200+ Common Words of Topic Nature and The Environment for the IELTS exam

1. Vocabulary about creatures in the natural environment

the animal kingdom (n.) – animals as one of the groups that all natural things can be divided into	Chimpanzees are one of the closest human relatives in the animal kingdom.
biodiversity (n.) – the number and types of plants and animals that exist in a particular area or in the world generally, or the problem of protecting this	As tropical deforestation continues, young secondary forests assume increasing importance as a reservoir of biodiversity.
cattle (n.) – a group of animals that includes cows, buffalo, and bison, that are often kept for their milk or meat	Scientists have warned that the use of growth hormones to make cattle* grow more quickly may result in a health risk for consumers.*
colony (n.) – a group of animals, insects, or plants of the same type that live together	Even with half a million ants, a colony* functions just fine with no management at all, at least none that we would recognise.*
creature (n.) – any large or small living thing that can move independently	All through the gardens and fences is a network of pathways and holes installed just for the ancient, spiny creatures.
demise (n.) – the death	Extinction is part of evolution. It was the demise* of the dinosaurs that let mammals flourish, and humans emerge.*
ecology (n.) – the relationships between the air, land, water, animals, plants, etc., usually of a particular area, or the scientific study of this	Richard Lenski, professor of microbial ecology* at Michigan State University, said the fight against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria could be helped by the discovery.*
ecosystem (n.) – all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment	Although desert plants have adapted for their own survival, they also help protect their ecosystem* by stabilizing sand dunes.*
evolution (n.) – the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years	Thus, culture and all aspects of it are basically products of natural selection and, more specifically, the evolution* of the human mind.*
extinction (n.) – a situation in which something no longer exists	But with an estimated 130 species disappearing each day, the world is on the brink of another mass extinction* that could rival the one that saw the dinosaurs disappear.*
fauna (n.) – all the animals that live wild in a particular area	Farming is threatening to destroy the soil and native flora and fauna* over vast areas of Australia.*
flora (n.) – all the plants of a particular place or from a particular time in history	The flora* of the survey area was not rich in species; less than 70 species of uncultivated plants were recorded.*
food chain (n.) – a series of living things that are connected because each group of things eats the group below it in the series	The chemicals enter our food chain, moving from fish to mammals to us.
fungus (n.) – any of various types of organisms that get their food from decaying material or other living things	A large plant was defoliated by an unidentified fungus* in the early 1993 rainy season.*
genetics (n.) – the study of how, in all living things, the characteristics and qualities of parents are given to their children by their genes	Biology was next, with genome sequencing throwing up so much data that genetics* has turned partly into an information science.*
herbivore (n.) – an animal that eats only plants	Since other herbivores* determine to a large extent the availability of grasses, they are likely to influence the decision of elephants to feed on browse.*
herd (n.) – a large group of animals of the same type that live and feed together	This type of camouflage works well for animals that travel in herds.
insect (n.) – a type of very small animal with six legs, a body divided into three parts and usually two pairs of wings, or, more generally, any similar very small animal	Meerkats feed mainly on insects, spiders and snails, but their diet occasionally includes small rodents, lizards and the roots of certain plants.
lifespan (n.) – the length of time for which a person, animal, or thing exists	Scientists are convinced that, because crocodiles have such a long lifespan, they must have a natural ability to combat infection.
mammal (n.) – any animal of which the female feeds her young on milk from her own body. Most mammals give birth to live young, not eggs	The cane toad did not eat the cane beetle and the toad population spread rapidly leading to the decline of native species of mammals* and reptiles.*
pack (n.) – a group of animals, such as dogs, that live and/or hunt together	Wolves use body language to convey the rules of the pack.
parasite (n.) – an animal or plant that lives on or in another animal or plant of a different type and feeds from it	The older drugs didn’t deal effectively with the malaria parasite.
pet (n.) – an animal that is kept in the home as a companion and treated kindly	I’ve always wanted to be a vet. But City vets really only dear with pets* and I wanted to work with larger farm animals.*
petal (n.) – any of the usually brightly coloured parts that together form most of a flower	The female flower has five, thick and leathery orange/red petals* that open to up to one meter in diameter.*
predator (n.) – an animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals	The first method involved introducing a predator* that would control pests by eating them.*
prey (n.) – an animal that is hunted and killed for food by another animal	Meerkats will even tackle dangerous prey* such as scorpions and snakes.*
scent (n.) – a pleasant natural smell	Hedgehogs do approach each other and can detect the presence of others by their scent.
species (n.) – a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other	What amino acids are present and the order they are in vary in different species* of moths and therefore give a clue to the place where the silk was made.*
swarm (n.) – a large group of insects all moving together	To find out, Seeley’s team applied paint dots and tiny plastic tags to all 4,000 bees in cach of several swarms* that they ferried to Appledore Island.*
threat (n.) – a suggestion that something unpleasant or violent will happen, especially if a particular action or order is not followed	All hedgehogs also share the same defence mechanism: they retract their vulnerable parts into a quill-covered ball, using special skin down their sides and over their heads and feet. Any perceived threat can make them roll up.
vegetation (n.) – plants in general, or plants that are found in a particular area	In terms of its natural environment, the meerkat avoids woodland and dense vegetation.
vermin (n.) – small animals and insects that can be harmful and are difficult to control when they appear in large numbers	Ironically, for centuries the English considered hedgehogs as vermin.
weed (n.) – any wild plant that grows in an unwanted place, especially in a garden or field where it prevents the cultivated plants from growing freely	Committee members spend the last Saturday of each month at a different city park, picking up trash, repairing equipment, pulling weeds, and planting flowers.
wildlife (n.) – animals and plants that grow independently of people, usually in natural conditions	Pesticides may help control pests but they are also harmful to local wildlife.
domesticated (adj.) – (of animals or plants) brought under human control in order to provide food, power, or company	Veterinarians trying to understand gum disease in domesticated* hedgehogs have concluded that the varied diet of wild hedgehogs gives them more than nutrition.*
endangered (adj.) – in danger of being harmed, lost, unsuccessful, etc.	I honestly think we should do a lot more because it’s vital for us to try to reduce the number of animals that are endangered.
extinct (adj.) – not now existing	The largest dragonfly fossil ever found belongs to the extinct* meganeura monyi, which lived 300 million years ago and had a wingspan of 75 centimeters.*
live (adj.) – having life	Probiotics are live* bacteria and yeasts promoted as having various health benefits.*
nocturnal (adj.) – being active or happening at night rather than during the day	Nocturnal migrants, those species that travel at night, seem to take their navigational cues from the stars.
rare (adj.) – not common or frequent; very unusual	Wildlife researchers have watched the hedgehogs reduce the numbers of rare* ground-nesting wading birds by feasting on their eggs.*
resistant (adj.) – not harmed or affected by something	Some fear that insects may become resistant* to these new crops and therefore become even more difficult to control.*
shallow (adj.) – having only a short distance from the top to the bottom	Rising sea temperatures have led to an effect called coral bleaching, that is, large numbers of corals dying off, especially in the shallower* areas of the reef.*
venomous (adj.) – a venomous snake, insect, etc., produces venom (= a poisonous liquid that can be put into another animal’s body by biting or stinging)	The Florida cottonmouth snake, which is also known as the water moccasin, has venomous* fangs.*
vulnerable (adj.) – able to be easily physically or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked	Since the introduction of the cat, the fox and the rabbit from Europe, 19 species of native animals have become extinct and a further 250 species are considered to be vulnerable.
adapt (v.) – to change, or to change something, to suit different conditions or uses	Some species live in urban areas, adapting* well to living in close proximity to humans.*
breed (v.) – (of animals) to have sex and produce young animals	This form of migration allows birds to breed* in areas that provide optimal conditions for nesting and feeding their young.*
evolve (v.) – to develop gradually, or to cause something or someone to develop gradually	Plants have evolved* a variety of methods to entice pollinators to do their work.*
forage (v.) – to go from place to place searching for things that you can eat or use	Studies have helped make clear that hedgehogs are good for gardens, eating vast numbers of slugs and other pests as they forage* in the vegetation at night.*
hibernate (v.) – (of some animals) to spend the winter sleeping	Some species hibernate* through cold winters in the north.*
lay (v.) – (of an animal or bird) to produce eggs from out of the body	One key to an ant colony is that no one’s in charge. No generals command ant warriors. No managers boss ant workers. The queen plays no role except to lay* eggs.*
thrive (v.) – to grow, develop, or be successful	Not indigenous to North America, the European honeybees nonetheless thrived* and often escaped into the wild.*

2. Vocabulary related to habitat and terrain

coast (n.) – the land next to or close to the sea	Thousands of day trippers flock to resorts on the south coast.
current (n.) – a movement of water, air, or electricity in a particular direction	The ocean currents* of the tropical Pacific travel from east to west.*
depth (n.) – the distance down either from the top of something to the bottom, or to a distance below the top surface of something	As less surface water, which is full of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, siphons into the depths of the ocean, less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, thus increasing global warming
glacier (n.) – a large mass of ice that moves slowly	The largest glaciers* in the world are found in the polar ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland.*
habitat (n.) – the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually lives	Such a large volume of travellers every year can cause environmental problems to fragile habitats* and historical sites.*
burrow (n.) – a hole in the ground dug by an animal such as a rabbit, especially to live in	At night, the meerkat retires to a network of burrows, which it digs with its powerful forelegs.
den (n.) – the home of particular types of wild animal	The bears will spend most of the winter in their den.
hive (n.) – a structure where bees live, either built by people or made by the bees themselves	Many of the early settlers brought honeybee hives* with them from Europe.*
jungle (n.) – a tropical forest in which trees and plants grow very closely together	He spent a year in the jungle, observing how deforestation is affecting local tribes.
moisture (n.) – a liquid such as water in the form of very small drops, either in the air, in a substance, or on a surface	As the air rises it becomes colder and moisture* condenses out of it.*
Mother Nature (n.) – nature, especially when considered as a force that controls the weather and all living things	It is better to try to work with, rather than against, Mother Nature.
seaside (n.) – the area near the sea, especially where people spend their holidays and enjoy themselves	There are extra trains to the seaside* during the summer.*
shore (n.) – the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or wide river	Over the past few years, we’ve been involved in conducting research on an area of the USA known as Lake Coeur D’Alene. Now, long ago, our ancestors came to these shores* from Europe.*
soil (n.) – the material on the surface of the ground in which plants grow	The use of heavy machinery like tractors can compact the soil.
stream (n.) – water that flows naturally along a fixed route formed by a channel cut into rock or ground, usually at ground level	Damselflies are not such strong fliers and are most often seen around the edges of ponds and streams* since they do not normally fly far from the water.*
waterfall (n.) – water, especially from a river or stream, dropping from a higher to a lower point, sometimes from a great height	Birch-bark canoes were lightweight and thus easily portaged around waterfalls* or from lake to lake.*
woodland (n.) – land on which many trees grow, or an area of this	Chemicals released into the air can cause both the smog that clouds our cities and the acid rain that can devastate woodland.
aquatic (adj.) – living or growing in, happening in, or connected with water	Some species lay their eggs on the stem of an aquatic* plant.*
marine (adj.) – related to the sea or sea transport	The oil spill has caused irreparable damage to several marine* species.*
native (adj.) – used to refer to plants and animals that grow naturally in a place, and have not been brought there from somewhere else	The 14 known species are native* to Africa and parts of Asia as well as Europe.*
non-native (adj.) – a non-native plant or animal is one that lives or grows in a place where it did not originally live or grow	Threats such as habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, invasive non-native* species, disease and climate change are on the rise.*
natural (adj.) – as found in nature and not involving anything made or done by people	With no natural* enemies there, a few hedgehogs soon turned into thousands.*
pristine (adj.) – new or almost new, and in very good condition	In order to attract more tourists, areas that were once pristine* are suddenly filled with luxury hotels and resorts.*
terrestrial (adj.) – (thuộc) đất; ở trên mặt đất, sống trên mặt đất	Many life forms – both terrestrial* and aquatic – are becoming endangered as forests vanish.*
tropical (adj.) – from or relating to the area between the two tropics	*Tropical* forests are now believed to be more vulnerable to drought.
wild (adj.) – used to refer to plants or animals that live or grow independently of people, in natural conditions and with natural characteristics	Conservationists have been warning that palm oil production poses a dire threat to the dwindling population of orang-utans, for example, which exist only in the wild* in Borneo and Sumatra.*

3. Vocabulary about natural phenomena and disasters

aftershock (n.) – a sudden movement of the earth’s surface that often follows an earthquake and is less violent than the first main movement	The initial earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks.
catastrophe (n.) – a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction	To prevent a catastrophe* of global proportions, we need to find a way to reach a compromise between meeting our energy needs and living in an environmentally sustainable way.*
decline (n.) – when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength	The cane toad did not eat the cane beetle and the toad population spread rapidly leading to the decline* of native species of mammals and reptiles.*
devastation (n.) – damage and destruction	Major rivers have flooded areas in a matter of days, and volcanoes have erupted, causing mass devastation.
disaster (n.) – (an event that results in) great harm, damage, or death, or serious difficulty	Though there is little debate that catastrophic events caused the mass extinction of several of Earth’s species, namely the dinosaurs, geologists still question whether asteroids, volcanoes, or other natural disasters were the cause.
drought (n.) – a long period when there is little or no rain	The torrential storm last night seems to be part of a pattern – a similar storm occurred two years ago following a severe drought.
flood (n.) – a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry	Hurricanes have heavy rains and are therefore more likely to cause floods.
flooding (n.) – a situation in which an area is covered with water, especially from rain	With only a few wispy roots in the upper soil, it is unaffected by occasional flooding.
heatwave (n.) – a period of time such as a few weeks when the weather is much hotter than usual	That heatwave* lasted five to six weeks, and the deaths came over a period of five to six weeks.*
hurricane (n.) – a violent wind that has a circular movement, especially in the West Atlantic Ocean	In September 1813, a major hurricane* destroyed US gunboats and ships that were defending St Mary’s, Georgia, from the British.*
puddle (n.) – a small pool of liquid on the ground, especially from rain	The floor was covered with gravel to control weeds and prevent puddles* during the rainy season.*
tide (n.) – the rise and fall of the sea that happens twice every day	The tide* comes in very quickly here and you can soon find yourself stranded.*
tremor (n.) – a slight earthquake	According to this theory, the Earth’s surface is broken into many pieces that can move against each other, causing tremors* at the Earth’s surface.*
typhoon (n.) – a violent wind that has a circular movement, found in the West Pacific Ocean	Hurricanes and typhoons* are both violent storms that develop over water.*
arid (adj.) – very dry and without enough rain for plants	In some cases, ancient textiles survived well because they’d spent centuries in arid, freezing or low-oxygen environments.
catastrophic (adj.) –causing sudden and very great harm or destruction	When farmers tried to eliminate the cane beetle by introducing the South American cane toad, the results were catastrophic.
freezing (adj.) – extremely cold	People are capable of living in a wide range of environments, from the hot deserts of Africa and the Middle East to the freezing* cold of Siberia or Northern Canada.*
heavy metal (n.) – a dense (= heavy in relation to its size) and usually poisonous metal, such as lead	They’re creating a tree that can soak up contaminants like heavy* metals right out of the soil.*
semi-arid (adj.) – a semi-arid area or climate (= general type of weather) has little rain but is not completely dry	The meerkat is found exclusively on the semi-arid* plains of southern Africa.*
severe (adj.) – causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc.; very serious	The severity of severe* weather events such as hurricanes and typhoons may have been underestimated in the past.*
torrential (adj.) – used to refer to very heavy rain	Torrential rain helped to disperse the large crowd, estimated at 150,000.
evaporate (v.) – to cause a liquid to change to a gas, especially by heating	Plants keep cool during the summer by evaporating* water from their leaves.*
flow (v.) – (especially of liquids, gases, or electricity) to move in one direction, especially continuously and easily	Deeper forces inside the Earth’s core heat this magma and cause it to flow* underneath the plates, pushing the plates.*
recede (v.) – to move further away into the distance, or to become less clear or less bright	When the tide recedes, the rays separate and withdraw to shelters on the reef.
mudslide (n.) – a mass of mud (= wet earth) moving suddenly and quickly down a steep slope	These countries were affected by torrential rainfall, in some cases, without precedent, extensive flooding, landslips and mudslides.
lava (n.) – hot liquid rock that comes out of the earth through a volcano, or the solid rock formed when it cools	Molten lava* spilled into the sea and exploded in glassy droplets.*

4. Vocabulary about the impact of humans on the environment

agriculture (n.) – farming	Certain human activities also have a negative impact on agriculture.
bottled water (n.) – water that is sold in bottles and that has been treated in order to make it very clean or that comes from a special place, for example a spring	For some cities with water connections, households take a variety of defensive actions, such as buying bottled water* and using electronic filter systems.*
cage (n.) – a space surrounded on all sides by bars or wire, in which animals or birds are kept	Zoos should try to re-create the animals’ natural habitat rather than keeping them in cages.
crop (n.) – (the total amount collected of) a plant such as a grain, fruit, or vegetable grown in large amounts	The destruction of food crops* can result from both a lack or a surfeit of water.*
desalination (n.) – the process of removing salt from sea water	If we choose the desalination of seawater as a possible solution, large amounts of energy will be required.
disposal (n.) – the act of getting rid of something, especially by throwing it away	The treatment and disposal* of domestic waste became a problem of the first order.*
draft (n.) – a piece of text, a formal suggestion, or a drawing in its original state, often containing the main ideas and intentions but not the developed form	Their vessel of choice was the “knar,” a cargo ship with a deep draft* and wide hull.*
effect (n.) – the result of a particular influence	To make accurate predictions, we need to take into account the effect* people have on their environment.*
farm (n.) – an area of land, together with a house and buildings, used for growing crops and/or keeping animals as a business	Farms were attacked by a swarm of locusts that damaged crops in the area.
farming (n.) – the activity of working on a farm or organizing the work there	Firstly, farming* practices themselves can be damaging.*
fertilizer (n.) – a natural or chemical substance that is spread on the land or given to plants, to make plants grow well	No reduction in chemical fertilizer* use for potatoes and silage corn was observed and increased crop yields were unlikely.*
impact (n.) – a powerful effect that something, especially something new, has on a situation or person	I think everyone in my country is so aware of the impact we’re having on the environment that I think it is conceivable that we’ll have solved the problem soon.
issue (n.) – a subject or problem that people are thinking and talking about	Educating the public about issues* of pollution and decreasing oil reserves may persuade more people to consider electric cars.*
mineral water (n.) – natural water from underground, containing dissolved minerals that are believed to be good for your health	Some producers of mineral water* have made fat profits.*
pesticide (n.) – a chemical substance used to kill harmful insects, small animals, wild plants, and other unwanted organisms	Since the birth of agriculture, farmers have tried to avoid using pesticides* by employing various biological methods to control nature.*
repercussion (n.) – the effect that an action, event, or decision has on something, especially a bad effect	It remains to be seen whether this controversial method will have any long-term repercussions, particularly in regard to the ecological balance of the environment where they are grown.
active (adj.) – involved in a particular activity	As a species, we humans appear to have a much more active* attitude toward our environment than any other species.*
annual (adj.) – happening once every year	However, there are environmental and social costs and other risks of relying on tourism as a major source of annual* income.*
appalling (adj.) – very bad	But I think it’s perfectly acceptable to keep chickens in cages to provide us with eggs, though a friend of mine thinks it’s appalling.
current (adj.) – of the present time	Clearly, our current* lifestyle is not sustainable.*
dense (adj.) – having parts that are close together so that it is difficult to go or see through	Because fresh water is not as dense* as salt water, it does not sink, which impairs the natural mechanism for forming the chimneys.*
devastating (adj.) – causing a lot of damage or destruction	There would be little time to prepare for the devastating* changes resulting from the weakening of the Gulf Stream.*
disastrous (adj.) – extremely bad or unsuccessful	Other introduced species have proved similarly disastrous* among native Australian animals.*
drinkable (adj.) – clean and safe to drink	There is a major difference between adding substances to the water to make it drinkable* and adding substances for any other reason.*
futile (adj.) – (of actions) having no effect or achieving nothing	Several futile* attempts have been made to draw conclusions as to the intelligence of various birds.*
genetically-modified (adj.) – a genetically modified plant or animal has had some of its genes changed scientifically	Some farmers believe that growing fruit and vegetables that are genetically-modified* is a way to eradicate pests and improve the quality of their produce.*
hypocritical (adj.) – saying that you have particular moral beliefs but behaving in a way that shows these are not sincere	I’m not a vegetarian so I think it would be hypocritical* of me to insist on the rights of animals.*
liable (adj.) – having (legal) responsibility for something or someone	There are a lot of great cleaning products now that are eco-friendly and I think governments are liable* to start putting pressure on manufacturers to produce more products like these.*
negative (adj.) – bad or harmful	Tourism has increased so much over the last 50 years that it is having a mainly negative* impact on local inhabitants and the environment.*
questionable (adj.) – not certain, or wrong in some way	I think it’s improbable that everyone will abandon the chemicals we’re using now. So many people have been using them for years and it’s questionable whether they will be able to convince everyone to stop.
risky (adj.) – involving the possibility of something bad happening	Predicting the weather is a risky* business for farmers.*
taxing (adj.) – difficult or needing a lot of thought or effort	We are confronting environmental problems that are more taxing* than ever before, some of them seemingly insoluble.*
tedious (adj.) – boring	Most work is useless and tedious, making unnecessary new products and services which waste resources and generate pollution.
urban (adj.) – of or in a city or town	Up until 1900 most urban* areas relied on private contractors for waste disposal, who operated only with the minimum of environmental regulation.*
cause (v.) – to make something happen, especially something bad	Once the storms had passed, they looked towards the volcano and wondered if that might erupt and cause* even more damage.*
consider (v.) – to spend time thinking about a possibility or making a decision	The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers* many textile manufacturing facilities to be hazardous waste generators.*
cultivate (v.) – to prepare land and grow crops on it, or to grow a particular crop	The tomato originated in the highlands of Peru. From there, it eventually found its way to Mexico, where it was cultivated* by the Aztecs.*
escape (v.) – to get free from something, or to avoid something	The air is very crisp up here as well, so a lot of people come up here to escape* the heat in the city.*
feed (v.) – to give food to a person, group, or animal	Meerkats feed* mainly on insects, spiders and snails, but their diet occasionally includes small rodents, lizards and the roots of certain plants.*
introduce (v.) – to put something into use, operation, or a place for the first time	There are three main hypotheses for the success of species that are introduced* relative to where they are native.*

5. Vocabulary about environmental pollution

acid rain (n.) – rain that contains large amounts of harmful chemicals as a result of burning substances such as coal and oil	Clearly, a long-term viable solution that does not produce acid rain* and is not damaging to the environment is needed.*
challenge (n.) – (the situation of being faced with) something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability	Climate change is arguably the greatest environmental challenge* facing our planet with increased storms, floods and species losses predicted.*
climate (n.) – the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place	Changes in our climate* bring about higher temperatures which in turn inevitably result in reduced yields of desirable crops.*
climate change (n.) – changes in the world’s weather, in particular the fact that it is believed to be getting warmer as a result of human activity increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere	*Climate change* also produces more extreme weather patterns.
contamination (n.) – the process of making something dirty or poisonous, or the state of containing unwanted or dangerous substances	This contamination* in turn affects our rivers and waterways and damages life there.*
deforestation (n.) – the cutting down of trees in a large area, or the destruction of forests by people	*Deforestatio*n is one of the main causes of soil degradation in the world today.
degradation (n.) – the process in which the beauty or quality of something is destroyed or spoiled	There is a high risk of dramatic biodiversity loss and accompanying degradation* of a broad range of ecosystem services if the Earth’s system is pushed beyond a certain threshold.*
emission (n.) – the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc.; an amount of gas, heat, light, etc. that is sent out	The best evidence indicates that we need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions* by 70 percent by 2050.*
environment (n.) – the air, water, and land in or on which people, animals, and plants live	Nevertheless, it is not too early to ponder what impact the widespread adoption of biofuels would have on our environment.
erosion (n.) – the fact of soil, stone, etc. being gradually damaged and removed by the waves, rain, or wind	As a result, the earth dries out, causing soil erosion, and our crop yields decline, meaning new sources of water need to be sought.
fumes (n.) – strong, unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous gas or smoke	It’s the fumes* cars produce that cause greenhouse gases.*
greenhouse gas (n.) – a gas that causes the greenhouse effect, especially carbon dioxide	These recommendations, however, address the symptoms of global warming, not the root cause: the generation of greenhouse gases.
pollutant (n.) – a substance that pollutes	Cutting down trees keeps pollutants* airborne, where they can mix with water vapor and form acid rain.*
pollution (n.) – damage caused to water, air, etc. by harmful substances or waste	Many of the Earth’s crises are chronic and inexorably linked. Pollution* is an obvious example of this affecting our air, water and soil.*
predicament (n.) – an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of	I doubt that recycling alone can get us out of our current predicament.
strain (n.) – a force or influence that stretches, pulls, or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing damage	Our way of life is putting an unprecedented strain* on the Earth’s ecosystems and threatening our future as a species.*
waste (n.) – unwanted matter or material of any type, especially what is left after useful substances or parts have been removed	After 1800, industrialisation, urbanisation and population growth would see the emergence of a new problem — waste* — and give a new significance to recycling.*
contaminated (adj.) – poisonous or not pure	The soil is contaminated* by factories and power stations which can leave heavy metals in the soil.*
immune (adj.) – not able to be punished or damaged by something	Affected species include the polar bear, so not even the Arctic is immune.
improbable (adj.) – not likely to happen or be true	I think it’s improbable* that everyone will abandon the chemicals we’re using now.*
irreparable (adj.) – không sửa chữa được	Unless the oil spill is contained, irreparable* damage will be done to the coastline.*
irreplaceable (adj.) – không thể thay thế được	These species are irreplaceable. Once they are lost our ecosystem will be changed.
irreversible (adj.) – impossible to repair or make right again	Scientists believe that the damage to this area is irreversible.
life-threatening (adj.) – a life-threatening disease is a very serious one that can cause death	There is an urgent need to find a way of life that is less damaging to the Earth. This is not easy, but it is vital because pollution is pervasive and often life-threatening.
toxic (adj.) – poisonous	On the other hand, farmers usually only spray their fields once or twice per year but these new plants would be toxic* all year round.*
widespread (adj.) – existing or happening in many places and/or among many people	Having evolved 45 million years ago and remaining virtually unchanged in North America for at least ten million years, shrews are some of the world’s most ancient and widespread* mammals.*
inevitably (adv.) – in a way that cannot be avoided	Changes in our climate bring about higher temperatures which in turn inevitably* result in reduced yields of desirable crops.*
inexorably (adv.) – in a way that continues without any possibility of being stopped	The bacteria spread inexorably* through many insect populations.*
contaminate (v.) – to make something less pure or make it poisonous	Much of the coast has been contaminated* by nuclear waste.*
disappear (v.) – if people or things disappear, they go somewhere where they cannot be seen or found	We must try to protect endangered animals, otherwise when a species disappears* the whole ecosystem is affected.*
dump (v.) – to put down or drop something in a careless way	People who dump* chemical waste into our waterways are very irresponsible.*
eradicate (v.) – to get rid of something completely or destroy something bad	The Cactoblastis moth larvae were introduced to help control the situation and within ten years, the prickly pear was virtually eradicated.
exacerbate (v.) – to make something that is already bad even worse	Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. This thawing ground has the potential to significantly exacerbate* climate change.*
poach (v.) – to catch and kill animals without permission on someone else’s land	The elephants are poached* for their tusks.*
sink (v.) – to (cause something or someone to) go down below the surface or to the bottom of a liquid or soft substance	After the Gulf Stream reaches southeast Greenland and western Iceland, much of the heat of the stream is gone, and the colder, denser water then sinks.
threaten (v.) – to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or someone	Unfortunately, this wondrous area of the world is threatened* by climate change.*
tolerate (v.) – to deal with something unpleasant or annoying, or to continue existing despite bad or difficult conditions	That means that they are probably not migratory birds but live in the region all year. They can tolerate* the winter weather in that area.*
worsen (v.) – to become worse or to make something become worse	The problem of warming then worsens: As less surface water, which is full of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, siphons into the depths of the ocean, less carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, thus increasing global warming.

6. Vocabulary about nature conservation

conservation (n.) – the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity	Generally speaking, people still prefer traditional architecture and the government has promoted the conservation* of historic buildings.*
conservationist (n.) – someone who works to protect the environment from the damaging effects of human activity	Britain’s conservationists* who have countered with strategies to relocate the animals.*
target (n.) – an object shot at during shooting practice, often a circle with a pattern of rings, or any object or place at which bullets, bombs, etc. are aimed	Stricter emissions targets* should be set and use of alternative sources of energy encouraged.*
achievable (adj.) – an achievable task, ambition, etc. is one that is possible to achieve	They’re a viable alternative to petrol-driven cars, so getting rid of pollution is definitely achievable.
advantageous (adj.) – giving advantages or helping to make you more successful	The more educated people are, the more advantageous* it is for the environment.*
conceivable (adj.) – possible to imagine or to believe	I think everyone in my country is so aware of the impact we’re having on the environment that I think it is conceivable* that we’ll have solved the problem soon.*
conceptual (adj.) – based on ideas or principles	Ecotourism has gone beyond the conceptual* stage to become something that many people have put into practice.*
effective (adj.) – successful or achieving the results that you want	Reducing our use of paper might be the most effective* action of all.*
environmental (adj.) – relating to the environment	Our environmental* problems are so great now that it’s unfeasible to imagine that we could solve all our pollution problems so quickly.*
environmentally-friendly (adj.) – not harmful to the environment, or trying to help the environment	They use environmentally-friendly* fabrics in their clothing made from recycled plastic bottles.*
feasible (adj.) – able to be made, done, or achieved	It’s quite feasible* that we’ll all be driving electric cars.*
recyclable (adj.) – able to be recycled	We can make sure we don’t throw recyclable* items into our normal waste disposal bins.*
stable (adj.) – firmly fixed or not likely to move or change	The least stable* section of this global current is in the North Atlantic.*
sustainable (adj.) – able to continue over a period of time	Sustainable development consists in exploiting our natural resources without destroying them.
unattainable (adj.) – not able to be achieved	The state of California has some of the most stringent environmental standards, many of which are currently unattainable* with conventionally fueled vehicles.*
unlikely (adj.) – not probable or likely to happen	It is unlikely* we will abandon our cars in large enough numbers to resolve this problem.*
unspoilt (adj.) – an unspoiled place is beautiful because it has not been changed or damaged by people	It is possible that the unspoilt* nature of the island means there is little in the way of entertainment.*
worthwhile (adj.) – useful, important, or good enough to be a suitable reward for the money or time spent or the effort made	Anything we do to raise awareness of these issues is very worthwhile.
outweigh (v.) – to be greater or more important than something else	In my view, the benefits of tourism far outweigh the drawbacks, and many of these countries would not have survived without the tourist industry.
overcome (v.) – to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something	We could overcome* the difficulties raised by this issue if all governments agree to limit emissions of harmful gases.*
preserve (v.) – to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it from decaying or being damaged or destroyed	To protect the natural environment and preserve* the ruins, no more than 500 people a day are allowed to enter the trail.*
reduce (v.) – to become or to make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc.	To reduce the impact that greenhouse gases have on our environment, we should plant more trees.
sow (v.) – to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow	Broad beans that were sown* in the previous autumn will be ready first.*
survive (v.) – to continue to live or exist, especially after coming close to dying or being destroyed or after being in a difficult or threatening situation	Unless we transform the way we live, we’re unlikely to survive* into the next millennium.*

These are the most common words for the topic of Nature and The Environment in the IELTS exam. This is one of the topics you are most likely to encounter in the test, so make an effort to regularly improve your vocabulary on this subject. You can find more common words for other IELTS topics in the category: Common words for IELTS on the azVocab blog.

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