Assignment 5. Read and translate the text:

Text 2. Energy

Scientifically speaking, energy is the ability to do work. There are various forms of energy, such as: heat, mechanical, electrical, chemical, atomic and so on. One might also mention the two kinds of mechanical energy – potential and kinetic, potential energy being energy of position while kinetic energy is energy of motion. It is well known that one form of energy can be changed into another.

Take a waterfall as an example. Water falling from its raised position, energy changes from potential to kinetic. If there is a hydroelectric station at the waterfall, the energy of the falling water is used to drive the turbines. The turbines, driven by the kinetic energy of the running water, turn electric generators, these generators producing electric energy. Thus, the mechanical energy of falling water is turned into electric energy. The electric energy, in its turn, may be transformed into any other necessary form.

When an object loses its potential energy, that energy is turned into kinetic energy. Thus, in the above-mentioned example when water is falling from its raised position, it certainly loses its potential energy, that energy changing into kinetic energy.

We have already seen that energy of some kind must be employed to generate the electric current. The sources of energy usually employed to produce current are either chemical, as in the battery, or mechanical, as in the electromagnetic generator. Chemical sources of current having a limited application, the great quantities of electric energy generated today come from various forms of mechanical energy.

Needless to say that rising standards of modern civilization and growing industrial applications result in an increasing need of energy. Every year we need more and more electric energy for the useful things that are done only owing to electricity. However, the energy sources of the world are decreasing at the same time as the energy needs of the world are increasing. These needs will continue to grow as more motors and melted metals are used in industry and more electric current is employed in our everyday life. As a result, it is necessary to find new sources of energy.

The sun is an unlimited source of energy. However, at present, only a little part of solar energy is being used directly. How can we employ solar energy directly to produce useful energy? This is a question which has interested scientists and inventors for a long time. Lavoisier and other great scientists of the past melted metals with the help of solar furnaces. Today, solar furnaces illustrate just one of the numerous ways to harness the sun. Using semiconductors, scientists, for example, have transformed solar energy into electric energy.

Notes to the text:

1) such as – такой как

2) and so on – и так далее

3) in its turn – в свою очередь

4) needless to say – не приходится и говорить

5) to result in – приводить к

6) owing to – благодаря

7) as a result – в результате

8) the same – тот (же) самый

9) at present – сейчас, в данное время

10) for example – например

Assignment 6. Find the participle in the text and define its function..

Assignment 7. Compare (a) and (b) paying attention to the Participle. Translate into Russian:

1) (a) Having brought the dictionaries from the library, the students began to translate the article. (b) The dictionaries having been brought from the library, the students began to translate the article.

2) (a) Having finished my translation, I gave it to the teacher. (b) The translation having been finished, I gave it to the teacher.

3) (a) Having finished the experiment, the students left the laboratory. (b) The experiment having been finished, the students left the laboratory.

4) (a) The professor delivering the lecture is a famous Russian scientist. (b) The professor delivering the lecture, the students were listening to him with great interest.

Assignment 8. Find the sentences with the Absolute Participle Construction and translate them.

1) The girl is finishing her work.

2) The work is being finished by the girl.

3) The girl finishing her work is my sister.

4) Finishing her work, the girl was speaking to her friend.

5) The work having been finished, the students went home.

6) Having finished her work, the girl went for a walk.

7) Having been finished, in time, the work was given to the teacher.

8) My brother finished his work, his friend having helped him.

Assignment 9. Translate the following sentences.

1) Падающая вода может приводить в действие турбину.

2) Говоря об энергии, мы могли бы упомянуть потенциальную и кинетическую энергию.

3) Работая в лаборатории, студент пользовался электрическими приборами.

4) Прочитав текст, мы начали переводить его.

5) Химические источники тока находят ограниченное применение в промышленности.

6) Используя полупроводники, ученые преобразовали солнечную энергию в электрическую.

7) Солнце – неограниченный источник энергии.

Assignment 10. Fill in the gaps with the words and expressions from the text.

1) If there is a hydroelectric … at the waterfall, the energy of the falling water is used to … the turbines.

2) The turbines, driven by the kinetic energy of the running water, … electric …, these generators … electric energy.

3) The electric energy … … … may be transformed into any other necessary form.

4) The … of energy usually … to produce current are either chemical, as in the …, or mechanical, as in the electromagnetic generator.

5) Needless to say that rising standards of modern civilization and growing industrial applications … … an increasing … of energy.

6) However, the energy sources of the world are … at the same time as the energy needs of the world are … .

7) Using … scientists, for example, have transformed solar energy into electric energy.

Assignment 11. Answer the following questions:

1) What forms of energy do you know?

2) How is the energy of the falling water used?

3) What sources of energy are employed to produce current?

4) What do rising standards of modern civilization and growing industrial applications result in?

5) Why are the energy sources of the world decreasing?

6) Why is it necessary to find new sources of energy?

7) How can we employ solar energy directly to produce useful energy?

8) In what parts of Russia is it possible to use solar energy?

Assignment 12. Find the correct term out of the three given below.

1) The motor changes electrical energy into:

a) heat energy, b) chemical energy, c) mechanical energy.

2) The generator changes mechanical energy into:

a) chemical energy, b) electrical energy, c) light energy.

3) The battery changes chemical energy into:

a) solar energy, b) heat energy, c) electric energy.

4) The electric furnace changes electric energy into:

a) heat energy, b) chemical energy, c) mechanical energy.

5. The. vacuum cleaner changes electrical energy into:

a) light energy, b) mechanical energy, c) solar energy.

Assignment 13. Retell Text 2.

Assignment 14. Read and translate Text 2А and find the English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations.

1) Электричество, вырабатываемое такой установкой, стоит дешевле, чем ... .

2) ... были сконструированы для превращения солнечной энергии в электричество.

3) Количество солнечной энергии на один квадратный метр здесь равно анергии, вырабатываемой ... .