English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

climate change 
sceptics
4
disagree, most scientists believe that 
global warming
5
will increase. This will encourage 
polar ice to melt, resulting in rising sea levels and climatic changes. Carbon (dioxide) emissions
6
from the burning of 
fossil fuels
7
are contributing to the 
greenhouse eff ect
8
. In addition, population 
growth 
exerts severe pressure on
9
finite resources
10
, and the 
ecological balance
11
may be upset 
by 
uncontrolled deforestation
12
. 
Demographic projections
13
suggest the world population will 
continue to 
grow exponentially
14
, putting extra pressure on
 depleting resources
15
. 
Waste disposal
16
is an increasing problem and 
toxic waste
17
is 
contaminating
18
many rivers and seas. Safe water may 
become an increasingly 
precious commodity
19
, leading to issues of 
water security
20
. One of 
the 
worst-case scenarios
21
is that there will be no tropical rainforests left by the year 2050. Our only hope 
is that 
pristine environments
22
such as Antarctica can be protected from development and 
damage, 
so that at least these habitats are preserved.
1
places where animals live and breed which are decreasing in size
2
variety of diff erent types of biological 
species
3
types of animals/plants which are in danger of no longer existing
4
people who do not believe 
that climate change is a serious issue
5
steady rise in average world temperatures
6
carbon dioxide gas 
from factories, cars, etc.
7
coal, oil, etc.
8
warming of the Earth’s surface caused by pollution, where 
gases trap and redirect heat back down to the Earth’s surface
9
puts great pressure on; 
formal
10
limited 
resources that will eventually run out / be exhausted
11
balance of natural relationships in the environment
12
unrestricted destruction/clearing of forests
13
forecasts about the population
14
grow extremely rapidly
15
resources that are reducing
16
getting rid of waste
17
poisonous waste materials
18
poisoning 
(something)
19
very valuable substance
20
ability to ensure that a population has safe drinking water
21
the worst possibilities for the future
22
perfectly clean/untouched/unspoilt areas