Ecological_problems_10_form

Ecological Problems

1. Read the text and choose the right form from the variants below.

Nowadays, it is difficult to avoid environmental issues. Every time we turn on the television or open a newspaper, there are new horror stories about how pollution …(1) an adverse …(2) on our planet. Poisonous gases from factories destroy the ozone layer, contributing to the greenhouse effect, which …(3) in global warming. Acid rain is destroying forests. As more and more forests are destroyed, the threat to wildlife …(4), with several endangered species already on the edge of the extinction. In brief, we are heading to an ecological disaster.

However, we …(5) all do something to protect the environment. For a start, we should try to conserve energy resources such as oil and coal by turning …(6) our central heating and air-conditioning, or making …(7) use of our cars. Secondly, since many everyday items such as glass and paper can be recycled, we should try to re-use them rather than throwing them away. Thirdly, we can join pressure groups such as Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth, which can be very effective …(8) governments to adopt greener policies, such as subsiding public transport and protecting wildlife. The basic message we should all bear in…(9) is this: “Think globally, …(10) locally!”

1. A. is having B. has C. have

2. A. effect B. affect C. influence

3. A. resulted B. will result C. results

4. A. increases B. rises C. raises

5. A. must to B. need C. can

6. A. on B. down C. around

7. A. more B. less C. much more

8. A. to persuade B. in persuading C. of persuading

9. A. head B. memory C. mind

10. A. act B. do C. make

Complete the sentences using the information from the text.

1. According to the text, pollution … .

1. is damaging the planet

2. is not a major problem

3. is caused by the ozone layer

2. Poisonous fumes from factories … .

1. reduce global warming

2. affect the ozone layer

3. are a problem in all countries

3. The greenhouse effect results in … .

1. killing more animals

2. planting more trees

3. global warming

4. What does acid rain do?

1. It kill animals

2. It destroys forests

3. It kills people

5. A lot of animals are threatened because … .

1. hunters kill them

2. they are killed for food

3. their habitat is being destroyed

6. What can we do to help the environment?

1. Consume less energy

2. Use other sources of energy

3. Use more energy

7. Which of the following items can we recycle?

1. Petrol

2. Plastic

3. Glass

8. What do pressure groups do?

1. They form governments

2. They recycle everyday items

3. They make governments help nature

9. What do you think the expression “Think globally, act locally!” mean?

1. We should begin with our homes

2. We should stay at home

3. We can’t save nature

10. What is the basic message of this text

1. It is too late to save nature

2. Nature is not in trouble

3. We can still help nature

2. Read the text about one of the global issues of our time.

Since ancient times Nature has served Man, being the source of his life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with environment and it seemed to them that natural riches were unlimited. But with the development of civilization man's interference in nature began to increase.

Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises appear all over the world today. The by-products of their activity pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we grow grain and vegetables on.

Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with about 1000 million tons of dust and other harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Vast forests are cut and burn in fire. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of rivers and lakes dry up.

The pollution of air and the world's ocean, destruction of the ozone layer is the result of man's careless interaction with nature, a sign of the ecological crises.

The most horrible ecological disaster befell Ukraine and its people after the Chernobyl tragedy in April 1986. About 18 percent of the territory of Belarus was also polluted with radioactive substances. A great damage has been done to the agriculture, forests and people's health. The consequences of this explosion at the atomic power-station are tragic for the Ukrainian, Byelorussian and other nations.

Environmental protection is of a universal concern. That is why serious measures to create a system of ecological security should be taken.

Some progress has been already made in this direction. As many as 159 countries — members of the UNO — have set up environmental protection agencies. Numerous conferences have been held by these agencies to discuss problems facing ecologically poor regions including the Aral Sea, the South Urals, Kuzbass, Donbass, Semipalatinsk and Chernobyl.

An international environmental research centre has been set up on Lake Baikal. The international organisation Greenpeace is also doing much to preserve the environment.

But these are only the initial steps and they must be carried onward to protect nature, to save life on the planet not only for the sake of the present but also for the future generations.

2. Answer the questions:

1. How did people live for thousands of years?  2. What cities appear all over the world today?  3. What pollutes the air we breathe?  4. What is the result of the pollution the atmosphere?  5. Why is environmental protection of a universal concern?  6. What are the initial steps in this direction?

3. Vocabulary. Be sure that you know these words:

ancient /harmony /environment /riches / unlimited / to interfere/ to increase /smoky / enterprises /by-product / substances / oxigen / rare / destruction / ozone / layer /interaction / horrible / disaster / to befall