Analysis

^*XII. Write out from the sentences the subjects and predicates in two columns (A — B) applying the rule of opposite suffixes. (See "Analysis" § III):

1. Metamorphism changes the original characteristics of rocks. 2. All these factors change rocks. 3. Each closely related group of strata contains its own characteristic assemblage of fossils. 4. These salt deposits contain sodium chloride. 5. Water, glaciers and wind move rock and mineral particles. 6. Each of these agents of transportation and deposition leaves a characteristic stamp upon the sediments formed by it. 7. Water soaks into rocks, dissolves and alters minerals, expands by freezing, and enlarges joints and fractures. 8. Lake deposits abound in glaciated regions.

^*XIII. Write out from the text the predicates having no "signals" in two co-lumns: A — from § 1, В — from §2. State the difference in the forms of the verbs-predicates in "A" and "B".

Section 4 the earth and the solar system

The earth is a member of the solar system of which the sun is the centre. Nine planets, including the earth, revolve around the sun. The earth takes 365¼ days to make a complete revolution about the sun. The earth is farther away from the sun at some times than at others¹ because its course is not circular but elliptical. Its average distance from the sun is 93,003,000 miles.

The earth is almost spherical in form, with a diameter of slightly less than 8000 miles. Precisely speaking, the earth is a spheroid, a sphere flattened slightly at the poles. The polar radius of the earth is a little shorter than its mean equatorial radius. The average density of the earth is 5.52 g/cm³, and it increases toward the earth's centre. The temperature also increases toward the centre. The temperature at the centre of the earth is almost certainly less than 10,000°C², and probably is more than 5,000°C.

The earth rotates on its own axis once in about 24 hours. Its satellite, called the moon, is controlled by the earth. It revolves around the earth once in about 28 days. Although the moon is much smaller than the earth, it has a considerable indirect geological influence upon the earth, because it is the cause of ocean tides which have been of some importance for many millions of years of the earth's history. The geological influence of the sun upon the earth is far greater than that of the moon because it is the chief source of the earth's light, heat and energy which have made largely or wholly possible not only the work of rock weathering, streams, glaciers, and winds, but also plant and animal growth and progressive development.

Notes

¹ at some times than at others — в одни периоды, чем в другие

² 10,000°C = ten thousand degrees Centigrade — 10000° по Цельсию

Words

a) Familiar words:

circle [ˊsə:kl] — circular [ˊsə:kjulə]; to control [kənˊtroul]; course [kɔ:s]; diameter [daɪˊæmɪtə]; distance [ˊdɪstəns]; elliptical [ɪˊlɪptɪkəl]; energy [ˊenəʤɪ]; equator [ɪˊkweɪtə] — equatorial [ˏekwəˊtɔ:rɪəl]; polar [ˊpoulə] — pole [poul]; progressive [prəˊgresɪv]; radius [ˊreɪdɪəs] — radii [ˊreɪdɪaɪ] (pl.); satellite [ˊsætəlaɪt]; sphere [sfɪə] — spherical [ˊsferɪkəl] — spheroid [ˊsfɪəroɪd]; system [ˊsɪstəm]; temperature [ˊtemprɪtʃə]

b) almost [ˊɔ:lmoust] adv почти

average [ˊæv(ə)rɪʤ] а средний

axis [ˊæksɪs], pl. axes [ˊæksi:z] n ось, оси

cause [kɔ:z] n, v причина; вызывать, причинять

certainly [ˊsə:tənlɪ] adv конечно

chief [tʃi:f] а главный, основной

complete [kəmˊpli:t] а полный

considerable [kənˊsɪdərəbl] a значительный

density [ˊdensɪtɪ] n плотность

flat [flæt] а плоский, ровный, горизонтальный

flatten [ˊflætən] v делать плоским (ровным)

heat [hi:t] n, v тепло; нагревать(ся)

increase [ˊɪnkri:s] n увеличение

increase [ɪnˊkri:s] v увеличивать(ся)

indirect [ˏɪndɪˊrekt] а косвенный

influence [ˊɪnfluəns] n влияние

light [laɪt] n свет

mean (=average) [mi:n] a средний

member [ˊmembə] n член

own [oun] а собственный

precisely [prɪˊsaɪslɪ] adv точно

revolve [rɪˊvɔlv] v вращать(ся)

revolution [ˏrevəˊlu:ʃən] n оборот, вращение

rotate [rouˊteɪt] v вращать(ся)

rotation [rouˊteɪʃn] n вращение

slightly [ˊslaɪtlɪ] adv слегка, несколько, почти

solar [ˊsoulə] a солнечный

source [sɔ:s] n источник

tide [taɪd] n прилив

weather [ˊweðə] v выветривать

weathering [ˊweðərɪŋ)] а выветривание