Reading Comprehension/ Vocabulary

Ex. 2 Look through the following words/word combinations in order to read the text below.

molding characteristics	параметры литья
raw materials	сырье
plummet (v)	быстро падать, рухнуть, обрушиться
drop towers	вышки для ударных испытаний (сбрасывания высоты)
advent (n)	появление
capable (adj)	способный, умелый
sustain (v)	поддерживать
semiconductor (n)	полупроводник
dedicate (v)	посвящать
diminish (v)	уменьшать, убавлять, сокращать
sophisticated (adj)	высокотехнологичный
although (adv)	хотя; несмотря на то, что
vital (adj)	очень важный (жизненно важный)
impurity (мн.ч. –ies) (n)	примесь (примеси)
eliminate (v)	устранять, ликвидировать
allow (v)	позволять, разрешать
precisely (adv)	точно

Ex.3 Read the text and discuss the following topics:

• the effects of weightlessness on various materials

• the role of space stations in the production of new materials and products

• the results of the experiments performed on board the space station

Creating Materials in a Weightless Environment

The weightless environment on space stations was of as much interest to materials scientists as to any others. Scientists are interested in a variety of physical properties of materials, such as melting points, molding characteristics, and the combining or separating of raw materials into useful products. Before the first space stations, materials scientists could perform simple experiments of very short duration aboard plummeting airplanes and from tall drop towers. Through these studies, scientists discovered that gravity plays a role in introducing defects in crystals, in the combination of materials, and in other processing activities requiring the application of heat. Until the advent of space stations, however, they were not able to sustain a weightless environment long enough to thoroughly study these phenomena.

The advent of space stations allowed the study of new alloys, protein crystals for drag research, and silicon crystals for use in electronics and semiconductors. Materials scientists theorized that improvements in processing in weightlessness could lead to the development of valuable drugs; high-strength, temperature-resistant ceramics and alloys; and faster computer chips.

Using the ISS's Microgravity Science Glovebox, an astronaut studies the effects of weightlessness on various materials. In a weightless environment, scientists are able to remove impurities from most materials.

One of the Mir components, the Kristall module, was partially dedicated to experiments in materials processing. One objective was to use a sophisticated electrical furnace in a weightless environment for producing perfect crystals of gallium arsenide and zinc oxide¹ to create absolutely pure computer chips capable of faster speeds and fewer errors. Although they failed to create absolutely pure chips, they were purer than those they could create within Earth's gravitational field.

More recently, fiber-optic cables are also being improved in weightlessness. Fiber-optic cables, vital for high-speed data transmission, microsurgery, certain lasers, optical power transmission, and fiber-optic gyroscopes², are made of a complex blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium³. When this blend is performed in a weightless environment, materials scientists are finding them to be more than one hundred times more efficient than fibers created on Earth.

In 2002 the ISS began the most complex studies of impurities in materials and ways to eliminate them in a microgravity environment. One of the more interesting causes of impurities, for example, is bubbles. On Earth, when metals are melted and blended, bubbles form. According to materials scientist Dr. Richard Grugel, "When bubbles are trapped in solid samples⁴, they show up as internal cracks⁵ that diminish a material's strength and usefulness."  In a weightless situation, however, although bubbles still form, they move very slightly, and this reduces internal cracks. Secondarily, their slow movement allows researchers to study the effect of bubbles on alloys more easily and precisely.

According to Dr. Donald Gillies, NASA's leader for materials science, the studies of bubbles and other mysteries of materials production hold promise for new materials:

We can thank advances in materials science for everything from cell phones to airplanes to computers to the next space ship in the making⁶. To improve materials needed in our high-tech economy and help industry create the hot new products of the future, scientists are using low gravity to examine and understand the role processing plays in creating materials. (533 words, about 3660signs) ⁶

Notes to the text:

¹ gallium arsenide and zinc oxide – арсенид галлия и оксид цинка

²optical power transmission, fiber-optic gyroscopes – передача оптической энергии, волоконно-

оптические гироскопы

³zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium – цирконий, барий, лантан, алюминий и

натрий

⁴ when bubbles are trapped in solid samples – когда пузырьки застревают в твердом образце

⁵ they show up as internal cracks – они выглядят как внутренние трещины

⁶ in the making – в процессе становления, в процессе развития

Ex. 3 Match the synonyms to the words

advent	exactly
able	to permit
application	to fulfill
to eliminate	mix
precisely	usage
to improve	to remove
to allow	material
create	capable
blend	make
product	appearance
to perform	to make better

Ex. 4 After reading mark TRUE or FALSE statements:

1. Scientists discovered that weightlessness plays an important role in introducing defects in crystals. T/F

2. It became possible to sustain weightlessness on Earth long time ago. T/F

3. The advantages of the zero-gravity state may result in the development of different materials with improved qualities. T/F

4. The Kristall module was partially aimed at performing experiments in materials processing. T/F

5. One objective was to use an electrical cooker in a weightless environment for producing perfect crystals of gallium arsenide and zinc oxide. T/F

6. The computer chips were purer than those they could create within Earth's gravitational field. T/F

7. Materials scientists are finding fiber-optic cables to be more than one million times more efficient than fibers created on Earth. T/F

8. In a weightless situation bubbles move very slightly thus reducing internal cracks. T/F

Ex.5 Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

The weightless environment on space stations (1)_____ of as much interest to materials scientists as to any others. Scientists are (2) _____________ in a variety of physical properties of materials, such as melting points, molding characteristics, and the combining or separating of raw materials into useful products. (3)____________ the first space stations, materials scientists performed simple experiments of very short duration aboard plummeting airplanes and from tall drop towers. Through these studies, scientists discovered that gravity plays a role in introducing (4)___________ in crystals, in the combination of materials, and in other processing activities requiring the application of heat. Until the advent of space stations, however, they were incapable of sustaining a weightless environment long enough to thoroughly (5)_____________ these phenomena.

The advent of space stations allowed the study of new alloys, protein crystals for drag research, and silicon crystals (6) _____use in electronics and semiconductors. Materials scientists theorized that improvements in processing in weightlessness could lead to the (7)_______________ of valuable drugs; high-strength, temperature-resistant ceramics and alloys; and faster computer chips.

One of the Mir components, the Kristall module, was (8)_____________ dedicated to experiments in materials processing. One objective was to use a sophisticated electrical furnace in a weightless environment for producing perfect crystals of gallium arsenide and zinc oxide¹ to create absolutely pure computer chips capable of (9)___________speeds and fewer errors. Although they failed to create absolutely pure chips, they were purer than those they could create within Earth's gravitational field.

(10)________ recently, fiber-optic cables are also being improved in weightlessness. Fiber-optic cables, vital for high-speed data transmission, microsurgery, certain lasers, optical power transmission, and fiber-optic gyroscopes², are made of a complex blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium³. When this blend is performed in a weightless environment, materials (11) ___________ are finding them to be more than one hundred times more efficient than fibers created on Earth.

1.	(a)	was	(b)	as	(c)	will	(d)	has
2.	(a)	interesting	(b)	interest	(c)	interested	(d)	interests
3.	(a)	before	(b)	after	(c)	as soon as	(d)	when
4.	(a)	errors	(b)	defects	(c)	mistakes	(d)	bugs
5.	(a)	steady	(b)	studio	(c)	student	(d)	study
6.	(a)	for	(b)	to	(c)	by	(d)	at
7.	(a)	develop	(b)	development	(c)	developing	(d)	developed
8.	(a)	totally	(b)	wholly	(c)	completely	(d)	partially
9.	(a)	faster	(b)	higher	(c)	lower	(d)	slower
10.	(a)	Many	(b)	Much	(c)	More	(d)	Multi
11.	(a)	lab assistants	(b)	astronauts	(c)	workers	(d)	scientists

Ex. 6 Work in pairs: take turns to ask and answer the questions to the text “Creating Materials in a Weightless Environment“

1. What natural phenomenon were scientists interested in?

2. What kind of experiments did material scientists perform before the first space stations?

3. What did they discover through these studies?

4. When did it become possible to sustain weightlessness long enough?

5. What did the advent of space stations allow to study?

6. In which spheres of our life can improved materials be applied?

7. Are scientists able to remove impurities from most materials? If so, give an example.

Ex. 7 Test each other: Look at the words and word combinations below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

space stations semiconductors an electrical furnace pure chips

fiber-optic cables a complex blend impurities bubbles

Ex. 8 Complete the Table (column “Application on Earth”) using the information from the text “Creating Materials in a Weightless Environment“

Conditions on board the spaceship/equipment on board the space ship	Objects of study (materials/products)	Made of/composed of	Application on Earth
weightlessness (gravity)	new alloys protein crystals	-
	silicon crystals	-
electrical furnace in a weightless environment	perfect crystals	gallium arsenide and zinc oxide
weightlessness	fiber-optic cable	a complex blend of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium
microgravity environment	impurities in materials (bubbles)	-

Ex. 9. Summarize the information on materials research in space using the text “Creating Materials in a Weightless Environment” and the table above:

e.g. Astronauts study the effects of weightlessness on new alloys, protein crystals for drag research and medicine.

Ex. 10 ⁷ (file 3) Listen to the explanation how to use modals of probability

*Note: you may take the exercise as a home assignment

Ex.11 Complete the sentences

Modal verbs (called modals for short) are _________(1) verbs that express a speaker’s attitude and the strength of that attitude. There are about __________(2) modals in English. A person who is 100% sure uses the verb be as in "I ______(3) sick." If they are mostly sure, say 95%, they will use the modal _______(4), as in "I ______(4)be sick." When speakers are about 50% sure, they will use the modals may, might, or could; as in "I may be sick. I might be sick. I could be sick." Might is used as the _______(5) form of may in reported speech.

Yesterday we had a staff ________(6). I looked _______(7) the room and noticed my co-worker Anna was not there. I asked, "Where's Anna?" and got three answers from my co-workers. Jonathan answered, "Oh, she _______(8)be making a video in the studio." Kelly said, "She _____(9) have stayed home today”. Adam told us, "She called me to say she was doing an interview at the Capitol this morning. So she _____(10) still be working over there." May is sometimes used to express ________(11). But now, it is much more common to hear "I hope that." Traditional poems and prayers also use _____(12) to express positive sentiments. This is part of an old Irish blessing: “May the road _______(13) to meet you”, “May the wind always be at your _______(14)”; “May the sun shine warm _____ (15) your face”.

Ex.12 Answer the questions:

1. What modal verbs will you use to express your certainty of 95%, 50%?

2. What are the other cases to use a modal verb may?

3. What is the English for “Пусть всегда будет Солнце”?

Ex. 13 Fill in each gap using one of the modals of possibility or certainty.

1. I'm sure he is here - I can see his car in front of the building.

He ______ be here. I can see his car in front of the building.

2. They're coming this week but I don't know which day.

They _______ be coming tomorrow.

3. I'm not sure I'm going to pass the exam. I don't feel very confident. I _______ pass the exam. I don't feel very confident.

4. I've bought a lottery ticket. There's a chance I'll become a millionaire!

I ______ become a millionaire!

5. I'm sure she doesn't speak French very well - she's lived in Paris only for a few weeks.

She _________ speak French very well. She's lived in Paris only for a few weeks.

6. My key's not in my pocket or on my desk, so I'm sure it's in the drawer.

My key's not in my pocket or on my desk, so it ________ be in the drawer.

7. Someone told me that Mark was in Mexico but I saw him yesterday, so I'm sure he's not abroad. Mark ________ be abroad.

8. You got the job! That's great! I'm sure you're delighted.

You got the job! That's great. You_______ be delighted.

9. They told me to prepare the project by tomorrow, but it’s almost impossible to have it done so fast.

I _______ finish it by tomorrow if I stay at work all night, but I'm not sure.

10. I asked them to send the goods as soon as possible; we _______receive them by the end of the week if the post is fast.

Lesson 3. Objectives – to revise/learn word combinations no longer, because of, due to, thanks to, to learn/revise suffixes –ness, -ance,/ence, -ist, -ful, -less, to develop listening skills; to encourage students to discuss disputable issues, to practice modal verbs