Unit5 Grammar
Unit5 Grammar
Future forms.
There is no one future tense in English. Instead, there several verb forms that can refer
to future time. Sometimes several forms are possible to express a future meaning such
as:
I. Prediction.
1. will.
a) The most common use of will is as an auxiliary verb to show future time. It
expresses a future fact or prediction – at some time in the future this event will happen.
This use is uncoloured by ideas such as intention, decision, arrangement, willingness,
etc.
e.g. I’ll be thirty in a few days’ time. You’ll feel better if you take this medicine.
This is the nearest English has to a neutral, pure future tense.
b) will for a prediction can be based more on an opinion than a fact or evidence. It is
often found with expressions such as I think…, I hope…, I’m sure…
e.g. I think Labour will win the next election. I’m sure you’ll pass your exam.
2. going to.
Going to can express a prediction based on a present fact. There is evidence now that
something is sure to happen. We can see the future from the present.
e.g. Look at the sky! It’s going to be a lovely day.
NB. - Sometimes there is little or no difference between will and going to.
e.g. We’ll (We’re going to) run out of money if we aren’t careful.
- We use going to when we have physical evidence to support our prediction.
e.g. Liverpool are going to win. (It’s 4-0, and there are only 5 minutes left.)
- We can use will when there is no such outside evidence. Our prediction is based on
our own personal opinion. It can be more theoretical and abstract.
e.g. I reckon Liverpool will win. (Said the day before the match.)
1. Will.
Will is used to express a spontaneous decision or intention made at the moment of
speaking.
e.g. I’ll phone you back in a minute.
2. Going to.
Going to is used to express a future plan, decision, or intention made before the
moment of speaking.
e.g. When she grows up, she’s going to be a ballet dancer. We are going to get
married in the spring.
NB. - In a formal style we use will rather than going to to talk about future events that
have been previously arranged in some detail.
e.g. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be available from 8.30
onwards.
3. Present Continuous.
The Present Continuous is used to express personal arrangements and fixed plans
(especially social and travel arrangements) when the time and place have been
decided.
e.g. I’m having lunch with Brian tomorrow.
The Present Continuous is used to refer to arrangements between people. It is not used
to refer to events that people can’t control.
e.g. It’s going to rain this afternoon (NOT It’s raining this afternoon).
4. Present Simple.
We can often use either the Present Simple or will to talk about future events that are
part of some timetabled or programmed arrangement or routine. However, we prefer
the Present Simple for fixed, unchangeable events:
e.g. Does/ will the sale finish on Thursday or Friday? BUT The sun rises (the train
leaves) at 5.16 tomorrow.
NB. We normally use the Present Simple, not will in time clauses (with conjunctions
such as after, before, by the time, when, while, until, as soon as), and in conditional
clauses (with conjunctions such as if, in case, provided, suppose, unless, etc.)
5. Future Continuous.
The Future Continuous expresses an activity that will be in progress before and after a
time in the future. Often it is the result of a previous decision or arrangement.
e.g. When it goes into orbit, the spacecraft will be carrying 30 kilos of plutonium.
We can also use the Future Continuous to talk about a future activity that is part of the
normal course of events or that one of a repeated or regular series of events.
e.g. Dr Jones will be giving the same talk in room 103 at 10.00 next Thursday.
NB. When we don’t want to indicate willingness, intention, invitation, etc., we prefer
to use the Future Continuous instead of will. For example, if guests have stayed longer
than you wanted, and you don’t know when they are leaving, you might ask:
Will you be staying with us again tonight? (asking about their plans) rather than Will
you stay with us again tonight? (they might think this is an invitation).
1. Complete the text using the verbs given. Choose will or going to with each verb,
depending on which is more appropriate.
1. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense (the present continuous and the
future simple).
1 Tom: Where you (go) for your next holiday? (Where have you arranged to go?)
Ann: I don't know yet but we probably (go) to Spain.
2 We (have) a drink with Peter tonight. (He has invited us.) It's his last night; he
(leave) tomorrow.
3 Ann: Do you think we (see) Bill tomorrow?
Mary: I hope so. He probably (look) in on his way to the airport.
4 I (see) my bank manager tomorrow. (/ have arranged this.) I'm going to ask him for
a loan but I expect he (refuse).
5 I (know) the result tomorrow. As soon as I hear, I (tell) you.
6 Jack's mother: Jack (be) ready in a moment. He is just finishing breakfast.
Jack's father: If I wait for him any longer I (miss) my train. I think I (walk) on; he
probably (catch) me up.
7 I probably (come) to London sometime next month. I (give) you a ring nearer the
time and tell you when I (come), (when I have decided/arranged to come)
8 Hotel Porter: You (get) a parking ticket if you leave your car there, sir. If you (stay)
the night (have arranged to stay) you (have to) put it in the hotel garage.
Tourist: All right. I (move) it as soon as I've arranged about a room.
9 Ann: I've scorched Bill's shirt. Whatever he (say)?
Mary: Oh, he (not mind). He just (buy) another shirt. He has plenty of money.
10 Peter: We'd better leave a message for Jack. Otherwise he (not
know) where we've gone.
George: All right. I (leave) a note on his table.
11 Jack: I don't want to get married. I never (get) married. Mother: You think that now.
But one day you (meet) a girl and you (fall) in love.
11 Tom: I (go) to York tomorrow. (/ have arranged to go.)
Ann: You (come) back the same day? (Have you arranged to come
back?)
Tom: No. I probably (have) to spend the night there.
13 Peter: You (walk) home? (Have you decided to walk?)
Andrew: Yes. It's too late for a bus.
Peter: But it's pouring. You (get) soaked! Here, take this umbrella. Andrew: Thanks
very much. I (bring) it back tomorrow.
14 Jack: I (have) another window put in. (I have arranged this.) They
(start) work on it tomorrow.
Ann: That (make) the room much brighter.
15 You (take) any exams this term? (Have you decided to take an
exam?) -
Yes, I (take) an English exam at the end of the month. ~
Do you think you (pass)? ~
I don't know. If I don't, I (take) it again at the end of next term.
1 Where you (go) for your holidays? – I (go) to Norway. -What you (do) there? - I
(fish).
2 Where you (go) this evening? —
I (not go) anywhere. I (stay) at home. I (write) some letters.
3 Take an umbrella; it (rain).
4 How long you (stay) in this country? (Have you decided to stay?) ~ Another month. I
(go) home at the end of the month. ~
What you (do) then? ~ I (try) to get a job.
5 I (dye) these curtains. —
You (do) it yourself, or (have) it done? — I (have) it done. Who should I take them to?
6 I've seen the film, now I (read) the book. I've just got a copy from the library. (/
haven't started the book yet.)
7 You (do) anything next weekend? ~
Yes, my nephews (come) and I (show) them round London. — You (take) them to the
theatre? (Have you booked seats?) — No, they're too young for that. I (take) them to
the zoo.
8 We (start) early tomorrow. We (go) to Ben Nevis. ~
You (climb) Ben Nevis? ~
Not me. Tom (climb) it. I (sit) at the bottom and (do) some sketching.
9 Uncle: I hear you (go) to the regatta tomorrow. You (sail) in it?
Niece: No, but we (take) our cameras. We (try) to photograph the
winning yachts.
10 You (not ask) your boss to give you a fire in your office? —
It isn't worth while. I (leave) at the end of the week. —
Really? And what you (do) then? You (have) a holiday? ~
No, I (start) another job the following Monday. I hear you've bought a caravan. You
(use) it for your holidays? —
No, I (live) in it. I (start) moving my things next week. —
What you (do) with your house? ~
I (sell) it to the man who sold me the caravan. He (get) married next
month.
12 Mrs Jones (go) to hospital. She (have) her appendix out. -
Who (look) after the children?-
Her sister (come) down from Scotland.
13 He isn't happy at his boarding school. I (send) him to a day school. ~
Have you decided on the other school? ~
No, but I (see) (have an appointment with) the headmaster of the Park School this
afternoon. I'll probably send him there.
14 Tom (arrive) tomorrow. —
He (spend) the weekend here or (catch) the night train back as usual? ~
He (spend) the weekend. He (give) a lecture on Friday and (attend) a big reception on
Saturday.
15 He (bring) his wife with him? (Has he arranged to bring his wife?) ~ Yes. She (do)
some shopping while he (give) his lecture.
3. Cross out any answers that are wrong or very unlikely. If two answers are
possible, consider the difference in meaning, if any, between them.
1. Use the present simple of one of these verbs to complete the sentences if possible.
If not, use will.
2. Complete the sentence with the present simple or a future form of the verb in
brackets.
3. Complete these texts with either present simple for the future or present
continuous for the future with the verbs given. If neither of these is correct, use will
or going to.
1 A: Alan Johnson (1) ......... (join) us for dinner. You know, the novelist.
B: Yes, I've read some of his books.
A: I'm sure you (2) .................... (like) him. His latest book (3) ...... (come) out at
the end of this week. If you want, I'm sure he (4) .............. (give) you a signed copy.
2 A: Have you heard that BWM (1) .... (sack) 300 workers?
B: That's bad news. Supposing they (2) ............. (close) completely - that would be
awful.
A: But I've heard that they (3) ................ (build) a new factory in Ireland. If you read
today's local newspaper, you (4) ................... (see) a long article on it.
1 Choose a verb that can complete both sentences in the pair. Use the future
continuous in one sentence and will/won't + infinitive in the other.
1 a) I'm sorry that the train is delayed, ladies and gentlemen, but we…………the
station as soon as the driver arrives,
b) Without more cheap housing, families.............................................the village and
find homes in town.
2 a) ...............you.................late at the office again? I want to know when to
cook.
b) 'We need to get this order sent out before Monday.' 'Well, I.....over the weekend
if that will help.'
3 a) I..............my car until next week, so you can borrow it if you like.
b) My father.......................a computer. He says he's very happy with his old
typewriter for letters and doesn't want to change now.
4 a) Is your suitcase very heavy? I....……..you a hand with it if you like.
b) Dr Sankey.....................evidence at the trial of James Morgan next week.
5 a) He's parked his car across our drive and says he…………..it. Shall I call the
police?
b) The company's headquarters closes in June, when most of the staff...……..to its
new building in Madrid.
2. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form.
1 Jack usually gives me a lift home, but we both (come) home by train tomorrow as
his car is being repaired.
2 He says he (meet) us at the bus stop, but I'm sure he (forget) to turn up.
3 Don't ring now; she (watch) her favourite TV programme. — All right. I (ring) at
8.30.
4 I wonder what I (do) this time next year. ~ I expect you still (work) at the same
office.
5 I'd like to double-glaze the bedroom windows. -
All right. I (get) the materials at once and we (do) it this weekend.
6 Wait a bit. Don't drink your tea without milk. The milkman (come) in a minute.
7 What are you doing next weekend? -
Oh, I (work) as usual. I'm always on duty at weekends.
8 Air hostess: We (take) off in a few minutes. Please fasten your seat
belts.
9 He (come) if you ask him.
10 I arranged to play tennis with Tom at nine tonight. ~
But you (play) in semi-darkness. You won't be able to see the ball.
11 I (get) you some aspirins if you like. The chemist's still (be) open. ~ No, don't
bother. The office boy (go) out in a minute to post the letters; I (ask) him to buy me
some.
12 It (be) very late when she gets home and her parents (wonder) what's happened.
13 I never (be) able to manage on my own. ~
But you won't be on your own. Tom (help) you. Look—his name is bracketed with
yours on the list. ~
Oh, that's all right. But Tom (not help) me: I (help) Tom. He always takes charge when
we're on duty together.
14I (write) postcards every week, I promise, and I (try) to make them legible. If
necessary I (type) them.
15Typist: Are you in a hurry for this letter, Mr Jones? Because I (type) Mr White's
letters at four o'clock and if yours could wait till—
Mr Jones: I'd like it a little earlier than four if possible. Typist: All right. I (type) it for
you now.
16What happened at last night's meeting? I hear there was quite a
disturbance. -
Come and see me and I (tell) you. I don't want to talk about it on the phone.
17I'm going to Switzerland next week. -You're lucky. The wild flowers just (come)
out.
18This time next month the snow (melt) and skiing will be over.
19The first day of the term will be horrible, for everybody (talk) about their holidays
and (show) photographs of marvellous foreign beaches, and as I haven't been
anywhere I (feel) terribly out of it.
20I (tell) her what you say but she (not believe) it.
3. Supply the correct form of the verbs
NB. Normally the perfect forms are not used with state verbs:
e.g. By the end of the meal they were friends.
In this example the state we are speaking about does not come to an end at the
given moment.
V. Revision.
1. Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1 Please stop making so much noise or I report you to the supervisor.
2 As I was about to leave his office, Bob said, 'Let's get together for lunch
sometime, will we?'
3 They came and asked for people to help immediately, so Jenny jumped up and
said, T do it!'
4 When he is released next week, Pat McGuire will spend almost five years in
prison for a crime he didn't commit.
5 I'm going to work on the report at home last night, but I had left all my notes in
the office.
6 It's probably too late to phone Margaret. Do you think she'll go to bed already?
7 I'm not certain, but I guess it's raining later this afternoon.
8 Forthcoming books are those that we think to be available soon.
9 I can't believe that you'll sit on a plane to Malta while I'm driving to work
tomorrow morning.
10 If I'll finish before you, I wait for you outside.
11 Will Stefan to get these boxes later or is to take them now?
12 I must get to the post office before it'll close or the parcel doesn't arrive in
time for Joy's birthday
a 'Have you decided yet?' 'Yes, I'll have /I have the roast beef, please.'
b Q: How will I have known / will I know that I have won a prize?
A: You are receiving / will receive an email giving full details.
c Quick get out of the car! It's going to burst /It's bursting into flames at any
minute!
d Don't come round before midday because I'll be cleaning /1 clean the house
until then.
e Sorry I can't come on Thursday evening. I'm going to work / I'm working late
on an important project
f The cost of construction is almost certainly rising/ will almost certainly rise
before the end of the year as wage increases begin to take effect.
g The conference is going to begin / begins next Friday morning at 9.00. h
Here's the money you asked for - €1000. What will you / are you going to do
with it?
i Why don't you give Helen this cheap perfume instead of the expensive one!
She won't have known / won't know the difference!
j I just want to remind everyone that we'll be holding /we hold a Latin-
American evening at the town hall this Friday.
a 'The fish is very fresh. And the beef is very good too.' 'I think …….... the fish.'
b 'There's someone knocking at the door! Who can it be at this time of night?'
'………. Helen. She said she might come round to watch the midnight movie on
TV.
c 'I've just received some new sales figures………them very much, I'm afraid.'
d Over the next six months, the company…………ten new supermarkets in
France.
e………….. with this kind of problem before, I expect, so I'll leave you to get on
with it.
f According to sources close to the prime minister's office, the foreign
minister…………….
g Well, that's all for today……………you next week at the same time, if that's
all right.
h Next year……………. some time travelling, and then look for a teaching job.
i The problem we have with Jack is that he……………..insist on opening all the
windows in the cold weather.
j There's not much bread, I'm afraid. I hope………………..eat it all before the
others arrive!
k At this rate, by the time we get to the party, most people…………
I The riot police are running into the square. There……………trouble!
a A I'm going to have B I'll have C I'm about to have
b A That's going to be B That'll be C It's due to be
c A You're not going to like B You won't like C You're not liking
d A is going to open B will be opening C is opening
e A You are going to deal B You are dealing C You'll have dealt
f A is on the point of resigning B is due to resign C is about to resign
g A I'm going to see B I'm seeing C I'll see
h A I'm spending B I'm going to spend C I'll spend
i A is going to B is about to C will
j A you won't B you aren't about to C you're not going to
k A will leave B will have left C are on the point of leaving
l A is going to be B will be C is due to be
4. Choose the correct form. A, B or C, to complete the sentence.
5. Supply the correct form of the verbs given in brackets. Use only Future or
Present tenses.
A.
1. I (not to be) in touch unless there (to be) something urgent to tell you.
2. The children (not to go) to bed until they (to have) a glass of milk.
3. You (to phone) me before you (to go) away, won’t you?
4. When will you go to the pub? – When I (to finish) this work. It (to take) about
another hour.
5. If you (not to hurry), we (to be) late.
6. I (to come) to London as soon as you (to find) somewhere for us to live.
7. I’m sure you (to feel) a lot better after you (to take) your medicine.
8. We (to have) dinner as soon as all the guests (to arrive).
9. You (not to forget) to lock the door if you (to go) out, will you?
10.I (not to let you go) until I (to be told) the truth. Which of you did it?
11.I (to buy) a computer as soon as I (to save) enough money.
12.I (to give) him your message as soon as he (to phone).
13.We (to visit) the Duty Free Shop before our flight (to call).
14.I’ll be dead by the time they (to find) a cure for the common cold.
15.You (to get) a surprise the moment you (to open) the door.
16.By the time you (to get) this letter everything (to decide).
17.When mother (to arrive) most of my friends (to leave) town and we (to get
ready) to leave.
18.When the bell (to go) some of the students (to hand in) already their papers,
some (to look) through the completed work and only one or two (to write) still.
19.When we (to get) there the people (to stand) in groups talking and laughing and
only Mother and Dad (to go in) to look for their seats.
20.You (to go) walking only after you (to do) your lessons.
B.
Your Stars
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 18)
This time tomorrow you (1) (to do) something you never (2) (to do) in your life
before. Try to get it right. Money (3) (to be) a problem towards the end of the
week. Look out for trouble from small animals.
PRISCES (Feb19 – Mar 20)
Stop being so sorry for yourself! Everybody (4) (to get) fed up with you. Even the
cat (5) (to get) fed up with you. If you (6) (to go on) like this, you (7) (to lose) all
your friends by the end of the year.
ARIES (Mar21 – Apr20)
Wonderful things (8) (to happen) to you this week. One of your poems (9) (to
publish) in a gardening magazine. A friend (10) (to send) you a postcard. Friday
(11) (to bring) an invitation to a pop concert. Enjoy the excitement while it (12) (to
last); next week everything (13) (to be) back to normal.
TAURUS (Apr21 – May21)
Years ago you (14) (to treat) somebody badly. You think they (15) (to forget)? No.
They (16) (to look) for revenge this week. If you (17) (to try) to get away,
remember: there is no place to hide.
GEMINI (May22 – June21)
Prepare for travel. Some very strange things (18) (to happen), and you suddenly
(19) (to become) President of a small distant oil-rich country. This time next week
you (20) (to sit) in the Palace drinking champagne.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
This week’s problem (21) (to be) children. By the end of the week you (22) (to
wish) they had all been drowned at birth. Try to be patient; next week (23) (to
bring) more children.
LEO (July 23 – Aug 23)
A tall handsome man wearing a uniform (24) (to come) into your life. This may
mean a visit to the police station. Tell the truth – it’s better in the end.
VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
First, the good news. Somebody you always (25) (to be) strongly attracted to (26)
(to send) you an invitation. Now the bad news: it’s to a wedding, not yours.
LIBRA (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
At last your talent, beauty, intelligence and human warmth (27) (to be) properly
recognized. By Friday you (28) (to be) rich and famous; by Saturday you already
(29) (to be) on TV three times; this time next week you (30) (to start) a glamorous
new career.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
Tomorrow (31) (to bring) an enormous sum of money out of the blue. It’s a pity
you are so extravagant. If you (32) (not to change) by this time next week you
probably (33) (to spend) it all.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Be careful in your relationships. Try to say ‘no’ more often. You are too attractive
for your own good. If you (34) (not to come) to realize that now, you (35) (to see)
that, in the great supermarket of life, you (36) (to have) to pay for everything you
break – including hearts.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Thursday (37) (to be) a bad day for travel. Friday (38) (to be) a bad day for
meetings. Saturday (39) (to be) a bad day for everything. You (40) (to get over)
the worst by Sunday, but stay cautious – fate could still have a few unpleasant
surprises for you
6. Supply the most appropriate form of the verbs (Present Continuous, Present
Simple, Future Continuous, Future Simple or ‘going to’) to express a future
action.
A)
A: Hello, Henry. How are you?
B: Fine, and you?
A: Not so bad, thanks. Listen, I’m ringing to try to arrange a meeting with you. I
(1) (to come) to London next Wednesday to see some customers. I (2) (to see)
them in the morning. … you (3) (to be) free any time in the afternoon?
B: I (4) (not to be) in London, I’m afraid. I (5) (to go) abroad for a few days on
business.
A: Oh, where you (6) (to go)?
B: To Germany. I have a meeting in Bonn. My company (7) (to open) a new office
there next year.
A: Sounds exciting. When you (8) (to go)?
B: On Monday evening, and I (9) (not to be) back until Thursday morning.
A: Oh, well. I could stay overnight and see you then. What time your plane (10)
(to get in)?
B: 10.40, so if I get a taxi, I (11) (to be) in my office at 12.00.
A: On second thoughts, don’t do that. I (12) (to see) you at the airport. We can talk
there. We (13) (to be through) by 2.00, probably, so then we can have something
to eat and I can get the 3.00 shuttle back to Manchester. How does that sound?
B: Fine. We (14) (to sort) it all out then. Thanks for ringing. Bye.
A: Bye. I (15) (to see) you on Thursday. Have a good trip.
B)
Have you ever wondered what exactly you (1) (to do) in ten years’ time? Well,
according to computer expert Tom Vincent, computers soon (2) (to be able) to
make accurate predictions about the future. Professor Vincent from Cambridge
University (3) (to hold) a press conference next week to describe the computer
which he calls ‘Computafuture’. This computer can tell us what our future (4) (to
be) like, based on data describing past events. For example, Computafuture can
predict how many people (5) (to live) in a particular area, or whether there (6) (to
be) a lot of rain during a particular period. Professor Vincent also believes that
soon computers (7) (to replace) teachers, and also (8) (to do) most of the jobs now
being done by the police.
‘Computers are becoming more intelligent all the time’, says Professor Vincent.
‘Soon they (9) (to direct) traffic and (10) (to teach) our children.’
7. Over to you.
A Make some personal predictions about ten years' time (or choose another
length of time).
what you will / won't be doing where you will / won't be what you will / won't
have done by then
B 'According to the 2006 Revision, the world population will probably increase
by 2.5 billion over the next 43 years, passing from the current 6.7 billion to 9.2
billion in 2050.' Use research in a library or on the Internet to find more
predictions about the next fifty year
GRAMMAR & VOCAB.
1. Idioms
Here you are looking at idioms which are linked to the topic of Nature and
natural phenomena. Study them and illustrate their use with your own examples.
NB. When you use the expression "at the end", it needs the preposition "of".
When you use "in the end", it doesn't need a preposition. There are also set
expressions: to the end of time, to the bitter end.
1. We waited for nearly an hour and ____ the end we went without her.
a) at b) in c) on
2. The teacher set some homework ____ the end of the lesson.
a) at b) in c) on
3. There's an eraser ____ the end of my pencil.
a) at b) in c) on
4. My house is ____ the end of the street.
a) at b) by c) in d) on
5. We were exhausted ____ the end of the journey.
a) by b) in c) on
6. They get killed ____ the end of the film.
a) at b) in c) on
7. I'll love you ____ the end of time.
a) at b) by c) to d) on
8. They couldn't decide which one they liked and ____ the end they didn't bother.
a) at b) by c) in d) to e) on
9. They argue everything ____ the bitter end.
a) at b) by c) in d) on e) to
10. I paid the fees ____ the end of the course.
a) at b) in c) on
11. When do you get paid? — ____ the end of the month.
a) at b) on c) in
12. I couldn't decide what to get Ann for her birthday. ____ the end I didn't get her
anything at all.
a) at b) in c) on
13. We waited ages for a taxi. We gave up ______ the end and walked home.
a) at b) on c) in
14. I'll be moving to a new address ____ the end of September.
a) in b) by c) at
15. Tom didn't want to lend us the money at first but ___the end he agreed.
a) at b) in c) to
NB. Use the word amount with quantities that cannot be counted and number
with quantities that could be counted one-by-one.
4. Ways of comparison.
d) Make statements about these topics using as many different ways of comparing
as possible.
1. The emergency crew has turned ________ local power and gas supplies.
2. Smoking is damaging _________ your health
4. Now that we've heard all the arguments for and ________ the proposal, shall
we vote on it?
10.We'll have to stop for fuel _______ the way to the airport.
13.I hope my teacher will take ________ account the fact that I was ill just
before the exams when she marks my paper.
15.We go out once in a while after work and ________ the weekend
1. Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words from the text.
2. Decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F). Then check your
answers in the text.
1. Russia is the world’s biggest country by geographical area.
2. There are no polar bears in Russia.
3. Reindeer give birth to their young in October.
4. Global warming is happening at a faster rate in Russia than in other parts of the
world.
5. Temperatures of -50oC have been recorded in the Arctic regions of Russia.
6. It is impossible to build railways on permafrost.
Climate change in Russia’s Arctic tundra: ‘Our reindeer go hungry.
There isn’t enough pasture’
Luke Harding
20 October, 2009
It is one of the world’s last great wildernesses, a 435-mile-long peninsula of
lakes and squelching tundra stretching deep into the Arctic Ocean. For 1,000
years the indigenous Nenets people have migrated along the Yamal peninsula.
In summer they wander northwards, taking their reindeer with them. In winter
they return southwards.
But this remote region of north-west Siberia is now under heavy threat from
global warming. Traditionally the Nenets travel across the frozen River Ob in
November and set up camp in the southern forests around Nadym. These
days, though, this annual winter pilgrimage is delayed. Last year the Nenets,
together with many thousands of reindeer, had to wait until late December
when the ice was finally thick enough to cross.
“Our reindeer were hungry. There wasn’t enough pasture,” Jakov Japtik, a
Nenets reindeer herder, said. “The snow is melting sooner, quicker and faster
than before. In spring it’s difficult for the reindeer to pull the sledges. They
get tired,” Japtik said, speaking in his camp 25 kilometres from Yar-Sale, the
capital of Russia’s Arctic Yamal-Nenets district.
Herders say that the peninsula’s weather is increasingly unpredictable – with
unseasonal snowstorms when the reindeer give birth in May, and milder
longer autumns. In winter, temperatures used to go down to -50°C. Now they
are typically -30°C, according to Japtik. “Obviously we prefer -30°C. But the
changes aren’t good for the reindeer and ultimately what is good for the
reindeer is good for us,” he said, setting off on his sled to round up his
itinerant reindeer herd.
Here in one of the most remote parts of the planet there are clear signs the
environment is under strain. Last year the Nenets arrived at a
regular summer camping spot and discovered that half of their lake had
disappeared. It had drained away after a landslide. While landslides can occur
naturally, scientists say there is unmistakable evidence that Yamal’s ancient
permafrost is melting. The Nenets report other curious changes – fewer
mosquitoes and a puzzling increase in gadflies.
“It’s an indication of the global warming process, like the opening of the
Arctic waters for shipping this summer,” says Vladimir Tchouprov,
Greenpeace Russia’s energy unit head. The melting of Russia’s permafrost
could have catastrophic results for the world, Tchouprov says, by releasing
billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide and the potent greenhouse gas methane
that were previously trapped in frozen soil.
Russia – the world’s biggest country by geographical area – is already
warming at one-and-a-half times the rate of other parts of the world. If global
temperatures do go up by the 4°C many scientists fear, the impact on Russia
would be disastrous. Much of Russia’s northern region would be turned into
impenetrable swamp. Houses in several Arctic towns are already badly
subsiding.
Many Russians, however, are sceptical that climate change exists. Others
rationalize that it might bring benefits to one of the world’s coldest countries,
freeing up a melting Arctic for oil and gas exploration and extending the
country’s brief growing season. Russia’s scientific community seems
sceptical of global warming and the Kremlin doesn’t appear to regard the
issue as a major domestic problem; public awareness of climate change in
Russia is lower than in any other European country.
Western politicians, however, point out that it is in Russia’s interests to take
action on climate change and to push for ambitious targets at December’s
Copenhagen summit. “There is 5,000 miles of railway track built on
permafrost. It could crumble as a result of melting,” Ed Miliband, the UK
secretary of state for climate change, pointed out during a recent visit to
Moscow.
However, even Russians working in the Arctic are unconvinced that their
country faces a serious climate-change problem. “It’s rubbish. It’s invented.
People who spend too long sitting at home have made up climate change,”
Alexander Chikmaryov, who runs a remote weather station on the Yamal
peninsula, said. A small community of Nenets hunters live nearby; otherwise
there’s nobody for a hundred kilometres. The weather here is, not
surprisingly, bitterly cold; the sea freezes for nine months of the year.
In fact, Chikmaryov’s own data suggests that global warming is a real
problem here too. In 2008 the ice was 164cm thick; this year it is 117cm.
Winter temperatures have gone up too – from lows of -50°C in 1914, when
the station was founded, to -40°C today. Every year large chunks of the coast
fall into the sea. And there are other unnatural signs. On 15th August a large
polar bear started rooting through the station’s rubbish bin. “It was 7pm. The
bear was enormous. We set off a flare. It ran off,” she recalled. Polar bear
sightings are becoming increasingly common – with the bears coming south
from their far-northern habitat in search of food.
Back on the tundra Japitik was rounding up his reindeer. “I’ve lived all of my
life in the tundra,” he said. “The reindeer for us are everything – food,
transport and accommodation. The only thing I hope is that we will be able to
carry on with this life.”
© Guardian News & Media 2009
First published in The Guardian, 15/11/09
2. Why is the rise in temperature from -50°C to -30°C a bad thing for the Nenets
herders?
a. Because it isn’t good for their reindeer and what is good for their reindeer is
good for them.
b. Because they can’t cross frozen rivers when the temperature rises to -30°C.
c. Because there are unseasonal snowstorms when the reindeer give birth.
5. Match the phrasal verbs from the text with their meanings.
1. set up a. flow out of somewhere
2. round up b. make something available
3. drain away c. people search through something with their
hands; animals search by pushing with their nose
4. free up d. tell someone something4.
5. push for e. cause something to operate or make it explode
6. set off f. build a structure or put it in a particular place
7. point out g. try hard to achieve something
8. root through h. bring animals together in one place for a
particular purpose
6. Complete the sentences using the correct form of the word in brackets at the
end of each sentence.
1. The weather is becoming increasingly ____________ in some parts of the
world. [PREDICT]
2. Global warming could have a ____________ impact on Russia. [DISASTER]
3. Warmer temperatures could free up Russia’s Arctic regions for oil and gas
____________. [EXPLORE]
4. Many politicians are hoping for ____________ targets at the Copenhagen
summit. [AMBITION]
5. Many Russians are ____________ that there is a serious climate-change
problem. [CONVINCE]
6. ____________ of polar bears are becoming increasingly common. [SIGHT]
7. Discussion
What practical measures should be undertaken to combat climate change?
8. Comment on the following quotes about nature. Use the active vocabulary:
For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for
Nature cannot be fooled.
Richard Feynman
Almost all of the social tragedies occurring around the world today are caused by
ignoring the basic biological laws of nature.
Jim Fowler
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
Buddha
Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about
nature.
Saint Augustine
Tacitus
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Rudyard Kipling
All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within.
Horace Friess
People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the
whole time to have such things about us.
Iris Murdoch
The best thing about animals is that they don't talk much.
Thornton Wilder
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's
day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the
sky is by no means a waste of time.
J. Lubbuck
ACTIVE VOCABULARY.
p. 39 annual, addictive, turn off the electricity supply, assure smb, look after, take
care of, in the end, to stick with, destructive
p. 40 (learn the words connected to plants and gardens in ex. 1), spectacular,
mankind, dependence on, fill smth with, breathtaking, experience smth, a
rainforest, a species, a guided tour, a workshop
R 5.2 head (down to your part of the world), get a (cheap) deal, meet up, it’s not
really his thing/ his cup of tea, a day off, pick smb up (on the way)
p. 42 R 5.5 sense of smell, go back a very long way, tomb, fragrant, a feast, a
passion (love) for , fully-qualified, point out
p. 44 (learn the adjectives in ex. 1), reduce one’s ecological footprint, renewable
energy, concerned about, have an effect on the environment, support the way smb
lives, take into account, rubbish, consume energy, work smth out, an argument in
favour of/ against, fair enough, then again, give smth up