(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!