Vocabulary

1 Fill in the table with the missing words. Consult the dictionary if necessary:

verb	noun	adjective	adverb
to demonstrate			demonstratively
	invitation	Inviting
			inventively
to develop			-
	telegraph

2 Complete the sentences with the right form of the word in bold:

1. The site is being … by a local property company. DEVELOPMENT

2. The manager gave us a brief … of the computer’s functions. DEMONSTRATION

3. A scientist showed an … design of a new computer laboratory. INVENTION

4. Leaving your car unlocked is just … someone to steal it. INVITATION

5. … - a means of sending messages by the use of electric current along wires. TELEGRAPH

3. Put the following words under the correct heading. Consult the dictionary if necessary:

staff

Patent

belief

merge

tour

device

improve

receive

noun	both	verb

Find in the text other words that can be used both as nouns and verbs.

3. Look back in the text and find words that have a similar meaning to:

1. skilled and competent (2)

2. planned for (3)

3. spread (3)

4. play back sound (6)

5. surprised (7)

6. combined (10)

7. huge (10)

8. was spoiled (11)

9. had (12)

10. a cinema film (13)

3. Complete the sentences with prepositions if necessary:

1. Edison attended … schools only for three month.

2. At the age of 13 Edison began to work … a newsboy, selling newspapers and candy.

3. A number of people had worked … the idea related … developing electric lighting.

4. He began work … a large difference engine which he believed he could complete in three years.

5. Edison hired the young engineers who were superior … the any other candidates.

3. Give English equivalents to the following words and word combinations:

получить работу; воспроизвести звук; самосовершенствование; приносить международную славу; записать, сделать запись; любопытный ребенок; ходить в школу; проводить много свободного времени; читать научные и технические книги; дать шанс; обзавестись семьей; капиталовложения банкиров; конкурент, соперник; самостоятельно обучаться; основать первую лабораторию

Grammar

1 Translate the sentences into Russian. Pay attention to the part of the sentence in

bold.

Example: - He was proficient enough to work as a telegrapher full time. - Он был

достаточно опытным, для того чтобы работать телеграфистом полный рабочий день.

1. An electric vote recorder is a device intended for use by elected bodies such as Congress to speed the voting process.

2. Babbage was sent to a country school to recover from a life-threatening fever.

3. Edison was invited to the White House to demonstrate the tin foil phonograph.

4. The results were so breathtakingly original, that it took some time for the mathematical and engineering community to realize their significance.

5. In the 1950s, Shannon continued his efforts to develop mechanisms that

emulated the operations of the human mind to solve problems.

6. Tesla built an experimental station in Colorado Springs to experiment with high

frequency electricity and other phenomena.

2. Translate paragraph 8 into Russian.

Speaking

1. Sum up the text using the following key-points:

   1. Edison’s family background

   2. His main interests

   3. Spheres of science and research activity

   4. Major achievements

   5. Personality

2 Comment on Edison’s quotations using the following openings:

In fact…, I wouldn’t say so…, It seems to me…, In my opinion…, It’s a doubtful

statement.., That’s where I agree (disagree) with the author.

1. He said that work was bringing out secrets of nature and applying them for the happiness of man.

2. Self-educated, he knew the value of learning: “Education isn’t play. It is hard,

hard work. But it can be made interesting work..”

3. “If you do not learn to think when you are young, you may never learn”.

4. “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.”

5. “Hell, there are no rules here—we're trying to accomplish something.”

3 Work in groups of 3-4. Make a list of things you would like to know about

Thomas Edison. Choose one, find information and make a poster presentation. (Read instruction on page 33 task 2)

4 Thomas Edison wrote a test of general knowledge. Anyone who wanted a job for T Edison Inc. had to take this test. Do this test to check if Mr. Edison would have hired you for his team. Edison mental fitness test 1920. http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edifun/quiz/quizhome.htm

Points for reflection

1. Have you learnt anything new about Edison from the text?

2. Has anything surprised you?

3. What facts were the most amazing?

4. Did you like the text? Why? /Why not?

Unit 2 Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937)

Before you start

1 You are going to read about life and work of the Italian inventor, Guglielmo Marconi. Before you read the text answer the following questions:

1. Who is considered to be “the father of wireless telegraphy”?

2. Have you ever heard about Guglielmo Marconi?

3. What is he famous for?

4. What field of science did he work in?

2. Complete the table about Guglielmo Marconi:

things I know	things I’m not sure about	things I would like to know

Reading

1 Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of the following words:

Guglielmo	[´gglIəlmə]	pursue	[ pə´sju: ]
Marconi	[ِِ ِ ma:´kəunI ]	ether	[ ´I:θə]
Bologna	[´bə´ləunjə]	determine	[ dI’tз:mIn ]
Wight	[´waIt]	curvature	[´kз:vət∫ə ]
Bournemouth	[´bé:nməθ ]	aerial	[´eərIəl]
Poldhu	[´pəuldhju: ]	successfully	[´sək´sesfəlI ]
Nobel	[ nəu´bel ]	launch	[ lé:nt∫ ]
Hertz	[ hз:ts ]	microwave	[´maIkrəweIv ]
Lodge	[ ´lé:dž]	industry	[´IndəstrI ]

2 Read the text about Guglielmo Marconi and comment on the title.