Speaking Useful Words and Expressions

Nouns: achievement;

advance;

attempt (to make an attempt);

contribution (to make a contribution to);

development;

discovery;

experiment (to carry on(out)/to conduct/to make an experiment);

improvement (to make improvements);

invention/inventor;

(scientific) research;

a series of (ideas, experiments);

a (thorough) study (to make a thorough study).

Verbs: to contribute to;

to create;

to develop;

to do something of importance;

to do something for the benefit of mankind;

to be engaged in;

to experiment with;

to implement;

to improve/to improve on;

to invent;

to be involved in (some activity);

to patent/to take a patent;

to put something into practice;

to be recognized as;

to result in;

to revolutionize;

to succeed in;

to test;

to work out/to work something out in practice.

Adjectives: amazing;

dramatic;

incredible;

marvelous;

outstanding;

remarkable;

tremendous;

unprecedented.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. Here are the names of some people who made history: Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, Marco Polo, Pyotr Кapitsa, Christofer Columbus, Howard Aiken, Yuri Gagarin, Lenin.

1. What are these people famous for?

2. What other people can be called history makers? Give your reasons.

3. What are the greatest wonders of the modern world? Which of them changed our life more than anything?

4. The computer is undoubtedly one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. How important is it in your life?

5. The machines that communicate with us (computers, the cell phone, etc.) are amazing but they never leave us alone. Don't you think they are beginning to attack our free time?

6. Do you experiment in your home laboratory? What do you experiment with?

7. The patent of some inventions is still being disputed. Who do you think was the first to invent the radio: Popov or Marconi?

8. What discoveries do you think can be made in the 21st century?

Social english Polite Requests

- Can I help you?

- Oh, yes, please. Thanks a lot.

- No, it's all right, thanks.

- I wonder if I can/ could help you?

- That's (very) kind/ nice of you.

- Thank you.

- Do you mind if I (close the door)?

- No, of course not.

- Sally, can you open the window?

- No, I don't mind at all. It's very stuffy in here.

- Yes, sure. Thank you.

Exercise 1. Practise the following dialogues. Make up your own dialogues using the words in brackets.

1.

- Excuse me. It's freezing in here! Do you mind if I close the window?

- No, no, I don't mind at all. I'm a bit cold too. (stuffy/switch on the air-conditioner/hot)

2.

- Can I help you?

- Oh, thank you. Do you mind if I put my bag on this seat?

- No, of course not. There you are.

- Oh, thank you very much. That's very kind of you. (suitcase/up there).

UNIT 12

Unsolved mysteries

Focus on

Use of English

Grammar

Passive Voice

Verbs with two objects in the passive

Verbs with prepositions in the passive

It is said that she ... /She is said to ... (Complex Subject)

Have/get something done

Reading

Space Travel

Speaking

Social English

Expressing Preference and Reluctance

USE OF ENGLISH

Grammar

Passive Voice

The passive is used:

a) to describe an action when we don't know or do not know exactly who does, did or will do the action

My bicycle was stolen last night. (I don't know who stole it.)

b) to describe an action when it is not important to know who does, did or will do the action

These computers are made in the USA. (It isn't important who makes them.)

c) to describe what happens to people or things, often as a result of action of other people or things

Several people were hurt in an accident last night.

d) when we are more interested in the action than the person who does it

The house next door has been bought.

NOTE:

Verbs that do not take an object (intransitive verbs) cannot go into the passive e.g.: die, arrive, come, sit down, snow, ring, faint, etc.