5. Read the text , translate it and give the main idea in two-three sentences:

ERA OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

PART I

Even a simple enumeration of the spheres of human endeavour which can be placed on a basically new level, would add up to an impressive list. And the agency which can make this possible is microbes. They exist everywhere – on land and in the air, in the Arctic and in hot springlakes, amid mountain ranges and in the depths of the sea. However, the reachest storehouse of microbes is soil. And each microbe may be considered as a chemical plant of tremendous capacity. While some microbes feed on complex vegetable or animal proteins, others confine themselves to ordinary wood wastes and still otherssimply make do with atmospheric nirogen or carbon dioxide.

Considering all this, laboratory experiments are advising special artificial media in which microbe” food” is dissolved. Here microorganisms rapidly multiply and in the process of their life activity synthesize food, medicinal and other substances.

Factories in the different countries turn out more than a million tonnes of feed additives of microbial origin which contain more than 50 per cent of protein. However, in propotion to expended fodder only 20 to 30 per cent of meat and milk can be obtained, and only from rapidly growing young animals. And still less – only 5 to 10 per cent – from adult specimens.

A question arises, is the connecting link of animals necessary? Perhaps nutrients which are fed to them can be used by man directly? Perhaps, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc. Can be used directly in processing into full-valued foods suitable for man? It has been demonstrated that by combining products derived from microorganisms with traditional types of food man can obtain dishes well balanced in terms of content and protein composition. For example, more than 60 types of “ meat” products including beef, chicken-meat, ham, chops, cutlets, bacon and franfurtes, are currently being produced from soya beans protein inthe United states.

Agriculture requires large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers. The problem can be resolved by bacteria capableof absorbing armospheric notrigen, of “fixing” it, thus enriching the soil, and of sharply increasing harvests.

Moreover, bacteria can help agriculture in the creation of bodies of water. Ponds and lakes are becoming an integral part of farming areas. However, they cannot be created everywhere. In some spots the bed fails to trap the water, which escapes. Researchers of Georgian Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Land Improvement are determined to devise compact ground artificially, using anaerobic bacteria – microbes capable of living and developing without free oxygen.

In nature microorganisms make an enormous contribution to the formation of some rocks and minerals and to the destruction of others, as well as to the formation of oil and gas deposits. Naturally, such all-powerful bacteria should be made to work for man in these fields as well.

Usually, from 5 to 20 per cent of the ore in depleted ore deposits, remains in the earth, deflying extraction by modern technical means. Perhaps the only way this underground “ cemetery” can be reached is by mobilizing billion uponbillions, including sulphur and iron ones, otherwise known as thionic microorganisms. They dissolve the metal contained in ore in mine water, which can be extracted without any particular difficulty.

The scientists have discovered among the microorganisms “ experts” which make it possible to use bacteria in prevailing underground explosions. Methan, for instance, forms an explosive as it mixes with the air. Then one spark is enough to send a tornado of fire rolling through the mine. Associates of the Moscow Mining Engineer’s Institute have developed an original method of combaning methane based on the ability of someorganisms to absorb this gas.

6. Find the main idea of every paragraph and give the arguments confirming this main idea.

7. What does it mean “ the anaeribic bacteria”?

8. What paragraph is said about using the bacteria for the explosions preventing in the mines?

9. Look through the text once more and annotate it.

PART II

Now let us look at how microorganisms can help the power industry.

The concept of creating biocemical energy sources has a fairy long and chequered history. In the past century it arose on many occasions, then became forgotten and later again surfaced. In recent years the development of microelectronics ond space technology has led scientists of many countries to search for new biochemical energy sources. Aided by what is known as “ electric” microorganisms, which generate and accumulate electricity, cheap economical small-sized biochemical cells have alredy been created. It has been discovered that “ living electric batteries” could already be used in systems of providing spaceships with hydrogen, oxygen, drinking water and air. At this stage, biochemical cells generate energy for sea buoys, automatic sonar systes, lighthouses and other types of signalling and safeguarding equipment.

The rapid growth of urban centres and their population has created a problem of waste utilization. Of all domestic waste the greatest trouble is given by plastics. Should used containers be burned? But, resisting burning, plastics only melt amd clog up the incinerator lattices and release a smoke which poisons the atmosphere with noxious combustion by-products and stench.

Scientists are searching for a solution by employing microorganisms, and not without some success. Not long ago encouraging news came from Britain: its researchers had grown microbes which convert polychlorvinyl film into carbon. Scientists hope that inthe near future bacteria will eventually help solve the problem of urban dump cluttered up by “ eternal” plastic packets and other synthetic items. As a step further they will evolve special bacteria which could “ infect” plastics in the course of their manufactore. For some time bacteria must remain inactive but when containers are dumped, under the action of the environment they will become activized, destroying the plastis.

The scientific search for useful bacteria, which should be made to work for man, is in fact, only beginning. In time each area of practical endeavour will be able to obtain on demand the required culture of microorganisms.

In future, when man has achived complete control of these living communities and has learned to create any required microbial culture, he will be able to consider transforming the atmosphere on the nearby planets. He will be able to send enormous clouds containing earthly microorganisms which will hover in the upper layers of, say the Venusian atmosphere, “ feeding” on the vast amounts carbon dioxide discovered in it. The microorganisms would release oxygen and as they multiply this process of creating an artificial atmosphere would accelerate. Within a comparatively short period – centuries, if not decades – the process which took whole geological ages on earth would convert Venus into a planet hospitable to man.

10. Give the examples from the text about the using biochemical sources of energy.

11. Confirm with the facts from the text that the problem of remaking the polychlorviyl film wastes can be solved with the help of microorganisms.

12. Explain, what way the artificial atmosphere may be created.

Lesson 84

13. State whether the word in bold type is a gerund or a participle and translate the following sentences into Ukrainian:

1. Using a beam of electrons in place of the usual beam of light solved the problem of studying microorganisms. 2. Using a beam of electrons in place of the usual beam of light scientists built a microscope with great magnifying power. 3. Studying the properties of electrons atomic physicists solved the problem of constructing a very powerful microscope. 4. Studying the properties of electrons gave the possibility of constructing a very powerful microscope. 5. Constructing an electron microscope become possible after numerous experiments of atomic physicists. 6. Constructing an electron microscope scientists succeded in bringing to view the fine structure of materials.