Science and Technology

In recent years scientific and technological developments have greatly changed the life on our planet. We have got better understanding of the world around us and higher standards of living.

Today science and technology are closely connected. Many modern technologies such as nuclear power and space flights depend on science. Each advance in science creates new opportunities for developing better products for everyday life. In its turn, technology provides science with new instruments for research.

Technology can give us the ways in which people use discoveries for different aims. It satisfies their needs and desires, changes the environment and improves their lives. For all human history men and women have invented tools, machines and techniques to make their lives easier. When we speak of technology, today, we are looking at it in a much narrower sense. We mean industrial technology or the technology that began about 200 years ago. It was the time when the power-driven machines were developed and the number of factories began to grow. Thus, the mass production of goods has created the basis for our modern society.

Today we say that we live in an age of science and technology. According to statistics, 90% of all scientists lived and worked in the 1970s. This scientific activity has brought new ideas, processes and inventions to our life.

1.10. Найдите в тексте эквиваленты для следующих словосочетаний:

достижения науки и техники

атомная энергия и космические полеты

создавать новые возможности

в свою очередь

обеспечит науку новыми инструментами исследования

удовлетворять нужды и потребности

посмотреть на что-то в более узком смысле

станки с механическим приводом

массовое производство товаров

1.11. Подберите пары слов, имеющих сходные значения:

А В

opportunity progress

different plant

factory purpose

change various

aim possibility

advance adapt

1.12. Найдите в каждом ряду слово, имеющее противоположное значение,

по образцу: 1-b

1. look for a) search b) lose c) change d) live

2. higher a) better b) easier c) lower d) newer

3. easy a) difficult b) modern c) great d) much

4. narrow a) wide b) recent c) different d) way

5. create a) provide b) depend c) break d) improve

6. different a) same b) difficult c) scientific d) today

1.1.3. Подтвердите или опровергните следующие утверждения (True/False). Дайте правильный вариант:

1. The scientific and technological revolution has brought great changes in people’s life and work.

2. With the development of science we have got lower standards of living.

3. Science and technology are not connected at all.

4. Science provides technology with new instruments for research.

5. People use discoveries to improve their lives.

6. Industrial technology began 50 years ago.

1.14. Сопоставьте колонки а и б, чтобы получилось логически законченное предложение.

А 1). Modern technology depends 2). Progress in science creates 3). Throughout human history man and woman 4). Scientific development makes it possible 5). Modern technology began 6). The mass production of goods

B a) have invented tools, machines, materials and techniques to make their lives easier. b) to use new discoveries for satisfying needs and desires. c) on achievements in the field of science. d) new opportunities for producing better things for everyday life. e) has created the basis for modern society. f) with development of power-driven machines.