Innovations; to predict secondary effect; technology; a creative and a destructive process; plenty of things; systematized knowledge; the rate of technological change
I. Read and translate the following text.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGIES IN THE MODERN WORLD
Science (Latin scientia, from scire, "to know") is a term used in its broadest meaning to denote systematized knowledge in any field. The term “Technology” is derived from the Greek words tekhne, which refers to an art or craft, and logia, meaning an area of study; thus, technology means, literally, the study of crafting.
Many historians of science argue not only that technology is an essential condition of advanced, industrial civilization but also that the rate of technological change has developed its own momentum in recent centuries.
The 20th century gave us a plenty of things that improve our lives: TV, calculators, mobile phones, CDs... It also gave us some household objects that make our lives easier and more comfortable.
TV. A Russian engineer Vladimir Zvorykin emigrated to the USA and there in 1931 produced an apparatus that later became known as a television set. The first TV station was located on the Empire State Building in New York City. The programmes could be watched only by those who lived not farther than 60 miles from the station.
Video. In 1975 the Japanese corporation JVC made it possible to record films and TV programmes at home. The system was known as VHS (Video Home System).
Computer. The first computers were huge. They were used for scientific purposes. Sinklair ZX 80, the 1980 machine, was the first computer used by ordinary people.
Internet. The global network was designed for serious scientific purposes. In 1962 the US scientists started to build a network between the leading scientific centres of the USA. In 1969 this network joined four/4/ universities. In 1972 the first e-mail with the symbol @ was sent.
Mobile phone is now used by millions of people appeared in 1973. The American Martin Cooper invented the first mobile phone — Motorola Dyna-Tec. It weighed a kilo. But it took five years to draw in a commercial operator from Bahrein. Now mobile phones have made a massive impact on social and working activities and changed the way we communicate.
Compact Disc from the 1980s brought an end to vinyl records and revolutionized the storage of computer data.
Digital Watch appeared in 1970 on Roger Moore's wrist in the Bond film "Live and Let Die". It brought computer technology into everyday life.
Contact lenses. The first contact lenses were made from plastic in 1936 in New York. But only thanks to new materials and developed technologies there appeared soft lenses that let oxygen to the eyes.
Trainers. The first trainers were designed by Adolf and Rudolf Dessler right after WWII. Canvas and rubber soles were used to make them. Later the brothers went each his own way. In 1949 Adolf patented his trainers under the name "Adidas". This is the world famous firm now. The first three letters stand for Adi — a short form of Adolf as the last three letters represent the beginning of the surname. The second brother established his own company "Puma".
Plastic bag represents the beginning of the "plastic age" and arriving of the disposable society. It replaced shopping baskets and cloth bag. Technology has always been a major means for creating new physical and human environments. But it has been very difficult in practice, however, to predict secondary effects of new technologies. We must always remember that technology can be conceive as both a creative and a destructive process.
It is possible to ask today whether technology will also destroy the global civilization that human beings have created.
Essential vocabulary
field галузь
craft уміння,майстерність
advanced розвинений
innovation нововведення,відкриття
to improve покращувати
to design проектувати , конструювати
to invent винаходити,робити відкриття
to patent запатентувати
to establish засновувати, створювати
disposable одноразового використання
environment навколишнє середовище
to conceive осягати,розуміти
human beings люди, людство
to create створювати
Bahrain Бахрейн, держава в Перській затоці
II. Reading comprehension
Answer the following questions:
1.What is the difference between science and technology?
2.What do many historians of science argue about?
3.Do you agree that innovations now appear at a rate that increases geometrically.
4.The 20-th century gave us some household objects that made our lives easier and more comfortable, did not it?
5.Which of the following do you own: a DVD, a microwave oven, a computer, a cell phone, an electronic dictionary?
6.Which of them do you use most often?
7.Has technology always been a major means for creating new physical and human environments?
8.Do you think technology will destroy the global civilization?
IІІ. Vocabulary and Grammar exercises
1. Give English equivalents to the following words:
Невід’ємна умова; зробила можливим; вчені в Сполучених Штатах; знадобилося п’ять років, щоб; значно вплинули на; вісімдесяті поклали кінець; відразу після ІІ Світової війни; під назвою; всесвітньо відома фірма; заснував свою власну компанію; на практиці; світова цивілізація.
2. Fill in the gaps with the words given below:
innovations; to predict secondary effect; technology; a creative and a destructive process; plenty of things; systematized knowledge; the rate of technological change.
1) Science is a term to denote _________________ in any field.
2) _____________ means the study, or science, of crafting.
3) _____________ has developed its own momentum in recent centuries.
4) _____________ now seem to appear at a rate that increases geometrically.
5) The 20-th century gave us_______________ that improved our lives.
6) But it has been very difficult in practice_______________of new technologies.
7) So we must always remember that technology can be conceived as both _______.
4. These people gave their names to common things we use today. Can you identify them? Fill in the gaps with the names given below: Comma, Geiger, Ketchup, Parquet, Pasteur, Pocket, Sandwich.
1. Henry _____________ (1589 - 1645); his invention keeps your hands in winter and is useful place to keep your keys.
2. Domenico _________________ (1264 - 1326); an Italian monk who invented the punctuation mark we use to separate words in a sentence.
3. Hans Wilhelm ____________ (died in 1945); a German nuclear physicist who designed a counter for detecting radioactivity.
4. Martha ______________ (died in. 1680); whose excellent tomato sauce became very popular. Hamburgers wouldn`t be the same without it!
5. Louis ___________________ (1822 - 1895); a Frenchman who was both a chemist and a biologist. Pasteurization is a method of sterilizing milk by heating it.
6. Jean-Phillipe _____________ (1638 - 1680); a French carpenter who invented a way of laying wood on a floor in intricate patterns.
7. The Earl of ____________ (1718 - 1792); a compulsive gambler who discovered that eating meat between two slices of bread meant that he didn`t have to leave his card game.
V. Speech Exercises