UNIT 25

 

I. Find out the words in the dictionary. Write them down and learn.

 

awkward, from early on, actually, scholarship, noticeable, to pursue a degree, to be intrigued, space-time singularities, to break down, to apply, by means of, to escape, tremendous force, to emit, to evaporate, physical evidence, Grand Unified Theory, constant transition, to explore, string theory

 

II. Read the text. Use a dictionary, if necessary.

 

Text: “Stephen Hawking”.

 

Stephen Hawking was born on the 300^th anniversary of Galileo’s death. He has come to be thought of as the greatest mind in physics since Albert Einstein. Hawking grew up outside London in an intellectual family. His father was a physician and specialist in tropical diseases; his mother was active in the Liberal Party. He was an awkward schoolboy, but knew from early on that he wanted to study science. He became increasingly skilled in mathematics and in 1958 he and some friends built a primitive computer that actually worked. In 1959 he won a scholarship to OxfordUniversity, where his intellectual capabilities became more noticeable.

In 1962 he got his degree with honors and went to CambridgeUniversity to pursue a PhD in cosmology. There he became intrigued with black holes (first proposed by Robert Oppenheimer) and “space-time singularities,” or events in which the laws of physics seem to break down. After receiving his PhD, he stayed at Cambridge, becoming known even in his 20s for his pioneering ideas and use of Einstein’s formulas.

In 1968 he joined the staff of the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge and began to apply the laws of thermodynamics to black holes by means of very complicated mathematics. Hawking’s best-known work is on the nature of black holes, a phenomenon suggested by Einstein’s equations describing what might happen should a huge star die. He proposes it would crush into its own center with such strong gravitational force, that nothing could escape, not even light. Introducing his own theoretical modifications, Hawking posits the existence of mini-black holes. Created by the tremendous force of the Big Bang, these mini-black holes would not only emit sub-atomic particles and radiation (now called Hawking radiation), but would gradually evaporate over the space of 10⁶⁶ years, only to explode with the energy of millions of hydrogen bombs. At the same time, Hawking is the first to admit that there is as yet no physical evidence that black holes actually exist.

He continued working on the theory of the origin of the universe, and in doing so found ways to link relativity (gravity) with quantum mechanics (the inner workings of atoms). This contributed enormously to what physicists call Grand Unified Theory, a way of explaining, in one equation, all physical matter in the universe.

At the remarkably young age of 32, he was named a fellow of the Royal Society. He received the Albert Einstein Award, the most prestigious in theoretical physics. And in 1979, he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, a post once occupied by Sir Isaac Newton. There he began to question the big theory, which by then most had accepted. Perhaps, he suggested, there was never a start and would be no end, but just change – constant transition of one “universe” giving way to another through glitches in space-time. All the while, he was digging into exploring black holes, string theory, and the birth of black holes in our own galaxy.

In 1988 Hawking published A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. He hoped the book would help non-scientists understand theories of nature, from the big bang to black holes. It became a best-seller of long standing and established his reputation as an accessible genius. He wrote other popular articles and appeared in movies and television. He remains extremely busy, his work hardly slowed by Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotriphic lateral sclerosis, an incurable disease of the nervous system that affects muscle control) for which he uses a wheelchair and speaks through a computer and voice synthesizer. His movement is limited to a barely perceptible lifting of one finger and very little facial expression. “My goal is simple. It is complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all”.

 

III. Translate the following words paying attention to their prefixes and suffixes.

 

Anniversary, physician, awkward, increasingly, scholarship, noticeable, pursue, singularity, apply, phenomenon, equation, gravitational, modification, posit, tremendous, sub-atomic, gradually, evidence, remarkably, prestigious, occupy, transition, galaxy, brief, non-scientists, accessible, extremely, incurable, affect, perceptible, facial, exist.

 

IV. Find English equivalents in the text.

 

1. неуклюжий мальчик _________________________________________
2. действительно, на самом деле _________________________________
3. более заметны ______________________________________________
4. пространственно-временные сингулярности _____________________
5. новаторские идеи ___________________________________________
6. применять законы термодинамики _____________________________
7. посредством, при помощи ____________________________________
8. установить, ставить в основу доводов ___________________________
9. нет физических данных (фактов) _______________________________
10. соединять теорию относительности с квантовой механикой ________
11. делать вклад, содействовать ___________________________________
12. член Королевского (научного) общества _________________________
13. подвергать сомнению _________________________________________
14. непрерывный переход (перемещение) ___________________________
15. все это время ________________________________________________
16. теория струн _________________________________________________
17. неизлечимое заболевание _____________________________________
18. полное понимание ___________________________________________

 

V. Find Russian equivalents to the following expressions in the text.

 

1. the greatest mind _____________________________________________
2. knew from early on ___________________________________________
3. intellectual capabilities ________________________________________
4. with honors _________________________________________________
5. to pursue a degree ____________________________________________
6. to become intrigued ___________________________________________
7. black holes __________________________________________________
8. to break down ________________________________________________
9. very complicated mathematics ___________________________________
10. a huge star __________________________________________________
11. to escape ____________________________________________________
12. to emit sub-atomic particles _____________________________________
13. the origin of the universe _______________________________________
14. Grand Unified Theory _________________________________________
15. through glitches in space-time ___________________________________
16. to dig into exploring ___________________________________________
17. a best-seller of long standing ____________________________________
18. an accessible genius ___________________________________________

 

VI. Fill in the missing words.

 

1. He was an _______ schoolboy, but knew from early on that he wanted to study _______.
2. In 1959 he won a _______ to OxfordUniversity, where his intellectual _______ became more noticeable.
3. “Space-time singularities” are _______ in which the laws of _______ seem to break down.
4. Hawking’s best known work is on the nature of black _______, a phenomenon suggested by Einstein’s _______.
5. He proposes it would crush into its own _______ with such strong gravitational _______, that nothing could escape, not even _______.
6. Hawking is the first to _______ that there is as yet no physical _______ that black holes actually exist.
7. Grand Unified Theory, as physicists call, is a way of explaining in one _______ all physical matter in the _______.
8. He suggested that there was never a start and would be no _______, but just _______.
9. All the while, he was digging into exploring black holes, _______ theory, and the birth of black holes in our own _______.
10. In 1988 Hawking published “A Brief History of _______: From the Big _______ to Black Holes”.

 

VII. Fill in the prepositions, if necessary.

 

1. He became increasingly skilled ___ mathematics and ___ 1958 he and his friends built a primitive computer.
2. In1962 he got his degree ___ honors and went to CambridgeUniversity to pursue ___ a PhD ___ cosmology.
3. He began to apply ___ the laws of thermodynamics ___ black holes ___ means of very complicated mathematics.
4. He continued working ___ the theory ___ the origin of the universe, and in doing so found ways to link ___ relativity ___ quantum mechanics.
5. In 1979 Hawking was appointed ___ Lucasian Professor of Mathematics ___ Cambridge, a post once occupied ___ Sir Isaac Newton.
6. All the while, he was digging ___ exploring black holes, string theory, and the birth ___ black holes ___ our own galaxy.
7. He hoped the book would help non-scientists understand theories ___ nature, ___ the big bang ___ black holes.
8. It became a best-seller ___ long standing and established his reputation ___ an accessible genius.
9. His movement is limited ___ a barely perceptible lifting ___ one finger and very little facial expression.

 

VIII. Define whether the statements are true or false.

 

1. Hawking grew up outside London in the working surrounding, in a not highly intellectual family.
2. Hawking disliked studying science from his early years.
3. In 1958 he and some of his friends built a primitive computer; even though it didn’t work it was a great success for the boys.
4. “Space-time singularities” are events in which the laws of physics seem to break down.
5. Introducing his own theoretical modifications, Hawking posits the existence of mini-black holes.
6. At the same time, Hawking is the first to admit that there is physical evidence that black holes actually exist.

 

IX. Practice with someone asking and answering.

 

1. When was Stephen Hawking born?
2. Where did he grow up?
3. What were his parents?
4. When did he decide to study science?
5. What field of knowledge did he specialize in?
6. What is Hawking’s best-known work?
7. What would happen should a huge star die, according to Hawking?
8. What does Hawking posit, introducing his own theoretical modifications?
9. Is there any physical evidence that black holes actually exist?
10. What theory did he also continue working on?
11. What will Grand Unified Theory explain?
12. What did he explore besides Grand Unified Theory?
13. When did he publish his book A Brief History of Time?
14. What is the goal of his research?

 

X. Put questions to the following statements.

 

1. In 1968 he joined the staff of the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge.
2. At the remarkable young age of 32, he was named a fellow of the Royal Society.
3. He uses a wheelchair and speaks through a computer and voice synthesizer.

 

XI. Translate the following text without using a dictionary.

 

There is a man driving around in a motorized wheelchair in Cambridge, England. He can only move his eyes and two fingers on his left hand. He communicates through a computer. He types words on the computer and the computer speaks for him. This man is Stephan Hawking.

During his studies at the University of Cambridge doctors discovered that he suffered from ALS, which is sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease. This fatal disease weakens all of the body’s muscles. Although Hawking had become more severely paralyzed, he became a professor at Cambridge. Later his disease had gotten much worse. His youngest son (he had three children, two boys and a girl) has never heard his father’s real voice. He has only heard the voice from the computer.

As his disease got worse, money became a problem for Stephen Hawking. He had a lot of medical expenses. He needed special wheelchairs, nurses 24 hours a day, and machines to help him read and speak. To earn extra money, Hawking gave speeches and published articles. Then someone told him to write a book that explained the universe to ordinary people. Hawking agreed and wrote A Brief History of Time. The book sold over 8 million copies worldwide, and Hawking became a millionaire.

Hawking’s strong personality and spirit have helped him to live with ALS for over 30 years. He has helped to make people aware of ALS and other disabilities. Hawking teaches us that even though a person is physically disabled, the mind has no limits.

 

XII. Dictate the following statements in English to your fellow-students.

 

1. Stephen Hawking became the greatest mind in physics since Albert Einstein.
2. He got his degree with honors and went to CambridgeUniversity to pursue a PhD in cosmology.
3. Hawking began to apply the laws of thermodynamics to black holes by means of very complicated mathematics.
4. Hawking posits the existence of mini-black holes.
5. He continued working on the theory of the origin of the universe.
6. He also found ways to link relativity with quantum mechanics.
7. Grand Unified Theory is a way of explaining in one equation all physical matter in the universe.

 

XIII. Dictation-translation.

 

1. Пространственно-временные сингулярности – это события, в объяснении которых законы физики не срабатывают.
2. Хокинг применял законы термодинамики к черным дырам посредством очень сложных математических действий.
3. Представляя собственные теоретические новшества, Хокинг поставил в основу своих доводов существование мини черных дыр.
4. Он обнаружил способы объединения теории относительности с квантовой механикой.
5. В возрасте 32 лет Хокинг стал членом Королевского научного общества.
6. Он исследовал черные дыры, теорию струн, а также происхождение черных дыр в нашей Вселенной.
7. Он предположил, что никакого начала не было и не будет конца.
8. В 1988 году Хокинг опубликовал «Краткую историю времени: от большого взрыва до черных дыр».