6. Выберите один правильный ответ.

1. What is the main idea of the article?

a. The biosphere consists of a great variety of environments, both aquatic and terrestrial.

b. Every ecosystem has two "sides": the organisms on one hand and the environmental factors on the other.

c. Humans have changed and are continuing to change things on a very large scale.

2. According to paragraph 2, the environment involves the interplay of:

a. rainfall, temperature, light, water and wind;

b. chemical nutrients, pH, salinity and fire;

c. many physical and chemical, or abiotic factors.

3. The difference in response to environmental factors determines

a. which organisms do or don't survive;

b. which species may or may not occupy a given region;

c. the degree to which each is present or absent.

4. The Law of Limiting Factors includes

a. any factor that affects the organism;

b. the problem of "too little";

c. the problem of "too much".

5. In paragraph 5, the Law of Limiting Factors was first presented

a. in connection with the observations regarding the effects of chemical nutrients on plant growth;

b. by Justus von Liebig;

c. in 1840.

6. Liebig's Law of Minimums may be applied to

a. our agricultural crops;

b. biotic factors;

c. all abiotic factors.

7. In paragraph 6, each environment with the species it supports is

a. an ecotone;

b. an ecosystem;

c. a unique grouping of organisms.

8. Every ecosystem is interconnected with others through

a. certain bounds of limiting factors;

b. ecotones;

c. some species that cross from one system to another.

9. Humans have changed and are continuing to change things on a very large scale (paragraph 7). What will these changes bring?

a. The extinction of thousands of species.

b. Manifold changes over most of the earth.

c. A sudden and catastrophic "collapse of the biosphere".

7. Составьте диалог по одной из тем.

1. What two "sides" are there in every ecosystem?

2. Describe abiotic factors.

3. Different species thrive under different conditions. How do you feel about it?

4. Define a fundamental biological principle.

5. What is the Law of Limiting Factors? How do you feel about it?

6. Explain how every ecosystem is interconnected with others.

7. Compare a major concern of many environmentalists and the con­clusion of corncopians.

8. Расскажите о своей специальности (environmental engineering).

PART VI

THE CIVIL ENGINEERING FACULTY

1. Ответьте на вопрос:

What activities is the term “civil engineering” usually applied to?

2. Прочитайте и выучите.

municipal– муниципальный, городской

utility– коммунальный

prefabricated– сборный, готовый

computedstrength– расчетная прочность

limitedstrength– предельное сопротивление

bearingstrength– прочность на смятие

bending strength, flexural strength – прочность на изгиб

rupture strength, Tensile strength – сопротивление разрыву

compressive strength – прочность на сжатие

frictional strength – сопротивление трению

shear strength – сопротивление сдвигу

shrinkage stress strength – усадочное напряжение

torsional strength – сопротивление кручению

wrapingstressstrength– напряжение от коробления

basement– основание

partition– перегородка

sewerage– канализация

insulation– изоляция

superintendent– управляющий

Составьте 3 предложение с новыми словами.