Part 2. Ecological problems – the most important problems of our civilization

UNIT 1.

Exercise 1. Read the words and check if you remember the meaning:

environment – окружающая среда

to be aware – знать, осознавать

surroundings –среда

to reduce – уменьшать

waste – отходы

substance – вещество

recyclable – поддающийся переработке

rubbish dump – мусорная свалка

can – жестяная банка

wrapper – обертка

to expire – истекать (о сроке)

track – путь

conscious – сознающий

preserving – сохранение

pollution – загрязнение

to pollute – загрязнять

to tell smb. off - отчитывать

Exercise 2. Test your awareness about ecology.

HOW ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE ARE YOU?

1. To reduce waste it is better to buy:

a) A product that costs little.

b) A product that lasts long.

c) A product that is very attractive.

2. Are there only natural substances in waste products?

a) Yes.

b) No, there are also synthetic substances.

c) No, there are only synthetic substances.

3. At the supermarket it is better to ask for:

a) A plastic bag.

b) A recyclable plastic bag.

c) A paper bag.

4. While you are brushing your teeth it is better to:

a) Turn off the tap.

b) Let the water flow.

c) Use cold water.

5. Where does the sorting of rubbish begin?

a) At the rubbish dump.

b) In the street.

c) At home.

6. What do we save by collecting paper?

a) Flowers.

b) Grass.

c) Trees.

7. Which of these things is made of aluminium?

a) Cans.

b) Bags.

c) Bottles.

8. What organic substances can you find in rubbish at home?

a) Glass.

b) Medicines.

c) Boxes and wrappers from groceries.

9. Do batteries contain toxic and dangerous elements?

a) Not at all.

b) No.

c) Yes.

10. When does a medicine expire?

a) When it does not have any more effect.

b) After two years.

c) After the date Written on the pack.

Mark one point for each correct answer and read your profile.

1 – b, 2 – b, 3 – b, 4 – a, 5 – c, 6 – c, 7 – a, 8 – c, 9 – c, 10 – c

From 0 to 4 points: You do not have a clear understanding of ecology yet. You should get more information on ecology in order to respect nature.

From 5 to 7 points: You are on the right track and are beginning to learn to respect nature. You are a little aware about ecology, but you need to keep on improving yourself everyday.

From 8 to 10 points: You are very conscious about preserving your surroundings. You try your best to keep down pollution. Try to teach your friends to respect nature and do not be afraid to tell them off when they pollute the environment.

Exercise 3. Read, translate and remember how to use the words:

Ecology, n – The term ecology was introduced into scientific language by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel, Ecology deals with the relationships of man and nature.

Ecological, adj. – ecological problems. All states ought to join efforts to save the Earth from the ecological catastrophe.

Environment, n – clean and healthy environment; the protection of the environment; to improve the environment. The protection of the environment is a task which requires great efforts by many public organizations.

To pollute, v – to pollute air (water, soil); polluted water; to be polluted with (garbage, fumes, soot, industrial waste). The stream was so polluted that the fish died.

Pollution, n – the danger of pollution; to overcome the problem of pollution. Pollution of air and water is one of the problems millions of people are concerned about today.

To pour, v – Water poured from the broken pipe. The rain is pouring down.

Pure, adj. – pure water; pure air

To damage, v – to damage nature by changing the ecological conditions. The storm did not damage many houses.

Damage, n – ecological damage. Rains sometimes cause great damage.

To release, v – to release dirt into the atmosphere. This plant released harmful substances into the air.

Substance, n – harmful substances; poisonous substances; chemical substances; to be polluted with toxic substances. Some factories release poisonous substances into the atmosphere.

Exercise 4. Describe your favourite place where you would like to have a rest. Why do you like it? What do you enjoy doing there? What are your feelings?

You may use the following words and word combinations:

Peaceful, inspired, full of energy, poetic, delighted, peace and quiet, enthusiastic, fresh air, wild flowers, to be filled with admiration, the rich green of the mountains, the bright blue of the sky, picturesque views, to be impressed by, beauty (charm) of the wonderful scenery,etc.

Exercise 5. Now imagine you are in a busy street of a big city. Say what ecological problems you meet there.

You may use the following words and word combinations:

Hard to breathe, smog over the city, smoke clods, unhealthy environment, noise and air pollution, frequent traffic jams, a great number of cars, to be covered with soot and dirt, polluted air, toxic gases, poisonous substances, etc.

Exercise 6. Here are some newspaper headlines. Say what problems the articles deal with. Guess the contents of each article.

a) “SEARCH FOR S WAY OUT OF THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS”

b) “CLEAN AIR FOR THE CITY”

c) “BAIKAL’S HEALTH”

d) “THE BALTIC, A SEA OF WASTE”

e) “ NATURAL PARKS PROTECTED BY THE STATE”

Exercise 7. Say how in your opinion everyone can show his(her) concern with the cleanliness and the beauty of the place in which he(she) lives.

You may use the following words and word combinations:

To plant trees, to protect plants in parks and streets, to take care of, to preserve a healthy and clean environment, not to pollute, to collect rubbish, to save energy, to keep clean, etc.

Exercise 8. Read these words and say in what way they are or are not true.

a) “The Nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.” Franklin D.Roosevelt

b) “Civilization is being poisoned by its own waste products” William Ralph Inge

UNIT 2.

Exercise 1.

a) Read and memorize the words:

accident, n	авария
agricultural, adj	сельскохозяйственный
amount, n	количество
apology, n	извинение
basin, n	водоем
beneficial, adj	благотворный
billion, n	миллиард
by all means	во что бы то ни стало
conclusion, n	заключение
convenience, n	удобство
growth, n	рост
harm, n	вред
include, v	включать в себя
increase, v	увеличивать
insect, n	насекомое
living being	живое существо
nuclear, adj	ядерный
population, n	население
production, n	производство
rapid, adj	быстрый
test, n	испытание
wise, adj	мудрый

b) Read the text:

WHY MUST TECHNOLOGY BRING APOLOGY TO ECOLOGY?

To answer this question we must first of all learn the meaning of the word “ecology”. Ecology is a science which studies the relationship between all forms of life on our planet with its environment. This word came from Greek “oikos” which means “home”. This idea of “home” includes the whole planet of ours, its population, the Nature, animals, birds, fish, insects, all other living beings and even the atmosphere around our planet. Do all of them live a happy and healthy life in our Home nowadays? Unfortunately, it is not so. Indeed, many territories, water basins, lakes, rivers, seas, oceans – and the atmosphere are polluted with all kinds of technological, agricultural, chemical, nuclear and other wastes. The intensive development of sciences, industry and chemistry in the 20^th century has made the pollution of our environment a global problem which should be solved by all means.

Besides, rapid growth of our population (there are about 6 billion people living on our planet now) needs more and more land, food, goods, and modern conveniences for newly-born people. The production of them in large amounts will greatly increase the pollution of the environment. And what to say about the awful harm caused to our Home by nuclear tests, atom bombs and accidents at the atomic power stations? Isn’t it high time to start solving this global problem and to make our life in our Home happy and healthy?

Now you know the answer to the question of why technology must bring apology to ecology. You are right. Because it has polluted and is badly polluting our environment.

And in conclusion all of us should always remember the wise advice of a great English writer John Galsworthy who said, ‘If you don’t think about the future you will not have it.”

c) Find English equivalents of the given Russian words and word combinations:

быстрый рост населения, должна быть решена во чтобы то ни стало, следует всегда помнить, современные удобства, ужасный ущерб, ядерные испытания, глобальная проблема, самое время начать, большое количество, атомные электростанции, сильно увеличит загрязнение, изучать взаимоотношения, интенсивное развитие промышленности, сельскохозяйственные отходы, атмосфера вокруг нашей планеты

d) Make your own sentences with the given word combinations:

- awful harm caused by

- nuclear tests

- will increase

- to start solving the problem

- it has polluted

- to make our life

e) Answer the questions to the text:

1. What does the word “ecology” mean?

2. What does the idea of “home” include?

3. What is our Home polluted with?

4. What was the reason of such global problem as pollution?

5. What does rapid growth of population requires?

6. What causes the awful harm to our planet?

7. Why should technology bring apology to ecology?

Exercise 2.

a) Match the terms with the descriptions taken from the dictionary:

1.acid rain	A – dirty brown air in cities that is a mixture of fog, smoke, and harmful gases
2.environment	B – the idea that the Earth’s weather is gradually becoming warmer
3. fumes	C – causing less harm to the environment
4. greenhouse gas	D – to take materials that have already been used, and to put them through a special process so that they can be used again
5. habitat	E – energy that is always replaced naturally after it has been used
6. environmentally friendly	F – chlorofluorocarbons, plural chemicals that damage the ozone layer. They are used especially in refrigerators.
7. green issues	G – plural harmful gas or smoke, for example from factories or cars, which damages the environment and people’s health
8. to recycle	H – air, water, and land where people, animals, and plants live, and the way all the things depend on each other so that the life can continue
9. the ozone layer	I – a substance that pollutes the environment
10. pollutant	J – the natural home of a plant or animal
11. smog	K - a gas that forms a layer around the Earth and stops heat from leaving the Earth’s atmosphere
12. renewable energy	L – a layer of gases around the Earth that protects us by stopping harmful light from the Sun reaching the Earth
13. CFCs	M – rain that is harmful to trees and buildings because it has become mixed with smoke from factories and power stations
14. global warming	N - ideas about the environment that are discussed in meetings, newspapers, on television,, etc.

b) Many people believe that the way we live our lives today is having an extremely bad effect on the environment. Here are some examples of environmental problems and solutions to talk about them.

Environmental problems	Some solutions
Pollution. Pollution is damage to the air, sea, rivers, or land caused by chemicals, waste and harmful gases. Pollutants include toxic waste, pesticides, and fertilizers.	Renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources such as wind power, wave power, and solar power do not pollute the environment. They are much cleaner than oil and coal.
The greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is caused by harmful gases known as greenhouse gases. These gases are produced when we burn fuels, especially coal burned in power stations to make electricity. These gases go up into the Earth atmosphere and stop heat from leaving the Earth.	Green products. We can help the environment by choosing green products. Examples of green products are recycled paper, wood from sustainable sources, and organic fruit and vegetables.
Global warming. Because the heat cannot escape, the Earth is getting warmer. This is known as global warming. It may cause the ice at the North pole and South Pole to melt and sea levels to rise, leading to serious flooding in many parts of the world. In other places, temperatures will rise and there will be less rain, turning more of the land into desert.	Recycling. Recycling is when you use something again instead of throwing it away. Glass, cans, paper, and plastic can all be recycled.
Holes in the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a layer of gases that protects us from ultraviolet light from the sun, which can have a harmful effect on animals, and causes skin cancer in humans. The ozone layer is being damaged by chemicals, especially CFCs, and when holes appear in the ozone layer, harmful light from the sun reaches the Earth.	Protesting. Many people try to protect the environment by joining environmental groups that inform people about green issues, and try to persuade governments to take more care of the environment, especially by organizing protests.
Acid rains. Acid rain is a rain that is harmful to the environment because it contains acid from factory smoke. Acid rain causes damage to trees, rivers, and buildings.	Alternative forms of transport. One of the main problems with cars is that they cause a lot of pollution and often carry only one person. Public transport is more environmentally friendly because buses and trains carry large numbers of people at the same time. Even cleaner solutions are electric cars and bicycles.

c) Complete the sentences using the information from the text:

1. The ozone layer is being damaged by …

2. Many people try to protect the environment by …

3. Pollution is damage to the air, sea, rivers, or land caused by …

4. We can help the environment by …

5. Acid rain causes damage to …

6. The greenhouse gases are produced when …

7. Examples of green products are …

d) Add some environmental problems and some solutions to the list and make your own table:

Environmental problems	Solutions

e) Answer the questions to the text:

1. What are the main environmental problems in the modern world?

2. What do we mean speaking about pollutants?

3. What is the greenhouse effect caused by?

4. Why is the ozone layer important for people?

5. How can global warming cause damage?

6. How can we help the environment?

7. What do you personally do to protect nature?

Exercise 3.

a) Read and translate the words without using a dictionary, say what parts of speech they are:

civilization, to produce, to inhabit, uninhabitable, population, overpopulation, energy, massive, deforestation, ozone, acid, global, industrial, nuclear, chemical, pesticides, forever, effect, to test, poison, to poison, substance, to control, control, limits, to recycle, recyclable, potential, potentially

b) Read and memorize the words and word combinations:

to spread, v	распространять, распространяться
earthquake, n	землетрясение
trend, n	общее направление, тенденция
to consume, v	потреблять
consumption, n	потребление
depletion, n	уменьшение, истощение
fertilizer, n	удобрение
to emit, v	выбрасывать, выпускать
emission, n	выброс
disastrous, adj	бедственный, гибельный, пагубный
consequence, n	(по)следствие, результат(чего-либо )
to punish, v	наказывать
discharge, n	выпускание; спуск, сток, слив
fine, n	штраф
sewage, n	сточные воды; нечистоты
to convert, v	преобразовывать; превращать
to survive, v	выживать
to exceed, v	превышать

c) Read the text: