IU71: Talking about the environment

Vocabulary

[JOAN] I didn't realize that the city changed to natural gas from coal last month.[TODD] Yes.And I'm all for it. Less pollution, better Air quality. Water quality has been improving recently, too.[JOAN] Speaking of the environment, AI and I are thinking about buying an electric car. We were looking at some online last night.[TODD] Really? That's a great idea. Perfect for commuting. And they're getting cheaper fast.[JHON] Apparently, the new ones can go up to 170 kilometers between charges.[TODD] I didn't know that. Angela And I looked at monthly expenses recently. Can you believe we're spending 200 dollars a month on gasoline.[JHON] I believe it, Gas just keeps getting more expensive. That's why we're thinking about an electric car. They cost just a few cents a kilometer to run.[TODD] If you get one, I'd love to try it out.[JHON] Sure.

Key words

• coal
• gasoline
• pollution
• electric car
• natural gas

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Grammar

First conditional

使用第一条件陈述句来表示如果某一件事情发生而将引起的结果，第一条件句由两个分句组成，一个使用if+一种条件，另一个是结果从句，句中的动词为将来时态，使用情态动词will.

If we buy an electric car, it will help the environment.
If the city changes to natural gas, air quality will improve.

你也可以在结果从句中使用诸如can之类的情态动词。

If I save my money, I can buy an electric car next year.

Pronouncing words with the suffic -‘ion’

词尾为-ion的单词重音在倒数第二个音节上。注意粗体标出的重读音节。

transportation 、pollution 、 information、tradition、education

Communicating changes over time

使用进行时表示一段时间内的变化，现在进行时是指现在一个正在发生的变化。

Opinions about electric cars are changing.

现在完成进行时表示一个过去发生，现在仍在延续的变化。

Air quality has been improving for several years.

Get + 形容词常用于进行时，表示一段时间内的变化，其意义与become类似。

Commuting is getting more irritating.
The city has been getting serious about using natural gas.
it’s getting better all the time.