UNIT 1.2 · IELTS TOPIC VOCABULARY
Zoos
Learn language for discussing zoos from both sides of the argument. Each vocabulary item includes a concise English definition first, followed by Uzbek and Russian translations.
ZOOS – FOR
Use these ideas when arguing that zoos can support conservation, education, research and local economies.
Environmental perspective
Zoos are closely associated with = connected with carefully managed captive-breeding programmes, which play a role in preserving = conserving endangered species. They also create valuable research opportunities, enabling = allowing scientists to observe animal behaviour and study biological processes under controlled conditions.
Definition: linked or related to something.
RU: быть связанным с
Definition: organised programmes that breed animals in captivity, often to protect a species.
RU: программы разведения животных в неволе
Definition: protect something from damage, loss or extinction.
RU: сохранять / охранять
Definition: animal or plant species at serious risk of disappearing permanently.
RU: виды, находящиеся под угрозой исчезновения
Definition: chances to investigate a subject and collect new information.
RU: возможности для проведения исследований
Definition: make it possible for somebody to do something.
RU: позволять / давать возможность
Definition: watch carefully in order to notice or study something.
RU: наблюдать
Modern zoos can provide a safe / secure refuge for species that are under threat in their natural habitats. Many animals are protected / safeguarded from poaching, habitat destruction, and the expansion of agriculture / farming. In addition, these wildlife institutions often prioritise animal welfare, offering professional veterinary care and medical treatment that help maintain animals’ health and well-being.
Definition: give a protected place where an animal can live safely.
RU: предоставлять безопасное убежище для
Definition: in danger of being harmed, reduced or destroyed.
RU: под угрозой
Definition: keep somebody or something safe from danger or harm.
RU: защищать от
Definition: illegally hunting, capturing or killing wild animals.
RU: браконьерство / незаконная охота
Definition: damage to or loss of the natural place where a species lives.
RU: разрушение естественной среды обитания
Definition: growth of land used for farming, often into natural areas.
RU: расширение сельскохозяйственных территорий
Definition: treat something as more important than other things.
RU: ставить в приоритет / отдавать приоритет
Definition: the physical and psychological well-being of animals.
RU: благополучие животных
Definition: expert medical care provided to animals by trained veterinarians.
RU: профессиональная ветеринарная помощь
Definition: good physical condition together with general comfort and welfare.
RU: здоровье и благополучие
Useful conservation vocabulary
Definition: officially end a system or practice.
UZ: bekor qilmoq / tugatmoq
RU: упразднить / отменить
Definition: large-scale removal of forests.
UZ: o‘rmonlarning kesilishi / o‘rmonsizlanish
RU: вырубка лесов / обезлесение
Definition: produce young animals and increase a species naturally.
UZ: ko‘paymoq / nasl bermoq
RU: размножаться
Definition: become greater in population size.
UZ: son jihatdan ko‘paymoq
RU: увеличиваться в численности
Definition: the protection of nature, wildlife or resources from loss or damage.
UZ: saqlash / muhofaza qilish
RU: сохранение / охрана
Definition: being at serious risk of disappearing as a species.
UZ: yo‘q bo‘lib ketish xavfiga duch kelayotgan
RU: находящийся на грани исчезновения
Definition: support programmes that return captive-bred animals to the wild.
UZ: hayvonlarni tabiatga qaytarish dasturlariga yordam bermoq
RU: содействовать программам возвращения животных в дикую природу
Social perspective
Zoos contribute to public education and environmental awareness while also providing opportunities for recreation and relaxation. They allow people to observe wildlife at close range in a safe environment and raise awareness of environmental issues. Visitors can learn about animals’ behaviour, nutritional / dietary needs, size, habitats and other characteristics. As a result, zoos can enhance public appreciation of nature while also serving as a source of leisure and relaxation.
Definition: help to cause, improve or support something.
RU: способствовать / вносить вклад в
Definition: giving useful knowledge and information to the general public.
RU: просвещение общественности
Definition: understanding environmental problems and why they matter.
RU: экологическая осведомлённость
Definition: enjoyable free-time activity / rest that helps people feel less stressed.
RU: досуг / отдых / расслабление
Definition: watch wild animals from a short distance.
RU: наблюдать за дикими животными с близкого расстояния
Definition: make more people know about and understand an issue.
RU: повышать осведомлённость о
Definition: the food and nutrients an animal needs to remain healthy.
RU: пищевые потребности / потребности в питании
Definition: increase people’s understanding and valuing of the natural world.
RU: повышать понимание и ценность природы для общества
Many people visit zoos with their immediate / nuclear family, which can strengthen family bonds. Zoos provide family-friendly spaces where people of all ages can spend quality time together.
Definition: the closest family unit, normally parents and their children.
RU: ближайшие члены семьи / нуклеарная семья
Definition: make relationships between family members closer and stronger.
RU: укреплять семейные связи
Definition: places suitable, safe and enjoyable for families.
RU: места, подходящие для семейного отдыха
Definition: spend meaningful and enjoyable time with other people.
RU: проводить качественное время вместе
Animal diet & family vocabulary
Definition: an animal that eats plants.
UZ: o‘txo‘r hayvon
RU: травоядное животное
Definition: an animal that mainly eats meat.
UZ: go‘shtxo‘r hayvon
RU: плотоядное животное
Definition: an animal that eats both plants and animal food.
UZ: ham o‘simlik, ham go‘sht bilan oziqlanuvchi hayvon
RU: всеядное животное
Definition: family beyond parents and children, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
UZ: katta oila / qarindoshlar
RU: расширенная семья / родственники
Economic perspective
Zoos provide employment opportunities and support local economies. Revenue / income generated from visitors can be reinvested in conservation initiatives, scientific research and environmental protection projects. In this way, zoos can contribute financially to wildlife conservation as well as provide educational benefits.
Definition: create jobs or chances for people to find work.
RU: создавать рабочие места / предоставлять возможности трудоустройства
Definition: help businesses, workers and economic activity in the local area.
RU: поддерживать местную экономику
Definition: the total money received by an organisation before costs are removed.
RU: выручка
Definition: money received from work, business or other sources.
RU: доход
Definition: money left after all costs have been paid.
RU: прибыль
Definition: put money earned back into a project or organisation.
RU: реинвестировать / повторно вкладывать
Definition: organised actions or projects designed to protect nature and wildlife.
RU: природоохранные инициативы
ZOOS – AGAINST
Use these ideas when arguing that captivity can create ethical, behavioural, welfare and conservation problems.
Ethical perspective
Keeping wild animals in captivity is frequently regarded as inhumane and unethical. Confinement in artificial enclosures may result in physical discomfort and psychological stress.
Definition: kept under human control rather than living freely in the wild.
RU: в неволе
Definition: causing unnecessary suffering or showing a lack of compassion.
RU: бесчеловечный / негуманный
Definition: morally wrong or not following accepted ethical standards.
RU: неэтичный
Definition: the state of being kept within a limited area and unable to move freely.
RU: содержание в ограниченном пространстве
Definition: human-made spaces designed to contain animals.
RU: искусственные вольеры
Definition: unpleasant physical feelings or conditions affecting the body.
RU: физический дискомфорт
Definition: mental pressure or anxiety caused by difficult conditions.
RU: психологический стресс
Captivity deprives animals of their freedom and autonomy. Artificial environments often restrict natural behaviour, particularly for large predators such as polar bears, lions and tigers, which require vast territories in the wild.
Definition: prevent somebody from having something important or necessary.
RU: лишать кого-либо чего-либо
Definition: the ability to live freely and control one’s own actions.
RU: свобода и автономия
Definition: limit behaviour that an animal would normally show in the wild.
RU: ограничивать естественное поведение
Definition: large animals that hunt and kill other animals for food.
RU: крупные хищники
Definition: extremely large areas of land.
RU: обширные территории
Definition: living freely in nature rather than under human control.
RU: в дикой природе
Behavioural and welfare concerns
When animals are removed from their natural habitats and relocated to man-made / artificial environments, they may lose essential survival skills, including hunting and social interaction.
Definition: the natural environment where a species normally lives.
RU: естественная среда обитания
Definition: move a person or animal from one place to another.
RU: перемещать / переселять
Definition: an environment created by humans rather than occurring naturally.
RU: искусственная среда
Definition: abilities needed to stay alive and function independently.
RU: навыки выживания
Definition: communication and behaviour between members of a social group.
RU: социальное взаимодействие
Species that naturally live in complex social groups may struggle to adapt to unnatural or isolated conditions, leading to abnormal behaviour.
Definition: organised groups with complicated relationships and social roles.
RU: сложные социальные группы
Definition: change successfully in order to live or function in new conditions.
RU: адаптироваться к
Definition: conditions unlike the natural environment or separated from normal social contact.
RU: неестественные / изолированные условия
Definition: behaviour that is unusual and differs from what is normal for the species.
RU: аномальное поведение
Diseases can spread between species / be transmitted from one species to another. In emergency situations, animals have limited opportunities to escape, which may pose a risk / danger to both wildlife and humans.
Definition: the process by which a disease passes from one organism to another.
RU: передача заболеваний
Definition: move from one animal species to another.
RU: распространяться между видами
Definition: dangerous unexpected situations requiring immediate action.
RU: чрезвычайные ситуации
Definition: get away from a dangerous or controlled place.
RU: сбежать / спастись
Definition: create or present a possible danger to somebody or something.
RU: представлять риск / опасность для
Conservation criticism
Critics argue that many breeding programmes are costly = expensive and yield limited long-term success. Animals raised in captivity are often ill-prepared for the demands of life in the wild and may struggle to survive independently if released. Consequently, some believe that protecting natural habitats is a more effective way to safeguard endangered species.
Definition: people who express disagreement or point out weaknesses in an idea or system.
RU: критики
Definition: organised plans for animals to reproduce, often to increase population numbers.
RU: программы разведения
Definition: requiring a large amount of money.
RU: дорогостоящий / дорогой
Definition: produce only a small amount of success over a long period.
RU: давать ограниченные долгосрочные результаты
Definition: not sufficiently ready or equipped for something difficult.
RU: плохо подготовленный к
Definition: the difficulties and skills required to survive independently in nature.
RU: трудности и требования жизни в дикой природе
Definition: have difficulty staying alive without human support.
RU: с трудом выживать самостоятельно
Definition: protect species that are at risk of extinction.
RU: защищать исчезающие виды
Commercial and ethical concerns
Another criticism is that animals are frequently used for commercial gain and entertainment. Some zoos may prioritise profit over animal welfare, and animals can be subjected to mistreatment or neglect by staff or harassment / disturbance by visitors.
Definition: financial benefit or profit made from business activity.
RU: коммерческая выгода
Definition: activities designed to amuse or interest people.
RU: развлечение
Definition: treat making money as more important than animals’ well-being.
RU: ставить прибыль выше благополучия животных
Definition: be forced to experience something unpleasant or harmful.
RU: подвергаться
Definition: cruel, unfair or inappropriate treatment.
RU: жестокое / ненадлежащее обращение
Definition: failure to give an animal the care and attention it needs.
RU: пренебрежение уходом / ненадлежащий уход
Definition: behaviour by visitors that repeatedly bothers, frightens or disrupts animals.
RU: беспокойство со стороны посетителей
Zoo Vocabulary Test
AVAILABLETest how well you can recognise, distinguish and actively recall the vocabulary from this unit. The test contains 40 questions in four stages, with 10 questions in each stage.