Lesson 23.

Ex.1: Read and translate the text into Russian:

Environmental pollution

People have always polluted their surroundings. But until now pollution was not such a serious problem. People lived in unеrowded rural areas and did not have pollution — causing machines. With the development of crowded industrial cities which put huge amounts of pollutants into small areas, the problem has become more important. Automobiles and other new inventions make pollution steadily worse. Since the late 1960’s people have become alarmed with the danger of pollution.

Air, water, and soil are necessary for existence of all living things. But polluted air can cause illness, and even death. Polluted water kills fish and other marine life. On polluted soil, food can not be grown. In addition environmental pollution spoils the natural beauty of our planet.

Pollution is as complicated as serious problem. Automobiles are polluting the air but they provide transportation for the people. Factories pollute the air and the water but they provide jobs for people and produce necessary goods. Fertilizers and pesticides are important for growing crops but they can ruin soil.

Thus, people would have to stop using many useful things if they wanted to end pollution immediately. Most people do not want that of course. But pollution can be reduced gradually. Scientists and engineers can find the ways to reduce pollution from automobiles and factories. Government can pass the laws that would make enterprises take measures for reducing of pollution. Individuals and groups of people can work together to persuade enterprises to stop polluting activities.

 QUESTIONS:

1. Why wasn’t pollution such a serious problem earlier?

2. When have people become alarmed with the danger of pollution?

3. What can environmental pollution cause?

4. Why is pollution a complicated problem?

5. Can pollution be stopped immediately?

6. What can, government and individuals do to reduce pollution?

Vocabulary:

environmental pollution —загрязнение окружающей среды

uncrowded — слабонаселенный

rura l— сельскохозяйственный

pollution-causing — вызывающий загрязнение

crowded — густонаселенный

pollutants — отходы

invention — изображение

soil — грунт, земля

existence — существование

goods — товары

fertilizer — удобрение

to grow — выращивать

crops — сельскохозяйственные культуры

to ruin — портить

immediately — сразу, немедленно

to reduce — уменьшить

gradually — постепенно

to pass a law — принять закон

enterprise — предприятие

to take measures — принять меры

to persuade — убедить

Lesson 24.

Ex.1: Read and translate the dialogue into Russian:

T. Oh, it's better to be contemplating the grandeur of the land from a bird's eye view than to be doing sums.

M. Yeah, everything on the Earth looks as unprotected and tiny as ants.

V. Do ants need to be protected? Though from the point of their medical value that seems to make sense.

T. If only people took care of the environment and of one another they would never need any medical aid.

V. Are you a Greenpeace supporter?

M. Yes, the whole group of us.

V. Oh, I'm pleased to hear that. It's a noble aim to keep the planet green and cities clean, eh?

M. Yes, but we understand environmental protection is more than just picking up litter and planting trees. We must take into consideration all the factors that people's survival depends upon.

Patrick. Sure, we must begin to fight air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution. We want everybody to do his or her best in caring for all human beings.

V. Shall I stop going by car, using sprays, eating food in plastic cans, or wearing a fur coat?

P. It would be better for the environment and eventually for you, if you did.

V. Should we reject the progress then?

P. Never! But we must take control of the progress to give it a humanistic direction.

Eva. Look here, do people need to kill animals for furs? What is industrial progress with its synthetic furs for then?

V. To be frank, I divide people into those who love animals and living creatures and those who do not. I consider the latter inferior and actually I do not have friends among them.

E. No wonder, those who care for animals are much more friendly, aren't they?

T. It's a debatable question, I guess, for we are not expected to judge who is inferior, are we?

V. My point is, people's disgust towards animals is only their make-believe cleanliness. The truth is they are too lazy to tidy up their flat after a pet once again, too lazy to keep their house, staircase, yard and street clean. They are too lazy to be tolerant to animals.

E. Really, one needn't have brains to blame animals for dirt. In fact, they clean themselves as much as people do.

M. Stray animals are not to blame for having to live in town. I believe that some day they will have rights just like all other citizens do.

Gloria. As far as citizens are concerned, they need to take care of themselves too. Why do they need to ruin their health by being hostile and rude to one another? We know that only positive thoughts combined with positive wishes and deeds can create the psychological environment we need to survive.

V. Well, I see convinced fighters as you are deserve respect. But the trouble is, they are a minority of the population. The 'majority of us have still to be awakened.

P. That is what we are trying to help.