English Listening B1 Episode 29 - Track 05
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
TRACK 5
This week, four experts share with us what they think the key challenges for the world's environment will be in the future. As always, we are curious to get our readers' reactions. So tell us what you think.
1 Endangered species
The black rhino in Africa is in serious danger of . This is because some people think rhino horn has . They pay enormous sums of money for it. So people kill rhinos and . Tigers are in serious danger, . At the beginning of the 20th century, there were about . Now there are only about 3,000 left. In a few years' time, there might not be any ! These are just two examples. Many other animals are , too. Some of them may be gone forever .
Joc Wagner, Cape Town
2 Overfishing
It's not looking good for the . Certain species are in danger, and there aren't many of them in the sea where . Fishing ships are therefore going further and further . They try to get the rare species because they can get for them. If things go on like this, 40 years from now there won't be any fish left . It's not too late yet, but it soon. The oceans need much stricter laws and a fishing industry that .
Rick Cavendish, San Diego
3 Deforestation
About 30% of the world's land is still . But every year, we lose areas as big as the . Big companies earn millions from producing wood, paper and cardboard . Forests are also cut down to make more space for growing crops such as soya or creating . The consequences of deforestation are dramatic and partly responsible for . About 70% of the world's land animals and plants . If we lose the forests, we will lose .
Alejandro Silvas, Quito
4 Rising levels of sea water
Over the last 20 years or so, sea water temperatures have been . As a consequence, the ice caps around the poles have started to melt, and sea levels have started . If this doesn't stop, the water will rise further and may . Then some countries like the Maldives won't any more. There is also a danger that some huge low-lying coastal cities might end up . It's hard to imagine what the consequences of such changes .
Gajkaran Sanu, New Delhi
