Interpretation of the Text

1. Express your perceptions of the title. Is there a sense of irony, doubt, expectation, advice?

2. What is technology in the author’s opinion?

3. How does the author explain the economic growth?

4. Why are energy-efficient technologies moving away from hydro-carbons?

5. Why are developing countries leapfrogging older and dirtier technologies? What do they get access to and don’t ignore?

6. What is at the bottom of manufacturer’s aims?

7. What do environmental problems call for?

8. Why is poverty the biggest enviromental problem?

9. Do economist believe in faster growth?

10. Are enviromentalists likely to expect a catastrophe?

Key Notions and Words Complete the list of the vocabulary using dictionaries and reference books, transcribe the words and practice their pronunciation.

To raise the alarm – to tell people about something dangerous that is happening.

Destruction – damage that is so severe that something stops existing or can never return to its normal state.

Ecological disaster – something very bad that happens and causes a lot of damage or kills a lot of people.

Pollute – to make air, water, or land too dirty and dangerous for people to use in a safe way.

Seepage – the process of flowing slowly into or out of something through small holes.

To exhaust natural resources – to use up wholly natural resources.

Avalanche – 1) a large amount of snow and ice that suddenly falls down a mountain; 2) avalanche of a large quantity of similar things that happen within a short time.

Cyclone – a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure and advances at 20 to 30 miles an hour.

Earthquake – a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth.

Thaw – 1) if ice or snow thaws or something thaws it, it becomes warmer and changes into liquid; 2) if frozen food thaws or you thaw it, it becomes softer and ready to cook; 3) if someone’s body or a part of it thaws, it becomes warmer after being very cold.

Tidal wave – an unusually high sea wave that sometimes follows an earthquake.

To evacuate an area – to leave a building or other place because it is not safe.

Vagaries of nature – unexpected changes that you cannot control.

To anticipate – to foresee and provide for beforehand.

To endanger - to put someone or something into a situation where they might be harmed.

To cooperate – to act jointly or in compliance with others.

Catastrophe – an event that causes a lot of damage or makes a lot of people suffer.

Emergency – an unexpected situation involving danger in which immediate action is necessary.

Collapse – 1) fall down suddenly; 2) fall because ill/tired; 3) fail or stop existing; 4) be folded/taken apart; 5) (make) lose air inside; 6) start laughing.

Environment – the place in which people live and work, including all the physical conditions that affect them.

Ecology – the study of the environment and the way plants, animals, and humans live together and affect each other.

* * *