This lesson practises 26 C2 collocations on Environment & Climate. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
hybrid car
The family replaced its diesel vehicle with a hybrid car.
temperature soars
The temperature soars during the hottest part of the day.
risk to public health
Untreated sewage poses a risk to public health after heavy flooding.
reduce carbon footprint
Cycling to work can reduce carbon footprint.
rain sets in
Rain sets in just as the outdoor match begins.
free airtime
The station donated free airtime to a campaign about urban air quality.
swarm of locusts
A swarm of locusts destroyed crops across the valley.
conserve natural resources
Water-saving systems help households conserve natural resources.
introduce green taxes
The government plans to introduce green taxes on high-emission flights.
flock of birds
A flock of birds crossed the wetland at dawn.
harmful to the environment
Single-use plastics are harmful to the environment.
sound travels
Sound travels differently in a large concert hall.
sunny spells
The forecast promises sunny spells between afternoon showers.
A fair number of
A fair number of trees were planted beside the new cycle route.
recycle waste
The new facility will recycle waste from local households.
solar heating
The cottage uses solar heating to provide hot water.
swarm of bees
A swarm of bees settled in the old apple tree.
troop of baboons
A troop of baboons crossed the track ahead of the safari vehicle.
air quality
Air quality improved after the council restricted traffic in the city centre.
stable environment
A stable environment is essential for coral reefs to recover.
dump waste
Companies that dump waste into rivers face severe penalties.
environmental catastrophe
An oil spill of that scale would be an environmental catastrophe.
weather patterns
Scientists study weather patterns to predict longer droughts.
heavy rain
The river overflowed after heavy rain overnight.
tell the resident's fortune
At the village fair, the fortune teller offered to tell someone's fortune for a small fee.
burst of energy
A burst of energy sent the young otter racing across the riverbank.