«Ecology. Ecological problems»

«Ecology. Ecological problems»

I. General Words

Environment; pollution; protection; environmental; to protect the environment; to pollute / to be polluted by; An influence = an effect; to influence smth (greatly); human influence; to destroy / to be destroyed; a destruction; damage; to damage / to be damaged; fragile; to cause / to be caused; a disaster; to survive; safe; safety; global; crisis [`kraisis]; to prevent; to take actions; to prohibit / to be prohibited; carbon dioxide; oxygen; heat; to get in to get out; ancient; harmony; environment; riches; unlimited; to interfere; to increase; smoky; enterprises; by product; activity; to pollute; substances; oxygen; rare; destruction; ozone; layer; interaction; horrible; disaster; to befall.

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II. Pollution

To produce; energy; nuclear; a dump; litter; cans of coke/ beer; packaging; packed goods; rubbish / garbage; throw away; waste; to dump / to be dumped; poison; to poison / to be poisoned.

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III. Destruction of the Environment, Nature and the Wildlife

Greenhouse effect; source [so:s]; resources [ri`so:siz]; to waste; a shortage; to run out of; extinct; to endanger / to be endangered; endangered animals; to die out; a species [`spi:ʃi:z]; a habitat; to include / to be included; disappearing = (rare).

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IV. Environmental Protection

Filter /purifier; bins; to fine; to recycle / to be recycled; recyclable; recycling centers; to reuse; to save; to reduce.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

Our Earth is a wonderful planet. Now people all over the world think about our planet. They say the Earth is in dangers. Let’s speak about them. We’ve know that air and water pollution are the most important problems on our planet. And what do you think what we can do to save our planet from air and water pollution?

There are five ideas to save our planet:
- Saving water;
- Buying Waste materials;
- Using less energy;
- Plants and nature.

If you are thirsty do you buy water? How many bottles of water do you buy each week? Two, or three, or even more? Can you imagine how many that is over a year? We can walk or use a bicycle instead of going by car. We must remove rubbish from lakes and rivers. Use your own eco-friendly bag when you go shopping First of all, switch off the things you don’t need. Saving energy isn’t complicated, and if we all play a small part, we can make a big difference. Recycled items are put through a process where it makes it possible to make new items out of the materials from the old ones. Always remember to dispose of your recycled products in the special bins so that this process can take place. Coffee jars, boxes, containers, cans and bottles can be used such way.
Use your fantasy.

If there are no plants in a city, many people could be affected because cars and factories produce inanimate gases which are harmful to humans. Many environmental problems seem so big that you probably think you can’t do anything about it, but you are wrong. Students of our university take care of nature every season.

We must save our planet! Finally, we should remember the importance of plants and nature.

Look at our Planet! We must take care of it!

Dialogue. Environmental problems

- Why are people all over the world so much concerned about environmental problems?
- The first thing to be said is that they are the problems of all peoples and nations. If land belongs to the countries and certain people, the air and water of the ocean do not belong to any country or man but used by everybody. It is our common treasure. Then I must say that environment is not only our life, but also the future of the Earth.
- Why is water pollution so dangerous?
- There are many reasons to be troubled by the water pollution. The first reason is that water is life for the whole planet. Life appeared in the water and depends even now on its quality. We drink only fresh water, but the circulation of the water on the Earth is such that the quality of fresh water and the quality of salted water of the World Ocean are closely connected. The second reason is richness of the water in food supplies. Sea products such as crabs and lobsters are rich in vitamins and good for health, they are considered to be delicious, luxurious food. Fish is rich in many important substances. Water weeds are used as food by both people and animals, they also take part in the oxygen restoring. If the water is polluted, we will run out of such good food and there will be less oxygen produced, which can be very harmful for the planet and mankind.
- How does water get polluted?
- Ships let trash into it, sometimes oil flows from broken ships. The temperature of the World Ocean grows slightly but it results in enormous growth of some water weeds which absorb oxygen and pollute the water with the trash of their vital activity.
- Is air pollution dangerous?
- Yes, it is. Breathing polluted air causes many diseases, damages buildings and forests.
- Can a man in the street help Nature somehow?
- Yes, there are many ways to help Nature. Every man's work will be little but there are many of us and together we can help a lot.
- What can you do to help Nature?
- I can reduce the usage of gas, electricity and drinking water, I can reuse many things (clothes, for example), I can recycle paper, cans and bottles. At the same time I can help birds feeding them in winter and also I can stop picking flowers and damaging trees.
- How can the state help to protect Nature?
- The state makes laws which protect the nature, the state regulates the use of land and water, the state prohibits to harm the nature. Officials check the usage of filters and purifying processes.
- Is it important to protect plants and animals?
- Yes, it is. Plants produce oxygen and vitamins which people and animals can not live without. Plants and animals are one big ecological system. If we harm one part of it, we can destroy our own life. The main area producing oxygen is in the Amazon region. The second in importance is Siberia in Russia.
- Is it dangerous to pollute land?
-Yes, very much. We eat plants, but if the land is polluted, the plants become poisonous. If we eat them, we ruin our health. It is the same as with fish. If we pollute water, the fish become ill and poisonous. If we eat bad fish, we can get sick.
- What is greenhouse effect?
- The greenhouse effect means that the temperature and the humidity of the Earth atmosphere grow up year by year, like in a greenhouse, be¬cause thick polluted air does not let the warmth out into space.
- What does Green Peace do?
- Green Peace organizes campaigns to protect Nature. This organization monitors the protection of environment when plants, ports and roads are built.
- Do cars harm environment?
- Yes, because they are noisy and produce poisonous gases. Poisonous gases cause acid rains.
- What can happen if we do not stop the pollution?
- The life on the Earth will die out.
- What can happen if the temperature rises?
- The Arctic ice will melt and cover the land. We will have little place to grow food, and many people will die.

Vocabulary Exercises

      I.            Make  up 15 questions on the text.

   II.            Insert prepositions or adverbial particles where necessary:

(for; before; into; of; in; with)

1.     This text introduces you … the problem of environment.

2.     Now we also have … us the same problem.

3.     Natural resources are used … purposes of home industry and agriculture.

4.     The wide use … natural recources upsets the biological balance.

5.     The people are faced … the Problem … the pollution.

6.     We all should try to do our best … order to make air, forests and soil more cleaner than before.

ІІІ. Make sentences using modal verbs

ІV. Which Tenses and Voices are used?

1.     We have polluted the environment.

a)     Past Indefinite Active

b)    Present Perfect Active

c)     Present Perfect Passive

2.     Once a man lived in a greater harmony with nature.

a)     Past Indefinite Active

b)    Present Perfect Active

c)     Future Indefinite Passive

3.     The water of the Caspian Sea was polluted by oil.

a)     Future Indefinite Active

b)    Past Perfect Passive

c)     Past Indefinite Passive

4.     Radioactive wastes have been polluting the land since 1960.

a)     Present Perfect Active

b)    Present Perfect Continuous

c)     Present Perfect Passive

5.     Garbage disposal brings illnesses and diseases it spoils the view of the city.

a)     Present Indefinite Passive

b)    Past Indefinite Active

c)     Present Indefinite Active

V. Finish the sentences with suitable prepositions.

1.     Exhaust fumes cause a lot of ________, especially in big cities.

ü recycling

ü  pollution
2. Everyone should learn to ________ ( = save) energy. Using lights/lamps only when needed is a good way to do this. 

ü  conserve

ü  converse
3. Nancy is ________ about pollution. This is why she walks to work instead of driving. 

ü  cornered

ü  concerned
4. ________ is much healthier than driving, and it doesn't pollute the air. 

ü  Baking

ü  Biking
5. David conserves water by not letting it ________ when he's not using it.

ü  run

ü  jog
6. I'd like to conserve water... But I feel dirty if I don't ________ three times a day!

ü  bath

ü  shower
7. Many unethical companies ________ their waste into rivers.

ü  dump

ü  give
8. ________, which is partly caused by exhaust fumes from cars, is a very big problem in many big cities across the world. 

ü  Smog

ü  Smoke
9. ________ rain occurs when pollution in the air is absorbed by water droplets in clouds.

ü  Dirty

ü  Acid

10. Oil ________ pollute sea water and kill marine life.

ü  soil

ü  spills

VI.            Complete the dialogue between two friends on environment pollution.

-          Good morning!

-         Good morning.

-         How are you, friend?

-          I am fine and you?

-          I am also fine. But why do you look so worried?

-          You are right. I am somewhat worried about environment pollution.

-         Oh, Yes! Environmental pollution is ...

-         You are absolutely right. This polluted environment causes much harm to us.

-          Exactly! But what are you thinking about its consequences?

-         The consequences of environment pollution is an issue ...

-          Absolutely! Besides, the increase of world temperature is the result of environment pollution. What is your idea about it?

-         I agree with you. I think...

-         Exactly! ... because of environmental pollution.

-         Yes, of course. Besides, due to environmental pollution we are suffering from various kinds of diseases.

-         You are right. But how can we prevent environment from being polluted?

-         Environment pollution can be prevented in many ways. But the main way is ...

-         Thank you for this important discussion.

-          You are most welcome. See you again.

VII.        Translate into English.

Наша планета – крихітна частина всесвіту, і, можливо, єдине місце, де можуть перебувати люди. Зрозуміло, що ми повинні дбати про неї і захищати її.

Існує безліч екологічних проблем, таких як різні види забруднення (повітря, води, ґрунту), глобальне потепління, перенаселення та деякі інші.

Напевно, це здається страшною загрозою, а хто ж відповідальний за це?

Ліси вирубують або спалюють. Так як зникають дерева, скорочується кількість кисню. Більше того, якість повітря стає гірше. Це викликано численними хімічними викидами.

Промислові та ядерні відходи – інша причина забруднень на Землі. Великі міста виробляють тонни шкідливих речовин, і, здається, для планети це має жахливі наслідки.

Може здатися дивним, але у нас достатньо часу, грошей і навіть технологій, щоб досягти успіху в порятунку навколишнього середовища. Людям слід приділяти більше уваги переробки відходів, використання енергозберігаючих технологій та інших способів поліпшення навколишнього середовища. Не так вже й важко посадити дерево або викинути сміття в смітник.

Таким чином, все в наших руках. Давайте зробимо нашу планету чистіше і безпечніше, а наші нащадки подякують нам.

VIII.    Read and translate aphorisms about nature.

Ø  It takes many years to grow a tree but a day to cut it down.

Ø  Birds will to a flock fruitful tree.

Ø  Hills with trees are footprints of God.

Ø  Prepare now for the solutions of tomorrow.
When there is something wrong in the forest, there is something wrong in society

IX.            Write  the answer to the question ( 7-9 sentences)

What do you personally do to clean the planet?

Write your own ideas.

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                  

8 Major Current Environmental Problems

1. Pollution: Pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup. Industry and motor vehicle exhaust are the number one pollutants. Heavy metals, nitrates and plastic are toxins responsible for pollution. While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff; air pollution is caused by various gases and toxins released by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution is majorly caused by industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

2. Global Warming: Climate changes like global warming is the result of human practices like emission of Greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’ surface causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow or desertification.

3. Overpopulation: The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces shortage of resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing countries is straining the already scarce resources. Intensive agriculture practiced to produce food damages the environment through use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides. Overpopulation is one of the crucial current environmental problem.

4. Natural Resource Depletion: Natural resource depletion is another crucial current environmental problems. Fossil fuel consumption results in emission of Greenhouse gases, which is responsible for global warming and climate change. Globally, people are taking efforts to shift to renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy. The cost of installing the infrastructure and maintaining these sources has plummeted in the recent years.

5. Waste Disposal: The over consumption of resources and creation of plastics are creating a global crisis of waste disposal. Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste or garbage and dumping their waste in the oceans and, less developed countries. Nuclear waste disposal has tremendous health hazards associated with it. Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten the well being of humans. Waste disposal is one of urgent current environmental problem.

6. Climate Change: Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in last couple of decades. It occurs due to rise in global warming which occurs due to increase in temperature of atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries. Climate change has various harmful effects but not limited to melting of polar ice, change in seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall weather scenario.

7. Deforestation: Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen as well as helps in regulating temperature and rainfall. At present forests cover 30% of the land but every year tree cover is lost amounting to the country of Panama due to growing population demand for more food, shelter and cloth. Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land available for residential, industrial or commercial purpose.

8. Water Pollution: Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Water is becoming an economic and political issue as the human population fights for this resource. One of the options suggested is using the process of desalinization. Industrial development is filling our rivers seas and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major threat to human health.