The Progress of Science

Vocabulary

science, n	наука
scientist, n	ученый
scientific, a	научный
to develop the modern tools of war	создать современное оружие
to improve life	улучшить жизнь
to supply the world with energy	обеспечить мир энергией
to share the resources	сообща пользоваться ресурсами
a solution to the problem	решение проблемы
knowledge provided by science	знания, предоставляемые наукой
the Universe	Вселенная
for the benefit of men	на благо человека
to be affected by modern technology	быть связанным с современной техникой
advances in technology	технические достижения
to be essential for	иметь огромное значение для
to predict earthquakes	предсказывать землетрясения
the origin and developments	происхождение и развитие
a basic knowledge of science	элементарное знание науки
to find one’s way in	ориентироваться в

Science

Science is important to world peace in many ways. On one hand, scientists have helped to develop many of the modern tools of war. On the other hand, they have also helped to keep the peace through research which has improved life for people. Scientists have helped us understand the problem of supplying the world with enough energy; they have begun to develop a number of solutions to the energy problem - for example, using energy from the sun and from the atom. Scientists have also analysed the world’s resources. We can begin to learn to share the resources with the knowledge provided to us by science. Science studies the Universe and how to use its possibilities for the benefit of men.

Science is also important to everyone who is affected by modern technology. Many of the things that make our lives easier and better are the results of advances in technology and, if the present patterns continue, technology will affect us even more in the future than it does now. In some cases, such as technology for taking salt out of ocean water, technology may be essential for our lives on Earth.

The study of science also provides people with an understanding of natural world. Scientists are learning to predict earthquakes, are continuing to study many other natural events such as storms. Scientists are also studying various aspects of human biology and the origin and developments of the human race. The study of the natural world may help improve life for many people all over the world.

A basic knowledge of science is essential for everyone. It helps people find their way in the changing world.

I. Read the text ‘Science' and find the derivatives from the following worlds. Define what parts of speech they are. Translate them into Russian:

science possible vary

develop understand supply

know nature importance

II. Find in the text ‘Science' the opposites for the following:

war, on one hand, difficult, worse, the past, death, artificial, ancient.

III. Use the English equivalents for the words and phrases in brackets.

1. Science helped develop /современное оружие/. 2. Science develops more and more /решений/ to the energy problem. 3. Scientists predict /землетрясения/. 4. Knowledge is /необходимы/ for people. 5. Scientists are trying to /сохранить мир/ through research. 6. The problem of /обеспечения мира/ with enough energy is essential. 7. /Мировые ресурсы/ are not limitless. 8. Science studies /Вселенную/ and how to use its /возможности/. 9. Technology will affect people even more /в будущем/.

IV. Complete the following sentences. Use the vocabulary of the text.

1. Scientists have learned to use the energy of __________. 2. Science helped improve __________. 3. Knowledge is essential for people to find __________. 4. The study of science provides people with __________. 5. Scientists study many natural phenomena such as __________. 6. The origin and developments of the human race is a very __________. 7. A basic knowledge of science __________.

V. a) Translate into Russian. Pay attention to the italicized words.

1. I don’t know the meaning of this new verb. 2. How many meanings of the word “power” do you know? 3. What does the process of splitting the atom mean? 4. By means of radio and television we can watch sputnics and spaceships. 5. A computer is an effective means of solving mathematical problems.

b) Translate into English:

важное средство; посредством (при помощи) науки; новое значение слова; это означает, что...; технические средства.

VI. Find in the text ‘Science' the English equivalents for the following Russian phrases:

* создать современное оружие;

* сохранять мир;

* улучшить жизнь;

* проблема обеспечения мира энергией;

* разработать ряд решений энергетической проблемы;

* анализировать мировые ресурсы;

* сообща пользоваться ресурсами;

* знания, предоставляемые кому-либо наукой;

* Вселенная;

* использовать возможности на благо человека;

* быть связанным с современной техникой;

* результат технических достижений;

* иметь огромное значение для чьей-либо жизни;

* давать людям понимание чего-либо;

* предсказывать землетрясения;

* изучать различные аспекты биологии человека;

* происхождение и развитие человеческого рода;

* элементарное знание науки;

* ориентироваться в меняющемся мире.

VII. Answer the questions.

1. Why is science so important in the modern world? 2. How does science help keep peace in the world? 3. How does science help solve the energy problem? 4. What proves that the study of science is important for understanding of the natural world?

VIII. Translate into English.

1. Наука помогла разработать современное оружие. 2. Наука находит все новые решения энергетической проблемы. 3. Наука помогла людям научиться использовать энергию солнца и атома. 4. Наука помогла научиться совместному использованию ресурсов. 5. Ученые предсказывают землетрясения. 6. Наука помогла улучшить жизнь людей. 7. Знания необходимы людям, чтобы ориентироваться в изменяющемся мире.

IX. Rearrange the key phrases given below and use them to retell the text:

for the benefit of men; important; to understand natural world; to develop; advances in technology; essential for people’s lives; the modern tools of war; to find new energy sources; to keep the peace; to supply the world with energy; to improve life.

X. Speak about the significance of science.

XI. Agree or disagree. Give your reasons.

1. Science very little affects everyday life. 2. We can hardly speak of any achievements in medicine. 3. Science is motivated by curiosity of a researcher. 4. We know exactly that there is biological life in our Universe besides the Earth. 5. The greatest achievements of science have improved people’s lives.

XII. Try to find examples of how technological progress has changed our lives.

XIII. Make a list of the Seven Wonders of the 20th century. Write them in the order of their importance.

XIV. Fill in the Public Opinion Poll and have a group discussion on the topic:

What do you think of science? Do science and technology do more good than harm, more harm than good, or about equal?

XV. What inventions, electronic and other devices would you call the most sophisticated ones that were invented in the 20th century? Use the following:

radio set, TVset, computer, robots, space rockets, lasers.

XVI. Name the spheres of our everyday life and human activities where the progress of science and technology is most keenly felt.

XVII. Science can be neither good nor evil. Are you of the same opinion? Give your reasons.

D I A L O G U E S

a) Read dialogue I in pairs.

I.

William: Are there any clubs and societies at your University?

Michael: Quite a lot. As for me I’ve joined the student research society. We are having our institute conference in a month and I’m going to contribute a paper to it.

William: What problems are you interested in?

Michael: I’m working on the defects of metal units.

William: Do you use computers?

Michael: Certainly. It is impossible to do without them today.

William: Does your research work take much of your time?

Michael: Yes, it does.

William: Do you work alone?

Michael: Of course not. We are six in the group. We have a very good and patient adviser who helps us a lot.

b) Complete dialogues II, III, IV.

II.

A............

B. We are busy with designing some engine parts.

A............

B. Certainly.

III.

A. Do you work alone?

B............

A. Does it take much time, I mean, your work in the research society?

B............

IV.

A. Are there many clubs and societies at your University?

B............

A. What problems are you interested in?

B............

c) Make up a dialogue between a reporter of the journal ‘Science' who is going to interview a young Russian engineer and inventor. Here are some prompts. Questions the reporter can ask:

Were you surprised when you won the prize? What field of science do you work in? What can you say about your invention? Did you work alone? What are your plans for the future? Think of some other questions.

The young Russian scientist was awarded the prize of the Russia’s Academy of Sciences. He is eager to answer the reporter’s questions. He works in the field of chemistry. He invented quite a new construction material. It has very useful properties.

J U S T F O R F U N

I. Read and translate the following quotations. Comment on them.

Knowledge is a city, to the building of which every human being brought a stone.

* Invention breeds invention. (R. Emerson)

* Imagination is more important than knowledge. (A. Einstein)

II. Solve a crossword puzzle.

1. The process of emission of X-rays. 2. The scientists will give... to this strange phenomenon. 3. Right, suitable, correct.

4. between,?

5. A radioactive, metallic element. 6. A fact that illustrates a general rule, a law, etc. 7. To divide into separate parts. 8. Quality, power or effect that belongs naturally to some object, substance, etc. 9. The Cheljabinsk plant produced the most... tractors in the USSR. 10. To put one thing to another. 11. Yury Gagarin was the first man to fly into.... 12. A container is a box designed to... something. 13. Mrs Curie discovered that some chemical substances emitted.... 14. Something easy to understand or to do. 15. To go from one place to another. 16. Mathematics, biology, physics are.... 17. To get something.

Unit 8

Grammar:

1. Passive Voice

2. Word-building. The suffixes of verbs.

Texts:

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