I. Read and translate the text

SILVER

The mining of silver has been carried on from ancient times. During the gold rush days in California people cursed the ‘black earth’ that struck to their gold dust. It was only by accident that they discovered it was silver ore. Silver is one of the most widely distributed of all metals. Sometimes it is found in solid pieces. About 2000000 tons of it float about in solution in the ea, but it would not pay to get it out. In the main, silver comes only in ores from which it must be separated.

In this ore silver is usually combined with sulphur as silver sulphide, or is a part of other sulphides, chiefly those of copper, lead, or arsenic. Silver is too soft to be used in its pure state, so it is combined with other metals. Silver coins for example contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The sterling silver of which jewelry and silverware are made contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.

The name ‘sterling’ has a curious origin. It comes from a North German family called Easterling. The Easterling were such honest traders that King John of England gave them the job of making the English coins in 1215. They did it so well and truly that their name is still used as a sign of solid worth. All sterling silver is stamped with hallmark, either the word “sterling’ or a symbol, depending on the country. The English symbol is a lion.

Pure silver doesn’t tarnish in pure air. When it turns black, that’s a sign there is sulphur in the air as from city smoke or oil wells. Next to gold silver is the easiest metal to work with. It is also the most perfect known conductor of electricity and heat.

Vocabulary

mining – добыча

to curse – проклинать

ore – руда

to separate – разделять

lead – свинец

jewelry – украшения

silverware – столовое серебро

origin – происхождение

trader – торговец

sign – знак

to stamp – штамповать

hallmark – проба

to tarnish – темнеть

oil well – нефтяная скважина

II. Answer the questions

1. What has been carried on from ancient times?

2. How was silver discovered?

3. Where can silver be found sometimes?

4. How much do silver coins contain?

5. What is called Easterling?

6. How are all sterling silver stamped?

7. What is an English symbol?

8. What is the easiest metal to work with?

III. Make up your own sentences with the vocabulary

IV. Complete the sentences

1. During the gold rush days in California people cursed …

2. Sometimes it is found in …

3. … from which it must be separated.

4. Silver is too soft to be used in its pure state, so …

5. … are made contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.

6. The Easterling were such honest traders that …

7. Next to gold silver is …

V. Agree or disagree with the statements

1. It was only by accident that they discovered it was gold ore.

2. Sometimes silver is found in solid pieces.

3. Silver is not too soft to be used in its pure state.

4. The sterling silver of which jewelry and silverware are made contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.8 percent copper.

5. The name ‘sterling’ comes from a North German family called Easterling.

6. The English symbol is a tiger.