Look at the text again and find synonyms for the words/phrases below.
1. amounts (intro.)
2. waste/litter (intro.)
3. opinions (intro.)
4. worldwide (Davis)
5. for example (Brand)
antonyms for the words below:
6. decrease (Davis)
7. exactly (Davis)
8. low (Davis)
9. clean (Davis)

Text:
Since the 1950s, we have destroyed more than a third of the natural world. Our way of life has caused many serious environmental problems. We use huge quantities of natural resources and produce too much rubbish. Pollution is affecting the climate and our planet is getting warmer. The question is: will things ever change for the better?

Some scientists are optimistic and believe that, wit the help of science, today's environmental problem will disappear. Other scientists are pessimistic and believe that soon it will be too late to save the planet. We asked two futurologists their views about life on Earth 4 hundred years from now...

• The global population will increase and reach approximately 16 billion. There won't be enough food or resources for everyone.
• Temperatures will be higher than they are today. As a result, the Amazon rain-forest will disappear completely and the area will turn into a desert.
• The ice at the poles will melt and sea levels will rise. As a result, some cities in coastal areas, as well as islands that are not very high above sea level, will flood and disappear.
• Air pollution will keep increasing and people will suffer from lung diseases because of the polluted air.
• People will use alternative energy sources, such as solar power and wind power, much more than they do today. However, most of the world's will come from cold fusion, a clean, safe and free energy source.
• Scientists will control the weather. It won't be cheap, but they will use technology to prevent natural disasters in certain areas.
• Extensive desert greening will take place and most of the world's deserts will turn into forests.