Unit 3 ecology World scientists’ warning to humanity

Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practices put at serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know. Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about.

Do you worry about the environment?

Here is a quiz to see how ‘green’ you are. Try it and see whether your are environmentally friendly or not.

1. If your University was organizing a newspaper collection for recycling, what would you do?

1. I would take all my family’s newspapers to university.

2. I would give the magazine I had just finished reading.

3. I would collect newspapers from all my neighbours and take them to University?

2. If you had enough money to buy a car, which kind of car would you buy?

1. I would buy a big, fast car, such as BMW or a Jaguar.

2. I would buy a small car that doesn’t use much petrol.

3. I wouldn’t buy a car. I would use my bike or public transport.

3. It is very hot summer and there is a hosepipe ban. If all flowers were dying, what would you do?

1. I would water the garden at night when all the neighbours were sleeping.

2. I would use the water from by bath to water the garden.

3. I would let the flowers die.

4. If you saw a TV programme about people putting poisonous chemicals in the sea, what would you do?

1. I would talk to my relatives about it.

2. I would join an environmental group, such as Greenpeace.

3. I would switch over to my favourite programme on another channel.

5. There is a big demonstration in your town to stop a nuclear power station being built. If you have arranged to go to the cinema with your friends on the same day as the demonstration, what would you do?

1. I would go on the demonstration and arrange to go to the cinema another day.

2. I would go to the cinema.

3. I would go on the demonstration if my friends were going, too.

6. There is too much traffic in your town. There are plans to build a new road to reduce the traffic in the town. However, the new road will destroy an area of natural beauty. What do you think people should do about it?

1. They should sign a petition against the new road.

2. They should be happy about the road because it will make the town a safer place.

3. They should go and lie in front of the machines in order to stop the road being built.

7. It’s National “Get on Your Bike” Day, when people are supposed to use their bicycles instead of their cars. If your parents refused to take part, what would you do?

1. I would be very angry with them.

2. I would hide their car keys so they couldn’t use the car.

3. I would agree that “Get on Your Bike” Day is a stupid idea and my parents need to use the car.

8. You are going to the forest for a day. What would you like to do there?

1. I would like to observe the animals and plants in the forest.

2. I would like to go mountain biking through the forest.

3. I would like to make a fire and have a barbecue.

Add up your score.

1. a) 1 2. a) 0 3. a) 0 4. a) 1 5. a) 2 6. a) 1 7. a) 1 8. a) 2

b) 0 b) 1 b) 2 b) 2 b) 0 b) 0 b) 2 b) 1

c) 2 c) 2 c) 1 c) 0 c) 1 c) 2 c) 0 c) 0

4. points: You don’t really know very much about the environment. You probably do care about it, but you don’t think that you need to do anything.

10. points: You are quite interested in the environment and you are prepared to help protect it, as long as you haven’t planned to do something more interesting.

11-16 points: You are definitely environmentally friendly. You will do anything you can to protect the environment and you try to make your friends and family think about the environment too.

Text 1

Pre-reading task

The solution of environmental problems is vitally important now. Which problems are the most urgent, in your opinion?

Reading

Now you are suggested to read the text which gives you details to support your opinion. Be ready to discuss the problems using additional information that you know about the situation in different regions.