A) A Mystery of Nature

b) The Population of the Earth

c) Meteorite Showers

d) Natural Events Influence the Earth

Modern humans have lived on Earth for about 300,000 years, but it took until 1960 for the population to reach 3 billion. However, in just 40 years, that figure has doubled – and by the year 2050 it is predicted that many as 10 billion people may inhabit the Earth.

Since life first appeared on Earth more than 3,5 billion years ago, many living things have become extinct as a result of natural events. These have included the eruption of volcanoes as well as meteorite showers hitting the earth. In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington devastated nearby forests and killed 2 million birds, fish and mammals.

Despite continuing research and discoveries, the natural world is still full of mysteries and unsolved puzzles. Scientists are still unsure why animal life suddenly flourished about 550 million years ago, more than 3 billion years after life itself appeared. This relatively short period, called “Cambrian explosion” produced a vast range of new species in the world’s seas.

Notes:

It took for the population… – Населению понадобилось…

to predict – предсказывать mammal - млекопитающее

to inhabit – населять despite – несмотря на

eruption – извержение to flourish – процветать

to devastate – опустошение Cambrian – кембрийский (геол.), уэльский

2. Find in the text the equivalents to the following word combinations:

современные люди; населять землю; живые существа; природные явления; извержение вулканов; метеоритные дожди; близлежащие леса; продолжающееся исследование; неразгаданные загадки; относительно короткий период; огромное количество

3. Select the statement that best expresses the main idea of the text.

a) It is predicted that as many as 10 billion people may inhabit the Earth.

b) Eruptions of volcanoes and meteorite showers hit the Earth.

c) The natural world is still full of mysteries and unsolved puzzles.

d) Scientists are still unsure why animal life suddenly flourished about 550 million years ago.

4. Is it true or false? Correct the wrong statements.

1) Modern humans have lived on Earth for about 500,000 years ago.

2) It is predicted that as many as 10 billion people may live on the Earth.

3) Life on Earth appeared more than 3,6 billion years ago.

4) Many living things have become extinct as a result of natural events.

5) Very often the eruption of volcanoes devastate nearby forests and kill birds, fish and animals.

6) Nowadays the mysteries of natural world are solved.

7) About 550 million years ago, animal life suddenly flourished.

8) The “Cambrian explosion” produced a vast number of new species.

5. Retell the text.

6. Read the following English proverbs and learn them by heart. Match the right Russian equivalents from the given below.

- Nature abhors a vacuum.

- Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians.

- To sit on a barrel of gun-powder.

- To play with fire.

- Nature is stronger than rearing.

(Жить как на вулкане. Как волка ни корми, он всё в лес смотрит. Природа не терпит пустоты. Играть с огнём. Природа, время и терпение – три лучших доктора.)

7. Global warming, ozone holes, acid rains are just a few challenges we are facing nowadays. What other ecological problems can you name? Find the information on the Internet and retell it.