Английский язык

К середине лета; напомнил эпидемию бубонной чумы; не приняли участие в конференции; сократить промышленные выбросы; всемирное обезлесивание (вырубка леса); озонное истощение; преумноженный в несколько раз; превратить мир в более здоровое место для всей жизни; беременные самки тюлени; бубонная чума; трагическое стечение обстоятельств; собачья чума; очистительные сооружения; вредное воздействие; репродуктивная несостоятельность; засоряют американский ландшафт; мусорные полигоны; использование земных ресурсов рассудительно; поиск дополнительных решений; преодолеть кризис окружающей среды.

3. Answer the questions:

1. What tragic event was the Spring of 1988 in the Baltic Seas marked by?

2. What were the consequences of this event?

3. What was the principal cause of seal deaths?

4. What adverse impact toxic chemical PCP has on sea organists?

5. What solutions to global environmental problems does the author of this article offer?

4. Read and render the following text:

Mass Death of Dolphins Worry Experts.

During a normal year , ten or twelve dead dolphins are found washed ashore on beaches between New Jersey and Virginia. However, in one recent year the death toll climbed to more than 200, and scientists believe that hundreds more may have died offshore. Since this represents a large part of the Atlantic dolphin population, some experts are worried that this population may ultimately be destroyed. Moreover, alarmed swimmers have asked whether they themselves are also in danger from whatever is killing the dolphins. The U.S. Office of Naval Research is continuing to fund marine mammal research at colleges and universities to find the cause of the dolphins` death.

Large numbers of opportunistic pathogens, including Edwardsiella tarda and 55 species of Vibrio, were found in the dead dolphins. These bacteria are a part of the normal flora of dolphins and of coastal waters and can cause disease only if the animals immune system, its normal defense against infection, has been weakened. To find the ultimate cause of the deaths, scientists must find out what has weakened the animals immune systems. One possibility is a chemical spill. High levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are chemical pollutants, have been found in the 53 dolphins tested. Daniel Martineau of Cornell University says that PCBs are strong immunosuppressants. Another possibility is a virus infection that affects the immune system. The cause of thousands of seal deaths in northern Europe in April 1988 is now known to be a previously undiscovered virus. Could a new virus be infecting dolphins as well?

(From Internet)

Speak on the following topics.

1) The death of marine animals is a symptom of a global environmental crisis.

2) The role of a personal commitment and individual action in the solution of environmental problems.

UNIT XII

New words and expressions.

unpredictable (adj.)– непредсказумый

cause (n.)– причина

combustion (n.)– горение

to call (v.)– призывать

to sign (v.)– подписать

enforcement (n.)– проведение в жизнь

seemingly (adv.)– на вид

to introduce (v.)– вводить

to fluctuate (v.)– колебаться

to rehabilitate (v.)– восстановить

to undertake obligations – взять обязательство

to adjust to new conditions – приспособиться к новым условиям

to render support to – оказать помощь

public utilities – коммунальные услуги

on the whole – в целом

to be in smb's interest – быть в чьих то интересах

Bad heating strengthens the hothouse effect.

The international community considers the steadily warming climate a real threat that could bring unpredictable consequences. The burning of organic fuel is the main cause for global warming. Combustion materials, called hothouse gases (HG) are thrown into the Earth's atmosphere. These gases block heat escaping Earth's surface. Major climatic changes may reduce Kazakhstan's grain crops and cause more storms and hurricanes.

In 1992 at the global conference in Rio-de-Janeiro, the international community adopted the U N Frame convention on changing climate that called all countries to take measures to prevent the warming climate process and reduce hothouse gases expelled to the atmosphere. Countries are to reduce fuel consumption and burning.

Kazakhstan has signed and ratified the document. That means Astana has voluntarily undertaken obligations to take steps preventing changes to the climate and promoting the reduction of HG discharges.

Seemingly, the problem concerns us only indirectly. We are neither the industrial giant America nor Japan. But the Republic of Kazakhstan is a considerable producer of global HG. The survey of hothouse gases in Kazakhstan done from 1994 to 1998 with the support of some international organizations showed that the annual volume of HG production had been equivalent to about 350 million tons of bicarbonate gas.