ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS THE MAIN TASK FOR ALL PEOPLE

The poisoning of the world’s land, air and water is the fastest spreading disease of civilization. It probably produces fewer headlines than wars, earthquakes and floods but it is potentially one of the history’s greatest dangers to human life on the Earth. If present trends continue for the next several decades our planet will become uninhabitable. Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption have created such problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and global warming. The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead. The North Sea is following, full of military wastes. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, no one living creature will be able to survive in the seas.

Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out forever. We must remember about it and do our best to save them.

Pollution is a crime against society and must be punished by the government and blamed by every person. The state must fix limits for discharge of poisonous substances and pollution. All enterprises which exceed these limits must pay heavy fines or must be closed. Yet all of this could be avoided. There are engines which are environmentally friendly and don’t cause pollution. Garbage can be recycled and sewage can be converted to energy.

Air pollution is also a very serious problem. Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for greenhouse effect and acid rains. In some cities it is very difficult to breathe and everything is covered with soot and dirt. It must be mentioned that in more than a hundred Russian towns and cities the concentration of harmful substances in the air is over ten times the admissible level. But many states are making laws to reduce the amount of the harmful chemical wastes into the air. Anti-pollution equipment is installed at factories and plants. Scientists are developing new types of cars that run cleaner and pollute less.

One of the most urgent environmental problems today is water pollution. Rivers that used to be so beautiful and full of fish are poisoned. About half of the water resources in our country are polluted with industrial or communal wastes. Some regions have to face the fresh water supply problem. Fortunately, governments of many states have started taking measures to prevent further pollution of water resources and reduce the present-day release of harmful substances into rivers, lakes, seas and ground waters.

Soil is a mixture of mineral, plant and animal materials. It is necessary for most plant growth and for all agricultural production. Soil pollution is a buildup of toxic chemical compounds, salts, pathogens, or radioactive materials that can affect plant and animal life. Treating soil with chemical fertilizers and pesticides destroys useful organisms such as useful bacteria and microorganisms.

Noise is all around us. Cars honk. Breaks squeal. Sirens scream. And trucks rumble along the streets. People also listen to loud noises at home. TV sets, radios, tape-recorders may be too loud. Many people work at noisy factories and have to listen to noise all day long. Scientists say that too much noise can be harmful to health. Noise can make people nervous, disturb their sleep, or make them tire easily. Working in noisy place can cause troubles of hearing, or even loss of hearing. Many things can be done to reduce noise pollution. Special sound-proof materials can be put on walls, ceiling and windows. Some factories put noisy machines in special sound-proof rooms. Besides, today many machines are made with motors less noisy than they once were.

It’s obvious now that the world is on the way to the ecological catastrophe and people must do everything that can improve the situation. If we do not stop the process of pollution the Earth will die.

 

 

d) Replace the words in the brackets with the corresponding English words:

 

1. Overpopulation, pollution and energy (потребление) have created such problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and global warming.

2. Soil pollution is a buildup of toxic chemical compounds, salts, pathogens, or radioactive materials that can (влиять) plant and animal life.

3. Industrial enterprises (выбрасывать) tons of harmful substances.

4. All enterprises which (превышать) these limits must pay heavy fines or must be closed.

5. Special (звуконепроницаемые) materials can be put on walls, ceiling and windows.

6. Fortunately, governments of many states have started taking measures (предотвратить) further pollution of water resources.

7. In some cities it is very difficult to breathe and everything is covered with (сажа)and dirt.

 

e) Fill in the blanks with prepositions where necessary:

 

1. People also listen … loud noises at home.

2. Treating soil … chemical fertilizers and pesticides destroys useful organisms.

3. Garbage can be recycled and sewage can be converted … energy.

4. The seas are filled … poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

5. Soil is necessary … most plant growth and … all agricultural production.

6. Scientists say that too much noise can be harmful … health.

7. Soil pollution is a buildup … toxic chemical compounds, salts, pathogens, or radioactive materials.

 

f) Agree or disagree to the following statements. If you do not agree express your own opinion. If you agree prove the idea.

 

1. Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption are not the reasons of such problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and global warming.

2. Noise can make people nervous, disturb their sleep, or make them tire easily.

3. We should not say that the world is on the way to the ecological catastrophe.

4. Some regions have to face the fresh water supply problem.

5. The seas are clean and full of life.

 

g) Find in the text the answers to the following questions:

 

1. What is the fastest spreading disease of our civilization?

2. What causes such problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and global warming?

3. Why can we say that the seas are in danger?

4. What must be done to reduce pollution?

5. What is the main reason for greenhouse effect and acid rains?

6. What measures are taken to reduce air pollution?

7. How much water is polluted in our country?

8. What is done to reduce noise pollution?

9. What are the main sources of soil pollution?

10. What type of pollution is the most dangerous in your opinion?

 

h) Say what you have learnt from the text about:

 

1. The greatest danger for our planet.

2. Air pollution.

3. Water pollution.

4. Noise pollution.

5. Soil pollution.

 

i) Translate the articles from Russian into English, use a dictionary when necessary:

 

1. Сернистый дым плотно покрывает город Никель, находящийся в нескольких километрах от норвежско-российской границы. Такое случается всегда, когда ветер с комбината «Печенганикель» дует в сторону города. Врачи города рассказывают, что 90% детей страдают заболеваниями дыхательных путей. Черно-серые склоны напоминают лунный ландшафт. 20 лет назад здесь находился густой лес. Сейчас сернистая пустыня увеличивается на 2-3 километра в год.

2. В двадцати километрах от Никеля находится Заполярнй, центр никелевой промышленности. Город окутан сернистым газом и окружен мертвыми деревьями. Фабрики выбрасывают диоксида в два раза больше, чем вся Норвегия.

3. Мончегорск, в котором находится самый большой на Кольском полуострове никельный плавильный цех, является самым большим на полуострове центром загрязнения окружающей среды. Растительный покров на склонах сопок мертв.

4. В нескольких километрах к югу от Мончегорска на автомобильной дороге установлен знак, что здесь находится заповедник. За вывеской находится черный выжженный склон с мертвыми деревьями. Когда-то эта местность была природной жемчужиной. Здесь водились редкие виды птиц и медведи.

5. Между Мончегорском и Апатитами находится озеро Имандра, являющееся самым большим озером Кольского полуострова. Промышленные отходы до сих пор сливаются в уникальное озеро.

 

 

PART 3