Lesson one

Pre-text Exercises

I. Practise the reading of the following words:

current ['kArqnt], alternating [Ll'tE:nqtIN], amplify ['xmplIfaI], rectify ['rektIfaI], surface ['sE:fIs], frequency ['frJkwqnsi], substance ['sAbstqns], conductor [kqn'dAktq(r)], semiconductor ["semikqn'dAktq(r)], insulator ['InsjuleItq(r)], measure ['meZq(r)], delay [dI'leI].

II. Make sure if you can read these words correctly and say what words in the Russian language help you to guess their meaning:

transistor, crystal, crystalline, contact, classify, electric, electrode, compact, computer, combination, equivalent, acceleration, material, review, triode, evolution, hybrid, monolithic.

III. Give the initial forms of the following words:

devices, pieces, allowed, known, became, depended, rectifying, crystals, valves, reaching, receivers, understood, substances, semiconductors, insulators, invented, replacing, advantages.

IV. State to what parts of speech the words in bold type belong:

1. A proton has a positive electrical charge. 2. Don't charge this battery. 3. The operating range of this device is broad. 4. The capacities of these stations range from 600 to 700 kilowatts. 5. The structure of the atom is like the structure of our solar system. 6. I like to watch TV evening programmes. 7. The room houses electronic devices. 8. The houses of the research institute are nearly in the centre of the city.

V. Translate the following compound nouns:

air-line, sunlight, airstream, radiosignal, waveform, wave-length, spaceship, typewriter, timetable, block-diagram, pipe-line, lifetime, radioreceiver, codeword, radiowave.

VI. Form verbs with an opposite meaning adding the prefix dis– and translate them:

Example: to approve – одобрять

to disapprove – не одобрять

to cover, to appear, to place, to continue, to agree, to charge, to connect, to close, to arrange, to assemble, to mount, to join.

VII. Make sure if you remember the three forms of the following verbs:

become – became – become; understand – understood – understood; lead – led – led; mean – meant – meant; do – did – done; wear – wore – worn; set – set – set; let – let – let; cost – cost – cost; find – found – found; spread – spread – spread.

VIII. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the functions of the verb to do:

1. He will do the work himself. 2. Where does he study? 3. Semiconductors do possess many wonderful properties. 4. Semiconductors let electric current pass through them more easily than insulators do. 5. I don't understand the action of this device. 6. Perfect science does exist. 7. Don't change the temperature. 8. Energy is defined as ability to do work. 9. Do you know this engineer? – Yes, I do. 10. He does obtain amplification (усиление) with this device.

IX. Define the function of Participle I in the following sentences and translate them:

1. The scientist working at this design is well known. 2. Carrying out the experiment he made use of some new instruments. 3. These new devices are replacing their older equivalents. 4. Speaking about the new method of work the engineer told us many interesting details. 5. Radio occupies one of the leading places among the greatest achievements of modern engineering. 7. Being cooled water turns into ice. 8. The electric current passing through a wire will heat it. 9. Transistors contain no moving parts. 10. The scientist is carrying on an important research. 11. Developing the new method they achieved good results.

X. Translate the following sentences:

1. Having improved this device they could use it for many purposes. 2. When making the experiment he made Notes. 3. The vibrations of a voice speaking into the microphone of a telephone cause vibrations in an electric current. 4. This varying current is carried along a wire to a receiver. 5. Electronics in our country has developed into hundreds of research institutes and laboratories employing tens of thousands of people. 6. The power engineering in the USA develops much faster than that of some other developed countries, including Great Britain. 7. Having been discovered many years ago this metal found a wide application in industry only last decade. 8. While being checked the motor showed good performance. 9. The European Union today is building high-capacity atomic power stations. 10. The man introducing this famous scientist is the dean of our faculty. 11. Cybernetics has gained a growing importance.

XI. Change the complex sentences given below according to the examples and translate them into Russian:

Example A: While she was preparing for her physics exam she looked through all the Notes of the lectures.

While preparing for her physics exam she looked through all the Notes of the lectures.

1. When he was translating the article he used a dictionary. 2. While the student was working at the problem he made many experiments. 3. When the scientist was carrying out research in the field of nuclear physics he came to Dubna to work there. 4. When the worker was applying the new method of work he got better results. 5. While he was experimenting with this substance he was very careful. 6. When the engineer was improving the design he made many calculations. 7. While the man was describing this phenomenon he illustrated it with numerous examples. 8. When these scientists were working in our laboratory they obtained good results.

Example B: The scientists who are carrying out research into nuclear physics deal with most difficult problems.

The scientists carrying out research into nuclear physics deal with most difficult problems.

1. The scientist who is working at the method is well known. 2. The students who are listening to the taped lesson study at the evening faculty. 3. These postgraduate students who are watching the experiment work in our laboratory. 4. The worker who is repairing the machine is very skilled. 5. The engineer who is carrying out these investigations is a well-known inventor. 6. The students who are doing the laboratory work are from various faculties. 7. The workers who are building this house will soon finish their work.

XII. Choose the sentences with Participle I from the ones given below, translate them:

1. The falling water has kinetic energy. 2. While testing the motor we take down the results. 3. There is no simple explanation of the functioning of transistors. 4. Obtaining new data engineers can improve their knowledge. 5. Look at the reading of the device. 6. Robots are helping research scientists to answer many difficult questions. 7. By the beginning of the 20th century man had learned something of the structure of the atom. 8. When applying these automatic devices we shall be able to control automatic lines. 9. The applying of lasers enables us to amplify electromagnetic waves. 10. A person beginning some experiment should be very careful and attentive.

XIII. Match up the words which have an opposite meaning:

a) conductor, before, solid, alternating, early, high, receiver, new, important, advantage, little, light, possible, reliable;

b) impossible, disadvantage, insulator, after, unreliable, heavy, much, liquid, direct, late, low, transmitter, old, unimportant.

XIV. Listen to the following tape-recorded lexical programme. Try to memorize the words and word-groups:

■alternating current – переменный ток ■ thermionic valve – электронная лампа ■ to rectify – выпрямлять, детектировать ■ fine wire – тонкий провод ■ rectifier – выпрямитель; детектор ■ radar receiver – радиолокационный приемник ■ point-contact transistor – точечно-контактный транзистор ■ junction – 1. соединение; сочленение; 2. переход; 3. плоскостной ■ junction transistor – плоскостной транзистор ■ in many respects – во многих отношениях, density packing – плотная упаковка ■ an intricate circuit – сложная схема ■ measuring instruments – измерительные приборы ■ recording equipment – регистрирующая аппаратура; оборудование записи ■ instrumentation – контрольно-измерительные приборы; контрольно-измерительная аппаратура ■ reliability – надежность; прочность,