Outstanding scientists of russia

We live in the age of rapid engineering progress and of dramatic scientific discoveries. We have become used to supersonic airliners, to TV colour programmes broadcast over vast distances, to the most varied man-made materials from nylon, to superhard artificial diamonds. Tremendous changes are known to have taken place recently. Science favourably transforms the world today, determining in many ways its future. In our age of electronics, automation, atomic energy and space research science is increasingly becoming an immediate instrument of industry. And our country holds a prominent place in developing it. It is necessary to say that a great contribution to the development of world science was made by the Russian scientists and inventors. Their names are world known.

It is almost impossible to name a branch of science in the development of which the Russian scientists haven’t played the greatest role. M.Lomonosov was one of the most learned and educated men in Europe. He was an outstanding innovator both in humanities and sciences. He founded the first Russian University. He himself was the first University of Russia. Mendeleev’s greatest discovery was the Periodic System of elements. Popov invented radio. Sechenov and Pavlov were the world’s greatest physiologists. Russia is rightly called the mother of aviation and interplanetary navigation. Tsiolkovsky is the father of rocket flying. He formulated the principles of jet propelled flying machines for interplanetary communication. Mozhaisky’s aeroplane was the first in the world. The man who was standing behind space strategy from the 1930s was Sergey Pavlovich Korolev. An outstanding scientist, he devoted all his life to rocket research constructing artificial satellites. Andrey Dmitrievich Sakharov was one of the authorities in thermonuclear physics, he was recognized as a civil rights activist and humanist, he was a Peace Nobel’s Prize winner. Mention should be made of Academician Kapitza ‘s research into the mechanism of superconductivity. Academicians N.Basov and A.Prokhorov, who are the Nobel Prize winners, have developed the foundations of quantum electronics.

Russian scientists and inventors have enriched science and technology with many outstanding achievements which enable our country to solve the most complex problems. Many inventions which are known to have brought fame to Russian science rank among the greatest achievements of mankind.

TEXT 2

M. V. LOMONOSOV.

Mikhail Vasilievych Lomonosov, a great Russian scien­tist and poet, was born in 1711 in a small village situated near the town of Kholmogori. Now the village is called Lomonosovo after the great man who was born there. Lomonosov's father was a fisherman. At an early age Lomonosov began to help his father in his work.

Since his childhood the boy was always eager to learn. When quite a boy, he left his native place and went to Moscow on foot, having no money to pay the fare. He managed to enter a school in Moscow where he studied for five years. As Lomonosov was extremely talented, he was one of the best twelve pupils sent to St. Petersburg to study at the Gymnasium of the Academy of Sciences.

In 1736 the Academy of Sciences sent him abroad to study. He came back to Petersburg in 1741 and began his scientific work. Four years later Lomonosov was made an academician and appointed a professor of chemistry.

During the last years of his life Lomonosov was the Rector of St. Petersburg University. He was also the founder of Moscow University which is now called after him. Being one of the oldest and largest institutions of higher education in Russia, Moscow State University has always played a prominent part in the development of Russian science and culture.

Lomonosov was one of the most educated men in Europe. He was an outstanding innovator both in humanities and sciences. He wrote many books on various problems of sciences, engineering and culture. In fact, he was the father of Russian science. Lomonosov paid great attention to, the development of Russia. He reformed Russian grammar and was the author of the first Rus­sian grammar book.

He wrote magnificent verge, which greatly, influenced later Russian poetry. A great Russian poet Pushkin said about him: "Lomonosov founded the first Russian Uni­versity, and he himself was our first University.”

Lomonosov was brought up by Russia, he devoted all his life to Russia and to Russia he gave all his energy and knowledge.

Exercise 1. Using the necessary vocabulary and information from the texts 1,2 prove the idea that “ Russian scientists have made a great contribution in the development of the world’s science”.

Exercise 2. Speak about one of the eminent Russian scientists.

TEXT 3