Discuss the following problem points.

1) Today computers play an important part in our lives. Because of computers, our lives are easier and better in so many ways. Can you list five different uses of computer technology?

2) If you have ever tried the Internet, what does it mean to you? Say if it’s a good or bad thing.

3) You can make friends on the Internet and find groups of people with the same interest and hobby. What special interest groups would you like to check out in the Internet? Why?

4) Speak about the possibilities of the Internet as a wonderful sources of learning. Think of the ways it might be used by people of different occupations.

5) With the coming of the Internet some government control and censorship over it is almost impossible. Dwell upon the problems that might come from the freedom of the Internet.

6) In the course of time people get addicted to computer games and the Internet. This addiction begins to interfere with people’s health. Share your opinion if it’s really inevitable to be caught in the Net and how to find some rational amount of time to be spent on it. What makes computers so addictive?

Role play. Imagine that you are a group of scientists working on home automation. Make a list of your ideas for home automation appliances. Describe these new devices.

 

 

UNIT 12. MAN AND NATURE. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

Natural sources and attractions

-minerals; -(fresh)water supplies/reservoirs; -floods; -rainfalls; -vegetation; -greenery; -woodland(s); -forestry; -wildlife; -animal kingdoms/population;

-open land; -“green” belts; -recreation areas; -coastal areas; -country/national parks; -clear landscapes; -public open spaces; -flora and fauna; -arable lands/soils; -cultivated land;

Environment and man

-to link man to nature; -to adapt to environment; -to be preoccupied with economic growth; -unrestricted industrialization; -the sprawl of large-built areas; -industrial zoning;

-to abuse nature; -to disfigure/litter the landscape; -ecology; -ecosystem; -to be environment-conscious; -to be environment-educated; -to upset the biological balance;

Environmental destruction and pollution

-land pollution; -derelict land; -industrial wastes; -the by-products of massive industrialization; -to dump waste materials on land; -extensive use of agrochemicals; -the denudation of soils; -the toxic fall-outs of materials; -water pollution; -a dropping water level; -to face the fresh water supply problem; -depletion of water resources; -the disruption of water cycle; -marine pollution;

-oil spillage; -air/atmospheric pollution; -the air pollution index; -to produce foul air; -to exhaust toxic gases/fuel; -combustion of fuel; -concentrations of smoke in the air; -dust content in the air; -radiation; -high/low radioactivity; -to store/disperse radioactive wastes; -noise offenders/pollutants; -merciless killing of animals; -destruction of animal habitats;

Nature conservation and environment protection

-a global imperative for environment; -global environmental security; -to preserve ecosystems; -to create disaster-prevention programmes; -to harmonize industry and community; -plants and people; -conservation movement; -to preserve woodlands;

-to protect and reproduce animal/fish/bird reserves; to fight pollution; to install antipollution equipment; -to minimize noise disturbance; -to reduce pollution; -to dispose garbage/litter/wastes in designated areas;

Use the topical vocabulary in answering these questions.

- What are the major environmental issues confronting humanity today?

- What is the global imperative for environment as you see it?

- Why are many people concerned about ecology today? Why do we say that every man should be environment-conscious and environment-educated?

- On what basis should the “man-nature” relationship function?

- What are the steps undertaken by the governments/authorities of many countries to protect the environment?

- What do you know about the practical results of the international cooperation in environmental protection?

- How does the state control nature conservation and environmental protection in our country?

- What role should mass media play in environmental protection?

You are asked to tell a group of foreign students about the nature conservation and environment protection in your country. You should cover the subject in about fifty words. Use the topical vocabulary.

Work in pairs. Discuss any of the environmental problems of today. You may speak about nature conservation in regard to nature destruction, environmental protection in regard to pollution. One of the students is supposed to introduce a subject of mutual interest, the other student disagrees with his partner’s viewpoint on the subject under discussion. Use the Topical Vocabulary.

MODEL

A: I must admit I’m mostly interested in the nature-man relationship. I think it is the core item of the environmental protection policy. We should be environment-conscious to foresee the ill-effects of unrestricted industrialization and urbanization. I see these problems as a global imperative for environmental protection today. I’m all for fighting pollution and against destruction of nature by man…

B: I don’t share your fears. You paint the situation black. I can hardly see any unfavourable connection between urbanization, on the one hand, and pollution, on the other. Could you possibly explain what you mean by “the nature-man” relationship?

Speak about the after-effects of environmental pollution and nature destruction. Consider the following.

1) Destruction of wildlife.

2) Land pollution.

3) Water pollution.

4) Air pollution.

5) Noise disturbance.

6) Radioactivity.

7) Unrestricted industrialization.

5. During the last 20 years environmental protection has become a vital necessity for people. What do you think has stimulated man’s interest in the problems of environment? Consider the following and expand on the points which you think especially significant:

1) The problems of environment include a wide range of burning issues: nature destruction and pollution, extermination of wildlife on global scale, endangering human health with industrial wastes, etc.

2) There are the by-products of massive industrialization confronting all great industrial countries with the most serious problem of environment mankind ever faced, that of pollution.

3) The “green belts” not only provide restful relaxation, they are regarded as important allies in the battle against air pollution.

4) Among the simple but far disappearing blessing is the smell of clean fresh air and the good taste of pure water.

5) How the problem of pollution has been and is being tackled has a great deal to do with politics and social initiative.

6) One of the great problems grappled with in the plans for economic and social development is how to harmonize industry and community, plants and people.

7) Pollution has to do with the giant enterprises, which advance industries and abuse natural resources.

Work in pairs. Read the statements and expand on them. You may be of the similar or different opinion on the subject. Your comment should be followed by some appropriate speculation on the suggested point.

1) Everybody’s talking about pollution. Pollution is what happens when things we eat, the place we live in and the air around us are made dirty and unhealthy by machines and factories.

2) Men do not realize that a forest is more than a collection of trees. It is a complex community of plant and animal life. In a living forest two opposite forces are constantly at work: growth and decay. The growth of new trees balance destruction by insects, plant diseases, and occasional storms. But man’s unrestricted cutting of timber disturbs this natural balance.

3) National forests and national grassland are managed for many uses, including recreation and continuing yield of such resources as wood, water, wildlife, and honey, nuts and Christmas trees.

4) Factories pay for the water they rise, but in our homes we only pay to have water. After that we can use as much as we want. Apparently we lose every day enough water for the whole town. Finally what we have left in our rivers we make so dirty that we can’t use it.

5) Some scientists believe that, if airlines operate a large number of supersonic airplanes, their engines may inject so much water vapour into the upper atmosphere that there will be many more clouds, more of the sun’s heat will be prevented from reaching the earth, and the earth’s temperature will drop – this might change the climate of the whole world, with very serious results.

6) Europe is such an industrialized area that it sends about 20 million tones of sulphur into the air every year. There is an old saying in English: “What goes up, must come down”. These 20 million tones are picked up by the wind. Most of it is carried some distance, often to another country. Each nation in Europe produces hundreds of thousands of tones of poison each year, and then sends it abroad.