Unit V. Environmental problems. Part I. Conservation and pollution.

Vocabulary:

to thrive [ ] – процветать

environment [ ] – окружающая среда

to condemn [ ] – осуждать

human habitat – среда обитания людей

sensitive equilibrium [ ] – устойчивое равновесие

disgorge [ ] – выбрасывать, извергать

noxious gases [ ] – ядовитые газы

dump [ ] – свалка, груда хлама, сваливать

toxic waste – токсичные отходы

to tear up [ ] – вырвать, изорвать

to accommodate [ ] – размещать

rubbish – мусор

threat [ ] – угроза

accumulation [ ] – накапливать, скопляться

flooding coastal areas – затопление прибрежных территорий

vast tracts of farmland – огромные пространства сельскохозяйственных

земель

infertile [ ] – неплодородный, бесплодный

water contamination [ ] – загрязнение воды

the very survival – само по себе выживание

spurred by poverty [ ] – подталкиваемый нищетой

greed [ ] – алчность, жадность

to attempt – пытаться

wasteful – расточительный

to recycle – перерабатывать

conserve [ ] – сохранять, сберегать, консервировать

to inherit [ ] – наследовать, унаследовать

acid rain – кислотный дождь

A green and pleasant land?

Britain, like the rest of Europe, is trying to clean itself up. The recycling of paper, glass, and plastic has increased dramatically. Nevertheless the question remains: how “green” is Britain?

Ex. 1. Read this article quickly. Explain the title.

No time to waste

For hundreds of thousands of years, the human race has thrived in Earth’s environment. By 1800 there were 1 billion people of the planet. That number had doubled by 1975. If current birth rates hold, the present population of 5.1 billion will double again in 40 years. The frightening irony is that our success as an organism could condemn the Earth as a human habitat. We have upset nature’s sensitive equilibrium – disgorging noxious gases into the atmosphere, dumping toxic waste into rivers and oceans and tearing up the countryside to accommodate our rubbish.

What would happen if we did nothing about the threat to the Earth?

Computers project that an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could drive up the Earth’s average temperature from 3⁰ F to 9⁰ F by the middle of the next century. Sea levels would rise by several feet, flooding coastal areas and ruining vast tracts of farmland. Huge areas would be infertile and become uninhabitatable. Water contamination could lead to shortages of safe drinking water.

In the last decade of the 20^th century, we are at a crucial turning point. The actions of those now living will determine the future and possibly the very survival of the species. Spurred by poverty, population growth, ill advised policies and simple greed, humanity is at war with the plants, animals and elements that make up the planet and provide for our continued existence.

We only have a few years to attempt to turn things around. We must review our wasteful, careless ways; we must consume less, recycle more, conserve energy and adapt our lifestyles for the sake of those who will inherit the planet.

Ex. 2. Read the first paragraph again and complete this table.

date	population
-----	1 billion
1975	-----
2030	-----

Ex. 3. Give three examples of ways in which the increase in human population has hurt the environment.

Ex. 4. Read the second paragraph again and answer the question in the subheading.

Ex. 5. Read the rest of the article and answer these questions:

1) Why does the writer say “we are at a crucial turning point”?

2) In what way is the conflict between humanity and the environment like a war?

Ex. 6. Match these words and their meanings in this article.

habitat motivated

equilibrium areas

toxic increase

project environment

drive up badly-thought out

tracts poisonous

spurred balance

ill-advised predict

Ex. 7. Work with a partner at the points mentioned about recycling. Which are the most important?