English X Level 5 Environment Vocabulary
Introduction to Environmental Vocabulary
Overview of Vocabulary Categories
- The session focuses on 13 essential words and phrases relevant to the environment chapter of the Level Five English X course.
- Terms are categorized into three groups: nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Students are encouraged to take notes for better retention.
Nouns Related to Environment
Key Nouns
- Carbon Footprint: Refers to the total carbon dioxide emissions produced by individuals or organizations due to their activities. Example: Taylor Swift's private jet usage has sparked discussions about her carbon footprint in 2023-2024.
- Drought: A prolonged period of unusually low rainfall leading to water shortages. Example: A drought occurred in Botswana at the start of 2024, necessitating water rationing.
- Flood: An event where water inundates land that is typically dry, often seen during hurricane seasons in regions like the Caribbean and southern U.S.
- Fossil Fuel: Carbon-based energy sources such as oil, coal, and natural gas; there is a push towards sustainable alternatives due to environmental concerns since 2000.
- Global Warming: The increase in Earth's temperature caused by carbon dioxide and other pollutants; distinct from climate change as it specifically addresses rising temperatures.
Additional Nouns
- Greenhouse Effect: A phenomenon contributing to global warming where increased pollution traps more heat in Earth's atmosphere akin to a greenhouse effect.
- Sewage: The term for wastewater generated from homes and businesses that requires proper management for environmental health.
- Waste Disposal: Encompasses all processes related to managing waste from households and industries, including recycling and landfill use.
Adjectives Describing Environmental Issues
Important Adjectives
- Harmful: Indicates something that causes damage either to people or the environment; examples include smoking cigarettes or burning fossil fuels which harm health and nature respectively.
- Endangered: Used with "to be" indicating species close to extinction; notable examples include certain rhinos, orangutans, and elephants facing critical endangerment status.
- Extinct: Typically used with "to go" or "to become," referring to species that no longer exist; a famous example is the dodo bird which went extinct in 1681.
Verbs Pertaining to Environmental Actions
Key Verbs
- To Melt: Describes the process of transitioning from solid (like ice) to liquid state; commonly discussed regarding glaciers melting due to global warming impacts on climate patterns.
- To Threaten: Indicates potential danger posed by factors like global warming affecting human existence or deforestation impacting wildlife habitats such as birds and monkeys' lives.
Conclusion
The vocabulary covered provides foundational knowledge crucial for understanding environmental issues discussed throughout this chapter of the course.