Lesson 5 man and machines

1. Press a button on the wall and a dark room is full of light. Speak into a little instrument and people thousands of miles away will hear you instantly. Switch on your radio or TV set and you will hear music, the latest news or see a play even from remote regions of the globe.

2. Nowadays people move on land much faster than the speediest horses. Powerful motor drive cars, diesel and electric engines run trains from one country to another.

3. Under water sportsmen swim swifter than the speediest fish.

In air people fly hundred times faster than birds. Supersonic planes fly at twice the speed of sound. People enjoy these achievements thanks to the development of science and engineering.

4. We live in the age of machinery i.e. (that is) in the time when highly productive machines and up-to-date devices take the place of men for doing work. In industry and agriculture machines play the most important role. They lighten man’s labour and do all the hard work in mills, factories, mines and farms.

5. In a number of shops in up-to-date mills and plants automatic machines entirely replace the work of men.

In mining industry conveyors and remote control devices make miner’s labour safer and easier. They help to produce more ores, coal, oil and gas.

In fields tractors and harvester combines replace labour of hundreds of people and help farmers to gather rich crops.

6. Machines help not only factory workers and farmers in their productive labour. They do part of scientists’ and explorers’ research work as well. They enable scientists to reveal the secrets of the universe i.e. everything that exists on our globe as well as in the outer space. Satellites (sputniks) circle the earth, spaceships explore the outer space. Moon cars (Lunokhods) carry out research programmes on the Moon.

7. Underwater robots explore the sea bed at a depth of more than 4,000 meters. By means of remote control devices they change tools and lift weights.

Electronic instruments – radars, lasers and masers represent the latest developments of research equipments. They are of great help in all forms of scientific work.

8. Great and rapid changes take place in science and engineering. New branches of science appear: atomic physics, cybernetics, radio-astronomy. Big experimental research programmes are in progress in all countries. Mankind is on the eve of space flights to remote stellar worlds.

9. With the development of science and engineering, with the advancement of progressive ideas a new man will appear – a man who will use his hands less and less, but employ his brains more and more.

10. At this stage of development mankind will seek new ways that lead to better life, to general abundance. All people of the globe will win freedom and independence. The triumph of Reason and Progress will bring happiness and universal peace to the human race.

Exercise 1. Find the synonyms in the text the following words and phrases.

1. distant (1) 5. to orbit (6)

2. substitute (5) 6. a planet (9)

3. to use (9) 7. fast (3)

4. to make easier (4)

Exercise 2. Say if the statements are true or false:

1. People enjoy the achievement and developments of science and engineering.

2. In industry and agriculture machines lighten man’s labour.

3. Machines enable people to explore the Universe.

4. Radars, lasers, masers represent the earliest developments of research equipment.

5. Great rapid changes take place in industry and agriculture.

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences choosing the right variant:

1. In a number of shops in up-to-date mills and plants automatic machines…

a). perform the work of men;

b). replace the work of men;

c). lighten the work of men.

2. Machines help not only factory workers and farmers in…

a). research work;

b). productive labour;

c). scientific work.

3. By means of remote control devices robots can…

a). drive cars;

b). run trains;

c). change the tools.

4. With the development of science and engineering… will appear.

a). a new man;

b). a new human race;

c). new mankind.

5. The triumph of Reason and Progress will bring…

a). universal peace;

b). better life;

c). general abundance.

Exercise 4. Answer the following questions:

1. What spheres do the machines play the most important part in?

2. How do machines help men in mills, mines, factories, farms?

3. What are the future prospects of mankind?

Exercise 5. Describe the machine work in the outer space.

Exercise 6. Explain why people enjoy the latest achievements in science and technology.

Exercise 7. Prove that great and rapid changes take place in science and engineering.

Exercise 8. Discuss the text according to the points:

1. With the advancement of progressive ideas a new man will appear-a man who will employ his hands less and brains more.

2. Mankind is on the eve of space flights to remote stellar worlds.

3. All people of the globe will win freedom and independence.

Notes:

1. supersonic plane - надзвуковий літак

2. crops - врожаї

3. sea bed - дно

4. to be on the eve - стояти напередодні

5.stellar worlds - зоряні світи

6. abundance - достаток

7. mankind - людство

8. seek - шукати.