8. Summarize the text “Ecology as a Science”. Use the following beginnings:

The text reports on…

The text touches upon…

A careful account is given to…

It is reported that…

Much attention is given to…

The text points out that…

The text deals with the problem of…

The text provides information on…

The text defines the phenomenon of…

The text covers such points as…

9. Work in pairs. Speak and express your opinion on the facts below. Use the following expressions:

I agree (don’t agree) that…

I don’t think so.

Not absolutely.

In my view…

It was interesting to find out that …

1. If you want to be “green” and help the environment you should know about ecology, its trends, its history and problems.

2. Ecology studies the life of animals and plants.

3. Some prominent scientists played an important part in the development of ecology.

4. Some scientists believe that Ecology is not a distinct science. It is a branch of Biology.

Reading for Understanding

1. Read the text below and answer the question:

- What are the goals of NWF?

National Wildlife Federation

So what does the NWF have to do with ecology? Put simply, the NWF is dedicated to sustaining a healthy ecology by bringing awareness to the need for conservation in the United States. The NWF, therefore, supports green living, conservation, sustainability, and any solutions that point to a gentler impact on our planet.

The National Wildlife Federation is the largest private, non-profit, conservation, advocacy organization in the United States. The National Wildlife Fund or the NWF has over 4 million members and supporters in 48 states. The NWF with its mission statement “to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future“ is a national network of like-minded state and territorial groups, seeking balanced, common sense solutions to environmental problems that work for wildlife and people”. A wide variety of individuals, groups, and organizations who share a passion for wildlife have been brought together by the NWF.

They are focused on three areas of concern. The first; is to connect people to nature. The second area of concern is to reverse global warming. And the third is to protect and restore critical wildlife habitats.

The NWF has various communications programs that they disseminate via publications, television, movies, and other forms of media. NWF is the publisher of the National Wildlife, a conservation magazine for adults and some magazines for children.

The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program is aimed at showing people how to make wildlife friendly communities and yards. This program was started in 1973. Before a backyard can be certified as Backyard Wildlife Habitat some criteria need to be met. Food, water, and cover must be provided. Breeding and nesting areas can be made available by using native plants, nest boxes, and water gardens. Your backyard can be certified by the NWF as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat if all these elements are met.

Notes:

dedicate посвящать like-minded одинаково мыслящие

awareness осознание concern интерес, участие

gentle добрый, нежный seek искать

inspire вдохновлять nesting areas места гнездовий

disseminate распространять backyard задний двор

2. Find in the text the equivalents to the following word combinations:

проще говоря; поддержание здоровой экологии; более бережное воздействие на нашу планету; некоммерческая защитная организация; национальная сеть; здравые решения; большое число людей; разделять обеспокоенность за состояние дикой природы; журнал для взрослых; места для гнёзд

3. Select the statement that best expresses the main idea of the text.

1. The NWF has various communications programs.

2. The NWF is dedicated to sustaining a healthy ecology by bringing awareness to the need for conservation in the United States.

3. A wide variety of individuals, groups, and organizations who share a passion for wildlife have been brought together by the NWF.

4. The National Wildlife Fund has over 4 million members and supporters in 48 states.