Ecology is a priority

The ecological problem, which is also very social one, is one of the pressing problems of our days. It is closely linked, through course-and-effect relations, to the problems of economic growth, progress in science and technology, natural resources, energy and food supplies. In many cases the environmental problem has become a dominant one in relation to many others. The pollution of the environment, the destruction of ecosystems, the destruction of many species of plants and animals have now reached dangerous proportions. An increasing influence on nature and the application of new technological processes (whose consequences are increasingly dangerous for the environment) may cause catastrophic results. Negative anthropogenic influences threaten to disrupt nature′s basic cycles. This is illustrated by the following data. By comparison with the twentieth century the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased dozens of times in many cities, and has increased globally by 20 per cent. As a result a layer of carbon dioxide is formed around the Earth. It may result in changes in unfavourable climate and transform our blue planet into a greenhouse with catastrophic effects. Those include changes in its energy balance and a gradual increase in temperature that will transform fertile regions into arid ones, raise the level of water in the oceans (through the melting of polar and drifting ice) and produce a flooding of great numbers of coastal lands and cities. Pollution of the ocean has increased at a rate that threatens to make it global. The pollution of the environment through chemical, physical and biological agents produces an increase in the mutagenic influence on individuals. It is no longer possible to escape from the effect of our own destruction of the environment. Greater demands are being made on mineral resources, which in some cases have been largely exhausted. More complicated chemical processing of nature′s raw materials has attacked the environment in number of new ways. It has given us pesticides and herbicides that destroy the flora and fauna on a massive scale. As a result new types of waste products pollute air, water and soil. Plastics and many pesticides and detergents remain undercomposed. All this means that at present there has arisen a pressing necessity to change the character of the interaction between man and nature.

3. Divide the text into some logical parts and entitle them.

4. Translate the following sentences into English using lexical material of the text:

1. Экологическая проблема – одна из острых проблем современности.

2. Уничтожение многих видов растений и животных достигло опасных показателей.

3. Экологическая проблема тесно связана с проблемами экономического роста, прогрессом в науке и технологии.

4. В результате новые виды отходов загрязняют воздух, воду и почву.

5. Более сложные химические процессы переработки природного сырья влияют на окружающую среду.

6. По сравнению с XX веком накопление углекислого газа в атмосфере увеличилось в сто раз.

7. Парниковый эффект приведет к повышению температуры, что повысит уровень воды в океанах.

5. Decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. The ecological problem is closely linked to many problems of our days.

2. The only thing that has now reached dangerous proportions is the pollution of the environment

3. The application of new technological processes is not very dangerous for the environment

4. The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased globally by 30 per cent.

5. An increase in the greenhouse effect may give a rise to disastrous consequences.

6. Human activity may lead to global warming.

Text C

1. Pay attention to the following words and word combinations:

to deteriorate – ухудшать(ся), разрушаться;

to be responsible for smth. – быть ответственным за что-либо;

powerful jet aircrafts – скоростные сверхзвуковые самолеты;

оn the one hand – с одной стороны;

counter- measure – контрмера;

exhaust fumes – выхлопные газы;

insects – насекомые;

the effect of smth. – действие, влияние чего-либо.

2. Read the text and be ready to say if the following statements are true or false. Use the following phrases:

As far as I know …

It seems to be wrong (right) …

I cant’t agree with you …

I’m afraid you are mistaken …

On the contrary …

That’s right …

1. The problem of preserving the environment has recently become a central one.

2. The quality of many people′s lives has deteriorated in some respects because of chemical progress.

3. Motor cars are responsible for the atmosphere pollution.

4. The population of rural areas and cities has increased.

5. There are two points of view on the problem of insects killing.

6. One of the first acts of Parliament to counter pollution was the Clean Water Act.

7. Industrial chemical wastes are still polluting rivers.