Andrew Jackson's Poor Health

After his wife died Andrew Jackson, former (бывший) President of the United States, became increasingly (зд.: очень) irritable (раздражительный). He also worried (беспокоиться) more and more about his health. Several members of his family had died after a paralytic stroke (паралич) and Jackson was sure he was going to die in the same way. He therefore (поэтому) lived in daily (ежедневный, каждодневный) fear (страх) of getting such a stroke. One day, during a party (вечеринка) at his home, he was playing chess with a young woman. Suddenly Jackson's hands dropped to his side, his face became white. Several friends run to him. «At last it has come», Jackson said weakly. «I have had a stroke. My whole right side is completely paralyzed.» «How do you know?» someone asked. «Because», Jackson said, «in the last few minutes I have pinched (ущипнуть) my leg several times and there is absolutely no sensation (ощущение, восприятие) in it». «Oh, I beg your pardon, sir», said the young woman he played with, «but it was my leg you were pinching.»

Talking via Space

Communication has come a long way from the time when an Indian beat a drum (барабан) in the forest to the lime when a scientist receives messages from a satellite. In this space age communication has become a highly developed field. The system of communication in large countries is unthinkable today without space satellites. Besides large distances, there is a great time difference: the territories of some countries comprise (включать (в свой состав)) up to 11 zones. Satellites help to minimize all the difficulties that may appear. They rapidly transmit TV and radio programs to different towns, cities, and distant areas.

Space systems and electronic technology have made it possible to set up (создавать) an automatic system of communication designed for (предназначенный для) rapid (быстрый, скорый) transmission of all kinds of information.

People write letters and send telegrams. But at the same time people living in various cities like to exchange (обмениваться) news on the telephone. Statistics reports (to report – сообщать) that the number of long-distance telephone calls is about 2, 000 million per year. A person in Moscow talking on the phone with Vladivostok must know that this conversation is carried on (осуществляется) through a satellite.

Trains and cars can use mobile radio telephones to make calls (делать звонки). Businessmen can use fax machines which provide electronic transmission of documents and messages over telephone lines. Even photographs can be sent and received over telephone wires.

Practically all the population in large countries can watch TV via satellites. The orbital communication systems make it possible for people from different continents to sec and hear one another.

The importance of space means of communication is increasing every year. The communication satellites of the international organization «INTERSAT» enable people to keep reliable telephone, telegraph, telex and fax communication in any weather with ships practically in every part of the World Ocean.