2.8 Topic for discussion.

Is the information from the text 3 new for you?

Who are dendochronologists?

Unit 3 Trees

3.1 Active vocabulary:

alder	ольха
ash	ясень
aspen	осина

baobab	баобаб
beech	бук
birch	берёза
chestnut	каштан
cedar	кедр
cypress	кипарис
Douglas fir	лжетсуга
eucalyptus	эвкалипт
elm	ильм, вяз
fir	пихта, ель
juniper	можжевельник
hemlock	тсуга
holly	остролист
larch	лиственница
lime	липа
maple	клён
oak	дуб
pine	сосна
poplar	тополь
rowan	рябина
spruce	ель
teak	тик
willow	ива
yew	тис

3.2 Read and translate the text 1 using the active vocabulary and a dictionary. A. Cypress

Cypress trees (figure 3.1) are evergreen trees or largeshrubs, growing to 5-40 m tall. The leaves are scale-like, 2-6 mm long, arranged in opposite decussate pairs, and persist for 3-5 years. On young plants up to 1-2 years old, the leaves are needle-like, 5-15 mm long. The cones (figure 3.2) are 8-40 mm long, globose or ovoid with 4-14 scales arranged in opposite decussate pairs; they are mature in 18-24 months from pollination. The seeds are small, 4-7 mm long, with two narrow wings, one along each side of the seed.

The Cypress tree grows mainly along the southern coastlines and inland areas. The tree produces an oil called cypressine which acts as a

n

Figure 3.1 Cypress Tree

atural preservative within the wood. This inherent characteristic of the Southern Cypress makes it durable and extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions, insects and fungus. Since Cypress wood lacks sap and doesn’t bleed, it takes well to sealers, stains and paints. Its color varies in shades of light to dark honey. If left outdoors unfinished in its natural state, the appearance of the wood will become a light pewter color over time. The lumber is lightweight, scarce of knots textured, and dimensionally stable with a closed straight grain.

It is easy to cut, saw, nail, and resists splitting, warping, checking, splintering and cracking. Cypress wood compliments any interior or exterior architectural style from Rustic, Traditional to Modern. Cypress siding has been commonly used for years on coastal and resort homes. It was also used by colonial builders for their homes, barns, cotton gins, warehouses, boatbuilding and docks. Cypress wood has even been reused from 100 year old structures. Other beneficial uses today include: porches, bridges, shingles, shutters and greenhouse construction.