Complete the sentences. Choose the answer A, B, or C which you think fits best.

WATER RESOURCES

The water is the _1_ important element in physical and chemical processes on the surface of the earth. Unlike mineral deposits, water resources are _2_ in the course of exploitation itself. This is due to its constant _3_ in the ocean-atmosphere-earth-ocean system. No matter how much water is _4_ in daily industrial life, its amount does not _5_. However, this view has _6_ changed in the past 30 or 40 years as water became a factor which dictates _7_ for economic development. In the economy water is a raw material like any other.

Water resources are distributed very _8_ on the continents. Shortage of water in different areas of the world is due not only to uneven _9_ of water resources but also to its more _10_ use. The scope of water resource exploitation is growing rapidly _11_ population growth, fast development of industry and expansion of irrigated land area.

1	A) more	B) most	C) very
2	A) required	B) reused	C) renewed
3	A) circulation	B) redistribution	C) accumulation
4	A) consumed	B) concluded	C) conducted
5	A) increase	B) worsen	C) decrease
6	A) particularly	B) substantially	C) extremely
7	A) prospects	B) situations	C) problems
8	A) inversely	B) even	C) unevenly
9	A) consumption	B) redistributing	C) distribution
10	A) varied	B) various	C) different
11	A) due to	B) in spite of	C) as well as

8. Give Russian equivalents to the following word-combinations:

2. underground river   geothermal                 water fresh ground	3. large useable                          reserves          renewable extensive exhaustless
1. different hunting   populated                      area total irrigated land conservation	4.                             recourses                            use  water                 consumption                           shortage  supply     redistribution

 

Read the text and make a plan of it.

PROTECTION OF WATER

Academician Karpinsky called water the most precious natural resource. In the economy water is a raw material like any other. Unlike mineral deposits, water resources are renewed in the course of exploitation itself due to its constant circulation in the ocean-atmosphere-earth-ocean system. With time and under certain conditions water regains its properties and its fitness for drinking. This is probably the reason why water resources for a long time appeared to be unlimited. However, this view has substantially changed in the past 30 or 40 years as water became a factor which dictates prospects for economic development.

Scarcely any type of product is manufactured without water taking part in the process in one form or another. It should be added that scope of water resource exploitation is growing rapidly due to population growth, fast development of industry and expansion of irrigated land area.

It is obvious that the exploitation of water resources is extremely varied at the present time. An enormous amount of water is mainly consumed by industries. To manufacture one ton of paper 100 m³ of water is required, one ton of synthetic fibres - from 2,500 to 5,000 m³ of water. The obtaining of a ton of woolen fabric requires the use of 200 cubic meters of clean fresh water, that of a ton of capron - 5,600 cubic meters.

It has been estimated that industry consumes about 85 per cent of the water in cities. This leaves about 15 per cent for the daily needs of the people.

A sharp increase in water consumption on the planet may lead to a water shortage in the nearest future. In view of this, measures are being worked out to increase water resources and exploit them more rationally.

There are two ways to redistribute river water by means of reservoirs and through canals. Canals are important not only for redistributing water but also as transport routes.

Last century cascades of hydroelectric power plants were built with the reservoirs, the largest ones being on the Volga, Kama, Angara, and Yenisey rivers.

Reservoirs are an example of how man intervenes to a considerable extent in natural processes over large areas. Reservoirs help to solve energy problems, irrigate agricultural land, supply large enterprises, cities and other populated areas with water and also help forward the water transportation development. They form the basis both for fisheries and recreation and tourist zones. Nevertheless, there is a great disadvantage of man-made seas as they completely destroy the original environment over there.

Supplies of underground waters are considerable and therefore, their rational use helps to compensate for moisture shortages. Geothermal (hot) waters are a kind of underground water sources. Water being obtained from the earth’s interior by deep drilling. These hot waters are used to generate electricity (geothermal electric plants), heat homes, aid livestock breeding farms and also in hot- houses. Recently, geothermal waters have been used for breeding fish in ponds in Siberia.

 

⇐ Предыдущая891011121314151617Следующая ⇒

Поделиться: