2020-10-10
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The natural world is under violent assault from man. The seas and rivers are being poisoned by radioactive wastes, by chemical discharges and by the dumping of dangerous toxins and raw sewage. The air we breathe is polluted by smoke and fumes from factories and motor vehicles, even the rain is poisoned.
It’s a little wonder forests and lakes are being destroyed and everywhere wildlife is disappearing. Yet the destruction continues. Governments and industries throughout the world are intensifying their efforts to extract earth’s mineral riches and to plunder its living resources. The great rain forests and the frozen continents alike are seriously threatened. And this is despite warnings of the scientific community and the deep concern of millions of ordinary people.
Despite the fact, too, that we can create environmentally-clean industries, harness the power of the sun, wind and waves for our energy needs and manage the finite resources of the earth in a way that will safeguard our future and protect all the rich variety of life-forms which share this planet with us.
But there is still hope. The forces of destruction are being challenged across the globe - and at the spearhead of this challenge is Greenpeace. Wherever the environment is in danger, Greenpeace has made a stand. Its scientific presentations and peaceful direct actions at sea and on land have shocked governments and industries into awareness that Greenpeace will not allow the natural world to be destroyed. Those actions, too, have won the admiration and support of millions. Now you can strengthen the thin green line; you can make your voice heard in defence of the living world by joining Greenpeace today.
1) Which of the following statements in not true?
a) Drinking water is polluted. b) Radioactive waste pollutes the sea.
c) Sewage isn’t processed d) Cars and factories pollute the air.
2) The writer _______ forests and lakes are being destroyed.
a) is surprised that b) is unsure why
c) wonders why d) understands why
3) Rain forests are being destroyed because governments and industries …
a) are unaware of what they’re doing wrong.
b) are rich and powerful.
c) choose to ignore criticism.
d) basically care about the environment.
4) The earth’s resources …
a) should be left for people. b) can be made to last longer.
c) will last forever. d) belong to just humans and animals.
5) How does Greenpeace feel about the future?
a) desperate b) resigned
c) cautiously optimistic d) deeply pessimistic
6) Governments and industries …
a) don’t know what Greenpeace thinks.
b) are forced by Greenpeace to understand the problems
c) can easily ignore Greenpeace
d) misunderstand what Greenpeace thinks
7) How does Greenpeace think that people can help?
a) by becoming members b) by speaking out
c) by painting a green line d) by making waves
Ex. 8.6. Make phrases by matching an item from each column.
| geopolitical | warming | |
| climate | influence | |
| global | growth | |
| sustainable | change | |
| peak | activists | |
| green | standards | |
| major | oil | |
| living | battlefield | |
| pricing | worker | |
| declining | power | |
| knowledge | birthrate | |
| environmental | impact |
Ex. 8.7. Complete the beginning of each phrase with its correct ending.
| be short of | supply | |
| be hungry | future | |
| be in short | decades | |
| have a common Asian | of resources | |
| price oil in | for resources | |
| accuse someone | of hypocrisy | |
| in the coming | to world markets | |
| for the foreseeable | a virtual meaning | |
| hold | currency | |
| have access | dollars |
Ex. 8.8. Fill in the gaps with a different form of the word in brackets. The new form may be a noun (singular or plural), verb or adjective. Some words are not in the text.
- Global …… (warm) and the ……. (destroy) of the environment are (threat) the planet.
- Green …… (active) and other pressure groups are becoming increasingly …… (influence) in determining the …… (environment) policies of large companies.
- Genetic ….. (engineer) is very ….. (controversy), but many developing nations see it as the only way to ensure continuing ….. (grow) in agricultural ….. (produce).
- Their government’s …… (economy) strategy is one of rapid ….. (industrialize). This has both … (strong) and …. (weak).
Ex. 8.9. Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the word.
1) The ________ nations of the West have stopped shipment of hazardous wastes to the developing countries.
a) industry b) industrialised c) industrialist d) industrious
2) Industrial emissions that ________ the air must be reduced.
a) pollution b) pollutant c) pollute d) polluting
3) The standard of living in ________ countries are lower than that in developed countries.
a) emergent b) emerge c) emergence d) emergency
4) Britain has agreed to cut ________ of nitrogen oxide from power stations.
a) emit b) emitter c) emissions d) emitted
5) Dealing with technological catastrophe involves ________ with all levels of government, rescue teams and military resources.
a) interact b) interacting c) interaction d) interactive
Ex. 8.10. Complete the sentences using one of the words in the box.
| acid | contaminated | dumping | ecology | Extinct |
| environment | fallout | pollution | reactor | waste |
1) The world in which we live is our ________.
2) ________ is the science which studies the relationship between different life forms in nature.
3) Smoke, dirt and noise are all types of ________.
4) If man continues to hunt Ussuri tigers, they can become ________.
5) In many parts of the world lakes, trees and rainforests are being destroyed by ________ rains.
6) It is necessary that ________ of hazardous chemicals in the sea should be stopped.
7) Many countries have run out of space for disposal of nuclear ________.
8) When the nuclear ________ exploded at the Chernobyl power plant, large areas of the surrounding countryside were ________ and there was ________ all over Europe and even in Brazil.
