Save the Planet - Phrasal Verbs

Introduction
Ask and answer the questions with a partner:
1. Think of some national or international organisations dedicated to protecting the environment.
2. What do these organisations do?
3. How effective are they?
4. What problems/difficulties do they encounter?
5. What can people do to support these organisations more?

The WWF
1. Read the text quickly. Does it mention any of the things you discussed in the introduction?
2. Look at the phrasal verbs and expressions in bold and match them with the definitions below

The World Wide Fund for Nature

Every day more and more trees are being cut down in the rainforests of the world wiping out
hundreds of species. The current deforestation rate amounts to 3 football pitches per minute.
Precious water supplies are being used up meaning that still more animals and plants are dying out.
If we step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s not just animals and plants that are affected. The
rainforests are the Earth’s lungs and further damage will only lead to misery for all life on the planet.

Our organisation aims to put pressure on governments all over the world to make them step up and
take responsibility for the environment. Governments need to crack down on bad practices such as
illegal logging and mining in rainforests. Sadly, we’re coming up against a lot of resistance from big
business but that won’t stop us standing up for the animal kingdom. We’re looking for volunteers to chip in in any way
they can; handing out leaflets in the street or drumming up support online are just two ways we can get our message
across. Join us today by clicking the link below!

1. Help/contribute money 6. Mentally withdraw from a 11. Cause to fall

2. Kill or cause to die on a large situation 12. Defend verbally or physically
scale 7. Try to increase/encourage 13. Consume all of something
3. Be faced with support for something 14. Total/add up to
4. Make people hear/understand 8. Become extinct 15. Take action when it’s needed
information 9. Introduce strong restrictions
5. Cause 10. Give something to people

Practice
Try to remember the missing prepositions in the questions below without looking at the text. Then ask and answer the
questions.
1. How effective do you think practices like handing _____ leaflets actually are?
2. Have you ever done anything to drum ______ support for a charity or other organisation?
3. What do you think governments should crack ____ ____ in your country?
4. Think of some endangered animals. Which one would you be saddest about if it died _____ completely?
5. What do you think is the most effective way for an organisation like the WWF to get its message _______?
Online? In person?
6. What do you think are the most difficult issues that charities like the WWF come ____ ______ when trying to help
the environment?
7. If you use ____ all the toilet paper, do you always replace it?
8. Think of a time when a friend or family member stood ____ _____ you in a difficult situation.
9. Now think of a time when nobody stood ____ _____ you. Or when you failed to stand _____ _____ a friend.
10. Who has the biggest responsibility to step ____ and take responsibility for the environment? Governments?
Businesses? The general public? Why?
11. When it’s a friend’s birthday, is it better if they receive lots of little presents or if everyone chips ____ and gets
them one big present. Which would you prefer on your birthday?
12. If you added up all your screen time in one day, how much would it amount ____? Do you want to cut _____?
Why? Why not?