The nature of electricity

The ancient Greeks knew that when a piece of amber is rubbed with wool or fur it achieves the power of attracting light objects. Later on the phenomenon was studied, and the word electric, after the Greek word "electron", meaning amber was used. Many scientists investigated electric phenomena, and during the nineteenth century many discoveries about the nature of electricity, and of magnetism, which is closely related to electricity, were made. It was found that if a sealing-wax rod is rubbed with a woolen cloth, and a rod of glass is rubbed with a silken cloth an electric spark will pass between the sealing-wax rod and the glass rod when they are brought near one another. Moreover, it was found that a force of attraction operates between them. An electrified sealing-wax is repelled, however, by a wax rod, and also an electrified glass rod is repelled, by a similar glass rod.

The ideas were developed that there are two kinds of electricity, which were called resinous electricity, and that opposite kinds of electricity attract one another, whereas similar kinds repel one another.

NOTES AND COMMENTARY

It achives the power вона набуває здібностей sealing-wax rod — паличка із сургуча

after the Greek word —від грецького слова

a rod of glass — скляна паличка

moreover — більше того

Classes of electricity

The study of electricity may be divided into three classes or branches: magnetism, electrostatics and electrodynamics. Magnetism is the property of the molecules of iron and certain other substances through which they store energy in a field of force because of the arranged movement of the electrons in their atoms. Electrostatics is the study of electricity at rest, or static electricity. Examples of this type of electricity are charges on condenser plates. Rubbing glass with silk produces static electricity. Electrodynamics is the study of electricity in motion, or dynamic electricity. The electricity which flows through wires for light and power purposes is a good example of the latter type of electricity.

NOTES AND COMMENTARY

through which they store energy in a field of force —завдяки якому ванна накопичує енергію в силовому полі

arranged movement — направлений рух

at rest — в спокої

charges on condenser plates — заряди на пластинках конденсатора

for light and power purposes — для освітлення та збагачення силовогоустаткування

The Passive Voice

Present Continuous

passive subject	'to be'	past participle
The factory	is being	built
The books	are being	read

Past Continuous

passive subject	'to be'	past participle
The film	was being	discussed	at that time
The letters	were being	written	when I came in

EXERCISE 1 Change the following sentences into the Passive Voice.

Example: They are solving a difficult problem now. — The problem is being solved now.

1. Don't come in! The professor is examining students. 2. Can I read the article? — No, the secretary is typing it. 3. We had to hurry. They were waiting for us. 4. It was noisy. Nobody was listening to him. 5. Does he realize that they are laughing at him? 6, Look at this man. I think he is following us. 7. Listen carefully! He is giving a very interesting talk. 8, The waiter is serving us rather fast, 9. The secretary was looking through morning mail. 10. The interpreter is translating their conversation rather well. 11. The briefing is in full swing. The correspondents are interviewing the participants of the conference. 12, The company was developing a new project. 13. You can't watch the film now. The mechanic is fixing the TV set.

EXERCISE 2 Translate the following sentences. Explain the use of the verb forms.

1. The film is being much talked about. 2. The road is still being repaired. 3. An office block is being near our school. 4. Some building work is being done in Park Avenue. 5. A new machine is being tested in the lab. 6. This question is still being discussed. 7. This material is still being used, isn't? 8. Do you know that your voice is being recorded? 9. Is the floor in the sitting room still being polished? 10. The talks are still being held.

EXERCISE 3 Respond to the following.

1) e.g.- Don't enter the room -Why?

-The floor is being painted there.

1. Don't enter the work-shop. (carry out an experiment) 2. Don't enter the assembly-hall.(hold a scientific conference) 3. Don't ride this way. (widen the road) 4. Don't enter the kitchen (install a gas stove) 5. Don't switch on the light. ( fix a lamp) 6. You can't take the tape recorder(repair)7. Don't go to the library today.(remove the furniture)

2) e.g.-What's going on in that room?(pack the things) -The things are being packed there.

1. What's going on in the sitting room? (lay the table) 2. What's going on in the park? (cut the grass) 3. What's going on in the laboratory? (test a new device) 4. What's going on in the garage? (repair the car) 5. What's going on in the lecture hall? (discuss the production plan) 6. What's going on in the office? (polish the floor)

3) e.g.- Can I have a look at the letter?(type) -I'm afraid you can't. It is still being typed.

1. Can I take the documents?(sign) 2. Can I see the visitors?(show round the plant) 3. Can I take the book?(read) 4. Can I use the tape recorder?(repair) 5. Can I study here? (wash the floor)

EXERCISE 4. Translate the following sentences. Explain the use of the verb forms.

1. Huge blocks of flats were being built all last year. 2. When we came the pool was being filled with water. 3.1 was told that my article was still being typed. 4. The car was being repaired the whole day yesterday. 5. When I left the meeting, the problem was still being discussed. 6. When I entered the hall, the young specialists were being instructed what to do. 7. At 6 o'clock the floor was still being polished.

EXERCISE 5 Transform the sentences using the Passive Voice.

e.g.- When I entered the hall they were holding a meeting there. When I entered the hall a meeting was being held there.

l. When I joined the visitors, the foreman was showing them round the machine shop. 2. When I entered the room they were still discussing the article. 3. At 5 o'clock the professor was still examining the students. 4. When we arrived in Kiev, they were still building the underground. 5. When I left the laboratory, they were still testing the device.

EXERCISE 6 Make complex sentences.

e.g. Enter the kitchen, cook my favourite dish.

When I entered the kitchen, my favourite dish was being cooked.