Joy English
Joy English

B1 Vocabulary

B1Environment12 min

The environment

Learn words to talk about nature, pollution, waste and how people can protect the world around them.

The environment is the natural world around us: the air, water, land, plants and animals. People often discuss problems such as pollution and waste, and what we can do in our daily lives to help. These words will help you take part in those conversations.

pollutionnoun
dirty or harmful substances in the air, water or soilAir pollution is a serious problem in many big cities.
recycleverb
collect and treat used things so that they can be used againWe recycle glass bottles and paper.
wastenoun
things that people throw away because they no longer need themOur family has produced much less waste since we started composting.
reduceverb
make something smaller or lessWalking to work instead of driving can reduce air pollution.
protectverb
keep something safe from harmVolunteers are working to protect the turtles on this beach.
climatenoun
the usual weather in a place over a long periodThe climate here is mild and wet.
endangeredadjective
at risk of disappearing from the world completelyThe snow leopard is an endangered animal.
renewable energynoun
energy from sources that do not run out, such as the sun and the windThe village gets most of its electricity from renewable energy.
litternoun
rubbish that people drop in public placesPlease don't drop litter. Use the bins.
single-useadjective
made to be used once and then thrown awayMany cafés no longer give out single-use cups.
habitatnoun
the natural home of an animal or plantCutting down trees destroys the habitat of many birds.
environmentally friendlyadjective
not harmful to the environmentThese cleaning products are more environmentally friendly.

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the environment word

Choose the best answer.

  1. Rubbish that people drop in the street is called _____.

  2. Solar power and wind power are examples of _____.

  3. An endangered animal is one that _____.

  4. Old newspapers can be _____ and made into new paper.

  5. The forest is the natural _____ of these monkeys.

  6. Smoke from factories and cars causes air _____.

  7. Taking your own bag to the shop helps _____ plastic waste.

  8. The _____ in this region is hot and dry for most of the year.

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the environment sentences

Type one word in each gap. Use each word once. Use: endangered, protect, recycle, reduce, renewable, single-use, waste.

  1. Please put empty cans in the blue bin so that we can them.

  2. Food is a big problem: people throw away huge amounts of food every day.

  3. Volunteers built a fence to the birds' nests from dogs.

  4. Fewer than 500 of these tigers are left in the wild. They are .

  5. This café has stopped using cups. Customers bring their own or borrow one.

  6. The town wants to traffic in the centre by building more cycle paths.

  7. Wind turbines and solar panels produce energy.

0 of 7 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

Levels are suggestions. Found a mistake? Tell us through the Contact page.