1. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:

immense literature; the productivity of crops and livestock; diverse and location-specific impacts; global agricultural supply; severe regional variation; global warming; severe economic and ecological stress; to push the agricultural sectors; yield reductions; seasonal precipitation; reduce yields.

2. Read the following text and say:

a) what the term “the effects of climate change” means;

b) what subjects are touched upon in the text.

Text 4. The effects of climate change on agricultural production

There is an immense literature that analyzes the impacts that global warming will have on crop growth and production. Although authors offer different scenarios, the consensus is that the productivity of crops and livestock may decline because of high temperatures and drought-related stress, but these effects will vary among regions. Diverse and location-specific impacts on agricultural production are anticipated. While the global agricultural supply is likely to be robust in the face of moderate climate change, severe regional variation is expected. Regions at mid- to high latitudes (where global warming will extend the length of the potential growing season) may not experience the yield decreases expected in tropical regions which are expected to be the worst affected from climate change, suffering significant agricultural production losses. Many of these countries are also currently under severe economic and ecological stress. Climate change is expected to push the agricultural sectors in these countries into further hardship. Historical studies demonstrate that climate change has already had negative impacts on crop yields. Maize, wheat, and other major crops have experienced significant climate-associated yield reductions of 40 million tons per year from 1981 to2002 at the global level projected a reduction of around 10 % in maize production in Africa and Latin America under various climate scenarios to 2055. Changes in total seasonal precipitation or in its pattern of variability will also impact crop production, but most models assert that the majority of impacts are mostly driven by trends in temperature rather than precipitation. Changes in yields of rain fed crops will be driven by changes in both precipitation and temperature, while changes in yields on irrigated land will be driven by temperature changes alone. Warmer temperatures may make many crops grow more quickly, but warmer temperatures could also reduce yields of certain crops. For any particular crop, the effect of increased temperature will depend on the crop’s optimal temperature for growth and reproduction; in areas where warming exceeds a crop’s optimum temperature, yields can decline.

3. Using the text above, finish the following sentences:

1) … offer different scenarios, the consensus is that the productivity of crops and livestock may decline because of high temperatures and drought-related stress.

2) Diverse and location-specific impacts on agricultural production … .

3) Many of these countries are … under severe economic and ecological stress.

4) Historical studies … that climate change has already had negative impacts on crop yields.

5) Changes in total seasonal precipitation or … of variability will also impact crop production.

6) Warmer temperatures … many crops grow more quickly, but warmer temperatures could also reduce yields of certain crops.

7) For any particular crop, the effect of … will depend on the crop’s optimal temperature for growth and reproduction.