Natural disasters and extreme weather conditions

Read the texts and match them with the titles. There is one extra title you do not need to use.

Read the text. Six phrases have been removed from the text. Choose from the phrases the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one extra phrase which you do not need to use. England faces a range of environmental challenges, many of which are tied to urbanization, 1., and the growing impact of climate change. One of the most significant issues is air pollution, particularly in large cities like London. Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and the use of fossil fuels contribute to poor air quality, with nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter posing serious health risks. Flooding has become more frequent in England, exacerbated by 2. and poor land management. Rising sea levels and increased rainfall have led to 3. in recent years, particularly in low-lying areas and coastal towns. The damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land has prompted calls for better flood defenses and sustainable water management practices. Waste management is another concern, with the growing volume of waste, particularly plastic, overwhelming landfills and 4. and coastal waters. Although recycling efforts have improved, England still faces challenges in reducing waste production and managing its disposal effectively. Biodiversity loss is also a pressing issue, as 5., intensive farming, and urban sprawl threaten wildlife. Efforts are underway to protect natural areas, restore wetlands, and promote sustainable farming practices, but more 6. are needed to address the country's environmental challenges.

Choose the best answer which fits the gap (1-5). If stronger building codes 5. in earthquake-prone regions, fewer structures will collapse during seismic events.

Open the brackets and put the verb into the correct form using the correct type of the conditional. If people _____4. ( live) farther from the coast, they would be less vulnerable to storm surges during tropical cyclones.

Open the brackets and put the verb into the correct form using the correct type of the conditional. If deforestation _______ 5. (continue) at its current rate, landslides would have become more common in mountainous areas 3 years ago.

Open the brackets and put the verb into the correct form using the correct type of the conditional. If a major earthquake ________ 1. (strike) a densely populated city, it will cause widespread destruction and loss of life.

Choose the best answer which fits the gap (1-5). If we had built stronger levees, the city 1. during the storm.

Choose the best answer which fits the gap (1-5). If earthquake-resistant buildings 3. the norm, many lives could be saved in earthquake-prone areas in the future.

Open the brackets and put the verb into the correct form using the correct type of the conditional. If early warning systems _______ 2. (be) in place, the damage from the tsunami could have been greatly reduced.

Open the brackets and put the verb into the correct form using the correct type of the conditional. If relief efforts ______3. (delay), the aftermath of a natural disaster would become even more devastating for affected communities.

Choose the best answer which fits the gap (1-5). If better forest management practices 2. , wildfires wouldn’t have spread so quickly across the region.

Choose the best answer which fits the gap (1-5). If we 4. faster, we would have prevented the river from overflowing and causing widespread flooding.

Read the text. Choose the best word that fits the space. Russia, the largest country in the world, faces significant environmental challenges despite its vast natural resources. From deforestation to pollution, the 1. _____ situation in Russia reflects a complex interplay of industrial activity, natural resource exploitation, and the growing impact of climate change.

Read the text. Choose the best word that fits the space. Water pollution is also a growing concern in Russia. Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage frequently pollute rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. The Volga River, the longest river in Europe, is one of the most polluted water bodies in the country due to waste from nearby industries and municipalities. In addition, the Aral Sea—which Russia shares responsibility for with Kazakhstan—has almost completely dried up due to 4. ______ water management practices, leaving behind toxic desert landscapes.

Read the text. Choose the best word that fits the space. One of the most pressing issues is air pollution. Russia’s industrial hubs, such as cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, and Norilsk, face severe air quality problems due to 2. ______ from factories, power plants, and vehicles. Norilsk, for instance, is home to one of the world’s largest nickel and palladium mining operations, and it has become notorious for its toxic pollution, where the air often contains harmful levels of sulfur dioxide. This type of air pollution has caused widespread environmental damage, including the death of entire forests around the industrial areas.

Read the text. Choose the best word that fits the space. Deforestation is another major problem. The Siberian taiga, which houses the world’s largest forest, acts as a crucial carbon sink, helping to absorb CO2 emissions. However, illegal logging, forest fires, and industrial 3. _____ have led to large-scale deforestation, especially in the remote regions of Siberia and the Russian Far East. In recent years, wildfires have ravaged millions of hectares of Russian forests, exacerbated by higher-than-normal temperatures and dry conditions, which scientists link to climate change. These fires release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, further accelerating global warming.

Read the text. Choose the best word that fits the space. In the Arctic, climate change is having a particularly devastating impact. Russia controls a significant portion of the Arctic, and warming temperatures are causing permafrost—the frozen soil that underlies much of Siberia—to thaw. This thawing is destabilizing infrastructure, leading to the collapse of buildings and roads, and is releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, melting ice is opening up new shipping routes and opportunities for resource extraction, but it also threatens fragile ecosystems and indigenous communities that rely on the region’s 5. ______ resources.

Read the text. Choose the best word that fits the space. Despite these challenges, there is growing awareness in Russia about the need for environmental protection. Some efforts are being made to address these issues, such as the expansion of national parks, government initiatives to reduce industrial emissions, and reforestation programs. However, the scale of these efforts remains limited compared to the severity of the environmental problems the country faces. Addressing the environmental crisis in Russia requires stronger enforcement of regulations, investment in 6. ______ energy, and a shift towards more sustainable development practices.

Read the text below. Use the words given in brackets to form new words that fit in the gaps correctly. Global ecological challenges The melting of glaciers is 1.(accelerate) due to global warming, contributing to 2.(rise) sea levels that threaten coastal communities with 3.(flood) and displacement. This shift also impacts marine ecosystems, as the resulting changes in water temperature and salinity contribute to ocean acidification and the 4.(destroy) of coral reefs, which are essential habitats for marine life. Additionally, uncontrolled 5.(forest) exacerbates climate change and leads to massive wildfires, which, in turn, produce 6.(harm) air pollution, further accelerating ecological damage. The 7.(cascade) effects of these environmental issues heighten food 8.(secure), especially in regions where 9.(ecology) collapse disrupts the agricultural and natural systems humans rely on for sustenance. These interconnected crises represent the 10. (fragile) of ecosystems worldwide and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to prevent further degradation of the planet's resources.

Match the beginnings to the endings of the structures.