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3.16. Christoph Gluck once called nature “a universal language”, but can

we all really speak this language well? What signs of nature can you

read?

1. Read the text and underline all the signs that nature can send to

people. Have you ever watched any of them?

bserving Nature

If people carefully observe nature, it can tell them many interesting and useful things.

Do you know that thanks to observing nature you can forecast weather? "How?" you may ask. By watching birds and animals, insects and flowers. It is known that some insects become more troublesome before a change in the weather. Flies and mosquitoes, for example, begin to hum and bite before the rain. Big blue-black beetles fly only in evenings before nice weather.

You should know that the smell of flowers in the gardens and in the parks is very strong before it rains. Flowers have much sweet nectar before rain and the nectar is good food for insects. So if you see insects flying over flowers in large numbers, you should know that it may rain soon.

Birds and animals also help forecast weather. Birds fly lower than usual before it rains. If you happen to see a bird hiding its head under its wing, it means that soon it will become colder.

Even your cat can tell you what the weather will be like. The cat washing behind its ears is telling you about the coming rain.

Look at the sky and it will also tell you about the weather. A red evening sky tells of good weather the next day, to say nothing about a little yellow or green sky. A grey sunrise gives promise of a good day, too. If you want to forecast weather, you must know something about winds.

The South wind brings wet weather.

The North wind is wet and cold together.

The West wind always brings us rain.

The East wind blows the rain back again.

Study nature, observe it and you'll understand that it needs your love and protection.

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b) Complete the sentences with a suitable word or words without looking

back at the text.

. Do you know that ____ observing nature you can forecast weather?

2. Some insects become more ______before a change in the weather.

3. Birds fly _______ than usual before it rains.

4. If you see insects flying over flowers in large numbers, it means _______.

5. A red evening sky tells you of ________.

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c) Choose the correct answer.

. If you see a bird hiding its head under its wing, it means ________ .

1. How can we forecast weather? (pick up more than one answer)

a) by watching birds, animals, insects and flowers;

b) by listening to the radio;

c) by using meteorological tools and devices;

d) by discussing it with our friends.

2. What do flies and mosquitoes begin to do before rain?

a) to feel sleepy;

b) to bite and hum;

c) to lay eggs;

d) to gather in groups.

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d) Say whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

. ___ Big blue-black beetles fly only in mornings before nice weather.

2. ___ The smell of flowers is very strong before the rain.

3. ___ The cat washing its tail is telling you about the coming rain.

T

e) Describe each wind without looking back at the text.

he South wind … The North wind …

The West wind … The East wind …