Efforts to protect the environment

Most scientists agree that if pollution and other environmental deterrents continue at their present rates, the result will be irreversible damage to the ecological cycles and balances in nature upon which all life depends. Scientists warn that fundamental, and perhaps drastic, changes in human behavior will be required to avert an ecological crisis.

To safeguard the healthful environment that is essential to life, humans must learn that Earth does not have infinite resources. Earth’s limited resources must be conserved and, where possible, reused. Furthermore, humans must devise new strategies that mesh environmental progress with economic growth. The future growth of developing nations depends upon the development of sustainable conservation methods that protect the environment while also meeting the basic needs of citizens.

Many nations have acted to control or reduce environmental problems. For example, Great Britain has largely succeeded in cleaning up the waters of the Thames and other rivers, and London no longer suffers the heavy smogs caused by industrial pollutants. Japan has some of the world’s strictest standards for the control of water and air pollution. In Canada, the Department of Commerce has developed comprehensive programs covering environmental contaminants.

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 to protect the nation’s natural resources. In addition, the U.S. Congress has provided governmental agencies with legislation designed to protect the environment. Many U.S. states have also established environmental protection agencies. Citizen groups, such as the Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society, educate the public, support environment-friendly legislation, and help assure that federal and state laws are enforced by pointing out violations.

Write down new words and expressions from the text:

1. interaction

2. evaluate

1. to threaten

2. global warming

3. retard

4. greenhouse effect

5. insulate

6. devastating

7. inundate

8. depletion of the ozone layer

9. habitat destruction

10. species extinction

11. air/water pollution

12. acid rain

13. raw sewage

14. oil spills

15. diluting capabilities

16. environmental deterrent

17. to avert an ecological crisis

Pronounce these words correctly:

1. carbon dioxide

2. methane

3. nitrous oxide

4. depletion of the ozone layer

5. ultraviolet

6. oceanic plankton

7. gasoline

8. nitrogen

Task 1

Answer the following questions:

1. Give the definitions of the words: environment, ecosystem, ecology, habitat.

2. Name the main environmental problems.

3. What is the main source of all environmental problems? What can be done to solve it?

4. What is the essence of greenhouse effect? What consequences may global warming have?

5. What does depletion of the ozone layer lead to?

6. Why do scientists speak about habitat destruction?

7. What are the sources of air and water pollution?

8. How do people protect the environment?

Task 2

Translate the part about global warming.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-16