Complete the gaps using words from the box.

water shortages, hunger, poverty, impact, environmental, habitat, population, recurring problem, food, overpopulation, unemployment

1. It is estimated that ___ destruction from human activity is the primary cause of risk for 83% of endangered plant species.

2. Economic growth has long been seen as the key to reducing ___.

3. World hunger and food insecurity is a ___ in most parts of the developing world.

4. The current ___ problems pose a lot of risk to health of humans and animals.

5. Humans continue to have a large ___ on the environment.

6. The Earth’s ___ may grow by three billion in the next 50 years or so.

7. Experts warn that in the next 20 years, half of the world’s population could face ___.

8. Each advance in producing more ___ is often met with a corresponding increase in population.

9. In the past fifty or so years, the growth of population has boomed and has turned into ___.

10. ___ is the biggest hallmark we see when talking about overpopulation.

11. When a country becomes overpopulated, it gives rise to ___ as there fewer jobs to support large number of people.

Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. Global problems are those which affect developing countries.

2. Nowadays we have much more problems than our ancestors had.

3. Introduction of new technologies is a result of globalization.

4. Globalization leads to loosing national integrity.

5. A single person cannot be blamed for the environment pollution.

6. Poverty in some areas affects other areas.

7. Overpopulation is closely connected with the problem of food shortage.

8. All efforts should be made to solve the world’s problems.

Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. What should we do to raise awareness about the world’s problems?

How should global problems be approached?

3. What is the role of science in solving the world’s problem?

 

Unit 2. ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE

Discuss the following quotes.

1. “Because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us.” Henrik Tikkanen

2. “There’s so much pollution in the air now that if it weren’t for our lungs there’d be no place to put it all.” Robert Orben

3. “Modern technology owes ecology an apology.” Alan M. Eddison

2. Read the text and find the words which mean the following:

Paragraph 1: 1.to get or gain something; 2. unwanted or unnecessary involvement in something; 3. a solid, powder, liquid, or gas matter with particular properties; 4. to have an effect on something esp. negative;

Paragraph 2: 1. requiring immediate action or attention; 2. reduction in the number or quantity; 3. likely to lead to a negative outcome; 4. a kind, sort, or variety;

Paragraph 3: 1. site for depositing garbage; 2. waste water conveyed in sewers;

Paragraph 4: 1. to make worse or more serious; 2. radioactive particles that are carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion.

ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE

    The Earth is the only planet in the solar system where there is life. For centuries man had lived in harmony with nature until industrialization brought human society into conflict with natural environment. Today the conflict between man and nature has acquired a dramatic character. With the development of civilization man’s interference in nature has increased. Every year the world industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances. The seas and rivers are poisoned with industrial waste, chemical and sewage discharge. People who live in big cities are badly affected by harmful discharge from plants and city transport. The increased noise level is as bad for human health as lack of fresh air and clean water.

    Among the most urgent problems are the depletion of the ozone layer, acid rains and global warming that lead to unfavorable changes in the world climate. Another serious problem is disappearance of forests. Some of them die from acid rains, others are cut down. Rain forests disappear at an alarming rate. If man continues to cut down rain forests, more than one million s pecies of plants and animals will become extinct.

    Water is often looked upon as a dumping place, where sewage and industrial wastes can be washed away. As a result some rivers and lakes are so badly polluted that they are unfit for bathing.

There are a lot of places on our planet that need immediate help. Our country is no exception. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl power plant has seriously aggravated the ecological situation in Belarus. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was the world’s worst nuclear accident. More than 60% of the fallout from the plant affected Belarusian territory.

Today people are aware that our life depends on the state of the environment. So nature protection should become everybody’s concern.