674 lets talk about the environment

Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate

Let’s talk about the ENVIRONMENT
Environment: the natural world in which people, animals and plants live.
What’s the most beautiful
place in your country? Why do
you like it? Describe it.

What’s the ugliest place in your
country? Why don’t you like it?
Describe it.

Describe the natural
environment in your country.

What kinds of pollution do you
know? Which is the worst?
Discuss in group.

Think of a place where there is
no pollution at all.
What is it? Where is it?

What do you recycle?
How can we recycle more?
Talk about it.

Some people carelessly throw
away rubbish wherever they go.
What can we do about this?

What are fossil fuels?
Give examples. Where are they
used? Can they be replaced?

Some factories dump waste
water in rivers and ocean.
How can we prevent this?

People throw away tons of
garbage every day. How can we
reduce the amount of garbage?

Do you drink bottled water?
Why or why not? What is its
effect on the environment?

Traffic jams cause air
pollution. How can we reduce
traffic jams? Brainstorm.

What happens to garbage after
it is collected? How and where
do we get rid of it?

‘Honestly, I don’t care. I won’t
be around in the future.’ Do
you share this opinion? Explain.

Big cities are often very noisy
places. How can we reduce

noise pollution?

Are you prepared to change
your lifestyle to save the
Earth? How? Explain.

‘I know we need to change, but I
don’t want to give up the
comfortable life I have now.’
Do you agree? Discuss.

What is renewable energy?
Give examples. Is it used in
your country? Explain.

(Are there mountains, fields, forests,
rivers? Is it clean?)

2
Pardon? Match British and American words
BrE

AmE

1

bin

a

gas(oline)

2

cinema

b

dump

3

dustman/binman

c

sidewalk

4

holiday

d

trash can

5

lift

e

garbage

6

lorry

f

movie theatre

7

pavement

g

vacation

8

petrol

h

elevator

9

rubbish

i

garbage man

tip

j

truck

10

1

3

4
Match

5

electric car
garbage dump
hydroelectricity
incinerator

6

nuclear power plant
recycling

7

8

solar panel
wind turbine