Text 3. How to Help Our Planet

Today environmental issues are much spoken about on TV, radio and in newspapers. If people want to survive, they must do their best to solve these problems. Fortunately, it's not too late to save our planet. We understand that our environment is not just our home town but the whole Earth. The protection of the environment requires the cooperation of all nations. Governments should take measures that will help improve the environment.

There are a lot of environmental groups and international organizations whose main goal is to strengthen cooperation among environmentalists from different countries. The most famous of them is "Greenpeace", which combines the people's efforts for peace with the huge movement for nature conservation. "The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the name of another international organization that appeared in 1961. It has created or givensupport to National Parks in five continents. You may also join "Friends of the Earth Trust", which is an educational charity set up to help people of all ages become aware of the threats to our environment.

However, there are a lot of simple things we should all do to stop the destruction of the environment. First of all, we must keep our cities and towns clean. That means, we mustn't drop litter in public places. If we see litter on the ground, we must put it into a litter bin. Besides, we shouldn't dump our rubbish without thinking which things, such as bottles and paper, can be recycled. And of course, we mustn't draw or paint on pavements, walls or trees.

We must stop using aerosol sprays because the stuff they contain destroys the ozone layer. We should take care of birds and animals. We can help to plant trees and create parks for endangered species. We can clean rivers and canals and create footpaths. But first of all we must change people's attitude towards the environment.

If we take action now, there might be some hope for the future. If we do nothing, we are heading for disaster!

Answer the following questions:

1. How can people protect our planet? 2. How can we save nature resources? 3. Should we reject the technological prog­ress? 4. How can we safeguard the world's wildlife? 5. What is the aim of ecological Organizations? 6. What ecological organi­zations do you know? 7. Do you have environmental program­mes in your city? 8. What can you personally do to keep the world healthy?

Text 4. Problems of a Modern City and a Country

Vocabulary

disadvantage— неудобство

air-and-noise pollution — загрязнение воздуха и шум

harmful substances — вредные вещества

crime— преступление

robbery— грабеж

Sexual offences — сексуальные преступления ,

thefts — воровство

smuggling — контрабанда

housing shortage — нехватка жилья

shared apartments—коммунальные квартиры

extra expenses — дополнительные расходы

modern conveniences — современные удобства

running water— водопровод

central heating — центральное отопление

telephone services — телефонные услуги

There are so many big cities and small villages in our country. It goes without saying that the life in the city and country is absolutely different. Any big city has its own problems as well as the village.

To my mind the first disadvantage or a problem is enormous air-and-noise pollution in the city. Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with million tons of dust and other harmful substances. People suffer from smog, it's difficult to breathe. And of course, it's very noisy outside because of a heavy traffic. Another thing is crime. The crime rate speeds up. And we can hear every day about mur­ders, robbery, sexual offences, thefts, smuggling, etc.

I think that the housing shortage is also a big problem of many families. Cities are overcrowded. About ten million people live in shared apartments. It is known that many of the unmarried adults live in a hostel or rent a room from a private owner. Most young people don't want to live together with their parents after they get married, but half of them have to do this.

Also life is much more stressful in a big city than that in thecountry, for example many people are scared to loose their jobs. The cost of living is very high. A citizen pays much more extra expenses for public transport, snacks, entertainment, etc.

The village has its own, problems. The everyday life is not easy, for example living conditions of the people. Many of the houses don't have modern con­veniences such as running water, central heating, telephone services, etc.

You can feel terribly isolated in the village as the roads are very bad and it's difficult to get from there to the nearest district centre or a town, especially in autumn and spring. Usually there is only one shop in the country and you can't buy everything you need.

Another problem is that it's difficult to get good edu­cation in the country and enter the university after that. There are no museums, art galleries, theatres, gyms there. The style of life in the country is also different from that in the city, as everybody knows you and expects you to live and behave in a certain way.

But the air is so fresh and clear, the nature is so beautiful, the life is quite and a friendly smile is a common thing in the village. I think this place is for those people who are looking for a peace and a lovely natural environment. In spite a lot of prob­lems I prefer to live in a big city, which can offer me fun, pleasure, comfort and excitement.

Problems of a Problems

big city of a country

ТЕМА 7

PROBLEMS OF YOUTH

Text 1. Teens' Problems

Vocabulary

to quarrel — ссориться

to get along well -хорошо ладить

lonely -одинокий

an issue— вопрос, проблема

generation gap — разрыв между поколениями, проблема отцов и детей

to trust — доверять

to be under pressure — быть в критической ситуации

to tease — дразнить

to bully — задирать, грубо обращаться, дразнить

drug addict — наркоман

unemployment rate — уровень безработицы

to dress up — наряжаться

clothes - одежда

to cope with — справляться с

It's hard not to agree that teenagers nowadays have a lot of problems. One of the real problems is having no close friend. Several days ago I had my best friend, but now I don't. My friend was much more to me than just a person who I communicated with. We were as thick as thieves. We helped each other to survive and got along well. But some days ago we quarrelled, and now I'm at a loss what to do. Fortune turned its back on me and I feel very disappointed.

I can't say that my parents don't understand me, they try to support me, but I think only time can heal me. Some young people are just sure that their parents don't want to understand them. It's a very serious problem. I'm sure that this point of view is absolutely wrong. Psychologists believe parents — child conflicts cannot be avoided in a society that is undergoing rapid change. In our society youngsters are at odds with their parents on a wide range of issues, from how late they can stay up to who they should marry. It's called a generation gap. But I think our parents are people who we can trust. In most cases teens don't understand their parents and become very nervous. When it happens, it's time to say "stop". And try to find in your parents more positive than negative traits. Our parents should understand one thing that today's children will become tomorrow's civilization. So they should obtain a child's understanding, they should find a teen's problem and help solve it.

The other very important problem is our school life. Teens are often under pressure in many ways at school — they are supposed to be "macho" — good at school subjects, able to stand up for themselves without crying. If they can't, they are "wimps" and often children will tease and bully them, especially at school. But all children are different — they have different needs and talents, likes and dislikes. Teens are not just "machos" and "wimps", they are rebels and conformists, extroverts and introverts. Our teachers and our parents should assure us that all these types are good, and it will reduce a lot of our problems.

There are so called "problem teenagers", who take drugs. A large number of teens use them very often. They are drug addicts. I don't have such friends and I think that there should be special programs to solve this problem.

One more problem is connected with biorhythms. Not all people know what it is, and they begin to laugh at you and can offend you, when sometimes you are all fingers and thumbs, when you are accident-prone or when your temper seems to be on a short fuse. It is because we all have an internal "body clock", which regulates the rise and the fall of our body energies, and it's called biorhythms. So our teachers, parents and classmates should understand it and shouldn't pay attention to it because it's the law of our life and nature.

My other serious problem is to enter a good university and find a good job afterwards. Unemployment rates are extremely high — even qualified people with great knowledge can't find something good, but in spite of that I hope for the best.

I always want to impress people. But the first impression we make almost fully depends on what we wear and how we wear. Manners and speech are noticed next and character only later. Many teens have the same taste. They like to keep up-to-date with the changes in our society. They like to wear clothes which look good on and which you feel comfortable in. Being in fashion makes you feel good, in tune with the world you live in. But when you are at school, it is important to wear the right clothes, even formal ones and not to dress up. I understand it, but some of my classmates don't. They like to shock their teachers and parents and provoke them, and that's why they have some problems at school. So you should have some "clothes sense" to know and feel the types of things that are your style in formal situations (when you are at school) and at the parties.

As for me, I try to cope with all my problems alone or with the help of my parents. My parents are real friends and they understand me and try to help me or give a piece of advice.

So if someone denies all of the problems teenagers have, it's not right. Teens have a lot of problems. But the first thing we have to think about is the future we're building for ourselves and our children. The better we are now, the better our place will be when we grow up.

Answer the following questions:

1. Do your parents understand you? Why do you think so? 2. What problems do you have with your parents? 3. What problems do you have at school? 4. What problems do teens have at school? 5. Is it fair to say that your parents don't understand anything? Why? 6. What do you know about a generation gap? 7. Do all parents help their children? Why? 8. In what way do teenagers try to impress people? 9. What problems do you have with your friends? 10. How do you cope with your problems?

Complete the scheme

1. ________________

2. _____________

10__________________

3._________________

9 ____________________

4. ___________________ 8. ____________________

5. ­_______________ 7. ____________________