4. Decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. The biosphere is made up of all living things and their environments.

2. The biosphere is a 5 km layer around the Earth.

3. The first living creatures on Earth were in the seas.

4. The only thing the biosphere provides us with is food.

5. Many types of plants and animals have disappeared.

6. Scientists can already predict the future of the biosphere.

5. Read the text again 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?

6. Read the text about the great Russian scientist and comment on his contribution to the development of science.

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 noo.s 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, Yernadsky 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 mi 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. lie 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.

7. Complete the sentences below with words from the box.

source commission boundary ore crust

deposits contribution doctrine required

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.

7. The ……………… between the two spheres has been defined.

8. In the Earth's …………… there are many minerals.

9. What are the conditions ………………… for a better future?