Text-study

I. Learn the words.

Derivative – производное;

to encompass – включать;

plenipotentiary – полномочный представитель;

to appease – успокаивать, удовлетворять;

psychedelic – воздействующий на психику;

hallucinogenic – вещество, вызывающее галлюцинацию;

stimulant – возбуждающее средство;

to preclude – предотвращать, устранять;

a template – шаблон;

to revamp – поправлять;

schedule – список, перечень;

milestone – веха.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What issues does the Convention on Psychotropic Substances cover?

2. What was the main reason to adopt the Convention?

3. How many nations are parties to the Treaty?

4. In what way did international drug control begin?

5. What Convention was adopted in 1961 in New York?

6. What changes in drug abuse occurred in 1960-es? Why was it difficult to prohibit the new drugs?

7. Why did the UN Economic and Social Council raise the problem of synthetic drugs abuse in 1968?

8. What were the main shortcomings of the 1961 Convention?

9. What legislative acts were passed by the UK, the USA and Canada in 1969-1971?

10. What was the significance of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances adoption?

III. Match the Russian word-combinations on the left with the English word-combinations on the right.

1) ограничения на ввоз и вывоз;	a) psychotropic substances;
2) контролируемое вещество;	b) to revamp existing laws;
3) психотропные вещества;	c) import and export restrictions;
4) дополнить существующее законодательство;	d) to comply with the convention;
5) соответствовать конвенции.	e) controlled substance.

IV. Find the words in the text that correspond to the following definitions.

a) a formal agreement between country leaders, politicians and states on the matter which involves them all;

b) to become stronger or more certain, or to join together to become more effective;

c) having an effect on many people;

d) to put smth into action, to change smth into a law;

e) action in accordance with request, command, etc.;

f) a person or group competing with others for the same thing or in the same area;

g) to develop gradually.

V. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following words and phrases.

a) подписать договор;

b) расширять список;

c) причинять большой вред здоровью;

d) ограничить употребление, использование;

e) завершить принятие договора;

f) соответствие нормам международного права;

g) неэффективный контроль;

h) психотропное вещество.

VI. Match the verbs with the nouns. Give the translation of the phrases you’ve got.

1) to impose;	a) interests;
2) to appease;	b) a resolution;
3) to pass;	c) the use;
4) to limit;	d) restrictions;
5) to adopt;	e) a milestone;
6) to prepare;	f) a draft;
7) to make.	g) treaties.

VII. Make up sentences in English with the phrases from the previous task.

VIII. Insert the articles if necessary.

This treaty, signed in 1988, regulates precursor chemicals to … drugs controlled by … Single Convention and … Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It also strengthens provisions against … money laundering and other drug-related crimes.

International drug control began with … 1912 International Opium Convention, … treaty which adopted import and export restrictions on … poppy's psychoactive derivatives. Over … next half-century, several additional treaties were adopted, gradually expanding … list of … controlled substances to encompass cocaine and other drugs.

IX. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

… 1961, a conference … plenipotentiaries in New York adopted the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which consolidated the existing drug control treaties … one document and added cannabis … the list … prohibited plants. In order to appease the pharmaceutical interests, the Single Convention's scope was sharply limited … the list of drugs enumerated … the Schedules annexed … the treaty and to those drugs determined to have similar effects.

In 1968, deeply concerned … reports … serious damage to health being caused … LSD and similar hallucinogenic substances, the UN Economic and Social Council passed a resolution calling … nations to limit the use … such drugs … scientific and medical purposes and to impose import and export restrictions.