Unit 33: Our endangered world

Question 1

shrinking habitats

Answer 1

places where animals live and breed which are decreasing in size

Question 2

climate change sceptics

Answer 2

people who do not believe that climate change is a serious issue

Question 3

exerts severe pressure on

Answer 3

puts great pressure on

Question 4

finite resources

Answer 4

limited resources that will eventually run out/be exhausted

Question 5

ecological balance

Answer 5

balance of natural relationships in the environment

Question 6

demographic projections

Answer 6

forecasts about the population

Question 7

exponential

exponential growth/increase

Answer 7

(of a rate of increase) becoming faster and faster

Question 8

exponent

She was a leading exponent of free trade during her political career.

a leading exponent of the Japanese flute

Answer 8

1) proponent
2) a person who is able to perform a particular activity with skill

Question 9

worst-case scenario

Answer 9

the worst possibilities for the future

Question 10

pristine environments

Answer 10

perfectly clean/untouched/unspoilt areas

Question 11

green credentials

Answer 11

reputation for postive support of the environment and for making policies that reflect this

Question 12

prophets of doom and gloom

Answer 12

people who always make the most despressing or pessimistic predictions about the future