CLASSROOM Grammar Elite
for Junior Secondary Students
Words by Theme

Theme: Resources and energy conservation (p.123)

1. 
   Fossil fuel (n.): fuels that were formed underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago
   
   
   e.g.
   Experts have suggested that the use of most fossil fuels (化石燃料) should be cut, otherwise (否則) a sharp (急劇的) rise in global temperatures could lead to more natural disasters (自然災害).


2. 
   Disastrous (adj.): very bad or harmful
   
   
   e.g.
   If we continue to exploit (開採) oil and gasoline (汽油) fields, we will not be able to afford the disastrous (災難性的) consequences (後果).


3. 
   Consumption (n.): the amount used
   
   
   e.g.
   More and more car buyers are opting (選擇) for electric vehicles (交通工具) rather than conventional (傳統的) ones, which has greatly reduce fuel consumption (消耗).


4. 
   Appliance (n.): an electrical device, machine, or piece of equipment used in the house
   
   
   e.g.
   Many appliance (家用電器) brands (品牌) are optimising (優化) their products to reduce carbon footprints (碳足跡).


5. 
   Pollute (v.): to make air, water, soil etc dangerously dirty and not suitable for people to use
   
   
   e.g.
   Motor vehicle (汽車) exhaust (尾氣) has seriously polluted (污染) the air, so we should choose more environmentally friendly (環保) ways to travel.


6. 
   Jeopardise (v.): to put something in danger of being harmed or damaged
   
   
   e.g.
   Ecologically (生態地) destructive (破壞性的) activities are jeopardising (危害) the Earth. The thinning of the ozone layer (臭氧層) is now one of the most serious environmental problems.


7. 
   Ecosystem (n.): all the plants and living creatures in a particular area considered in relation to their physical environment
   
   
   e.g.
   Energy conservation (節能) and emission reduction (減排) will help alleviate (緩解) climate anomalies (反常現象) and maintain a balanced ecosystem (生態系統).


8. 
   Extreme climate event (n.): a weather event that is rare for the place where it occurs
   
   
   e.g.
   Uncontrolled (不加約束的) use of fossil fuels can cause extreme climate events (極端氣候事件) such as mudslides (泥石流) and droughts (乾旱).


9. 
   Smog (n.): a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals that harms your health
   
   
   e.g.
   Exhaust gas from cars can form smog (煙霧). This kind of pollutants influences visibility (能見度) as well as human health.


10. 
    Asthma (n.): a lung condition that makes breathing difficult
    
    
    e.g.
    Medical (醫學的) researchers point out that some compounds (化合物) emitted by factories can affect air quality, which further aggravate (加重) asthma (哮喘).


11. 
    Solar (adj.): using the energy from the sun to produce electric power
    
    
    e.g.
    Solar (太陽的) energy is a kind of clean energy (潔淨能源) which does not emit pernicious (有害的) substances (物質) to the environment


12. 
    Hydroelectric (adj.): producing electricity by the force of fast moving water
    
    
    e.g.
    Although hydroelectric (水力發電的) power has its advantages, the transmission (傳輸) cost is high when the distance between the hydroelectric power station and power consumption (消耗) area is long.


13. 
    Biofuel (n.): a fuel that is made from living things or their waste
    
    
    e.g.
    Biofuel (生物燃料) is a kind of renewable energy. It does not produce sulphide (硫化物) when burning and its ash (灰燼) can be recycled for crops (農作物).


14. 
    Reserve (n.): a supply of something that is available for use when it is needed
    
    
    e.g.
    Given (考慮到) the limited reserves (儲存) of fossil fuels and the pollution they cause, people start to use clean energy.