For the tropical forests
Washington – Many Americans feel that saving the world’s tropical forests warrants little serious concern. In Europe and the United States, they say, deforestation was the inevitable and desirable consequence of economic progress; why should it be any different in the largely undeveloped nations where the world’s tropical forests are found?
It is different. The rich soils and relative biological simplicity of the temperate world enhances forest conversion and eventual deforestation. But in the tropical forest regions, soils tend to be poor. Life-supporting nutrients are stores not in soils but in the trees. Remove them and the whole fragile system collapses.
People and nature both lose when the tropical forest is clumsily invaded. Such forests supply the world with goods – hardwoods, rubber, fruits and nuts, drugs and medicines and fragrances and spices – that often cannot be raised in any but natural conditions. Harvesting beyond sustainable limits has already brought some of the tropical forests best hardwood – Brazilian rosewood for example – near extinction.
The tropical forest is also a biological warehouse. Estimates of the total number of species on the planet range up to 30 million, of which only 1.6 million have been identified. It is further estimated that tropical forests, while occupying only 7 per cent of the Earth’s surface, my contain half of all life forms. Thus, relatively few tropical forest species have been studied. Concerned biologists view the heedless squandering of the tropical forests’ resources as a tragedy.
Similarly, we depend on a small group of plants – corn, rice, wheat – for a large part of our sustenance. From time to time, plant pathologists have found, the commonly used strains of these plants requires genetic fortification from the wild to protect them from blight and disease. Since many such plants originated in tropical areas and only later were cultivated elsewhere, the primeval forests of the tropics represent a vast genetic storehouse of great potential value.
Left untouched, tropical forests also contribute to the stability of the world’s climate. But when the forests are burned, the carbon released plays an important role in the build-up of atmospheric gases producing the “greenhouse effect”, which is causing a warming trend on the planet. This could turn America’s Corn Belt into a subtropical region. And the melting of polar ice could raise sea levels and lead to drastic losses of coastal land.
Unfortunately, the present defoliation, motivated by short-term economic benefit, probably will continue unless a revolution in public and official attitudes comes to the rescue at the eleventh hour.
3. Find words or phrases in the text which show that the points below are true:
a) Deforestation was an integral part of economic progress in Europe and the United States;
a) Forests in the temparate zone restore very quickly;
b) In the tropical forests plants can’t get all the necessary nutrients from the soils;
c) Biologists think that if we cut down the tropical forests we shall do an irreparable harm to our nature;
d) Corn, rice and wheat are essential for our living as they are our main foodstuffs;
e) The burning of the forests may result in heating up of our planet;
f) The grain belt in America could be affected;
g) Very little work has been done on the problem up to now.
4. Translate the following word combination into Russian:
a) underdeveloped countries;
b) relative biological simplicity;
c) the temparate world;
d) life-supporting nutrients;
e) a biological warehouse;
f) tropical forest species;
g) concerned biologists;
h) headless squandering;
i) the primeval forests;
j) a vast genetic storehouse of great potential value;
k) greenhouse effect;
l) a warming trend;
m) sea levels;
n) drastic losses;
o) short-term economic benefit.
5. Explain the meaning of the phrase “at the eleventh hour”.
6. Match each word or phrase underlined with a phrase below which has the same meaning:
a) spending wastefully;
b) a person who specializes in plant diseases;
c) it could lead to flooding large areas of coastal land;
d) pay little attention to;
e) play an important role in maintaining the stable climate;
f) soon some of the species will not exist in living form;
g) carbon is one of the major by-products of burning;
h) a radical change of.
7. Translate the following terms into Russian:
· deforestation, defoliation, reforestation, forest conversion, nutrients, fragrances, species, sustenance, strain, genetic fortification, blight, build-up of gases.
8. Explain the meaning of the following verbs:
· to remove, to release, to raise (used in two different meanings).
9. Analyse the grammatical structure of the sentence:
Unfortunately, the present defoliation motivated by short-term economic benefit, probably will continue unless a revolution in public and official attitudes comes to the rescue at the eleventh hour.
10. Comment on the function of the –ing forms and give the best ways of their rendering into Russian:
a) Saving the world’s tropical forests warrants little serious concern;
b) Life-supporting nutrients are stored in the trees;
c) Harvesting beyond sustainable limits has already brought some of the tropical forests best hardwoods near extinction;
d) Tropical forests while occupying only 7 per cent of the Earth’s surface may contain half of all life forms;
e) the “greenhouse effect” which is causing a warming trend on the planet.
11. Which is the best way of rendering the underlined constructions into Russian?
12. What is the meaning of the word “but” in the sentence “Such forests supply the world with goods that often cannot be raised in any but natural conditions”?
13. Read the following variants of translation and name their strong and weak points:
а) Занятые этой проблемой биологи рассматривают хищническое уничтожение тропических лесов как трагедию.
в) Озабоченные данным положением дел ученые считают, что варварское использование ресурсов тропического леса – это настоящая трагедия.
с) По мнению биологов, бездумное разбазаривание ресурсов тропических лесов – это трагическая ошибка.
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а) От такого непродуманного вмешательства проигрывают и люди, и природа.
в) Как люди, так и природа потеряют, если мы грубо вмешаемся в жизнь тропических лесов.
с) И люди, и природа понесут невосполнимую утрату после такого варварского использования тропических лесов.
14. Choose the best in your opinion variant of translation of the title:
a) Пришло время проститься с тропическими лесами
b) Время существования тропических лесов истекает
c) Последние мгновения в жизни тропических лесов
d) Гибель тропических лесов уже не за горами
e) Для тропических лесов время бежит быстро
f) Настал час X для тропических лесов
g) Леса тропиков: короткий миг между прошлым и будущим
15. Translate the text “Time is running short for the tropical forests” from English into Russian in writing.
16. Listen to the tape and put down the main points. Render the information in Russian, using your notes.
17. The conversation given below takes place between two persons speaking different languages – English and Russian. Students A and B read the dialogue, and student C acts as an interpreter.
A: Одна из причин, по которой бумага, пустые бутылки и металлические отходы уже однажды широко рециркулировались в Японии, заключается в том, что это было выгодно. Почему теперь это не делается?
В : Nowadays the greatest obstacle to industrial recycling is the excess of expenditure over income.
A: Значит, нам необходимо создать такую экономическую систему, при которой повторное использование стало бы делом выгодным.
B: Industries are gradually introducing methods of evaluating “total use” of an article.
A : В чем заключается этот метод?
B: This involves the manufacturer assessing the overall impact of his product on the environment, taking all factors into account from the selection of raw materials to the moment when all consumer value has been exhausted.
A : Насколько мне известно, промышленность проявила интерес к призыву Университета Организации Объединенных Наций к «нулевой эмиссии», т.е. к полному исключению выделения вредных веществ в процессе производства.
B: A new law comes into force in the spring of 1997 requiring manufacturers and retailers to ensure that packaging materials are recyclable. Other measures being examined by the government are a system for resale of the rights to emit noxious substances and introduction of a tax on the burning of oil coal, natural gas and other fuels which produce carbon dioxide.
A : Законы – это, конечно, прекрасно. Но чтобы рецуркуляция укоренилась как конкретная социальная система необходимо, чтобы отдельные люди, предприниматели и правительства глубоко осознали действительную важность сохранения окружающей среды.
18. Read the newspaper article given below and render its contest in English:
Мусор как вторсырье
Существует общее правило, согласно которому количество производимого страной мусора пропорционально ее валовому внутреннему продукту, так что большее количество мусора свидетельствует о более высоком благосостоянии. Стремление во всем мире к сбережению сырьевых ресурсов требует срочного поиска путей обуздания темпов роста мусора. Сегодня среднестатистический житель Японии производит примерно 920 граммов мусора в день – более 330 кг в год. Значение местных программ рециркуляции будет невелико, если игнорируется проблема удаления отходов. Размер площадей для свалки мусора в Японии ограничен, поэтому большая часть его сжигается, после чего используется для подсыпки. Но мест, нуждающихся в подсыпке, становится все меньше, так что стоимость переработки мусора растет, все больше обостряя проблему. Единственное решение состоит в том, чтобы уменьшить объем производимого мусора и повысить его долю, идущую на вторичную переработку.
Чтобы добиться этого, необходимо вовлечь каждого члена общества через правительственные учреждения, места работы, школы и инициативные группы жителей. Нужна также новая технология, позволяющая использовать мусор в качестве вторсырья.
В некоторых районах уже производились эксперименты, когда за уборку мусора квартплата снижалась ниже установленного уровня, или когда необработанный мусор использовался для получения органических удобрений, или же кондиционеры в общественных местах работали за счет энергии, полученной при сжигании мусора.
19.Write an essay on one of the following topics: “What can be done to stop people from dropping litter in the streets?”, “Nature in the XXI century”, “Economic progress and wildlife”.
Unit VIII
1. What do you know about MBA?
2. Read the text “The faithful put their trust in an MBA” and say what differences you have found between the managers of the church organisations and secular organisations.
THE FAITHFUL PUT THEIR TRUST IN AN MBA
The Church of England is more likely to conjure up images of jumble sales and Mothers’ Union meetings than high finance. But not any more. Britain’s first MBA in church management starts this month with the aim of bringing business skills to the clergy.
Lincoln-based Bishop Grosseteste University College is running the course in association with the University of Hull. It is aimed at clergy of all Christian denominations and those working in Christian schools, colleges and charities, as well as practicing Christian working in secular management posts.
Mark Charter, course leader, says “the intention is to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, attributes and experiences to make them effective and imaginative managers.”
The part-time course will cover standard MBA modules but students will also learn about charity law and managing physical resources - a growing problem for churches saddled with old and decaying plant, says Mr. Charter. In addition, “they will also learn to develop a theology and spirituality so that management thinking is not allowed to take over, but remains at the services of the Church’s message,” he says.
Mr. Charter admits that there is something of a dichotomy between religion and business because business is about competition and the church is based on cooperation. But he adds, “this course is not about church people taking on management language and values uncritically. It is for those who are ambitious for their church and who are not afraid of contact with management ideas and who have the vision to implement them where appropriate.”
The Rev. Dr. William Beaver, the Church’s director on communication, says that as the church gains new business skills it will improve its image. “The prevailing view of the Church of England is it is a slightly dotty, eccentric organisation but why shouldn’t we be efficient and follow best practices in human resources, communication and operational matters?” He adds that the key to the MBA in church management is that it will “breed a whole new generation of ecclesiastic administrators who can take on the leadership of the organisation and take it forward into the next century.”
3. Find words or phrases in the text which show that the points below are true:
a) The clergy need special knowledge to do their job perfectly;
b) The university give courses not only to the clergy but to the practicing Christians as well;
c) The short course will give managerial skills along with law and theology;
d) Business and religion use different approaches;
e) The MBA graduates can apply their new knowledge in their work;
f) New business skills will improve the public opinion of the church;
g) The MBA in church administration will help the clergy to work in the new Millennium.
4. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:
a) jumble sales;
b) practicing Christians;
c) to equip sb with;
d) to cover standard modules;
e) charity law;
f) saddled with;
g) to develop a theology;
h) Church’s message;
i) to admit a dichotomy;
j) dotty organization;
k) ecclesiastic administrator.
5. Match the words in the article with their meaning below:
a) sale of a mixed collection of old or second-hand articles usually for charity;
b) cause to appear as an image in mind;
c) persons ordained as priests;
d) unit;
e) carry out an undertaking, agreement, promise;
f) working for acting together for a common purpose;
g) worldly or material;
h) mad;
i) theories about the nature of God;
j) put a heavy responsibility or burden on;
k) division into two (usually opposite groups).
6. Explain the difference between the following words:
a) church, cathedral, temple, monastery, diocese, parish, nunnery;
b) clergy, priest, reverend, ecclesiastic, church people, practicing Christian;
c) to run, to handle, to manage, to administrate, to govern, to operate, to rule;
d) to implement, to apply, to carry into life;
e) to develop, to breed, to grow, to bring smth to.
7. Find business terms in the text and translate them into Russian.
8. Find religious terms and religion-related words in the text and translate them into Russian.
9. Find the titles in the text and translate them into Russian.
10. What ways of rendering proper names and geographical names did you use when translating the following names in the article:
a) Mark Charter, Mr Charter, the Rev Dr William Beaver;
b) the Church of England, Christian school, Mothers’ Union;
c) Lincoln-based Bishop Grosseteste University College, the University of Hull;
d) Church’s message, the Church’s director of communication;
11. What ways of translating words related to religion did you use?
12. Analyse the grammatical structure of the sentences:
a) But not any more;
b) The part-time course will cover standard MBA modules but students will also learn about charity law and managing physical resources - a growing problem for churches saddled with old and decaying plant, says Mr. Charter;
c) They will also learn to develop a theology and spirituality so that management thinking is not allowed to take over, but remain at the services of the Church’s message;
d) The prevailing view of the Church of England is it is a slightly dotty, eccentric organisation but why shouldn’t we be efficient and follow best practices in human resources, communication and operational matters?;
e) Lincoln-based Bishop Grosseteste University College is running the course in association with the University of Hull.
13. Explain the meaning of the word “breed” in the context of the text.
14. Read the following variants of translation and name their strong and weak points:
a) Марк Чартер, руководитель курса, говорит, что «он стремится обучить студентов особым навыкам и приемам, а также помочь им набраться опыта, чтобы они могли стать умелыми и творческими руководителями».
b) Марк Чартер, возглавляющий этот курс, говорит, что «основной задачей является обучение слушателей навыкам, знаниям и опыту, необходимым для успешной и плодотворной работы менеджеров».
c) Марк Чартер, отвечающий за курс, говорит, что «главное – снабдить слушателей знаниями, навыками и опытом, необходимыми для эффективной и плодотворной работы в сфере управления».
* * *
a) Мистер Чартер признает, что между религией и бизнесом существует некое подобие пропасти, так как в основе бизнеса лежит конкуренция, а вера зиждется на взаимопомощи.
b) Господин Чартер признает, что религия и бизнес противоположны друг другу – бизнес строится на конкуренции, а церковь основывается на сотрудничестве.
c) Мистер Чартер соглашается с утверждением, что некое подобие пропасти разделяет религию и бизнес, ведь бизнес – это конкуренция, а церковь – это взаимопомощь.
15. Choose the best in your opinion variant of translation of the title:
a) На МВА уповаем
b) С нами Бог и МВА
c) Менеджеры от Бога
d) Церковники от МВА
e) Святые отцы уповают на МВА
f) Верующие в МВА
16. Translate the article from English into Russian in writing.
17. Listen to the tape and put down the main points. Render the information in Russian using your notes.
18. Read the newspaper article given below and render its contest in English: