The Earth

The Earth is the only planet whose name isn’t derived from Greek or Roman mythology. “Earth” is derived from Old English. The Romans however, referred to the planet as Terra.

The surface of the planet is relatively young. Unlike other planets, the Earth's crust is made of plates which gradually slide across the globe. So the map of Earth is continually changing. We know that, 120 million years ago, most of the land on the planet was joined to form a super-continent known as Pangea.

Earth is the only planet in the Solar System on which conditions are right for intelligent life to evolve. The planet is the correct distance from the Sun for water to exist as a liquid, a vital ingredient for life. The Earth also has a powerful magnetic field. This, combined with the atmosphere, shields the planet from the majority of the harmful solar radiation. Earth’s terrain is the most varied of any planet of the Solar System. The poles are covered in vast glaciers of ice. Arid deserts are found near the equator. And large areas of land are dominated by vegetation. There are so many different types of creatures on Earth that they haven't all been catalogued yet. However, human actions have also caused the extinction of many species.

Задание2. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Name of what planet is not derived from Latin or Roman?

2. Do the plates gradually slide across the globe?

3. Is the Earth the only planet to live on or not?

4. Earth's terrain is the most varied of any planet of the Solar System, isn’t it?

5. What hasn’t been catalogued yet?

Вопросы к практическому занятию

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