Post –Reading Activities

Vocabulary Development

Task 1

The following words and phrases are taken from text A. Next to each one write a word or a phrase of the similar meaning from text B. The first pair is done as an example.

1 basic	fundamental	5 latent	_____________
2 crucial	______________	6 anticipate	_____________
3 together with	______________	7 example	_____________
4 made known	______________	8 surroundings	_____________

Task 2

The following adjectives or their negative forms can all be found in texts A and B. Write down the correct negative form for each one. The first pair is done as an example.

1 moral	immoral	6 dependent	______________
2 proportionate	____________	7 capable	______________
3 rational	____________	8 helpful	______________
4 harmful	____________	9 proper	______________
5 practical	____________	10 responsible	______________

Task 3

Note the word ”share” in text B. Here “share” is a verb which means `has in common with`. But “share” can also be a noun which means `part`, or `portion` (e.g. Your share of the cost is ten pounds).

In text B, find ten more words which have the same form for their verb and noun and write them down.

1 ______________________	6 _______________________
2 ______________________	7 _______________________
3 ______________________	8 _______________________
4 ______________________	9 _______________________
5 ______________________	10 ______________________

Task 4

A. The following nouns, when combined with suitable phrases, relate to the subject What distinguishes the scientist from other members of society? Match each noun with a phrase from the list below (you may find it helpful to look at the texts).

Nouns	Phrases
1. power	______________________________
2. ability	______________________________
3. threat	______________________________
4. duty	______________________________
5. awareness	______________________________
6. membership	______________________________

Phrases

To help or harm society; to discover as much as possible about people and the universe; of the potential danger of some research; to change the material environment; in a professional international elite; to the established order.

B. The following verbs, when combined with suitable phrases, are linked with the subject The characteristics of scientific discoveries. Match each verb to a phrase from the list below.

Verbs	Phrases
1. taken up	________________________________
2. opening up	________________________________
3. forming	________________________________
4. made	________________________________
5. used	________________________________

Phrases

Simultaneously in different places; fields of further research; for the benefit or the harm of society; a vital link for one another; by one scientist from another.

Task 5

The following groups of words are often confused. Look up each word in your dictionary and then practise them by completing each sentence with one of the words in brackets.

insurance/ assurance/ reassurance	further/ father
preserve/ reserve	invaluable/ valueless
likely/ alike	funded/ founded

1. I`ve examined his credentials carefully and I give you my ___________ that he is the right person for the job (insurance, assurance, reassurance).

2. It`s kind of you to telephone. I`m sure all the family are safe and well. Thank you again for your ____________ (insurance, assurance, reassurance).

3. Though they were different in other ways, all the members of the family were ____________ in that respect (likely/ alike).

4. The police had insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction. The judge directed them to obtain ___________ evidence (further/ father).

5. His services to the company were considered ______________. This was recognized by an increase in salary (invaluable/ valueless).

6. His arguments were ___________ on fact (funded/ founded).

7. The management _____________ the right to refuse the admission to non-members of the club (preserve/ reserve).

Task 6

Choose the most suitable word to complete each sentence. Indicate your choice by circling the appropriate letter.

1. Nature conservationists believe in __________ the natural resources of a country.

   A reserving

   B preserving

   C sustaining

   D curing

2. The expert said that the stone was not a jewel and was therefore ____________.

   A profitless

   B priceless

   C valueless

   D invaluable

3. Do you want me to _________ seats for the concert for tonight or for tomorrow?

   A book in

   B preserve

   C detain

   D reserve

4. The doctor decided it was better at the point not to _________ the nature of the illness.

   A confess

   B unmask

   C reveal

   D give up

5. The judge said that the prisoner` s action was _________ but not that of a madman.

   A irrational

   B groundless

   C unsound

   D inconsequential

6. Both kindness and firmness are needed to _________ domestic animals successfully.

   A practice

   B train

   C educate

   D tutor

7. What you need is a good rest, so I think a holiday would be more _______ than giving you more drugs.

   A benevolent

   B beneficial

   C benefiting

   D benefaction

8. When he finally realized that it was _________ to hide any more, he gave himself up to the police.

   A redundant

   B unnecessary

   C inefficient

   D futile

9. The worker` s strikes and demonstrations were ________ by the army.

   A pushed down

   B suppressed

   C abolished

   D depressed

10. I` m sorry that the manager is _________ at the moment but he` ll be able to see you in a few minutes.

A tied

B promised

C betrothed

D engaged

Comprehension Activities

Task 1

Rearrange the following group of words and phrases in such a way that they form a sentence. You will sometimes need to add connecting words. You may find it helpful to look at the texts.

1. throughout Europe; nuclear devices; a great deal; the proliferation; has aroused; public protest

__________________________________________________________

2. are likely; industrial and scientific espionage; some; to be engaged; top-level scientists

__________________________________________________________

3. misused or abused; in pursuit of ; a harmless invention; money or power; potentially harmful; people; may be

__________________________________________________________

4. socialists and trade unionists; industrial environment; the writings; the early; revealed; their; a fundamental hostility

__________________________________________________________

5. what is vital; so much; in one` s daily life; sometimes hard; and to foresee; happens; to know; and what is trivial; in the future; its effect

__________________________________________________________

6. certain phenomena; although; it; explanation; be hard; most things; may; still; or even; to explain; have; futile; a rational; or scientific

__________________________________________________________

Task 2

Fill in key words to make a summary. Complete the following passage with words from the list below. Use each word only once.

Inventions	Preserving	Material	Further
Implications	Misused	Environment	Inevitably
Reveal	Tempted	Invaluable	Effect
Suppressed	Team	Potentially	Anticipate
Futile	Trivial	Vital	Blowing
Entitled	Reaction	Foresee	Conceal
Rest	Simultaneously	Link	Funded
Fellow	Setting	Disproportionate	Fundamental
share	contend

Who is responsible for the use that may be made of scientific discoveries? Does the responsibility 1____________ on the scientist` s shoulders, or is it the responsibility of society?

These questions 2___________ lead to a discussion of the relationship between science and morality. Many people would 3___________ that society is 4_________.

To expect scientists to be more responsible for their 5____________ than their 6_________ citizens are. None of the ordinary people 7___________ the scientist`s knowledge as to how the 8___________ 9___________ of society can be changed by his or her discovery. The scientist is the first person to 10___________ the 11__________ the invention might have on 12___________ society`s well-being or 13__________ the world up. Since scientific experts have this 14___________ knowledge of all the 15__________ of their work, it is their duty either to 16__________ a 17___________ harmful discovery or to 18___________ it, and then to convince the government that its development must be 19___________. But a plausible counter-argument is that it is 20___________ to ask a scientist to conceal his or her inventions.If a discovery, however 21__________ is suppressed, it could later become a 22___________ missing 23___________ to 24____________ research because science is a chain 25___________.

Besides, a discovery is usually a joint effort of a whole 26___________ . Therefore we cannot accuse one particular scientist of immorality, 27___________ as we may be to do so.

And finally, discoveries are made almost 28___________ by scientists working independently in different parts of the world. Therefore, there is no point in 29___________ up an authority that will decide on concealing a discovery if the same discovery is likely to become public elsewhere.

Thus, the 30_________ duty of scientists is to discover as much as they can, and not to try and 31_________ how their work might be 32__________ by society.

Whether the moral responsibility of scientists is to science, or to the society, which has trained them, and 33_________ their research, is a controversial matter. One thing though, is beyond doubt. Scientists do have a 34__________ power to help or harm society. Their work is both a great asset and a great threat to mankind.

Task 3

Discuss the following questions. You may use the key phrases if you wish.

1. What is the dilemma presented in the two texts?

Suppress; harmful; invention; beneficial; important; science

2. How do the texts differ in their views of the above problem?

Direct responsibility; expose; misuse; suppression; proper use

3. According to text A, why is it immoral not to suppress a harmful discovery?

Trained; funds; anticipate; applications; discoveries; latent consequences; privileged; professional authority; insight; necessary influence; evading

4. According to text B, why is it perfectly right not to suppress a dangerous discovery?

Further; vital missing link; discovered elsewhere; futile; capable of determining; used properly; misused

5. On the basis of the two texts write down five of the characteristics of the scientist. Key words for each characteristic are: elite; phenomenon; forward-looking; team

Writing

Write an essay explaining your point of view on the problem “Who has the moral responsibility for the misuse of scientific discoveries- the scientist or the society”.

Unit 2

In this section you will read the information about the first atomic explosion and its influence on humanity. You are also suggested to think about what a man lives for.

Text 1