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Unit 4 Environment: Word List

Noun (N) – Adjective (Adj)

Climate change /ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ / (N) - The change in global weather patterns.

Example: Increases in the world’s temperature have contributed to climate change.

Global warming /ˈgləʊbəl ˈwɔːmɪŋ/ (N) - The heating up of the world’s climate.

Example: The average global temperature has rapidly increased due to global warming.

Extreme weather /ɪksˈtriːm ˈwɛðə/ (N) - Unusual, unexpected, or unseasonal weather patterns.

Example: Extreme weather, such as heat waves, is becoming more regular.

Polar ice caps /ˈpəʊlər aɪs ˈkæps/ (N) - High altitude regions that are covered by snow and ice.

Example: The Earth’s polar ice caps are melting because of global warming and climate
change.

Deforestation /dɪˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃ(ə)n/ (N) - The loss of the Earth’s forest regions.

Example: Deforestation has increased mainly because of the demand for agricultural land.

Pollution /pəˈluːʃən / (N) - The introduction of contaminants into the environment.

Example: A major source of pollution in cities is exhaust fumes from vehicles.

Greenhouse effect /ˈgriːnhaʊs ɪˈfɛkt / (N) - The process in which gasses in the Earth’s
atmosphere trap the heat from the sun.

Example: One of the main causes of the greenhouse effect is the burning of fossil fuels.

Fossil fuel /ˈfɒsl fjʊəl/ (N) - Hydrocarbons, found underground, made from decomposed
animals and plants.

Example: Fossil fuels such as oil and gas are burned to produce energy.

Conservation /ˌkɒnsə(ː)ˈveɪʃən/ (N) - Trying to protect or preserve something.

Example: The conservation of rainforests is a priority amongst environmentalists.

Rainforest /ˈreɪnˌfɒrɪst/ (N) An area of usually evergreen trees that gets a large amount of rain.

Example: Rainforests contain a great variety of animal species and vegetation.

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Environmental /ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl/ (Adj) - Concerning the environment.

Example: People are much more aware of environmental issues today because of the influence
of the media and the social network.

Endangered species /ɪnˈdeɪnʤəd ˈspiːʃiːz/ (N) - A species that is likely to become extinct in
the near future.

Example: Because of habitat loss and poaching, the gorilla is now an endangered species.

Extinct /ɪksˈtɪŋkt/ (Adj) - To no longer exist/live.

Example: Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.

Poaching /ˈpəʊʧɪŋ/ (N) - The illegal hunting and killing of animals.

Example: The poaching of animals for use in traditional medicine is illegal.

Single-use plastic /ˈsɪŋgl juːz ˈplæstɪk/ (N) - Plastic items that are used once then thrown away.

Example: Single-use plastic straws and water bottles are a major cause of marine pollution.

Global /ˈgləʊbəl/ (Adj) - Relating to the whole world.

Example: One of the major causes of the climate crisis is overpopulation, and it has become a
global issue.

Green belt /griːn bɛlt/ (N) - An area of countryside around a city or town where building is not
allowed.

Example: The local authority refused permission to build a shopping mall on the green belt.

Renewable energy /rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈɛnəʤi/ (N) - Energy that is produced from natural sources such
as the sun or wind.

Example: The government has invested heavily in renewable energy and plans to build a solar
power plant.

Artificial /ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l/ (Adj) - Something that is not natural.

Example: Artificial colors and preservatives have traditionally been added to a lot of food and
research has shown the harmful effects of these.

Solar power /ˈsəʊlə ˈpaʊə/ (N) - Electricity produced from the sun’s energy.

Example: Every new house must have 30% of its energy generated through solar power.

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Organic /ɔːˈgænɪk/ (Adj) - Food and plants produced naturally without the use of chemicals.

Example: Organic vegetables, which have no artificial additives, usually cost more, but the
price has been decreasing recently.,

Water cycle /wɔːtə ˈsaɪkl/ (N) - The natural process of water moving in the earth and
atmosphere.

Example: The water cycle is an ongoing process.

Atmospheric /ˌætməsˈfɛrɪk/ (Adj) - Concerning the air or atmosphere.

Example: Plants and trees are a major source of atmospheric oxygen.

Recycling /ˌriːˈsaɪklɪŋ/ (N) - The process of converting waste into new products.

Example: Nowadays, governments and local authorities encourage the recycling of domestic
waste.

Reusable /riːˈjuːzəbl/ (Adj) - Something that can be used more than once.

Example: Most people prefer to use reusable shopping bags rather than plastic ones.

Overpopulation /ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən/ (N) - When the population of a species becomes too

large to be sustained by the environment.

Example: Human overpopulation of the Earth is believed by many to be the main cause of the
climate crisis.

Soil erosion /sɔɪl ɪˈrəʊʒən/ (N) - The loss of soil (ground) by rain and wind.

Example: Deforestation has led to soil erosion in many parts of the world.

Acid rain /ˈæsɪd reɪn/ (N) - Rain that contains a high level of acid.

Example: Acid rain, caused by the pollution of the atmosphere, has been shown to damage
forests.

Pesticide /ˈpɛstɪsaɪd/ (N) - Chemicals used to kill insects and plants.

Example: The use of pesticides in agriculture increases productivity but damages the
environment.

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Environment: Verb + Noun Collocation

Recycle products – To use something again.

Example: We always recycle our empty glass bottles and paper products by leaving them at
the collection point.

Pollute the environment – To make the environment toxic and potentially harmful.

Example: Many business people refuse to invest in companies that pollute the environment.

Burn fossil fuels – To use fossil fuels ,such as coal, for energy.

Example: Many countries still burn fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, in order to produce
electricity.

Poach animals – To illegally kill animals.

Example: It’s now illegal to poach tigers in most countries.

Log forests – To cut down trees for commercial use.

Example: Rainforests have been logged to such an extent that huge areas disappear every day
and are not replaced.

Dump waste – To throw away something illegally or without care.

Example: The river is heavily polluted because factories have been dumping their waste in it
for years.

Contaminate the oceans – To make something polluted or toxic.

Example: Single-use plastics have contaminated the oceans.

Destroy natural habitats – To damage something.

Example: Governments continue to allow companies to destroy natural habitats in pursuit of

profits.

Conserve resources – To save or protect something for harm.

Example: One way to conserve resources is to switch off all electrical appliances when they
are not in use.

Ban something – To stop or prohibit something

Example: The local council banned cars from the city center to prevent congestion.
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Environment: Idioms

A storm in a teacup - To worry and get upset about something that is not important.
Example: Making an issue about her behavior is a storm in a teacup. She was only following
company procedure.
A drop in the ocean - An amount that is so small it makes very little difference.
Example: Our target is to raise $20,000 for charity so your donation of $5 is a drop in the ocean.
Answer the call of nature - To go to the toilet.
Example: Excuse me for a moment I need to answer the call of nature. Carry on with the
meeting without me.
A ray of sunshine - Something that brings happiness.
Example: News of a salary increase was a ray of sunshine for the department after disappointing
sales figures.
Barking up the wrong tree - To be wrong about how to achieve something or the reason for
something.
Example: He thinks he will get a promotion if he has a close relationship with the boss but he’s
barking up the wrong tree.
Calm before the storm - A period of quiet before a time of serious problems.
Example: I need to prepare everything before the guests arrive in the calm before the storm.
Feel under the weather - To feel unwell or ill.
Example: I feel under the weather today. I think I ate something last night that didn’t agree with
me.
Can’t see the wood for the trees - To focus too much on small details rather than see the whole
picture.
Example: He’s so involved in the costs of the project that he can’t see the words for the trees.
He should focus on the positive effects it will have.
All at sea - To feel confused about something and not sure what to do.
Example: Can you help me with this? I’m all at sea with this crossword puzzle. It’s too
difficult.
Paper tiger - Something or someone that appears very strong but is actually weak.
Example: He claimed he would easily win the boxing match but he’s a paper tiger. He got
knocked out after a minute.
In deep water - To be in trouble or in a difficult situation.
Example: She got in deep water with her parents when she failed the mid-course college exams.

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Unit 4 Review

A. Complete the sentences with a word from the Environment Word List.
1. Scientists estimate that _____ will cause an increase of 3 degrees in the planet’s
temperature.
2. A lot of countries still burn _____, such as coal, for energy.
3. The conference on _____ challenges in the 21st century was attended by world leaders.
4. Last year, too many species were declared _____ in the wild and only survive in zoos.
5. _____ domestic waste is common practice today. Households separate their waste before it’s
collected
6. Because plastic bags are expensive, many shoppers prefer to use their own _____ shopping
bags.
7. In spite of strict laws, _____ of wild animals is still a lucrative business for criminal gangs.
8. _____ produce has become popular with consumers mainly because of the lack of chemicals
used in producing them.
9. To tackle the climate crisis, governments need to invest in the _____ sector and look for
alternatives to fossil fuels.
10. The demand for agricultural land has led to the acceleration of _____ with many logging
companies taking advantage.

B. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

1. You can easily _____ plastics by leaving used products at the collection center.
A. burn B. recycle C. contaminate
2. Elephants were almost _____ to extinction for their ivory.
A. killed B. poached C. chased
3. The company was fined millions of dollars when they _____ waste in the river.
A. produced B. dumped C. contaminated
4. One way of reducing marine pollution is to _____ single use plastic products.
A. forbidden B. ban C. encourage
5. The local council refused planning permission in order to _____ an area of natural beauty.
A. conservation B. conserve C. destroy

IELTS Vocabulary Topics Target 7.0 Copyright © 2024 Total-IELTS. All rights reserved. No part of this book
or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or adapted without the prior written consent of the author.