Английский язык. Практикум по чтению научно-популярных текстов

Ex. 63. Skim Text 1 to complete the following statements.

a)This text deals with …

b)It gives us some information about …

c)This text is about …

d)This text is concerned with ...

Text 1. ROBOTS IN PERSPECTIVE

1.Nowadays all over the world robots are on the move. Putting chocolates into boxes, walking into live volcanoes, driving trains in Paris and defusing bombs in Northern Ireland are their common tasks. Today’s robots are doing more and more things humans can’t do or don’t want to do.

2.The idea of creating an intelligent machine is very old. Homer described gold girls, mechanical helpers built by Hephaestus, the Greek god of smiths. In 1495 Leonardo da Vinci designed a mechanical man. But only the invention of transistors and integrated circuits in the 1950s and 1960s made real robots possible. Compact, reliable electronics and computers added brains to already existing machines. In 1959, researchers demonstrated the possibility of robotic manufacturing ashtrays.

3.There’s no precise definition of a robot. The Czech word ‘robota’, meaning hard work, was first used by the writer Karel Chapec in the story where robots are invented to help people by performing simple tasks, but being used to fight wars, they turn on their human masters and take over the world. Nowadays the word robot is normally defined as a programmable machine imitating an intelligent creature, getting information from its surroundings and doing something physical (moving or manipulating objects).

4.Robots are ideal for doing boring or dangerous jobs that require repetitive, precise and fast movements. Robots are good at doing the same thing without asking for a safe working environment, salary, breaks, food and sleep, without getting bored or tired, without making mistakes. People keep finding new uses for robots – making and packing drugs and foods, soldering tiny wires to semiconductor chips, inserting integrated circuits onto printed circuit boards used in electronics, working in radioactive “hot zones”, exploring space.

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5.All work and no play make anyone dull – even a robot. Soccerplaying robots gather each year at RoboCup, an international event collecting over 100 teams from 35 countries. Robotic players use radio signals to coordinate their actions with their teammates. By 2050, the organizers of RoboCup count on developing a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can beat the human world champion team in soccer.

6.A robot is a machine that gathers information about its environment (senses) and uses that information (thinks) to follow instructions to do work (acts). Imitating humans, robots also sense magnetic fields and ultrasonic waves. Robotic light sensors work by creating or changing an electric signal when light falls on them. When navigating, the robot sends out a beam of infrared light, which bounces off objects and returns to a light sensor of the robot.

7.The ability to move sets robots apart from computers. A mechanical device for producing motion is known as an actuator. A single robot is supplied with dozens of actuators, each chosen to do a specific task. Electric motors are actuators that produce motion from electricity by the electromagnetic effect. Their high speed and a small turning power make a gearbox necessary. Although making a robot move like a person is not easy, engineers at Honda have designed robots capable of walking, climbing stairs and keeping their balance – no two-legged robot has ever done it before.

8.Most robots have a microcomputer for ‘brains’, which allows programming a lot of information. But they work only according to their programme and cannot learn, they are incapable of giving definite answers. Stimulus-response robots pioneered by Rodney Brooks have no memory and no logical decision-making – only hard-wired responses to stimulation.

9.Can a robot be conscious in the way that we are? So far, no artificial intelligence has ever shown such signs of life. However, if robots eventually think like us, detect and express emotions, pursue their own interests and even make copies of themselves, drawing the line between machines and living things will be increasingly difficult.

Ex. 64. Scan the text in order to find

a)the information concerning the appearance of an intelligent ma-

chine;

b)the evidence that robots do not belong only to space movies but they are on the move nowadays;

c)the information concerning the navigating of robots.

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Ex. 65. Read and translate the chain of words. Divide the words into four columns according to their part of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).

Robot – robotic – robotics, intelligent – intelligence – intellect, integrate – integrated – integration, precision – precise – precisely, imitate – imitating – imitation, sense – sensor – sensory, programme – programmable – programming, increase – increasing – increasingly, capable – incable – capability.

Ex. 66. Find

a) the synonyms in each line

defuse – solder – act – blow up – move explore – produce – perform – invent – develop integrate – sense – collect – coordinate – insert intellect – brains – robot – mind – wire

reliable – conscious – trusty – common – logical imitate – define – follow – repeat – make

b) the antonyms in each line

compact – difficult – dangerous – small – vast turn on – connect – count on – set apart – take over

simple – interesting – boring – repetitive – autonomous incapable – ultrasonic – capable – programmable – robotic response – balance – sign – sensor – disbalance

climb – destroy – manipulate – stimulate – create

Ex. 67. Make up all possible word-combinations.

Ex. 68. Match the English words and phrases with their Russian

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Ex. 69. Find in Text 1 the English equivalents for these wordcombinations.

Обычная работа, изобретение транзисторов и интегральных схем, компактные и надёжные компьютеры, возможность производить пепельницы роботами, выполнять несложные задания, программируемый механизм, передвигать предметы, точные и быстрые движения, печатные платы, роботам удается выполнять эту задачу безошибочно, люди продолжают находить новое применение роботам, исследовать космическое пространство, использовать радио сигнал, рассчитывать на, во время управления, способность передвигаться, робот оснащён десятками приводов, способный удерживать равновесие, принимать решения, преследовать интересы.

Ex. 70. Find in the text the examples of participles and gerunds.

C. Activity

Ex. 71. Fill in the blanks with prepositions (at, of, without, instead of, to) if necessary.

1. People get tired … doing the same work for a long time. 2. Science is worth … developing. 3. Intelligent machines are clever … performing various tasks. 4. What is the use … creating playing robots? 5. You had better check the calculations … doing another test. 6. Quick processing of information is impossible … applying computers. 7. They suggest …using another actuator. 8. The engineers object … carrying out the experiment.9. He will be quite capable … doing all the calculations by himself.10. Do you mind … my testing the new robot?

Ex. 72. A. Fill in the blanks in the texts with the words given in the boxes.

THE HISTORY ON NANOTECHNOLOGY Nanotechnology is the science of controlling … on an atomic and mo-

lecular scale. Generally nanotechnology … structures of the size smaller than 1 micrometer, normally between 1...100 nanometers or smaller in at least one dimension. One … is one billionth, or 10−9 (ten to the minus ninth power) of a meter.

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The first distinguishing concepts in nanotechnology were made by physicist Richard Feynman in 1959. The scientist described a process by which the ability … individual atoms and molecules might be …, using one set of … tools to build and … another proportionally smaller set, and so on down to the needed scale.

The term “nanotechnology” was defined by Tokyo Science University Professor Norio Taniguchi in 1974. He considered that nanotechnology mainly consists of the processing, separation, consolidation, and … of materials by one atom or by one molecule.

In the 1980s the basic idea of this definition … in much more depth by Dr. K. Eric Drexler, who promoted the technological significance of … phenomena.

NEW APPROACHES IN SCIENCE

Nanotechnology is a highly multidisciplinary …, including colloidal science, device physics and supramolecular chemistry. Nanotechnology is based upon molecular … . It develops new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale, … whether we can directly control matter on the atomic scale.

There are two main … used in nanotechnology. In the “bottom-up” approach (восходящий подход), materials and devices are built from … components which assemble themselves chemically using principles of molecular recognition. In the “top-down” approach (нисходящий подход), nano-objects … from larger entities without atomic-level control.

There has been much debate on the future … of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has the potential … many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications in medicine, electronics and energy production. On the other hand, nanotechnology … many issues, including … about the toxicity and environmental … of nanomaterials, their potential effects on global economics. These concerns … to the conclusion of warranting special regulation of nanotechnology.

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B. Ask each other questions about the texts.

Ex. 73. Render the following in English.

A. Нанороботы (nanorobots) – это роботы, размером сопоставимые (similar) с молекулой (менее 10 нм), обладающие функциями движения, обработки и передачи информации, исполнения программ. Другие определения описывают наноробота как механизм, способный не только взаимодейст-

вовать с наноразмерными объектами, но и манипулировать объектами в наномасштабе. Например, такой крупный аппарат как атомносиловой микроскоп можно считать нанороботом, так как он производит манипуляции объектами на наноуровне. Кроме того, обычных роботов, которые могут перемещаться с наноразмерной точностью, также можно считать нанороботами. В настоящее время (2009), нанороботы находятся в стадии научно-исследовательской разработки. Первое полезное применение наномашин, если они появятся, планируется в медицинских технологиях, где они могут быть использованы для выявления и уничтожения раковых клеток (cancer cells). Нанороботы также могут обнаруживать токсичные химические вещества в окружающей среде и измерять уровень их концентрации.

B. 1. Робот – это устройство, способное выполнять действия самостоятельно. 2. Идея создания искусственного интеллекта возникла давно. 3. Изобретение транзисторов и интегральных схем сделали возможным появление робота. 4. Определение «робот» означает программируемый механизм, имитирующий человека. 5. Роботам удаётся выполнять опасную работу, которая требует чётких и быстрых движений. 6. Роботы упаковывают продукты, обезвреживают бомбы, передвигаются внутри действующих вулканов, припаивают крошечные провода к полупроводниковым чипам, исследуют космос. 7. Способность двигаться отличает роботов от компьютеров. 8. У роботов есть микрокомпьютер, который позволяет запрограммировать огромное количество информации. 9. Роботы неспособны давать определённые ответы и принимать решения.

Ex. 74. Explain the following

a)the necessity of creating thinking machines;

b)how robots are used in different fields of science and engineering;

c)what will happen if robots develop new forms of thinking beyond our comprehension.

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Ex. 75. Answer the following questions.

1.What were the first ideas of a robot?

2.Why did real robots appear only in the late 1950s?

3.Who coined the word ‘robot’? Where was it first used?

4.Why do robots invented to help people turn on them in K. Chapek’s story?

5.Why do you think there is no precise definition of a robot?

6.Have robots replaced man in all kinds of activities?

7.How do robots play soccer?

8.What are the basic applications of robots?

9.Why are robots supplied with actuators?

10.What do robots have for ‘brains’? How does it work?

Ex. 76. Prove that

a)robotics is a quickly developing science;

b)robots are good at doing boring or dangerous jobs;

c)robots must not be allowed to compete with humans.

Ex. 77. Make up a plan of Text 1. Retell the text according to the plan and the keywords.

Robots are on the move, the idea of creating an intelligent machine, integrated circuits, reliable electronics, a precise definition, performing simple tasks, imitating an intelligent creature, to use radio signals to coordinate actions, follow instructions, to sense magnetic fields and ultrasonic waves, light sensors, a mechanical device, an actuator, stimulus-response robots, to pursue interests.

D. Further Reading

Ex. 78. Lasers appeared not long ago but we find it difficult to imagine our life without them. Scan Text 2 to find the answers to the following questions.

1.What do you know about the history of lasers?

2.When did lasers first appear?

3.Who constructed the first-known laser?

4.What materials produce laser action?

Ex. 79. Give the Russian equivalents to the following words. Use the dictionary if necessary.

Laser, synthetic, ruby rod, flash, high-speed photography, activate, monochromicity, wavelength, coherence, manipulate, bulb, crystals, imaginable, variety, emit, xenon light, fibre, free-space, welding, holography,

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investigation, characteristic, numerous, inadequately, extreme, destruction, reflection, damage, qualified, ordinary, advantageous, dangerous.

Ex. 80. Match the English word combinations with their equivalents.

Ex. 81. Read Text 2 for more detailed information about lasers.

Text 2. THE PAST AND THE FUTURE OF LASERS

A laser is a source of light but unlike anything that had ever been seen before 1960 when Theodore H. Maiman of Hughes Aircraft placed a specially prepared synthetic ruby rod inside a powerful flash lamp similar to the type used for high-speed photography. Activating the flash lamp produced an intense pulse of red light, which possessed the unique properties of monochromicity (the light is of the same wavelength or colour), coherence (all the waves move precisely in step) and directionality (the beam can be easily manipulated). These features account for the enormous difference between the output of a laser and that of an incandescent light bulb.

With Maiman’s invention the laser age was born. Everybody became interested in exploring this promising area of science. Within a very short time, numerous solid-state materials, gases, liquids and semiconductor crystals were found possessing laser qualities. Almost every imaginable material was tried in order to produce new and interesting lasers. Even some varieties of jelly brand dessert were announced emitting xenon light, and according to this legend they are supposed to work fairly well.

It would be hard to imagine the modern world without lasers. The unique characteristics of laser light make numerous applications possible. They are used in everything from CD players to laser printers, fibre-optics and free-space communications, industrial cutting and welding, medical and surgical treatment, holography and light shows, basic scientific investigations in dozens fields.

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However, if treated inadequately, an extremely powerful beam of laser light can be a source of destruction. You must never stand in the way of the cutting laser beam. Only by looking directly into the beam or its reflection from a shiny object you can damage your eyes. Besides, laser power supply being typically 2500 V or more, a qualified person must provide external power supply as ordinary insulation is not enough. Thus, no matter how advantageous and useful they are, lasers are dangerous. Hence, safety rules must be strictly observed.

Ex. 82. Complete the gaps with suitable words from the box.

LAZER

A laser is a source of monochromatic, directional and coherent light. Monochromicity means light of the same … of colour. Light waves traveling precisely in step explain the property of … . Besides, the laser beam can be easily manipulated. These unusual … make laser light unique. The first laser consisted of a specially prepared synthetic ruby rod and a … flash lamp. During the experiment the researches observed an … pulse of red light. Later solid-state materials, gases, … and … crystals were recorded having laser qualities. Lasers are considered to be a multibilliondollar industry having numerous … . However, lasers can be both the source of construction and … . That is why … rules must be observed.

Ex. 83. Give detailed answers to the following questions.

1.What is a laser? What other sources of light do you know?

2.What was the first laser like?

3.Does the laser possess any unusual properties? What are they?

4.When did the laser age begin?

5.What substances produce laser light?

6.Why is it difficult to imagine our life without lasers?

7.What are the most common uses of lasers?

8.Why are lasers considered to be dangerous?

Ex. 84. Discuss the following points concerning lasers in pairs.

1.Lasers are certainly part of our life.

2.Lasers like many other devices are not perfect.

3.Advantages and disadvantages of lasers.

4.The potential dangers of lasers.

5.Lasers technologies to be developed.

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Ex. 85. Translate Text 3 and Text 4 in writing using a dictionary if necessary.

Text 3. LASERS IN ART AND ENTERTAINMENT

Lasers make impressive visual effects possible. In light shows it is common to use lasers emitting few laser wavelengths. Prisms are used for separating each colour. This results in producing many laser beams of different colours. The application of small vibrating mirrors controlled by a computer provides the possibility of moving each laser beam very rapidly thus creating moving coloured images. Since our vision is based on seeing the image a little time after it has disappeared, we are capable of observing a full picture created by a laser beam in spite of its being illuminated in each point for a very brief period of time. The first devices were used for making two-dimensional moving pictures on screens, but the latest developments are designed with the view of producing three-dimensional moving sculptures in free space – an impossible task to be performed by other means. Without a laser, the unique three-dimensional imaging properties of holography would not exist.

Text 4. DRAWBACKS IN ROBOTICS

Some scientists predict that advances in robotics, genetic engineering and nanotechnology will lead to a world populated by superorganisms both biological and mechanical. When we built machines that are like us, only smarter, stronger and more easily produced, they say, we are in fact creating our own worst enemy. These machines will develop new forms of thinking that will be beyond our comprehension. If we can’t understand what we have built, we will not be able to control it. The scientists say that we have some 20 years of intellectual superiority over computers. By that time the robots will have learnt a lot. They will deserve the same rights and privileges because they will be like humans.

We are probably decades away from having to worry about anything more than running out of batteries. Still, it seems clear that big changes are coming, and as with any new technology, there will certainly be some unintended, and quite possibly unpleasant, consequences as robots begin to play a regular role in our day-to-day lives. But the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Let’s hope that the society is strong and wise enough to stop abuses without stopping science.

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