Geography and Environment

Maturita topic 13, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is The United Kingdom.

What to talk about

• the landscape – mountains, rivers, seas, forests, deserts
• environmental problems – climate change, pollution, waste, loss of biodiversity
• causes and consequences of these problems
• what governments, companies and individuals can do
• what you do for the environment yourself

Model answer

The Earth offers an incredible variety of landscapes – high mountains, deep valleys, rivers and lakes, oceans, rainforests and deserts. But human activity is changing the planet faster than ever before, and protecting the environment has become one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century.

The most serious problem is climate change. By burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – in power stations, factories and cars, we release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. They trap heat, so the average temperature is rising. As a result, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms is becoming more frequent. In the Czech Republic we can see it in hot summers, winters with little snow and forests damaged by drought and the bark beetle.

There are many other problems too. Air pollution from traffic and industry causes health problems in big cities. Plastic waste ends up in the oceans and kills sea animals, and microplastics are now found everywhere, even in our bodies. Deforestation, especially of tropical rainforests, destroys the habitats of animals and plants, and many species are endangered or have already become extinct.

Solving these problems requires action at every level. Governments should support renewable energy – solar, wind and water power – invest in public transport and make polluters pay. International agreements such as the Paris Agreement try to limit global warming. Companies should produce goods that last longer and can be recycled. And each of us can do something: sort and recycle waste, avoid single-use plastics, save energy and water, use public transport or a bike, eat less meat and buy local products.

Personally, I try to reduce my carbon footprint in small ways – I don’t use plastic bags, I recycle and I travel by train instead of flying when I can. I know that one person can’t save the planet, but if millions of people change their habits, it does make a difference.

Vocabulary

Grammar worth showing

• present continuous for changing situations: Temperatures are rising. Glaciers are melting.
• passive: Millions of trees are cut down every year.
• cause and effect linkers: As a result, …; This leads to…; Due to…

Useful phrases

• One of the most urgent problems is…
• This is mainly caused by…, which leads to…
• If nothing changes, …
• I’m convinced that governments should…
• Every little helps – for example, …

Speaking practice

Part 1 – about you

Part 3 / 4 – discussion