1- In pairs, look at the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos. What do you think happened?
Perhaps soil erosion has washed soil into the river. This could mean that there is less good soil for farmers.
2- Complete the compound nouns. Then listen and check.
| Effect emissions energy erosion fuels fumes layer loss rain scarcity species turbine warming waste |
1 acid rain 8 ozone layer
2 endangered species 9 renewable energy
3 exhaust fumes 10 soil erosion
4 fossil fuels 11 toxic waste
5 global warming 12 vehicle emissions
6 greenhouse gases 13 water scarcity
7 habitat loss 14 wind turbine
3- PRONUNCIATION Read the compound nouns in Exercise 2 aloud. Is the stress on the first or the second word for each compound noun? Underline the correct word.
4- Study Active Vocabulary. Then listen again and check your answers to Exercise 3. Practise saying the compound nouns.
| ACTIVE VOCABULARY| Compound nouns • A compound noun is made up of two words. Usually, the first part of the compound tells us the type or purpose of the second noun, e.g. climate change (climate tells us what type of change we are talking about). • The first word can be a noun, adjective, or verb, but the second word is always a noun, e.g. climate change (N + N), industrial waste (A + N), swimming pool (V + N). • When both words are nouns, the stress is always on the first noun, e.g. climate change. When the first word is an adjective or a verb, the stress is on the second word, e.g. industrial waste. |
|
1 acid rain 2 endangered species 3 exhaust fumes 4 fossil fuels 5 global warming 6 greenhouse gases 7 habitat loss 8 ozone layer 9 renewable energy 10 soil erosion 11 toxic waste 12 vehicle emissions 13 water scarcity 14 wind turbine |
5- Complete the sentences with compound nouns from Exercise 2.
1 80 percent of the energy we consume is provided by fossil fuels which pollute the atmosphere.
2 Deforestation causes soil erosion because tree roots are no longer in place to bind the earth together.
3 It is claimed that exhaust fumes/vehicle emissions from cars kill twice as many people as accidents caused by vehicles.
4 Up to 300 homes can be powered by one , wind turbine using renewable energy.
5 Habitat loss is the greatest threat to endangered species which are close to extinction.
6 For safety reasons, toxic waste must be stored in sealed containers underground.
7 Acid rain damages buildings, forests, and kills fish.
6- REFLECT | Culture In small groups, make a list of at least three environmental issues for each of the categories below.
1 The most urgent issues to deal with.
2 Ideas for how people could easily change their behaviour.
3 The issues that most affect you.
Students' own answers
7- Choose one category from Exercise 6 and present your choices to the class.
1 When you give your presentation, give reasons for your answers and say what actions people could take.
2 When you listen to presentations, make notes and ask questions at the end.
Students' own answers