Английский язык. Практикум по чтению научно-популярных текстов

any surface, including glass, plastic, fabric and even paper. In the long run, electronic ink may have a multibillion-dollar impact on the publishing industry.

Text 10. NEUTRINOS

Translate the text in writing using a dictionary if necessary.

All the matter in the universe is made up of tiny particles, the electron neutrino (электронное нейтрино), the muon neutrino (мюонное нейтрино) and the tau neutrino (тау-нейтрино) being among them. Neutrinos are unlikely to be the dark matter that influences the motion of stars as it is assumed to exist in ‘clumps’. Nevertheless, if neutrinos have even a tiny mass, there are enough of them to determine the density and, consequently, the destiny of the universe.

If neutrinos do have mass, it may be possible for them to ‘oscillate’ into different types of neutrino. Since the 1960s experiments have proved the number of electron neutrinos reaching the Earth from the Sun to be smaller than expected. This suggests that electron neutrinos oscillate into other types of neutrino during their journey and therefore that they have mass. The scientists could only estimate neutrino masses being around 2 · 10–38 kg (two times multiplied by ten to the minus thirty eighth power), that is 50 million times smaller than the mass of the electron. This tiny mass per neutrino could be very significant considering the number of neutrinos – they are likely to account for much more mass than all the atoms in the universe! If neutrinos do have mass, as the Super-Kamiokande results suggest, a source of the missing mass has been found and the density of the universe must be greater than the observed density required to explain fully the motion of stars.

71

APPENDIX I

GRAMMAR REFERENCE

The Participle

The participle is a non-finite form of the verb combining features of the verb, the adjective and the adverb. The two forms of Participles are Participle I and Participle II.

Study the forms of Participle I and Participle II

Study the functions of the Participles

1.The Attribute (Определение)

1.We installed a new system heating our house naturally. Мы установили новую систему, обогревающую наш дом природным способом.

2.The experiment being carried out by this research group is essential not only for theory but for practice as well. Эксперимент, проводящийся этой исследовательской группой, важен не только с точки зрения теории, но и с практической стороны.

3.We live in the house heated by the Sun all the year round. Мы живём в доме, обогреваемом солнцем круглый год.

72

2.The Adverbial Modifier (Обстоятельство)

1.He changed his mind, realizing that the whole thing was useless. Он передумал, осознавая, что всё это бесполезно.

2.Being built in a new way the system offers many advantages. Будучи построенной новым способом, эта система имеет множество достоинств.

3.Having finished the exercise, he gave a sign of relief. Выполнив упражнение, он вздохнул с облегчением.

4.Having been built completely, the plant was thoroughly inspected. После того как завод был полностью построен, его тщательно проверили.

5.When analyzed the theory proved to be false. После того как теорию проанализировали, она оказалась ошибочной.

The Objective Participial Construction

It is a construction in which the participle is in the relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the Objective Participial Construction Participle I Indefinite Active or Participle II is used. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object (сложное дополнение). It usually corresponds to a subordinate clause in Russian.

E.g.: We observed the professor making a hologram. Мы наблюдали,

как профессор делал голограмму.

1.We considered the problem solved. Мы считали, что этот вопрос решён.

2.I have a computer connected to the Internet. Мой компьютер подключён к Интернету. (This construction means that something is done or made by someone else for the benefit of the person denoted by the subject of the sentence).

3.He had his working drawings stolen on the train. У него украли чертежи в поезде. (This construction means that something is done against your will, quite unexpectedly).

73

The Subjective Participial Construction

It is a construction in which the participle (mostly Participle I) is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case, which is the subject of the sentence. The construction consists of two components: one of its component parts has the function of the subject (подлежащее), the other forms part of a compound verbal predicate (часть сложного глагольного сказуемого). In rendering this construction into Russian a complex sentence is usually used. The construction is chiefly used after the verbs of sense perception.

E.g.: The professor was observed making a hologram. Наблюдали,

как профессор делал голограмму.

The temperature was seen rising. Видели, как температура поднимается.

The Absolute Participial Construction

The Absolute Participial Construction (APC) is used when we want to introduce the subject different from the subject of the finite verb. It means that in this construction, the Participle has its own subject not depending on the subject of the sentence. The APC is rendered in Russian either by an adverbial clause or by an independent sentence.

The APC in Adverbial Clauses

Перевод на русский язык начинается с союзов: так как, поскольку, ввиду того что, после того как (когда).

74

The APC in Independent Sentences

При переводе на русский язык два простых предложения соединяются союзами: причем, в то время как, а.

The Infinitive

The Infinitive is the initial form of the verb. It is usually used with the particle to.

Study the forms of the Infinitive

The Infinitive is used without the particle “to”:

75

Study the meanings of the forms of the Infinitive

1.The Indefinite Infinitive denotes a simultaneous (одновременное) action.

E.g.: These companies use practice from abroad to meet consumers’ demand. Эти компании используют зарубежный опыт, чтобы удовлетворять спрос потребителей.

2.The Continuous Infinitive denotes a simultaneous action plus a process.

E.g.: They seem to be discussing Darwin’s theory of evolution. Кажется, они обсуждают теорию эволюции Дарвина.

3.The Perfect Infinitive denotes a prior (предшествующее) action. E.g.: Ecologists are very glad to have defined “environmental innova-

tions”. Экологи довольны, что дали определение термину «экологические инновации».

4. The Perfect Continuous denotes an action in progress which lasted for some time before the action of the finite verb.

E.g.: I am pleased to have been doing this work all the time. Я рад, что выполняю эту работу всё время.

Study the functions of the Infinitive

1. The Subject (Подлежащее)

To explain the rule is very difficult. Очень тяжело объяснить это правило.

To check the result of the experiment was our task. Нашей задачей было проверить результат эксперимента.

2.The Part of the Predicate (the predicative) (Часть сказуемого)

Their function was to measure the temperature. Их функция - измерить температуру.

The task of natural science is to give a true picture of the surrounding matter. Задача естествознания – дать правдивое представление об окружающей материи.

3.The Object (Дополнение)

Experiments have shown that it would be possible to process recycled plutonium. Эксперименты показали, что возможно будет вторично

переработать плутоний.

They managed to carry the experiment out with great success. Им удалось успешно провести эксперимент.

76

4. The Attribute (Определение)

The car to be used runs on solar power. Машина, которая будет использоваться (должна использоваться), работает на солнечной энергии.

There are many technical problems to overcome. Есть ряд технических трудностей, которые нужно преодолеть.

5. The Adverbial Modifier (Обстоятельство)

To explain this phenomenon we made a series of experiments. Для того чтобы объяснить это явление, мы провели ряд экспериментов.

Diamonds are cut and their faces are polished so as to reflect light beams. Алмазы режут, а их поверхности шлифуют, для того чтобы отражать лучи света.

The Complex Object

This complex consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case + the infinitive. It is mostly translated into Russian by an object clause beginning with the words чтобы, как, что. The Complex Object is used after the following verbs:

77

The Complex Subject

This complex consists of the subject expressed by a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case + the infinitive. It is translated into Russian with the help of a non-personal main clause followed by an object clause beginning with the word что.

78

The Gerund

The Gerund is a non-finite form of the verb combining features of the verb and the noun.

Study the forms of the Gerund

Study the meanings of the forms of the Gerund

1. The Indefinite Gerund denotes:

1)a simultaneous action;

2)a prior action after: a) the verbs to remember, to forget, to excuse, to forgive, to thank, to deny; b) the prepositions on, upon, after, without, before.

E.g.: Do you mind my joining the group? Вы не против, если я присоединюсь к группе? They remember seeing the film of the ecology in Australia. Они помнили, что смотрели фильм об экологии в Австралии.

79

After leaving school, he entered Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys. После окончания школы он поступил в МИСиС.

2. The Indefinite Gerund Active denotes passive meanings after

1)the verbs to want, to need, to deserve, to require;

2)the adjective worth.

E.g.: The students deserve praising as they have managed with a very difficult task. Студенты заслуживают похвалы, поскольку они справились с очень сложной задачей. The lecture is worth attending. Лекцию стоит посетить.

3. The Perfect Gerund denotes a prior action.

E.g.: He admitted having made the same mistake again. Он признал, что сделал снова ту же ошибку.

Study the use of the Gerund

The Gerund is generally used after

1)the verbs to admit, to avoid, to anticipate, to appreciate, to dislike, to enjoy, to escape, to fancy, to finish, to forbid, to keep (continue), to mention, to mind (object), to miss, to postpone, to stop, etc.;

2)the verbal phrases to burst out, to give up, to go on, to keep on, to put off, etc.;

3)the verbs + prepositions to accuse smb. of, to complain of, to depend on, to insist on, to persist in, to prevent from, to rely on, to speak of, to succeed in, to suspect smb. of, to think of, etc.;

4)the word groups with the prepositions to be angry with, to be astonished at, to be busy in, to be disappointed at, to be fond of, to be guilty of, to be pleased at, to be proud of, to be sorry for, to be sure of, to be surprised at, to be tired of, etc.

The Gerund can be rendered into Russian by a noun, an infinitive, by деепричастие, by a subordinate clause (придаточное предложение).

Study the functions of the Gerund

1. The Subject (Подлежащее)

Learning rules without examples is difficult. Учить правила без примеров трудно.

It’s no use discussing the main points of the report without the speaker. Бесполезно обсуждать основные положения доклада без докладчика.

2. The Part of the Predicate (the predicative) (Часть сказуемого)

Living is believing. Жить – значит верить.

What he likes best in the world is learning something new every day. Что он любит больше всего на свете – так это узнавать что-нибудь новое ежедневно.

80