Science and Technology
In recent years, scientific and technological developments have drastically changed life on our planet as well as our views both of ourselves as individuals in society and of the Universe as a whole.
Today, science and technology are closely related. Many modern technologies such as nuclear power and space flights depend on science and the application of scientific knowledge and principles. Each advance in pure science creates new opportunities for the development of new ways of making things to be used in daily life. In turn, technology provides science with new and more accurate instruments for its investigation and research.
Technology refers to the ways in which people use discoveries to satisfy needs and desires, to alter the environment, to improve their lives. Throughout human history, men and women have invented tools, machines, materials and techniques to make their lives easier.
Of course, when we speak of technology today, we are looking at it in a much narrower sense. Generally, we mean industrial technology, or the technology that began about 200 years ago with the development of power-driven machines, growth of the factory system, and mass production of goods that has created the basis for our modern society. Today we often say that we live in an age of science and technology. According to one estimate, 90 % of all the scientists who ever lived, were alive and active in the 1970-s. This increased scientific activity has brought new ideas, processes, and inventions in ever-growing amount.
The scientific revolution that began in the 16th century was the first time that science and technology began to work together. Thus, Galileo, who made revolutionary discoveries in astronomy and physics, also built an improved telescope and patented a system of lifting water. However, it was not until the 19th century that technology truly was based on science and inventors began to build on the work of scientists. For example, Thomas Edison built on the early experiments of Faraday and Henry in his invention of the first practical system of electrical lighting. So too, Edison carried on his investigations until he found the carbon filament for the electric bulb in a research laboratory. This was the first true modern technological research.
In a sense, the history of science and technology is the history of all humankind.
Topical Vocabulary
science and technology - наука и техника
technology – техника, технология
scientific and technological developments - достижения науки и техники
to change life drastically - резко изменить жизнь
a view of smb., smth. – взгляд на кого-либо, что-либо
the Universe - Вселенная
to be closely related – быть тесно связанным
nuclear power – атомная энергия
a space flight – космический полет
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application of scientific knowledge and principles - применение научных знаний и принципов
an advance in pure science - прогресс в чистой науке
to create new opportunities for smth. – создавать новые возможности для чего-либо
an instrument for investigation and research – инструмент исследований
to satisfy needs and desires – для удовлетворения нужд и потребностей
to alter the environment - изменить окружающую среду
to improve one's life - улучшить чью-либо жизнь
throughout human history – на всем протяжении истории человечества
to invent tools, machines, materials and techniques – изобретать инструменты, машины, материалы, технологии
to make one's life easier – облегчить чью-либо жизнь
to look at smth. in a much narrower sense - посмотреть на что-либо в значительно узком смысле
industrial technology - промышленная технология
development of power-driven machines - развитие паровых машин
growth of the factory system - рост фабричной системы
mass production of goods - массовое производство товаров
to create the basis for smth. – создать основу для чего-либо
an age of science and technology - век науки и техники
according to one estimate - по одной оценке
increased scientific activity – возросшая научная активность
an invention - изобретение
the scientific revolution – научная революция
to make a revolutionary discovery in smth. – сделать революционное открытие в какой-либо области
astronomy - астрономия
physics - физика
to patent smth. – запатентовать изобретение
to be based on science - основываться на науке
an inventor - изобретатель
to build on the work of scientists - основываться на научных работах
early experiments - более ранние эксперименты
electrical lighting - электрическое освещение
to carry on an investigation - проводить исследование
an electric bulb - электрическая лампочка
a research laboratory - исследовательская лаборатория
modern technological research – современное научно-техническое исследование
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Answer the questions:
1 What role has scientific and technological development played in man's life?
2 What proves that science and technology are closely related today?
3 What does the term «technology» refer to?
4 What does the term «industrial technology» mean?
5 How is scientific activity in the 1970-ies estimated?
6 What facts prove that the scientific revolution of the 16th century was the first time that science and technology began to work together?
7What was the first true modern technological research?
8 How can the history of humankind be described?
Space Exploration
Exploration of outer space in the 20th century has produced discoveries and inventions that will forever change the way people live, learn and interact.
The dream of space travel is as old as history but in the 20th century the dream became reality with astonishing swiftness. As you recall, the first airplane flight occurred in 1903 and in 1926 the first liquid-fuelled rocket was launched that traveled 200 feet.
After World War II, the superpower opposition between the USA and the Soviet Union stimulated rocket research and development. Both nations realized that large rockets can be used to attack an enemy from thousands of miles away and that satellites put into orbit around the Earth by rockets could transmit messages.
The Soviet launch of sputnik, the first man-made object to overcome gravity, began the space age. The Soviet Union soon achieved many other firsts. In 1961, the Soviet Union put the first man, Yuri Gagarin, into space. The first long space flights, a woman in space and space walk were all Soviet achievements. The Soviet Union still retains its leadership in the peaceful application of space exploration. In its Salyut 6, it investigated such vital matters as the causes of cancer, since cells are studied in gravity-free space. The construction of metals that can resist gravity has resulted in tools of incredible hardness; improved seeds have been developed in Salyut.
In the early 1960s the United States organized the Apollo space program. This research program concentrated on landing a man on the moon. Two Americans, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrim, walked on the lunar surface in July 1961.
Since the first moon landing, many nations have developed programs of space exploration. A network of communication satellites made world-wide television and telephone service possible. Space shuttles allowed regular trips between Earth and space. Scientific satellites were put in the Earth's orbit. Voyages toVenus were made by the Soviet spaceships, voyages to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - by the American spaceships.
This scientific progress has since resulted in hundreds of benefits for mankind, from the weather satellites whose information we see in our daily newspapers and on TV, to determining from outer space where fish is, where natural resources are hidden in the earth and in discovering areas which are becoming deserts.
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Topical Vocabulary
space exploration – исследование космоса
exploration of outer space – исследование открытого космоса
to produce discoveries and inventions – вызвать открытия и изобретения
the dream of space travel – мечта о космических путешествиях
to become reality – стать реальностью
an aeroplane flight – полет на самолете
to occur - случиться
to launch a liquid-fuelled rocket – запустить ракету на жидком топливе
the superpower opposition – противостояние великих держав
to stimulate rocket research and development – стимулировать исследования и изобретения в области ракетных полетов
to attack an enemy from... miles away - нападать на противника с расстояния в …миль
a satellite - спутник
to put smth. into orbit by rockets – запустить что-либо на орбиту с помощью ракет
to transmit a message – передать сообщение
launch of sputnik - запуск спутника
a man-made object - искусственный объект
to overcome gravity - преодолеть земное притяжение
to begin the space age - открыть космическую эру
to achieve a first – сделать что-либо впервые
to put the first man into space – запустить в космос первого человека
a long space flight - длительный космический полет
space walk – выход в космос
to retain one's leadership in smth. – сохранить лидерство в какой-либо области
the peaceful application of smth. – мирное применение чего-либо
to investigate smth. – исследовать что-либо
causes of cancer - причины возникновения рака
gravity-free space – пространство, где не действуют силы притяжения
to resist gravity – противостоять притяжению
to concentrate on smth. – ставить основной целью что-либо
landing a man on the moon - высадка человека на Луну
to walk on the lunar surface – пройти по поверхности Луны
a moon landing – приземление на Луну
to develop a program of space exploration - разработать программу исследования космоса
a network of communication satellites - сеть спутников связи
to make world-wide television and telephone service possible – сделать возможным международное телевидение и телефонную связь
a space shuttle – космический корабль многократного использования
to allow regular trips – сделать возможным регулярное сообщение
a scientific satellite – научный спутник
to be put in the Earth's orbit – быть выведенным на орбиту Земли
to make a voyage to – путешествовать, отправиться к
a spaceship – космический корабль
scientific progress – научный прогресс
to result in benefits for mankind – принести человечеству выгоды
a weather satellite – метеорологический спутник
to determine from outer space – определять из открытого космоса
Answer the questions:
1 How has the space exploration changed the life of mankind?
2 Why can you say that the dream of space travel became reality with astounding swiftness?
3 In what way has the superpower opposition stimulated the space research?
4 What «firsts» in space exploration has the Soviet Union achieved?
5 What peaceful applications of space exploration can you name?
6 What did the US Apollo space program concentrate on?
7 Whatbenefits for mankind has space exploration brought?
The Oil Industry
Petroleum is the name of a mineral oil. Oil comes from under the ground. Crude oil comes from the wells or boreholes. Boreholes are often very deep. The steel framework over the well is the derrick. From the derrick the machinery drills holes through rock, earth or sand. Oil usually flows freely but men control its natural flow. The natural flow of oil is the result of the pressure of the natural gas in oil or the result of the pressure between the petroleum and the roof of the rock above it.
Crude oil contains various materials, liquids. By the process of refining we obtain petrol, paraffin, and other products from crude oil. We obtain various fuels from it too. Fuels drive ships, planes, buses and so on. Diesel engines burn oil fuel. Many tractors burn diesel oil. Jet engines burn kerosene (paraffin oil).
Nowadays oil industry is an advanced, highly mechanized and reliable sector of the economy. It has highly productive rigs that can drill down to oil and gas deposits lying at depths of more than six kilometers. Today more than 2,000 products are made from oil: fuel for aircraft and for internal combustion engines, fuel for boilers and furnaces, lubricants, bitumen for the manufacture of asphalt, lacquers, solvents, and so on. Oil byproducts are used in making plastics and synthetic substances.
Work is in progress to set up a major oil industry center in Western Siberia, to raise oil extraction, to contract gas pipelines to deliver gas to the Urals and the European part of the Russia and also pipelines to oil refineries in Siberia, and the European part of the country.
Regular oil prospecting throughout the country began in the thirties. Geologists discovered deposits in the Ural-Volga area. In 1932 discoveries followed one after another in this large area. A new oil center "The Second Baku" arose between the Volga and the Urals in 1939.
The rapid development of the Ural-Volga resources made it possible to supply the Russian Army with fuel and lubricants in the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War.
The Ural-Volga field comprises more than 350 deposits and accounts for over half of the Russia oil production. The expansion of the Ural-Volga extraction industry was particularly rapid in the post-war years.
In the sixties, geologists discovered rich deposits of oil on the vast area of the West Siberia, in the Tyumen and Tomsk regions.
Despite the rigorous climate, the oilmen and builders harnesses the West Siberia deposits to the national economy in a short space of time.
Dozens of big research institutes and design organizations appeared to solve important scientific problems, to plan and analyse the exploitation of the deposits, and to improve drilling and pumping techniques. The oil districts have their own research institutes and design offices.
Topical Vocabulary
petroleum – нефть, нефтяной
crude oil – неочищенная нефть
well - скважина
borehole – буровая скважина
framework – корпус, каркас
derrick – буровая вышка
contain – содержать
refine – очищать, рафинировать
obtain – получать, добывать
petrol – бензин, моторное топливо
fuel – горючее, топливо
reliable sector – надежный сектор
rig – буровая вышка
internal combustion engine – двигатель внутреннего сгорания
boiler – паровой котел
furnace - печь
lubricant – смазочный материал
lacquer – лак
solvent - растворитель
oil extraction – нефтедобыча
contract pipeline – протянуть трубопровод
oil prospecting – разведка нефти
oil deposits – залежи нефти
the rigorous climate – суровый климат
harness - использовать
Answer the questions:
1 Where does crude oil come from?
2 What substances does crude oil contain?
3 What substances are obtained from crude oil by the process of refining?
4 How can you characterize the oil industry nowadays?
5 Where was a new oil center "The Second Baku" discovered?
6 Where else were rich deposits of oil discovered?