Texts for comprehensive reading and discussion unit 1

PRE-TEXT TASK

Study carefully the meanings of the following phrases and word-combinations to avoid any difficulty in understanding TEXT A.

1	...are grouped into species	классифицируются по видам
2	subject matter	предмет, содержание, предмет науки
3	inseparably close to...	неотделимы от, нераздельно связаны с…
4	to deal with = to be concerned with	иметь дело с…, касаться
5	to distinguish as clearly as possible	различать настолько четко, насколько возможно
6	dividing line between...	линия водораздела
7	can be taken as...	могут рассматриваться как…

Text a The Subject Matter of Biology

There is an enormous variety of life on this planet: from microscopically small bacteria to the giant trees of the forest and the beautiful orchid; from single-celled animals like amoeba to the great variety of worms, insects, fishes, reptiles and birds, and then to the many members of the class of mammals to which we belong.

Biology is the study of living things. The word that can be used for .all living things is organism. When we say "organism" we mean anything that is alive. Organisms that are similar are grouped into species.

Biology is classified as a natural science because its subject matter is a part of nature. Problems in biology are inseparably close to chemistry and physics. Biochemistry and biophysics, for example, are well-recognized areas of study.

Biological knowledge can be divided into smaller groups: those that deal with plants (botany), those concerned with animal life (zoology) and those that study plants and animals in the relationship to their environment (ecology).

Since biology is the group of sciences that deal with life in all its forms and in all its functions, it is necessary to distinguish as clearly as possible between living and non-living bodies. The dividing line between the living and non-living is not a very sharp one.

Prom the view point of function we can speak of several unmistakable signs of life. They are responsiveness, nutrition and reproduction. These activities - responsiveness, nutrition and reproduction - are combined in living bodies, and can be taken as the main criteria of the living state. The most unique characteristic of living bodies is the capacity for reproduction.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Exercise 1. Are the following statements true or false?

1. Biology is the study of plants and animals.

2. Scientists group similar organisms into species.

3. Scientists can easily distinguish between living bodies and non-living things.

4. The unmistakable signs of life are responsiveness, nutrition and reproduction.

Exercise 2. Fill in the correct words from TEXT A

Biology studies an enormous______ of living bodies. Anything that is alive is called ____. Problems of biology are _______ to chemistry and physics, because the subject matter of biology is a part of _________. There are different ______ of biological knowledge. For example, botany______ with plants, while zoology ______ with animals. There are three ________ of life: responsiveness, nutrition and reproduction. The most unique of living bodies is _____.

PRE-TEXT NOTES

Study carefully the list of English phrases and their Russian equivalents to avoid difficulty in translating TEXT B.

1. ...may account for the evolution of existing species – мoжно объяснить эволюцией существующих видов

2. between these extremes – между этими крайностями

3. primeval seas – первозданный океан

4. in some logic and coherent way – логически и последовательно

5. as such – как таковой

6. area of distribution – зона распределения

7. a proper system of naming – научные принципы именования

8. ...from which our modern system is descended – от которой происходит современная система именования

9. ...not to confuse the organisms – чтобы избежать путаницы в наименованиях организмов

10. characters and distinctions – характерные черты и отличительные особенности