THE PRE_ATOMIC AGE

UNIT 1

 

TEXT A

THE PRE_ATOMIC AGE

 

Pre-reading tasks

1. The text you are to read is headlined “The Pre-atomic Age”. In your opinion, what can it run about? 2. Think of and write down 4-5 questions the answers to which you expect to… 3. In pairs or small groups, discuss these questions.

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks given in Comprehension check.

THE PRE-ATOMIC AGE

Democritus’ theory was based on the principle that all matter is composed of atoms: solid bits of matter of various sizes and shapes, but so small… While Democritus’ theory, and his followers’ adaptations of it, ultimately… Based on the strength of Aristotle's reputation, which lived on past the end of the Roman Empire, his opposition to…

Comprehension check

  1. Ancient Greek philosophers a) were the first to suppose that matter was composed of small, unseen elements – atoms.

Vocabulary work

1. The words given in A are used in the text above. Find their synonyms in B.   A B to suggest adherent …  

Follow-up activity

 

Prepare short reports on Democritus’ atomic theory and its further development in the works of other scientists.

 

TEXT B

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ATOMIC THEORY IN THE 19th CENTURY

 

Pre-reading tasks

1. Have you ever heard about John Dalton, Heinrich Geissler, William Crookes? 2. Can you recollect what they are famous for? What contributions to science… 3. In your opinion, why did scientists of the 19th century show interest in atomic theory? Explain your viewpoint.

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks to follow.

 

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ATOMIC THEORY IN THE 19th CENTURY

  By the early 19th century, atomism had re-entered scientific thought,…  

Comprehension check

1. Consult the text above and complete the following sentences.   1. Atomism reentered scientific ... in the 19th century.

TEXT C

X-RAYS

Pre-reading tasks

 

1. Define the term X-rays.

2. Look at the headline of the text and exchange your opinions on its possible contents.

 

Reading

Read the text and see what information of this text you managed to predict.

X-RAYS

 

On 8 November 1895 the German physicist Wilhelm Rontgen was experimenting with a cathode-ray tube. He had left a spare fluorescent screen on another bench, out of the way of his experiment. And yet the discarded screen lit up when he switched on the cathode tube. Rontgen realized that something was coming out of it, some invisible rays that were new to science. He found that they could penetrate all sorts of materials - wood, glass, rubber, aluminium and other metals. And when he put his hand in the beam, he saw a shadow of his bones.

The Rontgen rays were a sensation. Their property of allowing people to see through solid matter seemed like magic black magic to some, thus die invention of lead-lined X-ray ____underwear to repel any prurient applications.

Doctors quickly exploited their new ability to see inside people and experimented with X-rays as a cure for all sorts of illness. But then the dangers of X-rays emerged – burnt and hair loss followed strong exposures, and in 1904 Clarence Dally, an assistant of the American inventor Thomas Edison, died of cancer after being severely burned. X-rays are still used to kill tumours, but the doses are now carefully controlled.

Meanwhile scientists struggled to find out what X-rays actually were. They followed straight lines, like light, but would not bounce off mirrors or bend around obstacles. Could they be waxes in the ether, or bullet-like corpuscles? The question wasn't settled until 1912 when, in an experiment suggested by Max von Laue. a beam of X-rays was shown to be scattered into an intricate diffraction pattern when it passed through a crystal. This proved that they were electromagnetic waves, like light, but of very short wavelength, comparable to the distance between atoms in a crystal. X-ray diffraction became a vital probe of crystals, materials in industry; and the structure of biological molecules such as DNA.

 

Tasks

 

1. Based on the information of the text match the dates with the events that took place at that time.

	Clarence dally died of cancer being severely burned.
	Max von Laue proved experimentally that X-rays were electromagnetic waves of very short wavelength.
	Wilhelm Roentgen experimented with a cathode-ray tube.

 

2. Sum up the main ideas of the text.

3. Write an essay about X-rays: their discovery, nature and applications.

4. Prepare a short report on X-rays applications in different fields

UNIT 2

TEXT A

HENRI BECQUEREL AND THE CURIES’ DISCOVERIES

Pre-reading tasks

1. Do you know: a) the names of Henri Becquerel and Pierre and Marie Curie? What are they… b) when the Curies and Becquerel worked?

Reading

Read the text below and

a) see in which situations mentioned in exercise 3 you were right/wrong;

b) fulfill the tasks that are given in Comprehension check.

 

HENRI BECQUEREL AND THE CURIES’ DISCOVERIES

X-rays were only the first, surprise of the 1890s. New rays were soon detected which proved to be even more profoundly alien to known science. The French physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel thought that X-rays might be… But then, one sunless day; he put a packet away in a drawer. Weeks later when he developed the plate, it ton had…

Comprehension check

1. Match the discoveries and inventions with the names of scientists.   Marie Curie found out that uranium salt emitted…  

Vocabulary work

1. There are some words given in bold type in the text. Choose their synonyms in the box below.   to emit to discover to isolate specimen …

TEXT B

FURTHER ADVANCES IN THE FIELD OF RADIOACTIVITY

 

Pre-reading tasks

1. The text you are going to read is headlined “Further advances in the field of radioactivity”. In your opinion, - what does it run about? - what discoveries are mentioned in it?

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks to follow.

FURTHER ADVANCES IN THE FIELD OF RADIOACTIVITY

Their work, which led to the Nobel Prize for both (and two prizes for Marie, a rare honor), confirmed the cathode-ray research of British scientist… While the Curies continued with their work on radium and radioactivity (an…     Pierre Curie developed the ionization chamber to detect and measure…

Tasks

 

1. Fill in the blanks using appropriate words from the box.

proposed	electrons	penetrating	developments
released	corpuscles	rays	decay

 

1. J.J. Thomson called positively charged particles … .

2. Thomson’s discovery was one of the first major … .

3. Thomson … a model of the atom known as the “plum pudding model”.

4. Rutherford identified two types of … .

5. They managed to calculate the … of radioactive minerals.

6. Soon it became clear that the atom consisted of … that orbited the nucleus.

7. By means of his formula it was possible to determine the energy … in a nuclear reaction.

8. A more … type of rays was named gamma rays.

 

2. The derivatives of the following words are mentioned in the text. Find and name them. Think of your own sentences where these derivatives can be used.

announce	discover	assist	electrify	dissect
develop	rapid	refine	mean	radiate

 

3. Match the years mentioned in the text with the events that took place at that time.

 

	Paul Villard identified a third, even more penetrating type of rays that he named gamma radiation.
	E. Rutherford found out that the atom was a series of electrons.
	A. Einstein proposed his famous formula.
	J.J. Thomson discovered that cathode rays were composed of positively charged particles.
	E. Rutherford determined that there were two types of rays.

 

4. Express your agreement or disagreement. Give some argument to support your viewpoint.

1. Thomson used cathode rays in his experiments.

2. Thomson discovered the electron in his cathode-ray experiments.

3. Thomson called charged particles electrons.

4. Thomson proved that atoms were indivisible.

5. The Curies’ work confirmed Thomson’s premise.

6. Thomson’s model of the atom was called the “plum pudding model”.

7. Ernest Rutherford proved Thomson’s atomic model.

8. Rutherford called beta radiation a high-energy burst of easily blocked and absorbed radiation.

9. Rutherford studied the same rays as the Curies had identified.

10. Einstein’s formula was later used for producing the atomic bomb.

11. It was Marie Curie who proved that atoms could divide.

 

5. The sentences below sum up the main ideas of the text but they are jumbled. Arrange them in the proper order.

 

1. Rutherford discovered two types of rays: alpha and beta.

2. Thomson’s discovery was the first major development in the evolving view of the atom.

3. Rutherford and Soddy calculated the decay of radioactive materials.

4. Rutherford proved that the atom was a series of electrons that orbited the nucleus.

5. While experimenting with cathode rays Thomson concluded that atoms were not indivisible.

6. Thomson proposed an atomic model called the ‘plum pudding model”.

7. Einstein’s famous formula was used to determine the energy released in a nuclear reaction.

 

6. Use the sentences of the previous exercise as an outline of your future report on discoveries made in the field of radioactivity.

7. In pairs, discuss the information given in the text.

8. Find some more information (or facts) about Thomson and Rutherford and prepare reports.

 

TEXT C

RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURES

Pre-reading tasks

1. In your opinion,

- are radioactive materials dangerous? Why?

- is radioactivity only a natural phenomenon?

2. Define the following terms. (If necessary, consult a dictionary).

- radiation,

- radioactivity,

- radiation exposure,

- radioactive decay,

- nuclear accelerator,

- nuclear reactor.

 

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks that follow.

 

RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURES

Radioactivity and the associated radiation exposures are sometimes thought of as environmental problems that have been created by modern science and… With the advent of controlled nuclear fission, we have obtained the ability to… Human awareness of the existence of ionizing radiation dates only to the period around 1900. Wilhelm Roentgen…

Tasks

 

1. Explain:

- why radioactivity is the oldest “pollutant”,

- how artificial radioactivity can be created,

- how one can minimize human exposure to radiation.

 

2. Name possible applications of X-rays and radioactive materials.

3. Think of 4-5 key questions to the text and write them down.

4. In pairs, discuss these questions.

5. Choose key sentences from the text and use them while speaking on the problems discussed in the text.

6. Write an essay “Nuclear power and safety/environmental issues”.

7. Prepare a short report on the problem under consideration. Add some more information.

 

UNIT 3

TEXT A

FROM NUCLEAR REACTIONS TO NUCLEAR FISSION

 

Pre-reading tasks

1. If you were asked to make a report on the theme “From nuclear reactions to nuclear fission” which events would you include in it and what… 2. Recollect the structure of the atom and name - its main constituents,

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks given in Comprehension check.

FROM NUCLEAR REACTIONS TO NUCLEAR FISSION

  New Zealand-born Ernest Rutherford, later Baron Rutherford of Nelson (1871-1937) immigrated to Britain as a young…   Between 1919 and 1939, scientists gradually closed in on the secrets of the atom. In 1919, Ernest Rutherford, now…

Comprehension check

1. Some dates, namely years are mentioned in the text. Match them with the events described.   J. Chadwick discovered the neutron at Cambridge. …  

Vocabulary work

1. The words given in two columns of the box are mentioned in the text and they have similar meanings. Find and name these pairs.   A B to follow up important …  

Follow-up activities

 

1. In pairs, discuss discoveries and breakthroughs made by Rutherford, the Joliot-Curies and Fermi.

2. The names of Neils Bohr, Henry Moseley, James Chadwick and Leo Szilard are mentioned in passing in this text. Find additional information about these scientists and their contribution. Prepare reports.

3. Write a short essay headlined “From nuclear reactions to nuclear fission”.

TEXT B

SPECULATIONS BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF FISSION

Pre-reading tasks

2. You are sure to know the name of a famous British science fiction writer H.G. Wells. a) Can you name any of his books? b) What do his novels run about?

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks to follow.

SPECULATIONS BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF FUSION

Atomic energy, now usually called nuclear energy, became a gleam in the eye of scientists in the early part of the 20th century. The possibility… This evolution of heat is enormous, compared with that emitted in any known… At this time, however, Rutherford had no concrete idea as to the source of this energy. The magnitudes of the energies…

Tasks

 

1. There are some words given in italics in the text. Find their synonyms or antonyms in the box below. (Sometimes there is more than one synonym/antonym). Be careful as the verbs in the text are not given in the infinitive form.

to give off	thought	care	definite	subordinate	to try
immense	growth	to find	trivial	to lead to	to prophesy
disintegration	to include	to fail	minor	to disperse	consequently
tiny	understanding	to stop	to scatter	to liberate	to finish

 

2. Choose from the text words that are derivatives of the following words.

to understand	to act	to succeed	to lose	event
to realize	concept	to speculate	quantity	doubt
aware	to extract	resultant	to produce	to think
nucleus	possible	art	peace	to discover

 

3. Complete the sentences using appropriate words from the text.

 

1. Nuclear fission … Szilard and other scientists.

2. H. Wells … that artificially … radioactivity would be discovered in 1933.

3. Kinetic energy is … in radioactive decay.

4. There was a net … of energy in the process.

5. He called … to the heat produced in radium … .

6. Noone understood how energy could be … .

7. Scientists were aware of possible peaceful and military … of atomic energy.

8. He tried to find another way of obtaining a … reaction.

9. leo Szilard … the US atomic bomb programme.

 

4. Match the names of scientists with the information about them.

 

Ernest Rutherford	conducted a number of experiments on the interaction between neutrons and nuclei.
	was a science fiction novelist.
Leo Szilard	discovered that an atom has a nucleus.
	regarded that atoms have enormous stores of energy.
Frederic Joliot	predicted the discovery of artificially induced radioactivity.
	tried to limit the us atomic bomb programme.
Herbert Wells	failed to obtain a chain reaction.
	discovered artificial radioactivity.
Enrico Fermi	was interested in extracting atomic energy after reading abook by H. Wells.
	thought that energy could not be produced from atomic transmutation.
	was awarded the Nobel prize in 1935.
	entrusted his patent to the british Admiralty.

 

5. Prove or disprove the following statements. Give some evidence in support of your viewpoint.

1. The atom is a vast reservoir of energy.

2. Only neutrons are emitted in radioactive decay.

3. Ernest Rutherford considered that atoms contained an immense amount of energy.

4. Ernest Rutherford knew what the source of atomic energy was.

5. Only after the discovery of nuclear fission scientists were able to understand how atomic energy could be extracted.

6. The discovery of fission resulted from three major steps.

7. Herbert Wells predicted correctly the year when artificially induced radioactivity was discovered.

8. Leo Szilard succeeded in obtaining a chain reaction.

9. Scientists were aware of military and peaceful applications of atomic energy after nuclear fission discovery.

10. Leo Szilard assumed that coal miming and oil production would not survive if atomic energy production was successful.

 

6. Choose in the text and write out key sentences describing events preceding the discovery of nuclear fission.

7. Roleplay.

Student A: You are a journalist living at the time of E. Rutherford, H. Wells and Leo Szilard. Choose any of them and obtain an interview. Ask questions about his professional career.

Student B: You are E. Rutherford (H. Wells, Leo Szilard). Answer journalist’s questions. Describe your results, progress you have made, etc.

UNIT4

TEXT A

REVEALING SECRETS OF NUCLEAR FISSION

Pre-reading tasks

2. In your opinion, - what is nuclear fission? - what elements can be bombarded by particles to cause nuclear fission?

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks given in Comprehension check.

REVEALING SECRETS OF NUCLEAR FISSION

Nuclear fission occurs when an atom “splits”. A uranium 235 atom struck by a…  

Comprehension check

  Otto Hahn coined a new phrase “fission” to describe the phenomenon.   found traces of barium and…   2. Check whether you remember the dates and places mentioned in the text.

Vocabulary work

1. Find synonyms or antonyms among the words given in italics in the text and name them. Be careful as the verbs are used in different forms 2. Fill in the table with the missing part of speech. Use the text. Write out 3-4 sentences from the text where these…

Follow-up activities

1. In pairs, discuss the information given in the text. 2. Make up a short report based on the text. (Presenting only key ideas). 3. Find some additional information about:

TEXT B

FISSION AND THE FIRST REACTORS

Pre-reading tasks

1. The text you are going to read is headlined “Fission and the First Reactors”. In your opinion, what does it run about?

2. Think of 4-5 questions the answers to which you expect to find in the text. Write them down. (Which of them did you manage to answer after reading the text?)

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks after it.

FISSION AND THE FIRST REACTORS

Fission of uranium was discovered—or, more precisely, recognized for what it was—in 1938. Scientists quickly recognized that large amounts of energy… The discovery and preliminary understanding of fission came at a time when the… The first reactor in Chicago was very small, running with a total power output of 200 W. However, even before the…

Tasks

1. The adjectives and verbs in the box are used in some word combinations in the text. Find and name these collocations.

to demonstrate	to come	to focus on	effective
military	to put into	to release	to take (2)
to become	to sustain	successful	subsequent

 

2. Match the words having either similar or opposite meanings. Sometimes there is more than one synonym/antonym.

 

to recognize	way
amount	to support
	preparatory
path	to fail
to verify	to hide
	minor
to achieve	to confirm
to sustain	useless
	quantity
preliminary	to conceal
to discover	to admit
	following
major	important
effective	to acknowledge
	to follow
subsequent	chief
to lead	wasteful
	to maintain
	previous

 

3. Replace the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

 

1. … fission was discovered in 1938. NUCLEUS

2. Neutrons are … in a chain reaction. EMISSION

3. It required some time to show the … of achieving this reaction. PRCATICE

4. It resulted in the … of the first nuclear reactor. DEMONSTRATE

5. Military …. of atomic energy took primacy. APPLY

6. The … of plutonium was the main purpose of the nuclear PRODUCE

programme.

7. Plutonium-239 was an … material for an atomic bomb. EFFECT

8. Before the … demonstration of a chain reaction they SUCCESS

carefully tested the equipment of the reactor.

 

4. Match the dates with the events mentioned in the text.

 

	The first operating nuclear reactor was demonstrated.
August 1939	A pilot plant was completed and put into operation.
December 1942	A full-size reactor started operating in Washington state.
November 1943	Fission of uranium was discovered.
September 1944	World war II started in Europe.

 

5. There are some factual mistakes in the sentences given below. Find and correct them.

 

1. Scientists were not aware of large amounts of energy that could be released during nuclear fission even after its discovery.

2. Physicists knew that electrons were emitted in fission.

3. Ernest Rutherford led the work that resulted in the demonstration of the first operating nuclear reactor.

4. Scientists worked on civilian applications of atomic energy.

5. The main goal of the nuclear programme was to produce uranium-239

6. Plutonium was an effective substance to create an atomic bomb.

7. The first reactor was constructed in New York.

8. 10 years passed after the construction of the first reactor when a full-size 200-MWreactor was put into operation.

 

6. Make up an outline of the text and write out key words.

7. Prepare a short report based on the text. (Make use of your outline).

UNIT 5

TEXT A

RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS AS SOURCES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Pre-reading tasks

  Henri Becquerel coined the term radioactivity.   created the ionization chamber for detecting and…   2. Explain the following phenomena:

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks to follow.

RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS AS SOURCES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Radioactive … involves the spontaneous disintegration of an atomic nucleus. As the nucleus …, various particles as well as high-energy… As a subject of scientific interest, radioactivity came to the fore when the… The phenomenon observed by Becquerel was a weak one because natural uranium emits few radioactive particles per unit…

Tasks

 

1. Fill in the blanks in the first two paragraphs of the text choosing suitable words from the box.

 

released	decay	phenomenon	to observe	rays	performed
radioactivity	opaque	containing	disintegrates	unexposed	environment

 

2. The adjectives given in the box have their antonyms or synonyms mentioned in the text. Find and name them. (There is sometimes more than one equivalent).

 

transparent	typical	occasional	characteristic	sophisticated	fortunate
diverse	commonplace	different	enormous	ordinary	colossal
reliable	lucky	huge	doubtful	trustworthy	irregular

 

3. Insert suitable prepositions.

 

1. Radioactivity came … the fore when Becquerel made a number of experiments investigating X-rays.

2. He wrapped plates … opaque paper.

3. Rays passed … the paper.

4. He concentrated … studying the properties of uranium.

5. Compared … radium, uranium has a low specific activity.

6. She is responsible … conducting these experiments.

7. Keep … mind that this law holds in all cases.

8. This substance can melt … an hour.

9. … principle he is right.

10. It can supply the largest cities … power.

11. … the other hand, we could increase the rate of energy release in a gradual way.

 

4. Complete the sentences choosing the best ending a, b, or c.

1. Radioactivity decay

a) is a spontaneous disintegration of atoms.

b) is a process during which nuclei disintegrate.

c) involves decomposition of molecules.

2. As a result of the nucleus disintegration

a) neutrons are given off.

b) penetrating rays are emitted.

c) different particles and high-energy electromagnetic waves are released.

3. Radioactivity

a) is easy to observe.

b) has always been present everywhere in the environment.

c) is a phenomenon that has been known to scientists for a long time.

4. Henri Becquerel

a) investigated X-rays.

b) used different devices in his experiments to detect and measure radioactivity.

c) explained the nature of radioactivity.

5. Marie Curie

a) preferred to investigate natural uranium.

b) chose mineral pitchblende for her initial experiments as it has a higher specific activity.

c) tried to determine chemical properties of different radioactive substances.

6. Pierre Curie

a) isolated two new radioactive elements – radium and polonium.

b) revealed the properties of radium and polonium.

c) focused his work on determining the physical properties of radiation.

7. The principle of energy conservation states that

a) energy can neither appear nor disappear.

b) nuclear energy cannot be converted into other forms.

c) energy can be created but cannot be destroyed.

8. Rutherford

a) and his contemporaries were right about the power source.

b) thought that radium would serve as a new type of fuel.

c) was right in his speculations on the possibility of harnessing radioactive materials for military and peaceful purposes.

 

5. There are some factual mistakes in the sentences to follow. Find them and correct. Be careful as two sentences are correct.

1. Radioactive materials are present only in the atmosphere.

2. The phenomenon of radioactivity has always been familiar to scientists as it is easy to observe.

3. Henri Becquerel discovered that photographic plates were not affected by emitted rays.

4. Natural uranium is a highly radioactive material.

5. A small piece of radium contains a great amount of energy.

6. The Curies investigated polonium in their initial experiments.

7. Ernest Rutherford thought that radioactive materials could be used for creating a bomb.

8. Radium emits larger amount of energy that uranium but this energy emission lasts for a shorter period of time.

9. Ernest Rutherford considered radium and uranium to be power sources.

 

6. Imagine you were

a) Henri Becquerel. You want to describe the experiments performed. Make use of the information of the text to fulfill the task. If necessary, add some more facts.

b) Marie Curie. You are inspired by Becquerel’s experiments. You want to reveal secrets of the phenomenon observed by Becquerel. Speak about your experiments and their results. Don’t forget to characterize the newly discovered radioactive substances radium and polonium.

c) Ernest Rutherford. Speculate on possibilities of using radioactive materials for military and peaceful purposes.

 

7. Organize a round-table discussion. Invite Henri Becquerel, Pierre and Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford to take part in it. Interview them for the results of their work.

 

TEXT B

BOILING WATER REACTORS

Pre-reading tasks

1. The text you are to read is headlined “Boiling water reactors”. In your opinion, what problems are discussed in this text? 2. If you were to make a report on this theme what would you speak about? What… 3. Think of 4-5 questions the answers to which you would to find in the text below.

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks to follow.

BOILING WATER REACTORS

A boiling water reactor is, in the end, a type of steam engine, and has much… But while many of the design concepts employed in these reactors are the same as what one finds in the early steam…

Tasks

1. The derivatives of the words given in the box are in the text. Find and name them.

 

to boil	nucleus	scheme	to condense	to design	to differ
to react	to cool	to press	to continue	to open	to generate

 

2. Make up collocations using the words of two columns. Each word can be used once only. (Make use of the text if necessary). Think of and write down 2-3 sentences where these collocations can be used.

to produce	reactor
advanced	poorly
to condense to	use of
to install	electricity
to suit	water
to employ	continuously
to pump	liquid state
to make	design
to rotate	technology

 

3. Replace the word in italics with a suitable word from the box.

function	revolves	makes	set up	generated
except for	differentiates	conventional	placed	applied

 

1. The most common type of nuclear reactor is a boiling water reactor.

2. Japan has installed several boiling water reactors.

3. Technology employed in nuclear reactors has changed greatly.

4. Apart from the fuel used by these reactors there are some other differences between them and Watt’s engine.

5. It rotates continuously.

6. All these components must operate for long periods of time.

7. Electricity is produced in accordance with a certain cycle.

8. Nuclear fuel is located in the reactor vessel.

9. It causes the turbine to spin.

10. This is the characteristic that distinguishes nuclear power plants from other types of heat engines.

 

4. The sentences describing the cycle by which electricity is produced are jumbled. Arrange them in the logical order.

5. Give answers to the following questions.

 

1. What is the most common type of nuclear reactors?

2. Where were boiling water reactors first used?

3. Are they still used?

4. Do modern nuclear reactors employ the same technology as the early steam engines?

5. How do turbines function?

6. Why do designers prefer to use turbines?

7. Under what conditions must all parts of a water boiling reactor operate?

8. How many stages does the cycle of electricity production include?

9. Why can we say that boiling water reactors have much in common with their steam predecessors?

 

6. Enumerate differences and similarities between boiling water reactors and their steam predecessors comparing

- the fuel used,

- the turbine and its analogue – Watt’s sun and planet gear system,

- service conditions.

 

(If there is not enough information in the text for making a comparison, find some other facts that help you to fulfill the task).

 

7. Describe the cycle by which electricity is generated. Make use of the following key words and expressions.

 

- heat, to generate, nuclear fuel, to locate, reactor vessel;

- to pump water, to convert to, high-pressure steam;

- steam, to travel, to reach, turbine;

- turbine, to spin, to connect, electrical generator, to produce electricity;

- to exit the turbine, steam, to enter, condenser, to cool, liquid state, to come into contact, heat exchanger, to circulate, , heat to exchange, purpose, to reduce, steam back pressure;

- liquid, to pump back, pressure vessel, to repeat the cycle.

 

8. Write a short essay about advantages and shortcomings of boiling water reactors.

 

 

TEXT C

GLOBAL WARMING AND NUCLEAR POWER

 

Pre-reading task

 

1. In your opinion,

- what is global warming?

- what are its consequences?

- are nuclear power production and global warming interconnected? If yes, then in what way?

- is global warming dangerous to our planet?

- is it possible to prevent it/

 

Reading

Read the text and fulfill the tasks given

GLOBAL WARMING AND NUCLEAR POWER

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The combustion reaction in which fossil fuels are consumed produces, in the main,… Many questions about the effects of a warmer atmosphere on storm systems,… Nuclear power plants produce no carbon dioxide. They depend, instead, on an entirely different mechanism for producing…

Tasks

1. The words in the box can be found in the text. Name the words from which they are derived.

different	generation	reduction	atmospheric	population
emission	retention	dependent	consumption
to accustom	percentage	composition	consequently

 

2. Adverbs are used to specify the meaning of verbs and adjectives. In the text below there are some collocations of the types “Verb + Adverb”, “Adverb + Adjective”.

a) Find, read and translate sentences with these structures.

b) Complete the sentences below using appropriate collocations considered above.

- These rays were … as X-rays.

- Their living standard is … from ours as he is fond of traveling.

- Burning tremendous quantities of fossil fuels can … to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

- Nuclear energy consumption in this country … .

- He … the money he got between his children.

 

3. Some figures and dates are mentioned in the text. Check whether you remember what events or facts they are related to. Match these figures with suitable information.

 

2.8 million tons of coal	France’s population increased by … from 1970 to 1995.
	Hydroelectric and fossil fuels are used to produce the remaining … of energy.
13%	The amount of electricity generated rose by … .
214%	Nuclear power generation rose … .
16%	will be burnt by coal-burning power stations each year.
from 6% to 77%	Carbon dioxide emission decreased by … .
20%	Raymond Orbach posed a question in his speech at Iowa State University.

 

4. Prove or disprove the following statements. Give arguments to support your viewpoint.

1. The amount of heat retained in Earth’s atmosphere depends on the thermal properties of the atmosphere.

2. The chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere does not influence its thermal properties.

3. As a result of combustion reaction in which fossil fuels are consumed two products are formed – carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

4. Carbon dioxide is a gas.

5. If there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, temperatures are rising.

6. The increase of the world’ population does not affect the rate of fossil fuels consumption.

7. Nuclear power plants do not generate any carbon dioxide.

8. Nuclear plants have no influence on the global climate.

9. Nuclear power plants are a possible way out as they meet the increasing requirement in energy and don’t produce carbon dioxide.

10. Germany managed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.

 

5. Write out key sentences from the text and use them in your report on the problem under consideration.

6. You are to take part in a round-table discussion of global warming problems and their possible solutions. Prepare a short report.

7. Write an essay on the theme “Global warming and nuclear power”.