The view of the The view of the American scientists at American scientists at

7 Environmental 7 Environmental ProblemsProblems

Please, pay attention!!!Please, pay attention!!!GlossaryGlossary

Glaciers Glaciers – – ледникледник Mammal – Mammal –

млекопитающеемлекопитающее Eerie Eerie –– жуткийжуткий Fertilizer – Fertilizer –

удобрениеудобрение Sewage – Sewage – сточные сточные

водыводы Forefront Forefront ––

важнейшее место важнейшее место

Deforestation – Deforestation – вырубка лесавырубка леса

Startling – Startling – поразительныйпоразительный

Sinister Sinister sign sign – – зловещий знакзловещий знак

CarbonCarbon dioxid – dioxid – углекислый газуглекислый газ

Devastating – Devastating – разрушительныйразрушительный

Multiply – Multiply – увеличиватьувеличивать

Voraciously Voraciously - - жадножадно Peachy – «отличноPeachy – «отлично

In reality, the problems In reality, the problems are worse than we are worse than we

thought!thought! With as much attention as the environment With as much attention as the environment

has been getting lately, you’d think that we’d has been getting lately, you’d think that we’d be further along in our fight to preserve the be further along in our fight to preserve the world’s species, resources and the beautiful world’s species, resources and the beautiful diversity of nature. Unfortunately, things diversity of nature. Unfortunately, things aren’t nearly that rosy. In fact, many of the aren’t nearly that rosy. In fact, many of the environmental problems that have received environmental problems that have received the most public attention are even worse the most public attention are even worse than we thought – from destruction in the than we thought – from destruction in the rain forest to melting glaciers in the Arctic. rain forest to melting glaciers in the Arctic. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

7. Mammal Extinction 7. Mammal Extinction One in four mammals One in four mammals

is threatened with is threatened with extinction(25%). extinction(25%). →→thousands of species thousands of species die out in our lifetimedie out in our lifetime the rate of habitat lossthe rate of habitat loss →→hunting in crucial hunting in crucial areasareas ( (Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Africa and Central Africa and Central and South Central and South America is growing so America is growing so rapidly, these animals rapidly, these animals barely have a chancebarely have a chance))

6. The Ocean Dead Zones6. The Ocean Dead Zones IIn oceans around the world, there n oceans around the world, there

are eerie areas that are devoid of are eerie areas that are devoid of nearly all life. These nearly all life. These “dead zones”“dead zones”

↓ ↓ a lack of a lack of

oxygenoxygen↓↓

excess nitrogen from farm excess nitrogen from farm fertilizers, fertilizers,

emissions from vehicles and emissions from vehicles and factories, and sewage. factories, and sewage.

The number of dead zones has The number of dead zones has

been growing fast – since the been growing fast – since the 1960’s, the number of dead zones 1960’s, the number of dead zones has doubled every 10 years. They has doubled every 10 years. They range in size from under a square range in size from under a square mile to 45,000 square miles, and mile to 45,000 square miles, and the most infamous one of all is in the most infamous one of all is in the Gulf of Mexico, a product of the Gulf of Mexico, a product of toxic sludge that flows down the toxic sludge that flows down the Mississippi from farms in the Mississippi from farms in the Midwest. These ‘hypoxic’ zones Midwest. These ‘hypoxic’ zones now cover an area roughly the size now cover an area roughly the size of Oregon. of Oregon.

5. Collapsing Fish Stock5. Collapsing Fish Stock Millions of people across Millions of people across

the world depend upon the world depend upon fish as a major staple in fish as a major staple in their diet. As such, their diet. As such, commercial fishermen commercial fishermen have been pulling such a have been pulling such a huge quantity of fish huge quantity of fish from the oceans that from the oceans that we’re heading toward a we’re heading toward a global collapse global collapse of all of all species currently fished – species currently fished – possibly as soon as the possibly as soon as the year 2048year 2048. In result → . In result → a a major impact on the major impact on the world’s ecosystems. world’s ecosystems.

4. Destruction of the Rain 4. Destruction of the Rain ForestForest

Huge losses of the rain forest in the AmazonHuge losses of the rain forest in the Amazon global warming and deforestationglobal warming and deforestationhalf of half of

the Amazon rain forest will likely be the Amazon rain forest will likely be destroyed by 2030destroyed by 2030

3. Polar Sea Ice Loss3. Polar Sea Ice Loss Polar sea ice is Polar sea ice is melting at an unprecedented rate melting at an unprecedented rate

→ → visual evidence of global warmingvisual evidence of global warming it’s got scientists rushing to figure out just how it’s got scientists rushing to figure out just how

big of an effect the melting is going to have on the big of an effect the melting is going to have on the rest of the world. rest of the world.

2. CO2 Levels in the 2. CO2 Levels in the AtmosphereAtmosphere

The polar sea ice loss is yet The polar sea ice loss is yet another sinister sign of another sinister sign of carbon dioxide levels carbon dioxide levels building up in the building up in the atmosphere – the main force atmosphere – the main force behind global warming. behind global warming.

Greenhouse gas emissionsGreenhouse gas emissions ↑ ↑

vehicles, vehicles, power power plants, plants,

factories, factories, giant livestock farmsgiant livestock farms

↓↓ devastating climate devastating climate

changechange

1. Population Explosion1. Population Explosion

OOur very own rapidly multiplying presence on this planet ur very own rapidly multiplying presence on this planet – – the the biggest biggest environmental problem:environmental problem:

consume resources,consume resources, pollute the air and water, pollute the air and water, tear down natural habitats,tear down natural habitats, introduce species into areas where they don’t belong andintroduce species into areas where they don’t belong and destroy destroy ecosystems ecosystems millions of species become endangered andmillions of species become endangered and go extinct.go extinct.

It took nearly all of human history – from the first days of man on earth until It took nearly all of human history – from the first days of man on earth until the early 1800’s – to reach a global population of 1 billion. In just 200 years, the early 1800’s – to reach a global population of 1 billion. In just 200 years, we’ve managed to reach 6.5 billion. That means the population has grown we’ve managed to reach 6.5 billion. That means the population has grown more since 1950 than in the previous four million years. We’re adding roughly more since 1950 than in the previous four million years. We’re adding roughly 74 million people to the planet every year, a scary figure that will probably 74 million people to the planet every year, a scary figure that will probably continue to increase. continue to increase.

ConclusionConclusion

All seven environmental problems detailed above All seven environmental problems detailed above are very serious, and we’ve got to start treating are very serious, and we’ve got to start treating them that way. We may not have easy solutions, but them that way. We may not have easy solutions, but the fact is, we simply can’t continue living our lives the fact is, we simply can’t continue living our lives as if everything is peachy. These problems aren’t as if everything is peachy. These problems aren’t going to magically solve themselves. We should going to magically solve themselves. We should have begun acting generations ago, but we can’t go have begun acting generations ago, but we can’t go back in time, and that means we have to step up our back in time, and that means we have to step up our efforts. If we want to keep this planet a healthy efforts. If we want to keep this planet a healthy place for humans to live – for our grandchildren to place for humans to live – for our grandchildren to enjoy – it’s time to buckle down and do everything enjoy – it’s time to buckle down and do everything in our power to reverse the damage we’ve done. in our power to reverse the damage we’ve done.

EXERCISESEXERCISES What is the problem about in each paragraph?What is the problem about in each paragraph?

1.1. Population ExplosionPopulation Explosion2.2. CO2 Levels in the AtmosphereCO2 Levels in the Atmosphere3.3. Polar Sea Ice LossPolar Sea Ice Loss4.4. Destruction of the Rain ForestDestruction of the Rain Forest5.5. Collapsing Fish StockCollapsing Fish Stock6.6. The Ocean Dead ZonesThe Ocean Dead Zones7.7. Mammal ExtinctionMammal Extinction

a)a). When a predator disappears, the prey will multiply. . When a predator disappears, the prey will multiply. When prey dies out, the predator will see its ranks decrease as When prey dies out, the predator will see its ranks decrease as well. Many people fail to realize just how interconnected all well. Many people fail to realize just how interconnected all species on this planet really are. species on this planet really are.

b) b) Spanish researches Spanish researches recently found recently found that many species that many species die off at oxygen levels well above the current definition of die off at oxygen levels well above the current definition of ‘uninhabitable’, suggesting that the extent of dead zones in ‘uninhabitable’, suggesting that the extent of dead zones in coastal areas that support fishing is much worse than coastal areas that support fishing is much worse than previously thought. previously thought.

c) c) The World Wildlife Fund concluded this summer that The World Wildlife Fund concluded this summer that agriculture, drought, fire, logging and livestock ranching will agriculture, drought, fire, logging and livestock ranching will cause major damage to 55 percent of the Amazon rain forest cause major damage to 55 percent of the Amazon rain forest in the next 22 years. Another 4 percent will see damage due in the next 22 years. Another 4 percent will see damage due to reduced rainfall, courtesy of global warming. to reduced rainfall, courtesy of global warming.

d) Scientific American d) Scientific American warns that “human fingerprints warns that “human fingerprints have been detected” on both the Arctic and Antarctic have been detected” on both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Antarctica had previously appeared to be the only regions. Antarctica had previously appeared to be the only continent on the planet where humanity’s impact on climate continent on the planet where humanity’s impact on climate change hadn’t been observed. change hadn’t been observed.

e) e) A global temperature rise of just 7.2 degrees A global temperature rise of just 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit would cause a catastrophic domino effect, Fahrenheit would cause a catastrophic domino effect, bringing weather extremes that would result in food and bringing weather extremes that would result in food and water shortages and destructive floods. water shortages and destructive floods.

f) f) We’re adding roughly 74 million people to the planet We’re adding roughly 74 million people to the planet every year, a scary figure that will probably continue to every year, a scary figure that will probably continue to increase. All of those mouths will need to be fed. All of those increase. All of those mouths will need to be fed. All of those bodies will need clean water and a place to sleep. All of the bodies will need clean water and a place to sleep. All of the new communities created to house those people will new communities created to house those people will continue to encroach upon the natural world. continue to encroach upon the natural world.

Discussion:Discussion: Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions:

1.1. What shall we do to keep our planet a What shall we do to keep our planet a healthy place?healthy place?

2.2. What is one of the biggest environmental What is one of the biggest environmental problem nowadays?problem nowadays?

3.3. What can be called the main force behind What can be called the main force behind global warming?global warming?

4.4. What can happen with the Amazon by 2030?What can happen with the Amazon by 2030?

5.5. What is the global collapse linked with?What is the global collapse linked with?

6.6. Is there any chain between the predator and Is there any chain between the predator and the prey?the prey?

Find the English equivalents for the Find the English equivalents for the following word-combinations in the text.following word-combinations in the text.

1.1. Прекрасное разнообразие природы -Прекрасное разнообразие природы -

2.2. Вымирание млекопитающих -Вымирание млекопитающих -

3.3. Жертва -Жертва -

4.4. Хищник -Хищник -

5.5. Жить в розовом цвете -Жить в розовом цвете -

6.6. Мертвая зона -Мертвая зона -

7.7. Основной продукт при диете -Основной продукт при диете -

8.8. Вырубка леса -Вырубка леса -

Keys to the exercisesKeys to the exercisesI.I. A) - A) - Mammal ExtinctionMammal Extinction B) -B) -The Ocean Dead ZonesThe Ocean Dead Zones C) - C) - Destruction of the Rain ForestDestruction of the Rain Forest D) - D) - Polar Sea Ice LossPolar Sea Ice Loss E)- E)- CO2 Levels in the AtmosphereCO2 Levels in the Atmosphere F) - F) - Population ExplosionPopulation Explosion

II.II. 1 - 1 - to buckle down and do everything in our power to reverse to buckle down and do everything in our power to reverse the damage we’ve done. the damage we’ve done.

2 - 2 - our very own rapidly multiplying presence on this our very own rapidly multiplying presence on this planet planet

3 - 3 - The aforementioned polar sea ice loss is yet another The aforementioned polar sea ice loss is yet another sinister sign of carbon dioxide levels building up in the sinister sign of carbon dioxide levels building up in the atmosphere atmosphere

4 - 4 - “human fingerprints have been detected” on both the “human fingerprints have been detected” on both the Arctic and Antarctic regions Arctic and Antarctic regions

5 - half of the Amazon rain forest will likely be destroyed 5 - half of the Amazon rain forest will likely be destroyed by 2030by 2030

6 – overfishing6 – overfishing 7 - 7 - When a predator disappears, the prey will multiply. When a predator disappears, the prey will multiply.

When prey dies out, the predator will see its ranks decrease When prey dies out, the predator will see its ranks decrease as well. as well.

III.III. 1 - 1 - awe-inspiring diversity of nature awe-inspiring diversity of nature

2 - 2 - Mammal Extinction Mammal Extinction

3 - 3 - prey prey

4 - 4 - predator predator

5 – 5 – things are rosythings are rosy

6 – dead zone6 – dead zone

7 – 7 – major staple in the dietmajor staple in the diet

8 - 8 - deforestation deforestation

Information SourcesInformation Sources

http://feeds.feedburner.com/earthfirshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/earthfirstt

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/ http://www.ehsdata.comhttp://www.ehsdata.com http://F:/USA/environme....ntal_problhttp://F:/USA/environme....ntal_probl

ems_files/environmental_problems.htems_files/environmental_problems.htmm