Word study

Ex. 1. a) Pronounce correctly the following international words.

Celsius climate continentality control effect element Fahrenheit horizon

horizontal period region system temperature vertical extreme

b) Read the following paying attention to the pronunciation of letter combinations with i.

в открытом слоге	в закрытом слоге	перед ld, nd
direct provide science time private ice	tilt inland winter influence middle different	find wild bind child mild wind

ig (h)	ie перед согласной	в безударном слоге
high light night right sign bright	achieve brief chief believe	latitude precipitation hemisphere community humid proximity

Ex. 2. a) Give nouns derived from the following verbs, using given suffixes.

• tion: relate, interact, moderate, locate, rotate, revolve, vary

• ence (ance): differ, correspond, perform, resist, refer

• ure: expose, close, depart

• influence, experience, range, cause, average, record, rain, snow, drizzle, sleet, hail, thunder

b) Give adjectives derived from the following words, using given suffixes.

• al: coast, season, locate, tropic, condition, continent

• ic (al): geography, geology, ecology, climate, atmosphere

• able: change, consider, vary

• y: rain, snow, mud, wind, fog, mist, cloud, shower, thunder, frost, breeze, drizzle, gust

Ex. 3. Match the English phrases and their Russian equivalents.

daylight period high latitudes water bodies coastal community temperature range maritime influence continuous daylight converse effect Northern Hemisphere amount of moisture precipitation level seasonal extremes of temperature ocean currents moderate climate

водные объекты обратный эффект Северное полушарие количество влаги океанические течения продолжительность дня прибрежная территория количество выпадаемых осадков смягчать климат влияние моря колебание температуры полярный день высокие широты сезонные перепады температуры

Ex. 4. Identify the meaning of the given words as they occur in the word combinations and sentences below.

Average: average temperatures in England and Wales vary from 4⁰C in January to 16⁰C in July and August. In Scotland averages are one or two degrees cooler.

Summer months average around 25⁰C (77⁰F).

When weather observations are averaged over long periods, the resulting data describe climate.

We may have tables giving climatic statistics for a place or, by further averaging, for a country or even a continent.

Celsius: scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death. The degree Celsius(C) can refer to a specific temperature on the Celsius scale as well as a unit to indicate a temperature interval, a difference between two temperatures or an uncertainty. The unit was known until 1948 as centigrade.

Fahrenheit: the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736). Today the temperature scale has been replaced by the Celsius scale in most countries. But it is still used in the USA, and Belize.

Extreme: seasonal extremes of temperatures; summer and winter extremes.

Temperatures are moderate, with no great extremes except in limited areas of high altitude.

In the extreme south precipitation amounts to only 12 inches yearly.

Especially characteristic for Eastern Siberia are the extremely low winter temperatures.

Experience: practical experience; river management experience; an experienced geographer.

Some parts of the world experience a period of continuous daylight.

In England one can experience almost every kind of weather except the most extreme.

Humidity: absolute humidity; relative humidity, specific humidity.

The moisture content of the air is referred to as humidity.

High humidity greatly affects the sensible temperatures – the temperatures we feel. Winters seem cold and damp despite the relatively mild temperatures, again because of the high humidity.

The Atlantic brings warm, humid cyclone through the Baltic Sea to Russia.

Moisture: Both the Mediterranean and humid subtropical climates receive winter moisture from cyclonic storm which travel along the polar front.

Where trees appear in the Mediterranean climate they respond to moisture conditions.

Situated in the mid-latitude westerly wind belt and surrounded by the open ocean, New Zealand has a temperate, moist, and maritime climate.

The higher the mountains the more moisture it is lost by the wind.

Moderate: moderated water temperature; moderating oceanic influence.

Usually winds are moderate in these regions, although sometimes violent gales appear.

Summer and winter extremes are moderated by ocean currents and prevailing winds.

The oceans and seas of the earth serve as reservoirs of moisture and are major influences in moderating the temperatures at or near the earth’s surface.

Occur: Cool rain-bearing winds occur in summer.

The humid subtropical climate occurs in the southeastern United States.

Sea breeze known as the doctor occurs along west coast in summer.

The great contrast between the Mediterranean and humid subtropical climates occurs in the summer when the humid subtropics receive substantial precipitation from convectional showers.

Polar air masses can bring colder temperatures and occasional frost.

Precipitation: precipitation levels.

In the south nearly half the precipitation occurs in late spring.

Precipitation totals more than 20 inches annually.

Range:

The average range of temperature (from winter to summer) is from 5 to 23 degrees above zero (Great Britain).

In midsummer in January, average temperatures range from 29⁰C in the north to 17⁰C in the south (Australia).

Vary: Average annual temperatures vary from about 27⁰C in the far north of the continent to 13⁰C in the far south.

The elements or conditions of the atmosphere that make up climate vary greatly from place to place and from season to season.

The Moroccan climate is as varied as its landscape.

There are various types of temperate climate in this country (warm, cool and cold).

Winds in the area tend to be light and variable.

There is little seasonal variation in tropical rainy climates.

As the weather changes with the wind, and Britain is visited by winds from different parts of the world, the most characteristic feature of Britain’s weather is its variability.

The direction of surface winds is usually at variance with wind direction aloft.

Ex. 5. Add nouns to the following adjectives to form noun phrases.

Adjectives:	climatic, annual, coastal, converse, maritime, low, horizontal, seasonal, continuous, vertical, direct, high.
Noun:	currents, movement, rays, patterns, locations, latitude, effect, influence, revolution, daylight, ranges, communities, variations, extremes.

Ex. 6. Pair the verbs in column A with a suitable phrase in column B. You must find a match for every word, but there is not necessarily only one correct solution.

A	B
to make to be exposed to experience to minimize to have to provide to increase to curb to moderate to lie	seasonal variations in temperature the amount of moisture to the direct rays of the sun a positive influence on astride a normal wind direction annual revolution a period of continuous daylight greater levels of evaporation temperature extremes temperature ranges

Ex. 7. Look through the text and say which words have the same meaning as:

• territory

• rise

• quick

• humid

• curb

• affect

• vary (from … to …)

• temperate

Ex. 8. Match the verbs with their appropriate explanations.

moderate record provide minimize heat experience influence curb increase occur

to gain knowledge or skill by doing and seeing things; to feel smth. to have an effect on smth. or smb. to make or become less extreme to take place, happen, exist to make or become greater (in size, number, degree, etc) to give, to supply what is needed to keep smth. under control to make or become hot to set down in writing for reference; preserve for use, by writing or in other ways to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree

Ex. 9. Find words and phrases in the text that correspond to the definitions given below.

1. Rainfall, drizzle, snow, sleet, hail and dew.

2. Distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees.

3. Tiny drops of water on a surface, in the air, etc.

4. Degree of moisture, especially in the air; dampness; measure of moisture in the atmosphere.

5. Limits between which something varies.

6. Standard or level regarded as usual; result of adding several amounts together and dividing the total by the number of amounts.

7. Movement of water, air flowing in a certain direction.

8. Height above sea level.

Ex. 10. Fill in the missing words in the sentences below. Choose from the words given in the box.

below precipitation (2) hemisphere seasonal variation

mean average (2) amount annual

ranging evaporation temperature vary