Читать книгу Baikal lessons. Your environments. Уроки Байкала. Твои окружающие среды. Методическое пособие для изучающих экологию на английском языке - Татьяна Муратова - Страница 5

Economists have long thought of the environment as an unlimited source of resources. They have thought that the atmosphere, forests, rivers and seas are capable of absorbing all the rubbish the economy throws into them. In fact, the economy and the environment are closely related. The environment supplies the economy with all its resources, such as water, timber, minerals and oil. The environment has to absorb all its waste products.

Nevertheless, some economists have always argued that pollution damages the resources. For example, pumping waste gases from a power station does not get rid of them. The waste gases cause acid rain; this leads to forest damage an therefore reduces the resources of forestry industry.

There are many consequences of damaging the environment. One of them is acid rain. Another one is water shortage resulting from abuse of arable lands in agriculture. The third one is destroying the ozone layer of the Earth through pollution from factories and plants. The fourth problem is damage to water and soils. The fifth one is damage to wildlife: numerous species of animals and plants can disappear. Lastly, the most serious danger arising from damaging the environment is the result of the above-mentioned consequences. This is the danger for the life and health of the man.

The territories of the former Soviet Union are suffering many environmental problems. Many of these problems have been caused by economic activities. Apart from the effect of Chernobyl disaster, the worst problem is probably in the area around the Aral Sea. Cotton growing in the region has used huge quantities of water, and the sea’s level has fallen by 14 yards. This destroyed fishing industry and led to a damage in soils, crops and wildlife. Many forests in the north of European Russia and the Far East are under threat. A system of dams on the Volga has caused damage to fish.

If we are unable to learn to use the environment carefully and protect it from damage caused by man’s activities, very soon we’ll have no world to live in.

Topical Vocabulary.

an unlimited source of resources – неисчерпаемый источник ресурсов

to absorb smth. – поглощать

to be closely related – быть тесно связанным

to supply the economy with resources – обеспечивать экономику

ресурсами

to damage the resources – нанести вред ресурсам

to pump waste gases – выбрасывать отработанные газы

to cause acid rain – вызвать кислотный дождь

to lead to forest damage – привести к повреждениям

to reduce the resources of – сократить ресурсы чего-либо

water shortage – нехватка воды

to result from – быть результатом чего-либо

abuse of arable lands – неправильное использование земель

destroying the ozone layer – разрушение озонового слоя

damage to water and soils – вред водам и почвам

damage to wildlife – вред дикой природе

species of animals and plants – виды животных и растений

to arise from – возникать вследствие чего-либо

to suffer an environmental problem – сталкиваться с проблемой

окружающей среды

the effect of the Chernobyl disaster – последствия Чернобыльской

катастрофы

cotton growing – хлопководство

to be under threat – быть под угрозой

a system of dams – система плотин

to use the environment carefully – осторожно использовать

окружающую среду

to protect smth. from damage – защитить что-либо от повреждений

Answer the questions:

1.What have many economists thought of the environment?

2.Why do some economists think that pollution damages the resources?

3.What are the consequences of damaging the environment?

4.What environmental problems suffer the territories of the former Soviet Union?

5.What could happen if we don’t learn to use the environment carefully?

Translate into English:

1.Окружающая среда – это не неиссякаемый источник ресурсов.

2.Окружающая среда не может поглощать все отходы, которые экономика выбрасывает.

3.Окружающая среда обеспечивает экономику ресурсами.

4. Загрязнение окружающей среды вызывает кислотный дождь.

5.Загрязнение окружающей среды сокращает ресурсы промышленности.

6.Чрезмерное использование земель ведет к нехватке водных ресурсов.

7.Выбросы отходов в воздух разрушают озоновый слой земли.

8.Выбросы отходов наносят вред земле, почве и дикой природе.

9.Среди проблем окружающей среды на территории бывшего СССР последствия Чернобыльской катастрофы, проблема Аральского моря и другие.

10.Мы должны научиться бережно использовать окружающую среду.

Ecology– The study of the relationships between all living organisms and the environment, especially the totality or pattern of interactions; a view that includes all plant and animal species and their unique contributions to a particular habitat.

Ecosystem – The interacting synergism of all living organisms in a particular environment; every plant, insect, aquatic animal, bird, or land species that forms a complex web of interdependency. An action taken at any level in the food chain, use of a pesticide for example, has a potential domino effect on every other occupant of that system.

Climate Change – this term is commonly used interchangeably with «global warming» and «greenhouse effect», but is more descriptive term. Climate change refers to the buildup of man-made gases in the atmosphere that trap the sun’s heat, causing changes in weather patterns on a global scale. The effects include changes in rainfall patterns, sea level rise, potential droughts, habitat loss, and heat stress. The greenhouse gases of most concern are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides. If these gases in our atmosphere double, the earth could warm up 1.5 to 4.5 degrees by the year 2050, with changes in global precipitation having the greatest consequences.

Pesticide – A chemical used to kill animal or plant pests.

Smog – Air pollution caused by the mixture of smoke