffee deciduous dense developing manufacturing oll pharmaceutical rain magnetic rubber tea textile wheat independent sovereign Complete the sentences using a word from the box. There may be more than one possible answer. descendants _ancestors_migrants emigrants immigrants ‘came to Britain from France in the 17th century. left Russia for France after the Revolution in 1917. from all over the world. looking for work and a better life ‘of 16th century Spanish sailors shipwrecked off the I believe my Many. The USA has traditionally welcomed Our largest cities are full of... ‘Some Scots are said to be the Scottish coast. Rewrite the underlined words using words and expressions from the opposite page. Recently, the country’s economy has suffered 2 decline in industry concerned with making things The university has long been in a very important position in agricultural science. The river delta tends to suffer catastrophic flooding on a regular basis, (One can often see local shepherds looking after large flocks of sheep on the hillsides. Inthe late Lath century, migrants made their home in the uncultivated lands towards the north of the country. In the extremely dry southern provinces, plant life is sparse. 7 Inthe cold northern regions, the landscape consists mostly of permanently frozen ground with no trees, 8 The tribes that have always existed naturally in the eastern jungles are now facing threats to thelr way of life 9. The farmlands are dotted with woods that lose their leaves in winter, while the large forests of trees that are always in leaf provide the country with much-needed timber. 10 The flat grasslands of the northern USA experienced a severe long period with no rain last year. eneWeather and climate Weather conversations Here are some less common but nonetheless useful words about weather, so that you can have typical weather conversations where you agree with someone by using a near-synonym. in these examples, B replies using more informal language. A; Bit cold today, isn’t it? B: Yes, it’s chlly/freezing/nippy, isn't it? ‘A Its hot, isn't it? B: Yes, it’s boiling/sweltering/roasting! A: It’s bit windy today! B: Yes, really blowy/breezy, isn't it? ‘A: What oppressive/sultry weather! 8 A 8 re 8 Yes, isn’t it stifling/heavy/close? What a downpour/deluge! : Yes, it’s chucking it down / it’s pouring! : Isn't it humid today? 3: Yes, horrible muggy/clammy/sticky weather! Climate and metaphors Climate metaphors are often used, particularly in written English ‘The word climate can refer to the general atmosphere or situation in society. His secrecy and dishonesty created a climate of distrust. The government reforms have contributed toa climate of change. ‘The words cultural, current, economic, financial, moral, political, social and prevailing all collocate strongly with climate in this social sense. She has a very sunny disposition - she's hardly ever miserable ‘Though they won the championship last year, the outlook for the team is less sunny this year. Unfortunately, our plans met with a frosty reception. \'m snowed under with work - llnever get through it alin time. After the company accounts were examined, the manager left under a cloud. Don’t let your love for him cloud your judgement. The soldiers were hit with a hail of bullets. The Prime Minister was greeted with a hail/storm of abuse. I've only a hazy memory of my first day at school. The truth is hidden in the mists of history. ‘The article sparked a jind of speculation. They had a whirlwind romance and got married just a month after they met. ‘The horses thundered down the racetrack. ‘Thunderous applause followed his speech. (Note that thundery is used to describe stormy weather while thunderous describes a loud, deep noise.) The winds of change/discontent/democracy are blowing across the country. English Vocabulary n Use Advanced29.1 29.2 29.3 29.5 Exercises Respond to these statements about the weather. Agree using slightly more formal language like that of speaker A in the conversations on the opposite page. 1 It’s bit nippy outside, isn’t it? 5 Close today, isn’t it? 2. What a sweltering day! 6 It's chucking it down! 3 Isn’tit muggy here? 7 It’s clammy today, isn't it? 4 It’s blowy, isn'tit? 8 Whata sticky day! What are the metaphoric | meanings of these words from B opposit 1 sunny~plasentonpasitie 4 snowed under 7 climate 2 frosty 5 whirlwind 8 hazy 3 tocloud 6 hail 9 tothunder Find collocations for these words. You will find some on the opposite page, but use a dictionary to find more if necessary. 1 climate 4 the winds of 2 prevailing 5 afrosty 3 tocloud 6 ahail of Read the text below and find words in it which mean the following. 1 average 6 rays from the sun 2 dry 7 make less extreme 3 height above sea level 8 situated very far from the sea 4 distance from the equator 9 differing weather conditions at different 5 rain and snow times of the year ‘Schemes for dividing the Earth and the least in polar regions. into climatic regions are based on Elevation affects both temperature ‘a combination of indices of mean and precipitation; mountainous annual temperature, mean monthly areas are generally cooler and temperature, annual precipitation wetter. Location close to the sea or totals and seasonality. The climate _to large bodies of water moderates. of a place is affected by several temperature; continental areas factors. Latitude affects the amount _are generally more arid and of solar radiation received, with more affected by extremes of the greatest in equatorial regions temperature, + What words can you use to describe the climate in your country? + How would you describe the economic climate?