Бесплатный фрагмент - Baikal lessons. Your environments. Уроки Байкала. Твои окружающие среды

BAIKAL LESSONS. УРОКИ БАЙКАЛА

YOUR ENVIRONMENTS. ТВОИ ОКРУЖАЮЩИЕ СРЕДЫ

A Resource Manual

for

TEACHING AND LEARNING ECOLOGY IN ENGLISH

A Compilation by: Tatiana Mouratova

TATIANA MOURATOVA ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

Severobaikalsk, Russia
2020

Об авторе

Татьяна Антоновна Муратова родилась в 1954 году седьмым ребёнком в многодетной семье служащего. Отец, Антон Поликарпович Милюшкин, работал бухгалтером, имея образование 4 класса. Мать, Надежда Ивановна Милюшкина (в девичестве Воронова), была безграмотной крестьянкой. Советская власть позволила всем детям получить бесплатное среднее, средне-специальное и высшее образование. После окончания Байкальской средней школы №10 в 1971 году Татьяна поступила в Иркутский Политехнический институт и окончила его в 1976 году, получив специальность инженера — строителя промышленных и гражданских зданий. 30 лет жизни отдано строительству БАМа, сначала инженером строительных организаций Северобайкальска, затем главным экономистом электросвязи. Кроме производственной деятельности она занималась обширной общественной деятельностью по направлениям: экология, туризм, образование, русская литература, в том числе пушкиноведение и декабристоведение, имеет двоих детей и внука.

Публикации в сети Интернет:

http://www.stihi.ru/avtor/sibiryachka1

http://www.proza.ru/avtor/zolotco

https://www.youtube.com/user/tamuratova

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.«Investigating Your Environment» (Teaching Materials for Environmental Education)

Developed by :

USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region Public Affairs Natural Resource Education

2.«Earth Notes For Educators, grade K-6», issue number 1.

EPA Number: EPA22K-1001

Source: NCEPI NTIS Number: N/A 1991

3.The Program of the Conference"Alliance to Save Russian Taiga Forest»

USA Washington, Seattle

November,1995

4.«All around you»

Piter Ltd, Saint-Petersburg, 1996

5.«English for Students»

GLOSSA, Moscow, 1995

6. «Volna»

Ecological Education, Irkutsk, 1996—1999

7.«Atlas of Earthcare»

Gaia Books Limited, London, 1996

8.«Guide to Environmental Issues»

United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 1995

8.«Siberian BAM Railway Guide»

Trailblazer Publications 1995

9. «EPA JOURNAL». «Looking Ahead at Environmental Education»

Spring 1995 EPA 175-N-95-003

10.«EPA JOURNAL». «Clean Water Agenda»

Summer 1994 EPA 175-N-94-002

11. UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE. Twentieth session Merida, Mexico 2—7 December 1996.

12.«English for schoolchildren»

«Drofa» Moscow 1999

13. «English» N. Sikorskaya

Moscow 1992

14. «English for Managers» L. Salnikova

Moscow 1992

15. A Comprehensive Program of Land Use Policies for the Russian Portion of the Lake Baikal Region.

THE LAKE BAIKAL REGION IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OR CONTINUED DEGRADATION?

A cooperative project prepared at the request of the:

Buryat Republic

Chita Oblast

Irkutsk Oblast

by the:

Center for Citizen Initiatives — USA

Center for Socio-Ecological Issues of the Baikal Region

Davis Associates

Russian Academy of Sciences

March 1993

16. BAIKAL AS A WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE SITE: RESULTS AND PROSPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Edited by Nicolai L. Dobretsov

Publishing House SB RAS Novosibirsk 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Bibliography

I. General Items

1. Environmental Protection

2. Acid Rains

3. Pollution

4. Air and Land Pollution

5. Air and Water Pollution

6. Oil and Gasoline

7. Green Management

8. A Unique Lake

9. Lake Baikal is in the World Heritage Site

10.The Fragile Environment

11.The Road from Rio

12. Eco-politics

13. Laws

II. Your Basic Environments

1. Water

2. Soil

3. Wildlife

4. Forests

5. Plants

III. Your Unique Environments

1. Desert

2. Dunes

3. Marine

4. Pond

5. Range

IY. Summary

1.Environmental and Cultural Education

2. Eco-Babble

Y. Supplement

1. The ecological conference

2. Region Olympics «Ecology in English»

3. Questions

4. Certificates

5. Scientific project

6. Signs of hope

7. Strategies for a sustainable development of tourism in the Baikal Region

I. GENERAL ITEMS

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

1. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The poisoning of the world’s land, air, and water is the fastest-spreading disease of civilisation. It probably produces fewer headlines than wars, earthquakes and floods, but it is potentially one of history’s dangers to human life on earth. If present trends continue for the next several decades, our planet will become uninhabitable.

Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption have created such planet-wide problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and the global warming that is believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect. The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas. Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today will have become extinct twenty years from now. Air pollution is a very serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is life threatening-equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for Mexico City and 600 cities of the former Soviet Union.

Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains. An even greater environmental threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are. People are beginning to realise that environmental problems are somebody else’s. They join and support various international organisations and green parties. If governments wake up to what is happening-perhaps we’ll be able to avoid the disaster that threatens the natural world and all of us with it.

Questions:

1.What is the fastest-spreading disease of civilisation?

2.What planet-wide problems have overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption created?

3.What will happen to our planet if present trends continue?

4.What is happening to the seas and rivers?

5.The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. Do you think it’s possible to save it?

6. A lot of animals are dying out. But people wear fur coats, crocodile handbags, leather shoes, etc. Are you for or against hunting?

7.Is air pollution a serious problem? Why?

8.What were the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster?

9.Are nuclear power stations dangerous?

10.What is the main cause of the greenhouse effect and acid rains?

11.What do people of different countries do to save our planet?

12.Have you heard of Greenpeace?

The greenhouse effect

A greenhouse?

A greenhouse is a building made of glass, where you can grow flowers and other plants that need a lot of warmth.

How it works

The sun shines in through the glass and warms the greenhouse, and the roof and walls keep the heat from getting out.

Our greenhouse

The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of invisible gases (with names like carbon dioxide) that act just like a greenhouse/ The sun shines in, and the blanket of gases traps the heat like a roof, keeping it close to the planet. That’s good — we can’t live without warmth.

What’s going on

Factories, electric power plants, and cars are making a lot of new gases. Even trees, when they are cut down, give off the gases! These new gases are trapping more and more of the sun’s heat. This is called the greenhouse effect, or global warming.

What can happen

If the earth’s temperature gets hotter by just a few degrees, it could change the weather all over the planet in big ways. Places that are warm would become too hot to live in, and places that are cold would become warm. The places that grow most of our food could get to hot to grow crops anymore.

Even every kid can help stop the greenhouse effect by using less energy, protecting and planting trees, and by recycling so factories don’t need to work as hard making things. This book is full of tips on how to do it!

The ozone hole

The ozone layer

Up in the sky, above the air we breathe, there’s a layer of gas called ozone. It helps us by blocking out rays from the sun that can harm our skin, and by letting the rays that are good for us come through. We’re lucky to have the ozone to protect us!

What’s happening

Now the ozone layer is being damaged by gases that people have made. The gases are called CFCs, and halons. They are used in refrigerators, fire extinguishers, air conditioners, plastic foam, and some other things.

How it happens

The CPCs float up to the top of the atmosphere/ where the layer of ozone is, and «eat up» the ozone just like little Pac-Men.

Our mission

Scientists are very concerned about the ozone layer, because a lot of it has gone away in just a few years. So it’s very important that we learn to do something about it.

We can all help to stop the ozone layer from disappearing! For more ideas on how to do that, keep reading!

2. ACID RAINS

Every year more and more plants and animals disappear never to be seen again. Strangely, it is the most thoughtless animal that is causing most of problems — man. Nature is very carefully balanced and if this balance is disturbed, animals can disappear alarmingly fast. Every day, thousands of species of animals draw closer to extinction. There are countless number of species which may become extinct before they are even discovered.

In many lakes the fish are dying. Fishermen are worried because every year there are fewer fish and some lakes have no fish at all. Scientists are beginning to get worried too. What is killing the fish? The problem is acid rain. Acid rain is a kind of air pollution. It is caused by factories that burn coal or oil or gas. These factories send smoke high into the air. The wind often carries the smoke far from the factories. Some of the harmful substances in the smoke may come down with the rain hundreds of miles away. The rain in many places isn’t natural and clean any more. It’s full of acid chemicals. When it falls in lakes, it changes them too. The lakes become more acidic. Acid water is like vinegar or lemon juice. It hurts when it gets in your eyes. It also kills the plants and animals that usually live in lake water. That is why the fish are dying in lakes. But dead fish may be just the beginning of the problem. Scientists are finding other effects of acid rain. In some large areas trees are dying. Not just one tree here and there, but whole forests. At first scientists couldn’t understand why. There were no bugs or disease in this trees. The weather was not dry. But now they think that the rain was the cause. Acid rain is making the earth more acidic in these areas. Some kinds of trees cannot live in the soil that is very acidic. Now scientists are also beginning to study the effects of acid rain on larger animals. For example, they believe that some deer in Poland are less healthy because of acid rain. If deer are hurt by the rain, what about people? This is the question many people are beginning to ask. No one knows the answer yet. But it is an important question for us all.

Acid — A corrosive solution with a pH less than7. Vinegar is a common weak acid; battery acid is much stronger.

Acid Rain — You first need to understand Acid Deposition: a complex chemical and atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when emissions of sulphur and nitrogen compounds and other substances are transformed by chemical processes in the atmosphere, often far from the original sources, and then deposited on earth in either wet or dry form. The wet forms (precipitation) are popularly called «acid rain» and fall as rain, snow, or fog. The dry forms are acidic gases or particulates.

Questions:

1.This passage is about

(A) fishing

(B) acid rain

(C) air pollution

(D) destructive human activity

2.Every year thousands of species of animals

(A) are hunted for their meat and skins

(B) migrate to other places

(C) starve to death

(D) die out

3.Acid rain is caused by

(A) natural gas

(B) the ozone layer depletion

(C) acidic lake water

(D) emissions of industrial enterprises.

4.Which of the following is true?

(A) Dead fish in lakes is only problem caused acid rains.

(B) Scientists are sure that acid rains are not harmful for mankind.

(C) If we don’t make an attempt to stop acid rains we may never see some animals again.

(D) There’s no reason to worry about several trees that died of some unknown disease.

5.What was not mentioned in the text?

(A) Acid rain is capable of dissolving some rocks and stones.

(B) Fish are unable to live in the water containing acidic chemicals.

(C) Coal, oil or gas form dangerous combinations after being burnt.

(D) Scientists reckon that if some larger animals can be affected by acid rains, people may be in great danger.

6. Factory smoke

(A) stays over the factories.

(B) is usually clean now.

(C) turns into air.

(D) can travel hundreds of miles.

7. Scientists think acid rain

(A) is killing people

(B) helps kill bugs.

(C) fertilises the soil

(D) is killing trees.

8.The word bug in this context means

(A) an infectious disease

(B) a small insect

(C) a dangerous bird

(D) a small animal

Insert the letters

— a_idic

— s_ientist

— c_emicals

— chan_e

— c_use

— e_fect

— we_ther

— im_ortant

— d_seas

— de_r

Translate into English

— Во многих озерах рыба погибает.

— Озера становятся более кислотными.

— Кислотные дожди — это разновидность загрязнения

воздуха.

— Кислотная вода подобна уксусу или лимонному соку.

— Некоторые разновидности деревьев не могут жить в почве, кото­рая очень кислая.

— На некоторых больших площадях деревья погибают.

Up in the sky

When we look up, we see the clouds and the blue sky. But there are other things in the sky that we don’t see. Some of these are harmful to the Earth.

What happens

When power plants burn coal to make electricity, and when cars burn gasoline, invisible gases are released into the air. Some of these gases can mix water and make it acidic, like lemon juice or vinegar.

What can happen

Sometimes the gases get into rain clouds, where they get mixed in with rain or snow. Then the acid falls back to earth with the rain or snow. This is called acid rain.

Bad news

Acid rain is extremely harmful to plants, rivers and lakes, and the creatures that live in them. In some places it is killing forests. And it pollutes the water that animals and people need to drink.

Our mission

It’s very important for us to stop making acid rain. One good way to do that is to drive our cars less. Another good way is to save energy. The less energy we use, the less coal those power plants will have to burn.

You and your family can save energy in lots of ways. Saving energy means saving the Earth. To find out more about what you.

3. POLLUTION

Man has been trying to make his life easier for many centuries. In doing so, he invented machines and instruments. They have been working — and polluting the world we live in.

In this world around us, there are two things that do not belong to any one country: air and ocean water. In both the air and the water, there is much pollution. People are concerned about the air and the water used by everyone, and they are also concerned about the future of the Earth.

One of the most important pollution problems is in the oceans. Many ships sail in the ocean water — fishing ships, some ships carrying people, some carrying oil. If a ship loses some of the oil in the water, or trash from the ships is put into the ocean, the water becomes dirty. Many fish are dying in the sea, others are getting contaminated. Fishermen catch contaminated fish which may be sold in markets and people may get sick from eating them. Fish may also move to another part of the ocean. Lakes and rivers are getting, too. Some beaches are considered dangerous for swimming.

The second important problem is air pollution.

Cars and factories pollute the air we use. It also destroys the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the Sun.

Another problem is that our forests are dying from acid rain.

This, in turn, affects the balance of nature.

If we want our children to live in the same world we live in, or in a better and healthier world, we must learn to protect the water, the air and the earth from pollution.

Topical Vocabulary

to invent machines and instruments — изобретать машины и

инструменты

to pollute — загрязнять

to be concerned about — беспокоиться о чем-либо

to put trash into — сбрасывать мусор

the polluted water — загрязненная вода

to get contaminated — быть отравленным

air pollution — загрязнение воздуха

to destroy the ozone layer- разрушать озоновый слой

to die from acid rain — погибать из-за кислотных дождей

to affect the balance of nature — оказывать влияние на гармонию в природе

to protect the water, the air and the earth from pollution — защищать воду, воздух и землю от загрязнения

Answer the questions:

1.Why are people concerned about air and water?

2.What are the consequences of water pollution?

3.What are the consequences of air pollution?

4.What should people do if they want to live on the Earth?

Translate into English:

1.Чтобы облегчить свою жизнь, люди изобретали машины и инструмен­ты.

2.Люди озабочены загрязнением воды и воздуха.

3.Суда, сбрасывая отходы в океан, загрязняют воду.

4.Рыба в загрязненной воде умирает или становится ядовитой.

5.Машины и фабрики загрязняют воздух и разрушают озоновый слой Земли.

6.Кислотный дождь нарушает баланс в природе.

7.Люди должны научиться защищать землю и воздух от загрязнения.

Pollution — Any substances in water, soil, or air that degrade the natural quality of the environment, offend the senses of sight, taste, or smell, or cause a health hazard. The usefulness of the natural resource is usually impaired by the presence of pollutants and contaminants.

Pollution Prevention — Actively identifying equipment, processes, and activities which generate excessive wastes or use toxic chemicals and then making substitutions, alterations, or product improvements. Conserving energy and minimising wastes are pollution prevention concepts used in manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, recycling, and clean air \clean water technologies.

Particulates — Liquid or solid particles such as dust, smoke, mist or smog found in air emissions.

Emission — The release or discharge of a substance into the environment. Generally refers to the release of gases or particulates into the air.

Polluter pays — The idea that a person or organisation causing pollution should pay for cleaning it up.

Too much garbage!

Garbage away!

When you throw something away, it goes in a garbage can. Once a week the garbage truck comes and the can is emptied, and that’s the last you see of it. But what do you think happens to the garbage then? Does it just disappear? No way!

What happens

Almost all garbage is taken to a garbage dump, or landfill, where the garbage truck empties it onto the ground. After the truck leaves, a big tractor comes along pushes dirt on top of the garbage. So, most of our garbage is just buried.

The big mess

Now we are making so much garbage that in many places, there is not enough room to bury it all.

Our mission

We have to act fast and cut down the amount of garbage we make. Can we do it? You bet!

Here’s how

We can recycle (which means re-using materials instead of throwing them away) and precycle (which means not buying things that can’t be re-used, like plastic wrapping and other packaging). If we recycle we will produce a lot less garbage, and help our planet green!

Recycling and precycling projects can de lots of fun. To find out more about what you can do, see Guarding Our Buried Treasures, and Be a Paper-Saver.

4. AIR AND WATER POLLUTION

You have read a lot of interesting things about the air, the sun, the sky, the clouds, the rain, about rivers, seas and oceans. All these things around us are parts of our environment. Plants, animals and people need clean land, clean water and clean air. But some people have not learned how to take care of our earth. They are doing harmful things to our land, water and even air. They are making pollution. You can imagine what happens to a living thing if its environment is polluted or changed in a harmful way.

Of course, you cannot see some of the pollution in our country, but as you read this book, you will find out about it.

We are worried about water pollution in the country. Most big cities pour their waste into seas and rivers. For a long time people did not understand the danger. The first alarm came from Japan. Some sixty people died because they had eaten polluted fish.

We love rain. Rain helps our plants to grow big and strong. But sometimes the rainwater is not as clean as it could be. Man- made chemicals get into the air and mix with the rainwater, making acid rain. The acid water runs into rivers and lakes. The rivers and lakes become so acid that fish cannot live there.

We like to go to the river, lake or sea to swim. But if there are chemicals in the water, it is not safe enough for swimming. If the water is polluted, it can make us sick.

Another kind of pollution is air pollution. When there are too

many harmful things in the air, it is polluted.

People and animals need clean air with plenty of oxygen in it. Oxygen is added to the air by plants. So you understand how important it is to have a lot of trees, bushes and grass.

Fume from the chimneys of factories, gases which are in refrigerators and sprays pollute the air. They damage the ozone layer that covers the earth. This layer of gas protects us from the dangerous rays of the sun. There are now holes in the ozone layer because there are too many gases in the air.

With the help of sputnics our scientists discovered two large holes in the ozone layer. One is over the North Pole and the second over the South Pole, over Antarctica. It is very dangerous for people as it can make them sick.

Some people pollute the air by smoking. Too much smoke in the air can hurt our lungs.

The wind blows a lot of the air pollution out to sea. Sometimes the rain helps to clean the air, but sometimes the rain water mixes with the gases in the air. Then the air pollution also becomes land and water pollution.

Air and water pollution is one of the problems millions of people are worried about today.

Questions:

1.What is environment?

2.What water, air, and land do people need?

3.How is water polluted?

4.Why is the rainwater not always clean?

5.What is acid rain?

6.What happens with fish in the rivers and lakes which become acid?

7.What do you know about air pollution?

8.What damages the ozone layer that covers the earth?

9.What does the ozone layer protect us from?

10.What are there in the ozone layer now?

11. Why are the holes in the ozone layer dangerous for people?

12.Do you have air pollution in your city?

Air Quality Standards — The level of selected pollutants set by law that may not be exceeded in outside air. Used to determine the amount of pollutants that may be emitted by industry.

Bubble (Bubble Policy) — Existing sources of air pollution with several facilities may control more than is required at one emission point where control costs are lower, in return for comparable relaxation at a second point where costs are higher or more difficult to achieve.

Water Quality Standards — The combination of a designated use and the maximum concentration of a pollutant which will protect that use for any given body of water. For example, in a trout stream, the concentration of iron should not exceed 1 mg\l

Effluent imitations — Limits on the amounts of pollutants which may be discharged by a facility; these limits are calculated so that water quality standards will not be violated even at low stream flows.

LITTLE BY LITTLE OUR WATERS ARE LOOKING LESS LIKE ART AND MORE LIKE TRASH

Insert the letters

— dan_er — l_nd

— cl_ud — a_id ra_n

— e_rth — d_mage

— _aste — ha_mful t_ing

— pol_ution — an_ther

Translate into English

— Растения, животные и люди нуждаются в чистой земле, чистой во­де и чистом воздухе.

— Большинство больших городов сбрасывают свои отходы в моря и реки.

— Долгое время люди не понимали опасность.

— Озонный слой защищает нас от опасных лучей солнца.

— Кислород попадает в воздух с помощью растений.

Water pollution

Water, water

The planet Earth is mostly water. Oceans cover the biggest part of it — and there are lakes, rivers, streams, and even water underground. All life on Earth — from the littlest bug to the biggest whale — depends on this water. It’s precious. But we’re not doing a very good job of keeping water clean. In many places, the water has become polluted.

Rivers and lakes

Rivers and lakes are polluted by garbage, or by chemicals, which are dumped right into them.

Underground

Underground water can be polluted by gasoline or other harmful liquids that seep into the ground. Some fertilizers and pesticides used on farms or lawns, leak down through the dirt, too.

The seas

The ocean, which is a home to so much life, has been used as a place to dump garbage and poisonous chemicals for a long time. It’s getting polluted, too.

Our mission

We need to save our water, to keep it clean and healthy so people, plants and animals will always have some to drink. And so fish and other creatures will have a place to live.

To learn more about what you can do to save water — and keep it clean and healthy — turn to Preserving Our Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, and Streams.

5. AIR AND LAND POLLUTION

The planet Earth is our common home. Everything is connected on the earth. If something goes wrong in some part of the world, everybody suffers. People’s activities can make the environment unhealthy. If they are doing harmful things to our land, they are making pollution. Too many people making too much pollution will hurt the country.

People are producing too many gases and because of that the earth is getting hotter. These gases hold heat. Plants and trees help to take gases, such as carbon dioxide, from the air, but we have now destroyed too many trees. There are not enough trees and plants to do this job.

Because the earth is getting hotter, the ice is melting. Because the ice is melting, the level of the sea is slowly rising. Scientists say that in the year 2050 some parts of Great Britain will be under the sea.

Another problem of land pollution is making large piles of trash. Trash is made of boxes, bags, papers, cans, plastics, clothing and bottles. It is also made up of old food called garbage.

Some trash gets burned. When plastics and some other man-made things are burned, gases are given off. Too much of these gases can make people and animals sick.

There will not be as much trash if we learn to use things over and over again. One way to do this is by changing some old thing into a new one. Then it is used again. It is not thrown away.

Another problem of land pollution is using too many chemicals

to grow vegetables and fruit. Too many chemicals in the ground can harm the soil. If our vegetables, fruit and meat are grown without chemicals., they will be safer for us to eat.

So you see how many problems people have got of water, air and land pollution. All this makes people worry about their environment.

1.Why can people’s activities make the environment unhealthy?

2.How are people doing harmful things to our land?

3.Why is the earth getting hotter?

4.What takes gases from the air?

5.Why can’t trees and plants do this job well?

6.Why is the ice melting?

7.What happens with the level of the sea because the ice melting? 8.What is another problem of land pollution?

9.What is trash made of?

10.What happens when some trash gets burned?

11.What must not we do to have so much trash?

12.What do we use to grow vegetables and fruit?

13.Do many chemicals harm the soil?

Erosion — The wearing away of soil by wind or water, intensified by land- clearing practices related to farming, residential or industrial development, road building, or logging.

Landfill — A method for final disposal of solid waste on land. The refuse is spread and compacted and a cover of soil applied so that effects on the environment (including public health and safety) are minimized. Under current regulations, landfills are required to have liners and leachate treatment systems to prevent contamination of ground water and surface water. An industrial landfill disposes of non-hazardous industrial wastes. A municipal landfill disposes of domestic waste including garbage, paper, etc. This waste may include toxins that are used in the home, such as insect sprays and powders, engine oil, paints, solvents, and weed killers.

Disposal — The discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any solid waste or hazardous waste into the environment (land, surface water, ground water, and air).

Agribusiness — Commercial farming based on large farms, heavy machinery, and chemicals.

Agriculture — Farming.

Agroforestry — Farming that combines trees and crops.

«Environmental education is important because it helps people understand how their actions and choices affect the environment. I am involved in environmental education because I believe it will help create an informed and committed citizenry that understands the connection between a healthy environment and a quality life.»

Judy Braus, Director of Environmental Education, World Wildlife Fund.

Do you know?

Seventy-four percent of the students in USA said they learn about the environment from television, 50 percent from school, 31 percent from newspapers, and 28 percent from their families.

Insert the letters.

— c_emicals — h_at

— bo_tle — i_e

— an_mal — pl_nt

— wo_ld — s_ffer

— d_oxide — eno_gh

Translate into English.

— Планета Земля — наш общий дом.

— Мусор состоит из коробок, сумок, бумаги, банок, пластика, тряпок и бутылок.

— Слишком много вредных газов могут сделать людей и животных больными.

— Другая проблема загрязнения земли — использование слишком много химикатов, чтобы вырастить овощи и фрукты.

— Вы видите, как много проблем имеют люди с загрязнением воды, воздуха и земли.

Air pollution

The old days

Until about 150 years ago, the air was pure and clean — perfect for the people and animals of the earth to breathe.

Factories

Then people started building factories. Those factories and many of the things they make, like cars, put a lot of harmful gases into the air. Then people started driving cars, which added more pollution to the air.

Today

Today the air is so polluted in some places that it’s not always safe to breathe!

The brown stuff

Many cities around the world have air filled with a pollution called «smog». This is so strong in some places that the air, which should be a beautiful blue, actually looks brown.

Down with pollution!

Polluted air is not only bad for people and animals, but for trees and other plants, as well. And in some places it’s even damaging farmers’ crops — the food we eat. So it’s very important for us to «clean up our act», and clean up the air we all breathe.

Everyone can help keep our air clean and safe. It’s even fun!

You can plant a tree, ride your bike, and even write a letter to a newspaper. For more ideas on how to clean up our air, keep reading!

6. OIL AND GASOLINE

The air, water, and land can also be polluted when oil and gasoline are burned. This kind of pollution comes from cars, lorries, buses and ships. Burning oil and gasoline in motors send many harmful things into the air, water and land. We take these tiny pieces of harmful things into our bodies through our noses and mouths. Too much of this kind of pollution can make us sick.

A lot of goods and products come to the country by ship or plane. Ships and planes use oil and make pollution. There will be less pollution if we get more of our own food. Besides the food comes in boxes and plastic. If we grow our food here, there will be less trash to harm our land.

Many countries buy oil and carry it by ship. The oil sometimes leaks out of the ships into the water. Some ships clean their tanks in the ocean even though this cleaning is against law.

Ships can hit reefs and sink. If that happens near the shore oil and tar cover the water and the beaches. Many animals, birds, plants and shells die.

Of course, the worst kind of pollution comes from nuclear

power. It can make the air, water and soil become radioactive because it produces radioactive waste. It can be dangerous for thousands of years.

So you see that pollution is a serious problem. Is it only factories, big ships, and cars that pollute? No. It is you and me as well. Everyone pollutes in some way. If you drop litter, you pollute. Each one of us must try to pollute as little as possible.

Many scientists study the environment. They have helped find ways to stop air and water pollution. There are laws to help clean up our land, water and air.

People must take care of the earth, and it will be a healthier

place for all living things.

1.What kind of pollution comes from cars, lorries, buses and ships?

2.How do many harmful things get into the air, water and land?

3.How do we take these tiny pieces of harmful things into our bodies?

4.Can this kind of pollution make us sick?

5.Why will there be less pollution if we get more of our own food?

6.How does it happen that oil sometimes leaks out of the ships into the ocean?

7.What does the worst kind of pollution come from?

8.What does nuclear power produce?

9.Can we see, smell, taste or feel radioactivity?

Insert the letters

— pr_d_ct

— mo_th

— radi_act_ve

— w_ter

— oc_an

— d_mage

— so_l

— co_ntry

— _nv_ronment

— cle_n

Translate into English.

— Многие страны покупают нефть и перевозят ее судами.

— Корабли могут удариться об рифы и затонуть.

— Радиоактивные загрязнения могут быть опасными тысячи лет.

— Многие ученые изучают окружающую среду.

— Каждый из нас должен стараться загрязнять настолько меньше, насколько это возможно.

7. GREEN MANAGEMENT

How being green changes the way managers work.

Companies that want to be green make large investments in cleaner technology. Big profitable companies find it easier to be green than small ones. Many small companies are not obeying environmental rules.

Companies that take the environment seriously try to change not only their technology, but the way they run themselves, too. Often, such changes go hand in hand with improvements in the quality of management.

Badly managed companies are seldom kind to the environment; companies that try hard to reduce the damage they do to the environment are usually well managed.

A clever manager cares about employees and product quality. He may spend a lot of time and money working on health safety and the environment. If employees see that their manager cares about environment they come up with green ideas of their own. Many companies find that their shop-floor employees (who may live nearer their plants than do managers) and their younger, graduate managers are the strongest advocates of greenery.

In some industries the pressure to be green is changing links between companies and their customers. Some companies now offer to take back the waste product from their customers and clean it up.

Customers, in their turn, are starting to take more interest in their suppliers. They want to be sure that the product they consume is not hazardous.

Greenery is also encouraging companies to build links with each other.

In Holland the problem of disposing of heavy metals in batteries has led philips, an electronics group, to join other companies involved in battery manufacture to develop the recycling program. More managers now understand that green regulation is a necessity.

Words and word combinations.

safety — сохранность

shop-floor — профсоюзные массы

hazardous — опасный

waste product (s) — отходы

dispose of — избавляться

recycle — вторично использовать

Exercises:

Ex.1. Questions

1.How do big companies solve environmental problems?

2.What are the main tools of green management?

3.What is done to build a new relationship between companies and their customers?

4.How do companies coordinate their activity for environmental protection?

5.What’s done at your work place to reduce hazards of pollution?

Ex.2. Round-table discussion.

1.Management and shop floor employees meet to discuss «safety» at their plant. The points of discussion are:

(a) Safety regulations

(b) Auditing — ревизирование

(c) Investment policy

2.The damage done by Siberian plant to the Environment was estimated at several million roubles. As punishment the Manager of the plant was fined. He had to pay one hundred roubles out his pocket.

Do you consider the legal punishment adequate in view of the

damage caused?

Ex.3. Written follow-up.

Imagine that you are to place an advertising clip in a trade journal. Write an advertisement with an emphasis that your product is ecologically friendly.

Green politics — Political activity, often involving Green parties, based on the belief that environmental protection should come first.

Green Revolution — The changes in farming methods since the 1940s in many developing countries based on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water, and specially bred crops.

«Environmental education is important because it provides the knowledge to make intelligent decisions, the values and skills to implement them, and at its best, the hope that they will make a difference. I am involved in environmental education because it feeds the fire of my passion for the Earth.»

Peter Corcoran, Associate Professor and Chair of the Educational Department,

Bates College, Maine.

8. A UNIQUE LAKE

Andrei Chernov

10 Novaya Ul. Ap. 14, Irkuutsk, Russia

Wednesday, May 20th

Hi, Ken!

Do you remember that twice a week I attend the school’s English club? We discuss different issues there. Last time the problem under discussion was Lake Baikal.

As you know Irkutsk is situated near this lake. The students from my group and I are very anxious with the problem of environment protection. I think it is the largest problem of all the people. The environment needs to be cleaned up. The rivers and lakes become so polluted with industrial waste that fish cannot survive. Isn’t it dangerous for our planet and for people’s health?

Baikal is a wonder of nature. This is not only the deepest lake in the world but also the cleanest one. Fancy, Baikal contains one-fifth of the world’s resources of fresh water. Everybody visiting Lake Baikal for the first time is offered a glass of water straight from the Lake!

You can look down through the water 70 feet deep. In this crystal-clear water live about 150 types of plants and fish. Many of them are found nowhere else in the world. To protect this unique lake from the pollution is our urgent task.

Many discussions have been held on Lake Baikal. Some scientists demand to turn Lake Baikal into a game preserve. In this connection the Academy of Science has prepared a plan to make the southern shore of Baikal into a natural park. It’s a good plan, isn’t it?

Some scientists want to use this grand reservoir for economic purposes. They try to prove their posision by saying that the Baikal timber processing plant can return its «waste» water to the lake quite pure because of modern filtering techniques.

Do you think it is possible? I am afraid these modern techniques are not effective enough.

The ecological situation is still serious in many areas in my country. By knowing about it, we can do something. I am going to join the Environment movement that become widespread in the Siberia.

I am sure that protection of natural resources and wildlife requires cooperation of all nations. And What is your opinion on this point?

Good-bye,

Andrei Chernov

Words:

Anxious — обеспокоенный

Wonder — чудо

To fancy — представить

Unique — уникальный

Urgent task — неотложная задача

To demand — требовать

To turn — превратить

Game preserve — заповедник

Reservoir — хранилище

Timber processing plant — деревообрабатывающий комбинат

Pure-  чистый

Filtering techniques — очистные сооружения

Questions:

1.What problem was discussed in English club of Andrei Chernov’s school?

2.Is environment protection the largest problem of all people?

3.Why is Lake Baikal called the wonder of nature?

4.What do you know about Baikal?

5.What is this lake famous for?

6.What are the demands of the scientists who want to preserve Baikal as wonder of nature?

7.What do you think about the idea of using Lake Baikal for economic purposes?

8.Why does protection of natural resources and wildlife of our planet require cooperation of all nations?

9. LAKE BAIKAL IS IN THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE

In December 1996 Lake Baikal was entered onto the list of UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage Sites. To qualify for inclusion on this list, a site has to satisfy at least one of four criteria indicating its importance to both science and conservation. Lake Baikal satisfies all four criteria. For its geological, biological-evolutionary significance, its natural beauty, and as a habitat of outstanding importance for conservation.

10. THE FRAGILE ENNVIRONMENT

The BAM Zone’s ecosystems have evolved over tens of thousands of years but can easily be destroyed in months. Due to the long months of icy winter and the short growing season, Siberian ecosystems are biologically very slow. This means that any environmental disturbance will be felt for years, if not decades. For example, following a forest fire, vegetation reaches equilibrium (climax vegetation) within 50 years in the southern republics of the former Soviet Union while it takes 200 years in the BAM Zone.

Siberia’s environmental movement started to grow in the 1970s and 1980s with actions to protect Lake Baikal. Great achievements were made, such as stopping logs from being floated down the lake’s tributaries because their bark pollutes the lake, reducing industrial pollution into the lake, and eliminating over fishing.

The Soviet government saw the political advantages of supporting environmental protection and even introduced environmental impact statements (EIS) for major new protects in the early 1980s. However there were no specific laws that started when EISs must be prepared and what types of issues should be addressed. Instead, the Soviet government relied on broad laws which govern the use of water, land, wildlife, air, and other natural resources. These laws mandated conservation and the prevention of harmful actions. For example, Article 21 of the 1980 Wildlife Law calls for «the organization of scientific studies aimed at substantiating measures for the protection of the animal world».

This attitude probably reflects the general Russian view that environmental protection involves saving particular plants and animals rather than ecosystems. While most Russians are willing to sacrifice some factories to protect drinking water or save a particular animal, very few are prepared to make sacrifices for the less tangible benefit of saving an ecosystem. The perception of the vastness of Siberia and its apparent ability to absorb human damage reinforces this reluctance.

DATE November 1996

11. THE ROAD FROM RIO

In June 1992 political and business leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro to face what some call earth’s greatest security risk: the environment. This crucial Earth Summit also known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) promised to help avert global ruin by setting up on the path of «sustainable development», in which industry, agriculture, and civilization itself would continue apace without depleting any more of the crucial resources of the Earth.

The Earth Summit in Rio represented the emergence of values that will reshape traditional notions of the environment and economic development. First, there was the recognition that environmental issues are now global in nature and require new, multilateral approaches. Second, the summit represented the realization that the global environment and economic development, are issues closely intertwined. The challenge, therefore, is to maintain a clear vision that deals with the multifaceted problem ahead. On the global level, international cooperation on the environment and sustainable economic development must be created. Exploration and creation of new social systems that are both environment — and development friendly requires contributions from all segments of society — not only from government regulators but also from the business, academic and consumer sectors. The Clinton- Gore platform «Putting People First» says: We must" shatter the false chill between environmental protection and economic growth by creating a market-based environmental protection strategy that rewards conservation and «green» business practices while penalizing polluters». By working together business and government can find solutions that will create exciting environmental opportunities.

(by Beth Livermore, NEWSWEEK \ June 14, 1993)

Answer the questions:

1.Who gathered in Rio in June, 1992?

2.How is «sustainable development» interpreted?

3.What are the ways to reshape traditional notions of the environment?

4.What is the major priority of this approach to the environment?

TO WANT + TO KNOW = TO ACT

«Make environment and development education available to people of all ages all over the world.»

12. Eco-politics

Joining with others is often easier. You can get involved in campaigns or practical actions through any of the following organizations, which are just a selection of the hundreds active in the United Kingdom.

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH — one of the biggest environmental groups in the UK with such campaigns as Tropical Rainforests. Land Use and Transport, Water and Waste, Air Pollution and Global Warming. It is the strongest of the three at local level. FoE is also growing internationally.

GREENPEACE — the best-known of the groups. Greenpeace made their name with direct actions but are now a broad-ranging organization as international as the big corporations that are their main targets. Their work focuses on global warming and pollution in all its forms.

GLOBAL ACTION PLAN (GAP) — a new organization aiming to empower individuals and communities to take effective local environmental action. They run a six-month program designed to «bring your household into environmental balance».

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR NATURE CONSERVATION — the most established «conservation» group. RSNC coordinates the network of country wildlife trusts, as well as running a junior section «watch», and some increasingly effective campaigns.

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL is not strictly an environmental group. Survival’s work with indigenous peoples throughout the world means that they play a vital role by helping those who are most at risk from rainforest loss, etc. They have a network of local groups.

WHALE AND DOLHINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY — a newish organization that works to save marine mammals in an effective and up-beat manner. They are developing a network of local support groups.

WORLD DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT — one of the few development groups in the UK to work effectively on environmental issues. WDM focuses on trade. Third World dept, aid and justice. They are active locally.

WOARLD WILDLIFE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) — the biggest of the organizations, with a network of groups mainly engaged in fundraising. Nationally their work on environmental education is excellent and they have a good schools network and youth section.

13. Laws

It is difficult to say now what generation of Russian governors promises to protect Baikal and to prevent its further destruction. And every time when they want to raise public opinion about them they remember Baikal. There are you can see some laws and resolutions about Baikal below. Unfortunately, most of them are still a good wish.

Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who in July 1997 vetoed a law «On the Protection of Lake Baikal», drawn up on UNESCO’s urgings and passed almost unanimously by the Russian parliament. The law on Baikal was adopted by the lower house of the Russian parliament by a vote of 393 to 1 in June 1997. Approval by the upper house followed soon afterwards. The law broke new ground for Russian environmental legislation by introducing the principle of ecological zones; in the central zone, all environmentally unsafe activity was to be banned. President Yeltsin vetoed the law on July 21 of Chita Oblast of the Russian Federation, his staff claiming that it conflicted with exiting legislation. In accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation “ On Protection of Lake Baikal» the Baikal region includes central and buffer ecological areas of the Baikal natural territory, in particular: the Republic of Buryatia; Olkhonskiy, Irkutskiy, Sludyanskiy regions of Irkutsk Oblast and Krasnochikoyskiy, Petrov- Zabaikalskiy, Khilokskiy regions.

Russian Federation Federal Law «About the Lake Baikal preservation» 1999.

In 1989 the Territorial Comprehensive Scheme for the Protection of Nature in the Area of Lake Baikal (Tercsop) was adopted (Ministry of Environmental Protection, 1994b). It is dedicated primarily to the-protection of Lake Baikal by creating a central protection zone around the Lake and buffer zones on the watershed basin, control of waste disposal, industry and a complete ban on logging in the sub-coastal zone.

A Baikal Commission was established in 1993 and is the key administrative body co- ordinating the efforts of Federal and the three regional governments as well as NGOs and scientific experts.

Resolution No1306 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 25

November 1994 created the Comprehensive Federal Programme for the Protection of Lake Baikal and Rational Use of its Natural Resources. It was prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Russian Federation (Moscow), the Council of Ministers of the Buryat Republic (Ulan Ude), and the administrations of Irkutsk Oblast (Irkutsk) and Chjta, Oblast (Chita). The Federal programme contains measures for implementation of an environmental protection strategy in the context of sustainable development (Anon, 1995).

The legal basis for management is provided for in the provisions of a new Federal Law on the Protection of Lake Baikal. This has passed its first reading the Russian Duma and is expected to be passed in the near future (November 1996). In addition to this Federal law there are many relevant local laws an 4 regulations that contribute to the protection of the Lake.

Agenda 21’s Plan for Education

II. YOUR BASIC ENVIRONMENTS

1.WATER

Water is one of the most useful and most wonderful things in the world. And in how many forms we have it! Some of the water is in little brooks, some of it is in rivers. Some of the water is in lakes, and some is in the deep seas and oceans. In lakes the water does not move so fast as the water in brooks and rivers but it is as fresh, and in seas and oceans the water is salty. Where does all this water come from? It comes from the rain. The rain goes down into the ground. But by and by it comes to a rock through which it cannot go down. So it runs along and comes to a hill. Here it goes out into the air, and we call it a spring. The water from the spring runs down the hill. It meets the water from other springs. So the stream grows larger and larger and makes a river. And the river runs down to the sea.

Where does the rain come from?

From the seas and oceans, from lakes and rivers the sun draws up water into the air. This water forms clouds which we can see in the sky. And these clouds fall as rain, or snow, or hail. And so, you see, water is in constant motion. The sun draws it up into the air. The rain falls down to the earth. And the rivers carry the water back to the sea.

WATER EVERYWHERE

But water is not only in rivers, lakes and oceans. There is water in the ground under our feet, and water in the air over our heads. No plant, no animal can live without it. We take water in all our food, and we drink it. There is much water in our bodies, and in plants and animals as well. Water is everywhere. Nothing can live without water just as nothing can live without sunlight.

1.Where does water come from?

2.In what forms do we have water? 3.Say, how water is in constant motion.

4.Where does the rain come from?

Water is in the news every day. The issue may be a drought, flood, or transporting or sale water to another state. Water is our most important renewable resource. We can go for days without eating food, but we can survive only a short time without drinking water. No other animal or plant can survive without water either, and water is needed for

industry, food production, comfort, and recreation. Therefore, we need to understand the characteristics of water to make wise decisions about its use.

1.How the quality of rivers and streams in your community have

changed since the area first was settled? Have they remained pure or become polluted?

2.What the source is for water used in your town? Why was this source chosen? Did landforms influence the selection?

3.How the water in your town is purified before you use it? What happens to water after it is used in your community?

4.How water is used for cleaning purposes?

5.How aquatic life differs in stream environment compared to a lake environment?

6.How local dwellers get their water? How is it treated before and after it is used?

7.Where does the water come from? Where does the water go to? 8.What is the watershed?

9.What would happen to this environment if we piped all the water at this point to a community?

10.How many people do you think could live off the water in Lake Baikal?

From space our planet appears largely blue rather than brown, yellow, and green: it is a watery planet. The first living things evolved in the sea; and water makes up about three-quarters of the human bodyweight. Water is vitally important to us; there can be no life without it.

CLEAN WATER. IF WE ALL DO A LITTLE, WE CAN DO A LOT.

Dilemma!

How Should I Treat a Lake?

While eating lunch on a boat, your friend begins to threw empty pop cans and sandwich bags overboard into the water.

Do you

1.pretend you don’t see what is happening because you don’t want to lose your friend?

2.risk making your friend angry by explaining how the trash will harm lake wildlife?

3.throw your trash in too? The lake looks big, so you don’t think the litter will matter.

1.Considerering the condition of the lake now, what choices have people made in real life 2.Do people act more responsibly alone or in a group?

3.Generate a class list of all the ways individuals can have a

positive influence on lake either by themselves or together. Which strategy is more effective?

RIVERS AND SEAS

We have all seen rivers, but let us have a look at a river again. You see it is filled with water. But ponds and pools are filled with water too. Now, what is the difference between a river and a pool? Can anybody tell me? The difference is this. The water in a pool or pond stands still. But the water in a river is running water. It runs day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. It never stops and the river does not run dry. Why is that so? Do rivers ever run dry? No, they never run dry. But sometimes there is much water in then, and sometimes very little. When is it? Rivers have very much water after heavy rains. And they have very little water after hot weather. Where do rivers flow? All rivers flow into the sea, or ocean. The sea is lower than the land. All rivers run to the sea and carry their waters into it. How nice it is to swim in the sea! Sometimes you forget, you open your mouth and water gets into it. I wonder how you like the taste of sea-water! Sea-water is salty. The salt is from the earth. Springs and rivers carry it to the sea. When the sun draws up the water from the sea, the salt remains in the sea. Then the water becomes clouds. Soon it falls as rain, and gets into the rivers again. So the sea is getting saltier and saltier.

1.What is the difference between a river and a pool?

2.Do rivers ever run dry? Why not?

3.When do they have much water in them and when very little?

4.Where do rivers flow?

5.What can you say about sea-water?

6.Where does the salt come from?

1.When water falls from the sky, we call it…

2.When water falls in white flakes, we call it…

3.When water makes drops on the grass, we call it…

4.When water freezes, we call it…

5.When water falls in little icy balls, we call it…

6.When water looks white and fluffy in the sky, we call it a…

7.When water makes air look smoky and feel wet, we call it…

8.When water flows along the surface of land, we call it a…

9.When a cloud rises from boiling water, we call it…

10.When water comes from crying eyes, we call it…

11. Most water is salty and it is in the…

Although the vast majority of the earth’s surface is covered with water, the oceans and seas are salty. Only 3% is fresh — and two-thirds of that is ice! This tiny fraction of fresh water sustains a multitude of very specific life forms, including our own. While many people get their drinking water from underground reserves, surface waters also are an important source. In addition, lakes, rivers, and streams provide boating, swimming, fishing, and other forms of recreation.

Pollution in the rivers. Rivers collect polluting substances from human activities along their banks. Rivers in developed countries pick up many chemicals and waste substances, which they carry downstream. Most of these wastes and poisons end up in the estuary waters that are so important to many ocean life forms, causing serious problems for fish, seabirds, and other species.

Oil in the sea. More than three million tones of oil end up in the sea each year, the result of a variety of human activities, most of which take place on land. More than a third is waste oil from city drains — mainly from cars — and from factories: this is carried to the sea by rivers. Some oil evaporates off the land into the air and reaches the sea via weather systems in the circulation of the atmosphere. More comes from tankers, either during cleaning or from accidental spills. Leaks at oil wells are another source, and some oil seeps naturally from the seabed.

2.WATER. OVERVIEW

The amount of water on Earth is constant and cannot be increased or decreаsed. Of the global total of 1360 million cubic kilometres of water, which cover about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, only three percent is fresh, and of that, less than one percent is available for human use in the form of surface waters such as rivers and lakes. Uneven distribution of ground water, surface water and rainfall means that many arid and semi-arid parts of the world are without reliable sources of fresh water.

To add to this problem, water is polluted when it is used in industry, agriculture and for domestic purposes, and thus the amount of water of acceptable quality available for human use is reduced still further.

Sewage, nutrients, toxic metals, and industrial and agricultural chemicals are the main water pollutants. Of these, the most widespread pollutant is the organic matter present in domestic

sewage. In developing countries untreated water is the most commonly­ encountered health threat and still causes an estimated 25000 deaths a day-either because infected water is consumed or because its use leads indirectly to infection from vector-borne diseases such as malaria and bilharzia. Water pollution in these countries has worsened in 20th century as industrialization and urbanization, accompanied by poor waste treatment practices, have straied water resources and sanitation services.

Increasing industrialization and intensive agricultural techniques in developed countries have resulted in a range of pollutants being released into the environment — most of which are eventually transferred into lakes and rivers. European and US rivers were found to contain excessive levels of nutrients which cause a number of major including the promotion of algal ’blooms’ and the subsequent lowering of oxygen levels in the water that are caused by the decay of algae material.

Mining and industry were identified as the major sources of metal contamination of water and other industries contributed to water acidification as a result of the release of nitrogen and sulphur oxides into the atmosphere during fossil fuel burning. Deforestation and the destruction of natural ’filters’ such as wetland areas were identified as important causes of increased sediment in water.

Industrial and agricultural pollution controls and environmental protection measures can go a long way towards reducing water pollution.

Use a clean detergent.

Over half of the phosphates in our lakes and streams come from detergents BACKGROUND. Phosphates, chemical compounds containing phosphorus, are found in most detergents. Manufacturers use them because they soften water and prevent dirt particles from being redeposited on clothes.

Unfortunately, there are severe ecological side-effects: as

phosphates empty into streams and lakes, they cause «algae bloom» i.e., they fertilise algae to the point where it grows out of control. When the algae dies (in its natural cycle),bacteria cause it to decay — a process requiring huge amounts of oxygen needed by other plants and marine life to survive. The result: lakes and streams can die.

Detergent data

You may be using a high-phosphate detergent without realizing it. Look on the side of your detergent box. It will list the amount of phosphorus» in the form of phosphates». But that’s not the phosphate content; to get the actual amount, multiply the percentage of phosphorus by 3. For example:8% phosphorus=24%phosphates.

Phosphates aren’t necessary. Many powdered detergents are made with different formulas-less that 0,5% phosphates for areas where phosphate use is regulated, and higher percentages where it isn’t.

Simple things to do

Use a little less detergent. Manufacturers recommend more detergent than necessary.

Use a law-phosphate, or phosphate-free detergent. Liquid detergents are generally phosphate-free.

Use a substitute. If your water is soft, soap powder will work as detergent. If your water is hard, you can try a combination of soap and washing soda. But don’t try it until you get more details.

Insert the letters.

— conta_ination — o_ide

— a_idification — blo_m

— atmos_here — subse_uent

— destru_tion — ox_gen

— f_ssil — ex_essive

Translate into English

— Количество воды на земле постоянно и не может быть увеличе­но или уменьшено.

— Много засушливых или наполовину засушливых частей мира существуют без надежных источников пресной воды.

— Сточные воды, пищевые отходы, токсические металлы и промышлен­ные и сельскохозяйственные химикаты — главные водные загряз­нители.

— Вырубка лесов и уничтожение природных «фильтров» таких как влажные участки земли отожествляются с важнейшими причинами увеличения осадка в воде.

3. SOIL