Task 1.Read the interview with Mr Roll, an ecologist, and complete the statements after the text
Interviewer: Mr Roll, you are one of the most celebrated scientists working to study and protect tropical forests. What are tropical forests and where can they be found?
Mr Roll: Tropical forests are a belt of vegetation growing on either side of the equator. Strictly speaking, any forest between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn can be called "tropical forest".
Interviewer: How big is this territory?
Mr Roll: At the moment tropical forests cover about 35 million square km, which is close to one fifth of the Earth's land.
Interviewer: Do the terms "tropical forest" and "rain forest" mean the same?
Mr Roll: Not exactly the same. In fact, rain forest is only one part of tropical forest. It is closest to the equator. Most of the plants that grow in it are evergreen. Trees in rain forest grow very close to each other and compete with each other to reach the light. That's why trees in such forests are very tall and thin with leaves at the top where the light is.
Test 3.
Task 1.Read the interview with Mr Roll, an ecologist, and complete the statements after the text
Interviewer: Mr Roll, you are one of the most celebrated scientists working to study and protect tropical
forests. What are tropical forests and where can they be found?
Mr Roll: Tropical forests are a belt of vegetation growing on either side of the equator. Strictly speaking,
any forest between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn can be called "tropical forest".
Interviewer: How big is this territory?
Mr Roll: At the moment tropical forests cover about 35 million square km, which is close to one fifth of the
Earth's land.
Interviewer: Do the terms "tropical forest" and "rain forest" mean the same?
Mr Roll: Not exactly the same. In fact, rain forest is only one part of tropical forest. It is closest to the
equator. Most of the plants that grow in it are evergreen. Trees in rain forest grow very close to each other
and compete with each other to reach the light. That's why trees in such forests are very tall and thin with
leaves at the top where the light is.
Interviewer: Why are tropical forests so much in the focus of public attention?
Mr Roll: Tropical forests have a great variety of wildlife and plants. Their number is so large that tropical
forests explorers can count on many fascinating discoveries. It is common knowledge that tropical forests
play a very important role in balancing the world climate and supplying the planet with oxygen to breathe.
Interviewer: It is clear that tropical forests everywhere are in danger. How bad is the situation and what is
the reason for it?
Mr Roll: The disappearance of tropical forests has two main causes. The first is commercial loggers, people
who cut trees. They are attracted by valuable hardwood trees, which are very expensive and can cost up to a
thousand dollars each. The second reason is farmers who come from cities and towns. In South America
alone they are responsible for the burning of 25,000 square km of forest annually to make room for tropical
grassland.
Interviewer: You mean grassland to be used as pastures?
Mr Roll: Exactly. They need grassland for their cattle which is sold to European and North American
markets. The grass on such lands grows well only for two or three years, after which farmers have to move
to new places and more trees get cut down and burnt. Behind them such farmers leave a landscape known as
"Greek desert", areas that are ugly and commercially valueless.
Interviewer: Don't people living in those countries see the danger?
Mr Roll: They may do, but the problem is that developing countries are deep in financial crisis, and want a
quick return of their money. They say that they have to think about their population in the first place.
c) close to b) above d) limited by
1. Tropical forests are ... the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
a) beyond
2. The term "tropical forest" ... "rain forest".
a) excludes
3. Most trees in rain forests remain green ....
a) all the year round
4. Tropical forests are destroyed by ....
a) loggers and farmers c) loggers, farmers and explorers
b) loggers and explorers
d) farmers and explorers
5. Rain forests are mainly cut down ....
a) to build towns and cities b) to make room for houses
d) to raise cows and bulls
6. The landscape known as "Greek desert" is ....
a) priceless
c) worthless b) invaluable
d) valuable
c) is equivalent to b) includes d) stands apart from
c) when it is light b) during warm seasons d) if they are on the equator
c) to buy valuable hardwood trees7. People living in South America .
a) don't see the danger in rainforests disappearance b) don't believe this is a problem of the developing
countries c) don't think that uncertain future is more important than immediate needs of the population
d) don't consider this fact as a disaster
Task2 . Read the text and complete it with the derivatives of the words on the right
A Hurricane Can Bring Lots of Harm
Just as Hurricane Ike was about to strike the (1)... Bahamian island of Great
Inagua its (2)... of flamingoes began to (3).... The island is often visited by
numerous (4)... who come to watch in (5)... 60 thousand strong flamingo birds.
Before Hurricane Ike hit the island most of the birds began their (6)... to some
unknown parts. After the storm thirty (7)... flamingoes were found dead. Some of
the birds returned to the island but over 55 thousand are still missing.
south
populate, appear
tour, admire
evacuate
beauty
Task 3. Complete the text using the appropriate forms of the words on the right
Antarctica at Risk from Human Activities
The continent of Antarctica is at risk from human activities and other (1)....
"Environmental management (2)... to protect the planet's last great wilderness area,"
(3)... an international team of researchers, (4) ... Mahlon Kennicutt, a famous
oceanographer. Lately they (5)... a paper that (6)... Antarctica faces growing threats from
global warming, loss of sea ice and landed ice as well as overfishing in the region. The
authors note that if the situation (7) ... we'll see absolutely disastrous results in the near
future.
force
need, say
include publish,
prove
not change
Task 4. Choose the appropriate words to complete the text
What Will the Giant Panda's Future Be?
The giant panda is (1)... loved, and of course has a special significance for WWF (World
Wide Fund for Nature) as it has been the organization's (2)... since 1961.
Pandas have a white (3)... with black fur on their ears, muzzle, legs, shoulders and (4)...
their eyes. Giant pandas are bear like animals which have adapted to a vegetarian diet and
depend almost exclusively on bamboo as a food (5)....
Today, the giant panda's future remains (6) .... This peaceful, bambooeating member of
the bear family faces a number of threats. The habitat destruction is one of them. The survival of
the panda and the (7)... of its habitat depend mainly on people.
1. a) globally
2. a) project
3. a) dress
4. a) around
5. a) source
6. a)changed
7. a) defending
b) worldly
b) slogan
b) coat
b) over
b) cause
b) unchanged
b) protection
c) universally
c) badge
c) hair
c) aside
c) course
c) certain
c) keeping
d) publicly
d) symbol
d) fur
d) along
d) sauce
d) uncertain
d) supporting