3.2. Прочитайте статью, ответьте на вопросы, затем составьте реферат статьи на русском языке:

Chernobyl birds are small brained

By Matt Walker

Birds living around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident have 5 % smaller brains, an effect directly linked to lingering background radiation.

The finding comes from a study of 550 birds belonging to 48 different species living in the region, published in the journal PLoS One.

Brain size was significantly smaller in yearlings compared to older birds.

Smaller brain sizes are thought to be linked to reduced cognitive ability.

The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Norway, France and the US led by Professor Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina, US, and Dr Anders Moller from the University of Paris-Sud, France.

In April 1986, reactor number four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. After the accident, traces of radioactive deposits were found in nearly every country in the northern hemisphere. Exclusion has since been set up around the site of the accident.

However, scientists have been allowed inside to gauge the impact the radiation has had on the ecology of the region.

Last year Prof Moller and Prof published the results of the largest wildlife census of its kind conducted in Chernobyl – which revealed that mammals are declining in the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant.

Insect diversity has also fallen, and previously, the same researchers found a way to predict which species there are likely to be most severely damaged by radioactive contamination, by evaluating how often they renew parts of their DNA.

In their latest study, the scientists used mist nets to collect birds from eight woodland sites around Chernobyl, which have seen a decline in the numbers of larger animals and small invertebrates living within.

After controlling for the differences between species, they found that the birds had brains 5 % smaller on average compared to birds not exposed to background radiation. The effect was most pronounced in younger birds, particularly those less than a year old. That suggests that many bird embryos did not survive at all, due the negative effects of their developing brain.

(«Earth News», BBC-News)

Вопросы:

1. What are smaller brain sizes of birds linked to?

2. What did scientists use in their latest study?

3. What has happened to insect diversity?

3.3. Перепишите предложение, заполнив пропуски подходящим по смыслу словом:

1. A large … of vehicles had to be abandoned because of heavy snow.

1. total; b) amount; c) number; d) quantity.

2. A … planned operations are made in the hospital.

1. gently; b) delicately; c) carefully; d) cautiously.

3. The force of the wind is measured on a standard … of 0 – 12.

1. scale; b) variety; c) number; d) extent.

4. On a … of one to ten, how do you rate his performance?

1. scale; b) length; c) amount; d) range.

5. Usually local labor is used in the … of the roads.

1. construction; b) maintaining; c) building; d) creation.

6. An operation … by surgeons at Guy’s Hospital was successful.

1. presented; b) operated; c) acted; d) performed.

7. The … developments in medicine impress very much.

1. recent; b) current; c) present; d) fresh.

8. The satellite has been in … for a year.

1. place; b) distance; c) space; d) division.

9. Many of the chemical … are toxic.

1. materials; b) substances; c) combinations; d) components.

10. It … me to see her ruin her life.

1. hung; b) heats; c) hurts; d) heart.

11. The author trusts for a continuance of … communications.

1. similar; b) like; c) the same; d) such.

12. Britons and Saxons shall be … one people.

1. twice; b) one; c) not once; d) once.

13. There was no other explanation for the … rays which it emitted.

1. energetic; b) stranger; c) powerful; d) streaming.

14. An element is a chemical substance which … is known cannot be split up into other substances.

1. so far; b) how much; c) in so far as; d) so far as.

15. Can you … up this piece of wood?

1. split; b) break; c) shatter; d) burst.

16. The developer usually … four components.

1. admits; b)accommodates; c) concludes; d) contains.

17. He has … out a method of cure.

1. pointed; b) indicated; c) shown; d) directed.

18. I'm quite satisfied with your …, so there's no need to expand on it.

1. interaction; b) explanation; c) clarification; d) exposition.

19. Scientists call the … of giving out such rays «radioactivity».

1. trait; b) property; c) substance; d) quality.

20. The test will help the doctors … what treatment to use.

1. determine; b) invent; c) give; d) open.

21. It is good because it is written in friendly, … language.

1. difficult; b) open; c) ordinary; d) different.

22. It was getting dark and she could … see in front of her.

1. scarcely; b) hard; c) often; d) easy.

23. It would be a good idea … professional advice.

1. to be; b) to do; c) to determine; d) to get.

24. Having bought the house, they couldn’t afford … it.

1. to furnish; b) to do; c) to get; d) to move.

25. You will need to … permission from the principal.

1. obtain; b) offer; c) propose; d) maintain.

26. Entrance to the university is the best way to … knowledge.

1. buy; b) lose; c) obtain; d) produce.

27. Recent discoveries … to our knowledge of the Universe.

1. reduced; b) paid; c) added; d) developed.

28. We … a wide range of services.

1. offer; b) produce; c) make; d) carry.

29. He saw the sun’s … grazing over the mountain.

1. arrows; b) tant; c) bar; d) rays.

30. A lot of traffic accidents are … by carelessness.

1. caused; b) developed; c) kept; d) obtained.

31. The students … a survey on attitudes to drugs.

1. produced; b) put out; c) built; d) carried out.

32. The data … on a disk.

1. are shown; b) is used; c) is introduced; d) are stored.

33. I can’t climb a mountain without the … equipment.

1. proper; b) empty; c) hard; d) former.

34. … he was only twelve he could run faster than any kid in the school.

1. Even; b) Although; c) Nevertheless; d) Though.

35. He … to face Kim with tears in his eyes.

1. twisted; b) bent; c) turned; d) curdled.

36. Doctors have made important new … about the disease.

1. inventions; b) findings; c) innovations; d) discoveries.

37. Carl absolutely … to eat vegetables.

1. refuses; b) rejects; c) declines; d) denies.

38. The fireman … the hose on the burning building.

1. bent; b) brought; c) turned; d) gave.

39. The chairman … him permission to speak.

1. refused; b) denied; c) negated; d) declined.

40. They worked in a … contact.

1. familiar; b) near; c) devoted; d) close.