1 Try to remember at least three discoveries and the names of the people who made them.
2 Read the text paying special attention to the facts and names.
From History of Science
During the period of human history called Enlightenment (usually considered to extend from 1680 to 1800), writers, philosophers and statesmen struggled to create “perfect societies” in which unlimited improvements could be made in human capacities and human happiness..
Above all else, Enlightenment thinkers urged the progress of science. They talked about an ideal “republic of science” where reason, logic would be supreme, ideas would be freely examined and exchanged and useful knowledge would serve people.
The period from 1810 through 1910 was a glorious 100 years for science in Western Europe. Major breakthroughs were made in understanding and, in some cases controlling events and systems in nature – from the structure of atoms to the movement of stars. Britain, France and Germany were the leading sources of new ideas in science and mathematics. These new ideas included: Dalton’s atomic theory; Humphrey Davy’s electrochemistry discoveries; Kelvin’s relationships between heat and electricity; Rutherford’s theory of the atomic nucleus; Lagrange’s celestial mechanics formulas; Marie and Pierre Curie’s studies of radioactivity; Roentgen’s discovery of x-rays; and Mendel’s ideas of heredity.
Scientific achievements in the United States during the same period seem pale in comparison to European developments. Isolated by the Atlantic Ocean from the mainstreams of scientific thought and research in Europe, American scientists often invented products and processes that already existed in Europe. The United States was a relatively poor nation at that time. However, thousands of products that make life easier, safer and more enjoyable for people were developed by Americans during the 19-th century.
In the early part of the century many developments in tool making, agriculture and construction were not based much on scientific knowledge and methods. Many later developments in electricity, magnetism, chemistry, biology and structural mechanics required a basic understanding of scientific discoveries and principles. This linking of scientific understanding and technological know-how led to a type of applied science for which Americans are known today. The biggest invention that created the computer age was barely noticed in 1948 but changed and is still changing the way millions of people work, study, do business and research.
1 Derive the nouns which mean the doers of the action (people) as in example:
science – scientist
physics – invent -
chemistry – discover -
biology-think -
astronomy – philosophy –
mechanics – research –
2 Complete the sentences matching the words on the left with those on the right from task I:
Radioactivity
Theory of heredity
Movement of stars
Heat and electricityis/are studied by . . .
Celestial bodies
Atomic nucleus
Magnetism
3 Chose the right variant:
1) During the Enlightenment period the focus was put mostly on a) technology
b) science
c) human capacities
2) Enlightenment was given its name because
a) electricity was discovered
b) people became more educated
c) theory of light was developed
4 Check your knowledge of the vocabulary from the text:
1) The word “supreme” in the second passage means
a) most important
b) quite possible
c) desirable
2 ) The word “breakthrough” in the third passage does not mean
a) progress
b) innovation
c) damage
3) The words “pale” in the forth passage means
a) having little color
b) bloodless
c) not very significant
4) The word “know-how” in the last passage means
a) knowledge of methods
b) high qualification
c) business plan
5) The word “applied’in the last passage if related to science
means
a) well developed
b) put to practical use
c) theoretically developed
5 Answer the questions:
1) Why is history of American science different from that in Europe?
2) What are specific features of American science?
3 )What were the biggest scientific discoveries of the 19th century?
4) Which of the discoveries mentioned in the text are related to your speciality? Can you add up any more?
5) Can you name any inventions made in the USA in the 20th century?
6) What countries are developing their science very rapidly? What are today’s priorities in research?
7) Can you predict the future of the world science?