Text 2. «Science and technology»

Text 1. «Science and technology» («Наука и техника»)

We live in the fascinating and challenging world of science. I t is a world that more and more over the ages, and especially in the 20th century has come to affect so much of our lives. It is involved with the way we travel, the homes we live in and the clothes we wear, how we become ill and how medicine can make us better, and has given us fantastic means of communicating and exploring.

The list of the inventions is rather lon g. We are on-lookers of great scientific achievements such as television and a computer. We can't imagine our life with ought a notebook or a radio. I'd like to speak in details about computers.

What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that stores information and allows changes in it through the use of instructions. A modern computer is capable of doing various tasks, like word processing and accounting. Personal computers are widely used but working on them requires some techniques.

A computer gives a lot of advantages to a user. The list of the advantages is rather long: computers give us access to the Internet - an international computer network. You can spread a lot of your free time surfing the Internet and get all sorts of information from it. You can enter the chat room with other Internet users and debate urgent problems on line. If you are connectable by e-mail, you can correspond with your own web page and place there information about yourself.

Today computers help people to do many things. Bankers use them to keep track of money.

Telephone operators use them to put calls through. Without computers, weather forecasters would make more mistakes. Computers also help scientists to solve their problems. More than that computers help police to keep order in shops. Computers also help doctors to treat patients. Computers allow users to spend their free time and relax. But computers have some disadvantages. Computers can make people lazy. People waste their time when they play different games on a computer. People forget to go to the libraries, they often find information on the Internet. Wicked games can make people, especially children aggressive and stupid.

But in my view they have more advantages, that disadvantages. It's an open secret that the computer is a source of education, entertainment and communication. And in my life the computer plays a very important role. It helps me to find information and relax. Though scientists have archived so much, scientific minds are still working at some urgent problems. I would like to mention some problems. One of them is finding and using alternative sources of energy. Scientists are also learning how to save and conserve energy. They have many problems with creating highly effective systems of communication. I can't but mention one of the main problems. It is development of life on the planet.

rd like to focus on the problem how to make our life longer and happier. It's a well-known fact that nowadays people have a lot of artificial parts or implants inside them. There are some people who have problems with their health, especially with their hearts. And surgeons operate them on and put on implant inside them. Surgeons think that within 50 years one person in ten will have at least one artificial part inside.

Because science will be around us even more in the future, I think we-tomorrows adults must start learning today to be ready to take our places in this computerized, transistorized, antibiotic, nuclear and supersonic age!

 

Text 2. «Science and technology»

Technology is an important part of our lives.

We use computers and other electric equipment at work and in the home.

However, some people believe we rely too much on machines, and that the more technology improves, the lazier and weaker humans will become.

Technological advances are changing our lives very rapidly.

Nowadays we can't do without such gadgets as mobile phones, PCs, digital tape recorders, air conditioners, fax machines and so on.

Many people feel ill at ease without their laptop computers or GPS navigation systems.

In my opinion, technology facilitates our lives and saves our time.

Computers help us do the most difficult sums and investigate complicated data.

People do business, communicate and do the shopping via the Internet.

It is much easier to do housework nowadays, thanks to electric equipment such as microwave ovens, washing machines and so on.

However, many people say that technology makes us lazier and weaker.

For example, such technological developments as the telephone and the Internet have made communication much easier, but they can cause the loss of social interaction.

A lot of people prefer communicating through a keyboard than face to face.

That is why people don't meet as often as they did in the past.

A lot of people are fond of watching TV and playing computer games. They spend hours in front of the screen.

They have no time to read books or to communicate with their friends.

They move less, speak less and they even think less.

Of course, such way of life does much harm to their health.

To sum up, people should continue to develop technology, but they must do it wisely. Otherwise we may regret in the future.

Some people say that technical devices do more harm than good.

However, others think that it is impossible to live without computers or mobile phones nowadays.

Nowadays people can't imagine their lives without different technical devices.

Every day we use computers, laptops, mobile phones, i-Pods, digital tape recorders and so on.

I have always wondered if our lives could be better without these technical devices.

Personally, I can't do without my computer as it helps me study.

For example, it helps me prepare reports and create beautiful presentations.

Besides, the computer is a great source of entertainment.

I often play computer games, watch films or listen to music.

The Internet helps me learn the latest news, access useful information, communicate with my friends and what not.

A mobile phone is a vital part of my dairy life.

It gives me an opportunity to be reachable everywhere and to keep in touch with my friends.

However, many people say that technical devices enslave those who use them. Besides, they do much harm to our health.

For example, if people spend much time in front of the screen, they have problems with their eyesight and sleep.

They don't go out or exercise, they feel exhausted and depressed. Computer games can cause addiction and make people aggressive.

As for mobile phones, they use electromagnetic radiation which can influence our health in a negative way.

To conclude, I would prefer a technological way of life to a natural one, though it has a number of disadvantages.

In my opinion, modern society can't do without progress and technology.

People can avoid the risk to human life and health if they use technological devices wisely.

Mobile telephones have become very popular nowadays. However, some people say that their use should be restricted.

Mobile phones have changed people's lives.

 

Text 3. «Famous British Inventions»

England has produced brilliant inventors whose ingenuity have shaped the modem world, including those such as Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, and Graham Bell. Around the year 1600, the country was experiencing the scientific revolution where science and technology were seen as having the potential for economic and social advantages. Innovations surged with the establishment of the Royal Society in Britain to whom the monarchy allocated funds for research and inventions in late 1660. The Royal Society was followed by the setting up of the Royal Astronomy which facilitated inventions in astronomy. From 1700 onwards there was the proliferation of Science and research institutions which elevated England to the forefront of industrialization and consequently economic success.