III. Reconstruct the following text using the words from the box to fill in the blanks. What do you think about extraterrestrial life?

occurred incompatible evidence motor frequently source solvent capable

unique orbiting possibly terrestrial star abundance rejected hypothetical

stemmed considered universe temperatures alternative things utilize

morphology panspermia carbon sustaining interior substance element

The existence of extraterrestrial life is currently (1)____; there is as yet no (2)____ of life outside the planet Earth that has been widely accepted by scientists. Most scientists hold that if extraterrestrial life exists, its evolution would have (3)____ independently in different places in the (4)____. An (5)____ hypothesis, held by a minority, is (6)____, which suggests that life in the universe could have (7)____ from a single initial point of origin, and then spread across the universe, from habitable planet to habitable planet. These two hypotheses are not mutually (8)____.

All life on Earth is based on the building block element (9)____ with water as the (10)____ in which bio-chemical reactions take place. Given their relative (11)____ and usefulness in (12)____ life it has long been assumed that life forms elsewhere in the universe will also (13)____ these basic components. However, other elements and solvents might be (14)____ of providing a basis for life. Silicon is usually (15)____ the most likely alternative to carbon, though this remains improbable. Silicon life forms are proposed to have a crystalline (16)____, and are theorized to be able to exist in high (17)____, such as planets closer to the sun. Life forms based in ammonia rather than water are also considered, though less (18)____. Nor can the possibility be (19)____ that a completely new (20)____ may be found that may react in a similar way to carbon or that wholly (21)____, non-chemical life-forms may (22)____ flourish through exotic physics.

Along with a building block (23)____ and a solvent, life also requires an energy (24)____. Energy from a parent (25)____ is the most obvious source for extraterrestrial life but this is not the only possibility, as the example of (26)____ extremophiles shows. Geothermal energy from a planet's (27)____, for instance, may drive sub-surface or oceanic life, while tidal flexing (e.g., for bodies (28)____ a gas giant) provides another possible (29)____ to sustain living (30)____.

IV. Reconstruct the text below putting the extracted fragments (a-I) into their correct places (1-9). Make a written translation of the text into Ukrainian

Perhaps the most fundamental and at the same time (1)……………. . It is central to many scientific and philosophical problems and to any consideration of extraterrestrial life. One of the hypotheses connected with the origin of life, popular during the Middle Ages, (2)…………. . It was believed that worms are generated in cheese and timber, beetles and wasps, in cow dung, (3)………….. .

It was only in the Renaissance that such transformations were realized to be impossible. A British physiologist, William Harvey, during the mid-17th century, in the course of his studies on the reproduction and development of the king's deer, (4)………… . An Italian biologist, Francesco Redi, in the latter part of the 17th century, established that the maggots (5)……….. . And an Italian priest, Lazzaro Spallanzani, in the 18th century, showed that spermatozoa (6)…………. . But the idea of spontaneous generation died hard. Even though it was proved that the larger animals always came from eggs, (7)……………… . It seemed obvious that, because of their ubiquity, these microscopic creatures must be generated continually from inorganic matter.

Meat could be kept from going maggoty (8)…………… . This was the subject of a great controversy between the famous French bacteriologists Louis Pasteur and F.A. Pouchet in the 1850s, in which Pasteur triumphantly showed (9)………….. . Actually, Pouchet was arguing that life must somehow arise from nonliving matter; if not, how had life come about in the first place?

1. … that even the minutest creatures came from germs floating in the air, but that they could be guarded against by suitable filtration.

2. … made the basic discovery that every animal comes from an egg.

3. … were necessary for the reproduction of mammals.

4. … and generally simple living forms can be procreated of putrefied matter.

5. … was based on the assumption that Life—particularly simple forms—spontaneously and readily arises from nonliving matter in short periods of time and this process continues up to the present time.

6. … by covering it with a fly-proof net, but grape juice could not be kept from fermenting by putting over it any netting whatever.

7. … the least understood biological problem is the origin of life.

8. … there was still hope for the smaller ones, the microorganisms.

9. … in meat came from flies' eggs, deposited on the meat.

V. Read the extracts from the Pope John Paul II’s message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on evolution and the origin of life. Consider and discuss the questions following the text in the Discussion section

In celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the Academy’s refoundation, I would like to recall the intentions of my predecessor Pius XI, who wished to surround himself with a select group of scholars, relying on them to inform the Holy See in complete freedom about developments in scientific research, and thereby to assist him in his reflections.

He asked those whom he called the Church’s Senatus Scientificus to serve the truth. I again extend this same invitation to you today, certain that we will be able to profit from the fruitfulness of a truthful dialogue between the Church and science…

I am pleased with the first theme you have chosen, that of the origins of life and evolution, an essential subject that deeply interests the Church, since Revelation, for its part, contains teaching concerning the nature and origins of man. How do the conclusions reached by the various scientific disciplines coincide with those contained in the message of the Revelation? And if, at first sight, there are apparent contradictions, in what direction do we look for their solution? We know, in fact, that truth cannot contradict truth… It is necessary to determine the proper sense of Scripture, while avoiding any unwarranted interpretations that make it say what it doesn’t intend to say. In order to delineate the field of their own study, the exegete and the theologian must keep informed about the results achieved by the natural science…

…The Encyclical Humani generis (1950), considered the doctrine of “evolutionism” a serious hypothesis, worthy of investigation and in-depth study equal to that of the opposing hypothesis… Today, new knowledge has led to the recognition that the theory of evolution is more than a hypothesis…

…The Church’s Magisterium is directly concerned with the question of evolution, for it involves the conception of man: Revelation teaches us that he was created in the image and likeness of God…this doctrine…is pivotal to Christian thought… St. Thomas observes that man’s likeness to God resides especially in his speculative intellect, for his relationship with the object of his knowledge resembles God’s relationship with what he has created. But even more, man is called to enter into a relationship of knowledge and love with God himself, a relationship which will find its complete fulfillment beyond time, in eternity. All the depth and grandeur of his vocation are revealed to us in the mystery of the risen Christ. It is by virtue of his spiritual soul that the whole person possesses such a dignity even in his body. Pius XII stressed this essential point: if the human body takes its origin from pre-existent living matter, the spiritual soul is immediately crated by God…

It is significant that in St. John’s Gospel life refers to the divine light which Christ communicated to us. We are called to enter into eternal life, that is to say, into the eternity of the divine beatitude.

To warn us against the serious temptations threatening us, our Lord quotes the great saying of Deuteronomy: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Even more, “life” is one of the most beautiful titles which the Bible attributes to God. He is the living God.

I cordially invoke an abundance of divine blessings upon you and upon all who are close to you.

Discussion

1. How does the Pope interpret the notion of “life” in the message?

2. Prove the authors opinion concerning the importance of cooperation between theology and natural sciences.

3. Why is the problem of the origin of man of extreme importance for the Church?

4. Do any obvious contradictions between the theological and scientific points of view on this problem exist? Is it possible to overcome them?

5. How does St. Thomas regard the nature of man?

6. Explain the meaning of the phrase “truth cannot contradict truth”.

7. Do you agree with the Church’s official position concerning the origin of life and man expressed in the Pope’s message?