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Look through the text again and say how the author describes the following things. Read the sentences from the text to support what you have found.
Environmental crisis.
The causes of the menacing situation on the Earth.
Possible solutions of the problems mentioned.
Threat to living organisms.
Threat to the Universe.
Read the text thoroughly with a dictionary and answer the following questions:
What is common and what is different between environmental crisis and nuclear catastrophy?
Why can’t an individual scientist describe the environmental situation we are witnessing now?
What is necessary to do first of all?
What is one of the causes of the present-day menacing situation?
What has separated man from the rest of animal world?
Read the following definitions of ecology, choose the one you consider the best. Give reasoning for your choice. What do all the definitions have in common? What is the difference?
The scientific study of the natural interrelations of plants, animals, and the people and their relation to the environment.
The science devoted to the system of interrelationships between organisms and their environment.
Study of relations of living organisms to their environment.
Study of ecosystems.
Study of the environmental conditions of existence.
A branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment.
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A
|
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В
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1. попытаться
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а)
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adverse
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2. насущный
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Ь)
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discrepancy
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3. скорость
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с)
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challenging
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4. причина
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d)
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urgent
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5. сложно
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е)
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realm
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6. особенный
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0
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consequently
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7. угрожающий
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g)
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cause
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8. оберегать
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h)
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by no means
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9. очевидный
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i)
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noble
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10. принять во внимание
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j)
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to search
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11. ни в коем случае
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Ю
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lack
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12. неизбежно
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1)
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to try
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13. взрывоопасный
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m)
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to take into account
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14. вызывающий интерес
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n)
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menacing
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15. область
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o)
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to preserve
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16. таким образом
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P)
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profound
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17. благородный
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q)
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rate
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18. искать
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r)
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intricately
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19. отсутствие
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s)
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intervention
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20. вмешательство
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t)
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peculiar
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21. влиять
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u)
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explosive
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22. враждебный
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v)
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inevitably
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23. уничтожение
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w)
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to influence
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24. несоответствие
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X)
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obvious
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25. глубокий
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У)
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annihilation
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8. Study carefully grammar material to Unit 9 and find in the text all the sentences containing: incomplete clauses with the participle; emphatic concessive clauses; elliptical and emphatic constructions. Translate them into Russian.
150
Translate the following sentences into Russian:
Important as this problem is in itself, it can’t be solved due to the lack of understanding among scientists.
Little though the probability of the Earth’s becoming as hot as the Sun may be, the possibility still exists.
Uncertain though information about the Earth’s warming, the recent data indicated the temperature rise quite obviously.
Simple as it seemed at its discovery, this element is now known to be very complex.
With no free oxygen and little, if any, water, the Mars still appears to have some evidence of life.
The next problem of importance which occupied most of the investigators in this field was to determine the long-wave limit, if any, of the infrared radiation.
Not only does chlorine unite with gaseous hydrogen, but it will sometimes take hydrogen from other elements.
Only upon the absorption of larger amounts of water was the sensitivity again lowered.
Carborn dioxide does not burn, nor does it support combustion.
Whoever the author may have been, he should have dwelt on this problem.
Not until the 20th century did man begin to understand the menace of ozone depletion.
Should we listen to the pessimists, none of us would sleep at night.
Unless we thought new research were necessary, we wouldn’t be spending money on it.
Not until 1956 did the British Government introduce legislation against air pollution.
Listen to a talk at a Symposium made by John Firror, a well-known atmospheric scientist from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research and say what kind of talk it is:
A lecture.
A book presentation.
Answers to the questions.
A scientific communication.
The following notes and words will help you to understand the talk better:
151
NOTES
first of all — прежде всего
representative forum — представительное собрание (специалистов)
acid rains — кислотные дожди
ozone depletion — исчезновение озона
I took advantage — я воспользовался возможностью
chapter outline — краткое содержание главы
they’re a joy to address — с ними приятно общаться
tell us straight — скажите нам прямо
Are we in trouble? — Мы в опасности?
overlooked facets — незамеченные аспекты
I have the privilege of serving on the staff — я имею честь работать в штате
to acknowledge my debt — признать, что я в долгу 13.1 also wish to express — также хочу выразить
appreciation — оценка по достоин- judgement — суждение
Dear colleagues! First of all, I’d like to thank the Chairman and the Organizing Committee for their kind invitation for me to participate in such a representative forum, and for the opportunity of presenting my new book in front of these high-ranking experts.
Let me begin by saying that but for a publisher’s request to develop an essay I had written about atmospheric problems into a book, this volume would have never arisen. In the essay I had discussed the “big three” atmospheric issues — acid rains, ozone depletion, and climate heating — and had emphasized how the three problems were related.
Attempting to expand this theme into a book, I took advantage of invitations to speak about the atmosphere by using each chapter out
WORDS
ству
approach — подход contribution — вклад decision-maker — законодатель emission — выделение
pioneer — первооткрыватель request — просьба to suspect — подозревать ultimate — конечный volume — книга, том
152
line as the basis for a lecture. This approach allowed me to test my material both by observing the audience’s reaction and by trying to answer the questions that arose.
You know, there are always a few people in any group, who are truly interested in the details of a technical subject, and they’re a joy to address. But the question I received most often was not about detail; it was a request for a judgement. “All that science is OK,” people seemed to say, “but tell us straight — are we in trouble or not?” And I began to suspect that I shouldn’t simply add more technical details to the discussions of the essay: the book should address this commonly asked, ultimate question. It’s my great hope that I have reached my goal.
Dear colleagues! My aim hasn’t been to produce just one more careful discussion of the state of the science surrounding acid rains, ozone depletion, and climate heating, but to show why so many workers in this field have become convinced that emissions into the atmosphere have indeed reached a very serious level.
The book consists of seven chapters. The first one introduces two overlooked facets of the atmosphere that are essential to understanding today’s worries. The next two cover two of the three well-known atmospheric problems: acid rains and depletion of ozone. Climate heating, as produced by infrared-trapping gases accumulating in the air, is so firmly at the centre of all these issues that chapters four and five are devoted to it. The final two chapters discuss what these problems mean to people, to decision-makers, and to civilization, and what can be done about them.
Weil, to sum up, I’d like to say that I have the privilege of serving on the staff of the National Centre for Atmospheric Research, and the constant interaction with other NCAR scientists and with visitors has been the most important influence on my scientific understanding and appreciation of the complex system that is the atmosphere.
I would like especially to acknowledge my debt to Waler Roberts, William Kellogg, and Stephan Schneider, three modern pioneers in the study and understanding of how the atmosphere responds to human activities. And to Michal Glantz, who studies how human activities respond to the atmosphere and its changes.
In conclusion I also wish to express my deepest gratitude to all those who made scientific and important contributions, made critical comments and helpful suggestions. Thank you.
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