II. Read and translate the text:

Protection of Nature.

As a highly industrialized state Russia cannot ignore the problem of environmental protection. Nature conservation has always been an important part of its domestic and foreign policy. More than a hundred documents related to the preservation and rational use of natural resources were signed.

The state system of environmental supervision and control is responsible for regulating the utilization of urban and industrial air basins and control over the sources of their pollution, and for the elaboration of the levels of maximum allowable discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere. Our state supervises the observance of the relevant legislation, and publicizes the need to protect the environment and to rationally use and renew natural resources.

We cannot talk about our state’s environmental protection measures without mentioning its extensive international efforts in the field, as environmental protection today has gone beyond the national framework to become an important international issue.

There are many consequences of damaging the environment. One of them is acid rain. Another one is water shortage resulting from abuse of arable lands in agriculture. The third one is destroying the ozone layer of the Earth through pollution from factories and plants. The fourth problem is damage to water and soils. The fifth one is damage to wildlife: numerous species of animals and plants can disappear. Lastly, the most serious danger arising from damaging the environment is the result of the above- mentioned consequences. This is the danger for the life and health of the man.

The territories of the former Soviet Union are suffering many environmental problems. Apart from the effect of the Chernobyl disaster, the worst problem is probably in the area around the Aral Sea. Cotton growing in the region has used huge quantities of water, and the sea level has fallen by 14 yards. This destroyed fishing industry and led to a damage to soils, crops and wildlife. Many forests in the North of European Russia and the Far East are under threat a system of dams on the Volga has caused damage to fish.

If we are unable to learn how to use the environment carefully and protect it from damage caused by man’s activities, very soon we’ll have no world to live in.

III. Answer the question:

1. Why cannot Russia ignore the problem of environmental protection?

2. What part of its policy has nature conservation always been?

3. How many documents related to this problem were signed?

4. The state system of environmental supervision and control is

responsible for regulating the utilization of urban and industrial air

basins, isn’t it?

5. What measures does our state undertake in order to protect the

environment and renew natural resources?

6. Why cannot we mention the extensive international efforts in the field

environmental protection?

7. What are the general consequences of damaging environment?

8. Which of them, to your personal opinion, is the most dangerous?

9. What territories of the former Soviet Union can be found suffering many

environmental problems?

10. Why is cotton growing considered to be the main damage factor in the

area around the Aral Sea?

11. Are there forests in Russia under threat?

12. What has caused damage to fish in the Volga?

13. Why is it so important to learn how to use the environment carefully and

protect it from damage?

14. Do you consider the problem of environmental protection to be an urgent

one?