Sequence of Tenses
Exercise 1
Change the following into indirect speech,
1. "I have something to tell you," I said to her. 2, "I met her for the first time on a warm sunny morning last spring," he said. 3. "I am going to call again tomorrow, mother," she said. 4. "I've been to Turkey twice, but so far I haven't had time to visit Istanbul," said Robert. 5. "It will be very difficult to persuade her to take care of herself, doctor," I replied. 6. "The president is to come to Madrid the day after tomorrow," said the BBC announcer. 7. "We have a lift but very often it doesn't work," they said. 8. "We have bought a new flat. But we don't like it so much as our last one," said my cousin. 9, "I have left a message for him, but he hasn't phoned yet," she said. 10, "I've no idea who has done it but I'll find out," said Peggy. 11. He said, "My mother has just been operated on," 12. 'I'll come with you as soon as Fin ready," she replied to me. 13. i have a French lesson this evening and I haven't done my homework yet," said the small boy. 14. "She has been sitting* in the garden since the police came," I said to the officer. 15. "You haven’t closed the window and has forgotten to turn off the light," he pointed out,
Exercise 2
Change the following general questions into indirect speech. Begin your sentences with the words I/he wondered, we/they asked, she/he wanted to know, etc.
Example: Did she go shopping? — І asked if/ whether she had gone shopping,
1. Are your children still skiing? 2. Have they had breakfast yet? 3. Is Mike still taking an exam? 4. Did she take part in the performance? 5. Had they already left by the time you went to the station? 6. Do they regularly go to the swimming pool? 7. Will she buy a new Hoover? 8. Will she be training at 10 tomorrow? 9. Does he usually go to the Caribbeans for his holiday? 10. Did she learn to play the guitar? 11. Has the decision been already taken? 12. Do you know when the results will be out? 13. Does he know your new address? 14, Have you known each other for a long time? 15. Did he begin smoking a pipe?
Exercise 3
Change the following special questions into indirect speech. Begin your sentences with the words I/he wondered, we/they asked, she/he wanted to knew, etc.
Example: When did she go shopping? — He asked when she had gone shopping.
1. Why did he decide to go to Ethiopia? 2, When was she sent on business? 3. Who will fulfill this task? 4. How long has she been staying here? 5. Who was he speaking to when I came tip to him? 6. Who will play the role of Hamlet? 7 What is shown in this diagram? 8. What is he going to do on Sunday? 9 How long have they been developing this project? 10. Who was this book written by?
Exercise 4
Imagine that you have come to study to a foreign country and students are asking you questions. Report these questions later to your friend.
Example: "What country do you come from?" asked Bill. — Bill asked what country I came from.
"Do you often go to the swimming-pool?" asked Pete. — Pete asked if I often went to the swimming-pool.
1. "How long have you been here?" said Ann. 2. "Are you working as well as studying?" asked Peter. 3. "Have you got a work permit?" Bill wanted to know. 4. "What are you going to study?" asked Ann. 5. "Have you enrolled for more than one class?" said Peter. 6. "Do you want to buy any second-hand books?" said Bill. 7. "Have you seen the library?" asked Ann. 8. "Do you play rugby?" said Peter. 9. "Will you have time to play regularly?" he went on. 10. "Did you play for your school team?" asked Bill. 11. "Are you interested in acting?" asked Ann. 12. "Would you like to join our drama group?" she asked. 13. "What do you think of our canteen?" asked Pete.
Exercise 5
Change commands, requests, recommendations into indirect speech.
Example: "Close the door," she asked me. — She asked me to close the door.
1. "Open the safe!" the raiders ordered the bank clerk. 2. "Please do as I say," he begged me. 3. "Help your mother, Peter," Mr. Pitt said. 4. "Don't make too much noise, children," he said. 5. "Do whatever you like," she said to us. 6. "Don't miss your train," she warned them. 7. "Read the document before you sign it," the lawyer said to his client. 8. "Fill in the blank again," he said. 9. "Buy a new car," I advised him. 10. "Don't drive too fast," she begged him. 11. "Don't put your bicycle near my window," said the shopkeeper to me. 12. "Come to the cinema with me," he asked her. 13. "Cook it in butter," I advised her. 14. "Send for the fire brigade," the manager said to the porter. 15. "Please pay at the desk," said the shop assistant to her. 16. "Don't argue with me," said the teacher to the boy. 17. "Pull as hard as you can," he said to her. 18. "Don't lend anything to her," he advised us. 19. "Stand clear off the door," a voice warned the people. 20. "Put down that gun. It's loaded," she warned him.
Exercise 6
Change sentences with modal verbs and their equivalents into indirect speech.
1. "If what you have said is true I must go to the police," he said. 2. "You don't need to come in tomorrow," said my employer. "You may take a day off." 3. "I'll be busy next week and won't be able to help you," she said to us. ''Besides this text must be typed and as for me, I cannot type, so I'll have to ask somebody to do it," she added. 4. The official said, "This passport photo isn't like you at all. You must have another one taken." 5. "I needn't get up till nine tomorrow," I said. 6. "I must go to the dentist tomorrow," she said to me. "I have an appointment." 7. "I will go to bed. I had to get up very early today," he said. 8. "I couldn't meet her, I was working," he said. 9. "Ann's English is very poor. She must study very hard," the teacher said. 10. "Something was wrong with the receiver, I could not hear you well yesterday," she said.
Exercise 7
Translate into English paying attention to the sequence of tenses.
1, Я знав, що вона ще не прочитала листа. 2. Вона вважала, що ананаси ростуть на деревах. 3. Він сказав нам, що заплатив борги (pay one's debts) місяць тому. 4. Вона сказала, що пише цей твір (composition) вже три години. 5. Вона не знала, чи успішно скінчилась (be a success) операція. 6. Том зателефонував в поліцію і сказав, що всі його речі украдені. 7. Капітан наказав усім піднятися на борт (get aboard). 8. Вони не знали, чи будуть опубліковані результати їх дослідів 9. Я думав, що він працює, і не зайшов у кімнату. 10. Він попросив, щоб вона не турбувалась. 11. Я не знаю, коли він приїде до Полтави. 12. Вони поцікавались, чи був я коли-нибудь закордоном (abroad). 13. Він сказав їм, що вони не повинні говорити про це зараз. 14. Наш гід (guide) розсказав нам, що палац (castle) бул побудований в 14-ому столітті. 15. Я сподіваюсь, що новий міст буде побудований в наступному році.
Exercise 8
Change the following into indirect speech paying attention to conditional sentences.
1. "I'll put a book into your briefcase in case you want to read," Mother said. 2. He said, "If she follows my advice, all will turn out well." 3. "Annette will have come to Paris in an hour if there arevno delays," Pete thought. 4. "These letters must be sent immediately as soon as they are translated," the manager said. 5. "I'll take you out for a walk after I have seen the film," he said to his dog. 6. "I am sure she will sing to us provided we ask her," he whispered. 7. "If she trains hard she will win the Cup," the trainer said. 8. "If she stays in bed for a couple of days, she will be all right in a week," the doctor said to the mother. 9. "If the train comes on time we'll be able to see the football match," he said to me. 10. She said, "I won't come if I am not invited."
Самостійна робота
Exercise 1 Cange the sentences as in the model
Model:
The captain says that his ship's speed is 17 knots.
The captain said that his ship's speed was 17 knots.
1. I know that your ship took part in the Antarctic expedition.
2. He thinks that he will sail on a training ship.
3. The passenger says that he can speak English quite well.
4. They say that their ship carries cargo and passengers.
5. The captain wants to know who asked for him.
6. The engineer says that the engine is in good order.
7. My friend says that he has little time for reading detective stories.
8. I think that they had their practice in July.
9. We know that he must be on board at 9 o'clock.
10. We don't think that the wind will blow from the North.
Exercise 2 Change the following into indirect speech
Model:
"I want to sit in the armchair", said the boy.
The boy said that he wanted to sit in the armchair.
1. The secretary said to me: "The delegation arrived in London yesterday".
2. "Open the window, please", she said to me.
3. He said: ''I shall light a fire and make myself breakfast".
4. "Don't run to the door when you hear the bell", said the woman to her little daughter.
5. She asked me: ''How long are you going to stay here?"
6. Mary asked me: "Will you spend your vacation in Moscow?"
7. "Lock the door when you leave the house", said my elder sister to me.
8. "Have you received a telegram from your wife?'' she asked Robert.
9. Mabel said: ''Nothing will change my decision and I shall leave for Cap Foron tonight".
10. "Please, don't smoke in the room", said the old woman to her nephew.
11. "I am shivering with cold", said the girl.
Read the article, translate it, write down all the unknown words for you, learn them and express the main idea of the article.
Ecological problems of Zaporozhye are the nation-wide issue
The ecological problems of Zaporozhye are the nation-wide issue. Solution of the problems is directly dependent upon interaction of the bodies of power, enterprises and scientists. To learn to determine the degree of the menace for health of a human due to these or other industrial emissions is seen as one of the ways out from the environmen6tal crisis by the participants of the international seminar ‘Environmental situation in Zaporozhye: the intersectoral partnership in risk management’ which was held in our city.
The seminar was sponsored by Zaporozhye regional council, the World Bank representative office in Ukraine, public foundation ‘Protection of Nature’, Marzeyev Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology of the Ukrainian Academy of Medical Science, Centre of Medical and Ecological Problems and Risk Evaluation.
The seminar was attended by A.Yu. Putnoki, Zaporizhstal Technical Director and the first Deputy Chairman of Board, N.M. Silin, main specialist in nature protection and radiation safety as well as by specialists of the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Management and Health Protection, public representatives and delegates from Zaporozhye scientific institutions and enterprises and newsmen.
Opening the seminar E.G. Kartashov, the city mayor, said that to improve the ecological situation in Zaporozhye instantaneously is impossible but to reduce the risks of negative effects on the citizens is quite really. The group of scientists invited to Zaporozhye has already tackled the development of the regional centre map at which all possible sources of pollution will be marked. On the basis of this map the Zaporozhyevites’ health risk reduction techniques will be elaborated.
Evgeniy Kartashov noted that the ecological problems in Zaporozhye do not worry Kiev officials. For the passed four years Zaporozhye did not receive a single kopeck from the state ecological fund. All dedicated ministers and people’s deputies who visited our city promised to re-establish the justice in distribution of funds. However money has kept going as it used to be and irrevocably.
Today as the mayor says the Zaporozhyevites call for retention of money in the city budget that is necessary for solution of ecological problems.
A.Yu.Putnoki, Technical Director and the first Deputy of the Works’ Chairman of Board, noted that Zaporizhstal has the lowest emissions per ton of steel among the metallurgical plants in the country.
Fulfilment of the environmental protection measures enabled reduction of the Works’ emissions into air by 41 % and that of sewage water drainage by 30 % and increase the service water recycle by 86 %.
We understand, said Alexander Yuliusovich, that to improve the ecological situation is possible only through integration of new modern technologies and equipment in gas cleaning and dust suppression. Therefore we spare no expense for solution of the problems. Only for the past 5 years for fulfilment of ecological programme we spent over UAH 750,000,000 and invested over UAH 7 b into the Works’ reconstruction programme.
In solution of ecological problems he singled out three aspects: social and economic and public ones.
Firstly, one should admit that regional residents’ welfare is directly linked with successful performance of the plants and therefore it is impossible to shut-down ecologically unfavorable enterprises. However they should devote a great attention to integration of the newest ecologically safe production technologies, U. Putnoki noted. Secondly, the environmental management slogan has became one of the most important components of the competition. This aspect is the motive for the plants to integrate modern technologies which ultimately lead to the rise in production efficiency what will assist to integration of Ukraine into international economic and political structures.
The public aspect lies in that that ecological policy should be goal-oriented, coordinated with and supported by mutual desire of three parties: : power and enterprises and public. It can be realized through the comprehensive programme of solution of ecological problems in Zaporozhye. In order to draw up and approve the programme, Zaporizhstal tries to realize its initiative to hold the all-city ecological conference. However, unfortunately we have not received any support on the part of the industrial enterprises nor on that of power. Our appeal to the Zaporozhye regional council also remains not responded.
A.U. Putnoki stressed that Zaporizhstal workers as all the city residents refer to solution of nature protection issues as the overriding task and propose the comprehensive solution of the entire spectrum of the ecological problems of our native town. At the same time we understand that responsibility for these is the common one.
Participants of the seminar noted that Zaporozhye ecological problems should be solved not only by the Works’ specialists since in the city there are plants though with emissions smaller by volume but much more detrimental in composition. Support of the state is also needed: tax rebates, abolition of custom duties on import of new industrial equipment, etc.
The specialists in ecology assume that to solve the environmental management problems in the region it is necessary to consolidate the efforts of power and public and all enterprises. Specific proposal are already forwarded to Kiev.
Unit 7
Text 1 Read and translate the text, retell it.
How Soil Gets Polluted
Soil is a sort of ecosystem unto itself, and it is relatively sensitive to foreign matter being applied to it. That's good for us in the case of wanting to add soil amendments, fertilizer and compost to make the soil healthier, but not so good when it comes to soil pollution.
There are many different ways that soil can become polluted, such as:
Seepage from a landfill
Discharge of industrial waste into the soil
Percolation of contaminated water into the soil
Rupture of underground storage tanks
Excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer
Solid waste seepage
The most common chemicals involved in causing soil pollution are:
Petroleum hydrocarbons
Heavy metals
Pesticides
Solvents
Soil pollution happens when these chemicals adhere to the soil, either from being directly spilled onto the soil or through contact with soil that has already been contaminated.
As the world becomes more industrialized, the long term effects of soil pollution are becoming more of a problem all over the world. It is thought that a full 150 million miles of China's farmland is contaminated.
Soil Pollution Problems
Even when soil is not being used for food, the matter of its contamination can be a health concern. This is especially so when that soil is found in parks, neighborhoods or other places where people spend time.
Health effects will be different depending on what kind of pollutant is in the soil. It can range from developmental problems (in children exposed to lead) to cancer (from chromium and some chemicals found in fertilizer, whether those chemicals are still used or have been banned but are still found in the soil).
Some soil contaminants increase the risk of leukemia, while others can lead to kidney damage, liver problems and changes in the central nervous system.
Those are just the long term effects of soil pollution. In the short term, exposure to chemicals in the soil can lead to headaches, nausea, fatigue and skin rashes at the site of exposure.
Environmental Long Term Effects of Soil Pollution
When it comes to the environment itself, the toll of contaminated soil is even more dire. Soil that has been contaminated should no longer be used to grow food, because the chemicals can leech into the food and harm people who eat it.
If contaminated soil is used to grow food, the land will usually produce lower yields than it would if it were not contaminated. This, in turn, can cause even more harm because a lack of plants on the soil will cause more erosion, spreading the contaminants onto land that might not have been tainted before.
In addition, the pollutants will change the makeup of the soil and the types of microorganisms that will live in it. If certain organisms die off in the area, the larger predator animals will also have to move away or die because they've lost their food supply. Thus it's possible for soil pollution to change whole ecosystems.
Adhere—приставати,прилипати
amendment—покращувачі
contaminate [kən'tæmіneіt]—забруднювати
ban—забороняти
nausea ['nɔːsɪə], нудота
fatigue [fə'ti:g] —стомливість
skin rash—висип на шкірі
exposure—вплив
toll [təul]—втрати
dire ['daіə]—жахливий
makeup—стуктура
seepage ['si:pɪʤ] протікання
landfill—сміттєзвалище
to discharge—зливати
percolation [pɜːk(ə)'leɪʃ(ə)n] проникнення
rupture ['rʌpʧə] тріщина
EXERCISE 1 Translate the following sentences
1. Є багато різних способів, за допомогою яких грунт може стати забрудненим. 2 Забруднення грунту трапляється, коли ці хімікалії проникають у грунт. 3 Вплив на здоров’я буде різний, залежно від того який вид забруднюючого агента знаходиться у грунті. 4. Деякі забруднювачі грунтів збільшують ризик лейкемії, тоді як інші можуть приводити до ниркових пошкодженнь, проблем печінки і змін в центральній нервовій системі. 5. Заражений грунт призводить до нижчих врожаїв. 6. Забруднення змінює структуру грунту і види мікроорганізмів, які живуть у ньому.
Summary
A summary is a brief account that contains the main points of something. Some examples that you hear or see almost everyday are news reports given on the radio ot TV. Students often have to write summaries of books they have read. Writing a summary lets you, or your teacher, know how much you understood of what you read or saw. Summaries are a great way to remember what has happened.
When you write a summary, you first look for the most important ideas.
Then, you then put all the main ideas together, in a logical order.
How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps
Writing a good summary demonstrates that you clearly understand a text...and that you can communicate that understanding to your readers. A summary can be tricky to write at first because it’s tempting to include too much or too little information. But by following our easy 8-step method, you will be able to summarize texts quickly and successfully for any class or subject.
1) Divide…and conquer. First off, skim the text you are going to summarize and divide it into sections. Focus on any headings and subheadings. Also look at any bold-faced terms and make sure you understand them before you read.
2) Read. Now that you’ve prepared, go ahead and read the selection. Read straight through. At this point, you don’t need to stop to look up anything that gives you trouble—just get a feel for the author’s tone, style, and main idea.
3) Reread. Rereading should be active reading. Underline topic sentences and key facts. Label areas that you want to refer to as you write your summary. Also label areas that should be avoided because the details—though they may be interesting—are too specific. Identify areas that you do not understand and try to clarify those points.
4) One sentence at a time. You should now have a firm grasp on the text you will be summarizing. In steps 1–3, you divided the piece into sections and located the author’s main ideas and points. Now write down the main idea of each section in one well-developed sentence. Make sure that what you include in your sentences are key points, not minor details.
5) Write a thesis statement. This is the key to any well-written summary. Review the sentences you wrote in step 4. From them, you should be able to create a thesis statement that clearly communicates what the entire text was trying to achieve. If you find that you are not able to do this step, then you should go back and make sure your sentences actually addressed key points.
6) Ready to write. At this point, your first draft is virtually done. You can use the thesis statement as the introductory sentence of your summary, and your other sentences can make up the body. Make sure that they are in order. Add some transition words (then, however, also, moreover) that help with the overall structure and flow of the summary. And once you are actually putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys!), remember these tips:
Write in the present tense.
Make sure to include the author and title of the work.
Be concise: a summary should not be equal in length to the original text.
If you must use the words of the author, cite them.
Don't put your own opinions, ideas, or interpretations into the summary. The purpose of writing a summary is to accurately represent what the author wanted to say, not to provide a critique.
7) Check for accuracy. Reread your summary and make certain that you have accurately represented the author’s ideas and key points. Make sure that you have correctly cited anything directly quoted from the text. Also check to make sure that your text does not contain your own commentary on the piece.
8) Revise. Once you are certain that your summary is accurate, you should (as with any piece of writing) revise it for style, grammar, and punctuation. If you have time, give your summary to someone else to read. This person should be able to understand the main text based on your summary alone. If he or she does not, you may have focused too much on one area of the piece and not enough on the author’s main idea.
This is the example of summary writing
Show how environmental pollution has plagued earth from ancient to modern times by writing a summary not exceeding 120 words.
I run Green Way International, a conservation group that campaigns against and conducts research into environmental pollution. The data that we receive from all corners of the globe give us no cause for optimism -- the results of our studies and the minimal success of our crusades testify to the fact that we are fighting a losing battle.
Of course, environmental pollution is not a modern phenomenon. It began ever since people 'began to congregate in towns and cities. The ancient Athenians removed refuse to dumps outside the main parts of their cities. The Romans dug trenches outside their cities where they could deposit their garbage, waste and even corpses. These unhygienic practices undoubtedly led to the outbreak of viral diseases.
Unfortunately, Man refuses to acknowledge or correct his past mistakes. As cities grew in the Middle Ages, pollution became even more evident. Ordinances had to be passed in medieval cities against indiscriminate dumping of waste into the streets and canals. In sixteenth century England, efforts were made to curb the use of coal to reduce the amount of smoke in the air. These, however, had little effect on the people's consciences.
I think that the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century was the point of no return. It heralded the mushrooming of industries and power driven machines. True, the standard of living increased, but it was achieved at a great environmental cost.
In Cubatao of Brazil, for instance, industrial plants belch thousands of tons of pollutants daily and the air contains high levels of benzene, a cancer causing substance. In one recent year alone, I discovered 13,000 cases of respiratory diseases and that a tenth of the workers risked contracting leukemia. Green Way International hoped to seek the assistance of Brazil's government officials but we were sorely disappointed. Unwilling to lose revenue from the factories, they blamed the high mortality rate on poor sanitation and malnutrition. We continue to provide medical assistance to the inhabitants of Brazil's "Valley of Death", but there is little else that we can do to alleviate the suffering.
Our planet has its own mechanisms to deal with natural pollutants. Decay, sea spray and volcanic eruptions release more sulphur than all the power plants, smelters and industries in the world do. Lightning bolts create nitrogen oxides and trees emit hydrocarbons called trepenes. These substances are cycled through the ecosystem and change form, passing through plant and animal tissues, sink to the sea and return to earth to begin the cycle all over again.
However, can the earth assimilate the additional millions of tons of chemicals like sulphur, chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide and methane that our industries release each year? If the dying forests in Germany, Eastern Europe, Sweden and Norway give any indication, then the answer must be a resounding "No!". Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen from the power plants and factories and motor vehicles have acidified the soil. This has destroyed the organisms necessary to the nutrient cycle as well as injured the trees' fine root systems. The weakened trees become more vulnerable to drought, frost, fungi and insects.
Many a time, my staff have returned from their research tours around the world, lamenting the slow but sure destruction of our cultural treasures. The carvings on the Parthenon, a magnificent building in Athens, have been eroded by acid deposition. The Roman Colosseum, England's Westminster Abbey and India's Taj Mahal have also fallen victim to insidious chemicals that float in the air. The stained glass windows of cathedrals from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries have been corroded to barely recognizable images as well.
Years earlier, I had studied a secluded island in the Pacific and found its undisturbed ecosystem in complete balance and stability. In despair, I once contemplated living the rest of my days on the island in solitude. Pollution, however, is no respecter of boundaries - when I reached the island, the beaches were awash with trash and dead marine life while the once-lush foliage were sparse and limp. It was then that I realized this dying planet needs allies and not fatalism and resignation. I returned to resume my crusade and I hope others will join me...
Answer
Pollution has plagued earth since people established towns and cities. Ancient Athenians and Romans disposed their waste and even corpses in dumps and trenches outside their cities. These indiscriminate practice caused viral outbreaks. In the medieval era, smoke polluted the air, with the increased use of coal. Pollution became even more prevalent following the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century. Today, factories and motor vehicles are the main caused of environmental contamination. Toxic gases and chemicals like benzene, sulphur, chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen and mercury oxides are emitted and cause cancer, leukemia and respiratory disease. Theses substances have also led to the destruction of flora and fauna. Major artistic and historical relics have been corroded and damaged too. ( 119 words )
congregate to gather together in a large group
ordinance a law or rule made by a government or authority
belch to allow air from the stomach to come out noisily through the mouth
Summarize this article about Man and his destruction of wildlife habitat in not more than 120 words
Man is forever changing the face of nature. He has been doing so since he first appeared on the earth. Yet, all that man has done is not always to the ultimate advantage of the earth or himself. Man has, in fact, destroyed more than necessary.
In his struggle to live and extract the most out of life, man has destroyed many species of wildlife; directly by sheer physical destruction, and indirectly by the destruction or alteration of habitats. Some species may be able to withstand disruptions to their habitat while others may not be able to cope.
Take the simple act of farming. When a farmer tills a rough ground, he makes it unsuitable for the survival of certain species. Every change in land use brings about a change in the types of plant and animals found on that land.
When man builds a new town, this means the total destruction of vast areas of farmland or woodland. Here, you have the complete destruction of entire habitats and it is inevitable.
It follows therefore, that every form of human activity unavoidably upsets or changes the wildlife complex of the area. Man has destroyed many forms of wildlife for no reasonable purpose. They have also made many great blunders in land use, habitat destruction and the extermination of many forms of wildlife.
Man's attitude towards animals depends on the degree to which his own survival is affected. He sets aside protection for animals that he hunts for sport and wages a war on any other creature that may pose a danger or inconvenience to him. This creates many problems and man has made irreversible, serious errors in his destruction of predators. He has destroyed animals and birds which are useful to farmers as pest controllers. The tragedy that emerges is that all the killing of predators did not in any way increase the number of game birds.
Broadly speaking, man wages war against the creatures which he considers harmful, even when his warfare makes little or no difference to the numbers of those he encourages. There is a delicate predator and prey equilibrium involving also the vegetation of any area, which man can upset by thoughtless intervention.
Therefore, there is a need for the implementation of checks and balances. The continued existence of these animals depends entirely on man and his attitude towards his own future.
Read the text and say what the main idea of this text is
Canadian seal hunt - Such a cruelty
Another end of the march means another annual seal hunt in Canada despite the strong opposition from different animal rights group. The Canadian government announced a total allowable catch for 2009 of 338,000 harp, hooded and grey seals. The 2008 Canadian Seal hunt kill quota was 275 000, and since 2003 over 1.7 million seals have been butchered to death.
It is really difficult to understand how such barbaric act can be allowed in civilized company, just imagine, hundreds of thousands cute baby seals are being viciously clubbed to death each year. Such cruelty can be rarely seen in today's world. Can you imagine that at this time each year Canadian ice is awash in baby seals blood? Baby seals are lying on ice not aware of cruel destiny that awaits them. Their destiny is inhumane slaughter year after year, despite the protests.
This is really the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. Cute little baby seals are thrown into this terrible horror movie each year. The name of the movie is "License for slaughter" because this really is a slaughter, a barbaric act that sadly goes unpunished. It is even disgusting to call this hunting, this is far from hunting, this is cruel clubbing to death, a real slaughter.
Protests were again not enough, and countless baby seals await their horrible fate. Current reports show that we are still years away from strong ban that would prevent this cruelty. It still very much puzzles me how civilized society can let this brutality happen every year? What is wrong with us? How can anyone tolerate this cruelty? Pelts, blubber, and meat are definitely not enough to justify this slaughter.
Самостійна робота
Summarize this article about the use of fertilizers in not more than 120 words.
In the early days of farming, people did not understand how plants obtained essential nutrients. It so happened that wood ash, fish remains and slaughterhouse waste were thrown on vacant land just to get rid of them. Then, people started to notice that the grass, bushes and shrubs on this vacant land began to grow very well. They reasoned that if their farmland were similarly treated, the growth of their crops would also improve. People gradually began to realize that the nutrients required by plants came from the soil and that the amount of nutrients could be increased by the application of such organic remains to the soil. Thus started the manuring process in farming.
The practice of manuring has been practized as early since the seventeenth century. However, the importance of manuring was not properly understood until scientists began to study the nutritional needs of plants and gave birth to fertilizers. Thus, gradually, the use of fertilizers became accepted by farmers.
There are many types of manure and fertilizer currently being used. Manure is a substance derived from animals and plants. The most important advantage of using manure is the fact that they not only supply a wide range of plant nutrients, but also improve the structure of the soil. It cements together the soil particles to form soil crumbs. The crumb structure is a desirable condition of cultivated soil. The addition of manure to soil will increase the inorganic and humus content which helps to prevent soil erosion and loss of plant nutrients when it rains. The common manure used in farming consists of farmyard manure, compost, blood meal, bone meal and fish meal.
Unlike manure, fertilizers are inorganic substances which do not improve the structure of the soil. They only supply extra amounts of nutrients to the growing plants when applied to the soil. The commercial fertilizers commonly used today can be classified into three major categories; namely, nitrogen (N), phosphate and potash fertilizers.
Besides knowing the type of fertilizer to use, a farmer also needs to know when to apply the fertilizer and how to apply it. The fertilizer should be applied at the time when the plants need a particular nutrient most. The time and method of application will determine how profitably the fertilizers have been used in farming. Fertilizers which have not been properly applied cannot be absorbed in large quantities by plant roots. These fertilizers may be washed away by rain or they may kill the plants. This would mean a definite financial loss for the farmer.
Write about water conservation in different countries in about 100 words.
Human needs can be narrowed down to three essentials: air, water and food. Without air one would not survive ten minutes; without water one would likely die of dehydration within ten days; and without food, the body would probably expire after ten weeks.
The average person requires between six and eight glasses (about two litres) of drinking water a day to maintain the hydration of tissues in the body, and to facilitate the physiological processes of digestion. In addition, water acts as a transport medium for nutrients within the body, helps to remove toxins and waste materials, stabilizes the body temperature, and plays a crucial part in the structure and function of the circulatory system. In short, water is the elixir of life.
People living in modern cities get water at the turn of a tap, a convenience that has spawned a careless attitude towards this crucial substance. What is more, most Asian governments provide water to consumers and industries alike at a low to nominal tariff.
Modern urban living has bred a generation of Asians who are careless in their usage of water. Singapore, for example, has increased its rate of water consumption over the last ten years and more than half has been for domestic usage. Calls to cut back on usage have fallen on deaf ears since average daily consumption keeps rising annually.
Singaporeans have been warned that they would run out of water if the consumption is left unchecked. Recent conservation measures introduced include the installation of low-capacity cisterns that reduce water used from nine litres to as low as 3.5 litres per flush in public housing estates.
The low cost of water for household consumption makes people feel that water is something they can get easily. Thus, the Singapore government has acted in curbing excessive use of water by raising the cost of water. Water rates in Singapore are among the highest in Asia - and for good reason, as the city ranks as the sixth most water-scarce country in the world.
In contrast, the Japanese have a generally frugal attitude towards water. Communal bathing is a traditional habit in rural Japan and is a definite form of conservation. After individual ablutions, an entire family uses the same tub of water - the father goes first, followed by the children and then the mother. This system is incredibly efficient, with a family of five bathing in less than twenty litres of water. Housewives may even keep the bath water for washing the laundry.
In Tokyo, water conservation takes on a hi-fi slant. Some apartments have a computerized toilet that flushes automatically when a person stands up and one can choose to have a big or small flush. The bath is also computerized with a warning buzzer that goes off when the tub gets too full. Many bathroom sinks are connected via a pipe to the toilet cistern - thus the toilet is flushed with water from the sink.
Hong Kong, meanwhile, has maximized its biggest water resource - the ocean. Sea water is used as flushing water in many of the city's toilets.
Summarize the passage about the effects of pollution in about 100 words.
Pollution in Its Many Forms
One of the most serious problems facing the world today is pollution, that is the contamination of air, land and water by all kinds of chemicals such as poisonous gases, waste materials and insecticides. Pollution has upset the balance of nature, destroyed many forms of wildlife and caused a variety of illnesses. It occurs in every country on Earth but is most prominent in industrial countries.
Breathing polluted air is very common to most people, especially those living in cities. In heavily industrialized areas, fumes from car exhausts and thick smoke from factory chimneys can be seen darkening the atmosphere. This would reduce visibility and make the air unpleasant to breathe. Large scale burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, in homes and industries also produces a wide range of pollutants. This includes sulfur dioxide which damages plants, destroys buildings and affects health. Other known pollutants are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and dirt particles. The fumes produced by car exhausts and factories would normally disperse in the air, but sometimes they are trapped by air layers of different temperatures. The result is a fog-like haze known as smog. Britain and some other countries introduced smokeless zones and smokeless fuels some years ago and smog no longer occurs, but it still remains a very real problem in Japan and the United States.
The motor car is a major source of pollution. In densely populated cities where there are millions of cars on the roads, the level of carbon monoxide in the air is dangerously high. On windless days, the fumes settle near ground level. Fumes from car exhausts also pour out lead and nitrogen oxide.
The testing of nuclear weapons, and the use of atomic energy for experimental purposes in peaceful times have exposed some people to levels of radiation that are too high for safety. Crop-spraying by aircraft also adds chemical poisons to the air.
Domestic rubbish is another very serious pollution problem. The average American citizen throws away nearly one ton of rubbish every year. Much of this consists of plastic, metal and glass packaging that cannot be broken down naturally. Instead it lies with old refrigerators, broken washing machines and abandoned cars in huge piles for years without decaying. Each year the problem of rubbish disposal becomes more serious.
Sewage causes another form of pollution. Most of it flows straight into rivers, where it is broken down by tiny bacteria. The bacteria need oxygen for this process, but because of the vast quantities of sewage, the bacteria uses up all available oxygen in the water, causing the death of countless fish and other river life. Rivers provide a very convenient outlet for industrial waste, as well as being a source of water for cooling in nuclear and other power plants.
Like rivers, oceans have been used as dumping grounds for waste of all kinds. One of the recent sources of sea pollution is oil and millions of tons of it spill into the sea each year. Oil not only pollutes beaches, it also kills fish and seabirds.
Unit 8
Text 1 Read and translate the text, retell it.
What is a Biome?
A biome is a large area with similar flora, fauna, and microorganisms. Most of us are familiar with the tropical rainforests, tundra in the arctic regions, and the evergreen trees in the coniferous forests. Each of these large communities contain species that are adapted to its varying conditions of water, heat, and soil. For instance, polar bears thrive in the arctic while cactus plants have a thick skin to help preserve water in the hot desert.
What is an Ecosystem?
Most of us are confused when it comes to the words ecosystem and biome. What's the difference? There is a slight difference between the two words. An ecosystem is much smaller than a biome. Conversely, a biome can be thought of many similar ecosystems throughout the world grouped together. An ecosystem can be as large as the Sahara Desert, or as small as a puddle or vernal pool.
Ecosystems are dynamic interactions between plants, animals, and microorganisms and their environment working together as a functional unit. Ecosystems will fail if they do not remain in balance. No community can carry more organisms than its food, water, and shelter can accommodate. Food and territory are often balanced by natural phenomena such as fire, disease, and the number of predators. Each organism has its own niche, or role, to play.
The Major Biomes:
Mountains (High Elevation)
Tundra
Temperate Forest
Marine/Island
Desert
Tropical Dry Forest
Cold Climate Forest
Grassland
Savannah
Tropical Rainforest
How have humans affected the ecosystems?
We have affected ecosystems in almost every way imaginable! Every time we walk out in the wilderness or bulldoze land for a new parking lot we are drastically altering an ecosystem. We have disrupted the food chain, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the water cycle. Mining minerals also takes its toll on an ecosystem. We need to do our best not to interfere in these ecosystems and let nature take its toll.