5. !!! The paragraph “Niagara Falls” is for the test-reading.

6. Sometimes the text can be presented in a form of a scheme. Here you can see an example of one kind of the text presentation. This process is called mind-mapping. This mind-mapping is based on the paragraph about the Niagara Falls.

N iagara falls

LOCATION FEATURES STRUCTURE

Between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario

It plunges into the limestone, which is broken off in huge blocks.

It is divided into two parts: the lesser falls on the American side, the great fall is on the Canadian side.

5. Do the mind-mapping about the waterfalls that are described in the text. Speak on a waterfall using your mind-map.

6. Read the text on pp. 47-49 “Erosion and Natural Scenery”. Find the English equivalents for the following Russian expressions:

1. ….монотонность, большое количество безликих равнин и мрачных плато, лишенных красоты;

2. …пересекает сухие плато и большой грязевой поток в заливе Калифорния;

3. …река вымывает глубокие ущелья;

4. …развивается определенный тип ландшафта;

5. …увеличивать вертикальные полости или пустые отверстия;

6. …создавать посредством растворения известняка;

7. …растворенный известняк может отлагаться в форме длинных сталактитов, напоминающих пальцы.

5. Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. Running water has been the master sculptor of the ages.

2. It is the work of weathering and erosion that gives us the endless variety of mountain sculpturing, and much of the charm of all natural scenery.

3. Tributary gorges branch out from either side.

4. As rain water falls through the atmosphere it picks up carbon dioxide.

5. This weak acid is capable of very slowly dissolving calcium carbonate as it makes its way in limestone rocks.

6. Limestone is a permeable rock.

7. Large underground caves are formed and a great variety of passages reaching on and on, up and down, in and out.

8. If you were to enter a cave in a limestone area, you could probably hear the sound of water dripping from the roof.

Vocabulary

NB!!! Make sure you know the pronunciation and the meaning of the following words:

Dissolve

Release

Soak up

Water cycle

Distribution

Rainfall

Pollution

Transpiration

Infiltration

Evaporation

Precipitation

Springs

Transportation routes

Marine animals

Tributary

Drainage basin

River course

River’s mouth

Wear down

Straight course

Widen

Flatten out

Fertile floodplains

Break down

Waterfall

Cataract

Igneous rock

Subsequent erosion

Scenery

Traverse

Permeable rock

Unit 4. Climate, soils and vegetation

Warming-up activity

1. Give your understanding of the following notions:

weather, climate and atmosphere.

2. Compare your ideas with the definitions from a dictionary:

Weather – the conditio

n of the atmosphere at a certain place and time, with reference to temperature and the presence of rain, sunshine, wind, etc.

A weather-chart/map; in all weathers – in all kinds of weather; keep a weather eye open on smth – to be ready in case of trouble; under the weather – feeling slightly ill or depressed; weather forecast, weather station; weatherproof clothing.

Climate – the regular pattern of weather conditions of a particular place.

Atmosphere – the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth; the atmospheric pollution /pressure.

3. Fill in the spaces with the words above:

1. The ________ ________ is usually after the news.

2. She’s out ___ ___ _____, looking after her garden.

3. A bodyguard must ____ _ ____ ___ ____ __ unexpected situations.

4. He’s been a little _____ __ ____ recently.

5. _____ clothing is especially useful on outdoor activities.

6. ____ _____ is changeable nowadays that has great impact on people’s health.

7. Britain has a temperate ______.

8. She moved to a warmer _______.

4. Before reading the text on pp. 52-54 pay special attention to the pronunciation of the following words:

/i:/	/k/	/ t∫ə/
release feature repeat	unique	moisture feature	components nitrogen oxygen carbon dioxide equator

V. Read the text “The Atmosphere Makes Life on Earth Possible” and find the following information in the text:

• 3 characteristics of the air,

• the gases in the air,

• what are the polluters,

• the definition of the weather,

• the definition of the climate,

• what are climate controls,

• what is the relationship between climate and environment.

VI. Translate the following sentences from the text:

1. One of the most unique features of Earth is the presence of a stable atmosphere.

2. Farther above the earth, the gases gradually thin out.

3. Climate probably began to play its central role as a part of the natural environment as soon as the earth took form and settled in its orbit around the sun.

4. Where temperatures are warm enough but where precipitation is lighter or falls only in one season, tall grasses cover the land.

5. Finally, every climate region has its own communities of insects and birds.

VII. Put in the right word:

1. The various gasses ____________ its atmosphere.

2. The particles __________ from chimneys, smokestacks, etc.

3. Certain location and place factors _____________ the distribution of climates over the earth’s surface.

4. Climate helps to keep _______________ working.

5. Today ________ know some things about climate changes in the past.

6. The glacial periods _____________ warmer periods.

7. Animals that can hide among grasses or can outrun their enemies __________ in grasslands.

VIII. The paragraph “Components of the atmosphere” is for test-reading.

IX. Read the text on pp54-56 “Four conditions on the earth’s atmosphere cause weather” and characterize four conditions.

X. Read very carefully the following weather forecast and make up a list of words used in the weather forecasts.