IELTS Speaking: WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENT

I. Vocabulary
Environmental Problems
• destruction of the rainforests (deforestation)
• melting of the icecaps
• extinction of many species (loss of biodiversity)
• destruction of the ozone layer
• global warming / the “greenhouse effect”
• rising sea levels
• pollution of land, sea and air
• increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes, landslides, floods
Causes of Environmental Problems
• excessive emissions of greenhouse gases, eg carbon dioxide
• chemical and industrial waste
• emissions from cars and planes
• improper dumping of household waste
• overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels
• genetic modification
• over-consumption
• over-urbanisation
Solutions to Environmental Problems
• recycling
• using renewable sources of energy, eg solar heating, wind-farms
• replanting trees
• cutting carbon emissions
• cleaner waste disposal
• sustainable consumption and development
• buying products with less packaging
• buying organic products
• buying products made from recycled material / renewable sources
• using natural remedies as alternative medicine
II. Questions:
Part 1 – sample questions
• What is the climate like in your country?
• Are there any problems with the climate in your country?
• What is your favourite type of weather?
• What kind of weather do you dislike?
• Would you prefer to live in a hot or cold country?
• What is the best/worst weather for travelling in?
Part 2 – sample task card
Describe an environmental problem. You should say:
• what it is
• how long it has existed
• how it affects people’s lives
and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future.
Part 3 – sample questions
1. Which environmental problems are people most concerned about in your country?
2. What are the main causes of these environmental problems?
3. Do you think it is the responsibility of governments alone to protect the environment?
4. What measures can individuals take to protect the environment?
5. Do you think large companies and business organizations should be more environmentally friendly? Why? How?
6. How can we teach children about the importance of protecting the environment?