Environmental Impacts and Sustainable Practices

Posted on Mar 16, 2025 in English

Vocabulary: Environmental Impacts

Key Terms:

  • E-waste (desperdício eletrônico)
  • Global warming (aquecimento global)
  • Hybrid car (carro híbrido)
  • Nuclear energy (energia nuclear)
  • Organic food (alimentos orgânicos)
  • Plastic bags (sacos de plástico)
  • Pollution (poluição)
  • Recycling bin (lixeira reciclável)
  • Solar energy (energia solar)
  • Wind farm (parque eólico)

Grammar: Quantifiers

Quantifiers with Count Nouns

Examples:

  • We need more wind farms.
  • There aren’t enough recycling bins.
  • There are too many bottles in landfills.
  • People should buy fewer plastic bottles.

Quantifiers with Noncount Nouns

Examples:

  • You save more money with CFLs.
  • People don’t buy enough organic food.
  • Regular lightbulbs use too much energy.
  • People should try to use less plastic.

Examples in Context:

  • I think it’s good that more people are buying hybrid cars. They help reduce global warming.
  • In my opinion, there’s too much e-waste in our landfills. We need a better way to recycle electronics.
  • Farmers should grow more organic food. I prefer food without chemicals.
  • Unfortunately, not many people use solar power. Is it because it’s expensive?
  • I feel people shouldn’t use too much nuclear energy. Isn’t it dangerous?
  • Some people say they don’t have enough time to recycle. That’s crazy!
  • I think shoppers should take fewer plastic and paper bags from the supermarket. I always bring my own bags.
  • Too many people throw plastic bottles in garbage cans. They should use recycling bins.

Giving an Approximate Answer

Phrases:

  • I’d say about…
  • I’d say maybe…
  • Probably…

Avoiding Answering

Phrases:

  • I’d rather not say.
  • I’d prefer not to say.
  • I’d rather not answer that.

Vocabulary: Tips to Help the Environment

Actions:

  • Buy local food (comprar comida local)
  • Fix leaky faucets (arrumar torneiras com vazamento)
  • Grow your own food (cultivar seu próprio alimento)
  • Pay bills online (pagar contas online)
  • Take public transportation (pegar transporte público)
  • Use a clothesline (usar o varal de roupas)
  • Use cloth shopping bags (usar sacolas de compras de pano)
  • Use rechargeable batteries (usar baterias recarregáveis)

Grammar: First Conditional

Structure and Usage

First conditional sentences describe real possibilities. Use the present tense in the if clause (the condition). Use will in the main clause.

Examples:

  • If we take public transportation, we will save money.
  • If we take public transportation, we won’t get stressed out.
  • Air pollution will get worse if we don’t reduce the number of cars.

Using Modals for Uncertainty

Use modals such as may, might, or could in the main clause when you’re less certain about the results.

Examples:

  • If air pollution gets worse, more people may get sick.
  • If you don’t fix your leaky faucet, you might get a high water bill.
  • You could spend money on other things if you grow your own food.

Further Examples:

  • You’ll use 60 percent less energy if you replace your regular lightbulbs with CFLs.
  • If you pay your bills online, you’ll use less paper.
  • We’ll save water if we fix our leaky faucets.
  • If everyone uses hybrid cars, there won’t be as much air pollution.
  • If you use a clothesline, other people may start to do the same.
  • We could save a lot of money if we use rechargeable batteries.
  • If I grow my own food, I’ll be healthier.