Many rivers and lakes are poisoned too. It happens so because factories and plants produce a lot of waste and pour it into rivers.

More and more often people are told not to spend too much time in direct sunlight, because ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer. Normally the ozone layer protects us from such radiation, but if there are holes in the ozone layer ultraviolet radiation can get to the earth. Many scientists think that these holes are the result of air pollution.

Nuclear power stations can go wrong and cause nuclear pollution. It cannot be seen but its effects can be terrible. To make air clear we need good filters at nuclear power stations, at factories and plants and also in cars and buses.

Animals and plants are also part of the environment. A lot of species of animals may disappear soon. The reason is that Man kills animals and destroys their habitats. Every day we use paper and cardboard, both made from wood, we also make furniture and other different things. For these uses we cut down over 100 000 square kilometres [kɪ'lɔmɪtəz] of forests every year. If we go on like this, all the forests on earth can be destroyed soon.

Forests, clean air and clean water are necessary for our health. If people want to survive they must solve these problems quickly.

ENGLAND.

The United Kingdom is very small compared with many other countries in the world. However, London is the world’s seventh biggest city. When you travel about Britain you can see how the scenery changes right in front your eyes. The United Kingdom is an unusually beautiful country.

The largest part of the UK is England. It has got five regions:

1) The Southeast,

2) The Southwest,

3) East Anglia,

4) The Midlands

5) The North of England.

The Southeast is a highly populated region of England. There is a lot of industry near the Thames and there are a lot of roads and motorways. London, the capital of the UK, and such historical cities as Windsor, Dover and Brighton are situated here. Heathrow Airport is about 33 km west of central London. The County of Kent situated here is known as the Garden of England.

The Southwest is the region where the main activity is farming. The two main cities are Bristol and Bath. The Southwest used to be known for its pirates. And it is also famous for “Land’s End” and Stonehenge. That’s why it is a popular place for tourists.

East Anglia is very flat and it is another farming region. It has beautiful cities, such as Cambridge. Oliver Cromwell, an English general and politician, was born in the Fens area.

The Midlands, known as the heart of England, is the largest industrial part in the country. The most important industrial cities are Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham. Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Oxford is famous for its university.

The North of England is the wildest part of the country. It is rich in coal. The main attractions of the North of England are the Lake District, the cities of York, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall.

(Pronunciation: SB exercise 18 page 103.)

SCOTLAND.

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