Vocabulary

Choose one variant (a, b, c or d) which could be used in place of the word or phrase underlined without changing the meaning of the sentence

1. You have to prepare a thesis on your investigation.

a) research c) dissertation

b) publication d) examination

2. You will have to meet your scientific advisor.

a) head c) manager

b) scientist d) supervisor

3. It is important to employ the most suitable techniques in your study.

a) use c) provide

b) promote d) unite

4. He will help you to select a promising topic.

a) productive c) perspective

b) prominent d) principal

5. In order to solve this problem we must be provided with all necessary data.

a) prevented c) proposed

b) supplied d) suggested

6. The message was transmitted by electronic mail.

a) received c) transformed

b) sent d) translated

7. Metals are conductors of heat and electricity.

a) careers c) presenters

b) insulators d) carriers

8. Newton's discoveries affected the science of Western civilizations for several centuries.

a) applied c) influenced

b) introduced d) contributed

9. Heat can convert solid to a liquid.

a) change c) cause

b) condense d) conduct

10. The plant generates electricity for the entire surrounding area.

a) produces c) removes

b) obtains d) extracts

Reading Comprehension

Read the passage and choose the best answer (a, b, c or d) to each question

Text 1

Ever since humans have inhabited the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a language barrier, communication is accomplished through sign language in which motions stand for letters, words and ideas. Tourists, the deaf, and the mute have had to resort to this form of expression. Many of these symbols of whole words are very picturesque and exact and can be used internationally; spelling, however, cannot.

Body language transmits ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either intentionally or unintentionally. A wink can be a way of flirting or indicating that the party is only joking. A nod signifies approval, while shaking the head indicates a negative reaction.

Other forms of nonlinguistic language can be found in Braill (a system of raised dots read with the fingertips), signal flags, Morse code, and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide, warn, and instruct people.

While verbalization is the most common form of language, other systems and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.

1. Which of the following best summarizes this passage?

a) When language is a barrier, people will find other forms of communication.

b) Everybody uses only one form of communication.

c) Nonlinguistic language is invaluable to foreigners.

d) Although other forms of communication exist, verbalization is the fastest.

2. Which of the following statements is not true?

a) There are many forms of communication in existence today.

b) Verbalization is the most common form of communication.

c) The deaf and mute use an oral form of communication.

d) Ideas and thoughts can be transmitted by body language.

3. Which form other than oral speech would be most commonly used among blind people?

a) Picture signs.

b) Braille.

c) Body language.

d) Signal flags.

4. How many different forms of communication are mentioned here?

a) 5.

b) 7.

c) 9.

d) 11.

5. Sign language is said to be very picturesque and exact and can be used internationally except for …

a) spelling;

b) ideas;

c) whole words;

d) expressions.

Read the passage and choose the best answer (a, b, c or d) to each question

Text 2

In recent years, scientific and technological developments have drastically changed human life on our planet, as well as our views both of ourselves as individuals in society and of the universe as a whole. Maybe one of the most profound developments is the discovery of recombinant DNA technology, which allows scientists to introduce genetic material (or genes) from one organism into another.

In its simplest form, the technology requires the isolation of a piece of DNA, either directly from the DNA of the organism under study, or artificially synthesized from an RNA template, by using a viral enzyme called reverse transciptase. This piece of DNA is then ligated to a fragment of bacterial DNA which has the capacity to replicate itself independently. The recombinant molecule thus produced can be introduced into the common intestinal bacterium Escherishcia coli, which can be grown in very large amounts in synthetic media. Under proper conditions, the foreign gene will not only replicate in the bacteria, but also express itself, through the process of transcription and translation, to give rise to large amounts of the specific protein coded by the foreign gene.

The technology has been successfully applied to the production of several therapeutically important biomolecules, such as insulin, interferon, growth hormones and some others. Many other applications are under detailed investigation in laboratories throughout the world.