III. Vocabulary Practice

1. Find an odd word.

1. attempt, effort, effect, try;

2. encounter, meet, run into, reach;

3. release, reduce, discharge, empty;

4. split, break, rip, hit;

5. involve, contain, hold, control;

6. produce, provide, generate, create.

2. Find the words from the text which mean the following:

• someone who lives in a particular place;

• a group of people with special skills working together in an unexpected and dangerous situation;

• to be unsuccessful in an attempt to do something;

• someone who is concerned about protecting the environment;

• an officially approved path of travel that ships must follow;

• housing or accommodation.

Read and translate the sentences in which they are used.

IV. Grammar Review

Rephrase the following sentences using the Gerund:

1.	The tanker has run aground, releasing gallons of crude oil into the sea.
	The tanker released … after…
2.	The Exxon Valdez hit Bligh Reef splitting its side open.
	The Exxon Valdez split … after…
3.	High winds are affecting attempts to suck the slick from the sea's surface.
	High winds prevent…
4.	Booms are acting like necklaces on the surface of the sea to contain the oil.
	Booms are used for…
5.	The Coast Guard is dropping chemicals in an attempt to break up the slick.
	The Coast Guard is dropping chemicals for…

V. Speech Practice

1. Explain the underlined parts in your own words.

1. Booms used to contain the oil are failing to do the job.

2. Efforts to steer the Valdez back into the narrow shipping lane was like "trying to park a Cadillac in a Volkswagen spot".

2. Speak about the accident.

Text 2. 1993: Oil tanker runs aground off Shetland

I. Read the text.

Make sure you understand the words below:

ruptured	broken
remote	distant
in place	ready
to predict	to forecast
wide-ranging	extensive
largely	mainly
lack	shortage

A tanker carrying 85,000 tonnes of crude oil has run aground in hurricane force winds off the Shetland Islands. The captain and crew of the vessel were airlifted to safety by helicopter when it became clear the disaster was imminent.

The Liberian-registered MV Braer tanker was on its way from Norway to Canada when it lost power in Force 11 gales early this morning. It ran aground on rocks in Quendale Bay, just west of Sunburgh Head, on the south tip of Shetland, just before midday, despite desperate efforts by salvage teams to prevent a collision.

Early reports suggest oil is already pouring from the ruptured tanks on the vessel.

The Shetland Islands Council has activated its major disaster plan in an attempt to prevent a major environmental catastrophe in the area, which is internationally known for seabirds and marine life.

But Greenpeace spokesperson Paul Horsman said it would be "impossible to prevent a major ecological catastrophe".

The 800-foot vessel was built in Japan in 1975 and does not have the more modern double hull which would reduce the chance of an oil spillage.

Local people in Shetland have long-expected an accident on their remote shores and emergency plans to deal with the environmental impact of such a disaster are in place.

But a catastrophe on this scale was never predicted. The Braer was carrying twice as much crude oil as the Exxon Valdez, which ran aground off Alaska four years ago.

The Shipping Minister Lord Caithness has ordered a wide-ranging inquiry into the disaster.

A report into the disaster, published in 1994, said bad weather was largely to blame for the accident. But it also condemned the actions of the ship's captain, Alexandros Gelis, who demonstrated a fundamental lack of basic seamanship.