Oxonians Past and Present

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 341.

What names do you know?

Throughout its history, Oxford has produced gifted men and women in every sphere of human endeavour who have studied or taught at the University. Amongst these are 6 kings, 36 Nobel prizewinners, 25 British Prime Ministers, 9 current -holders of the Order of Merit, plus 3 Saints, 85 Archbishops and 18 Cardinals. A few of these famous Oxonians, past and present, are listed here; the date shows the start, or a known date, of their time at Oxford:

Listening Comprehension

Listen to the text and answer the questions:

1. Where did first schools appear?

2. What was the difference between education in Sparta and Athens?

3. What did students do in Athenian gymnasiums?

4. What did Plato found?

5. Who established institutions of higher learning after 600 B.C.?

6. When and where did first universities appear in Europe? What were major admission requirements in them?

7. What were educational centers in Kiev Rus?

8. What are the oldest educational establishments in Ukraine?

Jokes & Anecdotes

* * *

The more we study, the more we know. The more we know, the more we forget. The more we forget, the less we know. The less we know, the less we forget. The less we forget, the more we know. So why study?

* * *

Pam: "Hasn't Harvey ever married?"

Beryl: "No, and I don't think he intends to, because he's studying for a bachelor's degree."

* * *

Prof.: "What sentence do students use most frequently?" Stud.: "I don't know."

Prof.: "That's right."

There is no darkness but ignorance

William Shakespeare

(1564 - 1616)

Unit 3

SCIENCE

Do you know that:

…the word science comes from the Latin word scientia which means knowledge...?

…the ancient Greeks were the first to begin a systematic separation of scientific ideas from superstition (марновірство)?

…some theologians of the 1660's supported science because they believed that it helped reveal the wonders of God's creation?

…Leonardo da Vinci studied astronomy, anatomy, botany and geology?

…in A.D.800's and 900's Arab astronomers made major advances in mathematics, medicine and optics?

Active vocabulary

LEXICAL EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Translate the derivatives:

Applicable, various, searching, universal, original, investigator, solution, collection, explorer, observer, determination, replacement, revision, existence, enormously, destructible, harmful.

Exercise 2. Translate the word-combinations and make up questions with them:

to determine whether knowledge helps
or harms society;

The importance of science. Science has enormous influence on our lives. It provides the basis of much of modern technology – the tools, materials, techniques, and sources of power that make our lives and work easier. Modern science and technology have changed our lives in many dramatic ways. Airplanes, automobiles, communication satellites, computers, plastics, and television are only a few of the scientific and technological inventions that have transformed human life. Research by nuclear physicists has led to the development to the nuclear energy as a source of power. Agricultural output became larger as scientists have developed better varieties of plants and highly effective fertilizers. The development of antibiotics and other new drugs has helped control many infectious diseases. Studies in anatomy and physiology have led to amazing new surgical techniques and to the invention of life-saving machines that can do the work of such organs as the lungs, kidneys and heart.

Although scientific and technological achievements have benefited us in numerous ways, they have also created serious problems. The rapid growth of industrial technology, for instance, has resulted in such grave side effects as environmental pollution and fuel shortages. Breakthrough in nuclear research have led to the development of weapons of mass destruction. Some people fear that advanced biological research will produce new disease-causing bacteria or viruses that resist drugs. People are also concerned that computerized information systems may destroy personal privacy.

The harmful effects of some technological applications of science have led some people to question the value of scientific research. But science itself is neither good nor bad. The uses that businesses, governments and individuals choose to make of scientific knowledge determine whether that knowledge will help or harm society.

Scientific study can be divided into four major groups: 1) mathematics and logic; 2) the physical sciences; 3) the life sciences; 4) the social sciences. As scientific knowledge has grown and become increasingly complicated, many new fields of study have emerged. At the same time, the boundaries between scientific fields have become less and less clear-cut.

Mathematics and logic are not based on experimental testing. But they can be considered part of science because they are essential tools in almost all scientific study. Mathematics enables scientists to prepare exact statements of their findings and theories and to make numerical predictions about what will happen in the future. Logic provides the basis for all scientific reasoning.

The physical sciences examine the nature of the universe. They study the structure and properties of non-living matter, from tiny atoms to vast galaxies. The physical sciences include 1) astronomy; 2) chemistry; 3) geology; 4) meteorology and 5) physics.

The life sciences, also called the biological sciences or biology, involve the study of living organisms. There are two main fields of the life sciences. Botany deals with plants, and zoology with animals. Many of the branches, such as anatomy and physiology, overlap with, and contribute greatly to the study of medicine. Anatomy examines the structure of living things. Physiology deals with the normal functions of living things and their parts. There are also a lot of life sciences which concentrate on certain kinds of organisms (bacteriology etc.)

The social sciences deal with individuals, groups, and institutions that make up human society. The main branches of the social sciences include 1) anthropology; 2) economics; 3) political science; 4) psychology and 5) sociology.

1. A theory becomes a part of scientific knowledge before it is verified by the studies of other researchers.

2. A philosophical system can't be proved to be right.

3. Great works of art produced today have replaced masterpieces of the past.

4. Infection diseases do not spread because of the development of antibiotics and other new drugs.

5. Some people think that computerized information systems may harm society.

6. Political science concentrates on certain kinds of organisms.

Task 4. Find answers to the questions:

1. What do scientists study?

2. When does the theory become a part of scientific knowledge?

3. What is the difference between science and humanities?

4. What does scientific progress depend on?

5. How can we benefit and what can we lose as a result of scientific progress?

6. What does each of the four groups of science study?

Task 5. The words in A are from the text. Match a word in A with its definition in B:

Task 6. Divide the words into three groups:

Matter, structure, determine, logic, chemistry, examine, cell, galaxy, accept, physics, explore, society, consider, organism, humanities, environment, psychology, collect, accumulate, individual, concentrate, plant, physiology.

Task 7. Transform the sentences according to the model:

1. They observed the variety of phenomena during the investigation of this substance. (since the beginning of the investigation).

2. His search for good results was successful. (this month).

3. The influence of radium was always harmful. (since it was discovered).

4. They solved many complicated tasks yesterday. (not...yet).

5. In attempt to explain this rule he tried to find new data. (for many years).

6. He tested his knowledge by the new method. (never).

7. He always revised his ideas. (since he became a scientist).

8. To prove this theory he used a number of arguments. (just).

9. They determined the qualities of the matter. (recently).

10. Environmental pollution ruined many areas. (since great number of cars appeared in the streets).

11. Old weapon was replaced by modern one. (since its invention).

12. The scientist collected some facts of existence of this phenomenon. (for some months).

Task 8. Translate the sentences:

1. Він відзначив, що роботу виконано добре.

2. Вона сказала, що всяка матерія ділиться на клітини.

3. Студент запитав, хто уже вирішив задачу.

4. Начальник наказав упорядкувати всі документи.

5. Ці факти вже підтверджені багатьма експериментами в цій галузі.

6. Він намагався уніфікувати усі вимоги із самого початку дослідження.

7. Вона ніколи не вирішувала таких складних рівнянь.

8. Багато вчених було включено в цю програму.

9. Газ розширився при нагріванні.

10. Вони обновили всі устаткування лабораторії торік.

11. Нам прийшлося розділити цю галузь досліджень.

12. Вибух величезної потужності відбувся в результаті застосування нової зброї.

TEXT 3 B

1. The text deals with the following topics. Put them into the logical order giving numbers from 1 to 6:

ü Classifying data.

ü Expressing findings mathematically.

ü Using logic.

ü Forming a hypothesis.

ü Conducting experiments.

ü Observing nature.