Russia gives crucial backing to Kyoto treaty

The future of international cooperation to protocol the environment was secured as the Russian government approved the Kyoto protocol on climate change.

Without the decision, the landmark treaty, widely regarded as the most important international agreement on the environment, would have been in doubt, jeopardising efforts to reduce efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases – blamed for causing global climate change and leading to “extreme weather events”. The treaty can only come into effect if ratified by industrialized nations responsible for at least 55 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Because the US, the refused world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, has o sign up, the support of Russia – which accounts for 17 per cent of global emissions – was needed to reach the 55 percent threshold.

Its decision increases pressure on the us to ratify the treaty, which President George w. Bush rejected in 2001.

Margaret Beckett, the UK environment secretary, said: “This is a crucial step. [Failure to secure Russian backing] would have made it much more difficult. People have had to start again.”

The treaty requires industrialized countries to cut emissions of greenhouse gases – chiefly carbon dioxide – by varying amounts by 2012. Many industries would have to invest in new technology, which some industry groups have argued would damage competitiveness by increasing costs.

The US shows no signs of ratifying the treaty, brokered in 1997. The Bush administration has argued that the scientific evidence behind Kyoto is inconclusive, that it favours developing countries and that it would harm American businesses.

Australia has also declined to ratify the accord. China and India – whose efforts at industrialisation may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions – are thought unlikely to participate.

Some politicians seized on Russia’s decision to urge the administration to reconsider. Henry A. Waxman said Mr. Bush’ s rejection meant “our businesses are at a disadvantage in the world market , our economy is at risk, and we are more isolated in the international community”.

Green groups around the world welcomed the Russian decision. “This is a decision for which the world has been waiting for two-and-a-half years,” said Jannifer Morgan, director of WWF’s climate change programme.

But Russia’ s approval came despite strong opposition from Andrei Illarionov, Mr. Putin’ s economic adviser, who said the decision was motivated “by politics, not science or economics”.

Exercise 11. Read the text and summarize it:

Wto bid picks up support

The government plans to sign bilateral deals with five Asia-Pacific countries as part of its progress toward acquiring World Trade Organization membership. Recent talks with Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were likely to result in deals at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation heads of government meeting scheduled for the Nov. 18-21 2004, Maxim Medvedev told Itar-Tass.

There has been substantial movement in talks with Japan on access to Russian markets, he said. “It’s clear that we may already be talking about completing bilateral negotiations at the beginning of next year,” he said.

Government ministers originally set a year-end target to complete bilateral talks with all Russia’ s trading partners, envisaging actual membership of the trade body around the start of 2006.

Before it can join the WTO Russia must strike bilateral deals on membership terms with 60 trading partners. It has already signed a deal with its top trading partner, the European Union.

Agreeing terms with the United States remains a major hurdle. Ministers shelved their timetable last week after talks in Washington failed to bring a breakthrough, with U.S. officials insisting that foreign banks should be allowed to set up branches in Russia.

Other snags included access to the country’s insurance and telecom sectors, tariffs on imports of automobiles and aircraft, and action to combat piracy and safeguard intellectual property.

Exercise 12. Conclusive check up on the vocabulary from the unit. Translate the following as fast you can:

1. выравнивание тарифов/пошлин; to keep/stay afloat;

2. information products and software; таможенные пункты на границе;

3. тарифная ставка; spheres of cooperation;

4. идти на компромисс; to scrap one’s plans;

5. to bring together different views; осуществляться на основе;

6. общее снижение тарифов; to clinch a deal;

7. to clear up the enemy troops; отвечать нормам и требованиям ВТО;

8. сдать объект в эксплуатацию; to bring down prices;

9. to launch a crackdown; приводить к согласию;

10. приводить в соответствие; to bring into accord;

11. модернизация российского промышленного парка; trade-off;

12. to tip the balance; приток западного капитала;

13. в итого в ходе переговоров стороны договорились; cost-covering levels;

14. to propose application for entry; договоренность заключается в;

15. the sudden agreement by EU negotiators; уступка в обмен на поддержку по вопросу подписания протокола.

Test 1

1. Most people are … pressure at work and so have little time for the children.

1. under;

2. with;

3. among.

2. Ten per cent of insurance claims … out to be unfounded.

1. turn;

2. come;

3. end.

3. Services are disrupted during a long … of bad weather.

1. shower;

2. spell;

3. stretch.

4. The local council decided to … a policy of zero tolerance towards hooligans.

1. adopt;

2. agree;

3. assert.

5. The programme will go … as one of the greatest in TV history.

1. down;

2. through;

3. along.

6. He is always … my attention.

1. demanding;

2. asking;

3. calling.

7. My golden rule is not to … aspersions on how other people bring up their children.

1. cast;

2. make;

3. waste.

8. His temperament seemed to … little relation to that of the parents.

1. bear;

2. hold;

3. keep.

9. Most companies seem able to … the worst effects of downsizing from emerging.

1. persuade;

2. prevent;

3. divert.

10. There is no … about it, there can be few better countries to explore by road than Ireland.

1. doubt;

2. suspicion;

3. precaution.

11. His book on finance is selling like hot … .

1. cakes;

2. stuff;

3. soup.

12. In any profession, you have to learn to take the … with the smooth.

1. rough;

2. hard;

3. stodgy.

13. Some people take a … view of commercial fiction.

1. dim;

2. poor;

3. low.

14. The new bookkeeper seems a bit lazy, he doesn’t really pull his weight.

1. pull;

2. push;

3. act.

15. I’m sorry I missed the appointment, it must have … my mind.

1. slipped;

2. missed;

3. dropped.

Test 2

1. A bag management decision … disaster for the company.

1. spelt;

2. drew;

3. sprang.

2. He took great … to make sure the contract was accurate.

1. pains;

2. efforts;

3. troubles.

3. It took Alice a long time to get the … of the new computer programme.

1. hang;

2. grips;

3. grasp.

4. He found it hard to … any headway with his report on immigration.

1. make;

2. do;

3. get.

5. He … in taking notes of the speaker.

1. succeeded;

2. managed;

3. chanced.

6. This draft is a mess, I really need to … it out.

1. sort;

2. sought;

3. thought.

7. Statistics … that your chances of becoming very well paid are greater when you are young.

1. show;

2. shows;

3. increases.

8. With just a computer, … software and a printer, anyone can be a home-based publisher.

1. appropriate;

2. proper;

3. proprietor.

9. All you need, … from the equipment, is a good idea.

1. apart;

2. among;

3. excluding.

10. The minister is extremely busy as he … two departments.

1. oversees;

2. overlooks;

3. overviews.

11. We offer $10 000 p.a. in … to staff based in New York City.

1. per diem;

2. per capita;

3. per annum.

12. This policymaker is someone with a very … personality.

1. forceful;

2. aggressive;

3. offensive.

13. … to expectations the stock market, fell all year.

1. contrary;

2. distinct;

3. contrast.

14. The owners are trying to sell their shop as a …

1. going concern;

2. company;

3. enterprise.

15. The project team all attended the … meeting.

1. kick-off;

2. kickback;

3. kick.

Test 3

1. The Foreign Ministry is working for Russia’s … .

1. upswing;

2. responsibility;

3. improvement.

2. The Foreign Ministry provides diplomatic support for major projects being … .

1. carried out;

2. realized;

3. introduced.

3. I should like to emphasize that we are not advocates of … methods of advancing our interests.

1. harsh;

2. hard;

3. weighty.

4. The country’s recently lifting … is a vivid illustration of good will.

1. sanctions;

2. methods;

3. measures.

5. Diplomacy … Russia’s competitiveness all over the world.

1. bolsters;

2. reviews;

3. acknowledges.

6. Sanctions are thought to be an … act in international practice.

1. unacceptable;

2. inexplicable;

3. inexhaustible.

7. … the beginning of the book, the author discusses the effects of the pollution on the environment.

1. at;

2. in;

3. on.

8. Tax laws are … by politicians who usually want to be re-elected.

1. passed;

2. promulgated;

3. proclaimed.

9. Paul Samuelson was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in ….

1. economics;

2. economy;

3. economic.

10. It is important to differentiate business e-mail … from those who have full access to the World Wide Web.

1. users;

2. occupants;

3. subscribers.

11. For simplicity, consider the Internet as a giant ad-hoc network of computers.

1. connection;

2. link;

3. network.

12. The Internet is an infrastructure … the exchange of any digital files.

1. facilitating;

2. relieving;

3. lighting.

13. The Internet is not … by any one organization, nor is it controlled by any single organization.

1. owned;

2. possessed;

14. Personal users normally have an agreement with their ISP that gives them one or more e-mail addresses and access to … the net.

1. browse;

2. swim;

3. search.

15. E-commerce is a computing and communications channel … which transactions can take place.

1. through;

2. with;

3. upon.

Test 4

1. The Internet is not … by any one organization, nor is it controlled by any single organization.

1. owned;

2. possessed;

2. Personal users normally have an agreement with their ISP that gives them one or more e-mail addresses and access to … the net.

1. browse;

2. swim;

3. search.

3. E-commerce is a computing and communications channel … which transactions can take place.

1. through;

2. with;

3. upon.

4. Customs union, unlike a free trade area, requires its members to adopt a common external tariff of customs … .

1. duties;

2. taxes;

3. revenues.

5. … – seats in the House of Lords between the government and opposition benches, where peers not aligned to any political party sit.

1. cross-bench;

2. back-bench;

3. bench.

6. Over the last few years the region has made a number of … in its innovation activity.

1. breakthroughs;

2. breaks;

3. breaches.

7. When you’re selling goods, you’ll never get a new customer unless you can persuade them that buying your product will produce favorable … .

1. outcomes;

2. outlets;

3. outgoings.

8. We’ve been working hard at … customer service by providing better facilities.

1. enhancing;

2. advancing;

3. bettering.

9. As soon as you start working … the exam, make sure you have a clear idea what is tested in each of the five papers.

1. for;

2. with;

3. upon.

10. When you know what you are aiming for, you can plan your preparation more effectively and work on your … .

1. weaknesses;

2. strengths;

3. fragilities.

11. It’s possible to get plenty of reading … in English without having to buy books, but everyone needs to have a good dictionary.

1. practice;

2. activity;

3. doings.

12. A good grammar book, a vocabulary book and self-study writing skills book can also be very … .

1. helpful;

2. necessary;

3. forceful.

13. In some exams, the questions are so … that you can learn to pass simply by spending a lot of time doing practice tests instead of studying properly.

1. predictable;

2. recognizable;

3. discernable.

14. Nevertheless, some exam practice is recommended in order to … yourself with the format of the questions.

1. familiarize;

2. adopt;

3. customizing.

15. If you … an EU country, it’s not hard to get a low-paid job in Britain e.g. hotel work.

1. come from;

2. come out;

3. come off.

Test 5

1. While they have increased the market …, this hasn’t led to big profits.

1. share;

2. part;

3. proportion.

2. Further … e-mail we attach hereto the independent survey report.

1. to;

2. with;

3. for.

3. English life is full … traditions and the English are known to be conservative.

1. with;

2. in;

3. of.

4. Many English people are … and won’t talk to others, especially foreigners.

1. reserved;

2. suspicious;

3. melancholic.

5. They pride themselves on … good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.

1. being;

2. to be;

3. having been.

6. The Englishman is … in his own house which he calls his castle.

1. master;

2. host;

3. tenant.

7. Another English characteristic is the desire … some private clubs or societies.

1. to belong to;

2. to attach to;

3. to relate to.

8. Life in provincial towns seems to be very ….

1. cynical;

2. frail4

3. dull.

9. He told one prominent politician he would never … such a strain.

1. survive;

2. surpass4

3. surrender.

10. Heaven knows, I never want anyone to give up their pleasures on my ….

1. account;

2. accost;

3. accord.

11. England has long been known in Russia … its quality goods.

1. for;

2. with;

3. on.

12. At the reception the Ambassador treated the guests … delicious dishes and sweets from Russia.

1. to;

2. with;

3. at.

13. The visitors enjoyed the spicy but … dishes of Indian national cuisine.

1. tasteless;

2. tasty;

3. intriguing.

14. A reception was … at the residence of the German Ambassador on October 3 to celebrate the Day of German Unity.

1. given;

2. staged;

3. arranged.

15. The success of the bilateral relationship was visible with the naked … .

1. eye;

2. face;

3. neck.

Test 6

1. Police … strikers protesting against law wages.

1. broke up;

2. brought about;

3. broke off.

2. This misunderstanding has been … by a rapidly made liberal statement.

1. brought about;

2. come about;

3. brought down.

3. These … for a liberal turn are absolutely natural.

1. expectations;

2. outlook;

3. expectancy.

4. Many Western politicians want Russia to develop Western-type ….

1. institutions;

2. circles;

3. intentions.

5. We had to be in Liverpool before midday so we … off bright and early.

1. set;

2. left;

3. made.

6. Carry on working! We’ll tell you when it’s time to ….

1. knock;

2. pull;

3. stop.

7. As soon as the plane had … off, the stewardess came round with the drinks.

1. taken;

2. gone;

3. moved.

8. When he dropped the jug, he noticed that the handle had … off.

1. broken;

2. gone;

3. cut.

9. I’ll never borrow money again! It’s going to take me years to … off this loan.

1. pay;

2. get;

3. knock.

10. Don’t rub too hard or else all the paint will … off.

1. come;

2. pull;

3. work.

11. It took me weeks to … off my cold but I feel much better now.

1. throw;

2. pull;

3. clear.

12. This may hurt a bit but you’ll find the pain will have … off by the time you get home.

1. passed;

2. called;

3. shown.

13. Do you mind not talking while I’m reading my messages! It … me off.

1. puts;

2. sets;

3. gets.

14. The shopkeeper … 10 per cent off the price of the printer because it was slightly damaged.

1. knocked;

2. threw;

3. let.

15. The tide came in rather quickly and we found ourselves … off from the mainland.

1. cut;

2. broken;

3. left.

Test 7

1. They despised him because he had his … in the till.

1. hands;

2. fingers;

3. toes.

2. The commodities produced by Vologda enterprises are … demand in the EU countries.

1. on;

2. in;

3. with.

3. A new generation of politicians has … into being.

1. come;

2. got;

3. appeared.

4. He had a … in every pie and was involved in every disagreeable political discussions.

1. finger;

2. ankle;

3. nose.

5. I think, for all the … issues outstanding solutions can be found with the lapse of time.

1. irresolvable;

2. resolvable;

3. irresistible.

6. Problems in programs are caused by ….

1. bugs;

2. chips;

3. beetles.

7. Computer hardware consists … a computer, a monitor, a keyboard, a printer, and their connections.

1. in;

2. on;

3. of.

8. Each department in a division of a company relies … budgeting to make the company’s affairs profitable.

1. in;

2. on;

3. upon.

9. Everyone who wants to achieve, must think about … training courses.

1. spec aliased;

2. spicy;

3. special.

10. The employees responsible for carrying out general office duties, filling in forms and keeping statistics are ….

1. clerks;

2. supervisors;

3. accountants.

11. The person who greets a visitor and tells him or her how to get to the right office is the ….

1. manager;

2. president;

3. receptionist.

12. The workers who process data, under the control of managers and supervisors, are the computer ….

1. hackers;

2. operators;

3. screeners.

13. Making is one of the main personnel functions.

1. appointments;

2. engagements;

3. rendezvous.

14. The protection of something so that it can be made or sold by one person only is by … of a patent.

1. means;

2. series;

3. ways.

15. Recording financial transactions is ….

1. bookkeeping;

2. statistics;

3. logistics.

Test 8

1. He has got really god chance … getting the job.

1. of;

2. in;

3. at.

2. She is always coming up … the problem of lack of funding.

1. against;

2. with;

3. to.

3. He is … far the most skillful person I know.

1. by;

2. for;

3. to.

4. What is the password to log … to the Internet.

1. on;

2. in;

3. with.

5. We should weigh … the options very carefully.

1. up;

2. in;

3. upon.

6. The jury returned a… of guilty.

1. verdict;

2. clause;

3. decision.

7. He took the law … his own hands.

1. into;

2. about;

3. under.

8. She is a law … herself – always unpredictable.

1. unto;

2. upon;

3. on.

9. It is a once … a lifetime opportunity.

1. in;

2. between;

3. within.

10. I finally plucked … the courage to tell him the truth.

1. up;

2. about;

3. over.

11. Nothing springs … mind at the moment.

1. to;

2. on;

3. in.

12. This dissemination campaign didn’t really live … to our expectations.

1. up;

2. for;

3. on.

13. I will take your word … it, but you’d better be right.

1. for;

2. with;

3. on.

14. I can’t put my feelings … words for the time being.

1. into;

2. in;

3. among.

15. She will have it … her conscience all her life.

1. on;

2. at;

3. of.

1 to pick and choose – быть слишком разборчивым, привередничать.

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