Climate and Weather, Fauna and Flora

Maturita topic 14, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada.

What to talk about

• the difference between weather and climate; climate zones
• the weather and the seasons in the Czech Republic; your favourite season
• how weather affects our mood, plans and health
• extreme weather and climate change
• animals and plants – in the Czech Republic and in the world, pets, protecting nature

Model answer

It’s important to distinguish between weather and climate. Weather is what happens in the atmosphere on a particular day – whether it’s sunny, rainy or windy – while climate is the typical weather of a place over a long period. The Earth has several climate zones: the tropical zone around the equator, which is hot and humid all year, the dry arid zone with deserts, the temperate zone, where we live, and the polar zones near the poles, which are cold all year round.

The Czech Republic has a temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons. Spring is usually mild, and nature comes back to life. Summers are warm and sometimes very hot, with temperatures over thirty degrees and occasional thunderstorms. Autumn brings colourful leaves, but also fog and rain, and winters can be cold and snowy, especially in the mountains. My favourite season is late spring, when it’s warm but not too hot and everything is green.

Weather has a big influence on us. When it’s sunny, people are usually in a better mood and spend more time outside, while long grey winters can make people feel tired and depressed. The weather also affects our plans – before a trip I always check the forecast. In recent years, however, the weather in Central Europe has become more extreme: summers are hotter and drier, there is less snow in winter, and heavy rain sometimes causes floods. Scientists agree that this is a consequence of climate change.

As for fauna and flora, Czech forests are mostly made up of conifers like spruce and pine, and deciduous trees like oak, beech and birch. Typical wild animals are deer, wild boar, foxes, hares and many species of birds; the lynx, wolf and beaver have returned in recent years. Every continent has its typical animals – Australia is famous for kangaroos and koalas, Africa for lions and elephants, and Canada for moose and bears. Unfortunately, many species are endangered because people destroy their habitats, so it’s important to protect nature in national parks and reserves.

Many people also keep pets. We have a dog, and I think having a pet teaches children responsibility – but people should remember that a pet isn’t a toy.

Vocabulary

Grammar worth showing

• it in weather expressions: It’s raining. It’s getting colder. It looks like rain.
• comparatives: Winters are getting milder. The hotter it is, the more water we need.
• future predictions: It’s going to rain (I can see clouds). It will probably be warmer tomorrow.

Useful phrases

• The weather here is rather unpredictable.
• I’m a summer person – I can’t stand…
• According to the forecast, …
• We’ve had a lot of… recently.
• What worries me is that…

Speaking practice

Part 1 – about you

Part 3 / 4 – discussion