III. True or false:

1. Economists have long thought of the environment as a limited source of resources.

2. One of the main problems of the environment is depletion of the ozone layer; whish absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

3. The Aral Sea is already dead.

4. Millions of species – animals, birds and fish have already disappeared from our planet.

5. Big cities face the environmental catastrophe.

6. For thousands of years more people have lived in rural areas than in urban areas.

7. Governments around the world are prepared for the problems that come with growing cities?

IV. Answer the questions:

1. What have many economists thought of the environment?

2. Why do some economists think that pollution damages the resources?

3. What pollutes the air we breathe?

4. How does water get polluted?

5. What are the consequences of damaging the environment?

6. Are you for or against nuclear power?

7. What do people of different countries do to save our planet?

8. Are governments around the world prepared for the problems that come with growing cities?

9. What could happen if we don't learn to use the environment carefully?

V. Find the English equivalents in the text:

защита окружающей среды, неисчерпаемый источник ресурсов, быть тесно связанным, обеспечивать экономику ресурсами, последствие повреждения окружающей среды, кислотные дожди, контролировать уровень загрязнения, разрушение озонового слоя, вред водам и почвам, вред дикой природе, виды животных и растений, химические удобрения и пестициды, обращать внимание на проблему, опасный для жизни, на грани вымирания, опасный для здоровья людей, различные международные организации, сохранить окружающую среду.

VI. Fill in the gaps:

1. The economy and the environment are … .

2. More people mean … .

3. … is 6,000,000,000 (six billion)!

4. One out of every 13 people around the world … .

5. Industrial enterprises emit … .

6. … is already nearly dead; … is following.

7. The speed and scale of global urbanization is so great that … .

8. … grows by nearly a million.

9. Climate change will increase … .

10. … will reduce agricultural production, increase health risks, and will produce tornadoes and thunderstorms.

11. People are beginning to realize … .

VII. Speaking.

1. How many people live in your city?

2. What can you say about environment problems in your city?

3. Do you do anything to solve environment problems? What …?

TOPIC № 3 OUR HOME TOWN

I. Study the vocabulary:

1. construction – строительство, стройка

2. hydro-electric power station – гидроэлектростанция

3. settlement – поселение

4. to be inhabited by – быть населенным

5. pipe – труба

6. grinding products – шлифовальные материалы

7. bearing – подшипник

8. braking linings – тормозные накладки

9. foreign enterprises – иностранные предприятия

10. growth – рост

11. to be eager – желать

12. favourable climate – благоприятный климат

13. to be proud of – гордиться

14. to exceed – превышать

15. assembly - сборка

II. Read the text:

Volzhsky is a young town. Its history began with the construction of the hydro-electric power station on the Volga. Firstly, there was a settlement for hydroelectric station builders. In July 22, 1954 the settlement was renamed Volzhsky. This date is considered the birthday of our town. Chief of the construction site F.G. Loginov is rightly considered the founder of Volzhsky. Now the town is inhabited by more than three hundred thousand people of different nationalities, who have come from other regions of our country. Thousands of residents from the Urals, Siberia, the Ukraine, Kasakhstan and Tatarstan, from the Caucasus and middle Asia came to our rapidly developing town. Volzhsky is a major industrial centre of Russia. One can find here not only the largest hydro-electric power station in Europe, but also the pipe works producing pipes of different size and type used in mechanical engineering.

In many foreign countries there are regular buyers of various chemical, oil, machinery, metallurgical, wood working and electronics products produced in Volzhsky. World famous are grinding products and abrasive instruments, bearings, thermal insulation materials, braking lines, etc. Volzhsky beer, soft drinks and beverages have often won international and Russian prizes. The town is proud of its assembly bus line. Many foreign enterprises and companies have invested and are eager to invest in our town. This testifies to a most perspective economic growth of the region.

Though Volzhsky is situated in a desert, the number of trees here exceeds their number in many large and small towns with a more favourable climate in Russia. One can see a beautiful park with fountains and statues which are worth photographing. The river and the canal are used for rowing and boating. There is a yacht club as well. Football fans have a great opportunity to see the games of their favourite football team “Energy”.

Volzhsky is an important educational centre with several branches of Volgograd and Moscow Universities.

A suburb of Volgograd has now grown into an industrial, cultural and educational centre.

But there are more plans, cherished wishes and dreams to come true.