Vocabulary Exercises

Ex. 1. Match the verb (A) and adjective (B) on the left with the nouns or phrases on the right. Use each word only once.

A 1) to take a) a power station

2) to release b) every eventuality

3) to pose c) natural resources

4) to cause d) abortive

5) to generate e) a threat

6) to foresee f) electricity

7) to deplete g) precaution

8) to fuel h) global warning

9) to prove i) gases

B 1) renewable a) site

2) insulated b) side effect

3) effective c) waste

4) efficient d) buildings

5) nuclear e) fuel

6) environmental f) sources of energy

7) dumping g) means

8) fossil h) development

9) sustainable i) car

Ex. 2. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words from the following list.

deplete effect efficient disposal effective

non-renewable supply consume deforestation power

dump unfounded waste sustainable renewable

1. Nearly 55% of the oil … in the USA goes for transportation.

2. Automobiles are the least … means of using fuel energy – even less … than airplanes.

3. Between 1850 and 1950, the United States switched from being dependent on … wood to being 96% dependent on … oil, coal and natural gas.

4. Energy production and consumption may have a greater … on the environment than any other activity.

5. At the present rate of consumption, world crude oil … in 33 years.

6. Nuclear power once hailed as the answer to all the world’s energy problems, now … 2% of total energy demand.

7. This small vacuum cleaner … by batteries.

8. There is no technology for absolutely safe … of nuclear waste.

9. The loss of trees through uncontrolled … caused erosion and unstable climate.

10. Replanting policies in some parts of the world mean that our forests should in future be … .

11. The spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Advisory Group was eager to point out that fears of possible dangers to health were … . She assured that very strict safety measures would be taken and there would be no question of nuclear … being … near the city or in the surrounding area.

Ex. 3. Choose the correct word for each space.

1. An airport misused/disused since its closure ten years before was used for car racing. 2. They complained that the new law had been misused/disused to suppress individual liberties. 3. Exhausting/exhaustive tests were carried out to discuss the cause of the plane’s engine failure. 4. The older members of the group found the long journey quite exhausting/exhaustive. 5. I don’t know why he didn’t go to the exhibition. Perhaps he was too busy or just uninterested/disinterested. 6. France’s intervention in the dispute was not entirely uninterested/disinterested. It gave her increased power and influence in the area. 7. If people must smoke in bed, then they should at least take the precaution of buying non-flammable/inflammable sheets and blankets. 8. Although my father has defective/deficient hearing, he still refuses to wear a hearing aid. 9. I couldn’t care less one way or the other. I’m completely uninterested/disinterested. 10. South Wales was once a flourishing coal-mining area, but today there are hundreds of misused/disused coalmines scattered throughout the valley. 11. Miss Bright’s really effective/efficient, isn’t she? I hate to think what would happen to the office if she ever decided to leave. 12. The new prices will take effect/affect on April 1.

Ex. 4. Put in the correct prepositions.

In Britain radiation resulting … industrial and other processes represents only a small fraction of that … which the population is exposed from the natural environment. Nevertheless, that fraction is subject … stringent control because of possible effects … health or longer-term genetic effects.

Various methods are used to store radioactive wastes, depending primarily … their physical form and radioactivity. Wastes … sufficiently low radioactivity are dispersed safely direct to the environment. For those … higher radioactivity a comprehensive, international research programme is being carried … with government assistance and with the participation of the nuclear industry … methods of treatment, storage, transport and disposal.

Ex. 5. Put in the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space.

Nuclear waste is very difficult to … rid of, not only because it cannot be stored safely, but ... because it remains dangerous … thousands of years. A way must … found of storing nuclear waste … that it is isolated from the world and remains undisturbed.

Nuclear researchers are currently debating … nuclear waste is best stored in tunnels on the sea bed or buried deep in the ground. … addition, the places … nuclear waste is stored have to be marked in some … to prevent people from digging into them or simply going … close to them. Marking them is, however, no easy task as markers must be able to warn people thousands of years from now … the dangers buried deep in the ground.

After a great … of research, markers have been designed … should frighten people away and indicate … nothing of any value is buried there. Written text in … languages and pictures will reinforce the message. The structures will also produce frightening sounds in the wind, so even … who do not see the warning signs will not approach them.

Ex. 6. Give the English equivalents of the following words and phrases.

Естественные природные ископаемые, угледобывающая промышленность, получить деньги в качестве компенсации, оказывать вредное воздействие на окружающую среду, держать кого-то в заложниках, по некоторым оценкам запасов природного топлива, щит из бетона, выбрасывать радиоактивные вещества в атмосферу, экономичный источник энергии, эффективное лекарство, актуальная проблема, всестороннее расследование, плохое зрение, устойчивое развитие, подвергаться строгому контролю, представлять угрозу, произвести на кого-то впечатление, войти в силу, кратковременная выгода, выйти из-под контроля.

Ex. 7. Translate into English.

1. По некоторым прогнозам запасы полезных ископаемых могут истощиться уже в ближайшем будущем. 2. Необходимо вести исследования по разра­ботке новых источников энергии. 3. В случае аварии на атомной электро­станции обширные территории могут подвергнуться радиоактивному зараже­нию. 4. Проблема безопасного захоронения ядерных отходов остается нере­шенной. 5. В нашей стране имеются другие экологически более чистые ис­точники энергии. 6. В настоящее время солнечная энергия не способна ус­пешно конкурировать с другими более дешевыми источниками энергии. 7. Более половины объема нефти, потребляемой в США, уходит на транс­портные нужды. 8. В случае увеличения темпа потребления нефти на 2% в год ее запасы могут истощиться через 30 лет. 9. Невозможно заставить людей отказаться от личных автомобилей путем введения все более высоких нало­гов на покупку бензина. 10. Сжигание угля для получения электроэнергии ведет к появлению побочных эффектов, таких, как глобальное потепление и парниковый эффект. 11. Ядерная энергия – одна из немногих областей, где социология одерживает верх над серьезными научными доводами. 12. Пер­вые попытки получить дешевую ядерную энергию не удались. Ядерные реак­торы приходится заправлять сравнительно дорогими и потенциально опас­ными веществами. 13. Нас уверяют в том, что атомными электростанциями управ­ляют специалисты, которые предпринимают все меры предосторожно­сти и могут предусмотреть любую случайность. 14. Природные ископаемые – нефть, уголь, газ – являются невозобновляемыми источниками энергии. 15. Некоторые радиоактивные отходы остаются активными в течение не­сколь­ких тысяч лет. 16. Он злоупотребил своим служебным положением.

Types of energy sources	Environmental and security effect
oil	release of CO, SO and NO oil spills and leaks
coal	high SO, CO, and NO emissions mining land impacts high energy cost to transport
natural gas	release of CO, SO, NO shipping is dangerous - land impact from pipe lines
wood	deforestation desertification soil erosion atmospheric/climate effects inefficient burning
nuclear power	high risk associated with accidents wastes disposal risk of transportation of wastes and fuels use of nuclear by-products to make nuclear weapons