Тема 12. The Achievements of Science and technology in Ukraine

Ukraine is one of the greatest European countries. It takes an important place in the development of world's science and technology. Ukraine made a great contribution into the development of such branches of science as physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, cybernetics and history. Technical progress is impossible without science. Success in science depends on the achievements of physics and chemistry. The achievements of science and technology are closely connected with the life and scientific activity of such great scientists as Volodymyr Vernadsky, Yevgen and Boris Paton, Valentyn Glushko, Mykola Amosov and many others.

Volodymyr Vernadsky was the first president of the Ukrainian Academy of

Sciences. He was the first in our country to introduce the spectral method for the solution of geometrical problems. V.Vernadsky developed special studying to composition of the Earth's crust, the ocean and atmosphere. He was the founder of the modern doctrine on the biosphere. His findings greatly contributed into the world of science.

Yevhen Paton was another great scientist whom we take pride of. He was born in 1870. since 1904 Yevhen Paton worked and taught at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. He was the first to apply electro welding in bridge-construction. Under his guidance a welded bridge was built across the Dnipro river in Kyiv. It is 1,5 km long. In 1930 Paton organized the Research Institute of Electro welding at the Academy of Sciences. His son Boris works in the field of metallurgy and electric welding too. He is the President of the Academy of Sciences in Ukraine. Boris Paton created the new methods of electric welding.

Valentyn Glushko was.a great Ukrainian scientist, mathematician.. He was the main founder of Research Institute of Cybernetics. His main work deals with the

theory of Cybernetics and implementation of methods of Cybernetics in our national

economy.

Mykola Amosov is the great scientist in the branch of medicine in heart surgery. Academician Sergey Korolyov was the great scientist and designer of space rocket systems with the help of which the first Earth satellites in the world were put into orbit and the far side of the moon was photographed. The spaceships in which man first flew into space and from which he walked out into space, were made under his guidance.

Sergey Korolyov trained many scientists and engineers who continue on his work in the sphere of space- rocketry engineering.

Nowadays the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine includes many outstanding scientists and research workers famous for their discoveries. Great success has been achieved by the Paton Research Institute of Electric welding, the Institute of Cybernetics, the Institute of Superhard Materials and others.

Тема 13. Holidays in ukraine

There are many holidays in Ukraine. It is so pleasant to realize that each year starts with a holiday. It is the time to leave all the troubles forever and to look at the New Year with hope and expectations. This first holiday of the year is the New Year's Day. The preparation for the holiday starts already in November. Everyone thinks about the best present for their family and friends. Children wait for this holiday impatiently, as they hope to find under a decorated New Year's Tree a big and beautiful present, something they have dreamed about for a long time. Adults also have presents for each other, and wishes of a happy year, full of joy and success. The New Year comes at midnight on the 1st of January. This moment is considered to be a magic one. That's why people raise their glasses with champagne and say to each other «Happy New Year!». Some people celebrate the New Year on the 14th of January according to the old-style Calendar.

One more popular winter holiday is Christmas. As it is one of the oldest holi­days in Ukraine, many old Ukrainian customs, which go back to centuries ago, are connected with Christmas. These are fortune telling, signing Christmas carols, cooking traditional Ukrainian Christmas dishes, going to church service. Children go from house to house, and sing Christmas carols. They wish all the best to the people who live in these houses. Of course, the carol-singers receive a reward for their wishes — a little money, sweets or cakes.

When the spring comes, it always brings popular holidays. The first spring holiday is the Women's Day. It is the day of beauty and flowers. Women usually receive presents on this day. Their families thank them for their love and support during the year. There are also the Mother's Day and the Family Day in spring. They are celebrated in May and serve as one more reason for the members of the families to thank each other for understanding and support. But the most impor­tant spring holiday is Easter. Believers do not eat meat and animal products sev­eral weeks before the holiday. It is the time to stop and think about Jesus Christ's death for our salvation, and about what we have to do to improve ourselves.

In summer there are two state holidays: the Day of Constitution on the 28th of June and Independence Day on the 24th of August. These holidays are connected with a new era in Ukrainian history that has begun. Now Ukraine is an independent date with its own Constitution. And we all hope for the better. The Ukrainian President appears on TV with his words of congratulation for Ukrainian people.

The first day of autumn is also a holiday. We celebrate the Day of Knowledge This day means a lot for those pupils who go to school for the first time with their, parents at their side. A small girl rings the bell, pupils enter their school and schooE year starts. There are many other important holidays in Ukraine, which bring joy and hope for the better.

champagne — шампанське

fortune telling — гадання

Christmas carol — різдвяна колядка

a believer — віруючий

salvation — спасіння

Happy New Year!

— Happy New Year, Inna!

— Happy New Year, Marina!

— You look so happy!

— I have dreamed a lot about a beautiful golden ring. And my husband pre-

sented it to me yesterday! I was so happy!

— Where did you celebrate your holiday? Is it a family holiday for you?

— Well, we celebrated it with our friends first. We organized a party for them. My husband cooks better than me, so he laid the table and I decorated the New

Year's Tree.

— What about your parents?

— We visited them on the 1 st of January and brought them our presents.

— What about your children? Did they celebrate the holiday with you?

— No, they are too small for that. But they also received their presents from us. And though they are only 1 year old, I hope they understand how much I take

care of them.

— Surely they do. Wish you pleasant winter holidays! See you later!

— The same to you! See you!