38 After being absorbed it is radiated back into the atmosphere as heat energy or turned into chemical energy by green plants when they photosynthesize Fertilizers are added to soil to replace nutrients that have been used by previous crops, blown away or leached (washed away) into the subsoil by rain or irrigation If the soil is gritty it will drain and dry out quickly When the soil particles are mainly sand and coarse gravel its texture is said to be gritty If the soil is silky it will drain slowly and hold water for a longer time Artificial fertilizers need to be soluble compounds so that plants can absorb the nutrients This means they continue to exist unchanged in the soil because they cannot move into one of the cycles of matter B Word formation There are many English words derived from other words with different prefixes or suffixes such as: -ment; -ation; -ion; -ance; -al; -ent; -able; -ly; -en; -er; -or; -ist; en- Find out the words with these suffixes or prefixes in the passage Verb – Noun: -ment - development - ……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Verb – Noun: -ation (-ion) -information - production -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Verb – Noun: er (-or) -farmer -……………………… -……………………… -………………………… Noun - Noun -biologist -………………………… -………………………… -………………………… Verb – Adjective: -ent -different -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Noun – Adjective: -able (-eble) -reasonable -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Noun – Adjective: -al -national -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Noun – Adjective: -y (ly) -rainy -……………………… -……………………… -………………………… Adjective – Verb: -en -widen -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Adjective – Verb: -ize -modernize -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Adjective – Verb:En-enrich -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Adjective – Adverb: -ly -quickly …………… -……………………… -……………………… -……………………… Words derived from other words with prefixes such as: un-; in-; dis-; pre-; re-; de; en Find the words with these prefixes in the passage unfair; incorrect; distribute; rebuild - - - - - ……………………………………………………………………………………… - ……………………………………………………………………………………… - ……………………………………………………………………………………… III READING A Pre-reading task Read the passage and find the answer to the following a What is climate? b What is the difference between climate and weather? c Is climate predictable? (can people predict climate?) 39 CLIMATE Climate is the primary determinant of vegetation Worldwide, different climates are affected by precipitation, radiation and wind acting on the huge continental landmasses and ocean currents When you understand and appreciate the workings of these wild energies you can design ecosystems which: - modify climatic extremes; - reduce failures of crops and animals caused by climatic extremes; - provide greater energy efficiency Precipitation Precipitation is rain, snow, fog, sleet, hail and frost These forms of precipitation undergo two main processes which permaculturists use to their advantage: condensation and evaporation Knowledge of these processes is used to: - design structures for good temperature control; - select appropriate technologies for heating and cooling; - retain water in soil and in dams Generally, by understanding patterns of precipitation you can plan your growing calendar to take advantage of favorable conditions, and minimize the impact of unfavorable conditions For example, it is useful to be able to predict the likelihood of drought and to plan accordingly designing water harvesting and storage systems Wind Wind is caused by the earth‟s rotation and the differential heating of land and sea For example, hot air rising from the deserts draws in cooler, moist air from the oceans, bringing rain as it moves in Like precipitation, world climates have fairly predictable wind patterns (although these seem to be changing with global warming) An understanding of these patterns will help you to: - harvest wind energy for electricity; - design houses which take advantage, or minimize the impact of wind; - plant windbreaks to provide protection for plants and animals Radiation Most radiation comes from the sun as light energy This energy can be absorbed by water, plants, soils and animals After being absorbed it is radiated back into the atmosphere as heat energy or turned into chemical energy by green plants when they photosynthesize Dark bodies absorb the greatest amount of light and later radiate it back as heat Lightcoloured objects and organisms tend to reflect light, which can then be used or absorbed by other plants, water and materials, or sent back into the atmosphere (Figure shows how a light-reflecting surface can be used to redirect sunlight to brighten a dark room.) Comprehension check a Can you determine certain vegetation in the area basing on climate? b Why are worldwide climates different from each other? c Why farmers need to understand the workings of wild energies? d What are the forms of precipitation? e How many processes does precipitation undergo? f What can your understanding patterns of precipitation help you to do? g What causes wind? h How does light energy turn into chemical energy? i What absorbs the greatest amount of light? j What object reflects light most? 40 Fill in the gaps with given words cause ; which ; blowing ; rainfall ; summer ; seasonal ; moves ; heat ; blows MONSOON Monsoon is the…(1)…wind in South of Asia, especially in the Indian Ocean,…(2)…from the South-west from April to October and from the North-east from October to April During…(3)…the inland parts of the continent…(4)…the air and create an area of low pressure…(5)…brings in sea air and heavy…(6)… The combination of this rain with cyclones can…(7)…great destruction During the winter, cool air…(8)…out from inland areas and dry wind…(9)…towards the coast Figure Figure shows how a light-reflecting surface can be used to redirect sunlight to brighten a dark room Light coloured wall Dark room III Speaking (group-work of 4) Talking about the using light-reflecting technology above in modern agricultural production - Producing many kinds of flower; vegetable in any climates - Creating new species of plant - Conserving valuable genetic heritages of plant and animal - Building botanical gardens in different climates - Raising different breeds of animal in different countries 41 IV GRAMMAR Present or Past participle phrases - When I wake up and think about the food needed for the day my mind goes to what is growing in the garden - not to what is stashed in the refrigerator - All the aquatic organisms, including water plants, fish, crustaceans and water birds, are interdependent on each other and their environment through food chains and food webs Practice Put the right form of the word in brackets into the blanks a Every crop or animal to market contains nutrients that were once in the soil (harvest; send) b The three most important elements to the soil by fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (add) c This helps the plant to withstand mechanical damage such as branches and torn leaves (break) d Government seed is not likely to carry diseases or pests when it is bought (certify) e Seed that is bought locally or seed by a farmer for his own use may carry an infection which will quickly spread to the new crop (produce) f Ducks eat more and are more efficient scavengers than hens; however they don't scratch the ground so the work by hens is not available (cultivate ; do) g In summer hot air from deserts draws in cooler, moist air from the oceans, rain as it moves in (rise ; bring) h You can design an ecosystem which may increase the season and biodiversity - for example, frosts can be avoided by use of vegetation and structures, or warm breezes as (grow ; redirect ; desire) i This will affect the type of plants that can be grown and the type of cultivation techniques (use) j Bare soil is far more reflective of heat and light compared to soil (cover) k The world does not have uniform ecosystems because of all the factors upon them (act) l Nitrogen is one of the major elements for plant and animal growth (require) m Nitrogen, one of the main gases in air, is transformed into a soluble form by bacteria in soil or water (live) Writing Rewrite the following sentences using participle construction as example below Example: * Worldwide, different climates are affected by precipitation, radiation and wind, which are acting on the huge continental landmasses and ocean currents => Worldwide, different climates are affected by precipitation, radiation and wind acting on the huge continental landmasses and ocean currents * When you understand and appreciate the workings of these wild energies you can design ecosystems, which reduce failures of crops and animals, which are caused by climatic extremes => When you understand and appreciate the workings of these wild energies you can design ecosystems, which reduce failures of crops and animals caused by climatic extremes a There are many animals living in the soil, which range from microscopic organisms to beetles => …………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………… b Soil with good air-water balance and plenty of organic material will have millions of micro-organisms, which assist faster nutrient breakdown and cycling => …………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… c Clay soils have minute particles, which give the soil a smooth feel and a silky texture 42 => ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… d The methods which are used to repair soil will vary according to the climate and site characteristics => …………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… … e All legumes are 'nitrogen-fixing' They provide the correct bacterium which is present in the soil => …………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… f Often gardeners this in winter They use plant species such as rye grass, lupines or barley => …………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… g There are plants which have a bacterium, Rhizobium species They are living in their roots => …………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… h The small subsistence farm which is run by a farmer primarily to meet personal needs has virtually disappeared from the American scene => ……………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… i Beef cattle rank as the most valuable product of the nation‟s farms, which are accounting for almost one quarter of total annual farm receipts => ……………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………… j Bill Mollison recommends that people who wish to grow organic foods not purchase land which has been used to grow bananas, sugar cane or deciduous fruit => ……… ……………………………………………………………………………… k Gases in the air are exchanged with those that are given off by plant roots and by soil micro-organisms => ………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………… l In soil ethylene cycles with oxygen, which increase the build-up of micro-organisms => ……………………………………………………………………………………… m Hot air which is rising from the deserts draws in cooler, moist air from the oceans, which is bringing rain as it moves in => …………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………… PARTB I READING B Read the passage and answer the following questions a What helps to retain nitrate in the soil? b When is there the most nitrate in the soil? c Why is the moderate rainfall important for farmers? d How farmers plan their growing calendar? e What farmers often to reduce the influence of the climatic extreme on their harvests? f What is this section about? - microbiological activity in the rainy season - how wet and dry seasons are important for soil management - the effect of excessive rainfall TROPICAL CLIMATE The tropical climate, especially the sequence of wet and dry periods, is also an important factor as it affects the availability of nitrogen in the soil If the soil becomes too dry, microbiological activity drops to a low level and therefore there is a lack of nitrate After dry 43 weather, however, moderate rainfall increases the level of microbiological activity This in turn increases in the rate of decomposition of organic matter and there is in consequence a surplus of nitrate On the other hand, excessive rainfall washes the nitrate into the subsoil, too deep for roots to use unless the soil structure is relatively good In this case some of the nitrate retains in the subsoil This gives, therefore, two further important principles in tropical soil management The first of these is to prepare the land and sow the crops early enough to use the surplus nitrogen after the dry season The second is to grow crops with sufficiently deep roots to use nitrogen before it is washed into subsoil II Word study Match the word with its definition a affect - cause something to become less violent b factor - put seed in or on the ground c sequence - have an influence on st, sb d period ì - fact, circumstance that helps to produce a result e sow - length of time f moderate - something is rotten or being decayed g increase - without (something) h lack of - lowest part of a tree in the ground i retain - something is too much, more than needed j excessive - set of events happens continuously k roots - develop, become more and more l decomposition - keep or store (something) Say whether these statements are true or false Correct the false statements a Too low a temperature causes insufficient microbiological activity b Moderate rainfall is good for plant growth c When there is a lack of nitrate, microbiological activity drops to a low level d Excessive rainfall provides too much nitrate for plant growth e If roots are too shallow, plants cannot use nitrate after heavy rain f There is inadequate nitrate for crops sown early in the wet season g The rate of decomposition of organic matter increases in dry period h There is only one season in tropical countries i If the level of microbiological activity increases it will make nitrate increase, too j The first principle in tropical soil management is more important than the second one because it makes much more profit from the work Fill in the gaps with the given words: thus; however; therefore; so; too; enough - thus (adv): in this way; like this; as a result Soil with a coarse texture consists of relatively large particles Thus it retains air in the spaces between the particles - However (adv) : to whatever extent or degree You won‟t move that stone, however strong you are - Therefore (adv) : for that reason Most developing countries are not applying fertilizers in proper nutrient ratios and are therefore ''mining'' soil K - So (conj) : and that is why All the shops were closed so I didn‟t get anything a Coarse-textured soils are usually well drained ………………., many important nutrients are leached out of the soil b The methods which are used to repair soil will vary according to the climate and site characteristics; …………………., in all cases organic matter is the very best soil improver 44 c There are a number of reasons for damaged soils, ……………… the fundamental cause of soil decline is the removal of surface vegetation d If the soil becomes…………….dry, microbiological activity drops to a low level and ………………….there is a lack of nitrate e After dry weather,………………… , moderate rainfall increases the level of microbiological activity f Medium-textured soils are usually imperfectly drained ……………….important plant nutrients are available for plant growth g Soil sample A has 10% sand, 20% silt and 70% clay ……………it has a fine texture h You can either grow a green manure crop and chop it into the soil, or enclose your animals………… their stocking rate is higher and manure output is increased i Land use must be economically viable, so one goal of development planning is to make efficient and productive use of the land j The tropical climate, especially the sequence of wet and dry periods, is also an important factor as it affects the availability of nitrogen in the soil On the other hand, excessive rainfall washes the nitrate into the subsoil, …… ……… deep for roots to use unless the soil structure is relatively good This gives, …… …………, two further important principles in tropical soil management The first of these is to prepare the land and sow the crops early………… ……to use the surplus nitrogen after the dry season The second is to grow crops with deep… …….…… roots to use nitrogen before it is washed into subsoil  Prevention is better than cure