The problem of thor bridge 2 страница
are waking up to начинают осознавать, понимать
Green issues [1Ju:z], ['isju:z] экологические проблемы
it's up to us это зависит от нас; это наше дело
Questions
1. Are you optimistic about the future?
2. Do you believe that robots will do all the dangerous and dirty work for us?
3. What will robots do for us?
4. Do you think children will go to school in the future?
5. What's the difference between a telephone and a videophone?
6. Will writing by hand become the thing of the past?
7. Why do you think people will become healthier?
8. Will our planet become cleaner or more polluted?
9. Pessimists say that one day we'll have to pay for clean air just like we do now for clean water. Do you think it's possible?
10. Will there be wars in the future?
11. Have you ever seen an electric car?
12. Do you think the world will become more democratic?
COMPUTER REVOLUTION
50 years ago people didn't even heard of computers, and today we cannot imagine life without them.
Computer technology is the fastest-growing industry in the world. The first computer was the size of a minibus and weighed a ton. Today, its job can be done by a chip the size of a pin head. And the revolution is still going on.
Very soon we'll have computers that we'll wear on our wrists or even in our glasses and earrings.
The next generation of computers will be able to talk and even think for themselves. They will contain electronic "neural networks". Of course, they'll be still a lot simpler than human brains, but it will be a great step forward. Such computers will help to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, identify criminals and control space travel.
Some people say that computers are dangerous, but I don't agree with them.
They save a lot of time. They seldom make mistakes. It's much faster and easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library.
On-line shopping makes it possible to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money.
E-mail is a great invention, too. It's faster than sending a letter and cheaper than sending a telegram.
All in all, I strongly believe that computers are a useful tool. They have changed our life for the better. So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage?
Vocabulary
computer technology [tek'nolad3i] комгаотерные generation [,d3ena'reijn] поколение
технологии to contain [kan'tein] содержать
industry [Indastri] отрасль промышленности, neural network [,njuaral 'netwa:k] нейронная сеть
индустрия human ['hju:man] человеческий
minibus ['minib/\s] микроавтобус brain [brein] мозг
to weigh [wei] весить step [step] шаг
ton [1лп] тонна to diagnose f'daiagnauz] ставить диагноз
chip [tjip] чип, микросхема to identify [ai'dentifai] опознавать
pin head ['pin hed] булавочная головка criminal ['kriminl] преступник
wrist [rist] запястье dangerous f'deir^aras] опасный
to save [seiv] экономить e-mail [1: meil] электронная почта
to surf [sa:f] the Internet ['intanet] искать, invention [in'venjn] изобретение
"бродить" по Интернету all in all в общем
on-line [pn'lain] shopping покупки через Интернет tool [tu:l] инструмент
(интернет- магазины) So why shouldn't we make them work to our
exactly [ig'zaektli] именно то advantage [ed'va:ntid3]? зд. Почему бы их не за-
price [prais] цена ставить работать на нас?
Questions
1. Have you got a computer?
2. Do you think it's a useful tool?
3. Will computers become smaller in the future?
4. Can the Internet help you to do your homework?
5. Can computers help us to learn foreign languages?
6. Do you play computer games?
7. What are the advantages of on-line shopping?
8. What are the advantages of e-mail?
9. Do you think that computers are bad for health?
10. Some people have made friends through the Internet. What about you?
11. Some people say that computers make us less sociable. Do you agree?
12. What will the next generation of computers be able to do?
WILL WE LIVE IN SPACE?
People have dreamed of travelling in space for thousands of years. But it was not until 1957 that it became a reality.
On October 4, 1957 Russia launched the first man-made satellite into space. It was called Sputnik 1.
On April 12, 1961 the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth.
The first spacewoman in the world was Valentina Tereshkova. She made 48 orbits in 1963 in her Vostok 6.
On July 20, 1969 the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the Moon.
In 1986 the Russian space station Mir was launched.
Progress is inevitable and soon we'll be able to visit and even live on other planets. The 21st century may turn science fiction into science fact.
Scientists are already at work on the International Space Station, a "city of space". It will be the size of a football field and will weigh over 200 tons. A team of 10-15 spacemen will probably be able to live and work at the International Space Station in 2005.
The next step will be the first moonbase. 20 or 30 scientists will live inside a dome with an artificial atmosphere. This will make it possible for them to live and work without spacesuits. It also means that they will be able to grow food.
If the moonbase is a success, the first lunar city will be built. It will have schools and universities, cinemas and discos, scientific laboratories and hospitals. Even babies will be bom on the moon!
The next great step will be when people land on our nearest planet Mars.
Scientists say that the planet once had water on its surface. If that water is now frozen underground, humans will be able to use it someday. By the end of the 2Г' century, scientists hope, it will be possible to "terraform" Mars — transform the planet into an earthlike place with air and water.
Space awaits the 21st century's pioneers.
Vocabulary
reality [ri'aeliti] действительность, реальность man-made [,maen'meid] искусственный
to launch [b:ntj] запускать satellite ['ssetalait] спутник
cosmonaut [,kozma'no:t] космонавт
to orbit ['o:bit] зд. облететь вокруг
astronaut [,aestra'no:t] астронавт
to set foot on ступить на
inevitable [in'evitabl] неизбежный
science fiction [,saians 'fikjn] научная фантастика
to weigh [wei] весить
team [ti:m] команда
step [step] шаг
moonbase ['mumbeis] лунная база
dome [daum] купол
artificial |>:ti'fi;i] искусственный
atmosphere ['setmasfia] атмосфера
spacesuit ['speis(j)u:t] скафандр
to be a success [sak'ses] иметь успех
lunar [1u:na] лунный
surface ['S3:fis] поверхность
frozen f'frauzn] замёрзший, замороженный
humans ['hju:manz] люди
to terraform ['terafo:m] сделать похожим на Землю
earthlike ['3:9laik] похожий на Землю
to await [a'weit] ждать, ожидать
Questions
1. Do you believe that one day we'll be able to live in space?
2. When was Sputnik 1 launched?
3. Who was the first man to orbit our planet?
4. Who was the first spacewoman in the world?
5. Who was the first man to land on the Moon?
6. What do you know about the International Space Station?
7. What will the first lunar city be like?
8. Would you like to live on Mars?
9. Is there water on Mars?
10. Do you think it will be possible to "terraform" Mars?
11. Do you think that one day it will be possible to travel to other galaxies?
12. Do you believe that there's life on other planets?
OUR PLANET EARTH
The planet Earth is only a tiny part of the universe, but it's the only place where human beings can live.
Today, our planet is in serious danger. Acid rains, global warming, air and water pollution, overpopulation are the problems that threaten human life on Earth.
Who is to blame for the disaster? The answer is simple: all of us.
Our forests are disappearing because they are cut down or burnt. If this trend continues, one day we won't have enough oxygen to breathe.
The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilisers 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 may soon become extinct.
Air pollution is another serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is dangerous — equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for many Russian cities.
Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.
An even greater threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are.
Fortunately, it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place. We can plant trees and create parks for endangered species. We can recycle litter. We can support green parties and put pressure on those in power. Together we can save the planet and all of us with it.
Names
the Mediterranean [,medit8'reinian] Средиземное the Aral [a:'ra:l] Sea Аральское море
море Cairo ['kairau] Каир
the North Sea Северное море Chernobyl [tjai'nobl] Чернобыль
Vocabulary
tiny ['taini] крошечный
universe ['ju:niv3:s] вселенная
human being [,hju:man 'bi:io] человек
acid f'aesid] rains кислотные дожди
global ['gteubl] warming глобальное потепление
pollution [pa'lu:Jn] загрязнение
overpopulation [,auvapopju'leijn] перенаселение
to threaten ['6retn] угрожать
to blame ['bleim] винить
disaster [di'za:sta] несчастье, беда
to cut down ['k/\t 'daun] рубить, срубать
trend тенденция
oxygen ['oksid3an] кислород
to breathe ['britd] дышать
poison ['poizn] яд, отрава
industrial and nuclear ['nju:klia] waste промышлен-
ные и ядерные отходы
fertilizer [;f3:tilaiza] удобрение
pesticide f'pestisaid] пестицид
on the brink of extinction [ik'stiijkjn] на грани
исчезновения
to die out вымирать
species ['spi:fi:z] вид, род
to become extinct [ik'stiQkt] вымирать
equivalent [tkwivalant] равноценный, равнознач-
ный
the same holds true for это справедливо для, это
касается и...
to emit [i mit] выбрасывать
harmful ['ha:mfal] вредный
chemicals ['kemikalz] химикалии
emission [i'mijn] выброс
disastrous [di'zarstras] чудовищный
consequence ['konsikwans] последствие
greenhouse effect ['gri:nhaus i,fekt] парниковый
эффект
threat ['9ret] угроза
nuclear power station [,nju:klia 'paua ,steijn]
атомная электростанция
tragic ['traedjik] трагический
technology [tek'nolad3i] технология
endangered [in'deindjad] вымирающий (вид)
to recycle [,ri:'saikl] утилизировать
litter [lite] мусор
to support [sa'po:t] поддерживать
to put pressure ['preja] on оказывать давление на
those in power те, кто находится у власти
Questions
1. Why is our planet in danger?
2. Who is to blame for the disaster?
3. What is happening to our forests?
4. Why are the seas in danger?
5. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. Do you think it's possible to save it?
6. A lot of animals are dying out. But people wear fur coats, crocodile handbags, leather shoes, etc. Are you for or against hunting?
7. Is air pollution a serious problem? Why?
8. The car is now the world's number one polluter. Do you think it's possible to make it cleaner and safer? Have you heard about electric cars?
9. Why are nuclear power stations dangerous? What were the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster?
10. What is the main cause of the greenhouse effect and acid rams?
11. What will happen to our planet if the present trends continue? Do you think that one day it may become uninhabitable?
12. What can we do to save the planet?
CAN WE LIVE LONGER?
Scientists say that in the future people will live longer. With healthier lifestyles and better medical care the average person will live to 90 or 100 instead of 70 and 75 like today. When the human genome is decoded, we'll probably live up to 150. Incurable diseases will be cured and "bad" genes replaced.
But that's tomorrow. And today, we continue to stuff ourselves with fast food — chips and pizzas, hamburgers and hot dogs. We are always in a hurry.
We have no time to enjoy a home-cooked dinner with family and friends. We want to eat now and we want to eat fast.
What is tasty is not always healthy. Doctors say that chips and pizzas are fattening, cola spoils our teeth and coffee shortens our lives.
If we eat too much, we'll become obese, and obesity leads to heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses. But the world today is getting fatter and fatter. America is the world's leader in obesity, but Europe is quickly catching up.
Lack of exercise is another serious problem. We spend hours in front of our computers and TV-sets. Few of us do morning exercises. We walk less, because we prefer to use cars or public transport.
Research shows, however, that young people who don't take enough exercise often suffer from heart attacks.
It's common knowledge that smoking and drinking can shorten our lives dramatically. Cigarette-smoking, for example, kills about 3 million people every year. Many of them die from lung cancer. Some aren't even smokers. They are people who live or work with heavy smokers.
Yet many young people smoke and drink. Why? One answer is that tobacco and drinks companies invest enormous sums of money in advertising their products. For them cigarettes and alcoholic drinks mean money. For us they mean disease and even death.
We all know that the healthier we are, the better we feel. The better we feel, the longer we live. So why not take care of ourselves?
Vocabulary
scientist ['saiantist] ученый healthy ['helSi] здоровый
lifestyle [laifstail] образ жизни
medical care ['medikl ,kea] медицинское обслуживание
average ['aevarids] средний
human ['hju:man] человек; человеческий
genome ['d3i:naum] генетический код, геном
to decode [,di:'kau<3] расшифровывать, декодировать
incurable [in'kjuarabl] неизлечимый
disease [di'zi:z] болезнь
to cure ['kjua] лечить, излечивать
gene ['d3i:n] ген
to replace [ri'pleis] заменять
to stuff [sUf] oneself with зд. набивать желудки
pizza ['pi:tsa] пицца
hamburger ['haembaiga] гамбургер
fattening ['faetnirj] способствующий ожирению,
жирный
cola f'kaula] кола
to spoil [spoil] портить
obese [au'bi:s] тучный
diabetes [,daia'bi:ti:z] диабет
to catch up догонять
lack [laek] нехватка
to prefer [pri'fa:] предпочитать
research [ri'saitj] исследование
to suffer f'SAfa] страдать
heart attack ['ha:t a,taek] сердечный приступ
it's common knowledge ['nolidj] общеизвестно
dramatically [dra'maetikali] резко
lung cancer ['!AQ ,kaensa] рак легких
heavy smoker заядлый курильщик
tobacco [ta'baekau] табак; табачный
to invest [invest] инвестировать, вкладывать
enormous [i'no:mas] огромный
to advertise ['aedvataiz] рекламировать
product ['prodAkt] продукт, товар
alcoholic [,aelka'holik] алкогольный
Questions
1. Do you think people will live longer in the future?
2. Do you believe that one day genetic engineers will be able to correct "gene" mistakes?
3. Do you like fast food? Is it tasty?
4. Why is fast food bad for us?
5. What illnesses does obesity lead to?
6. Are Europeans getting fatter?
7. The USA is the world's leader in obesity, isn't it?
8. Do you take regular exercise?
9. How often do you go for a walk?
10. Do you spend much time in front of your TV-set?
11. Why is smoking dangerous?
12. In some countries tobacco and alcohol advertising has been banned (to ban запрещать). Do you think it's a good idea?
13. Is passive smoking dangerous?
14. Would you like to live a long life?
Mass Media
MASS MEDIA
The mass media play an important part in our lives. Newspapers, radio and especially TV inform us of what is going on in this world and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. They also influence the way we see the world and shape our views.
Of course, not all newspapers and TV programmes report the events objectively, but serious journalists and TV reporters try to be fair and provide us with reliable information.
It is true that the world today is full of dramatic events and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren't interested in ordinary events. That is why there are so many programmes and articles about natural disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news doesn't usually make headlines. Bad news does.
Some people say that journalists are given too much freedom. They often intrude on people's private lives. They follow celebrities and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or half-true. They take photos of them in their most intimate moments. The question is — should this be allowed?
The main source of news for millions of people is television. People like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. And that's an important advantage. Seeing, as we know, is believing. Besides, it's much more difficult for politicians to lie in front of the cameras than on the pages of newspapers.
Still, many people prefer the radio. It's good to listen to in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house.
Newspapers don't react to events as quickly as TV, but they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background information.
The Internet has recently become another important source of information.
Its main advantage is that news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life and you don't have to wait for news time on TV.
Vocabulary
mass media [,maes 'mhdia] средства массовой what's going on что происходит
информации possibility [posa'biliti] возможность
to inform [irrfo:m] сообщать, информировать entertainment [.enta'teinment] развлечение
to report [ri'po:t] сообщать, писать (о)
event [i'vent] событие, происшествие
objectively [ab'd3ektivli] объективно
fair [fee] честный, справедливый
to provide [prepaid] обеспечивать
reliable [rilaiabl] надежный
ordinary ['o:dnri] обычный, заурядный
disaster [di'za:ste] бедствие
crash [kraej] авария
murder ['тз:йэ] убийство
robbery ['robari] грабёж
to make headlines ['hedlainz] попасть в заголовки
газет, вызвать сенсацию
freedom ['fitdam] свобода
to intrude [in'tru:d] вторгаться
private ['praivit] частный, личный
to follow [fblau] преследовать
celebrity [si'lebriti] знаменитость
to print [print] печатать
sensational [sen'seijanl] сенсационный
untrue [Airtru:] ложный, неверный
half-true ['ha:ftru:] полуправдивый
intimate [Intimit] интимный
source [so:s] источник
advantage [ad'va:ntid3] преимущество
Seeing is believing. Лучше раз увидеть, чем сто
раз услышать.
besides [bi'saidz] кроме того
politician [,poli'tijn] политик
to He [lai] лгать
to prefer [pri'fe:] предпочитать
to react [ri'aekt] реагировать
extra detail [,ekstra 'di:teil] дополнительные
сведения, подробности
comment j/komant] комментарий
background ['baekgraund] information "закулисная"
информация
the Internet f'intanet] интернет
recently [Ti:santli] недавно
Questions
1. Do the media play an important part in your life?
2. Do you think that the media influence our life?
3. Millions of people get most of their news from television. What about you?
4. Do you read newspapers?
5. When do you usually listen to the radio?
6. Do you agree that most news we get from the media is bad news?
7. Do you think it would be nice if all news printed in newspapers and shown on TV was good news?
8. Do you think that journalists are given too much freedom?
9. If people have died in a plane crash, should their bodies be shown on TV?
10. How do paparazzi ([,paepa'raetsi]) earn their living?
11. Are you interested in politics? Don't you think that some politicians use the media to influence their voters (['vautaz] избиратели)?
12. What is the main advantage of the Internet?
TV OR NOT TV?
Whether we realise it or not, TV plays a very important part in our lives.
It's the main source of information and a cheap form of entertainment for millions of people.
It's the window on the world which gives us an opportunity to "travel" all over the world, to "meet" different people and learn about their customs and traditions .
It has the power to educate and broaden our minds.
It helps us to relax after a hard day's work and escape from reality.
There's always a great variety of programmes on TV: news and sports programmes, talk shows and TV games, documentaries and feature films, concerts and theatre performances...
Of course, not all programmes are good. But many are made in good taste and with great professional skill.
Some people argue that television is a terrible waste of time. It makes us lazier. We stay at home instead of going out. We read less. We think less. We even talk less.
It's true that some TV addicts spend hours in front of the "box" watching whatever's on — from second-rate Mexican soap operas to silly commercials.
The trick is to learn to control television and use it intelligently. The ideal is to turn on the TV-set only when there's a really interesting programme.
Violence on TV is another problem that worries people. As George Mikes once said, TV teaches us "how to kill, to rob, to shoot and to poison."
But the same can be said about computer games and many films and books.
And if you don't like a certain programme, why watch it?
Names
George Mikes ['mikej] Джордж Микеш (английский писатель-юморист венгерского происхождения)
Vocabulary
source [so:s] источник to educate ['edjukeit] обучать, развивать
entertainment [.enta'teinment] развлечение broaden ['bro:dn] one's mind расширять кругозор
opportunity [ppa'tjir.niti] возможность to relax [ttlaeks] расслабляться
power ['раиэ] сила, способность hard day's work тяжелый трудовой день
to escape [i'skeip] from reality уходить от реальности
variety [ve'raiati] разнообразие
documentary [,dokju'menteri] документальный
фильм
feature film ['fhtja ,film] художественный
фильм
in good taste со вкусом
professional [prefejnl] skill профессиональное
мастерство
to argue ['aigju:] спорить, возражать
waste of time бесполезная трата времени
addict f'aedikt] наркоман, зд. человек, которого
не оторвешь от телевизора
box разг. "ящик", телевизор
whatever's on что бы ни показывали (по теле-
визору)
second-rate [,sekend'reit] низкосортный, посредст-
венный
Mexican ['meksiken] мексиканский
soap opera f'saup ppere] "мыльная опера"
commercial [ke'maifl] телереклама
the trick is зд. секрет в том (что)
intelligently [in'telid3entli] с умом
ideal [ai'diel] идеал
violence [vaielens] насилие
to rob грабить
to shoot [Ju:t] (shot) стрелять
to poison f'poizn] отравлять, отравить
Questions
1. How often do you watch TV?
2. What are your favourite programmes?
3. Which is your favourite channel?
4. The average Russian teenager spends about 20 hours a week in front of the TV-set. What about you?
5. Why is TV often called "the window on the world"?
6. Do you agree that television has the power to educate?
7. What do you think of commercials? Do they annoy you?
8. Do you enjoy watching "soaps"?
9. Do you think that there's too much violence on TV?
10. Do you believe that violence on TV may turn people into criminals?
11. Some people say that television kills conversation. Do you agree?
12. Do you use TV intelligently?
NEWSPAPERS
In the past people learnt about news from newspapers. Nowadays people usually learn what is happening in the country and in the world from TV or radio news programmes or from the Internet.
Still we cannot imagine our life without newspapers. There are dozens of them on every news-stand. There are newspapers for professionals, for businessmen, for children and teenagers, for men and women, for sports fans, for those who are interested in gardening and for those who keep pets.
Some newspapers publish serious articles on politics, economy and finance, some aim to entertain their readers. Many newspapers express certain political opinion and people choose them according to their own political beliefs. In short, you can always find a paper which suits your interests.
Besides, there are many free local newspapers which are put into your postbox whether you ask for it or not. Probably they are not interesting, because they consist mainly of advertisements, but you can find a lot of useful telephone numbers and addresses there.
My parents subscribe to Argumenty i Facty. I also like this weekly. I don't read all the articles, but in every issue I find something interesting. I think that most articles are very well written, they give a detailed and well-balanced analysis of current events and trends in economy. I like to read articles on social issues, interviews, reviews of new books, plays and TV shows. One of my favourite columns is The Quotation of the Day, where they quote our popular politicians and give their comments. Sometimes it's very funny.
Quite often I buy Sovershenno Secretno (Top Secret) and practically in each issue there are some fascinating stories which you read like a detective story.
Sometimes they uncover things I have not heard about, sometimes they show well-known events in a completely new light.
From time to time I read Moskovsky Komsomolets. It's one of the most popular daily papers, but I don't consider it serious. However, I never miss an article written by Minkin. I think he is a very good journalist. I also like Merinov's cartoons. Sometimes they publish good reviews of new films, new CDs and so on.
In short, I think that TV, radio and the Internet have their advantages, but nothing can substitute newspapers.
Vocabulary
to imagine [i'maedjin] представлять себе dozens ['d/vznz] масса, множество
news-stand ['nju:zstaend] газетный киоск
fan [faen] поклонник, болельщик
politics ['politiks] политика
economy [i'konami] экономика
finance [fai'nsens] финансы
to aim [eim] ставить целью
to entertain [,enta'tein] развлекать