5.2. Study the vocabulary used to describe environmental and social problems. Consult a dictionary if necessary.

Environmental problems:

shrinking habitat, endangered spices, finite resource, ecological balance, pristine environment, piecemeal conservation, protection, green credentials (= reputation of positive support of the environment), greens;

the worst case scenario, global warming, climatic changes, greenhouse effect, deforestation, prophets of doom and gloom (= people who make the most pessimistic forecasts for the future), pollution, ozone layer, acid rain, smoke (from factories), car exhaust fumes, emission, fossil fuel, dumping industrial waste, aerosol can/ spray, CFC (= chlorofluorocarbon, gas used in sprays), carbon dioxide, bottle bank;

harmful /damaging/ destroying;

to exert severe pressure on smth., to cut down, to throw away, to recycle, to plant, to waste resources;

Problems or war/ terror and peace:

outbreak/ start, clashes, ultimatum, hostilities/ hostile acts, hostilities begin/ break out, hostilities cease, (to take somebody) to the brink of war, conflict, war zone, the war between (two countries), in a state of war, a theatre of war, ally/ allies/ allied forces, aid, troops, military forces, supplies, civilians, casualties, victim, survivor, refugees, guerrilla, to be hostile;

shelling / firing of guns and explosives, incendiary device/ bomb, germ/ biological warfare, weapon of mass destruction (WMD), target, to take aim at;

peace talks, peace settlement, ceasefire, peace treaty, truce, intermediary, peacekeeping troops, international observer, campaign, corps [ko:];

to be alive, to be wounded, to be contused/ shell-shocked, to be missing, missing in action (M.I.A.), prisoner of war (P.O.W.);

to invade a country, to capture/ to take/ to take control of, to retreat, to attack, to defend, to run out (food supplies have run out), to deteriorate, to mobilize, to declare war, to retaliate (against smb. for smth.), to wage war/ to fight/ to make a war against/ with smb., to rout/ to defeat, to withdraw (troops), to station troops, to besiege, to ambush, to plan/ to organize/ to launch a campaign, to place/ to set off/ to throw a bomb, to place an army on a war footing;

terrorist, hijacker, hostage, to take smb. hostage, to hold smb. hostage, to bargain for smth., to release;

Adjectives:

war-stricken (area), war-devastated (area), a war can be limited, holy, civil, global/ world, air, guerrilla, nuclear, cold, trade, class, liberating;

Problems of poverty:

poverty line, income poverty (= if your income is less that the defined poverty line in your country), human poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, lack /shortage of food, famine, poor sanitation, poverty alleviation, overseas aid, scarce resources, Peace Corps [ko:].

5.3. Put each of the following words or phrases in its correct place below.

sewage enlightened pesticides sustainable

organic acid rain ecological deforestation

disposal herbicides extinction animal rights

When industrialisation began, little thought was given to its (a) ______effects. Raw, untreated (b) ______ was allowed to pollute our seas and rivers. Animals were killed for profit to the point of (c) ______. The loss of trees through uncontrolled (d) ______caused erosion and unstable climate, (e)______was caused by the poisonous gases man sent into the atmosphere. Chemicals in (f)______ killed animal life, (g) ______ destroyed plants. The balance of nature was disturbed.

It is only now that we are waking up to the problem. More natural, (h) ______ farming is advocated. Legislation controls the (i) ______ of waste products into our air and water. Wildlife organisations are becoming more militant in their fight for (j) ______. Replanting policies in some parts of the world mean that our forests should in future be (k) ______.

We can only hope that growing public awareness and (l) ______ legislation will produce a world which is safe for us and will provide a good quality of life for future generations.