You may be asked questions about the environment or environmental problems
in your country. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below
and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the
bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Are there any environmental problems in your country?
Kelly: Yes … we have a serious issue with pollution levels in some of our big
cities … exhaust fumes from cars and lorries are definitely one reason for the
problem but we also have a lot ofheavy industry in some areas and this
also results in poor air quality …
Examiner: Do you take an interest in nature?
Jenny: Well … I’m a city person through and through and don’t get back to
nature very often I’m afraid … but like everyone else I’m fascinated by the
natural world and I like watching documentaries showing wild animals in
their natural habitat …
Examiner: Do you or your family take steps to help the environment?
Mira: My parents have always tried to make us aware of our impact on the
environment … they’re really into energy conservation … and always try to
buy environmentally friendly products if they have the chance …
Part 2-style task
Describe an environmental problem that has been in the news. You should say
when this was
where the event happened
what actually took place
and say how you felt about this problem.
Martin: Well … this is an interesting question … there are so many issues I
could think of … natural disasters like earthquakes and floods seem to be in
the news almost every year … but there was one story recently about some
animals that were under threat … it wasn’t focused on one place in particular
… it was looking at various animals that could actually become extinct in
different African countries … if we don’t take steps to protect them … these
were really iconic animals like gorillas … leopards … rhinos … and apparently
they’re now listed as endangered species… what made it really depressing was
they were in danger thanks to us … in some cases it was due to a loss of
habitat either because people need more agricultural production … or even
worse I think … because of hunting and poaching … I hate to think of future
generations being robbed of the chance to see creatures like these in
their natural environment … it’s lucky we have lots of organisations that focus
on wildlife conservation … hopefully with their help we can put pressure on
those in power to do something to stop creatures like these dying out …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What do you think is the main danger the world faces in terms of the
environment?
Spencer: Well … climate change is a real issue … in my country we have flash
floods and heatwaves on a yearly basis … so yes … I think global warming is
the biggest issue.
Examiner: What examples are there of how we damage the natural world?
Stella: There are so many examples … there are factories that empty toxic
waste into rivers and oceans … oil spills that damage the coastline … the way
we destroy vast areas of land and rain forests in search of fossil fuels or to
increase agricultural production …
Examiner: In which ways do we respond well to environmental problems?
Mathius: Well … on the one hand there are various worldwide agencies that are
always the first on the scene with humanitarian aid after natural and man-
made disasters … and on the other hand we have environmental pressure
groups that are constantly raising awareness of issues and trying to stop
disasters happening …
Definitions
air quality: the cleanliness of the air we breathe
to become extinct: to no longer exist
to be under threat: to be in danger of becoming extinct
climate change: the change in worldwide weather patterns
to die out: see ‘to become extinct’
endangered species: categories of animals or plants that are in danger of
becoming extinct
energy conservation: the careful management of energy resources to
ensure they last as long as possible
environmentally friendly: behaviour and products that do not harm the
environment
exhaust fumes: the toxic gases given off by vehicles powered by petrol
flash floods: floods that happen quickly
fossil fuels: energy resources like gas and oil that are produced deep
below the ground over millions of years
future generations: the people who live after us
to get back to nature: to live a life that is closer to nature
global warming: the increasing temperature of the world brought about
by gases such as carbon dioxide
heavy industry: the manufacture of heavy articles and materials in large
numbers
humanitarian aid: the act of showing support to people struggling to
survive
impact on: the effect on
loss of habitat: the decline in areas of land where animals and plants
would normally exist
man-made disaster: widespread damage or loss of life brought about by
the action of humans
natural disaster: an event such as an earthquake, flood or hurricane
which causes widespread damage or loss of life
natural environment: the place where animals and plants would
normally be found in nature
the natural world: the world of nature
oil spill: waste usually deposited in the seas and oceans after an accident
at sea
poaching: to hunt and kill wild animals illegally
pollution levels: the amount of toxic waste
pressure group: a group of people who try to raise awareness of issues
and try to affect the views and actions of people and organisations
toxic waste: poisonous, unwanted rubbish often produced by industrial
processes
wildlife conservation: to protect animals and plants and their habitats
