18 Months and in many cases thrown into a closet or drawer and finally dis-

carded with the household garbage. The industry has collected more than a mil-

lion used phones and wants to expand its recycling and "donate-a-phone" pro-

grams in which private groups collect phones and give proceeds to charity.

___(2)____. By 2006, there will be at least 210 million cell phones in use across

the country and another 500 million older phones may be stockpiled in drawers,

closets and elsewhere, waiting to be thrown away.

Cell phones and other electronic devices, such as pagers, pocket PCs and

music CD players are an especially problematic component of the waste stream

44

because they contain a large number of hazardous substances, which can pollute

the air when burned in incinerators and leach into soil and drinking water when

buried in landfills. Many of these toxic substances — including arsenic,

beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc — belong to a class of

chemicals known as persistent bio accumulative toxins (PBTS), which linger in

the environment for long periods without breaking down. Some of them —

including the metals lead and cadmium — also tend to accumulate in the tissues

of plants and animals, building up in the food chain to dangerous levels even

when released in very small quantities. ____(3)______.

____(4)______. Until recently the most commonly used power source in

cell phones was nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cds). ____(5)____. Lithium-ion

and nickel-metal hydride batteries are increasingly replacing Ni-Cds in cell

phones, but these contain cobalt, zinc, and copper — all heavy metals that can

be toxic to plants, wildlife, and human beings.

The industry, while interested in recycling, opposes efforts to develop a

single phone standard. _____(6)____. A number of states including California,

Massachusetts and Minnesota are considering legislation that would make

manufacturers pay the cost of managing the waste from electronic products, in-

cluding cell phones. Internationally, Australia has implemented a nationwide

cell phone recycling program and the European Union is considering actions to

make manufacturers responsible for electronic product wastes. The industry

should expand measures to reduce the amount of cell phones that are thrown

away by developing more "take-back" programs so phones and batteries can be

recycled and adopt industry-wide technical and design standards so phones are

not thrown away after a user switches services.

Did You Get It?

I. Say whether the following statements true or false. Correct false

statements.

1) Because cell phones are so small, their environmental impact is mini-

mal.

2) The growth in cell phone use has been rapid and enormous.

3) On average a cellular telephone is kept a year and a half.

4) Many of the used phones taken back are resold in developed coun-

tries.

5) Cell phones are an especially problematic component of the waste

stream because they contain a large number of hazardous substances.

6) The toxic substances contained in cell phones linger in the environ-

ment for long periods without breaking down.

7) The most commonly used power source in cell phones was nickel-

cadmium batteries.

8) Cadmium has been associated with cancer and neurological disor-

ders, especially in children.

9) Cobalt, zinc, and copper are heavy metals that can be toxic to living

things.

45

10) The wireless industry is not interested in recycling.

11) Australia is the only country that has implemented a nationwide cell

phone recycling program.

II. Match up the figures in column A with their corresponding expla-

nation in column B.

A B

a) 130 million i. the amount of older phones stockpiled

somewhere by 2006;

b) 210 million ii. tons of trash produced by cell phones;

c) 500 million iii. the number of cell phone users;

d) 65,000 iv. the average time a cellular telephone is

kept;

e) 18 months v. the amount of cellular telephones

Americans discard a year;

f) 135 million vi. the amount of cell phones in use in the

USA in 2006.

III. What are the chemical formulas for the following elements?

• arsenic • beryllium • cadmium • copper

• lead • nickel • zinc • nickel

• lithium • cobalt

IV. Answer the following questions.

1) How much trash do 130 million cell phones produce?

2) Is the issue of the cell phone waste of an importance?

3) The number of cell phone users is growing, isn’t it?

4) What happens to a cell phone after usage?

5) What electronic devices are there?

6) Why are electronic devices a problematic component of waste stream?

7) What chemicals are known as persistent bio-accumulative toxins?

Why are they called this way?

8) Why does the industry oppose efforts to develop a single phone

standard?

9) Who should pay for the cost of managing the cell phone waste?

10) What measures are to be taken to reduce the amount of cell phones

that are thrown away?

Words, Words, Words...

I. Match up and explain the meaning.

• cellular • battery

• electronic • phone

• wireless • chain

• household • metals

• heavy • industry

• food • source

• power • garbage

46

• rechargeable • devices

II. Find the pairs of words with the similar meaning from the table

below.

• dangerous • toxic • expand • damage

• poisonous • trash • quick • radio

• enormous • wireless • waste • rapid

• hazardous • disorder • large • increase

IV. Find in the text the following.

a) a verb meaning “reject as unwanted; remove or put aside”;

b) a participle II meaning “accumulated a store of goods”;

c) a noun meaning “furnace or device for burning to ashes”;

d) a verb meaning “make (a liquid) percolate through some material”;

e) a noun meaning “waste material etc. used to landscape or reclaim

land”;

f) a verb meaning “put (a decision, plan, contract, etc.) into effect”.

V. Fill in the gaps of the following sentences and fill the crossword.

Across Down

1. A product can be considered 2. If you buy one large bag of

_________ when it lasts a long potato chips instead of five small

time. bags, you are buying in ______.

7. To use something again for the 3. Your world, surroundings, and

same purpose or a new purpose. source of life and health.

8. What a pile of decayed food 4. Many items found in your

scraps, leaves and grass turn into. ________ can be recycled into

10. You can _______ old toys to valuable new products.

needy children instead of 5. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil,

throwing them away. and natural gas that are used to

11. Comes in disposable and manufacture products and heat our

rechargeable varieties. homes, come from the ________.

6. To collect used materials to

make into new products rather

than throwing them away.

9. To decrease the amount of trash

you throw away.

1 2 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

47

10

11

Time to Talk

Discuss in pairs the problems connected with the disposal of wireless

products and the possible solutions.

UNIT V OZONE DEPLETION

Time for Reading

Read the text and put the paragraphs (i-vi) into the correct order.

DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER

(i) The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that every 1 %

decrease in stratospheric ozone could result in 24,000 to 57,000 more cases of

cataracts and 43,000 new cases of skin cancer each year in the United States.

Increased ultraviolet radiation would also increase the effects of many diseases

that affect the skin or start on the skin: leprosy, smallpox, herpes, bubonic

plague, and some types of diphtheria. Furthermore, excessive ultraviolet

radiation causes cell and tissue damage in many plants. This could result in a

significant reduction in crop yields throughout the world.

(ii) Scientists from around the world have

studied the situation over Antarctica for over a

decade because of their belief that variations in

that region could serve as a gauge of depletion of

the ozone layer in other regions of the world.

This relationship appears to be true. A recent

study found that the ozone layer over the middle

_{latitudes has been depleted 2 to 3 % since 1979.}

(iii) Ozone, the triatomic form of oxygen (0₃), is primarily concentrated in

a layer high above the earth within the stratosphere. The actual amount of ozone

in the atmosphere is small (0.00005 % by volume), but its ability to absorb

harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun makes it vital to humans.

(iv). What can be done? In 1977 the United States banned all nonessential

48

aerosol products using CFCs. While this was a step in the right direction, more

needed to be done. Finally in 1997, 38 countries met in Montreal to sign an

agreement to cut CFCs use in half by the end of the century. This historic first

effort towards international control of an air pollutant is hopefully only the

beginning.

(v) In 1974 scientists documented that man-made gases can interact with

ozone and convert it to diatomic oxygen (O₂), which offers no protection from

ultraviolet radiation. While several gases have been linked to this ozone

depletion process, the primary culprit seems to be chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

which are gases involved in the greenhouse effect as well. CFCs are used in

refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation, packing materials (fast food

containers), and as propellant for aerosol cans.

(vi) These chemicals have already upset the state of equilibrium that has

existed in the ozone concentration for millions of years. Every year in

September a hole appears in the ozone layer over Antarctica, grows in size, and

then disappears. This hole, which is related to the unusual weather conditions of

this region, is growing larger each year.

Did Your Get It?

I. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Comment on

the false ones.

1) Ozone is the diatomic form of oxygen.

2) Ozone is concentrated in a layer above the earth within the

stratosphere.

3) There is little ozone in the atmosphere.

4) Ultraviolet rays from the sun are beneficial.

5) Natural gases interact with ozone and convert it to diatomic oxygen.

6) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are involved in the ozone depletion and

the greenhouse effect.

7) A hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica is growing smaller each year.

8) The situation in Antarctica could serve as a gauge of depletion of the

ozone layer in other regions of the world.

9) According to the recent study, since 1979 the ozone layer over the

middle latitudes has been depleted from 2 to 3 %.

10) Excessive ultraviolet radiation causes cell and tissue damage in

vegetation.

11) In 1997 38 countries signed an agreement to cut CFCs use in third

by the end of the century.

II. Answer the questions.

1. What is the chemical formula of ozone?

2. What ability does ozone have?

3. What gases are to blame in the process of the ozone depletion?

4. Where CFCs are used by humans?

49

5. When and where does a hole in the ozone layer appear?

6. Does the hole grow in size all time?

7. What will the results of the ozone depletion be?

8. What is done about the ozone depletion by the people?

III. What is the significance of the following numbers and statistics

found in the text.

a 2-3 b 43.000

c 38 d 0.00005

IV. Complete the following sentences according to the information in

the text:

a) The ability of ozone to absorb harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun

makes __________.

b) Diatomic oxygen (O₂) offers __________.

c) The state of equilibrium that has existed ____________.

d) Scientists believe that variations in Antarctica region __________.

e) A recent study found that the ozone layer over the middle latitudes

________.

f) According to the Environmental Protection Agency, every 1 %

decrease in stratospheric ozone could result in ___________.

g) Cell and tissue damage in many plants could result in _________.

h) The agreement to cut CFCs use in half by the end of the century

was signed by _______.

Words, Words, Words…

I. Match up the words to make the collocations and explain their

meaning.

• ultraviolet • yields

• ozone • latitudes

• diatomic • rays

• greenhouse • cancer

• weather • materials

• middle • oxygen

• crop • effect

• air • conditions

• skin • pollutants

• packing • depletion

II. Read and translate the words of the same roots.

• To pollute- pollution- pollutant;

• to agree- agreement;

• to reduce- reduction;

• harm- harmful-harmless;

• to deplete- depletion- depleted;

50

• primary – primarily;

• to believe- belief- unbelievable.

III. Study the word(s) in the box.

• absorb • chemicals • man-made gas

• ultraviolet rays • hole • vital

• oxygen • layer • diatomic

• skin cancer • tissue damage • stratosphere

• excessive radiation • triatomic • convert

Which word(s) describe:

a) ozone composition and its property;

b) where ozone is situated;

c) reasons of ozone depletion;

d) consequences of ozone depletion.

IV. Find in the text words which mean the opposite of:

• to release • smaller

• beneficial • not enough

• natural • increase, growth

• imbalance • to allow, to permit

• to appear • essential

• usual

V. Find in the text words meaning the following:

a) O₃;

b) O₂;

c) a reduction in numbers, force, or quantity; exhaustion;

d) layer of atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 50

km from the earth's surface;

e) a guilty person;

f) a gas that forces out the contents of an aerosol container.

VI. Match up the words according to their meaning:

1. linked a) essential

2. nonessential b) balance

3. banned c) to take in

4. equilibrium d) forbidden

5. vital e) connected

6. to absorb f) unimportant

VII. Fill the gaps in the text with the words from the box.

• solar • chlorine • thinning • non-toxic

• throughout • seasons • widely • phase out

• emissions • poles • filtering

Ozone is present in trace amounts __(i)____ most of the atmosphere but is

most abundant in the stratosphere. There is a thin layer of ozone about 15 to 40

km above the Earth's surface, which plays an important role by __(ii)___

harmful solar rays. The ozone layer varies in size with the seasons, because

ozone is produced when solar energy reacts with oxygen molecules, and solar

51

energy varies with the __(iii)____. Because the greatest seasonal variations in

solar energy occur at the __(iv)____, fluctuations in the ozone layer are also

greatest in the stratosphere over the poles. Variations in the amount of ozone are

also linked with periodic changes in atmospheric winds, volcanic and __(v)___

activity. Ozone is continually created and destroyed in catalytic reactions with

oxides of hydrogen, nitrogen, and ___(vi)____.

In the 1970s, scientists observed __(vii)___ in the ozone layer over

Antarctica and concerns arose that __(viii)____ from human activities were

implicated in ozone depletion. In particular, the concern was that

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which had been widely used as refrigerants and in

aerosols because they are inert and __(ix)___, might be capable of depleting the

ozone layer.

Scientists M. J. Molina and F.S. Rowland demonstrated in their lab that

CFCs could be broken down by ultraviolet light in the atmosphere and that the

chlorine released could break down ozone molecules. Molina and Rowland's

theory became __(x)___ accepted and international efforts began to reduce the

worldwide emissions of CFCs. With the signing of the 1987 Montreal Protocol

On Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer more than 150 countries agreed to

__(xi)____ the use of CFCs.

Time to Talk

Find information on ozone layer depletion and tell about its danger.

UNIT VI THE NUCLEAR ENERGY CHALLENGE

Text

Question Time

What opinion do you agree with and why.

a. Nuclear energy is very dangerous and mankind should stop using it

at all.

b. Peaceful use of nuclear energy can solve all energy problems and

meet the world’s energy demands.

Time for Reading

Read the text and entitle it.

(i) The atom, the smallest component of any element, contains enormous

energy. When it is split in a process called fission, this energy is released in the

forms of tremendous heat and light. It is this energy that was released on

Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, by two separate atom bombs in 1945 that led to

the end of World War II. The horrors created by those two bombs led the

international community to condemn further use of atomic weapons.

(ii) Still, engineers, governments and scientists realized that if the atom's

energy could be controlled, it would revolutionize the world's energy markets

52

and provide significant electricity reserves to help meet the world's energy

demands. It could one day replace the need for fossil fuels. As a result, the first

usable electricity from nuclear fission was produced at the Idaho National

Engineering Laboratory in 1951.

(iii) In 1954, The Atomic Energy Act was passed to promote the peaceful

use of nuclear energy. Subsequently, in 1957, the International Atomic Energy

Agency was formed to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy and to provide

international safeguards and an inspection system to ensure nuclear materials are

not diverted from peaceful to military uses.

(iv) Commercial nuclear power plants became a commercial reality in the

late 1960s when there were large numbers of orders for nuclear power reactors

in the United States. However in 1979 America's fears about nuclear power were

realized when a partial meltdown occurred in a reactor at the Three Mile Island

facility in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Though minimal radioactive material --

which can cause serious damage to or kill living tissue -- was released, the

potential for greater disaster lurked.

(v) This greater potential was realized in April 1986 when a full reactor

meltdown and fire occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former

Soviet Union. This resulted in the massive release of radioactive materials that

led to major environmental catastrophe. After these disasters, global support for

nuclear energy dramatically decreased.

(vi) Over the last 15 years, vast improvements to nuclear reactors have

been made to make them safer and last longer. There is still strong support for

nuclear energy from many sectors which are sure that it is the future of the

world's energy sources. However despite of nuclear energy has several

advantages over fossil fuels - it does not release the harmful greenhouse gas

carbon dioxide into the atmosphere- public resistance remains high. Perhaps the

greatest challenge facing nuclear energy production is disposal of the highly

radioactive wastes. It could take at least 10,000 years for these materials to fully

break down into harmless elements so the problem is to store them safely for at

least that length of time. It is possible, but where and how are still a subject for

discussion.

Did You Get It?

I. Find in the text what happened in the years bellow.

a 1945 b 1951 c 1954 d 1957

e 1960s f 1979 g 1986

II. Which paragraph:

a contains information about the major environmental catastrophe?

b describes pros and cons of nuclear energy?

c mentions the appearance of commercial nuclear power plants?

d describes event that made international community ban further use of

atomic weapons?

e mentions the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy by

legislation?

53

III. Match up the beginning of the sentence in column A with the ending

in column B to make up a statement which true according to the

information in the text.

A B

a) Nuclear energy i. the smallest component of any element.

b) Global support for ii. occurred in a reactor at the Three Mile

nuclear energy Island facility in Harrisburg,

dramatically decreased Pennsylvania in 1979.

c) The first usable iii. after a full reactor meltdown and fire at

electricity from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

nuclear fission

d) The atom iv. was produced at the Idaho National

Engineering Laboratory in 1951.

e) A partial meltdown v. could one day replace the need for fossil

fuels.

IV. Answer the following questions:

1. What happens when the atom is split?

2. Could atom’s energy replace the need for fossil fuels?

3. Why was the International Atomic Energy Agency formed?

4. What can minimal radioactive material cause?

5. What did the catastrophe result at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power

Plant?

6. Does nuclear energy have some advantages over fossil fuels? Give an

example.

7. Why is disposal of the radioactive waste still the greatest problem

facing nuclear energy production?

Words, Words, Words...

I. Give the Russian equivalents to the following English words and

word combinations.

To split, to release, tremendous heat and light, to condemn, energy

demands, to replace, usable electricity, subsequently, living tissue, to lurk,

military uses, fossil fuels, public resistance, nuclear energy challenge, wastes

disposal.

II. Read and translate the following words with the same roots.

• Harm – harmless – harmful – harmfully –harmfulness – harmlessly –

harmlessness;

• to save - safe – safer – safely – safeguard;

• to use - usable – usage – useful – useless;

• sure –– sureness – to ensure - ensurer.

III. Match the terms from the left column with the definitions from the

right column.

a. greenhouse gas • splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus, with a

release of energy

54

b. fission • material for burning or as a source of heat,

power, or nuclear energy

c. fossil • gas occurring naturally in the atmosphere

and formed by respiration

d. fuel • remains or impression of a (usu. prehistoric)

plant or animal hardened in rock

e. meltdown • something used or valueless

f. waste • great or sudden misfortune; catastrophe

g. disaster • melting of a structure, esp. the overheated

core of a nuclear reactor

h. carbon dioxide • any of the gases, esp. carbon dioxide and

methane, that contribute to the greenhouse

effect

IV. Read and translate the text, completing it with the words below.

• man-made • splits • safer

• converted • universe • fusion

• provider • radiation • hydrogen

Nuclear energy requires sources of radioactive elements found naturally

in our environment and manmade to create the nuclear fission process that

___(1)____ the atoms. The most common and most used of these elements is

Uranium. The other available sources that are used for nuclear energy are

Plutonium and Thorium. Plutonium is not naturally occurring. It is ____(2)____,

coming from a nuclear reactor. It is not as stable as Uranium and is harder to

use. Thorium is being heavily studied and applied as a ___(3)_____, cleaner

alternative to Uranium. Thus Uranium is still a king as the main ___(4)____ of

nuclear energy.

A second form of nuclear energy comes from the same process that gives

life to our sun and other stars in the ___(5)_____: nuclear fusion. Fusion occurs

when two lighter elements, like ___(6)____, are forced together - or fused - to

create a heavier element, Helium. This occurs only under extraordinary heat and

pressure, but it releases enormous energy in the form of heat, light and other

___(7)____.

Deep inside the sun's core, hydrogen is __(8)_____ to helium at

temperatures of 10-15 million degrees Celsius. Fusion provides the energy

necessary to sustain life on Earth. Sunlight is energy released from

___(9)_____reactions inside the sun. This process also produces all of the

chemical elements found on Earth.

V. Find the odd word out.

split fission fusion division

melting fusion combustion congealing

natural innate man-made uncultivated

release absorb set free liberate

VI. Fill in the correct word from the list below.

• combustion • hydrogen • man-made

55

• core • fusion

1. The chain reaction in a kilogram of Uranium fuel supplies as much energy as

the ………. of about 100 metric tons of coal. (burning)

2. Plutonium used in nuclear reactors is …….. It occurs when Uranium's

isotope, is forced to acquire extra particles inside a nuclear reactor.

(artificial, synthetic)

3. If all the world's electricity were to be provided by …… power stations, the

source materials would last for millions of years. (melting with intense heat)

4. The ……… isotopes in one gallon of water have the fusion energy

equivalent of 300 gallons of gasoline. (tasteless odourless gas, the lightest

element, occurring in water and all organic compounds)

5. The ……. is the innermost region of the Earth, probably consisting of iron or

nickel. (inner central or most important part of anything).

Time to Talk

How do think what advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy

over other sources of energy are?

UNIT VII NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES

Text

Question Time

Discuss the following questions in groups.

a. What National Parks and Nature Reserves do you know?

b. What makes them different from regular pieces of nature?

c. Are there any in your region?

Time for Reading

Read the text below and put the sentences (A-G) into the numbered

gaps (1-7).

A. The first national park in Europe was designated in Sweden.

B. These areas may be inside national parks - for example, the Kanha

Tiger Reserve in Kanha National Park, northern India - and in general

they are smaller than most national parks.

C. In parks where mining, electricity generation, or other large scale ac-

tivities are permitted, they are carefully and expensively monitored to

minimize pollution and degradation of the landscape.

D. National parks and nature reserves in developing countries are

supported and sponsored by international organizations, like

UNESCO.

E. In response to this threat, parts of several American national parks

56

have been closed to the public and a limit placed on the number of

visitors permitted to enter certain fragile areas.

F. Yellowstone National Park, covering parts of Montana, Wyoming, and

Idaho, is regarded as the first national park in the world.

G. National parks and nature reserves are areas selected by governments

or private organizations for special protection against damage or

degradation.

NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE RESERVES

(i) One of the pioneering ideas of conservation was that of creation of

national parks. ____(1)____. They are chosen for their outstanding natural

beauty, as areas of scientific interest, or as forming part of a country's cultural

heritage, and often also to provide facilities for public recreation.

(ii) The concept of creating national parks and nature reserves developed