Задания. Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст:

The poisoning of the world’s land, air and water is the fastest spreading disease of civilization. It probably produces fewer headlines than wars, earthquakes and floods, but it is potentially one of the history’s greatest dangers to human life on the earth. If present trends continue for the next several decades, our planet will become uninhabitable.

Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption have created such planet-wide problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and global warming that is believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect.

The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead, the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas.

Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, millions species which are alive today will have become extinct twenty years from now.

Air pollution is a very serious problem. Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances into the atmosphere every day. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

People from different countries are beginning to realize that environmental problems are not somebody else’s. They join and support various international organizations and green parties. If governments wake up what is happening perhaps, we’ll be able to avoid the disaster that threatens the world and all of us with it.

Задание 2.Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What is the fastest-spreading disease of civilization?

2. What problems have overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption created?

3. What will happen to our planet if present trends continue?

4. What is happening to the seas and rivers?

5. Why is air pollution a serious problem?

6. What were the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster?

7. What are the main reasons of the greenhouse effect and acid rains?

8. What do people do to save our planet?