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Processed with VS1Distinguish sustainable practices, renewable resources, biodiversity, and urban sprawl.
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Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThis episode follows “sustainable” from an older sense of being bearable or defensible to the current common idea of something able to continue over time. It connects the word to agriculture, energy, and city planning. These are explanatory language notes, not an evaluation of a specific product or environmental policy.
Cultural note: “Sustainable,” “renewable,” and “green” are sometimes used in marketing. The words alone do not prove that a product or policy has a particular environmental impact; look for specific evidence when making factual claims.
Keep exploringA plan can last for a while—or be designed to continue without exhausting what it depends on.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Use “sustainable” for an approach intended to last over time.
Meaning
Growth that can continue over time without creating unacceptable harm or demands on resources.
Tone & use
Used in business, environmental, and policy discussions. The phrase is broad; explain what outcomes and time period you mean.
Example
“The cooperative is looking for sustainable growth that does not overwhelm its small staff.”
Meaning
Farming practices intended to continue over time while caring for soil, water, and other resources.
Tone & use
A broad term for approaches rather than one single method; the specific practices matter.
Example
“The workshop compared several sustainable agriculture methods for conserving water.”
Name the variety of living things in an environment.
Meaning
The variety of living things, such as plants and animals, in a place or ecosystem.
Tone & use
Common in science and environmental discussions. It refers to biological variety, not cultural diversity.
Example
“The restored wetland supports greater biodiversity than the drained field did.”
Distinguish resources that renew from outward urban expansion.
Meaning
An energy source replenished naturally on a human timescale, such as sunlight or wind.
Tone & use
A resource can be renewable without every project using it being impact-free; describe the source and context precisely.
Example
“The school added solar panels as one renewable source of energy.”
Meaning
The spread of a city into surrounding areas, often with low-density development.
Tone & use
Usually critical in planning discussions, though the effects depend on local design and context.
Example
“The regional plan aims to add housing near transit instead of extending urban sprawl.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
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