The «small» and «large» refers to the width, rather than the length. The small intestine is only 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter at the point

Lesson 5 ♦ 87

where it leaves the stomach and it narrows somewhat thereafter. The large intestine is up to 2 1/2 inches wide.

Упражнение И. Прочтите и переведите письменно следующие предложе­ния из текста А.

1. The liver plays a very important part in the vital activity of the organism. It secretes bile which participates in the digestive process and has a defensive function, i.e. some toxic substances are detoxified in the liver. 2: From the stomach the food passes in small portions into the small intestine where it undergoes further mechanical and chemical changes. ?>. The small intestine is only 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter at the point where it leaves the stomach and it narrows somewhat thereafter.

Упражнение 12. Прочтите и переведите текст А. Найдите в тексте ответы на следующие вопросы и зачитайте их.

1. Where is the largest cavity of the body situated? 2. What organs does I he abdominal cavity contain? 3. What are the characteristics of the liver? 4. What does the gall-bladder serve for? 5. What are the characteristics of I he stomach? 6. How do we distinguish «small» and «large» intestines?

Упражнение 13. Составьте план текста А

Упражнение 14. Подберите пары синонимов.

spinal column, to participate, beneath, thorax, chest, under, to take part, backbone

Упражнение 15. Подберите пары антонимов.

above, in front of, small, lower, to the left, to pass in; upper (higher), to the right, to leave, behind, below, large

Упражнение 16. Переведите следующие предложения на русский язык. Опреде­лите тип придаточных предложений (см. § 29 Грамматического справочника)

1. After the food leaves the stomach it is acted on by several digestive enzymes. 2. The stomach is a bag the walls of which are largely made up of involuntary or smooth muscle fibres. 3. The liver is a large and extremely important organ whose work is somewhat intermediate between digestion and nutrition. 4. The esophagus is a 9 to 10 inch muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach. 5. The food material which is taken into (he mouth must be digested mechanically or chemically as it travels through I he gastro-intestinal tract.

88 О' Learning to Understand a Medical Text

Упражнение 17. Переведите следующие предложения. Определите функции слова it (см. § 35 Грамматического справочника)

It must be noted that the role of the stomach is to prepare the food chemically and mechanically. 2. When a group of organs performs a vari-fied series of functions we call it a system. 3. It is the gastric glands in the stomach that secrete gastric juice, which is acid and acts on meals. 4. It is through the capillary network of the villi that digested foods pass to enter the bloodstream. 5. It is possible to refer painful intestines to bacterial or amoebic infection of the gastro-intestinal tract. 6. After the food is properly prepared it is absorbed into the lymph-vessels and blood vessels.