On April 26, 1986, the most terrible disaster happened at the nuclear power plant near a small Ukrainian town of Chernobyl. The staff of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was testing the reactors emergency cooling facility and disaster protection system was deliberately shut off. Forty four seconds later the reactor went out of control. An explosion destroyed a cover slab which weighted 1000 tons. More than 40 types of radionuclides were released into the atmosphere. The total power of the explosion was 100 times greater than the power of the nuclear weapons released on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The force of the explosion spread contamination over large parts of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.
According to official reports, 31 people died immediately and 600,000 liquidators involved in fire fighting and clean-up operations, were exposed to the high doses of radiation. Based on the official reports, about 8,400,000 people in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia were exposed to the radiation, which is more than the entire population of Austria. About 155,000 sq. km of territories in the three countries were contaminated, which is almost half of the total territory of Italy. Agricultural areas covering nearly 52,000 sq. km, which is more than the size of Denmark, were contaminated with cesium-137 and strontium-90, with 30-year and 28-year half-lives respectively. Nearly 404,000 people were resettled but millions continued to live in the areas where continued exposure to radiation created a range of adverse effects.
According to experts evaluations, the majority of the radionuclide deposition fell on the Belarusian territory. Almost one third of the territory was hit with the radioactive contamination.
The results of the disaster:
- 23 % of the territory of Belarus was contaminated with long-living radioactive isotopes (4,8 % of the Ukrainian territory and 0,5 % of the Russian territory);
- 2,3 million people were affected;
- 2,640 sq. km of the plough land was prohibited for use;
- 17,300 sq. km of the forestry had dangerous radioactive contamination levels;
- 135,000 people were resettled to non-contaminated areas of Belarus; residents of 415 settlements were evacuated;
- 9 agricultural plants and factories and 54 collective farms were closed; schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other medical establishments in the contaminated regions were closed too. The contaminated areas suffered significantly from the outflow of the qualified specialists;
- according to experts evaluations, the damage caused by the Chernobyl reactor accident equals to about $ 235 bln;
- in 2011 Chernobyl was officially declared a tourist attraction.
Comprehension
20. Here are the answers to the questions. Work out the questions.
1) on April 26, 1986;
2) because the staff was testing the reactors emergency cooling facility;
3) over large parts of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia;
4) 600,000 liquidators involved in fire fighting and clean-up operations;
|
|
|
5) near 8,400,000 people in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia;
6) 23 % of the territory of Belarus;
7) 2,3 million people;
8)54 collective farms;
9) in 2011.
Vocabulary
21. Find the words in the text which are defined below.
a) a crisis situation causing great loss of life, damage, or hardship;
b) a person who has special skills or knowledge in some particular field;
c) to forbid by law or rule, to make impossible;
d) to make something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean, bad;
e) a group of employees, who do the work of an organization;
f) a movement of large amounts of money or large numbers of people from one place to another;
g) a process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves.
h) a person who lives in a place such as a house or particular area all the time.
22. Do the quiz.
There are a lot of things we can do in our everyday life to take care of the environment. What do you do? Here is a quiz to find out how eco-friendly your life is.
Score one point for every YES answer.
| Questions | Scores | |
| 1. | Do you read the list of ingredients on the food you buy? | |
| 2. | Do you take a shower instead of a bath? | |
| 3. | Have you planted at least one tree? | |
| 4. | Do you feed birds in winter? | |
| 5. | Do you insulate your house in winter to save heat? | |
| 6. | Do you switch off the lights if nobody needs them on? | |
| 7. | Does your family use recycled paper? | |
| 8. | If you have ever taken part in subbotnics, score 5 | |
| 9. | For short journeys, do you regularly walk, if you can? | |
| 10. | For long journeys, do you regularly use a bike or public transport? | |
| 11. | If your family has a car, does it run on unleaded petrol? | |
| 12. | If your family doesnt have a car, score 2 | |
| 13. | Do you buy ozone-friendly aerosols? | |
| 14. | If you dont buy aerosols at all, score 5 | |
| 15. | Do you know any environmental organizations? | |
| 16. | Can you name at least one endangered species? | |
| 17. | Is your home lit by energy saving light bulbs? | |
| 18. | Do you collect paper for recycling? | |
| 19. | If you are a non-smoker, score 3 | |
| 20. | Coming back from the picnic, do you take your litter with you? |
23. Analyze the results of the quiz and discuss them in the group.
Discussion
1. What dangers are threatening our lives and our planet? Discuss in the group and make a list.
2. Do you believe in climate change? If so, why do you think it is happening? Discuss in the group.
3. Could climate change destroy life on the Earth? Discuss a best-case and a worst- case scenario.
4. Do you think climate change can be stopped? What should be done?
5. Cutting carbon emissions is an often used phrase. What does it mean and how can it be achieved?
6. The world is addicted to oil. Are there any alternatives to oil? Make a list of energy sources and their effect on nature.
7. Are governments doing enough to combat climate change? Name some measures that have been taken so far.
8. Do you use environment-friendly products? Have you gone green? Give examples.
Project
Write a short summary/essay of your opinions regarding what young people can do to prevent pollution. You may use the following prompts: collect, stop, put up, organize, plant, invite, create, distribute, volunteer, etc.
|
|
|
UNIT V: MY UNIVERSITY
Pre-reading
1. Do the general knowledge quiz.
1. The BSUIR was founded in on the basis of..
a) 1960 the Radioengeneering Institute;
b) 1964 .the Polytechnic Institute;
c) 1964 ..the Radioengeneering College.
2. The term Oxbridge is used to refer to .
a) Oxford; b) Cambridge; c) Oxford and Cambridge.
3. The BSUIR consists of faculties.
a) 9; b) 10; c) 13.
4. About students in . specialities are taught at the BSUIR.
a) 10,000. 28; b) 15,000..30; c) 17,00035.
5. The academic year at the BSUIR is divided into .terms. Students are usually assessed at the end of each .
a) 2 .. year; b) 3 .. course; c) 2 ... term.
6. The academic year at Oxford and Cambridge is divided into .. terms. Each term lasts. weeks.
a) 2. 10; b) 3.. 8; c) 4. 6.
7. Oxford and Cambridge are universities.
a) state; b) private; c) federal.
8. After three years of study a university graduate in the UK will leave with a..
a) Bachelors Degree; b) Masters Degree; c) Doctors Degree.
Reading
2. Read the text and answer the following questions.
1. What status does the BSUIR have in Belarus?
2. What study facilities does the University offer?
3. What recreation activities are available for the BSUIR students?
