The protection of Nature

NEW YORK

New York, one of the largest cities in the world, was founded three hundred years ago in the mouth of the Hudson River.

The centre of New York is Manhattan Island. In 1626 it was bought from the Indians for a sum of twenty-four dollars. Today Manhattan is the centre of business and commercial life of the country. There are many skyscrap­ers, banks and offices of American businessmen in Man­hattan. Broadway begins here, the Stock Exchange is lo­cated here. Very few people live in Manhattan, although the majority work here. Numerous bridges link Manhat­tan Island with the other parts of New York.

New York is inhabited by people of almost all nation­alities. It is even called «Modern Babylon». At the turn of the 20-th century a lot of people came to the USA from different countries of the world. They entered the USA through New York — the Gateway of America.

. New York is one of the leading manufacturing cities in the world. The most important branches of industry are those, producing paper products, vehicles, glass, chemicals, machinery. The city traffic is very busy.

Words

mouth — устье

Stock Exchange — Нью-Йоркская фондовая биржа

majority — большинство

numerous — многочисленный to link — соединять to inhabit — населять Babylon — Вавилон

vehicles — средства передвижения (автомобили и т. п.)

gateway — ворота

skyscrapers — небоскребы

branches of industry — отрасли промышленности

city traffic — городской транспорт

Questions

1. When was New York founded?

2. What was the price of Manhattan Island in 1626?

3. What is Manhattan today?

4. Do many people live in Manhattan?

5. What is Broadway famous for?

6. Why is New York called «Modern Babylon»?

7. What are the most important branches of industry in New York?

Since ancient times Nature was the source of people's life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with environment and they thought that natural riches were unlimited. The development of civilisation increased man's harmful interference in nature.

Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial en­terprises pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink. Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with about 1000 million tons of dust and other harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Beautiful old forests disappear forever. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of lakes and rivers dry up.

The pollution of air and destruction of the ozone layer are the results of man's attitude towards Nature.

The protection of the environment is a universal con­cern. We must be very active to create a serious system of ecological security.

Words

ancient — древний

source — источник

natural riches — природные богтства

harmful interference — вредное воздействие

to increase — увеличиваться

industrial enterprises — промышленные предпри­ятия

to pollute — загрязнять

substances — вещества

suffer — мучаться

to upset — зд. нарушать

rare — редкий

to dry up — высыхать

ozone layer — озоновый слой

attitude — отношение

universal concern — всеобщая забота

Дата добавления: 2014-11-06