Man and environment

EXERCISES

1. Read and memorize the following words:

ecology [i'kͻlǝdʒi] екологія

e.g. Ecology is a common problem for all mankind,

environment [in'vaiǝr(ǝ)nmǝnt] навколишнє середовище

protection [рrǝ'tekʃ(ǝ)n] захист

e.g. Environmental protection occupies an important place

in everybody's life,

waste [weist] відходи

e.g. Much dangerous waste goes into the air.

pollution [рǝ'1u:ʃ(ǝ)n] забруднення

e.g. There are several kinds of pollution.

victim ['viktim] жертва

e.g. Flora and fauna are victims of pollution.

damage ['dæmidʒ] шкода, пошкодження

e.g. Oil pollution caused great damage to beaches and

wildlife,

surface ['sǝ:fis] поверхня

e.g. You can find surface pollution everywhere,

(to) poison ['pͻizn] отруювати

e.g. Rivers that are so beautiful and full of fish are poi­soned.

chimney ['tʃimni] димар, димохід

e.g. My chimney doesn't throw much dust into the air.

(to) remove [ri'mu:v] виводити, викидати

e.g. Electric filters remove extensively most of the dust.

threat [ɵret] загроза

e.g. The threat of war still exists.

measures ['meʒǝz] заходи

e.g. People should take measures.

(to) depend (on) [di'pend] залежати (від)

e.g. A lot depends on us.

(to) withdrew [wið'drͻ:] забирати

e.g. Prehistoric man withdrew from the atmosphere only

the oxygen,

(to) alter ['ͻ:ltǝ] змінювати

e.g. Plastics, herbicides and numerous industrial materials

alter the biosphere,

(to) consume [kǝn'sjui:m] споживати

e.g. Modern man consumes a far greater amount of oxygen,

purification [,pjuǝrifi'keiʃn] очищення

e.g. A few years ago we built a big water purification plant.

2. Learn the following word-combinations:

(to) use filter sulphur dioxide environment protection purifying installations marine life stinking black mess (to) assume global proportions (to) keep the water clean (to) raise voice in defence of nature

використовувати фільтр, двоокис сірки захист навколишнього сере­довища очищувальні пристрої життя на дні моря смердюче чорне місиво набувати глобальних розмірів зберігати воду чистою виступати (підносити голос) на захист природи

3. Fill in the blanks with the necessary words in brackets:

1. Ecology is a... common for all mankind, (problem, question, point, object) 2. All people actively... in international cooperation on the protection of the natural ha­bitat. (participate, take part, concern) 3. Environmental problems... their relatively short history, have alreadybeen an object of a number of international discussions, (despite, in spite of, notwithstanding) 4. They have done a great deal of... to man and they are still doing so for profit and gain, (harm, hurt, damage) 5. They... about mineral resources, flowing rivers, forests, meadows and fields, (have a talk, speak, say, tell)

Comple 4. Finish the sentences:

1. Environmental protection occupies.... 2. All people would raise their voices.... 3. What are people doing in defence.... 4. We must move chemical enterpri­ses beyond.... 5. Industrial waste influences people's....

5. Translate into English:

У перекладі з англійської мови «грінпіс» означає «зелений мир». «Грінпіс» — міжнародна організація захисників навколишнього середовища. Ця організація виникла на початку 70-х років XX століття. Сьогодні до цієї організації належить близько 2 мільйонів чоловік із 15 країн. Міжнародна штаб-квартира організації розташована в Лондоні. Організація має своїх представників у багатьох країнах.

6. Give synonyms to words in bold type:

1. A number of measures must be taken to stop air and water pollution. 2. Prehistoric man withdrew from the biosphere only the oxygen required for respiration. 3. Despite drastic anti-pollution measures taken by the government the ecological situation remains serious. 4. Industrial waste influences people's health. 5. Little has been done to check environmental pollution.

7. Read and dramatize the following dialogues:

A: Is the Mediterranean actually dying from pollution?

B: Yes, it is, I would say. If pollution continues at its present pace I think that the northern half will be almost dead in 10 years. It would take only 15 years for the whole Mediterranean to become dead as far as marine life is concerned.

A: Under the best conditions, how long would it take the

Mediterranean waters to be renewed?

B: If you stop all pollution of the Mediterranean now, it would still take about 100 years for the sea to become clean.

A: Is the Mediterranean polluted everywhere?

B: Not exactly, because there are several kinds of pollution. Surface pollution, mainly from petroleum product, you find everywhere. Then there is the vast human and industrial pollution generated by the densely populated coasts.

A: Is anything being done about water pollution?

B: There is not much that can be done.

***

B: I've seen that your chimneys don't throw much dust into the air.

A: Well, we do use electric filters extensively to remove

most of the dust.

B: Is there much sulphur dioxide in the smoke?

A: The trouble is that some of our coal contains a lot of sulphur, and there is no effective and economic technology for removing S0₂ anywhere in the world yet. We tried several wet and dry cleaning techniques, but still too much SO₂ left.

B: So you could only make your chimneys higher.

A: Yes, that's the only thing to do at present. Then the toxic gases are at least di spersed over a wider area.

8. Read and retell the text as if you were a representative of an international organization Greenpeace:

MAN AND BIOSPHERE

Interrelations between man and the biosphere are of a fairly complex nature. Man, like every other living organism, depends for his life on what the biosphere provides: water, oxygen, food and shelter. On the other hand, the biosphere is strongly affected by all sorts of human activity.

About 200 years ago man lived in greater harmony with his environment because industry was not developed. Prehistoric man withdrew from atmosphere only the oxygen he required for respiration. Today the situation is quite different. Modern man consumes a far greater amount of oxygen to support fires, power plants and chemical processes. The carbon dioxide produced by technological processes has greatly changed the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. The technology has introduced into the biosphere man-made radio-isotopes and a wide variety of synthetic materials such as plastics, insecticides, herbicides and numerous industrial materials. These substances and materials alter the biosphere.

The problem of the environmental crisis has recently assumed global proportions. Scientists say, that unless some radical steps are taken, life on our planet may be irrevocably damaged, if not destroyed altogether.

LESSON 9