Text a The First Mining School in Russia

The Moscow Mining Academy was established¹ in 1918. The main task of the Academy was to train mining engineers and technicians, to popularize technological achievements among miners, to work on important problems of mining and metallurgical engineering and to direct scientific research.

There were three departments in the Academy²: mining, geo­logical prospecting and metallurgy. The Moscow Mining Academy introduced a new course in coal mining mechanization which pro­vided the basis for the development of mining engineering. The two scientists A.M. Terpigorev and M.M. Protodyakonov wrote the first textbook on machinery for mining bedded deposits.

Much credit for the establishment of the Moscow Mining Acad­emy and the development of cooperation among outstanding scien­tists and educators is due to³ Academician I.M. Gubkin, a prominent geologist and oil expert.

In 1925 the Moscow Mining Academy was one of the best-known educational institutions in Russia. It had well-equipped labo­ratories, demonstration rooms and a library which had many volumes of Russian and foreign scientific books and journals.

The Academy established close contacts with the coal and ore mining industries. The scientists carried out scientific research and worked on important mining problems.

The rapid growth of the mining industry called for the training of more highly-qualified specialists and the establishment of new educational institutions.

New collieries and open-cast mines, concentration plants, met­allurgical works and metal-working factories for processing non-fer­rous and ferrous metals appeared in the country. The people took an active part in the construction of new industrial enterprises.

The Academy alone could not cope with the problem of training specialists. In 1930 the Moscow Mining Academy was transformed⁴ into six independent institutes. Among the new colleges which grew out of the Academy's departments were the Moscow Mining Institute and the Moscow Institute of Geological Prospecting. Later, the scientific research Institute of Mining appeared near Moscow.

Notes

¹ was established — была основана, established close contacts — установила тесные контакты

² There were three departments in the Academy — В Академии было три факультета.

Конструкция «there + глагол to be» (в настоящем, прошедшем или бу­дущем времени) употребляется, когда нужно сообщить о наличии, сущест­вовании в данном месте предмета (предметов) или лица (лиц). Обратите внимание на то, что перевод предложений с таким оборотом лучше начи­нать с обстоятельства места (В кадемии...).

³ Much credit ... is due — Большая заслуга... принадлежит

⁴ was transformed — была преобразована

Ex.5. Which sentences are true? Prove it using the information from the text.

1. There were four departments in the Academy.

2. The Academy introduced a new course in coal mining mechanization.

3. In 1925 the Academy had only several well-equipped laborat­ories, demonstration rooms and a library which had many vol­umes of books.

4. The Academy established close contacts with the coal industry.

5. In 1930 the Academy was transformed into six independent in­stitutes.

6. The Moscow Mining Institute and the Moscow Institute of Geological Prospecting were among the new colleges which grewout of the Academy's departments.

Ex.6. Answer the questions.

1. What was the main task of the Academy?

2. What new course did the Academy introduce?

3. Were there three or four departments at the Academy?

4. What industries did the Academy establish contacts with?

5. Who wrote the first textbook on machinery' for mining bedded deposits?

6. Why was the Academy transformed into six independent insti­tutes?

7. Why was the Academy transformed?

Ex. 7. Combine the words from columns A and B. Translate the wordcombinations.

A to carry out to direct to prospect for to introduce to equip to establish

B a) new courses b) laboratories c) experiments d) research e) contacts f) new deposits

Ex.8. Find in the right column the equivalents of the English words.

mining equipment to carry out research new course in to direct scientific activity to take an active part in prospecting for oil bedded deposit technical education processing of non-ferrous metals the training of geologist and mining engineers concentration plant

обогатительная фабрика подготовка горных инженеров разведка нефти обработка цветных металлов техническое образование новый (учебный) курс по принимать активное участие проводить исследования направлять научную деятельность горное оборудование пластовые месторождения

Ex. 9. Find in each line the words having the most general meaning.

1. engineer, chemist, geologist, specialist, economist

2. coal, mineral resources, oil, iron, gas, ferrous metals

3. oil industry, gas industry, extractive industry

4. the sun, atom, gas, energy source, coal, oil

Ex. 10. Make up sentences out of these words.

1. traditions, our, interesting, university, many, has.

2. an, plays, of, role people, life, the, music, important, in.

3. this, did, university, why, enter, you?

4. sport, is, what, favourite, your?

Ex. 11. Read and translate the text. Make up 5 special questions to the text.

When Mikhail Lomonosov came to Moscow he gained admis­sion to the Slavonic-Greek-Latin Academy. He made rapid progress. Then he entered the Academy of Sciences. His abilities and diligence attracted the attention of the professors and as one of the three best students he continued his education abroad. There he studied chemistry, mathematics, metallurgy and mining. On his return to Russia he became a professor and a member of the Academy of Sciences.

For versatility Lomonosov has no equal in Russian science. Many of his ideas and discoveries won recognition only in the nine­teenth century. For instance, he was the first who discovered the vegetation origin of coal, and as a poet and scientist he played a great role in the formation of the Russian literary language.

His living memorial is the Moscow University, which he founded in 1755.

Ex. 12. Translate the sentences using these word combinations.

there appeared; to establish close contacts with; to carry out research; to train engineers and technicians; to call for specialists

1. Московская горная академия готовила инженеров и тех­ников для горной и металлургической промышленности.

2. Ученые проводили научные исследования в области геоло­гии, горного дела и металлургии.

3. Академия устанавливала тесные контакты с угольными бассейнами и промышленными предприятиями.

4. Быстрое развитие промышленности в стране требовало подготовки высококвалифицированных специалистов.

5. В стране появились новые специальные учебные заведения.

Ex. 13. Disagree with the statements using the following conversational formulas. Prove your point of view with the facts from the text.

I don't think so; on the contrary; to my mind; in my opinion; as far as I know; as is known; in fact.

1. The task of the Moscow Mining Academy was to train mining specialists only.

2. The Academy established contacts with representatives of all branches of industries.

3. There were five departments in the Academy.

4. There were only Russian books in the library of the Academy.

5. The rapid growth of the mining industry led to the establish­ment of new higher schools.

6. These scientists wrote the first textbook on machinery.

7. There were only a few higher educational establishments which trained geologists and mining engineers.

8. New collieries and open-cast mines appeared in different parts of the country.

Ex. 14. Speak about our college using the texts.

Ex. 15. Read these words and try to remember.

change - изменяться, менять(ся) syn. transform, alter - изменение, перемена, превращение composition - структура, состав connect - соединять(ся); syn. combine, link deal (dealt) (with) - иметь дело с, рассматривать demand - зд. спрос design – проект, план, чертеж, конструкция; проектировать, планировать, конструировать graduate - окончить(высшее учебное заведение); амер. окончить любое учебное заведение; лицо, окончившее высшее учебное заведение undergraduate (student) – студент последнего курса postgraduate (student) - аспирант graduation paper - дипломная работа skill – мастерство, умение skilled – квалифицированный, опытный, умелый introduction - введение, вступление management - управление, заведование syn. administration, direction thus - таким образом offer - предлагать (помощь, работу), предоставлять; предложение range - область, сфера; предел; диапазон; радиус дейст­вия; ряд; серия to be of importance - иметь значение to give an opportunity - дать возможность to meet the requirements - удовлетворять требованиям (потребности)

determine - определять, устанавливать engineering - техника, технология, машиностроение syn. technics, technology, techniqne, machinery enterprise - предприятие, предприимчивость environment - окружающая обстановка, среда field - область, сфера деятельности; поле, участок, месторождение; бассейн; syn. basin, branch recreation - отдых, восстановление сил, pазвлечение reveal - показывать, обнаруживать rock - горная порода shape - форма software - программное обеспечение, программные средства hardware - аппаратура, (аппаратное) оборудование, аппаратные средства; техническое обеспечение hydraulic - гидравлический, гидротехнический survey - съемка, маркшейдерская съемка, производить маркшейдерскую или топографическую съемку, производить изыскания surveying - съемка, маркшейдерские заботы value - ценность, стоимость; величина; ценить, оценивать; valuable - ценный property - свойство protection - защита, охрана workshop - мастерская, цех; семинар

Ex. 16. Define the meaning of the words in bold.

special institutes; geologists and mining engineers; mechanical and electrical engineers; social sciences; specialized subjects; the type of specialization and qualification; theoretical courses; eco­nomic geology; structural geology; to prospect for minerals; skilled engineering specialists; mining operations; mining technology; hy­draulic engineering; electrical engineering; industrial electronics; mine machinery laboratories; control systems; rock mechanics; the use of computers; mineral dressing; mining research and its practi­cal application; prospecting parties

Ex. 17. Read text B and find the sentences that say.

• what geologists study;

• what major subjects future geologists and mining engineers must study.