CONTENTS
Sample questions and answers from speaking part 1, 2 and 3
Words and terms frequently used when talking about environment
Learn how to use wide variety of parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives
Find out groups of words that usually used together by native speakers
References to teaching and authentic materials related to this topic: IELTS blogs, podcasts, videos and articles
Download this article in PDF. Download ANKI flashcards and take advantage of spaced repetition method
Environment: Sample questions and answers for IELTS speaking exam
Part 1
- Which country are you from?
– I am from the Philippines, an archipelagic country that is comprised by many islands. The country has 7,107 islands and that is why people who live there have a diverse set of culture and languages.
- Where is this country located?
– The Philippines is located in Southeast Asia situated in the Western Pacific Ocean.
- Which part of the country do most people live in?
-I The bulk of the country’s population is in Metro Manila, a region which houses the primary business centers and the seat of government.
- What are the main industries in your country?
-The Philippines is traditionally an agricultural country, but the economy has been transitioning into industries that emphasizes on services and manufacturing.
5. What kind of weather do you dislike?
-I do not like the extreme heat of summer, but do you know what I disliked more? A humid weather; at least in the summer you could sweat off the heat, but in a humid environment, the effectiveness of sweating in cooling the body is reduced by reducing the rate of evaporation of moisture from the skin.
6. Would you prefer to live in a hot or cold country?
-I was born in a tropical country, my body had adapted to it. Well, at least in a hot country, I could enjoy eating ice cream.
7. What is the best/worst weather for traveling in?
-In my opinion, the best weather to travel is in a slight rainy season. Why? Because it is the off season, less traffic jam, lower prices for tickets and food and you don’t have to compete with other tourists in terms of time by falling in line on order to enjoy a tourist site.
The worst weather to travel in is of course the typhoon season. Because it is safe to stay indoors and to avoid flooded areas, establishments are closed and flights get cancelled.
Part 2
Describe an environmental problem that has occurred in your country. You should say:
- The cause of the problem
- What effect it has had on your country
- The steps, if any, that have been taken to solve this
- Explain why you think this problem is so important to solve.
If there is an environmental problem that I would like to talk about, it would be the excessive pollution of waterways, rivers and canals. It was caused by the irresponsible disposal of wastes by the factories, industries and the people who live near the bodies of water.
The pollution of the rivers was the effect of prolonged abuse and neglect. The rivers were considered biologically dead, which means no fish left to catch and less food to eat. Boats could not travel because of the density of the debris of floating plastic wastes; the rivers emit a foul stench and the waters are toxic which house a number of bacteria that could cause different diseases.
In the 90’s, the government started to create a rehabilitation program for the rivers and waterways, unfortunately they failed to displace the main polluters-the illegal settlers near the river, simply because they have their “human rights”.
The problem is important to solve simply because water is life. It is the circulatory system of the world, water enabled life forms to survive and we need other life forms in order to survive.
Part 3
- Do you think it is the responsibility of governments alone to protect the environment?
Of course not! I think it is everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment. Sure, the government has the power to enact laws and craft policies but how good is the law if nobody respects it.
We simply could not go on with our lives throwing our wastes irresponsibly and expect the government to just clean it up. There is nothing left to clean up in the first place if only we dispose things properly, it wastes both time and resources.
- What measures can individuals take to protect the environment?
There are a lot of ways on how individuals can do to protect the environment some of them are:
- Turn off appliances when you are not using them.
- Recycle and segregate your biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste or better yet avoid creating trash by avoiding disposable products.
- Minimize your water and electricity consumption.
- Use a fuel-efficient car or if you are traveling in short distances, take a walk or ride a bicycle.
These are just small things we can do to change our lifestyles, imagine millions of other people doing the same thing. It can gradually make a difference.
- Do you think large companies and business organizations should be more environmentally friendly? Why? How?
Development is good; sometimes it is a necessity to survive in today’s world. Businesses need profit, but they should not do so at the expense of the environment. Sustainable development is the key, the needs of the present has to be met without compromising the ability of future generations to sustain life in this planet.
Key vocabulary: Definitions and examples
WORD
DEFINITION
EXAMPLE
to recycle
to use objects or matrerials again after processing by converting waste into reusable material
It is possible to recycle cardboard into lower grade materials, such as paper
to contaminate
to make something poisonous as a result of adding waste or chemical
The incentives strongly encourage oil companies to not contaminate the water supply
to endanger
put (someone or something) at risk or in danger
It is a criminal offence to endanger the lives of the public by allowing the introduction of a contaminate into the mains supply.
air pollution
bad air quality that usually caused be harmful gases
According to a recent study, air pollution in Russia causes the death of approximately 4000 citizens per day or 1.6 million people per year.
soil pollution
the presence of toxic chemicals or man made waste in soil
Plastics do contribute to soil pollution.
water pollution
the presence of harmful materials in water, such as dissolved metals, waste from farms
Water pollution causes marine life to die.
to protect
keep safe from harm or injury
For more than 15 years, the nonprofit volunteer-run center has worked to educate the community to protect wildlife and their habitats.
conservation
The protection of a natural resource, usually by planned management, to prevent its depletion or destruction
I’ve decided to dedicate the rest of my life to environmental conservation.
toxic waste
waste products that are hazardous to the environment, people, animals
All of the military activity has left it a toxic waste hazard
greenhouse gas
a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by trapping heat above the Earth
Here is a list of habits each one of us can form to help reduce greenhouse gas missions.
environmentalist
a person whose lifestyle, political etc choices are designed to minimise human impact on the natural environment
Environmentalists often encourage us to buy our foods from local sources. They say it is good for the environment
Word Formation
WORD
PART OF SPEECH
EXAMPLE
depletion
noun
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
to deplete
verb
The clearance of trees and vegetation depletes the soil , resulting in decreasing agricultural yields .
contamination
noun
There is no danger of long-term contamination.
to contaminate
verb
The incentives strongly encourage oil companies to not contaminate the water supply
contaminated
adjective
He is ill as a result of eating contaminated food
endangered
adjective
There are a few different ways that helping endangered species can be profitable
to endanger
verb
There are a few different ways that helping endangered species can be profitable
to recycle
verb
It is possible to recycle cardboard into lower grade materials, such as paper
recycling
noun
Recycling is not only good for environment but it also creates so many jobs across many levels
recyclable
adjective
Most businesses generate more recyclable waste then residual waste.
emission
noun
Drastic carbon emission reductions would undoubtedly be better for the atmosphere and climate
to emit
verb
The new car emits less than 160g/km CO2
degradation
noun
More and more farmers move to the city as deforestation and agricultural degradation become ever more widespread .
to degrade
verb
Freshwater ecosystems have already been severely degraded.
biodegradable
adjective
Most plastic is not biodegradable.
degradable
adjective
Even the degradable plastics may break into fragments that litter the soil.
pollution
noun
Water pollution causes marine life to die.
pollute
verb
Intensive use of pesticides and fertilisers seriously pollutes water, soil and air0
polluted
adjective
People are becoming more and more aware of the detrimental effects of living in heavily polluted areas
conservation
noun
Energy conservation is important for many reasons
conserve
verb
Our aim is to minimise energy consumption and conserve natural resources.
disposal
noun
The creditors declined the offer, preferring to realize the estate themselves.
to dispose
verb
The best way to dispose of the cell phone battery is to recycle it
disposable
adjective
Disposable razor blades get dull from water corrosion.
hazard
noun
One of the most widespread natural hazards is flooding.
hazardous
adjective
Hazardous waste disposal can be a complicated process.
threat
noun
This could save the world from one of its biggest environmental threats.
to threaten
adjective
Always look for hazards that threaten the environment.
sustainability
noun
Energy conservation is important for many reasons.
sustainable
adjective
Cities offer a far more sustainable lifestyle than suburban or rural areas.
Collocations
COLLOCATION
EXAMPLE
ozone layer
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
toxic waste
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
endangered species
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
genetically modified
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
breeding in captivity
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
organic farming
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
fossil fuels
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
solar power
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
natural resources
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
wildlife conservation
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
global warming
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
conservation program
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
to get serious about climate change
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
genetic engineering
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
to get serious about climate change
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
to observe natural behaviour
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
animal rights activists
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
environmentally friendly
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
sustainable energy sources
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
fossil fuels
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
carbon emissions
The combined effects of overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation will cause great economic losses.
easily
completely
potentially
adverb+
recyclable
air
environmental
marine
water
industrial
nuclear
nitrate
noise
vehicle
soil
adjective+
pollution
cause
avoid
prevent
combat
control
verb+
pollution
bring (in)
earn
generate
make
realize
reap
verb+
profit
fight
tackle
cut
limit
minimize
reduce
monitor
verb+
pollution
level
control
prevention
reduction
standards
pollution+noun
pollution
a risk of pollution
a source of pollution
phrase
pollution
preserve
protect
safeguard
save
damage
harm
pollute
verb+
environment
policy
protection
issues
environment+noun
environment
conservation of the environment
protection of the environment
damage to the environment
harmful to the environment
phrase
environment
pollution of the environment
have an impact on environment
phrase
environment
dangerous
harmful
hazardous
poisonous
toxic
adjective+
waste
non-toxic
recyclable
industrial
domestic
household
nuclear
adjective+
waste
produce
dispose of
dump
get rid of
bury
process
verb+
waste
recycle
reprocess deal with
handle
manage
cut down on
reduce
adjective+
waste
disposal
processing
recycling
reprocessing
treatment
management
minimization
reduction
waste+noun
waste
Useful resources
This topic on IELTS blogs
- IELTS Speaking Part 2: environment problem [ielts-simon.com]
- IELTS SPEAKING part 1, 2 and 3 sample questions [ipassielts.com.com]
- IELTS Environment vocabulary [ieltsspeaking.co.uk]
Podcasts
- Star Talk Radio – Protecting Our Environment, with Gina McCarthy [Soundcloud]
- Yale University – On The Environment [Soundcloud]
- BBS Radio UK – Britain’s Environment: The Debate[BBC Website]
Articles
- Is it too late for us to do anything about global climate change? [quora.com]
- Everyday Things You Aren’t Recycling, But Should Be [HuffingtonPost.com]
Videos
- Johan Rockstrom: Let the environment guide our development [TED TALKS]
- James Hansen: Why I must speak out about climate change [TED TALKS]
Downloads
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