Английский язык : практикум по чтению научно-популярных текстов

ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ АГЕНТСТВО ПО ОБРАЗОВАНИЮ 

№ 1999 

Кафедра русского и иностранных языков и литературы 

Е.В. Вардашкина 
А.В. Щербакова 

Английский язык 

Практикум по чтению научно-популярных текстов 

Рекомендовано редакционно-издательским 
советом университета 

Москва     Издательский Дом МИСиС     2010 

УДК 811.111 
 
В18 

Р е ц е н з е н т  
д-р пед. наук А.К. Крупченко (АПК и ППРО) 

Вардашкина Е.В., Щербакова А.В. 
В18  
Английский язык: Практикум по чтению науч.-попул. текстов. – М.: Изд. Дом МИСиС, 2010. – 110 с. 
ISBN 978-5-87623-321-9 

Целью практикума является формирование иноязычной профессиональной коммуникативной компетенции технических специалистов через развитие навыков различных видов чтения научно-популярной литературы. Материал и система упражнений практикума предполагают усвоение предлагаемого лексического и грамматического материала, развитие навыка устной 
речи, навыков чтения и работы с литературой по специальности, способствуют формированию навыка адекватного перевода. 
Практикум соответствует учебной программе подготовки бакалавров и 
специалистов по английскому языку. 
Предназначен для студентов всех специальностей и направлений II курса 
Института новых материалов и нанотехнологий. 

УДК 811.111 

ISBN 978-5-87623-321-9 
© Вардашкина Е.В., 
Щербакова А.В., 2010 

CONTENTS 

Предисловие.......................................................................................................... 4 
Chapter 1. Language Practice................................................................................. 5 
Unit I. Some Facts about Matter ........................................................................ 5 
Text 1. ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF MATTER. ELECTRONS IN 
MOTION........................................................................................................ 7 
Text 2. IMAGING ATOMS ........................................................................ 14 
Text 3. ELECTRONS IN ORBIT................................................................ 15 
Text 4. NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY.............................................................. 16 
Unit II. New Materials and Their Properties.................................................... 16 
Text 1. NANOMATERIALS....................................................................... 19 
Text 2. CONDUCTIVITY OF MATERIALS............................................. 25 
Text 3. NANOTECHNOLOGY: ON THE BRINK OF A REVOLUTION27 
Text 4. RECOMBINATION........................................................................ 28 
Unit III. The Age of Robots and Nanotechnology........................................... 28 
Text 1. ROBOTS IN PERSPECTIVE......................................................... 31 
Text 2. THE PAST AND THE FUTURE OF LASERS ............................. 38 
Text 3. LASERS IN ART AND ENTERTAINMENT ............................... 40 
Text 4. DRAWBACKS IN ROBOTICS ..................................................... 40 
Chapter 2. Grammar Practice ............................................................................... 41 
The Passive Voice............................................................................................ 41 
The Participle. The Absolute Participial Construction .................................... 45 
The Infinitive. The Infinitive Constructions .................................................... 51 
The Gerund. The Complex with the Gerund.................................................... 57 
Chapter 3. Supplementary Reading...................................................................... 61 
Text 1. ENERGY ............................................................................................. 61 
Text 2. OUR ELECTRONIC WORLD ........................................................... 61 
Text 3. DEVELOPMENT OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES .................... 63 
Text 4. SOME FACTS ABOUT CRYSTALS................................................. 65 
Text 5. RADAR................................................................................................ 67 
Text 6. LASER APPLICATIONS ................................................................... 67 
Text 7. PLASTICS AS ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS ............................... 68 
Text 8. ELECTRONIC INK – REVOLUTION IN INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY............................................................................................... 69 
Text 9. HOW E-INK WILL WORK................................................................ 70 
Text 10. NEUTRINOS..................................................................................... 71 
APPENDIX I. GRAMMAR REFERENCE..................................................... 72 
APPENDIX II. GLOSSARY ........................................................................... 82 
APPENDIX III. SOME GREAT NAMES IN PHYSICS................................ 85 
VOCABULARY .............................................................................................. 92 
Библиографический список............................................................................. 109 

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ 

Практикум состоит из трех глав, трех приложений и словаря активной лексики.  
Первая глава содержит три раздела. Каждый раздел включает в 
себя научно-популярные тексты по специальности, лексические упражнения, направленные на закрепление пройденного материала, 
практическое овладение активной лексикой, развитие навыка устной 
речи. Тексты каждого раздела предназначены для разных видов чтения: изучающего, просмотрового и поискового. В разделах предусмотрены тексты для письменного перевода, целью которого является проверка умения студента работать со словарем. 
Вторая глава содержит большое количество грамматических упражнений, направленных на закрепление грамматического материала.  
Третья глава включает в себя 10 дополнительных текстов, направленных на развитие навыков чтения научно-популярных и научнотехнических текстов по специальности, умение обрабатывать информацию и выявлять основные моменты прочитанного. 

CHAPTER 1. LANGUAGE PRACTICE 

Unit I. Some Facts about Matter 

A. Pre-Reading 
Ex.1. Read the heading of the Unit. Investigate the idea of matter. 
a) Name some words and phrases related to matter. 
b) Guess the meaning of these words (international words). 
Positive, negative, to occupy, neutral, a form, to form, portions of 
molecules, an atomic theory, extreme temperatures, orbital electrons, a 
conductor, conductive, an insulator, a mass. 

Ex. 2 Learn to pronounce the words given below. 
a) atom [/ætəm], molecule [/moulikjul], weight [weit], electron [i/lektrən], 
path [pa:ѳ], proton [/proutən], neutron [/nju:trən], charge [/t∫a:dʒ], particle 
[/pa:tikl], equal [/i:kwəl], compare [kəm/pεə], excess [ik/ses], dimension 
[di/men∫ən], current [/kΛrənt], lose [lu:z], loose [lu:s], occupy [/okjupai], 
nucleus [/nju:kliəs], retain [ri/tein], mica [/maikə], rubber [/rΛbə], temperature [/temprit∫ə], pressure [/pre∫ə], structure [/strΛkt∫ə] 
b)  
/increase (n) 
in/crease (v) 
 
/import (n) 
im/port (v) 
 
/decrease (n) 
de/crease (v) 
 
/export (n) 
ex/port (v) 
 
/present (n,adj) 
pre/sent (v) 
 
/subject (n) 
sub/ject (v) 
  
/object (n) 
ob/ject (v) 

Ex. 3. Learn the words given below. 
matter (n) 
– материя; 
unit (n) 
– элемент, единица измерения, глава (в книге); 
pattern (n) 
– модель, структура, образец, форма; 
space lattice (n) 
– пространственная решетка; 
particle (n) 
– частица; 
dimension (n) 
– размер, измерение; 
syn: size 
  
charge (n,v) 
– заряд; заряжать; 
excess (n) 
– избыток, излишек; 
in excess of 
– больше, сверх (нормы); 
excessive (adj) 
– чрезмерный; 
current (n) 
– ток, поток; 

lack (n,v) 
– недостаток, нехватка; не иметь, испытывать 
недостаток; 
weight (n) 
– вес; 
loose (adj) 
– свободный, несвязанный, просторный; 
ant: tight 
– плотный, связанный, тесный; 
considerable (adj) 
– значительный; 
be composed of (v) 
– состоять из; 
syn: consist of (v) 
 
be made up of (v) 
 
make up (v) 
– составлять; 
arrange (v) 
– организовывать, располагать, классифицировать; 
arrangement (n) 
– расположение (в определенном порядке); 
compare (v) 
– сравнивать; 
comparison (n) 
– сравнение; 
in comparison with 
– по сравнению с; 
comparative (adj) 
– сравнительный; 
retain (v) 
– сохранять; 
gain (v) 
– приобретать; 
ant: lose 
– терять; 
consider (v) 
– рассматривать, считать; 
equal (v,adj) 
– уравнивать; равный; 
be equal to 
– равняться; 
according to (pr) 
– в соответствии, согласно. 

Ex. 4. Give the Russian equivalents of the word combinations given 
below. 
At extremely high temperatures, to be concentrated within the nucleus, 
the total space occupied by an atom, a loose structure of electrons, a negatively charged particle, to make up a crystalline structure, a difference of 
potential, a conductive path, to occupy the nuclei, a free exchange of orbital electrons, to form the electric current. 

Ex. 5. Match the questions with the answers. 
1) What is an atom? 
a) An atom is made up of a massive 
nucleus 
and 
small 
negatively 
charged electrons. 
2) How are atoms or molecules 
arranged? 
b) It is equal to the positive nucleus 
charge. 
3) What is an atom composed of? 
c) It is the smallest unit of matter. 
4) What are electrons? 
d) It is the movement of electrons in 
a conductor. 

5) What is the negative electron 
charge equal to? 
e) They are arranged according to a 
definite pattern, which is called a 
space lattice. 
6) What is an electric current? 
f) They are negatively charged particles surrounding a nucleus. 

B. Text Study 

Ex. 6. Skim Text 1 to complete the following statements. 
a) This text considers … . 
b) It gives us some information about … . 
c) It tells us how … . 
d) It explains the difference … . 

Text 1. ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF MATTER. 
ELECTRONS IN MOTION 

1. The development of a scientific theory started with John Dalton in 
1803. Since then through important discoveries, scientists have been able to 
present a true picture of an atomic structure of matter. All matter is composed of atoms and molecules. Atoms are the smallest units of matter into 
which an element can be subdivided and still retain the properties of that 
element. A modern theory considers that at extremely high temperatures all 
molecules break up to form atoms or portions of molecules. The atoms or 
molecules making up a crystalline structure are arranged according to a 
definite geometrical pattern. This pattern is known to be a space lattice. 
2. Atoms consist of massive nuclei and small negatively charged particles called “electrons”. The mass of an electron was found to be about 
2.000 times as small as the lightest atom, the hydrogen atom. The positive 
electricity is concentrated within the nucleus of dimensions very small 
compared with the total space occupied by an atom. This nucleus is responsible for practically the whole of the atomic mass. 
3. An atom is a loose structure of electrons surrounding a heavy central 
core, the atomic nucleus, which is about one tenthousandth the size of the 
atom. It was later discovered that the nucleus consists of positively 
charged particles called “protons” and other particles of about the same 
weight without any charge, called “neutrons”. 
4. The negative electron charge equals the positive nucleus charge: 
hence, the atom has no charge. However, sometimes an atom may gain an 
electron, and then it has a negative charge. If an atom loses an electron, 
the nucleus protons are more numerous than the negative electrons, so the 
atom has a positive charge. 

5. A body with a considerable excess of electrons has a strong negative 
charge; one with few electrons has a strong positive charge. Thus, there is 
a difference of potential. 
6. If something allowing a free movement of electrons is placed between the negative and the positive charges, electrons move along this 
conductive path to occupy the nuclei, which lack electrons. This movement is an electric current and it can take place through any conductor. 
7. A conductor readily allows the free exchange of orbital electrons, so 
electrons forming the electric current can move from atom to atom along 
the material. Silver and copper are good conductors. A perfect insulator 
would allow no exchange of electrons. Hence, there would be no movement from atom to atom, and no current would flow. Glass, mica and rubber are good insulators. 

Ex. 7. Scan the text in order to find 
a) the information about matter; 
b) the definition of an atom (an electric current, an electron, a space lattice); 
c) the information about the structure of an atom. 

Ex. 8. Divide the words into four columns according to their parts of 
speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Translate them. 
Electric, lightest, soften, massive, movement, considerably, in/crease, orbital, /object, positively, sub/ject, property, concentrate, crystalline, conductor, crystallize, difference, pre/sent. 

Ex. 9. Find 2 words with 
a) a close meaning 
weight – size – width – dimension – length 
unit – structure – matter – lattice – pattern 
loose – considerable – comparative – free – extreme 
consist – discover – arrange – be composed – retain 
conduct – increase – surround – flow – raise 
matter – structure – insulator – conductor – non-conductor 
charge – keep – occupy – move – retain 
b) an opposite meaning 
considerable – tight – strong – extreme – loose 
wide – weak – high – loose – strong 
compose – have – make up – charge – lack 
lose – occupy – move – gain – form 
wide – light – strong – heavy – deep 
small – scientific – dielectric – electric – conductive 

Ex. 10. Match English words and phrases with their Russian equivalents. 
1) to present a true picture of atoms 
and molecules 
a) согласно определённой модели 

2) the smallest units of matter 
b) одна десятитысячная размера 
атома 
3) the lightest atom 
c) электроны, образующие электрический ток 
4) the nucleus is responsible for 
d) ток не течёт 
5) the development of a scientific 
theory 
e) сильный отрицательный заряд 

6) one tenthousandth the size of the 
atom 
f) представлять истинную картину атомов и молекул 
7) to move along the conductive 
path 
g) ядро отвечает за 

8) no current flows 
h) мельчайшие элементы материи 
9) a strong negative charge 
i) развитие научной теории 
10) electrons forming the electric 
current 
j) двигаться по пути проводимости 
11) according to a definite pattern 
k) самый легкий атом 

Ex. 11. Find in Text 1 the English equivalents for these wordcombinations. 
Представлять истинную картину атомного строения материи; сохранять свойства; развитие атомной теории; располагаться в определённом порядке; молекулы распадаются; в 2 000 раз меньше; свободная структура; разница потенциала; свободное перемещение электронов; приобретать (терять) электрон; значительный избыток электронов; по сравнению с …; не иметь электронов; слюда; резина (каучук); нехватка электронов; двигаться внутри ядра. 

Ex. 12. Find a) in paragraphs 1 and 2 the passive constructions, b) in 
paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 participles and participial phrases. 

C. Activity 

Ex. 13. A. Fill in the blanks in the texts with the words given in the 
boxes. 

atom 
the nucleus 
heavy 
a number of 
weights 

charge 
carried out 
properties 
nuclear 
isotopes 

THE NUCLEI OF ATOMS 
In 1911 the British physicist Ernest Rutherford ... some experiments 
which showed that every ... contains, in addition to one or more electrons, 
another particle called ... of the atom. 
Every nucleus has a positive electric ... . It is very small. It is about as 
big as an electron about 10–12 cm in diameter (ten to the minus twelfth 
power). It is very ... – the lightest nucleus is 1836 times as heavy as an 
electron. There are many different kinds of every other element. 
A part of no lesser importance is played by radioactive and stable ... 
obtained in ... reactors and special separation plants. Isotopes are various 
forms of the same chemical elements differing in their atomic ... and 
physical ... , but chemically identical. Almost every chemical element has 
... isotopes. 

compounds 
mass 
experiments 
radiation 
ejection 

consisted 
contains 
resolved 
due to 
penetrate 

NEUTRONS 

Frederic Joliot and his wife Irene Curie made ... in 1932 with beryllium 
and found that some of ... given off by beryllium was able to ... a lead 
shield that normally absorbs gamma rays. It was also observed that this 
radiation could cause the ... of protons of very high energy from hydrogen 
containing ... . 
Chadwick found that the radiation ... of neutral particles having a mass 
of 1, the same as proton. He called it “a neutron”. The discovery of the 
neutron ... the problem of the “extra” mass in the lithium nucleus. The 
lithium nucleus now ... three protons and four neutrons. 
The charge of the atom is entirely ... the protons in it. Its mass and, 
therefore its atomic weight, is determined by the combined ... of its protons and neutrons. 

B. Ask each other the questions about the texts. 

Ex. 14. Render the following sentences in English. 
1. Все вещества состоят из молекул и атомов. 2. Атом считается 
мельчайшей частицей материи. 3. Атомы составляют кристаллическую структуру и располагаются в определенном порядке в пространственной решетке. 4. Атом состоит из тяжелого ядра и отрицательно заряженных электронов. 5. Электроны занимают пространство вокруг положительно заряженного ядра. 6. Иногда атом может 
терять электроны, тогда он становится положительным. 7. Если тело