Paragraph 4

Conclusion

Write 200-250 words.

UNIT 9

VLADIMIR VERNADSKY. THE THEORY OF NOOSPHERE

VOCABULARY

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences below with words from the box.

Source, commission, boundary, ore, crust, deposits, contribution, doctrine, required

1. Vernadsky’s particular beliefs led him to develop his unique………………….

2. Rich mineral................... were found in the area.

3. Uranium................... is mined in Australia.

4.Vernadsky’s development of the idea of the biosphere was an important…………….. to science.

5. Oil is a ……………..of energy.

6. A.................. was organized to look into the position of the mine.

7. The................... between the two spheres has been defined.

8. In the Earth’s.................. there are many minerals.

9. What are the conditions …………….. for a better future?

Ex. 2. Read and memorize the following words and word combinations:

• to distinguish – отличать, различать • relevant – уместный • entity – сущность, реальность • will – воля •reason – разум • to prove oneself – проявлять себя • to ponder – обдумывать • to attribute great significance –придавать большое значение • atrocity – жестокость, зверство • thirst – жажда • to take measures – принять меры

READING

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. Are you interested in science?

2. What sort of discoveries would you like to make?

3. What do you imagine the world will be like in 50 years’ time?

TEXT

VLADIMIR IVANOVICH VERNADSKY

(1863 - 1945)

Throughout the entire history of mankind there have been few thinkers who could equal the Russian scientist Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky. He was an outstanding mineralogist, geochemist, crystallographer, theoretical geologist and the lounder of many scientific establishments. He managed to see Earth from outer space fifty years before the first space flight. He saw it not only as one of the bodies in the solar system, but distinguished continents and oceans, rocks and living things, humans, minerals, atoms and mole­cules; he saw that "humans for the first time are becoming a geological force, capable of changing the face of our planet."

V.I. Vernadsky was born on March 12, 1863 in the family of a political economy professor. He spent his early childhood in Kharkov. He entered grammar school in 1873. In 1876 the family moved to Petersburg. The teaching faculty of Petersburg University at that time included D.I. Mendeleyev, V.V. Dokuchayev, and others. These prominent scientists were to play a particularly important role in Vernadsky's becoming an outstanding scientist. The thirst for knowledge, the joy of being free of the musty grammar school pushed Vernadsky to lectures not only in the natural sciences branch of the physical-mathematical department but in other departments as well.

In 1885 V.I. Vernadsky graduated from the university and was given a job as a custodian of the mineralogical department. His independent work began. Many of Vernadsky's achievements have not become out­dated with the passage of time; indeed they have become more relevant. I am referring to his work on the biosphere and men's global and space activity. Vernadsky spoke of turning the biosphere into a new entity, an area on the planet where human will, reason, and labour would prove themselves in a radical way (making a noosphere — a sphere of reason).

According to Vernadsky, human knowledge is not only a personal and social phenomenon but also a kind of a pla­netary phenomenon adjoined to the field of life. "Being part of the biosphere, man can judge the world order only by com­paring the phenomenon which he can see in it." Our current concept of the biosphere is based mainly on Vernadsky's theories.

After 1917 Vernadsky's scientific activity broadened. He took up new, highly difficult problems, put forward new ideas, wrote new books and articles on the history of minerals, on natural waters, on the circulation of the Earth's substances and gases, on space dust, geometry, the problem of time in modern science and on geochemical activity of living matter. In 1927 he organized a biogeochemical laboratory. In 1937 he addressed the international geological congress on "the significance of radioactivity for modern geology."

Till the very last days of his life Vernadsky remained on the frontiers of science: he pondered on the basics of the new teaching of the noosphere, directed the work of the committee on meteorites, researched isotope applications and worked a lot on the uranium problem. Owing to him, this country started to take measures to create an atomic industry and the raw materials basis for it. He attributed great significance to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful and creative purposes, for the creation of the noosphere.

At the age of almost 82 the scientist continued to work. The difficult war years, the newspaper reports about nazi atrocities seriously affected his health. He died on January 6, 1945. He was an inspired truth-seeker. "There is nothing stronger than the thirst for knowledge, the force of doubt...", he claimed. "We know just a small part of nature, just a tiny particle of that puzzling, murky and all-enveloping enigma, and everything that we know we have learned thanks to the dreams of the dreamers, fantasy-seekers and learned poets.

COMPREHENSION

Ex. 1. Number the events in the correct order.

· V.I. Vernadsky was taken on the staff of the mineralogical department.

· He also excelled himself as the organizer of a biogeochemical laboratory.

· Vernadsky went with his family to Petersburg.

· The difficult war years had a great influence on his health.

· Vernadsky’s major achievements of this period were books and articles on the history of minerals, on natural waters, on the circulation of the Earth's substances and gases, on space dust, geometry, the problem of time in modern science and on geochemical activity of living matter.

Ex. 2. Choose the right answer

1. Why did Vernadsky attribute great significance to the use of nuclear energy?

a) it served for peaceful and creative purposes, for the creation of the noosphere.

b) it provided "the equalizer" between the superpowers and produced an era of relative world peace at that time

c) it increased the power of his country

2. What was the contents of Vernadsky’s work till the very last days of his life?

a) he developed a new theory of the origin of petroleum

b) he worked a lot to create a safe electric system

c) he worked a lot on the uranium problem

3. What is a noosphere according to Vernadsky?

a) it is the source of the extraordinary radiation

b) it is a part of modern geology

c) it is a sphere of reason

Ex. 3. Read the text attentively and answer the following questions:

1. When and where was V.I. Vernadsky born?

2. What did he recall about his family atmosphere?

3. Where did he study after the family had moved to Petersburg?

4. What famous Russian scientists worked at the Petersburg University at that time?

5. Who played an important role in Vernadsky’s becoming an outstanding scientist?

6. What depart­ment did he study at?

7. When did his independent work begin?

8. Which of Vernadsky’s works have become especially nowadays?

9. What is the noosphere?

10. What is our current concept of the bio­sphere based on?

11. What did V.I.Vernadsky do after the Great October Revolution?

12. What did he attribute great significance to?

13. When did V.I.Vernadsky die? What affected his health seriously?

14. What kind of man and scientist was V.I. Vernadsky?

15. What did he value most of all?

Ex. 4.Translate the Sentences into Russian.

1. The Russian scientist Vladimir Vernadsky made an important contribution to science when he developed the idea of the biosphere.

2. Vernadsky taught mineralogy and crystallography inthe University of Moscow and became interested in geochemistry.

3. Vernadsky understood the possibility of using radioactive elements, but he also warned people that these elements were very dangerous.

4. The first uranium deposits were discovered in Russia in 1916 through Vernadsky's efforts.

5. For Vernadsky, the biosphere had existed since the very beginning of the Earth's history and it was constantly evolving.

6. Vernadsky believed that human reason, activity and scientific thought could lead to the evolution of the biosphere into the noosphere, the sphere of reason.

7. Vernadsky outlined the conditions that were required for the creation of the noosphere: equality for all people and an end to war, poverty and hunger.

Ex. 5. Render the contents of the text in 10 sentences.

GRAMMAR

Ex. 1. Choose the correct item

1. I missed the last train so I... spend the night at the station.

A. must B. had to C. could

2. There were no seats on the bus so I... stand.

A. had to B. ought to C. should

3. It is 8.20 now and she... catch the 8.15 bus.

A. will have to B. won’t be able to C. will be allowed to

4. You know Mike... do card tricks.

A. may B. must C. can

5.... I use you car?

A. may B. have C. should

6. We... buy biscuits because granny had baked a delicious pie.

A. didn’t have to B. couldn’t C. was able to

7. You.... better hurry. The train leaves in 5 minutes.

A. did B. had to C. should

8. The government... spend more money on hospitals.

A. ought to B. can C. may

9. People... drink and drive.

A. shouldn’t B. needn’t C. ought not to

10.... you speak English when you were 5?

A. had B. could C. might

11. You... speak during the examination.

A. mustn’t B. had to C. needn’t

12. He... be back in an hour. We are going to Anna.

A. is to B. has to C. must

13. Oh dear, I... remember her address.

A. can’t B. may not C. should

14. I lost all my money but fortunately I... borrow some from my friends.

A. might B. could C. had to

15. Mike... go fishing tomorrow morning.

A. can B. will be able to C. was able to

16.... I use your phone, please?

A. may B. must C. should

17. She... dance at the party because her leg was broken.

A. needn’t B. will C. couldn’t

18. Birds... fly.

A. must B. should C. can

19.... I leave the class-room?

A. may B. am C. could

20. She is a famous ballerina. She... dance very well.

A. can B. must C. has to

21. Your father is sleeping. You... be noisy.

A. couldn’t B. mustn’t C. must

22.... you open the window, please?

A. may B. are able to C. could

23. You... drive too fast. It’s dangerous!

A. needn’t B. mustn’t C. can’t

24. If you don’t study, you... do the test well.

A. won’t be able to B. can’t C. will be allowed to

25. I... have forgotten her telephone number.

A. must B. need C. will

26. He... have come back from Moscow but I haven’t seen him yet.

A. should B. must C. may

27. He is very pale. He... be very tired.

A. ought B. could C. must

28. He told me that I... come here at any time.

A. might B. may C. can

29. I think it... happen very soon.

A. can B. may C. is to

30.... I smoke here?

A. must B. may C. should

31. She... have been very glad to see you.

A. has to B. must C. ought to

32. I... find this magazine in the library.

A. couldn’t B. was to C. can’t

33. I... write to him about it at once.

LISTENING

Before you listen

Discuss these questions with your partner

1. What do you know about uranium?

2. Do you think atomic and nuclear power are safe? Why / Why not?

3. Do you know any other radioactive elements? Give examples of their application.

Ex. 1. Listen to the class discussion about uranium. Then decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. Uranium has been in the Earth’s crust for a very long time.

2. Uranium entered a star that had exploded.

3. Uranium is lighter than oxygen.

4. Uranium is a source of energy.

5. A small amount of uranium can produce a great deal of oil.

6. Less carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere when we use nuclear power.

WRITING

You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend,

… Yesterday we had a class where we discussed different ecological problems. Our teacher suggested opening an eco-club, where we can do something useful for the environment...

…What ecological problem do you consider the most serious? What can young people do to protect the environment? Do you think ecological problems should be discussed at school, and why?

Write him a letter and answer his 3 questions.

Write 100–120 words. Remember the rules of letter writing.

UNIT 10

ECOLOGY. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Ex. 1. Read and memorize the following words:

• correspond (to) v соответствовать • preserve v,n 1. сохранять, оберегать; 2. заповедник • sanctuary n заповедник • suffocate v задыхаться • threaten v угрожать • conveniences n pi. удобства, комфорт • uproot v корчевать, вырывать с корнем • advance v наступать, продвигаться • upset v нарушать • legislative а законодательный • per­missible а допустимый • to pass a law принимать закон • to violate a law нарушать закон • improve v улучшать • overcome v преодолевать • to do damage v наносить урон (ущерб) • rival n соперник; конкурент • danger n опасность, угроза • endanger v подвергать опасности, ставить под угрозу • to forsee (forsaw, forseen) v предвидеть • restore v восстанавливать

Ex. 2. Read and translate the following international words:

balance n, resident n, person n, tropical a, expert n, urbanization n, activist n, inspect course n, section n, civilization

Ex. 3. Match the pairs of synonyms:

a) despite adv, variation n, destroy v, sanctuary n, ensure v, de­crease v, waste v, devour v, protection n, to violate a law, upset v.

b) squander v, reduce v, eat v, change n, devastate v, in spite of adv, to break a law, preserve n, provide v, defence n, disturb v.

Ex. 4. Match the pairs of antonyms:

a) significant a, compatible a, pure a, permissible a, valuable a, ap­pear v, to preserve natural balance;

b) invaluable a, impermissible a, disappear v, impure a, to upset natural balance, insignificant a, incompatible a.

Ex. 5. Read the following phrases. Mind the stress and the rhythm. Translate the phrases into Russian:

a) 'qualitative 'changes, biological requirements, untouched by civi­lization, 'tropical 'rain 'forests, 'climate variations, to up'set the 'balance, the 'principles of 'using 'nature, the 'capitalist relations of production, a 'nongovernmental organization, 'rational utilization of 'natural recourses;

b) to disappear from the 'face of the 'earth, to 'save from extinction, the 'natural preserve 'staff, the 'course of the environmental protection, to 'run the 'forestry;

Ex. 6. Read the definitions of the following notions. Learn them by heart, be able to use them in a talk.

6. Environment. The active items of the surroundings of an organism that affect the organism. Factors in the environment include temperature, humidity, the presence of other organizes and the presence of physical objects; all these can have an effect on the behavior and existence of the organism.

7. Ecology is the study of the relationship of plants and animals to their surroundings; the plants and animals are mainly considered in communities, and all surroundings, both inanimate and animate, are included in the study.

8. Pollution. The process of making an environment unhealthy or impure.

9. Pollution. The presence in soil, water or air of substances harmful to health, or objectionable to human beings or animals.

10. Contamination. The presence in any substance (particularly food or water) of causative agents of disease.

READING

TEXT

POLLUTION OF THE ENVIROMENT

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. It can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.

Pollution started from prehistoric times when man created the first fires. It became a popular issue after World War II, due to radioactive fallout from atomic warfare and testing.

Growing evidence of local and global pollution and an increasingly informed public over time have given rise to environmentalism and the environmental movement, which generally seek to limit human impact on the environment.