Pollution

Man has been trying to make life easier for many centuries. In doing so, he invented machines and instruments. They have been working – and polluting the world we live in.

In this world around us, there two things that do not belong to any country: air and ocean water. In both the air and the water, there is much pollution. People are concerned about the air and the water used by everyone, and they are also concerned about the future of the Earth.

One of the most important pollution problems is the ocean. Many ships sail in the ocean water – fishing ships, some ships carrying people, some carrying oil. If a ship loses some of the oil in the water, or trash from the ships is put into the ocean, the water becomes dirty. Many fish are dying in the sea, others are getting contaminated. Fisherman catch contaminated fish which may be sold in markets and people may get sick from eating them. Fish may also move to another part of the ocean. Lakes and rivers are getting polluted, too. Some beaches are considered dangerous for swimming.

The second important problem is air pollution. Cars and factories polluted the air we use. It also destroys the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the Sun.

Another problem is that our forests are dying from acid rain. This, in turn, affects the balance of nature.

If we want out children to live in the same world we live in, or in a better or healthier world, we must learn to protect the water, the air and the earth from pollution.

4. Answer the questions:

1. What did man invent to make life easier?

2. What are people concerned about?

3. What doesn′t belong to any country?

4. What is one of the most important pollution problems and why?

5. What can you say about other environmental problems?

6. Why mast we protect the earth from pollution?

5. Complete the following sentences using some active words and word combinations (see below):

1. People are concerned about …… used by everyone.

2. Many ships lose …..in the water.

3. People may get sick from eating…..

4. Cars and factories polluted the air destroy……

5. Acid rains lead to ……

6. We must learn to protect the water, the air and the earth from …..

pollution, some of the oil, the air and the water, contaminated fish, the ozone layer, deforestation.

6. Retell the text using the scheme:

1. The headline of the text is…

2. The text informs on (deals with, dwells upon)…

3. At the beginning the author makes close study of

(considers)…

4. Then much attention is given to…

5. The text also tells about…

6. To sum up it should be noted…

Text B

1. Match the English words and word combinations in A with their Russian equivalents in B.

A B

to improve здоровье

congestion твердые частицы

lungs улучшать

health выделение

solid particles легкие

lead решать проблему

to emit скопление

emission врожденный

to solve the problem испускать, выбрасывать

inherent свинец

2. Read the text trying to understand its main idea.