The Prominent British Scientist

⇐ ПредыдущаяСтр 3 из 3

Isaak Newton (1643-1727), one of the greatest scientists of Great Britain, discovered the methods of fluxions, later known as calculus. It was the most important mathematical invention. His second major work was discovery of gravity. Then came the formulation of Newton’s 3 laws of motion, the analysis by experiment of white light and the nature of colours, and research on a new type of telescope, called the reflecting telescope. His main publication was “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”.

William Herschel (1730-1822), an astronomer, became an expert in grinding lenses and built the largest telescope. In 1781 Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. His other discoveries include binary stars, two new satellites of Saturn, and infra-red from Sun.

Humphry Davy (1770-1829), a chemist and physicist, prepared and tested nitrous oxide (laughing gas). In 1807 he succeeded in preparing potassium and sodium by the process of electrolysis. He also investigated the nature of firedamp, the explosions of which had caused much damage in mines. This investigation led to the invention of the safety lamp (known as Davy lamp).

Michael Faraday (1791-1867), a physicist and chemist, contributed greatly to the development of science. In 1825 he discovered benzene. However, his name is usually linked with electricity and electrochemistry. He discovered connection between electricity and magnetism and showed that electromagnetic induction was possible. He used induction to produce the first electrical generator and the first transformer. He was also the discoverer of the law that controls the process of electrolysis.

Charles Darwin (1809-0892), an outstanding naturalist, spent 5 years on the «Beagle» during the voyage, in the Southern Hemisphere (1831-1836). He published his great work «On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the struggle for life». One of the most important results of Darwin’s work was the demonstration that the evolution of plants and animals gives no evidence of giving guidance. Evolution is the theory that all living things (plants and animals) have developed from earlier and different forms, and have not been specially created.

Joseph Lister (1827-1912) was the founder of antiseptic surgery (the use of chemicals to prevent surgical complications). He introduced carbolic to dress wounds. Gradually other surgeons began to adopt his methods.

Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937), the greatest pioneer of nuclear physics, made fundamental discoveries concerning the nature of radioactivity. He distinguished the two types of radiation, which he named alpha and beta rays. In 1919 Rutherford was the first to split the atom by natural means. He deduced the existence of a heavy, positively charged nucleus in the atom. Rutherford received the Nobel Prize for his investigation into the decay of the elements and the chemistry of radio-active substances.

James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) studied the problems of electromagnetism, molecular physics, optics, mechanics and others. His most outstanding inventions are in the field of the kinetic theory of gases and electricity. Maxwell’s works on the kinetic theory of gases, the theory of heat, dynamics and the mathematical theory of electricity and magnetism are brilliant; «Matter and Motion», «Atoms», «Attraction», «Faraday» and others.

Exercise 4 Complete the following sentences.

1. Newton’s main publication was ….

2. In 1781 Herschel discovered ….

3. Davy also investigated the nature of firedamp, ….

4. Faraday was also the discoverer of the law, ….

5. Darwin, an outstanding naturalist, ….

6. Lister introduced carbolic ….

7. Rutherford received ….

8. Maxwell studied the problems of ….

9. In 1919 Rutherford was the first to split the atom by ….

10. Maxwell’s outstanding inventions are in the field of ….

Exercise 5 Match the parts of the sentences.

1.Newton’s second major work was	a. of the safety lamp.
2. His other discoveries include	b. which he named alpha and beta rays.
3. In 1781 Herschel discovered	c. the discovery of gravity.
4. This investigation led to the invention	d. to split atom by natural means.
5. In 1919 Rutherford was the first	e. the planet Uranus
6. Rutherford distinguished the two types of radiation	f. binary stars, two new satellites of Saturn, and infra-red from Sun.
7.He used induction to produce	g. the explosions of which had caused much damage in mines.
8.He also investigated the nature of firedamp,	h. of a heavy, positively charged nucleus in the atom.
9. He deduced the existence	i. spent 5 years on the «Beagle» during the voyage, in the Southern Hemisphere (1831-1836).
10.Charles Darwin (1809-0892), an outstanding naturalist,	j. the first electrical generator and the first transformer.

Exercise 6 Match the words and their definitions.

Word	Definition
1.scientist	a.a fact or thing that someone finds out about, when it was not known about before
2.invention	b. a scientist who studies the stars and planets.
3.discovery	c. a natural object that moves around a planet.
4. telescope	d. the act of inventing something
5.astronomer	e. a scientist who has special knowledge and training in physics.
6. satellite	f. a piece of equipment shaped like a tube, used for making distant objects look larger and closer
7.chemist	g. a deep hole or holes in the ground that people dig so that they can remove coal, gold
8. physicist	h. a doctor who does operations in a hospital
9.mine	i. someone who works or is trained in science
10.surgeon	j. a scientist who has special knowledge and training in chemistry

Exercise 7 Agree or disagree with the following sentences according to the information from the text.

1. Isaak Newton was the one of the greatest scientists of Russia.

2. William Herschel, an astronomer, became an expert in grinding lenses and built the largest telescope.

3. In 1781 Herschel discovered the planet Uranus.

4. Humphry Davy, a surgeon, prepared and tested nitrous oxide.

5. Michael Faraday discovered benzene.

6. Darwin, an outstanding naturalist, spent 10 years on the “Eagle” during the voyage, in the Northern Hemisphere.

7. Joseph Lister was the founder of binary stars.

8. Rutherford received the Nobel Prize.

9. Maxwell studied the problems of molecular physics.

Exercise 8 Answer the questions.

1. What method did Newton discover?

2. What was Newton’s main publication?

3. What planet did Herschel discover?

4. What did Humphry Davy invent?

5. Who discovered benzene?

6. Who was the founder of antiseptic surgery?

7. Who received the Nobel Prize?

8. What problems did Maxwell study?

Тема 3: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Выучить слова!

Vocabulary

avoid	избегать
civilization	цивилизация
consumption	потребление
danger	опасность
deforestation	вырубка лесов
depletion	истощение
earthquake	землетрясение
emission	выделение (тепла)
fertilizer	удобрение
flood	наводнение
insect	насекомое
pesticide	пестицид
poison	яд
protection	защита
trend	тенденция

Exercise 1 Make up word combinations with the following words. Make up your own sentences (2) with the word combinations.

1. spreading	a.consumption
2. human	b. deforestation
3. energy	c. rains
4. massive	d. life
5. ozone	e. effect
6. acid	f. depletion
7. global	g. disease
8. greenhouse	h. waste
9. industrial	i. substances
10.harmful	j. warming

Exercise 2 Read the international words and translate them.

Civilization, insect, pesticide, decade, planet, energy, massive, equivalent, cigarette, organization, trend, effect, fertilizer.

Exercise 3 Read and translate the text.

Environmental protection

The poisoning of the world’s land, air, and water is the fastest – spreading disease of civilization. It probably produces fewer headlines that wars, earthquakes and floods, but it is potentially one of history’s greatest dangers to human life on earth. If present trends continue for the next several decades, our planet will become uninhabitable.

Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption have created such planet-wide problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and the global warming that is believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect.

The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas.

Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today will have become extinct twenty years from now.

Air pollution is a very serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is life threatening – equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for Mexico City and 600 cities of the former Soviet Union.

Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

An even greater environmental threat is nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences for the Chernobyl disaster are.

People are beginning to realize that environmental problems are not somebody else’s. They join and support various international organizations and green parties. If governments wake up to what is happening – perhaps we’ll be able to avoid the disaster that threatens the natural world and all of us with it.

⇐ Предыдущая 1 23