Text 1. Environmental pollution

People all over the world are worried by the ecological problems. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity today because it causes global warming, distruction of the ozone layer and other disastrous processes. What is the pollution of the environment? Pollution consists of contamination of the environment with wastes that are not recycled. The environment consists of the air, water, and the land around us.

Thousands of smoky industrial enterprises all over the world pollute the air we breath, the water we drink, the land we live in. In the process of production and consumption different wastes are dumped into the atmosphere. They make the atmosphere a less hospitable habitat for animal life, they cause damage to plant life, and they are harmful for human beings. The main sources of air pollutant are automobiles and stationary combustion processes such as those used in generating electric power. Cars and factories pollute the air we use. Every car consumes many tons of air. Its exhaust gases contain poisonous substances which make difficult the emission of the earth's heat into space. Air pollution also destroys the ozone layer which protects the earth from dangerous light of the Sun.

Water pollution is another important problem. The contamination of water ways comes from many sources: chemical waste from factories, thermal waste from power stations, domestic waste from cities and towns. Sea- and river- going ships often pollute sea and river water with various oil products which create problems of contamination in various types of fish.

Land pollution results from the dumping of a wide variety of wastes on the terrain. Old cars, refrigerators, other machinery and appliances that are retired from use, rubbish heaps are collected and accumulated. Environment is not able of absorbing the rubbish the economy throws into it. Our forests are dying from acid rains. This, in turn, affects the balance of nature. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever.

The most horrible ecological disaster was the Chernobyl tragedy in April 1986. As a result of it about 18 percent of the territory of Belarus were polluted with radioactive substances. A great damage has been done to the republic's agriculture, forests and people's health.

The protection of the environment is our common duty. What can be done about pollution?

Pollution must be controlled by the state. Government environmental protection agencies have been set up in many countries. These agencies set standards for such polluters as automobiles, power plants and steel mills. Numerous conferences have been held by these agencies to discuss questions of ecologically poor regions. Questions have been raised also as to whether the oceans should be used for the dumping of nuclear wastes and for undersea nuclear explosions. A great majority of people join all sorts of "GREEN" movements and ecological parties. The international organization " Greenpeace " is also doing much to preserve the environment. We must learn to carefully use the environment and protect nature, because we must preserve the civilization, and leave for the future generations fresh air, pure water, national parks and preserves.

1. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1. Is environmental pollution a serious problem facing humanity today?

2. What does it cause?

3. What is the pollution of the environment?

4. What does the environment consist of?

5. What does the pollution of atmosphere come from?

6. Name the main sources of air pollution.

7. Does air pollution destroy the ozone layer?

8. Name the sources of contamination of water - ways.

9. How does water pollution influence aquatic life?

10. What does land pollution result from?

11. Is environment able of absorbing the rubbish the economy throws into it?

12. What happens as a result of nature imbalance?

13. What harm did the Chernobyl tragedy cause to Republic of Belarus?

14. Is protection of the environment our common duty?

15. What is the role of the environmental agencies?

16. What can we do to keep our environment safe and clean?

2. Put all kinds of questions to the sentences given below:

1. The environment consists of the air, water and the land around us.

2. Industrial enterprises pollute the air, the water and the land.

3. Exhaust gases contain poisonous substances.

4. Water pollution reduces aquatic life.

5. Forests are dying from acid rains.

6. Rare species of animals, birds, fish and plant disappear for ever.

7. Land pollution results from the dumping of wastes on the terrain.

8. Environmental protection agencies have been set up in many countries.

9. Many people all over the world join different ecological parties.

10. We must preserve nature for the future generations.

3. Give answers to these questions:

1. Why are many people concerned about ecology today?

2. Can people live without nature?

3. Why is there air pollution in large cities?

4. What is the ecological situation in your city?

5. Can air pollutants affect the climate?

6. What do you know about the Chernobyl ecological disaster?

7. What are the consequences of this tragedy?

8. What measures should be taken to protect environment?

9. Why did some species of animals, birds, plants disappear from the Earth?

10. Is international cooperation necessary to create a system of ecological security?

11. Would you like to take part in the activities of the international organization "Greenpeace"?

Read and translate the text. Answer the questions after the text.

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Дата добавления: 2015-10-29