Text 1a water in human life

Water is an essential part of everything that lives on Earth. It comprises about 65% of a human body and forms the greatest portion of most living plants and animals. Without water, present life on Earth would not exist.

The human need for water is universal, independent from the geographical region or the chronological period. Myths concerned with this basic need are widespread in various cultures, testifying this major reality of human life.

Water is something man has to traverse; it is a passage of some kind. The very ancient feeling of respect man experiences for this vital natural element has led to the development of superstitions and beliefs. So water has been deified, connected with romantic mystic stories about mermaids or ghosts.

Water is one of the crucial components regulating human life and survival. Regions with either complete absence or threatening abundance of water have obliged men to adapt to this challenging environment and fight systematically against aridity or flood. Failure to control natural forces leads to immediate disasters or gradual degradation of the environment, including not only floods but also changing river courses, meager harvests and famine as a result of excess salt concentration in the soil.

Every day a person need to consume about 2 L of water, just to stay healthy. The water acts to flush out poisons, which would otherwise harm you. By dissolving harmful substances, water is able to carry them away and make our life possible. Since water can dissolve so many substances, it can be called the universal solvent.

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ur daily life is centered on water. Each person in an average household, for example, uses 225 L of water every day. Few people ever venture far from a source of water whether it is in a jug, a faucet, or in food.

All fresh water on Earth originated from the oceans. The heating the ocean water by the sun is the key Pic. 1: The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle process that starts the hydrologic cycle (water cycle) in motion. The evaporated water forms the clouds and eventually reaches the land in the form of precipitation to fill lakes, rivers, and other forms of surface water. The amount of precipitation, however, can vary greatly from season to season in any location. Some regions experience very heavy precipitation in some seasons, and relatively little in others. The results of these variations mean that pipelines and large-scale dams must be used to supply some cities with water throughout the year.

In spite of all this, some people have made the mistake of assuming that it is not important to manage the water properly. So, besides providing an adequate supply of water for human activities, we are faced with the additional problem of cleaning up our polluted rivers, lakes and oceans. Chemical and sewage wastes as well as acid rains make our water not only be unfit to drink, but also unsafe to swim in.

Water pollution is a serious problem and only careful water management by each person can mean that clean water will be a valuable gift to future generations.

Ex. 7. Answer the questions:

1. Why is water so important for living beings?

2. Why can it be called a universal solvent?

3. Why can we say that our life is centered on water?

4. How can you explain what a hydrologic cycle is?

5. What additional problem are we faced with besides providing an adequate supply of water for human activities?

6. Why are there so many myths and legends connected with water?

7. What does failure to control natural forces lead to?

8. Does the human need for water depend on the geographical region or something else of a kind?

Ex. 8. Retell the text in your own words trying to summarize the main information about the water.

Ex. 9. Read and translate the text: