Unit4Livingwithnature

Experiencetheworld

Listening1

Host: Wherearetheworld’smostchallengingnaturalenvironments?Howdopeoplesurviveintheseplaces?JoiningmetodiscussthesequestionsisDr.TomRogers.Heisasocialscientist.Heisalsothewriterofanewbookaboutlifeinextremeenvironments.Welcome,Tom.

Tom: Happytobehere.Yourradioprogramismyabsolutefavorite.

Host: Howniceofyoutosayso!Solet’sgetstarted.Whatenvironmentsaremostdifficultforhumanlife?

Tom: Well…theArctic,forone.IntheArctic,temperaturesarewellbelowzero.Thegroundissocoldthatfarmingisimpossible.TheInuitpeople,however,havesurvivedthereforcenturies.

Host: Howhavetheymanagedthat?Whatdotheyeat?

Tom: Theysurvivemostlyonmeatandfish.Andforcenturiestheyhaveusedanimalskinstokeepwarm.

Host: Interesting.Andwhataboutpeoplefightingextremeheat?

Tom: LookattheSaharaDesert.ItisoneofthehottestanddriestplacesonEarth.Here,waterishardtocomeby.Peopleareoftenforcedtomoveandsearchfornewwatersources.Theenvironmenthasmadeitdifficultforcommunitiestobuildpermanentvillages.Theysurvivebylivingatravelinglifestyle.

Host: Yes,IreadabouttheSaharanpeopleinyourbook.It’ssuchawonderfulandwell-researchedtext.

Tom: Thanks,Iappreciatethat.

Listening2

Intoday’smodernworld,it’seasytoforgethowmuchourlivesdependontheEarth’snaturalforces.Butinfact,theseforcesarepowerfulenoughtoshapehumansocieties,andcanevenentirelychangethecourseofhistory.Let’slookatafewexamples.

PompeiiwasanancientRomancity.Itwasverywealthyandhadarichculture.Ithadlivelyshops,marketsandbeautifulprivatehouses.Itevenhadagreattheaterandmanygreatworksofart.ButintheyearAD79,avolcanoeruptedandcompletelydestroyedthecity.

Pompeiiandallofitsculturewereburiedundermetersofvolcanicashwithinabout