UNIT 5 : THE ENVIRONMENT

READING

Text

The African rainforests cover a very large area – from the west coast of Africa to the
mountains in the East in Kenya and Tanzania. If you look at our map, you’ll see that more
than 80 per cent of the rainforest is in the Congo basin. This time we’re going to mention a
few larger mammals living in this area and a small animal from Madagascar. Madagascar, the
world’s fourth largest island, lies off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Some
animals which live there can only be found in this part of the world.

One such animal is the lemur. There are 25 species of lemur on Madagascar and all of them
are endangered. The lemur is a monkey-like animal with large round eyes, a pointed nose, a
long tail and soft woolly fur. The largest lemur, the indri, is about 95 cm long, the smallest,
the mouse lemur, is only 15 cm long. All lemurs are vegetarians. They like wild figs, bananas
and other forest fruits.

The mountain gorilla lives on the slopes of volcanoes in Rwanda, Zaire and Uganda. They
live in small groups led by a dominant male. They are too big and heavy to climb trees and so
they wander slowly through the forest eating fruits, leaves and berries. They are the largest of
the great apes and look very dangerous. But scientists say they are gentle, intelligent and very
friendly.

The forest elephant lives in the Congo basin. It is much smaller than the African elephant,
which is the biggest animal on Earth. Nevertheless, even this “small” elephant can be up to
250 cm tall. Its ivory is thinner, short and a bit yellowish.

The African forest is also home to different kinds of chimpanzees and baboons. Most
chimpanzees use twigs to get tasty food from difficult places. Some can open nuts with stones

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and branches. Groups of about twenty chimpanzees travel together looking for fruit and
leaves to eat. At night they rest in tall trees in branches.

Comprehension check

1. Read this article. Write a suitable title which will describe what the text is about.
........................................................................................................................................................

2. Look at the following titles of the paragraphs. Choose from the titles A – F the one
which fits best each gap 1 – 5 in the article. There is one extra title which you do not
need to use.
A – The biggest of the great apes

B – Searching for food together

C – Madagascar is my home

D – The fastest animal in Africa

E – A bit of geography

F – Taller than a man

3. Find the information about animals and fill in the table.

Where do they live? What do they eat? What do they look

(states – min. 1 item) (min. 2 items) like? (min. 1 item)

Madagascar
Lemurs

Gorillas

Elephants X thin and short ivory

Chimpanzees X X

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4. Read the following sentences and decide if they are true (T) or false (F)? If they are
false, correct them. If they are true, leave the line empty.
Example:

0) The African rainforests cover the area from the west coast to the lowlands in Kenya
and Tanzania.
F – They cover the area from the west coast to the mountains in Kenya and Tanzania.

1) All lemurs are quite big – they are about 95 cm long.

.................................................................................................................................................

2) The mountain gorilla lives in a small group with a dominant leader.

.................................................................................................................................................

3) The African elephant is the biggest animal on Earth.

.................................................................................................................................................

4) Chimpanzees sleep on the ground.

.................................................................................................................................................

5) The lemurs on Madagascar are not protected.

.................................................................................................................................................

5. Read the short version of the article about animals and fill in the missing words
according to it (only one word for each gap). The first has been done for you as an
example.
The rainforest (0) covers a very large part of Africa and Madagascar. It is home for many animals,
some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the............... (1). the lemur looks like a................ (2).
It has got along....................... (3) and large round eyes. He loves eating various kinds
of................................... (4), for example bananas or figs. The mountain gorillas live in................... (5)
Consisting of a chief and several other members. Because their weight is too............................ (6),

They cannot climb the trees and they have to look for food near the ground. The forest elephant
is...................... (7) Than the African elephant. The colour of its ivory is somewhere between white
and...................... (8). Chimpanzees are very skilful – they can open nuts with branches
or........................ (9). they rest in the trees and eat the green............ (10).

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6. Nine words are underlined in the article on the page 1. Match these words to their
definitions. One has been done for you as an example. There are three extra words
you do not need to use.
0) a large wet area covered with trees is called a ... rainforest
1) when an animal is strong and can kill you easily, it is … .............................
2) a soft coat which covers the animals’ bodies is … .............................
3) a part of the elephant’s head ..............................
4) a very high hill ..............................
5) a small, thin part of a tree ..............................

VOCABULARY

A list of vocabulary items related to the environment:

WORDS MEANINGS

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Acid rain Rain which contains large amounts of harmful
chemicals as a result of burning substances
such as coal and oil.
Biodegradable Able to decay naturally and harmlessly.
Biodegradable packaging helps to limit the
amount of harmful chemicals released into the
atmosphere
Biodiversity The number and variety of plant and animal
species that exist in a particular environmental
area or in the world generally, or the problem
of preserving and protecting this.a new
National Biological Survey to protect species
habitat and biodiversity.

Carbon monoxide The poisonous gas formed by the burning of

carbon, especially in the form of car fuel.

Climate The general weather conditions usually found

in a particular place.

The Mediterranean climate is good for

growing citrus fruits and grapes.
Climate change There has been a growing concern about
climate change.

Deforestation The cutting down of trees in a large area; the

destruction of forests by people.

Deforestation is destroying large areas of

tropical rain forest.

Disposable products Describes an item that is intended to be

thrown away after use.

Disposable nappies

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Drought a long period when there is little or no rain.
This year (a) severe drought has ruined the
crops.
Earthquake a sudden violent movement of the Earth's
surface, sometimes causing great damage

Endangered species Endangered birds/plants/species animals or

plants which may soon not exist because there
are very few now alive.

Energy The power from something such as electricity

or oil, which can do work, such as providing
light and heat. There are different types of
energy: solar, nuclear, hydroelectric...

The energy generated by the windmill drives

all the drainage pumps.

Energy conservation The process of conserving energy

Environment The air, water and land in or on which people,

animals and plants live. Certain chemicals
have been banned because of their damaging
effect on the environment.

Extinction Many species of plants and animals are in

danger of/threatened with extinction (= being
destroyed so that they no longer exist)

Flood A great flowing or overflowing of water,

specially over land not usually submerged.

Fumes Strong, unpleasant and sometimes dangerous

gas or smoke.

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 Petrol fumes always make me feel ill.

Natural resources Things such as minerals, forests, coal, etc.

which exist in a place and can be used by
people.

Some natural resources, such as natural gas

and fossil fuel, cannot be replaced.

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 escaping into
space.

Greenhouse effect An increase in the amount of carbon dioxide

and other gases in the atmosphere which is
believed to be the cause of a gradual warming
of the surface of the Earth.

Green peace An organization that fights for the protection

of the environment

Renewable energy Describes a form of energy that can be

produced as quickly as it is used. Renewable
energy sources such as wind and wave power

Oil slick A layer of oil that is floating over a large area

of the surface of the sea, usually because an
accident has caused it to escape from a ship or
container.

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Pollution Damage caused to water, air.... by harmful
substances or waste.

Recycle waste To collect and treat rubbish to produce useful

materials which can be used again
Sustainable development A development that is causing little or no
damage to the environment and therefore able
to continue for a long time.

A large international meeting was held with

the aim of promoting sustainable development
in all countries.

Tsunami An extremely large wave caused by movement

of the earth under the sea, often caused by an
earthquake (= when the Earth shakes)

Unleaded petrol Describes a type of petrol or other substance

that does not contain lead.

Use up natural resources The degradation of natural resources because

of human pressure

Volcano A mountain with a large circular hole at the

top through which lava (= hot liquid rock),
gases, steam and dust are or have been forced
out. Erupting volcanoes discharge massive
quantities of dust into the stratosphere.

Waste Unwanted matter or material of any type,

often that which is left after useful substances
or parts have been removed.

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 EXERCISES

Do the exercise below on the vocabulary

Choose the right words:

1. There is a growing concern over the…………. of species habitat and………..

2. The earth's resources are being…………………………. at an alarming rate.

3. The greenhouse……………… is an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and

other…………. in the atmosphere which is believed to be the cause of a gradual……..
of the surface of the Earth.

4. The energy generated by the………………. is both very efficient and clean.

5. There have been many reports about………….. which is destroying large areas of
tropical rain forest .

6. The Japanese………………… recycle more than half their waste paper.

7. We're not doing enough to protect the environment from……………….. .

Exercise 2

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 Fill in all the gaps with the appropriate vocabulary word.

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We need to make sure that we pay attention to the………….. of the…………… world. In
many countries, the of…………… animals are………….. threat. This is particularly the case
in the……………. . If we take no action now, we may do…………….. harm to the
biodiversity of the planet.
2

We definitely need to find more sustainable……………… of energy. Not all the experts
agree, but some estimates say that we will run out………………….. of fuels in the next 50
years. One obvious solution is to use……………………………. energy sources such as solar
energy and wind…………………… power. Another benefit of doing this is that wind and
solar panels are much……………………… and greener than conventional
power…………………………………… .

One extremely serious………………….. is water pollution. This is largely caused by

factories…………………. chemicals and products in rivers with result that the water has
become………………… . Another………………….. problem is air pollution. In some cities,
the……………… is so terrible that people have to walk around wearing masks so that they do
not breathe in the dangerous…………………………….

SPEAKING
Talking about the environment

Practice 1

Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living, or protecting the

environment?

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  Think of a situation in your area involving this issue.
 Which side would you choose?

Practice 2

What should we do to increase the awareness about environmental pollution?

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