1. One could think that this is an attractive problem.
2. One should understand, however, that the problem is extremely difficult.
3. One often wonders how he could avoid these difficulties.
4. One should remember, however, that they are unavoidable.
5. One must think of another approach to solving the problem.
• one as a substitute for a previously mentioned noun.
Model 2: Have you developed any procedures? We need an effective one.
Вы разработали какие-то процедуры? Нам нужна эффективная (процедура).
1. We can advise you several procedures, but this is the most reliable one.
2. The old methods of investigation are regarded as inadequate ones.
3. The newly developed technique has certain advantages over the old ones.
4. Could you name any problems as fundamental ones?
5. 1 could name the role of the DNA in genetics as the most challenging one.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
gain п. - усиление, коэффициент усиления v. - получать
1. The experience gained enabled the planning of vast expansion.
2. The loop gain is so much reduced that the high-frequency oscillation is unable to start.
3. The amplifiergain can be increased by the feedback method.
READING (14A)
• Read the passage attentively and be prepared to discuss its plot according to the following outline:
1. The phenomenon of superconductivity.
2. The conditions of superconductivity.
3. Possible practical uses of superconductivity.
SUPERCONDUCTORS
The Startling Breakthrough That Could Change Our World
That discovery, most scientists believe, could lead to incredible savings in energy: trains that speed across the countryside at hundreds of miles per hour on a cushion of magnetism, practical electric cars, powerful yet smaller computers and particle accelerators, safer reactors operating on nuclear fusion rather than fission and a host of other rewards still undreamed of.
Superconductivity is aptly named. It involves a remarkable transition that occurs in many metals when they arc cooled to temperatures within several degrees of absolute zero, or, as scientists prefer to designate it, 0 Kelvin. Absolute zero equivalent to —460°F or -273°C, represents a total absence of heat; it is the coldest temperature conceivable. As the metals approach this frigid limit, they suddenly lose all their electrical resistance and become superconductors. This enables them to carry currents without the loss of any energy and in some cases to generate immensely powerful magnetic fields. Scientists have recognized for years that the implications of this phenomenon could be enormous, but one stubborn obstacle has stood in their way: reaching and maintaining the temperatures necessary for superconductivity in these metals is difficult and in most instances prohibitively expensive.
From the time that a Dutch physicist Kamerlingh Onnes discovered superconductivity in 1911 until the recent rush of breakthroughs, there was only one way to produce the phenomenon: by bathing the appropriate metals — and later, certain metallic alloys — in liquid helium.
This exotic substance is produced by lowering the temperature of rare and costly helium gas to 4.2K (—452°F), at which point it liquefies. But the process is expensive and requires considerable energy. Furthermore, unless the liquid helium is tightly sealed in a heavily insulated container it quickly warms and vaporises away. Thus, the practical use of superconductors has been limited to a few devices — an experimental Japanese magnetically levitated train, a few giant particle accelerators and medicine's magneticresonancc imaging machines that operate with intense magnetic fields.
But in the last few years physicists have stumbled on unusual cases of ceramic compounds that change everything. They also must be cooled to become superconductors but only to a temperature of 98 К (—283°F) and that suddenly brings superconductivity into the range ofthe practical: liquid helium can be replaced as a coolant by liquid nitrogen, which makes the transition from a gas at the easily produced temperature of 77 К (—320°F). Moreover, liquid nitrogen is cheaper than milk and so longlasting that scientists carry it around in ordinary thermos bottles. Also, the ceramics may be able to generate even more intense magnetic fields than metallic superconductors.
Thus, if these new substances can be turned into practical devices — and most scientists believe they can — technology will be transformed.
• For each word in column 1 find its synonymous phrase or word in column 11.
Model: (in most) instances — in most cases
I
heavily (insulated) tightly (sealed) immensely (powerful fields) prohibitively (expensive) startling (breakthrough) incredible (savings) remarkable (transitions) (the coldest) conceivable
(temperature) frigid (limit) stubborn (obstacle)
II
that can be imagined
not easy to control or deal with
exclusively, forbiddingly
uncommon; of unusual quality
intensely cold
impossible to be believed
surprising
not leaky
severely immeasurably
• Match each word in column I with its antonymous phrase or word in column II.
I II
exotic cheap
rare very common
expensive easy to control or deal with
safe dangerous
stubborn usual or colourless
• Look through the passage and fill in the blanks with the proper information.
1. The coldest conceivable temperature equals ... and is called ....
2. Absolute zero represents a total absence of... .
3. When some metals are cooled to absolute zero they lose... and become
4. In the past, reaching and maintaining absolute zero temperatures was prohibitively ... because the process required ....