Ecological problems of usa

Environmental issues in Uzbekistan

The evaporation of the Aral Sea is one of the worst ecological disasters in the world. The Aral has shrunk so much that it now holds only about one-fifth the volume of water it held in 1960. The shrinkage is due to irrigation withdrawals from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, a practice that began on a massive scale in the early 1960s as part of the Soviet Union’s ill-conceived drive to increase cotton yields in Central Asia. Growing cotton in the naturally arid and saline soil in Central Asia requires excessive irrigation—cotton is a highly water-dependent crop. More than half of the Aral Sea basin is now a dry, salt-encrusted wasteland. The region’s ecosystem was severely degraded as the lake rapidly evaporated and the water flow became scant and intermittent in the two river deltas. Wildlife habitat has been destroyed on a catastrophic scale, and many animal and plant species have become extinct in the area. Windstorms pick up massive amounts of salt and sand from the exposed lake bed and deposit them elsewhere in the vicinity, mainly along the Aral shores, but sometimes as far as 400 km (250 mi) away. This has contributed to desertification, a process that transforms previously arable or habitable land into desert. The salt-laden dust storms, which also contain chemicals such as pesticides, have adversely affected human health: The toxic dust has been linked to respiratory illnesses and certain types of cancer.
Industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture have contributed to the severe pollution of Uzbekistan’s rivers and lakes. Contaminated drinking water is considered responsible for many human health disorders. Agricultural chemicals, including DDT, also have contaminated the soil in crop-growing areas. In 1992 the government established the State Committee for Environmental Protection. However, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have taken the lead in spearheading environmental initiatives, particularly in regard to conserving and protecting regional water resources.
TESTS.
1.… are used in farming.

1. 
   Chemicals B) Insects C) Plants D) Bears
   

2.The … Sea has shrunk so much that it now holds only about one-fifth the volume of water it held in 1960.

1. 
   Black B) Caspian C) Aral D) Caribbean
   

3). High intensity … solar radiation contributes … photochemical reactions … the polluted atmosphere
A) on/in/in B) of / to / in C) in /of/ to D) with / for / in
4) In order … form and develop environmental culture … the population.
A) on/in B) of / to C) in /of D) to / among
5. High concentrations of heavy metals were registered in the … region
A) Andijan B) Sirdarya C) Tashkent D) Bukhara
6. Soil contamination is the … in agricultural areas.
A) highest B) higher C) high D) more high
7. … toxic dust has been linked to respiratory … illnesses and certain types of cancer. A) the/the B) the/- C) a/the D) the/a
8. … drinking water is considered responsible for many human health disorders. A) Contaminate B) Contaminating C) Contaminates D) Contaminated
9. The current situation forced to reduce the plant's capacity by … .
A) 1/4 B) 2/6 C) 1/2 D)
10. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have … the lead in spearheading environmental initiatives. A) took B) taken C) takes D) tooken

11. 
    ... are soil salinity, land pollution, and water pollution.
    
12. 
    … has resulted in large-scale plant and animal mortality, loss of cropland, changes in climatic conditions
    
13. 
    … also damaged water in Uzbekistan
    
14. 
    As a result, the freshwater supply received additional pollution.
    
15. 
    ... of the Aral Sea is one of the worst ecological disasters in the world.
    
16. 
    Climatic … of Uzbekistan are characterized by weak winds, surface temperature inversion, air stagnation.
    
17. 
    Drinking water quality is a serious problem, especially in …
    
18. 
    High intensity of solar radiation contributes to … in the polluted atmosphere
    
19. 
    Noteworthy is atmospheric … in the Saryassi and Denaussi districts of Surkhandarya province
    
20. 
    … , including DDT, also have contaminated the soil in crop-growing areas.