The Environment

Reading exercises for English learners passionate about the environment

The Earth seen from space over the sub-continent of India
Our Earth seen from space over the Indian sub-continent (image courtesy NASA)

These lessons include readings, vocab, quizzes and comprehension questions, as well as topics for discussion and essays. If you care about our Earth, but find it hard to express your opinions and concerns in English, these pages will help you.

Environment Vocabulary

all levels
Do you consider yourself an earth activist? Talking about environmental issues is difficult to do in a foreign language. Learning the following words will help you express your thoughts and concerns in English.

From Whitewash to Greenwash

GREENWASHING is a fairly recent idea - deliberately making a company's products and activities look "greener" than they really are. Classic public relations BS!

Environment Gapfill Quizzes

A series of multiple-choice gapfill quizzes to test your understanding of terms and expressions used when talking about the environment and green issues.

level: intermediate

Mother Earth Gapfill Quiz

Save our Planet Gapfill Quiz

level: upper-intermediate

Consumer Activism Gapfill Quiz

Green Diplomacy Gapfill Quiz

Greenpeace Mission Gapfill Quiz

Protecting Biodiversity Gapfill Quiz

Threatened Species Gapfill Quiz

Natural Habitats

level: intermediate
Every living thing has a particular place in which it lives, and we call this place its habitat. A good habitat provides everything an organism needs to survive. It provides food and shelter, places for breeding or laying eggs, the right kind of climate, and so on. With vocab and quiz.

Natural Habitats Loss

level: intermediate
Habitat loss is a serious environmental issue that has led to thousands of species of animals, birds, plants and fish becoming endangered or extinct. In this reading you'll learn about the ways in which habitats of many kinds are being damaged or lost forever. With vocab and quiz.

Saving Natural Habitats

level: intermediate
Saving natural habitats is an urgent task, and it's something we can all help with. Find out what you can do to stop environmental destruction and save the world's endangered habitats and the animals, plants, birds and fish that live in them. With vocab and quiz.

The Disappearing Honeybee

level: intermediate
Did you know that the honey bee is disappearing? Find out how this could change the world in this lesson.

Greenpeace

level: intermediate
Read about Greenpeace, one of the world's biggest environmental organizations, best known for its direct-action campaigns against nuclear testing, seal and whale hunting, as well as against destructive fishing and forestry practices. With vocab and quiz.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

level: intermediate
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a non-governmental organization (or "NGO") founded in 1961 to protect endangered species of wildlife and preserve natural habitats. With vocab and quiz.

Environmental Activist David Attenborough

level: intermediate
Do you like watching shows about nature and wildlife? If you do, you've probably seen documentaries by British naturalist Sir David Attenborough such as his famous Life on Earth series. With vocab and quiz.

Climate Activist Greta Thunberg

level: intermediate
How did a 15-year-old high school student from Sweden become the world's most famous climate change activist? With vocab and quiz

Greta Thunberg on Climate Change

level: intermediate
Did you know that environmental activist Greta Thunberg features in a music video by British rock band The 1975? She speaks about climate change while stock footage and graphics play, implying that in the future images like these could be the only way people can see what our planet looked like before it suffered the effects of global warming. With vocab and quiz.