B2 - Lesson 42 - Science Flashcards
disaster [/dɪˈzɑːstə]
a sudden event such as a flood, storm, or accident which causes great damage or suffering → catastrophe
One hundred and twenty people died in China’s worst air disaster.
the economic consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
disaster for
The oil spill was a disaster for Alaskan sea animals.
sewage [/ˈsjuːɪdʒ,]
the mixture of waste from the human body and used water, that is carried away from houses by pipes under the ground
Chlorine is used in sewage treatment.
The factory secretly dumped millions of gallons of raw sewage (=sewage that had not been treated) into the Ohio river.
oil slick []
a large area of oil floating on the surface of the sea or a river SYN slick
habitat [/ˈhæbətæt/]
the natural home of a plant or animal
watching monkeys in their natural habitat
The grassland is an important habitat for many wild flowers.
toxic waste []
waste products from industry that are harmful to people, animals, or the environment
a toxic waste dump
international agreements about the disposal of toxic waste
lorry [/ˈlɒri/]
a large vehicle for carrying heavy goods SYN truck
asthma [/ˈæsmə/]
a medical condition that causes difficulties in breathing
exhaust [/ɪɡˈzɔːst/]
1 to make someone feel extremely tired
A full day’s teaching exhausts me.
exhaust yourself
He’d exhausted himself carrying all the boxes upstairs.
2 to use all of something SYN use up
We are in danger of exhausting the world’s oil supply.
Having exhausted all other possibilities, I asked Jan to look after the baby.
fume [/fjuːm/]
to be angry about something
fume at/over/about
She sat in the car, silently fuming about what he’d said.
‘You’ve no right to be here, ’ he fumed.
exhaust fumes
the waste gases from an engine
marine [/məˈriːn/]
1 relating to the sea and the creatures that live there
the enormous variety of marine life
the effects of oil pollution on marine mammals
marine biology
2 relating to ships or the navy SYN maritime
tide [/taɪd/]
a current of water caused by the tide
Strong tides make swimming dangerous.
3 [countable usually singular] the way in which events or people’s opinions are developing
tide of
With the tide of public opinion against him, the president may lose.
It was their first major victory. The tide had turned (=changed).
debris [/ˈdebriː,/]
the pieces of something that are left after it has been destroyed in an accident, explosion etc
She was hit by flying debris from the blast.
contamination [/kənˌtæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/]
the process of making something dirty or poisonous, or the state of containing unwanted or dangerous substances :
The water supply is being tested for contamination .
The police immediately sealed off the crime scene to prevent contamination of evidence.
landfill [/ˈlændfɪl/]
1 [uncountable] the practice of burying waste under the ground, or the waste buried in this way
2 [countable] a place where waste is buried under the groun
