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Will responding to global warming be harmful to the economy?
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IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING?
Yes! The most important action we can take to slow global warming is to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases. Governments, individuals, and businesses can all help.
Governments can adopt a range of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, namely:.
• encourage the use of renewable energy sources (such as wind and so
lar power);
• increase taxation on the use of oil and coal;
• protect and restore forests, which naturally balance the amount of car
bon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Individuals can reduce the need for fossil fuels (coal and oil) and often save money by:
• driving less and driving more fuel-efficient and less-polluting cars (the
so-called 'green' cars);
• using energy-efficient appliances;
• using less electricity in general.
Businesses can increase efficiency and save substantial sums by doing the same things on a larger scale.
WILL RESPONDING TO GLOBAL WARMING BE HARMFUL TO THE ECONOMY?
Investing in green practices and technologies may mean that additional expenditure taken on by the businesses will have a negative impact on the economy in the short term. But no action now will mean catastrophic consequences in future. Scientific research carried out recently by several independent environmental organizations calls this problem crucial. 
Developed countries should seize the opportunity to take the lead in developing new, clean, energy-efficient technologies and help developing countries take a greener path to economic prosperity. All of this can be done in a cost-effective manner by creating jobs and new business opportunities.
Never in the history of mankind has its future been dependent on the actions of one generation on such a scale. We must act quickly and responsibly to ensure the future for us and people who will live after us.
New Words
depletion [di'pli:Jan] n истощение
separate ['seprat] adj отдельный
refer (to) [птз:] v относиться
troposphere ['tropasfia] n тропосфера
due to [dju:] в результате, из-за
stratosphere ['straetasfta] n стратосфера
concern [kan's3:n] n отношение, озабоченность
crucial ['krurjal] ad/ключевой, решающий
destruction [di'strAkfan] n разрушение, уничтожение
layer ['leia] n слой
eliminate [I'hmmeit] v уничтожать, ликвидировать
adopt [a'dDpt] (/принимать
namely ['neimli] adva именно
renewable [ri'nju:abl] (/способный к восстановлению, возобновляемый
carbon dioxide ['ka:ban dai'Dksaid] углекислый газ
fossil ['fbsl] n (природное) ископаемое
fuel ['fju:al] n топливо
efficient [iTiJant] adj эффективный
expenditure [ik'spenditfa] n расход(ы), расходные статьи бюджета
consequence f'kDnsikwans] л (по)следствие
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seize [si:z] v схватить, не упустить, зд. воспользоваться
generation [^ana'reijan] n поколение
responsibly [n'spDnsabli] adv ответственно
ensure [т'/иэ] v обеспечивать
Questions for discussion.
1. Why do you think global warming and ozone depletion are two separate
but related threats?
2. What are the lower and the upper parts of the atmosphere called?
3. Why is the loss of ozone in the stratosphere of serious concern to the
scientists?
4. 
What, according to the text, can governments, individuals, and
businesses do about global warming?
5. What do you yourself do to help solve environmental problems? Do you
feel your responsibility to future generations?
Find English equivalents in the text for the following (you may think of better Russian translations).
1. Глобальное потепление и истощение озонового слоя - две раз
личные, но взаимосвязанные угрозы.
2. Это вызывает серьезную озабоченность...
3. Потребуются также и усилия для снижения всех видов вредных
выбросов.
4....поощрять использование возобновляемых источников энергии...
5....увеличить налоги на использование нефти и угля...
6....охранять и восстанавливать леса, которые естественным обра
зом поддерживают баланс углекислого газа в атмосфере.
7....меньше пользуясь автомобилем и используя более эффектив
ные и менее загрязняющие среду автомобили...
8....используя энергосберегающие бытовые приборы.
9....в большем масштабе.
10....будет оказывать негативное влияние на экономику в ближайшей
перспективе.
11. Но бездействие сейчас будет иметь катастрофические послед
ствия в будущем.
12. Все это может быть сделано экономичным способом, путем со
здания новых рабочих мест и возможностей для бизнеса.
Read and translate these sentences into Russian so as to have a better idea of how these words can be used.
deplete v, depletion n
1. To 'deplete' means to reduce something that is available.
2. If we continue to deplete the Earth's natural resources, we will cause
serious damage to the environment.
3. Thecountry'sfinancialreserveswillberapidlydepletedifthegovernment
ignores recommendations given by outstanding economists.
4. 
The last holiday has seriously depleted my bank account.
5. The depletion of food reserves caused starvation and diseases among
the first settlers in America.
separate v, separate adj, separately adv
1. On two separate occasions I've had to ask my lawyer for advice.
2. He had his public life and his private life, and as far as possible he tried
to keep them separate.
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3. You can't separate (consider independently) morality from politics.
4. Her parents separated when she was six and officially divorced a couple
of years later.
5. These two problems should be dealt with separately.
refer v, reference n
1.1 referred to a history book to find out all the necessary dates.
2. He spoke for an hour without once referring to his notes.
3. In her autobiography she often refers to her schoolteacher of
literature.
4. (business) With (further) reference to our previous correspondence we
wish to inform you that...
5. Academic books and articles usually have a list of references at the end
to tell you where the author found the information.
6. I'm applying for a new job and I hope my ex-boss will give me a
reference.
due adj, due to
1. The train is due at 8.10.
2. (expected) The next meeting is due to be held in three month's time.
3. {owed as a debt or a right - причитаться, быть положенным) That
money is due to him for his share of the job.
4. (because of) The accident was due to the fog.
5. All these problems will be dealt with in due course.
concern n, v, concerning prep
1. "As to joining the local Greenpeace team, that's your concern (=...your
own business)."
"I think it's of some concern to us all." (...в какой-то степени касается...)
2. As far as I'm concerned (= As for me), I'm going to do as much as I can
for the Greenpeace movement.
3. All the parties concerned are invited to take part in the discussion.
4. Where the children are concerned (as to dealing with children) she has
amazing patience.
. I'm sure nearly everything concerning the problem you're interested in can be found on the Internet.
crucial adj, crucially adv
1. Something that is crucial (an event, a decision, a moment, an impact,
etc) is extremely important because everything else depends on it.
2. This is going to be a crucial decision for the educational institutions
because it concerns all the spheres of education.
3. The majority of those present enthusiastically supported his project,
and this played a crucial role in his political career.
4. This case will be crucially (= extremely) important for other people who
have suffered from the new drug (medicine).
destruction n, destructive adj, destroy v
1. There is a danger that weapons of mass destruction might be used in
the conflict. So it's of crucial importance that the conflict should be
stopped.
2. Preserving peace is of crucial importance for all the countries on the
Earth because modern weapons have an extremely high destructive
force (power).
3. Many parents are very concerned about the destructive effects that
some modern films may have on their children.
4. Most of that part of the city was destroyed during the war.
eliminate v, elimination л
1. "Eliminating corruption in all spheres of social life is of crucial importance
for us all," said the speaker.
2. The detectives eliminated the possibility that it could have been an
accident because the crime was so well timed.
3. The team was eliminated (= defeated and so unable to continue) after
the second round of the competition.
adopt v
1. The new tax would force companies to adopt energy-efficient
measures.
2. Besides their own three children they have two adopted ones - a boy
and a girl.
efficient adj, efficiently adv, efficiency n
1. The city's transport system is said to be one of the most efficient in
Europe.
2. We need someone really efficient who can organize the office and make
it work efficiently.
3. 
She runs her small business very efficiently.
4. The efficiency («коэффициент полезного действия») of a machine or
an engine is the difference between the amount of energy it requires to
work and the amount that comes out in the form of movement.
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expenditure n
1. It will not be possible to repair the old houses in the city without
considerable expenditure on repairs.
2. A budget consists of revenues and expenditures.
consequence(s) n
1. The government's refusal to increase expenditure on health care has
had undesirable consequences.
2. If you go on drinking and smoking I'd advise you to look at the
consequences.
3. The consequences of the tsunami were disastrous.
seize v
1. I saw him seize the woman by the arm.
2. He seized the chance (the opportunity) with both hands.
3. Journalists seized the opportunity provided by the liberalization to
investigate previously taboo subjects, (to deal with subjects that used
to be taboo)
responsible adj, responsibly adv, responsibility n
1. I hope you realize that if you seize the initiative to start the campaign,
you will be responsible for all the consequences.
2. Her former boss wrote her a reference saying that she was an efficient
and responsible worker.
3. Many big companies that have been destroying the environment are
now becoming more responsible for the way they operate.
4. A sense of responsibility is absolutely necessary for anyone, especially
fora politician.
5. We decided to act on our own responsibility.
6.1 am sure Miss Hobson will take her responsibilities as the head teacher
very seriously. 7. The company has a responsibility to its shareholders, doesn't it?
ensure v
1. It's our responsibility to ensure that the project finishes on time.
2. It's the responsibility of the police to ensure law and order.
3. The 2-0 (two - nil) victory today has ensured our team a place in the
Cup Final.
4. Complete the text, choosing the words from the box.
5. 
layer, inhabitants, decisive, severely, effort, unpredictable, although, crucial,
6. inevitably, assert, opinion, consequences, agreed, survived, due, end
7. 
Little Ice Age
8.
9. We have every reason to expect the most dramatic... of global warming, both predictable and.... Doing all in our power, putting in every... to decrease the speed of global warming is, no doubt, the most... problem, mankind is faced with today.
10.It should not be forgotten, however, that the Earth has already... climate changes that were not less dramatic for its.... The nature of the other well-known climate change was diametrically opposed to global warming. It was global cooling. The most recent period of this kind is called the Little Ice Age.... there is no scientifically... opinion concerning the beginning of the Little Ice Age, there is a consensus that it only ended in the mid-19th century.
11.The Little Ice Age brought bitterly cold winters to many parts of the world. Rivers and lakes were frozen, fields were covered with a thick... of snow, which... affected the crops. The most... affected social group of people was the peasants. Some historians... that famine, diseases and massive deaths resulted in important political events, such as the French Revolution of 1789.
12.Beginning with 1850, the world's climate began warming again and the Little Ice Age may be said to have come to an... at that time. Some global warming critics believe that the Earth's climate is still recovering from the Little Ice Age and that human activity is not the... factor in present temperature trends.
13.However, the prevailing scientific... on climate change is that warming over the last 60 years is caused primarily by the increased proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere... to human activity. History shows that we have a good chance to survive global warming. A lot depends on ourselves.
14.4. Read the text and discuss it in class. Do You Know?
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15.Antonio Stradivari, the famous violinmaker, produced his instruments during the Little Ice Age. It has been proposed** that the colder climate caused the wood used in his violins to be denser than in warmer periods, contributing to the superb tone of Stradivari's instruments.
6. Translate the following conversations into English.
A. На улице очень холодно, да?
B. Да. Но по прогнозу к концу недели потеплеет.
А. Правда? Если потеплеет и не будет дождя, мы поедем за город.
A. Какая была погода в Лондоне?
B. Мне повезло. Было очень тепло и сухо. А здесь?
А. Здесь была отвратительная погода. Временами даже шел снег.
В. А какой прогноз на следующую неделю? А. Холодная погода продержится всю неделю.
A. Посмотри, какие черные тучи! Собирается сильный дождь.
B. Да. А я оставила дома зонтик. Как я доберусь до дома в сильный
дождь без зонта?
А. Не волнуйся, я тебя подвезу.
7. Complete the following sentences. Put the verb in brackets in the correct
tense form.
1. She'll be delighted when she (hear) this.
2. He (be) here before you go.
3. He (ring) up when he arrives in England?
4. Stay here till the lights (turn) green.
5. As soon as she (learn) to type on the computer, I'll give her the job.
6. When the Queen (arrive) the audience will stand up.
7. When you look at yourself in the mirror you (see) what I mean!
8. As soon the holidays begin, this beach (become) very crowded.
9. Don't forget to turn on the lights before you (leave) the house.
10. When it (get) warm enough, I'll turn off the heating.
11. The computer (not start) until you press this button.
12. Don't count on a salary increase before you actually (get) it.
Щ Real and Unreal Conditions
Examples: The forecast says it'll get warmer. If the forecast is correct, we'll go to the country.
The forecast says it'll be cooler tomorrow. That's a pity. I wish it got warmer. If it got warmer tomorrow, we would go to the country.
8. Complete the following sentences and translate them into Russian. What
is the difference between the phrases in each pair? Think of situations
when each phrase can be said.
1. If you find a wallet in the street, what...?
If you found a wallet in the street, what...?
2. If you take more exercise, you...
If you took more exercise, you...
3. If our team wins, we...
If our team won, we...
2. Read the story. Guess the meaning of the words you don't know. Answer the questions following the story.
The Landing On Planet X10*
The spaceship fired its front rockets and slowed down. The flight had lasted for five years. The crew had spent ten years training before the flight began. Now was the moment of truth. Would their work and the scientific calculations triumph, or had everything been wasted?
The crew felt tense. On the spaceship you could have heard a pin drop. The scientists had calculated that planet X10 consisted mainly of hydrogen and oxygen, was it possible that some primitive form of life existed upon it?
The spaceship was just entering X10's atmosphere. The President was speaking to the crew. He wished them good luck and a safe return home. Would they ever get home, thought the crew, as they remembered the homes and families that they had not seen for five years?
The spaceship came through the atmosphere of X10, slowed by the forward rockets. The scientists had told them to try to aim for a firm landing place. The scientists had also identified areas of X10 where there was a large amount of light, and they had told the crew to try to land in such an area, as it was likely to be warmer than a darker place would be. A warm place would make it possible to work outside in light spacesuits, instead of the heavy insulated ones that would otherwise be needed.
The captain was looking at his radar screen. He ordered his assistants to change the spaceship's direction. "Look!" said a member of the crew, pointing out of the large window. The crew stared: they could see an X10 creature in an aircraft looking at them. Full of excitement, they rushed to the radio to tell the President that there was life on X10. Other aircraft flew along. The crew noticed red flashes coming from their wings, but the missiles they fired exploded harmlessly against the strong sides of the spaceship.
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"Full speed ahead!" ordered the captain. He thought it would be a good thing not to stay too near the aircraft in case they had more dangerous weapons.
The captain was looking for a landing ground. He studied his instruments. He wanted a place where there was solid ground. The crew watched him nervously. "Ah! At last!" thought the captain. He had found an ideal place to land. He fired a side rocket. The big spaceship went into its landing and slowly began to glide towards the surface of the mysterious planet.
With a slight bump, the spaceship landed. The captain went to the radio and said proudly: "Mr President, we are on the surface of another world!"
"Captain, I congratulate you," replied the wise old President. "What can you see?"
Trembling with excitement, the captain replied:
"It is dark, but there are many small lights. There are many creatures star-ng at the spaceship. They seem to be hostile. They are jumping up and down. Some of them are shouting... Now they have stopped shouting. A chief or leader s approaching. He is wearing black clothes and a tall hat. He is about to speak. I will ask him to speak slowly so that our scientists can try to understand what he says.... Now he has spoken. He has said: "This is Piccadilly Circus. Parking is strictly forbidden!"
Answer these questions.
1. How long did it take the crew to train before the spaceship was
launched?
2. How long did the flight last?
3. Was there any scientific preparation for the flight?
4. How do you understand the words 'you could have heard a pin drop'?
5. What had the scientists calculated before the spaceship was
launched?
6. Which country did the spaceship belong to (Russia, China, North Korea,
Great Britain, the United States)? Justify your choice.
7. What did the President say to the crew?
8. How can you describe the emotions of the crew before the landing?
9. What was the function of the forward rockets?
10. What temperature on the surface of planet X10 did the scientists
expect?
11. What kind of aircraft, do you think, the crew saw through the large
window?
12. Why was the captain's order "Full speed ahead!"?
13. Was the landing successful?
14. Where did they land?
15. Do you find the story humorous? If you do, say why?
1 3. Translate the following newspaper article into English.
Если бы кто-нибудь поспорил (держал пари), что ни на какой-либо другой планете, кроме Земли, нет жизни, он, скорее всего, это пари бы проиграл, потому что астрономы недавно открыли планету, которая фактически обладает всеми свойствами, необходимыми для существования на ней жизни.
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