Text 1b

Задание 1. Прочтите текст, стараясь понять основное содержание (Заметьте время начала и окончания чтения. Этот текст нужно прочесть за 3 минуты, из расчета 90 слов в минуту).

From the time immemorial (незапамятный) men have endeavoured (пытались) to establish a graphic record of their achievements (достижения) in the struggle with the forces of nature. Before the invention of the printing press and paper, all books were written by hand on papyrus, on parchment (пергамент) or an animal skin which was specially treated (обработанный). In the year 105 A.D. a Chinese named Ts’si Lun invented paper, and then the Chinese began to print with wood blocks (клише) on which letters were cut and inked.

The next great printing discovery was movable type (шрифт) made of lead (свинец) so that the tiresome job of cutting wood blocks was eliminated (устранена). Finally, around the year 1440, Johann Gutenberg invented the fist printing press which was operated by hand.

Hundreds of improvements have been invented for the printing press. In 1814 Friedrich Koenig invented the first cylinder press (плоскопечатная машина) which was later used by the “London Times”, and in 1866 Mergenthaler invented the Linotype machine.

Book-printing in Russia was first introduced in the middle of the XVI^th century by Ivan Grozni. In 1553 he gave orders to build a house for this purpose in Nicolskaya street in Moscow. Ten years of hard labour were spent on constructing the house and preparing for printing.

In April 1563, Ivan Fedorov, the organizer of the Printing House, and his closest assistant Peter Mstislavets started setting type and printing “Apostle”, the first book in Russia.

Задание 2. Выберите утверждение, соответствующее содержанию текста.

1. Paper was invented by:

a) a Chinese, b) by a German, c) by an Englishman.

2. Movable type was invented:

a) before the printing press, b) after the printing press,

c) before the invention of paper.

3. The first printing press was operated:

a) by hand, b) by a motor, c) automatically.

4. Book-printing in Russia appeared:

a) in 1553, b) in the beginning of the 16^th century, c) in 1563.

5. Koenig invented:

a) the first printing press, b) the movable type, c) the cylinder press.

Text 1c

Задание 1. Прочтите текст.

It was about 1473-74 that the first book in English was being printed by William Caxton. Caxton learned to print in Cologne and the interesting fact is that both the pioneer printers of Oxford and Cambridge came from that town – Theodore Rood at Oxford and Johann Lair von Siegburg at Cambridge.

Theodore Rood printed the first book at Oxford in 1478. How closely the University authorities controlled the early printers is not known, but they encouraged a printer, Joseph Barnes, to set up his own business in 1585 and gave him the title “Printer to the University”. He and his successors in the next hundred years had small resources and were not equipped for learned work. The idea of a Press owned by the University and controlled by its authorities is due to Archbishop Laud.

Laud considered that University printers were to be thoroughly acquainted with Greek and Latin literature and deeply learned in philological studies. Laud was executed but he had laid the basis of learned printing. John Well carried on Laud’s work. He had presses installed and equipped them with the types which now bear his name. From 1672 to 1686 Fell took charge of printing and publishing for the University. By 1883 the mounting volume of general publishing called for reorganization and enlargement of the printing business. Horace Hart became Controller and Printer to the University and remained until 1915.

Hart introduced up-to-date equipment, including mechanical typesetting. His activities have been carried forward by his successors, including the present Printer, Vivian Ridler.

The printing of dictionaries on reelfed rotary presses was begun in 1959, and photocomposition was introduced in 1960. The bindary has been mechanized and now produces several million bound books a year.

Задание 2. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

1. Who was the first English printer?

2. Who began printing at Oxford?

3. Who began printing at Cambridge?

4. When was the first book at Oxford printed?

5. Who laid the basis of learned printing at Oxford?

6. When was photocomposition introduced at Oxford?

7. What are dictionaries printed on now?

8. How many books a year are produced now at Oxford?

Задание 3. Прочтите текст еще раз. Озаглавьте его.