Методичка по английскому языку

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIT 7.  NATURE AND ECOLOGY

 

Text 1. OUR PLANET EARTH

Vocabulary

Tiny – крошечный

Universe – вселенная

human being – человек

acid – кислотные  дожди

global warming – глобальное  потепление

pollution – загрязнение

overpopulation – перенаселение

to threaten – угрожать

to blame – винить

disaster – несчастье , беда

to cut down – рубить, срубать

trend – тенденция

oxygen – кислород

to breathe – дышать

poison – яд , отрава

industrial and nuclear waste - промышленные и ядерные отходы

fertilizer – удобрение

pesticide – пестицид

on the brink of extinction – на грани исчезновения

to die out – вымирать

species – вид , род

to become extinct – вымирать

equivalent – равноценный , равнозначный

the same holds true for – это справедливо для, это касается и...

to emit – выбрасывать

harmful – вредный

chemicals – химикалии

emission – выброс

disastrous – чудовищный

consequence – последствие

greenhouse effect – парниковый эффект

threat – угроза

nuclear power station – атомная электростанция

technology – технология

endangered – вымирающий (вид)

to recycle – утилизировать

litter – мусор

to support – поддерживать

to put pressure on – оказывать давление на

those in power – те , кто находится у власти

 

The planet Earth is only a tiny part of the universe, but it's the only place where human beings can live.

Today, our р1anet  is in serious danger. Acid rains, global warming, air and water pollution, overpopulation are the problems that threaten human life on Earth.

Who is to blame for the disaster? The answer is simple: all of us.

Our forests are disappearing because they are cut down or burnt. If this trend continues, one day we won't have enough oxygen to breathe.

The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas.

Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today may soon become extinct.

Air pollution is another serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is dangerous — equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for many Russian cities.

Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

An even greater threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are.

Fortunately, it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place. We can plant trees and create parks for endangered species. We can recycle litter. We can support green parties and put pressure on those in power. Together we can save the planet and all of us with it.

 

Answer the following questions:

1. Why is our planet in danger? 2. Who is to blame for the disaster?  3. What is happening to our forests? 4. Why are the seas in danger?  5. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. Do you think it's possible to save it? 6. A lot of animals are dying out. But people wear fur coats, crocodile handbags, leather shoes, etc. Are you for or against hunting? Is air pollution a serious problem? Why? 7. The car is now the world's number one polluter. Do you think it's possible to make it cleaner and safer? Have you heard about electric cars?   8. Why are nuclear power stations dangerous? What were the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster?  9. What is the main cause of the greenhouse effect and acid rains?  10. What will happen to our planet if the present trends continue? Do you think that one day it may become uninhabitable?  11. What can we do to save the planet? 

 

 

 

Text 2. Environmental Protection

Vocabulary

to invent machines and mechanisms – изобрести машины и механизмы

to pollute smth – загрязнять что-либо

the environment – окружающая среда

unlimited source of resources – неограниченный источник ресурсов

to be closely related – быть тесно связанным

to supply the economy with smth – снабжать экономику чем-либо

to absorb the waste products – поглощать отходы

to damage the resources – наносить ущерб ресурсам

consequences of damaging the environment – последствия от нанесения ущерба окружающей среде

acid rain – кислотный дождь

to pump waste gases – выкачивать отработанные газы

to get rid of smth – избавиться от чего-либо

to lead to forest damage – наносить вред лесам

to reduce the resources of forestry industry – сократить ресурсы лесной промышленности

water shortage – недостаток воды

to come from abuse of lands – быть результатом неправильного использования земли

damage to water and soils – нанести вред воде и почве

damage to wildlife – нанести вред живой природе

species - вид

the greenhouse effect – парниковый эффект

 global warming – глобальное потепление

increase in the average temperature – повышение средней температуры

to lead to rise in sea levels – привести к повышению уровня моря

extreme weather events – чрезвычайные погодные явления

flood – наводнение

drought – засуха

hurricane – ураган

global climate change – глобальное климатическое изменение

to suffer many environmental problems – иметь много экологических проблем

to be caused by economic activities – быть вызванным экономической активностью

the effect of the Chernobyl disaster – последствия Чернобыльской катастрофы

cotton growing – выращивание хлопка

to destroy fishing – уничтожить отлов рыбы

to lead to a damage in soils, crops and wildlife – нанести вред сельскому хозяйству и природе

to be under threat – быть под угрозой

system of dams – система плотин

to use the environment carefully – использовать окружающую среду бережно

to be low in pollutants – содержать небольшое количество токсичных веществ

complete burning of solid fuels – полное сжигание твердого топлива

shift to using alternative forms of power – переход на использование альтернативных источников энергии

solar energy – солнечная энергия

banning the use of nuclear power – запрещение использования атомной энергии

danger of radioactive contamination – опасность радиоактивного загрязнения

common people – обычные люди

to change one's attitude towards the environment – изменить отношение к окружающей среде

change of public attitude to smth – изменение отношения общественности к чему-либо

to introduce stricter anti-pollution measures – ввести более строгие меры по охране окружающей среды

to fund scientific research – финансировать научные исследования

to facilitate development of smth – способствовать развитию чего-либо

ecologically safe materials – экологически безопасные материалы

source of energy – источник энергии

damaging for the ecology – губительный для экологии

to stop leaving litter – прекратить выбрасывать мусор

 

Ecology problems are of vital importance today. What can common people do to protect the planet?

Man have always wanted to make his life easier. He invented machines and mechanisms which have been working — and polluting the world we live in. Economists have long thought of the environment as of the unlimited source of resources only. In fact, the economy and the environment are closely related. The environment supplies the economy with water, timber, miner als, oil, etc. It has to absorb all the waste products, too. Nevertheless, some economists have always argued that pollution damages the resources.

There are many consequences of damaging the environment. One of them is acid rain. Pumping waste gases from a power station does not gel rid of them. Waste gases cause acid rain, this leads to forest damage and reduces the resources of forestry industry.

Another one is water shortage. It comes from abuse of lands in agriculture. The third one is destroying the ozone layer of the Earth through pollu tion from factories and plants. The fourth one is damage to water and soils. The fifth one is damage to wildlife: many species of plants and animals can disappear. The sixth one is the greenhouse effect and global warming — that is, an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Global warming can lead to rises in sea levels, and extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes, and global climate change. Lastly, the most serious danger is the result of all these consequences. This is the danger for the life and health of the man.

The territories of the former Soviet Union are suffering many environmental problems. Many of these problems have been caused by economic activities. Apart from the effect of the Chernobyl disaster, the worst problem is that wilh the Aral Sea. Cotton growing in the region has used large amounts of water, and the sea level has fallen, this destroyed fishing and led to a damage in soils, crops, and wildlife. Many forests in the Far East and in the north of European Russia are under threat. A system of dams on the Volga damaged fish.

If we cannot learn to use the environment carefully, very soon we'll have no world to live in. In my opinion, pollution can be stopped or at least reduced by using fuels which are low in pollutants, more complete burning of solid fuels, shift to using alternative forms of power such as wind power electricity or solar energy and banning the use of nuclear power. The first reason why I believe these ways to be most effective ones is that industry and transport are the most important sources of all chemical pollution of air, water and soil. The second one is that banning the use of nuclear power will destroy the danger of radioactive contamination.

The most important thing common people could do is to change their attitude towards the environment. We should realize that natural resources are not unlimited and destroying them may result in destroying life on Earth. The change of public attitude to the environment is important due to several reasons. Firstly, public opinion could make governments introduce stricter anti-pollution measures. It could make governments fund scientific research facilitating development of ecologically safe materials and sources of energy. Secondly, people could behave in the way which is less damaging for the ecology of our planet. For example, they could stop leaving litter in city streets and in the country. Thirdly, they could stop damaging forests by cutting down trees for their personal needs or causing forest fires.

 

Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Чтобы облегчить свою жизнь, человек изобрел машины и механизмы, которые загрязняют окружающую среду.

2. Хотя окружающая среда снабжает экономику водой, лесом, полезными ископаемыми, нефтью, она не является неисчерпаемым источником ресурсов.

3. Экономика и окружающая среда тесно связаны: окружающая среда должна поглощать все отходы, которые экономика выбрасывает в нее.

4. Экономика наносит ущерб ресурсам из-за кислотных дождей, которые приводят к повреждению лесов, из-за неправильного использования земель в сельском хозяйстве, разрушения озонового слоя, вреда, наносимого воде, почвам и природе, парникового эффекта.

5. Глобальное потепление — это увеличение средней температуры земной атмосферы и океанов, которое может привести к подъему уровня морей и экстремальным явлениям природы.

6. На территории России существует много проблем с окружающей средой, вызванных экономической деятельностью, таких как последствия Чернобыльской катастрофы и проблема Аральского моря.

7. Мы должны научиться бережно использовать окружающую среду.

8. Загрязнение окружающей среды можно остановить или, по крайней мере, уменьшить, используя топливо, содержащее низкое количество токсичных веществ, более полно сжигая твердое топливо, перейдя на использование альтернативных источников энергии и запретив использование ядерной энергии.

9. Простые люди могут изменить свое отношение к окружающей среде и заставить правительства ввести более строгие меры охраны окружающей среды и финансировать исследования, способствующие разработке экологически безопасных материалов и источников энергии.

10. Люди могут вести себя таким образом, чтобы наносить меньший 
вред экологии планеты.

 

 

Text 3. Animals

Vocabulary

association — связь

task — задача, задание

to require — требовать

strength — сила

to depend on — зависеть от

source — источник

to domesticate — приручать,

protection — зашита

breeding — разведение, размножение

dairy and beef cattle — мясомолочный  скот

poultry — домашняя птица

despite — несмотря на

species — вид(ы)

wild — дикий

research — исследование (-я)

recreation — развлечение

hunting — охота

unfortunately — к сожалению

exploitation — эксплуатация

edge — грань

extinction — вымирание

to slaughter — уничтожать, убивать

ivory — слоновая кость

at this rate — при таком темпе

to wipe out — уничтожать

consequence — последствие

to create — создавать

abandoned — покинутый

to get rid of — избавляться от

shelter — приют

neglected — отвергнутый

pleasure — удовольствие

utility — польза, использование

hamster — хомяк

guinea pig — морская свинка

to breed — разводить, выращивать

to coexist — сосуществовать

snake — змея

lizard — ящерица

fascinating — увлекательный

captivity — неволя

desirable — желательный

to do one's best — делать все возможное

to ensure — обеспечивать

coexistence — сосуществование

 

Ever since true humans appeared on Earth, they have lived in close association with animals. They needed animals for tasks that required strength and speed. People depended on animals for food and clothing, but they also found a source of pleasure and spiritual strength in the animal life.

Humans domesticated some animals for food, clothing, power and companionship. Through protection and selective breeding people changed early domesticated forms into highly productive dairy and beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Bull despite the domestication of many species, we still depend on wild animals for food and clothing. Besides, a lot of animals arc used for medical research. In addition, wild animals provide recreation in the form of hunting, bird watching, and visits to zoos and wildlife reserves.

Unfortunately, unmanaged commercial exploitation has driven some species of wild animals to the edge of extinction. For example, 143 elephants are slaughtered in Africa every day to get ivory. At this rate, they'll be wiped out in 25 years. What can we do to help animals survive? First of all, environmental organizations must analyse the consequences of humans' actions. Besides, people should create nature reserves for wild animals and birds. And of course, we must take care of those animals that are around us. There are a lot of abandoned animals in cities and towns, because their owners got rid of them. We must build and run animal shelters where neglected animals can find safety, food and veterinary care.

Nowadays a lot of people keep pets at home. A pet is a domesticated animal that is kept for pleasure rather than utility. Domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs make good pets because they have been bred for thousands of years to coexist with humans.

Some people keep exotic pets like snakes, lizards or wild cats. Of course, exotic pets are fascinating and beautiful to watch. However, very often people keep exotic pets only in order to look extraordinary. They regard them as a status symbol. But captivity is not natural for wild animals. It is a constant stress to them, so they may become very aggressive as they get older. Besides, wild animals need to be examined by a vet with special knowledge and training in wildlife medicine. That's why it's not desirable to keep exotic animals as pets.

To sum up, we can say that for centuries animals have been our friends and companions, and we must do our best to ensure that this coexistence will continue in the future.

 

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the role of animals in people's lives? 2. What did people use animals for in the past? 3. What do they use them fog now? 4. Why do people keep pets at home? 5. What animals make good pets? 6. Why do people keep exotic pets? 7. Is it dangerous to keep exotic pets? Why? 8. Would you like to keep a pet? Why? 9. How can we help animals?

 

 

Text 4. Trees

Vocabulary

valuable — ценный

environment — окружающая среда

reason — причина

to improve — улучшать

shade — тень

shelter — убежище, кров

in turn — в свою очередь

to reduce — уменьшать

amount — количество

to remove — удалять

impurity — нечистота, грязь,

to breathe — дышать

urban — городской

to provide — обеспечивать

the only — единственный

butterfly — бабочка

scale — масштаб

carbon dioxide — двуокись углерода

oxygen — кислород

rainforest — тропический лес, джунгли

to supply — снабжать

fresh — свежий

wild — дикий

to contain — содержать

to include — включать

unfortunately — к сожалению

to disappear — исчезать

hardwood — твердая древесина

to break — нарушать

to deprive of — лишать

extinct — вымерший, вымирающий

protection — защита

 

Trees are amongst the biggest and longest-living things on Earth, some dating back longer than the oldest buildings. Trees are one of the most valuable parts of the environment. People like trees for a lot of reasons.

As well as being nice to look at, trees also play an important role in improving the quality of our life. They offer shade and shelter, which in turn reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool nearby buildings. They also give us a lot of fruit to eat and the place for children to play. Besides they remove impurities from the air we breathe.

Urban trees are especially important because for many people they provide the only daily contact with the natural world. What's more, urban trees also provide a home for birds, small animals and butterflies. Without the trees we would lose the pleasure of seeing these creatures in our cities.

Regrettably, however, trees in cities are now coming under | threat. There is a limit to the level of pollution they can put up with, and down at street level their roots are being seriously disturbed by digging needed to make a way for modern telephone, television and other cables.