Academic English

First, name three environmental problems that face our world today, and how people can help solve these problems. What image comes to your mind when you think of “recycling”?

1. 1. Every person has a responsibility to protect the environment.
   2. Governments should do more than individuals to solve environmental problems.
   3. Businesses should be punished for harming the environment, even if it costs jobs.
   4. People should avoid using cars and walk or bike instead.
   5. Climate change is the most serious problem facing the world today.
   6. Recycling is not enough to protect the environment.
   7. Technology can solve most of our environmental problems.
   8. It’s okay to cut down trees if the land is used for farming or housing.
   9. Rich countries should help poorer countries protect the environment.
   10. Protecting nature is more important than economic growth.

“zero in on” = focus on or direction your attention to a particular issue
“I think we need to zero in on the main causes of water pollution and start solving them one at a time.”

“leave no stone unturned” = do everything possible to solve a problem
“Things might look bad, but we will leave no stone unturned in trying to find the answer to our company’s economic problems.”

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

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

• starving (adjective): very hungry from lack of food
  – The boys were starving after getting lost in the woods for hours.
• tidy up (phrasal): clean up or organize
  – I need to tidy up my room before I can invite guests over.
• inspect (verb): to check or look at something carefully
  – The camp leader decided to inspect each group’s cabin carefully to make sure they were not leaving food inside.
• swat (verb): to hit something like an insect
  – I spent the whole afternoon swatting flies instead of concentrating on my reading.
• archery (noun): the sport of shooting arrows with a bow
  – Carol took up archery when she was in elementary school.
• settle for (phrasal verb): accept something even though it is not what you want
  – We didn’t have any more steak for dinner, so I had to settle for rice and beans.
• razz (verb): make fun of or tease
  – Some of the kids razzed their friend for kissing a girl.
• aimlessly (adverb): without clear direction
  – The young man got lost after dark, but he sat down and waited for help instead of walking aimlessly without any idea where he was.
• beat (adjective): very tired
  – The men were beat after hiking 10 hours in the snow.
• crash (verb): go to sleep, sometimes unexpectedly away from home
  – I decided to crash in my friend’s tent because mine was damaged by the wind.

What are five specific things individuals can do to protect the environment? What are some reasons why people do not recycle or are careless when they dispose of garbage? Are there any unique programs in your city or country that promote recycling and protecting the environment?