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The Car and the Environment
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Most of us know that cars cause air pollution. Scientists tell us that if we don’t do something soon, we will be unable to repair the damage that we are causing to our planet. What are some of the things we can do to help?
1. Buy a fuel-efficient car and keep it that way
Good gas is a way to stop pollution. Choose a car that is friendly to the environment when you buy one.
2. Keep your car tuned up
A car that badly tuned releases more pollutants into the air. If you keep track of your gas mileage, you’ll know when something is wrong. A badly tuned car uses almost 10% more gas than a well-tuned car. Other ways to waste gas are:
- Idling your car unnecessarily. If you stopped for longer than a minute, it is more fuel efficient to turn off your engine.
- Using dirty fuel filters. Dirty fuel filters waste gas.
- Air Conditioner Maintenance. Of course, this causes a big problem for both
us and our mechanics. Our mechanics will have to make sure that there no leaks, and fix them if there are, before they can add any R-12 (freon) to our air conditioning systems. Naturally, this cost will be passed along to us.
LESSON 21
Ex.1: Read and translate the text into Russian:
Modern Technology
People in contemporary world can hardly imagine their lives without machines. Every day either a new gadget is invented or an old one is improved. Different people appreciate new inventions differently. Some suppose that sophisticated gadgets are really useful and necessary, while others find them absolutely awful as they influence people badly. As for me, I am pretty sure that gadgets make people`s lives easier.
Firstly, they do all kinds of dirty and hard work, as cleaning. Secondly, devices can save a lot of time as well as storage space. For instance, a computer disk can contain the same amount of information as several thick books. So, machines help people in different spheres.
However, opponents of this point of view are definitely sure that gadgets affect people negatively. People are reluctant to work due to the influence of machines. People become lazy and disorganized. They just expect their latest gadgets to do everything instead of them. Moreover, according to scientists, a great number of widespread devices produce radiation that can cause serious health problems. Furthermore, more and more people are becoming addicted to their modern gadgets, for instance computers, TVs or mobile phones. So, they neglect their home obligations, work or school and spend all their spare time in front of a laptop screen or a TV-set.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that in spite of all drawbacks, gadgets have, their benefits are much more considerable, as they save people`s time and let them enjoy life.
LESSON 22.
Ex.1: Read and translate the text into Russian:
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
Since ancient times Nature has served Man, being the source of his life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with environment and it seemed to them that natural riches were unlimited. But with the development of civilization man’s interference in nature began to increase.
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Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises appear all over the world today. The by-products of their activity pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we grow grain and vegetables on.
Every year world industry pollutes the ahmosphere with about 1000 million tons of dust and other harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Vast forests are cut and burn in fire. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of rivers and lakes dry up.
The pollution of air and the world’s ocean, destruction of the ozone layer is the result of man’s careless interaction with nature, a sign of the ecological crises.
The most horrible ecological disaster befell Ukraine and its people after the Chernobyl tragedy in April 1986. About 18 percent of the territory of Byelarus were also polluted with radioactive substances. A great damage has been done to the agriculture, forests and people’s health. The consequences of this explosion at the atomic power-station are tragic for the Ukrainian, Byelarussian and other nations.
Environmental protection is of a universal concern. That is why serious measures to create a system of ecological security should be taken.
Some progress has been already made in this direction. As many as 159 countries — members of the UNO — have set up environmental protection agencies. Numerous conferences have been held by these agencies to discuss problems facing ecologically poor regions including the Aral Sea, the South Urals, Kuzbass, Donbass, Semipalatinsk and Chernobyl. An international environmental research centre has been set up on Lake Baikal. The international organisation Greenpeace is also doing much to preserve the environment.
But these are only the initial steps and they must be carried onward to protect nature, to save life on the planet not only for the sake of the present but also for the future generations.
QUESTIONS:
1. How did people live for thousands of years?
2. What cities appear all over the world today?
3. What pollutes the air we breathe?
4. What is the result of the pollution the atmosphere?
5. Why is environmental protection of a universal concern?
6. What are the initial steps in this direction?
VOCABULARY:
riches — богатства
unlimited — неограниченный
to interfere — вмешиваться
to increase — увеличиваться, возрастать
smoky — дымный
enterprises — предприятия
by-product — побочный продукт
substances — вещества
oxigen — кислород
rare — редкий
destruction — разрушение
layer — слой
interaction — взаимодействие
horrible — ужасный
disaster — катастрофа
to befall — пасть (на что-то)
LESSON 23.
Ex.1: Read and translate the text into Russian:
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
People have always polluted their surroundings. But until now pollution was not such a serious problem. People lived in unеrowded rural areas and did not have pollution — causing machines. With the development of crowded industrial cities which put huge amounts of pollutants into small areas, the problem has become more important. Automobiles and other new inventions make pollution steadily worse. Since the late 1960’s people have become alarmed with the danger of pollution.
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Air, water, and soil are necessary for existence of all living things. But polluted air can cause illness, and even death. Polluted water kills fish and other marine life. On polluted soil, food can not be grown. In addition environmental pollution spoils the natural beauty of our planet.
Pollution is as complicated as serious problem. Automobiles are polluting the air but they provide transportation for the people. Factories pollute the air and the water but they provide jobs for people and produce necessary goods. Fertilizers and pesticides are important for growing crops but they can ruin soil.
Thus, people would have to stop using many useful things if they wanted to end pollution immediately. Most people do not want that of course. But pollution can be reduced gradually. Scientists and engineers can find the ways to reduce pollution from automobiles and factories. Government can pass the laws that would make enterprises take measures for reducing of pollution. Individuals and groups of people can work together to persuade enterprises to stop polluting activities.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why wasn’t pollution such a serious problem earlier?
2. When have people become alarmed with the danger of pollution?
3. What can environmental pollution cause?
4. Why is pollution a complicated problem?
5. Can pollution be stopped immediately?
6. What can, government and individuals do to reduce pollution?
VOCABULARY:
environmental pollution —загрязнение окружающей среды
uncrowded — слабонаселенный
rura l— сельскохозяйственный
pollution-causing — вызывающий загрязнение
crowded — густонаселенный
pollutants — отходы
invention — изображение
soil — грунт, земля
existence — существование
goods — товары
fertilizer — удобрение
to grow — выращивать
crops — сельскохозяйственные культуры
to ruin — портить
immediately — сразу, немедленно
to reduce — уменьшить
gradually — постепенно
to pass a law — принять закон
enterprise — предприятие
to take measures — принять меры
to persuade — убедить
LESSON 24.
Ex.1: Read and translate the dialogue into Russian:
T. Oh, it's better to be contemplating the grandeur of the land from a bird's eye view than to be doing sums.
M. Yeah, everything on the Earth looks as unprotected and tiny as ants.
V. Do ants need to be protected? Though from the point of their medical value that seems to make sense.
T. If only people took care of the environment and of one another they would never need any medical aid.
V. Are you a Greenpeace supporter?
M. Yes, the whole group of us.
V. Oh, I'm pleased to hear that. It's a noble aim to keep the planet green and cities clean, eh?
M. Yes, but we understand environmental protection is more than just picking up litter and planting trees. We must take into consideration all the factors that people's survival depends upon.
Patrick. Sure, we must begin to fight air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution. We want everybody to do his or her best in caring for all human beings.
V. Shall I stop going by car, using sprays, eating food in plastic cans, or wearing a fur coat?
P. It would be better for the environment and eventually for you, if you did.
V. Should we reject the progress then?
P. Never! But we must take control of the progress to give it a humanistic direction.
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Eva. Look here, do people need to kill animals for furs? What is industrial progress with its synthetic furs for then?
V. To be frank, I divide people into those who love animals and living creatures and those who do not. I consider the latter inferior and actually I do not have friends among them.
E. No wonder, those who care for animals are much more friendly, aren't they?
T. It's a debatable question, I guess, for we are not expected to judge who is inferior, are we?
V. My point is, people's disgust towards animals is only their make-believe cleanliness. The truth is they are too lazy to tidy up their flat after a pet once again, too lazy to keep their house, staircase, yard and street clean. They are too lazy to be tolerant to animals.
E. Really, one needn't have brains to blame animals for dirt. In fact, they clean themselves as much as people do.
M. Stray animals are not to blame for having to live in town. I believe that some day they will have rights just like all other citizens do.
Gloria. As far as citizens are concerned, they need to take care of themselves too. Why do they need to ruin their health by being hostile and rude to one another? We know that only positive thoughts combined with positive wishes and deeds can create the psychological environment we need to survive.
V. Well, I see convinced fighters as you are deserve respect. But the trouble is, they are a minority of the population. The 'majority of us have still to be awakened.
P. That is what we are trying to help.
LESSON 25
Ex.1: Answer the questions:
1. When did the problem of pollution become dangerous?
2. What problems threaten human lives on the Earth?
3. Why is air pollution harmful?
4. Is it dangerous to breathe polluted air?
5. What does the burning of fuel and fossil fuels produce?
6. What are the most dangerous pollutants?
7. What is the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains on our planet?
8. Can we solve the problem of environmental protection?
9. How did people live for thousands of years?
10. What cities appear all over the world today?
11. What pollutes the air we breathe?
12. What is the result of the pollution the atmosphere?
13. Why is environmental protection of a universal concern?
14. What are the initial steps in this direction?
15. Why wasn’t pollution such a serious problem earlier?
16. When have people become alarmed with the danger of pollution?
17. What can environmental pollution cause?
18. Why is pollution a complicated problem?
19. Can pollution be stopped immediately?
20. What can, government and individuals do to reduce pollution?
Список используемой литературы и интернет источников
Безкоровайная Г.Т., Койранская Е.А., Соколова Н.И., Лаврик Г.В. Planet of English: учебник английского языка для учреждений СПО. — М., 2014.
Безкоровайная Г.Т., Койранская Е.А., Соколова Н.И., Лаврик Г.В. Planet of English: электронный учебно-методический комплекс английского языка для учреждений СПО. - М., 2015.
Голубев А.П., Балюк Н.В., Смирнова И.Б.Английский язык: учебник для студ. учреждений сред. проф. образования. — М., 2014.
Восковская А.С. Английский язык для экономических колледжей: Учебное пособие/А.С.Восковская – Ростов н/Д:Феникс,2010. – 352с. –(СПО)
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Пшегусова Г.С. Английский язык для экономических специальностей: Учебник/ Г.С.Пшегусова, Л.Л.Андреева, Н.Д.Гребенникова, Н.В.Млодзинская. – 2-е изд. – М.: Издательско-торговая корпорация «Дашков и К»; Академцентр, 2012. – 280с.
Интернет-ресурсы
www.lingvo-online.ru (более 30 англо-русских, русско-английских и толковых словарей общей и отраслевой лексики).
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/enjoy (Macmillan Dictionary с возможностью прослушать произношение слов).
www.britannica.com (энциклопедия «Британника»).
www.ldoceonline.com (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English).
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