44 mh 4 The environment ‘There are many different words referring to features of the environment. Here are some arranged on small to large scales. brook > stream —> river hillock — hill» mountain cove + bay ~ gulf copse -> wood -> forest. puddle + pond > lake footpath -> lane -> road ‘You have to be careful about the use of ‘the’ with features of the environment. use with the? example countries no France countries which are in a plural form yes The USA countries when limited by time yes The Spain of today individual mountains no Mount Everest mountains in the Bernese Oberland yes The Jungfrau mountain chains yes The Rockies islands no Sicily groups of islands yes The West Indies rivers yes The Volga oceans yes The Pacific seas yes ‘The Mediterranean gulfs, bays and straits yes ‘The Gulf of Mexico The Bay of Biscay lakes no Lake Erie current yes ‘The Gulf Stream Look at this encyclopaedia entry about Iceland and note any words that refer to particular features of the environment. Iceland An island republic in the North Atlantic. The landscape consists largoly of barren plains and mountains, with large ice fields particularly in the south west. The island has active volcanoes and is known for its thermal springs and geysers. With less than 1% of the land suitable for growing crops, the nation’s economy is based on fishing, and fish products account for 80% of the exports. Area: 103,000 km?. Population: 227,000. Capital: Reykiavik. Here are some other nouns which are useful when talking about the environment. Check their meanings with a dictionary if necessary. Where land meets sea: coast shore beach estuary cliff cape peninsula Words connected with rivers: source tributary waterfall mouth valley gorge Words connected with mountains: foot ridge peak summit glacier There are many environmental problems in the world today. Check with a dictionary if you do not know any of the terms below. air, river and sea pollution overfishing __the greenhouse effect the destruction of the ozone layer destruction of the rainforests battery farming waste disposal__ overpopulation English Vocabulary in Use44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.6 Exercises Label the pictures below. In the paragcaph below all the instances of the have been omitted, Insert them wherever they are necessary. Brazil is fifth largest country in world. In north densely forested basin of River Amazon covers half country. In east country is washed by Atlantic, Highest mountain chain in South America, Andes, does not lie in Brazil. Brazil's most famous city is Rio de Janeiro, former capital. Capital of Brazil today is Brasilia. Can you answer the following general knowledge questions about the environment? What is the highest mountain in Africa? ‘What is the longest river in Europe? Where is the highest waterfall in the world? Name another country, apart from Iecland, which has geysers and hot springs. What is a delta and which famous river has one? Where are the Straits of Gibraltar and the Cape of Good Hope? Complete the paragraph below about your own country, or any other country that interests you. Remember to use ‘the’ whenever itis necessary. (yisa (2) in (3). The countryside is (4) in the north and (5) in the south. The country’s economy is based on (6). The best-known river in (is (8). The most famous chain of ‘mountains is (9) and the highest mountain in that chain is (10). (11) is a major environmental problem in (12) today. Give two nouns from the opposite page to go with the adjectives below. any of the nouns you choose. Example: sandy beach/shore Fry not to repeat 1 sandy 2 steep 3 shallow 4 rocky 5 turbulent. 6 dangerous ‘Why do environmentalists say we should avoid spray cans, practise organic farming and use unleaded petrol, recycled paper and bottle banks? What else are they in favour of? English Vocabulary in Use a943.2 43.2 43.4 43.6 44. 44.2 44.3 444 44.5 1 hot, spicy 3 salty 5 sugary, sickly 7 bland, tasteless 2 savoury 4 sour 6 bitter, strong starters! paté and toast prawn cocktail shrimps in garlic main courses: chicken casserole Irish stew rump steak grilled trout desserts: coffee gateau fresh fruit salad sorbet chocolate fudge cake 1 These chips are rather oily/greasyifatty. 3 This meat is done to a turn, 2. This dish is overcooked. 4: This is just tasteless / very bland. 1 Fish sardines mackerel hake plaice trout cod sole whiting Seafood: prawns squid oysters mussels crab lobster 2 calf—veal deer — venison _ sheep ~ lamb (young animal), mutton (older animal) ig - pork, ham, bacon Unit 44 Lwaterfall 4 peninsula 7 volcano 10 gorge 2 cliff Sestuary @steaits 11 summit or peak of a mountain 3 glacier tributary geyser 12-chain or mountains Brazil isthe fifth largest country in the world. In the north the densely forested basin of the River Amazon covers half the country. In the east the country is washed by the Atlantic. The highest ‘mountain chain in South America, the Andes, does not lie in Brazil. Brazil's most famous city is Rio de Janeiro, the former capital. The capital of the Brazil of today is Brasilia. Mount Kilimanjaro ‘The Volga Venezuela (The Angel Falls) New Zealand ZL A delta is at the mouth of a river where the river divides and flows into the sea in a number of different channels. The River Nile has one. 6 The Straits of Gibraltar are at the western entrance to the Mediterranean and the Cape of Good Hope is at the southern tip of Africa, Possible answers: 1 Scotland 5 flatcer 9 the Western Highlands 2 country 6 agriculture 10 Ben Nevis 3 thenviih of Britain 7 Seuvdanad 11 Overtininns 4 mountainous StheClyde 12 Scotland 1 sandy beach/shore 3 shallow brook/bay 5 turbulent riverisea 2 steep gorgehill 4 rocky coasvmountain 6 dangerous cliffleurrent Englsh Vocabulry in Use 231