PART 2: PRACTICE

A. PHONETICS 

I. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined. 

1. A. illegal                  B. climatic                   C. benefit                    D. bioclimatic

2. A. researcher           B. energy                     C. number                   D. death

3. A. arrested              B. estimated                C. claimed                   D. penetrated

4. A. revolution           B. election                   C. interrogation           D. question

5. A. rehear                 B. appear                     C. realize                     D. peace 

II. Choose the word which has a different stress pattern from the others. 

1. A. attitude               B. infamously              C. geneticist                D. socialist

2. A. preference          B. attraction                C. advantage               D. infinitive

3. A. interview            B. essential                  C. comfortable            D. industry

4. A. situation             B. interrogation           C. detention                D. coalition

5. A. difficult              B. simplicity                C. discovery                D. commodity 

B. VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR 

I. Choose the correct words in the box to complete the sentences. 

percentages                 nuclear                        survival                                    derived

hydrogen                     energy                         Contaminants                          improve

1. Solar technology has also emerged for the clean and renewable production of _____ hydrogen _____ as an alternative energy source. 

2. The sun is a powerful __ energy _ source, and this energy source can be harnessed by installing solar panels. 

3. ___ Contaminants ___ are subsequently removed by harvesting the above-ground shoot biomass for volume reduction and storage.

4. It is not only about looking better though, Green cities are also trying to ____ improve _____ the efficiency of cities and raise the standard of living for people who stay in them.

5. It was more surprising that many of the respondents also had not recently heard or read about hydrogen cars, wind energy or ______ nuclear _____ energy.

6. The numbers on a bag of fertilizer tell you the _____ percentages _____ of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in the bag. 

7. Pollution poses health hazards, endangers wild life and makes the planet unsafe for future human _____ survival ____.

8. The term "plastic" is _____ derived ___ from the Greek word "plastikos", meaning fit for moulding. 

II. Give the correct form of the words in the following sentences.

1. Rooftop gardens prevent buildings from absorbing heat from the sun, which can ____significantly____

reduce cooling bills. SIGNIFICANT

2. Solar radiation can be ___converted___ either into thermal energy (heat) or into electrical energy, though the former is easier to accomplish. CONVERSION

3. The doctor said the vitamin would _____replenish_____ my calcium deficiency. REPLENISHING

4. Nick left the house and strolled down the ___pathway___ to the garden. PATH 

5. If we continue to ___deplete____ our natural resources, our children will pay the price. DEPLETATION

6. Do you know the oldest type of ____sustainable____ energy is the biomass that is derived from plant matter? SUSTAIN

7. When hiking in the wilderness, it is important to properly ____dispose__ of anything you can't pack out. DISPOSABLE

8. We buy ____organic___ food at the farmers' market. It costs a little bit more, but we think it's better for our health. ORGAN

9. Jane Goodall studied chimpanzees for many years in their native ____habitat____ in Africa. HABITATION 

10. ____Conservation_____ is the protection of things found in nature. CONSERVE 

III. Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable preposition.

1. Hazardous gases refer to all kinds _____of____ gas that can be potential harmful to humans in certain concentrations.

2. The ship's refrigeration and air conditioning plants are designed ______to_____ achieve no ozone depletion. 

3. Nuclear waste can cause serious damage to the environment if not disposed ____ of _____ properly.

4. In the UK, poor air quality is responsible _____for______ some 40,000 deaths each year.

5. The government team ______in_____ charge of promoting energy conservation has no campaign budget and with three members to handle the issue nationwide, are short of staff. 

6. Biomass typically refers _____to_____ biofuels that are obtained through biological processes such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion.

7. Everyday, the world produces carbon dioxide that is released to the earths atmosphere and which will still be there _____in_____ one hundred years time.

8. Mankind has been crazy to have not bothered ______to____ harness the sun's energy until now.

9. Business can now take advantage ______of____ different suppliers of both gas and electricity and shop for the most economical.

10. _____On______ a gut level, many people already grasp the key difference between fossil fuels and renewable energy. 

 

IV. Choose the word or phrase from the box that best fits the blank space in the following passage. 

Otherwise                    Although                      For example                Instead of                     Thanks to 

1. ____ Thanks to  _____ some clever and concerned architects, this image is starting to change the concept of green cities aims to bring some beauty from rural environments into urban areas. 

2. ___ Instead of _____ filling its area with office buildings, Portland has plenty of green space for activities. 

3. _____ Although ____ we are all aware of the effects of oil on seabirds, oil is also extremely toxic to marine life.

4. Today there is a strong emphasis on the halt of CFC usage. CFCS, ____ Otherwise ____ known as chloro-fluoro-carbons, are ozone depleting chemicals.

5. The smoke in the atmosphere, _____ For example _____, is increasing so much that the amount of sunlight has been reduced in many cities. 

V. Choose the correct words in the box to complete the sentences. 

needs of           dispose of                    pay off             distributed on              took hold

accompanied by          for granted                  absorbed into              in part              associated with

1. Green products are biodegradable or easily reused either ______ in part _____ or as a whole. 

2. Sea level rise ____ associated with _____ climate change could displace tens of millions of people in low-lying areas - especially in developing countries.

3. A number of World War II munitions exploded as wildfires _____ took hold _____ in a forest around 40 miles southwest of Berlin, Raimund Engel. 

4. In explosive eruptions, the fragmented rock may be ____ accompanied by ____ ash and gases; in effusive eruptions, degassing is common but ash is usually not.

5. Most of us take heating and cooling _____ for granted ____.

6. Engage students in thinking about how water is ___ distributed on ____ Earth.

7. Water that falls on the ground can run off into streams or it can be _____ absorbed into  _______ the ground. Students may also say that water can evaporate. 

8. You cannot sell them or _____ dispose of  _____ them without the permission of the finance company.

9. Sustainable energy is energy that meets the _____ needs of  ____ the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

10. In many areas, including much of Alabama, an investment for sustainable energy sources will ___ pay off __ in just a few short years. 

VI. Give the correct form of the verbs to fill in the blank.

1. The importance of individual energy sources and options for power generation are changing, as are the ways in which electricity is _______ transmitted_________ (transmit) and distributed.

2. Without action, the impacts of climate change _________ threaten ______ (threaten) to catastrophically damage our world.

3. Oil drilling will continue to be a big deal unless we ________ become ____ (become) less dependent on fossil fuels.

4. Offshore oil drilling has a significant negative impact on fragile marine and coastal ecosystems, and that the risk of a devastating spill isn't worth ______taking______ (take). 

5. As landscapes and habitats literally shift, wildlife must quickly ______ adjust ______ (adjust). 

6. Many key economic sectors - from _______fishing_______ (fish) to energy to water utilities - will feel long-term impacts of climate change.

7. Global warming is now accelerating the rate of sea level rise, ______increasing_______ (increase) flooding risks to low-lying communities.

8. To make your home a healthier, safer, greener place, beginning with small steps. For example, 

_____make______ (make) a commitment to change just one habit every month. 

9. We prefer to ________ describe ______ (describe) a green product as one that has less of an environmental impact or is less detrimental to human health than the traditional product equivalent.

10. Something that is large or with odd dimensions may _______ require ____ (require) a custom packaging solution instead of an out-of-the-box box. 

VII. Indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of me following questions.

1. Rooftop gardens prevent buildings from absorbing heat from the sun, which can significantly reduce cooling bills. 

A. trivially                   B. unparticularly         C. remarkably              D. meaninglessly

2. Solar radiation can be converted either into thermal energy (heat) or into electrical energy, though the former is easier to accomplish. 

A. transformed            B. absorbed                 C. released                  D. exchanged

3. Adopting a green lifestyle can often be time-consuming for those who are fully committed to green living. 

A. abandoned             B. devoted                  C. dependent              D. relevant

4. Solar technology has also emerged for the clean and renewable production of hydrogen as an alternative energy source.

A. infinite                    B. substitute                C. endless                    D. restricted

5. The sun is a powerful energy source, and this energy source can be harnessed by installing solar panels. 

A. dug                                     B. transmitted                         C. devastated              D. exploited

6. Pollution poses health hazards, endangers wild life and makes the planet unsafe for future human survival. 

A. stems                      B. triggers off             C. results from            D. be caused by

7. Any environmental damage must be punishable by law, and polluters should pay compensation for the damage caused to the environment.

A. rewards                  B. ransom                    C. damages                 D. savings

8. Pollution had also been a major problem, devastating the natural habitats of many animals and damaging the earth beyond repair. 

A. hopeful                   B. recoverable             C. reversible                D. past mending

9. Solar panels could be used on the new development as part of a drive towards environmental sustainability. 

A. steadiness               B. inconstancy            C. change                    D. fluctuation

10. Hazardous gases refer to all kinds of gas that can be potentially harmful to humans in certain concentrations.

A. secure                     B. certain                     C. excessive                D. noxious

11. Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade and build up in the soils or throughout the food chain.

A. dignify                   B. accumulate             C. defrost                    D. deteriorate 

12. There are plenty of potential toxins still being ignored, with less than half of the 5,000 new chemicals widely dispersed throughout the environment since 1950.

A. harmless compounds                                  B. safe matters 

C. poisonous substances                                 D. immortal particles

13. One out of every four premature deaths in India in 2015, or some 2.5 million, was attributed to pollution.

A. associated with      B. got along with        C. derived from          D. broken down

14. The authorities are now making a determined effort to adapt to the climate change in mountain regions to ensure that climbing can continue.

A. preserve                  B. stabilize                  C. adjust to                 D. generate

15. The biological agents now in use are environmentally benign and are harmless to humans. 

A. hostile                     B. unfriendly               C. friendly                   D. unfavorable

16. Renewable resources are exploited so much that they will never be able to recover completely.

A. destroyed               B. run off                    C. utilized                   D. built up 

VIII. Indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

1. Contaminants are subsequently removed by harvesting the above-ground shoot biomass for volume reduction and storage.

A. later                        B. eventually               C. previously               D. afterwards

2. The introduction of harmful substances in the air results in detrimental impacts to the environmental and humanity. 

A. harmful                   B. benign                     C. noxious                   D. disastrous

3. Offshore oil drilling has a significant negative impact on fragile marine and coastal ecosystems, and that the risk of a devastating spill isn't worth taking. 

A. durable                   B. easily broken          C. vulnerable               D. delicate

4. Without action, the impacts of climate change threaten to catastrophically damage our world. 

A. beneficially             B. ruinously                 C. fatally                     D. terribly

5. Global Forest Watch has also initiated a project to counteract deforestation through awareness. 

A. introduced              B. commenced            C. launched                 D. completed

6. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and suffer greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat.

A. in peril                    B. in jeopardy             C. open to attack         D. durable 

7. Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and contain extremely toxic soluble chemicals.

A. venomous               B. deadly                    C. endangered             D. harmless

8. By 2020, global surface temperature will be more than 0.5°C (0.9°F) warmer than the 1986-2005 average, regardless of which carbon dioxide emissions pathway the world follows.

A. irrespective of        B. without respect to  C. in respect to            D. disregard for

9. Everyday, the world produces carbon dioxide that is released to the earth's atmosphere and which will still be there in one hundred years time.

A. trapped                   B. let off                     C. discharged              D. emitted

10. Global warming is now accelerating the rate of sea level rise, increasing flooding risks to low-lying communities.

A. decelerating            B. gaining momentum             C. picking up speed                D. getting a move on 

C. READING 

I. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage. 

From the seeds themselves to the machinery, fertilizers and pesticides - The Green Revolution regimen depend heavily on technology. One alternative, however, depends much (1) ____ on technology - organic farming. Many organic farmers use machinery, but not chemical fertilizers or pesticides. (2) ____ chemical soil enrichers, they use animal manure and plant parts not used as food - natural, organic fertilizers that are clearly a renewable (3) ____. Organic farmers also use alternatives for pesticides, for example, they may rely on natural predators of certain insect pests. (4) ____ the need arises, they can buy the eggs and larvae of these natural predators and introduce them into their crop fields. They use other techniques to control pests as well, like planting certain crops together because one crop repels the other's pests. Organic farmers do not need a lot of land, in fact organic farming is perfectly (5) ____ to small farms and is relatively inexpensive. Finally, many organic farmers' average yields compare favorably with other farmers' yields. 

1. A. more                   B. less                          C. better                      D. worse

2. A. In spite of           B. On account of        C. In favor of              D. Instead of 

3. A. resource              B. source                     C. matter                     D. substance 

4. A. Then                   B. If                            C. Because                  D. Thought 

5. A. suitable               B. open                        C. likely                       D. suited 

II. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage. 

GREEN ENERGY

Fossil fuels are used to generate the majority of the world's energy, and they come in different forms. For example, coal may be burned in a power (1) ____ to generate electricity, but gasoline is burned in a car's engine to make it run. Neither of these two sources is considered green energy because they produce a lot of pollution when they are burned. In addition, they come from a source that is inevitably going to (2) ____.

Green energy can be defined as any energy source that is to some degree non-polluting. When it is called (3) ____, this means that a person can replace the same amount of energy that was consumed by that person (4) ____ that person's lifetime. Since it took millions and millions of years to create the fossil fuels that we now burn, we know that they cannot be replaced by us. 

Wind power and solar power, (5) ____ harnessed properly, are two excellent sources of green energy. Once the necessary parts such as wind turbines to generate wind power and solar panels to create solar power have been produced, only the pollution from the production is left.

1. A. point                   B. outlet                      C. factory                    D. plant

2. A. run out of           B. run out                    C. burn out                  D. cut out

3. A. durable               B. sustainable              C. harmful                   D. effective

4. A. along                  B. about                      C. within                     D. during 

5. A. where                 B. when                       C. which                      D. what 

III. Choose the word or phrase from the box that best fits the blank space in the following passage. 

Experts in climatology and other scientists are becoming extremely concerned about the changes to our climate which are taking place. Admittedly, climate changes have occurred on our planet before. For example, there have been several ice ages or glacial periods. These climatic changes, however, were different from the modern ones in that they occurred gradually and, as far as we know, naturally. The changes currently being monitored are said to be the result not of natural causes, but of human activity. Furthermore, the rate of change is becoming alarmingly rapid. 

The major problem is that the planet appears to be warming up. According to some experts, this warming process, known as global warming, is occurring at a rate unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. The implications for the planet are very serious. Rising global temperatures could give rise to such ecological disasters as extremely high increases in the incidence of flooding and of droughts. These could have a harmful effect on agriculture. It is thought that this unusual warming on the Earth has been caused by so-called greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, being emitted into the atmosphere by car engines and modern industrial processes, for example. Such gases not only add to the pollution of the atmosphere, but also create a greenhouse effect, by which the heat of the sun is trapped. This leads to the warming up of the planet.

Politicians are also concerned about climate change and there are now regular summits on the subject, attended by representatives from around 180 of the world's industrialized countries. Of these summits, the most important took place in Kyoto in Japan in 1997. There it was agreed that the most industrialized countries would try to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions and were given targets for this reduction of emissions. 

It was also suggested that more forests should be planted to create so-called sinks to absorb greenhouse gases. At least part of the problem of rapid climate change has been caused by too drastic deforestation. 

Sadly, the targets are not being met. Even more sadly, global warnings about climate changes are often still being regarded as scaremongering.

1. According to the passage, in what way did the climate changes in the ice ages differ from the modern ones?

A. They occurred naturally over a long period of time.

B. They were partly intended.

C. They were wholly the result of human activity. 

D. They were fully monitored by humans.

2. The word "alarmingly" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ____.

A. disapprovingly       B. disappointingly       C. surprisingly             D. worryingly

3. According to the passage, agriculture could ____.

A. make the global warming more serious

B. be indirectly affected by the global temperature rises

C. give rise to many ecological disasters 

D. be directly damaged by the rises in global temperature

4. Greenhouse gases cause the warming up of the Earth because they ____.

A. are emitted by car engines                                     B. trap heat from the sun

C. do not add to atmosphere pollution                       D. are unusual gases 

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the countries which are mainly responsible for global warming are ____.

A. countries with the warmest climate                       B. developing countries 

C. developed countries                                               D. the most industrialized countries 

6. Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage? 

A. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that may cause the so-called greenhouse effect

B. The so-called sinks created by forests can absorb greenhouse gases.

C. The problem of rapid climate change has been caused mainly by deforestation. 

D. Politicians are among those who are concerned about climate change.

7. The word "drastic" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ____.

A. hard                        B. severe                     C. widespread                         D. obvious

8. What is probably the writer's attitude toward global warning?

A. Optimistic              B. Pessimistic              C. Neutral                   D. Positive 

IV. Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question. 

DESERTIFICATION

Desertification is the degradation of once-productive land into unproductive or poorly productive land. Since the first great urban-agricultural centers in Mesopotamia nearly 6,000 years ago, human activity has had a destructive impact on soil quality, leading to gradual desertification in virtually every area of the world. 

It is a common misconception that desertification is caused by droughts. Although drought does make land more vulnerable, well-managed land can survive droughts and recover, even in arid regions. Another mistaken belief is that the process occurs only along the edges of deserts. In fact, it may take place in any arid or semiarid region, especially where poor land management is practiced. Most vulnerable, however, are the transitional zones between deserts and arable land; wherever human activity leads to land abuse in these fragile marginal areas, soil destruction is inevitable. 

Agriculture and overgrazing are the two major sources of desertification Large-scale farming requires extensive irrigation, which ultimately destroys lands by depleting its nutrients and leaching minerals into the topsoil. Grazing is especially destructive to land because, in addition to depleting cover vegetation, herds of grazing mammals also trample the fine organic particles of the topsoil, leading to soil compaction and erosion. It takes about 500 years for the earth to build up 3 centimeters of topsoil. However, cattle ranching and agriculture can deplete as much as 2 to 3 centimeters of topsoil every 25 years - 60 to 80 times faster than it can be replaced by nature. 

Salination is a type of land degradation that involves an increase in the same content of the soil. This usually occurs as a result of improper irrigation practices. The greatest Mesopotamian empires-Sumer, Akkad and Babylon- were built on the surplus of the enormously productive soil of the ancient Tigris- Euphrates alluvial plain. After nearly a thousand years of intensive cultivation, land quality was in evident decline. In response, around 2800 BC the Sumerians began digging the huge Tigris Euphrates canal system to irrigate the exhausted soil. A temporary gain in crop yield was achieved in this way, but over-irrigation was to have serious and unforeseen consequences. From as early as 2400 BC we find Sumerian documents referring to salinization as a soil problem. It is believed that the fall of the Akkadian Empire around 2150 BC may have been due to a catastrophic failure in land productivity; the soil was literally turned into salt. Even today, four thousand years later, vast tracks of salinized land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers still resemble rock-hard fields of snow. 

Soil erosion is another form of desertification. It is a self-reinforcing process, once the cycle of degradation begins, conditions are set for continual deterioration. As the vegetative cover begins to disappear, soil becomes more vulnerable to raindrop impact. Water runs off instead of soaking in to provide moisture for plans. This further diminishes plan cover by leaching away nutrients from the soil. As soil quality declines and runoff is increased, floods become more frequent and more severe. Flooding washes away topsoil, the thin, rich, uppermost layer of the earth's soil, and leaves finer underlying particles more vulnerable to wind erosion. Topsoil contains the earth's greatest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms, and is where most of the earth's land-based biological activity occurs. Without this fragile coat of nutrient-laden material, plan life cannot exist. An extreme case of its erosion is found in the Sahel, a transitional zone between the Sahara Desert and the tropical African rain forests, home to some 56 million people. Overpopulation and overgrazing have opened the hyperarid land to wind erosion, which is stripping away the protective margin of the Sahel, and causing the desert to grow at an alarming rate. Between 1950 and 1975, the Sahara Desert spread 100 kilometers southward through the Sahel.

1. Which of the following statement is true about desertification? 

A. It has a history as long as that of civilization

B. It was just as serious in the past as it is today.

C. It is a fairy recent problem. 

D. Ancient societies managed the problem well.

2. The word "arable" in paragraph 2 is closet in meaning to ____.

A. cultivate                 B. dry                          C. settled                     D. populated 

3. According to the passage, many people's understanding of desertification is incorrect because ____.

A. they do not think of it as a serious problem

B. they see it as being reversible

C. they do not see it as being caused by human activity 

D. they think of it as a very slow process

4. According to the passage, agriculture further desertification through which the following activities ____.

A. The repetitive planting of the same crop                            B. Irrigation

C. The stripping away of native vegetation                            D. Over fertilization

5. The word “degradation” in paragraph 4 is closet in meaning in ____.

A. rejuvenation           B. deterioration           C. contribution            D. consumption

6. Paragraph 4 of the passage serves mainly to do which of the following ____.

A Show the progress of desertification down through history

B. Propose a method for dealing with the desertification problem

C. Describe one progress that leads to desertification

D. Describe the main cause of desertification in one particular area 

D. WRITING 

I. Rewrite the following sentences so that the second ones have the same meaning as the given sentence.

1. Alex is very hard-working, yet he will never get promoted by his mean boss.

Hard-working as Alex is, he will never get promoted by his mean boss.

2. "Have you ever thought about me in those days?" said her ex.

Her ex asked her whether/ if she had ever thought about him in those days.

3. The child must have come home by himself as his mother was busy that day.

The child almost certainly have come home by himself as his mother was busy that day.

4. Her change in appearance was way beyond his expectations.

Never had he expected her appearance would change so much/she would change so much in appearance.

5. If Ivan comes home late from the party tonight, give him a pair of keys.

In case Ivan comes home late from the party tonight, give him a pair of keys.

6 Because the local river was so polluted, all the fish and plants around there died.

Because of the local river’s pollution, all the fish and plants around there died.

7. "Why don't we chill out at the nearby swimming pool this weekend, sweetheart?” said Peter to his pregnant wife.

Peter suggested to his pregnant wife that they chill out at the nearby swimming pool that weekend.

8. I dislike it when Carlos keeps going at me for such trivial mistakes. 

I object to  Carlos keeping going at me for such trivial mistakes. 

II. Rewrite the following sentences so that the second ones have the same meaning as the given sentence.

1. Jane must have her dress ironed before she goes on her blind date with the guy she's been introduced by her lovely bestie. 

Jane's dress needs ironing before she goes on her blind date with the guy she's been introduced by her lovely bestie. 

2. You wouldn't find a person suit you better than your current partner anywhere in the world.

No where in the world would you find a person suit you better than your current partner.

3. The realization that he had been lying to me about his job all along came much later.

Only much later did I realize that he had been lying to me about his job all along.

4. You won't pass the JLPT test easily if you don't practice your Japanese frequently.

Without practicing your Japanese frequently, you won’t/ can’t pass the JLPT test easily.

5. The reason why Jenny didn't accept his proposal was that she didn't truly trust his love.

As Jenny didn't truly trust his love, she didn't accept his proposal.

6. I am going to the Chinese class this morning, come rain or shine. 

Whether it rains or shines, I am going to the Chinese class this morning.

7. Failing to pass the crucial exam, you must give up your French studying here from now on. 

You must either pass the crucial exam or give up your French studying here from now on. 

8. Jay Chou is the Chinese singer I admire most of all. 

There is no Chinese singer (that/ who/ whom) I admire more than Jay Chou.

PART 3: TEST YOURSELF

I. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined. 

1. A. government        B. monument              C. movement               D. comment

2. A. motto                  B. photograph                         C. force                       D. vote

3. A. demolish             B. supporter                C. resource                  D. reformist

4. A. attained              B. resolved                  C. disused                   D. decreased

5. A. expand               B. stagnant                  C. vacancy                  D. applicant 

II. Choose the word which has a different stress pattern from the others. 

1. A. compulsory         B. biography               C. curriculum              D. admirable

2. A. predominance     B. environment           C. technology              D. superstition

3. A. mature                B. mailbox                   C. surface                    D. manner

4. A. struggle              B. enlarge                    C. occur                       D. survive 

5. A. participate          B. psychology             C. ability                     D. temporary 

III. Choose the best answer.

1. Most reptiles have three chambers in their hearts, ____ some do have four. 

A. in spite                    B. although                 C. despite of               D. so long as

2. Mammals, ____ are warm-blooded, meaning that they generate their own body heat and are thus more tolerant of temperature extremes.

A. On the other hand  B. In contrast              C. In short                   D. In conclusion

3. Birds and mammals, ____ they are warm blooded, move more swiftly and have greater physical endurance than reptiles.

A. although                 B. thus                         C. because                   D. besides

4. We should set our printer's default ____ it prints on both sides of the page.

A. besides                   B. and                         C. so                            D. therefore

5. Your computer may go to sleep, ____ it's still consuming energy.

A. but                         B. even though            C. so                            D. furthermore 

6. We use compact florescent light bulbs, ____ last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. 

A. what                       B. that                                     C. which                      D. they

7. We should keep our freezer full ____ it runs more efficiently than an empty one. 

A. therefore                 B. but                          C. so                            D. because 

8. ____ brown and black bears, polar bears do not hibernate during the winter.

A. Alike                      B. Unlike                     C. Unlikely                 D. Apart from 

9. ____, farmers are facing more floods and droughts in our country and elsewhere. 

A. Meanwhile             B. In the meanwhile                C. For the meanwhile              D. In meantime 

10. ____ these two sources is considered green energy because they produce a lot of pollution when they are burned.

A. Both of                   B. Neither of               C. Because of              D. On account of

11. Animals like the Bengal tiger, ____ other endangered species, are a valuable part of the world's ecosystem.

A. As though              B. As a consequence               C. As well as               D. Such as 

12. Some countries, ____ circumvent the problem, have allocated large amounts of land to animal reserves.

A. so as to                   B. similar to                 C. owing to                 D. to conclude

13. You should ____ your car with petrol before starting on a journey. 

A. deal                        B. supply                     C. replenish                 D. offer 

14. The continued ____ of our ozone may cause terrible destruction to our planet.

A. conservation           B. responsibility          C. change                    D. depletion

15. These eggs come from free-range chickens ____ eat only organic grains.

A. which                     B. what                       C. who                         D. they 

16. An example of ____ is plant material that produces electricity with steam.

A. biomass                  B. fossil fuel                C. purification             D. pathway

17. There was no food in the refrigerator, so she had to visit the grocery store to ____ their supply.

A. conserve                 B. make full                C. spoilt                       D. replenish

18. Many native plants have been seriously ____ by the introduction of exotic plants which are taking over. 

A. depleted                 B. caused                    C. disposed                 D. fulfill

19. Tornadoes are known to have higher winds than tropical cyclones, ____ tornadoes are much smaller.

A. so                            B. however                  C. therefore                 D. but 

20. Earthquakes are one of the scariest natural phenomena ____ they are so unpredictable. 

A. because                   B. but                          C. so                            D. neither 

21. Too many products come in ____ packaging, and it's so wasteful!

A. disposed                 B. disposing                C. disposable               D. disposal

22. China, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other nations of Asia and the Pacific are making substantial commitments to ____ their natural resources.

A. replace                    B. conserving              C. conservation           D. be conserved

23. Plant shade trees to reduce summer heat ____ reduce watering needs in summer months. 

A. and                                     B. but                          C. so                            D. or

24. It has been said that the wars of the future will not be fought over land. ____, they will be fought over the water supply.

A. However                B. Besides                   C. Instead                   D. Therefore 

25. ____ any ice, there is nowhere for the bears to stalk their prey.

A. Despite                   B. Without                  C. In addition to         D. Apart from 

IV. Choose the correct word to complete the following sentences. 

clean                defense            ecologically                 benign             expense 

exploited          infinite patterns                       extreme            addressing

1. Today, the developed nations who achieved their wealth at the _____ expense ____ of the environment will be held accountable for protecting the earth's resources.

2. We can create environmentally- _____ clean ______ industries, harness the power of the sun, wind and waves for our energy needs and manage the finite _____ defense ______ resources of the Earth.

3. You can make your voice heard in ____ ecologically _____ of the living world by joining Greenpeace today.

4. In recent years, the chemical industry has introduced several herbicides that are more ___ benign ___ sound.

5. The biological agents now in use are environmentally ____ addressing ______ and are harmless to humans.

6. Environmental groups are _____ exploited _____ environmental concerns in the context of wider issues such as minority and gender relations, poverty, and community development.

7. Renewable resources are _____ infinite ____ so much that they will never be able to recover completely.

8. If we are sensible in how we use the resources they will remain _____ patterns ____.

9. The warming of the Pacific Ocean has created weather ___________________ that strongly affect the world.

10. Global warming is making ______ extreme _____ weather events, such as hurricanes and droughts, even more severe and causing sea levels all around the world to rise. 

V. Give the correct form of the verbs to fill in the blank.

1. Global Forest Watch has also _____ initiated_____ (initiate) a project to counteract deforestation through awareness.

2. Lessons learned from these techniques can ____be applied___ (apply) across the world, in places where vulnerable species are in danger from encroaching human settlement.

3. The environmental movement _____needs_____ (need) to mature its view of the role of people, technology and corporations.

4. Invasive species can even _____prey_____ (prey) on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction.

5. Herbicides and pesticides may keep yards looking nice but they are in fact hazardous pollutants that 

____affect_____ (affect) wildlife at many levels.

6. Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time ______to degrade ___ (degrade) and build up in the soils or throughout the food chain.

7. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and _____ suffer _____ (suffer) greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat.

8. Many opponents of offshore oil drilling point out that better energy efficiency will actually save more barrels of oil than could _____be gained_____ (gain) by all US offshore reserves.

9. Because we are all inhabitants on Earth, everyone is a stakeholder, and every person has something to

_____ contribute ____ (contribute) to advance effective pollution prevention awareness.

10. Although we can each help _____combat____ (combat) pollution in our immediate environments, we can do more by working to change legislation and policy on a larger scale.

VI. Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable preposition.

1. We should all accept personal responsibility ___for___ our local environmental protection programs by actively participating in making our atmosphere pollution-free.

2. The simplest preventive approaches are often quite complicated, expensive, and difficult for a small business ____to___ implement.

3. Every action or inaction of any person has an effect ___on__ the environment–be it good, neutral, or negative.

4. Due to our consumption and improper disposal ___of____ plastic items, human beings have created a swirling mess of garbage.

5. There are plenty of potential toxins still being ignored, ___with___ less than half of the 5,000 new chemicals widely dispersed throughout the environment since 1950.

6. One out of every four premature deaths in India in 2015, or some 2.5 million was attributed ____to____ pollution.

7. Several other countries such Bangladesh, Pakistan, North Korea, South Sudan and Haiti see nearly a fifth of their premature deaths caused ___by__ pollution.

8. ____In____ the Alps, the glacier surfaces have shrunk by half between 1900 and 2012 with a strong acceleration of the melting processes since the 1980s.

9. The authorities are now making a determined effort to adapt ___to___ the climate change in mountain regions to ensure that climbing can continue.

10. By 2020, global surface temperature will be more than 0.5°C (0.9°F) warmer than the 1986-2005 average, regardless ___of___ which carbon dioxide emissions pathway the world follows.

VII. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that needs correction.

1. Today, Indian cities offer a more densely lifestyle with homes and work places surrounded by urban heat islands with dust, noise and pollution. → dense

A. densely                   B. homes                     C. surrounded                         D. heat

2. The design of simple, low-energy bioclimatic strategies and better building materials can shelter from the outside world, creating havens of comfortable for occupants of all income levels. → comfort

A. bioclimatic              B. shelter from            C. creating                   D. comfortable

3. Solar panels could be used on the new development as part of a drive towards environmental sustainable.

→ sustainability

A. could be used         B. as                            C. towards                  D. sustainable

4. Global warming is now accelerating the rate of sea level raise, increasing flooding risks to low-lying communities. → rise

A. accelerating            B. raise                        C. risks to                    D. communities

5. Air pollution is defined as any contamination of the atmosphere that disturb the natural composition and chemistry of the air. → disturbs

A. is defined               B. disturb                    C. composition            D. chemistry

6. Water pollution is categorized into point resource, non-point source, and groundwater. → source

A. categorized             B. into                                     C. resource                  D. non-point source

7. Soil degradation also contributes to soil pollution, and it occurs as a result of over-graze, over-farming, or mining activities. → over-grazing

A. contributes to         B. occurs                     C. over-graze               D. mining activities

VIII. Choose the best answer to complete the passage.

INTERFERING WITH NATURE

Climate change is caused by the (1) ____ high levels of dangerous chemicals in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide. It is estimated that average global temperatures will rise (2) ____ between two and six degrees by the end of this century. We all know the effects could be catastrophic, but are we (3) ____ of the

possible solutions?

Crazy as it sounds, a group of academics from British universities is making a plan to build a 12-mile pipe, held up by a huge balloon, that would pump (4) ____ quantities of toxic chemicals, such as Sulphur dioxide, into the atmosphere. Surprisingly, there is good science behind the idea. The chemicals would form a (5) ____ layer around the Earth that would reflect sunlight and so cool the earth, much like the effects of a volcanic eruption.

1. A. absolutely           B. extremely                C. interestingly            D. repeatedly

2. A. by                       B. with                                    C. for                           D. in

3. A. able                     B. capable                   C. aware                      D. fond

4. A. great                   B. enormous                C. extreme                   D. absolute

5. A. protecting           B. protected                C. protective               D. protection

IX. Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Although noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound, is a widely recognized form of pollution, it is very difficult to measure because the discomfort experienced by different individuals is highly subjective and therefore, variable. Exposure to lower levels of noise may be slightly irritating, whereas exposure to higher levels may actually cause hearing loss. Particularly in congested urban areas, the noise produced as a by-product of our advancing technology causes physical and psychological harm, and detracts from the quality of life for those who are exposed to it.

Unlike the eyes, which can be covered by the eyelids against strong light, the ear has no lid, and is therefore, always open and vulnerable; noise penetrates without protection

Noise causes effects that the hearer cannot control and to which the body never becomes accustomed. Loud noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including human beings. In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels constrict, the skin pales, and muscles tense. In fact, there is a general increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear, and some of these responses persist even longer than the noise, occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the sound has ceased.

Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the same way that we would respond to danger. Recently, researchers have concluded that noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance. It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach. We have long known that hearing loss is America's number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of noise as well. Fetuses exposed to noise tend to be overactive, they cry easily and they are more sensitive to gastrointestinal problems after birth. In addition, the psychic effect of noise is very important. Nervousness, irritability, tension, and anxiety increase affecting the quality of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during waking hours, as well as the way that we interact with each other.

1. Which of the following is the author's main point? 

A. Hearing loss is America's number one nonfatal health problem.

B. Loud noises signal danger.

C. Noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health, 

D. The ear is not like the eye.

2. According to the passage, what is noise? 

A. A byproduct of technology                                   B. Physical and psychological harm

C. Congestion                                                                         D. Unwanted sound

3. Why is noise difficult to measure? 

A. All people do not respond to it in the same way.

B. It causes hearing loss.

C. It is unwanted. 

D. People become accustomed to it.

4. The word congested in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by ____.

A. hazardous               B. crowded                 C. polluted                  D. rushed 

5. The word it in the end of the first paragraph refers to ____.

A. The quality of life                                                  B. our advancing technology

C. the noise                                                                 D. physical and psychological harm

6. Look at the verb accelerate in paragraph 3. Which of the following is the closest meaning to it?

A. cease                       B. rise                          C. swell                       D. increase

7. It can be inferred from this passage that the eye ____.

A. responds to fears                                                    B. enjoys greater protection than the ear

C. increases function                                                   D. is damaged by noise