Active vocabulary

1. to do/ to carry out/ to conduct research

2. field of research / science / adjacent field

3. to study / to make studies / to investigate / to explore

4. to make measurements / computations / the comparison / rapid progress

5. findings

6. initial / final results

7. to approach a problem

8. to keep the record of the results

9. to have difficulty with

10. theoretical assumption

11. a scientific article

12. to suggest an idea / a theory

13. to be concerned with

14. advance

15. to contribute to / to make a contribution, to explore

16. to foresee.

Pattern Practice

Ex. 1. Complete the following sentences with information related to your research.

Teacher: I study …

Student: I study the quantum theory and reality.

1. I carry out research on … 2. We make analysis of … 3. We do experiments on … 3. I study the problem of … 5. We do research on … 6. I work with … 7. We do experimental work on … 8. We do theoretical research on … 9.I Investigate … 10. We make measurements of …

Ex. 2. Tell the group about your daily routine in the laboratory.

Student: I work at the laboratory of plasma physics. I come to work early in the morning. First I get the equipment ready for the measurements. I pump the remaining gas out of the installation and fill it with hydrogen. I check and adjust the devices and start the experiment. I take all the necessary measurements.

Ex.3. Speak about the daily laboratory routine of your research group.

Student: I work in a group of seven men. We study the problem of high-frequency heating of plasma. We create plasma in a toroidal system and follow its behavior. We measure the plasma parameters, such as the particle concentration, electron and ion temperature, the plasma particle life-time. Then we calculate the heating efficiency.

Ex. 4. Everybody describes the work of his research group with “we”, one student repeats the sentences with “they”.

Student 1 st: We change many substances from one state into another.

2 nd: They change many substances from one state into another.

Ex. 5. Put the words in brackets into the right position in the sentence.

Teacher: We use well-known mathematical formulae to calculate the volume of bodies. (often)

Student: We often use well-known mathematical formulae to calculate the volume of bodies.

1.We compare our findings with the theory (generally). 2. They make computations (often). 3. I compare the experimental results (usually). 4. They keep a record of the results (always). 5. I check the measuring instruments (frequently). 6. We take note of the initial and final results (always). 7. They obtain good results (sometimes). 8. We apply the law of gravitation (often). 9. They discuss their problems with us (seldom). 10. We measure all these parameters during the experiment (usually).

Ex. 6. Give the following verbs in the third person singular.

Teacher: to apply

Student: he, she, it applies.

[s] to test, to check, to react, to affect, to consist, to interact, to conduct, to calculate, to develop, to penetrate

[z] to cool, to enter, to apply, to observe, to compare, to identify, to measure, to combine, to examine, to divide

[iz] to use, to pass, to decompose, to finish, to change, to analyse, to minimize, to freeze, to choose, to characterize.

Ex. 7. Repeat the same statement about each person involved.

Teacher: My assistant and I check the instruments.

Student 1st: I check the instruments.

2nd: My assistant checks the instruments.

1. The head of the department and I check the results of the experiment.

2. My colleague and I often talk about our research work.

3. The laboratory assistant and I convert water into steam.

4. Dr. Smith and I approach the problem differently.

5. My friend and I do independent researches.

6. One of my research group members and I record the data obtained.

7. Mr. Brown and I try to accelerate the rate of the reaction.

Ex. 8. Tell the group about one of your colleague’s laboratory routine.

Student: Mr. Clinton works in the same laboratory as I. He also studies the main characteristics of organic and inorganic acids. He comes to work early in the morning and starts checking the instruments. His assistant helps him to make preparations for the experiment. Every day he keeps the record of all the results, studies them, makes the comparison.

Ex.9. Express your agreement with the following negative statements.

Teacher: I don’t understand the problem.

Student: Neither do I (or: Neither does Dr. Brown).

1. I don’t convert water into ice.

2. I don’t see any difference between the results of the experiments.

3. I don’t make report at scientific conference.

4. I don’t investigate the same problem.

5. I don’t do experimental work.

6. I don’t know much about photometry.

7. I don’t think the idea is good.

8. I don’t have much difficulty with the laboratory equipment.

9. I don’t write the report.

10. I don’t deal with polymers.

Ex.10. Contradict the statements.

Teacher: Dr. Brown deals with proteins I suppose.

Student: I don’t think he does.

Teacher: They know all about your research I suppose.

Student: I don’t think they do.

1. The author says about the importance of practical results I suppose.

2. The scientists explain complex changes in crystal structure I suppose.

3. The temperature remains constant through the experiment I suppose.

4. He knows a lot about your work I suppose.

5. Living cells sometimes contain two or more nuclei I suppose.

6. We study collision processes in ionized gases I suppose.

7. Specialists use this approach for ionization experiments I suppose.

8. He always supports theoretical assumptions by experimental findings I suppose.

9. They make their work more effective I suppose.

10. She usually attends laboratory seminars I suppose.

Ex.11. Make the following sentences negative.

Teacher: This factor regulates the reaction rate.

Student: This factor doesn’t regulate the reaction rate.

Teacher: The authors point out, that pure science contributes too little to society.

Students: The authors don’t point out, that pure science contribute too little to society.

1. The results of his work find practical application.

2. He likes to read the biographies of great men and looks on the history of science.

3. You, often, tell about the problems you study.

4. They have a clear picture of their research.

5. She, regularly, attends scientific conferences at the University.

6. Scientists realize that the investigations which seem purely academic today may tomorrow become vital for the economic development of the country.

7. The history of science, as an independent discipline, deserves much attention.

8. Some physicists find it difficult to explain the relativity theory.

9. He, sometimes, publishes articles on various aspects of physics in popular scientific magazines.

10. These papers discuss the data about the development of crystal physics.

Ex.12. Add an appropriate question tag and repeat the sentence.

Teacher: You miss the chance to hear Prof. Brown’s lecture.

Student: You miss the chance to hear Prof. Brown’s lecture, don’t you?

Teacher: He does not possess the qualities of a good researcher.

Student: He does not possess the qualities of a good researcher, does he?

1. The head of the laboratory speaks about the usual procedure of a scientific conference, … ?

2. The lecturers arrange and present the material in certain order, … ?

3. He reviews the current studies in his field of research, … ?

4. Scientists recognize the importance of direct contacts among scientists of different countries …?

5. The method allows us to eliminate random errors and considerably reduce defects …?

6. This science makes rapid progress and involves more and more people from adjacent fields …?

7. The papers under review do not contain new data and their interpretation from an entirely novel viewpoint …?

8. She does not use the necessary instruments to conduct investigations …?

9. This work takes sustained efforts of many researchers …?

10. The idea does not stand up to criticism by those intimately acquainted with the subject …?

Ex.13. Make general questions using the following infinitive phrases and answer them.

Teacher: To discuss current literature.

Student 1st: Do you discuss current literature at seminars?

2nd: Yes, we do.

1. to have precise measuring instruments;

2. to read literature on speciality regularly;

3. to keep a record of the experiments;

4. to obtain good results;

5. to do theoretical studies;

6. to have difficulties;

7. to work with isotopes;

8. to make a report;

9. to analyse the experimental results;

10. to take note of the parameters.

Ex. 14. Make the following sentences interrogative (general questions).

Teacher: The temperature remains constant throughout the experiment. Does the temperature remain constant throughout the experiment?

1. Conductors possess valuable properties.

2. The article under review deals with a historical analysis of scientific thinking.

3. Each atom has an electron cloud in normal conditions.

4. These methods minimize the experimental errors.

5. Heating ionizes gas.

6. The substance actively enters into the reaction.

7. The outer electrons leave the atom in some cases.

8. The instrument measures the optimal density.

9. The substance catalyses some chemical reactions.

10. We want a chemical reaction to go faster.

Ex.15. Make questions with what, when, where, how, how often, how much, why.

Teacher: You study them.

Student 1st: What do you study?

2nd: How do you study them?

3rd: Why do you study them?

4th: When do you study them?

1. You observe it.

2. It divides.

3. They detect it.

4. He determines it.

5. He analyses them.

6. He produces it.

7. It increases.

8. It changes.

Ex. 16. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the use of the present simple to talk about future events.

1. What time does the conference begin according to the programme?

2. Our new English course starts next month on the 19^th of October.

3. Her flight abroad leaves at 8.45.

4. According to the programme the seminar lasts for three days.

5. Our train leaves early on Sunday morning and gets to Moscow at 14.50.

Ex. 17. Answer the following questions:

1. What is your field of science / research?

2. What are the current issues in your field of science / research?

3. What are the latest achievements in your field of science / research?

4. Can you name any outstanding researchers in your field of science? What is their contribution?

5. Do achievements in your branch of science / research influence everyday life? In what way?

6. What further developments can you predict in your field of science / research?

Ex. 18. Complete the sentences which contain the words from the Active Vocabulary. Speak about your field of science / research.

1. I do research in the field of … .

2. It is a comparatively new branch of science that studies … .

3. The field of science / research that I’m concerned with gathers knowledge about … .

4. Major developments include advances in … .

5. Remarkable advances are in … .

6. The branches of science contributing a lot to progress in my field of research are … .

7. My current field of science / research is … .

8. It’s difficult to foresee / forecast / predict … .

Ex. 19. Dialogue: Student 1st makes a statement about the material he studies, the others ask him various questions in the present Indefinite to obtain more information about it.

Student 1st: study plasma phenomena

2nd: What methods do you use?

1st: Different scientific methods.

3rd: What determines plasma diffusion rate?

1st: The collision frequency and some other factors.

Text 1

Ex. 1. Read the text.

Current Scientific and Technological advances

It is necessary to maintain science with large amounts of public support Science and technology must meet the critical needs of society. Unfortunately, only intellectual progress is not in itself sufficient to generate such support. The central problem is that the costs of meeting the needs of society are too high and the time scale for meeting them is too long.

In current Scientific and technological advances the problem of nanotechnology occupies one of central places.

Nanotechnology allows scientists, engineers and physicians to work at the cellular and molecular levels to produce major benefits to life sciences and healthcare. The field of nanotechnology leads to new biotechnology – based industries and novel approaches in medicine.

Most advances in the last several years in scanning probe and scanning optical analytical methods permit viewing the vital chemical processes and microscopic structures in biological systems with unprecedented resolution. These new analytical probes reveal a detailed picture of the microscopic structure of living cells and a view of chemical processes at the molecular scale. The atomic force microscope, for example, can locate and measure the extraordinarily small forces associated with receptor ligant binding on cell surfaces. Microscopic electrical probes can detect a living cell’s exchange of ions with its environment or the propagation of electrical signals in nerves. New high resolution optical instruments can follow in detail the chemical processes on the surface of and inside a living cell. This analytical capability allows observation of the biochemical processes and interaction of cells in living systems.

Ex. 2. Answer the following questions to the text.

1. What is it necessary to maintain science with?

2. Is intellectual progress sufficient to generate such support?

3. What is the central problem?

4. What problem occupies one of central places in current scientific and technological advances?

5. What does the field of nanotechnology lead to?

6. What do advances in scanning probe and scanning optical analytical methods permit?

7. What can the atomic force microscope locate and measure?

8. Where can new high resolution optical instruments follow the chemical processes?

9. What does analytical capability allow?

Ex. 3. Identify the topic of the text.

Ex. 4. Translate the text into Russian.

Text 2

Written Practice.

Ex. 1. Read the text, then write down its basic content in three or four sentences.

Scientific Communication

For scientific research communication is essential. Science is to be characterized as “public knowledge”. In other words the aim of the scientist is to create, criticize or contribute to a rational consensus of ideas and information.

The results of research become completely scientific when they are published.

Our present system of scientific communication depends almost entirely on the “primary” literature. This has three basic characteristics: it is fragmentary, derivative and edited. These characteristics are quite essential.

1. A regular journal carries from one researcher to another the various discoveries, deductions, speculations and observations which are of common interest. Primary scientific papers are not final statements of indisputible truths; each is merely a tiny step forward, through the jungles of ignorance.

2. Scientific papers are derivative and very largely unoriginal because they lean heavily on previous research. It is very rare to find a reputable paper that contains no references to other research. Indeed, one relies on the citations to show its place in the whole scientific structure.

3. The editing of the scientific literature is a more delicate matter. We must be able to rely on the basic accuracy and honesty on what we read in other people’s papers, for we always use their results in our own researches and simply cannot find the time to repeat all their experiments, measurements, calculations and arguments for ourselves.

to lean – опираться

citation – ссылка

Lesson 2