view

crew, as well as fan suggestions, such as those posted on The Discovery Channel online MythBusters forums. Before a myth gets introduced by the hosts, a myth-related drawing is made on a blueprint. After the hosts introduce the myth, a comical video explaining the myth is usually shown.

The MythBusters typically test myths in a two-step process. First the team attempts to recreate the circumstances that the myth alleges, to determine whether the alleged result occurs; if that fails, they attempt to expand the circumstances to the point that will cause the described result.

Most myths involve construction of various objects to help test the myth. Human actions are often simulated by mechanical means in order to increase safety, and to achieve consistency in repeated actions. Methods for testing myths are usually planned and executed in a manner to produce visually dramatic results, which generally involves explosions, fires, and/or vehicle crashes. Thus, myths or tests involving explosives, firearms and vehicle collisions are relatively common.

Results are measured in a manner scientifically appropriate for the given experiment. Sometimes results can be measured by simple numerical measurement using standard tools, such as multimeters for electrical measurements, or various types of thermometers to measure temperature. To gauge results that do not yield numerical quantities, the teams commonly make use of several types of equipment which can provide other forms of observable effects. When testing physical consequences to a human body which would be too dangerous to test on a living person, the MythBusters commonly use analogues. Initially, they mainly used crash test dummies (most notably one they named Buster) for observing blunt trauma injury, and ballistic gelatin for testing penetrating trauma. They have since progressed to using pig carcasses when an experiment requires a more accurate simulation of human flesh, bone, and organs. They have also occasionally molded real or simulated bones within ballistics gel for simulations of specific body parts.

81

There are some myths the MythBusters refuse to test. Paranormal concepts, such as aliens or ghosts, are not addressed because they cannot be tested by scientific methods. Through nine seasons, a total of 2,391 experiments were performed and 12 tons of explosives were used to test 769 myths.

By the end of each episode, each myth is rated "busted", "plausible", "confirmed", or "inconclusive".

2.Answer the following questions on the text.

1) What kind of TV program is MythBusters?

2) Who created this show?

3) Where do filming and experimentation take place?

4) How do the MythBusters usually test myths? Describe the process. 5) What methods do they use to test myths?

6) How are the results of the experiments measured? What equipment is usually used?

7) What kind of myths do the Mythbusters refuse to test? Why? 8) How is each myth rated at the end of the episode?

3.Using a dictionary find the English definitions and the translations of the following words from the text. Make up 3-4- sentences of your own with any of these words.

Validity, rumour, to compile, to allege, to expand, consistency, to execute, appropriate, to gauge, to yield, dummy, blunt trauma, carcass, plausible, inconclusive.

4.Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-E from the box below.

1)The show’s creators use scientific methods …

2)The show can go to any part of the world …

3)If the alleged result of the experiment fails, the MythBusters attempt …

4)The MythBusters commonly use crash test dummies in order …

5)They also make use of pig carcasses …

82

A.to test a particular myth.

B.to observe blunt trauma injury.

C.to achieve a more accurate simulation of human organs.

D.to test the validity of various myths.

E.to expand the circumstances to the point that will cause the described result.

5. What other TV programs do you know which popularize scientific or engineering achievements? Choose one and tell about it to the class according to the following plan:

1)What does the program focus on?

2)Who created it?

3)How is it structured?

4)What methods/ instruments are used to achieve the creators’ purpose?

5)How popular is the program? Why (not)?

(Express you own opinion as well.)

Text B. “A Price to Pay”

1. Read the text. Choose the most suitable heading from the list (A-H)

for each part (1-7) of the text.

A – When the problem disappears. B – Teachers, watch for the signs! C – How the habit is broken.

D – The extent of the problem.

E–. Parents on the lookout. F – How affected children act G – The type of child at risk.

H – Our children are in danger!

DANGER WHEN A COMPUTER BECOMES YOUR BEST FRIEND

83

(0___H) Many of Britain’s children are becoming computer addicts, according to leading education specialists. Such children then lose interest in anything else and become withdrawn and introverted.

(1____) Up to one in ten youngsters – over half a million – are affected. The problem usually starts between the ages of nine and eleven and most often affects boys, who tend to get more involved with machines than girls. They spend up to 40 hours a week tapping away.

(2____) “These children are unable to relate to friends and family or express their feeling,” says Mrs. Noel Janis-Norton, a specialist at treating problem children and adults. They behave badly at school and at home – and when desperate parents forbid them to use computers, they find ways to use the computers in secret and deceive their parents. The result is that they often fail school tests and lose friends. But they do not care. The computer has become their best

– and sometimes their only – friend.

(3____) Mrs. Janis-Norton says children who have difficulty communicating are hit by this problem. “A child who is energetic and outgoing is unlikely to become a computer addict, although any kind of child can enjoy the computer,” she says. “There’s a very big difference between use and abuse. Often the problem continues into the late teens and sometimes into adult life, where the addict becomes increasingly shut off from reality.”

(4____) Mrs. Janis-Norton adds: “The situation changes when they have less to be anxious about. Many grow out of it when they leave home. Like any other nervous condition, such as asthma, it hardly exists in the summer holidays.”

(5____) Most children who have this kind of nervous complaint are not doing as well at school as they could. Now teachers are being asked to look for the more obvious patterns of behaviour. The National Union of Teachers has already warned its staff to identify pupils who become restless and agitated.

84

(6____) Tony Miller, one of the teachers’ union spokesmen, says parents should limit the amount of time their children spend at the machines. He adds, “Very young children take to computers like fish to water. It seems to be like the problem of obsessive TV-watching.” One parent was woken at 5 a.m. by a strange bleeping noise. She later discovered it was her addict son at his computer.

(7____) Mrs. Janis-Norton claims a high success rate with her unique system which involves teaching the parents as well as the child. It is a similar problem to gambling or drug addiction. She says: “With the parents, we examine all the issues which come up in a child’s day – food, bedtime, co-operation, homework, the tone of voice children use when talking to their parents, and sweets. We teach parents how to be in charge of the situation, how to be positive, firm and consistent. We give the child extra lessons in whatever subjects they’re weak in. By slowly getting the children off the machines, and replacing computers with other activities and more confidence, the habit is broken.”

2. Read the text again and decide if the sentences below are true (T) or false (F).

1)One of the symptoms of computer addiction is showing on interest to reality.

_____

2)The problem equally affects both sexes in their late teens. _______

3)Some children are less subjected to computer addiction due to their personal characteristics. _______

4)Computer addiction is a nervous condition. _____

5)Mrs. Janis-Norton claims very little can be done to help families with computer addict children. ______

3. Match the italicized words from the text with the definitions below (1-14).

1)an unjust or harmful custom,

2)to be in a position of care, control, or responsibility for a person, group, organization, etc.,

3)and concerned only about your own thoughts,

85

4)to cause some result or change in; influence,

5)eager to mix socially with others, friendly,

6)to feel a liking for, esp. at once,

7)to hit your fingers lightly on something,

8)a person who is unable to free himself from a harmful habit,

9)willing to do anything to change a very bad situation, and not caring about danger,

10)to be worried or frightened,

11)unwilling to keep still or stay where you are, especially because you are nervous,

12)so nervous or upset that you are unable to keep still or think calmly,

13)to feel that you understand someone’s problem, situation, etc.,

14)when people risk money or possessions on the result of something which is not certain, such as a card game or a horse race.

4.Translate from Russian into English using the vocabulary from the text.

1) Давно доказано, что курение негативно влияет на здоровье человека.

2) Я всегда ужасно беспокоюсь за детей, когда они не приходят домой вовремя.

3) Этот человек – наркоман, его родственники просто в отчаянии. 4) Кто здесь главный (ответственный)?

5) Общительные дети редко становятся зависимыми от компьютера.

6) У нее всегда получалось находить контакт с детьми, поэтому неудивительно, что она стала учителем.

7) Он с удовольствием занимается английским?

5.Do you think the problem described in the text is a real one? Collect some facts from your personal experience, mass media or the Internet to prove that this problem exists (does not exist) in Russia? Do you know anybody

86

who has similar problems? What do you think can be done to help people with such condition?

Text C. “A Cold Place for a Holiday”

1. Read and complete the text by putting a word or number from the box in each space.

10 000	1990	- 5o half	- 40o	88%	4 000	200
1989	5000 m2

Existing each year between December and April, the Icehotel in the village of Jukkasjärvi, Sweden was the world's first ice hotel. In ____1____, Japanese ice artists visited the area and created an exhibition of ice art. In Spring

___2___, French artist Jannot Derid held an exhibition in a cylinder-shaped igloo in the area. One night there were no rooms available in the town, so some of the visitors asked for permission to spend the night in the exhibition hall. They slept in sleeping bags on top of reindeer skin - the first guests of the "hotel."

The entire hotel is made out of snow and ice blocks taken from the Torne River - even the glasses in the bar are made of ice. The Icehotel is open for less than ____3_____ of the year. Every May it melts and every November it is rebuilt. It now measures ____4_____ and it needs______5________ tons of ice and 30 000 tons of snow to build it. This actually means that it is more than

___6___ snow. The ice is used for creating Icebar designs and ice glasses, for ice sculpting classes, events and product launches all over the world while the snow is used for building a strong structure for the building.

The temperature inside the hotel is usually about ____7______. Outside in Jukkasjärvi itself the temperature can be much lower even as low as ___8____!

Last year more than ____9____ visitors travelled ____10_____ km north of the Arctic Circle to sleep in thermal sleeping bags. They got a cool reception!

87

2.Answer the following questions on the text.

1) When and how was the Icehotel founded?

2) What is the usual temperature inside the hotel?

3) Do think the Icehotel could be considered an engineering achievement? Why (not)? 4) Why do think the Icehotel is so popular with tourists?

5) What other unusual places to spend your holiday can you think of?

3.Match the numbers in the box with their verbal nominations below (1-10).

You should remember that in English you write a point (.) not a comma (,) in decimal numbers. You should say the numbers after the point separately, for example 56.91 is “fifty-six point nine one.”

2 m	1/2	3.5	1/4	2/3	8.4% 3,460 264	0	36.87

1)two thirds

2)three point five

3)a quarter

4)two hundred sixty four

5)thirty-six point eight seven

6)two million

7)a half

8)three thousand, four hundred and sixty

9)zero/ nought

10)eight point four per cent

Read the following numbers correctly.

15,262; 2,000,000,000; 79.1%; 400; 1/3; ½; ¼; 12.45; 6 m; 349; 7.789; 2,639.

88

4. Work in pairs. Dictate your numbers to your partner so that he/she could write them down correctly.

	A		B
1)	thirty nine point one six percent	1)	a quarter
2)	ten million	2)	six point three nine five
3)	a half	3)	seventy eight point three percent
4)	six thousand eight hundred and	4)	three thousand two hundred and
eleven		sixty-nine
5)	one billion	5)	one third

UNIT VI

MODERN SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

Section I. Let’s speak about …

A.Amateur Science

1.Work in pairs and discuss these questions.

1)Have you ever been to a Science Museum or Exhibition? If you have, did you enjoy it?

2)What did the museum exhibit?

3)Was it free?

4)What sections did you like best?

5)Would you like to visit it again?

2. Science museums and centres bring science to life, creating a space for learning and allowing people to interact with science in a way that is both fun and engaging. There are over 80 science centres, museums and discovery centres in the UK. Where else can you find life-changing objects from Stephenson's Rocket to the Apollo 10 command module, catch an immersive 3D movie, enjoy the thrills of a special effects simulator,

89

introduce children to science with fun, hands-on interactives and encounter the past, present and future of technology in seven floors of galleries? At the Science Museum you can find all this and more! Read five reviews of the Science Museum in London and say what it houses and why people like it.

A brilliant museum. I went to Parc de la Villette last year to the French museum of Science and Industry and I have to say it failed to live up to that! Lovely atmosphere. I especially loved the upper floors on the history of medicine...a budding dentist, I horrified a group of American tourists by spending a good deal of time observing Victorian dental equipment. Also the shop is awesome. My partner and me are real nerds and the thought of a mug with the periodic table on sets us off...Allow time for the shop!!!

Hotelholidays148, Somerset

The Science museum is vast and free to visit. We went in early June primarily to see the Pixar exhibit which was fee paying. We then spent a few hours getting a taste of the rest of the museum. We've been to science museums all over the U.S. and Europe and I'd say this is one of the best. The museum is massive, with sections dedicated to aeronautics, medicine, space, computers, etc. We visited some of the exhibits regarding the development of flight and some models of the early trains. You can see the Stephenson's Rocket, the world's first train. This is an opportunity for visitors to see science come alive.

Lou, Lancaster

A fun museum packed with things to see ... and touch. The museum is large and you can spend several hours on each of the floors. It chronicles the development of science and industry in Great Britain over the centuries, with an extensive collection from biochemistry and photography to meteorology and astronomy. There are several interactive exhibits. It is also right next door to the Natural History Museum. If you combine the two you can have a very full day!

Martind1, Massachusetts

The Science Museum is a firm school holiday favourite with our family. In this day and age it's pretty tough to find a cheap day out that keeps kids engaged all day. The Science Museum never fails. There are so many hands on ac-

90