Discussion

25. Revise all the articles of the Unit and get ready to discuss the following points.

1. How would you rank environmental problems according to their importance? Give your reasoning.

2. Environmentalists warn that global warming will bring about grave consequences for the planet. Still, people in general are reluctant to act and somehow stop it. How can you explain it?

3. Do you think the process of global warming is irreversible?

4. The destruction of rain forests affects the climate of the whole world, not only the climate of such countries as Brazil or Indonesia. Why can’t the governments of other states interfere and protect rainforests before it is too late?

5. Do you think global warming will solve the problem of fresh water supplies? Why?

6. Do you think building hydroelectric dams should be considered an internal problem of the countries concerned or should it be looked upon as an international problem?

7. How must the use of river resources be regulated if their basins are shared by different states?

8. What (in your opinion) are the pros and cons of irrigation?

9. Why do you think the local authorities in polluted areas don’t ban the use of natural resources (e.g. fishing) even if they are aware of the danger for people’s health?

10. How can you explain the fact that everybody understands the need to protect the environment and still policy makers don’t take proper measures?

11. Do you think humankind will survive the forthcoming ecological disasters?

Writing

26. Revise the articles of this Unit and write an essay (not more than 250 words): “The first priority: economic development or environment protection?”

Follow the procedure suggested in Unit 4.Try to use at least 3 participle constructions in your essay.

Writing a Formal Letter

The usual layout of a formal letter is as follows.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________________

	Your address The date
The name and address of the person you are writing to Dear Sir/Madam Or: Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms .................................................... .................................................... .................................................... Yours faithfully/sincerely Your signature Your name Your status

NB. If you begin the letter with ‘Dear Sir’, you must write ‘Yours faithfully’ at the end.

If you begin with a name, you must finish the letter with ‘Yours sincerely.’

If you write a letter on behalf of a company, its name and address usually go at the top. For example:

______________________________________________________

Excel Linguistic School

Address, phone number, e-mail

The address of the person The date

you are writing to

Dear Ms Smiley,

………………………………………………………………

................................................................................................

Yours sincerely,

..........................

Sometimes the subject of the letter is stated before the main text.

Re: Sales Conference

(касательно, относительно)

The language you use cannot be conversational. Study the following examples.

Formal	Informal
It is with regret that we … With reference to your letter ... to enquire whether … Consequently, … to terminate smth to resolve a matter	We are sorry to … In answer/reply to your letter ... to ask if … So … to finish to sort smth out, etc.

It is important to remember that passive forms (being more impersonal) are preferable in formal style.