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Файл:Our Changing World. Практический курс первого иностранного языка. Учебное пособие для студентов второго курса специальности «Перевод и переводоведение.pdf
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pests are managed. Although many studies have been conducted, none have proven
that organic foods are nutritionally superior to conventionally grown foods. However,
many consumers still choose organic. The organic food industry has shown increased
consumer demand over the last decade and some farmers have adopted this
production method to meet the consumer demand.
Although there are benefits to utilizing biotechnology, its important to recognize the
risks as well. While great effort and extensive research is put into the development
and approval process of GM crops, scientists are looking for negative impacts that
could still be observed. One risk is of plants, particularly weeds, developing tolerance
to the herbicides that are used to kill them. This is possible through the simple
biological process of evolution as the weed can become hardier with each generation
and eventually become tolerant of the chemical. This process can happen with nonGM crops, but scientists are aware that it could happen faster with GM crops. Other
risks that scientists test prior to release of a GM crop, and that they continue
monitoring carefully, include how the crop affects non-target organisms (insects,
fungi, soil biota), how the crop affects the biodiversity of the ecosystem, if the
transgenes escape and affect other plants and/or organisms, and how the biodiversity
of the ecosystem is potentially affected.
As a consumer, it can be difficult to wade through information about bioengineering.
There are many groups who strongly advocate against bioengineering as well as
others who advocate for it. It is important to seek credible scientific evidence, then
make your choice as you purchase your food. To make a decision about the
production and consumption of bioengineered food crops, the science and safety may
be sound, but there may be other considerations to evaluate. In some situations
bioengineering may be a solution, in others, it may solve one problem but create
another.
Task 2. Find English equivalents to the following Russian words and phrases in
the article. Read out and translate the sentences in the article in which they are
used. Make up your own situations with these phrases and words.
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перекрестное опыление, генофонд, обильный запас, придерживаться
ошибочного общественного мнения, попадать под понятие, не представлять
риска, приобретать устойчивость или склонность к, выделять индивидуальные
качества, происходить случайно, пшеница, ячмень, длительный срок хранения,
зерновой точильщик, стебель кукурузы, тыква,
перспективная/многообещающая разработка, непреднамеренные последствия,
полезные насекомые, превосходящий по питательным свойствам, организм, не
являющийся объектом действия пестицида, соответствовать требованиям
безопасности, выведенное растение
Task 3. Find words and phrases in the article according to their definitions.
Make up your own sentences with the words and phrases.
1. to be successfully completed through the effort
2. to bring animals or plants under human control in order to provide food, power, or
company
3. to change in different situations
4. the process by which pollen (= powder produced by the male part of a flower) is
carried from one flower to another by wind, insects, etc.
5. a tendency to behave in a particular way
6. to put someone at risk from something harmful or unpleasant
7. to happen or make something happen sooner or faster
8. new and original, not like anything seen before
9. to get something, esp. by a planned effort
10. fully grown and ready to be eaten
11. to decay or make something decay
12. very likely to be influenced, harmed or affected by something
13. showing or based on good judgment
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Task 4. Find phrasal verbs in the article according to the definitions. Use your
own sentences as examples of how they can be used.
1. (of a product) to become available
2. to cause something to happen
3. [no passive] to deal with or read something that is boring and takes a lot of time
Task 5. What is the difference between the following words? Think up your own
sentences with the words to demonstrate the difference.
to rise – arise – raise
assure- ensure – insure
Task 6. Learn the words and do the exercise below.
WORDS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN
Words of Foreign
Origin Singular
Plural
Plural Formation
Pattern
criterion
phenomenon
criteria
phenomena
-on → -a
alumnus
alumnus – a former
student of school,
college, or university
cactus
syllabus
nucleus
radius
stimulus
alumni
male alumnus (pl alumni)
female alumna (pl alumnae)
cacti
syllabi = syllabuses
nuclei
radii
stimuli
-us → -i
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analysis
basis
crisis
diagnosis
emphasis
hypothesis
oasis
parenthesis
synthesis
thesis
analyses
bases
crises
diagnoses
emphases
hypotheses
oases
parentheses
syntheses
theses
-is → -es
appendix
appendices (in books)
appendixes (in medicine)
-ix → -ices
-ix → -ixes
bacterium
curriculum
datum
medium
memorandum
sanatorium
bacteria
curricula / curriculums
data
media
memoranda
sanatoria / sanatoriums
-um → -a
index
indices (in mathematics)
indexes (in books)
-ex → -ices
-ex → -exes
a) Fill in the missing words. b) Give the plural form.
1. The teacher hopes that the book will provide a b… for a discussion.
2. H... is an idea which is thought suitable to explain the facts about something.
3. O... is a place with trees and water in a desert.
4. B... is a very small living thing which may cause disease.
5. M... is a short legal document recording the conditions of an agreement .
6. C... is uncertain time or state of affairs; a moment of great danger or difficulty.
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7. S... is an arrangement of subjects for study, a plan that states exactly what should
be taught to students who are stud-ying a subject, especially a list of what they may
be tested on in their examinations.
8. C... is the range of subjects that has been officially chosen to be taught at a school
or at all schools in a country.
9. Parents want to have more say in the planning of school c... .
10. The two doctors gave different d... of my disease.
11. S... are establishments for sick people who need long periods of treatment, or rest,
fresh air, exercise, etc.
12. He lived as though there had never been a c... and half the world were not
staggering from its effects.
Task 7. Translate the sentences into English, use the words and phrases from the
article.
1. У нас есть обильный запас свежих овощей и фруктов для салатов.
2. Срок годности этого продукта скоро закончится. Так что его нужно съесть
как можно быстрее.
3. Окультуривание растений было достигнуто благодаря использованию
современных технологий и разработок.
4. Эти продукты попадают под понятие органический еды.
5. Изучения генофонда позволяет ученым понять механизмы наследственности.
6. Многие родители придерживаются ошибочного общественного мнения о
том, что компьютерные игры отрицательно влияют на детей.
7. Перекрестное опыление способствует разнообразию и улучшению качества
урожая.
8. Это медицинская процедура не представляет риска для здоровья пациента.
9. Приобретение устойчивости или склонности к определённым ситуациям
является результатом выделения индивидуальных качеств. Человек может
постепенно приобретать устойчивость к стрессовым ситуациям, выделяя свои
личностные качества, такие как терпимость, решительность и гибкость. Таким
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образом, между приобретением устойчивости и выделением индивидуальных
качеств существует неразрывная связь.
10. Это событие произошло случайно, и никто не мог предвидеть его.
11. Пшеница и ячмень - это две основных зерновых культуры, выращиваемые в больших количествах.
12. Эта перспективная разработка может изменить будущее индустрии энергетики. Наша компания вложила много средств в многообещающую разработку нового медицинского оборудования.
13. При внедрении новой технологии могут возникнуть непреднамеренные последствия, которые необходимо учесть и отрегулировать заранее.
14. Полезные насекомые, такие как пчелы и муравьи, играют важную роль в опылении растений и поддержании экосистемы.
15. Этот продукт превосходит по питательным свойствам большинство других продуктов в своей категории.
16. Организм, не являющийся объектом действия пестицида, может быть
использован для борьбы с вредными насекомыми.
17. Выведенное растение должно соответствовать требованиям безопасности и быть безопасным для человека и окружающей среды.
Task 8. Answer the questions about the article.
1. What are the methods of plant breeding?
2. What characteristics can be brought about by selective breeding?
3. What is mutagenesis?
4. When was the first genetically engineered plant created? What was the plant?
5. What specific traits do genetically engineered crops have?
6. What do the Food and Drug Administration do?
7. What is the purpose of work of the United States Department of Agriculture?
8. What does the Environmental Protection Agency focus on?
9. Do all farmers choose GM seed? Why?
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Task 9. Do people need GMO food? Why/why not? Take into account all pros
and cons mentioned in the article.
UNIT 5. TECHNOLOGICAL DOWNSIDES
VOCABUALRY WORK
Exercise 1.
A. You see the phrases which name the technological downsides. Explain their
meaning in English. Fill in the gaps in the sentences using words/phrases from
the list.
stressful lifestyle, traffic congestion, urban sprawl, extreme weather changes, nuclear
power, fast food, unemployment, impersonal services, biological weapons, space
junk, GM food, consumer society.
1. I`m terribly sorry I`m late but ________ in and around the city just keeps getting
worse.
2. The recent increase in __________ in the area can be explained by the new
automated car plant that has just opened.
3. After little more than forty years, we have seriously polluted the final frontier with
_________ and other debris.
4. We live in a ___________ where we find it easier to throw away something that is
broken rather than get it fixed.
5. Many teenagers would prefer to go out with their friends for ______ than sit down
to a meal with their family.
6. Looking out the aeroplane window I could see that the unsightly ______ of the city
had spread far into the desert.
7. Although the prices at the new shopping complex may be lower, the _____ there
keeps me going back to my local market.
8. The government has refused to pass a law which states that all _____ must be
clearly marked.
9. It is well known that many countries are hiding stores of potentially lethal _____.
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10. Her _______ caused her to suffer from both mental and physical ailments.
11. The ______ we`ve been having are wreaking havoc on crop production in most
parts of the world.
12. _______ could be extremely dangerous if it were to fall into the wrong hands.
READING
Read one of the blogs about drawbacks that modern technology has, and define the
main idea of the article.
Disadvantages of technology: Exploring Issues
July 22, 2024Blog
Technology
Technology influences the way we communicate and depends on this sector and
development in this field to bring out the best inventions in the world. Nevertheless,
beneath the veneer of this beauty, one can find several problems. This blog post
extends to what most people consider the disadvantages of technology since there are
things that enthusiasts, nomadic workers, and educators should know. The following
article brings you closer to reading about the destructive trends that come as a
package with the digital evolution and how to deal with them.
Social Isolation
While it is true that technology has made the world a global village, it has also given
lip service to fellowship. Meetings are meant to bridge gaps, while people use
telecommunication, social media interaction, video conferences, and chat to
substitute physical contact. Many users, especially in the USA and other developed
countries, do not use computers only for work but also spend a significant amount of
time on the Internet instead of communicating with friends and acquaintances in
person.
However, research reveals that social media negatively impacts individuals, causing
them to develop loneliness and depression due to overdependence. Additionally,
even though one can find accounts of hundreds or thousands of friends on various
social networks, people can still feel lonely. This kind of loneliness is a new
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phenomenon that is alarming among most digital nomads, who mostly depend on
technology for their communication.
To resist social isolation, one should find several methodologies of interaction with
extended surroundings or turn to the use of social networks and other forms of digital
communication. Sure, face-to-face meetings, especially once a week, are possible, as
is limiting the use of screens, which sometimes causes a lot of problems in
relationships. Promoting learners’ participation in community events can also
enhance social awareness, thus creating a well-connected society.
Health
Enhanced technologies, which can be easily accessed without moving around, make
people more lazy. Exercise can result in eye strain, headaches, and poor posture due
to excessive use of the computer screen and television. Such health issues affect
technology enthusiasts who spend many hours programming or engaging in other
high-tech activities.
Furthermore, sending information and notifications in unlimited quantities causes
stress and anxiety. Consequently, people may never be able to log out of work and
become burned out. Educators must address these mental health challenges and
encourage healthy use of technology among students.
To avoid such effects, one can take frequent rest, maintain an upright posture, and
use filters on the blue light. Mindfulness and the use of detox practices can be
helpful when it comes to things like stress that are bad for mental health. In the
current situation, schools and workplaces should ensure students and employees have
comfortable postures and receive psychiatric attention.
Privacy and security concerns
Given the current and growing passion for digital environments like cloud
computing and IoT devices, the risk is exceptionally high. Hackers are always
looking for ways to breach security, thus endangering personal and confidential data.
The technology gurus should be conscious and practice good cybersecurity
measures.
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Privacy is not just about the theft of data. Governments and corporations constantly
watch people’s online behavior, raising ethical issues. Freelancers and people who
work remotely via the internet using social networks or any other online tool are easy
targets of privacy breaches since they mainly connect to public Wi-Fi networks.
Some of the strategies include employing complex and different passwords, enabling
the use of the second factor of authentication, and being careful with the type of
information one posts on the internet. Education stakeholders should ensure the
children learn about digital citizenship as well as the significance of the data they
input into the devices.
Environmental Impact
Electronic waste is the consequence arising from the relatively fast-changing
advances in technology. The end-of-life of gadgets results in pollution of the
environment and deterioration of the health of individuals. Due to the availability
of many advanced technologies, tech enthusiasts are always updating their devices,
making this problem quite an issue.
Businesses’ data centers and servers are their biggest energy users and, therefore,
major sources of carbon emissions. Similar to freelancers, these services are used
indirectly by digital nomads for work, which influences the environment. It is
important to always remember the impact of one’s actions in the digital space
regarding the environment.
The reusing of such devices, the contribution to green companies producing
technology, and the decrease in energy use can help prevent environmental harm.
There are so many ways through which educators can be sensitive to this cause,
including incorporating the topic of sustainability into students’ daily use of
resources.
Crime and ethical hacking
Still, in cyberspace, various forms of cybercrime are associated, be it identity theft,
ransomware attacks, etc. Technology lovers should be able to acknowledge these
threats and try as much as possible to avoid them. Ethical hacking has its pros, but
people can also apply it with evil intent.