Английский язык

25. Historically, the level of the Caspian Sea has fluctuated greatly. The lowest level for the last five hundred years has reached in 1977 (-29m below sea level); therefore, it is a fair assumption that the level could continue to rise from the current level (-26m) until it reaches at least the 1900 level (-25m), presenting the littoral states with many urgent investment needs. In less than two decades, water levels have risen two and half meters, inundating residential areas, transport, telecommunication and energy infrastructure, chemical and petrochemical industries, croplands and hatcheries. Thousands of residents have been evacuated from flooded homes, and up to 100,000 people in coastal cities and towns in Azerbaijan alone have been affected by the spread of toxic wasters, contamination of water supplies, loss of infrastructure, and inundation of workplaces and settlements.

26. The problems associated with the changing sea level can be seen as falling into two main categories:

I) those that are exacerbated by the rising water, such as the spread of toxic contaminants into ground and surface waters, the collapse of vital fisheries due to the loss of natural and artificial hatcheries, and increased pressure on fragile lands because of displaced activities and communities; and

II) those that are caused by changing water levels, such as residential flooding, saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers and the submersion of productive infrastructure (coastal factories, farms, roads, railways, etc.).

27. In view of the history of fluctuating water levels in the Caspian, the current problems posed by the high water level are considered transitory. The best solutions are therefore those that are temporary and reversible. For this reason, increasing the rate of evaporation is thought to be a better solution, since it is reversible, and has in fact already been done through the re– opening of the channel leading into the Kara Bogaz Gol.

28. Investments in homes and factories or farms are painful to lose, and loss of infrastructure such as roads and railways has strategic a importance because economic growth depends on it. The protection of railways has the highest priority because railway lines are usually built on dike, and can therefore be protected more cheaply. Telephone lines, electricity transmission lines and pipelines are also of strategic importance and need to be protected, although the cost of moving telephone and power lines is relatively small compared to the cost of moving pipelines.

EXERCISES:

1. Find in the text the following phrases and translate them into Russian.

To alleviate human suffering, preventing pollution incidents; combine long term, integrated and strategic approaches, undergoing profound economic change, to cause major imbalances; toxic waste run-off and spills; adaptation to such events; sturgeon hatcheries; contribute significantly; suspected as the cause, available for sturgeon.

2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and wordcombinations:

Спад в ловле красной рыбы; запрет на браконьерство, не дали желаемого эффекта, экономический спад, добыча нефти, перерабатывающие и нефтехимического заводы, колебание уровня воды, поддерживание здоровой экосистемы, тяжелая индустрия, производство энергии, производство оружия, массовое уничтожение птиц и тюленей, искусственное выращивание, справедливое предложение, менее чем два десятка лет, по этой причине, вторичное загрязнение, предотвратить случайный ввоз экзотических видов, богатый залежами углеводорода и запасами нефти и газа, рыболовные судна.

3. Answer the questions:

1. Why is the sea level rise considered as the leading environmental problem?

2. Why is the Volga the major source of pollution for the Caspian?

3. What is the second major long-base point source of pollution?

4. In what way do the rising water level threaten the sturgeon hatcheries?

5. What was the major reason for a drastic decline in the sturgeon catch?

6. Which problems are associated with the changing sea level?

7. What is the best solution of problems which stem from the rising water level?

4. Speak on the following topics:

1. The most salient physical characteristic of the Caspian.

2. The Caspian biodiversity.

3. The major environmental problems.

4. The principal economic activities in the Caspian basin.

5. Caspian sturgeon.

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS FOR READING AND DISCUSSION

Plumes of oil – струи нефти

Oil well fires – огонь от нефтяных скважин

Environmental destruction – разрушение окружающей среды

Sensitive marshland – чувствительная болотистая местность