RADIATION

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 3322.

Radiation is an invisible pollutant that can be highly dangerous. Nuclear radiation comes from radioactive substances, including waste from nuclear weapons testing and from nuclear power plants. Small amounts of electromagnetic radiation are produced by a variety of electronic devices including computers, lasers, microwave ovens, TV sets, and X-ray machines.

Scientists have not determined exactly what effects small amounts of radiation influence people. But exposure to large amounts can cause cancer and harmful changes in reproductive cells.

International agreements ban most testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. Such regulations have helped to eliminate the major sources of radiation. However, the amount of radioactive waste is constantly increasing. Scientists are studying the ways to eliminate these wastes safely and permanently.

EXERCISE 12. Find in the texts English equivalents for these words and word combinations:

загрязнение окружающей среды, который относится, окружение (окружающие места), газами и дымом, отравлять воду химикатами, слишком много удобрений и пестицидов, разными другими способами, естественная красота, мусор и отбросы, шумом, с которой сталкивается человечество, оно является причиной, разрушение озонового слоя, разрушительные (гибельные) процессы, выживание всех живых существ, сильно загрязненный воздух, даже смерть, загрязненная вода, загрязнение почвы, имеющаяся в распоряжении для выращивания урожаев, первозданно красивый мир, сложный, приносить пользу, выхлопные газы, процентное содержание, производить товары, слишком много, важные средства, таким образом, немедленно, вынуждены бы были остановить, постепенно, должны упорно работать, вводить в силу законы, невидимый загрязнитель, очень опасный, отходы от испытании ядерного оружия, атомные электростанции, микроволновые печи, точно не определили, большие количества, вредные изменения, репродуктивные клетки, соглашения запрещают, однако, постоянно, надежно.

EXERCISE 14. Fill in gaps with the missing words in the following sentences; the first letter of each word has been given to help you:

1. People often p... their surroundings. 2. People d... the soil with too many f... 3. People s... rubbish and litter on the land. 4. Cars fill the air with the n... 5. Environmental pollution c... disastrous processes. 6. The pollution problem is c... 7. Factories d... much of the material that pol­lutes air and water. 8. Pollution can be r... 9. E... to large amounts of ra­diation can cause cancer. 10. International agreements b... most testing of nuclear weapons.

EXERCISE 15. Find in the texts, translate, and analyze:

a) grammar forms with the ending -ing:

EXERCISE 17. Answer the following questions about environmental pollution:

1. What does the term «environmental pollution» mean?

2. How do people pollute the surroundings?

3. What does environmental pollution cause?

4. What can badly polluted air cause?

5. What does polluted water cause?

6. Why is the pollution problem complicated?

7. Where does nuclear radiation come from?

8. Have you a computer of your own? How much time do you spend before the display?

9. Do you often watch TV?

10. Does you family prepare food with the help of a microwave oven?

11. Do you know the influence on people of the small amounts of ra­diation?

12. Do you often go to the seaside? How much time do you spend there?

13. Do you smoke? And what about your friends?

14. Where do you live? Are your surroundings clean?

15. How can we reduce the pollution of the surroundings?

EXERCISE 18. Agree or disagree with the following statements; add some more information:

1. People do not poison the water with chemicals. 2. People damage the soil with too many pesticides. 3. Badly polluted air cannot cause ill­ness. 4. Polluted water kills fish. 5. The pollution problem is not com­plicated.

EXERCISE 19. a) Read and translate the following dialogue;

b) memorize and dramatize the dialogue;