Unit 28 New Genetically Modified Plant May Help Detect Landmines

Pre-listening tasks

Before listening pay attention to the following words and collocations and their translation. They will help you to understand the text.

leak – течь, протекать

leakage – протечка

till – пахать, обрабатывать

watercress – кресс водяной, жеруха

maim – калечить, увечить

choke- заглушить

impinge – посягать, покушаться

canola – канола (разновидность рапса, генетически модифицированная культура)

I. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. This technique contributes greatly ____ new developments.

2. Due ____ these experiments scientists have learnt a lot about this substance.

3. This plant is related ___ flowering plants.

4. This happens when the substance comes ____ contact ____ chemicals.

5. This gene is responsible _____ suppressing tumor.

6. This molecule triggers ___ tumor formation.

7. _____ these conditions the experiment cannot be conducted properly.

8. These results do not satisfy _____ our needs.

II. In the left column find synonyms to the words and word combinations in the right column and translate them into Russian.

urgent	use
estimate	release
free	assess
trigger	decompose
decay	carry out
remove	instant, immediate
conduct	extract, take out
apply	start sth.

III. In the following sentences define the functions of the verbs with -ing and translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Locating and cleaning up the landmines poses one of the world’s most urgent challenges.

2. Danish researches have genetically engineered a new plant that turns from green to red on the presence pf leaking landmines.

3. … and ninety percent of Angola’s arable land lies fallow waiting for landmine removal.

4. The socio-economic benefits are mostly achieved by using such a method.

5. … his company is conducting intensive research to ensure the plant does not grow out of control.

After listening tasks

I. Listen to the text and check your answers to tasks I and II in the Pre-listening section. Note down the key words.

II. Listen again, work in groups and make a summary of the text using the key words. Compare your summaries.

Unit 29 Men going extinct

Pre-listening tasks

Before listening pay attention to the following words and collocations and their translation. They will help you to understand the text.

whiptail lizard – хлыстохвостая ящерица.

do a little tinkering – провести небольшой ремонт, переделку

figure out – сообразить

spoils of war – военная добыча, трофеи

date to – относиться к (по времени)

by laboratory means – лабораторным способом

I. Answer the following question.

What is parthenogenesis?

II. Translate the following words and word combinations into English.

бесплодный; бесплодие; проследить происхождение; ценный; оценить; уязвимый; зачать; выводок, помет; появляться

III. Find synonyms to the following words and word combinations.

accidental, to propagate, to define, to produce, descendant, method, essential, effective

IV. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with these synonyms.

1. The author of a provocative new book called Adam's Curse warns that the human race could slowly – very slowly become extinct unless women figure out how ________ without men.

2. … a genetic bundle unique to male DNA whose presence _______whether a child would be male or female. Professor Sykes believes it's only a matter of time before those mutations in the Y chromosome _________a race of infertile men.

3. Mr. Sykes uses DNA ________to examine the Y chromosome, which is passed down from father to son.

4. Parthenogenesis is an ____________way of reproducing.

5. Except for __________mutations, my Y chromosome is the same as my father's, which is the same as his father's, and so on.

6. …..such as the many _______ apparently descended from the 12th century Mongol warrior, Genghis Kahn

7. But sex is not absolutely ____________for reproduction.

After listening tasks

I. Listen and check your answers. Answer the following question: What is the main idea of the interview?

II. Listen again. Complete the following sentences. You don’t have to use the exact words from the text.

1. A new book “Adam’s Curse” warns that the human race would slowly….

2. Mr. Sykes uses DNA techniques to examine …

3. …. by looking at the way in which mutations have accumulated in the descendants

4. Prof. Sykes has set up a company which uses genetic tests to …

5. The Y chromosome functions through …

6. Parthenogenesis is efficient but dangerous because…

7. The Y chromosome does not go through recombination, which helps …

III. Work in pairs. Make up 5 questions to the text and ask your partner to answer them.

IV. Make a summary of the interview.

Unit 30 A Link between a Brain Chemical and Violent Behavior

Pre-listening tasks

Before listening pay attention to the following words and collocations and their translation. They will help you to understand the text.

to implicate – вовлечь

resilient – неунывающий

to maintain – поддерживать, сохранять

jittery – пугливый, нервный

frustrated – расстроенный

to be prone to sth. – быть склонным к, предрасположенным к

caregiver – зд: воспитатель

violent – жестокий

I. Translate the following sentences into Russian, paying attention to the infinitive structure.

1. He seems to know the subject very well.

2. The scientists are known to research this phenomenon.

3. He appeared to study the results of the experiment very carefully

4. They seem to have solved the issue.

5. Jerry was the first to finish the experiment.

II. Translate the word mistreat. Think of some more words with the prefix mis.