Science and technology

Technology means the use of people’s inventions and discoveries to satisfy their needs. Since people have appeared on the earth, they have had to get food, clothes, and shelter. Through the ages, people have invented tools, machines, and materials to make work easier.

Nowadays, when people speak of technology, they generally mean industrial technology. Industrial technology began about 200 years ago with the development of the steam engine, the growth of factories, and the mass production of goods. It influenced different aspects of people’s lives. The development of the car influenced where people lived and worked. Radio and television changed their leisure time. The telephone revolutionized communication.

Science has contributed much to modern technology. Science attempts to explain how and why things happen. Technology makes things happen. But not all technology is based on science. For example, people had made different objects from iron for centuries before they learnt the structure of the metal. But some modern technologies, such as nuclear power production and space travel, depend heavily on science.

EXERCISE 12. Find in the texts English equivalents for these words and word combinations:

означает, охватывает, взаимосвязь, широкое разнообразие, ищут разгадки, происхождение Вселенной, структура клеток, сложный, собирать факты, упорядочить и обобщить, общие принципы, пытаются объяснить, как и почему, что-то произошло, соответствующий действительности, основные группы, общественные науки, в то же самое время, все менее и менее четкие, многочисленный, тесно взаимосвязаны, она обеспечивает, открытия, изобретения, формировать наши взгляды, о себе, удовлетворять собственные нужды, они должны были, кров, на протяжении веков, инструменты, чтобы сделать, в настоящее время, тому назад, паровой двигатель, рост, массовое производство товаров, время досуга, произвел революцию, сделала большой вклад, например, из железа, в течение веков, очень сильно, зависит.

Exercise 13.

a) Find in the texts the words, which have the similar meanings as the following words:

wide, to research, to attempt, to believe» to examine, main, complex, difficult, to start, big, a motor, various, to study;

b) Find in the texts the words, which have the opposite meanings to the following words:

narrow, easy, practice, to try, artificial, old, more, to begin, small, little.

EXERCISE 14. Fill in the gaps with the missing words in the following sentences; the first letter of each word has been given to help you:

1. Science d... with a variety of subjects.

2. Scientists s... for the answers to the different questions.

3. The structure of the cells is e... by the scientists.

4. Different theories u... the facts.

5. The b... of some scientific fields are not clear.

6. The natural, social and technical sciences are closely i...

7. T... the ages, people have invented tools, machines, and materials to make work easier.

8. Science c... much to modern technology.

9. Some modern technologies d... on science.

10. During our 1... time we watch TV.

EXERCISE 15. Complete the following sentences in a logical way:

1. The word "science" comes from the Latin word, which means...

2. Science deals with facts and ...

3. Scientists study a wide variety of ...

4. Some scientists search for clues to ...

5. Other researchers solve complicated ...

6. Scientific theories consist of general principles or .. .

7. A theory becomes part of...

8. Scientific study can be divided into three major groups:...

9. The boundaries between scientific fields have become ...

10. Science provides the basis of...

11. Technology means the use of...

12. Industrial technology began about 200 years ago with...

13. Technology influenced different aspects of...

14. Science attempts to explain how and why...

15. Technology makes things...

EXERCISE 16.. Answer the following questions about science and technology;

1. What is science?

2. What is technology?

3. Are they interconnected?

4. Is all technology based on science?

5. What modern technologies depend heavily on science?

6. When did industrial technology begin?

7. When was a steam engine invented?

8. Who invented the steam engine?

9. When was radio invented?

10. Who invented the radio?

11. When was television invented?

12. Who invented the television?

13. When was a telephone invented?

14. Who invented the telephone?

15. When was the first car invented?

16. When was the first digital computer invented?

17. Who invented the first digital computer?

18. What famous scientists do you know?

19. What famous inventors do you know?

20. What scientific field are you interested in? Why?

EXERCISE 17. Agree or disagree with the following statements; add some more information:

1. Scientists study a wide variety of subjects.

2. Scientific study can be divided into two major groups.

3. Many new fields of science have appeared.

4. Numerous areas of science over-tip each other.

5. Science has great influence on our lives.

EXERCISE 18.

a) Read and translate the following dialogue;

b) Memorize and dramatize the dialogue;

c) Act out a similar dialogue.

COMPUTERS

A. They say, you have bought a computer?

B. Yes, now I have got my own computer.

A. That’s fine. And what type of a computer have you got?

B. The most common type, a digital one.

A. By the way, do you know what it means "a digital computer"?

В. It goes without saying. Digital computers deal with numbers. All data – pictures, sounds, symbols, and words are translated into numbers inside the computer.

A. Yes, you are right. Digital computers are so widespread that the word "computer" almost always refers to a digital computer. But there are 3 types of computers: digital, analog, and hybrid ...

B. Sorry for interrupting you. I do know about it. Analog computers work with a physical quantity, such as weight, speed, temperature. They solve problems by measuring a quantity in terms of another quantity. Do you understand it?

A. Yes, certainly, for example, they measure temperature in terms of the length of a thin line of liquid in a thermometer.

B. Good for you. And when are you going to buy a computer? You know so much about the computers.

A. You see, I haven’t got such a large amount of money.

B. Take it easy. You may use my computer.

A. Thanks a lot.

B. You are welcome.

EXERCISE 19. Act as an interpreter.