2. The applications of electricity in the home and industry
3. Electricity was used for the first time
4. The generator, a new source of electricity
5. Since the beginning of the 20-th century
6. Today consumption of electricity
1. have already become universal.
2. has completely transformed our everyday life.
3. per capita is an indicator of the state of development of a nation.
4. the wide industrial use of electricity has begun throughout the world.
5. was also developed in Paris.
6. for industrial purposes in the silver workshops in Paris.
Exercise 3. Read and learn.
A Story about Edison
Edison: Oh, Ben, I’m glad to see you. How are you?
Wilson: Fine, and how are you?
Ed.: So-so. A lot of work to do. Just today I’ve begun some im
portant work. Oh, excuse me, meet my assistant John Smith. John, this is my old friend from my home town, Ben Wilson. Smith: How do you do, Mr.Wilson?
W: How do you do, Mr.Smith? Glad to meet you.
Ed.: Will you come to my laboratory and have dinner with John
and me tonight?
W.: Yes, I will.
Ed.: Come at six tonight, will you?
W.: I’ll certainly come.
At six o’clock at the laboratory.
W.: Good evening, Tom. Good evening Mr. Smith.
S.: Good evening, Tom. Good evening Mr. Wilson. Mr. Edison
is experimenting with a microscope. All his interest is there. Would you mind walking around for a while looking at Mr. Edison’s inventions.
W.: With pleasure.
S.: In a few minutes dinner will be brought. We usually eat our
dinner here. Don’t you mind?
W.: Certainly not.
S.: The dinner is ready. Let Mr. Edison know you are here.
W.: Shall we eat; Tom? But he doesn’t answer.
S.: He is busy working with his microscope.
W.: But I am quite hungry. Tom, the food looks good, and it is
getting cold.
S.: You see, Mr.Edison never stops working for a second till he
is satisfied with what he is doing.
W.: Then let’s sit down and eat.
Two hours later Mr.Wilson and Smith finished eating and left the laboratory.
Ed. (entering the laboratory):
Oh, I am hungry. If those dishes were not empty, I’d say I’ve had no dinner tonight.
Exercise 4. Speak about:
1. Electricity — its nature, history and development.
2. Applications of electricity cover all fields of human activity.
Use exercises 1, 2, as well as the following words and word combinations for your topic:
it is difficult to imagine; applications such as; completely; to replace; to come into wide use; to double every ten years; to be an indicator; the latest technological advances.
Exercise 5. Read and smile.
A young doctor, the son of a well-known professor of medicine, proudly (с гордостью) told his father one day: «Imagine, dad! I’ve cured (вылечить) that lady that has been your patient for ten years».
«She deserved (заслужить) it. It was she who had paid for your studies», his father replied.
«Where did the car hit him?», asked the coroner (следователь). «At the junction (стык, перекресток) of the dorsal and cervial vertebrae (спинных и шейных позвонков)», answered the doctor. A big man rose from his seat. «Listen, I’ve lived in these parts for fifty years», he protested, «and I’ve never heard of this place».
Text 3B
Прочитайте текст. Ответьте на вопрос, почему Эдисон сказал: «Don’t watch the clock».
A Great Citizen of the World
Every day many people visited Thomas A.Edison’s laboratories in Orange, New Jersey. Some of them were young inventors who went to study, but many more of them were tourists. They came from all parts of the US and from other countries as well.
One day a very important citizen from England visited Edison’s factories, taking with him his young son,eight years old. They spent many hours in great workshops, looking at hundreds of useful inventions.
Before leaving the laboratories the man went to the office of the main building. Giving his card to the person in charge, he asked: «May I speak to Mr.Edison, please?». The man looked at the card and then answered: «Wait a minute, I’ll see». Soon he returned and said: «Come this way, please. Mr.Edison will see you».
The father and his son went into the great inventor’s workroom. «Mr.Edison», said the Englishman, «I brought my young son here to see what the world’s greatest citizen has done. I want this day to help him all his life. Will you please shake hands with him and say something that he will remember?»
Mr. Edison took the boy’s hand. He laid his other hand on the child’s shoulder and looked into his eyes. «My boy», he said, «don’t watch the clock».
In 1928 Mr. Edison was eighty-one years old, but he still worked sixteen hours a day.
Text 3C
Прочитайте текст. Расскажите по-английски о преимуществах солнечной энергии в качестве источника электричества.
Solar Light by Night
Most people living in towns consider it a usual thing that streets are lit at night. But street lights need a power supply (источник
энергии) therefore distant areas with no source of electricity remain in darkness until the sun comes up again.
With new appliances now offered by several British firms, many distant places could be lit with solar-powered street lights. It may seem strange that the lamps can use the power of the sun which shines by day when the lamps are needed at night, but they work by using energy accumulated during the day from a solar panel. The solar panel produces electricity which charges (заряжать) a battery. When the sun goes down, the battery power is then used for lighting. Each lamp has its own panel so the system can be used for one individual light or a number of them.
In the south of Saudi Arabia a motorway tunnel miles from any power supply is lit day and night by solar-powered devices. The solar panels provide power during the day and charge batteries which accumulate enough power to light the tunnel at night. The generation of electricity by batteries is still expensive but the advantage of sun-powered lamps is that they can bring light to areas distant from any other power supply.
There is one more advantage of solar power: not only it is unlimited, but also its use does not pollute the environment. That is why it is very important to develop devices which make it possible to transform solar power into mechanical or electric forms of power.
Text 3D
Прочитайте текст. Найдите информацию о наиболее перспективных источниках энергии и об основных отличиях нетрадиционных источников энергии от традиционных. Изложите основное содержание текста по-английски.
Non-traditional Renewable Sources of Energy
It is known that much is being done in the world today for the development of non-traditional sources of energy. Without them the Earth cannot support its present population of 5 billion people and probably 8 billion people in the 21st century.
Now we are using traditional power sources, that is, oil, natural gas, coal and water power with the consumption of more than 50 billion barrels per year. It is evident that these sources are not unlimited.
That is why it is so important to use such renewable sources of energy as the sun, wind, geothermal energy and others. Research is being carried out in these fields.
One of the most promising (перспективный) research is the development of power stations with direct transformation of solar energy into electricity on the basis of photo-effect. It was Russia that was the first in the world to develop and test a photoelectric battery of 32,000 volts and effective area of only 0.5 sq.m., which made it possible to concentrate solar radiation. This idea is now being intensively developed in many countries.
However, the efficiency of a solar power station is considerably reduced because of the limited time of its work during the year. But it is possible to improve the efficiency of solar power stations by developing different combinations of solar power stations and traditional ones — thermal, atomic and hydraulic. Today some engineers are working at the problem of developing electric power stations with the use of a thermal-chemical cycle. It will operate on products of the transformation of solar energy, whereas the «solar» chemical reactor uses C02 and water steam of the thermal power station. The result is that we have a closed cycle.
In Kamchatka there are geothermal power stations operating on hot water-steam mixture from the depths of about a kilometre. In some projects water will be heated by the warmth of mountains at a depth of four—five km.
It is planned that plants working on the energy of the solar heat provided by the sun will be built on a larger scale.
That different wind energy plants are being developed is also well-known. These energy plants can be small (of several kilowatts) and large powerful systems.
It is important that all these advances in developing new sources of energy and improving the old ones help to solve the energy problem as a whole and they do not have negative effects on the environment.
ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ЗАДАНИЯ
Упражнение 1. А. Прочитайте следующие словосочетания из текста ЗА и постарайтесь догадаться о значении выделенных слов и словосочетаний.
1. such as lighting
2. applications are longstanding
3. in the 19th century workshops
4. a range of appliances
5. devices are based on
6. in the case of
7. all fields of
8. human activity
В. Подберите к каждому выделенному в А слову или словосочетанию соответствующее ему по значению.
a. for
b. area or sphere
c. are built on
e. a number of
f. things done by man
g. electric lamps
d. for a long time h. a small factory
Упражнение 2. А. Прочитайте текст и найдите слова или словосочетания, означающие portable, work, generate, at present.
Although most electricity comes from power stations, power can also be generated by far smaller means. Nowadays, electricity generators can be small enough to hold in the hand. A portable generator can provide electricity no matter how far you are from the mains (сеть). It works by turning the movement of a piston into electrical energy. Such a generator can produce a 700 watt output, enough to operate lights, television, and some domestic appliances. Larger versions provide emergency power to hospitals and factories.
В. Найдите в тексте, приведенном в А, слова, означающие:
1. method, way
2. change, transform
3. principal wire to transmit electricity into a building
4. house
5. to be of no importance
6. much, considerably
7. situation needing action as soon as possible
8. power, energy produced
9. variant, form
Упражнение 3. Заполните пропуски следующими словами:
electricity increase consumers power use generation reduce consumption far users application provide sources energy light
We hear so much these days of local problems of electricity (1) ... Many (2)... are taking steps to (3) ... their electricity (4) ... This is as a result of the recent (5) ... in electricity tariffs for (6) ... We
should all try to (7)... less (8) ..., by insulating our houses, turning off the (9) ... when leaving a room and using less hot water.
We must try to develop alternative (10) ... of energy to (11) ... electricity for domestic and industrial (12) ... It is known that nuclear power comes to the consumer as electricity, which is clean and convenient form of (13) ... Although nuclear (14) ... stations are large, they can be built (15) ... from places where people live.
Упражнение 4. Заполните пропуски антонимами выделенных слов.
1. Though the capital investment, that is, the initial cost of building the nuclear power station, is high, the cost of generating electricity from a nuclear power station is relatively ....
2. There is a limited supply of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal on the earth, but a supply of natural uranium is ... .
3. Cheap impure coal produces much more C02 than coal
of high quality.
4. It is evident to all that an old inefficient power station is more dangerous to the environment than a power station.
| Упражнение 5. Заполните таблицу на словообразование.
|
| Упражнение б. Составьте возможные словосочетания глаголов из колонки А и существительных из колонки В, переведите их и запомните. |
А В
1. carry out (conduct) a. a problem
2. solve (face, work at, deal with) b. changes
3. become c. a success
d. an effect on
| 4. suffer from 5. bring about 6. have 7. make 8. develop 9. take 10. achieve |
e. measures
f. study, research, experimental work
g. the center of, a part of
h. investments
i. a program, concept, theory j. noise, pollution
Упражнение 7. Составьте, переведите и запомните словосочетания глагола become со следующими словами:
popular, universal, international, possible, important, better, worse, polluted, worried, interested in.
Упражнение 8. А. Назовите 10-15 ключевых слов и словосочетаний на тему: «Electricity as a source of energy».
В. Speak about:
The main types of fuel or processes used to generate energy in our country.
REVISION OF LESSONS 1-3
Упражнение 1. Повторите времена группы Indefinite (Simple), Continuous, Perfect Active, Passive. Определите время глагола-сказуемого и переведите предложения.
1. What course are you taking here? Business English? — No, I am not doing Business English yet. I am trying to improve my general English, especially conversation. 2. I liked the lecturer better after I had heard him the second time. 3. My friend will take the course in English next semester. 4. Who has finished the test? 5. We looked at him while he was dancing. 6. How many books of Shaw have you read? 7. Why have not you told them about it? 8. I shall still be studying English in two years’ time. 9. The books were taken from the library. 10. You can find the books taken from the library on the table. 11. The exams are held in June. 12.1 have been in the laboratory since 8 o’clock. 13. There were many people coming back from their work. 14. Australia is one of the five continents, but it is much smaller than the other four. 15. The light in that room is poor. Please light the candles (свечи). 16. People speak the language of their country. 17. Every country needs good specialists for its further progress of science and technology. 18. By the year 2030 human labour in industry will have been replaced by robots. Families will have robots to do the housework.
Упражнение 2. Ответьте на вопросы.
What devices and machines using electricity
a) have become a part of our everyday life?
b) have made electricity most widely used in all fields of science, technology and industry?
c) are based on its specific properties?
Упражнение 3. Заполните пропуски следующими словами:
radar battery generator appliances dynamo transformer
1.... is a machine that generates electricity, steam, gas, etc. 2. A device giving information about position, movement, etc. is named .... 3. A machine for changing water and steam power into electrical energy is known as .... 4. Food mixers, toasters, modem dish-washers and a number of the most recent home devices are household ....
5. An apparatus to increase or decrease the voltage of an electric power supply — ... — was invented at the end of the 19th century.
6. It is known that a portable cell for supplying electricity is called...
Упражнение 4. А. Прочитайте и переведите текст, обращая внимание на проработанную грамматику уроков 1—3.
Save the Planet
Today’s global economy has been formed by market, not by the principles of ecology. This has created an economy that is destroying its natural support system (система естественной поддержки). It is eco-economy that we need today to save the planet. An eco-economy is one that satisfies our needs without affecting the prospects of future generations to meet their needs. Therefore, it is necessary to turn our economy into in eco-economy. To build an eco-economy means to restore carbon balance, to stabilize population and water use, and to conserve forests, soils and variety of plant and animal life in the world.
Such an eco-economy will affect every side of our lives. It will change how we light our homes, what we eat, where we live, how we use our free time, and how many children we have. It will give us a world where we are a part of nature.
Building a new economy means eliminating and replacing old industries, restructuring existing ones, and creating new ones. The generation of electricity from wind is one such industry. Soon millions of turbines will be turning wind into electricity. In many countries, wind will provide both electricity and hydrogen. Together, electricity and hydrogen can meet all the energy needs of a modem society.
Another industry that will play an important part in the new economy is management of available water supply most efficiently. Irrigation technology will become more efficient. The recycling of urban waste water wUl become common. At present, water flows into and out of cities, carrying waste with it. In the future, water will be used again and again, never discharged (спускать, выливать). As water does not lose its quality from use, there is no limit to how long it can be used, as long as (пока) it is cleaned before reuse.
One can easily see eco-economy changes in some countries. It is known that Denmark is the eco-economy leader. It has stabilised its population, banned (запрещать) the construction of coal power plants, banned the use of non-refillable drink containers, and is now getting 15 per cent of its electricity from wind. Besides, it has restructured its urban transport networks; now 32 per cent of all trips in Copenhagen are on bicycles. Denmark is still not close (near) to balancing carbon emission, but it is moving in that direction.
B. Speak about:
Your idea of the economy of the future.
LESSON 4
Согласование времен Дополнение
Дополнительные придаточные предложения Суффикс -ible/-able Префикс dis-
Текст 4А. Television Текст 4В. Telegraph Текст 4С. Telephone Текст 4D. Talking via Space
ПРЕДТЕКСТОВЫЕ УПРАЖНЕНИЯ
Упражнение 1. Повторите времена групп Indefinite (Simple), Continuous, Perfect. Поставьте глаголы в скобках в нужном времени и форме.
At the time I first (meet) Mr. Alien in 1990, he (consider) the possibility of studying foreign languages again. He (forget) everything that he (learn) about Latin and French at school. The languages that he (want) (learn) at that time (be) Spanish and Portuguese. He (to be going) to study those languages in the Department of General Education at New York University. Therefore, he (enrol) that school in 1991.
After my friend (finish) studying at New York University he ecide) (go) to South America for a year. Because he (be, never) there before, he (enjoy) visiting the famous cities of Brazil and Argentina. He liked Sao Paulo so much that he (consider) staying there much longer. Before that time he (hope, always) to find a place with an ideal climate. Therefore, Sao Paulo (seem) to be a real paradise (рай). However, he (spend) all his money and (to be forced) to return.
Now my friend Mr. Alien (plan) (visit) France next year. He (leave) for Paris on March 15. Mr. Alien (visit) also Germany on the same trip. He realizes that he must (learn) French and German before he (go) to Europe. At present he (take) a course in French in preparation for the trip. He (think) that French (be) quite easy. Of course he (be, never) in France before, so he (have) little opportunity to hear French. He (work) very hard at his French every day. He (study) German at New York University next semester. I am sure that he (have) no language problem in the other countries when he (get) there. Many people in those countries (understand) English or French.
Упражнение 2. Переведите предложения, обращая внимание на правило согласования времен.
1. We knew that his family lived in Orel. 2. He said that the students of that group were studying in the library. 3. She thought that she might finish her work by two o’clock. 4.1 didn’t think he could come there in time. 5. She said that her name was Lena. 6. The students were told that they had three lectures every day. 7. The dean said that he was busy. 8. We found that he had studied mathematics at the University. 9. The newspapers reported that the Trade Union Congress had finished its work. 10. Students were informed that they would have industrial training in the third year. 11. The weather-man reported over the radio that it would be cold the following weekend.
Упражнение 3. Поставьте глаголы в скобках согласно правилу согласования времен.
A. 1. Не says that he (want) to be an engineer. 2. He thinks that he (see) a new device already. 3. He knows that he (lose) his watch yesterday. 4. He says that he (help) with work next week. 5. He said that he (know) him. 6. He understood that the speaker (be) in London recently. 7. He said that he (think) about it later. 8. He asked what they (want) to do. 9. They asked when we (come) to see him. 10. He asked if I (can) stay with them. 11. The teacher wanted to know whether I (be) good at maths. 12. The professor wanted to know whether I (take) part in our conference the week before. 13. My friend wanted to know whether I (go) to the library next Saturday. 14. He asked which book she (read) at that moment.
B. 1. The engineer was told that he (may) test the device in the afternoon. 2. It was known that the head of our laboratory (be) a graduate of Moscow University. 3. They thought that she (graduate) from a technical institute. 4. Our professor informed us that he (give) the following lecture on quantum mechanics on Monday. 5. At the meeting it was said that our lecturer (work) at a new programme of laboratory work. 6. The teacher told us that the term «engineering» (have) many Russian equivalents. 7. The chief engineer believed that we (work) at that problem for a month the following summer.
Упражнение 4. Переделайте следующие предложения в косвенную речь, поставив глагол в главном предложении в прошедшем времени. Например:
Тот wants to spend the winter in Texas.
They said that Tom wanted to spend the winter in Texas.
He asked if Tom wanted to spend the winter in Texas.
1. Mary wants to take a course in German. 2. Ann does not work at the college. 3. The laboratories have new TV sets. 4. The teacher will give you further instructions. 5. Where are you coming from? 6. The lecture will begin in five minutes. 7. John has learned grammar for two years. 8. Could I speak to Mr. Smith, please?
9. Does Bob go to the library every day?
Упражнение 5. Переведите на английский язык.
1. Мой друг сказал, что он много работает. 2. Ученый сообщил, что он написал статью о своей работе. 3. Меня спросили, сделал ли я свою работу. 4. Она хотела знать, будет ли он летом в Москве. 5. Мы спросили преподавателя, сколько новых слов в четвертом уроке. 6. Мы не знали, будет ли у него практика летом. 7. Он сказал, что знает два иностранных языка. 8. Он знал, что ее брат живет в Самаре.
Упражнение б. Определите, чем выражено дополнение в предложениях, переведите.
1. The students of our group saw a new film yesterday. They said it was very interesting. 2. The dean’s assistant told us to do all our work in time. 3. Our laboratory has been equipped with modern devices. 4. The students were informed at the meeting that they would have their practical training in St. Petersburg. 5. We asked the dean if he was busy. 6. The new student asked when our lectures would begin. 7. He also asked to show him where the chemistry laboratory was. 8. He wanted to know whether we had already had our industrial training. 9. I did not know then if I should see him again. 10. We didn’t know whether it would be possible to use a computer for our work.
Упражнение 7. Обратите внимание на перевод предлога by в предложениях.
1. Ву 3 o’clock I shall be free and go with you to the library.
2. By the end of the second year we shall have finished studying the main engineering subjects. 3. By the beginning of the lecture the laboratory assistant had brought all the necessary diagrams. 4. By the year 2010 cable television will have been used more widely. 5. By the spring of 1945 World War II was over.
Упражнение 8. Найдите русские эквиваленты для словосочетаний.
it is true; compared to; to be of importance; a lot of; to be interested in; like; a step forward; at the right time; direct to; to put into memory.
интересоваться; иметь значение; по сравнению с; ввести в память; шаг вперед; как, подобно; верно (правильно); в нужное время; много; непосредственно на.
СЛОВООБРАЗОВАНИЕ
Упражнение 8. Л. Переведите следующие производные слова согласно образцу:
существительное или глагол + -ible/-able = прилагательное access — доступ -> accessible — доступный to rely — доверять -> reliable — надежный, practice — осуществление (на практике) -> practicable —
осуществимый
to use — usable, to consider — considerable, to avail — available;
префикс dis- (имеет отрицательное значение) to appear — появляться -> to disappear — исчезать to like — to dislike, illusion — disillusion, similar — dissimilar, comfort — discomfort, to connect — to disconnect, connection — disconnection, connected — disconnected, to organize — to disorganize, organized — disorganized, organization — disorganization.
В. Образуйте и переведите производные слова согласно образцу:
tele- (на большом расстоянии) television, telegraph, telegraphy, telemetry phone, text, scope, printer, communication; photo- (имеющий отношение к свету или фотографии) photon, photograph, photography, photographic copy, finish, meter, electric, sensitive.
Упражнение 9. Прочитайте и переведите интернациональные слова.
television [4eli,vi3en], action ['aekfon], territory ['teritari], material [mo'tiarial], million ['miljan], communication [ka,mju:nt'keij9n], central ['sentral], programme ['praugraem], transmission [traenz'mijan], telephone ['telifaun], cable ['keibl], signal ['signI], crystal ['kristl], code [kaud], visual ['vijjual], video, regular ['regjula], zones ['zaunz].
Упражнение 10. Прочитайте и запомните произношение следующих слов:
tiny ['taini], fair [fee], research [ri'sa:1f], to spread [spred], instead [in'sted], watch [wolf], provide [pra'vaid], artificial [,a:ti'fijal], convenient [kan'vi:njant], nowadays ['nauadeiz], wire ['waia], launching ['lomtfirj, to break [breik], to produce [pra'dju:s], production [pra'dAkJan], to weigh [wei], clear [klia], major ['meicfea], available [a'veilabl], satellite ['saetalait], size [saiz], tape [teip], liquid ['likwid], magazine [,maega'zi:n].
СЛОВА И СЛОВОСОЧЕТАНИЯ ДЛЯ ЗАПОМИНАНИЯ
appear v — появляться influence я — влияние
artificial а — искусственный means я — средство
compare v — сравнивать nowadays adv — сейчас, в на-
contain v — содержать, вмещать стоящее время
continuous а — непрерывный occur v — происходить, возни-
convenient а — удобный кать
direct а — прямой, непо- rapidly adv — быстро
средственный research я — исследование
during ргр — в течение, во simultaneously adv — одновре-
время, в продолжение менно
equipment я — оборудование state v — утверждать
essentially adv — по сущест- switch on v — включать
ву, главным образом time я — время, times — раз
etc (etcetera) — и т. д. transmit v — передавать
exist v — существовать watch v — наблюдать, смотреть
few а — мало, немного weigh v — весить, взвешивать
a few — несколько within ргр — в пределах, в, через
a lot of — много;
to be able to — мочь, быть в состоянии
Text 4A
Прочитайте текст и найдите абзацы, содержащие информацию о развитии различных видов телевизионных систем в хронологической последовательности. Переведите.
Television
The television set is evidently the most important and popular electronic product of all time. All homes in developed countries have one or more TV sets and in many countries there are considerably more TV sets than telephones.
But in 1939 at the World’s Fair in New York a tiny nine-by- twelve inch box was the centre of attention for hundreds of people. They were the first to see a television set in action. Compared to today’s TV shows of underwater and outer-space research, those first black-white pictures were not very good. The pictures were only transmitted from one side of the Fair territory to the other. But in 1939 they were of historical importance.
Within a few days the news of television spread throughout the world. A lot of people wanted to have a look1 at the new invention. Everyone was interested in it. But only few people owned television sets in the next few years. When World War II broke out2 electronic factories that began the TV production stopped making them and started making war materials instead. When the war was over, TV sets began coming off factory assembly lines. By 1958 there were millions of them.
In a surprisingly short time people watched fewer films and turned from newspapers and magazines to TV. In its short history television has had great influence on people’s life and way of thinking. Rocket-launching, concerts and football and tennis matches can be seen direct as they occur. The boundaries of time and space have disappeared.
At present TV communication is provided with the help of a system of artificial earth satellites so that people living in different parts of the country and all over the world and in different time zones are able to watch the central TV programs at the most convenient hours.
Nowadays many countries also have cable TV, a system using wires for the transmission of television programs (like telephone calls). Cable television first appeared in 1949 as a means of transmitting TV signals to rural and mountain areas far from big cities. Cable television’s next big step forward was made by the mid — 1980s. Scientists announced that many technical problems had been solved and in the future it would be possible via satellite and cable TV to use more channels on a TV set at every home in the world.
Then we saw how a new technical invention, colour television, was rapidly replacing black-and-white television. Recently it was reported that the first pocket-size[4] colour television set had been developed. It was stated that a liquid-crystal display[5] was used similar to those on calculators and watches and that it weighed less than a pound.
A few years ago it became evident that the next major advance for TV would be digital television. In a digital system the usual continuous signal is replaced by a digital code containing detailed information on brightness, colour, etc. A digital TV set hangs on the wall like a picture. Essentially, it is a minicomputer with a visual display. Once a week[6] you put the programs you like into the memory, and the TV set will automatically switch on the desired channel at the right time. You can watch several programs simultaneously on miniscreens and then produce one of them in full format. Also, the TV set can automatically video-record the programs when you are absent or occupied.
By the end of 1980s television has moved to a new and the most important stage in its development since the appearance of colour television. Technically it is called high-definition television (HDTV)[7] or Hi-Vision. This is the much higher resolution television7 of the 21st century. This revolution was started by Japanese manufacturers when they developed a new video system with a picture resembling a wide-screen film more than traditional television. The new system increases the screen’s width-to-height ratio8 (16:9). The result is a picture several times sharper than in the existing TV sets. Besides, recent developments in plasma display panel technology9 make HDTV commercially practicable. The plasma display makes it possible to produce a large, bright, colour, flat TV screen so thin and light that it can also be hung on a wall like a framed picture. The engineering problem that has existed almost since the first days of television may be solved now.
Notes to the Text
1. to have a look — взглянуть, посмотреть
2. to break out — начаться, разразиться
3. pocket-size — карманный
4. liquid-crystal display — устройство изображения на жидких кристаллах
5. once a week — раз в неделю
6. high-deflnition television (HDTV) — телевидение высокой четкости
7. high resolution television — телевидение с большим разрешением
8. width-to-height ratio — отношение ширины к высоте
9. plasma display panel technology — производство плазменных панелей
УПРАЖНЕНИЯ
Упражнение 11. Просмотрите текст 4А и ответьте на вопросы.
1. When did the first TV set appear? 2.Were people interested in the new invention? 3. Why was the TV production stopped in 1940? 4. What is cable television? 5. What is digital television? 6. What is high-definition television?
Упражнение 12. Укажите, какие из следующих утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста 4А.
1. A lot of people owned television sets in the first years after its invention. 2. First television black-and-white pictures were excellent. 3. Only few people owned television sets in the next few years after their appearance. 4. Black-and-white television was rapidly replacing colour television. 5. First television black-and-white pictures were not very good. 6. Only a few years ago colour television was rapidly replacing black-and-white television. 7. When the war was over, TV sets stopped coming off factory assembly lines. 8. After World War II TV sets began coming off factory assembly lines.
Упражнение 13. Найдите в тексте 4А предложения, в которых использовано правило согласования времен, и переведите их.
Упражнение 14. Прочитайте и укажите способы присоединения придаточных дополнительных предложений к главному.
7. Russian newspapers informed that about 2,000 satellites had been launched into the orbit. 8. We did not know whether the development of television had continued during the war. 9. We know he works at the problem of space communication.
Упражнение 15. Прочитайте и найдите предложения, где использовано правило согласования времен.
1. Some years ago India began its Satellite Instructional Television Experiment. This experiment showed (that) satellite television programs had been a success with schoolchildren, their knowledge level had increased considerably. It was found that children could remember and speak about programs which they had seen several week^back. 2. Many experts could not decide whether so much TV was harmful to the individual’s health and mental activity or not. 3. Specialists did not know if it was possible to continue modernizing the electronic equipment of this kind — the costs were too high. 4. There appeared some reports that we had technical means to use much more channels on a TV set and we should be able to see many sports and news programs from all parts of the world soon. 5. At first it was not clear whether new telephone and teletype communication with ships via six satellites was economical and reliable or not. 6. It was announced that the cryogenic cable had been invented in Russia. 7. We read that for the first time electricity had been applied for industrial use in silver workshops in Paris. 8. We know different transmitters are used in a television system — one for the sound channel and the other for the picture channel. 9. We learnt from the lecture that electricity was still considered the main source for new technological developments.
УПРАЖНЕНИЯ ДЛЯ САМОСТОЯТЕЛЬНОЙ РАБОТЫ
Упражнение 16. Выберите правильный перевод следующих слов:
attention — внимательно, внимательный, внимание;
surprisingly — удивительный, удивление, удивительно;
recorder — записывающее устройство, запись, записывать;
convenient — удобство, удобный, созывать;
numerous — бесчисленный, количество, многочисленный.
Упражнение 17. Назовите основу, от которой образованы следующие слова:
development, conveniently, communication, production, continuous, beginning, transmitter, action, recorder, electronic, simultaneously, different, usable, central, calculator, possibility, disconnect.
Упражнение 18. Выпишите сначала синонимы, а затем антонимы.
tiny — small; to disappear — to appear; a lot of — many; different — various; next — following; short — long; to watch — to see; program — show; commonly — usually; less — more; possible — impossible; true — untrue; small — large; nowadays — at present, now; large — tremendous; advance — progress; to start — to begin; major — main; to report — to announce; to occur — to take place; convenient — suitable.
Упражнение 19. Расположите слова в алфавитном порядке.
true, picture, telephone, communication; world, research, assembly, invention; own, beginning, telegraph, central; satellite, first, artificial, convenient; turn, videotape, transmit, size.
Упражнение 20. Назовите в следующих парах первое по алфавиту слово.
concept/concert; complete/compare; invention/invasion; available/availability; commonly/commonless; commune/commit; compulsory/compunction .
Упражнение 21. Напишите исходную форму, по которой нужно искать слово в словаре.
boxes, matches, beginning, tinier, owned, boundaries, possibly, replacing, less.
Упражнение 22. Найдите в словаре подходящее значение для выделен- ных слов или словосочетаний.
1. The Japanese companies developed the first pocket-size colour television set. 2. Man first set foot on the Moon in July, 1969.
3. Special telephone sets are used at plants in tropical sea climate.
4. A great Russian scientist A.N. Krylov took an active part in the work of the first Atomic Commission set up at the Optical Institute. 5. It was Popov who constructed the first radio set. 6. One of the global tasks nowadays is to set up solar power plants on high orbits. 7. Ships are equipped with radar sets helping them to orient at sea.
Упражнение 23. Найдите в словаре и запомните значения выделенных слов.
1. New directions of research in robotics were discussed at the last conference. 2. There is no direct connection between those processes. 3. This program is directed toward the scientific study of various physico-chemical processes. 4. Our scientists must direct their attention to the development of new technologies. 5. Further human progress is directly connected with the scientific and technological progress. 6. Our task is to develop technological processes without a direct participation of man. 7. The future of mankind depends on the direction in which scientific and technological progress will be developing. 8. There is a direct communication between spacecrafts and the Earth, and between spacecrafts as well.
Упражнение 24. Поставьте глагол, приведенный в скобках, в соответствующих времени и форме.
The Life of a Student
While I (walk) across the campus (университетский городок) the other day, I (meet) my old friend Bill, whom I (see, not) since May. Naturally, we (stop) (talk) to each other for a few minutes. I asked him how he (do) in his classes that semester. He told me that he (take) a course in English that semester. He said that he (complete) the elementary course two semesters before, and by the next semester he (be) ready (take) the most difficult English course offered at this school. He also said that he (be) interested in getting his degree as soon as possible and he (ask, already) his adviser for permission to take the final examination. «I am glad (hear) that you (make) such good progress», I (say) to Bill. Then I asked him if he (can) tell me the secret of his success. He answered that the secret of his success (be) simple and he (study) at least two hours a day to improve his English.
After that I told Bill I (have) a little difficulty with my course in French at the moment. I said that I (study, not) very hard the last semester, but I (work) harder in the future.
Упражнение 25. Прочитайте текст. Перескажите его содержание, используя косвенную речь.
Albert Einstein liked the film with Charlie Chaplin. Once he wrote a letter to Chaplin:
«Everybody in the world understands your film “Golden Fever” (’’Золотая лихорадка”). You will become a great man by all means.»
Chaplin’s answer was:
«I like you even more. Nobody in the world understands your “Theory of Relativity” and you have already become a great man.»
Упражнение 26. Дайте недостающие формы глаголов, запомните их.
find, broke, putting, hung, began, seen.
Упражнение 27. Прочитайте и переведите текст без словаря.
Recently it was reported in the press that the USA was trying to build bigger, better and much more expensive TV sets. Experts declared that it was the most important change in television since the invention of colour television. They informed that a new kind of television had images so clear that watching it was like looking through a window.
But it became known that Japanese specialists had started their work on HDTV when nobody else in the world was thinking how to improve TV. The inventors expected that their standard for high-definition television would be used throughout the world. However, the Europeans have announced that they would set their own standard. And now it is not clear whether the Japanese standard will be used or not. Some people consider that a single high-definition TV standard will allow to exchange news and may bring nations together.
CONVERSATION
Exercise 1. Answer the questions.
1. What invention was the center of attention at the World Fair in New York in 1939? (the first black-and-white television set) 2. What stopped the TV production? (World War II) 3. What influence has had television on people’s life and way of thinking? (great influence; boundaries of time and space have disappeared)
4. What kinds of TV exist now? (satellite, cable, colour, digital and high-definition television) 5. What is the latest and the most important stage in the development of television since the appearance of colour television? (high-definition television) 6. What is the advantage of high-definition television? (the television of much higher resolution) 7. What technology makes HDTV commercially practicable now? (plasma display panel technology)
Exercise 2. Make a sentence out of the two parts.
1. The first black-and-white 1. has been replaced by colour
nine-by-twelve inch TV sets television.
2. In a surprisingly short time 2. the development of TV became
digital television in which the usual signal is replaced by a digital code.
3. At present
4. Satellite and cable TV makes it possible
5. Recently black-and-white TV
6. The next major advance in