Module 3. Environment Protection

Task 1. Study the information below and complete the sentences with the appropriate forms.

Environment /in’vairənmənt/

Environment- al /in’vairən’mentl/

Environment- alist /in’vairən’mentelist/

Environment- ally /in’vairən’mentəli/

Environs /in’vairənz/ - районы

 

1. An unhappy __________ can affect a child’s behavior.
2. ___________ problems are of primary concern of the people worldwide.
3. Some extremely polluted territories are called _________ sensitive areas.
4. Perm Land consists of Perm and its __________.
5. ______________ are often calling for the new regulations to be enforced.
6. Many people are polluted about the pollution of the _________________.
7. Some products are considered to be _________ friendly.

 

Task 2. Read and learn the new words/phrases by heart.

Acid precipitation	/’æsid ‘presipi’tei∫n/	выпадение кислотных дождей
Acidity	/ə’siditi/	кислотность
Surface	/’sə:fis/	поверхность
Fossil fuel	/fosl ‘fjuəl/	полезные ископаемые
Proclaim	/prə’kleim/	объявлять, провозглашать
Cycle	/saikl/	круг
Weigh	/wei/	взвешивать
Nonrecycled	/’nonrə’saikld/	не пригодный для переработки
Sustainable	/’səs’teinəbl/	поддерживающий
Recycling	/rə’saikliŋ/	переработка
Scarcity	/’skeəsiti/	недостаточность, скудность
Solid	/’solid/	Твердый
Wastes	/’weists/	Отходы
Consumption	/ken’samp∫n/	Потребление
Sustainable earthy society	/’səs’teinəbl ə:θ sə’saəti/	Общество, выступающее в защиту землю
Hazardous	/’həzədəs/	Опасный

Task 3. Read the text and do the tasks after it.

 

THE LAWS OF NATURE

There are four laws of nature:

1. Everything is connected to everything else;
2. Everything must go somewhere;
3. Nature knows best;
4. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

The first law can be explained as follows: acid precipitation follows the natural connections in the eco system increasing the acidity of surface and underground water supplies, and damaging both living and nonliving components.

As for the second law it must be said that the widespread effects of acid rain have come to our attention over the past twenty years. A long time ago in order to solve local air pollution problems power plants and other industry decided that they could get rid of their air pollution by building taller smoke stacks that sent the unwanted gases higher into the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, as the laws of ecology note, there is no away to throw things. The result of this misfortune was international acid rain.

The third law of ecology reminds us that human-made alterations in natural cycle will result in problems. This is surely the case with acid rain. Normal rain is slightly acidic. Some acidic precipitation occurs naturally. The ecosystem can deal with this level of acid precipitation. Nature has provided natural buffers in some areas that counteract the acidity. However these buffers cannot handle the acid precipitation created by a person.

The fourth law of ecology tells us that for every technological advance there is an ecological price tag. One of the prices of our fossil fuel burning ways is acid rain. Possibly the most visible damage from acid rain is the corrosion of architectural structures around the world. In Athens, Greece, the Parthenon and other monuments are threatened.

A variety of social factors affect out environment and thus impact on our health and well-being. It is important that we examine these factors and weigh the consequences of our consumption patterns.

We do not always develop wasteful consumption habits on our own: often they are “sold” to us through advertising. The use of nonrecycled bottles is a prime example. Recycling is on the rise due to the public’s recognition of the increasing problems of dealing with solid wastes.

Our current consumption patterns have a tremendous impact on the ecosphere. Where are our excessive consumption patterns leading? It has been estimated that the world has begun a transition toward an age of scarcity. Energy, food and water shortages are already being experienced.

Leading environmentalists have proposed a move from the throwaway mentality toward what they term the sustainable earth mentality. A sustainable earth society must be founded in the laws of ecology, especially the third law. A sustainable earth society is also firmly grounded in the laws of thermodynamics. Slowing entropy through recycling and reusing matter and decreasing our energy consumption are emphasized. This type of society is of necessity decentralized, calling on its people to be more responsible and self-reliant.

There are also inherent dangers in this type of society. When people become dependent on institutions and technology for much of their adapting they may lose the ability to adapt using their personal resources.

 

Task 4. Translate the underlined sentences into Russian.

 

Task 5. Decide whether the sentences are true or false.

1. No harm is done to the nature in case some human-made alterations occur. True/False
2. Recycling helps to get rid of the solid wastes. True/False
3. Excessive consumption patterns are not connected with the shortages of food, energy and water. True/False
4. A sustainable earth society is based on nature and its laws. True/False
5. A sustainable earth society has some inherent dangers. True/False

 

Task 6. Match the laws of nature with the suggested situations.