Unit 2. Ecology

Lead-in:

Every day we hear about the disasters that face us on this planet. Animals and plants are dying, becoming extinct at the rate of one species a day. Seas and rivers are being filled with rubbish. The air is being poisoned with chemicals and smoke. And these are only a few examples of the way we have lived until now – damaging our world.

But lifestyles are already beginning to change as people become aware of what is going on and make choices to live in a way that is less damaging to the planet. Group campaigns are saving seas, rainforests and countryside. Governments and world leaders claim they have the environment on the top of their lists. Many people call themselves ‘green’ and their lifestyles ‘green living’. ‘Green’ is becoming a household word and every person’s help is crucial. What do you think about it?

Pronunciation:

Task 1

Practice the reading of the following words.

drought	[draut]	environment	[ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt]
aquatic	[əˈkwætɪk]	crucial	[ˈkruːʃəl]
extinction	[ɪksˈtɪŋkʃən]	diversity	[daɪˈvɜːsɪti]
sulphur dioxide	[ˈsʌlfə daɪˈɒksaɪd]	acidity	[əˈsɪdɪti]
measures	[ˈmɛʒəz]

Word study:

Task 2

Give the missing forms for the words from the texts that are in the table below.

Verb	Noun	Adjective
	environment
		industrial
	radiation
		absorbed
pollute
	concentration
decrease
		poisonous
protect
	extinction

Pre-reading:

Task 3

Before reading the text answer the following questions.

The problems of ecology are very important now. Which problem is the most urgent, in your opinion? What can you and the people around you do to protect the planet?

Now you are suggested to read the text about urgent environmental problems and discuss them using additional information that you know about the situation in different regions.

Reading A

Environmental protection

Ecology is a science, which studies the relationship between all forms of life on our planet and our environment. The Earth is our common home and we must take care of it.

Since ancient times Nature has provided Man with everything he needed: food to eat, water to drink, wood for building and fuel for heating and cooking. For hundreds of years Man used Nature’s sources and it seemed to people that the resources of Nature had no end.

With the industrial revolution our negative influence on Nature began to increase. Big smoky cities with thousands of people, polluting plants and factories can be found nowadays all over the world.

Nowadays scientists from the different parts of the world try to solve ecological problems, but it isn’t enough to do our planet clean. We must protect our home all together, without any exceptions.

Air pollution is one of the main problems all over the world. Millions of chimneys, buses, cars, plants, factories and other industrial enterprises exhaust fumes and harmful substances into the atmosphere. Poisoned air is the main reason why it is hard to breath in large cities with big amount of plants and transport.

Every year the atmosphere is polluted by about one thousand tons of industrial dust. Among industries especially toxic wastes are made by enterprises of colour metallurgy, chemical, petrochemical, black metallurgy, woodworking, pulp paper industry etc. Big cities suffer from smog.

Various chemical elements are intensively absorbed by our organism during breathing, it is harmful for our health. Air pollution is especially harmful for quality of genofond.

Scientists say that air pollution is the cause of acid rains, global warming and of greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is unquestionably real; it is the essential for life on the Earth. It is the result of heat absorption by certain gases in the atmosphere (called greenhouse gases because they trap heat) and re-radiation downward of a part of that heat.

Human activity has been increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Scientists consider that the increasing of the concentration of greenhouse gases and chemicals in the atmosphere lead to the global warming.

Why do we call global warming an environmental problem? In general scientists believe that rising temperature will lead to increase evaporation and therefore to more precipitation. But while some regions will experience increased rainfall, others will become dryer. Another effect is the rise of the sea levels, which will result in flooding low-lying coastal areas.

This may also lead to increasing the salinity of the rivers and to decrease of water supplies. And finally climate changes may cause extinction of many species of birds, animals and plants. Even now a lot of species of animals, birds, fish and plants have either disappeared completely or on the verge of extinction.

Acid rain is caused by the release of the sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides. The main sources of sulphur dioxide are coal-fired power stations and metal working industries. The main sources of nitrous oxides emissions are vehicles and fuel combustion.

Measures of the atmosphere protection are subdivided into three large groups:

• First group: decrease measures of gross amount of contamination, thrown out into atmosphere. This is the improvement of the quality of fuel, using of special liquids in fuel etc. Same group of measures includes perfecting of technological processes including development of the closed cycle production without making of harmful substances into atmosphere.

• The second group includes measures of protection of atmosphere by dispersion, processing and neutralization of harmful wastes.

• The third group of measures assumes prevention of the air contamination by rational placing of the «dirty» enterprises - sources of harmful wastes with consideration of natural conditions and potential possibility of the air contamination.

• For realization of atmosphere protection measures the strict state control of air environment, economic and legal stimulation of measures for control of its pollution are also important.

Comprising over 70% of the Earth’s surface, water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Without the seemingly invaluable compound comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, life on Earth would be non-existent: it is essential for everything on our planet to grow and prosper.

There are many causes for water pollution but two general categories exist: direct and indirect contaminant sources.

Direct sources include effluent outfalls from factories, refineries, waste treatment plants etc. that emit fluids of varying quality directly into urban water supplies. In the United States and other countries, these practices are regulated, although this doesn't mean that pollutants can't be found in these waters.

Indirect sources include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from the atmosphere via rainwater. Soils and ground waters contain the residue of human agricultural practices and improperly disposed of industrial wastes. Atmospheric contaminants are also derived from human practices (such as gaseous emissions from automobiles, factories and even bakeries).

The effects of water pollution are varied. They include poisonous drinking water, poisonous food animals (due to these organisms having bio accumulated toxins from the environment over their life spans), unbalanced river and lake ecosystems that can no longer support full biological diversity, deforestation from acid rain, and many other effects. These effects are, of course, specific to the various contaminants.

There are some reasons why does the tropical rainforest so important for people from all over the world:

• The tropical rainforest is natural recycle, provider and protector for our planet.

• The tropical rainforest supports the ecosystem in the world.

• The tropical rainforest provides us with oxygen we breathe.

The tropical rainforest is the richest biological incubator on the Earth. It supports millions of plant, animal and insect species - a virtual library of chemical invention.

Nuclear energy is often called the energy of the future because of a great amount of advantages, but millions of people are afraid of radiation. On the one hand using nuclear power gives us more variety in fuel sources. On the other hand is the remembrance about Chernobyl tragedy. Different countries use nuclear energy even now, but people from all over the world suppose that using nuclear energy is a big mistake.

There are some advantages of using nuclear:

• Nuclear is the cleanest and least damaging to our environment. Since the energy released from splitting the uranium atom is so much greater than the energy released from combustion, the amount of land, materials, and fuel used, and wastes produced, are very much smaller.

• Using nuclear power gives us more variety in fuel sources. It helps us avoid being dependent on other countries for only one or two types of fuels.

• Nuclear isn’t limited by location and natural conditions (for example, the need for regular winds or sunshine).

• Nuclear generation of electricity provides savings over coal generation because of lower fuel and transportation costs for nuclear.

• Nuclear energy is the cheapest kind of energy.

All mentioned above are «pluses» of nuclear energy. And now let’s talk about minuses, about radiation.

Radiation is a natural energy traveling in the form of waves or particles. Some everyday examples are: the microwaves we use to cook food, radio waves for radio and television, radar, X-rays used in medicine and dentistry, and sunlight. We also receive radiation as a result of the natural process of radioactivity. Materials that are radioactive are made up of atoms that contain excess energy. These radioactive materials give off their excess energy as radiation.

Word study:

Task 4

Translate the following word-combinations into Russian.

Negative influence, air pollution, harmful substances, toxic wastes, woodworking industry, result of heat absorption, to increase evaporation, salinity of the rivers, on the verge of extinction, fuel combustion, acid rain, acidity of soil, measures of protection, the water supply, deforestation.

Task 5

Match the following words with their synonyms.

deforestation	a) increase
harmful	b) threatening
wastes	c) pollute
protection	d) decrease
disaster	e) pollutants
raise	f) health
damaging	g) trouble
contaminate	h) cutting the forest
decline	i) dangerous
well-being	k) reservation

Task 6

Match the following words with their definitions.

ecology	a) a natural energy travelling in the form of waves or particles
radiation	b) the energy of the future because of a great amount of advantages
nuclear energy	c) cutting the forest
acid rain	d) the result of heat absorption by certain gases in the atmosphere and re-radiation downward of a part of that heat
the greenhouse effect	e) rain caused by the release of the sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides
deforestation	f) a science, which studies the relationship between all forms of life on our planet and our environment

Speaking:

Task 7

Answer the questions and give your own opinion.

1. What ecological problems are considered the greatest?

2. Comment on the reasons of global ecological problems.

3. Why do people follow the dangerous and harmful ways of living?

4. How do global and environmental disasters affect you?

5. What environmental disasters could be eliminated in your opinion?

6. How does the greenhouse effect refer to the ability of the Earth’s atmosphere to trap the Sun’s infrared radiation?

7. Where does carbon dioxide come from?

8. What does the increase of the average temperature mean for peoples on the Earth?

9. What will contribute to the rise of ocean level?

10. How would the climate change?

Reading B

Task 8

Scan the text and match the headings (a-i) with the paragraphs (1-8). There is one heading you will not need to use.

1. The main reason of ecological problems.

2. The urgent ecological problems.

3. Water pollution.

4. Air pollution.

5. Nuclear catastrophe.

6. Danger of animals and plants extinction.

7. The activity directed to protect environment.

8. The importance of nature protection.

9. Earthquakes.

1.________ The Earth is the only planet in the solar system where there is life. If you look down at the Earth from a plane, you will see how wonderful our planet is. You will see blue seas and oceans, rivers and lakes, high snow-capped mountains, green forests and fields. For centuries man lived in harmony with nature until industrialization brought human society into conflict with the natural environment. Today, the contradictions between man and nature have acquired a dramatic character. With the development of civilization, man’s interference in nature has increased. Every year the world’s industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances. The seas and rivers are poisoned with industrial waste, chemical and sewage discharge. People who live in big cities are badly affected by harmful discharge from plants and city transport and by the increasing noise level, which is as bad for human health as lack of fresh air and clean water.

2.________ Among the most urgent problems are the ozone layer, acid rains, global warming, toxic pollution of atmosphere, disappearance of forests, contamination of underground waters by chemical elements, destruction of soil in some areas, threat to some flora and fauna representatives, etc.

3.________ One of the most important pollution problems is the oceans. Many ships sail in the ocean water-fishing ships, some ships carrying people, some carrying oil. If a ship loses some of the oil in the water, or waste from the ships in put into the ocean, the water becomes dirty. Many sea birds die because of the polluted water. Much fish is dying in the sea, others are being contaminated. Fishermen catch contaminated fish which may be sold in markets, and people may get sick from eating them. Lakes and rivers are becoming polluted, too. Some beaches are dangerous for swimming.

4.________ Another important problem is air pollution. Cars and factories pollute the air we use. Their fume also destroys the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the Sun. Aerosols create large “holes” in the ozone layer round the Earth. Burning coal and oil leads to global warming which may bring about a change in the world’s climate.

The other problem is that our forests are dying from acid rains. Deforestation, especially destruction of tropical forests, affects the balance of nature in many ways. It kills animals, changes the climate and ecosystem in the world.

5.________ There are a lot of places on our planet that need immediate help. Our country is not exception. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl, which took place on April 26, 1986, has seriously aggravated the ecological situation in Belarus. That catastrophe can be considered as the largest disaster of the 20th century. As the result of that accident, 18% of territories of our republic were contaminated by radioactive elements. The agriculture of our country suffered great losses. More than 20% of the population has also suffered. A death rate among children has increased considerably. The wide researches are carried out, but health state of the people living in polluted areas, is worsened. The level of thyroid gland cancer has increased, the immunity of children and women is weakened, and many diseases appear out only a few years later. Everyone understands that this catastrophe is a threat to health of our nation, and though years have already passed, the results will be shown on the future generations.

6._________ I would like to say a few words about animals in danger of extinction. The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. Once there were over 200000 of these creatures living in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Since the seventeenth century, they have been hunted for their oil and meat. In fact, so many of them were killed that by 1963 their population had been reduced to just 1000. Today it is even less than that. The African elephant is the world’s largest land animal. Today there are fewer than one million of these animals left. Even though they are now protected, they are still being hunted because of their tusks, which are used to make ornaments and jewellery. There is only one way to save wild animals and wild habitats – conservation. That means protecting animals in danger by law, opening more national parks, building fewer new roads, planting more new forests, cutting pollution. If this doesn’t happen, many wild animals will soon have just one habitat – the Zoo.

7._________ Ecological problems have no borders. European states solve these problems together: the necessary measures are taken, congresses and conferences on these questions are organized, and these questions have already the reflection in the legislation of many countries.

The activity of many public organizations is directed to protect environment. One of the most known organizations is “Greenpeace”, whose purpose is prevention of environment degradation. The activists from the USA and Canada founded this organization in 1971 and it has representations in 25 countries of the world. “Greenpeace” acts against nuclear tests, radiating threat, pollution of the environment by waste industrial products, to protect the animal world, etc. This organization influences public opinion through mass media, under its aegis manifestations and protest actions are carried solutions for concrete ecological problems. For example, the “Greenpeace” sent its boats to protect whales, and today commercial whaling is banned. In the North Sea Greenpeace swimmers turned back dump ships carrying chemical waste and new laws to protect the North Sea have been considered.

8.________ When I look around I realize that not all people understand the importance of nature protection. On fine summer days, a lot of people go out of town. They have picnics on the shores of lakes and the banks of rivers or on beautiful forest glades and they often leave behind a lot of rubbish – plastic bags and bottles, tins and paper. It makes me feel sad when I see people returning to town with huge bunches of forest or meadow flowers. Many of these plants are included into the Red Book, which contains the names of rare plants and animals. Some of them have become extinct and others are on the verge of disappearing. If we don’t realize that we are all responsible for what’s happening around us we will never feel secure about the future of the world we live in.

What can be done to protect nature? I believe that environment disasters can be avoided if people broaden ecological education and every person understands that the beauty of nature is extremely fragile and people must obey the unwritten laws of nature. Governments must be prepared to take action against pollution. Air pollution could be reduced if plants and factories were made to fit effective filters on chimneys and car exhausts. Green zones around big cities must be protected and extended. Natural resources should be used economically because their stocks are not unlimited.

Word study:

Task 9

Complete the summary of the text with the following words:

outcome, importance, generations, hypocrisy, civilization, acidification, impact, place, priorities, environmental problems.