Business English

Level B2
Prof.ssa Giulia Gentili

II semestre
A.A. 2022/2023
giulia.gentili@uniroma2.it
 MODULE 3:
the environment

LESSON 5
LISTENING, VOCABULARY
AND WRITING
10/03/2023
 VOCABULARY
Match the words in the box with the pictures.
baking soda cans landfill disposable clamshell

discarded cigarettes garbage/trash can wrappers

A B C

G
D F
E
 NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
Discuss with your partner

• Do you do anything to reduce your waste? Why/why not?

❑ Using a reusable bottle for on-the-go beverages

❑ Shopping at local farmers markets
❑ Buying food and detergents in bulk
❑ Using reusable grocery bags
❑ Buying second-hand items
❑ Reducing your use of paper
❑ Buying loose fruit and vegetables
❑ Making your own toothpaste
❑ Door-to-door waste sorting
 LISTENING COMPREHENSION
Watch the TED talk and answer these questions:

1. Who is Lauren Singer?

2. Which measures did she take?

3. Which benefits did she have?

 FOCUSED LISTENING 1/3
Watch the TED talk again and fill in the gaps below (from 11:20 till the end):

So I went to stores, and I started looking at products, and while I found that they were beauty

products that were (1)_____________ of the ones that I was making myself, I didn’t notice the

same trend for cleaning products. When I looked at the (2)_______________ of cleaning

products, even the “natural” cleaning products contained ingredients that were really

(3)______________. Things that were carcinogenic and (4)________________. You know, when I

looked into it further, I learned that cleaning product manufacturers aren’t even legally required

to (5)____________ the ingredients of their products on the product packaging. And so when we

go and buy a product, we’re at the complete mercy of the company, hoping that they have

our best interest in mind.

 FOCUSED LISTENING 2/3
I feel that we, as consumers, have a right to products that are (6)___________

and that aren’t bad for us, and so I started thinking about my own products, the

ones that I’ve been making for years that are safe, and effective, and have

ingredients that I use to do things like brush my teeth, or make (7)_____________.

And I realized that I had an opportunity, and so I (8)_________ my job, and

started a company. Because I feel like we, as human beings, have a right to

products that are safe for our homes, and our bodies, and the environment.
 FOCUSED LISTENING 3/3
I get comments all the time that I’m doing this for attention. But I live this lifestyle for

myself. I would never tell anyone how to live or how much (9)_________ that they should

produce. I just want to provide (10)___________, through my blog and my business, for

people, who like me, want to reduce how much trash they’re producing. I live a zero

waste lifestyle, because to me, it’s the best way I know, how to live a life that

(11)______________ everything that I believe in. And what’s the point. Right? I’m just one

person. What difference can I make? The point is simple: I want to be remembered for

the things that I did while I was on this planet, and not for the trash that I

(12)____________________.
 IF YOU LIKED THIS TOPIC…
You can watch the following video:
• You Can Live Without Producing Trash
 SPEAKING
Discuss with your partner about the following questions

• Would you live a zero waste lifestyle? Why? Why not?

• Which tips are the most effective?

• What can you do to help reduce pollution?

• Have you ever participated in school strikes for climate (Fridays for
Future)? Why? Why not?
 WHAT IS AN ABSTRACT?

• An abstract is a clear and concise summary of a research, a

paper or a presentation.

• Its purpose is to help readers understand the main points of

your work.

• It can be descriptive (mainly used for humanities and social

sciences)or informative.
 TIPS TO WRITE YOUR ABSTRACT
• WRITE IT LAST
Complete your presentation and then summarise your work.

• NO SPOILER
Introduce your main argument; provide background information on it without revealing
the specific results of your project.

• KISS
Keep It Straight and Simple. A good abstract is around 100-250 words.

• NO COPY AND PASTE

Do not plagiarize any other sources!

• BE CAREFUL TO GRAMMAR!
Proofread your abstract before sending it; pay attention to the correct verb tenses and
proper vocabulary.
EXAMPLE OF A DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACT

© The University of Adelaide 2014

 NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!

Read the text and give a title to each paragraph.

Write a descriptive abstract of the article
(250 words max).
 • Unless, on condition that, in case of, as long as, provided
that, what if, supposing
• Before; prior; earlier; formerly; previously • However, whichever, whoever, no matter
• While; as; just as; during; throughout; at the very moment • Under any circumstances
• After; then; after that; afterwards; following
• When; as soon as; once; on that occasion
• In the meantime; till then; since then; by the time
CONDITION

TIME
CAUSE,
REASON,
LINKING WORDS PURPOSE AND
ADDITION RESULT

CONCESSION
AND
CONTRAST
 Linking words: CAUSE AND REASON
• Owing to the icy conditions, the two lorries collided.
• The collision was due to the icy conditions.
• The collision was caused by ice on the road.
• The cause of the collision was ice on the road.
• The rise in prices sparked off a lot of political protest. [used for strong and violent
reactions to events]
• The President’s statement gave rise to/provoked/generated a lot of
criticism. [less strong than spark off]
• The new law has brought about/led to great changes in education [often
used for political and social change ]
• The problem stems from the inflation of recent years. [explaining the direct origin
of events and states]
• The court-case arose out of allegations made in newspapers.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
 REASONS FOR AND PURPOSES
• Her reason for not going with us was that she had no money.
• I wonder what his motives were in sending that letter? [purpose]
• I wonder what prompted him to send that letter? [reason/cause]
• She wrote to the press with the aim of exposing the scandal. [purpose]
• I’ve invited you here with a view to resolving our differences.
• He refused to answer on the grounds that his lawyer wasn’t there. [reason]
• The purpose of her visit was to inspect the equipment.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
 RESULTS
• He didn’t work. As a result/ As a consequence / Consequently, he failed his
exam.
• The result/consequence of all these changes is that no one is happy any
more.
• His remarks resulted in everyone getting angry.
• The event had an outcome that no one could have predicted.
• The upshot of all these problems was that we had to start again. [less formal]
• When election results were announced, chaos ensued.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!