Vocabulary:

i. е. (лат. id est) = that is — то есть

on the other hand — с другой стороны;

on the one hand — с одной стороны

to do one's best — делать все возможное

hard at work — упорно работают (трудятся)

besides — кроме, кроме того

however — однако

capable — способный

means — средство;

by means o f —посредствомcapacity — мощность

case — случай

namely — а именно

cheap — дешевый

oil — нефтьconventional — стандартный, обычный

per cent — процент

convert — превращать

reach — достигатьefficiency — производительность, к.п.д.

represent —представлять

effort — усилие

require — требовать

engaged — занятый

source — источник

enterprise — предприятие

succeed (in) — удаваться

flow — течь

tide — морской прилив и отлив

fuel — топливо

try — стараться

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. What is the industrial progress of mankind based on?

2. Which is the first widely applied method of producing electricity at present?

3. Which is the second way of generating power?

4. What (how high) is the efficiency of these two methods?

5. What do we use the energy of hot water for?

6. When and where did the first power station using ocean tides be­gin operating in Russia?

7. What can you say about the energy of the sun?

8. What fuel is the most promising for the production of electric­ity?

9. Is the efficiency of generating power from atomic fuel high or not?

10. What problem do scientists pay great attention to?

Text b. Hydrogen – source of power.

Scientists consider hydrogen a very promising energy source. The reserves of hydrogen are practically unlimited. Per unit of weight it contains almost three times more thermal energy than benzene. Besides, hydrogen can be used as fuel in transport, industry and home.

Hydrogen is easy to transport and store. It can be transported over large distances using conventional pipelines. It can be accumulated and kept for a long time either in conventional or natural reservoirs.

Scientists have found many ways of producing hydrogen — basically from ordinary water. And large volumes of this fuel can be obtained from coal, whose global reserves are tremendous. There is also an idea of using nuclear power plants to generate hydrogen. Scientists hope to use the energy of the sun, wind and tides to obtain hydrogen.

In several countries car engines fed by hydrogen have been tested successfully. Tests have also shown that adding five to ten per cent hy­drogen to benzene increases engine efficiency by 40—45 per cent.

What is still holding back the use of hydrogen as fuel, and what has to be done in order to apply it extensively in the economy? The main reason is that now it is more expensive than mineral fuels, but in the near future hydrogen can be made cheaper to obtain. This new kind of energy opens up new prospects in aviation, metallurgy and some other industries.

Vocabulary:

add — добавить

hope — надеяться

accumulate — накапливать

keep (kept) — хранить

consider — считать

nuclear power plant — атомная электростанция

engine — двигатель

pipeline — трубопровод

feed — питать

reason — причина

hold back (held) — задерживать

store — накапливать

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences according to the text:

1. Scientists consider hydrogen...

1. not a very promising energy source;

2. a very promising energy source;

3. a more promising energy source than atomic energy.

2. At present hydrogen fuel is being produced from...

1. the energy of the sun;

2. the energy of the wind and tides;

3. ordinary water.

3. Adding a few per cent of hydrogen to benzene...

1. greatly increases engine efficiency;

2. decreases a little engine efficiency;

3. does not change engine efficiency.

4. Hydrogen is not used widely as a fuel at present because...

1. hydrogen reserves are limited;

2. its production is very expensive at present;

3. it is impossible to accumulate and keep it for a long time.

Exercise 2. Choose the proper translation:

1. источник (энергии) — a) reserve; b) resource; с) source

2. топливо — a) fuel; b) oil; c) tide; d) way

3. обычный — a) promising; b) efficient; c) cheap; d) conventional

4. преобразовывать — a) convert; b) consist; c) contain; d) create

5. достигать — a) represent; b) remain; c) resist; d) reach

6. стараться — a) flow; b) try; c) obtain; d) use

7. посредством — a) however; b) namely; c) no wonder; d) by means

8. поэтому — a) thanks to; b) besides; c) i. е.; d) therefore