16. Finding Water On The Moon

significant	важливий	propellant	паливо
implication	наслідки	fairly	досить
exploration	дослідження	accurately	точно
finding	знахідка	to launch	запускати
to hit the headline	стати сенсацією	a mission	космічний польот
a headline	заголовок	whatever	будь-які
reportedly	як повідомляється	to transform into	перетворювати
data	дані	completely	повністю

The discovery of large quantities of water on the moon will have very significant implications for human space exploration, according to Kingston University space expert Dr Chris Welch. The findings by NASA, which have been hitting the headlines today, were reportedly made after researchers examined data from three separate missions to the moon. Dr Welch, astronautics and space systems expert at Kingston University London’s Faculty of Engineering, said the findings could transform work for astronauts. “Scientists thought they knew fairly accurately what the surface of the moon was like and these results show that they didn’t – or at least not completely,” Dr Welch said. “Finding so much more water could make living on the moon much easier in the future. Water is very heavy and to launch it into space would be difficult and expensive. If there is water on the moon – in whatever form – then we have a potential reservoir that could be used for drinking or to transform it into hydrogen and oxygen which could be used as rocket propellant. Also, of course, we could use the oxygen to breathe.”

Speech patterns

much + Comparative	значно + прикметник (порівн.)
The distance from the Sun to the Earth is much longer than that from the Moon.	Відстань від Сонця до Землі значно більша, ніж відстань від Луни.

at least	принаймні
You might at least say you are sorry.	Ви могли б, принаймні, вибачитися.

1. Say whether these statements are true or false.

1. Scientists have discovered gold on the Moon.

2. It is very easy to bring much water onto the Moon.

3. Water on the Moon can be used for producing rocket fuel.

2. Match the terms and their definitions:

a) to explore	1) to set (a missile, spacecraft, etc.) into motion
b) to discover	2) something that provides or causes propulsion, such as the explosive charge in a gun or the fuel in a rocket
c) space	3) factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion or calculation
d) to launch	4) to examine or investigate, esp systematically
e) propellant	5) a traveler in a spacecraft
f) an astronaut	6) to obtain sight or knowledge for the first time
g) data	7) the earth’s natural satellite
h) a moon	8) the region beyond the earth’s atmosphere

3. Use special questions to write a plan of the text.

4. What major problem is discussed in the text? Express your opinion.

Grammar Practice

1. Define the meaning of the modal verb could in the text as:

a) ability, b) possibility, c) permission or d) hypothetical possibility.

2. Change the Conditional I into Conditionals II and III using the appropriate phrases.

If there is water on the moon, we will have a potential reservoir for drinking.

3. Define the functions of the verb “to have” in the text. Translate the corresponding sentences.