TOEFL IBT – Environmental Science
Vocabulary is promordial in order to improve your TOEFL score. Remember, Preparation is the key to succeed !
This vocabulary will be useful if you ever take an environmental science course in school, for expanding your English vocabulary, or especially for any number of English language exams you may take. Here we will look at the most commonly used words in the field, along with their French translations.
abiotic |
non-living factors of the environment |
A further abiotic factor is moisture, which is important for respiration. |
abiotique |
acclimation |
the process of an organism adjusting to chronic change in its environment |
Acclimation to those temperatures may decrease fitness in an individual. |
l’acclimatation |
acid rain |
rain that is unusually acidic |
The tiles had deteriorated badly due to the effects of acid rain. |
la pluie acide |
aerobic |
requiring air or oxygen |
And aerobic or step classes aren’t for everyone either. |
d’aérobic |
air pollution |
the modification of the natural characteristics of the atmosphere by a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent |
Sparring over the air pollution plan is likely to intensify this summer. |
la pollution de l’air |
aquifer |
a bed or layer yielding water for wells and springs |
After that the aquifer will be handed over to the state. |
l’aquifère |
biodegradable |
capable of being decomposed through the action of organisms, especially bacteria |
And it, too, was biodegradable and flame-retardant. |
biodégradable |
biome |
a climatic and geographically defined area of ecologically similar communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms |
The garden will incorporate plants from desert biomes around the world. |
le biome |
carbon footprint |
a measure of the carbon emissions that are emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service |
Contractors were encouraged to purchase materials locally to reduce the carbon footprint. |
l’empreinte carbone |
climate change |
a change in weather over time |
No conclusions about climate change can be drawn from a single downpour. |
le changement climatique |
climate |
the general variations of weather in a region over long periods of time |
This garden has become an anthology of plants from these climates. |
le climat |
compost |
the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic matter |
Add compost or other organic matter and till the soil well. |
le compost |
crude oil |
naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons under normal temperature and pressure |
Worldwide crude oil and natural gas prices have continued to improve. |
le pétrole brut |
cyclone |
intense low pressure weather system |
It’s like a week of standing in a cyclone. |
le cyclone |
desert |
an area that receives an average annual precipitation of less than 250 mm |
The siege mentality is illustrated along the desert border with Iraq. |
le désert |
drought |
an acute water shortage relative to availability |
Well, maybe the drought is just coming to an end. |
la sécheresse |
ecosystem |
a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and their non-living environment all interacting as a functional unit |
The group will study freshwater ecosystems and learn how to canoe. |
l’écosystème |
endangered species |
a species which is at risk of becoming extinct |
Busch Gardens already cares for nearly 300 threatened or endangered species. |
l’espèce en voie d’extinction |
environment |
the external conditions, resources, stimuli, etc. with which an organism interacts |
It will take more than 8 percent to change the environment. |
l’environnement |
erosion |
displacement of solids, usually by the agents of currents such as wind, water, etc. |
Yes, the erosion of the riverbank is real and destructive. |
l’érosion |
food chain |
the feeding relationships between species within an ecosystem |
Homo sapiens are no longer at the top of the food chain. |
la chaîne alimentaire |
fossil fuel |
any hydrocarbon deposit that can be burned for heat or power, such as coal, oil, or natural gas |
Vehicles, industry, and agriculture produce gas when they burn fossil fuels. |
le combustible fossile |
global warming |
the observable increase in global temperatures |
Global warming of the oceans is taking a toll as well. |
le réchauffement planétaire |
greenhouse gas |
any gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect |
Water vapor is an even more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. |
le gaz à effet de serre |
groundwater |
water found below the surface |
Traditional groundwater treatment could run as high as $26 million. |
les eaux souterraines |
hydrocarbon |
chemical made up of carbon and hydrogen that is found in raw materials such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas |
It also cuts hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide at the same time. |
l’hydrocarbure |
insecticide |
a pesticide used to control insects in all developmental forms |
Don’t use herbicides and insecticides on your lawn. |
l’insecticide |
irrigation |
watering of plants, no matter what system is used |
Canadians helped build universities, manage forests, and construct irrigation systems. |
l’irrigation |
landfill |
solid waste disposal in which refuse is buried between layers of soil |
Confiscated weapons are certified, bundled, and taken to a landfill. |
la décharge |
magma |
molten rock that sometimes forms beneath the surface of the Earth |
Magma pours into the depression, forming domes and other features. |
le magma |
natural resources |
naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified form |
We have enormous natural resources in this part of the country. |
les ressources naturelles |
nutrients |
chemicals required for the growth of organisms |
And less oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the heart muscle. |
les substances nutritives |
photosynthesis |
the transformation of radiant energy to chemical energy by plants |
Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll which is needed for photosynthesis. |
la photosynthèse |
recycling |
a wide range of activities, including collection, sorting, reprocessing, and manufacture of products into new goods |
Put them in charge of the family recycling effort. |
le recyclage |
renewable energy |
any source of energy that can be used without depleting its reserves |
There are no other renewable energy plans offered in the Houston area. |
l’énergie renouvelable |
sewage |
water and raw waste disposed through toilets, kitchens, and bathrooms |
One school had raw sewage on its playground for a day. |
les eaux usées |
waste treatment |
where some additional processing is undertaken of a particular waste |
Officials are planning a waste treatment plant for the McMurdo station. |
le traitement des déchets |
water cycle |
passage of the water between the oceans and waterbodies, land, and atmosphere |
He travels around the world, helping the water cycle run smoothly. |
le cycle de l’eau |
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- TOEFL vocabulary list: all the essential words you need to know