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reciclying – reuse - reduce

1. Focus on Vocabulary: Match the expressions with their meanings
1. Environment (e) a. birds/plants/species animals or plants which
may soon not exist because there are very few
2. carbon dioxide (i) now alive.

3. Flood (k) b. variety of plant and animal species that exist in

a particular environmental area
4. natural resources (n)
c. the poisonous gas formed by the burning of
5. global warming (f) carbon, especially in the form of car fuel.

6. greenhouse effect (m) d. the cutting down of trees in a large area; the
destruction of forests
7. deforestation (d)
e. air, water and land in or on which people,
8. oil slick (g) animals and plants live.

9. endangered species (a) f. increase in world temperatures caused by

polluting gases
10. pollution (h)
g. a layer of oil that is floating over a large area of
11. drought (j) the surface of the sea

12. fumes (l) h. damage caused to water, air.... by harmful

substances or waste.
13. waste (o)
i. the gas formed when carbon is burned, or when
14. carbon monoxide (c) people or animals breathe out.

15.biodiversity (b) j. a long period when there is little or no rain

k. a large amount of water covering an area that is

usually dry.

l. an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and

other gases in the atmosphere

m. strong, unpleasant and sometimes dangerous

gas or smoke

n. things such as minerals, forests, coal, etc. which

exist in a place and can be used by people.

o. unwanted matter or material of any type, often

that which is left after useful substances or parts
have been removed.
2. Listening: listen to these items about environmental issues and complete the sentences
with the words in the box. (environmental issues).
oil spill - poor air quality - extreme weather - water scarcity – sustainable environment – Pollution
Flooding - Oil spills - carbon footprint - melting ice cap - wind power - drought - Fracking - forest fires

Item a: There is a global water crisis, water scarcity and drought have left to 844 million
people lacking access to clean water

Item b: Oil accidents at sea can cause Oil spills which contaminate the ocean water
resulting in the death of sea birds and other forms of marine life

Item c: growing trees, plants and your own vegetables help contribute to a sustainable environment

Item d: Fracking or drilling on the ground for oil and gas, often contaminates the water
supplies.

Item e: Increase Flooding is a consequence of deforestation which is the cutting

down of too many trees.

Item f: One of the most common forms of renewable energy is wind power
which is electricity generated by wind turbines

Item g: Air pollution and poor air quality is a big problem in many
cities around the world

Item h: extreme weather includes tornados, cyclones and extremely high or

low temperatures.

Item i: Cars and planes burn fuel, when you travel by plane or car, you contribute to the
burning of fuel; this is your carbon footprint

Item j: Polar bears living in the artic are impacted by the melting ice cap

Item k: forest fires seem to be hotter and worst every summer.

3. Pronunciation practice: choose 5 of the items above, practice the pronunciations and record them
in a mp3 format, then share your recording in the forum.

You can use the sound recorder from your computer, or an online resource as http://vocaroo.com/

https://voca.ro/1lsZhw50zpQj
Item g: Air pollution and poor air quality is a big problem in many
cities around the world

https://voca.ro/145YOKZ8tx38

Item h: extreme weather includes tornados, cyclones and extremely high or

low temperatures.

https://voca.ro/1lqXNYhcJn4z

Item i: Cars and planes burn fuel, when you travel by plane or car, you contribute to the
burning of fuel; this is your carbon footprint

https://voca.ro/19XpJ6XIlJGK

Item j: Polar bears living in the artic are impacted by the melting ice cap

https://voca.ro/17XuaJWQ7YZa

Item k: forest fires seem to be hotter and worst every summer.

4.Speaking production: for this step you can choose one of these two options. (Whatever your
decision, post it in the forum)
a. Tell me about yourself. (Personal information)
I am 37 years old, I live with my parents and 2 brothers, I work in technical support of electronic
equipment. In my spare time I like to play guitar, sing and play board games like dungeons and dragons,
monopoly, Warhammer, Avalon. I have participated in many music festivals with the rock band in which
I play the guitar and thanks to this I have had the opportunity to visit many places. And finally, I hope to
learn many things in the electronic engineering program so that I can apply them in the professional field.

b. What do you do to help the environment?

I do the waste separation from home, putting the organic materials in a separate container from
the inorganic materials. I get around by bicycle, I avoid littering the streets, I take care of the trees and
plants, I don't waste water and I unplug devices or equipment that I don't use.

c. For you, what are some consequences of consumerism? How can you help to
reduce it?
some consequences of consumerism are ecological imbalance, also, consumers feel unhappy
when they can’t buy the desired object or experience, and pathologies such as obesity or depression can
be acquired.

d. How can you lower your carbon footprint?

Consuming local and seasonal products, Limiting the consumption of meat, especially beef, using
reusable shopping bags and avoiding products with excessive plastic packaging, Shortening the time
spent in the shower, Using the bicycle or the public transport

e. What is the difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide?

the difference is that, to form carbon dioxide, sufficient oxygen is required at the time of
combustion, while to form carbon monoxide, less oxygen is required at the time of combustion, or that
there is a bad mix between combustion and oxygen, which makes carbon monoxide more dangerous in
large amounts

f. What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is defined as a natural phenomenon by which certain gases that make up the
atmosphere retain part of the solar energy reflected by the ground, absorbing it and transforming it into an
internal molecular movement that produces an increase in temperature.
g. What is the worst environmental problem in your region? What causes it?
Air pollution in Medellin represents one of the greatest environmental risks to human health. Prolonged
exposure to polluted air is related to increases in mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
This is caused by the combustion processes of coal, which is transformed into Particulate matter,
composed of particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter and particles less than 10 microns in diameter.
These pollutants have a greater presence in open urban environments, and with greater effects on health

h. In your opinion, why are the rainforest disappearing in our country? How could it
be solved?
The main causes of this devastation lie in the transformation of areas for agriculture and livestock, in the
exploitation of forests and mineral resources, and in arson fires. And it can be fixed:
- Teach others about the importance of rainforests and how they can contribute to their conservation.
- Encourage people to live in a way that does not harm the environment or allows them to minimize their
impact on the environment.
- Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land that has been deforested.
- Supporting initiatives to create protected areas in favor of tropical forests and their wildlife.
- Supporting businesses that operate in ways that minimize their damage to the environment.

i. What is the global warming?

Global warming consists of the increase in the temperature of the earth, which is reflected in the oceans
and the atmosphere, mainly caused by the emission of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity.

j. In your opinion, why is water shortage happening in some parts of Colombia?

How could it be solved?
Because in Colombia water sources are not protected and water is not treated as a strategic resource, that
is, a vital element of nature for society. In addition, the extractivist model seriously threatens the paramos,
rivers, lagoons, and groundwater. and this can be fixed:
Educating for the change of consumption models and lifestyles.
Developing new water conservation and storage technologies.
Improving irrigation and agricultural practices