Тема / Топик по английскому языку:
Environmental Protection
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 the 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
Answer the questions:
- What have many economists thought of the environment?
- Why do some economists think that pollution damages the resources?
- What are the consequences of damaging the environment?
- What environmental problems do the territories of the former Soviet Union suffer?
- What could happen if we don’t learn to use the environment carefully?
Translate into English:
- Окружающая среда - это не неиссякаемый источник ресурсов.
- Окружающая среда не может поглощать все отходы, которые экономика выбрасывает.
- Окружающая среда обеспечивает экономику ресурсами.
- Загрязнение окружающей среды вызывает кислотный дождь.
- Загрязнение окружающей среды сокращает ресурсы промышленности.
- Чрезмерное использование земель ведет к нехватке водных ресурсов.
- Выбросы отходов в воздух разрушают озоновый слой Земли.
- Выбросы отходов наносят вред земле, почве и дикой природе.
- Среди проблем окружающей среды на территории бывшего СССР - последствия Чернобыльской катастрофы, проблема Аральского моря и другие.
- Мы должны научиться бережно использовать окружающую среду.
Посмотреть ответы
2. Environment is not capable of absorbing all the rubbish the economy throws into it.
3. Environment supplies the economy with resources.
4. Pollution causes acid rain.
5. Pollution damages the resources of industry.
6. Abuse of arable land results in water shortage.
7. Pollution in the air destroys the ozone layer of the Earth.
8. Pollution damages water, soils and wildlife.
9. Among the environmental problems on the territory of the Soviet Union is the effect of the Chernobyl disaster, the problem of the Aral Sea, etc.
10. We must learn to carefully use the environment.