53. Fill in the gaps with the necessary preposition.

1) Pollution has a damaging effect _____ public health and ecosystems.

2) Carbon dioxide is one of the main factors which contribute ____ global warming.

3) If rubbish is not disposed ____ properly it is especially dangerous.

4) Healthy soil is known to depend ____ bacteria, fungi, and small animals that break down wastes in the soil and release nutrients.

5) Farmers who overuse fertilizers and pesticides limit the ability of soil organisms to process wastes which results ____ the destruction of productivity of the soil.

6) Benzene escapes ____ the exhaust pipes of cars and petrol tanks when cars are filling up.

7) A thin layer of ozone helps to shield the Earth ____ the sun’s damaging rays.

8) Global warming over the last forty years has made a dramatic change ____ the Atlantic Ocean’s salt balance.

9) CFCs are largely responsible ____ the ozone hole that temporarily opens up over Antarctica every year.

10) High concentrations of ozone and the chemicals released by motor vehicles reduce resistance ____ infection.

54. A) Match the words from column a with the words from column b to make up an expression.

A	B
1) global	a) station
2) less carbon-intensive	b) chemicals
3) aerosol	c) spray
4) health-threatening	d) rain
5) artificial	e) fumes
6) ozone	f) warming
7) power	g) pollutants
8) acid	h) energy technologies
9) traffic	i) layer
10) ozone-depleting	j) fertilizers

b) Using the expressions make up your own sentences.

55. A) Read the text and find out the environmental problem and its solution.

Controlling pollution depends on the efforts of the government, scientists, environmental organizations, and individuals. The government’s strategy is to control pollution. For this purpose the government should enforce laws which state that all plants and factories must make use of the up-to-date purificatory equipment, filters, etc. Factories and plants violating environmental protection laws should be imposed heavy fines on. Such fines might encourage companies to invest in pollution control equipment or to develop less polluting methods of operation. Besides, it is not nice to have a factory that stinks in the middle of the residential neighbourhood. It is better to relocate it from the residential neighbourhood to the edge of the city if it is not possible to shut it down and build a park in its place.

As for agriculture, organic farming might come in useful. It is better that the farmers should use compost instead of huge quantities of pesticides and fertilizers. They should prevent the use of unwanted chemicals because, as a rule, these pesticides end up in our food which leads to health problems.

Scientists and engineers should look for technological solutions to prevent pollution. They have already invented cars that pollute less. For example, in some US farms farmers use electric minivans or a fuel in their tractors made from soybeans. But it is necessary to find more economical ways to use fuels and other raw materials. So it is high time electricity were generated from such renewable energy sources as the wind and the sun, causing little or no pollution.

Many electric companies have discovered that saving energy is better than making more energy. So people can save electricity by buying more efficient light bulbs and home appliances.

Another way we can prevent pollution is to recycle products. Recycling saves energy and raw materials. Throw-away products such as cans, plastic bags are all avoidable sources of domestic waste. About 80% of all our domestic waste can be recycled and reused. So it is necessary to set up recycling bins around cities, almost in every neighbourhood, so that people can drop off things for recycling. Then we could dramatically reduce the amount of rubbish and save natural resources at the same time.

Besides improving a recycling system, we need a daily rubbish collection. It is advisable that more dustmen should be employed so that they can dispose of rubbish daily. Then we wouldn’t have piles of rubbish on our streets that can easily cause the spread of disease. Furthermore, people can buy products that are environmentally friendly.

Finally, every person should be environmentally conscious and observe his moral obligations. People should learn as much as possible about how their actions affect the environment. We shouldn’t be indifferent to what is going on around. Each of us can, at least, have a talk to a representative of the company which ignores the law or get a TV station to run a story on it. Companies hate bad publicity.

To sum it up, if we do not change our philosophy of “live now, pay later” our children will bear the burden of our throw-away lifestyle.

b) Write sentences about the environmental problem, its effect and possible solution as in the example.

Example:

Factories emit a lot of poisonous chemicals into the air. It can result in acid rain which damages trees, lakes and buildings. This problem can /could be solved/ be avoided / reduced / overcome / solved by improving the way they dispose of waste products.

Problem	Effects	Possible solutions
factories emit poisonous chemicals	acid rain; smog; damage of trees/ lakes/ buildings; global warming; contamination of seas / rivers by toxic waste	to make use of the up-to-date purificatory equipment, filters; to up-date the waste disposal technology; to impose heavy fines on factories; to invest in pollution control equipment; to develop less polluting methods of operation; to relocate a factory to an industrial park in a suburban area; shut down the factory; to introduce stricter laws and fines; to plant trees; to generate electricity from renewable energy sources
spillage of crude oil from oil tankers	destruction of sea life and damage to the harbour foreshores	more careful navigation; to introduce stricter patrolling and fines
aerosol sprays emit CFCs	damage to the ozone layer; increase in skin cancer	to restrict / ban propellants in aerosol spray; to use ozone-friendly sprays;
overfull landfill sites	piles of rubbish; unhygienic conditions; spread of diseases	to improve the way we dispose of waste; to stop discarding reusable rubbish; recycling; less use of packaging; to set up recycling bins; to improve daily rubbish collection
pesticides in farming	contamination of food, water and soil; health problems	to develop organic farming; to use compost ; to use natural pest control; use “green” (environmentally friendly) products
vehicles emit carbon monoxide	acid rain; smog; global warming	to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions; to use public transport; to walk or cycle to work; to drive a car that run on electricity or alternative fuels.

c) Read the problem solution sentences. Guess the environmental problem and write the sentence about it. Also write the sentence about the expected result of the suggested solution.

Example:

One way to deal with pollution in cities is to promote the use o f public transport. → The problem is the increase in the number of vehicles. Motor vehicles are the fastest-growing source of air pollution today, pumping out a toxic mixture of health-threatening pollutants. One way to deal with pollution in cities is to promote the use of public transport. The result of this would be fewer cars polluting the air.

1) It could help the world’s rainforests if we used more recycled paper.

2) One way to prevent the environmental damage caused by factories is to impose strict fines on corporations and businesses that contaminate soil, air and water.

3) An effective method of combating with non-biodegradable waste might be setting up recycling bins almost in every neighbourhood.

4) One way to improve a recycling system might be a daily rubbish collection.

5) Another way to deal with pollution is to relocate a factory stinking in the middle of the residential neighbourhood to the edge of the city or if it is possible to shut it down.

6) An alternative way to eradicate the soil pollution is that the farmers should use compost instead of huge quantities of pesticides and fertilizers.

7) One possible way to overcome air pollution is that factories should make use of the up-to-date purificatory equipment, filters, etc.

8) One way to reduce the air pollution in the city is to plant trees.

9) Another effective method of preventing pollution is to find more economical ways of using fuels and other raw materials, for instance, to generate energy from such renewable sources as the wind and the sun.

10) One possible way of combating with piles of rubbish is that people should buy products that are environmentally friendly.

d) Work in pairs to discuss problems caused by pollution and their possible solutions. Use the Essential Strategy language.