Раздел 8: Сохранение природы

Тема 1: Воздействие человека и экологические бедствия

HUMAN IMPACT AND ECOLOGICAL DISASTERS

1. Прочитайте текст “Human Impact and Ecological Disasters”. Подберите заголовок к каждому абзацу. Один заголовок лишний.

a) Water pollution

b) International ecological problems

c) Water cleaning systems

d) Man-made disasters

e) Air pollution

2. Переведите текст, используя словарь.

Human Impact and Ecological Disasters

1) Man-made disasters have also taken a heavier toll in recent years. The continuous population growth has disturbed the delicate balance between ecosystems on our planet. Pollution of the atmosphere and of the seas, destruction of the rain forests, fires burning out of control, alterations of sensitive ecosystems, destruction of the ozone layer, have created climatic changes that we do not fully comprehend. Similarly, man-made disasters such as chemical spills and industrial accidents have polluted rivers and watersheds in many countries. Industrial wastes have heavily polluted the drinking water supply of more than two million people endangering their health. Other man-made disasters associated with industrial accidents, civil strife, wars, and the use of weapons of mass destruction, not only present the greatest danger for humanity, but may also have a long-term cumulative effect on the earth's climate. The trend is clear, weather related and complex man-made disasters are increasing in frequency and severity in various parts of the world. Their impact on the environment and on climate cannot be overlooked.

2) All the nations have the same basic environmental problems. In fact the problem of environment crisis has assumed a global proportions. That is why many ecological problems can generally be solved only at the world community level. As nations we all share a single ecological space. Acid rains, for example, have no boundaries. Nuclear radiation does not respect administrative or national regions. All the nations must assume a position as responsible members of the world community level, cooperating in matters of environmental protection. It’s important that we all work together to share, to overcome ecological disasters. Both scientists and politicians agree that if some radical steps are not taken, life on our planet may be damaged if not destroyed altogether, because the number of air pollutants is constantly growing. Ecological disasters do not happen by chance. Ignorance, lack of planning, greed and criminal neglect have been responsible for creating ecological distress zones throughout the world. Radioactive materials present health and safety problems in an increasing number of countries. Underground nuclear-weapon tests are a major threat to the environment. Steps must be taken to do away with nuclear tests. The acid falls to earth in form of rain or snow that can damage anything from the monuments to living organisms.

3) The increase in traffic is threatening another serious air pollution in our cities, because vehicles, not factories, produce most of toxic micro-particles, which do most harm. Toxic gases appear in the atmosphere in critical concentration of carbon dioxide is expected to increase at rates that could change the world’s climate. The commonest air pollution comes from the cigarette smoke, which pollutes public places. Air population is a very serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is life threatening- equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for Mexico City. Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

4) Water pollution is another important problem. In several years tourists will find fewer beaches where it’s safe to swim. The seas are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas. Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today will have become extinct twenty years from now. An even greater environmental threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are. People are beginning to realize that environmental problems are not somebody else's. They join and support various international organization and green parties. Urgent measures must be taken if we don’t want to leave a dangerous planet to future generations.

3. Определите, являются ли предложения истинными или ложными.

a) Man-made disasters such as chemical spills and industrial accidents have polluted rivers and watersheds in many countries.

b) The problem of environment crisis has assumed a global proportions.

c) Every twelve minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever.

d) Ecological disasters usually happen by chance.

e) Industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides pollute rivers and seas.

4. Соедините пары.

impact бедствие

disaster нарушить

weapon невежество

disturb вредный

frequency оружие

cumulative частота

alteration принимать

assume воздействие

ignorance исчезновение

consequences совокупный

extinction изменение

harmful последствия

5. Дополните предложения, используя данные слова и словосочетания:

cigarette smoke, balance, environment, substances, climatic changes, ecological problems

a) The population growth has disturbed the delicate _____ between ecosystems on our planet.

b) Pollution of the atmosphere and of the seas have created_____ _____.

c) The problem of _____ crisis has assumed a global proportions.

d) Many ____ _____can generally be solved only at the world community level.

e) The commonest air pollution comes from the _____ _____, which pollutes public places.

f) ) Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful ____.

8.Тема 2: Взаимодействие человека и природы

INTERACTION OF THE PERSON AND THE NATURE

1. Прочитайте текст “Interaction of the person and the nature”. Подберите заголовок к каждому абзацу. Один заголовок лишний.

a) Our ancestor’s attitude to nature

b) Immigrants

c) Connection between a man and nature

d) Influence of industrialization and globalization

e) Ecological crisis

f) Effective measures to safe nature

2. Переведите текст, используя словарь.

Interaction of the person and the nature

1) Man is constantly aware of the influence of nature in the form of the air he breathes, the water he drinks, the food he eats, and the flow of energy and information. And many of his troubles are a response to the natural processes and changes in the weather, intensified irradiation of cosmic energy, and the magnetic storms that rage around the earth. In short, we are connected with nature by "blood" ties and we cannot live outside nature.

2) The man-nature relation, the crisis of the ecological situation is a global problem. Its solution lies in the plane of rational and humane, that is to say, wise organization, both of production itself and care for mother nature, not just by individuals, enterprises or countries, but by all humanity, linked with a clear awareness of our planetary responsibility for the ecological consequences of a civilization that has reached a state of crisis. One of the ways to deal with the crisis situation in the "man-nature" system is to use such resources as solar energy, the power of winds, the riches of the seas and oceans and other, as yet unknown natural forces of the universe. But such a shift in attitude could at least abate the destructive and polluting principle in civilization.

3) We know that mother nature has given us all the things we need, i.e., food, cloth and shelter. Our ancestors were also completely depend on nature. They gave complete respect to nature. They took how much they needed and what they needed. At one time in his evolution man was a gatherer. He used the ready-made gifts of nature. This was how human existence began. Perhaps even today it would be wise to resort to this method, but on a quite different level, of course. The human being cannot restrict himself to gathering, any more than he could in primitive times.

4) But as the civilization progress, the greed's of human also cherishes. As the population increases, more destruction was done to nature. They started to cut trees for land and farming, killing animals so that they can capture the place where animal live, etc. But the thing was in limit. As the industrialization and globalization trend came, more harmful destruction is done. Now for setting industries the land is required, so forest were cut. For connecting one city to other city, mountains were drilled so as to make roads and railways. Also dams were made to generate ever increasing need of electricity. This all caused heavy load on the heart of mother nature. We are learning that there are limits to the amount of space on the earth and we must use it wisely. In the search for living space, we occasionally construct buildings in places that are not safe, and many places where we live are overcrowded. Also we sometimes plant crops in areas that are ill suited to agriculture because there is not always enough good farmland to fill our needs. As we continue to explore space, we are learning more and more about the world in which we live. Since human beings first walked the earth, they have affected each ecosystem they have inhabited.

5) We had done so much damage to nature, that now its our responsibility to prevent damage to nature. We all can follow some simple but effective measures, which is as follows: plant more and more trees, switch off lights when not needed, use CFL instead of bulbs, use public transport more and more, use cycle for traveling near distance, use solar energy and wind energy for household purpose. The bitter truth is that those human actions which violate the laws of nature, the harmony of the biosphere, threaten to bring disaster and this disaster may turn out to be universal. How apt then are the words of ancient Oriental wisdom: live closer to nature, my friends, and its eternal laws will protect you!

3. Определите, являются ли предложения истинными или ложными.

a) Many of man’s troubles are a response to the natural processes and changes in the weather.

b) The crisis of the ecological situation is a local problem.

c) A man should care for nature and use such resources as solar energy and the power of winds.

d) The human being can restrict himself to gathering, as he could in primitive times.

e) For connecting one factory to another, mountains were drilled.

f) As we continue to explore space, we are learning less and less about the world in which we live.

g) Human actions which violate the laws of nature, the harmony of the biosphere, threaten to bring disaster.

4. Соедините пары.

flow последствия

response меры

explore вечный

consequences поток

search угрожать

attitude исследовать

destructive захват

restrict предотвратить

prevent отношение

capture поиск

measures ответ

eternal ограничить

threaten разрушительный

5. Дополните предложения, используя данные слова и словосочетания:

Civilization, gifts, ecosystem, destruction, measures, nature, industrialization and globalization

a) Our ancestors were also completely depend on ____.

b) Our ancestors used the ready-made _____ of nature.

c) As the ____ progress, the greed's of human also cherishes.

d) As the population increases, more ____ was done to nature.

e) As the ____ ____ trend came, more harmful destruction is done.

f) Since human beings first walked the earth, they have affected each ____ they have inhabited.

g) We all can follow some simple but effective ____, which can prevent nature’s damage.