Text C. Forests save water

1. When we cut down trees or plow under grass, the land is left with nothing on it to hold back the water. Every time it rains, the water flows over the land and is carried out to sea where we can't use it. Such water carries soil and minerals with it. Often, the amount of water is so great that rivers flood. The water is wasted¹.

2. We can conserve water by seeing to it that trees, grass or other types of vegetation are planted to absorb or slow down the run-off of waters.

3. The " floor" ² of a forest is spongy³ and absorbs water from rain and snow. The soil of grasslands also stores" water this way.

4. Millions of hectares are made bare each year by forest fires. Fire prevention is, therefore, another important part of water conservation.

Notes and Commentaries:

¹to waste – втрачати (дарма)

²" floor" – тут: підстилка

³spongy – губчатий

3.4. TEST-2

Choose the proper definition for each term:

Complete the sentences with the necessary words:

6. Soils develop under … of climate, vegetation, time and other factors.

a) the fertility

b) the influence

c) the production

7. The … of soil influences the animals which are living on it.

a) type

b) moisture

c) texture

8. … influences the rock which then becomes a part of soil.

a) growing

b) animals

c) weathering

9. People are adapting … to the soil.

a) seasons

b) crops

c) erosion

10.All soils … have the same characteristics.

a) must

b) can

c) cannot

11.Yields depend on the ability of the soil to use … and water.

a) fertilizers

b) parent material

c) vegetation

12. Fertilizers help plants … and develop.

a) vary

b) change

c) grow

13. From season to season conditions of temperature and … change.

a) drainage

b) moisture

c) generation

14. Farmers should adapt their … of soil to the varying natural conditions.

a) management

b) raw materials

c) supply

15. Farmers can do much to regulate the supply of water and ….

a) climatic conditions

b) organic matter

c) animal feed

16. Agriculture … people with different kinds of food.

a) provide

b) provides

c) providing

17. Agriculture … an important sector of economy.

a) be

b) being

c) is

18. The aim of agriculture … to produce much food.

a) is

b) are

c) to be

19. When the crop … grow well, it means that the conditions are bad for its growth.

a) has not

b) does not

c) is not

20. The type of soil also … herbicide selection.

a) affect

b) affects

c) affecting

21. … over 1, 500 million hectares of farm land in the world.

a) there are

b) are there

c) are

22. … increasing the area under irrigation a general tendency in world farming?

a) does

b) has

c) is

23. At the beginning of the 20th century 8, 000, 000 hectares …watered.

a) be

b) have

c) were

24. … large areas in the non-black-earth zone need drainage and regulation of the water and air regimes?

a) are

b) have

c) do

25. … a great number of livestock on the farms, and the use of fertilizers favour the growing of high yields of crops?

a) be

b) is

c) do

Step 1

(speaking-reding-speaking-writing)

1.1. Find Ukrainian equivalents to the following international words:

variety, variations, correct, effective, protection, systematic, rotation, method, conservation, diversification, operation, result, technological state, progress, design, diesel, idea, experimental, combining, aeration.

1.2. Study the new words:

1.3. Compare the words, define their word-building means and translate:

– balance-balanced

– variety-variation-various-varying

– diversification-diversify-diverse-diversity

– produce-product-productivity-productive

– definite-indefinite-indefinitely

– proper-improper-properly

– to rotate-rotation

– final-finally

– to improve-improvement

– alternative-alternating

– to till-tilled-tillage-tilth

1.4. Read Text A and find out what must be done to preserve soil productivity: