Environment
учебно-методический материал по английскому языку (9, 10, 11 класс) на тему

Environment

1. Match English words and word combinations with their Russian equivalents.

2. Complete the sentences using the word combinations from the box. Put the verbs in the correct form.

1) The production and application of chemical substances ________ for living creatures. 2) Air pollution ________ by burning wood, coal, gas and oil. 3) Emissions from petrol or diesel engines ________ air pollution, too. 4) If the plants and factories ________ industrial waste it means that they ________ atmosphere. 5) Smoke which ________ of firing cover trees leaves.  6) Sewage disposal ________ environment. 7) The intensive modern farming ________ the environment in many different ways. 8) Acid rain ________ trees and wildlife in any area.        9) ________ fertilizers is to kill almost everything in the environment.

3. Read the text and answer the questions below.

Some people who have been studying the problems connected with environment say that the whole world we live in driven by the energy of our Sun. The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation which we cannot see, but we feel its effect all the time when we are out of doors. Some of this ultraviolet light can be very dangerous to people, because can cause sun burn and cancer of skin. Ozone is very important to us in the upper atmosphere, since it absorbs much of the ultraviolet radiation coming to us from the Sun. The amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth depends on, among other things, the thickness of the ozone layer is a great concern of people.  

1. Where does ultraviolet light come from?
2.  Why can even a small increase of ultraviolet radiation be dangerous?
3. What absorbs much of the ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun?
4. Why the thickness of ozone layer is so important?

  4.  Read the text and answer the questions below.

There are a lot of nuclear power stations in the world. Advantages of nuclear power: well-constructed power plants are clean and produce vastly more energy than other kinds. Coalfired power plants release more radio activities into the atmosphere. Disadvantages of nuclear power: waste from the power plants is toxic for many centuries. There is no safe way to store nuclear waste. Even transporting it can be risky. Besides, power plants can create disaster.

1. Do you think it is necessary to build the nuclear power stations?
2. Do you believe that nuclear power can be not dangerous?
3. Do you think our government must allow to save nuclear waste within our country?

5. Read the text and answer the questions below.

In 1971 a small team of activitists set sail from Canada in an old fishing boat. It was the first action of Greenpeace. They believed that a few people could change the world for the better.

That time they decided to bear witnesses to the US underground nuclear testing. Their journey attracted the attention of public interest from all the world. The small island where the USA were going to detonate bombs was later a bird sanctuary. It was their first triumph.

Today, Greenpeace is an international organization. It is based in Amsterdam. It has 2.8 million supporters worldwide.

1. Have you heard about Greenpeace?
2. What is it?
3. When was it founded?
4. Where is it based?
5. How many supporters are there in the world?
6. Can you give any example of their activity?
7. Are there any activists of Greenpeace in our country?
8. How do they fight against the pollution of our planet?

6. Translate into English.

Большинство проблем, связанных с окружающей средой, в наше время являются результатом человеческой активности. Растущее население, а также постоянный рост его потребностей имеют серьезное воздействие на окружающую среду.

Вследствие работы огромного количества фабрик и заводов, атомных электростанций, постоянного сжигания разного рода топлива, разведения домашних животных в промышленных масштабах, выращивания урожая с использованием удобрений и пестицидов, вырубки лесов происходит загрязнение атмосферы, воды и почвы, что угрожает всем живым существам, а также здоровью и жизни самого человека.

7. Write an essay, follow the plan below.

1. Do you believe that mankind is in danger? Why? Give your reasons.
2. Imagine the future of the Earth. Think about people who continue pollute water and air, cut trees, kill animals, produce nuclear energy.
3. How can mankind prevent our planet from being damaged? Give your recommendations. What can you and your friends do to save the nature?