Cultural Development

The best traditions of the 16th century were further developed in the 17th century. Great progress was made in many branches of science, including physics, anatomy, astronomy, and mathematics. The English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was one of the world's greatest scientists. He developed a series of general principles to explain how the universe works. Modern physics is based on his theories. He also introduced a system of calculus and made major contributions to optics (the study of vision and light).

In 1660 the Royal Society¹ was founded in England to support scientific learning. Isaac Newton was elected a member of the Society and later he became President of it.

English art and architecture reflected new trends. Classicism became predominant. Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was the most outstanding architect of his time. After the Great Fire of London (1666) it was Christopher Wren who made the greatest contribution to the rebuilding of London in stone. His most well-known creation is St. Paul's Cathedral, which is considered to be the finest Protestant Cathedral in the world.

For the first time in English literature prose became as important as poetry. One of the most famous of prose writers was John Milton (1608-1674) though he was best known as a brilliant poet (the greatest one after Shakespeare).

The English seventeenth century theatre lost its Shakespearian traditions. Humour on the stage became an exception. Instead, violence increased in tragedies. Moreover, in 1642 Parliament banned theatrical performances. The theatres were closed. In the Restoration the theatres were opened. Women appeared on the stage for the first time.

¹Royal Society - Королевское научное общество.

Ex.5 Look through the text again and translate the following words and word-combinations:

A series of general principles, major contributions, vision and light, to reflect new trends, outstanding architect, Protestant Cathedral, prose writers, to appear on the stage, moreover, for the first time, theatrical performances, well-known creation, study, to introduce, optics, to develop, further.

Ex.6 Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:

Во многих областях науки; включая физику; он разработал ряд основных принципов, объясняющих; он также ввел систему; внес огромный вклад в; было основано Королевское научное общество; был избран членом этого Общества; самый выдающийся архитектор своего времени; именно Кр. Рен внес величайший вклад в; лучшие традиции 16-го века получили дальнейшее развитие в 17-м столетии; английский физик и математик Исаак Ньютон был одним из величайших ученых мира; современная физика основывается на его теориях; английское искусство и архитектура отражали новые тенденции; английский театр семнадцатого века утратил шекспировские традиции.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

1. The English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was one of the world's greatest artists.2. Isaac Newton introduced a system of calculus and made minor contributions to optics (the study of vision and light). 3. Classicism became predominant. 4. Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was the most outstanding painters of his time. 5. Violence on the stage became an exception.

Ex.8 Give questions to which the following sentences are the answers:

1. Great progress was made in many branches of science, including physics, anatomy, astronomy, and mathematics. 2. In 1660 the Royal Society was founded in England to support scientific learning. 3. After the Great Fire of London (1666) it was Christopher Wren who made the greatest contribution to the rebuilding of London in stone. 4 The English seventeenth century theatre lost its Shakespearian traditions.

Ex.9 Use the text to enlarge the given statements:

1. The best traditions of the 16th century were … . 2. Isaac Newton was elected a member of … . 3. His most well-known creation is St. Paul's Cathedral, which is considered to be … . 4. English art and architecture … . 5. For the first time in English literature prose became as … . 6. Humour on the stage became an … . 7. Moreover, in 1642 Parliament banned … .

Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. Did science get its further development in the 17^th century?

2. Why was Isaak Newton one of the world's greatest scientists?

3. What is Christopher Wren’s most well-known creation?

4. What are the most famous poets of that period?

5. What changes in theatre did the 17^th century bring?

Ex.11 Give a written summary of the text in 5-7 sentences.

Text 5

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Parson, corn, transfusion, cleansing, gunpowder, attempts, founder, masterpiece, to look after, to invent, to plough, to plant, to obtain, to carry out, proposed, to blow up.

Ex.2 Insert the words from exercise 1 in the gaps:

1. The gunmen … their threat and shot the man. 2. The soldiers … the enemy bridge. 3. I climbed to … a general view of the surrounding scene. 4. I'd like to … vegetables in this half of the garden. 5. Who will look after the children while you go out to work? 6. In spring the farmers … the fields. 7. I … a toast to the Queen. 8. Soldiers made an … to blow up the bridge. 9. The artist created a real … . 10. Alfred the Great was the … of the English fleet. 11. The first printer was invented by Gutenberg. 12. In autumn … become ripe. 13. Christopher Wren was the …’s son. 14. The rooms of the sick people must undergo a thorough … . 15. Patients who suffer from blood poisoning should have a blood … operation. 16. The Chinese were the first to use … .

Ex.3 Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. Christopher Wren is often called the English Leonardo da Vinci¹ as he was a specialist in physics, medicine, anatomy, agriculture, astronomy. 2. At the age of 28 he was already Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. 3. After the Great Fire he created a detailed plan for the restoration of London. 4. The building of Wren's masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral went on for more than thirty years, and Wren was an old man before it was finished.

Ex.4 Read the text and give answers to the following questions:

1. Did William Holder, a mathematician have a great influence on Christopher? 2. Did Christopher Wren work on the problem of obtaining fresh water at sea? 3. Did he carry out experiments on the cleansing of sick-rooms? 4. Was he among the first to experiment in the transfusion of blood? 5. Were his attempts to blow up the walls of the burned houses using gunpowder after the Great Fire successful?