UNIT 3

AN ECOLOGIST IS …

Ecology is the branch of science that deals with the relationships living things have to each other and to their environment. Scientists who study these relationships are called ecologists.

Ecologists study the organization of the natural world on three main levels: (1) populations, (2) communities, and (3) ecosystems.

They analyze the structures, activities, and changes that take place within and among these levels.

Although ecology usually is considered a branch of biology, ecologists must employ such disciplines as chemistry, physics, and computer science. They also rely on such fields as geology, meteorology, and oceanography to study air, land, and water environments and their interactions.

This multidisciplinary approach helps ecologists understand how physical environments affect living things. It also helps them to assess the impact of environmental problems, such as acid rain or the greenhouse effect.

Ecologists normally work out of doors, studying the operations of the natural world.They often conduct field work in isolated areas, such as islands, where the relationships among the plants and animals may be simpler and easier to understand. Many ecological studies focus on solving practical problems. For example, ecologists search for ways to limit the harmful affects of air and water pollution on living things.

Notes on the text

to rely on – покладатися на approach - підхід

to conduct - вести, проводити to solve - вирішувати

to assess - 1) визначати суму податку (штрафу і т.п.) 2) оподатковувати; штрафувати

to search for - шукати

harmful affect – шкідливий вплив

Post-text exercises

I.Answer the questions:

1. What scientists are called ecologists?

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2.What is the most complex level of organization in nature? What does it consist of?

3.For what reason do ecologists use knowledge from many disciplines?

4.Why do ecologists often conduct field work in isolated areas? 5.What do many ecological studies focus on?

6.Why have you decided to become an ecologist?

2.Give definitions of the following words:

acid rain, pollutants, greenhouse affect, pollution, ecologists

1. Scientists who study the relationships living things have to each other and to their environment are called ...... .

2. …. the gradual warming of the air surrounding the Earth as a result of heat being trapped by pollution.

3.Substances that destroy the purity of air, water, or land.

4. … process of making the air, water, soil etc. dangerously dirty and not suitable for people to use.

7.…. is a term for rain, fog, snow, and any other form of precipitation that is more acidic that normal (i.e., less that pH 5.6).

3. Match the following English words with their Ukrainian equivalents:

4.Translate word combinations them into Ukranian in written form.

water pollution

form of precipitation harmful affect complex level

multidisciplinary approach solve practical problems conduct field work

5.Give the English equivalents of the following word combinations.

1. Мультидисциплінарний підхід

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2.Вирішення практичних проблем

3.Обмежити шкідливий вплив

4.Виконують польові роботи

5.Парниковий ефект

6.Шукати шляхи

7.Використовують знання з багатьох дисциплін

6.Make up the sentences using the following words.

1.Disciplines, as, are, chemistry, by, many, such, used, and, ecologists, computer science.

2.Made, an, abiotic, and, ecosystem, up. community, is, a, environment, of, its.

3.Levels, of, world, three, are, organization, there, the natural.

4.Study, through, ecosystem, the, ecologists, an, energy, system, flow,

of.

5.Means, system, ecosystem, the, ecological, word.

7.a) Choose the adjectives that to your mind describe a good ccologist.

Competent, objective, confident, attractive, responsible, kind,

witty, communicative, patient, charismatic, sympathetic, experienced, aggressive, creative, energetic, honest, qualified, diplomatic, disciplined, well-bred, generous, systematic, realistic, clever.

b) Which of these adjectives describes you?

8. Learn the following dialogue by heart.

C: - Do you want to become an ecologist?

E: - Why not? Ecology is a career most people choose because of their love for nature.

C: - But, dear brother, you must know, if you are thinking about becoming an ecologist classes in biology, math, chemistry, environmental science, geography, and of course, computer science will be helpful for you.

E: - But I've practically studied these subjects!

C: - Have you? OK. I've got a question for you. What is deforestation? E: -Er... I don't really know. Well, to become an ecologist I have to study much better.

8. Study the logically connected words and learn them by heart.

1.Ecology-ecological-ecologist

2.Environment-environmental

3.To pollute-pollutant-pollution

4.To protect-protective-protection

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6.To restore-restoration-restorationist

7.To interactinteraction

Grammar Issues to Be Revised

1.Adjectives and adverbs.

2.Degrees of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.

1.Complete the chart.

2. Choose a correct answer to complete the sentence.

1.I’m going to Alison’s house for dinner tonight. – You’ll enjoy it. Alison is a very good / well cook.

2.I’m going to the shops now. – Make sure you carry the eggs careful / carefully. Don’t break them.

3.I organized a party for my friends, last weekend. All the guests arrived early and waited quiet / quietly until Edith got there.

4.Have you finished that puzzle already? – Yes, it was really easy / easily.

5.We went into the garden because it was a very warm / warmly day.

6.The guests all gave Edith nice / nicely presents and she thanked them sincere / sincerely.

7.They danced happily / happy to the music and had a wonderful / wonderfully time. The party was successful / successfully.

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3.Complete the chart.

4. Put the adjectives and adverbs in brackets in the required degree of comparison.

1.I like agrochemistry (well) than biology.

2.She visits his lectures on biological methods of plant protection (frequently) than her friend.

3.Whose report on plant cultivation did you like (well)? 4.Which university was founded (early) Kharkiv or Kyiv?

5.He speaks English (correctly) of all in my group.

6.He drives (carefully) than his sister does.

7.This year the employees of the Marketing Department work (hard) than the previous one.

5. Complete the sentences using adjectives and adverbs in the required degree of comparison.

1.My best friend plays chess ______________I do. (well)

2.I left the party ____________you did. (late)

3.Catherine dances ____________all. (beautifully)

4.My sister drives _______________us all. (carefully)

5.The leading actress speaks _______________all. (clearly)

6.Al swims ______________you do. (fast)

7.Thomas works _________________all. (hard)

8.Is the Gobi desert _____________(large) the Sahara desert?

9.Which is ____________(heavy) animal in the world?

10.Which is ______________(cold) planet in our solar system?

11.Is Mount Everest_______________(high)Kilimanjaro?

12.Which is ____________(long) wall in the world?

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