Environmental Pollution

Environmental pollution is a term that refers to all the ways by which man pollutes his surroundings. Man dirties the air with gases and smokes, (1) _______ the water with chemicals and other substances, and damages the soil with (2) _______ many fertilizers and pesticides. Man also pollutes his surroundings in various (3) _______ ways. For example, people ruin the natural beauty by scattering junk and litter on the land and in the water. They operate machines and motor vehicles that fill the air with disturbing noise. Badly polluted air can cause illness, and (4) _______ death. Polluted water kills fish and other marine life. Pollution of the soil reduces the amount (5) _______ land that is available for growing food.

The Rise of E-books

1. Over the past decade, e-books have revolutionized the way people consume written information. It will probably come as no surprise that the total global sales number continues to rise each year. There are several reasons why readers are buying more e-books. For starters, reading a lengthy e-book in front of your computer isn't the most comfortable thing to do. But since tablet sales have exploded, readers can now relax and read their favourite e-books in bed or on the beach. Many e-books are often sold at lower prices than traditional books. Since there is almost zero cost for producing e-books, some authors are offering their novels at lower prices. Another factor is convenience. In the past, keeping a large book collection meant setting aside a lot of extra space in one's home. With e-books, it is now possible for readers to carry a portable library, which contains thousands of books. To really understand the e-book market, it is important to keep up with national trends.

2. Recent data suggests that the e-book markets in the US and the UK have matured. In both of these countries, e-book sales account for roughly 20 percent of overall book sales. Although that percentage continues to increase, it is going up at a slower rate than in the past.

3. The popularity of e-books has exploded in Russia. In one poll, 70 percent of Russians claim to have read at least one e-book. However, publishers are not too pleased with this news because approximately 92 percent of e-books in Russia are acquired illegally.

4. In France, consumers don't appear to be too keen on e-books at this time. Although in 2012, e-book sales comprised about 3 percent of the market, it is predicted that this number will increase at a very slow pace. Some French people believe that reading e-books on small screens is uncomfortable. Others say that the French are a cultural exception, as they like the feeling of holding a dusty old physical book. This demonstrates that no matter how popular e-books get, it's unlikely that traditional books will disappear any time soon.

*acquired illegally: những nguồn bất hợp pháp