B1 — IntermediateNature

Nature & Environment

Learn vocabulary for talking about the natural world, wildlife, ecosystems, and environmental issues facing our planet.

18 words

Word List

Word	Phonetic	Part of Speech	Definition	Example
ecosystem	/ˈiːkoʊˌsɪstəm/	noun	A community of living things and their environment functioning as a unit	Coral reefs are delicate ecosystems that support thousands of species.
endangered	/ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/	adjective	At risk of becoming extinct; seriously threatened	The panda is an endangered species that is now slowly recovering.
pollution	/pəˈluːʃən/	noun	The introduction of harmful substances into the natural environment	Air pollution in the city has reached dangerous levels this week.
conservation	/ˌkɒnsərˈveɪʃən/	noun	The protection and careful management of natural resources and the environment	The organization works on the conservation of tropical rainforests.
drought	/draʊt/	noun	A long period with very little or no rain	The severe drought destroyed most of the crops in the region.
habitat	/ˈhæbɪtæt/	noun	The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or organism	Deforestation is destroying the natural habitat of many species.
renewable	/rɪˈnjuːəbəl/	adjective	A source of energy that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power	The country plans to get 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2040.
deforestation	/diːˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃən/	noun	The clearing or removal of forests, usually on a large scale	Deforestation in the Amazon is a major global environmental concern.
biodiversity	/ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈvɜːrsɪti/	noun	The variety of plant and animal life in a particular area or the world as a whole	Tropical rainforests have the greatest biodiversity of any ecosystem on Earth.
recycle	/riːˈsaɪkəl/	verb	To convert waste material into something that can be used again	We recycle paper, glass, and plastic bottles every week.
flood	/flʌd/	noun	An overflow of a large amount of water onto normally dry land	Heavy rain caused severe floods that damaged hundreds of homes.
wildlife	/ˈwaɪldlaɪf/	noun	Animals and plants that live and grow in natural conditions	The national park is home to diverse wildlife, including bears and eagles.
carbon footprint	/ˈkɑːrbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/	noun phrase	The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person, organization, or activity	You can reduce your carbon footprint by using public transport instead of driving.
sustainable	/səˈsteɪnəbəl/	adjective	Able to be maintained without depleting natural resources or causing ecological damage	Sustainable farming practices help protect the soil for future generations.
extinction	/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/	noun	The state of a species no longer having any living members	Many animal species are facing extinction due to habitat loss.
glacier	/ˈɡleɪʃər/	noun	A large, slow-moving mass of ice formed from compressed snow	The glacier has been retreating rapidly due to rising temperatures.
erosion	/ɪˈroʊʒən/	noun	The gradual wearing away of rock or soil by water, wind, or other natural forces	Coastal erosion is threatening several villages along the shoreline.
compost	/ˈkɒmpɒst/	noun	Decayed organic material used to fertilize plants and improve soil	We add compost to our garden to help the vegetables grow better.

Flashcards

noun

ecosystem

/ˈiːkoʊˌsɪstəm/

Click card to flip

Definition

A community of living things and their environment functioning as a unit

“Coral reefs are delicate ecosystems that support thousands of species.”

Click to flip back

Card 1 of 18

Practice Exercises

1 / 7

What does 'endangered' mean?