EnglishNature in Action
Quick voice check
Unscramble each sentence. Say Active or Passive, then change it to the other voice.
- People cut down trees (active)
- Trees are cut down (passive)
- We recycle paper (active)
- Paper is recycled (passive)
- Volunteers clean beaches (active)
- Beaches are cleaned (passive)
- Rangers protect animals (active)
- Animals are protected (passive)
Active | Passive |
|---|---|
People cut down trees. | Trees are cut down. |
Volunteers clean beaches. | Beaches are cleaned. |
Passive pattern: subject + is / are + past participle
Describe nature and people
Choose the correct relative word
Connect each noun type with the best word.
Connect each noun type with the correct relative word
- a person
- who
- an animal or thing
- which
- a person, animal, or thing in a defining clause
- that
Complete the environmental descriptions
Connect each beginning with its ending.
Connect the sentence beginnings and endings
- A ranger is a person
- who protects animals.
- A wetland is a place
- which gives birds food and water.
- The animal
- that lives near this river is endangered.
Follow plastic waste
Put the stages in the natural order.
Put the journey of plastic waste in order
- Plastic waste is dropped near a river bank.
- It is carried into the river by rain.
- It is taken to the sea.
- It is eaten by some animals.
Follow a tree-planting project
Put the stages in the natural order.
Put the tree-planting process in order
- Young trees are prepared by volunteers.
- Holes are made in the ground.
- The trees are planted near the wetland.
- The new habitat is protected.
Change the voice
Use the active sentence as your clue.
People collect glass. → Glass [___] by people.
The river [___] by plastic waste.
The tiger [___] in this forest is endangered.
The volunteers who [___] the beach are helpful.
People | Animals and things |
|---|---|
who protect wetlands | wetlands which / that provide habitats |
Listen to a wetland documentary
Listen once for the main idea. Listen again and notice passive sentences and relative clauses.
- Where is this bird found?
- What is its nest made from?
- What problems affect the wetland?
- Who helps to protect the area?
Look at the environmental scenes
Describe the scene.
- The trees are cut down.
- The animal which lives here is endangered.
- What happens to its habitat?
Describe the scene.
- The river is polluted by plastic waste.
- The volunteers who clean the river bank are helpful.
- What is recycled?
Talk about an environmental problem
Your topic
Describe one problem in your town, country, or one of the images.
Speak for about one minute.
Include
- two passive sentences
- one relative clause
- one problem and one solution
Useful language
Problems | People and solutions |
|---|---|
Forests are destroyed. | Volunteers clean the beach. |
The river is polluted. | Trees are planted. |
Animals are protected. | People who live nearby can help. |
The ocean, which covers 70% of Earth, is polluted. | We can recycle plastic waste. |
Speaking sequence
- Name the place or problem.
- Describe what is affected.
- Say what causes the problem.
- Suggest a solution.
Write about your country
Environmental problems in my country
Write 50–100 words.
Include
- two present simple passive sentences
- two relative clauses
- a problem, a place or animal, a cause, and a solution
Sentence starters
- In my country, ___ is / are ___.
- There is a place which ___.
- People who ___ can help.
- Plastic waste is ___.
- Animals that ___ need protection.
- Volunteers are ___.
Check before you finish
Check | Yes? |
|---|---|
I used is/are + past participle. | ☐ |
I used who for people. | ☐ |
I used which or that for animals and things. | ☐ |
My ideas are connected. | ☐ |
Key language to remember
Use | Example |
|---|---|
Passive: subject + is/are + past participle | The river is polluted. |
Passive plural | Trees are planted. |
who for people | The volunteer who cleans the beach is helpful. |
which for animals and things | A wetland which gives animals food is important. |
that for people, animals, and things | The species that lives here is endangered. |
Say the complete sentence
Look at each prompt and say a complete sentence.
- paper / make
- Paper is made from trees.
- volunteers / clean the beach
- The beach is cleaned by volunteers.
- an animal ... lives in a wetland
- An animal that lives in a wetland needs a safe habitat.
For next time
Write six sentences about a local environmental issue:
- Write three passive sentences.
- Write three sentences with relative clauses.
- Use at least four words from today: wetland, endangered, polluted, recycle, habitat, migrate, species, volunteer, cut down, protect, river bank, or plastic waste.
