1. Read the text and do the tasks.
It is becoming increasingly clear that man cannot and must not use his tremendous power so carelessly, interfere in nature and radically try to change it, without taking into account possible negative effects of his economic activity.
The Costs of Progress
Human progress has reached the stage of intensive exploration of nuclear and solar energy, the World Ocean and outer space. It is evident now, however, that often man is adversely affecting the environment and his activity is sometimes fraught with fatal consequences.
It is becoming increasingly clear that man cannot and must not use his tremendous power so carelessly, interfere in nature and radically try to change it, without taking into account possible negative effects of his economic activity.
The more material wealth people create, the more they realize that they cannot but be concerned about how the biosphere is changing as a result of productive activity. Current ecological research shows, that man, when overconcerned with technicism, far from turning deserts into oases, can turn oases into deserts, threatening to destroy every thing on the Earth. In the 19th century and even in the 20th century, material production did not take into account the consequences which man’s interference may have in the distant future. In the 20th and 21st centuries such a consideration is becoming vitally important. The pollution of many species of plans and animals have now reached threatening proportions. An increasing influence on nature and using new technological processes may cause catastrophic results. Data concerning deaths from cancer say that more then 60 per cent of the cases are caused by various cancer-producing factors in the environment.
So, the urgent problem of today is to understand that we depend on the Earth, our mother, that the earth environment is a wonderful, beautiful and complex system which is easily damaged by man’s thoughtless attacks upon it. It is a challenge for all of us to save it.
2. True or false:
1) Human progress has reached the stage of cosmic pollution.
2) The intensive exploration of nuclear and solar energy adversely affects the environment.
3) Man uses his power carelessly.
4) People can and must interfere in nature trying to change it.
5) The material standard of people’s living has grown.
6) People are overconcerned with making more technical devices which could make their life better.
7) Two centuries ago people didn’t think much of the consequences of man’s interference in nature.
8) They don’t think of it in the current century.
9) In 60 per cent cancer is caused by various factors of polluted environment.
10) It is very complicated problem to restore the unity between man and nature.
3. Answer the questions in written form:
1) What stage has the human progress reached?
2) What are the results of man’s affecting the environment?
3) What is the connection between the material wealth of people and changes in biosphere?
4) Do scientists seek for the solution of the problem?
5) What does current ecological research show?
6) Did material production take into account the harmful consequences of progress two centuries ago?
7) Has this consideration changed in the 21st century?
8) What are the consequences of man’s intruding into nature?
9) What are the data concerning deaths from cancer?
10) Why should people decide this problem as soon as possible?
Немає коментарів:
Дописати коментар