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(PUBLISH) last week, regional climate changes over the past two decades 4) … (INSPIRE)
a 6 percent increase in plant growth around the world. Rising temperatures, increased
rainfall and decreased cloud cover have all 5) … (PLAY) a part. The 80s and 90s were two
of the warmest decades on record and during this period the vegetation in its ecosystem 6)
… (FLOURISH). In the Amazon, decreased cloud cover allowed more sunlight 7) …
(REACH) plants; in India, monsoon-dependent trees 8) … (BENEFIT) from increased
rainfall. Despite these positive effects, climate change could well 9) … (CAST) a shadow
on plant life in the long term. Scientists argue that continued growth could disrupt fragile
ecosystems that have 10) … (BE) in place for thousands of years.

7. Fill in the correct preposition.
1. She was grateful … all the volunteers … their help. 2. The chemical factory’s owner was
found guilty … dumping barrels of chemicals into the river. 3. Did you hear … the
Environmental Weekend at Woodford in June? 4. Local authorities are anxious to hear …
anyone who may have seen the waste being dumped in the park. 5. Have you ever heard …
the greenhouse effect? 6. He has always been hopeless … speaking in public.

8. Read the text and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only ONE WORD
in each gap: more, well, of, for, there, such, many, come (derive), are, have, fact, to, major
(main), which, more than.
SOWING THE SEEDS FOR SURVIVAL
When people mention endangered species the 0) first things that come 1) … mind are
probably whales, pandas or tigers. Not 2) … people would think of plants, but, in 3) …,
there are far more threatened species of plants 4) … of the threatened mammals, fish, birds
and insects combined.
One of the 5) … threats to the survival of many plants is industrialization. This causes
pollution and acid rain, 6) … destroy forests and harm many species of plant. Another threat
is man! Many products that man uses 7) … from plants. For instance, many plants 8) …
collected from the Amazon and are used to make medicines. Other plants, 9) … as
mahogany trees are valued 10) … their timber and are very popular building materials.
There are even plants that 11) … become desirable collectors’ items. Luckily, 12) … and
more people are becoming aware 13) … the problem and change is on the way. 14) … are
now a number of organisations that are working to protect endangered plants as 15) … as
animal species and preserve all living things for the future.

IDIOMS & FIXED PHRASES
9. Fill in the correct animal from the list below, then explain the phrases in bold:
birds, butterflies, bull, lion, crocodile.
1. Ben was so nervous he had … in his stomach before he gave his speech.
2. If I go into town to visit Mark, I might as well kill two … with one stone and do some
shopping on the way home.
3. I don’t want to tell Liz the truth but I suppose it’s time to take the … by the horns and
get it over with.
4. I’m sure Joe wasn’t really upset; those were just … tears.
5. Peter has done most of the work, so he should get the ...’s share of the money.
10. Match the phrases in bold to the definitions. Have you got any similar
idioms/phrases in your language? A criticise; B busy and active; C be kind; D not show
gratitude for; E admire; F remain calm; G become disappointed; H not move
1. I really take my hat off to those eco-warriors. At least they are standing up for what they

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