Greatest Art Thefts

1. One of the most daring art thefts of all time took place in France in 1911. On 21 August the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. The theft remained undiscovered for most of the next day, as workers thought it was being photographed for marketing purposes.

A lot of people working in and out of the Louvre came under suspicion. Among them the name of famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso came up. However, the thief turned out to be an employee of the Louvre named Vincenzo Peruggia. He was an Italian patriot who believed Leonardo’s painting should be returned to Italy for display in an Italian museum. After having kept the portrait in his apartment for two years he was finally caught when he tried to sell it to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The thief was sent to prison and the paining was exhibited all over Italy and finally handed in to the Louvre in 1913.

2. 140 objects, including jade and gold pieces from the Maya and Aztec sculptures, were stolen from the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City on Christmas Eve 1985. The alarms had not been working for three years, which fitted in with the thieves’ plans very well. They simply removed the glass from the cases and were off with the treasures. The reports said the theft had been carried out at night and the thieves had left the museum without seeing any of the security guards, who must have been asleep. In June 1989, 111 of the objects were recovered and the two thieves were sent to prison.

3. Prominent Norwegian artist Edvard Munch created four versions of The Scream, a world-famous image of a figure with an agonized expression against a yellow-orange sky. On 22 February 1994, the same day as the opening of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, two men broke into the National Gallery in Oslo and stole its version of The Scream. It took them only 50 seconds to climb a ladder, smash through a window and cut the painting from the wall. The guards discovered the theft when they came across the ladder leaning against the museum wall. The thieves also mockingly left a note reading: “Thanks for the poor security.” The world found out about the crime the same day and it became a sensation because of the presence of international media covering the games.

The Norwegian police came up with the idea of an undercover operation with the help from the British police and on 7 May 1994 the painting was recovered. In January 1996 four Norwegian men were charged with the theft.

However, sadly, eight years later the story had a continuation. You can imagine the shock the people got, who had decided to get together for a visit to the Oslo’s Munch Museum, when masked thieves with guns broke in in broad daylight, tore The Scream and another famous Munch work, Madonna, from the walls and fled. Their motive seemed unclear as it was absolutely impossible to sell these paintings. The thieves just couldn’t go round to rich collectors offering the paintings because the works were too famous.

Fortunately, the thieves were finally caught and in August 2006 both paintings were recovered, but the police didn’t reveal the details of the case.

UNIT 6

Unit 6, Lesson 1, Ex.1a

What is Art?

What are the forms of art? When you think of art, what do you think of? Paintings, statues? What else?

Is there a size limit to art? What’s the largest piece of art you can imagine? How small is the smallest?

Is art defined by its materials? We're all used to thinking of paintings as art. Or bronze sculptures. But art can be made from all kinds of materials. Try to think of some. Various kinds of paint and metal, wood, plastics... it can even be an old shoe or a newspaper. What about putting different materials together?

Does art have to be understandable? Is it necessary for it to actually look like something, such as a woman, or a vase of flowers? Does art have to be realistic? Is it better if it is realistic?

What about abstract art? Do you know what that means? What is abstract art about? Can art describe feelings?

Is all art good art? Who decides, and how is it decided?

Does art have to be beautiful? What about a piece that looks truly ugly to you? Is it still art? Sometimes the artist is trying to shock the viewer, or to make you feel uncomfortable. Why would an artist want to do that? Perhaps to make people see things in a new way?

Does art have to “say” something? Communicate some feeling, idea, a record of fact, another way of looking at something? Just try to think of an example of art that does not communicate anything... can you?

Unit 6, Lesson 1, Ex.2a

I: Our world has become a very visual one - we have art all around us. Understanding art is understanding our world! A good first step is to try to understand what we mean by art. Let’s Shelley Esaak, a portrait artist, graphic designer, writer and educator. Hi, Shelley, could you clarify this question?

L: I’d be delighted to. First of all, there’s the arts that are a great subdivision of culture. It is a broader term than art, which usually means only the visual arts. The arts includes visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts, like music, theatre, and film, among others.

If you ask people in the street what art is, paintings and statues are common answers. But actually that’s a bit more than that. The types of visual art include architecture, animation, collage, comics, design, drawing, graffiti, illustration, installation art, photography, sculpture and so on.

I: All right. But how do you know it’s art that you are looking at?

L: The first time that the question of what art is came up was in the 19th century in an essay by Leo Tolstoy. In his work he argues against numerous theories which define art in terms of the good, truth, and especially beauty. In Tolstoy's opinion, art at the time was much more than that. According to him, art must create an emotional link between artist and audience, one that "infects" the viewer.

The idea that art is actually about communicating the feelings of the artists is a romantic one which is widely popular among the researchers.

Or as Frank Zappa once said “Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.”

I: Ha-ha-ha. For all that, how would you personally answer this question today?

L: I could tell you that art plays a large part in making our lives infinitely rich. Imagine, just for a minute, a world without art! (You may think "So what?" but please consider the effect that lack of graphics would have on your favorite video game.) Art stimulates different parts of our brains to make us laugh or cry, calm down or start shouting. For some people, art is the entire reason they get out of bed in the morning. You could say "Art is something that makes us more thoughtful and well-balanced humans."

On the other hand, art is such a large part of our everyday lives that we may hardly even stop to think about it. Look at the desk or table where you are, right this minute. Someone designed that. It is art. Your shoes are art. Your coffee cup is art. All functional design, well done, is art. So, you could say "Art is something that is both functional and (hopefully) beautiful."

Art is form and content.

Form means: The elements of art, the principles of design and the actual, physical materials that the artist has used. Form, in this context, is fairly easily described--no matter which piece of art we are studying.

Content, now, gets a little more tricky. Content is idea-based and means: What the artist meant to say, what the artist actually did say and how we react, as individuals, to the authors messages.

Unit 6, Lesson 2, Ex. 3a

Influenced by a childhood spent in rural surroundings, Chagall’s ‘I and the Village’ is a dreamlike representation of goats, pastures, a farmer, a violinist, and simplistic images of houses, some of them upside-down. The whole could be viewed as a jigsaw puzzle in a child’s imagination. Clearly exhibiting aspects of Cubism, the components are randomly put together to produce an abstract arrangement. The colours are rich and a stark contrast exists between the red, the green and the blue. It is a painting that provides many viewpoints and perspectives.

The painting is full of intrigue and symbolism. In the foreground of the painting, a green-faced man, wearing a cross around his neck, a cap on his head, and holding a glowing tree, stares directly across at the head of a goat. In the background, a row of houses, an Orthodox church, and a man dressed in black hurries past an upside down woman playing what looks like a violin.

The geometric shapes and symbols catch the viewer’s attention. The small and large circles have been said to represent 3 spatial phenomena: the sun’s revolution in orbit, the earth’s revolution around the sun, and the moon’s revolution around the earth.

Unit 6, Lesson 3, Ex.3a

1. Four years ago I knew two things about graffiti: that it was all criminal and that it was ugly. I was right it was ugly but I was wrong about it being all criminal. Most of it is done by kids of every race and social group from big cities to small towns. Today I’m a member of Together Against Graffiti (TAG) group aimed at bringing people together to fight against this kind of so called street-art.

2. In the past ten years graffiti seems to have become more about leaving your mark, and less about art or political statement. Most of it is unreadable anyway. I say make it illegal if it’s not saying anything of interest!

3. Graffiti as a public service! Oh please - the majority of graffiti you see is not art, but tags scribbled on someone else's property - trains, walls, tubes or buildings. 6 weeks service cleaning trains or public toilets should do the trick.

4. I am a mural artist and have also been involved with graffiti art. Most of my graffiti-style work has been done on large canvases in my town centre. Spray paint is the most fun to use because it is fast, rustic, colourful and loud. I would like to suggest the following: a) fight vandalism (especially taggers); b) provide gallery space and public places for graffiti artists and encourage trouble-makers to participate by providing materials and guidance.

5. There are two different types of graffiti artists, with two very different aims. One is the ‘bombers’, who just tag everything to get their name up. Then there’s the real artists who spend more time doing pieces that have artistic merit and are pleasing to the eye. The authorities, however, call both types of graffiti vandalism. But the latter is not vandalism, but art with the street as a canvas. There are, of course, legal parks where pieces can be put up, but the point of graffiti is taking over spaces that have been closed off. So having little corners or large walls for creation is against the whole philosophy.

6. If walls were set up throughout Britain, and everyone was encouraged to use them (all ages, classes, etc) then graffiti could become a democratic form of cultural expression that need not trouble anyone. It would be cheap public art.

7. Graffiti should be banned. The creation of graffiti is dangerous. Graffiti artists climb to high places to draw on highway signs or billboards. To get to these high places, the graffiti artist has either got to climb to the high place or in some cases, hang down from high places to draw their picture or make their inscription. This is taking an unnecessary risk. The artist may believe that their life is not in any danger, but if there is one wrong move, the artist can lose his life.

Unit 6, Lesson 4, Ex. 3a

Why Did You Choose To Become An Artist? 

I didn't choose art. Art chose me. It's just something that I find myself doing, without even thinking about it. I can, have, and often do, find myself with a drawing nearly finished before I realize I've even picked up a pen at all.

What Training Did You Have? 

uhm... none. I started drawing before I could read and write. I had already written and illustrated my first book at the age of 3, two years before starting school.

My school time was limited to three years, from the time I was 5 to 8 years old. In K-5 I sat through their baby classes bored out of my mind, because I had already been reading and writing for two years, while the rest of the class was still learning their ABCs. The only lessons I took any interest in was art class and theater. At age 9 I did not return to school, opting instead to teach myself via high school and college texts. My mom was a dressmaker, and by age 6 I’d been drawing, designing, and sewing my cloth doll’s wardrobe. At age 12 I drew, designed, and sewed my first party dress. At age 14 I enrolled in a college course in fashion design and dressmaking, graduating 2 years later at age 16. From that point on, a large majority of my art career was devoted to fashion and costumes. My aim then was to recreate in complete historical accuracy every costume throughout history. Yes, I know, when I dream big, I dream big. When Did You Start Creating Art For Gift Items? 

I was about 25 years old, when I bought a book on painting art for greeting cards. I'm not sure why I bought it, it was just there and I saw it there, and bought it. Before I finished the book I had been drawing art designed specifically for greeting cards. Where Do You Get Your Ideas? 

I live on a farm. I own and run The Pidgie Fund, a shelter that rescues feral cats and pit-fighter cocks (roosters). My home is currently the home of 13 formally stray no-longer feral cats, and 60+ now tame and peaceful roosters, and one 13 year old dog who loves all his cats and birds. In my lifetime I have owned more than 500 pets, all of those pets have sat for portraits to be drawn or painted. About 90% of the art I sell on CafePress and Zazzle, are pictures of my own pets.

Have you got any final advice to offer? 

For anyone just starting out in an art career, or looking to expand their skills as an artist, I would tell them this. Be original. You are the only you there is in this world. Go ahead and be influenced by the work of others, but ultimately, let your own light shine and create art that is unique to you.

Unit 6, Lesson 5, Ex.2a

photograph, photographer, photography, photographic

Unit 6, Lesson 5, Ex.2b

A good photograph is the one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.

Unit 6, Lesson 6, Ex.2a

Want to learn how to understand abstract art? Let's start with this quote from Jackson Pollock, one of America's most famous abstract painters:

"Abstract painting is abstract. It confronts you. There was a reviewer a while back who wrote that my pictures didn't have any beginning or any end. He didn't mean it as a compliment, but it was."

Pollock's critic didn't know where to begin in terms of how to understand abstract art. There is nothing to hold onto, so you have to open up your intuition and see where the painting takes you. Abstract art allows the viewer to decide what the artwork is about, on a very personal level.

Understanding abstract art is easy: all it requires is an open mind and a big imagination. When you look at an abstract painting, what do you see? Flying shapes, colorful patterns... The path of a river cutting through grasslands... or maybe you see cosmic energy? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Abstract art is open to interpretation, and that is one of the beautiful things about it. An abstract painting doesn't jump out and declare "THIS is what I'm all about." Instead, you must enter the painting and see where it takes you. Understanding abstract art does not come naturally for everyone. It is the kind of art that makes some people scratch their heads and say, "My 5-year old could do that." What people don't realize is that the best abstract artists have excellent drawing skills, a fine sense of composition, and a deep understanding of the workings of color. Most abstract artists have the ability to draw a perfectly portrayed rose or a realistic portrait, but they choose not to. Instead they choose to express their emotions by creating a piece that is more free, free of the weight of objects.

If you want to fully understand an artwork, it's important to know the artist's intention behind it. On the one hand, a large part of the beauty of art is that we, the viewers, can bring our own meaning.

On the other hand, knowing the artist's thought process for creating a certain work of art adds to the meaning and value of a painting.

Well, Pablo Picasso once said: "Everyone wants to understand art. Why not try to understand the song of a bird?”

Picasso has a point. Art can't be explained in words, because its influence on people is very personal. Look at abstract art in the same way that you would listen to a symphony. When you listen to music, you don't try to hold on to the notes - you let them wash over you. Let your eyes play with the painting, slipping around corners, following the lines, twists and turns. Let your eyes dance around the piece.

Rather than trying to figure out what the painting looks like, just allow yourself to be taken in by the painting. See what emotions, images or memories emerge. Examine the colors, forms, materials. Take your time. Let the painting "speak" to you.

Unit 6, Lesson 6, Ex. 4c

1. I live in a fairly small town and when we got our first set of traffic lights installed (in 2008 only!), we were all excited and it was the talk of the town. The first time I drove through them after they were installed, I felt it was really a sign our town was going up. I kept thinking about them and started to draw sketches and came up with my version of this special event. I called my painting "The Road Home". I was pleased with my painting and I painted it in black and white, and then put red in it for impact. I also won first prize in an art show I entered it in so that was really special. I sold my painting to a man that was visiting here after those terrible Victoria bush fires that took so many lives. He liked the name "The Road Home" and said the name would give him hope to rebuild his house, so that was really special.

2. I was on an abstract painting course on holiday and I had reached a point where I was blocked and not able to produce anything. I went for a walk down to the nearby beach and sat and watched a heron wading and feeding in the foreshore rock pools. Just watching 10 minutes of this free nature show lifted my spirits and inspired me. When I got back to the studio I started painting and this was the result. I love that no one can pinpoint exactly what it is or what it represents. The course tutor was lost for words and said she had never seen anything quite like it. I can see elements of the heron in it but that's purely accidental I think. Oddly enough we had also been discussing the work of abstract artist Patrick Heron that very morning so initially I called this my 'two herons' picture. I also love that it was painted in one go and without a moment's conscious thought.

3. “Guitar and bottles” was painted from life. It was an attempt to learn from the Cubist masterworks created by Picasso. I usually paint in an expressionist way, so this was a new style to try. I love the colours and the style of the work. Most of all, I enjoyed the process. I began with pasting on papers of various kinds, which was a child-like experience, much like being a kindergarten student! I liked the result. Results are often more interesting when I work quickly and instinctively. Then I went back and changed the guitar to primarily blue. I often use too many colours, and with the many lines and colours I often use, my paintings can be too "cluttered". When I look at it, I find it can hold my attention for some time. I always find some new thing to look at within the body of the work. I have it in my bedroom. Sometimes I move it to the hall.

Unit 6, Lesson 7, Ex.1.

The Comedian and the Farmer

A wealthy patrician once treated the people of Rome to great theatrical arts and publicly offered a prize to anyone who could perform something unique. Stimulated by this offer, numerous actors arrived from all over the country to compete for the prize, and among them was a well-known comedian, who spread the news that he would do something extraordinary. When the people heard his news, the whole city came together, and the theatre could barely hold the number of spectators who came to see the spectacle.

When the comedian appeared alone on stage without any props or assistants, curiosity and suspense mounted, keeping the spectators in silence. All of a sudden the comedian thrust his head into his bosom and mimicked the squealing of a young pig in such a natural way that the audience believed he had one under his cloak and ordered him to be searched. Yet, once this was done, nothing could be found, and they celebrated this event with the most extravagant applause imaginable.

A farmer was in the audience, and when he witnessed this unique act, he remarked, “Oh, I can do better than that!” And all at once he announced that he would perform the next day.

As a result, an even larger crowd gathered the following day. However, most of the people were biased in favour of the comedian, and they had been planning to laugh at the farmer rather than give him a fair chance. When the two men came out on stage, the comedian granted away first, and his performance was received with great clapping and applause. Then the farmer pretended that he had concealed a little pig under his clothes (which he had really done) and pinched its ear until he made it squeal.

The people cried out that the comedian had imitated the pig much more naturally and began hooting and demanding that the farmer leave the stage. But to show them how wrong they were, the farmer produced the real pig from his bosom.

“And now, gentlemen, “he said, “you can decide for yourselves what sad judges you make!”

Unit 6, Lesson 8, Ex.5a

What is Art Therapy?

At some point in their lives, people may find themselves overwhelmed by the emotions which are difficult to face either by themselves or with others. Art therapy offers a chance to express these thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment. It involves using a wide variety of art materials, for example paints, clay and batik, to create a visual representation of thought and feelings.

Who is it for?

It’s for everybody. For people who are generally stressed and overworked. For people with health problems. For people with learning difficulties. For children and young people who have problems in school or personal problems at home. For people who feel they are problem free but would like to learn more about themselves.

What skills do you need?

The simple answer is none. Art therapy requires no artistic ability. The Art Therapist offers guidance and support and a variety of art materials.

What is the aim of art therapy?

The aim of art therapy is to improve or maintain mental health and emotional well-being. But whereas some of the other expressive therapies use the performing arts for expressive purposes, art therapy generally uses drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and other forms of visual art expression. For that reason art therapists are trained to recognize the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are communicated within the creative process, symbols and metaphors which might be difficult to express in words. By helping their clients to discover what underlying thoughts and feelings are being communicated in the artwork and what it means to them, it is hoped that clients will not perhaps develop a better understanding of themselves and the way they relate to the people around them.

Unit 6, Lesson 9, Ex.2

See SB

UNIT 7

Unit7, Lesson 1, Ex.1b)

1. Jupiter	2. O	3. Tsunami	4. False - They are omnivores
5. Nitrogen	6. A trunk	7. True	8. Mount Everest
9. The sun	10. True	11. Helium	12. Spiders
13. 7	14. Lava	15. True	16. The skull
17. An acid (hydrochloric acid)	18. False (it is the cheetah)	19. 0	20. Albert Einstein

Unit 7, Lesson 1, Ex.1c)

 physics, science, marine

 chemistry, computer , genetics

 zoology, geology, geography, astronomy, seismology, biology, psychology, anatomy, mathematics

 archaeology

  meteorology

Unit 7, Lesson 1, Ex.4b)

Astronomers study objects found in space such as planets, moons, stars, solar systems and galaxies. Astronomy is one of the oldest fields of science. Becoming an astronomer usually requires a high level of education such as a PhD in Physics. Strong math skills are important for astronomers. Astronomers usually work for Universities or research institutes. While there aren’t a large number of professional astronomers compared to some other scientific fields, there are a large number of amateur astronomers who often share their findings and assist professionals. Professional astronomers only spend a small amount of time with telescopes, most of their time is spent analyzing images and data. Some work entirely with data observed by other people. Astrophysics is a branch of astronomy that focuses on the physics of the Universe. Galileo is often regarded as the father of modern astronomy.

Unit 7, Lesson 1, Ex.6b)

Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and is especially useful for weather forecasting. Atmospheric research has applications in weather prediction, climate change and our general understanding of weather patterns. Scientists who study meteorology are called meteorologists. Important subjects related to meteorology include physics, chemistry, algebra, calculus and computer science. Meteorologists usually have good communication skills, strong analytical minds and a passion for events related to weather. Meteorologists who work on television or radio have excellent communication skills and extra qualifications in areas such as journalism. A career in meteorology could see you working on air transportation, global warming, pollution control, ozone depletion, droughts, forestry, agriculture and more. Meteorologists use a range of satellites, weather balloons, radars, sensors and weather stations to study wind velocity, temperature, humidity and air pressure. Knowing the weather conditions in advance is important to a number of industries including agriculture, shipping, forestry, fishing and transportation. Weather predictions have improved with the introduction of powerful computers which run complex weather simulations.

Unit 7, Lesson 2, Ex.1a)

Atom: I’d like to report a missing electron. Policeman: Are you sure? Atom: Yes, I’m positive!

Unit 7, Lesson 2, Ex.1d)

Old chemistry teachers never die, they just fail to react.

What did the biologist wear on his first date? - Designer jeans.

What did the volcano say to his wife? - I lava you so much!

If an experiment works, something has definitely gone wrong.

Mushrooms look like umbrellas because they grow in damp places.

Why is electricity so dangerous? - Because it doesn't know how to conduct itself properly.

How many astronomers does it take to change a light bulb? - None, astronomers aren't scared of the dark.

Why did the weather forecaster move to another country? - Because the weather didn’t agree with him.

Never lend a geologist money. They think a short term loan is a million years.

How many programmers does it take to change a light bulb? - None. It’s a hardware problem.

Unit 7, Lesson 3, Ex.1b)

Waclaw Sierpinsky – a great Polish mathematician – became rather absent-minded with age. Once he had to move to a new place for some reason. His wife didn’t trust him very much, so when they stood down on the street with all their things, she said:

• Now, you stand here and watch our ten trunks, while I go and get a taxi.

She left and he stayed there, humming absently, eyes somewhat glazed. Some minutes later she returned, presumably having called for a taxi. Says Mr. Sierpinski:

• I thought you said there were ten trunks, but I’ve only counted to nine.

• No, they’re TEN!

• No, count them: 0, 1, 2, …

Unit 7, Lesson 3, Ex.2a)

Host: Well, dear listeners, now we’re going to make much ado about nothing. And the topic of our today’s programme is not Shakespeare with his wonderful play, but His Majesty Zero. In the story of zero something can be made out of nothing. Without it, modern astronomy, physics and chemistry would have been unthinkable as we know them. In our studio today there is a historian and a philologist and they will vividly demonstrate the power of zero and unveil its history. Over to you, Professor Dalton. We’re full of anticipation.

Unit 7, Lesson 3, Ex.2c)

Professor Dalton: Understanding and working with zero is the basis of our world today; without zero there would be no calculus, financial accounting, and, finally, computers. When we think of one hundred, three thousand, the image that we have in our mind is that of a digit followed by a few zeros. The zero here plays the role of a placeholder. If we were missing one zero, that would seriously change the amount. Just imagine having one zero erased (or added) to your salary or pocket money!

Host: And how old is zero?

Professor Dalton: It’s difficult to say. The thing is zero was invented independently by several civilizations. The number system we use today – Arabic, though it in fact came originally from India – is relatively new. For centuries people marked quantity with a variety of symbols and figures. The ancient Sumerians were the first to develop a counting system, which was positional: that is the placement of a particular symbol relative to others denoted its value. The Sumerian system was handed down to Babylonians in 2000 BC and it was them who first thought of a mark to show that a number was absent from a column; just as 2014 signifies that there are no hundreds in that number. The greatest mathematicians of Ancient Greece did not have a name for zero, nor did their system have a placeholder as did the Babylonian. It was the Indians who began to understand zero both as a symbol and as an idea. The Maya of Central America also invented zero.

Host: Did they solve the mystery of division by zero?

Professor Dalton: This had to wait for Isaac Newton and Leibniz. But it would still be a few centuries before zero reached Europe. Adding, subtracting, and multiplying by zero are relatively simple operations. But division by zero confused even great minds. In the 1600’s Newton and Leibniz solved this problem independently and opened the world to innumerable possibilities. Calculus was born without which we wouldn’t have physics, engineering, and many aspects of economics and finance.

Host: In the twenty-first century zero is so familiar that to talk about it seems more like much ado about nothing. But if we hadn’t discovered the zero, what sort of maths would we be able to do?

Professor Dalton: I think that without the concept of zero, algebra would have stagnated at about the stage it reached around 800 AD. It is precisely understanding and working with this nothing that has allowed civilization to progress. Mathematics is a global language, so zero exists and is used everywhere.

Host: Yet, until you go to algebra, there is really no need for zero. Thank you very much, Professor Dalton, for taking us down the history lane to hear the tale of zero…

Unit 7, Lesson 3, Ex.3a)

… Now – how do we use the word ‘zero’ in everyday life? Professor Scholey, could you introduce us to this intricate system, please?

Professor Scholey: The first thing that springs to mind is the absolute zero – 0 degrees on the Kelvin scale, which is equivalent to -273.15 C and -459.67°F. Absolute zero is theoretically the lowest possible temperature, the point at which all molecular motion would cease. By the way, you can have a look at the Fahrenheit and Celsius (or Centigrade) Scales compared. To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and divide by 1.8. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 and add 32. The Fahrenheit scale is used in the US. On this scale 32° is the freezing point of water, 212° is the boiling point. The Celsius or centigrade is used by the World Meteorological Organization and most countries of the world. On this scale 0° is freezing and 100° is boiling.

Host: So, we use zero to say the temperature.

Professor Scholey. Quite right. We also say: the number ‘one million’ is written with six zeros (or noughts). But the number 0 can be said as zero, naught (in the UK), oh, nothing, nil (in the UK again), love and zip (in the US).

Host: Oh, no! Do we use the word ‘zero’ in telephone numbers?

Professor Scholey: No, we don’t. We say ‘oh’ instead. The same applies to house or room numbers. When we announce the results of football games, we say ‘nil’, in tennis it’s ‘love’. We play the famous game of ‘noughts and crosses’, which is called ‘tick-tack-toe’ in the US. In the US you can also say ‘I know zip about computers’, meaning that you know nothing about them.

Host: Well, zero added to or subtracted from any number leaves the number unchanged, but zero itself has changed our world completely. Without it, our chances of achieving progress in some spheres would be zero. Good-bye for now and listen to us …

Unit 7, Lesson 3, Ex.3b)

Nought point seven per cent (0.7%),

twelve point nought five grams (12.05g),

10 degrees below zero (-10°C),

my telephone number is nine oh five double eight (90588),

I live in one oh seven Blackwell Street (107 Blackwell Street),

Chelsey won three-nil (3-0),

Azarenko leads Sharapova thirty love (30-0)

Unit7, Lesson 4, Ex.4a)

Sir Isaac Newton has been used as an icon by two groups that hold a radically different vision of reality. Both astrologers and rational mechanistic scientists have made claims on Newton so support their belief systems. Both groups claim Isaac Newton as a hero.

From the times immemorial, astrology has been a determining factor in the decisions and actions of men of all ranks and stations. At the beginning of the 17^th century, great scientists as Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler – now best remembered for their roles in the development of modern physics and astronomy – all held astronomy in high esteem. However, at the end of the 17^th century, the scientific community had completely turned away from astrology. Hardly a single word on astrology, either pro or contra, is to be found in the works of Isaac Newton. Nevertheless, astrological literature presents a different view and even claims that Newton was a secret student of astrology.

Interestingly, among, the 1752 books from Newton’s personal library, no less than 477 were on the subject of theology, 169 – on alchemy, 126 – on mathematics, 52 on physics and only 33 – on astronomy. At his death, Newton’s library possessed no more than four books on the subject of astrology. Ironically, a book on astrology may have inspired Newton’s interest in science. On August 31^st, 1726, shortly before his death, Newton was interviewed by his nephew John Conduitt, who was collecting biographical material on his famous uncle. During his interview, Newton confided to Conduitt that his interest in science had first been roused in the summer of 1663, when as a young student at Cambridge, he bought a book on astrology at a fair. Confused by the diagrams and calculations in the book, he then studied some books on geometry and calculus and was soon convinced in the emptiness of the pretended science of astrology.

Unit 7, Lesson 4, Ex.4b)

The story is told of an atheist scientist, a friend of Isaac Newton, who knocked on the door and came in after Newton had finished making his solar system machine (one of the machines like those in science museums, where you can make planets and moons move by turning the handle of the machine). The man saw the machine and said it was wonderful. As he was cranking the handle of the machine, he asked, “Who made this?” Sir Isaac stopped writing and said, “Nobody did.” Then he carried on writing. The man said, “You didn’t hear me. Who made the machine?” Newton replied, ‘I told you, nobody did.” The man stopped cranking and turned to Isaac, “Now, listen, Isaac, this marvelous machine must have been made by somebody – don’t keep saying that nobody made it.” At this point Isaac Newton stopped writing and got up. He looked at his friend and said, “Now, isn’t it amazing! I tell you that nobody made a simple toy like that and you don’t believe me. Yet you gaze out into the solar system – the intricate marvelous machine that is around you – and you dare say to me that no one made it. I don’t believe it!” As far as the record goes, Newton’s friend was no longer an atheist.

Unit 7, Lesson 5, Ex. 1b)

This is a very interesting story I heard in school days that an apple fell on the head of Isaac Newton and this is how he discovered the law of gravity. The reality behind the story is that it was never mentioned by Newton himself and the story came into existence many decades after the law of gravity had been discovered. So this story is the biggest lie of science that our teachers taught us in school. But the story added a humorous aspect to the very important and serious discovery of science.

Unit 7, Lesson 5, Ex.2b)

Interviewer: So what is QI, then?

John Lloyd: QI – Quite Interesting – is a British comedy panel game television quiz show hosted by Steven Fry. Most of the questions are so challenging that they make it extremely unlikely that the correct answer will be given. Points are awarded not only for right answers, but also for interesting ones. Conversely, points are deducted from a panelist who gives ‘answers which are not only wrong, but obvious’ – typically answers that are generally believed to be true but in fact are not. Points are also often deducted if an obvious joke answer is given.

Interviewer: So, as far as I can gather, points are awarded for being interesting and funny (and, very occasionally, right) but points are deducted for answers which merely repeat common misconceptions and urban myth. It’s okay to be wrong, but don’t be obviously, boringly wrong. So what’s the central concept of the programme?

John Lloyd: The concept of the programme is to unveil the common misconceptions, as you so nicely put it. QI not only makes us look more closely at things, it encourages us to question all the received wisdom we have carried with us since childhood. It’s about finding undiscovered connections and seeing hidden patterns, just like the best comedy. Having started in 2003 with all things ‘A’, QI is attempting to get all the way through the alphabet, and then, possibly continue through the numbers which are, naturally, slightly more numerous.

Unit 7, Lesson 5, Ex. 4

… From geography to psychology, there are many examples of people collectively doing it wrong by learning fiction as truth. Here are four of the biggest errors walking around masquerading as well-known facts.

Number 1: Christopher Columbus’ crew had a lot to be worried about as they set sail. There was the possibility that they might fall ill with scurvy or get into a weather front, and of course there were all those warnings about monsters.

But falling off the edge of the planet? Not so much. The idea that Columbus was trying to attempt the unimaginable and become an international celebrity for not falling off the world is false.

People have known since the learned and logic-laden age of the Greeks that they lived on a great, big globe. There were lots of obvious clues, like the way ships sailed over the horizon and how the Earth cast a crescent shadow on the moon.

There were many objections to Columbus' plan to reach the East Indies via a somewhat novel route, but a tragic (and expensive) fall into the abyss wasn't one of them. It was not until the 1800s that the "knowledge" that our ancestors had forgotten the shape of the thing which they lived on started to circulate.

Number 2: You're out in the yard and you see a distressing sight – a baby bird is floundering around on the ground, looking like it's desperate to get in the air, but it can't despite all its efforts. Suddenly, you spot a cat readying for a pounce. You rush over to save the little bundle of feathers, take it into the house, and make a shoebox nest to serve as a habitat for your precious little find. You'll raise it yourself until it's ready to fly.

While this is wrong on several levels, it's not because you touched the bird.

Baby birds usually don't leave the nest until they're ready (or at least readyish) to fly. But, just like how well you drive during your very first driving lesson, they typically stink at flying at first. So needless to say, they suffer a few false starts and end up on the ground, whining like a teenager who wants the car keys but hasn't completely got the hang of which is the gas and which is the brake.

But that doesn't mean the parents aren't supervising their offspring. They're probably in a nearby tree shuddering as their little dunce forgets all the lessons they taught it. And if you leave the baby bird alone, chances are they'll be there soon to smack it upside the head and tell it to pay more attention during the next round of flying lessons.

As for the scent issue – birds just don't smell too well. A few species are an exception, but chances are vastly greater that the little chirping ball of fluff won't suffer if you need to move it to the other side of the fence from where your dog plays. Plus, its parents have invested way too much time and energy raising it to go away at the first opportunity, no matter how the little guy smells.

Number 3: Lots of people think different parts of the tongue are fine-tuned to detect different tastes. The tip of the tongue is where you get your desserts on, the sides are where the salty taste really hits home, bitter's in the back, and in between is the sour zone. This "fact" was the prevailing notion for a very long time. It has persisted in spite of millions of kids in health class insisting that the wooden spoon just tastes like wooden spoon, no matter how they lick it.

More recently, however, we've found out that the whole zones theory was pretty much nonsense. It turns out people can sense different tastes all over their tongues.

Then there's the fifth basic taste that doesn't get a lot of PR, and that's umami. Auguste Escoffier, the famous chef in 19th century France, came up with this idea. Foodies swooned over it – it's been described as savory and meaty – but scientists stuck to the sweet/salty/bitter/sour taste tetrahedron.

Even though umami was a familiar taste in Japan, the "fifth taste" idea didn't get much traction there, either. That is until Kikunae Ikeda, a whiz-bang Japanese chemist, decided to get to the bottom of what umami was all about. He figured out the taste came from glutamic acid, and he called it the Japanese version of yummy.

No one at the time believed him, though, and it wasn't until the end of the 20th century that scientists decided to look into it. They realized Ikeda was right all along.

Number 4: We hear what you're saying. We see your point of view. We feel your pain. Also, you smell bad and possibly taste funny, the latter of which we don't intend to test.

But if you believe these are the only five ways you can detect information about your environment, we're going to punch you in the face. There. Boom. You will feel it thanks to nociception, the ability to sense pain.

There are lots more, too, although the lists vary and the final number-of-senses record is in great dispute. There are several boring ones that your body does without you knowing it. So let's skip those. More interesting is proprioception, which helps you pass the "close your eyes and touch your nose" test. Basically, it's what lets two parts of your body connect without visual confirmation. If you're (successfully) rubbing your eyes in disbelief, you used proprioception to do it. If you accidently smacked yourself in the forehead instead, you experienced a proprioception fail.

Apart from those, hunger and thirst can count according to some, as can feelings of hot and cold. Itch, interestingly, is apparently independent from both touch and pain. It's annoying on so many levels!

Unit 7, Lesson 7, Ex. 2a)

Host: Everything on Earth has its advantages and disadvantages. Professor Tom Hunter and an environmentalist, Professor Judith Crawley join us today to talk about pros and cons of scientific and technological progress. Welcome to our studio. Dr. Hunter, Dr. Crawley, thanks for being with us today.

JC: Thanks for inviting me and introducing me. Well, I must say I’m not against the development of science and technology. I want people to realize what this development entails.

TH: Let’s first talk about what progress means for humanity. It definitely improves the quality of life. Progress means less work for humans. It makes life more enjoyable.

JC: Less work – yes, but people tend to become lazy and prefer not to work at all. We don’t have to think and work as much these days. Enjoyable? – Yes, but it makes people more materialistic. There is more greed. People want things they could easily live without.

TH: You can’t deny that for people with disabilities progress means a lot. It makes their lives considerably easier. Just a century ago people were dying of terrible diseases. Now we have better medical care, vaccinations are more reliable. Scientific and technological progress has extended our life span. We’re now coming closer to the solution of the mystery of life.

JC: You are right, of course… And you are not. What kind of life do you think our children will have, and their children and grandchildren in the world polluted by thousands of factories, in the world where progress is so wide-spread that there is no place for a tiger or a panda? I’m trying to think forwards, warning you about the things we might lose irretrievably in the future.

TH: Progress means doing some jobs faster. Scientific and technological progress will help to overcome problems we have today. We will get new energy sources, cars will be safer and the problem of pollution will be solved.

JC: It might be solved too late for some animal and plant species. And it will be solved too late for some people whose health has deteriorated because of the so-called ‘progress’ – chemical factories, water poisoning, accidents at work places involving machines and mechanisms. People die of malfunctions - take Chernobyl and Fukushima, for instance. The list is endless.

TH: If a mother is always warning her child about the dangers of life, this child will grow up into an adult who is too cautious, who never dares to take risks, to make new discoveries. Science means discovering new things, finding new ways of solving problems, taking risks sometimes. Let’s take natural disasters. Now we can predict them faster.

JC: More weapons are created, technology is used in wars. Whether or not to use this or that scientific discovery is usually decided by the people who have all the power. But they are normally the people who want more profit, more money out of this discovery. They are not worried about the future of the planet. Don’t forget about climate change.

TH: Every child knows now that climate change is a debatable thing. Nobody knows for sure if it is actually happening. But talking about getting information, I must say that progress makes knowledge more accessible regardless of class, age and wealth. And more information inevitably leads to more choices.

JC: Yes, and many people will choose to work at home, in front of the computer and, as a result, will miss out on socialising skills and personal contacts. Moreover, progress should lead to more time in our lives, but it actually doesn’t. We have to spend too much time on keeping up-to-date with all the newest technologies. So, it’s a kind of a vicious circle.

Host: It seems there is no easy way to decide if science and technology are constructive or destructive…

Unit 7, Lesson 7, Ex.3b)

Host: What’s the conclusion then? Can science save us from ourselves? Science is neither good nor evil. It’s how we apply scientific knowledge that counts. Medical science has defeated many diseases. Is that good? It may have saved many from suffering, but it is a factor in human population expansion which leads to the need for more food. Human lives are important, but we are not the only species to inhabit this planet. Agricultural science has given us more crops, less disease and protection from pests. But this has had effects on nature, some of which have yet to become evident. Science has given us power, but this power has a price. Yes, we have acquired great scientific knowledge, but we have yet to learn the secret of natural balance. It is not science we must look to, to ensure the future, it is us. We must understand that whatever we do has a consequence. Do not blame the gun for killing a child, blame the one who pulls the trigger. The gun is an inanimate object, but the politicians, scientists, engineers, manufacturers and financiers are behind its development and they should take the responsibility. We should make life better on a global scale. The whole infrastructure of every society bears the responsibility for the use of science and technology either for good or for ill. Anyway, it’s a different subject. Thanks you for joining us today.

JC and TH: Thank you.

Unit 7, Lesson 8, Ex.1c)

Step 1: Work in two groups to prepare for the debate. One group proposes the motion; the other group opposes the motion. Brainstorm your arguments for or against. Be ready to provide facts supporting your arguments. Try to predict what arguments your opponent can come up with. Prepare counterarguments. Think of a slogan to motivate the audience to vote for you.

Step 2: Choose a speaker to represent your group. Help them to structure their speech. It should consist of three parts: introduction, main body and conclusion. In the introduction the speaker is supposed to say what they are going to speak about. In the main body they are supposed to present the arguments and support them with facts. In the conclusion the speaker should say what they have spoken about and should finish up with the slogan.

Step 3: Take a vote. Forget about your personal preferences as far as the motion or the speaker is concerned, just think whose arguments are more numerous and persuasive.

UNIT 8

Unit 8, Lesson 1, Ex.1c)

1. What is the most important gift of science? Science has offered many gifts to mankind. We are familiar with them; we have routinely been using them. Can you name a gift of science without which the modern civilization can not survive? Name one, only one gift. If we stop using it, the whole world would come to a standstill. What is it?

2. Another interesting question: Which are the most important devices today? Name just two of them. Without them, all functions of the society would be impossible. The structure of the ultra-modern civilization would collapse. Have you guessed them?

Unit 8, Lesson 1, Ex.1d)

What is the most important gift of science? Science has offered many gifts to mankind. We are familiar with them; we have routinely been using them. Can you name a gift of science without which the modern civilization can not survive? Name one, only one gift. If we stop using it, the whole world would come to a standstill. What is it? (pause)

It is electricity. If there is no electricity, the survival of the modern man would be put at risk. (pause)

Another interesting question: Which are the most important devices today? Name just two of them. Without them, all functions of the society would be impossible. The structure of the ultra-modern civilization would collapse. Have you guessed them?

One is the time-measuring device, the other is the computer. A time-measuring device (a clock or a watch) regulates the activities and functionalities of our life - ranging from personal life to communication and transportation. Two is a computer. A computer controls both personal and impersonal issues at local and global levels. How chaotic life could result if these two devices stop functioning all of a sudden! (Thank God! That can never happen!)

Unit 8, Lesson 2, Ex. 3b

A. Melissa Hu: I love music so giving up my iPod was definitely a challenge. I listen to it during car rides, when I’m eating at restaurants, and sometimes when I’m supposed to be sleeping.

The first few days were the worst. I was trying to study at the library when this guy started talking nonstop to one of his friends. I wanted to reach for my iPod so I wouldn’t have to listen to him, but I couldn’t. So I tried to do my work but finally moved to another table.

This challenge was especially difficult when I was at home. My parents were installing a floor, so they were constantly using the nail gun. The noise was terrible.

After a couple of days, it got easier. I paid more attention to the things around me and was more productive. I noticed a cat in my backyard bushes. I read books like Sybil and Dubliners.

Without my iPod, I started remembering songs that I had forgotten about. I had always skipped one of my former favorite songs, Green Day’s “Jesus of Suburbia,” after years of wearing it out.

I realized I spend too much time using my iPod and feel like I need to always have it with me. I am going to try to use my iPod less by not bringing my earphones with me everywhere I go. Hopefully I’ll be more attentive.

B. Alma Sanchez: I decided to do this challenge because I watch a lot of TV. In the summer, the first thing I did after waking up was turn on the TV in the living room. Sometimes it didn’t matter what show it was, as long as I could pass time and not be bored. I thought this challenge would help me get more done, but giving up TV for a week was harder than I thought.

On Monday as soon as I woke up I thought about the shows I’d be missing like I Love Lucy and a Spanish soap opera. I killed time by going on the Internet. In the afternoon, my mom and I went to the supermarket, where there was a TV screen in every corner of the store! “How can they do that to me, don’t they know I’m not suppose to watch TV!?” I turned away immediately but I still felt bad.

On Tuesday, I went to my aunt’s house next door and before I knew it I was staring at the video game my cousin was playing. Then I went to the bedroom where my other cousin was switching channels and I left immediately. I went home and read 1984, my summer reading. The book was full of suspense and I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t think about TV at all.

On Wednesday I even saw a TV on the bus that showed news clips, games and ads. I took a book to read on Friday to avoid watching.

On the other days, I could control not watching TV by staying in my bedroom. Instead of watching TV, I cleaned my desk, looked through college brochures and finalized my college list. I felt more productive but I wanted to watch TV with my family because I could hear them laughing.

When the challenged ended, I wanted to keep going because I did more that week than any other week in the summer. But I knew I would eventually cave and want to watch TV.  I realized that TV distracted me and that not watching it helped. Now I only watch my favorite shows and skip boring ones. С. Elliot Kwon: I always knew that I depended way too much on my phone. But I didn’t know how much, so I decided to do this challenge to find out.

Every morning since I got a smartphone, I’ve used The Weather Channel to figure out what to wear. On the first morning I had to dress without guidance, but thankfully I was able to predict that the day would be cold and foggy by looking out my window. When was the last time I did that … eighth grade?

I also lost track of time. I haven’t worn a watch for more than a year, because my phone showed the time. So I was late picking up friends who took the bus for two hours to come from Santa Monica to Palos Verdes. I also was late to my tutoring job. And even worse, I couldn’t call people to tell them that I was running late.

Getting places was harder, too. I got lost because I couldn’t use the GPS on my phone. My driving, though, got a lot safer because I no longer had my phone in one hand checking directions while driving with the other.

But the number one problem was not having my contact list. I forgot to write down my friends’ and family members’ phone numbers before I started the challenge. It was sad to realize that I couldn’t remember my brother’s and my mom’s cell phone numbers.

In the midst of all the problems, however, I found peace not worrying about missing a text message or an e-mail.

This challenge was a great learning experience. It surprised me how I’d overlooked even the simplest things like remembering phone numbers. We all should take some time to think about how we can depend less on our cell phones. Unit 8, Lesson 5, Ex.4a

What’s nanotechnology?

Imagine if you climbed out of the shower only to discover you'd gone smaller by about 1500 million times! If you stepped into your living room, what you'd see around you would not be chairs, tables, computers, and your family but atoms, molecules, and cells. Down to "nanoscale," you'd not only see the atoms that everything is made from—you'd actually be able to move them around! Now imagine you started sticking those atoms together in interesting new ways. You could build all kinds of fantastic materials, everything from brand new medicines to computer chips. Making new things on this fantastic small scale is called nanotechnology and it's one of the most exciting and fast-moving areas of science and technology today.

How small is nanometer?

We live on a scale of meters and kilometers, so it's quite hard for us to imagine a world that's too small to see. Nano means "billionth", so a nanometer is one billionth of a meter.

This is all very interesting and quite impressive, but what use is it?

This is the work of nanoscience: it helps us understand why things happen by studying them at the smallest possible scale. Once we understand nanoscience, we can do some nanotechnology: we can put the science into action to help solve our problems.

How do you work on the nanoscale?

Your fingers are millions of nanometers long, so it's no good trying to pick up atoms and molecules and move them around with your bare hands. That would be like trying to eat your dinner with a fork 300 km long! Amazingly, scientists have developed electron microscopes that allow us to "see" things on the nanoscale and also work with them.

When did nanotechnology start?

Engineering on the nano-scale isn't a new thing. Animals and plants have long been using the nanoparticles and nanostructures in their shells, skins and wings.

Bacteria and viruses act just like nanorobots. For example, a common bacteria called E.coli can build itself a little nanotechnology tail that it whips around like a kind of propeller to move it closer to food.

Can we use nanotechnology in our everyday life?

It could be you're already using nanotechnology. Clothes have just got clever with nanotechnology: the materials stay clean, warm, strong and dry.

Nanotechnology is big news in sport. Tennis and golf players, skiers and mountain bikers are already enjoying the advanced technology with lighter, stronger sports equipment.

The displays on everything from iPods and cellphones to flatscreen TVs are made from plastic built on the nanoscale.

One of the most exciting areas of nanotechnology is building incredibly small machines from individual atoms. Nanomachines could be made into nanorobots (sometimes called "nanobots") that could be injected into our bodies to carry out repairs or sent into dangerous environments.

Nanotechnology can be used in the food industry right from field to table. For example, nanomaterials could help keep food fresh for longer. Scientists are already manufacturing nano-sized vitamins that are easier for our bodies to take in. In the future they hope to create 'interactive' food - food and drink that could change colour, flavour or ingredients on demand.

That’s unbelievable! Unit 8, Lesson 6, Ex.4a

1. When you're not home, nagging little doubts can start to crowd your mind. Did I turn the coffee maker off? Did I set the security alarm? Are the kids doing their homework or watching television? With a smart home, you could quiet all of these worries with a quick trip online. Smart homes connect all the devices and appliances in your home so they can communicate with each other and with you.

Anything in your home that uses electricity can be put on the home network and at your command. Whether you give that command by voice, remote control or computer, the home reacts.

2. Ok. Here are a few more examples of cool smart home tricks: Turn on the coffee maker from bed. There are cameras that will track your home's exterior even if it's pitch-black outside. A video door phone provides more than a doorbell -- you get a picture of who's at the door. Motion sensors will send an alert when there's movement around your house. Door handles can open with scanned fingerprints or a four-digit code, no need to look for house keys. While most home automation technology is focused on lighting, security and entertainment, smart appliances may be on their way as well. Ideas include: Trash cans that monitor what you throw away and generate online orders for replacement. Refrigerators that create dinner recipes based on the ingredients stored inside.

3. Smart homes obviously make life easier and more convenient. Who wouldn't love being able to control lighting, entertainment and temperature from their couch? Whether you're at work or on vacation, the smart home will alert you to what's going on, and security systems can be built to provide help in an emergency. For example, not only would a resident be woken with a fire alarm, the smart home would also unlock doors, dial the fire department and light the way to safety.

Smart homes also provide some energy savings. The devices can go to "sleep" and wake up when commands are given. Electric bills go down when lights are automatically turned off when a person leaves the room, and rooms can be heated or cooled based on who's there at any given moment. Smart home technology promises great advantages for an elderly person living alone. Smart homes could notify the resident when it was time to take medicine, contact the hospital if the resident fell and turn off the oven if the cook had wandered away.

­4. A smart home probably sounds like a nightmare to those people not comfortable with computers as sometimes you may find them difficult to operate.

Of course, there's also the question of whether an individual needs all this technology. Is our society really so lazy that we can't turn flip a light switch? It's an interesting argument, but smart homes are coming.

Unit 8, Lesson 8, Ex. 2

Prefixes and suffixes are generally known as affixes. Affixes create new words, usually by changing the meaning of a root word.

A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to make a new word: In the word '”UNHAPPY”, 'UN-' is a prefix added to HAPPY. UN- is a Latin word for NOT.

A suffix on the other hand is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to make another word. The suffix NESS added to the end of the word TOGETHER creates another word TOGETHERNESS. A good knowledge of English prefixes and suffixes will help students develop vocabulary without the need to always check their dictionary.

Since English is a language that has thousands of words from other languages, a brief description of commonly used prefixes and suffixes would do much good.

UNIT 9

Unit 9, Lesson 1, Ex. 2a)

Lena: Well, Frank, you’ve been teaching English in Moscow for quite a long time, haven’t you?

Frank: Five years in fact. I’ve never realized how long I’ve been teaching here.

Lena: Have you picked up any Russian?

Frank: To be honest, I’ve been learning Russian the same number of years. I’ve always been fascinated with your great writers: Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy. My Mum used to teach Russian in England, so when I was a boy, I would listen to her reciting poems by her favourite Akhmatova and fell in love with the music of the language.

Lena: Could we switch over to Russian now?

Frank: We’d better not. I don’t feel confident enough yet. Russian is so amazingly difficult to learn!

Lena: Don’t worry, I’ve no desire to embarrass you. I just wanted to talk about the things that seem a little strange to you.

Frank: You mean the equivalents of some English words inappropriately used in Russian? Sure. Let’s take this overused word ‘great’. Once I was watching the Oscar ceremony broadcast on Russian television. In English we can say ‘It’s great song!’ and ‘He was a great composer.’ Strangely enough, it was translated into Russian as ‘Это великая песня,” “ Он был великим композитором.” So, in both cases, the interpreter used the same equivalent: the Russian word ‘великий’. But the thing is that ‘great’ has got lots of different shades of meaning.

Lena: How would you translate ‘It’s a great song’ into Russian?

Frank: Это великолепная песня, а не великая.

Lena: Your Russian is very good indeed. You sound like a native speaker.

Frank: Great minds think alike. I’ve got the same idea. Of course, I’m kidding. I’ve still got so much to learn. Anyway, talking about some new 21^st century song, which has just appeared on radio and television, it’s better to say ‘великолепный, а не великий’. In English, it would be synonymous to ‘very good, first-rate, wonderful or fantastic’. While talking about Tchaikovsky, we can easily say that he was a great composer – он был великий композитор – meaning that this person is really distinguished, famous and admired by a lot of people. And, in my opinion, the fame and importance of a person or their work should be time-tested.

Lena: I see. I think the same applies to the word ‘genius’ that has been overused or even misused recently.

Frank. That’s true, I’m afraid. Every second person is labeled a ‘genius’ while in English there are so many wonderful words to describe intelligent people…

Unit 9, Lesson 1, Ex.3b)

Lena: Could you give a couple of examples?

Frank: There’s a great choice: intelligent, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, or as the Americans prefer it – smart and gifted, for example.

Lena: I’ll be trying to use them rather than the word ‘genius’ now. Thanks, Frank, for sharing your thoughts with our listeners.

Frank: Thanks for inviting me over… У вас – великолепная передача.

Lena and Frank: Ha-ha-ha…

Unit 9, Lesson 2, Ex.2c)

1) Leonardo Da Vinci - Leonardo Da Vinci is considered one of the most notable painters of all time and possibly the most multi-talented man to have ever lived! Two of his works include: The Last Supper & The Mona Lisa. Da Vinci was truly ahead of his time with breathtaking ideas such as: a helicopter, a tank, solar power and a calculator. Leonardo was a unique individual who exercised the curiosity of his powerful brain.

2) Nikola Tesla- Tesla was a renowned physicist, inventor, and engineer. He has made phenomenal contributions to science and has been classified as the “world’s greatest electrical engineer.” Nikola engaged in studying many works, memorizing complete books, and supposedly had a photographic memory. Tesla had above average brain power and was an advanced thinker when compared to others of his time.

3) Michelangelo - Michelangelo was a phenomenal painter, sculptor, architect, and poet. His diverse interest in art and the world really showed. He sculpted the Pieta and the David before he was 30 years old! He painted the Sistine Chapel and worked on the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelangelo was a genius that was able to bring an entirely new artistic perspective from his mind to reality.

4) Archimedes - Archimedes was a Greek philosopher, engineer, inventor and astronomer. He is also considered one of the most outstanding mathematicians of all time. Though there isn’t a ton of documented information regarding his personal life, we do know that he has had a large impact on science and physics. Archimedes’ thoughts were clearly ahead of his time: not many would disagree that he was a genius.

5) Pablo Picasso - Though Picasso may not have been an amazing scientist, his revolutionary mind forever changed the way people looked at art. He was a masterful drawer, painter, and sculptor. He founded “cubism” – an art style which became a huge movement in the 20th century. Pablo Picasso’s unique perception, which he expressed through his art, caused many people to view reality from a different perspective.

6) Ludwig van Beethoven - Beethoven was a German pianist and exceptional musician. He was very influential in Western classical music and is thought of as the best composer of all time. Though Beethoven’s hearing began to deteriorate in his early twenties, he was still able to create most wonderful music. He was able to conduct, compose, and perform even after he was completely deaf! Beethoven blessed the world with his musical genius and brilliant mind.

Unit 9, Lesson 3, Ex.4b)

First of all, Leonardo is described by historians as a procrastinator. He planned to write three books on mathematical subjects, but they were never published. His notebooks were filled with ingenious inventions and machines; most were never built or implemented. If they had been, it would have transformed Renaissance society. On his death bed he apologized to "God and Man for leaving so much undone.

Leonardo invented some of his own mathematical symbols and terms. Many scientists of his time did this because numbers were not standardized until after the invention of the printing press. This made it difficult for scientists and mathematicians to communicate their ideas to each other.

Leonardo also used "mirror writing" going from right to left on the pages of his notebooks. He was left-handed so maybe this was a matter of convenience. He started every page on the back side and worked over onto the front. Paper was expensive and scarce so Leonardo scribbled on every scrap he could find. These scraps were then assembled. Scholars have complained that Leonardo’s notebooks are a terrible jumble of drawings and writings on various subjects like a continuous stream of consciousness. Two thirds of his notebooks have never been found.

There is something ironic about the fact that the Mona Lisa was painted by a man with no women in his life. Leonardo Da Vinci never married, and he never had any children. He seems to be afraid of losing himself in another person when he writes: "The painter must be solitary ... For if you are alone you are completely yourself, but if you are accompanied by a single companion, you are half yourself."

Leonardo studied math on his own after he finished his apprenticeship as a painter. He had trouble with arithmetic and calculating square roots in particular. He doubted that some of the rules of arithmetic were even true. He simply could not "do the math!"

If you tried to cook dinner in the kitchen designed by Leonardo for Ludivico Sforza, it would probably be your last supper*. Leonardo learned the hard way not to over-engineer his designs on this project. He re-modeled the Duke's kitchen by automating the food preparation with some mechanical conveyor belts for moving dishes. He also built a much bigger, more powerful stove. For safety purposes, he installed a sprinkler system overhead to put out any kitchen fires. Leonardo then acted as the head chef on the day of the big banquet. He brought in more than a hundred of his friends to carve each dish as a work of art. You can guess what happened. The conveyor belts did not work; there was total confusion in the overcrowded kitchen; a fire broke out; the sprinkler system rained down on the food making a colossal mess. Leonardo's project should have been a dish washer. Leonardo, like many other Renaissance mathematicians, became obsessed with the problem of squaring the circle. Artists and architects of the Renaissance wanted to establish a rational proportional relationship between the circle and the square. Leonardo believed that the quadrature of the circle was the most important problem in geometry. But it turned out to be a mission impossible. Squaring the circle would require that pi, used in calculating the area of a circle, be a precise or a "rational" number. Leonardo did not know that pi is "irrational." The area of the circle is irrational, too.

In 1483, when Leonardo is 31 years old, he is hired by the Duke of Milan as a military engineer. Milan was the center of arms manufacture in Italy at this time. Why did the young painter make this career switch? Maybe he liked monkeying with machines, like guys working on their cars. He wrote in his notebook: "Mechanics is the paradise of the mathematical sciences." It must have paid well because in 1502, he changed jobs and went to work for none other than Cesare Borgia. His job description is chief architect and military engineer.

Unit 9, Lesson 5, Ex.3b) and d)

Thomas Alva Edison was the American great genius inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced the quality of life around the world. It was he who suggested using the word ‘hello’ at the beginning of a call. Some 25,000 notebooks contained his research records, ideas and mistakes.

In 1837 the Edison family fled from Canada to the US because Thomas Edison’s father was involved in a revolutionary movement against the Canadian government. Ten years later Thomas was born, and within his first six years he had managed to burn down the family barn. During his early years, Thomas suffered from scarlet fever and several ear infections, which left him hard of hearing. Even so, he was a talkative child who used to annoy adults with his constant questions.

Although young Al (as he was called in those days) was certainly very gifted and must have had a very high IQ, one teacher called him ‘addled’, which meant confused or stupid. He attended three different schools between the ages of seven to nine, and none of his teachers had the patience to deal with the mischievous and inattentive student. Al liked to talk but not listen.

The hero of Al’s childhood was his mother, who pulled him out of school after the school master said Al was unteachable and became his mentor. Young Edison read every book on the shelves. Later on he came to like reading Shakespeare. Al was a scientist from a very early age, and his mother encouraged him. He loved to explore and experience, not learn by heart. His mother let him set a laboratory in the cellar. Her faith in his natural abilities was at odds with the rest of the world. Even his father seemed to think that he was stupid.

At the age of twelve, Al got a job selling newspapers and other goods on the train. He set up a chemistry lab in the baggage car, acquired a printing press and began publishing a newspaper for commuters. Unfortunately he started a fire in the chemistry lab and was fired. Throughout his teens he landed and lost many jobs, but he was inventing the whole time. As a railroad signalman he had to clock in every hour by telegraph. Al invented a way to transmit his hourly signal automatically, and was fired when he was caught. The invention, however, eventually led him to develop the first automatic telegraph and the first clock ticker. “I owe my success to the fact that I never had a clock in my workroom.’ One group of his workers called themselves ‘The Insomnia Squad’.

Edison wasn’t just an inventor. He was a businessman who was able to deal his inventions, attract new capital, and motivate his employees. And he was a very hard worker. He said his success was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. He became close with another inventor and businessman, Henry Ford with whom he had a lot in common.

By the end of his career, Edison had received 1,093 patents and was credited for inventing the electric light bulb, the central power generating station, the phonograph, the flexible celluloid film and movie projector, alkaline storage battery and the microphone. Dozens of his inventions have been used for comfort and convenience, communication and entertainment. He used to repeat that he had not invented any weapons.

Unit 9, Lesson 6, Ex.4a)

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise  Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day  You got mud on yo' face  You big disgrace  Kickin' your can all over the place  We will we will rock you  We will we will rock you  Buddy you're a young man hard man  Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day  You got blood on yo' face  You big disgrace  Wavin' your banner all over the place  We will we will rock you  We will we will rock you  Buddy you're an old man poor man  Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day  You got mud on your face  You big disgrace  Somebody better put you back in your place  We will we will rock you  We will we will rock you

Unit 9, Lesson 7, Ex.4a)

In February 2013, Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg together with Yuri Milner have created the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation to reward lifesaving research. The first 11 winners of the award received $3 million each, compared with Nobel Prize’s $1.1 mln. A Russian internet investor who quit a PhD in physics and invested in social networking, Milner persuaded his fellow internet billionaires to contribute to the prize to encourage a new generation of molecular biologists and geneticists. "Young people will hopefully get the message that not only the careers in sports or entertainment can get a public recognition." Milner, who has homes in Moscow and California, distributed prizes last year for the field of fundamental physics. He decided to repeat the model on a bigger scale for life sciences. "Unfortunately I have two very close relatives with very bad diseases, one of them is cancer. This is part of my personal connection with this prize."

The prize was intended to make a statement. "It's a lot of money, yes. But the people who make game-changing contributions are often scientists who work without much recognition and without much compensation. To my mind these are the true heroes," said Art Levinson, the chairman of Apple, who will also chair the new foundation.

The prize-winners from the United States, Japan, Italy and the Netherlands, expressed shock and delight when told of the awards. "I had to sit down on the floor for a while. I thought it must be a practical joke," said Cornelia Bargmann, 51, who has pioneered work in neurology. Hans Clevers, 55, professor of Molecular Genetics, said he would use some of the windfall to invite about 150 collaborators to a symposium in Amsterdam. "We'll have a big party." Lewis Cantley, director of a cancer centre, whose work could help tackle diabetes and other genetic disorders, said he was overwhelmed when notified of the news. "I almost fell over. I didn't even know this prize existed." Titia de Lange, 57, who researches cell biology, genetics and cancer, said the award felt strange. "I'm not used to having a lot of money. I don't really have possessions." Two women from a list of 11 fairly reflected the percentage of women working at that level, she said. "One would like it to be higher of course." One of the oldest recipients, David Botstein, 70, expressed some unease about the amount of money and said he would give some of it away.

Unit 9, Lesson 8, Ex.2b)

1. My favourite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time. Steve Jobs

2. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss… Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Bill Gates

3. Obviously everyone wants to be successful, but I want to be looked back on as being very innovative, very trusted and ethical and ultimately making a big difference in the world. Sergey Brin

4. All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney

5. The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. Albert Einstein

6. Astronomy’s much more fun when you’re not an astronomer. Brian May

7. If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton

8. Life well spent is long. Leonardo Da Vinci

9. If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. Henry Ford

10. Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable. Coco Chanel

11. By giving people power to share we’re making the world more transparent. Mark Zuckerberg

Unit 9, Lesson 8, Ex.3c)

1. “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” Coco Chanel

2. “Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence, he is just using his memory.” Leonardo Da Vinci

3. “I despise the Lottery. There is less chance of you becoming a millionaire than there is of getting hit on the head by a passing asteroid.” Brian May

4. “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Isaac Newton

5. “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein

6. “We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things because we are curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Walt Disney

7. “Solving big problems is easier than solving little problems.” Sergey Brin

8. “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying I’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.” Steve Jobs

9. “I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress.” Mark Zuckerberg

10. “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who will empower others.” Bill Gates

11. “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” Henry Ford.

UNIT 10

Unit 10, Lesson 1, Ex.3a

The borders of Belarus were changed so many times it can be hard to know where your family really comes from: Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine or Belarus. Our lecture is not limited to persons of Belarusian ethnicity; Russians, Jews, Poles, Vikings, etc., may be found in the list.

How many of us would have guessed that the legendary Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas was born to Belarusian parents? They emigrated from Gomel to the USA when Kirk was just three years old, in 1919. Likewise, top American designer Ralph Lauren’s parents are from Belarus (his father from Pinsk and his mother from Grodno).

Belarus also has its fair share of writers. Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas, Vasil Bykov… Science-fiction king Isaac Asimov was born in the village of Petrovichi in the Mogilev Region of Belarus. Few know that Fyodor Dostoevsky - one of Russia’s greatest prose writers – was born into a Belarusian family. Although his parents had moved to Moscow by the time he arrived in the world, they hailed from the small Belarusian village of Dostoevo in the Ivanovo District. Last autumn, the village celebrated the 500th anniversary of the famous family.

Belarus has brought forth some of our world’s most prominent athletes. Just think of Olga Korbut – from Grodno or Max Mirnyi (nicknamed The Beast for his aggressive play). Other notable sporting heroes include Olympic medalists Yulia Nesterenko, Yekaterina Karsten, Yanina Korolchik and Ellina Zvereva. How about Stuttgart midfield Alexander Hleb? The wrestler Alexander Medved? The winner of the 2009 World Chess Cup, Boris Gelfand?

One of most famous of all people from Belarus, Marc Chagall is known around the world as a master of classic avant-garde art. The pioneer of geometric abstract art Kazimir Malevich, sculptor Osip Zadkine, Vladimir Vyshnevski also come from this land.

As far as science is concerned: Ignat Domejko was a well-known geologist who spent most of his life in Chile where he became a national hero. He is officially recognised by UNESCO for his achievements. Alexander Chizhevsky, born in the Grodno region in 1897, was a famous scientist who studied the biological effects of the sun and universe. Zhores Alferov, born in Vitebsk, won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2000.

Haim Weizman from the small village near Pinsk was an outstanding chemist who gave lectures in Switzerland and Great Britain. He also became the first president of Israel in 1949 and remained at this post until his death. By the way, Shimon Peres, Israel’s new President and Nobel Prize winner, was born in Belarus in the village of Vishnevo in the Minsk Region.

Petr Klimuk, the first Belarusian cosmonaut and a researcher in technical sciences was born in Komarovka village, Brest region, in 1942. He made three space flights as a member of spaceship and orbital space station missions.

Vladimir Kovalenok was born near Minsk in 1942. He trained as a pilot and became a celebrated cosmonaut in the Soviet Union. He commanded 3 space missions and was twice declared a Hero.

There are successful Belarusian artists, writers, models and businessmen all over the world. But the number one Belarusian in the world is Boris Kit. This outstanding rocket scientist and Belarusian turned 100 this year. Today he lives in Frankfurt-am-Main but remains truly devoted to his language and his motherland. Perhaps he is the man to make you feel that, in fact, you are lucky to come from Belarus.

Unit 10, Lesson 4, Ex.2b

a) Mr. Smith opened the door very quietly, looked carefully around the room and slowly walked in. The window was open and the curtains were blowing in the wind. Clearly someone had left in a hurry.

b) A: I met Steven Spielberg. Well, I think it was him.

B: Oh yeah?

A: Yeah, really. It was in LA airport.

B: What were you doing up there?

A: Oh, I was meeting some friends. They’d asked me to pick them up and I’d driven all the way from Santa Barbara.

Unit 10, Lesson 5, Ex.2

Not everyone who's on top today got there with success after success. More often than not, those who history best remembers were faced with numerous problems that made them work harder and show more determination than others. Next time you're feeling down about your failures at school or any other business, keep these ten famous people in mind and remind yourself that sometimes failure is just the first step towards success.

A. While Henry Ford is known as one of the richest and influential people in the world whose introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry, he wasn't an immediate success. In fact, his early businesses failed and left him broke five times before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.

B. Bill Gates didn't seem to promise any success after giving up his studies in Harvard and starting a failed first business called Traf-O-Data with his friend Paul Allen. While this early idea didn't work, Gates' later work did, creating the global empire that is Microsoft.

C. Today Walt Disney rakes in billions from products, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. Hardly had he started his first job in a newspaper when he was fired because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with loss of money and failure. He kept working hard, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

D. Most of us take Albert Einstein's name as synonymous with genius, but he didn't always show such promise. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he had mental problems, was slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and couldn’t enter the Zurich Polytechnic School. It might have taken him a bit longer, but most people would agree that he caught on pretty well in the end, winning the Nobel Prize and changing the face of modern physics.

E. In his early years, teachers told Thomas Edison he was "too stupid to learn anything." Work was no better, as he was fired from his first two jobs for not being productive enough. Even as an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. Of course, all those unsuccessful attempts finally resulted in the design that worked.

F. The brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright had to cope with depression and family illness before starting the bicycle shop that would lead them to experimenting with flight. After numerous attempts at creating flying machines, several years of hard work, and tons of failed models, the brothers finally created a plane that could get up in the air and stay there.

G. While today Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of our nation, Lincoln's life wasn't so easy. In his youth he went to war a captain and returned a private (if you're not familiar with military ranks, just know that private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn't stop failing there, however. He started numerous failed businesses and lost in numerous elections for public office he participated in.

H. Oprah Winfrey: Most people know Oprah as one of the most iconic faces on TV as well as one of the richest and most influential women in the world. Oprah faced a hard road to get to that position, however, having a terrible childhood. No sooner had she been born than her teenage mother fled away leaving her to live on her grandmother’s farm. The family was so poor that Winfrey often wore dresses made of potato sacks, for which the local children made fun of her. At 13, after years of horrific life, Winfrey ran away from home. Later she also had numerous career setbacks including losing her job as a television reporter because she was "unfit for TV."

I. Stephen King: The first book by this author, the iconic thriller Carrie, was turned down 30 times, finally causing King to give up and throw it in the trash. His wife fished it out and encouraged him to finish it and send it again, and the rest is history, with King now having hundreds of books published the distinction of being one of the best-selling authors of all time. His books have sold more than 350 million copies which have been made into many movies and television films.

Unit 10, Lesson 6, Ex.2a)