Heavy Metals as Toxicants in Big Cities

Heavy Metals (HMs) can have harmful effects on human health and on the environment. Their ecotoxicological properties are generally well known. As regards human toxicology, new aspects should be taken into consideration – gender and age dependence. We can estimate the HMs chemical risk and in this context, city demography data help to evaluate today's ecological situation (including HMs) and to predict the dynamics of future urbanization.

As regards urban atmosphere, motor vehicles (Pb) and industry (V, Ni, Cr, Cd) exert the greatest influence; water, soil, vegetation also experience menace caused by HMs. We should protect urban environments against contamination which is posed by HMs; the health status of big cities is dependent on adequate and safe supply of water. Vegetation plays a helpful role if we want to reduce HMs content in the atmosphere and the soil. Awareness of the inhabitants regarding the risks that are posed by HMs also counts as a critical factor today. Ecoeducation at the beginning of the new century can be taken into consideration.

Tapescripts

Tapescript № 1 (to ex. 1.21, 1.22)

Why I love this city

Anna, a teacher from the USA

My parents are from Dublin. It's on the east coast of Ireland, near the sea. The River Liffey runs through the city. There are a lot of beautiful bridges, parks and elegant grey houses in this small and very old city.

The people are kind and friendly. You can meet them in cafes and have delicious Irish coffee (hot coffee, brown sugar, Irish whiskey - with an e! - and cream on the top). Dublin is also famous all over the world for its beer. Guinness is a black beer with a white creamy 'head'. There are a thousand pubs in Dublin. It's also famous for music, dance and poetry. Bob Geldof, Sinead O'Connor, U2, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and James Joyce are all Dubliners.

Tapescript № 2 (to ex. 1.33, 1.34)

Dialogues

a. A: Excuse me! Is there a chemist's near here?

В: It's over there.

A: Thanks.

b. A: Excuse me! Is there a spot's club near here?

B: Yes. It's in Queen Street. Take the second street right.

A: Thanks,

c. A: Excuse me! Is there a newsagents' near here?

B: Yes. There is one in Church Street next to the bank and there is one

in Park Lane opposite the swimming pool.

A: Is that one far?

B: No. Just two minutes, that is all.

d. A: Is there a cinema near here?

B: Take the first left, and it's on the left, opposite the flower shop.

A: Thanks a lot.

Science, Technology and Outstanding People
in the Field

Unit 1

Science and Technology

Прочитайте новые слова вслух, познакомьтесь с их русскими эквивалентами

ability (n) способность, умение.

be interested in интересоваться чем-либо

carry out (v) выполнять, проводить

discover (v) открывать

discovery(n) открытие

invent (v) изобретать

invention (n) изобретение

inventor (n) изобретатель

property (n) свойство

research (n) исследование

researcher (n) исследователь

science (n) наука, область науки

science education образование в области

естественных наук

scientific (adj) научный

scientific activity научная деятельность

scientist (n) ученый

substance (n) вещество

technologic (adj) [,teknə’lכdჳιk] технологический

technological progress технический прогресс

technologist (n) технолог

technology (n) 1) техника, техническая

наука

2) технология

1.2. Прочитайте следующие интернациональные слова и догадайтесь об их значении:

apparatus dynamite

chemical industry

experiment laboratory

element prize

constant medicine

problem organization

metal conference

machine [mƏ' i:n]technique [tek'ni:k]

standard ['stændƏd] instrument ['instrƏmƏnt]

1.3. Выберите из каждой строчки слова, которые сочетаются со словами колонки B, образуя устойчивые сочетания:

А В

1) do, carry out, run, perform -an experiment

2) conduct, give, carry out, do - research

3) do, carry out, put, conduct - some tests

4) information, results, somebody’s eyes,

a blood sample -to analyze

5) an atomic bomb, a new plane, drugs

on animals, an experiment -to test

6) the results of the experiment,

scientific research, blood pressure,

somebody’s eyes, drugs on animals -to examine

7) an idea, a theory, a conclusion, a new

machine -to develop

1.4.Переведите на русский язык следующие словосочетания:

Russian science, a famous scientist, to carry out research, to perform a scientific experiment, to have proper knowledge for research work, a scientific discovery, a chemical substance, to discover a new element, the ability to analyze the results, to examine the results of the experiment, to develop a theory, to make a conclusion, to test drugs on animals, to conduct (=to do) some tests.

1.5. Заполните колонку В, указав название специалиста:

А Field В Specialist

Engineering …

Physics …

Astronomy …

Chemistry …

Computer science …

Genetics …

Biology …

Economics …

1.6. Заполните пропуски в тексте следующими словами:

Microsurgery, lasers, clone, robots, reproduce

1). Scientists can grow crops that are not affected by disease and … animals that produce more meat. They can … plants and animals, by taking a cell and developing it artificially.

2). Using the latest … doctors can perform operations on parts of the body too small to see with the human eyes. In the future patients will not have to worry about operations leaving scars as they will be performed
with … .

3). Life in the twenty-first century will be much easier for most people. More and more dangerous jobs will be done by … .

1.6.1. Выберите для каждого отрывка заголовок, соответствующий содержанию абзаца:

Automation, medical science, genetic engineering, physics, biology.

1.7. Дайте толкование следующим понятиям после обсуждения в группах. Выберите наиболее точные, по образцу:

Science deals with……

Science is concerned with …….

1. ‘Science’.

2. ‘Technology’.

1.8. Ответьте на следующий вопрос:

Are science and technology closely connected? Why? Why not?

1.9. Прочитайте текст и сравните ваши ответы с теми, которые даны в тексте:

Science and Technology

In recent years scientific and technological developments have greatly changed the life on our planet. We have got better understanding of the world around us and higher standards of living.

Today science and technology are closely connected. Many modern technologies such as nuclear power and space flights depend on science. Each advance in science creates new opportunities for developing better products for everyday life. In its turn, technology provides science with new instruments for research.

Technology can give us the ways in which people use discoveries for different aims. It satisfies their needs and desires, changes the environment and improves their lives. For all human history men and women have invented tools, machines and techniques to make their lives easier. When we speak of technology, today, we are looking at it in a much narrower sense. We mean industrial technology or the technology that began about 200 years ago. It was the time when the power-driven machines were developed and the number of factories began to grow. Thus, the mass production of goods has created the basis for our modern society.

Today we say that we live in an age of science and technology. According to statistics, 90% of all scientists lived and worked in the 1970s. This scientific activity has brought new ideas, processes and inventions to our life.

1.10. Найдите в тексте эквиваленты для следующих словосочетаний:

достижения науки и техники

атомная энергия и космические полеты

создавать новые возможности

в свою очередь

обеспечит науку новыми инструментами исследования

удовлетворять нужды и потребности

посмотреть на что-то в более узком смысле

станки с механическим приводом

массовое производство товаров

1.11. Подберите пары слов, имеющих сходные значения:

А В

opportunity progress

different plant

factory purpose

change various

aim possibility

advance adapt