Types of climate

The present system of climate classification was devised in 1918 by Wladimir Köppen. The principal categories in the Köppen system are:

A) Tropical rainy climates. The average monthly temperature goes below 18°C (64.4°F) and there is little seasonal variation. Annual rainfall exceeds the water lost by evaporation.

B) Dry climates. The water lost by evaporation exceeds that brought by precipitation.

C) Warm temperature rainy climates. There are distinct summer and winter seasons, with the average temperature of the coldest month lower than 18°C (64.4°F) but higher than –3°C (26.6°F).

D) Cool snow-forest climates. The average temperature of the coldest month is lower than –3°C (26.6°F) and that of the warmest month is higher than 10°C (50°F).

E) Polar climates. The average temperature of the warmest month remains below 10°C (50°F). Trees do not survive in such climates.

The main influences on the climate are: distance from the Equator, distance from the ocean (it is drier inland), and the height above sea level (the higher you go, the colder it gets). Living things are greatly affected by the conditions around them. The temperature, rainfall and other aspects of the climate in an area influence the forms, growth and behaviour of the plants and animals found there.

4.21 Fill in the appropriate word from the text in exercise 4.20.

1 …….. classification 5 …….. temperature

2 …….. categories 6 …….. seasons

3 …….. variation 7 …….. level

4 …….. rainfall 8 …….. things

4.22 Are these statements correct or incorrect?

1 There are five principal types of climate.

2 The climate does not influence on different types of plant and animal kingdom.

3 Climates differ considerably around the world.

4 Temperature and precipitation are the most significant weather elements.

5 There is no winter in the tropics.

6 The polar regions have hardly any summer.

4.23 Match the descriptions. Use a dictionary to help you.

● Tropical forest –	a) extremes of temperature, little rain, scarcity of life
● Desert –	b) very cold, windy and treeless, little animal life.
● Deciduous forest –	c) hot summers, cold winters, open grassy plains, buffalo.
● Savannah –	d) warm summers, cold winters, mainly deciduous woodland (e.g. oak or beech), variety of animals.
●Coniferous forest –	e) cold all year, dominated by forests of conifers (e.g. spruce and pine), deer and wolves.
● Temperate grassland –	f) hot and wet, with a great diversity of life, e.g. monkeys and exotic birds.
● Tundra –	g) hot with wet winters, open plains with trees, antelopes.

4.24 Read the text “Climate” carefully and do the exercises after.

CLIMATE

For the last hundred years the climate has been growing much warmer. This has had a number of different effects. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, glaciers have been melting very rapidly. For example, the Muir Glacier in Alaska has retreated two miles in ten years. Secondly, rising temperatures have been causing the snowline to retreat on mountains all over the world. In Peru, for example, it has risen as much as 2700 feet in 60 years.

As a result of this, vegetation has been changing. In Canada, the agricultural cropline has shifted 50 to 100 miles northward. In the same way cool-climate trees like birches and spruce have been dying over large areas of Eastern Canada. In Sweden the treeline has moved up the mountains by as much as 65 feet since 1930.

The distribution of wildlife has also been affected, many European animals moving northwards into Scandinavia. Since 1918, 25 new species of birds have been seen in Greenland, and in the United States birds have moved their nests to the north.

Finally, the sea has been rising at a rapidly increasing rate, largely due, as was mentioned above, to the melting of glaciers. In the last 18 years it has risen by about six inches, which is about four times the average rate of rise over the last 9000 years.

► Questions:

1 How have glaciers been melting?

a) slowly b) quickly c) annually

2 What does retreat mean?

a) to move rapidly b) to move slowly c) to move away from a position

3 Does vegetation refer to:

a) flora? b) fauna? c) water?

4 Where do wild animals in Europe move to?

a) east b) west c) north

5 Is Greenland washed by

a) the North Sea? b) the Baltic Sea? c) the Norwegian Sea?

6 What has been rising at a rapidly high rate?

a) water level b) temperature level c) sea level

7 What do climate changes affect?

a) glaciers melting b) trees moving up c) sea level rising

8 Which of the following best describes the main point of the text?

a) Everything around us is constantly changing.

b) The climate in different regions changes according to the season.

c) Natural climatic changes lead to dramatic effects.

9 Correspond the facts with the following numbers:

60 years / 100 miles / 65 feet / 25 species of birds / 6 inches / 9000 years

4.25 Read the following four texts and choose the most suitable heading from the list:

● Changes in Living Things

● Changes in Climate

● The Changing Landscape

● Threats of Climatic Changes

1) Natural climatic changes take place gradually over thousands of years and so are no great threat to us at present. Of far greater importance is the danger that our large-scale industrial activity is changing the earth’s climate. These changes will happen much more quickly and could well be much more dramatic. The greenhouse effect, smoke and dust clouds blocking out sunlight, and the destruction of the ozone layer are all real threats.

2) The climate in different regions of the world changes throughout the year, according to the season. This is because the earth’s axis is tilted whilst it travels around the sun. In tropical areas, with temperatures constant all year round, the amount of rainfall determines the season – dry or rainy. Further north and south, the climatic changes are much greater (especially in temperature), and there are four main seasons – winter, spring, summer and autumn.

3) The seasonal differences in climates result in many changes in living things. Many animals adapt their life cycles to the changes in temperature and availability of food. Some migrate to other areas, often hundreds of miles away, where conditions are more suitable for feeding or breeding, or both.

The Arctic seagull breeds in the summer on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, then flies 20,000 km to the Antarctic to feed during its summer. It travels over 40,000 km each year.

4) The changes made by man to the earth’s natural conditions can be seen all around us. In many places, farming, industry and urban developments have changed natural landscapes into man-made environments such as fields, towns and cities. Much of this has taken place over centuries, but increasing populations and industrialization in recent times have caused a dramatic increase I both the scale and intensity of these changes.

■ Are these statements true or false?

1 Industrial activity changes the earth’s climate.

2 Natural forces slowly change the face of the earth.

3 Animals can’t adapt to the changes in temperature.

4 Natural climatic changes refer to four main seasons.

5 Natural landscapes are changed by man into towns and cities.

■ Answer the following questions.

1 Why do animals migrate?

2 Why do birds migrate?

3 What are the real threats of the earth’s climate?

4 What seasons do you know? Are there all the seasons in your region? What is your favourite season and why?

5 What causes the intensity of the landscape changes?

6 Give one example of a changing landscape in your area.

4.26 Match the two parts of the sentences.

A B

1 For billions of years great natural forces like the earth’s movement, volcanic activity and erosion	a) cause climatic variations.
2 The climate and the earth’s landscape interact	b) and are expected in the West Pacific.
3 The interaction of winds and ocean currents	c) to create the life-supporting soil.
4 The weathering effects of temperature, wind and water	d) have been reshaping the face of the earth.
5 Drought conditions now exist in Indonesia and Australia	e) and their distribution over our planet.
6 The major atmospheric elements are: latitude, land and water relationships, ocean currents,	f) climatic regions situated at the greatest distance from the equator.
7 The polar climates are the last of Köppen’s climatic subdivisions and they characterize	g) altitude, mountains and human activities.
8 Climatology is the study of the varieties of climates	h) break down the rocks on the earth’s surface.

4.27 Read the text below and find words in the text which mean the following:

1 average

2 dry

3 height above sea level

4 distance from the equator

5 rain and snow

6 rays from the sun

7 make less extreme

8 situated very far from the sea

9 differing weather conditions at different times of the year

Schemes for dividing the Earth into climatic regions are based on a combination of indices of mean annual temperature, mean monthly temperature, annual precipitation totals and seasonality. The climate of a place is affected by several factors. Latitude affects the amount of solar radiation received, with the greatest in equatorial regions and the least in polar regions. Elevation affects both temperature and precipitation; mountainous areas are generally cooler and wetter. Location close to the sea or to large bodies of water moderates temperature; continental areas are generally more arid and more affected by extremes of temperature.

4.28 Choose the correct word.

IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AFFECTING OUR CLIMATE?

The greenhouse effect is unquestionably real and helps to regulate / establish the temperature of our planet. It is essential for life on Earth and is one of Earth’s natural / casual processes. It is the result of hot / heat absorption by certain gases in the biosphere / atmosphere (called greenhouse gases because they effectively ‘trap’ heat in the lower atmosphere) and re-radiation downward of some of that heat. Water vapor / spray is the most abundant greenhouse gas, followed by carbon dioxide and other trace gases. Without a natural greenhouse effect, the climate / temperature of the Earth would be about zero degrees F(-18°C) instead of its present 57°F (14°C). So, the concern is not with the fact that we have a greenhouse effect, but whether industrial / human activities are leading to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect.

4.29 Read the text “Global Warming” and choose the correct word after it.

GLOBAL WARMING

Few people now (0).. question.. the reality of global warming and its effects on the world’s climate. Many scientists (1) …….. the blame for recent natural disasters on the increase (2) …….. the world’s temperatures and are convinced that, more than (3) …….. before, the Earth is at (4) …….. from the forces of the wind, rain and sun. (5) …….. to them, global warming is making extreme weather events, (6) …….. as hurricanes and droughts, even more (7) …….. and causing sea levels all around the world to (8) ……...

Environmental groups are putting (9) …….. on governments to take action to reduce the (10) …….. of carbon dioxide which is given (11) …….. by factories and power plants, thus attacking the problem at its source. They are in (12) …….. of more money being spent on research into solar, wind and wave energy devices, which could then replace existing power (13) ……...

Some scientists, (14) …….., believe that even if we stopped releasing carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere tomorrow, we would have to wait (15) …….. hundred years to notice the results. Global warming, it seems, is here to stay.

0 a) hesitate b ) question c) disagree d) concern

1 a) give b) put c) take d) have

2 a) in b) at c) by d) to

3 a) yet b) never c) once d) ever

4 a) threat b) danger c) risk d) harm

5 a) Concerning b) Regarding c) Depending d) According

6 a) such b) just c) even d) well

7 a) strict b) severe c) strong d) heavy

8 a) raise b) arise c) rise d) lift

9 a) force b) pressure c) persuasion d) encouragement

10 a) amount b) deal c) number d) count

11 a) off b) away c) up d) over

12 a) belief b) request c) favour d) suggestion

13 a) factories b) generations c) houses d) stations

14 a) but b) although c) despite d) however

15 a) several b) over c) numerous d) various

4.30 Choose the correct word.

LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF

Thresham Valley under Water?

Plans to turn much of the Thresham Valley into a large puddle / reservoir to provide drinking water for the local area have received mixed reactions. Local councilors have praised the scheme, arguing that the environmental and economic benefits of flooding / pouring the valley will far outweigh the disadvantages. Several small rural / urban communities – two villages, three hamlets and two farms – in the valley will disappear, however.

Lucky Escape for Farmer

A farmer was struck by thunder / lightning on Thursday evening while mending a fence in one of his plains / fields. The farmer, Jack Dobson, received treatment for slight burns at Meldew Hospital. Talking about the incident later, he said: “It was drizzling / showering slightly when I went out, but I’d checked the weather prediction / forecast and it hadn’t said there was going to be a thunderstorm. It was lucky I was wearing my Wellington boots!”

Save Bags and Save Money

Shoppers at a local supermarket are being urged not to throw away the supermarket’s plastic shopping bags. A spokesperson for Asdo said: “For every new bag we make, the factory has to pump out industrial waste / litter and that’s increasing pollution in the suburban / surrounding area. We want to reduce the number of bags we make each year. We’re offering a financial incentive to our customers to reuse / repeat their bags by bringing them with them every time they shop with us rather than getting new ones each time.”

Local Academic Causes a Stir

An academic from Davington University has caused controversy by claiming that global / worldwide warming is not caused by human disregard for the weather / environment. In her new book entitled Are We to Blame?, Professor Angela Lucini argues that large-scale changes in the Mediterranean land / climate, for example, have taken place ever since the world was formed. “People weren’t responsible for the Ice Ages, or their coming to an end, and we certainly weren’t responsible for the fact the dinosaurs became extinct / endangered, so it’s a bit presumptuous of us to think we’re responsible for all the problems were facing now, isn’t it?” she said.

Councillor Calls for an End to the Fireplace

Local councillor Davina Forrest is calling for a ban on the use of coal fires at home. “There’s no doubt that if domestic chimneys stopped pumping out smoke / fog into the atmosphere, the air / wind we’d all be breathing would be much cleaner / clearer,” she said.

4.31 Read the text “Climate Extremes” and do the exercises after it.

CLIMATE EXTREMES

In certain parts of the world, people’s actual survival depends on the way that they adapt their lives to the extreme weather conditions of their environments.

Extreme heat. Temperatures in the Australian outback – the central desert area of Australia – can often exceed 50°C for the summer months. Due to the strength of the sun over this part of the world, Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Since 1981, there has been an official campaign by the Australian government to encourage Australians to protect their skin from the sun. Forest fires are another result of consistently high temperatures. These have become more and more common in the past few years, even happening around the city of Sydney.

Snow and extreme cold. Valdez in Northern Alaska is used to battling against the elements. The town was relocated in 1964 after an earthquake and tidal wave completely destroyed it, and it currently has the record snowfall for the whole continent of North America – 7.7 metres per year. Snow and ice are part of daily life for Alaskans. Many towns are accessible only by sea or by air, as roads either don’t exist or are blocked for most of the year. Some houses are built without excavating any foundations, and most have special strong roofs to support the snow, and features such as windows that only open inwards so that they aren’t ripped off by the Arctic wind.

Hurricanes. Thanks to its coastal location and tropical climate, Florida is the American state most regularly hit by hurricanes. On average (normally) a hurricane happens along the Florida coast every 3 years. Most cause some damage to buildings and vehicles but some, such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992, can cause devastation. Andrew was the worst hurricane in America’s history and caused 65 deaths and $26 billion worth (value) of damage to property. Not surprisingly, Floridans spend a lot of money protecting their homes from hurricane damage. They prefer concrete (cement) walls to wooden or metal constructions, and most windows and doors have hurricane shutters (a cover for a window). Some new houses are also being built with special reinforced rooms for sheltering (covering and protecting yourself) from hurricanes.

Tornadoes. Tornadoes happen during storms when warm air and strong winds begin to spin (to turn quickly) upwards. These distinct funnel-shaped (a utensil with a wide mouth that gradually reduces to a small hole) winds can cause great damage along their paths. Central states such as Kansas and Oklahoma see the majority of the USA’s tornadoes. In fact, there is a famous tornado ‘route’ through ten Midwestern states which is known as ‘Tornado Alley’. Homes in that area often have storm cellars (underground room) where families can shelter from the weather.

Earthquakes. Most of the earthquakes are not even noticeable, and the last large one happened in 1994 in California. However, catastrophic earthquake nearly destroyed San Francisco in 1906. Scientists say that it is possible that another massive earthquake may happen in the future, but they predict that they will recognize the warning signs years before it happens. As a precaution against earthquakes, some older buildings in California cities are being pulled down (destroyed), and there is very little new building along the fault line itself.

► Match the natural disasters to their definitions.

1 earthquake a) a storm with severe winds, often in coastal areas

2 hurricane b) a storm where winds turn around a central point

3 tidal wave c) movement of the surface of the earth, caused by activity below the surface

4 tornado d) a gigantic sea wave

4.32 Read the text again and match the weather conditions to the geographical areas.

1 earthquakes a) Australia

2 extreme heat and forest fires b) central USA

3 hurricanes c) northern USA

4 snow and extreme cold d) southern coast of the USA

5 tornadoes e) western coast of the USA

4.33 Answer the questions about the text.

1 Which health problem does the sun cause in Australia?

2 Why was Valdez rebuilt in the 1960s?

3 Can you drive to the state capital of Alaska?

4 How often do hurricanes hit the Florida coast, on average?

5 Where do most of the USA’s tornadoes happen?

6 When was the last serious earthquake in California?

7 Why do scientists say that people should not panic about a future major earthquake in California?

4.34 Write the review of the text “Climate Extremes”. (See Unit 3)

UNIT 5 NATIONAL PARKS

INTRODUCTION

Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture defines a national park as an area of natural, historical or scientific interest which is kept by the government for people to visit. A reserve – an area of land where wild animals or plants are officially protected – is more common in our country. But they both are protected natural territories and are objects of national property.

There are the following types of natural protected areas:

State Natural Reserves

These reserves are especially important for wildlife conservation in Russia. The ground, waters, bowels of the earth, flora and fauna have nature protection according to federal laws. There were 100 state natural reserves in the Russian federation at the beginning of 2006.

National Parks

National Parks are the most popular kind of protected areas in the world. The first one was organized in the USA in 1872 and was titled Yellowstone National Park of California. The total number of national parks is about 2000 nowadays, 34 function in the Russian Federation.

Natural Parks

Natural Park should be an outstandingly scenic area, a rare example of a geologic landform or a place of exceptional ecological diversity. There are 30 natural parks in Russia now.

State Natural Zakazniks

● They exist only in the Russian Federation and there were 67 federal zakazniks at the end of 2006.

● Nature Monuments

Nature Monuments are unique natural complexes, including:

► sites of beauty

► places of growth of valuable plants

► unique natural landscapes – gorges, canyons, caves, valleys, volcanoes, falls, geysers, cliffs, grottoes, etc.

► places of birds nesting

► trees-long-livers

► lakes, wetlands, ponds, etc.

Dendrology Parks and Botanical Gardens

They create special collections of plants for preservation of diversity and also realize scientific and educational activity. Botanical gardens and dendrology parks develop decorative gardening, landscape architecture, selection and agriculture. The best dendrology park in Russia is located in Sochi.

5.1 Match the definitions.

1 reserve, n	a) picturesque
2 wildlife, n	b) an official rule
3 conservation, n	c) to work
4 flora, n	d) very unusual
5 law, n	e) an area for protected animals
6 function, v	f) not often
7 scenic, adj	g) vegetation
8 rare, adj	h) protection
9 unique, adj	i) looking after a garden
10 valuable, adj	j) very important
11 selection, n	k) a choice
12 gardening, n	l) wild plants and animals

5.2 Choose the correct word. Mind plural and singular forms.

Lake / landscape / gorge / canyon / cave / valley / volcano / fall / geyser / cliff / grotto / pond

1 A beautiful water …….. was falling from a great height.

2 A natural spring of hot water is called a ……...

3 The beauty of the New England …….. in autumn is amazing.

4 Their house has wonderful views across the ……...

5 The …….. of Dover are made of chalk.

6 A …….. is a natural cave made of limestone.

7 A river was flowing through a deep narrow ……...

8 There were several …….. in the side of a cliff.

9 The …….. last erupted over fifty years ago.

10 The …….. District is the most famous tourist destination in Great Britain.

11 The farm has a …….. from which cattle can drink.

12 A deep narrow valley with steep sides is called ……...

5.3 Read the text carefully and be ready to check your understanding.

BRITAIN’S NATIONAL PARKS

The first national park in Great Britain was set up in 1949. The first aim of establishing national park is to provide protection for the outstanding countryside they contain; the second aim is to provide opportunities for people to have access to them and enjoy them.

The Lake District in the north-west of England is the largest national park. It is popular with walkers, canoeists, cyclists, sailors, and climbers. Although it is quite compact – it is only 50 km from east to west – it has some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in Britain. It has Windermere, at 16.4 kilometres the longest lake in England, and Scafell Pike, at 1,000 metres the highest mountain in England. Also in the Lake District is Sty Head, the wettest place in Britain. More than 4,000 millimetres of rain a year fall on Sty Head!

The Lake District is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Britain. In 2001 a total of 17 tourist nights (one night spent by one person) were recorded in the Lake District.

National parks are not owned by the nation. Most of the land is still in private hands. For example, the resident population of the Lake District is 41,100.

Snowdonia is the second largest National Park in the UK, after the Lake District. The English name for the area derives from Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales. An estimated 6 million holidaymakers visit Snowdonia national park every year to enjoy a wide range of leisure activities. There is a walking country to suit all tastes and abilities, as well as opportunities for rock climbing, off-road cycling and water sports. The Snowdonia National Park has many buildings of architectural and historical importance, ranging from the castles built by the Welsh princes to farmhouses, tiny cottages and agricultural buildings. Over 26,500 people live and work in the Snowdonia National Park. Most of the land there is privately owned and farmed.

5.4 Look at the map of the UK and find the Lake District and Snowdonia National Park. Geographical names in the text may help you.

5.5 Complete the phrases using the words from the text.

1 the …….. countryside 6 …….. population

2 a …….. park 7 …….. activities

3 …….. scenery 8 …….. climbing

4 a …….. destination 9 …….. importance

5 …….. hands 10 a …….. cottage

5.6 Form the comparative and superlative degrees of the following adjectives.

Model: long – longer – the longest

high / wet / large / spectacular / popular / wide

5.7 Which words have the same meanings?

1 set up, v a) small, adj

2 aim, n b) establish, v

3 opportunity, n c) like, v

4 compact, adj d) not public, adj

5 spectacular, adj e) goal, n

6 scenery, n f) chance, n

7 destination, n g) view, n

8 enjoy, v h) value, v

9 private, adj i) place of arrival, n

10 estimate, v j) impressive, adj

5.8 Explain the following words. A dictionary can help you.

the countryside a resident

a holidaymaker to `record

a farmhouse

5.9 Find the odd word out.

outstanding spectacular scenic private

protection mountain population destination

cyclist sailor prince climber

Snowdonia England Wales Scotland

5.10 Which of these description best fits the Lake District and which – Snowdonia?

1 large beautiful and interesting

2 small scenic and popular

3 small mountainous and diverse

4 large sparse and agricultural

5.11 Are these statements correct or incorrect?

1 Millions of holidaymakers go to Snowdonia National Park every year.

2 Biking is the most popular leisure activity in the Lake District.

3 Snowdon is the highest mountain in England.

4 You can enjoy the beauty of royal castles in the Snowdonia National Park.

5 National Parks provide protection for the exciting countryside they contain.

6 More than 26,000 people live within the Snowdonia Park.

7 Any park is a special area of conservation.

8 Britain is a big country with beautiful and varied countryside.

5.12 Compare the two parks from exercise 5.3. Find similarities and differences in the:

● territory ● landscape

● aim ● leisure activities

● resident population

5.13 Match the two parts of the sentences.

1 There are 11 forest parks in Great Britain,	a) the second oldest acquiring National Park status in 1951.
2 In Scotland instead of National Parks there are 40 “National scenic areas”,	b) contain the most magnificent scenery in the country.
3 Snowdonia is the second largest National Park and	c) which are administrated by the Forestry Commission.
4 In Welsh the area of Snowdonia is named Eryri,	d) are rich in cultural heritage and wildlife.
5 Walking is the most popular activity but	e) covering about 13% of the total land area of Scotland.
6 Both the Lake District and Snowdonia are the areas of outstanding natural beauty and	f) forests, mountains, villages, castles, hotels and tourist attractions.
7 Picturesque and popular national parks	g) which means ‘the place of the eagles’.
8 Guidebooks provide all information you require on	h) many visitors also cycle, climb, ride, sail, canoe or simply ‘sightsee’.

5.14 Answer the following questions.

1 What is a national park?

2 How do Britain’s national parks help preserve the countryside?

3 When was the first / second national park set up in Great Britain?

4 Which is the most popular nation park in England?

5 What are the aims of national parks?

6 Can you think of any situations where these aims might be in conflict?

7 Can you name any national parks in your country?

8 Imagine that you are spending your holidays in the Lake District. Which of these activities would you choose to do and why?

● excellent fishing in the rivers or lakes

● learning to canoe on the quiet waters

● painting to capture the beauty of landscapes

● pony-trekking

5.15 Fill in the sentences with to and from.

1 Pollution …….. cars is a serious threat …….. the environment.

2 The parks were set up to protect wildlife …….. destruction.

3 National parks have been a great benefit …….. many people who have the opportunity to spend a holiday in unspoiled country.

4 The ‘hands-off’ policy means that the authorities will not try to preserve animals …….. the natural dangers …….. them.

5 Comfortable accommodation is a great advantage …….. older visitors to the parks.

6 The dams, with a holding capacity of 93 thousand million cubic metres, provide protection of farmlands …….. floods.

5.16 Complete the following text (1-8) with the correct derivation of the word in bold.

BEACHES AND PARKS

Ocean Beach runs along the Pacific Ocean shoreline, but is not (1) …….. for swimming because the waters off the coast are cold	SUIT
and have (2) …….. rip currents. Baker Beach occupies	DEAD
a (3) …….. setting just west of the Golden Gate Bridge.	PICTURE
The (4) …….. and most well-known park is Golden Gate Park,	BIG
(5) …….. from the centre of the city to the Pacific Ocean. Once	STRETCH
covered only in grass and sand dunes, the park is planted with thousands of non-native trees and plants and is rich with (6) ……..	ATTRACT
including the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, and other (7) …….. parks. Buena Vista Park is	REGION
the city’s (8) …….., established in 1867. Lake Merced is a fresh-water lake surrounded by parkland.	OLD

5.17 Choose the correct word.

Wrangle Island is in Russia’s High Arctic. The island is well known for its large concentrations / conservation of polar bears. Polar bears in the nature reserve are counted each year, with sex, age and current physical condition. Keeping track of this information is vitally interesting / important in view of the threats facing / looking the bears, including climate variation / change, pollution and poaching. This is particularly / interestingly important on Wrangel Because the Chukchi-Alaskan population of polar squirrels / bears is exposed to legal native hunting in both Russia and Alaska and to illegal hunting on the Russian side. In addition, this population is threatened / poached by planned oil and gas exploration / examination on the continental shelf.

5.18 Read the text “The Big Five” carefully and answer the questions after it.

THE BIG FIVE

South Africa’s climate, beaches and vineyards are all popular tourist attractions. But it is the big five that people really come to see – the elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and buffalo in the great game reserves.

Kruger National Park is visited by almost three quarters of a million tourists a year. Only five per cent of it is accessible to visitors, yet it is still not crowded. The park is home to white and black rhinos, lions, elephants, and thousands of other species of birds, animals and plants, living wild on the bushveld. Although the park is almost half the size of Denmark, the numbers of some animals, such as lions and elephants, have to be controlled by culling. This causes controversy among conservationists. Both elephants and rhino are in danger of becoming extinct in some places, because of hunting by poachers. Rather than cull herds when numbers grow too great, it is sometimes possible to move them to other parks.

There are nature reserves in all of the country’s many different geographical areas, from sub-tropical forest to the Kalahari desert. Whales can be seen off the West Coast National Park; for energetic hikers there are long trails in the semi-desert Karoo Nature Reserve, inhabited by many different species of antelope. Hippopotamus (and almost every other kind of African wildlife), can be seen in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, in the east of the country, north of Durban.

► 1 What / Who attracts visitors in South Africa?

2 Which of the following words are associated with Kalahari Desert, West Coast, the Karoo Nature Reserve, Durban, the Kruger National Park?

elephants / rhinos / lions / leopards / buffalo / antelopes / hippopotamus / whales / white and black rhinos / hikers

Fill in the table

Kalahari Desert
West Coast
the Karoo Nature Reserve
Durban
the Kruger National Park

3 What animals are in danger of becoming extinct?

4 Why are some herds of elephants culled? (to cull – to kill the weakest in a group)

5 Is it possible to solve this problem humanly?

6 What geographical areas are mentioned in the passage?

7 What other representatives of African wildlife do you know?

8 What would you like to see and do on a visit to South Africa? Make a list of things.

5.19 Study the information below and then do the exercises to check your understanding.

From large Royal parks to smaller community parks, London is a city that has lots of open spaces, and the gardens are to be admired. Almost all public gardens are free, and are a popular spot in the summer.

St James Park is probably the most beautiful and intimate of the capital’s central parks. Originally a marsh, the land was drained by Henry VIII in the 15^th century to provide a deer park for St James’s Palace. In the 17^th century, Charles II converted the deer park into a garden. Now the most ornamental park in London with good views of Whitehall rooftops, St James’s Park is a popular place to stroll, feed the ducks or watch the pelicans.

Popular in the summer with sunbathing office workers, a band plays throughout the summer. There is a café providing refreshments and a playground at the Buckingham Palace end.

The lake is now a wildfowl sanctuary, with ducks, geese, pelicans and black swans. The bridge over it gives a view of Buckingham Palace.

Holland Park is the most romantic of London’s parks. The park opened in 1952, on what remained of the grounds of Holland House, the rest of the land had been sold off in the late-19^th century for the construction of large houses and terraces to the north and west.

The woods and formal gardens of Holland Park surround the reconstructed Jacobean Holland House.

The small, but lively, park is more wooded and intimate than the large royal parks of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park to the east.

Features include the Kyoto Japanese Garden, laid out for the 1991 London Festival of Japan, rose gardens, woodlands, wildlife ponds and an ecology centre. The park’s abundant wildlife includes tame rabbits, squirrels and peacocks.

There is also an adventure playground, café, and, during the summer, open-air theatre and opera under an elegant canopy.

Queen’s Park is in Kingswood Avenue in London. This small park offers a haven away from the hustle and bustle of a big city.

Features include a small pitch-and-putt golf course, tennis courts, a petanque rink and a good café. There are also Sunday bandstand concerts in the summer. Popular with children as it has a paddling pool, pet’s corner and playground. In the summer there are supervised play schemes, bouncy castles and children’s entertainers, such as clowns and jugglers.

In the early 17^th century James I opened Hyde Park as London’s first public park. Today, despite being surrounded by some of the world’s busiest streets, Hyde Park is a peaceful haven for the capital’s office workers and tourists. At 1.5 miles long and just under 0.5 mile wide, it is central London’s largest park. There are 350 acres of woods, grasslands, lakes and gardens.

Hyde Park also has a horse riding track, a children’s playground, boating on the Serpentine, open air music concerts and a famous Speaker’s Corner.

At around 10.30 am every day the Household Cavalry can be observed riding through the park from Hyde Park Barracks to Buckingham Palace. On royal anniversaries and other important occasions a 41-gun salute is fired in Hyde Park.

► Answer the questions.

1 Which park is the biggest and which is the smallest?

2 In what parks can you: stroll / listen to music / boat / ride a horse / feed tame animals / watch birds / observe the Cavalry / sunbathe / enjoy roses / admire a salute / express your ideas? Fill in the table.

St James Park
Holland Park
Queen’s Park
Hyde Park

3 Which words in the text have the same meaning as:

a) not paid, v f) visitor, n

b) swamp, n g) glade, n

c) city, n h) various, adj

d) consist, v i) shelter, n

e) official, adj j) performance, n

4 In which park can you meet a real wildfowl sanctuary?

5 Where can you meet deer, ducks, black swans, squirrels, rabbits, peacocks, clowns, jugglers, horses?

6 Which park is the oldest?

7 Where can you see Buckingham Palace?

8 Which facility is mentioned in the all four parts?

9 Explain the phrase hustle and bustle.

10 Which words in the text have the opposite meaning to:

close, v buy, v

walk, v wild, adj small, adj

11 Can you go in for sports in the parks? Which ones and where?

12 Which park has attracted your attention best? Why?

5.20 Are these statements correct or incorrect?

1 London is a city of public gardens.

2 Kensington Gardens is a large royal park.

3 The most popular with children is an ecology centre.

4 Queen’s Park offers a pet’s corner.

5 A 31-gun salute is fired in Hyde Park on important occasions.

6 Holland Park is the largest central park.

5.21 Match the two parts of the compounds.

A B

grass life

wild bathe

sun ground

play hall

wild stand

wood fowl

band land

White land

5.22 Match the descriptions with the parks above.

a) wooded, romantic, lively

b) large, famous, touristy

c) ornamental, intimate, beautiful

d) small, peaceful, popular

5.23 Write the review of the text in exercise 5.19. (See Unit 3).

5.24 Now you are going to read an article about the Siberian reserve ‘Yugansky’. Look up anything you don’t understand in a dictionary and give the review of the passage in a written form.

The nature reserve ‘Yugansky’ is located to the south from Surgut between the Bolshoy Yugan and Maliy Yugan Rivers, its territory covers 650,000 hectares.

National reserves play a very important role in preserving the landscapes and biological variety, conserving rare species of animals and plants, protecting unique natural resources. ‘Yugansky’ is not an exception, it is a model of typical Western Siberian taiga, so it plays a very important role in nature conservation.

The reserve’s territory is situated in the southern part of Middle Obskaya lowland, which occupies the central part of the Western Siberian plain. The climate of the region is continental. Air circulation in the atmosphere is very intensive that causes an intensive change of cyclones and anticyclones and leads to a sudden weather change. Daily temperature variation can reach 30-35°. The amount of precipitation almost entirely depends on the winds bringing moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. Cold arctic masses provoke light frosts and snowfalls even in summer.

The vast swamped territories keep up the stable water level in rivers because a thick layer of swamped mosses give the water back gradually. High swamps are like a natural ‘sponge’ and they not only nourish rivers but also maintain the hydrological balance of the territory. Usually freezing-over begins in November and ends in May. The ice is very thick, up to 30cm. Numerous lakes are small and shallow, different types of swamps prevail, they occupy one third of the territory. Soil overdamping causes the growth of moisture-loving plants such as bogmosses. A soft carpet of mosses is very common in the reserve and we can count 113 species of them. What is more we can count more than 200 species of fungi. They are everywhere and the most widespread are wood-attacking fungi.

Coniferous forests including a fir-tree, silver fir, pine and cedar force out deciduous (an aspen, birch) in the process of natural change. And the main factor that causes the vegetation change in the taiga zone is forest fires.

The reserve’s fauna exposes 36 species of mammals, among them a musk beaver, mouse, squirrel, hare, weasel, sable, wolf, lynx, bear and reindeer. The variety of bird’s species is limited by severely cold winters. Among adapted birds are: woodpeckers, owls, different types of grouses. In spring the population of birds increases greatly. Eagles, swans, crows, sparrows, hawks, ducks hurry to use the warmth of short summer time. And by the end of September flocks of birds leave their native places. Little by little frosts become lifeless and the weather is very cold. The taiga is covered with snow. But after long winter months, there will be spring and active life will begin again.

5.25 PROJECT Work in a group to talk / write about reserves in our country. Think about these questions:

1 Can you name any reserves (National parks, zakazniks, etc.) in our region?

2 What kind of environment do they protect – mountains, coastlines, wetlands, lakes, forests?

3 Who pays for the maintenance of the reserves?

4 What restrictions (if any) are placed on tourists?

5 Should we try to preserve nature by stopping people from going to protected areas of the country?

6 Can there be tourism without pollution and damage?

7 Have you ever been to a reserve? If so, which one? What are your impressions?

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