Threats to Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation

Environment

The Importance of Plants

According to the text, "Without plants, man could not survive." This highlights the crucial role of plants in our ecosystem. The text also emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, "We are destroying our life-support system at such an alarming rate that it has already become a crisis." Horrifyingly, some flowering species are on the brink of extinction.

Vocabulary

• Desert: A very hot and dry environment.
• Rainforest: The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world.
• Remain/Stay: To continue to be in a particular place.
• Medicines: Drugs used to treat illnesses.
• Wild: Untamed or undomesticated (e.g., a wild dog can be dangerous).

Common Questions

• Are you from...?
• Have you been to London many times?
• What do you do?
• Do you do your homework in a ...?
• Are you going to do...?

Internet Safety

Online Awareness

It's true that it's almost impossible to find a single person at school who hasn't heard of internet safety. The text emphasizes the importance of caution and good judgment online. It also warns that communicating online with strangers can be dangerous.

Vocabulary

• Kid/Child: A young person.
• Resources: Things that are needed or useful (e.g., some families have limited resources).
• Giant/Dwarf: Opposite terms relating to size.
• To stick/unstick: To adhere or to detach.
• Ground/Floor: The surface on which we walk.

Common Questions

• I've got a temperature.
• What does it...?
• What is the first thing I should do?
• I'm afraid of doctors.
• Can you help me with my...?

Animals in Danger

Habitat Destruction and Threats

It's false to say that habitats recover quickly. The text states that habitats take many years (sometimes hundreds or even thousands) to regenerate. It's true that several species are dying out. The text also points out that many modern hunters don't just kill for food; they kill for profit and, even worse, for pleasure.

Vocabulary

• Rare: Uncommon or scarce.
• Lucky/Unlucky: Opposite terms relating to fortune.
• Jungle/Rainforest: A dense forest with high rainfall.
• Pollution: Impure air or contaminated environment.
• Extinct: An animal that no longer exists.
• Hunt: To pursue and kill animals for food or other purposes.

Common Questions

• I have had a problem in my office.
• You tell me the same excuses.
• I guess your car broke down, as usual.
• I had a meeting which took more time than we expected.
• It won't happen again.