Vocabulary Items Explanations
Development: The process of growing or developing. Synonymous
words include: evolution, progress, advance.
These nouns mean a progression from a simpler or
lower to a more advanced, mature, or complex form or
stage:
"the development of an idea into reality;" "the evolution
of a plant from a seed;" "attempts made to foster social
progress."
Sustainable: Able to continue over a period of time.
(of economic development or energy sources) capable
of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting
natural resources or causing ecological damage
Sustainable A pattern of resource use that aims to meet human
development: needs while preserving the environment so that these
needs can be met not only in the present, but in the
indefinite future. It's a development that "meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs."
Environment: The surroundings in which a person, animal, or plant
lives. the natural world of land, sea, air, plants, and
animals.
"Nuclear waste must be prevented from leaking into
theenvironment"
Ecology: The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of
life and the interactions between organisms and their
natural environment.
Resource: Something that a country, person, or organization has
that they can use.
Details :
Any physical or virtual entity of limited availability, or
anything used to help one earn a living. As resources
are very useful, we attach some information value to
them.Resources help to produce goods so they have
economic value. Natural resources like forests,
mountains etc. are very beautiful so they have aesthetic
value. Gifts of nature such as water also have a legal
value because it is our right to enjoy them. On the other
hand, resources have an ethical value as well because
it is our moral duty to protect and conserve them for the
future generations.
Natural resources Natural resources are derived from the environment.
Many of them are essential for our survival while others
are used for satisfying our wants.
Resource Many resources cannot be consumed in their original
development form. They have to be processed in order to change
them into more usable commodities. This is known
asresource development. With the rise in human
numbers all over the world, the demand for resources
has also increased. However, there is a difference in
distribution of resources to different regions or countries.
Developed countries use more resources than
developing countries.
Desertification Desertification is the degradation of land in arid and dry
sub-humid areas, resulting primarily from human
activities and influenced by climatic variations. It's also a
failure of the ecological succession process.
Deforestation Deforestation is the conversion of (forest)ed areas to
non-forested land, for uses such as: pasture, urban use,
logging purposes, and can result in arid land and
wastelands. In many countries, deforestation is ongoing
and is shaping climate and geography. Deforestation
results from removal of trees without sufficient
reforestation, and results in declines in habitat and
biodiversity, wood for fuel and industrial use, and quality
of life.
Affluent having a lot of money:
Ex : affluent families/neighbourhoods
Indigent Very Poor
Urban belonging or relating to a town or city:
Ex : Urban areas
Urbanization the process by which more and more people leave the
countryside to live in cities
Collaborate When two or more people collaborate, they work
together to create or achieve the same thing.
Health care The set of services provided by a country or an
organization for treating people who are sick .
Debts An amount of money that you owe someone.
Investments The money that you put in a bank, business, etc in order
to make a profit, or the act of doing this:
Industrialisation The process of developing industries in a country
Raw Natural / Not cooked
Infrastructure the basic systems, such as transport and
communication, that a country or organization uses in
order to work effectively.
Extinction A situation in which a type of animal no longer exists:
Useful Expressions to take into consideration:
Civil society Rural-urban linkage Raw materials
Non-governmental Implementation of the Money investment
organisation approach Poverty elimination
Renewable energies Foreign investments Energy preservation
Urban areas Equal pay for women Recycling waste
Urban linkage Social justice Transport infrastructure
Climate change
Examples to enrich your vocabulary
1. Despite his shyness Khalid seems to find it easy to sustain relationship with neighbours.
2. The Minister of finance think that the economy of Morocco will sustain its growth for the
next few years.
3. That sort of diet is not sustainable over a long period of time.
4. As far as I am concerned, making wise use of national resources such as water and energy is
very important.
5. Global problems such as climate change, the damage to the ozone layer and the extinction of
wildlife species affect all of us. They are real threats to our survival.
6. We should do something to stop the extinction of dolphins.
7. Air pollution is a serious threat to health.
8. It is frightening to see people throw garbage in public places.
9. Hard work is rewarding; that is, it pays off.
10. I’ve been working hard for the exam. I don’t squander one minute of my free time.
11. I will pursue all my aims simultaneously through my life.
12. Each and everyone of us has a valuable role in sustainable development.
13. Citizenship relies on us taking part in sustainable development.
Practice :
A -Choose the right words: ECOLOGY / ORGANISMS/ ENVIRONMENT / RSOURCES /
DEFORESTATION / GENERATIONS
1. Man's greed is threatening the……………………………..
2. The extensive abuse of natural………………………….. threatens the very existence of
future………………..
3. One of the challenges that the world is facing is the issue of …………………. which is the
result of cutting down trees without even thinking of replacing them.
4. The term……………………..refers to the study of the relationship
between………………………… and their natural environment.
B- Complete the following collocations: EFFECT /POLLUTION/ REVOLUTION/
DISPOSAL
1. Air, sea, water …………………….
2. Greenhouse………………………..
3. Waste………………………..
4. Industrial…………………
