Comprehension and Discussion

Ex. 1. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Justify your answers with information from the text. For the statements you consider to be false provide the correct information. Here are the possible openings for you:

Agreeing	Disagreeing
Really (sure) absolutely so. It can be easily proved. That is only partly true. This is generally believed to be true. This is believed by some to be true.	I don’t agree. Not really. I disagree, I am afraid... That’s wrong... I don’t think that’s right. Surely not.

1. Being a minute fragment of a universe Earth may have come into existence as a result of a cataclysmic explosion of a single mass of highly concentrated matter.

2. The expanding movement of the stars may come to a halt.

3. Some modern concepts are accepted as working hypotheses.

4. Earth is located some 60 million miles out in space from Sun.

5. Neither Earth nor the Solar System is unique.

6. Earth was a molten mass during the pre-Archeozoic era.

Ex. 2. Which phrase on the right completes each sentence beginning on the left? Do you strongly agree or disagree with any of the statements?

1) The galaxies are made up of the many billions of stars that …	a) …to get us back to the beginning of time on Earth
2) All the separate units of the universe might be pulled back together …	b) …with a resulting new explosion that would repeat the sequence
3) Some of the more modern concepts of scientists leave many points …	c) …to be at least 1, 500 º C
4) Earth revolves around Sun once every 365 days at a speed of …	d) … is estimated at 3, 675 million miles.
5) The distance from Sun to Pluto …	e) … to be more fully explained
6) The living forms on the Earth like planets may be very different from …	f) … about twenty-two miles a second
7) The five eras leave 2,500 million more years …	g) … those with which we are familiar
8) The temperature of the central core of Earth is estimated …	h) …are known to exist in the heavens

Ex. 3. Choose someone as an astronomer and answer the visitors’ questions.

What is (are)	Earth
Could you explain to me	the galaxies evolved
Can you tell me about	the rate of the stars
What do you mean by	the direction of the movement of the stars
Why	working hypotheses
How	a gaseous mass that began to solidify
	the distance of eight planetary satellites to Sun
	what scientists think about planets having favorable conditions for life

Ex. 4. Speak on:

1. A minute fragment of a universe: to come into existence, as a result of, a single mass, highly concentrated matter, to evolve, to be made up of, to exist.

2. The rate of movement of the stars: to rush, at an extremely rapid rate, to slow down, to come to a halt, to revolve, to pull back together, to repeat the sequence.

3. The origin of Earth: to be a subject of speculation, modern concepts, to be concerned with, to appear conclusive, to make possible, to accept, to explain.

4. An offshoot from Sun: to revolve, at a speed of, to solidify into, to be increasingly farther away from, to estimate.

5. Our Solar system is not unique: a mere midget, to estimate, to be similar to, to speculate, to be located, conditions favorable for life, to be familiar with.

6. The history of Earth is divided into five eras: to be recorded, for convenience, to form, to extend, prior to, widespread overflows of molten lava, to total, to cool down, to form solid crust of rock, to condense, to remain hot.

Ex. 5. Read the words in the box. Make sure you understand them. Speak about the Earth’s orbit.

to form; to rotate; to give a succession of day and night; to revolve; the path followed by the Earth; annual movement; the Earth’s axis; to be inclined; to point to the same part of the heaven; to cause the change of seasons; vertical ray; the Tropic of Cancer; the Tropic of Capricon

Ex. 6. Choose one of the following items and write an essay. Use additional material.

1. Shape and Size of the Earth.

2. Modern concepts of the origin of the Earth.

3. The authors of modern concepts of the origin of the Earth.

Text B

Task. Read the text and get ready to discuss its main points.