UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD
Word Family Practice
Choose the con·ect word fwnUy memberfrom the list below to
complete each blank.
Modern industry has caused damage to our natural 1.......... in many
ways. The air and water are filled with 2.... . .. . . . . One result of this is acid
rain, which has caused 3. . . . . . . . . . damage to vegetation in many areas.
When large amounts of vegetation die off, the environment loses 4.......... .
If there are no plants to hold the soil, it starts to 5. . . . . . . . .. . This leads to
myrtad problems, including water pollution and habitat loss. 6 . . . . . . . . . . of
wildlife work hard to prevent further damage to natural areas.
1. environment environmental environmentally
2. pollution pollutants pollutes
3. extent extend extensive
4. stability stabilizes stable
5. erosion erode eroded
6. Defenses Defenders Defends
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Word Skill
Prefix de-
The prefix de- can mean "remove."
I Read the sentences. Write a dejlnltionfor each underlined word.
1. When we deforest an area, many animals lose their habitat.
deforest to cut down or destroy trees in an area.
_______ _
2. Some people prefer to deseed fruit before eating it.
deseect remove the seeds from
_______ _
3. I had to deice the windshield before I could drive.
de�e: ___________
Listening
®I Listen to the lecture. Choose the correct letter, A. B. or C.
1 . Trees provide a habitat for
A birds only.
B a myriad of animals.
C aquatic animals.
2. are a source of nutrients for birds.
A Insects
B Roots
C Leaves
3. Trees provide aquatic animals with a defense from
A coolness.
B rain.
C heat.
4. inhibit soil erosion.
A Branches
B Roots
C Trunks
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UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD
Writing
Deforestation caused by human many
activity is hllppening in parts of the
world, with serious resultsfor the environment. What do you think
can be
done to solve this
problem?
Support your opinion with reasons and examples from your own krwwl
edge and experience
.
Write at least 250 words.
Speaking
I ollowing topics.
Talk about the f
What kinds of natural environments do you enjoy spending time in?
What do you think can be done to help solve the problems of environ
mental pollution?
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Reading
Environmental Impacts of Logging
A
From shipping crates to paper bags, the logging industry supplies the
raw materials for an array of products. However, this is not without
untold harm to the environment. The damage includes habitat loss, pol
lution, and climate change, with the effects spanning the globe from the
rain forests of Central Afrtca, Southeast Asia, and South America to the
northern forests of Canada and Scandinavia. The effects of logging
extend beyond just the felling of a swath of trees. Nutrients, water. and
shelter for plants, animals, and microorganisms throughout the ecosys
tem are also lost; many life forms-both terrestrial and aquatic-are
becoming endangered as forests·vanish.
B
Trees protect the soil beneath them; thus, tree loss can affect soil
integrity. For example, the rain forest floor, home to myriad plant life as
well as insects, worms, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals,
relies on a dense canopy of branches and leaves to keep it healthy and
intact. The canopy prevents surface runoff by intercepting heavy rainfall
so that water can drip down slowly onto the porous earth. Tree roots
also stabilize the soil and help prevent erosion. In return, a healthy soU
encourages root development and microbial activity, which contribute to
tree growth and well-being. A major factor 1n l oggi ng-related soU dam
age comes from road building, with trucks and other heavy equipment
compressing the spongy soU, creating furrows where water collects, and
disrupting the underground water flow. Eventually, the topsoil wears
away, leaving behind an infertile layer of rocks and hard clay.
c
Logging can also damage aquatic habitats. Vegetation along rivers and
stream banks helps maintain a steady water flow by blocking the entry of
soU and other residue, and tree shade inhibits the growth of algae. Remov
ing trees obliterates these benefits. When eroding soU flows into water
ways, the organic matter within it consumes more oxygen, which can lead
to oxygen depletion in the water, k1111ng fish and other aquatic wildlife.
D
Trees provide a natural defense against air pollution. They remove car
bon dioxide from the atmosphere while they emit oxygen, and their
leaves filter pollutants from the air. Cutting down trees keeps pollutants
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UNIT 1 ; THE NATURAL WORLD
airborne, where they can mJx with water vapor1 and fonn acid rain.
Water quality 1n nearby streams and rivers also detertorates as tree loss
contrtbutes to increased sedimentation.
E
In a healthy forest ecosystem, trees draw moisture from the so11 and
release it into the atmosphere wh1le they provide shade to lessen evap
oration. Thus, deforestation impacts rainfall patterns, leading to flood
ing as well as drought and forest fires. Deforestation is responsible for
about one-fifth of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, making 1t a
major contributor to cllmate change-in particular, global warming. In
the Amazon basin alone, deforestation is responsible for m1111ons of tons
of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere annually. Some
logging companies bum large tracts of forest just to facilitate access to
one area-a practtce2 that discharges even more carbon dioxide.
F
Forests, espec1ally the tropical rain forests, are a vital natural resource
with extensive biodiversity and irreplaceable wtldltfe habitats. More
responsible logging practices would help ensure that they are protected
for future generations.
Answer the questtons about EDvll'oDID.eDtallmpacte of LoglDg.
Questions 1-4
The reading passage contains six paragraphs, A-F.
Which pru·agraphs discuss thefollowing tnjormatlon?
"'ntethe co"ectwtter. A-�
E 1 . The tmpact of logging on the weather
B
__ 2. How trees inhibit soU erosion
__
D 3. How deforestation contributes to air pollution
__ C 4. The impact of erosion on fish
1BrE: vapour
2 BrE: practice n., practise v.
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Questions 5-8
I Complete the SUTTt1Till1'Y using words from the list below.
The logging industry 5 .......... trees to get the wood that is used to make
many products. This practice has 6. . . .. . effects on the environment.
. . . .
The natural 7 . ....
. . . .. of many terrestrial and aquatic animals are dam-
aged. Trees protect the environment in many ways. They are an effective
8. . .
. . . . . . . against both air pollution and sotl erosion.
aquatic defense habitats myriad
arrays fells intercepts vegetation
My Words
Write the words that are new to you. Look them up in the dictionary
and write their dejlnitions.
Words Definitions
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