английский темы зачет / ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Study the words and the word-combinations.

nature, n	природа		dry up, v	высыхать
source, n	источник		rare, a	редкий
environment, n	окружающая		animal, n	животное
	среда		destruction, n	разрушение
interference, n	вмешательство		disaster, n	несчастье, беда
interaction, n	взаимодействие		damage, n	вред
increase, v	возрастать		consequence, n	последствие
by-product, n	побочный		explosion, n	взрыв
	продукт		protection, n	защита, охрана
power-station, n	электростанция		concern, n	забота
contaminate, v	загрязнять		security, n	безопасность
cause damage	причинять вред		research centre	научно-иссле-
pollute, v	загрязнять			довательский
breathe, v	дышать			центр
harmful, a	вредный		save, v	спасать
careless, a	небрежный		measure, n	мера
substance, n	вещество		to take mea-	принимать
upset, v	нарушать		sures	меры
oxygen, n	кислород		to take care (of)	заботиться
prevent, v	предотвращать

I. Complete the sentence using the words from the text.

1. Many cities suffer from …

2. Since ancient times … has served Man.

3. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with the …

4. With the development of civilization man’s … in nature began to …

5. Smoky industrial…have appeared all over the world.

6. The pollution of air…

7. People all over the world are worried about the …

8. About 18 per cent of the territory of Belarus was … with radioactive …

II. Translate into Russian.

future generations, for the sake of, international organization Greenpeace, in this direction, to interfere Chernobyl tragedy, the ozone layer, the oxygen balance, smoky industrial enterprises, man’s interference, to save, to take care of, a great increase in children cancer, to grow grain, the byproducts, horrible ecological disaster.

III. Match the English expressions with their Russian equivalents.

1. небрежный a great damage

2. причинять вред the pollution of air

3. предотвращать the oxygen balance

4. защита to prevent

5. огромный ущерб careless

6. загрязнение воздуха cause damage

7. кислородный баланс protection

8. радиоактивное загрязнение radioactive contamination

9. последствие Чернобыльской трагедии the consequences of the Chernobyl tragedy

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Since ancient times Nature has served Man, being the source of his life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with the environment and it seemed to them that natural riches were unlimited. But with the development of civilization man's interference in nature began to increase.

Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises have appeared all over the world today. The byproducts of their activity pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we grow grain and vegetables. Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Vast forests are cut and burn in fire. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of rivers and lakes dry up.

The pollution of air and the world's ocean, destruction of the ozone layer is the result of man's careless interaction with nature, a sign of ecological crisis.

As a result of the Chernobyl tragedy the Belarusian people faced the most horrible ecological disaster. About 18 per cent of the territory of Belarus was contaminated with radioactive substances. A great damage has been done to the republic's agriculture, forests and people's health. The consequences of the atomic power station explosion are tragic for the Belarusian nation. Only a small per cent of Belarusian land remains uncontaminated. Today we have a great increase in children cancer and leukaemia. New spots of radioactive contamination are being discovered every year.

Not only Chernobyl but many of our "peaceful" factories and towns cause a great damage to the environment. Dangerous dust and blow-outs of the enterprises are being carried out by winds for long distances destroying the life around.

People all over the world are worried about what is happening to the environment. They understand that the Earth is their common home, a big green home. The environmental protection should be our universal concern. Serious joint measures to create a system of ecological security should be taken.

Some progress has been already made in this direction. As many as 159 countries — members of the UNO - have set up environmental protection agencies. Numerous conferences have been held to discuss questions of ecologically poor regions. An international environmental research centre has been set up on Lake Baikal. The international organization Greenpeace is also doing much to preserve the environment.

But these are only the initial steps that must be carried forward to protect nature, to save life on the planet not only for the sake of the present but also for the future generations.

IV. Answer the questions.

1. Is nature the source of people's life?

2. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with nature, didn't they?

3. Has man's interference in nature increased with the development of civilization? What has it led to?

4. Why did some species of animals, birds, plants disappear from the Earth?

5. What is the result of man's careless interaction with nature?

6. What do you know about the Chernobyl ecological disaster?

7. What are the consequences of this tragedy?

8. Environmental protection is a universal concern of everyone, isn't it?

9. Has anything been done to solve ecological problems?

10. Is international cooperation necessary to create a system of ecological security? Why do you think so?

V. Ask your friend: знает ли он что-либо об экологических проблемах нашей республики; что является источником загрязнения окружающей среды; какие последствия небрежного вмешательства человека в природу можно наблюдать сейчас; что он знает об экологической обстановке в зоне Чернобыльской аварии; почему охрана окружающей среды является всеобщим делом; какие меры принимаются для предотвращения экологической катастрофы.

VI. Write questions for these answers: 1. The nature is the source of people’s life. 2. Only a small per cent of Belarusian land remains uncontaminated. 3. The consequences of the atomic power station explosion are tragic. 4. The disappearance of vast forests upsets the oxygen balance. 5. Thousands of people have died from radiation.