Материал: Гвоздева Тхе Цосмос 2011

ditions and parameters like our own universe will it be possible for intelligent life to develop.

Give Russian correspondence:

too + Adj., otherwise (if it were differently), the same, through (by means of), a few (some, several), although (though), cannot help but

THE BIG PICTURE OF THE NIGHT SKY

Study the passage.

When I look into the sky at night, I often wonder whether we, humans, are too busy with ourselves and our endless every day, practical problems. The view of the stars is an important element in the spiritual education of mankind. I am an astrophysicist, so I study the universe and I find exciting to study it. There are things that would otherwise bother me – my own death, for example, but when I see the universe as a whole, the big picture gives me a sense of longevity.

Cosmologists are addressing the same fundamental questions that people attempted to resolve over the centuries through philosophical thinking, but they are addressing them on the basis of systematic observation and a quantitative methodology. Perhaps the greatest triumph of the past century has been a mathematical model of the universe that is supported by a large body of data. The value of such a model to our society is sometimes underappreciated.

When I open a daily newspaper as a part of my morning routine, I often see lengthy descriptions of conflicts between people about borders, possessions or liberties. Today’s news is often forgotten a few days later. But when one opens ancient texts that have appealed to a broad audience over a longer period of time, such as the Bible, what does one find in the opening chapter? A discussion of how the constituents of the universe – light, stars, life – were created. Although humans are often interested in every day problems, they are curious about the big picture. As citizens of the universe we cannot help but wonder how the first sources of light formed, how life came into existence and whether we are alone as intelligent beings in this vast space. I hope, astronomers in the 21st century will be able to answer these big questions.

Abraham Loeb “Scientific American”, November 2006

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FYI

1.cosmology is a theory about the origin and nature of the universe

2.astrophysics is a scientific study of the stars, planets and other natural objects of the universe.

Vocabulary Notes

1.to bother – to trouble

2.longevity – a long life

3.to address a question – to deal with a question

4.to attempt – to try

5.a large body of data − a large amount of it

6.to underappreciate – to evaluate something not very highly

7.a border − a boundary − a limit

8.a possession – money, property and other valuable things

9.to appeal to – if something appeals to you, you find it attractive or interesting

10.to be curious about − to be interested to know

POST-READING TASK (to be done in writing)

I. Summarize the passage using the outline.

1.The difference in the way philosophers and cosmologists are addressing fundamental questions.

2.The greatest triumph of the past century.

3.The information newspapers publish.

4.The information The Bible provides us with.

II. Make up a list of the questions astronomers will be able to answer in the 21st century.

Ш. Formulate the conclusion you can make from the information of the passage.

IV. Put in the prepositions.

1.I often look …..the sky ….night.

2.There is much more ….the universe than meets the eye…..the

earth.

3.The big picture gives me a sense …. longevity.

4.….the centuries people attempted to resolve some of the fundamental questions … philosophical thinking.

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5.The greatest triumph … the past century has been the model … the universe that was supported …a large body … data.

6.The value …. such a model … our society is sometimes underappreciated.

7.When I open daily newspapers I often see lengthy descriptions … conflicts….people….borders, possessions or liberties.

8.The Bible has appealed … a broad audience … a long period …

time.

9.Humans are interested … every day problems.

10.Humans are curious … the big picture.

10. Humans are curious … the big picture.

V. Give words close in meaning

1.humans

2.to trouble

3.exciting

4.to deal with a question

5.to try

6.a large body of data

7.a boundary

8.I am interested to know

VI. Study grammar point II and make the sentences passive.

1.The mathematical model of the universe (to support) by a large body of data.

2.The value of such a model to our society (to underappreciate).

3.Today’s news (to forget) a few days later.

4.The Bible discusses how the constituents of the universe: light, stars, life (to create).

CLASS EXERCISES

Exercise 1 (do it yourself)

Reconstruct sentences into questions.

We cannot help but wonder

a.how the first sources of light formed.

b.how the constituents of the universe were created

c.how life came into existence.

d.whether we are alone as intelligent beings in this vast space.

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Exercise 2 (do it yourself)

Combine the two sentences using the alternatives in brackets (that, so, when, although)

1.I am an astrophysicist. I study the universe.

2.I see the universe as a whole

The big picture gives me a sense of longevity

3.The greatest triumph of the past century has been the mathematical model of the universe.

The mathematical model of the universe is supported by a large body of data.

4.I open a daily newspaper as a part of my morning routine.

I often see lengthy descriptions of conflicts between people.

5.People are often interested in every day problems. People are curious about the big picture.

Exercise 3 (do it yourself)

Put in the proper verbs.

1.People ……. to resolve fundamental questions over the centuries through philosophical thinking.

2.Cosmologists …… the fundamental questions on the basis of systematic observations and a quantitative methodology.

3.The greatest triumph of the past century … … a mathematical model of the universe.

4.The Bible … … to a broad audience over a long period of time.

3.The mathematical model of the universe ….. by a large body of

data.

4.Today’s news …… a few days later.

5.The Bible … how the constituents of the universe ……

6.Although humans …. in every day, practical problems, they …. the big picture.

Exercise 4

Sharing opinions (in groups)

1.In what case is a mathematical model considered to be correct?

2.What value may the development of a mathematical model of the universe have to the human society?

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3.Why is human society indifferent to the development of the mathematical model of the universe?

4.What is wrong with the society that ignores the achievements that scientists consider triumphal?

5.Are you curious about the big picture? Why?

UNIT 2

A CONVERSATION WITH NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

PRE-READING TASK Study some grammar points.

I. I. We use if or whether when talking about two alternatives. (Russian - V + ли)

Study the sentences.

1.If you find water on a planet, you want to look closer to see if there is life of any kind there, even if it’s bacterial, which would be extraordinary for the field of biology.

2.The black hole is independent of whether the body that collapsed was composed of matter or antimatter, and whether it was spherical or highly irregular in shape.

II. Would is used to express unreal conditioning (Russian − бы)

Study the sentences.

1.Such an experiment would allow us to examine how biospheres grow and evolve.

2.Such an experiment would give us an opportunity to spread and study life beyond earth.

III. Modal verbs show the attitude of the speaker towards the idea he expresses.

May, might = possible

Might is more unsure than may.

Study the sentences.

1.There might be a connection between black holes and thermodynamics.

2.Imaginary time may sound like something out of science fiction, but it a well-defined mathematical concept.

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