ВАРИАНТ 1

I Перепишите следующие предложения, определите в каждом из них видо-временную форму и залог глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The problem of the protection of our environment is sometimes ignored.

2. When the problem of the protection of the environment had been discussed the representatives of the conference began working out the programme of immediate actions.

3. Measures for protecting our water and air will be taken by the local authorities.

4. Nowadays ecologically pure fuel is being applied in cars.

II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения слов it, that, one.

1. It is evident that ecological problems should be paid much attention to.

2. One should learn ecology at school and do some practical work to protect nature in every possible way.

3. It is ecology that attracts so much attention on the part of the mankind nowadays.

III Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения глаголов to be, to have, to do.

1. A conference devoted to environmental problems is to be held this month.

2. People had to be evacuated from the dangerous area.

3. The level of harmful ingredients in the air and water in this area doesn’t exceed the normal level.

4. Radiation had greatly influenced the climate of the Earth.

IV Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на бессоюзное подчинение.

1. We know nuclear weapons poison the atmosphere.

2. The new ecologically pure materials our plant produces gain great popularity.

V Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на функции инфинитива.

1. The programme of measures aimed at protecting the water in this lake to be carried out in the nearest future is very important.

2. To use building materials that are not harmful to our health is the task of structural engineers.

3. This scientist was the first to publish the data showing a dangerous situation in the area.

4. The participants of the conference assembled to discuss the key problems of environmental protection.

VI Прочтите и устно переведите с 1-го по 8-й абзацы текста. Перепишите и письменно переведите 1, 2, 3 и 8-й абзацы.

Пояснения к тексту

1) environmental protection – защита окружающей среды

2) uninhabitable – непригодный для жилья

3) overpopulation – перенаселение

4) ozone depletion – истощение озонного слоя

5) greenhouse effect – парниковый эффект

6) on the brink of extinction – на грани исчезновения

7)   to become extinct – угасать, вымирать

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

1. The poisoning of the world’s land, air and water is the fastest spreading disease of civilization. It probably produces fewer headlines than wars, earthquakes and floods, but it is potentially one of history’s greatest dangers to human life on earth. If present trends continue for the next several decades, our planet will become uninhabitable.

2. Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption have created such planet-wide problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and the global warming that is believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect.

3. The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas.

4. Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out forever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today will have become extinct very soon.

5. Air pollution is a very serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is life threatening – equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for Mexico City and 600 cities of the Commonwealth countries.

6. Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

7. An even greater environmental threat is nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are.

8. People are beginning to realize that environmental problems are not somebody else’s. They join and support various international organizations and green parties. If governments wake up to what is happening – perhaps we’ll be able to avoid the disaster that threatens the natural world and all of us with it.

VII Прочтите 6-й абзац текста и ответьте письменно на вопрос:

What is the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains?

ВАРИАНТ 2

I Перепишите следующие предложения, определите в каждом из них видо-временную форму и залог глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Atmosphere and water pollution are being constantly controlled.

2. The Man’s influence on the climate is studied by the scientists.

3. When the problem of earthquakes had been discussed by the members of the committee they began to elaborate the programme of earthquakes’ forecast.

4. Control of pollution is being paid much attention to by international conventions.

II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения слов it, that, one.

1. It is proved that air, water and ground are poisoned daily on our planet.

2. One should take an active part in protecting our nature in every possible way.

3. It is environmental protection that becomes one of the burning questions on the planet nowadays.

III Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения глаголов to be, to have, to do.

1. A programme of  measures aimed at purifying the water in this region is to be elaborated.

2. The environmental problems have acquired a global importance.

3. This factory does not erupt harmful gas and soot after a new powerful filter has been installed.

4. At present many industrial enterprises have their own purification installations to protect environment.

IV Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на бессоюзное подчинение.

1. The methods of purifying the sewage we have just described are very effective.

2. The cars our plant produces erupt minimum soot and harmful gases.

V Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на функции инфинитива.

1. Further steps to be taken in the nearest future should include elaborating joint long-term programme of protecting every spot of nature on our planet.

2. To measure the level of radiation in this area is the task of our research group.

3. The plant was the first to produce fuels having no harmful effect on the environment.

4. The duty of a human being is to protect nature because it is nature that gave birth to the man.

VI Прочтите и устно переведите с 1-го по 7-й абзацы текста. Перепишите и письменно переведите 1, 3, 4 и 5-й абзацы.

Пояснения к тексту:

1) litter – мусор

2) garbage – отбросы, мусор

3) environment – окружение, среда

4) disease – болезнь

5) to take care of – заботиться

6) to point out – указывать

7) waste – отбросы   

NATURE PROTECTION

1. About two hundred years ago man lived in greater harmony with his environment because industry was not much developed. Today the situation is quite different, the contradictions between man and nature are dramatic.

2. Now many parts of the world are crowded, people live in big cities. Where many people live together, litter is a problem. People don’t always put garbage into the garbage can. It’s easier to drop a paper than to find a garbage can for it. But litter is ugly. It makes the city look dirty and spoils the view. Litter is a health problem too. Food, garbage bring animals, which sometimes carry diseases.

3. Much of our waste, waste from factories, the chemical industry, heavy industry are very dangerous. Fish dies in the lakes, rivers, seas; forest trees die too. Much of this dangerous waste goes into the air and is carried by winds for great distances.

4. People don’t have enough oxygen in big cities. They suffer from smog. You can hardly breathe the air any more in our cities. And think of noise. Nowadays most city centres are simply too noisy to live in. We’ve got to live with a motor car but we’ve got to become its master and not its slave.

5. The Earth is our home. We must take care of it for ourselves and for the next generations. This means keeping our environment clean. The importance of this task is pointed out by ecologists, the scientists who want to control this problem. Each of us must do everything possible to keep the land, air, water clean.

6. Some years ago the Aral was a bright sea with a lot of fish. The rivers Amudarya and Syrdarya supplied it with water. But then the water of the rivers was diverted to cotton plantations. As a result, the Aral now is in a very dangerous position.

7. There are many other places on our planet that need immediate help. For example Lake Baikal and its shores have been declared a specially protected zone of our country. There is a hope that one of the most beautiful and the deepest lakes of the world will never die.

VII Прочтите 6-й абзац текста и ответьте письменно на вопрос:

Why is the Aral Sea in a dangerous position now?

ВАРИАНТ 3

I Перепишите следующие предложения, определите в каждом из них видо-временную форму и залог глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The life of animals, plants and humans are being constantly influenced by the pollution of the environment.

2. Chemicals should be used in a proper way otherwise we shall pollute our environment.

3. When the problems of radiation had been discussed the organizing committee proposed to work out the programme of measures preventing radiation pollution.

4. Our environment is polluted by our plants and factories putting their waste materials into water and atmosphere.

II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения слов it, that, one.

1. It should be noted that people themselves think very little of social ecology.

2. One should remember that the main problem of interaction between the people and the nature is how to protect the nature.

3. It is awful that it is the man who spoils the nature that gave him birth.

III Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения глаголов to be, to have, to do.

1. Certain steps aimed at reducing radiation in this area are to be taken.

2. At present many industrial enterprises have ecologists engaged in solving local environmental problems.

3. The sewage of this chemical plant doesn’t contain harmful substances.

4. Radiation in this area has been reduced to a minimum.

IV Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на бессоюзное подчинение.

1. Everybody understands environmental problems become acute with every passing day.

2. The planet we live on needs great care every day.

V Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на функцию инфинитива.

1. The fuel to be used by cars should not spoil the environment.

2. It took the members of the committee almost two days to work out the plan of joint measures aimed at protecting the forests in that area.

3. To take care of the nature should be as important as to take care of one’s health.

4. “Travels for Peace and Nature” is known to be another public movement that appeared in Russia some years ago.

VI Прочтите и устно переведите с 1-го по 6-й абзацы текста. Перепишите и письменно переведите 1, 3, 4 и 5-й абзацы.

Пояснения к тексту:

1) in effort to meet production goals – преследуя производственные цели

2) to commit a blunder – совершить грубую ошибку

3) causing public concern – вызывающий озабоченность общественности

4) flatland – зд. построенный на равнине

5) ever mounting – все возрастающий

6) “Travels for Peace and Nature” – «Туризм в защиту мира и природы»

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

1. Environmental problems have become exceptionally acute in the country. For a long time too little attention was paid to the environment.

2. In effort to meet production goals the ministries stinted on measures to protect the environment from industrial pollution. As a result, about half of the water sources in the country are polluted with industrial or communal waste. In more than a hundred towns and cities with population of some fifty million, the concentration of harmful substances in the air is over ten times the admissible level.

3. For dozens of years the national economy focused on large projects, including giant projects in what was called the transformation of nature. Blunders were committed that caused environmental disasters.

Of the acute problems causing public concern the environment safety of nuclear and hydrolic power engineering is beginning to assume paramount importance. Public anxiety has grown particularly after the Chernobyl disaster. Another reason is the adverse effect of flatland hydropower stations on the environment. The list of serious environmental problems could be continued.

4. In recent years people have become more sensitive towards the environment. Still more public organizations und unofficial environmentalist movements have been established with every passing year.

5. In 1987 a “Green Peace” public commission has been set up. Its main goal is to combine the people’s efforts for peace with the huge and ever mounting movement for nature conservation. Another area of its work is to set up and strengthen cooperation among environmentalists from many similar organizations abroad.

6. Russia is cooperating in the field of environmental protection with the United States, Canada, Norway, Finland and other countries to study and protect the environmental systems of the Arctic and Subarctic regions and also to study some of the natural processes in the permafrost zone.

VII Прочтите 6-й абзац текста и ответьте письменно на вопрос:

Why is Russia cooperating in the field of environmental protection with a number of countries?

ВАРИАНТ 4

I Перепишите следующие предложения, определите в каждом из них видо-временную форму и залог глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. About half of the water sources are polluted with industrial waste.

2. Acid rains have been formed from the mixture of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and water in the air.

3. In London, a power station burning 400,000 tons of rubbish a year, will be constructed soon.

4. Today millions and millions of trees are being cut down.

II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения слов it, that, one.

1. It is necessary to find new alternative sources of energy.

2. One must recognize that carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air has increased a lot.

3. It is a “blanket” around the Earth that causes the “greenhouse effect”.

III Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения глаголов to be, to have, to do.

1. Waste disposal is a major problem in modern society.

2. Britain’s rivers are greatly polluted and the government has to try hard to stop it.

3. No coal fires are allowed in London.

4. Cars do a lot of damage to the environment, don’t they?

IV Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на бессоюзное подчинение.

1. I think underground nuclear weapon tests are a major threat to the environment.

2. Problems inhabitants of industrial centres will have to solve are those of noise pollution.

V Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на функции инфинитива.

1. To avoid using non-biodegradable materials is the task of everyone.

2. To save money, energy and natural resources we should recycle rubbish.

3. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the circumstances of ecological crisis.

4. The measures to be taken are of great importance for environmental protection.

VI Прочтите и устно переведите с 1-го по 6-й абзацы текста. Перепишите и письменно переведите 1, 2 и 3-й абзацы.

Пояснения к тексту:

1) to be of a fairly complex nature – иметь довольно сложный характер

2) apart from – кроме

3) may be irrevocably damaged – может быть нанесен невозместимый ущерб

4) the tenets of an industrial society – законы (принципы) индустриального общества

5) an environmental doom – экологическая катастрофа

MAN AND BIOSPHERE – TWO COURSES OF ACTION

1. Interrelations between man and the biosphere are of a fairly complex nature. Man, like every other living organism, depends for his life on what the biosphere provides: water, oxygen, food and shelter. On the other hand, the biosphere is strongly affected by all sorts of human activity.

2. Technology powerfully amplifies the effects of human beings on the biosphere. Prehistoric man withdrew from the atmosphere only the oxygen he required for respiration; technological man consumes a far greater amount of oxygen to support fires, power plants and chemical processes. The carbon dioxide produced by technological processes has measurably altered the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Apart from the amplification of such natural processes in the biosphere, technology has introduced into the biosphere substances wholly new to it; man-made radioisotopes and a wide variety of synthetic materials such as plastics, insecticides, herbicides and numerous industrial materials. These, too, alter the biosphere.

3. The problem has already been discussed at a large number of conferences, some of them sponsored by the UN. However, relatively little has so far been done to check environmental pollution. Both scientists and politicians agree that unless some radical steps are taken before long, life on our planet may be irrevocably damaged if not destroyed altogether. It seems therefore worth while to consider the fundamental conflict which underlies the surface manifestations of the present crisis. For there undoubtedly exists a conflict, an incompatibility between the tenets of an industrial society and those of ecology.

4. Industry is bound to expand continuously, all ecological systems tend toward stability and equilibrium.

5. There seems to be at least two general courses of action which might be adopted in order that the environmental doom may be averted.

6. One would be to curb the dynamics of industrial development; the other-to turn technology to the construction of physiologically and socially healthy environment. The former possibility being highly unrealistic, the latter one seems to be the only path to follow.

VII Прочтите вопрос к тексту. Из приведенных вариантов ответа укажите номер предложения, содержащего правильный ответ на поставленный вопрос:

What is biosphere affected by?

1. - by separate individuals

2. - by all sorts of human activity

3. - by solar radiation

ВАРИАНТ 5

I Перепишите следующие предложения, определите в каждом из них видо-временную форму и залог глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. Every year, according to statistics, 7,000 million tons of combustibles are burned in the world.

2. The pollution of the North Sea has been caused by the rapid increase in oil extraction there.

3. Environmental problems are being discussed at our conference.

4. Serious actions concerning the environmental protection were undertaken by those scientists.

II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения слов it, that, one.

1. The energy of the sun, the wind, and the sea makes it possible to produce electricity.

2. People know that only their joint efforts can protect nature.

3. It is the ultraviolet radiation that causes cancer.

III Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на разные значения глаголов to be, to have, to do.

1. Cigarette smoke is a major factor in air pollution.

2. We have to reduce the amount of resources and energy that we use.

3. Risk factors for different types of environmental pollution are calculated.

4. Plastics, metals and chemicals do not disappear in a short time.

IV Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на бессоюзное подчинение.

1. We know traffic and aircraft can cause serious noise pollution.

2. The problem people will be facing in future is an ecological crisis.

V Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их на русский язык, обратите внимание на функции инфинитива.

1. To protect the environment is the task of all progressive people.

2. To improve a situation the government introduced new laws to stop smog from coal fires and factories.

3. The main task of “Green Peace” is to protect nature.

4. The theme to be touched upon in the article is paper recycling.

VI Прочтите и устно переведите с 1-го по 5-й абзацы текста. Перепишите и письменно переведите 1и 4-й абзацы.

Пояснения к тексту:

1) to wage tireless struggle – вести неустанную борьбу

2) ill-intentioned aspiration – нездоровые (патологические) притязания

3) to conquer and remould nature to one’s liking – завоевать и переделать природу на свой вкус

4) unrenewable – невосполнимый

5) purification works – очистные заводы

ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE OR HARMONY WITH NATURE

1. Man, a creature of nature, has been waging a tireless struggle against it. This struggle is not the result of man’s ill-intentioned aspirations. It is highly objective and inevitable, as man could live and develop only by taking nature’s diverse gifts from it to meet his vital needs. For many thousands of years, man has been weak while nature has been almighty.

2. However, as society developed, the correlation of forces between man and nature changed. Man grew so strong that he dared to declare himself the “king of nature” and intended conquering and remoulding nature to his liking.

3. Contradictions, which always existed between man and nature, led to a conflict known as the “ecological crisis”. It was manifested by the exhaustion of unrenewable natural resources and environmental contamination. In this respect special attention should be paid to the protection of natural water reservoirs.

4. Some additional measures to ensure the rational utilization of the natural wealth of Lake Baikal have already been taken. Besides, a comprehensive system of measures is being carried out to protect this unique reservoir of very precious fresh water. The most perfect purification works in industry have been built at the Baikal pulp-and-paper mill – the main contaminator in the lake. A special service and an environmental protection department have been set up at the plant to ensure effective operation of the water purifying complex and steam purifying units. The protection of Lake Baikal and its ecological system includes concern about the sources that fill the lake, and about the purity of its shores and the vegetation around Baikal.

The stability of the lake’s hydrological regime also depends on how well forests protect the basins of rivers that discharge into it. Forests not only protect the mountain slopes from destruction and reservoirs from contamination, but also contribute to the filtration of waste water. A protective zone has been outlined for the area of Baikal basin.

5. The process of interrelationship between society and nature is a dynamic and permanently changing process. Society needs a purposeful regulation and control of the processes taking place in the system “man-society-production-nature” at each step of its progressive development.

VII Письменно ответьте на вопрос:

What does the protection of Lake Baikal and its ecological system inсlude?