What is Fiber Optics?

Fiber optic technology allows humans to control the path of a beam of light by confining it within ductile, transparent materials, like cords of plastic and glass. These transparent materials function as pipelines for light, and with their help, light, which usually moves in straight lines, can be sent along curved trajectories or around corners. Optical fibers of very pure glass have a surprisingly massive range, having been observed to carry light across distances greater than 100 miles (160 km) with only slight dimming. Some individual fibers measure less than 0.00015 inches (0.004 mm) wide, which makes them thinner than human hair. The light transmitted by optical fibers can be used for simple illumination, or to transmit signals and data. Though there was some practical application of fiber optic technology as early as the 1950s, major commercial implementation began in the 1980s.

Виберіть правильний варіант.

1. In fiber optics technology, such materials as ___ are used to transmit light.

a) wood b) plastic c) metal

2. Optical fibers can carry light over the distances of ___.

a) 1,000 km b) 100 km c) 10,000 km

3. The thickness of a single fiber is ___.

a) that of a match b) less than that of a human hair c) 3 inches

4. The commercial application of fiber optic began in ___.

a) 1950s b) 1980s c) the 21^st century

Граматика. Порівняльні конструкції as ... as, not so ... as, the ... the та інші.

Порівняльні конструкції

1)

the ... , the...

– чим ... тим

The more, the better. - Чим більше, тим краще.

2)

as ... as

– такий же ... як

It is as cold today as it was yesterday. – Сьогодні так само холодно, як і вчора

3)

not so ... as

– не такий ... як

It is not so cold today as it was yesterday. – Сьогодні не так холодно, як учора.

4)

than

– ніж

He did more than she did. - Він зробив більше, ніж вона. (Він зробив більше від (за) неї).

Вправа 2. Використайте порівняльну конструкцію as ... as або so ... as.

1. Mike is ___ tall ___ Pete. 2. Kate is not ___ nice ___ Ann. 3. My room is ___ light ___ this one. 4. This book is not ___ thin ___ that one. 5. Sergei is ___ old ___ Michael. 6. She is ___ young ___ Tom’s brother. 7. Nick’s English is not ___ good ___ his friend’s. 8. This woman is ___ young ___ that one. 9. I am ___ thin ___ you. 10. Kate is ___ lazy ___ her brother. 11. This child is not ___ small ___ that one.

Вправа 3. Перекладіть речення, звертаючи увагу на порівняльну конструкцію the ... the.

1. The shorter the half-life period of an element, the greater its radioactivity. 2. The faster the object moves, the greater the air resistance. 3. The higher the temperature of a metal, the higher its resistance. 4. The more you read, the more you learn. 5. The larger the water-pipe, the more water passes through it. 6. The shorter the wire, the less its resistance to current flow. 7. The greater the number of free electrons in a substance, the better that substance conducts electricity.

Вправа 4. Перекладіть рідною мовою.

1. The less you say, the better. 2. Unfortunately I couldn’t come as early as I had promised. 3. The cat fell off the roof but it feels none the worse for it. 4. The room is nice, but not as nice as I should like. 5. The more one has, the more one wants. 6. He is not as experienced as you are. 7. The weather is changing for the better. 8. The window is as narrow as the door. 9. The soup smells good, but it tastes better. 10. How can I get to the nearest post-office? 11. If he helps us, so much the better. 12. If he doesn’t do his home tasks, so much the worse for him. 13. The sooner you do it, the better. 14. He is getting still weaker. 15. This time you’ve made fewer mistakes. 16. The more we study, the more we know. 17. He is not so industrious as his brother. 18. My train starts in a minute. I can’t wait for him any longer.

Вправа 5. Вставте as ... as, so ... as або than.

1. Our house is not ___ big ___ yours. 2. The new cinema in our district is much bigger ___ the old one. 3. We are ___ proud of our district ___ you are of yours. 4. The house I live in is ___ old ___ the one my sister lives in. 5. Exercise 2 is easier ___ exercise 3. 6. This song is more beautiful ___ that one. 7. My composition is not ___ long ___ yours.

Домашнє завдання

Вправа 6. Перекладіть речення, звертаючи увагу на контрукцію the ... the.

1. The nearer the Earth, the denser the atmosphere. 2. The more experiments scientists make, the greater is their knowledge of the structure of matter. 3. The bigger the mass, the bigger the weight of the body. 4. The nearer the centre of the Sun, the higher the temperature. 5. The more the scientist studied the problem, the better he understood its importance for man. 6. The stronger the magnet, the greater the distance through which it acts.

Вправа 7. Перепишіть речення як показано у прикладі: Jack is younger than he looks. – Jack isn’t as old as he looks.

1. It’s warmer today than yesterday. It isn’t ___. 2. The station was nearer than I thought. The station ___. 3. The hotel is cheaper than I expected. The hotel isn’t ___. 4. There were fewer people at this meeting than at the last one. There weren’t ___. 5. The maths test was easier than we expected. The maths test wasn’t ___. 6. My brother is taller than me. My brother isn’t ___. 7. Ice is harder than show. Ice isn’t ___.

Вправа 8. Складіть розповідь про своє місто або будь-який інший науковий та промисловий центр з використанням активних слів та виразів (7-10 речень).