Download 1 ECOLOGY Are the following sentences TRUE or FALSE? 1. The

ECOLOGY
Ecology is the study of environmental systems, or as it is sometimes called, the economy of nature.
"Environmental" usually means relating to the natural, versus human-made world; the "systems" means
that ecology is not interested in just the components of nature individually but especially in how the parts
interact. Ecology is technically an academic discipline, such as mathematics or physics, although in public
or media use, it is often used to connote some sort of normative or evaluative issue as in something is
“ecologically bad” or is or is not “good for the ecology”.
The GREENHOUSE EFFECT! The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the
Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapour, carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, heat
would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF colder. (F32): 1.8 = ºC Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse
gases.
Have you ever seen a greenhouse? Most greenhouses look like a small
glass house. Greenhouses are used to grow plants, especially in the winter.
Greenhouses work by trapping heat from the sun. The glass panels of the
greenhouse let in light but keep heat from escaping. This causes the
greenhouse to heat up.
The Earth’s atmosphere is all around us. Greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere behave much like the glass panels in a greenhouse. Sunlight
enters the Earth's atmosphere, passing through the blanket of greenhouse
gases. As it reaches the Earth's surface, land, water, and biosphere absorb
the sunlight’s energy. Once absorbed, this energy is sent back into the
atmosphere. Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it
remains trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our world to heat up.
The greenhouse effect is important. Without it the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if
the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming
may cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.
Are the following sentences TRUE or FALSE?
1. The greenhouse effect means that nowadays the temperature is higher than in
the past.
2. The greenhouse gases let the heat from the sun back into the space.
3. The greenhouse gases are like glass panes, which let the heat in but not out.
4. Humans couldn’t live on the Earth if there was no greenhouse effect.
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We CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Global warming may be a big problem, but there are
many little things we can do to make a difference. If we try, most of us can do our part to reduce
the amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the atmosphere. Many greenhouse gases come
from things we do every day. So WHAT CAN YOU AS INDIVIDUAL DO?
Driving a car or using electricity is not wrong. We just have to be
smart about it. Some people use less energy by carpooling. For
example, four people can ride together in one car instead of driving
four cars to work. Save Electricity - Whenever we use electricity, we
help put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the
television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can
help a lot.
Recycle
Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and newspapers. When you recycle,
you send less trash to the landfill and you help save natural resources,
like trees, oil, coal ... We are running out of space in which to discard
our garbage and our current methods of disposing garbage are
endangering the environment. One solution to this problem is recycling
– the process of collecting used materials and remanufacturing them
into new products. Anyone can help, so remember the three Rs: reduce,
reuse and recycle!
Did you know that you can help the environment if you buy recyclable
products instead of non-recyclable ones? Look for the recycle mark –
three arrows that make a circle – on the package. Recyclable products
are usually made out of things that already have been used. It usually
takes less energy to make recycled products than to make new ones.
The less energy we use, the better.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is energy that comes from the sun. It can be used to heat
homes, buildings, water, and to make electricity.
ENERGY STAR® - Many things, like computers, TVs, stereos,.. have
special labels on them. Products with the ENERGY STAR® label are
made to save energy and help protect the environment.
QUESTION FOR YOU:
1. Which of the ways mentioned in the text have you already been doing to protect
the environment? How? _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Which will you try to do in the future? Why? _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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Can we CHANGE the ENVIRONMENT? It may seem hard to believe that people can actually change
the Earth’s climate. But scientists think that the things that people do, send greenhouse gases into the air are
making our planet warmer.
Once, all climate changes occurred naturally. However, during the
Industrial Revolution, we began altering our climate and
environment through agricultural and industrial practices. The
Industrial Revolution was a time when people began using
machines to make life easier. It changed the way humans live.
Before the Industrial Revolution, human activity released very few
gases into the atmosphere, but now through population growth,
fossil fuel burning, and deforestation, we are affecting the mixture
of gases in the atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution, the
need for energy to run machines has increased. Some energy, like
the energy you need to do your homework, comes from the food
you eat. But other energy, like the energy that makes cars run and
much of the energy used to light and heat our homes, comes from
fuels like coal and oil – fossil fuels. Burning these fuels releases
greenhouse gases.
Complete the following sentences!
1. Our planet is getting warmer because …
2. The problem became bigger with the Industrial revolution because …
3. We can get the energy we use from _______________ and ________________.
So what's the BIG DEAL? Sometimes little things can turn into big things. If temperatures rise above
normal levels for a few days, it's no big deal – the Earth will stay more or less the same. But if temperatures
continue to rise over a longer period of time, then the Earth may experience some problems.
Even a small increase in temperature over a long time can change the climate. When the climate changes, there
may be big changes in the things that people depend on. These things include the level of the oceans and the
places where we plant crops. They also include the air we breathe and the water we drink.
What Might Happen? It is important to understand that scientists don't know for sure what global warming will
bring. Some changes brought about by global warming will be good. If you live in a very cool climate, warmer
temperatures might be welcome. Days and nights could be more comfortable and people in the area may be able
to grow different and better crops than they could before. But it is also true that changes in some places will not
be very good at all.
Human Health
Climate change may affect people's health both directly and indirectly. For example, heat stress and other heat
related health problems are caused directly by very warm temperatures and high humidity. Untreated, heat stress
can be a serious medical problem. Scientists suspect that global warming will increase the number of very hot
days that occur during the year. More hot days increases the possibility of heat related health problems.
Indirectly, ecological disturbances, air pollution, changes in food and water supplies, are all examples of possible
impacts that might affect human health.
How people and nature adapt to climate change will determine how seriously it impacts human health. Some
people and places are likely to be affected more than others. Generally, poor people and poor countries are less
likely to have the money and resources they need to cope with preventing and treating health problems. Very
young children and the elderly adults will run the highest risks.
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Ecological Systems
Climate change may alter the world's habitats and ecosystems – all living things are included in and rely on these
places. Many of these places depend on a delicate balance of rainfall, temperature, and soil type. A rapid change
in climate could upset this balance and seriously endanger many living things.
Most past climate changes occurred slowly, allowing plants and animals to adapt to the new environment or
move somewhere else. However, if future climate changes occur as rapidly as some scientists predict, plants and
animals may not be able to react quickly enough to survive.
Sea Level Rise
Global warming may make the sea level become higher. Why? Well, warmer weather makes ice melt. Melting
ice adds more water to the ocean. Warmer temperatures also make water expand. When water expands in the
ocean, it takes up more space and the level of the sea rises.
Oceanfront property would be affected by flooding. Whether we move back from the water or build barricades in
the face of a rising sea, it could cost billions of dollars to adapt to such change. Coastal flooding also may reduce
the quality of drinking water in coastal areas.
Crops and Food Supply
Global warming may make the Earth warmer in cold places. People living in these places may have a chance to
grow crops in new areas. But global warming also might bring droughts to other places where we grow crops. In
some parts of the world, people may not have enough to eat because they cannot grow the food that they need.
So what’s the BIG DEAL?
Match the flowing sentences to 7 paragraphs in the text!
1. One bad thing doesn’t make you a bad person, but plenty of bad deeds do.
2. If the climate changes are too quick, the plants, animals and humans don’t have
enough time to adapt and may die.
3. Many people will suffer from different heat related illnesses / diseases.
4. There will probably be some good and bad consequences of the global warming.
5. Agriculture in different parts of the world will change - to worse or to better.
6. The most endangered groups that will suffer from health problems are the poor,
young children and old people.
7. Because of the melting ice and higher sea level many people will lose their homes.
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I. PROBLEMS:
 GROWING AMOUNT OF
WASTE / GARBAGE
 AIR, WATER, SOIL
POLLUTION
 OZONE LAYER’S
GETTING THINNER
(PROTECTION FROM
THE UV RAYS)
 USING UP NATURAL
RESOURCES (GAS, OIL,
COAL)
 GREENHOUSE EFFECT
II. WHO / WHAT CAUSES
the POLLUTION?
 PEOPLE AND ANIMALS
– breathing
 CARS
 FACTORIES
 POWER STATIONS
 DESTRUCTION OF
FORESTS
ECOLOGY
IV. CHANGES:
III. WHAT CAN WE DO?




 LEARN ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS
 SAVE ELECTRICITY
 DON’T USE CARS SO
OFTEN
 RECYCLE
 BUY NATURE
FRIENDLY GOODS
 GREENPEACE ORG.
 ECO-FARMING
HUMAN HEALTH
ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM
FOOD SUPPLY
PLACE TO LIVE
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