Unit 1 : The Natural World

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF LOGGING

Words

Lookfor thefollowing words as you read the passage. Match each

word with its correct deftnition.

Words Definitions
1 . aquatic A. n., the natural world

2. array B. v., to reach past, get bigger

3. defense1 C. n., a large number, a collection
4. deforestation D. n., loss of soil from action of water
5. environment or wind

6. erosion E. adj., Uvtng 1n the water

7. extend F. adj., Uvtng on the land

8. fell G. v., to cut down

9. habitat H. n. , the natural area where a plant or

antmal Uves
10. impact
I. n., a strong effect
1 1. inhibit
J. n., protection
12. intercept
K. v., to prevent, slow down
1 3. logging
L. n., plants
14. myriad
M. n., the removal of all trees from a
15. nutrient
large area
16. pollution
N. n., the cutting down of trees for
17. stabilize2 commercial purposes
18. terrestrial 0. v. , to disappear
19. vanish adj., many, numerous
P.
20. vegetation n. , damage to atr, water, etc.
Q.
R. v. , to keep from changing, maintain
S. v., to catch

1BrE: defence T. n., food

2BrE: stabilise

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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

Reading

Environmental Impacts of Logging

A
From shipping crates to paper bags, the logging industry supplies the
raw materials for an array of products. However, this is not without
untold harm to the environment. The damage includes habitat loss, pol­
lution, and climate change, with the effects spanning the globe from the
rain forests of Central Afrtca, Southeast Asia, and South America to the
northern forests of Canada and Scandinavia. The effects of logging
extend beyond just the felling of a swath of trees. Nutrients, water. and
shelter for plants, animals, and microorganisms throughout the ecosys­
tem are also lost; many life forms-both terrestrial and aquatic-are
becoming endangered as forests·vanish.

B
Trees protect the soil beneath them; thus, tree loss can affect soil
integrity. For example, the rain forest floor, home to myriad plant life as
well as insects, worms, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals,
relies on a dense canopy of branches and leaves to keep it healthy and
intact. The canopy prevents surface runoff by intercepting heavy rainfall
so that water can drip down slowly onto the porous earth. Tree roots
also stabilize the soil and help prevent erosion. In return, a healthy soU
encourages root development and microbial activity, which contribute to
tree growth and well-being. A major factor 1n l oggi ng-related soU dam­
age comes from road building, with trucks and other heavy equipment
compressing the spongy soU, creating furrows where water collects, and
disrupting the underground water flow. Eventually, the topsoil wears
away, leaving behind an infertile layer of rocks and hard clay.

c
Logging can also damage aquatic habitats. Vegetation along rivers and
stream banks helps maintain a steady water flow by blocking the entry of
soU and other residue, and tree shade inhibits the growth of algae. Remov­
ing trees obliterates these benefits. When eroding soU flows into water­
ways, the organic matter within it consumes more oxygen, which can lead
to oxygen depletion in the water, k1111ng fish and other aquatic wildlife.

D
Trees provide a natural defense against air pollution. They remove car­
bon dioxide from the atmosphere while they emit oxygen, and their
leaves filter pollutants from the air. Cutting down trees keeps pollutants

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 UNIT 1 ; THE NATURAL WORLD

airborne, where they can mJx with water vapor1 and fonn acid rain.
Water quality 1n nearby streams and rivers also detertorates as tree loss
contrtbutes to increased sedimentation.

E
In a healthy forest ecosystem, trees draw moisture from the so11 and
release it into the atmosphere wh1le they provide shade to lessen evap­
oration. Thus, deforestation impacts rainfall patterns, leading to flood­
ing as well as drought and forest fires. Deforestation is responsible for
about one-fifth of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, making 1t a
major contributor to cllmate change-in particular, global warming. In
the Amazon basin alone, deforestation is responsible for m1111ons of tons
of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere annually. Some
logging companies bum large tracts of forest just to facilitate access to
one area-a practtce2 that discharges even more carbon dioxide.

F
Forests, espec1ally the tropical rain forests, are a vital natural resource
with extensive biodiversity and irreplaceable wtldltfe habitats. More
responsible logging practices would help ensure that they are protected
for future generations.

Answer the questtons about EDvll'oDID.eDtallmpacte of LoglDg.

Questions 1-4

The reading passage contains six paragraphs, A-F.

Which pru·agraphs discuss thefollowing tnjormatlon?
"'ntethe co"ectwtter. A-�

1 . The tmpact of logging on the weather

__ 2. How trees inhibit soU erosion

__ 3. How deforestation contributes to air pollution

__ 4. The impact of erosion on fish

1BrE: vapour
2 BrE: practice n., practise v.

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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

Questions 5-8

I Complete the SUTTt1Till1'Y using words from the list below.

The logging industry 5 .......... trees to get the wood that is used to make

many products. This practice has 6. . . .. . effects on the environment.

. . . .

The natural 7 . ....

. . . .. of many terrestrial and aquatic animals are dam-

aged. Trees protect the environment in many ways. They are an effective

8. . .
. . . . . . . against both air pollution and sotl erosion.

aquatic defense habitats myriad

arrays fells intercepts vegetation

My Words

Write the words that are new to you. Look them up in the dictionary
and write their dejlnitions.

Words Definitions

12
noun defense The shade from trees provides a
defense against the drying effects
of the sun.

noun defender Defenders of the environment work

to protect plants and animals from
damage caused by logging.

verb defend Fish cannot defend themselves

from the effects of water pollution.

noun environment The environment needs to be

protected from the effects of
loggtng.

adjective environmental Logging causes a great deal of

environmental damage.

adverb environmentally It is important to develop more

environmentally friendly logging
practices

noun erosion Soil erosion leads to the pollution

of streams and rivers.

verb erode When soil erodes, there are no

nutrients left to help plants grow.

noun extent The extent of environmental

damage caused by logging is
frightening.

verb extend The Amazon rain forest extends

from Brazil into neighboring
countries.

adjective extensive The Amazon rain forest is the most

extensive rain forest in the world.

adverb extensively Rain forests around the world

have been extensively logged.

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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

DOUD p ol l u tion Deforestation contributes to the

effects of both air and water poilu-
tlon.

noun pollutant Factories add pollutants to the air

and water.

verb pollute Eroding soU pollutes water.

DOUD stability The stability of the natural envi­

ronment depends on the interac­
tion of many factors.

verb stabilize We need to stabilize the damage

caused by logging before it gets
worse.

adjective stable If the banks of the river continue

to erode, they will no longer be
stable.

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 UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD

Word Family Practice

Choose the con·ect word fwnUy memberfrom the list below to

complete each blank.

Modern industry has caused damage to our natural 1.......... in many

ways. The air and water are filled with 2.... . .. . . . . One result of this is acid

rain, which has caused 3. . . . . . . . . . damage to vegetation in many areas.

When large amounts of vegetation die off, the environment loses 4.......... .

If there are no plants to hold the soil, it starts to 5. . . . . . . . .. . This leads to

myrtad problems, including water pollution and habitat loss. 6 . . . . . . . . . . of

wildlife work hard to prevent further damage to natural areas.

1. environment environmental environmentally

2. pollution pollutants pollutes

3. extent extend extensive

4. stability stabilizes stable

5. erosion erode eroded

6. Defenses Defenders Defends

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 UNIT 1: THE NATURAL WORLD

PLANT LIFE IN THE TAKLIMAKAN DESERT

Words

Lookfor the following words as you read the pass09e. Mutch each
word with its correct definition.

Words Definitions
1 . accumulate A. adj., relating to change from one type
to another
2. adapt
B. n., behavior2 to deal with difficult
3. determine
situations
4. dilute
c. v ., to gradually increase over time
5. diverse
D. v., to be in a place: exist in
6. evaporation
E. v., to reduce to the least possible
7. extreme
aiDount
8. fringe
F. v., to grow well
9. mechanism n. . the edge of something
G.
1 0. minimize1
H. adj., varied, of many kinds
1 1 . moisture
I. v. , to change to fit a situation or
12. occupy environment
1 3. prolific J. adj., strong; sudden and destructive
14. resilient K. n., wetness or water
15. sparse L. adj .. tough, able to endure difficult
1 6. stressor conditions

17. sWing M. adj., small in numbers or amount

18. thrive N. adj., very severe or difficult

19. transitional 0. v., to make weaker by mixing with water

20. violent P. n. , the change from liquid to gas; loss

of water to the air

Q. n., a sudden or big change

R. v., to decide
s. n., something that causes great
difficulties
T. adj., producing a lot of something

1 BrE: m1n1mise
2BrE: behaviour
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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

Reading

Plant Life in the TakUmakan Desert

The Taklimakan Desert, second in size only to Africa's Sahara Desert,

occupies some 337,600 square k1lometers1 ( 130,300 square miles) of
northwestern China-an area about the size of Finland. Sparse rainfall,
daily temperature swings of up to 20°C (68°F), and violent sandstorms
make 1t one of the most extreme environments on Earth.
Eighty-five percent2 of the Taklimakan Desert consists of shifting
sand dunes, some up to 250 meters3 tall, that are largely free of vegeta­
tion. Yet, transitional areas between the open desert and oases on the
desert fringe support diverse plant forms that not only have adapted to
the harsh conditions but actually thrive there.
Successful desert plants are resilient to scorching summers and frigid
winters, drought, and high-salt conditions. The plants' principal
defense4 against these environmental stressors consists of drawing in as
much water as possible while minimizing moisture loss. Three Takli­
makan plants-Populus euphrattca. Tamarix ramosissima, and Alhagi
sparsifolta-represent some of the most diverse , prolific vegetation in the
area; although they share many sUIVival strategies, each has developed
unique coping mechanisms of its own.
The Euphrates poplar, Populus euphrattca. the only tall tree in the
Takl1makan ecosystem, has an extensive root system that allows it to
absorb water far from the standing tree. P. euphratlca controls evapora­
tion by opening and closing the stomata, or tiny pores, on the leaf sur­
face in response to the amount of moisture being lost through the leaves
to the surrounding air. These stomata generally remain open during the
day while the plant conducts photosynthesis.
P. euphratlca can endure high-salt concentrations in the soU. It takes
in unlimited amounts of salt through the roots, up the stem, and into
leaves, where it dilutes the normally toxic salt by increasing the number
and volume of its cells.
Tamarix ramosissima, a small tree with needlelike leaves commonly
known as tamarisk or salt cedar, takes in enormous amounts of water
via a far-reaching root system many times the size of the plant above
ground. Like P. euphrattca. tamarisk can naturally determine when to
close stomata to inhibit evaporation and regulate photosynthesis.

I BrE: ldlometres
2BrE: per cent
3BrE: metres
4BrE: defence

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 UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD

Tamarisk has a high tolerance for salty conditions and even produces
its own salt, which it accumulates in special glands between the leaves
and then releases onto leaf surfaces. Leaves dropping to the ground
make the soU more saltne, or salty, gtvtng tamarisk a competitive advan­
tage over less salt-tolerant plants.
Alhagi sparsifolta. a spiny shrub, thrives in the Takltmakan Desert
even though it uses large amounts of water. especially during the sum­
mer months. With only a few wispy roots in the upper soU, it is unaf­
fected by occasional flooding. Most of its roots reach down deep, where
they take up water from as far as sixteen meters below ground. Unlike
P. euphratica and T. ramosissima, which open and close stomata accord­
ing to conditions on the leaf surface, A. sparsifolia does so according to
hydraulic conductance-that is, the ease with which it takes up ground­
water.
Although desert plants have adapted for their own survival, they also
help protect their ecosystem by stabilizing sand dunes, preventing ero­
sion, presenting a barrier to sandstorms, and conserving biodiversity.

Answer the questions about Plant Life in the TalrJtmakan Denrt.

Questions 1-3

�lwos e the correct letter. A. B, C. or D.

l . Most of the Taklimakan Desert is covered with

A tamarisk.
B spiny plants.
C sand dunes.
D diverse plant life.

2. Plants in the Takltmakan Desert

A grow only in areas above 250 meters high.
B thrive in extreme conditions.
C are not very hardy.
D are mostly tall trees .

3. Environmental stressors in the Taklimakan Desert include

A sparse sunlight.
B lack of salt in the soU.
C extreme temperatures.
D periods of heavy rainfall.

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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

Questions 4-7

Which of the foUowing mechanisms used by plants to survive

in the desert environment are mentioned in the passage?
Choose four answers from the list below.

A Having strong roots that can hold on during violent sandstorms

B Closing pores to minimize loss of moisture
C Occupying a place in the shade of a larger plant to avoid the scorch-
ing desert sun
D Diluting the salt that the plant takes in
E Having large root systems that can reach water far from the plant
F Adding salt to the soU to minlm1ze competition from other plants
G Accumulating water in the leaves of the plant

My Words

Write the words that are new to you. Look them up in the dictionary
and write their definitions.

Words Definitions

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 UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD

Word Families

noun adaptation Plants in the Takllmakan Desert

have adaptations that allow them
to live 1n the dry. salty conditions.

verb adapt One way that plants adapt to the

dry desert is by developing deep
root systems.

adjective adaptable Most plant species are not adapt­

able to a desert environment.

noun diversity There is a great diversity of plant

life on the fringe of the Takltmakan
Desert.

noun diversification Change tn cltmate can result 1n

species diverstftcation.

verb diversify As cltmate changes, plant species

tn an area may diversify if condi­
tions improve.

adjective diverse The diverse ways that plants adapt

to desert conditions makes a
fascinating study.

noun extreme Temperatures tn the Taklimakan

Desert reach an extreme during
hot summer days.

adjective extreme Many plants cannot endure the

extreme heat of the desert.

adverb extremely The weather tn a desert is usually

extremely dry.

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ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

noun resilience The resilience of certain plants

allows them to thrive in the desert.
adJective resilient Desert plants are resilient to heat
and dryness.
adverb resiliently Desert plants grow resiliently in
the heat.

noun stress A long period of dryness causes a

lot of stress to plants.

DOUD stressor The main stressor in a desert is

lack of rain.
verb stress Heat and drought both stress
plants.

adverb stressful Certain plants thrive in the desert

despite the stressful conditions.

noun violence The violence of sandstorms keeps

many plants from thriving in the
desert.
adjective violent Violent winds tear up many plants
or cover them with sand.
adverb violently The winds blow violently during a
sandstorm.

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 UNIT 1: THE NATURAL WORLD

Word Family Practice

Choose the correct wordfamily memberfrom the list below to

complete each blank.

Desert plants have a variety of 1 . . . . . . . . . . that allow them to endure the

desert environment. Because a desert is 2 . . . . . . . . . . dry, plants need to be

able to take 1n as much water as possible when it rains and to store the
water for a long time. Special root systems and types of leaves enable

them to do this. Another so urce of 3 . . . . . . . . . . 1n a desert is the high tem-

perature, so desert plants need to have 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . storms can
occur in a desert, and plants with strong roots will be able to endure the
storms. Considering the diftlcult conditions 1n a desert, the 6 . . . . . . . . . . of
plants that can be found there is truly amazing.

1 . adaptations adapts adapted

2. extreme extremes extremely

3. stressor stress stressful

4. resilience resilient resiliently

5. Violence Violent Violently

6. diversity diversify diverse

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