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Text 1. Environment Protection
I
No doubt that every individual have to take responsibility for his lifestyle to secure the future of mankind for now it faces many problems. One of the most important problems is environment protection because people nowadays live in a consumer society. The scientific and technological progress of the twenty first century resulted in widespreadmechanization, automated lines,computerized management, spaceships, atomic power stations, pipelines, new roads and highways. In order to make their lives more comfortable and easier they use a huge variety of products and the results of such use are quite sad: the waste of these products provokes damage to our environment.
It cannot be denied that the price for rapid industrial development is very high: natural resources are being exhausted, the ecological balance of the planet is disturbed; some species of flora and faunadisappear; city and industry waters, chemicals and fertilizers are endangering lakes, rivers and ponds. Big cities have a problem with air pollution. Progress can be blamed for all these environmental problems.
The range of environmental problems people are facing with is really large. The major of them caused byhuman activity can be classified into some categories.
1. With negative influence on humanity:
· Genetic engineering is a modification of food by using biotechnology.
2. With negative influence on the Earth as a planet:
· Water pollution is a pollution of water bodies (sources of clear drinking water) with toxic pollutants.
· Acid rain is a phenomenon of atmospheric condensation containing nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
· Ozone layer depletion identifies the formation of holes in the ozone layer caused by Bromide and Chlorine.
· Ocean acidification means the increase of ocean acidity caused by excessive production of CO2.
· Deforestation is supposed to be the decrease of tree cover due to clearing spaces for industrial, residential and commercial purposes.
· Climate change means that temperatures’ rise leading to polar ice melting, new diseases occurrence, and change in seasons.
· Waste disposal is considered as producing of excessive amounts of garbage and waste (mainly plastic, but also out of other synthetic and non-synthetic materials).
· Natural resource depletion is a decrease of fossil fuel and other extractable resources.
· Global warming is understood as a rise of Earth’s surface and oceans mean temperatures leading to natural disasters.
· Air and soil pollutio n are supposed to have a release of toxins, harmful gases, heavy metals, nitrates in the atmosphere and soil.
3. With negative influence on flora and fauna:
· Loss of biodiversity is a phenomenon of extinction of species and as a consequencea destruction of eco systems.
In recent years the pollution problems have received great publicity. The Environmental movement associated with no political party has gained widespread trust and support. Environmental activists stress that the problem is caused by industrial pollution and the automobiles. Long-established environmental groups warn that acid rains threaten many forests. The media's begun to campaign against the ugliness of tin cans and trash rubbish. Many people started to realize that to keep air and water clean, strict pollution control is necessary. The only way to save our planet is to protect the environment. Only by taking measures as a whole can really help to solve the problems.
The protection of natural resources and wildlife is becoming a political program in every country. Numerous anti-pollution acts passed in different countries led toconsiderable improvements in environment. In many countries purifying systems for treatment of industrial waters have been installed, measures have been taken to protect rivers and seas from oil waters. Wildlife reservation models of undisturbed nature are being developed in some parts of the world. The environmental problems’ solution requires the cooperation of all nations.
II
It’s necessary to mention that today environmental protection has become a universal problem. Technological progress improves people's lives, but at the same time it brings about pollution and contamination of land, water and air. The atmosphere of the Earth and the depths of the oceans are poisoned with toxic wastes created by the humans. Millions of species - animals, birds, fish have disappeared from our planet. Natural resources are exhausted: the ecology of the planet is disbalanced.
It would be no exaggeration to say that big cities face the environmental catastrophe too. The concentration of millions of people on a tiny area causes numerous problems. Some of the ecological problems can be solved only at the expense of creating new ones. Thus, air pollution is caused by the ever-increasing number of automobiles that help to cope with the transportation problem. The need for energy generates pollution on a large scale. Nuclear power plants threaten air, water and land. Radiation affects people's health. The accident at Chernobyl in 1986 was tragic for many people. The necessity to employ all the inhabitants of the city leads to the creation of new factories that produce not only consumer goods, but wastes, noise and smog. Another source of global danger is acid rain. It appeared as a reaction of the atmosphere to the air contamination, damages water, forest, and soil resources, causes the disappearance of fish from many lakes, bring death to the forests and woods in Europe and America.
The survival of our civilization depends on the ability of mankind to find a way out. The task of protecting the nature is of primary importance now. Recently the Environmental movement has gained widespread support. Environmental activists, organizations of volunteers do their best to stop pollution of our planet.
III
To summon it up, on the hand technical progress improves people's lives but on the other hand it causes numerous problems. Through the daily activities people pollute and contaminate water, land and air. There are a lot of sources of global danger. I’d like to bring some examples. They are the toxic wastes created by the humans, the influence of factories and power stations, automobiles and airplanes, big cities, and of course acid rains. The only thing that people fail to realize is that humanity depends completely on nature. The war on nature waged by mankind is a kind of suicide. People pollute the air they breathe, poison the water they drink.
In a word, I suppose that environmental protection is of primary importance today. Environmental activists, the organization of volunteers do their best to protect the nature. Due to these organizations many laws aimed at protecting the nature were passed. Greenpeace organization was created in 1987. It carries out many campaigns against environment pollution. The saving nature and animals has become a political program in many countries. In my point of view, a man should change his attitude to the nature to save it.
Vocabulary
environment protection – защита окружающей среды
No doubt that … – несомненно, что…
to take responsibility – брать ответственность за…
to secure – охранять, защищать
to face – столкнуться
important – важный
nowadays – на сегодняшний день
a consumer society – потребительское общество
scientific – научный
to result in widespread mechanization, automated lines, computerized management, spaceships, atomic power stations, pipelines, new roads and highways – результатом развития (науки 21 века) является широко распространенная механизация, автоматизированные производственные линии, компьютеризированное управление производством, развитие космонавтики, АЭС, нефтепроводы, строительство новых дорог и автомагистралей
(In order) to – чтобы
a huge variety – большое разнообразие
such – такой
quite – совсем
the waste – отходы
to provoke damage – являться причиной вреда/причинять вред, ущерб
It cannot be denied that … – Нельзя отрицать, что…
a rapid industrial development – быстрое развитие промышленности
to be exhausted – быть исчерпанным (о ресурсах)
to disturb ecological balance – нарушить баланс экосистемы
the species of flora and fauna – виды животного и растительного мира
to disappear – исчезать
industry waters – сточные воды
chemicals and fertilizers – химикаты и удобрения
to endanger – подвергать опасности
a lake, a river and a pond – озеро, река, пруд
air pollution – загрязнение воздуха
to be blamed for smth – обвинять в чем-л.
environmental problems – проблемы окружающей среды
the range of smth – (широкий) диапазон чего-л. и т.п.
major – главный
to be caused by human activity – быть вызванным деятельностью человека
a negative influence on humanity – негативное влияние на человечество
genetic engineering – генетическая инженерия
public health issues – проблема здоровья общества
а disease – болезнь
urban sprawl – стихийный рост городов за счет сельской местности, агломерация, урбанизация
to denote – обозначать
rural areas – сельская местность
lower density – низкая плотность (населения)
overpopulation – высокая плотность наеления
unsustainable levels – неподдерживаемый уровень
to lead (led, led) to shortage of resources – вести к сокращению ресурсов
the Earth – (планета) Земля
water pollution – загрязнение воды
toxic pollutants – токсичное/ядовитое загрязняющее вещество
an acid rain – кислотный дождь
nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide – оксид азота и диоксид серы
ozone layer depletion – уменьшение озонового слоя
to identify – обозначать
a hole in the ozone – озоновая дыра
Bromide and Chlorine – бромиды и хлороксиды
ocean acidification – закисление океанических вод
to mean (ment, ment) – обозначать, значить
to increase – увеличивать(ся)
acidity – кислотность
the excessive production of CO2 – избыточное/чрезмерное производство углерода
deforestation – вырубка лесов
to be supposed/to be considered – полагаться (быть таким-то)/считаться (таким-то)
to decrease – уменьшать
due to – в соответствии с …/согласно…
industrial, residential and commercial purposes – в производственных, жилищных и коммерческих целях
climate change – смена климата
temperatures’ rise – повышение температур
to melt – таять
an occurrence – случай
a waste disposal – сброс/удаление отходов или сточных вод
the excessive amounts of garbage and waste – огромное количество мусора и отходов
а natural resource depletion – истощение природных ресурсов
a fossil fuel – ископаемое/органическое топливо/горючие полезные ископаемые
global warming – глобальное потепление
Earth’s surface – поверхность Земли
natural disasters – стихийные бедствия
air and soil pollution – загрязнение воздуха и почвы
a release of toxins – выброс вредных/токсичных веществ в атмосферу
harmful gases – вредные газы
heavy metals – тяжелые металлы
nitrates in the atmosphere and soil – нитраты (соль или эфир азотной кислоты) в атмосфере и почве
flora and fauna – животный и растительный мир
a loss of biodiversity – снижение биологического разнообразия (форм жизни)/вымирание некоторых видов
an extinction of species – вымирание некоторых видов (животных, растений)
a consequence – последствие, результат
a destruction – разрушение
an eco system – экосистема
in recent years – в последние годы
pollution problems have received great publicity – проблемы загрязнения окружающей среды получили большую огласку
the Environmental movement – движение в защиту окружающей среды
to gain trust and support – получить доверие и поддержку/заручиться доверием и поддержкой
to stress – уделять внимание, подчеркивать
to warn – предупреждать
ugliness – безобразие, уродство
tin cans and trash, rubbish – консервные банки и мусор, отходы
to realize – осознавать, понимать
to keep air and water clean – поддерживать воздух и воду чистыми
necessary – необходимо
to protect the environment – защищать окружающую среду
to taking (took, taken) measures – принимать меры
to solve the problems – решать проблемы
the protection – защита
natural resources – природные ресурсы
a wildlife – животный мир
anti-pollution acts – законы в поддерку окружающей среды (букв. «против загрязнения окружающей среды»)
to lead (led, led) to considerable improvements – вести к значительным улучшениям
a purifying system – очистные сооружения
a treatment of industrial waters – очистка сточных вод
a reservation model – заповедник/заказник
to require – требовать
It’s necessary to mention that … – Необходимо отметить, что…
to improve – улучшать
а contamination – загрязнение/отравление
water – вода
air – воздух
depth – глубина
to be poisoned – быть отравленным
an animal, a bird, a fish (pl. fish!) – животное, птица, рыба
It would be no exaggeration to say that … – Не будет преувеличением сказать, что…
a tiny area – маленькая территория
at the expense of – за счет…
a creating – создание (того-то)
Thus, … – Поэтому,
an ever-increasing number of … – все время растущее количество (того-то)
a need – необходимость
to generate – создать
in a large scale – в огромных масштабах
nuclear power plants threaten air – АЭС угрожают загрязнением воздуха
а radiation – радиация/излучение
to employ all the inhabitants – трудоустроить всех жителей
a factory – завод/фабрика
consumer goods, wastes, noise and smog – потребительские товары, отходы, шум и смог
a source of global danger – источник всемирной/глобальной опасности
to appear – появляться
a survival – выживание
to be of primary importance – быть первостепенным
a support/to support – поддержка/поддержать
To summon it up, … –
numerous – Подводя итог, …
(al)through – хотя
a mankind – человечество
a kind of smth/a sort of smth – вид/тип/сорт (того-то)
In a word, … – Словом, …
to change one’s attitude to/towards smth – изметить чье-л. отношение к…
to save – спасти
Task 2. Translate all the unknown words in the text and learn them. Make the annotation to the text 2.
Text 2. Environmental Protection
Some hundreds of years ago people lived in harmony with nature, because industry was not much developed. Today, however, the contradictions between man and nature are dramatic.
The twenty first century is a century of the scientific and technological progress. The achievements of the mankind in mechanization and automation of industrial processes, in chemical industry and conquering outer space, in the creation of atomic power stations and ships are amazing. But at the same time, this progress gave birth to a very serious problem – the problem of environment.
Ecology and the contamination of environment, is concerned with climate, over-population in certain areas, deaths of plant and animals, green-house effect and chemical contamination of seas, lakes and rivers as well as atomic experiments and dumping of atomic waste from power stations. Floods, unexpected draughts, and the greenhouse effect are the next reasons.
There are many consequences of damaging the environment. One of them is acid rain. Another one is water shortage resulting from abuse of arable lands in agriculture. The third one is destroying the ozone layer of the Earth through pollution from factories and plants. The fourth problem is damage of water and soils. The fifth one is damage to wildlife: numerous species of animals and plants can disappear. At last, the most serious danger arising from damaging the environment is the result of the above mentioned consequences. This is the danger for the life and health of the man.
The protection of natural resources and wildlife is becoming a political program in every country. Numerous anti-pollution acts passed in different countries led to considerable improvements in environment. In many countries purifying systems for treatment of industrial waters have been installed, measures have been taken to protect rivers and seas from oil waters.
But the environmental problems have grown beyond the concern of a single country. Their solution requires the co-operation of all nations.
If we are unable to learn to use the environment carefully and protect it from damage caused by man’s activities, very soon we’ll have no world to live in.
Task 2. Translate all the unknown words in the text and learn them. Translate the text in a written form. Make the rendering to the text 3.
Text 3. Nature Protection Needed
Scientists project that between now and the year of 2030 we are going to have increase of the average temperature between 1,5-4,5 Degrees C. Sea levels would rise by several meters, flooding coastal areas and ruining vast tracts of farmland. Huge areas would be infertile and become uninhabitable. Water contamination could lead to shortages of safe drinking water. It looks like the end of civilization on the Earth. For hundreds of thousands of years the human race has thriven in Earth's environment.
But now we are at a crucial turning point. We have upset nature's sensitive equilibrium releasing harmful substances into the air, polluting rivers and oceans with industrial waste and tearing up the countryside to accommodate our rubbish. These are the consequences of the development of civilization. We are to stop it by joint efforts of all the people of the world. The range of environmental problems is wide.
But the matters of people's great concern nowadays are atmosphere and climate changes, depletion of the ozone layer, freshwater resources, oceans and coastal areas, deforestation and desertification, biological diversity, biotechnology, health and chemical safety. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) concentrates its activities on these issues.
Acid Rains is one of the most alarming forms of air pollution. It results from the release into the atmosphere of sulphur and nitrogen oxides that react with water droplets and return to earth in the form of acid rain, mist or snow. Acid rain has been killing forests. (Nearly everyone of species of the trees is affected). It has acidified lakes and streams and they can't support fish, wildlife, plants or insects.
Depletion of the ozone layer means that the protective layer of the Earth which saves it from the sun's destructive UV (ultraviolet) rays, is being damaged by CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). They are released by the daily use of industrial and household products: refrigerators, air conditioners, foam insulation, cleaning chemicals, food packaging. In the ozone layer they attack the ozone molecules making a «hole». This «hole» allows more UV rays to penetrate to the Earth. It increases the risk of skin cancer, weakens the immune system of people. Besides, UV rays influence the oceans, the growth of plankton, an essential part of the marine-life food chain in the negative way, reduce economically important-crops (rice, cotton, soy beans).
The life cycle is going to be undermined by the ozone. It’s generally agreed that the destruction of the tropical forest has a major impact on the world climate. The tropical rain forest is a natural recycler, provider and protector for our planet. It recycles carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, helps determine temperature, rainfall and other climatic conditions and supports the most diverse ecosystem in the world. Deforestation could cause one forth of all species on earth to vanish in the next 25 years. These forests in Amazonia, South-East Asia and West and Central Africa are being destroyed at an alarming rate of 42 million acres per year. Measures are to be taken! We have only a few years to attempt to turn things around. We must review our wasteful, careless ways, we must consume less, recycle more, conserve wildlife and nature, act according to the dictum «think locally, act globally».
We are obliged to remove factories and plants from cities, use modern technologies, redesign and modify purifying systems for cleaning and trapping harmful substances, protect and increase the greenery and broaden ecological education. These are the main practical measures, which must be taken in order to improve the ecological situation. Some progress has been already made in this direction. 159 countries-members of the UNO have set up environmental protection agencies.
They hold conferences discussing ecological problems, set up environmental research centers and take practical urgent measures to avoid ecological catastrophe. There are numerous public organizations such as Greenpeace that are doing much to preserve environment. The 5th of June is proclaimed the World Environmental Day by the UNO and is celebrated every year.
Tim Smith,
“Daily News”, 2014
Task 3. Translate in a written form text 4.
Text 4. How to protect the environment
There are several different opinions concerning who and how have to handle the crisis and bear the responsibility of solving the environmental problems. Some people think it is up to government, other consider that only measures taken at the individual level will help. The fact is that the both opinions have right to be considered.
The key role, of course, plays the government. It has the authority to prevent damage to the environment, setting the regulations and rules and imposing huge fines if these rules and regulations are violated.
However, measures taken by government alone are not sufficient. Individuals have to come into an action and play their role in solving the environmental problems, too. The efforts of every individual will cause a significant change in the environmental issues. It is really simple. Even replacing plastic shopping bags with paper ones and preferring bicycles to cars on weekends will help greatly.
Additional texts for annotating and rendering
Article 1
Source: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview
What Is Global Warming?
The Planet Is Heating Up—and Fast
Photograph by Paul Nicklen
Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are drying, and wildlife is scrambling to keep pace. It's becoming clear that humans have caused most of the past century's warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Called greenhouse gases, their levels are higher now than in the last 650,000 years.
We call the result global warming, but it is causing a set of changes to the Earth's climate, or long-term weather patterns, that varies from place to place. As the Earth spins each day, the new heat swirls with it, picking up moisture over the oceans, rising here, settling there. It's changing the rhythms of climate that all living things have come to rely upon.
What will we do to slow this warming? How will we cope with the changes we've already set into motion? While we struggle to figure it all out, the face of the Earth as we know it—coasts, forests, farms and snow-capped mountains—hangs in the balance.
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