Добавил:
Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:

Чучкина Инноватион течнологиес 2011

.pdf
Скачиваний:
1
Добавлен:
12.11.2022
Размер:
2 Mб
Скачать

I have become very interested in the importance of memory in our life.

f.to be good at – быть способным к

He was good at maths at school.

g.do problems – решать задачи

You use the left side of the brain when you memorize spelling and grammar rules or when you do a math problem.

Ex. 4. Practise the pronunciation of the following words from Reading 9A, B.

Hemisphere ['hemisfiə], brain [brein], process ['prouses], control [kən'troul], visual ['vi3uəl], creative [kri'eitiv], sight [sait], touch [tΛt ∫], appreciation [ə'pri∫i'ei∫ n], dominant ['dominənt], artist ['atist], architect [‘a:kitəkt], musician [mju’zi: ∫ən], accountant [ə'kauntənt], lawyer ['lojə], engineer [,end3i'niə], dimension[di'men∫n], influential [in flu'en∫iəl], soup [su:p], reply [ri'plai], curiosity [, kjuəri'ositi], relativity [relə'tiviti], descent [di'sent], comment ['koment], cartoon [ka:'tu:n ], appointment [ə'pointmənt], mayor ['med3ə], spare [spεə], enjoy [ind3oi].

III. Text 9A

Brain Power

Do You Know Your Right Brain from Your Left?

1.Before you read the text answer the question:

What five senses in your opinion are mentioned in the passage?

Upon reading the text check your answer.

The human brain is divided into two sides, or hemispheres, called the right brain and the left brain. The two hemispheres work together, but each one specializes in certain ways of thinking. Each side has its own way of using information to help us think, understand, and process information.

The left side of the brain controls language. It is more verbal and logical. It names things, and puts them into groups. It uses rules and likes ideas to be clear, logical and orderly. It is best at speech, reading, writing, and math. You use the side of the brain when you memorize spelling and grammar rules or when you do a math problem.

− 111 −

The right side of the brain is more visual and creative. It specializes in using information it receives from the senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. This side of the brain likes to dream and experiment. It controls your appreciation of music, color, and art. You use this side when you draw a picture or listen to music.

Although all use both sides of our brains, one side is usually stronger or dominant. Some people are more "left-brained" and others are more "right-brained". Our dominant side influences the kinds of jobs and hobbies we have. Politicians, artists, architects, and musicians depend on their right brains. Accountants, engineers, doctors, and lawyers usually rely on their left brains.

(Now, let's stop reading the text and start answering the questions).

2. Tick (V) the topics, which are discussed in the article.

a.____ the side of the brain that is more logical

b.____ the size and weight of the human brain.

c.____ the side of the brain that is more creative.

d.____ the types of people that are usually right-brained or leftbrained.

e.____ the part of the brain that controls muscular activity.

f.____ diseases of the brain.

3. Write T (for True) or F (for False) next to the statements given below.

a.The human brain has two sides.____

b.Everyone is more right-brained than left-brained.____

c.The right side of the brain is more creative.____

d.When you solve a math problem, you use your left brain.____

e.Both sides of the brain specialize in the same thing. _____

f.Artists use their right brain more than engineers do. ____

g.When you paint a picture, you use your left brain. _____

4. And now let’s continue reading the text

Brain and Knowledge

Before reading the text answer the question:

How do we understand information from outside?

Upon reading the text check your answer.

− 112 −

The Americam psychobiologist Roger Sperry shared a 1981 Nobel Prize for his discoveries about the human brain. He studied the two brain hemispheres and presented laboratory proof of many interesting facts. According to him, the left hemisphere separates the information into parts and studies each part. This hemisphere looks for the similarities among all the parts. This complete process is called analysis. Our left hemisphere is very curious and is always asking questions about everything. It dominates the right hemisphere.

The right hemisphere is different. It looks for unity and connects all the parts that the left hemisphere separates. This complete process is called synthesis. Analysis and synthesis determine reasoning and learning processes.

Our senses are windows to the world. The information enters through the senses and travels through nerve fibres. These long fibres of nerve cells are our body's electric circuits. When we read, for example, our sense of sight detects changes in the levels of light on the paper (black on white). These changes form the letters and the words. Our eyes perceive the changes and convert them into electric signals that take turns with chemical signals to transmit the information. A nerve cell has three main parts: dendrites, nucleus and axon. The dendrites receive the information and send it through the axon. At the end of the axon the electric signals become chemical signals, cross to the next cell and continue the relay. There is a kind of intelligence in the cells. They organise and cooperate to perform a task. Intelligence gives us the ability to construct a mental model of the world, live in it, solve problems and accumulate knowledge.

As human knowledge increased we divided it and organized it into branches. Knowledge is one large subject that includes many divisions with a common objective: to understand our origin, reason for being and place in the universe.

(Compiled from "Teen Magazine" and "Topics: Science", 2009)

5. Read these sentences and choose the closest meaning to the underlined word.

1.The brain has two hemispheres: the left and the right. a. specializations b. parts c. names

2.In the 70's, R. Sperry presented information to the brain and monitored its process.

113 −

a.what it looked like b. how it worked c. how it separated

3.Analysis and synthesis determine reasoning and process of learn-

ing.

a.exploring b. observing c. understanding

4.The dendrites receive the information and send it via the axon.

a.photos b. data c. report

6.Now, deal with the description of four different people and decide who, you think, is left-brained and who is right-brained.

a. Daniel's hobby is drawing cartoons. He loves surprises and hates following strict schedule. He is very sensitive and likes to find new ways of doing things.

b. Dr. Curley is very careful about keeping his appointments. He is always on time and does things in an orderly way. Every day, as soon as he gets home from work, he takes his dog for a walk and goes jogging for a half hour.

c. Debbie is a lawyer at a big law firm in New York. Her language skills are very good. She is a very logical person. She gets up, eats, and goes to sleep at the same time every day.

d. Ian Baker is the mayor of a small city. He is always looking for creative ways to solve the city's problems. In his spare time, he enjoys going to concerts and playing the piano.

7.What about you, are you left-brained or right-brained?

8.Problem to solve.

To solve a problem, do you consult your left brain or your right brain?

Before you start, read this information about the brain.

As you know the left hemisphere is good at analysis, Language, Science, Mathematics and Logic.

The right brain is good at synthesis, Music, Art, Creativity, Athletics.

Now do this with a friend:

Ask him or her ten questions that require a little reflection. For example: What did you have for breakfast? What did you do yesterday morning? Your friend's eyes will move to the left or to the right before answering. This always depends on which hemisphere your friend is

− 114 −

consulting. Most people consult their favourite hemisphere eight out of ten times. People who move their eyes to the left are consulting their right hemisphere. People who move their eyes to the right are consulting their left hemisphere. Some people consult both!

Left hemisphere: analythic and methodic. Right hemisphere: creative and mechanical.

V.Text 9B

1.Before you read the text answer the question:

What legends do you know about Albert Einstein?

Upon reading the text check your answers.

Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of the twentieth century. He was born in 1879 in Germany and became a U.S. citizen in 1940. Einstein received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1921. His theories have changed the way we think about the universe and the dimensions of time and space. Read the following article, Albert Einstein: The Man and the Legends about Him, to learn more about the life of this great man.

Albert Einstein: The Man and the Legends about Him

Albert Einstein's early childhood would not lead to predict that he would become the most famous and influential physicist of his time. He did not talk at all until the age of three, late in almost any culture. One "legend" has it that young Albert finally broke his silence at the supper table one night saying, "The soup is too hot." His parents asked him why he had never said a word until then, and Albert replied, "Because up to now everything was alright."

Einstein was born in Ulm, Wurttemberg, Germany in 1879. He disliked his early years in school and studied primarily at home. His limitless curiosity showed up in questions like, "Why does a compass needle always point in the same direction?" at the age of five, and, "What would the world look like if I rode on a beam of light?" at age 14. He never lost his curiosity. As an adult he said, " The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."

− 115 −

In 1905, Einstein published four papers which revolutionized modern physics. In 1915, he published his general theory of relativity. His famous equation E = mc2 (energy equals mass times the velocity of light squared) is a cornerstone of the modern nuclear age. He won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921.

Einstein was of Jewish descent, and in 1933 the Nazi government of Germany took away his property and citizenship. He then moved to the United States.

Einstein became a member of the staff of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1940, he became an American citizen. He lived a quiet personal life. He enjoyed classical music, and played the violin. After a session with a group of fellow musicians, one of them was reported to have said, " He'd be a good musician if only he could count!" An interesting comment to make about a man whose life work involved highly complex mathematical thinking.

Einstein kept his sense of humor throughout his life. A magazine called Scientific American once had a competition for best explanation of the theory of relativity in three thousand words. Einstein said, " I'm the only one in my entire circle of friends who is not entering. I don't believe I could do it."

2.Answer the following questions about Albert Einstein.

a.Where was Einstein born?

b.When did he publish his papers about the theory of relativity?

c.What prize did he win in 1921?

d.What musical instrument did Einstein play?

e.When did he become an American citizen?

VI. Nobel Prize Quiz

How much do you know about the Nobel Prize and its founder, Alfred Nobel?

1.

From what invention did Alfred Nobel make his fortune?

1.

Dynamite.

2.

X-rays.

3.

Antibiotics

2. When was the first Nobel Prize awarded?

1.

1895.

2.

1901.

3.

1969.

− 116 −

3. Which family is the most successful when it comes to number of

awarded Nobel Prizes?

 

1. The Braggs.

2. The Curies.

3. The Einsteins.

4.Who selects the Nobel Laureates each year?

1.The Nobel Foundation.

2.The Nobel Prize awarding Institutions.

3.The King of Sweden.

5.Why are the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies on 10 December each

year?

1.It was Alfred Nobel's birthday 2. It was that day he got his patent for dynamite 3. It was the day that Alfred Nobel died

6.All the Nobel prizes are awarded in Stockholm except one. Which

one?

1.The Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo, Norway.

2.The Nobel Prize in Literature, which is awarded in Helsinki, Fin-

land.

3.The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which is awarded in Copenhagen, Denmark.

7.One organization has been awarded a Nobel Prize three times. Which one?

1.Doctor without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres).

2.Amnesty International.

3.International Committee of the Red Cross.

8.British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1953. In what prize category?

1.

Literature.

2. Peace

3. Physics.

9.

How many of the 777 Nobel Laureates are women?

1. 34.

2. 68.

3. 100.

 

10. Which prominent public figure was never awarded a Nobel Peace Prize?

1.

Mahatma Gandhi.

2. Nelson Mandela.

3.

Martin Luther King.

 

− 117 −

VII. Text 9C

How Good Is Your Memory?

(An interview of Diana Englund. She is interested in how the brain processes and remembers information.)

1. Before you read the text, think about the types of things that are easy (E) or (D) difficult for you to remember.

_______ names

______phone numbers

_______statistics

______ words to songs

______addresses

_ _____directions

_______ math formulas

_____ speeches

_______ birth-

days

 

 

 

________faces

______sports _______ historical facts

What aspects of brain biology interest you?

I have become very interested in the importance of memory in our lives. Most people know that the brain controls how the body works. The brain also controls what the mind thinks, how we feel, how we process information, and how we perceive things. I am interested in how people remember, what they remember, and how they use and improve their memories.

Are there different kinds of memory?

Yes. The two basic categories are long-term memory and short-term memory. Long-term memory is the ability to remember events from the *distant past. Long-term memory is often the strongest and lasts throughout a person's life. One kind of long-term memory is called *"screen memory". This means that many experiences get put together in the mind as one memory. For example, in your memory you might have only one "picture" of a childhood trip to the doctor's office. This one memory, however, is probably a combination of many trips to the doctor.

Short-term memory is the ability to remember events in the *recent past, for example, the name of someone you met at a party last night. Short-term memory is often challenged by stress, illness and *aging. Many of us have, or have had, grandparents who remember events from their childhood with great accuracy, but are unable to remember what

− 118 −

happened yesterday. Most people can only remember seven items in sequence. This is why telephone numbers, for example, are typically seven digits long.

Are all memories accurate?

No, not all memories are correct, but they all tell us something about the person who is doing the remembering. The memory may tell us what the rememberer likes or dislikes, what he or she wishes, and it may also tell us about his or her fears. The study of memory may also provide information about the health or illness of a person. This is a very exciting frontier in biological science. There is still a lot for us to learn.

Why is it easier for people to remember some things and more difficult for them to remember other things?

That's a good question. It's easier to remember things that have emotional meaning to you. It's also easier to remember information that you practice and use a lot. Repetition reinforces memory: the more you repeat something, the better you remember it. Some people have very visual memories. *That is, they remember things they see. In fact, it is often easier to remember information that comes to us through more than one of our five senses.

2. Cross out the odd word in each group.

1. stress

fatigue

illness

practice

2. think

jump

feel

perceive

3. kinds

categories

trips

groups

4. sequence

order

memory

series

5. typically

usually

generally

rarely

6. correct

wrong

accurate

true

3. FYI (for your information)

The brain of an average adult male weighs 3 pounds 2.2 ounces (1.42 kilograms). The average woman's brain weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces (1.08 kilograms). There is no correlation between brain weight and intelligence.

− 119 −

VIII. Home exercises (to be done in writing)

1. Translate the passage from English into Russian. What can you tell us about memory?

Memory plays an important role in learning and thinking. People have different abilities to remember. Stress, fatigue, emotional problems, and illness can decrease the ability to remember. General good health contributes to good memory. Practice also improves memory. For example, the more math facts you learn, the easier math facts are to learn. The same is true with music. The more songs you listen to and learn, the easier it becomes. People gather and remember information in different ways. Some people remember colors or smells or sounds. Other people find it easier to remember spoken words. While still others remember printed words easily.

2. Give a free translation .

Cпособность к речи, анализу, детализированию, абстракции обеспечивается левым полушарием мозга. Оно работает последовательно, выстраивая цепочки, алгоритмы, оперируя фактами, деталями, символами, знаками и отвечает за абстрактно-логический компонент в мышлении.

Правое полушарие способно воспринимать информацию в целом, работать сразу по многим каналам и, в условиях недостатка информации, восстанавливать целое по его частям. С работой правого полушария принято соотносить творческие возможности, интуицию, этику, способность к адаптации. Правое полушарие обеспечивает восприятие реальности во всей полноте многообразия.

Unit 10

I. Grammar. EMPHATIC CONSTRUCTIONS

(Эмфатические конструкции)

I. Вспомогательный глагол do (does/ did) в утвердительных и повелительных предложениях усиливает смысловой глагол пере-

водится: «действительно», «на самом деле».

− 120 −