Unit 7 : Vocabulary: Ecological Issues : cours 1 Bac SM

1Course Objectives

This section outlines what students are expected to achieve by the end of the unit. Each objective is directly tied to the competencies assessed in the Regional Exam for 1st-year Baccalaureate students.

Learning Objectives Overview

By the end of this unit, students will be able to identify, use, and discuss vocabulary related to ecological issues in both written and spoken English, meeting the competency standards of the 1st-year Baccalaureate Regional Exam .

Identify and define key terms related to the main types of pollution: air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, and light pollution . Distinguish between major environmental problems such as global warming, climate change, deforestation, desertification, drought, and ozone layer depletion . Recognize and explain the root causes of ecological issues, including greenhouse gas emissions, industrial waste, and unsustainable practices . Describe the effects of environmental degradation: health hazards, rising sea levels, and loss of biodiversity . Propose and discuss concrete solutions and eco-friendly actions: recycling, reusing, reducing, saving energy, the use of renewable energy, and the principles of sustainable development . Apply word formation rules (e.g., pollute \to pollution \to polluted \to pollutant) and use correct collocations and prepositions in environmental discourse (e.g., responsible for, due to, result in).

$Objective$	$Skill Area$	$Exam Relevance$
$Identify types of pollution$	$Vocabulary / Reading$	$Comprehension & gap-fill tasks$
$Distinguish environmental problems$	$Vocabulary / Reading$	$True/False and matching tasks$
$Explain causes of ecological issues$	$Reading / Writing$	$Paragraph writing & essay tasks$
$Describe effects of environmental degradation$	$Writing / Speaking$	$Guided writing & oral tasks$
$Propose eco-friendly solutions$	$Writing / Speaking$	$Essay writing & debate tasks$
$Apply word formation & collocations$	$Grammar / Vocabulary$	$Sentence transformation & error correction$

Summary of course objectives mapped to key skill areas and exam task types.

Exam Tip

Regional Exam Focus

In the Regional Exam, ecological vocabulary appears in reading comprehension passages, vocabulary exercises, and guided writing tasks. Mastering the six objectives above will directly improve your performance across all parts of the exam.

Key Vocabulary Skills Targeted

Recognition

Understand ecological terms when reading authentic or adapted texts.

Production

Use the vocabulary accurately in written sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

Word Formation

Move between noun, verb, adjective, and adverb forms of environmental words.

Collocation

Combine words correctly: emit greenhouse gases, deplete the ozone layer, protect biodiversity .

2Essential Prerequisites

Before starting this unit, students should already master a set of language skills acquired during the Common Core year. These prerequisites ensure a smooth engagement with the new ecological vocabulary.

Basic Nature and Weather Vocabulary

Why it matters

Words like tree, river, mountain, sun, rain, and wind form the core of your existing nature vocabulary. In Unit 7, these familiar words act as stepping stones to more advanced ecological terms.

Key connections

rain \to drought (absence of rain) / flood (excess of rain) sun / heat \to heatwave, global warming wind \to air pollution, renewable energy

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple

Used to express general facts and permanent truths about the environment. Example:'Factories pollute the air.' /'Deforestation destroys natural habitats.'

Present Continuous

Used to describe ongoing or current phenomena . Example:'The climate is changing rapidly.' /'Ice caps are melting at an alarming rate.'

Quick rule

Present Simple = always true \to ecological facts Present Continuous = happening now / current trend \to environmental changes in progress

$Tense$	$Structure$	$Ecological Example$
$Present Simple$	$Subject + base verb (+ s/es)$	$Humans produce tons of waste every day.$
$Present Continuous$	$Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing$	$Pollution levels are rising in big cities.$

Comparison of Present Simple and Present Continuous in ecological contexts.

Expressing Opinions and Agreement

Giving your opinion

I think that we must protect our forests. In my view, renewable energy is the best solution. I believe that recycling can make a difference.

Agreeing

I agree because pollution harms both humans and animals. That's a good point. Indeed, \dots

Disagreeing

I disagree because plastic bans alone are not enough. I don't think that is the only solution because \dots

Classroom use

These phrases are essential for oral and written discussions on environmental solutions and will appear regularly in Unit 7 activities.

Reading Short Informational Texts

Core reading skill

You already know how to read a short passage and identify: the main idea, the causes of a problem, and the solutions proposed.

Reading strategy reminder

Read the title and first sentence to predict the topic. Look for cause-and-effect signal words: because, due to, as a result, therefore . Identify the solution keywords: should, must, can, could, it is important to .

Modal Verbs for Advice and Suggestions

Key modals

should, must, can, could — used to express obligation, possibility, and advice in environmental contexts.

Examples

We should recycle more to reduce waste. People must stop using single-use plastics. Schools can organise awareness campaigns. Governments could invest in solar energy.

Degree of obligation

must = strong obligation / necessity should = recommendation / advice can / could = possibility / polite suggestion

$Modal Verb$	$Function$	$Environmental Example$
$must$	$Strong obligation$	$We must reduce carbon emissions.$
$should$	$Advice / recommendation$	$Citizens should use public transport.$
$can$	$Possibility / ability$	$Solar panels can produce clean energy.$
$could$	$Polite suggestion$	$Factories could install filters on chimneys.$

Modal verbs and their functions in environmental responsibility contexts.

Basic Paragraph Structure

Topic sentence

Introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Example:'Pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems today.'

Supporting sentences

Provide facts, explanations, or examples that develop the main idea. Example:'Factories release harmful gases into the atmosphere. As a result, air quality decreases and people suffer from respiratory diseases.'

Concluding sentence

Summarises or restates the main idea using different words. Example:'Therefore, urgent action must be taken to combat pollution at every level.'

Exam relevance

This three-part structure is required for the writing task of the Regional Exam (1ère Bac). Mastering it now will directly improve your exam performance in Unit 7 and beyond.

Prerequisite Self Check Exercise

Statement

Read the following short passage and answer the questions below to verify your prerequisite skills.

Data

Passage: 'Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans. Marine animals are suffering because they mistake plastic for food. Governments must ban single-use plastics, and citizens should carry reusable bags. If we act now, we can still protect our seas.'

Method

Apply your existing reading, grammar, and vocabulary skills to analyse the passage.

Solution

Identify the MAIN IDEA of the passage in one sentence. Find ONE example of the Present Simple tense and explain why it is used. Find ONE example of the Present Continuous tense and explain why it is used. Underline ALL modal verbs in the passage and state their function (obligation / advice / possibility). List TWO nature/environment words from the passage that you already knew before this unit. Write ONE sentence of your own opinion about plastic pollution using 'I think that\dots' or 'In my view\dots'.

Interpretation

If you can complete all six steps confidently, you have the prerequisites needed for Unit 7. If you struggle with steps 2-4, review your Common Core grammar notes on tenses and modal verbs before continuing.

Plan du chapitre

Sur cette page

1Course Objectives
2Essential Prerequisites

Dans la classe

3Core Ecological Vocabulary: Key Definitions
4Types of Pollution and Their Impacts
5Climate Change, Global Warming, and the Greenhouse Effect
6Waste Management: The Three R's and Eco-Friendly Actions
7Natural Resources, Biodiversity, and Conservation in Morocco
8Word Formation, Collocations, and Common Confusions
9Guided Practice: Reading and Writing about Ecological Issues