II. Reading.

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text A “Silk”.

Text a Silk

1. Cultivated silk is found to be the finest, most elastic and most durable of all natural textile fibres. The filament of silk is stronger than steel wire of the same diameter and can be considerably stretched without breaking. Its remarkable strength in comparison with its diameter permits of a very strong, light and durable fabric being made. It is especially priced for its brilliant lustre, elasticity and beauty.

2.Silk is produced by the silkworm in spinning a cocoon (Fig. 3). The worm changes its colour to a semi-transparent pink, and from a hole in its lower lip the silk thread begins to appear. Then by a waving motion of the body the worm gradually envelopes itself in a cocoon of silk which is drawn out in a double thread, slightly twisted, and covered by silk gum. Once the silk worm starts spinning it never leaves off until the silk is exhausted. The total length of silk given out is approximately 500 yds.

3.On enveloping itself in the cocoon and on giving out its silk, the worm commences to change from worm to chrysalis, and then to moth. This takes about two or three weeks. After being fully formed, the moth eats its way out of one end, dries its wings in the sun, then flutters about. On leaving its cocoon the moth lays its eggs on a leaf and dies. The eggs hatch into silkworms and the process begins again.

4. In breaking its way through the end of the cocoon, the moth cuts the silk thread in thousand of places, making it impossible to reel it off. The cocoons are therefore gathered as soon as they have been spun, and then the insect inside is killed either by steam or by hot air. This must be done very carefully in order not to spoil the silk.

5. The process is known to be a very important one, the silk filaments are reeled off the cocoons into hanks. The cocoons are steeped in hot water to be kept at constant temperature. This softens the silk gum and sets the fibre free. Before reeling off the outer covering is brushed away and the end of the silk thread is found. Owing to their great fineness the filaments of at least six cocoons must be reeled off together.

Chrysalis

Fig. 3. Silkworm

III. Language.

Exercise 6. Choose the appropriate ending of the sentences.

1. Silk is the finest, most elastic and most durable

-of all natural textile fibres;

-among chemical, man-made fibres.

2. The filament of silk is stronger than

-the cotton thread;

-the steel wire of the same diameter.

3. Once the silk worm starts spinning it never leaves off

-until the silk is exhausted;

-until the silk appears.

4. The worm changes to chrysalis and then to moth

-during two or three weeks;

-during two or three days.

5. Cocoons must be

-kept in hot water;

-steeped into hot water.

Exercise 7. Match the corresponding expressions:

1. without breaking а. обгорнувшись

2. in spinning в. покинувши кокон

3. on enveloping с. перед розмотуванням

4. after being fully formed d. прокладаючи шлях

5. on giving out silk e. не розриваючи

6. on leaving a cocoon f. під час прядіння

7. in breaking a way g. вбиваючи комаху всередині

8. making it impossible h. повністю сформулювавшись

9. before reeling off i. виділив шовк

10. by killing the insect inside j. що робить неможливим

IV. Comprehension

Exercise 8. Answer the following questions:

1. Is silk a vegetable or animal fiber?

2. Why is silk classified as animal fibre?

3. How does the silkworm produce the silk fibre?

4. What becomes of the worm after it envelops itself in the cocoon?

5. Why are the cocoons baked or steamed?

6. What is reeling?

7. How is reeling performed?

Exercise 9. Say whether it is true or false, if false say why. Begin with:

1. I fully quite agree with you.

2. I can’t agree with you here.

3. To the best of my knowledge.

4. In my opinion.

1. Silk is the finest, most durable and most elastic of all natural fibres.

2. The strength its diameter permits to make a very strong and light fabric.

3. Silk is produced by a chrysalis in spinning a cocoon.

4. Silk is drawn out in a double thread which is slightly twisted and covered by silk gum.

5. The silk worm starts spinning and soon it leaves off.

6. In breaking its way through the end of the cocoon, the moth cuts the silk thread in.

7. The silk filaments are reeled off the cocoon into beautiful, elastic and semitransparent pink yarn.

Exercise 10. Retell the text according to the plan:

1. The properties of silk.

2. The process of silk production.

3. The spinning of a cocoon by the silkworm.

4. The changing from the worm to the chrysalis and then to moth.

5. The process of reeling off the silk filaments into hanks.