"Why not utilize all the technology available to us to give these animals a fighting chance of survival? What will future generations say to us if we don't?"

Two "test-tube" caracal cats are the latest in a series of successful in-vitro fertilizations (IVF) of rare or endangered species spearheaded by Dr. Dresser. Other successes at Audubon Institute's research center have included the world's first production of an endangered bongo antelope embryo through IVF, dramatic increases in the wild population of the endangered Mississippi sand hill crane through a program of artificial insemination, and reliable production of IVF tiger embryos.

Dr. Dresser is also preserving endangered species through the use of a groundbreaking "frozen zoo." Reproductive material from animals such as tigers, I gorillas, small cats and many ' other animals is stored at temperatures of 196 C for hundreds of years. Scientists can thaw the material for transfer to surrogate mothers. This way, genetic material of endangered species can be maintained over long periods of time, providing a solid hedge against extinction.

Dr. Dresser is herself something of a rarity, an award-winning scientist who is also a believer. "Every time we have a baby born, it says to me, there has to be a God," she says. Dresser says that, in her prayers each night, she thanks God for the opportunity to drag His most endangered creatures back from the brink of extinction, "You know, God, you've given me a tremendous life, a tremendous career, a wonderful opportunity in life to do the things that I do. And I want to give something back and I think saving wildlife is what I want to do."

Ex.1. Work up in pairs. Make up two dialogues “Pro” and “Contra” in accordance with the main idea of the text.

Unit 5. Earth is the Water planet

Предтекстовое задание. По своему выбору выпишите предложения, перевод которых соответствует грамматическим конструкциям, приведенным перед текстом. Обоснуйте в соответствии с грамматическими правилами.

Grammar: Present Perfect Continuous.

Active and Passive Voice.

The Infinitive Forms.

Text A. Some facts from the history of the ocean study

Enormous areas involved and the increasing need for more detailed observations taken at nearly the same time led to international expeditions and studies

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that now characterize oceanographic studies. The International Geophysical Year began a series of regional and worldwide studies that extended into the mid-1960s and included extensive investigations of the Indian Ocean, still the least-known of the world ocean basins. Studies of the ocean and its effect on the atmosphere will increasingly require international efforts using many types of "platforms" in addition to ships. Satellites have contributed to such studies and promise to become even more important in future investigations of ocean processes.

In the 1950s study of the ocean basin accelerated because of the availability of detailed soundings of ocean areas previously uncharted. The results of those investigations have led to a new concept of the earth's crust, known as sea-floor spreading. The many questions posed by these studies have led to widespread interest in obtaining samples of sediment deposits and rock from the ocean bottom well beyond the capabilities of normal oceanographic ships. For this purpose, a special drilling ship—the Glummer Challenger—was built to drill in the deep waters of the open-ocean basins. Samples recovered from the drilling activities have added greatly to our knowledge of the formation and history of the ocean basins in the past 200 million years.

Ex.1. Read and translate the text.

Ex.2.Write down the words with the transcription and learn them:

To solidify; to extract; basin; surface; see frontispiece; average; atmosphere; to retain; glaciers; source; waste; receptor; supply; circulation; a desert; climate; buffer; existence; equally; recreational area.

Text B. Ocean pollution as number five international problem.

In 1988 the world started taking notice of the sad state of our oceans. Many of the beaches on the northeastern coast of the United States were closed because of medical waste that had washed up to shore. Less than a year later, 35,000 tons of toxic petroleum spilled into the oceans near Alaska from a ship that has become a household word—Exxon Valdez.

While events like these received the most public attention and the largest headlines, these problems are only the tip of the iceberg. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, laws were passed that banned various forms of ocean pollution. However, in 1988, many cities were still not treating their sewage. New York City, for example, continues to dump about 5.5 million gallons of sewage a day into the ocean even though dumping was outlawed there in 1981. Twenty-five percent of all treated sewage, containing substances harmful to the ocean ecosystems, is dumped into the oceans.

Each year over 100 million tons of plastic are "thrown" into our oceans. This garbage is extremely hazardous to animals. Many mistake it for prey and ingest it or get caught by it. Scientists estimate that more than 2 million birds and 100,000 sea animals die each year as a result of plastic garbage.

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