Файл: TOPICS.doc

Ex. 8. Read the following text and: a) discuss the environmental situation in the world; b) say what the burning problems of nature preservation are and which of them are vital for your region.

Ecological Problems

Ecology is the science of how the living things are related to their environment. For thousands of years the Earth has given support to all forms of life – humans, animals, plants, insects and soon the human race has thriven in its environment. But now, at the beginning of the 21^st century, we are at a crucial turning point. The problem of environmental protection has been recognized as one of the most vital problems of our days and it’s getting worse all the time. The way we have been living has given us plenty to worry about. The main problems we face are:

--the greenhouse effect;

--the destruction of the ozone layer;

--acid rain and the destruction it causes:

--deforestation,

--the extinction of animals and plant species,

--the depletion of our energy resources.

So what will happen if we don’t try to solve these problems? No one can be absolutely sure. They are problems we have never encountered before and the situation changes all the time. But scientists have made predictions and they are alarming.

The Greenhouse Effect

According to scientists, the increase in greenhouse gases will cause an average rise in temperature of 2^oC by the year 2050. The Earth has already become 0,5^oC warmer in the last ten years. If the temperature does increase by 2^oC, the polar ice-caps will meet. In turn the sea level will rise. In fact, it has already risen 10 centimetres since the beginning of this century. It’s not hard to see what the results of this rise would be. Low-lying land would flood. This means that people would be left homeless and their crops would be killed by the salt water. One fifth of the Earth’s surface is covered by permafrost. This is a layer of soil that is permanently frozen. Because of global warming, it’s starting to meet. This means that houses are sinking, roads are breaking up.

Besides, global warming will change the patterns of the weather world-wide. Hot, dry areas will become hotter and drier. Wet and stormy areas will get wetter and stormier. This will mean that growing food will become difficult. And, at last global warming could cause catastrophe for wildlife.

The Destruction of the Ozone Layer

The protective layer of the Earth, the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the sun’s destructive ultra-violet rays, is being damaged by CFCS (chlorofluorocarbons). They are released by the daily use of industrial and household products: refrigerators, air conditioners, foam insulation, cleaning chemicals, food packaging. In the ozone layer they attack the ozone molecules making a “hole”, which allows more UV rays to penetrate to the Earth. It contributes to global warming, increasing the risk of skin cancer, eye cataracts, weakens the immune system of people. Besides, UV rays influence the oceans, the growth of plankton, cause skin and eye problems in animals too, reduce economically important crops (rice, cotton, soy beans).

Acid Rain

One of the most alarming forms of air pollution is acid rain. It results from the release into the atmosphere of sulphur and nitrogen oxides that react with water droplets and return to earth in the form of acid rain, mist or snow. Acid rain has caused much damage in Europe and the US. Forests in Vermont are dying because of the pollution from the power station in Ohio. The trees in Europe are dying too –64 per cent of them in Britain and 50 per cent in West Germany, Chechoslovakia, Greece, Sweden, Belgium and Holland are also badly affected. The acid rain has dissolved metals and other pollutants and washed them into the water. It washes metals into drinking water to and this can cause serious illness. It has acidified lakes and streams and they cannot support fish, wildlife, plants or insects. Many buildings and even railway lines, are being destroyed by acid rain.

Deforestation

Thirty years ago, forests covered a quarter of the Earth’s land area. Today they cover only a fifth – a sixth. The tropical rain forest is a special cause for worry as it is a natural recycler, provider and protector for our planet. It recycles carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, helps determine temperature, rainfall and other climatic conditions and supports the most diverse ecosystem in the world. These unique habitats took 100 million years to develop and yet it’s taken just 40 years to destroy half of them. These forests in Amazonia, South-East Asia and West and Central Africa are being destroyed at an alarming rate of 42 million acres per year. Deforestation destroys topsoil, leaving large areas of land much less fertile. Besides, it could cause one forth of all species on Earth to vanish in the next 25 years and weather patterns to change.

The forest resources of the countries in the Baltic Region

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¹ Does not include the area than constitutes an administrative oblast north and north-east of Ladoga.

² These figures should be considered as rough estimations, in recognition of translation problems emanating from an old classification system.

³ The data roughly represent Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Endangered Species

The pollution of air and the world’s ocean, destruction of the ozone layer is the result of man’s careless interaction with nature. All this can destroy natural habitats for plants and animals. Trade and population growth play their part as well.

As a result a lot of species are in danger and a number of rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants have disappeared forever. When a plant or an animal is gone forever we say it is extinct. It is estimated that one species-plant, animal or insect – becomes extinct every day. At that rate, within the next 20 years one-fifth of all species could be extinct. The delicate balance of nature, the very existence of life on Earth is being upset.

The Energy Trap

It’s the industrial countries that use most of the world’s fuel. As industrialization continues to increase and world populations continue to grow, the demand for energy will grow too. No one can be absolutely certain, but scientists predict that the non-renewable fuels we now use for our energy needs will run out within the following time spans: oil – in about 50 years, natural gas – in about 50 years, coal – in about 300 years, nuclear fuel: in about 60 years. Prices will rise. And as we burn away our fossil fuel resources, we’ll continue to add to the pollution of our environment.

Ex. 9. Fill in the blanks with suitable words and word combinations from the text:

1. The human race … in its environment. 2. The problem of environment is … of our days. 3. The increase … will cause an average rise in temperature. 4. … will change the patterns of the weather world-wide. 5. The ozone layer protects the Earth from … . 6. It contributes to global warming, increasing … . 7. … has caused much damage in Europe and the US. 8. The tropical rain forest is a natural … . 9. When a plant or an animal is gone forever we say … . 10. Scientists predict that … will run out within the following time spans … .

Ex. 10. Match the definitions from the list and the words from the frame below:

• reaction of sulphur and nitrogen oxides with water droplets

• the natural or social conditions in which people live

• treating used substances so that they are fit to use again

• the natural home of a plant or animal

• the layer of soil that is permanently frozen

• hot, wet forest in tropical areas where rainfall is heavy and there is no dry season

• animals (and plants) which live in a wild state

• the layer which protects the Earth from the sun’s destructive UV rays

• gone forever

permafrost, ozone layer, recycling, rainforest, wildlife, habitat, extinct, environment, acid rain

Ex. 11. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1. Человечество процветало в окружающей его среде. 2. Одна из самых угрожающих форм загрязнения воздуха – это кислотный дождь. 3. Защитный слой Земли, озоновый, предохраняет Землю от разрушительных ультрафиолетовых лучей. 4. Всеобщее потепление изменит характер погоды во всем мире. 5. Кислотный дождь вызвал большие повреждения во многих странах. 6. Леса уничтожаются с угрожающей скоростью, оставляя большие участки земли с гораздо менее удобренным верхним слоем. 7. Большое количество видов животных, птиц, рыб и растений находятся под угрозой вымирания, а некоторые редкие виды исчезли навсегда. 8. Ученые предсказывают, что те виды горючего, которые мы используем для удовлетворения энергетических потребностей, истощат свой запас.

Ex. 12. a) answer the following questions.

b) discuss the points given before the text.

1. What are the main ecological problems? 2. What sources of air, water, land and soil pollution can you name? 3. How can you explain the greenhouse effect? 4. What damage do acid rains bring? 5. Why are the ozone “holes” dangerous for the life on the Earth? 6. Why is tropical rain forest a natural recycler, provider and protector for our planet? 7. Why did some species of animals, birds, plants disappear from the Earth? 8. How has the human race upset the nature balance? 9. “The energy trap”, how do you understand it? What kind of energy will replace coal, gas and oil in future? 10. What can you say about ecological situation in Belarus?

Ex. 13. Read and translate the text. Use a dictionary if necessary. Be able to discuss the following questions: a) What can be done to solve ecological problems? b) What should be done to create a system of ecological security? c) What can you do to keep our environment safe and clean?