1. Read the text and decide if the following statements are true or false.

3 The first living creatures on Earth	T □
were in the seas.	F П
4 The only thing the biosphere	т П
provides us with is food.	F □
5 Many types of plants and animals	T □
have disappeared.	FD
6 Scientists can already predict	T □
the future of the biosphere.	F □

2. Read the text and answer the following questions.

1. What is the biosphere?

2. Why is it so important?

3. What layers does it consist of?

4. What is a food chain?

5. What effect do we have on our planet?

Before you listen

Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. What is extinction?

2. Give examples of extinct animals.

3. Do you know of any animals that are in danger of becoming extinct?

4. How can they be saved?

Listen to the discussion between a teacher and some students about extinction. Then listen again and fill in the gaps in the sentences.

1. The Tasmanian tiger looked like a dog with a head.

2. It was called a tiger because it had on its body.

3. The who arrived in Tasmania

killed it.

4. The Tasmanian tiger was

a very animal.

5. The last one died in

in a zoo.

6. The Tasmanian tiger was declared extinct in...

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

Are you interested in science?

-> What sort of discoveries would you like to make?

-» What do you imagine the world will be like in 50 years’ time?

H D Vocabulary

C deposits contribution doctrine required omplete the sentences below with words from the box.

source

commission

boundary

ore

crust

1. Vernadsky’s particular beliefs led him to develop his unique

2. Rich mineral were found

in the area.

3. Uranium is mined

in Australia.

4. Vernadsky’s development of the idea of the biosphere was an important to science.

5. Oil is a of energy.

6. A was organised to look into

the position of the mine.

Z The between the two

spheres has been defined.

8. In the Earth’s there are

many minerals.

8. What are the conditions for

a better future?

В Reading 2

Vladimir Vernadsky

Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky was a Russian scientist who was born on 12^th March, 1863 in St Petersburg. His most important contributions to science were the development of the ideas of the biosphere (from the Greek word bios meaning life) and the noosphere (from the Greek word noos meaning mind).

He graduated from the Physics and Mathematics Department of St Petersburg University in 1885. From 1890 to 1911 he taught mineralogy and crystallography at the University of Moscow. In 1912 he was made a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences where he was actively involved for 33 years, until his death in Moscow on 6^th January, 1945.

Through his work in mineralogy, Vernadsky became interested in the distribution of chemical elements in the Earth's crust, hydrosphere and atmosphere - the field known as geochemistry. Vernadsky published many papers on the geochemistry of various elements, including the geochemistry of radioactive compounds.

Vernadsky was one of the first scientists to suggest the possibility of using radioactive elements as sources of energy, and he organised a special commission to look for uranium ores in Russia. In 1916, the first uranium deposits were discovered. But Vernadsky was aware of the danger of putting atomic energy into the hands of man. He said that scientists carried the huge responsibility of making sure their discoveries did not lead to destruction.

However, Vernadsky is probably best known for his development of the idea of the biosphere of the Earth and his ideas on the evolution of the biosphere into the noosphere.

He defined the boundaries of the biosphere by showing that the biosphere includes all the hydrosphere, part of the troposphere - the lowest layer of the atmosphere where most weather changes take place - and the upper part of the Earth's crust down to a depth of two or three kilometres, in short, everywhere that life exists. For Vernadsky, the biosphere had existed since the very beginning of the Earth's history and it was constantly evolving. Our present living world is the product of a long and complex evolution of the biosphere.

Vernadsky believed that the technological activities of mankind were a stage in this evolution. He believed that human reason and combined scientific efforts could overcome the negative results of technology and could lead to a safe future for everyone. This positive evolutionary stage of the biosphere of the Earth is for him the noosphere, the sphere of reason.

In his paper, Several Words on the Noosphere (1944, the last paper he published before his death), Vernadsky outlined the conditions that were required for the creation of the noosphere: equality for all people and an end to wars, poverty and hunger. Today, Vernadsky’s vision of the world is more important than ever before.

S N

Pronunciation guide

crystallography /knsts'bgrefi/ geochemistry /cbn'kemistri/ mineralogy /ттэ'гаг1эс1з1/ noosphere /nsrasfis/ uranium ores /ju^'reinism o:zI

S

T □

F □

T □ F □

T □ F □

T □ F □

T □ F □

T □ F □

,

^ E Comprehension

Read the text and choose the correct answer.

1. Vladimir Vernadsky taught at A St Petersburg University.

В Moscow University.

С the Russian Academy of Sciences.

D both St Petersburg and Moscow University.

2. Vernadsky’s work in mineralogy led to A his work in publishing.

В discovery of the Earth’s hydrosphere.

С his interest in geochemistry.

D a new field of geochemistry.

3. He was one of the first to suggest using A atomic energy.

В minerals.

С the biosphere.

D various elements.

4. The biosphere is the layer of Earth where A only minerals are found.

В living things are found.

С only the troposphere is.

D its history began.

5. According to Vernadsky,

A the noosphere is in the atmosphere.

В the biosphere developed from

the noosphere.

С the biosphere creates a negative environment.

D the noosphere would create a better world.

Work in pairs. Make three questions on the text for your partner to answer. Then change roles.

Before you listen

Discuss these questions with your partner.

What do you know about uranium?

-> Do you think atomic and nuclear power are safe? Why / Why not?

Do you know any other radioactive elements? Give examples of their application.

H F Listening H)))

Listen to the class discussion about

uranium. Then decide if the following

statements are true or false.

1. Uranium has been in the Earth’s crust for a very long time.

2. Uranium entered a star that had exploded.

3. Uranium is lighter than oxygen.

4. Uranium is a source of energy.

5. A small amount of uranium can produce a great deal of oil.

6. Less carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere when we use nuclear power.

В G Speaking

Discuss these questions with your partner.

What do you understand by the term biosphere?

-» In what sorts of different environments can life exist?

Think about humanity. How do we affect our environment?

Task

Discuss with your partner the idea of the biosphere and a noosphere. Do you believe it is possible for Earth to develop a noosphere? Say what you think and find out if your partner agrees or disagrees with you.

Talk about:

• what the term biosphere means

• which environments are contained within it

• the importance of the food chain

• human impact on the biosphere

• the importance of the biosphere

• what the noosphere is

Read texts I and 2 again and use these notes to help you.

Meaning: biosphere comes from the words and

The biosphere has four environments:

air, known as the

land, known as the

rocks, known as the

water, known as the

The food chain is important because

Human impact: effect on plants and animals

The biosphere is important because

The development of the noosphere is (im)possible because

\ J

Remember to:

• read the texts carefully

• locate the information you need

• keep your information in a logical order

• discuss all parts of the question

• take part fully in the discussion

• ask for your partner’s opinions and ideas

Speaking tips

• Briefly introduce your topic.

• Use terms such as ‘in addition’, 'according to', and ‘furthermore’ to connect your ideas.

H H Writing

Write an article for your school magazine explaining what the biosphere is, who developed its meaning, and why it is important that we protect it. Use these notes to help you.

PARAGRAPH 1

Introduction Briefly explain what the term biosphere means.