Speaking Boost · C1 · Lesson 35 of 50
Speaking Boost C1 · Block 7: Environment and Responsibility

Can a rewilded landscape recover?

Rewilding aims to restore ecosystems and then step back. Review passive reporting structures, fronting and linking devices, learn the language of summarising, and give the final talk of Block 7.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Rewilding and nature

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is there a wild area near where you live?
  2. Would you like to see wolves or bears return to your region?
  3. Should farmland be given back to nature?
  4. Have you ever visited a nature reserve?
  5. Do you think people and wild animals can share space?
  6. Which animal would you be afraid to meet?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about nature.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. The variety of living things in a place is called .
  2. A forest, a pond or a river together with all its living things is an .
  3. An animal that hunts other animals is a .
  4. Conservationists plan to beavers to rivers where they disappeared.
  5. Plants that belong naturally to a region are called species.
  6. The natural home of an animal or plant is its .
  7. The permanent disappearance of a species is called .
  8. Volunteers hope to the damaged wetland to its natural state.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. biodiversity is the variety of
  2. a predator
  3. native = belonging
  4. a habitat is the natural
    of a plant or animal
  5. extinction = the permanent
    of a species
  6. to restore = to bring back to a
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to summarise an argument and reach a conclusion.

  • On balance,...Загалом,...On balance, rewilding seems worthwhile.
  • Taken together,...Якщо зважити все разом,...Taken together, these examples show that recovery is possible.
  • All in all,...Загалом,...All in all, the evidence is encouraging.
  • To sum up,...Підсумовуючи,...To sum up, nature can recover if given space.
  • By and large,...У цілому,...By and large, the results have been positive.
  • In conclusion,...На завершення,...In conclusion, rewilding is worth supporting.
  • Overall,...Загалом,...Overall, the benefits outweigh the risks.
  • It would be fair to say that...Було б справедливо сказати, що...It would be fair to say that results vary.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Can nature recover?

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Can a rewilded landscape recover?

Can a rewilded landscape recover? Rewilding means restoring natural processes and, in some cases, bringing back species that have disappeared, and then limiting human control. It is believed to work best where land can be linked into large areas, often through corridors.

The best-known example is Yellowstone National Park in the United States, where wolves were reintroduced in 1995 and 1996 after about seventy years. The wolves are said to have changed the behaviour of deer, which in turn allowed trees to grow along rivers, although scientists continue to debate how big this effect really was. Of particular interest is the idea of a keystone species, an animal that has an outsized effect on its ecosystem.

In Britain, the Knepp estate in southern England stopped intensive farming in 2001 and let grazing animals and natural regeneration shape the land. Surveys there are reported to have found increases in several rare birds and insects. Beavers, which build dams that slow floods and create wetlands, have been returned to rivers in several European countries. Not all projects have been successful: in the Netherlands, a large reserve called Oostvaardersplassen became controversial when many grazing animals starved in hard winters, which raised questions about management.

Critics point to the costs and the risks, especially to farmers, and argue that rewilding can conflict with local livelihoods. Given that land is limited, they say, choices must be made carefully. Supporters respond that the habitat gained is valuable, and that well-planned schemes can also benefit local communities, for example through tourism.

Taken together, the evidence suggests that landscapes can recover faster than expected, though not everywhere and not without planning. On balance, rewilding looks like a promising tool rather than a complete solution.

Would you accept a rewilded area near your home?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995 and 1996.
  2. The text says that scientists agree completely about the effect of the wolves.
  3. Beavers are mentioned as animals that can create wetlands.
  4. The Oostvaardersplassen project is described as free of controversy.
  5. The text concludes that rewilding is a complete solution.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Should we bring back lost species?
  2. Who should decide how land is used?
  3. How can farmers benefit from rewilding?
  4. Is wild nature a luxury?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Summarising and concluding

Use summarising phrases to close an argument: on balance, taken together, all in all, to sum up, in conclusion, overall, by and large. Put a comma after them and keep your final sentence short and clear. Begin with the strongest point first.

On balance, rewilding seems worthwhile. Taken together, these examples show recovery is possible. All in all, the evidence is encouraging. To sum up, nature can recover if given space.

Review of the block

Combine passive reporting structures (It is believed that...), fronting (Of particular interest is...), linking devices (moreover, whereas, given that, notwithstanding) and summarising phrases.

It is believed that beavers reduce floods. Of particular interest is the return of wolves. Moreover, rewilding saves money. Given that land is limited, choices are hard. On balance, it is worthwhile.

Block 7 review

Use the grammar from this block.

passive reporting structures (L31) · fronting for emphasis (L32) · linking devices: addition and contrast (L33) · linking devices: reason and concession (L34)

Common mistakes: use on balance, (not on the balance), taken together, (not took together), all in all, (not all of all) and a comma after each summarising phrase. ✗ It is believing that → It is believed that. ✗ Of particular interest it is → Of particular interest is. ✗ moreover but → moreover, ✗ On the balance → On balance. ✗ Took together → Taken together.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. It
    that wolves changed the river.
  2. the return of beavers.
  3. Rewilding helps;
    it saves money.
  4. land is limited, choices are hard.
  5. rewilding seems worthwhile.
  6. these examples show recovery is possible.
  7. The reintroduction is expected
    .
  8. the evidence is encouraging.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. It is believing that wolves changed the river. →
  2. Of particular interest it is the return of beavers. →
  3. Rewilding helps; moreover but it saves money. →
  4. On the balance, rewilding seems worthwhile. →
  5. Took together, these examples show recovery is possible. →
  6. All of all, the evidence is encouraging. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use summarising phrases and the grammar of Block 7.

  1. On balance, do you think rewilding is a good idea?
  2. Taken together, which examples seem most convincing?
  3. It is believed that predators help ecosystems. Do you agree?
  4. Of particular interest to you, which animal would you bring back?
  5. Given that land is limited, who should decide?
  6. All in all, can nature recover without help?
5

Three views and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on rewilding

Three people discuss rewilding. Compare them. Who is the most enthusiastic? Who is the most doubtful? Whose view is closest to yours?

Person 1

Dr Lind, 50

  • Is an ecologist
  • Says nature can recover quickly
  • Warns that planning matters
  • Admits that results vary
Person 2

Pavel, 55

  • Is a farmer near a nature reserve
  • Worries about predators
  • Says farmers must be heard
  • Is open to tourism income
Person 3

Emma, 30

  • Works for a conservation charity
  • Says rewilding creates jobs
  • Believes in corridors
  • Wants more beavers
5.2

Final talk of Block 7: environment and responsibility

This is the final speaking task of Block 7. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say whether a rewilded landscape can recover (use a summarising phrase).
  3. Part 2: use at least three structures from Block 7 (a passive reporting structure, fronting and a linking device).
  4. Part 3: give your final view in two sentences and say what you would do.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Do you spend time in nature?
  2. Do you like wild places?
  3. Would you support rewilding near your home?
  4. Which animals live near you?
  5. Do you worry about extinction?
  6. Would you volunteer for a conservation project?
  7. Do you prefer nature or the city?
  8. What is your best memory of nature?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family loves nature?
  2. Who taught you about animals?
  3. Who should look after wild places?
  4. Who benefits when nature recovers?
  5. Who in your life works with the land?
  6. Who should pay for conservation?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is rewilding realistic?
  2. Should predators be reintroduced?
  3. Is nature more important than farming?
  4. Can people and wild animals live together?
  5. Is conservation a luxury?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Presenting a rewilding plan

You

Planner

You present a rewilding plan to local people (your teacher):
  • describe the plan
  • give the benefits
  • answer a worry
  • use linking devices and a summarising phrase
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use Block 7 grammar.
Your teacher

Local resident

Says things like:
  1. What is the plan?
  2. What are the benefits?
  3. What about farmers?
  4. Will it work?
7.2

Final discussion for Block 7

You

Speaker

You are in a discussion group (your teacher). Talk about environment and responsibility:
  • talk about personal action
  • talk about food and flying
  • talk about who should pay
  • summarise your view
You do most of the talking. Use: It is believed that... · Of particular concern is... · Moreover,... · Given that... · On balance,...
Your teacher

Group member

Says things like:
  1. Is personal action enough?
  2. Can we feed everybody?
  3. Who should pay?
  4. Can nature recover?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

biodiversityecosystempredatorreintroducenativehabitatextinctionrestore
  1. The variety of living things in a place is called .
  2. A forest, a pond or a river together with all its living things is an .
  3. An animal that hunts other animals is a .
  4. Conservationists plan to beavers to rivers where they disappeared.
  5. Plants that belong naturally to a region are called species.
  6. The natural home of an animal or plant is its .
  7. The permanent disappearance of a species is called .
  8. Volunteers hope to the damaged wetland to its natural state.
H2

Block 7 review: choose the correct form

  1. It that the fund will grow.
  2. the cost.
  3. It is cheap; it is clean.
  4. time is short, we must act.
  5. the plan is good.
  6. the results are clear.
  7. The scheme is expected .
  8. it was a success.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 7 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. It is believed that wolves changed the river.
  2. It is believing that wolves changed the river.
  3. Of particular interest is the return of beavers.
  4. Of particular interest it is the return of beavers.
  5. On balance, rewilding seems worthwhile.
  6. On the balance, rewilding seems worthwhile.
  7. Taken together, these examples show recovery is possible.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. On balance,
  2. Taken together,
  3. All in all,
  4. To sum up,
  5. By and large,
  6. In conclusion,
  7. Overall,

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.