B) giving the English equivalents for the Russian words in brackets (you can find the English equivalents for these words at the pages indicated)

When we (scrutinize, Past Simple)¹ (волокна; SB p. 71)^a to determine their (воздействие на окружающую среду; SB p.65)^b, we (figure, Past Simple)² cotton was "pure" and "natural," make, verbal)³ from a (растение; WB p.44)^c.

We (be, Past Simple)⁴ right about the plant.

As it (happen, Present Simple)⁵, very little (be, Present Simple)⁶ pure or natural about cotton when it (raise, Present Simple)⁷ conventionally. Fully 10 percent of all agricultural (химические вещества; SB p.67)^d in the United States (use, Present Simple)⁸ to produce cotton, (grow, verbal)⁹ on just one percent of all major agricultural land. Conventional cotton (сельскохозяйственные культуры; WB p.44)^e in six California counties alone (dust, Present Simple)¹⁰ every year with 57 million pounds of chemicals. And research (show, Present Simple)¹¹ that extensive and intensive use of synthetic (удобрения; WB p.45)^f, soil additives, defoliants and other substances (wreak, Present Simple)¹² terrible havoc on soil, water, air and many, many (live, verbal)¹³ things.

There is, of course, an alternative: organic cotton. There are farmers who (grow, Present Perfect Continuous)¹⁴ cotton without harmful chemicals for years. Their yield (be, Present Simple)¹⁵ high and the quality of the cotton they grow is equal to or better than conventionally grown cotton. Their methods support (биологическая вариативность; SB p.67)^g and healthy ecosystems, improve the quality of soil and often (use, Present Simple)¹⁶ less water. (Grow, verbal)¹⁷ organically (take, Present Simple)¹⁸ more time, (require, Present Simple)¹⁹ more knowledge and skill, and, for now, costs more. But it's worth it.

Once we had this knowledge, and the counsel of good friends in the environmental community, we (believe, Past Simple)²⁰ we had no choice. In 1996, we converted our entire sportswear line to 100% (хлопок, выращенный без применения химических веществ; SB p.67)^h. We (decide, Past Simple)²¹ never (go back, verbal)²² to (обычный; SB p. 67)ⁱ cotton, regardless of the outcome.

The … (шаг; SB p.67)^j (not compromise, Past Simple)²³ quality. Rather it (improve, Past Simple)²⁴ the feel of our fabric and (provoke, Past Simple)²⁵ a fundamental change in our attitudes about agriculture. As part of our organic cotton program, hundreds of us (take, Past Simple)²⁶ tours of cotton fields, where we could (see, verbal)²⁷ the dangers of pesticide use and the (преимущества; SB p.67)^k of organic farming for ourselves. Many of us (become, Present Perfect)²⁸ activists on the issue and (shift Present Perfect)²⁹ to (buy, verbal)³⁰ organic foods and clothing for ourselves and our families.