THE ENVIRONMENT
Phrase
Example
A
acid rain
Acid rain is very harmful to the environment.
aerosol, spray
Aerosol sprays are the worst cause of pollution in the home.
to affect
This area was affected by the flood.
to ail
The huge trees had been ailing for years before they were cut down.
atmosphere
The Earth's atmosphere is a thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth.
to be aware
I think my neighbour isn't aware of polluting the environment.
B
balance
Nature's balance might be disturbed.
biodegradable
All our products are biodegradable.
biodiversity
What about an evening stroll to look at the biodiversity in our park?
biosphere
The biosphere is the part of the earth's atmosphere and surface in which animals and plants can live.
C
carbon
Carbon is a chemical substance contained in all plants and animals.
carbon dioxide
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is low.
carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is emitted by cars.
catalytic converter
Since 1993 catalytic converters have been compulsory in Britain.
catastrophe
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) was created in November 1993.
to chop down
Poor people often chop down trees for firewood.
climate
The Mediterranean climate is good for growing citrus fruits.
coastal waters
Many bays and coastal waters have been contaminated with heavy metals.
cooling agent
Cooling agents are expensive.
to combat
There should be stricter laws to combat air pollution.
to contaminate
The soil has been contaminated.
creature
Is there a sea creature or not?
D
death of the forests
The death of the forests is a big problem in Europe.
to destroy
The house was completely destroyed by fire.
destruction
The use of renewable sources could stop the destruction of the rainforests.
detergent
Try to use detergents that are perfume free.
to die out
Animals are dying out far more often than you might think.
to diminish
The people try to diminish the pollution of the water.
dirt
The dirt has been removed from the ground.
to disappear
Many species disappeared in the last century.
disaster
The recent earthquake in India is a disaster.
disposal
Unfortunately, less people know of the disposal of hazardous waste.
drought
Drought had ruined the crops year after year.
to dry up, to parch
During the long time of drought many rivers have dried up/parched.
to dump
Old washing machines have been dumped near the beach.
dumping ground
City canals are often used as dumping grounds.
dust
Do not inhale the dust, it's dangerous.
E
earthquake
On April 18, 1906, shortly after 5:00 am, a great earthquake struck San Francisco.
ecology
Oil pollution could damage the ecology of the costs.
ecosystem
Jordan appealed for assistance tohelp save the ecosystem of the Dead Sea, whose water level is dropping.
emission
The organization calls for stricter controls on emissions.
to emit
Sulphur gases were emitted by the spewing volcano.
endangered
The sea turtle is an endangered species.
energy conservation
Energy conservation is a process of saving energy.
energy source
Space energy is one of the energy sources of the future.
energy-efficient
Energy-efficient windows help to lower your heating costs.
environment
We must protect the environment.
environmentalist
Environmentalists are people who love the natural world.
to erode
It took about 67,000 years to erode the Grand Canyon.
erosion
Wind and water are the main agents of soil erosion.
evolution
The introduction of cloned plants will effect evolution.
exhaust fumes
Over the past month officers have been stopping vehicles in Manchester to test exhaust fumes.
to be exposed to
You risk skin cancer if you are often exposed to strong sunlight.
extinct
Hawaii is home to a great many extinct species.
F
factory farming
Is factory farming a way of animal abuse?
famine
The Irish Famine of 1846-50 took as many as a million lives from hunger and disease.
fertile
Fertile land is land where things grow easily.
fertilizer
Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth.
fume
Workers are exposed to fumes from asphalt.
fumes
The lava gives off clouds of toxic fumes as it flows into the Pacific Ocean.
G
geothermal
The first geothermal power station was built in Landrella, Italy.
global warming
They started a campaign to slow down the process of global warming.
greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature caused by gases in the atmosphere.
H
hardest hit
Our town was hardest hit by last year's earthquake.
to harm
Pollution can harm animals and the environment.
to be harmful
Air pollution is harmful to everyone.
heat wave
Slow down and avoid strenuous activity if a heat wave is happening.
heavy metal
Less heavy metal has been introduced by air into the Baltic Sea since the 1990s.
hydrocarbon
Various hydrocarbons have been found in Jupiter's atmosphere.
I
industrial waste
Industrial waste can contain small amounts of radioactive materials.
insulation
Often glass fibre is used as roof insulation.
L
to leak
Oil leaked out of the tank.
to load
The owners of the local factories are loaded with new environmental laws.
M
marine life
Around the islands marine life is seriously threatened by oil slick.
to menace
Hurricane Hugo menaced the US coast for seven days.
N
natural gas
61 percent of US households used natural gas for heating in 2002.
O
oil slick
Large oil slicks were found near the coast.
overfertilization
Overfertilization is a common problem.
oxygen
The cells need oxygen to survive.
...
rikiman