The
main purpose of the article is to ________.( D
)
(a) show the present
environmental situation and the inevitable worsening of our environment
(b) discuss in
detail some serious environment problems
(c) discuss the correct
attitudes towards environmental changes and the need to get mentally prepared
for the changes
(d) discuss some
serious environment problems and various ways to deal with them
B.
Comprehending the text.
Choose
the best answer.
1.
Serious problems for the survival of the human race arise as a result of
________.( D
)
(a)
slow changes of the world
(b) the changing climate and the rising sea levels
(c)
what humans have done over the past two thousand years
(d)
the disappearance of many animals and plants
2.
The greenhouse effect appears when ________.( B
)
(a)
the earth is no longer cold
(b)
the earth is getting warmer
(c)
the "greenhouse gases" become less in the atmosphere
(d)
the radiant heat from the sun is not able to reach the earth
3.
Carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, comes from all
of the following except ________.( D
)
(a)
breathing animals
(b)
burning fuels
(c)
burning trees
(d)
growing plants
4.
Over the last 100 years world temperatures have risen by about half a degree
(Celsius) and over the next 50 years they may rise by ________.(
C )
(a) another half degree
(b)
one degree
(c)
three degrees
(d)
five degrees 5.
Scientists hold that we should ________ to slow the greenhouse effect.
( B
)
(a)
use only petrol, oil, natural gas
(b)
stop using things that produce greenhouse gases
(c)
produce less of the greenhouse gases
(d)
use wind, water and geothermal power only
6.
Which of the following is NOT true? ( C
)
(a)
Acid rain may attack the regions where it is formed and other regions as well.
(b)
Smoke from factories and power-stations in the USA is the main cause of acid
rain in Canada.
(c)
Acid rain kills plants and water animals but is not really harmful to humans.
(d)
Acid rain also damages buildings and railway railings.
7.
In order to prevent acid rain effectively, we can do all of the following
except ________.( A
)
(a)
building tall chimneys
(b) cleaning waste gases before they leave the factories
(c)
using coal and oil that have very little sulphur
(d)
using devices to clean exhaust smoke from cars
8.
Ozone is a gas that ________.( A
)
(a)
protects the earth from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun
(b)
sends ultraviolet radiation to the earth
(c)
destroys the chlorofluorocarbons
(d)
causes skin cancers
9. Rivers, lakes and seas may be polluted by all of the following except
________.( D )
(a) acid rain
(b) fertilizers
(c) waste material
(d) oxygen
10.
Power-stations also cause pollution because the water they send back after
use ________.(
B )
(a)
is too hot for water animals to live in it
(b) has less oxygen than cold water
(c) is always hot
(d) has radioactive elements
C.
Understanding vocabulary.
Choose
the correct definition according to the context.
1.
The climate warmed and cooled, new plants and animals evolved and became
extinct in their turn, and sea levels rose and fell over periods of
thousands, if not millions of years. ( A
)
(a) died out
(b) developed
(c)
changed
(d)
lasted
2. Forests
have disappeared, river courses have been changed, and large areas of natural
vegetation have turned into farmland and cities. ( D )
(a)
hills
(b)
plains
(c)
vegetables
(d)
plant life
3.
When we burn fuels in vehicles and power-stations, huge amounts
of extra carbon dioxide go into the atmosphere. ( D
)
(a)
machines
(b)
factories
(c)
stoves
(d)
cars and trucks
4. Nitrous
oxide comes from car exhausts and from chemical fertilizers.
( A
)
(a) gas which is produced by cars
(b)
oil used for driving
(c)
waste oil discarded
(d)
devices that burn oil
5.
Governments
are already trying to reduce the use of CFCs. ( A
)
(a)
make less
(b)
double
(c)
limit
(d)
stop
6. We
can also use sources of power that do not burn fuel and release
carbon dioxide. ( A
)
(a)
set free
(b)
prevent
(c)
breathe in
(d)
cause
7. Other
alternatives are wind, water and geothermal power. ( D )
(a) means
(b)
types
(c)
methods
(d)
choices
8. The
ozone layer prevents the Sun’s dangerous ultraviolet radiation
reaching the Earth where it would damage our skin and cause cancers. ( C
)
(a)
carries
(b)
helps
(c)
stops
(d) causes
9. Air
pollution affects rivers and lakes indirectly because it causes
acid rain. ( A
)
(a)
influences
(b)
comes towards
(c)
destroys
(d)
changes
10.
Rivers eventually flow into the sea, carrying their pollution
with them. ( D
)
(a) peacefully
(b)
smoothly
(c)
powerfully
(d)
finally
11. Some
of this waste is released by the power-stations into the air or water; some
is stored. ( B
)
(a)
dissolved in water
(b) kept in a special place
(c)
changed in form
(d)
reduced in time
D.
Discussing the following topics.
1.
What
is the greenhouse effect? Can you give examples of the greenhouse effect in
the place you live?
答案
Gases in the atmosphere (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane, and chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs) absorb infra-red radiation
from the Earth's surface and reflect it back on to the planet. But
the "greenhouse gases" send some of this heat back towards
the Earth's surface and help to keep it warm.
Carbon dioxide is released because of the deforestation and burning
of vast quantities of such fossil fuels as coal, gas, and oil. And
other greenhouse gases come from the use of car, chemical fertilizers,
refrigerators and freezers.
2.
Discuss how air pollution and water pollution have affected our daily
life.
答案
Air pollution can damage people's lungs and the lead from some car
exhaust fumes can cause acid rain which is very harmful to the living
beings as well as the buildings.
The polluted water in rivers and streams can kill fish, other water
animals and plants. It can kill seabirds, shellfish and other wildlife
when it flows into the sea. The water from the power-stations for
cooling may not only kill fish and other water animals but also prevent
them from breeding.
3.
What can we do to improve our environment?
答案
To improve our environment, we should produce less of gases to
slow the greenhouse effect,use less fuels like petrol, oil, natural
gas and coal, reduce the use of CFCs, develop more efficient heating
systems and engines.
