B) Give adjectives derived from the following words, using given suffixes

– al: coast, season, locate, tropic, condition, continent

– ic (al): geography, geology, ecology, climate, atmosphere

– able: change, consider, vary

– y: rain, snow, mud, wind, fog, mist, cloud, shower, thunder, frost, breeze, drizzle, gust

 

Ex. 3. Match the English phrases and their Russian equivalents.

1) daylight period 2) high latitudes 3) water bodies 4) coastal community 5) temperature range 6) maritime influence 7) continuous daylight 8) converse effect 9) Northern Hemisphere 10) amount of moisture 11) precipitation level 12) seasonal extremes of temperature 13) ocean currents 14) moderate climate a) водные объекты b) обратный эффект c) Северное полушарие d) количество влаги e) океанические течения f) продолжительность дня g) прибрежная территория h) количество выпадаемых осадков i) смягчать климат j) влияние моря k) колебание температуры l) полярный день m) высокие широты n) сезонные перепады температуры

 

Ex. 4. Identify the meaning of the given words as they occur in the word combinations and sentences below.

Average: average temperatures in England and Wales vary from 40C in January to 160C in July and August. In Scotland averages are one or two degrees cooler.

Summer months average around 250C (770F).

When weather observations are averaged over long periods, the resulting data describe climate.

We may have tables giving climatic statistics for a place or, by further averaging, for a country or even a continent.

Celsius: scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death. The degree Celsius(C) can refer to a specific temperature on the Celsius scale as well as a unit to indicate a temperature interval, a difference between two temperatures or an uncertainty. The unit was known until 1948 as centigrade.

Fahrenheit: the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736). Today the temperature scale has been replaced by the Celsius scale in most countries. But it is still used in the USA, and Belize.

Extreme: seasonal extremes of temperatures; summer and winter extremes.

Temperatures are moderate, with no great extremes except in limited areas of high altitude.

In the extreme south precipitation amounts to only 12 inches yearly.

Especially characteristic for Eastern Siberia are the extremely low winter temperatures.

Experience: practical experience; river management experience; an experienced geographer.

Some parts of the world experience a period of continuous daylight.

In England one can experience almost every kind of weather except the most extreme.

Humidity: absolute humidity; relative humidity, specific humidity.

The moisture content of the air is referred to as humidity.

High humidity greatly affects the sensible temperatures – the temperatures we feel. Winters seem cold and damp despite the relatively mild temperatures, again because of the high humidity.

The Atlantic brings warm, humid cyclone through the Baltic Sea to Russia.

Moisture: Both the Mediterranean and humid subtropical climates receive winter moisture from cyclonic storm which travel along the polar front.

Where trees appear in the Mediterranean climate they respond to moisture conditions.

Situated in the mid-latitude westerly wind belt and surrounded by the open ocean, New Zealand has a temperate, moist, and maritime climate.

The higher the mountains the more moisture it is lost by the wind.

Moderate: moderated water temperature; moderating oceanic influence.

Usually winds are moderate in these regions, although sometimes violent gales appear.

Summer and winter extremes are moderated by ocean currents and prevailing winds.

The oceans and seas of the earth serve as reservoirs of moisture and are major influences in moderating the temperatures at or near the earth’s surface.

Occur: Cool rain-bearing winds occur in summer.

The humid subtropical climate occurs in the southeastern United States.

Sea breeze known as the doctor occurs along west coast in summer.

The great contrast between the Mediterranean and humid subtropical climates occurs in the summer when the humid subtropics receive substantial precipitation from convectional showers.

Polar air masses can bring colder temperatures and occasional frost.

Precipitation: precipitation levels.

In the south nearly half the precipitation occurs in late spring.

Precipitation totals more than 20 inches annually.

Range:

The average range of temperature (from winter to summer) is from 5 to 23 degrees above zero (Great Britain).

In midsummer in January, average temperatures rangefrom 290C in the north to 170C in the south (Australia).

Vary: Average annual temperatures vary from about 270C in the far north of the continent to 130C in the far south.

The elements or conditions of the atmosphere that make up climate vary greatly from place to place and from season to season.

The Moroccan climate is as varied as its landscape.

There are various types of temperate climate in this country (warm, cool and cold).

Winds in the area tend to be light and variable.

There is little seasonal variation in tropical rainy climates.

As the weather changes with the wind, and Britain is visited by winds from different parts of the world, the most characteristic feature of Britain’s weather is its variability.

The direction of surface winds is usually at variance with wind direction aloft.

 

Ex. 5. Add nouns to the following adjectives to form noun phrases.

Adjectives: climatic, annual, coastal, converse, maritime, low, horizontal, seasonal, continuous, vertical, direct, high.
Noun: currents, movement, rays, patterns, locations, latitude, effect, influence, revolution, daylight, ranges, communities, variations, extremes.

 

Ex. 6. Pair the verbs in column A with a suitable phrase in column B. You must find a match for every word, but there is not necessarily only one correct solution.

A B
1) to make 2) to be exposed 3) to experience 4) to minimize 5) to have 6) to provide 7) to increase 8) to curb 9) to moderate 10) to lie a) seasonal variations in temperature b) the amount of moisture c) to the direct rays of the sun d) a positive influence on e) astride a normal wind direction f) annual revolution g) a period of continuous daylight h) greater levels of evaporation i) temperature extremes j) temperature ranges

 

Ex. 7. Look through the text and say which words have the same meaning as:

· territory

· rise

· quick

· humid

· curb

· affect

· vary (from … to …)

· temperate

Ex. 8. Match the verbs with their appropriate explanations.

1) moderate 2) record 3) provide 4) minimize 5) heat 6) experience 7) influence 8) curb 9) increase 10) occur a) to gain knowledge or skill by doing and seeing things; to feel smth. b) to have an effect on smth. or smb. c) to make or become less extreme d) to take place, happen, exist e) to make or become greater (in size, number, degree, etc) f) to give, to supply what is needed g) to keep smth. under control h) to make or become hot i) to set down in writing for reference; preserve for use, by writing or in other ways j) to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree

 

Ex. 9. Find words and phrases in the text that correspond to the definitions given below.

1. Rainfall, drizzle, snow, sleet, hail and dew.

2. Distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees.

3. Tiny drops of water on a surface, in the air, etc.

4. Degree of moisture, especially in the air; dampness; measure of moisture in the atmosphere.

5. Limits between which something varies.

6. Standard or level regarded as usual; result of adding several amounts together and dividing the total by the number of amounts.

7. Movement of water, air flowing in a certain direction.

8. Height above sea level.

 

Ex. 10. Fill in the missing words in the sentences below. Choose from the words given in the box.

below precipitation (2) hemisphere seasonal variation mean average (2) amount annual ranging evaporation temperature vary

Climate

The climate of a region refers both to its (1) ___ weather over a period of years and to the typical (2) ___ by which the various weather elements (3) ___ during each day and during each year. The most significant weather elements in determining climate are (4) ___ and (5) ___. Climates differ considerably around the world, (6) ___ from the tropics where there is no winter to the Polar Regions where there is hardly any summer. The belts in each (7) ___ between the tropics and the Polar Regions were once classed simply as the temperate zones. A more realistic appraisal shows that at least five broad types of climate can be distinguished, each with a number of subdivisions.

The present system of climate classification was devised in 1918 by Wladimir Koppen. The principal categories in the Koppen system are:

A. Tropical rainy climates. The (8) ___ monthly temperature goes below 180C (64,40F) and there is little (9) ___. (10) ___ rainfall exceeds the water lost by (11) ___.

B. Dry climates. The water lost by evaporation exceeds that brought by (12) ___.

C. Warm temperature rainy climates. There are distinct summer and winter seasons, with the (13) ___ of the coldest month lower than 180C (64,40F) but higher than – 30C (26,60F).

D. Cool snow-forest climates. The average temperature of the coldest month is lower than – 30C (26,60F) and that of the warmest month is higher than 100C (500F).

E. Polar climates. The average temperature of the warmest month remains (14) ___ 100C (500F). Trees do not thrive in such climates.

 

Ex. 11. Choose the best alternative to complete the following sentences.

1. The existence of different climates is due to …

a) different precipitation levels

b) proximity to the equator

c) the variation with latitude

2. The second element affecting climate is …

a) the influence of the oceans

b) duration of sunshine

c) amount of rainfall

3. Oceans act as reservoirs of heat which … the temperature extremes of the seasons.

a) increase

b) moderate

c) influence

4. Continental interiors … lower winter temperatures and higher summer temperatures than those of coastal communities.

a) provide

b) receive

c) experience

5. In Canada, temperatures in the city of Victoria on the Pacific Coast … from an average January minimum of 360F to an average July maximum of 680F.

a) change

b) range

c) minimize

6. The growers of citrus crops in Florida have concentrated in the central lake district to take advantage of the moderating influence of nearby …

a) ocean currents

b) water bodies

c) water reservoir

7. Like other highland areas of the British Isles, Wales is a region of heavy …

a) rainfall

b) gales

c) hurricanes

8. In Britain one can experience any kind of weather except …

a) the most extreme

b) the coldest

c) the hottest

9. The word clima was used by the Greek and meant a change of …

a) longitude

b) latitude

c) altitude

10. Ocean currents minimize … in water surface temperature.

a) climatic conditions

b) extreme heat

c) seasonal variations

11. The point is that British never can be sure when the different types of weather will…

a) appear

b) come

c) occur

Ex. 12. Complete the text with a preposition or a negative form. Choose from the alternatives below.

(1) ___ recent years there has been increasing interest (2) ___global warming, and there is (3) ___doubt that man’s activities are partly responsible (4) ___it (5)___can we afford to ignore warnings of its possible effects (6) ___ climate. Forecasts of a warmer, wetter world suggest, (7) ___ instance, that the sea may rise by as much as five metres (8) ___ 2050. (9) ___ that case, large areas of London and many other coastal towns would be (10) ___ water.

1. a) in b) on c) for d) no

2. a) with b) on c) to d) in

3. a) any b) no c) not d)none

4. a) to b) by c) for d) with

5. a) never b) nor c) none d) nobody

6. a) for b) at c) in d) on

7. a) for b)on c) with d) no

8. a) until b) for c) by d) with

9. a) on b) in c) by d) with

10. a) on b) under c) over d) in

 

Ex. 13. Give the English equivalents.

Температура и влажность; широта; долгота; высота; изменчивость; южное полушарие; испытывать большие перепады температур; прибрежные территории; ежегодные колебания температур; смягчать климат; океанические течения; происходить (случаться); +35 0С; –10 0С; количество осадков (осадки); средние широты; влияние моря; полярный день; высокие и низкие температуры; годовая амплитуда; температура колеблется от … до …; умеренный климат; относительная влажность; совокупность погодных условий; обратный эффект; взаимодействие различных элементов.