Environment

1. Now let’s talk about environment. People say that our planet is in danger. Do you share this opinion? Our planet Earth is only a tiny part of the universe, but nowadays it's the only place where we can live. Until now pollution was not such a serious problem. With the development of overcrowded industrial highly developed cities, which put huge amounts of pollutants into surrounds, the problem has become more and more dangerous. Today our planet is in serious danger. Acid rains, global warming, air and water pollution, and overpopulation are the problems that threaten human lives on the Earth.

In order to understand how air pollution affects our body, we must understand exactly what this pollution is. Billions of tons of coal and oil are consumed around the world every year. Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

Our forests are disappearing because they are cut down or burnt. If this trend continues, one day we won't have enough oxygen to breathe, we won't see a beautiful green forest at all.

The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out forever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today may soon become extinct. And even greater threats are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are.

Fortunately, it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place.

2. What do you think people should do to protect the environment? People can plant trees and create parks for endangered animals. They can recycle their wastes; persuade enterprises to stop polluting activities. And it is now more than ever apparent that at the same time people are destroying their bodies and their future.

3. What would you like to ask your British friend about measures that are taken to protect the environment in Britain? What actions does your government do to stop global warming? Are they similar to those in our country? How to stop deforestation without any harm to national economy?

4. A friend of yours wants to develop a programme to protect the city where he lives. Give him a piece of advice. I advise him firstly to enter the geographical department of particularized higher educational establishment and to look at this problem from a scientific point of view. Then I advise him to work with students because they are the most active part of the society.

5. Green School of the Year contest is held in the country and you want your school to enter it. Give ideas for some green ‘events’. I propose the idea of effective tree planting, days without cars and building special bicycle traces.

23.WEATHER & CLIMATE

1. Now let’s talk about weather and climate. What weather do you prefer? Climate is the weather a certain place has over a long period of time. Climate has a very important influence on plants, animals and humans and is different in different parts of the world. Some scientists think that the world is becoming hotter.

If you compare Belarusian winter and summer temperatures at the beginning of our century and at its end you will see that climate has really changed. Winters have become warmer. Sometimes there is little snow in January, and there were winters when it rained on the New Year's Eve. Many people say that it is so because of the greenhouse effect. During the last 100 years people have produced a lot of carbon dioxide.

The weather is the favourite conversational topic in England. British often surprise people of other nationalities by this tendency to talk about the weather, a topic of conversation that other people do not find so interesting.

The climate in Great Britain is mild and temperate due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. The British often say: " Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather." The weather in Britain is very changeable. A fine morning can change into a wet afternoon and evening. And a nasty morning can change to a fine afternoon. That's why it is natural for the British to use the comparison " as changeable as the weather" of a person who often changes his mood or opinion about something.

The British also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when it rains all day long.

As we see the climate in different parts of the world changes a little from year to year. These changes can be dangerous for our planet, which needs protection. Earth is millions of years old, much older than the humans. We know many of its secrets. Yet there is still much to learn.

2. Are you weather dependent? I think that weather can influence the mood and state of many people, although I’m not a weather dependent person.

3. What questions would you ask a meteorologist? What are the methods of predicting weather? Is it difficult to forecast for a long time? Why do you make so many mistakes?

4. What can you advise a person who wants to become a meteorologist? I can advise to enter the geographical faculty of our university.

5. They say there’s no bad weather, there are bad clothes. What do you think about it? Englishmen say 'There is no bad weather, there are bad clothes', It means that they like all the seasons, all kinds of weather. Every season is good in its own way. I also like all the seasons of the year.