UNIT 7
Nature & biology
Humans have a varied and complex relationship with the
natural world. Below we will consider six different ways in
which we interact with our natural environment.
Victims of nature
Think of the lives of the earliest humans, and you may imagine
fights for survival against wild animals. Nowadays we put a
lot more space between ourselves and wildlife, but other kinds
of threats remain. We are at risk from natural disasters, like
tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, and we are seeing an increase
in the number of extreme weather events, like hurricanes,
owing to climate change. Some would argue that we have always
tended to ignore threats until it is too late, building cities in
earthquake zones, or houses on floodplains. But as threats
increase, the case for building better defences against natural
threats is becoming stronger1.
Destroyers of nature
At the same time, humans have been guilty of destroying
many natural habitats, such as forests or lakes, and have
brought many species to extinction. Activities like hunting and
poaching, either for entertainment or for trade, have caused
population decline in species such as tigers. Not all endangered
species are as well-known as tigers; some are tiny, possibly not
even visible to the naked eye, but still play an important role. For
example, they may regulate nutrient levels in the soil. Scientists
now understand the importance of protecting biodiversity2 and
preserving ecosystems of all sizes. Tourism, too, has created
problems in areas of natural beauty that are rich in wildlife. And
although there are conflicting views about zoos – it is, after all,
cruel to keep wild animals in confined spaces, away from their
natural habitats – many have breeding programmes and aim
to release animals back into the wild. Some countries actively
protect areas of special scientific interest, such as the Galapagos
Islands. And the demand for ecotourism has grown too,
allowing tourists to visit new areas in a responsible way.
Explorers of nature
Throughout history humans have also shown an interest in
discovering, mapping, and recording nature. Even now, new
plant and animal species are regularly being discovered and
these provide scientists with fresh knowledge, which can be
useful as well as fascinating. For example, the discovery of a
new plant species may play a part in the development of a new
Foundation IELTS Masterclass: Unit 7 Worksheet
medicine. Some people argue that we need to turn our attention
to space exploration so as to discover new, possibly habitable,
environments. However, not everyone is convinced by this when
there are so many more urgent needs on Earth and we do not
yet know everything about our planet.
Consumers of nature
A variety of industries work directly with nature, including
forestry (wood), fishing (seafood) and agriculture (cereals /
vegetables / livestock). Much of our natural landscape has been
shaped by these industries, and a growing proportion of the
Earth’s surface is used for agriculture. However, when soil is
farmed too much, it can become permanently damaged: every
year, large areas of land become desertified or barren as a result
of farming, and this affects many countries. Another concern is
the fact that farmers spray chemical pesticides and herbicides
on crops to kill unwanted animals and plants. These chemicals
can pollute groundwater and kill important species, thereby
reducing biodiversity. Some people believe we need more
sustainable methods of production, such as organic agriculture,
which uses natural fertilizers. However, population growth and
the need for space to grow biofuels and feed livestock is putting
pressure on land availability.
Lovers of nature
We also use open spaces for entertainment and leisure. For
centuries, humans have made nature part of their homes; for
example by creating gardens and owning pets. Nowadays even
people with limited space often grow plants to decorate roof
spaces and windowsills or to grow food. Since large cities began
to emerge in the nineteenth century, governments have been
creating public green spaces in towns, and protected areas called
nature reserves. The national park movement, which began
with the founding of the first national park in the USA in 1872,
has been particularly important in preserving large areas of
natural space.
Parks bring a range of benefits: for example, it is widely
recognized that nature can help improve mental and physical
health, attract tourists, and allow communities to come together
and socialize. Along with natural history museums, nature
centres and the like, parks can help educate young people about
nature, provide inspiration for artists and scientists, and help
protect species that would not survive in the wild otherwise.
Masters of nature
Humans are also learning an increasing amount about nature
and using this to their advantage. Of particular importance
has been the science of genetics, which has enabled scientists
to create genetically modified (GM) crops that have a higher
yield and are able to resist disease and survive in harsher
climates. Biological enzymes are added to cleaning products or
used to make new chemicals, or to break down human waste to
create fuel. Microbiologists are also learning to copy structures
found in nature to make stronger materials or better fabrics3.
Some people feel uncomfortable with our ability to alter nature
because of possible unintended consequences, and it is therefore
important that we use biotechnology carefully and regulate it.
1 See Student’s Book page 72 for more discussion of threats from nature.
2 See Student’s Book page 40 for more discussion of biodiversity.
3 See Student’s Book page 70 for more discussion of learning from nature.
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Vocabulary IELTS training
1 Complete the sentences with words in bold from 4 Do the following statements agree with the
the text. information given in the text? Write
1 Hurricanes are an example of . TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
2 There are differing opinions about whether interfering FALSE if the statement contradicts the
with nature to produce crops is a good idea. information
3 Use of and has a negative effect NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
on the variety of life forms in the soil. 1 The changing climate is causing some extreme weather
4 Organic farming is one of the more of food events.
production. 2 There are no good reasons for keeping animals in zoos.
5 Forests and lakes are important for animals.
6 Producing biofuels puts . 3 Ecotourism is proven to help us protect nature.
7 A preserves a large area of natural space.
8 Earthquakes are types of . 4 Most land in the world is now used for farming.

2 Choose one of the words in italics to complete the 5 Organic foods cost more than non-organic ones.
statements below, which are about words in bold
from the text. 6 Public parks have existed since the 1800s.
1 Enzymes come from plants / machines. 7 Parks can help keep our minds healthy.
2 Yield is another word for quantity / crop. 8 GM crops often have a poor yield.
3 Desertified land is good / bad for farmers.
4 Poaching is a threat to animals / land.
Mini debates
5 Fertilizers boost / harm water supplies.
6 Ecosystems are the relationships between humans and
5 Argue either for or against the statements below.
technology / animals and plants. 1 We should invest money in space exploration.
7 Floodplains are areas that are very wet / windy. 2 There is no reason to avoid eating GM foods.
3 It’s important to include green spaces in towns and
3 Discuss the meaning of the following words in cities.
bold from the text. 4 We should continue to raise taxes on air travel.
5 We should all become vegetarian.
endangered species ​ecotourism ​space exploration ​
agriculture ​landscape ​ genetics ​
biotechnology ​
nature reserves ​extinction

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