(noun) erosion
(verb) erode
When water (rain, river, ocean) slowly takes away dirt, sand, or rock.
EXAMPLE: You can see evidence of erosion at the beach. Every year, the city has to bring in some new sand.
exhaust fumes
the waste gas from a vehicle's engine (motor)
EXAMPLE: Never start your car inside a garage. The exhaust fumes will make you cough, possibly get sick, and even die.
forest
a large area of trees growing together
EXAMPLE: Let's take a walk in the forest. I love having the trees all around me!
(verb) pollute
(noun) pollution
to make water, air, or soil dirty or harmful
EXAMPLE: People need to stop polluting our rivers. Pretty soon they will be contaminated, and then what will we drink?
shade
an area where there is no light from the sun
EXAMPLE: I get very hot when I sit in the sunshine. I prefer to sit in the shade.
soil
the top layer of earth that plants grow in
EXAMPLE: I want to start a garden. I need to buy some organic soil to put my plants in.
wash away
to remove with water
EXAMPLE: Floods washed away much of the soil. The erosion is terrible!
approximately
close, but not exact
EXAMPLE: Our school has approximately 450 students. The number could be a little higher though.
carbon dioxide
a gas that is produced ____
1. when people and animals breathe out
2. when carbon is burned (for example, exhaust fumes)
EXAMPLE: Carbon dioxide, CO2, is one of the gases that causes global warming.
chop down
(phrasal verb) to cut through something to make it fall down
EXAMPLE: Chopping down trees speeds up global warming for many reasons.
crucial
extremely important or necessary
EXAMPLE: Having clean air to breathe is crucial to maintain good health.
inhale
to breathe in
EXAMPLE: Breathe in and out. Inhale and exhale.
oxygen
a gas that is in the air
EXAMPLE: People and animals need to inhale oxygen. Without it, they will die.
process
a series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result
EXAMPLE: The leaves of a tree turn sunlight into energy. Without this process, a tree would not be able to grow.
root
the part of a plant or tree that grows under the ground and gets water and food from the soil
EXAMPLE: We have a huge tree in our front yard. Its roots reach deep into the soil.
stay alive
to not die
EXAMPLE: Trees need water and sunlight in order to stay alive.
stay in place
to not move
EXAMPLE: The roots of plants and trees help soil to stay in place. Otherwise, erosion would wash away the soil every time it rained.
(verb) survive
(noun) survival
to keep on living
EXAMPLE: People need air, water, and food to survive.
global warming
an increase in the temperature of the air around the world because of pollution
EXAMPLE: Every day I read about global warming in the newspaper. I am very concerned (worried) about the way our Earth is changing because of the increasing temperatures.
put someone in danger
to cause someone's life or health to be at risk
EXAMPLE: Rising temperatures are causing droughts and wildfires. The lack of rain is putting people in danger!