Casa ESL · C1 Advanced · Unit 12 of 20 · Step 2
Advanced Modality (be to, be about to, be due to, be bound to)
Name
Date
Vocabulary
emissions
nounSubstances discharged into the air, especially greenhouse gases.
"Global carbon emissions continue to rise despite international agreements."
biodiversity
nounThe variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or the world as a whole.
"The loss of biodiversity threatens the stability of ecosystems worldwide."
deforestation
nounThe clearing or removal of a forest or stand of trees from land.
"Deforestation in the Amazon has accelerated at an alarming rate."
renewable
adjectiveRelating to a natural resource that is not depleted when used, such as solar or wind energy.
"Investment in renewable energy has increased significantly in recent years."
mitigation
nounThe action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
"Climate change mitigation requires coordinated international effort."
anthropogenic
adjectiveOriginating from human activity, especially relating to environmental pollution.
"The evidence for anthropogenic climate change is overwhelming."
sequestration
nounThe process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
"Carbon sequestration technology is still in its early stages of development."
tipping point
phraseThe critical threshold at which a small change triggers a large, often irreversible effect.
"Scientists warn that several climate tipping points may be approaching."
Grammar Focus
Advanced modality: be to, be about to, be due to, be bound to
'Be to' expresses official arrangements, instructions, or destiny: 'The summit is to begin on Monday' (formal arrangement), 'If we are to succeed, action is needed now' (condition for achievement). 'Be about to' signals immediate imminence: 'The talks are about to collapse.' 'Be due to' indicates expected timing: 'The report is due to be published next week.' 'Be bound to' expresses near-certainty: 'Emissions are bound to increase without intervention.' These semi-modals add precision and formality beyond standard modal verbs.
The new regulations are to take effect in January.
If we are to meet the Paris targets, radical changes are needed.
The committee's findings are due to be released this month.
Without significant investment, the transition is bound to stall.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence with the correct semi-modal expression: be to / be about to / be due to / be bound to.
1. The environmental impact assessment published next Friday.
2. If we preserve biodiversity, immediate action is essential.
3. The negotiations collapse when a last-minute compromise was reached.
4. Without enforcement, the new regulations fail.
5. All signatory nations submit annual emissions reports under the new framework.
Exercise 2
Match each semi-modal to its primary meaning.
Reading
The Clock Is Ticking
The latest IPCC report, due to be released in full next month, is understood to contain the most urgent warnings yet about the pace of climate change. Several climate tipping points are about to be crossed — or may already have been — and the consequences are bound to be severe. If the global community is to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, emissions are to be halved by 2030, a target that current policies fall far short of achieving. Deforestation, which accounts for approximately ten percent of anthropogenic emissions, was due to be addressed by a landmark agreement signed in 2021, yet rates have continued to climb. Renewable energy investment is about to surpass fossil fuel investment for the first time, a milestone that many thought was bound to arrive eventually but few expected so soon. Carbon sequestration technologies, once dismissed as speculative, are to receive substantial government funding under several new policy frameworks. Nevertheless, the scale of the challenge remains daunting. If we are to avoid the worst-case scenarios, a fundamental transformation of the global economy is not merely desirable — it is essential.
1. What emissions reduction target does the passage mention, and how does it assess current progress?
2. What milestone in renewable energy does the passage highlight?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write a formal paragraph (6–8 sentences) about an environmental policy issue. Use all four semi-modal expressions (be to, be about to, be due to, be bound to) at least once each.
Example: The government's new carbon tax is due to be implemented in the coming fiscal year. If the policy is to achieve its stated aims, compliance mechanisms must be robust. Critics argue that without adequate support for affected industries, the tax is bound to face fierce opposition. The energy sector is about to undergo its most significant restructuring in decades.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. is due to be · 2. are to · 3. were about to · 4. are bound to · 5. are to
Exercise 2
1. be to → formal arrangement, obligation, or condition · 2. be about to → immediate imminence · 3. be due to → expected timing or schedule · 4. be bound to → near-certainty or inevitability · 5. be to (conditional) → 'If we are to succeed' = necessary condition
Reading Comprehension
1. Emissions are to be halved by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, but current policies fall far short of achieving this target. · 2. Renewable energy investment is about to surpass fossil fuel investment for the first time, a milestone that arrived sooner than many expected.