4. Speak about the story about Archimedes described in the text. Text 8.Euclid

Little is known to us about the life of Euclid. Very few of his works were survived. It is believed that Euclid lived in Egypt in approximately 330 – 275 B.C. Euclid may have been a student of Aristotle. When the famous library of Alexandria was founded, he was invited to open the mathematical school at the great university of Alexandria. His most famous book on geometry which was called “The Elements” was written by him between 330 and 320 B.C. This fundamental book written more than 2000 years ago is still regarded as the best introduction to the mathematical sciences. The book is translated into many languages. “The Elements” introduced the notions of axiom and theorem. It was used as a textbook for 2000 years and in fact is still the basis for high school geometry, making Euclid the leading mathematics teacher of all time. It is said that when Euclid was asked if there was an easier way to master geometry than by studying “The Elements”, Euclid said, “There is no royal road to geometry”. Besides “The Elements” there is a collection of his geometrical theorems “The Data”. The first printed edition of Euclid’s books appeared in the 15^th century. There are many famous quotations about Euclid and his books. Abraham Lincoln abandoned his law studies when he didn’t know what “demonstrate” meant and “went home to my father’s house [to read Euclid] and stayed there till I could give any proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight. I then found out what demonstrate means and went back to my law studies”.

1. Give the correct translation of the underlined part.

1. His most famous book on geometry was written by him between 330 and 320 B.C.

1. написалb) была написана c) написана

2. This fundamental book is still regarded as the best introduction to the mathematical science.

1. считалась b) считает c) считается

3. This book is translated into many languages.

1. переводит b) перевела c) переведена

4. Euclid’s “The Elements” is still used as a textbook on geometry.

1. использовалась b) используется c) использует

2. Answer the following questions.

1. Where and when did Euclid live?

2. How many Euclid’s works have survived?

3. How was the most famous book on geometry called?

4. How is Euclid’s book “The Elements” still used ?

5. Is there any Euclid’s book on geometry besides “Elements”?

3. Form Present, Past and Future Simple Passive from the following expressions.

To be known, to be believed, to be founded, to be invited, to be called, to be regarded, to be translated, to be said, to be used.

4. Speak about Euclid and one of his famous books which is called “Elements”. Text 9. Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein [́ainstain] was born in Germany in 1879. His unusual talent for mathematics and physics began to show when he was a student at a technical school in Zurich [zju:rik]. At the age of 21, after 4 years of study at the university, he began to work as a clerk [kla:k] at an office. And in 1905 he made some revolutionary discoveries in science. He published 3 papers. In his first paper he explained the photoelectric effect with the help of M. Plank’s quantum theory. His second paper was a mathematical development of the theory of Brownian motion. His third paper was about the “Special Theory of Relativity”. It must be mentioned that a great contribution to the theory of relativity had been made earlier by the great mathematicians Lorentz and Poincare. Einstein’s work was published in a physical journal. It stated that energy equals mass multiplied by the square of the speed of light. This theory is expressed by the equation: E=mc² [si:skwɛǝd].

Scientists all over the world met this Einstein’s work with interest and surprise. But only very few physicists realized the importance of his theory at that time.

Another of Einstein’s great discoveries was his unified field theory. It was the result of 35 years of intensive research work. He expressed it in 4 equations where he combined the physical laws that control forces of light and energy with the mysterious force of gravitation.

Albert Einstein gave all his life to science. He was an extremely talented man and a great thinker. He was always looking at the world around him with his eyes wide open and he was always asking: “Why? Why is that so?” His ideas made a revolution in natural sciences of the 20^th century.