THE BEAUTY OF SCOTLAND – HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

The Scottish Highlands have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.Until now, Scotland has escaped much of the pollution which affects Western Europe. But it may not escape for much longer.

The problem is acid rain.

Cars and power stations that burn coal cause acid rain. It isn’t always rain; sometimes it’s a mist which falls on trees, buildings and the ground. And it is increasing.

In parts of Western Europe the problem is serious. Experts think that over half of the forests in West Germany are dying. Acid rain has damaged over forty per cent of Dutch forests, and poisoned 18, 000 Swedish lakes.

Until recently, the wind carried away most of Britain’s acid rain, usually towards Scandinavia. The British Government was not particularly interested in a form of pollution which came from Britain but which only seemed to affect other countries. But there’s so much acid rain now that it falls on Britain.

In 1974, during a storm over Pitlochry, the rain contained so much acid that it was like vinegar. On 20^th February 1984, black snow fell at Aviemore in the Cairngorm Mountains. Local people say it happens often. In Edinburgh and Glasgow some of the older buildings are very badly damaged.

And the situation is unlikely to get better. As the trees disappear from mountain slopes, avalanches will probably increase. The chemicals in acid rain are likely to replace the oxygen in lakes and rivers. The fish are unlikely to live, because the acid in the water will certainly kill their young and their food supplies, such as water insects. Birds and animals will probably disappear when they no longer have anything to feed on.

The consequences are economic as well. Scotland may lose its tourist industry. The tourists certainly won’t come to rivers which have lost their salmon and trout, or to scenery which has lost its beauty. And without the money the tourists bring, the Highlanders might have to go elsewhere to find work.

Unless the British Government does something soon, acid rain will change the face of the Scottish countryside – and the lives of the people who live there.

 

● 1. The acid rain problem is unlikely to get worse.

2. Black snow is likely to become more common.

3. Highland forests won’t die.

4. The fish will certainly die.

5. Acid in the water might kill food supplies.

6. The birds will probably disappear.

7. Scotland has lost its tourist industry.

8. Tourists will certainly stay away if the countryside is destroyed.

Model: 1 False. The acid rain problem is unlikely to get better.

 

…will certainly = …is/are certain to …probably won’t = is/are unlikely to …will probably = …is/are likely to …certainly won’t …will possibly = …may/might/could

 

2.20. Complete these sentences to make true statements about the effects of pollution.

1. The acid rain problem is …….. to get better.

2. Black snow will …….. become more common.

3. Highland forests …….. probably die.

4. The fish probably …….. be able to live in the rivers.

5. Acid in the water is …….. to kill food supplies.

6. The birds are …….. to disappear.

7. Scotland will …….. lose its tourist industry.

8. Tourists …….. won’t come if the countryside is destroyed.

 

2.21. Read for specific information. Describe the consequences of pollution in Scotland.

If

power stations continue to burn coal, acid rain falls on forests, the trees disappear, acid rain falls on lakes and rivers, the oxygen is replaced by chemicals, there are no water insects, the fish disappear, the government does nothing,

…will…

Model: If power stations continue to burn coal, acid rain will increase.

 

2.22. Now you are going to read an interview at a radio studio. An interviewer (I) is talking to Karen Baker (K), a conservationist. Pay attention to the phrases in bold.

IT’S YOUR ENVIRONMENT

I: I have with me in the studio Karen Baker, a leading conservationist. Karen, can we really make a difference as individuals to improve the environment and save resources?

K: Oh yes, quite a lot actually. If lots of individuals work together they can often achieve a lot.

I: Could you give us some idea of what these actions might be?

K: Certainly. We’re all shoppers, aren’t we? Well, as shoppers we have tremendous power to influence manufacturers. An immediate action could be to buy goods that keep packaging to a minimum. Or if a shop assistant offers you a plastic bag you don’t need, simply refuse it …… politely of course.

I: Yes, yes, I see your point.

K: Also as consumers, we can refuse to buy products made from animals threatened with extinction, ivory products or fur coats, for example.

I: Yes, I suppose as customers we have a lot of power, don’t we? We have so many things in our homes, perfectly good things, that we don’t use any more. Couldn’t we make more use of these things instead of making even more waste?

K: Oh yes! That’s a really important point. I personally never throw anything away. Especially things that other people might be able to use. You must have friends or relations that could do with some of these things … Remember, don’t throw away your rubbish – recycle it!

I: Good idea. What about pollution? Is there anything we as individuals can do to clean up the environment? The problems of pollution are often so big that it’s easy to feel helpless, isn’t it?

K: I know. We often hear of terrible disasters on TV that require massive clean-up operations, but there are many smaller-scale problems that we can tackle. Get together with a few friends and make a study of pollution in your area. You could help to clear the rubbish from a local stream or river or even tidy up an area of wasteland. People can also join a campaign group, either a local or a national one, and get involved in action to improve your neighbourhood and to try and change people’s attitudes.

I: Now, I know you’re presently involved in a campaign to encourage people to save energy.

K: Well, the car is here to stay and it would be foolish to ask people not to use them, but we could all try to avoid unnecessary car journeys. Go by bike or public transport sometimes or if you work in the same area as your neighbour, try car-sharing. And in the home, don’t leave lights and other electrical equipment on. An enormous amount of energy is wasted this way.

I: Well, I’m afraid we’ve run out of time for now, but thanks for coming in to the studio. I’ll certainly try putting some of your ideas into practice.

 

► Now answer the questions.

1. What ideas do you agree with?

2. Do you have any personal opinion?

3. Which ideas you are not sure about?

 

2.23. Read the following statements of people about the places where they live. Say whether you think they are happy with their local environment, dissatisfied or concerned about it. Give reasons for your answers.

1. “This is a lovely place to live but if they build the new road through here, things will change. Instead of being able to hear birdsong we’ll just get the roar of heavy traffic.”

2. “It would be so nice to have a few trees around us rather than concrete and rubbish everywhere you look.”

3. “There’s a great view over the valley from the hill just up the road where I take the dog in the mornings.”

4. “This is a dirty old industrial area but we’ve got some nice parks and there are some pleasant walks down by the canal.”

 

2.24. Anything you do to your environment will have an effect back on you. Do you agree with this statement?

► Which of the following issues are taken seriously in our country?

● energy saving at home ● buying “green” products

● environmentally friendly transport ● anti-pollution campaigns

● recycling of waste material ● organic gardening and farming

● anti-litter campaigns ● clean park campaigns

 

► Have you ever noticed how you effect your own environment?

● Where is your food from?

● What happens to your rubbish?

● Do recycling facilities exist where you live?

● Have you ever planted trees?

● What animals and plants live around you?

● Which of the ecological problems you consider to be the most important?

 

2.25. Work in a group to discuss the following problems. Give your own examples. Suggest your solution.

1. The use of natural resources should be carefully monitored.

2. There are few laws that protect nature.

3. Man cuts down more trees to provide paper, wood, medicine, etc.

4. Factories are very dangerous for people, wildlife and the environment.

5. Lakes and rivers are too polluted now.

 

UNIT 3 CLIMATE AND WEATHER

INTRODUCTION

● What is the weather like today?

● What was the weather like yesterday?

● What will the weather be like tomorrow?

These three questions are the most common among people round the world, don’t you think so? Speaking about weather we mean blue skies, puffy white clouds, torrential rains with hail force winds, flashes of lightning; or snow gently falling on the ground. But if we open an English dictionary we find out that “the weather is the state of the atmosphere at any given time everywhere on Earth; it varies from place to place, day to day, season to season”. The long-term look at the weather in a place or region, the averaging of rainfall, the maximum and minimum temperatures is called climate.

 

3.1. The list of common weather words is very long and we start with some nouns and adjectives. Check your understanding.

noun	adjective		noun	adjective
sun	sunny	wind	windy
rain	rainy	ice	icy
cloud	cloudy		mist	misty
fog	foggy	snow	snowy
heat	hot	humidity	humid
warmth	warm	frost	frosty

 

And now you can use a dictionary.

► Hot weather

close / stifling – hot and uncomfortable, you can hardly breathe

boiling / scorching – very hot (e.g. boiling day)

warm – pleasantly hot

mild – gentle (winter) weather, when it is not very cold

humid – the air is hot and wet

drought – a long period of time without rain

► Cold weather

cool – pleasantly cold

chilly – a little cold

freezing – extremely cold

sleet – a mixture of snow and rain

frost – a coat of ice

blizzard – a storm with a bit of snow and strong winds

slush – dirty half-snow, half-water (in the streets)

snowdrift – a deep bank of snow

► Wet weather

to drizzle – to rain a bit with very, very small drops of rain

to pour – to rain a lot

shower – brief fall of rain

torrential rain – heavy rain

light rain – little rain

the Monsoon – a rainy season

hail / hailstone – pellets of frozen rain falling from the sky

overcast – very cloudy and dark

thick fog – dense fog

mist – light fog

damp – not dry; slightly wet

flood – overflow of water on a place usually dry; great outpouring

► Windy weather

strong wind – powerful wind

breeze – gentle pleasant wind

gale – very strong wind

thunderstorm – a storm with thunder and lightning

hurricane – a typhoon

► Look at these three ways of talking about the weather.

With a verb	With a noun	With an adjective
It often rains.	There is often rain.	It is often rainy weather.

 

● Put the words into the correct column:

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