Английский язык. Методические указания и контрольная работа №2 по английскому языку для студентов 1 курса заочного отделения всех специальностей

Министерство общего и профессионального образования Российской Федерации Восточно-Сибирский государственный технологический университет

Методические указания и контрольная работа 2 по английскому языку для студентов первого курса заочного отделения всех специальностей / Сост. Бидагаева Ц.Д. / Переработанное и дополненное издание. – Улан-Удэ: Ротапринт ВСГТУ, 2003. Английский язык Методические указания и контрольная работа 2 по английскому языку для студентов 1 курса заочного отделения всех специальностей (переработанное и дополненное издание) Составитель: Бидагаева Ц.Д.

Улан-Удэ 2003

Методические указания и контрольная работа 2 по английскому языку предназначены для студентов первого курса заочного обучения всех специальностей и направлены на то, чтобы помочь студенту-заочнику сформировать умение самостоятельно читать литературу и извлекать информацию из иноязычных источников. Задания включают грамматические упражнения, тексты для чтения и перевода с предтекстовыми и послетекстовыми упражнениями в виде вопросов с множественным выбором ответов в соответствии с содержанием текстов, заимствованном из оригинальных публикаций.

Методические указания направлены на то, чтобы помочь студенту-заочнику сформировать умение самостоятельно читать литературу и извлекать информацию из иноязычных источников. Контрольная работа 2 представляет собой переработанное и дополненное издание и предназначена для студентов первого курса заочного обучения всех специальностей. Задания включают грамматические упражнения, тексты для чтения и перевода с предтекстовыми и послетекстовыми упражнениями в виде вопросов с множественным выбором ответов в соответствии с содержанием текстов, заимствованныхм из оригинальных публикаций. Выполняя контрольную работу 2, студент должен: - уметь узнавать грамматические формы в предложениях и текстах; - уметь самостоятельно раскрывать значения незнакомых слов по их элементам; - уметь выделять ключевую информацию на уровне текста, его частей и предложений; - уметь выделять отдельные факты, основную мысль текста, соотносить отдельные факты между собой; - уметь осуществлять письменный перевод текста в ограниченном объеме и передавать основную мысль текста на русском языке. Для того чтобы правильно выполнить задание 2 по английскому языку, необходимо усвоить следующие разделы курса английского языка: 1. Видовременные формы глагола в пассивном залоге: Simple Passive (Present, Past, Future), Continuous Passive (Present, Past), Perfect Passive (Present, Past, Future). Особенности перевода пассивных конструкций английского языка на русский язык. 2. Модальные глаголы can, may, must и их эквиваленты.

Инструкции к выполнению контрольных заданий 1. Контрольная работа 2 по английскому языку составлена в пяти вариантах. Выбор правильного варианта определяется в соответствии с последней цифрой зачетной книжки студента, которую надо разделить на два. Если последняя цифра вашей зачетной книжки оканчивается 1-2, Вы выполняете вариант 1, 3 – 4 – вариант 2, 5 – 6 – вариант 3, 7 – 8 – вариант 4 и 9 – 0 вариант 5. 2. Выполняйте контрольную работу в отдельной тетради. На обложке пишите свою фамилию, номер контрольной работы и шифр. 3. Не забудьте написать инструкцию к каждому заданию из контрольной работы. 4. Материал контрольных заданий следует располагать в тетради по следующему образцу: Поля Левая страница Английский текст

Правая страница

Поля

Русский текст

5. Если контрольные задания выполнены без соблюдения требований к ним и в неполном объеме, то они возвращаются обратно студенту без проверки. Требования на зачете К зачету допускаются студенты, выполнившие контрольную работу 2 и прошедшие собеседование по ней. Для получения зачета студент должен уметь:

- прочитать со словарем незнакомый текст на английском языке, содержащий изученный грамматический материал. Форма контроля – письменный или устный перевод текста с английского языка на русский. Норма перевода: письменный перевод текста объемом 600-800 п.з. за 60 мин. или устный перевод текста объемом 1000 п.з. за 60 мин.; - прочитать без словаря текст объемом 500-600 п.з, содержащий изученный грамматический материал и 5-8 незнакомых слов в неключевой позиции. Форма проверки понимания – передача содержания прочитанного на русском языке. Время подготовки 8-10 минут.

Вариант 1 I. Перепишите и в каждой группе слов вычеркните одно слово, не соответствующее смысловому ряду. 1. computer 2. control 3. store 4. exploit 5. descendant

television handle accumulate destroy ascendant

calculator robot run operate lose reserve promote utilize heir off-spring

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, выбрaв правильную форму глагола. Переведите предложения на русский язык. 1. The first calculating machine (invented / was invented) in 1812. 2. Coffee (grows /is grown) in Brazil. 3. New generations of computers (have been designed / have designed) lately. 4. New houses (are building / are being built) at present. 5. The construction of the building (will have finished / will have been finished) by the end of the year. III. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на особенности употребления пассивного залога в английском языке. 1. The invention of the first calculating machine has been followed by the complicated descendants of that first simple one. 2. The word «robot» was borrowed from the Slav languages. 3. Karl Capek's play is often referred to in order to explain the meaning of the word «robot». 4. They are paid twice a month.

5. The meeting was attended by thousands of people.

5. Passengers _______ cross the line on a railway station platform. VI. a) Прочтите текст и ответьте на вопрос:

IV. Перефразируйте, употребив пассивную форму сказуемого (исполнителя действия можно не указывать, если в этом нет необходимости) и переведите новые предложения.

What are the reasons of the ever growing use of computers and demand in them in the world today? COMPUTERS CONCERN YOU

Модель: We test each piece of equipment very carefully

Each piece of equipment is tested very carefully. Каждый образец оборудования испытывают очень тщательно.

1. Charles Babbage invented the first calculating machine in 1812. 2. Computers control even everything in modern life. 3. Today we are using computers more and more extensively in the world. 4. The English borrowed just very few Slav words, one of the most popular ones being «robot» among them. 5. In Capek’s play robots destroy the society exploiting them. V. Перепишите следующие предложения и вставьте пропущенные, модальные глаголы: can, cannot, may, must, must not. 1. Computers______ do many things: they_____ store huge amounts of information, do calculations, control machines and compose music. 2. People _______do 500,000 sums in one second. 3. ____ I watch TV now? - Now, you can't. Dad is sleeping. 4. You____ cross the street at traffic lights.

1. When Charles Babbage, a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University, invented the first calculating machine in 1812 he could hardly have imagined the situation we find ourselves in today. 2. Nearly everything we do in the modern world is helped, or even controlled, by computers, the complicated descendants of his simple machine. Computers are being used more and more extensively in the world today, for the simple reason that they are far more efficient than human beings. They have much better memories and can store huge amounts of information, and they can do calculations in a fraction of the time taken by а human mathematician. No man alive can do 500,000 sums in one second, but an advanced computer can. In fact, computers can do many of the things we do, but faster and better. They can pay wages, reserve seats on planes, control machines in factories, work out tomorrow's weather, and even play chess, write poetry, or compose music. 3. Robot геаllу means a workman, not a mechanical monster. It is one of the very few Slav words (in this case Czech) borrowed in the English language. It comes from the old Slav word robu, which means a servant. In modern Slav, the word robotnik means «workman» and is linked to the Russian word for work, robota.

4. Robot came into general use in English only after 1923, following the great succеss of a play by a Czech author Karl Capek (1890-1938). Capek's play was called R.U.R. which stood for Rossum’s Universal Robots. It was about mechanical automatons that did the work of men, and were efficient but soulless. In the play, society exploited them, сame to depend utterly on them, and was destroyed by them when they revolted. Since then, the term robot has come to mean a mechanical man, often in recognizable human form, as well as a non-human-looking machine that does work formerly only handled by men. 5. Since the early days of Capek’s play robot must have found its way into the dictionaries of every modern language but in its own original language there is no sense of a mechanical man, just of an ordinary worker. б) Прочитайте текст еще раз. Проверьте, как вы поняли текст, выбрав правильный ответ, соответствующий его содержанию: 1. The ascendant of modem computers is ... a) a robot b) the first calculating machine c) a mechanical monster 2. «Robot» is one of the few words borrowed from ... a) English b) Czech c) Russian 3. It was not until... that the word «robot» began to be widely used in modern languages. a) 1812 b) 1938 c) 1923

d) 1890 VII. Перeпишите и письменно переведите на русский яэык 2, 4 абзацы.

Вариант 2 I. Перепишите и в каждой группе слов вычеркните одно слово, не соответствующее смысловому ряду: 1. invent 2. instrument 3. exhibit 4. partner 5. pioneer

create machine show rival explorer

compose tool look competitor scientist

use apparatus display enemy discoverer

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, выбрав правильную форму глагола. Переведите предложeния на русский язык. 1. Do you know what this table (make / is made) of? 2. The first telegraph line (built / was built) in America in 1844. 3. This town is changing all the time. Many of the old buildings (are being pulled down / are pulling down). 4. Some American programmes (show / are shown) on television. 5. Oh dear! The vase (has broken / has been broken) into lots of small pieces. III. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на особенности употребления пассивного залога в английском языке. 1. The telegram was followed by a letter. 2. Samuel Morse is often credited with the invention of the telegraph. 3. In 1843 Morse was раid by Congress to build the first telegraph line in the USA. 4. The letter will be answered tomorrow. 5. Children are taught foreign languages at school.

IV. Перефразируйте, употребив пассивную форму сказуемого (исполнителя действия можно не указывать, если в этом нет необходимости), и переведите новые предложения. Модель: We test each piece of equipment very carefully.

Each piece of equipment is tested very carefully - Каждый образец оборудования испытывают очень тщательно.

1. Samuel Morse didn’t actually invent the telegraph. 2. People usually credit Morse with the invention of the telegraph. 3. By 1838 Morse had developed his code. 4. He also introduced the daguerreotype, an early form of photography. 5. Samuel Morse perfected the telegraph after the twelve years of effort. V. Перепишите следующие предложения и вставьте пропущенные модальные глаголы can, cannot, maу, must, must not: 1. Samuel Morse ______ be credited with the invention of the telegraph because there were many pioneers in the same field long before him. 2. Nowadays news and business information ______ be sent instantly to faraway countries of the world. 3. A professional pianist ______ practise for several hours everyday. 4. Visitors ______ feed the animals in the zoo. 5. _______ I take уоur book? – Yes, you _____.

VI. а) Прочтите текст и ответьте на вопрос: Whose works helped Morse to invent the telegraph? MORSE CODE 1. Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872), a portrait painter turned inventor, did not actually invent the telegraph (many other men worked on the idea before him), but he did perfect it after 12 years of effort. He transmitted the famous message «What hath God wrought?» from Washington to Boston in 1844. 2. The first message in Morse code was tapped out in the United States over a telegraph linе from Baltimore to Washington by Samuel Morse in 1844. 3. Morse is often credited with the invention of the telegraph on his return to the United States from a trip to Europe in 1832. During this trip he became acquainted with the works of Michael Faraday on electro-magnetism, which forms the basis of the telegraph. This gave Morse the necessary impetus to go ahead with his work. 4. In 1837 Morse exhibited his first truly successful instrument. By 1838 he had developed the Morse code, an alphabet which consisted of dots and dashes representing letters and numbers. In the same year he attempted unsuccessfully to persuade Congress to build a telegraph line. 5. It was not until 1843 that Congress voted to pay Morse to build the first telegraph line in the United States from Baltimore to Washington. 6. Later, Morse was caught in a mass of legal claims among his telegraph partners and rival inventors. He was probably the most successful propogator of the telegraph, although there were many pioneers m the same field long before him. He also introduced the daguerreotype, an early form of photography, to America.

б) Прочитайте текст еще раз и проверьте, как вы поняли текст, выбрав правильный ответ, соответствующий егo содержанию. 1. S. Morse is famous for …. a) his inventing the telegraph b) his perfecting the telegraph and developing a special code to send messages by telegraph c) painting outstanding peoples’ portraits 2. What prompted S. Morse to turn from a painter into an inventor? a) His desire to make money. b) His artistic talent. c) Faraday's works. 3. Later S. Morse was sued (подвергаться судебному разбирательству) for … . a) his inventions b) his art c) the intellectual property right VII. Перепишите и письменно переведите нa русский язык 1, 2 и 4 абзацы.

4. He was offered a well- paid job. 6. This book is often referred to. Вариант 3 1. Перепишите и в каждой группе слов вычеркните одно слово, не соответствующее смысловому ряду. 1. objects 2. achievement 3. out-of-date 4. invent 5. simple

letters outcome up-to-date compose complex

pictures lines and dots failure success modern fashionable apply create complicated sophisticated

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, выбрав правильную форму глагола: Переведите предложения на русский язык. 1. Writing (was not invented / did not invent) at one? 2. By the beginning of the new era the Greek alphabet (had developed / had been developed). 3. Cars (are manufactured / manufacture) in Italy, USA, Japan. 4. My car is at the garage. It (is repairing / is being repaired). 6. If you train your memory, it (will improve / will be improved). III. Перепишите и переведите следующие предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на особенности употребления пассивного залога в английском языке. 1. The development of modern alphabets was affected by a long history of writing. 2. The history of writing is alluded to in this article (намекать на, касаться). 3. Three foreign languages are taught at the University.

IV. Перефразируйте, употребив пассивную форму сказуемого (исполнителя действия можно не указывать, если в этом нет необходимости) и переведите новые предложения. Модель: We test each piece of equipment very carefully

Each piece of equipment is tested very carefully. - Каждый образец оборудования испытывают очень тщательно.

1. People did not invent writing at once. 2. Ancient people used simple pictures and lines or dots to record objects or numbers. 3. Meanwhile the Egyptians developed another kind of writing - «hieroglyphics». 4. The Egyptian kings and priests used a mixture of pictures and signs. 5. Nowadays people can send news and business information in a written form very quickly to the far-away parts of the world. V. Перепишите следующие предложения и вставьте пропущенные модальные глаголы can, саnnоt, may, must, must not. 1. Most birds _____ fly. 2. You ______ took both ways before crossing the road. 3. Most animals ______ fly.

4. You _______ take any idea you like. 5. We ____ forget to turn off the lights before we go out. VI. а) Прочтите текст и ответьте на вопрос: What positive sides made 'cuneiform’ writing flexible end suitable enough to be used widely and where was it invented? THE MIRACLE OF WRITING 1. Among all the achievements of human beings, the invention of writing is one of the greatest. But perhaps the time will come during our lives when reading and writing become out of date. Writing was not invented at once, but регhaps six different times, in places as far apart as China and America. Each time it started with simple pictures and lines or dots - these were good enough to record objects or numbers. 2. A kind of writing which had this flexibility was invented in Mesopotamia, in about 3000 ВС. This is the same part of the Middle East that gave us the earliest farms and cities. The writing was made of triangular shapes, and we now call it “cuneiform” writing. Like picture writing, it was used in trade, but it was also important for recording ideas about religion and philosophy. Though we do not know what the language these people spoke sounded like, we know a lot about them from their writing. Тheir business letters, for example, are not unlike modern ones, with complaints about late payments and deliveries. 3. Meanwhile the Egyptians had developed another kind of writing – ‘hieroglyphics’. These were a mixture of pictures and signs which were used by the kings and priests. Egyptian hieroglyphic writing is one of the most beautiful and complicated ways of writing that has been invented. But it was too complicated to become as widely used as cuneiform writing. 4. Around 1200 ВС writing began to make the last and most important step in its development: the beginning of the alphabet,

signs which stand for sounds and which can be used to write any of the words we speak. Nobody knows when, where or by whom the first alphabet was invented. But by 1000 ВС Phoenician traders, from the area we now call Lebanon, were spreading their alphabet writing throughout the Mediterranean world. The Greeks, and later the Romans, changed it, and it grew into the alphabet of letters. 5. With the alphabet it was possible to write down anything that was said. This meant that people could use writing for much more than trade and storing information. There were аll sorts of stories, myths and traditions waiting to be written down. The invention of paper and ink helped the alphabet to spread quickly, and many more people learned to read and write, though the vast majority of people were illiterate until long after printing was invented. Long pieces of writing appeared, which became the first books. However, there was one great problem that lasted from Greek and Roman times until the Middle Ages everything was written by hand. So it was slow and expensive to produce copies of books. Mozaika, N 1-2, 1981. 6) Прочитайте текст еще раз и проверьте себя, как вы поняли текст, выбрав правильный ответ, соответствующий его содержанию: 1. a) b) c) c)

Writing had its origin in … different parts of the world China Greece Egypt

2. 0ne of the first forms of writing was made of … a) a mixture of pictures and Signs b) triangular shapes

c) pictures, lines and dots c) letters 3. a) b) c) d)

The first alphabet was developed by means of … hieroglyphics signs to stand for sounds cuneiforms lines and dots

4. а) b) c) d)

How long ago was the first alphabet developed? З.000 уеагs 5,000 years 3,200 years 2,500 years

VII. Перепишите и письменно переведите на русский язык 3 и 5 абзацы.

Вариант 4 I. Перепишите и в каждой группе слов вычеркните одно слово, не соответствующее смысловому ряду, 1. tennis player 2. change 3. chance 4. invent 5. took (at)

tennis ball tennis bat alter modify possibility fortune compose discover look for stare(at)

tennis net apply failure create glance (up, over)

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, выбрав правильную форму глагола. Пeревeдите предложения на русский язык.

IV. Перефразируйте, употребив пассивную форму сказуемого (исполнителя действия можно не указывать, если в этом нет необходимости), и переведите новые предложения. Модель: We test each piece of equipment very carefully

Each piece of equipment is tested very carefully. Каждый образец оборудования испытывают очень тщательно.

1. Тable tennis (invented / was invented) in about 1880 first. 2. 2. The construction of the stadium (will have finished / will have been finished) by 2006. 3. Rice (is grown / grows) in China. 4. The police have been questioning everyone who was at the meeting and several people (have arrested / have been arrested). 5. Football (plays / is played) in most countries of the world.

1. The British invented table tennis first in about 1880. 2. First players named the game differently: Gossima, Whiff Whaff and Ping Pong. 3. Mr Goode's idea had completely changed the style and speed of table tennis. 4. At present people from all over the world play table tennis. 5. Tennis fans developed the Idea of table tennis into other kinds of tennis.

III. Перепишите и переведите предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на особенности употребления пассивного залога в английском языке.

V. Перепишите следующие предложения и вставьте пропущенные модaльные глаголы can, cannot, may, must, must not.

1. Mr Goode's clever idea was followed by changes in the style and speed of table tennis. 2. You must come and play tennis with my brother. You’ll be shown a perfect way of playing. 3. This man can be relied on. 4. He was laughed at. 5. The lecture was attended by a lot of students.

1. Paul ______ drive, but he hasn't got a car. 2.. According to the International Table Tennis Rules the rubber linings of the tennis racket ________ be more than two millimetres thick on each side. 3. Have you seen my bag? I ____ find it. 4. We ____forget to switch off the lights before we leave. 5. You ____ take any book you like

1. Mr Goode’s is famous for … VI. а) Прочтите текcт и ответьте на вопрос: Why did Mr. Goode become so popular in Britain? TABLE TENNIS - A BRITISH INVENTION I. Tennis is a game for two or four players who hit a ball backwards and forwards across a net. The word is рrоbаblу of the French origin (tenez - take! as a server's call). 2. Eighty years ago, Mr E. Goode of Putney, South London went to the chemist's to buy some aspirins. In the shop, he almost forgot about his tablets as he stood looking at the pimpled rubber mat on the counter. It had given him a fantastic new idea. 3. He paid for his aspirins and the rubber mat. Then he rushed home, cut the rubber mat to the right shape and size and stuck it to his plain wooden table tennis bat. The thin layer of rubber helped him put a very fast spin on the ball. When he became the English champion, every one started copying him, putting rubber layers on their bats, and soon Mr Goode’s clever idea had completely changed the style and speed of table tennis. 4. Table tennis was first invented in about 1880. At first the game had several strange names: Gossima, Whiff Whaff and Ping Pong. It wasn’t until 1926 that the International Table Tennis was formed with international championships and rules. One of the rules was that the rubber linings of the bat (Mr Goode's invention) couldn't be more than two millimetres thick on each side. 5. Although the game was invented in England, British players don't have much chance in international champions. б) Прочитайте текст еще раз и проверьте себя, как вы поняли текст, выбрав правильный ответ, соответствующий содержания текста:

a) his becoming the English champion b) his contribution to table tennis c) his invention of table tennis 2. Mr Goode’s idea contributed to … a) the name of the game b) the shape and speed of the tennis racket c) the style and speed of tаble tennis 4. Approximately how long ago was table tennis invented? а) 75 уеars b) more than 120 years c) 100 years d) 90 years VII. Перепишите и письменно переведите на русский язык 1, 3 и 5 абзацы.

Вариант 5 I. Перепишите и в каждой группе слов вычеркните одно слово, не соответствующее смысловому ряду. 1. communication 2. wire 3. money 4. raise 5. acquire

message cable capital lift get

letter information conductor method finance device rise fall obtain question

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, выбрав правильную форму глагола. Переведите предложения на русский язык. 1. After that invention many telegraph companies (established / were established) in America, Europe arid Asia. 2. Telegrammes (are sent / send) instantly to far-away corners of the world. 3. Don't go inside that house. It (is repairing / is being repaired) now. 4. My health (has been improved / has improved) by sticking to a diet. 5. How many languages (speak / are spoken) in Canada? III. Переведите предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на особенности употребления пассивного залога в английском языке. 1. Faraday's works on electro-magnetism were followed by many pioneers in the field of electricity. 2. That event was commented upon in many newspapers. 3. Morse was given the idea to perfect the telegraph and its code during his trip to Europe. 4. These books are needed by all our students.

5. This subject will be dealt with in the next chapter. IV. Перефразируйте, употребив пассивную форму сказуемого (исполнителя действия можно не указывать, если в этом нет необходимости), и переведите новые предложения. Модель: We test each piece of equipment very carefully

Each piece of equipment is tested very carefully. - Каждый образец оборудования испытывают очень тщательно.

1. Benjamin Franklin published his first idea about electricity in 1752. 2. He connected a pencil to an electric wire. 3. By 1861 Americans had set up a lot of telegraph companies. 4. Each time companies had to raise more and more money to lay a cable at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. 5. Nowadays people can send news and business information instantly to almost every part of the world. V. Перепишите следующие предложения и вставьте пропущенные медальные глаголы can, cannot, may, must not. 1. Scientists in many countries tried to solve the problem: _____ electricity be used to develop а long-distance communication? 2. Secretary wanted ____ speak good English. 3. Telegraph wires ____ be hung over the ocean. 4. You____ drive so fast, there is a speed limit here. 5. ____ I go out today? - No, you can't.

VI. а) Прочтите текст и ответьте на вопрос: Why did Benjamin Franklin's invention play a great role in соmmunication? TELEGRAPH 1. Benjamin Franklin was an American, famous for his interesting and useful inventions. He published his ideas about electricity in 1752. Scientists in many countries became interested in this wonderful form of energy. They wanted to find the answer to a very important question: «Could electricity be used to develop a fast efficient system of long-distance communication?» 2. Another American, Samuel Morse, who was a portrait painter, made experiments with an electric telegraph . At first, he connected a pencil to an electric wire. When the electricity came through the wire, the pencil made wavy lines. Morse invented a code that used dots and dashed for the letters of the alphabet. Finally he discovered that telegraph messages could be sent in sound. 3. On the 24th of May, 1844, the first long-distance message was sent by telegraph from Washington, D. C., to Baltimore, Maryland 64 kilometres. 4. Telegraph companies were formed in many cities. By 1861 telegraph wires stretched across the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In Europe, too, Samuel Morse's system became popular. 5. But telegraph wires couldn't bе hung over the ocean. The Atlantic Telegraph Company, which was organized in 1856, decided to try to lay a cable on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. England and the United States contributed money for this experiment. 6. Many attempts were made by ships from both countries. The 4,000-kilometer cable broke three times. Each time, more money had to be raised. Finally, on the 7th of July, 1866, the first

transatlantic message was sent from Newfoundland to Ireland. Later, cables were laid to Asia and Australia. At last, news and business information could be sent instantly to almost every country in the world. б) Прочитайте текст еще раз и проверьте себя, как вы поняли текст, выбрав правильный ответ, соответствующий его содержанию: 1. Benjamin Franklin became famous for … . a) painting portraits . b) his contribution in the field of electricity c) laying a cable at the bottom of the ocean 2. Samuel Morse is famous for … . a) his inventing the telegraph b) his perfecting the telegraph and developing a special code to send messages by telegraph c) painting different peoples’ portraits 3. The first long-distance message was sent by telegraph … . a) from Newfoundland to Ireland b) from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore c) from America to Asia 4. It was difficult to send the first transatlantic messages because … . a) cables were not good enough b) cables had to be laid on the bottom of the ocean c) England and USA had no enough money

VII. Перепишите и письменно переведите на русский язык 2, 3, 4 и 5 абзацы.

Additional Texts for Reading Text I Pre-reading task 1. What do you know about Michelangelo? 2. Make sure you know the meanings of the following words and word-combinations: a creator; contemporaries; to carve; marble; a dome; an architect; to appreciate; design; the experience of humanity. 3. Cross the word which is odd in the category and make reasons for that: a) a sculptor b) war c) marble d) back e) show

an architect art paint neck display

an artist architecture cement shoulder represent

a poet culture sculpture face ceiling design

4. Read the text and get ready to answer the question:

Why did Michelangelo have a tremendous influence on his contemporaries? Michelangelo (1475-1564) was one of the most inspired creators in the history of art. As a sculptor, an architect, a painter, and a poet, he had a tremendous influence on all his contemporaries. He was born near Arezzo, but it was Florence that he considered to be his home town. What he loved above all was the city’s art, architecture and culture. Initially, he concentrated on sculpture. In 1501 he began to carve a figure of David from a huge block of marble. This was finished in 1504, when he was 29. David is shown with a sling on his shoulder, looking into the distance. Later, Michelangelo was asked by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Every day for four years, from 1508 till 1512, he worked on this task, lying on his back at the top of high scaffolding, his neck stiff, with paint trickling onto his face. He designed many buildings, but it was his work at St Peter’s Basilica that represented his greatest achievement as an architect. His dome became the model for domes all over the Western world. What is difficult to appreciate nowadays is its revolutionary design. There’s a small group of artists such as Shakespeare and Beethoven, who, through their work, have been able to express the deepest experiences of humanity. Michelangelo belongs to this group. Comprehension check 1. Where and when was Michelangelo born? 2. How long did he work on painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

3. What did he contribute as a sculptor, an artist and an architect? 4. Why is Michelangelo compared with Shakespeare and Beethoven?

Are there any living beings in Antarctica? Could it be that being completely crazy is not only good fun but good for your health? 4. Now read the article.

Discussion points King of the Eccentrics 1. There is a famous Latin quotation “Omnis ars naturae imitatio est” – Всякое искусство подражание природе есть. Make reasons that Michelangelo’s creative activity represents the best models of art.

Text II Pre-reading task 1. Look at these titles of the following two articles. Find some strange facts about… … Professor Mangle-Wurzle …Antarctica 2. Find other words for: mad, strange. 3. Decide which article you want to read in detail. What questions do you want to be answered when you read the article? Where does Professor Mangle-Wurzle live? How many people live in Antarctica? Why is eccentricity considered to be a recipe for happiness?

David Weeks, an American psychologist who works at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, is extremely well qualified to comment on eccentricity. He is the author of a five-year study of the Great British Eccentric. One of his most striking findings was the good health that eccentrics enjoy. Almost all of them visit the doctor only once every eight or nine years. They are also a happy lot. They are very curious about everything. This gives them a goal in life, which is a recipe for happiness. Of all the eccentrics he has come across, Dr Weeks believes that professor Jake Jonathon Zebedee Mangle-Wurzle is the most remarkable. ‘He displays all the usual characteristics – he’s obstinate, non-conformist, and creative – but he’s more extreme than my other cases.’ The professor lives on the outskirts of Huddersfield in his very own kingdom of Wurzle-land. He rarely ventures out of his kingdom except to perform eccentric feats, such as his famous drive from Leeds to Huddersfield, in reverse. He is something of a celebrity, giving free guided tours to people from all over the world. He rejects all religious belief and he preaches daily, trying to convert his kingdom to atheism. The only problem with this plan is that all his followers are sheep. The professor has just divorced his third wife and claims he is delighted. ‘It’s the best Christmas gift I’ve ever had.’ This development might have been predicted by Dr Weeks’ research. His study shows that there are more marriages, separations, and

divorces among eccentrics than in the general population. ‘They admit that they are people who are difficult to work with and live with. They often feel that they are ahead of their time, and that it is the rest of the world that is completely insane, not themselves.’ Antarctica Antarctica is the fifth largest of the earth’s seven continents. During the winter it doubles in size because of the large amount of sea ice that forms at its edges. The names Arctic and Antarctica come from arktos – Greek for ‘bear’. This refers to the constellation ‘The Great Bear’, which can always be seen in the north. Antarctica is more than 95% covered in ice, and it contains about 90% of the world’s fresh water. Because of its thick ice cover, it is the highest of all continents. The snow and ice of Antarctica are the purest in the world. The general isolation from the remainder of the world has allowed it to avoid the industrial pollution that is common to the other continents. Antarctica is the coldest continent. The lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere on earth, -88.3°C, was in 1960, at the Soviet Union’s Vostok Station. Antarctica can be classified as a true desert, as the equivalent of just 7cm of water falls annually. It hasn’t rained at the South Pole since the end of the Pleistocene era, 1,000,000 years ago. The interior has almost continuous daylight during the summer and continuous darkness during the winter. It has only two species of flowering plants, and virtually no flying insects. The surrounding ocean, however, abounds in living creatures. Large numbers of whales feed on the rich marine life. Seals and birds live and breed, but the most prominent inhabitant of the Antarctic is the penguin, of which there are over twelve million.

Today, around a thousand people call Antarctica home for several years at a time. Braving winds that freeze the flesh, the constant threat of snowblindness, and the intense, unremitting cold, they are there for the extraordinary scientific treasures that await discovery. The ice retains ancient atmospheric samples and meteorites; the skies offer a direct line to space. This is the one place still untouched by man, that is a barometer for the potentially ruinous impact our species is having on the planet. Comprehension Check 1. Did you find the answers to your questions? 2. Here is a list of questions that relate to the two articles. Put a tick (٧) next to the questions that go with your article, then answer them. a. What is the origin of its name? b. How is he typical of his kind? c. Why is there so little pollution? d. How does he spend his days? e. How does he feel after his third divorce? f. Is there much plant and animal life? g. What living creatures are there in the seas around? h. Why are they happy people? i. Why is the area special from a scientific point of view? j. Why is that continent highest of all the rest ones? k. What do these people think of the rest of the world? 3. Find people who read the other story. Tell them about what you read. Together, answer all the questions. Discussion points 1. Which article do you find most interesting? 2. Which facts do you find most remarkable?

Text III Pre-reading task 1. Look at the tittle of the following article. What do we mean when we say “the average American”? 2. Make sure you know the following words and phrases: ethnic identity; average American; ancestry; a recent immigrant; “melting pot”; “salad bowl”; the census data. 3. Read the text. The “Average American” The variety of ethnic identities, immigration experiences and cultural choices that have gone into making Americans is so complex, however, that describing the “average American” is very difficult. Our “average American” might be white, but Americans are not “normally” white. Most Americans are Christians, but America cannot be called “a Christian country.” And a majority of Americans might claim European ancestry, but this description also does not define Americans in general. Neither, in fact, does language. The United States is one of the few countries that has no “official” national language, or languages. English is a common language by use, but it is not the national language by law. About 30 million Americans speak a language other than English at home. This means, for example, that if you meet an American in New Mexico who speaks Spanish as his first language, he could be a recent immigrant, having arrived in the U.S. only a few years ago, or his grandparents could have arrived in the United States a hundred years ago. It could also be that his ancestors had been living in the area years before the thirteen British colonies were

established on the East Coast. A so-called foreign accent does not necessarily mean that a n individual is (or even was) a foreigner. Of all the many different nationalities and ethnic groups which have gone into the making of America, some have quickly assimilated. They have largely lost or intentionally given up many of those specific markers, which would make them much different from their neighbours. This process of assimilation, or “Americanization.” – becoming part of the “melting pot” – has characterized the immigrant experience in American history. Other Americans have, while becoming American in other ways, maintained much of their ethnic identities. In this sense, U.S. society has been likened to a “salad bowl.” It does not follow, however, that these Americans are any less aware or proud of their American nationality. Japanese-Americans provide a well-known example. Although their loyalty in World War II was doubted by many of their fellow countrymen, as a group they became the most highly decorated American soldiers fighting in Europe. Perhaps a better metaphor for American society than either the “melting pot” or the “salad bowl” would be that of a “pizza” (which has become, by the way, the single most popular food in America). The different ingredients are often apparent and give the whole its particular taste and flavour, yet all are fused together into something larger. Still another factor to consider in describing “the American” is that the face of America is constantly, and often very rapidly, changing. According to the census data, by the year 2000, for instance, Hispanics (a term including all Spanish-speaking Americans, such as Mexican-Americans or “Chicanos,” Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc.) had become the largest “minority” in the United States. In a number of cities Hispanics represent now the majority of citizens. Crèvecoeur’s old and often repeated question – “What then is the American, this new man?” – cannot be answered simply

or conclusively. At best, we can say that an American is someone who meets the legal requirements of citizenship and who considers himself or herself to be an American. And, any person born on American soil automatically has the right to American citizenship. Significantly, the older categories of nationality brought from the Old World – race, language, religion, and parents’ ancestry – have become relatively unimportant in America. They can be used to describe an American, but not to define one. By Douglas K. Stevenson, “American Life and Institutions” // “This is America Today”, p.9597. Background Notes Crèvecoueur, Michel Guillaume Jean de:

(1735-1813), French writer, known for his works in both French and English describing life in the American colonies around the time of the American Revolution (17751783). The best known of his works are “Letters from an American Farmer” (1782), which he wrote under the pseudonym of J. Hector St. John.

fellow countrymen:

people belonging to the same country.

“melting pot”:

a country, locality, or situation in which a blending of races, peoples, or cultures takes place.

“salad bowl”:

a mixture of different ethnic groups in a country when the ethnic groups retain their ethnic identities.

Comprehension check 1. Why is describing the “average American” very difficult? 2. What is the “official” national language in the United States? 3. What process is characteristic for the so-called “melting pot”? 4. In which sense is the metaphor “salad bowl” used? 5. What does the metaphor of a “pizza” refer to? 6. Which national “minority” had become the largest one by the year 2000? Discussion points 1. What is the difference in the terms the “melting pot”, “salad bowl” and “pizza”, all used to describe the U.S. society? 2. How can one answer the old and often repeated question – “What then is the American, this new man?’ Text IV Pre-reading task 1. What do you know about unusual sports and new sports activities? 2. Find other words for: strange, unusual. 3. Make sure that you know the following words and phrases:

pick-up trucks; gigantic tires; “people-powered” aircraft; motors; automobile engines; a hot-air balloon; a crew; skateboarding; lawnmower engine; “ultra-light-weight” planes; exhausting; enjoyment; recreation; the Handicapped Olympics. 4.

Read the text. Unusual Sports

There are several sports and sport activities in the U.S., all having their strong supporters, which many people think are a bit strange or at least unusual. For example, Americans will race just about anything that has wheels. Not just cars, but also “funny cars” with aircraft and jet engines, large trucks with special motors, tractors, pick-up trucks with gigantic tires, and even motorcycles with automobile engines. By contrast, several sports are popular because they do not involve motors. The first “people-powered” aircraft to cross the English Channel was pedaled by an American. And the first hot-air balloon to make it across the Atlantic had a crew from Albuquerque, New Mexico. There are also several sports in the U.S. which were once thought of as being “different”, but have now gained international popularity. Among these, for instance, is skate-boarding. Another example is wind-surfing which very quickly spread in popularity from the beaches of California and Hawaii. Hang-gliding became really popular after those same people in California started jumping off cliffs above the ocean. Those who like more than wind and luck attached a small lawnmower engine to a hangglider and soon “ultra-light-weight” planes were buzzing around. The most recent unusual sport that first reached popularity in the U.S. before spreading elsewhere is the triathlon. This most demanding sport came from a late-night discussion in a Honolulu bar in 1977 about which sport was the most exhausting: swimming, bicycle racing, or long-distance running. Someone suggested that they all be put together. The result was the first

triathlon, the “Ironman,” in 1978, with 15 participants. This contest was a 3.9-kilometer ocean swim, followed immediately by a 180-kilometer bicycle race, and ending with a 42 kilometer run. Five years later there were already 1,000 such competitions throughout the U.S., and the triathlon is becoming more and more popular in Europe, too. Some Americans watching triathlons conclude that keeping fit can’t be that much fun. It is clear, however, that since the publication of Cooper’s book Aerobics (1968), sports in America turned from an assortment of team activities to what one observer called “a prescription for everyone’s health.” The emphasis, on physical fitness has involved increasing numbers of Americans in activities that provide the necessary physical conditioning and at the same time offer enjoyment and recreation. Swimming, jogging, cycling, and calisthenics can be done in company with family members and friends, have no real age limits, and are performed more for health and fun than for competition. Everyone can participate in these activities. The widespread public support for the Handicapped Olympics in the U.S., for example, indicates that “everyone” does, indeed, mean everyone. By Douglas K. Stevenson, “American Life and Institutions” // “This is America Today”, p. 279281. Background Notes aerobics:

(used with a plural verb) any of various sustained exercises, as jogging, calisthenics, and vigorous dancing, designed especially to stimulate and strengthen the heart. The idea of aerobic exercises (aerobics for short) was

introduced and popularized by the American doctor Kenneth H. Cooper in the sixties when he published his first book about aerobics. calisthenics:

hang gliding:

jogging:

1. (used with a plural verb) gymnastic exercises designed to develop physical health and vigor; 2. (used with a singular verb) the art, practice, or a session of such exercises. the sport of launching oneself from a cliff or a steep incline and soaring through the air by means of a hang glider (a kitelike glider consisting of a V-shaped wing underneath which the pilot is strapped). an aerobic exercise consisting in running at a slow, steady pace.

physical conditioning:

adapting one’s organism to higher physical loads, harsher conditions, etc. through a system of physical exercises and exposure to cold air and water.

skate board:

a narrow board with a set of small wheels at each end, which you can stand on and ride for sport or pleasure.

wind-surfing:

a form of sailing in which a person stands on a surfboard mounted with a flexible sail and guides the craft by maneuvering the craft.

Comprehension check Choose the best variant to complete the statements: 1. The text says that the funny cars “with aircraft and jet engines, large trucks with special motors, tractors, pick-up trucks with gigantic tires are used by some American enthusiasts as … . a) motor vehicles; b) sports vehicles for racing; c) transportation means. 2. Wind-surfing was first created as a form of sailing on a surfboard from … . a) the Handicapped Olympics in the U.S. b) New Mexico; c) the beaches of California and Hawaii. 3. Which engine is used in hang-gliding?

skate-boarding:

the activity of riding on a skate-board.

a) a small lawnmower engine; b) a perpetual engine; c) an automobile engine.

physical fitness:

the state of being physically fit, that is, physically healthy and strong.

4. The triathlon as the most demanding sport consists of the three sport activities:

• • • •

a) skiing, skating and shooting; b) ocean swimming, bicycle racing and long-distance (42 kilometer) running; c) swimming, short-distance running and yachting.

Is there life on another planet? How did the world begin, and how will it end? What do animals think about? Will we ever find a cure for all the diseases?

Discussion points

3. What do these numbers refer to in the texts?

1. What methods are used by Americans to stage races? 2. What sport activities were at first regarded as unusual, but then gained the world popularity? 3. What is the origin of the most demanding sport? 4. Name some unusual sport activities introduced by Americans? 5. What is the effect of Cooper’s book Aerobics on the attitudes of Americans to physical fitness? 6. How does one understand “a prescription for everyone’s health?”

50; zero; 1.4 billion; billion; 1929; a few billion; 9 to billion; 10 per cent; a third; billions of years from now; decades.

Text V Pre-reading task 1. Although the scientific and technological development has revealed and answered many mysteries of the universe, people still come across lots of mysterious phenomena. Make up your own list of ten mysteries of the universe. 2. Do you ever ask yourself any of these questions? • • • • •

Why are we here? Why are people different? When I lose things, where do they go? Is the person sitting to me a time traveler? Why did the dinosaurs disappear?

12

4. Here is a list of the top ten mysteries of the universe. What is the answer to these puzzles that have plagued human beings for thousand of years? The answer is “Nobody knows”. Look at the questions which are used as the tittles of the parts of the text. Are there any coincidences with your own list? Reading task 1. Now read the texts and answer the questions: A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K.

Why is it most likely that there is life on another planet? Will alien life forms look like us? What do comets consists of? Why is it hard to find a cure for colds? What three things came into existence with the Big Bang? What happened before it? Why could genetics explain left-handedness? What is the reason against this explanation? What do our body and brain do while we’re asleep? When do we yawn? What happens when we yawn? According to the laws of physics, is it possible to travel in time?

L. What are scientists worried about? M. What are the two possibilities for the future of the universe? N. What explanations are given for the disappearance of socks? 2. Here are the last sentences from some of the texts. Which text do they belong to?

While the world’s seas and oceans have been home to life for over three billion years, the origin of the 1.4 billion billion tonnes of water that they collectively contain remains a mystery. It seems to have condensed out of the early earth’s atmosphere, but how it got there in the first place isn’t known. One possible theory is that it was dropped on our planet by comets. These gigantic chunks of frozen vapour and dust are rich in water. According to some scientists, satellite pictures have shown that tiny comets continue to hit the earth, topping up our oceans all the time.

A. Meanwhile, the only thing to do is to rest in bed for a few days. B. But people sharing the same experience, such as students in a boring lecture, may start to imitate each other without realizing it. C. And if this is the case, then they’ve always been with us! D. However, the wisdom of this training is questionable. E. This suggests that we need dreams as a sort of escape from reality. F. It’s a long shot, but imagine the implications if they find what they’re looking for! G. If there was a beginning, does that mean there will be an end?

Perhaps, but not yet. The big challenge facing scientists trying to rid mankind of this misery is finding a drug that can combat the huge and ever-changing variety of cold viruses. Researchers are looking for features that all such viruses share. Whichever drug company comes up with something is guaranteed to make a fortune.

1. Are we alone in the universe?

4. How old is the universe?

Probably not. Just the size of the universe makes it unlikely. Alien life forms might not be too far away, either. This year American astronomers discovered a planet capable of sustaining life just 50 light-years away. But alien life almost certainly won’t be like us. Biochemists have calculated that the chances of the chemical combinations necessary to produce life are minute. The possibility that alien life forms will resemble us is zero. NASA is planning a huge deepspace telescope to search for signs of alien life.

The date of the Big Bang has caused astronomers trouble since they discovered that the universe was expanding in 1929. At the time, measurements of the rate of expansion suggested an age of a few billion years. Latest figures, using the Hubble Space Telescope, suggest nine to twelve billion years. But what happened before the Big Bang? No one knows. According to current theories of the birth of the universe, not only matter but also space and time came into being with the Big Bang. If correct, these theories imply that there was no “before” the Big Bang.

3. Where do the oceans come from?

3. Will there ever be a cure for the common cold?

5. Why are some people left-handed? About 10 per cent of the population is left-handed, and it seems to run in families. The cause, therefore, seems obvious: genetics. However, identical twins, who have identical genetic blueprints, aren’t necessarily both left-handed or right-handed. This would appear to disprove the theory that being left-handed is inherited. Even at birth most babies tend to move one arm, usually the right, more than the other. Some scientists believe that the use of left hand or right hand is a result of the baby’s environment. Most children can be trained to use and to prefer the right hand for any activity.

breath than usual. Yawning momentarily raises the heart rate, forcing more blood to the brain. One theory is that yawning makes you more alert by making you breathe in more. Yawning isn’t infectious in the clinical sense of the word. 8. Does nature allow time travel? Amazingly, there is nothing in the known laws of physics to prevent us from zooming off into the past or future. Exactly how one would build a time-machine is anyone’s guess, but many scientists have a bigger worry – paradoxes such as killing your mother before she gave birth to you. Maybe Nature has a clever way of getting round these. Or maybe there is an as yet undiscovered barrier to time travel. But just think! If at any time in the future time travel becomes possible, then time travellers are with us now!

6. Why do we sleep? On average we spend a third of our lives sleeping, but no one really knows why. The most popular theory is that sleeping gives the body and brain a chance to recover from the stresses of the day. But beyond this vague statement, we don’t know what this recuperation consists of. Warm-blooded species, including humans, birds, and mammals, seem to need more sleep than coldblooded creatures such as fish and reptiles, so there is a possibility that we sleep in order to save energy. Sleep deprivation produces hallucinations. 7. Why is yawning infectious? This is a tough one. No one even knows what purpose yawning serves at all. But we do know that fatigue, boredom, and anxiety can trigger off a yawn. Like crying and laughing, yawning is a variant of normal breathing. Yawning is a reflex action, not under conscious control. The mouth opened wide and you take a longer, deeper

9. How will the universe end? This depends on how much matter exists in the cosmos. If it exceeds the so-called critical density, gravity will bring the current cosmic expansion to a half and trigger a contraction or implosion billions of years from now. Alternatively, the universe may expand for ever. After decades of research, astronomers still don’t know precisely how much matter exists in the universe and so cannot predict accurately how the universe will end. The consensus, however, is that the cosmos will expand for ever. 10. Where do all the odd socks go to? Open any sock drawer and you’ll find odd socks. Theories about what happens to them range from disappearing down black holes in the universe to being eaten by washing machines.

Another explanation is that in every house there lurks a place where all the missing things live… Discussion points. Work in pairs. 1. Have you found answers to the previous questions? Which questions? 2. Have you found answers to the questions from your own list of mysteries? 3. Which mysteries do you find the most interesting? What mysteries would you like answered? Role play Student A: You are an expert on the mysteries of the universe. Prepare qualified information on the mysteries of the universe. Answer the titled questions from the text. Prepare to give a pressconference on the mysteries of the iniverse. Student B.: You are an inquisitive person interested in the mysteries of the universe. Prepare your questions to be asked at the press-conference on the mysteries of the universe.

Источники текстов 1. Mozaika, N 1-2, 1981. 2. This is America today: Учебное пособие / Сост. С.К. Гураль, В.М. Смокотин; под ред. С.К. Гураль. – Томск: Изд-во Том. ун-та, 2002. – 394 с.