2.11 Answer the questions to the text.

1. What’s the population of our planet?

2. What regions are inhabited with people?

3. What things can animals do better than people?

4. Ennumerate the ways people can communicate.

5. Explain why writing is a special kind of communication.

2.12 Read the text below and match the verbs with the nouns.

plant cows water wheat pick crops

grow plants slaughter trees harvest fruit

Using the Land

Some land is used for parks and gardens where we often grow trees and plants. They are living things with roots and leaves. First, you plant the tree or plant (you put them in the ground), then you must water them. Land in the country is often used for agriculture or farming. Some farms concentrate on dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese. Other farms keep animals which are killed and sold for their meat, e.g. cows and lambs.

Some farms use the land to grow fruit (apples, pears, cherries, etc.) or vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage, etc.) Some grow cereals: wheat, maize and barley. When they are ready, farmers pick the fruit and harvest the other crops.

There are many large flowing plants that are parasites attacking crops and trees. These parasitic plants are members of various botanical families. Some of them attack only another plant’s roots, others attack only the stems. There are even trees that attack other trees in Brazil and Australia.

2.13 Are these statements true or false? If false, correct them.

1. Plants need roots.

2. The harvest is the period when you plant the crops.

3. You must water the tree before you plant it.

4. Farmers keep animals to enjoy them.

5. Plants have no leaves.

6. Parasitic plants attack only the roots of other plants.

2.14 Complete these sentences with the correct “general” word.

Example: Apples, oranges, bananas are all types of fruit.

1. Potatoes, beans and carrots are types of …

2. Milk, butter and cheese are all … products.

3. … is a general word for wheat, maize, barley, etc.

4. We use the word … as a general word for plants which are grown to be eaten.

5. Members of various botanical families that attack other plants are called …

Speaking

2.15 Think of an animal or a plant. Your partner tries to guess its name. He/she can ask you only yes/no questions.

Example: - Is it a rare animal?

Yes, it is. Does it live in the forest? Yes, in the jungle. Is it big? Yes, it is. Does it eat plants?

Yes, it does. And sometimes fish. Is its coat black and white? Yes, it is. Is it panda? Yes, it is.

2.16 Write a description of any plant or animal but don’t use its name. Let your partner guess it.

Example1: It is a wild plant with prickly leaves and yellow, white or purple flowers. It is the national sign of Scotland. (The key: thistle)

Example2: This animal belongs to the dog family. It has got long legs, a long tail, and sharp teeth. It is grey, brown or black. It is about 1,5 metres long, 76 cm tall and weighs 44 kilos. It lives in the USA, Canada, China, Russia and Greece, and it lives for about 10 years. It eats animals of all sizes, such as rabbits, mice and deer. (The key: timber wolf)