Academic English

Recycling and protecting the environment is very important in our world today. Now, you will listen to an award-winning essay on trees in which a girl explains why she loves trees? What ideas would you expect to hear in such an essay?

1. 1. Trees make cities more beautiful and healthy.
   2. Spending time in parks improves people’s mental health.
   3. Nature should be protected even if it limits urban development.
   4. Parks are the best places for families to spend free time together.
   5. People notice the beauty of trees more in their hometown than when traveling.
   6. Planting more trees can help fight climate change.
   7. Some parks are better maintained than others, which affects their beauty.
   8. Technology makes people appreciate nature less than before.
   9. Cities without many trees feel less welcoming.
   10. Everyone should have easy access to green spaces like parks.

“money doesn’t grow on trees” = don’t waste money because it isn’t always easy to come by
“Watch how much you spend because money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“have a green thumb” = special ability at making plants grow well
“She has a real green thumb for growing beautiful decorative trees.”

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:

• commodity (noun): a product or useful thing
  – Having your own small greenhouse to grow vegetables is a very popular commodity in some places.
• nursery (noun): greenhouse, a place where plants are cultivated
  – I went to the nursery today to buy some fruit trees.
• damp (noun): a slight wetness
  – The grass was a little damp this morning.
• soil (noun): ground, dirt
  – We added some new soil to the garden to prepare for planting.
• disturb (verb): bother, upset
  – Be very careful where you walk so you do not disturb the ground cover and wild flowers.
• munch (verb): to eat and chew lightly
  – The kids like to munch on carrots and pretend they are rabbits.
• evergreens (noun): plants that do not lose their leaves and stay green throughout the year
  – We have several nice evergreens in our backyard.
• exterminate (verb): destroy, kill off
  – The farmers were determined to exterminate the crickets eating their crops.
• lumber (noun): wood from trees
  – So much lumber is being harvested that deforestation has resulted in many areas.

What environmental problems can you think that pose great danger to nature and our world (e.g., acid rain, deforestation, water pollution)? Are these threats caused by human activity or by natural occurrences? What are some solutions to these problems? Share your ideas on these important issues.