Theme 2.3: Global Environmental Problems and Solutions
Global environmental problems and solutions, Theme 2.3 of GCSE French reading, covers texts about climate change, deforestation, pollution and renewable energy on a global scale, including both current facts and predicted future consequences. Examiners are testing whether a student can tell a present-tense statement of fact apart from a futur simple prediction (la température augmentera, les glaciers fondront), follow cause-and-effect connectives (à cause de, donc, par conséquent) to link a cause to its correct effect, and distinguish a solution already in place from one only being proposed or hoped for (il faudrait que + subjunctive).
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Identify whether a sentence states a current global problem (present tense, on observe, le climat change) or a predicted future consequence (futur simple: la température augmentera, les glaciers fondront) - 'what will happen' questions need the future-tense clause specifically.
- Underline cause-and-effect connectives (à cause de, en raison de, donc, par conséquent, ce qui entraîne) and identify precisely which cause produces which effect.
- Note statistics about global issues (la température moyenne a augmenté de, X pour cent des espèces) since Higher-tier reading regularly tests an exact figure.
- Distinguish solutions already being implemented (present tense: on utilise déjà, plusieurs pays investissent) from solutions only being proposed or hoped for (il faudrait que + subjunctive, on devrait).
- Watch for concession structures (bien que, même si) that admit progress has been made while still pointing out the problem is not solved.
- Track renewable-energy and environmental-action vocabulary (les énergies renouvelables, l'énergie solaire/éolienne, la déforestation, les émissions de CO2) and match each term to the correct cause, effect or solution in the passage.
Worked example
Lis la phrase et réponds. 'Si la déforestation continue à ce rythme, de nombreuses espèces animales disparaîtront d'ici la fin du siècle.' Qu'est-ce que cette phrase prédit ?
- Spot the structure si + present + futur simple, which sets up a prediction based on a condition.
- Identify the condition: si la déforestation continue à ce rythme (if deforestation continues at this rate).
- Identify the future consequence: de nombreuses espèces animales disparaîtront (many animal species will disappear), and the timeframe: d'ici la fin du siècle (by the end of the century).
- The sentence predicts that, if deforestation continues at the current rate, many animal species will disappear before the end of the century.
Practice questions
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Q1Give the English meaning of 'les énergies renouvelables'.Show answer
Answer: Renewable energy (sources).
Q2Translate: 'La température moyenne de la planète a augmenté de plus d'un degré.'Show answer
Answer: The average temperature of the planet has increased by more than one degree.
Q3What does 'à cause de' introduce, and how is it different from 'grâce à'?Show answer
Answer: It introduces a cause, usually negative (because of); grâce à also introduces a cause but a positive/helpful one (thanks to).
Q4Translate: 'Il faudrait que les gouvernements investissent davantage dans l'énergie solaire.'Show answer
Answer: Governments would need to invest more in solar energy.
Q5True or false: 'plusieurs pays utilisent déjà l'énergie éolienne' describes something that only might happen in future.Show answer
Answer: False - déjà (already) plus the present tense shows this is already happening now.
Q6Give the English meaning of 'réduire les émissions de CO2'.Show answer
Answer: To reduce CO2 emissions.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE French exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Lis le texte et réponds aux questions. Le changement climatique est aujourd'hui l'un des plus grands défis auxquels notre planète doit faire face. À cause de la pollution et de la déforestation, la température moyenne mondiale a déjà augmenté de plus d'un degré depuis l'époque préindustrielle. Si rien ne change, les scientifiques prévoient que le niveau des mers montera considérablement d'ici 2100, ce qui menacera de nombreuses villes côtières. Bien que plusieurs pays aient signé des accords internationaux pour réduire leurs émissions, beaucoup d'experts estiment que ces mesures restent insuffisantes. Par conséquent, ils insistent sur le fait que chaque individu doit aussi agir à son échelle. (a) According to the text, how much has the average global temperature already increased? (b) What do scientists predict will happen to sea levels by 2100 if nothing changes? (c) True, false or not mentioned: many countries have signed international agreements to reduce emissions. (d) What do many experts think about these measures? (e) What do the experts insist on, as a result?
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Lis le texte et réponds aux questions. Chez moi, on essaie de réduire notre impact sur l'environnement autant que possible. Mes parents ont installé des panneaux solaires il y a deux ans, et nous trions systématiquement nos déchets. Cependant, je pense qu'agir seul ne suffit pas ; il faudrait que les gouvernements du monde entier investissent massivement dans les énergies renouvelables et interdisent progressivement les énergies fossiles. À l'école, nous avons créé un club écologique pour sensibiliser les autres élèves à ces problèmes. Même si un seul geste semble insignifiant, je reste convaincu que des millions de petits gestes, ensemble, peuvent vraiment changer les choses. (a) What did the writer's parents install two years ago? (b) True, false or not mentioned: the writer thinks individual action alone is enough. (c) According to the writer, what should governments worldwide do? (d) What has the writer done at school? (e) What is the writer's overall belief about small individual actions?
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See real GCSE French past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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