Environment.

IELTS Exam Questions. Vocabulary. Model Answers.

Environment:

Part 2

Describe an environmental problem you’ve heard about.

You should say:

 what it is
 how long it has existed
 how it affects people’s lives

and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future.

Part 3

1) What do you consider to be the most serious environmental issues in

the world today?
2) Do you think it is the responsibility of governments alone to protect the
environment?
3) What measures can individuals take to protect the environment?
Weather:

Part 1

1) What is the weather like in your country?

2) Do you like the weather in your country?

3) Is the weather the same in all parts of your country?

4) Are there any problems with the climate in your country?

5) Does the weather ever affect the way you feel?

Describe your favourite season.

You should say:

 what the season is and when it occurs

 what the weather is like during this season
 what your typical activities are during this season

and explain why it is your favourite season.

Model answers (for vocabulary)

Describe an environmental problem you’ve heard about.

You should say:

 what it is
 how long it has existed
 how it affects people’s lives

and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future.

There are a number of serious environmental problems being covered by the

media at the moment but the one I’d like to talk about is the deforestation of
vast areas of rainforest to grow palm oil. I’m not sure when it started to become
a concern to environmentalist but I know that they’re increasingly worried
about it.

This land clearance is on a huge scale and the forest is often just burned down.
This sends large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into
the atmosphere which contribute to global warming and climate change. This
affects everyone on the planet.

Just as important is the effect on the native wildlife. Deforestation to grow

palm oil in Borneo and Sumatra destroys the natural habitat of orangutans as
well as many other animals. Conservationists estimate that unless the situation
changes, the orangutan and Sumatran tiger could become extinct in the wild in
the next 5-10 years. In fact, a third of all mammal species in Indonesia are
thought to be critically endangered because of this type of unsustainable
development.

Furthermore, the oil palm plantations that replace the rich vegetation of the
rainforest support very low levels of biodiversity and create a totally a
different ecosystem. I don’t fully understand why the loss of biodiversity is such
a problem but I did read somewhere that it means that our food crops are more
vulnerable to pest and diseases. This could lead to serious food shortages in the
future.

I think that the palm oil industry and its associated problems are going to be
difficult to change. Perhaps it’s consumers who can have the biggest impact by
refusing to buy products containing palm oil which is in around 40-50% of
common household products in many developed countries. In the UK, there’s
already one major food retailer that has promised to ban palm oil in its own
products. This I really encouraging and I hope other companies will do the same
soon.

Part 3

1) What do you consider to be the most serious environmental issues in

the world today?

I’d say that global warming and climate change have to come top of the list
because these threaten the very future of life on our planet. There are many
contributing factors such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation for
agriculture and due to illegal logging, and large-scale livestock farming.

Another serious concern is for the marine life in our oceans which is under
serious threat from pollution, especially waste plastics. These kill or injure
thousands of sea creatures every day. Many species of wildlife are also being
pushed to the verge of extinction by poaching. It’s shocking to think that
beautiful animals such as the tiger are dying out in the wild because of the
actions of human beings.

There are many other environmental problems that we need to solve but these
are the ones I believe to be the most serious.

2) Do you think it is the responsibility of governments alone to protect the

environment?

Not at all. It’s the responsibility of every individual to do their bit

to protect the environment. Of course, governments can do a lot to
address environmental issues through their policies and the laws they pass. I
certainly think that governments should put more pressure on industry to
use clean energy and to cut down on the emission of greenhouse
gases that pollute the atmosphere and add to global warming.

In my country, the government encourages people to live an environmentally-

friendly lifestyle by providing recycling services and facilities and
subsidizing renewable energy by giving grants to people wanting to run their
homes on solar power. If more people took advantage of this, it would certainly
help the environment.

3) What measures can individuals take to protect the environment?

There are many ways that each of us can help to care for the natural
environment. Firstly, we can recycle as much of our rubbish as possible or,
even better, cut down on our use of disposable products.

Secondly, we can become more energy-efficient by insulating our homes,

turning off lights when they don’t need to be on and making short journeys by
bicycle or on foot rather than going by vehicle. Cutting down on car journeys
also means fewer polluting exhaust fumes entering the atmosphere.

Finally, we can make sure that we know about the major conservation issues
our world is currently facing. If we are well-informed then we can take action to
bring about change.

These are all measure we can take as individuals to

help safeguard the environment.

Model answers for weather

Part 1

1) What is the weather like in your country?

Our weather is very unpredictable. One minute it can be lovely sunshine, the
next we’re experiencing a downpour. The UK is well-known for this.

2) Do you like the weather in your country?

Yes and no. I get frustrated that we have so many rainy days but we do have
some glorious weather as well. When the sun comes out and there’s not a
cloud in the sky, I couldn't be happier.
3) Is the weather the same in all parts of your country?

There are some quite marked regional differences. I live in the south-west where
it's mild but we get high precipitation. It’s drier in the east and they actually had
a drought this summer. Further north, it’s very cold in winter and they
get heavy snow.

4) Are there any problems with the climate in your country?

We certainly seem to have experienced more violent storms and torrential

rain in recent years. This has caused serious flooding in some places. A village
near where I live had a flash flood this summer which washed away cars and a
few buildings. People say global warming is to blame.

5) Does the weather ever affect the way you feel?

Most definitely. I feel so much more cheerful and full of energy when it’s sunny,
whatever season it is. Even a break in the weather on an overcast day lifts my
spirits.

Part 2

Describe your favourite season.

You should say:

 what the season is and when it occurs

 what the weather is like during this season
 what your typical activities are during this season

and explain why it is your favourite season.

That’s really difficult as I like things about every season but if I had to choose
one, I guess I’d go for spring. It covers the months of March, April and May in
my country and is actually the time of year I was born.

I spend the cold winter months looking forward to the first signs of spring as
nature comes back to life with the change of the season – things like the
snowdrops poking through the soil, colourful daffodils and crocuses, blossom on
the trees, shiny new leaves and the birds singing their hearts out as they build
their nests. It’s such a lovely time of year.

The weather gradually improves week by week, although we can still

get frost right up to the end of April and even snow, but it’s usually
just sleet and turns to slush as soon as it touches the ground. Hail storms are
quite common and bright rainbows, which we see as a promise of fine
weather to come.

Whilst there’s plenty of warm sunshine in spring, a shower of rain is never far
away and the wind tends to be quite chilly so you need to dress up warm to go
out. I keep a close eye on the weather forecast before making plans as to what
to do.

To sum up the weather, you’d have to say that it’s changeable – a mixture
of sunny spells and cloudbursts is how I’d describe it.

As the temperature rises, I definitely get more active. I start to take longer walks
and go out on my bike more often. Weather permitting, we often have a
barbecue on my birthday.

I also get stuck into some gardening. There’s always lots of cutting down and
clearing up to do, plus the grass begins to grow again and needs cutting. At
weekends, I go to the garden centre to buy bedding plants ready for a
colourful summer display.

One of the best things of all about spring is the lighter evenings, such a relief
after the dark winter months. You can now spend evenings outdoors if you want
to rather than being stuck in watching TV.

So, you see, there are lots of reasons why spring is my favourite month. I love
the hotter weather of the summer, of course, but there’s something about the
freshness of spring that makes it special.

Part 3

1) How do the different seasons affect the lifestyle of people in your

country?

As we have a fairly mild climate, people are able to enjoy the outdoors all times
of the year. Of course, summer is the most popular time for going to the beach
and such like but even on blustery winter’s days, you’ll see people out walking
along the shore enjoying the fresh air. With our unpredictable weather, we’re
used to getting caught in the rain whatever the season so we just put on our
waterproofs and off we go.

When it’s warm, people tend to take a picnic when they go out walking or
cycling but in chilly weather, they’re more likely to stop off at a cosy pub or café
for something to eat.

One of the biggest differences in our lifestyle through the seasons is down to
the variation in daylight hours. In summer, it’s light until around 10.30pm whilst
in the middle of winter it’s dark by 3.30pm. No-one feels much like going out
when it’s cold and dark so we stay at home more.

2) Do you think people who live in cold places have different personalities
to people who live in warm or hot places?

That’s something I’ve never considered but now I come to think of it, I’m sure
they do. From my experience, people living in cold countries are fairly reserved
and quite serious. Those living in hot climates, on the other hand, are more
outgoing and full of life. That’s apart from the most humid regions where it’s so
hot and sticky that you just want to sit around and do nothing all day.

Although I’d have to agree overall, I think there are many other factors
than temperature and the weather that affect people’s personalities.

3) Do you think there are any problems with the world's climate now?

I believe that we’re facing many serious issues with our climate at the moment
and they're only going to get worse unless we do something about global
warming soon.

In my country, the winters are getting milder and wetter and serious flooding is
becoming common. It’s a real problem in many areas. However, that’s nothing
compared to the devastating tropical storms that some parts of the world are
experiencing, more violent ever before. Meteorologists predict that they will get
even stronger in the future which is a great concern.

One of the most serious problems of climate change is the melting of the
icecaps as it’s causing rising sea levels. It’s possible that many coastal areas
could be under water by the end of the century. Now that really is a worry.
 Environment Vocabulary Set 1: Key Definitions

environment – the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical

area, especially as affected by human activity.

- Picking up litter is a simple way to help protect the environment.

environmental – relating to the natural world and concerning the impact of

human activity on its condition.

- A survey revealed a number of environmental issues concerning the

development of the land for housing, most notably, that it was the habitat of a
rare breed of frog.

environmentalist – a person who chooses a lifestyle that is designed to

minimise their impact on the natural environment and who campaigns for
environmental issues.

- Plans to build a new road alongside the lake drew fierce oppositions
from environmentalists.

environmentally-friendly – not harmful to the environment.

- There are many environmentally-friendly cleaning products on the market

that don’t contain chemicals that damage the environment.

natural environment – the natural world as opposed to, for example, a working
environment.

- When the injured seal had been nursed back to health in the rescue centre, it
was returned to its natural environment.

environmental hazard – a substance or an event which has the potential to

threaten the surrounding natural environment.

- The illegal storage of toxic waste presents a significant environmental hazard.

environmental disaster – a catastrophic event affecting the environment due to

human activity.

- When the oil tanker ran aground, it caused an environmental disaster from
which it took the local wildlife many years to recover.
conservation – the protection of plants, animals and natural resources, usually
by planned human action.

- It was Dimitri’s dream to get a job in conservation.

conservationist – a person who takes action to protect the environment from

damage caused by humans.

- Conservationists are working hard to protect the breeding grounds of sea

turtles.

conservation programme – an organised plan to protect a specific natural area

or aspect of the natural environment.

- Next year I’m planning to volunteer on a conservation programme in Spain

which researches dolphins.

Collocations:

 wildlife conservation – the protection of wildlife.

 nature conservation – work that protects natural resources including
wildlife, rivers, forests and other natural landscapes.
 energy conservation – the effort made to use less energy.
 Environment Vocabulary Set 2: The natural world – wildlife, plant life &
habitats

wildlife – animals that live in the wild in natural conditions. Birds, fish and
insects are often included in the definition.

- Every evening, a wide variety of wildlife came to the waterhole to drink.

local wildlife – the wildlife to be found in a particular area.

- The children did a school project on their local wildlife.

native wildlife – wildlife that naturally lives in a particular area and is not there
as a result of human intervention.

When cats were introduced to the island, they hunted the native wildlife and
cause a rapid decline in many species.

creature – any living thing that can move independently.

There are some fascinating creatures living in the deep ocean that we know
hardly anything about.

fauna – the animals of a particular region or habitat.

- The group of scientists lived in tents while studying the fauna of the remote
mountain region.

flora – the plants of a particular region or habitat.

- Much of the native flora of Australia isn’t found naturally anywhere else in the
world.

vegetation – the collective name for all the plants growing in a particular place
or area.

- Tropical regions are known for their dense vegetation.

species – a group of animals or plants that have similar characteristics and can
reproduce together.

- Lions are a species of wild cat.

Collocations:
  endangered species – a species that is in serious danger of extinction.
 threatened species – a species that is likely to become endangered in
the near future.
 rare species – an uncommon or scarce species.
 protected species – a species which it is forbidden to harm by law.
 extinct species – a species of which there are no more alive.

ecosystem – all the living things in an environment and the complex relationship
between each of them and that environment.

- Coral reefs have a delicately balanced ecosystem which can be seriously

damaged by overfishing.

Collocations:

 delicately balanced ecosystem – an ecosystem where the loss of a key

species, or several significant species, can seriously affect it.
 fragile ecosystem – an ecosystem that does not adapt easily to change
and is easily destroyed by human or physical impact.

Mother Nature – nature or weather considered as a force that controls all living
things.

- It’s far better to try and work with Mother Nature than again it.

diverse – varied and very different from one another.

- They were able to grow a diverse range of crops in the rich, fertile soil.

biodiversity – the variety of animal and plant life found in a particular place.

It is important to preserve biodiversity in order to protect our ecosystems.

Collocation:

 loss of biodiversity – when species become extinct in an area and there

is no longer such a great variety of species.

ecology – the relationship between animals, plants, people and their

environment in a particular area, or the study of this.

- Ben studied the coastal ecology of Lundy Island in his final year at university.

habitat – the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism.

- The loss of their natural habitat through deforestation is a serious threat to the
orangutan in Borneo.

to inhabit – to live in a certain place.

- The rainforest is inhabited by many different species of monkey.

natural surroundings – the habitat in which a species would naturally live.

- The best thing about going on safari is seeing the animals in their natural
surroundings rather than caged up in a zoo.

to adapt – to change or adjust in response to new conditions.

- With the loss of large areas of countryside to housing development, foxes have
had to adapt to living in towns.

to evolve – change or develop gradually.

- Scientists now believe that humans evolved from apes.

evolution – the process by which living things slowly change and develop over
a long period of time.

- The theory of evolution states that all life on Earth today evolved over millions
of years from simple organisms.

thrive – to grow and develop well or quickly.

- The leopard seal is well adapted to the cold and thrives in the fish-rich waters
of the Arctic.

marine – related to or found in the sea.

- Marine wildlife is badly affected by the amount of waste plastic in our oceans.

nocturnal – active at night.

- Almost all species of bats are nocturnal, preferring to hunt or search for food
at night rather than during the day.

migrate – to move from one region or habitat to another, usually when the
season changes.

- Many birds migrate south to warmer climates in the winter.

extinction – being completely destroyed so that it no longer exists.

- The dodo, a flightless bird once found in Mauritius, was hunted
to extinction by 1681.

dying out – to become increasingly less common, almost to the point of

extinction.

- Tigers are in serious danger of dying out in the wild.

Environment Vocabulary Set 3: The natural world – resources &

environment

climate – the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place.

- Egypt has a hot, dry climate with very little rainfall.

climate change – a change in global or regional temperature patterns.

- Climate change has led to the melting of the polar ice caps.

Collocation:

 combat climate change – to stop or reverse the effects of climate

change.

- It is only by countries working together to combat climate change that we will

save our planet.

natural resources – materials or substances that exist in nature, such as coal,

oil, and timber, and can be used by people.

- The success of humans as a species has been largely due to their ability to
exploit the Earth’s natural resources.

Collocation:

 rich in natural resources – having a lot of natural resources.

- It is believed that Antarctica is rich in natural resources but many fear an

ecological disaster if mining is allowed to go ahead.

fossil fuels – a fuel, such as coal, oil and gas, that is formed in the earth from
dead plants and animals.
- Fossil fuels give off large amounts of carbon when burned which is damaging
to the atmosphere.

atmosphere – the layer of gases surrounding the Earth or any other planet.

- Asteroids usually burn up when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

ozone layer – a layer of the colourless gas ozone that exists high above the
Earth's surface and which prevents harmful ultraviolet light from the sun from
reaching the Earth.

- Without the ozone layer, it would be very difficult for anything to survive on
Earth.

carbon dioxide – a gas formed when carbon is burned, or when people or

animals breathe out.

- Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen which helps to keep our
atmosphere healthy.

carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas formed by the burning of carbon,

especially in the form of car fuel.

- You can’t smell carbon monoxide which makes it a deadly killer, so it’s
important to install a carbon monoxide alarm near your gas boiler.

greenhouse gas – a gas in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, that

absorbs radiation and gives off heat.

- Greenhouse gases contribute to the problem of global warming.

greenhouse effect – the gradual warming of the surface of the Earth due to
greenhouse gases being trapped in the atmosphere above the Earth.

-The greenhouse effect is believed by many to be responsible for climate

change.

Environment Vocabulary Set 4: Environmental issues

erosion – the gradual wearing-away of something by the natural forces of the

wind, rain and water.

- Crop rotation is important to ensure the soil isn’t left bare and subject
to erosion by the wind and rain.
 Collocations:

 coastal erosion – damage to the coastline caused mainly by waves.

 soil erosion – removal of the upper layer of the soil, mainly by water or
wind.
 wind erosion – a process where soil or rocks are worn away by the wind.

deforestation – the cutting down or burning of all the trees in an area.

- Deforestation results in the loss of habitat for millions of species, leads to soil
erosion and, according to scientists, is a major cause of climate change.

land clearance – the process of removing vegetation to create new areas of

land suitable for farming.

- 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.
 - 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.
 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.
- 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.

- Afforestation is vital if we are to reduce the carbon-dioxide levels in the

atmosphere.

to go green – to choose an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

- In an attempt to go green, my family is recycling everything we can and we no

longer buy bottled water.

on foot – to walk rather than use a form of transport.

- When the weather is fine, I go to work on foot rather than catching the bus.

safeguard – take action to protect something from harm or damage.

- It is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the environment for future

generations.

Environment Vocabulary Set 6: Other useful words

urban – relating to, or characteristic of a town or city.

- In the UK, foxes thrive in urban areas and can often be seen on the streets at
night.

rural – in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town.

- I was born in a small village and still prefer to live in a rural area.

Weather Vocabulary
Weather Vocabulary Set 1: Key definitions

weather – the temperature or conditions outside with regard to heat, cloudiness,

dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

- The weather can change very quickly up on the moor, so make sure you take
your waterproofs when you go walking.

climate – the general weather conditions usually found in a particular area.

- The climate in the Andean mountains of Peru is very different to that found on
the coast.

climate change – a change in global or regional temperature patterns.

- Scientists believe that climate change will lead to more extreme weather in
the future.

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.

Weather Vocabulary Set 2: Seasons

season – time of year characterized by certain weather.

- In Europe, we have four seasons but in some parts of the world, they have
only two, such as the Philippines which has a wet season and a dry season.
winter – the coldest season of the year, December to February north of the
equator and from and June to August in the southern hemisphere.

- I don’t like the winter as it’s very cold and there isn’t much daylight.

spring – the season between winter and summer when the weather becomes
warmer and vegetation starts to grow again.

- In spring I love to watch nature come to life again; to see leaves sprouting on
the trees and lambs in the fields.

summer – the warmest season of the year, June to August north of the equator
and from and December to February in the southern hemisphere.

- We can’t wait for summer and are already planning the outdoor activities we’re
going to enjoy in the nice weather.

autumn – the season between summer and winter when the leaves change
colour and fall from the trees and it becomes cooler.

- Autumn is a great time for hiking as the weather is often pleasant and the
trees look stunning as their leaves change to red, yellow and orange.

fall – Term for autumn in American English.

- In the US, fall is the time for celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Weather Vocabulary Set 3: Snowy weather

snow – water vapour frozen into ice crystals and falling to the ground as white
flakes.

- I live in a hot climate so we don’t get snow but I’ve seen it in photos and it
looks so beautiful.

snowflake – a single particle of snow.

- Did you know that every single snowflake is different which is quite amazing?

snowing – when snow is falling to the ground.

- It was so exciting to wake up this morning to find that it was snowing.

snowy – when it’s snowing or things are covered with snow.

- Children love snowy weather as it often means that the schools are closed.

fresh snow – snow that has recently fallen.

- The fresh snow glistened in the moonlight, the pristine carpet of white not
marked by a single footprint.

heavy snow – when a lot of snow falls.

- The weather forecast predicted heavy snow so we got out our sledge ready to
have some fun.

a blanket of snow – a complete covering of snow.

- It snowed heavily all afternoon and the countryside was soon covered in
a blanket of snow.

snowstorm – when a large amount of snow falls, often mixed with wind.

- I was still at work when the snowstorm hit and had to sleep in my office as the
buses were cancelled and I couldn’t get home.

blizzard – a storm with very heavy snow and strong winds.

- It’s dangerous driving on the roads in a blizzard.

whiteout – snowfall that is so heavy that it’s almost impossible to see anything.

- I was so glad I decided not to drive to the shops as the light snowfall soon
turned into whiteout conditions.

flurry – very light snowfall.

- The children were hoping for heavy snow so they could make a snowman but
all we got were light flurries.

avalanche – a large mass of snow and ice sliding rapidly down a mountainside.

- It was reported that five skiers were caught in the avalanche and rescuers are
trying to dig them out.

snowdrift – a bank of deep snow formed by the wind.

- The road was blocked by snowdrifts blown by the strong winds.

sleet – a mixture of rain and snow.

- The sleet made the pavements slippery and it was difficult not to fall over.

slush – partly melted snow

- As the temperature rose slightly, the glistening white snow turned to

mucky slush.

Weather Vocabulary Set 4: Cold weather

below freezing – below zero degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

- I put on a thick coat, gloves, hat and a scarf before going outside as it was
well below freezing.

ice – very cold water in a solid state; you only see it when the temperature is
below freezing.

- I had to clear ice from my car windscreen before I could drive to meet my
friend.

icy – covered in ice; slippery because of ice.

- It’s better for elderly people to stay indoors when it’s icy as they can easily fall
over and break a bone.

frozen – when the temperature is so cold that water has turned to ice or
expression to mean feeling very cold.

- It was so cold that the surface of the pond was frozen.

- Ingrid got absolutely frozen watching her son’s team playing football.

freezing cold – very cold.

- Bruno was reluctant to take the dog for a walk as it was freezing cold outside.

bitterly cold – extremely cold.

- The sun was shining but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing.

hail – pieces of ice falling from the sky; frozen rain.

- I hate being out in hail because it really hurt when it strikes your face.
frost – ice crystals on a frozen surface.

- I could tell from the frost on the ground that the temperature overnight had
fallen below freezing.

hard frost – when it gets very cold overnight and everything is covered with
thick frost.

- The hard frost turned everything white and made the garden look like a
magical frozen wonderland.

Jack Frost – mythical character who comes out at night and lays out frost.

- We woke in the morning to see that Jack Frost had been in the night.

frostbite – injury to any part of the body caused by overexposure to extreme

cold.

- Frostbite is one of the greatest dangers faced by Arctic explorers.

to dress up warm – to wear warm clothes to protect yourself against wintry

conditions.

- If you go out to play in the snow, be sure to dress up warm.

to melt – the process by which snow or ice changes to water as the temperature
rises above freezing.

- After a week of freezing conditions, the temperature rose and the snow finally
began to melt.

a cold spell / cold snap – a short period of cold weather.

- The weather is usually mild at this time of year but the forecasters say we’re in
for a cold spell next week.

- The sudden cold snap had us searching for our hats, gloves and scarves.

chilly – uncomfortably cold.

- Fuyuko was feeling a bit chilly so she turned the heating up.

Weather Vocabulary Set 5: Rainy weather

precipitation – water that falls to the earth in the form of rain, hail, mist, sleet, or
snow.

- The average annual precipitation in London is 23 inches (58 cm) which

makes it drier than New York which has an average of 50 inches (127cm) of rain
per year.

heavy rain – intense rainfall.

- The heavy rain kept the children indoors all day despite it being the weekend.

torrential rain – very heavy rain.

- The torrential rain was making driving conditions hazardous.

driving rain – heavy rain mixed with strong wind.

- We walked on through the driving rain, wanting to get home as quickly as

possible.

to pour – to rain heavily.

- It was pouring with rain when I set off for the bus stop.

downpour – heavy shower of rain.

- Christian got caught in a downpour on his way to the party but fortunately had
an umbrella with him.

cloudburst – sudden rainfall that it over quickly.

- The sudden cloudburst took them by surprise and they had to run for shelter.

raining cats and dogs – raining heavily.

- What miserable weather. It’s been raining cats and dogs all day.

to get drenched / soaked – to get very wet.

- Ekrem left her coat at home and got drenched in the cloudburst.

- The children had great fun playing in the rain but got soaked to the skin.

rainy day – a day when it rains a lot.

- I quite like a rainy day as I can be lazy and cuddle up by the fire with a good
book.
a drop of rain – a small amount of rain.

- There was a drop of rain in the afternoon but it didn’t spoil our day out.

drizzle – very light rain.

- There was a bit of drizzle in the air as we set off on our walk but it didn’t come
to anything.

gentle rain – light rain.

- The gentle rain was quite welcome at the end of a long, hot day as it really
cooled the air.

shower (of rain) – a quick, light rainstorm.

- It was only a shower of rain so we didn’t get too wet.

- It was only a quick shower so we didn’t get too wet.

to get caught in the rain – to be outside when it rains unexpectedly.

- Meena was soaked through having got caught in the rain without a coat on.

to be rained off – to be cancelled or postponed because it’s raining or expected

to rain.

- The pupils were looking forward to the school sports day but sadly it got rained
off.

let up – to stop raining.

- We’ll go out for a walk if there’s a let up in the rain.

to clear up – when clouds or rain disappear.

- The forecast says that it will clear up by this afternoon.

puddle – a small pool of water usually formed by rainfall.

- When I was young, I loved splashing in puddles.

to flood – when a large amount of water flows over an area of land that is
normally dry.

- There had been so much rain that the road was flooded.
a flash flood – a sudden and severe flood.

- The flash flood brought mud and debris gushing down the road bringing traffic
to a standstill.

burst its banks – when a river overflows onto the land due to heavy rainfall and
causes flooding.

- After nearly three days of continuous rain, the river burst its banks flooding
the town.

rainbow – an arch of colours seen in the sky during or after rainfall when it is
also sunny.

- As the storm passed, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.

monsoon – the season of heavy rain in tropical climates.

- Nearly all of the country’s annual rainfall falls during the monsoon.

rainy season – another term for the time of the monsoon.

- The rainy season in my country is normally July to October.

horrid weather – unpleasant weather.

- I’m fed up of this horrid weather and can’t remember when I last saw any
sunshine.

foul weather – bad weather.

- The foul weather kept the fishing boats in the harbour as it was too dangerous
for them to go to sea.

Weather Vocabulary Set 6: Sunny weather

sunshine – direct sunlight unbroken by cloud.

- Isabella usually had lunch in the canteen but today she bought a sandwich and
ate it in the sunshine.

sunny – bright with sunshine.

- Looking out at the pouring rain, Svetlana longed for a sunny day.
sunny spells – short periods of sunny weather.

- It was mostly cloudy for our trip to the zoo but there were some sunny
spells in the afternoon.

heatwave – a period of very hot weather.

- Summer weather in the UK can be very unpredictable but this year we had a
real heatwave.

to come out (the sun) – when the sun appears out of a cloudy sky.

- We were so pleased that the sun came out for our wedding photos as it had
been a bit of a dull day up to then.

baking hot / boiling hot – very hot.

- Sunday was baking hot so Duong and his friends headed to the river for a
swim.

scorcher – a very hot day.

- The day was a real scorcher, far too hot to be out in the sun for very long.

drought – a long period with no rainfall.

arid – having had little or no rain for a long time; too dry to support vegetation.

- Large areas of Australia are suffering from drought. The land has
become arid and cattle and sheep on the ranches are dying from a lack of food
and water.

humid / humidity – hot and damp conditions

- Celeste found the climate in Florida too humid and moved to California where
it was still hot but with less humidity.

stifling – uncomfortable hot; can make you feel breathless.

- The heat of the day was stifling so the expedition travelled only at night when
it was cooler.

sweltering – extremely hot.

- My classroom is sweltering in the summer so I take the children outside and

we have lessons in the shade of a large tree.
close – warm and uncomfortable.

- We don’t have a humid climate in the UK but in summer it is often close which
leaves you feeling sweaty and lethargic.

warm – a temperature in between hot and cold.

- Feeling the warm spring sunshine on your face is such a treat after the long,
cold months of winter.

sunburn – painful red skin caused by being in the sun too long.

exposed to sunlight – allowing strong sunshine to fall on the skin.

- It’s important to limit our exposure to sunlight as sunburn can lead to skin
cancer.

suntan / tanned – brown skin caused by long periods of exposure to sunlight.

- Jay got a great suntan on his sailing holiday in Greece and arrived home
looking tanned and healthy.

sunscreen / suntan lotion – a cream or lotion that protects the skin from the
damaging UV (ultraviolet) rays of the sun.

- As children, we were never allowed out to play in the sun

without sunscreen on.

glorious weather – wonderful weather.

- We had glorious weather on our holiday in France.

fine weather – lots of sunshine and no rain.

- The fine weather we’re having at the moments has lifted everyone’s spirits.

pleasant weather – warm temperatures and mainly clear skies.

- Jerry made the most of the pleasant weather to get some gardening done.

a break in the weather – when the rain stops for a while.

- I waited for a break in the weather before taking the dog for a walk.

a spell of fine weather – a short period of good weather.

- It’s been a pretty awful summer but we’re finally enjoying a spell of fine
weather.

clear blue skies – a sky without clouds.

- The clear blue skies drew hordes of tourists to the beach.

not a cloud in the sky – when no clouds are visible.

- There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it promised to be a glorious day.

Weather Vocabulary Set 7: Cloudy weather

cloud – a grey or white mass, made up of very small drops of water, floating in
the sky.

- As the dark clouds drifted overhead, Yana rushed to the garden to bring in her
dry washing before it rained.

cloudy – when there are lots of clouds in the sky.

- Although it was a cloudy day, they still had a good time on the beach.

overcast – very cloudy with no sun is visible.

- Thahn was disappointed that it was overcast for the barbecue but at least it
wasn’t raining.

partly cloudy – when it is sunny and cloudy at the same time.

- The TV weather forecast has said partly cloudy but it ended up being
overcast for most of the day.

dull – not clear, bright or sunny.

- Dull days can be rather depressing, especially at this time of year when it’s
cold outside and daylight hours are short.

Weather Vocabulary Set 8: Windy weather

wind – a natural current of air.

- There wasn’t enough wind to go sailing so they kayaked instead.

windy – when there is a lot of wind.

- It was a windy day and Dan spend the afternoon flying his kite.

breeze – light wind

- The flag was hoisted to the top of the mast where it flapped gently in
the breeze.

high wind – strong wind.

- The forecast warned of high winds and a risk of fallen trees.

gale – a very strong wind.

- The gale blew all night and caused damage to several buildings.

gust – a sudden, strong blast of wind.

- It was a fierce storm with gusts of up to 80 miles an hour.

blustery – blowing in strong gusts.

- Kali’s umbrella turned inside out in the blustery weather.

wind chill (factor) – when the wind makes the air feel colder than the actual
temperature.

- It was just above freezing but the wind chill factor made it feel more like
minus 5.

picking up – becoming stronger

- The wind started picking up at about 3.00 pm and an hour later had reached
gale force.

Weather Vocabulary Set 9: Foggy weather

fog – a thick cloud of tiny water droplets close to the ground or sea that makes it
difficult to see.

- I hate driving in fog as it’s hard to see other cars on the road.

foggy – when there is a lot of fog.

- It’s so foggy today that I can hardly see the houses across the street.

smog – fog-like cloud caused by pollution.

- The smog hung over the city and many people wore masks when they went
out to stop them breathing in the polluted air.

Weather Vocabulary Set 11: General weather terms

changeable – weather that often changes.

- The weather is very changeable at the moment and it’s difficult to decide what
to wear to go out.

unpredictable – likely to change suddenly and therefore not easy to predict.

- The weather in the Scottish islands is notoriously unpredictable so it’s best to

carry a raincoat at all times.

weather permitting – if the weather allows it.

- We’ll be having a family picnic in the park at the weekend, weather

permitting.

the weather holds – fine weather continues.

- I hope the weather holds as I have a few days off next week.

freak weather conditions – weather conditions, often extreme and destructive,

that are not normal for that place.

- Freak weather conditions are becoming more common due to global

warming and climate change.

Weather Vocabulary Set 12: Weather forecasting

weather forecast – a prediction of what the weather is likely to be, broadcast on

TV/radio programmes and printed in newspapers.

- I’ve just seen the weather forecast and we’re in for a nice day.

long-range forecast – the weather forecast for several days or weeks ahead.
- The long-range forecast is a bit disappointing as it predicts rain by the
weekend.

mild – gentle, not harsh or extreme.

 mild weather

- We’re having really mild weather for the time of year.

 mild climate – a climate without extreme weather conditions.

- We have a mild climate in the UK with no extremes of heat or cold

and few violent storms.

 mild winter – a winter that isn't particularly cold.

- It’s been a mild winter with only one real cold snap.

temperature – how hot or cold it is

- It’s cold in the shade but the temperature rises significantly when you step into
the sun.

thermometer – instrument for measuring temperature.

- The thermometer on the wall showed that it was almost 100 degreesº.

degrees – measurement for temperature. Denoted by the symbol º.

- Temperature can be measured in degrees Celcius or Fahrenheit.

Celsius – measurement of temperature where freezing point is 0º and boiling

point is 100º.

Fahrenheit – measurement of temperature where freezing point is 32º degrees

and boiling point is 212º.

meteorology – the scientific study of weather.

- Nandor had always been fascinated by what caused different weather

conditions and wanted to be study meteorology at university.

meteorologist – a person who studies weather patterns.

- Meteorologists are far better at predicting the weather than they were a
decade ago.
Environment Articles
BBC News – Science & Environment

New Scientist

The Economist – Science & Technology (3 free articles a week when you sign
up)

World Wildlife Fund

Search YouTube TED Talks - Environment to help you improve your

environment vocabulary.