The energy of trees

It has been proved that patients in hospital get better faster, feel less pain and go home quicker if there are trees outside the windows of their rooms. Spiritual and religious teachers for many years have been telling their students to learn from trees, to notice their stillness and strength and try to imitate it. It is true that trees absorb enormous amounts of energy from the sun - more than any other living thing. And some people believe that you can feel this energy if you choose a tree that you feel attracted to, put your arms around it and stay there holding it for a while.

This 'tree-hugging' is believed to be good for stress, make you sleep better, and help you to feel more positive and calm. And more and more people are doing it. The Irish politician Gerry Adams recently told a journalist that he regularly hugged trees. He said that it gave him a sense of calm and strength.

We all know that trees are essential for the environment and the survival of our planet. Perhaps they have even more to offer us in the future.

Decide if these statements are true or false.

1. The aliens in the story got the wrong idea about the inhabitants of earth.

2. The rings in trees give information about climate change.

3. The Egyptians used bristlecone pine trees to build the Pyramids.

4. Sri Maha Bodhi is older than any other tree.

5. Dinosaurs would have seen gingko trees.

6. Trees only help other trees if they are the same type as they are.

7. Redwood trees hold hands.

8. Trees in cities don't live as long as trees in a natural forest.

9. Trees can help sick people get better.

10. Most Irish politicians hug trees.

II. Reading

Thank God Someone’s Making Waves

1 The natural world is under violent assault from man. The seas and rivers are being poisoned by radioactive wastes, by chemical discharges and by the dumping of dangerous toxins and raw sewage. The air we breathe is polluted by smoke and fumes from factories and motor vehicles; even the rain is poisoned.

2 It's little wonder forests and lakes are being destroyed and everywhere wildlife is disappearing. Yet the destruction continues.

3 Governments and industries throughout the world are intensifying their efforts to extract the earth's mineral riches and to plunder its living resources.

4 The great rain forests and the frozen continents alike are seriously threatened. And this despite the warnings of the scientific community and the deep concern of millions of ordinary people.

5 Despite the fact, too, that we can create environmentally-clean industries, harness the power of the sun, wind and waves for our energy needs and manage the finite resources of the earth in a way that will safeguard our future and protect all the rich variety of life-forms which share this planet with us.

6 But there is still hope. The forces of destruction are being challenged across the globe - and at the spearhead of this challenge is Greenpeace.

7 Wherever the environment is in danger, Greenpeace has made a stand. Its scientific presentations and peaceful direct actions at sea and on land have shocked governments and industries into an awareness that Greenpeace will not allow the natural world to be destroyed.

8 Those actions, too, have won the admiration and support of millions.

Now you can strengthen the thin green line; you can make your voice heard in defence of the living world by joining Greenpeace today.

Thank God someone's making waves.

GREENPEACE

For questions 1–5, find the words in the text that mean the same as these words and phrases.

1. (P1) attack

2. (P3) rob, ransack

3. (P5) use as a source

4. (P5) protect

5. (P6) forefront

For questions 6 – 10, choose the best answers (A, B, C or D).

6. Which of the following statements is not true?

A Drinking water is polluted.

B Radioactive waste pollutes the sea.

C Sewage isn't processed.

D Cars and factories pollute the air.

7. Rain forests are being destroyed because governments and industries

A are unaware of what they're doing wrong.

B don’t have the power to stop this process.

C choose to ignore criticism.

D basically care about the environment.

8. The earth's resources

A should be left for people.

B can be made to last longer.

C will last forever.

D belong to just humans and animals.

9. Governments and industries

A don't know what Greenpeace thinks.

B are forced by Greenpeace to understand the problems.

C can easily ignore Greenpeace.

D misunderstand what Greenpeace thinks.

10. How does Greenpeace think that people can help?

A By becoming members.

B By speaking out.

C By painting a green line.

D By making waves.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14