Англ. для заоч.Андрианова

TSIOLKOVSKY'S DREAM NEARS REALIZATION (to be read after Lesson 12)

The young man spent hours over ideas he had put down in a school-

In 1883 he noted that the rocket would be the only man-made instrument able to reach space. The prediction was published only in 1954, when his collected works were printed by the Soviet Academy of Sciences.

The mathematical terms1 of space travel were worked out by Tsiolkovsky as early as 1895 in the manuscript "The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Reaction-Propelled Apparatus". When it was published in 1903, Tsiolkovsky won immediate international recognition, especially among the pioneers of aviation science.

In order to get money for his researches Tsiolkovsky tried to publish his book "Outside the Earth" in 1916, in which he described the imaginary flight of a manned rocket ship in orbit about the earth.

It was only in 1920 that the book was published and it fired the imagination of other scientists in our country as well as abroad. In 1929 when Tsiolkovsky was 72, Professor Herman Obert, a German scientist, wrote to him: "You kindled this fire. We shall not let it die. It is neces-

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1.mathematical terms — математические расчеты

2.that man's greatest dream should be realized — чтобы осуществилась величайшая мечта человека

3. the blast-off of a man-carrying rocket — запуск ракеты с человеком на боргу

4.to promote the working of the brain and bring into being people — способствовав работе ума и появлению людей

SIBERIAN OIL GIANT (to be read after Lesson 13)

Until Surgut's vast oil reserves began to be exploited in the late 70s, the territory bordering the river Ob saw only Khanti tribes,1 who camped on patches of dry land and survived on fish and berries. Now Surgut is a town of 260,000 people, most of whom are working at one of Russia's biggest oil companies.

At the time when production is collapsing at other oil companies, during the financial crisis, they manage to have stable, low-cost production and look much better positioned than most competitors in the field of oil production. Today Surgut is the Russian oil industry's lowest-cost profitable producer.

Most investments go toward improving existing oil fields, rather than2 making new ones. The company has invested much in horizontal drilling which can increase fivefold3 the flow of an old well.4 Half of the horizontal wells worked out in Russia at the end of the 20th century are drilled in Surgut. Millions have already been invested in roads, power lines and pipelines in the area. Analysts recognize Surgut's power and say it is the best oil company in Russia today.

But the labour conditions are rather hard in Surgut. In Canada, drilling platforms are enclosed in concrete walls which enable the workers to be protected from cold. In Surgut, which is situated near the Arctic Circle, the platforms are open, and at temperatures of minus 50 degrees, the eyes of the workers sometimes freeze shut.5

But most people in Surgut are true Siberians who don't want to live and work anywhere else.

1.Khanti tribes — племена хантов

2.rather than — а не

3.fivefold — в пять раз

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MARS ON EARTH

(to be read after Lesson 14)

д trip to Mars is out of the question now,1 but an island in the Capadian Arctic could soon provide the following interesting thing. The

Like Mars, it is extremely cold and dry, and is covered with rocky ridges, valleys and even craters which appeared after the impacts with meteorites. Of course, there are great differences too, but there are as many similarities as one will never find anywhere on Earth.

It is planned to complete the Mars Research station by summer 2000. It will simulate the conditions that anyone living on real Mars in future will have to get used to.3 The station will also let scientists and engineers test different devices and equipment that will be very important for survival on Mars.

To do analogues of space exploration under extreme conditions on Earth is really a very promising research problem.

1. out of the question now — немыслим в данный момент

2.simulate v—моделировать; simulated — моделированный

3.get used to— привыкать

A FEW UNITS NAMED AFTER FAMOUS SCIENTISTS (to be read after Lesson 15)

Words like volt or watt have become part of our language so completely that we sometimes forget that these are the names of famous scientists.

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scientist who lived in the US and is best known for inventing the tel phone in 1876.

A coulomb [Tcu:bm] is a unit of electric charge equal to the quantih, of electricity transferred in one second by a current of one ampere. It ^ named after Charles Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), the prominent French physicist.

A curie (Cu) [kju:'ri:] is a unit of the measurement of radioactivity. ^ ^

It is an acceleration of one centimetre per second each second. The unit is

(1824-1907), who later became Lord Kelvin, a British professor, the inventor of mirror galvanometer.

A newton is a unit of force in the International Measurement System (SI). It is named after Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the English scien-

joule of work is required to transport one coulomb of charge from one point to the other. It is named after Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), the

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The fuel of the reactor consists of a special kind of "isotope" of uraum, called Uranium-235. When properly bombarded with neutrons, the

For making a nuclear-rocket engine thermally efficient the reactor's temperature must be as high as possible. The melting point of uranium, 2070 degrees F, sets a theoretical limit Graphite, which withstands much higher temperatures, is a very good material for the reactor's

A cold gas, the hydrogen, enters several hundred narrow passages drilled through the graphite-uranium reactor core and is heated almost to the white-hot operating temperature.2 On coming from the passages, the

23,000 to 30,000 feet per second, which is twice as much as from a

Holographic techniques, that can record both the phase and amplitude of the light reflected by an object, can be used to generate a true, three-dimensional image. Holograms were originally demonstrated by Dennis Gabor in the late 1940s, but significant interest and application °f holography did not occur until the 1960s when a convenient source of radiation, in the form of the laser, became available.

During the past three decades, several types of interferometric holography have been demonstrated, each having advantages of specific de- ^ces for measurements. The technique has been used in applications that delude the inspection of aircraft components, the measurement of shrink- age in concrete structures, etc. In each case, a holographic interferometer ^ show dimensional changes that are difficult to detect with the help

other kinds of techniques. Several types of holographic devices are

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used for research and quality control, the holograms being produced bv

the research laboratory in the years to come. Increased processing capj bilities of computers in addition to the availability of compact, low-cosi lasers will significantly broaden the lange of applications for holographic technique. Continued progress in each of these areas will lead to wi<kr use of holography for quality control and other applications.

LOOK WHAT THOSE KNUCKLE-HEADS1 ARE DOING (to be read after Lesson 18)

If you think of a world free of human error, a society that is regulated by the quiet clicking2 of a computer which makes no mistakes you will get disappointed.

Like us, the mechanical brains are showing signs of nervousness, indecisiveness. In taking human skills, the machines also have taken our human weaknesses.

It returned to normal state, but repeated the performance as soon as it again heard the spring being wound.

Several large computers have suffered nervous breakdowns that were not planned. It was a very human kind of breakdown suffered by a machine which worked too hard at an impossible job. All night long it clicked and clacked widely, and in the morning it was whirring angrily and gnashing its gear teeth in despair. Finally it stopped in a state of

The advocates of computers stand firm in their conviction that al computer mistakes are likely to be caused by wrong information pe0P often feed the machines with. But manufacturers admit that the machines are not perfect; that a big computer can be expected to make a mista*

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about once a month. Mistakes are caused by wom-out tubes, loose con- nections in the machines or overheating and so on.

In the theory, robot mistakes can be prevented by using two robots, 0ne to check on the work of the other.

j. loiuckle-heads — зд. тупоголовые

2.to click, to clack — щелкать, трещать

"clack-click", clickety-clacks — слова, воспроизводящие пощелкивание, издаваемое машиной

Part Two

T H E U N I T E D K I N G D O M O F G R E A T B R I T A I N A N D

N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TODAY

Approximately 350 million people speak English as their first language. About the same number use it as a second language. It is a language of aviation, international sport and pop music. 75% of the world's

It is an official language in 44 countries. In many others it is the language of business, commerce and technology. There are many varieties of English, but Scottish, Australian, Indian and Jamaikan speakers of English, in spite of the differences in pronunciation, structure and vocabulary, would recognize that they are all speaking the same basic language.

GREAT BRITAIN

General Outline

Great Britain is formed of the following parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and is situated on the British Isles which lie to the west of the continent of Europe. Great Britain is washed on the

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The English Channel separating England's south coast from France's north coast stretches for 350 miles, from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. At its widest point it measures 120 miles; at its narrowest, only 21 miles. On a clear day, you can see the white cliffs of Dover from the French coast. For centuries, the Channel has been the way to the Conti- nent, a highway crowded with ships.

The English Channel is perhaps the most dangerous sea channel in Europe. Half of all the world's ship collisions take place here. Now, after the construction of the Channel Tunnel (the tunnel under the English

The country's landscape is rich and varied. You will find here moun- tains and lowland, hills and valleys, lakes and rivers within short distances. There are many rivers in Britain: the Thames, the Severn, the

the sea, is cooler in summer and warmer in winter than in most other countries of Northern Europe. There is not a single point in Great Brit-

snows. In England it is never so cold in winter as on the continent, the rivers and lakes are seldom covered with ice.

But the worst thing about the climate in England is the thick fog which they so often have in autumn and in winter. In London the fog is sometimes so thick that cars run into one another. The fog is one of the worst typical features of London and Londoners cannot imagine their capital with-

heat of the sun that they seek shelter, but from wind and rain and cold-

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POPULATION, INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Great Britain is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, the average density being over 200 people per square kilometre. g0 per cent of the population live in towns. The population of Great Britain is more than 56 million.

England is one of the most powerful capitalist countries in Europe. There are many big industrial cities here, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield and many others. London, its capital, which is situated on the river Thames, is one of the biggest commercial centres of the world.

One of the leading industries of Great Britain is the textile industry. Coal, iron and steel as well as various machines are also produced there. Ship-building and motor industry are also highly developed.

Northern and Western England is a coal, metal and textile country. The most ancient centres of English iron and steel industry are Birmingham and Sheffield. Iron smelting based on local ore deposits has been practiced here since ancient times. In the period of England's industrial-

Each of the two towns became the centre of various industries. Especially great is the variety of industries in Birmingham. One can find any type of production here, from steel smelting to manufacturing the most delicate articles. Various machinery, railway cars, motor cars, electrical equipment, scientific instruments and many other things are produced in Birmingham in great quantities. Alongside the most modem big plants, a lot of old small enterprises are to be found in this town.

Sheffield is the city of steel. It has specialized in producing high-quality steel and articles of steel, heavy armaments, wheels of railway cars, weaving looms, knives, fine instruments, etc.

The main centres of the textile region are Liverpool and Manchester. Manchester is the chief cotton manufacturing city surrounded by a number of towns. Every town has specialized in producing certain kinds of yam and fabrics. Plants producing textile machinery not only satisfy

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cotton, wool, non-ferrous metals and oil; exports consist of fabrics, yar^ textile machinery, electrical equipment and chemicals.

Today, in a new age of modem technology, Britain has made important advances in such new industries as electronics and telecommunications equipment, in aircraft and aircraft engines, in plastics and synthetic materials, radio-isotopes and new drugs — all major exports.

THE GOVERNMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN

The Monarchy and the Cabinet

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a parliamentary monarchy. The monarch has certain political rights. Now at the head of the State is the Queen. She is only a formal ruler and does not actually govern. Her position is usually described as a constitutional or limited monarchy. In practice that means the Queen does not act independently. Whatever she does1 must be done on the advice of the Prime Minister and her Ministers.

However, it would be wrong to underestimate the role of the monarchy in Britain. No Bill can become Law until it receives the Royal Assent.2 Nobody but the Queen can summon Parliament or dissolve it. One

Another important attribute of power is information. All cabinet minutes4 and papers go in a red box to Buckingham Palace:5 atomic secrets,

The British Government consists of the Prime Minister and other Ministers. The Parliamentary regime of Great Britain is sometimes referred to as a system of Cabinet Government. The Ministers who com-

residence of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet usually meets once a week but sometimes more often. The Cabinet and its committees work in great secrecy. The Members of the Cabinet introduce legislation, control finance, arrange the time-table of the Houses of Parliament, conduct for-

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