Text A. Once again about Ozone Holes

High above the earth's atmosphere there is a thin veil in the stratosphere called the ozone layer, which protects the earth from the sun's destructive ultraviolet (UV) rays.

This protective layer is being damaged by chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are released into the atmosphere by the daily use of such industrial and household products as refrigerators, air conditioners, foam insulation, cleaning chemicals, and food packaging. The CFCs rise into the ozone layer, where the sunlight decomposes them, releasing chlorine. The chlorine attacks the ozone molecules, thinning or even making a "hole" in the ozone layer. This "hole" allows more UV rays to penetrate to the earth.

Overexposure to UV rays can increase the risk of skin cancer, weaken the immune system, and damage the retina. It is estimated that in the United States alone one in six Americans will develop skin cancer as a result of overexposure to UV rays.

Not only are humans at risk; so, too, are animals, plants, and the environment in general. With the thinning of the ozone layer, UV rays can penetrate the oceans, seriously impairing the growth of plankton, an essential part of the marine-life food chain, and can reduce the yields of economically important crops such as soybeans, cotton, and rice.

The scientists point out that the global ecological crisis cannot be precluded unless all countries join their efforts to render mutual ecological help on a non-governmental basis. Now the planet's "green lungs" are being destroyed, its ozone layer ruined, the global warming sets in, the acid rains fall out, the rivers grow shallo­wer, and the oceans get pol­luted. This is why the major humanistic aim of the Eco­logical International is to change from an uncontrolled development of the machine-based civilisation to a con­scientious development of a society of natural and tech­nological type.

A feature of such a non-govern­mental body is a combination of the social ecological aid with technological activities to con­serve the environment (clean­ing of sewerage and gas exhausts, and utilisation of industrial wastes).

The scientists the world over made a long-term investigation only to come to a conclusion that the Planet's ozone layer is thinning out globally. To save this layer, it is necessary to take measures now and to use only ecologically friendly tech­nologies. It is tackling of this problem which is urgent for the Earthlings that the early efforts of the Ecological International of the Green Cross and Green Crescent will be devoted to. What is implied here is an ex­tensive international project "Resuscitation of Ozone Layer." Materialisation of the project would involve new tech­nologies advanced by the sci­entists and experts from the Russian key aerospace com­panies.

The patching up of the ozone holes is feasible tech­nologically. This would call for the creation of a superpowerful unit flying at the height of 25-30 km and capable of generating several thousand tons of ozone a month. The world community (and isn't this the problem of the mankind's concern) needs as few as 30-45 such units to save our Planet from the "ultra­violet death."

To materialise the project, an international industrial eco­logical consortium is being set up which will take up the solu­tion of scientific, financial and other problems.

 

Vocabulary

 

poison, v отравлять

disturb, v нарушать

wastes, n отходы

layer, n слой

ray, n луч

damage, v приносить вред, вредить, разрушать

fertilizers, n минеральное удобрение

dangerous, a опасный

on the brink of extinction на грани исчезновения

penetrate, v пронизывать, проникать (в)

acid rains кислотные дожди

greenhouse effect парниковый эффект

ozone depletion истощение озонового слоя

harm, n вред

substance, n вещество

emit, v выбрасывать, выделять

offender, n виновник, преступник

threat, n угроза

pollution, n загрязнение

adopt, v принимать

protect, v защищать

increase, v увеличивать, повышать

destroy, v разрушать

aid, n помощь

environment, n окружающая среда

sewerage, n канализация

come to a conclusion прийти к выводу

do good (harm) приносить пользу (вред)

 

 

 

I. Suggest Russian renderings for:

 

1. The scientists the world over made a long-term investigation.

2. It is tackling of this problem which is urgent for the Earthlings that the early efforts of the Ecological International of the Green Gross and Green Crescent will be devoted to.

3. What is implied here is an extensive international project “Resuscitation of Ozone Layer”.

4. The “patching up of the ozone holes” is feasible technologically.

5. It’s necessary to take measures now and to use only ecologically friendly technologies.

 

II. Give the English equivalents for the following phrases. Consult the text ‘ Once again about the Ozone Holes’:

 

предотвратить экологический кризис; объединить усилия; на неправительственной основе; разрушить озоновый слой; сознательное развитие; промышленные отходы; принимать меры; главные аэрокосмические компании; мировое сообщество; технически возможный.

 

III. a) Give synonyms for the following words:

 

 

to prevent, purpose, help, to preserve, to dedicate, to be meant, possible, to require, interest, to implement, to establish.

 

b) Give antonyms to the following adjectives and verbs:

 

local, governmental, controlled, short-term, unnecessary, powerless, man-made, to break, to construct, to erect, to exclude, to give up, to do good.

 

c) Give corresponding nouns:

 

· to pollute, to control, to develop, to combine, to conclude, to utilize, to waste, to investigate, to create, to set, to solve, to measure;

· international, governmental, global, uncontrolled, natural, necessary, ecological, friendly, urgent, feasible, technological, capable, industrial, scientific, financial.

 

IV. Match the adjectives and the nouns. Consult text A

adjectives nouns

superpowerful efforts

ecological development

scientific civilization

mutual investigation

ultra-violet technologies

global unit

conscientious problems

 

non-governmental crisis

machine-based warming

long-term death

friendly body

aerospace companies

 

V. Read the text ’Once again about the Ozone Holes’. Answer the following questions:

 

1. What is the way to preclude the global ecological crisis?

2. Why is it necessary to change from an uncontrolled development of the machine-based civilization to a conscientious development of a society?

3. What does the non-governmental body aim at?

4. Are there any ways of saving the Planet’s ozone layer?

5. What will the early efforts of the Ecological International of the Green Cross and Green Crescent be devoted to?

6. Is the “patching up of the ozone holes” feasible technologically or a fantastic idea only?

7. How many superpowerful units are able to save our Planet from the “ultra-violet death”?

 

 

VI. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Begin your answer with:

 

You are right (wrong, mistaken)...,

How could you say that...,

That’s true (not true)...,

I agree with you here...,

I can’t (don’t) agree with you...,

Excuse my interrupting you but...

To my mind..., in my opinion...,

It goes without saying, (There is) nothing to argue about...

 

1. Though each of us must do everything possible to keep the land, air and water clean, the problem can’t be solved by the only man in the only country.

2. The pollution of the environment is one of the greatest dangers to human beings on earth.

3. The concentration of smoke in the air is so high in some industrial centers that it is deadly dangerous just to breathe there.

4. The ecological harmony is disturbed on earth.

5. Now the planet’s “green lungs” are being destroyed, its ozone layer ruined, the acid rains fall out and the oceans get polluted.

6. Our aim at present is to change from an uncontrolled development of the machine-based civilization to a conscientious development of a society.

7. The world community needs 30-45 superpowerful units at least to generate several thousand tons of ozone a month.

 

VII. Read the following text using the dictionary.

 

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement uniting people to protect the planet. It was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. More than 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses turned their lights out for one hour in the first Earth Hour event. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide.

What does Earth Hour ask people to do?

Earth Hour aims to encourage an interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of creating a sustainable world. The first thing anyone can do to get involved is to turn off their lights on Saturday. But there is much, much more. The full ambition is for people to take action beyond the hour.

Earth Hour is more than an annual event – it is a movement that culminates in an hour of inspiration across the world held towards the end of March each year.

Earth Hour 2016 will mark the tenth year of the campaign! Earth Hour 2016 will be held on Saturday 19 March between 8.30PM and 9.30PM in your local time zone. The event is held worldwide towards the end of March annually, encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet.

What exactly has Earth Hour achieved? More than 250,000 Russians voiced support for better protection of their country’s seas and forests. Hundreds of thousands of LED lights were installed by girl scouts in the USA. Solar-powered lights were installed in three villages without electricity in India. But this is just the start, there are so many more Earth Hour stories out there we’re still discovering, and of course much more to do.

 

*WWF (World Wildlife Fund) – Всемирный фонд дикой природы

 

VIII. Answer the following questions:

 

1.What is Earth Hour? 2. What does Earth Hour ask people to do? 3. Is Earth Hour an annual event? 4. What is Earth Hour aim to achieve? 5. When does Earth Hour take place? 6. What exactly has Earth Hour achieved? 7. When does Earth Hour take place?

 

IX. Make a written translation of the selections given above.

 

X. Translate into English.

1. Перенаселение, загрязнение воды и воздуха, а также использование атомной энергии создали опасную ситуацию на планете.

2. Результатом неразумной деятельности человека явились такие вредные явления, как истощение озонового слоя, парниковый эффект и кислотные дожди.

3. К концу тысячелетия человечество не сумело сохранить здоровье и красоту планеты.

4. Если мы ничего не сделаем, то исчезнут многие виды фауны и флоры к 2030 году.

5. Ученые во всем мире провели долгосрочные исследования и пришли к выводу, что озоновый слой истощается в глобальном масштабе.

6. Все страны мира должны объединить усилия, чтобы воплотить в жизнь законы и решения, которые были приняты ранее.

7. «Залатать озоновые дыры» технически возможно. Это потребует создания сверхмощных установок, способных вырабатывать несколько тысяч тонн озона в месяц.

8. Промышленно развитые страны не могут и не должны игнорировать проблему загрязнения окружающей среды.

9. Неуправляемое развитие техногенной цивилизации является одной из причин загрязнения окружающей среды.

10. Чтобы спасти озоновый слой, необходимо срочно принять меры и использовать только экологически дружественную технологию.

11. Неправительственные организации должны сочетать социально-экологическую помощь с технической деятельностью, чтобы сохранить окружающую среду.

12. Технологическая деятельность включает в себя очищение стоков и выхлопных газов, утилизацию промышленных отходов и сокращение использования минеральных удобрений до минимума.

13. Сверхмощные установки, способные вырабатывать тысячи тонн озона в месяц, спасут нашу планету от «ультрафиолетовой смерти».

14. Достижения человечества в механизации и автоматизации промышленных процессов, в создании автономных электростанций и кораблей принесло как большую пользу, так и большой вред.

15. Когда все страны уделят необходимое внимание проблеме охраны окружающей среды, человечество войдет в новую эру своего развития.