UNIT 2.
HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
A. PRONUNCIATION
I. Fill in the blanks with gr, cl, pl, or pr to complete the words.
1. The air _____ ane disappeared behind the _____ oud.
2. It was _____ etty dangerous _____ imbing down the _____ iff.
3. The _____ ants _____ ow wild along the banks of rivers.
4. His _____ an is to get a de _____ ee in economics and then work abroad.
5. The _____ o _____ amme was ap _____ oved at a _____ enary session of the
committee.
6. Oil can be _____ ocessed into many different _____ _oducts, in _____ uding _____
astics.
7. He _____ eatly de _____ ined to make _____ ojections about the next year’s _____
ofits.
8. Tourism has re _____ aced a _____ iculture as the nation’s main industry.
9. The mountains form a back _____ ound to this photo _____ aph of the family.
10. Sources of _____ eenhouse gases contribute much to _____ imate change.
II. Put the words having the consonant blends /gr/, /kl/, /pl/, or /pr/ from
part I in the correct columns.
/gr/ /kl/ /pl/ /pr/
I. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
household appliances energy cut down on
organic litter
carbon footprint lifestyle natural resources sustainable
eco-friendly
1. Before our modern age, people had a more physical and active _________ .
2. All countries are being asked to _________ their use of non-renewable resources.
3. Is it true that people who drop _________ can be heavily fined in many cities?
4. Most _________ such as washing machines and dishwashers are driving up your
electricity bill.
5. To reduce your _________ , you’ll need to reduce the amount of energy you use.
6. _________ food is unadulterated food produced without artificial chemicals or
pesticides.
7. Their new car model is designed to be _________ and economical by using a
diesel-electric hybrid engine.
8. _________ development is a way of organizing society so that it can exist in the
long term.
9. If we continue to deplete the Earth’s _________ , we will cause serious damage
to the environment.
10. Across the world, major companies and countries are turning to renewable
sources of _________ such as wind and solar.
II. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
1. The teacher asked us to (drop/ pick up) rubbish during the break time.
2. One of the reasons why I grow trees is that they can supply (fresh/ raw) air for
me.
3. A (greener/ shorter) shower saves a lot of water and the energy needed to heat
the water.
4. I refuse to buy goods that are overpackaged because I feel it is (harmful/
harmless) to the environment.
5. Avoiding waste by cutting the number of items that are produced and thrown
away can (take/ make) a big difference for nature.
6. We use (natural/ manmade) materials such as organic cotton, linen, and
bamboo to produce handbags.
7. Helping to alleviate poverty in developing countries also helps to (reduce/
raise) environmental destruction.
8. Manufacturers offer incentives for safe return of batteries so that they can
(produce/ recycle) or dispose of them safely.
9. They arranged for (personal/ public) transportation to shuttle students to
campus from the city bus stations.
10. (Household/ Industrial) waste refers to waste material usually generated in
the residential environment.
III. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
1. The park is ______ because many people drop litter on the paths.
A. clean B. green C. dirty D. fresh
2. ______ the lights when you leave your room is necessary to help save
electricity.
A. Turning off B. Cleaning up C. Cutting down D. Setting up
3. A clean and carbon-free energy mix ensures that their city will remain a
healthy and ______ place to live.
A. beautiful B. dangerous C. polluted D. harmful
4. In one year a mature tree can absorb more than 21 kilograms of ______ from
the atmosphere.
A. carbon footprint B. carbon dioxide C. gas D. air
5. Cars are useful, but their ______ on the environment is another matter
altogether.
A. protection B. donation C. improvement D. impact
6. ______ energy is produced from sources like the sun and wind that never run
out.
A. Sustainable B. Natural C. Eco-friendly D. Renewable
7. We can improve the environment in our school and at home in many ______.
A. roads B. ways C. streets D. paths
8. Today police launched a campaign to ______ road accidents in the province.
A. reduce B. reuse C. renew D. recycle
9. Since 1970 the global average ______ has been rising at a rate of 1.7°C per
century.
A. climate B. warmth C. temperature D. heat
10. Petroleum pollution brings a great danger to ocean fishery resource, ______
the natural structure of soil and affects the ecological balance.
A. develops B. destroys C. grows D. increases
IV. Supply the correct form of the word in the brackets.
1. We need to stop adding plastic to landfills today by purchasing _________ water
bottles. (refill)
2. The whole food chain is affected by the overuse of _________ in agriculture .
(chemical)
3. _________ such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons have
been linked to hay fever, chest infection and childhood cancer. (Pollute)
4. As levels of _________ carbon dioxide and methane increase, the greenhouse
effect will trap increasing amounts of heat. (atmosphere)
5. Was the public _________ of the danger of drought and crop failure?
(awareness)
6. They agreed to cut _________ of nitrogen oxide from power stations. (emit)
7. _________ say that diverting water from the river will lower the water table.
(Environment)
8. There has been an _________ response since the club advertised a few weeks
ago. (encourage)
9. They have grown awareness of commercial exploitation of forests _________ .
(globe)
10. People are paying more for _________ water than they are for gasoline. (bottle)
C. GRAMMAR
I. Complete the sentences using the future with will or the correct forms
of be going to.
1. In the future people _________ (have) bigger heads.
2. That trash bin is full. I think the trash _________ (fall).
3. Look at those clouds. It _________ (rain).
4. This team is playing so bad today. They _________ (lose)!
5. I _________ (help) you with your luggage. It looks heavy.
6. _________ (they, start) a new business together as they have planned?
7. We _________ (reuse) these plastic bags within this week.
8. Frank _________ (not take) a three-day holiday next month.
9. There isn’t any drinking water left. I _________ (order) a big bottle now.
10. They brought the paint here because they _________ (repaint) the wall.
11. Today’s generation _________ (live) longer.
12. My classmates and I _________ (join) a community service project this summer.
13. I can’t open this jar. - Give it to me. I _________ (do) it.
14. Susan feels sick. She knows that she _________ (not study) at school.
15. Mia keeps lots of empty bottles. She _________ (recycle) them.
16. _________ (young people, have) more job opportunities?
17. She passed her exams. She _________ (study) in a university.
18. I think she _________ (not participate) in the volunteer programme.
19. Addressing global warming today _________ (save) lives and money for years
to come.
20. Air pollution is dangerous for the forests. It _________ (destroy) the trees.
II. Complete the second sentences using the passive voice.
1. She doesn’t throw away her used household items.
Her___________________________________________________________________________
2. More and more people are adopting a green lifestyle.
A green ______________________________________________________________________
3. Humans put tons of plastic into the ocean every year.
Tons of_______________________________________________________________________
4. They employ transport workers in all sectors of the economy.
Transport_____________________________________________________________________
5. People are cutting down protective forests at a high rate.
Protective____________________________________________________________________
6. We don’t encourage the use of refillable water bottles in our place.
The use_______________________________________________________________________
7. They make the products from recycled materials rather than new ones.
The products_________________________________________________________________
8. The local community is going to plant 20,000 new trees in July.
20,000_______________________________________________________________________
9. We will save natural resources by cutting back on unnecessary purchases.
Natural_______________________________________________________________________
10. The activities of conservation aren’t supporting this beautiful scenery.
This beautiful_________________________________________________________________
11. Will they restore the habitat for the benefit of migratory birds?
Will the habitat_______________________________________________________________
12. The Americans consume about 60,000 plastic bags every 5 seconds.
Every 5 seconds,_____________________________________________________________
13. They reduce environmental pollution in Beijing as the economy grows.
Environmental________________________________________________________________
14. The government maintained the island as a sanctuary for endangered
species.
The island____________________________________________________________________
15. A group of volunteers picked up over 12 kilos of rubbish in the central park.
Over 12 kilos_________________________________________________________________
16. We discussed environmental consequences of wrong economic decisions at
the workshop.
Environmental________________________________________________________________
17. Global warming and climate change are going to affect animals more
severely.
Animals______________________________________________________________________
18. They are keeping this lake clean and healthy with the assistance of ten
environmental projects.
This lake______________________________________________________________________
19. Will modern technologies protect lives and property from flooding, erosion
and loss of infrastructure?
Will lives______________________________________________________________________
20. International organizations will provide the majority of countries with more
environmental regulations.
More environmental__________________________________________________________
III. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
1. That carton box ______ very heavy. I ______ you carry it.
A. is looked - will help B. looks - will be
helped
C. looks - will help D. is looked - will be helped
2. He ______ a uniform to the picking up litter event. What ______?
A. is going to wear - will you wear B. is going to be worn - will you wear
C. will be worn - are you going to wear D. is going to wear - are you going to
wear
3. It’s very hot in this room. - I ______ the window for you.
A. am opening B. open C. will open D. am going to
open
4. The majority of plastic can’t or ______ as it’s simply not economical.
A. won’t be recycled B. will be recycled C. will recycle D. won’t recycle
5. Carbon dioxide ______ by many microorganisms, plants, and animals.
A. both produces and absorbs B. both produce and absorb
C. is both produced and absorbed D. are both produced and absorbed
6. I left my face mask in the car. - Don’t worry. I ______ you one.
A. am going to give B. will give C. am giving D. give
7. They took money out of the bank because they ______ it for an environmental
project.
A. won’t donate B. donate
C. are donated D. are going to donate
8. It is unlikely that all of the global warming scenarios ______ soon.
A. are going to be fully realized B. will be fully realized
C. are going to fully realize D. will fully realize
9. The scientists who first ______ carbon dioxide’s importance for climate in the
1850s ______ by its influence.
A. identified - were surprised B. were identified - was surprised
C. identify - are surprised D. were
identified - surprised
10. Allan ______ a volunteer programme so that he ______ us a little more about
his project and services.
A. joined - will tell B. will be joined - could told
C. will join - will be told D. is going to
join - can tell
11. Why do you choose to partner with Eco Way? - Because I ______ global carbon
emissions.
A. combat B. will combat
C. combatted D. am going to combat
12. These farmers ______ fertilizer so that their products ______ to compete with
the organic ones.
A. aren’t going to be used - will be able B. aren’t going to use - will be able
C. aren’t going to be used - will be abled D. aren’t going to use - will be abled
13. They’ve got a clean-up in the central market this afternoon. ______ with them?
A. Will you come B. Are you coming C. Do you come D. Did you
come
14. Because carbon ______ in the atmosphere, global warming ______ until the net
flow of fossil carbon out of the ground.
A. is accumulated - isn’t going to stop B. is accumulated - won’t stop
C. is accumulated - won’t be stopped D. accumulates - isn’t going to be
stopped
15. What ______ certain is that biomass solutions ______ at the meeting this time.
A. is seemed - aren’t going to be addressed B. seems -
aren’t going to be addressed
C. is seemed - aren’t going to address D. seems - aren’t going to address
16. If your aim ______ to cut down on carbon emissions, then planting trees
probably ______ you there quickly enough.
A. isn’t - will get B. is going to be - won’t get
C. is - won’t get D. isn’t - won’t be got
17. Natural processes ______ and losing species because climate change ______ a
serious threat.
A. are going to be disturbed - is B. are going to disturb - is
C. are going to disturb - won’t be D. are going to disturb - isn’t
18. We ______ to plant trees, and their hope is that they ______ us from the worst
effects of climate change.
A. all told - will be saved B. are all being
told - will save
C. are all told - will be saved D. are all going to tell – will save
19. The weatherman says it ______ a beautiful day tomorrow, so I think I ______ to
the beach.
A. won’t be - am going B. isn’t - will go
C. is - am going D. is going to be - will go
20. Carbon dioxide ______ among the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface.
A. is constantly exchanging B. will constantly exchange
C. is constantly being exchanged D. constantly exchange
IV. Choose the underlined part that needs correcting.
1. Nowadays humans consume energy at a faster rate than it is producing.
A B C D
2. Aniston is in a hurry because she will meet her grandpa at the bus station at
seven.
A B C D
3. Saving energy reduce air and water pollution and conserves natural resources.
A B C D
4. When fossil fuels are burned, they release large numbers of carbon dioxide into
the air.
A B C D
5. I think I probably go on holiday when I finish my degree in economics in
December.
A B C D
6. A large meeting is going to be hold to promote sustainable development in all
countries.
A B C D
7. The pollution of the forest has serious affected plant life and, to a lesser extent,
wildlife.
A B C D
8. He isn’t willing to predict which source of energy will mainly use in the coming
years.
A B C D
9. Burn fossil fuels to produce electricity is responsible for half of global warming
pollution.
A B C D
10. It’s cheaper to make clean energy from other sources than capture all the
pollutants
A B C D
from fossil fuel plants.
D. SPEAKING
II. Match the sentences.
1. Will they surely go to the picking up a. Why don’t you bring with you a
litter event? map?
2. I need to do research about giraffe.
3. Thank you for calling me back. b. In case of rain they can’t go.
4. Please reuse your envelopes. c. I think you should go to the doctor’s.
d. Hunting and habitat loss are the
5. Why are many kinds of animals most likely reasons.
disappearing? e. Carrots are easy to raise and easy
6. I’m not feeling well these days. to harvest.
7. How long will it take us to acquire f. Don’t mention it.
the necessary skills? g. I will. These ones are still good.
8. Can you give me some advice about
growing root vegetables? h. How about a trip to the zoo this
9. I haven’t got a very good sense of afternoon?
direction, so I easily get lost.
10. What is this material kept for? i. It is kept for historical purposes.
j. That depends on our plan. I think it’ll
take at least two years.
E. READING
I. Read the passage and choose the best answers to fill in the blanks.
Ocean pollution is far-reaching and prevailing across (1) _________ in all regions of
the globe. While recent years have seen human interest in environmental issues
peak, the situation of ocean (2)_________ is not improving it is deteriorating. For
many decades, scientists have collected evidence that demonstrates the serious
impact ocean pollution has on human health. (3) _________ , the full scope of this
threat has not been widely grasped.
A recent project led by Philip Landrigan, the results of which were published in
the journal Annals of Global Health in 2020, emphasizes the (4) _________ between
ocean pollution and human health by providing the very first comprehensive
assessment of the multiple (5) _________ of ocean pollution on human health.
Many factors (6) _________ to ocean pollution. Humans produce many different
kinds of waste, such as agricultural runoff, industrial waste, fertilizers,
manufactured chemicals. (7) _________ chemicals, pesticides, petroleum, plastics,
sewage, toxic metals, and urban waste, a large portion of which end up in our
oceans. Around 80% of these pollutants enter the ocean from land-based
(8)_________ via rivers, runoff, deposition from the atmosphere, and dumping.
1. A. watering B. waterproof C. waters D. waterfalls
2. A. pollutant B. pollution C. polluted D. polluter
3. A. Therefore B. Besides C. Moreover D. However
4. A. link B. difference C. similarity D. consequence
5. A. impacts B. solutions C. effects D. causes
6. A. result B. contribute C. regard D. support
7. A. pharmacist B. pharmacy C. pharmaceutics D.
pharmaceutical
8. A. reserves B. means C. sources D. resources
II. Read the passage and choose the best answers to the questions.
Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade, and even then, it is not fully
decomposed, it remains in the environment in the form of microplastics. These
tiny particles that can measure just a few nanometres are becoming more
concentrated in our environment. Recent studies have shown that there is now
60 times more microplastic in the ocean than there was just 15 years ago. This
presents a significant threat to human health as microplastics have been linked
with cancer, reduced fertility, psychological illnesses, and birth defects. Plastics
often contain a myriad of toxic chemicals that include neurotoxins, carcinogens,
and endocrine disrupters.
A new technique was recently developed by researchers at Arizona State
University that allows scientists to detect the presence of microplastics in human
tissue. The results were alarming. The team showed that microplastics were
detectable in 100% of the tissues sampled. This is concerning as it shows that
microplastics are entering the human body and likely accumulating there, where,
in greater quantities, they are more likely to cause harm.
Studies have shown that microplastics easily enter the food chain and
accumulate in the food we eat, such as fish and shellfish. When we ingest
seafood we are also ingesting large amounts of microplastics. Unless plastic
pollution is addressed, this problem will likely worsen, with greater amounts of
plastic waste ending up in the ocean each year. This may lead to an increase in
the prevalence of diseases and illnesses linked with microplastic exposure.
1. Which of the following best serves the title of the passage?
A. Plastic Pollution B. Research on Plastic Waste
C. Forms of Microplastics D. Microplastics
2. The word ‘detect’ in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.
A. examine B. find C. diagnose D. demonstrate
3. Microplastics is dangerous for human health because they can cause ______.
A. cancer and psychological illnesses B. reduced fertility
C. birth defects D. all of the above
4. What does the phrase ‘this problem’ in the third paragraph refers to?
A. Microplastics enter the food chain.
B. We eat seafood such as fish and shellfish.
C. Microplastics accumulate in the food we eat.
D. None of the above
5. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. There are more and more microplastics in our environment.
B. Toxic chemicals such as neurotoxins, carcinogens, and endocrine disrupters
can be found in plastics.
C. The researchers at Arizona State University showed that microplastics were
detectable in most of the tissues sampled.
D. Greater amounts of plastic waste in the ocean may lead to an increase in
diseases and illnesses.
E. WRITING
I. Choose the sentence which has the closest meaning to the original
one.
1. Most streets have daily timed collections for rubbish and recycling.
A. They timely collect and recycle rubbish in most streets every day.
B. In most streets, rubbish is collected and recycled at any time of the day.
C. Most streets have timetables for collections for rubbish and recycling on a
daily basis.
D. Most streets daily set a time duration for collections for rubbish and
recycling.
2. Climate change is likely to have a wide-ranging impact on human health.
A. Climate change will surely have a wide-ranging impact on human health.
B. Climate change is impossible to have a wide-ranging impact on human
health.
C. Climate change probably has a wide-ranging impact on human health.
D. Climate change won’t be able to have a wide-ranging impact on human
health.
3. Forest management can cut down on billions of tons of carbon dioxide
emissions.
A. Billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions are cut down without the forest
management.
B. Forest management can contribute billions of tons of carbon dioxide
emissions.
C. Billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions are increased by the forest
management.
D. Forest management can reduce billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
4. The air has become too dangerous for people with respiratory illnesses to go
outside.
A. People with respiratory illnesses shouldn’t go outside in case the air isn’t too
dangerous.
B. The air is not safe enough for people with respiratory illnesses to go outside.
C. The air has become so dangerous that people with respiratory illnesses must
go outside.
D. People with respiratory illnesses will stay inside unless the air has become
too dangerous.
5. His presentation educates about climate change, but it is focused on
empowering people to take action.
A. Although his presentation educates about climate change, it is focused on
empowering people to take action.
B. Because his presentation educates about climate change, it is focused on
empowering people to take action.
C. His presentation educates about climate change, so it is focused on
empowering people to take action.
D. To focus on empowering people to take action, his presentation needs to
educate about climate change.
II. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the
first one.
1. I’ve never seen such a big landfill before.
It’s the_______________________________________________________________________
2. Our company applied a new method of waste disposal.
A new________________________________________________________________________
3. In spite of the bad traffic, we arrived on time.
Although_____________________________________________________________________
4. It was such a polluted beach that I decided not to stay.
The beach____________________________________________________________________
5. They won’t provide a manmade habitat for those bears.
A manmade__________________________________________________________________
6. Thousands of tons of plastic waste are thrown into the forest.
People________________________________________________________________________
7. Paddy can’t possibly grow in such poor soil.
It’s___________________________________________________________________________
8. How long is it since we last joined a community service programme?
When_________________________________________________________________________?
9. A fire destroyed about 10,000 square kilometres of forest.
The destruction of____________________________________________________________
10. My father said I could participate in the Green Summer programme.
My father allowed_____________________________________________________________
