Bewildering Array of Institutes

For officials of American science socie­ties and foundations, who are now confronted with the complexities of the Rus­sian bureaucracy and a bewildering array of Russian research institutes of varying quality, determining who and what to support and making certain that the assistance ends up where it is supposed to, - are no simple tasks.

Mr. Lerch of the physical society notes

 

Efforts to Aid Russia's Scholars Are More Than a Humanitarian Gesture

 

that the former Soviet Academy of Sciences, which recently trans­ferred its assets to the newly formed Russian Academy of Sci­ences. supported many institutes that did first-rate work. But he adds, "some institutes were sup­ported by the academy structure simply because they were political­ly correct. They were of no value scientifically."

"Divining which is which is go­ing to be difficult" for foundations and societies looking to funnel re­sources to specific institutions, Mr. Lerch says. "The former Sovi­et Union as a whole is a sinkhole."

Mr. Stone says his plan to pro­vide modest subcontracts to Rus­sian research institutes could avoid that problem, since institutes that do not return work of the highest quality would not be given addi­tional support.

'Someone Specific'

“Let's put this on a capitalist ba­sis," he says. "Let the American scientists figure out who's who."

Joseph McGhee, director of ex­changes at the U.S. State Depart­ment's Office of Independent States and Commonwealth Af­fairs—until recently called the Of­fice of Soviet Union Affairs—says that because funds can .be easily entangled or lost within the Rus­sian bureaucracy, groups sending money to help scholars there should "have someone specific in mind."

Donations of equipment, he adds. can run into additional prob­lems with customs regulations in Russia, U.S. export-control regu­lations. and other legal impedi­ments.

"Unless there's a competent consignee on the other end. God knows where it's going to end up," he says.

Loren R. Graham, a professor of the history of science at the Massa­chusetts Institute of Technology. says that because the "organiza­tion of Russian science and culture is presently in turmoil, direct assis­tance to major institutions should probably be avoided."

"We easily could support the wrong organizations in the power struggles going on." he adds.

Mr. Graham and others are also concerned that a Russian tax of as much as 60 per cent on foreign do­nations of funds and equipment and an official exchange rate that can significantly reduce the value of financial contributions could in­hibit support from U.S. founda­tions and other non-profit organizations.

Favorable Exchange Rate

Eugene B. Skolnikoff. a politi­cal-science professor at mit. says foundations that intend to send money should demand that their currency be exchanged at the more favorable tourist rate of 100 rubles to the dollar, rather than the official rate of 1.5 rubles to the dollar.

He and Mr. Graham emphasize that American groups should also try to negotiate an end to the Rus­sian tax on foreign contributions. Mr. Graham says that when he and Mr. Skolnikoff visited Russia last month, many scientists they spoke to expressed the fear that the tax would be an obstacle to foreign contributions. "Very often, they mentioned that tax." says Mr. Gra­ham.

In a letter that the two mit professors have been distributing to foundations around the country. two officials of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Victor M. Sergeev and Artyom Mnatsakanyan. urge Western groups considering ways of helping Russian science to meet with Russian officials to negotiate an end to the tax and to institute procedures through which funds can easily be sent to specific Russian scientists and institutions.

Mr. Rabinowitch of the MacArthur Foundation agrees with the recommendations of the Russian scientists, noting that foundations and other non-profit institutions

cannot agree to pay such taxes un­der U.S. Internal Revenue Service regulations.

"These taxes have got to be a matter for negotiation, as do the exchange rates," he says.

Mr. Skolnikoff of mit says that because they can respond quickly and provide financial assistance with less red tape and political con­troversy than the U.S. govern­ment. foundations and other non-profit institutions offer the best nope to Russian scholars, at least for the near future.

"Whatever can be done should be done quickly," he says. "And the largest hope of moving fast is with the foundations."

Other, more pressing prob­lems—such as starvation, bolster­ing the Russian economy, and keeping Russian nuclear scientists from selling information about nu­clear-weapons technology to other countries—are likely to get the most attention and help from the U.S. government. Mr. Skolnikoff and Mr. Graham say. Thus. they add, it would he appropriate for foundations to focus on such areas as preserving the best aspects of Russian fundamental science.

"It's not at the top of everyone's agenda in terms of relief." says Mr. Skolnikoff. "But it’s one of those areas where a little money can go a long way."

'Flood of Applications

Mr. Graham says organizations considering programs to support scholars In Russia should work to­gether to establish a joint U.S. ­Russian committee that could im­partially review proposals for as­sistance. "For ii foundation y American organization simply to declare itself open to applications for support to young and talented Russian scientists and artists would result in a flood of applica­tions that would be difficult to eval­uate." he says.

He and Mr. Skolnikoff say the programs should also encourage Russian scholars to remain in their country to avoid exacerbating the brain drain. They say program also should emphasize support for younger scholar* who are not as politically well connected, or insu­lated from cuts, as the older scholars.

 

 

Vocabulary

 plight - бедственное, тяжелое положение;

scholar - ученый;

to prompt - плбкждать, подталкивать, подсказывать;

effort - усилие;

to support - поддерживать;

concern - беспокойство, тревога;

survival - выживание;

to deteriorate - ухудшать(ся);

foundation - фонд;

to explore - исследовать;

among - среди;

to consider - полагать, считать, рассматривать;

competitive - соревнующий, конкурирующий;

grant - грант; деньги, выделяемые фондом на проект, на стажировку или обучение;

researcher - исследователь;

to link - соединять;

cooperative - совместный;

proposal - предложение, заявка;

to craft - здесь: создавать;

recent - недавний;

in response to - в ответ на;

threat - угроза;

academic - здесь: ученый;

welfare - благосостояние;

intended - предназначенный;

to fear - бояться, опасаться;

key - ключевой;

individuals - отдельные, частные лица;

to conduct - проводить;

acknowledged - признанный;

demise - сдача в аренду;

certain - некоторый, определенный;

to eliminate - уничтожать, упразднять, ликвидировать;

the rest of - отсальной;

treasure - сокровище, клад;

to save - спасать, сохранять, экономить;

drain - истощение, утечка;

executive - исполнительны;

officer - должностное лицо, госслужащий;

option - выбор, вариант;

whole - весь, целый;

generation - поколение;

creative - творческий;

sudden - внезапный;

to lay the groundwork - заложить основы;

specific - конкретный;

nuclear weapons - ядерное оружие;

maintenance - поддержание, содержание, обслуживание;

cuts - сокращения;

support - поддержка;

advancement - продвижение; прогресс, успех;

survey - исследование;

to determine - определять;

subscription - подписка (на журнал, газету);

to examine - рассматривать;

possibility - возможность;

foreign - зарубежный, иностранный;

to cancel - отменять, ликвидировать;

lack of funds - отсутствие/нехватка финансов;

to develop - равивать, разрабатывать;

to donate - дарить, жертвовать;

equipment - оборудование;

to bring together - соединять, объединять; наладить контакты между;

common - общий;

to promote - продвигать, способствовать;

to pair with - работать в парах, объединяться по два;

facilities - мн.ч. возможности, оборудование;

to explain - объяснять;

affairs - дела, вопросы;

to lead to - вести к;

cooperative - совместный;

long-term - долгосрочный;

exchange - обмен;

faculty - профессорско-преподавательский состав, преподаватели;

graduate - выпускной, выпускник;

dozen - дюжина;

to provide - обеспечивать, предоставлять;

additional - дополнительный;

team - команда;

to divert - отвлекать;

relatively - сравнительно;

amount - количество, сумма;

to require - требовать(ся);

to hire - принимать на работу;

intern - стажер;

to free up - высвободить;

to bewilder - смущать, ставить в тупик, сбивать с толку;

array - множество;

to confront with - сталкиваться с, противостоять;

complexity - сложность;

to determine - определять;

to make certain - убедиться;

to suppose - предполагать, полагать;

to note - примечать, замечать, отмечать;

former - бывший;

to transfer - переводить;

assets - мн.ч. фин.активы;

first-rate - первоначальный, превосходный;

value - ценность;

to divine - предсказывать, пророчить, (пред)угадывать;

to funnel - направлять;

as a whole - как единое целое;

sinkhole - сточная труба;

modest - скромный; умеренный;

to avoid - избегать;

since - поскольку;

additional - дополнительный;

support - поддержка;

to figure out - выяснить, обнаружить;

commonwealth - содружество;

affairs - дела;

recently - недавно;

to entangle - запутывать, впутывать; попасть в ловушку;

specific - конкретный;

donation - дар, пожертвование;

customs - таможня;

regulations - правила, предписания, инструкции;

legal - юридический;

impediment - помеха, препятствие;

unless - до тех пор, пока не;

consignee - получатель;

turmoil - смятение, суматоха, беспорядок;

wrong - не тот, неверный;

to concern - тревожиться, беспокоиться;

exchange rate - обменный курс;

significantly - значительно, очень;

to reduce - сокращать;

to inhibit - сдерживать, тормозить;

non-profit - некоммерческий;

favourable - благоприятный;

to intend - намереваться, собираться;

to demand - требовать;

currency - валюта;

to emphasize - подчеркивать, выделять;

to negotiate - вести переговоры;

tax - налог;

сontribution - вклад;

fear - страх, боязнь;

obstacle - препятствие;

to mention - упоминать;

to distribute - распределять;

to urge - побуждать, настоятельно требовать, настаивать;

way - путь, способ;

to institute procedures - ввести/учредить процедуры;

to agree - соглашаться;

internal - внутренний;

revenue - (годовой) доход; Департамент налогов и сборов;

matter - вопрос, дело;

to respond - отвечать;

to provide - обеспечивать;

red tape - волокита, бюрократизм, формализм;

controversy - противоречие;

to move - двигаться;

starvation - голод, голодная смерть;

bolstering - поддержка;

nuclear - ядерный;

appropriate - подходящий, соответстствующий;

to focus (on) - сконцентрироваться на, уделить основное внимание (чему-то);

agenda - повестка дня;

in terms of - с точки зрения;

relief - облегчение, помощь;

to establish - учредить, открыть;

joint - совместный;

impartially - беспристрастно;

to review - рассматривать;

to declare - объявлять, заявлять;

application - заявка, заявление;

flood - поток;

to evaluate - оценивать;

to encourage - подбадривать, поощрять;

to remain - оставаться;

to avoid - избегать;

exacerbating - обострение;

brain drain - утечка мозгов;

to connect – соединять

 

Answer the following questions.

 

1. What has prompted American foundations and scholarly organizations to explore the new ways to help Russian scholars?

2. What ideas are being considered?

3. What kind of threat made them hurry in providing assistance?

4. Is thi help supported to be just a humanitarian gesture?

5. What do American scholars fear?

6. What is work position of Victor Rabinowich?

7. What does he say about the current situation in Russia?

8. What is Sandra Burns' position?

9. What kind of survey is her office considering?

10. What possibilities is the American Physical Society examining?

11. What concept are they going to promote?

12. What kind of plan does Jeremy J.Stone say about?

13. What are American officers confronted with in Russia?

14. What does he say about subscriptions to Russian research institutes?

15. What is the position of Joseph McGhee?

16. What is his opinion about Russian bureaucracy? about donations of equipment?

17. What does the American side fear in the whole?

18. What do American non-profit organizations demand concerning taxes?

19. What are the American foundations going to focus on?

20. What for is a joint U.S.-Russian Committee to be established?

 

 

 Text 3

 

"INVISIBLE COLLEGE" WINS PRIZE FOR REFORM.

   

 The Invisible (невидимый) College, a non-traditional institution

(учреждение) in Budapest offering individual tutoring (наставничество,

руководство) and academic support (поддержка) to a limited number of

"gifted" (одаренный) university students, has won this year's Hannah Arendt

Prize.

The prize, first awarded (врученный) in 1995, is given annually by the

Vienna-based Institute for Human Sciences in recognition (в знак признания)

of "outstanding, self-initiated reform efforts in higher education and

research (научное исследование)" in the formerly (бывший) Communist

countries of Eastern Europe. It carries a cash (наличные деньги) grant from

the Korber Foundation of Hamburg, Germany, of 300,000 DM, or about

$176,000.

Founded (основанный) in 1992, the college took its name because it

has no facilities (оборудование). It provides (обеспечивать) intensive

academic support to undergraduates, graduate students, and doctoral

candidates (докторанты) at a variety (ряд) of Budapest institutions. This

year, it has 73 students. They were selected in a competitive (конкурсный,

состязательный) process and are considered among the most promising

(обещающий) social-science students in Hungary. Each one is assigned

(назначен) tutors (наставник) and is offered special classes. The students

also are given stipends, so that they can devote (посвящать) themselves

exclusively (исключительно, только) to their studies. The program is

financed by grants from Hungarian businesses.

Educators (педагоги) in the region say that programs similar

(подобный) to the Invisible College have been established (открыты) in

Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

 

Comprehension Check.

Ex. Answer the following questions:

1. What institutions awards Hannah Arendt Prize?

2. When was this prize first awarded?

3. Waht is it given for?

4. What is the source of money for this grants?

5. How many persons does it support this year?

6. In what sphere do the prize-winners make their researches?

 

Topics to discuss.

1. Hannah Arendt Prize. Its background, sources and goal.

2. Invisible College. The way it operates.

3. Prize-winners. Their number, field of research, attendimg classes>

 

                                  (U.S.NEWS and WORLD REPORT, May 12,1997).

 

 

 Text 4

 

JAZZ ON CAMPUS  

by Charles Levin

When David Roitstein helped launch the jazz studies program at

California Institute of the Arts in 1983, he faced an immediate dilemma.

Roitstein supervised a small but immensely talented group of students who

wrote their own compositions. But, other than taping a concert or

rehearsal, he had no way to preserve threir work for history; the resources

for a compact disc just weren't available.

"It was always important to us to document the music the music," says

Roitstein, who teaches piano at the Santa Clarita-based school. "That was a

priority, particularly because there's so much original composition here.

If you're just reproducing standard repertoire, I suppose it's important to

record the performance, but it takes on another level of importance when

you're documenting new original compositions."

Salvation arrived in 1989, when Joe Smith, then president and CEO of

Capitol-EMI, joined the institute's board of trustees. "He recognised the

program's value but realized thhat few people outside the school knew about

it," says Roitstein. Smith immediately volunteered his industry clout to

get the program free studio time, tape, engineers, CD production and

marketing savvy.

With continued help from EMI, CalArts (as it's known to denizens)

this year released its 10th CD of student jazz ensembles, a collection of

recordings that have won consistent raves for virtuosic performances.

Getting a composition selected for the CD is highly competitive.

Students submit taped compositions in the fall. The 13-member faculty -

including program co-founder and bassist Charlie Haden, drummer Joe

LaBarbera, percussionist John Bergamo and saxophonist Vinny Golia - pick

from nearly 80 compositions before making final choices. Ensembles record

in Capitol's famed Studio B, where Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle worked

magic in the 1950s.

Recording time is limited to two hours for each group, creating a

real-world atmosphere for students. That they record under high pressure

fulfills one goal of the CD project.

"I'd like for all our students to be comfortable in the studio,

whether it's doing professional production work, being studio musicians or

playing their original creative music," Roitstein says.

No one song on any CD sounds the same. The material ranges from

straight-up bop and full-throttle fusion to avantgarde musings and

Latin-jazz. Previous recordings have included Macedonian folk songs,

CalArts' African music ensemble and a six-part choir for hi-hat cymbals.

"We're looking for the most successful and interesting music in

whatever instrumentation or aesthetic direction the students are going in,"

Roitstein says. "Joe Smith always said when he listened to our CDs, it was

like pressing the scan button on the radio. And that's what we want: to

make a record that has some unity as a production but really represents the

broad range of the work that goes on here."

 

Vocabulary to the Text.

launch - стартовать, начать

face - сталкиваться

supervise - здесь: руководить

immensely - чрезвычайно, очень

rehearsal - репетиция

preserve - сохранять

available - жлступный

partially - частично

salvation - спасение

Capititol-EMI - ???????????

join - вступать, присоединяться

board - совет

trustee - попечитель

recognize - признавать

volunteer - (добровольно) вызваться

clout - Am.E. сленг: влияние

savvy - сленг: понимание, знание

denizen - здесь: знаток, поклонник

release - выпускать

consistent - здесь: последовательный

rave - восторженный отклик

competitive - конкурсный, сопернический

submit - предоставлять

faculty - профессорско-преп. состав

drummer - барабанщик

percussionist - ударник

final - окончательный

famed - известный, знаменитый

goal - цель

creative - творческий

range - варьировать (от...до...)

straight-up bop - настоящее потрясение, удар????????

full-throttle - захватывающий?????????

fusion - сплав, слияние

choir - хор

hi-hat cymbals - (мн.ч.) муз. тарелки, приводимые в движение ножной педалью

scan - (бегло) просматривать

button - кнопка, клавиша

 

Comprehension Check.

Ex. Answer the following questions:

1. When did the jazz studies program begin at California Institute of Arts?

2. How did all this start?

3. Who composed music there?

4. Why was it important to document the music?

5. What does CalArts mean?

6. What was the role of Joe Smith in establishing CalArts?

7. How many CDs did CalArts release in total?

8. In what way are compositions selected for a CD?

9. Who are the faculty members at the Institute of Arts?

10. What is the recording process like?

11. What kind of music do their CDs include?

 

Topics to discuss.

1. David Roitstein and Joe Smith. Their role in CalArts.

2. Selecting recordings for a CD.

4. Recording music by a musical group.

 

SPORTS CLUBS

AIKIDO CLUB

We're over in the Sports Hall every Thursday evening, so if you would like tohave a go at a friendly (!!) but effective martial (военный, боевой) art, come along and see what you think of Aikido.

Aikido is practiced by people of all ages and physical make-up, by women just as well as men, who learn you do not have to be agressive to stop yourself being pushed around.

As well as attending and organising courses with the Guildford Aikido Club, we do a fair bit of socialising (общение). There is always something going on and opportunities for you to get involved (участвовать) as much as you like.

CHESS

The Chess Club meets once a week in the Nelson Mandela Room to play all levels on a social basis. The Chess Club has been meeting on a Thursday night from 7:00pm to 11:00pm but this may change subject to room availability next year.

We have one team in the first division (подразделение) of the Surrey League, which requires рeople who are interested in competition play as well as social game over a quiet pint I (the only quiet pint in the Union).

' If you would like more information about the club then please contact us via (через) the Chess Club pigeon hole (почтовый ящик) in the Union. New faces are always welcome, whatever (какой бы ни был) the standard.

CROQUET CLUB

If you fancy an excuse on a sunny day to stroll down (прогуляться) to the Croquet Lawn (лужайка, площадка) for a game of croquet, with the additional extras (дополнительные порции) of beer and BBQs, (barbeques) join the Croquet Club!

The University Croquet Club was only set up in October 1989, so we are still a relatively (сравнительно) small club. However, over the past year we have purchased (приобрел) our own tournament (турнир) mallets (молотки для игр) and balls. Last year we had professional coaching (тренировка, обучение), and hope to be able to continue that this year.

Croquet is played on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons throughout the summer term  or, whenever you feel like a game,  on the Croquet Lawn by the Department.                                                       

FENCING CLUB  

Fencing (фехтование) is the European martial (военный, боевой) art with 3000 years tradition. The sport is variously described as "combat (битва) ballet", "chess at speed" and "boxing without pain (боевой)" which demonstrates the spectrum of interesting skills acquired (приобретаемый) by players.

Improved co-ordination, balance, flexibility (гибкость) and mental agility (умственные способности) are just some of the spin-offs (побочный результат). It really is the most fun way I get both (и…и…) aerobic fitness and it is up to you (вам решать) which level to go for.  

The club was re-founded in 1988 and has soon become a competitive (состязательный) club participating in many competitions. We also arrange friendly competitions with local  fencing clubs.

If the students are interested in a very fast and exciting (захватывающий) sport, then this is their club. All levels from beginner to national University representation can be trained in that club. Sports equipment (оборудование)is usually provided (обеспечено).

MENS FOOTBALL

We currently (в настоящее время) have three football teams, each one playing in universities competitions on Wednesdays and in local leagues at weekends. In the 1990/91 season, the first matches were very successful but then the teams were finally knocked out (выбиты) in the semifinals after a replay. They also won the local district league. There is also an annual (ежегодный) fixture (назначенная дата) in northern France against French semi (полу-)-professional side.

Players of all standards are encouraged (приветствуются) to come along at any time during the season,

LADIES FOOTBALL

Calling all fun loving and enthusiastic females (женщины) — the Ladies Football team welcomes you to the University of Surrey. We welcome players of ALL abilities, from the total novice (новичков) to the slightly more experienced (опытный), the emphasis (основное внимание) being on having a good time rather than serious competition (состязание, соревнование). 11-a-side matches are played in the South East Counties Womens Football League from October to April, and in the Summer months, a 5-a-side indoor tournaments (турниры) take over. Training is indoors (в помещении) in the Sports Hall, followed by a different type of training in the bar!

MENS AND LADIES HOCKEY CLUBS

The clubs offer the opportunity to play hockey at any level from beginner to international. The clubs play twice a week and the fixtures (11) vary from local clubs Universities and polys (=polytechnics). There are also weekly sessions in the Sports Hall. They have excellent (отличны) social (общественный) life. Events include (включают) club dinners, the Easter tour (поездка) (normally somewhere Europe), discos and the annual (ежегодный) sports dinner. The mens team helps to integrate the men and ladies' clubs, providing the chance to enjoy the game in a less serious manner.

With individual commitment (обязательство) to training, matches and the social side you won't I disappointed (разочарованы).

Karate at the University of Surrey caters for (обслуживать) all levels of ability, whether a beginner or advanced (продвинутый), with courses starting in October. The club is popular with both sexes due to Karate combining Martial(военный, боевой) Arts, Self Defence (самозащита) and fitness exercises.

Training sessions are held Mondays and Wednesdays for all abilities, while e Friday is held for mainly (в основном) higher grades (оценки). We have 4th and 3rd Dan instructors. For those who are interested we will be entering several competitions over the next year.

See us at the Sports Fayre during Intro Week for more details or just come along to any of our sessions.

NETBALL

Last year both teams did very well in the local competitions, with the first team reaching the semi-finals.

Willing to join us? Anyone interested in keeping fit (быть в хорошей физической форме) and having a good social life, whatever their netballing experience, welcome to come along to practices.

Anyone is welcome, coaching is willingly given, and all equipment (оборудование) is available. Please contact us via (через) the Rifle pigeon hole (почтовый ящик) in the Union.

 

The Rugby Club

The Rugby Club is as much a social club as a sports club (some would say that it is just a social club!). During the season there are usually games on Saturdays and Wednesdays. The club is able to satisfy all standards of rugby and non-players are welcome to join (no footballers please!). The spectacular 'Drag Disco' is one of the numerous (многочисленный) events organised by the club and is a must (обязательно) for anyone who likes dressing up in clothes usual reserved for people of the opposite (противоположный) sex, combining (вместе с) with drinking lots of beer

The season ends in a tour abroad. This is a thin disguise for a weekend of intoxication. If you would like to join the Rugby Club then come along during Introductory Week to an organised meeting or approach a drunk person wearing a club shirt (футболка) in the bar.

SAILING CLUB

If you've never been in a sailing boat (парусное судно) in your life, or if you're a budding (растущий) national champion we provide (обеспечить) a unique opportunity to get involved (участвовать) in sailing within a friendly social, teaching and competitive club, at a low cost. Every Wednesday afternoon we go to a lake, about five miles from campus, where we keep a fleet of larks (жаворонки) person sailing boats). The afternoon usually involves cruising and some informal instruction for beginners/improvers, followed by a trip to the local quaint (необычный, забавный) country pub. On the competitive side we travel to national student sailing league fixtures (назначенные даты) (wild weekends) and take part in local club racing (гонки) (Sundays). We also have social events (общественные мероприятия) throughout the year.

SQUASH CLUB

You don't have to be a superstar to join the squash club. There are plenty of (множество) opportunities for everyone to play, whether in one of the university teams or just on the Squash Club nights.

The club nights offer free (бесплатный) squash on Monday and Tuesday nights for everyone in the club, and there will also be coaching sessions available to those who want to pay a small price to improve (совершенствовать) their game. What with the discos and a meal or two the squash club has to be one of the best ways to enjoy getting fit (обретение хорошей физической формы).

 

SUB AQUA CLUB

The University Of Surrey Sub Aqua Club is a member of the British Sub Aqua Club and follows the BSAC approved training scheme.

This means you can have lots of fun, get fit, meet strange new friends and gain (обрести) an internationally recognised (признанный) qualification all in complete safety (полная безопасность).

Regular attendance (посещение) at training sessions leads firstly to the BSAC Novice Qualification and the start of open water diving (ныряние)  (i.e. in the sea). Their is the opportunity for a cheap week long diving holiday during the Easter (пасха) break.

Dives and training in the summer term and over the summer holidays can lead you quite quickly to the BSAC Sports Diver Qualification, allowing (позволяющий) you to hire (арендовать) equipment (оборудование) and dive all over the world. You can then continue with training as far as you wish, maybe even becoming a national coach (тренер)!

The club has all the necessary (expensive) equipment for scuba diving (подводное ныряние), so trainees (=sportsmen) need only supply, initially, basic snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins). A wetsuit will be needed when open water diving is ready to commence (начинаться). We have our own semi-rigid inflatable (надувной) dive boat 'Garfield' and the club also runs its own compressor, so air is cheap. Subsidised (фи нансируемый) transport is available (доступен) through Students' Union, and the Union will also pay costs towards external (внешний) BSAC diver training courses. Training with the club is one of the cheapest ways of gaining (получение) BSAC qualifications. If you are already qualified to some BSAC standard, your help would be greatly appreciated (оценгена) in training new divers. In return, you receive all the benefits (выгоды) of diving with a well established club including use of equipment (оборудование), boat, air and transport, as well as a good social atmosphere.

Meetings (every Thursday during term time) consist of a BSAC training lecture (not boring (скучный), promise) covering (освещающий) theoretical aspects of diving, then a practical session in the pool, followed by in depth drinking practice in the Pub. A good nights sleep is guaranteed! Meetings generally start at around 7.00pm, (depending on ( взависимости от) the length of the lecture), but in the first term, special 'HAVE A GO' sessions and introductory (вводный) talks will be organised, so see us at Sports Fayre (or check our pigeon hole (почтовый ящик) or notice board) for precise (точный) dates and times.

The deeper you go, the better it feels!

 

WINDSURFING CLUB

The windsurfing club actively encourages (поощряет) newcomers to the sport. In 1990-91 three beginners courses were with all the participants achieving their first grade (уровень) certificate. The club also owns a variety of windsurfers which can be used by the members. For the experienced we organise trips to the sea.

 

TENNIS CLUB

The Tennis Club plays on tennis courts at Manor Farm Sports Ground, a short walk from campus. Standard of players at present includes country and club standard and anyone who wants to play.

We play in both the Winter and the Summer, usually on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.

WE manage to provide (предоставляет):

Mens and ladies teams in Tennis Competitions. There are six people per team. Only doubles is played. Second teams can be entered.

Winter Tennis — Mens ,ladies and mixed (смешанный) doubles (teams of 4).

Friendly matches against other universities and polys.

Regular practices

Entrance of individuals in the University Athletic Federation Tennis Tournament

...and given sufficient (значительный) interest:

Winter tennis Coaching for all standards Surrey winter league tennis

 

QUOTATIONS and JOKES.

· We should live and learn; but by the time we've learned, it's too late to live.

Carolyn Wells.

· They know enough who know how to learn.

Henry Adams.

 

· On many American campuses the only qualification for admission was the ability actually to find the campus and then discover a parking space.

Malcolm Bradbury

· I find three major administrative problems on a campus are sex for the students, athletics for the alumni and parking for the faculty.

Clark Kerr, President, University of California

Basic research is when I don't know what I'm doing.

Werhner von Braun

 

Урок 4

Понятие « Engineering» и его составляющие. Компьютерные технологии.

Грамматика: герундий, причастие, инфинитив

 

Introductory text

 

WHAT IS ENGINEERING

 

Ask a number of people chosen at random what the word "engineering" conveys to them and you will be surprised at the differences in their answers. Better still, ask a number of students enrolled in an engineering college why they have chosen to study for the engineering profession. It soon becomes clear that few have given it much thought or inquired in any depth as to what it is all about. A student may feel, because of his ability to fix automobiles, that he has a mechanical bent and that he could well become a successful engineer as a result of this aptitude. However, he should realize that what he learns at the university will not help much around the garage and he is more likely to end up behind a desk than with a wrench in his hand.

The question is difficult to clarify in a few words, and precise definitions are difficult to find. Perhaps an adequate starting point would be to claim that engineering is a profession concerned with the application of the resources of the universe to create devices, systems, and structures to satisfy the needs of mankind. This is a very general and not completely satisfactory definition. After all, craftsmen who make tennis rac­quets or violins, for example, do not look on themselves as engineers. Further, many engineers are engaged in tasks not clearly identifiable withparticular devices, systems, or structures.

An easy way out is to let the existing curricula in engineering colleges around the country define the substance of engineering. Undoubtedly, the people who use the concepts and techniques presented in such curricula to satisfy man's needs are mostly engineers. The usual structure of engineering curricula includes four main components. First come the basic sciences of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Then a block of humanities courses is required. The engineering courses fall in the general areas of (I) mechanics of solids, (2) properties of materials, (3)) mechanics of fluids, (4) thermodynamics, (5) electrical science, (6) transfer and rate processes, and (7) systems. Finally come the design courses which put it all together. It is this design discipline which exemplifies engineering in action, for it illustrates how engineers solve practical problems by applying their scientific knowledge and skills in the iterative decision-making process. This is how engineers adapt science to human needs.

Vocabulary to the text:

engineering - техника, инженерно-строительная сфера, машиностроение;

at random - наугад, случайно;

to convey - выражать, передавать (идею, мысль);

to enroll - зачислять, принимать (в вуз);

to inquire - исследовать, рассматривать;

ability - способность;

to fix - амер.: ремонтировать;

bent - склонность, наклонность;

aptitude (for) - способность, склонность (к);

to realize - осознавать, понимать;

likely - вероятно, по всей видимости;

wrench - гаечный ключ;

to clarify - прояснять(ся), разъяснять;

precise - точный;

definition - определение;

to concern - здесь: касаться, иметь отношение (к);

application - применение, использование;

universe - вселенная;

to create - творить, создавать;

device - прибор, устройство, механизм; план, схема, проект; изобретение;

completely - совершенно, полностью;

craftsman - специалист, мастер (своего дела);

violine - скрипка;

to be ingaged (in) - заниматься (чем-то);

identifiable - отождествляемый;

particular - определенный;

way out - выход;

existing - существующий;

curricula (мн.ч.) - учебные планы, программы (школы, института,

ниверситета);

to define - определять, давать определение;

substance - здесь: сущность, суть; содержание;

undoubtedly - несомненно;

to include - включать;

to require - требовать(ся);

to fall in - здесь: разделяться;

solid - твердое тело;

property - свойство, качество;

fluid - жидкость;

transfer - перенос, передача;

rate - здесь: скорость, темп;

to put together - соединять, объединять;

to exemplify - служить примером, приводить пример;

in action - в действии;

to solve - (раз)решать;

to apply - применять, использовать;

skill - умение, мастерство; квалификация;

to iterate - повторять;

to adapt - приспосабливать, адаптировать.

 

Word Study to the Text

 

Ex.1 Find equivalents to the following phrases.

 

свойства материалов; передача/перенос и скорость; процесс принятия

решений;         применять знания и умения;      создавать приборы;     по всей стране; склонность к механике;            набирать/зачислять студентов; выбранные наугад;         начальная точка;         гуманитарные науки;            профессия, связанная с применением ресурсов; удовлетворять потребности человека; различия в их ответах;           заняты в этих задачах; исследовать глубоко; включать 4 основных компонента; легкий выход;            представленный в учебных планах;      решать проблемы;      ибо это иллюстрирует; решать практические задачи;           объединять все курсы.

 

Ex.2 Translate the following sentences into English.

 

1. Этот вопрос трудно объяснить в нескольких словах.

2. Трудно найти точные определения данному явлению (phenomenon).

3. Существующие учебные планы в инженерных колледжах по всей стране определяют суть инженерного дела.

4. Мы опросили ряд людей, выбранных наугад.

5.  Сколько студентов зачисляют на ваш факультет каждый год?

6. У него есть склонность к механике.

7. Благодаря этой способности/склонности он может стать успешным инженером.

8. Профессия инженера связана с применением ресурсов вселенной для создания приборов, систем и структур с целью удовлетворения нужд человека.

9. Учебный план включает 4 основных компонента.

10.  Это очень общее определение.

11. Инженеры разрешают практические проблемы, применяя свои знания и умения в процессе принятия решений.

12. Таким образом инженеры применяют научные знания, удовлетворяя потребности человека.

 Comprehension Check:

Ex. Answer the following questions.

1. Why do students choose the profession of an engineer?

2. What is engineering profession concerned with? (Give the general definition).

3. What are the necessary components of the engineering curricula?

4. Are there only technical subjects in the curricula of the technical higher education institutions?

 

Text IA

Science and Engineering

The words scientist and engineer are frequently and used interchangeably. The popular news media are of little help in clarifying the difference. In general, scientists are concerned with extending our knowledge about the fundamental laws of nature, while engineers apply these laws to practical problems. However, as our understanding of the real world increases, fields that are traditionally identified as pure science move into the engineer's domain while the scientist continues to probe more deeply into the nature of things. In fact, there is no clear separation between the two activities. Many engineers are conducting what might be called pure fundamental research, perhaps not directly associated with specific practical problems. The best we can do here is to recognize an ever-changing spectrum of activity ranging from the fundamental to the applied one. The range runs from pure science to engineering, and if appropriate words are required to describe the broad overlapping region where the two merge, engineering science is some­times used.

Further confusion arises at the applied end of the spectrum. The implementation of engineering solutions is carried out by a variety of technicians who make, install, and maintain the so-called hardwire itself, usually under some form of supervision. These people are often traditionally referred to as engineers, though today the word technician is more apt. Actually, any four-year -old child knows from his story books that an engineer drives a train. Today the typical engineer is a college graduate, quite often with an advanced degree. He is engaged in some combination of research and engineering design or development or in other words with the creation of new things or the improvement of existing things. Central to his achievements is the process of design.

Vocabulary to the text:

frequently - часто;

interchangeably - взаимозаменяемо, одно вместо другого;

to extend - расширять;

law - закон;

to increase - увеличиввать;

field - область, сфера (знаний, деятельности);

to identify - здесь: считать(ся);

to lie (lying) - лежать;

pure - чистый;

to move - переходить;

domain - область, сфера (деятельности, науки);

while - в то время как;

to probe - здесь: проверять, исследовать;

clear - четкий, ясный;

separation - разделение;

to conduct - проводить;

research - исследование, изучение;

to associate - ассоциировать, связывать (с);

specific - особый, определенный;

to recognize - узнавать, распознавать, различать;

ever-changing - вечноменяющийся;

to range (from... to...) - вырьировать, колебаться (в известных пределах);

applied - прикладной;

appropriate - подходящий, соответствующий;

to require - требовать(ся);

broad - широкий;

to overlap - частично перекрывать(ся), частично совпадать;

region - область;

to merge - сливать(ся), соединять(ся);

confusion - смешение, путаница;

to arise - возникать, появляться;

implementation - осуществление, реализация;

solution - решение;

to carry out - выполнять, осуществлять;

variety - множество, ряд;

to install - устанавливать;

to maintain - здесь: обслуживать, ремонтировать;

hardware - здесь: машинное оборудование;

supervision - руководство, контроль, курирование;

to be referred to - здесь: называться;

apt - здесь: подходящий;

extreme - крайний, чрезвычайный;

graduate - выпускник;

advanced - продвинутый; успевающий(о студенте); передовой, новейший;

degree - ученая степень;

to be engaged in - заниматься (чем-то);

development - здесь: разработка;

creation - создание;

improvement - усовершенствование, улучшение;

exising - существующий;

achievement - достижение.

 

Word Study to the Text
Ex.1 Translate the following words and phrases.

 

часто путать; взаимозаменяемый;     средства массовой информации новостей; постоянно меняющийся спектр; четкое разделение;      расширять знания;       науки, варьирующие от фундаментальных до прикладных;          где 2 из них сливаются; чистая наука;            природа/суть вещей;   традиционно считаться;           то, что может быть определено;   соответствующее/подходящее слово;   под руководством; область пересечения; проводить исследование; ассоциироваться с..; сфера (2 варианта);  останавливать и обслуживать оборудование;    осуществление; более подходящий;     выпускник колледжа;  создание новых предметов; сочетание; усовершенствование уже существующего;          применять законы к практическим проблемам.

 

Ex.2 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Многие инженеры осуществляют то, что можно назвать чисто фундаментальным исследованием.

2. Наше понимание реального мира расширяется.

3. На самом деле, нет четкого разделения между этими двумя видами деятельности.

4. Науки варьируют от фундаментальных до прикладных.

5. Слова "ученый" и "инженер" часто путают и используют одно вместо другого.

6. В общем, ученые заняты расширением наших знаний о фундаментальных законах природы.

7. Инженеры применяют эти законы в решении практических проблем.

8. Возникает семантическая путаница.

9. Множество техников устанавливают и обслуживают оборудование, обычно под руководством.

10. Типичный инженер - это выпускник колледжа.

11. Сочетание научного исследования и инженерного дизайна помогает создавать новое или совершенствовать уже существующее.

12. Эти люди традиционно называются инженерами, хотя больше подходит слово "техник".

 

Comprehension Check:

Ex. Answer the following questions

1. What are scientists and engineers concerned with?

2. Is there clere separation between these two activities?

3. Who implements and solves engineering problems?

4. What word is more apt to name them?

5. What education does a typical engineer have?

6. What kind of activities are engineers engaged in?

 

Text I - B

Engineering as a Profession

Engineering is often compared to medicine and law in discussions of professional status. It would appear to qualify according to the dictionary meaning of the word. Engineers require specialised knowledge and intensive preparation with continued study after leaving the university. The profession has a strong organizational structure, requires high standards, and operates in the public service. These attributes are commonly associated with the word professional as it is used here. This is a rather restricted interpretation and it differs from its use in describing, say, a professional actor or sportsman who is paid for his efforts, as opposed to an amateur who performs for enjoyment. It is also sometimes used in reference to level of experience so that one speaks of a professional job house painting or plumbing. Another use refers to a continued effort over an extended period of time so that one hears reference to a "professional student" as one who spends many years at a university.

Most important is the fact that engineers see themselves as profession­als. They have to be technically competent and operate with responsibil­ity in conformity with accepted notions of professionalism.

The type of responsibility is rather different from that of a doctor. The doctor's responsibility is clearly recognizable because of the directness of the doctor-patient relationship. For the engineer, the result of his labors - be it a bridge, air-conditioning unit, automobile or computer - is interposed between himself and the user. However, since people's lives are often at stake if an error is made, a high level of competence is essential.

There is a certain lack of distinctness about the engineering profession because of the very wide range of activities and individual backgrounds encompassed. The number of people involved is larger than in most other professional areas. For example, in 1960 there were 864.000 engineers, 396.000 accountants and auditors, 214,000 physicians and surgeons, 206,000 lawyers and judges, 81,000 dentists, and 30.000 architects.

Vocabulary to the text:

to compare - сравнивать;

law - право;

to appear - казаться, появляться;

according to - в соответствии, согласно;

prеparation - подготовка;

continued - продолжающийся, непрерывный;

to operate - действовать;

attribute - определение;

commonly - обычно;

restricted - ограниченный;

interpretation - здесь: толкование;

to differ (from) - отличаться (от);

effort - попытка, усилие;

as opposed to - в отличие от..;

amateur - любитель;

enjoyment - удовольствие;

in reference to - относительно, что касается;

level - уровень;

plumbing - водопроводное дело;

extended - здесь: длительный;

in conformity - в соответствии с..;

accepted - общепринятый, общепризнанный;

notion - понятие;

recognizable - различимый, очевидный;

directness - прямота, непосредственность;

relationship - отношение;

labor - труд, работа;

to interpose - стяновиться между, стоять/быть между;

since - поскольку;

to be at stake - быть поставленным на карту;

error - ошибка;

lack (of) - отсутствие, нехватка;

distinctness - ясность, определенность;

essential - существенный;

to mention - упоминать;

range - сфера, диапазон;

background - опыт;

to encompass - содержать, заключать (в себе);

accountant - бухгалтер;

physician - врач, доктор;

surgeon - хирург;

lawyer - юрист;

judge - судья.

 

Word Study to the Text

Ex.1 Find equivalents to the following words and phrases.

 

непрерывное обучение; работать для удовольствия;     сравнивать с правом; как упомянуто в;           компетентен в области техники;          взаимоотношение "врач - пациент";       пользователь; индивидуальный опыт; количество задействованных людей;           отсутствие четкости; общепризнанное понятие профессионализма;    высокий уровень компетентности;           обычно ассоциируется с..; определять значение слова по словарю;           ограниченное толкование;    тип ответственности; поскольку на ставку поставлена жизнь людей; сделать ошибку;           в соответствии с..;           широкий диапазон видов деятельности; инженеру требуются специальные знания; чьи усилия оплачиваются; длительный период времени;     в отличие от любителя.

 

Ex.2 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Тип ответственности инженера иной, чем у врача.

2. Он должен быть компетентен в техническом плане и действовать в соответствии с общепринятыми понятиями профессионализма.

3. Профессия инженера отличается отсутствием четкости, поскольку она включает широкий диапазон видов деятельности и индивидуальный опыт.

4. В отличие от любителей, которые работают для удовольствия, эта профессия требует высоких стандартов.

5. Инженеру требуются специальные знания плюс непрерывное обучение после окончания университета.

6. Значение данного слова определяют по словарю.

7. Эти определения обычно ассоциируются со словом "профессионал".

8. Это довольно ограниченное определение.

9. Усилия профессионального спортсмена оплачиваются.

10. Эта работа будет выполняться в течение длительного периода времени.

11. Поскольку на ставку поставлена жизнь людей, для инженера существенным является высокий уровень компетентности.

12. Количество участвующих людей - намного больше, чем в большинстве других профессиональных областей.

Comprehension Check:

Ex. Answer the following questions.

 

1. What is engineering often compared to?

2. What do engineers require?

3. Do engineers need a high level of competence? Why?

4. Does the type of engineers' responsibility differ from that of a doctor?

5. What can you say about the results of engineers' labors?

6. Is there clear distinctiveness about the engineering profession?

7. Are there many engineers in America if compared with other professional areas?

 

Text 1-C

 

TO DEPEND ON COMPUTERS - IS IT BAD OR NOT?

 

   Computers are a relatively new invention. The first computers were

built fifty years ago and it is only in the last 30 or so years, that their

influence has affected our everyday life. Personal computers were

introduced as recently as the early 1980s. In this short time they have

made a tremendous impact on our lives. We are now so dependent on

computers, that it is hard to go into a bank, when their main computer is

broken. Just try to appreciate the chaos, that would occur if computers

were suddenly removed world-wide.

    In the future computers will be used to create bigger and even

more sophisticated computers. The prospects for this are quite alarming.

They will be so complex, that no individual could hope to understand how

they work. They will bring a lot of benefits, but they will also increase

the potential for imaginable chaos. They will, for example, be able to fly

planes and they will be able to co-ordinate the movements of several planes

in the vicinity of an airport. Providing all the computers are working

correctly, nothing can go wrong. If one small program fails - disaster.

     There is a certain inevitability, that technology will progress

and become increasingly complex. We should, however, ensure that we are

still in a position where we are able to control technology. It will be all

too easy to suddenly discover that technology is controlling us. By then

it might be too late. So, it's very important to be suspicious of the

benefits that computers will bring and to make sure that we never become

totally dependent on a completely technological world. 

 

Vocabulary to the Text.

depend (on) - зависеть (от)

relаtively - сравнительно 

invention - изобретение

influence - влияние

affect - воздействовать

introduce - вводить

tremendous - потрясающий

impact - воздействие

appreciate - оценивать

occur - случаться

remove - убрать, устранить

create - создать

sophisticated - здесь: сложный

prospect - перспектива

alarming - тревожный

complex - сложный

benefit - выгода, польза

increase - увеличивать

in the vicinity - вблизи

providing - при условии

disaster - бедствие, катастрофа

certain - некий

inevitability - неизбежность

ensure - гарантировать

suspicious - подозрительный; здесь: осторожный

make sure - убедиться

totally - абсолютно

completely - совершенно

 

Word Study to the Text.

Ex. Match the pairs of synonyms among the following words:

A. completely; in the vicinity; if; complex; person; be introduced;

ensure; impact; individual; happen;

B. sophisticated; totally; appear; guarantee; person; relatively;

nearby; occur; providing; influence.

 

Ex. Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. relatively new 2. to increase a potential 3. in the vicinity (of) 4.

to go wrong 5. to be introduced 6. certain inevitability 7.

increasingly complex 8. to make sure 9. totally independent 10. to be

suspicious 11. sophisticated computer 12. tremendous impact 

a/ быть осторожным, настороженным b/ сложный компьютер c/ некая

неизбежность d/ увеличить потенциал e/ вблизи f/ убедиться g/

огромное воздействие h/ абсолютно независисый i/ вводить g/ все в

возрастающей степени сложный k/ идти не так, случаться l/ сравнительно

новый  

 

Ex. Match the words with their Russian equivalents:

1. disaster 2. providing 3. to ensure 4. invention 5. to appreciate

6. to affect 7. occur 8. benefit 9. to increase 10. generation 11.

prospect 12. to create 13. influence 14. alarming 15. to emerge

a/ случаться b/ появляться c/ тревожный d/ воздействовать    e/

поколение f/ ценить g/ перспектива h/ катастрофа i/ изобретение g/

влияние k/ допустим; если l/ создавать m/ обеспечивать,

гарантировать n/ возрастать o/ выгода

 

Ex. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Компьютер - это сравнительно новое изобретение.

2. Они появились около 50 лет назад.

3. Персональные компьютеры появились недавно, в начале 1980-хгг.

4. За это короткое время они оказали огромное воздействие на нашу жизнь.

5. Мы стали настолько зависимы от компьютеров, что вряд ли (hardly) можем

представить нашу жизнь без них. 6. Далее будут создаваться еще более

сложные компьютеры. 7. Перспективы для этого тревожные, поскольку выгоды

всегда сопровождаются (be followed with) проблемами. 8. Компьютеры нового

поколения, например, смогут координировать полеты самолетов вблизи

аэропортов. 9. Допустим, что все компьютеры работают верно, тогда ничего

(плохого) не случается. 10. Но если произойдет неполадка (failure) с

программой - это может вызвать (cause) катастрофу. 11. Есть некая

неизбежность, что техника будет все в большей степени развиваться и

становиться все более сложной. 12. Мы должны быть осторожны

(подозрительны) к тому факту, что мы контролируем технику, а не она - нас,

ибо к тому времени (by then) будет слишком поздно изменить что-либо.

 

Comprehension Check.

1. When did the first computers emerge?

2. When were the personal computers introduced?

3. Are people dependent on computers now?

4. What can happen if the main computer in the bank gets broken?

5. Will there be only benefits from computers?

6. What functions will they perform?

7. What can happen if some program fails in a sophisticated computer?

8. Why is it very important to be suspicious of the computers?

 

Ex. Answer the following questions:

Topics to discuss.

1. Things which can be done with a help of computers.

2. Problems caused by computers.

 

Text I -D

The Computer

As the century comes to a close, the technology that obsesses us, capti­vates us, infuriates us an dominates us is the com­puter. But ultimately, the most amazing of inven­tions won't be seen as an artifact of the of millennium but the defining force of the one just dawning. Do you really think that we're already into the computer age? That's a gross underestimation of what the computer will eventually do to change our world, our lives and perhaps the nature of reality itself.

Underestimation, as it turns out, has been a constant in the brief but dazzling history of this amazing machine. Surprisingly, the tale begins in the 19th century, when Charles Babbage, an English mathematician born in 1791, launched a lifelong quest to build information-processing m, chines—first a calculator called the Difference Engine and then a more elaborate programmable device dubbed the Analytical Engine. He lacked—among other things— electricity, transistors, keyboads and Bill Gates. Yet in the 1830s he came astonishingly close to producing some­thing very much like the computers that would be celebrated decades after he died. Unfortunately, his skill at innovation was not matched by an ability to generate venture capital, and his plans were tossed into the unforgiving core dump of history.

The idea of a programmable machine that performed humanity's mental labors breakthrough came at the hands of another eccentric English mathematician, A Turing, who outlined how it was possible to build something that could perform virtually any mathematical task that one could describe. His proof involved an ingenious imaginary device that would b known as the Universal Turing Ma­chine—essentially, a machine that could duplicate the work of any other machine;

Even if the "machine" were a human calculator. Turing knew what the rest of us are still trying to wrap our minds around—such a contraption, a computer can do anything. It's an invention that breeds invention itself.

But it took a war to bring about the physical devices that would be known as the first real computers. (A small but noisy controversy among computer historians involves whether a device constructed in 1939 by John Atanasoff and his student at Iowa State University, Clifford Berry, de­serves the true mantle of First Electronic Computer.) In England Turing himself worked on machines that helped crack the secret codes used by the Germans. In Ger­many itself, a wizard named Konrad Zuse was working on that country's computing effort but never fully realized his ideas. And in America, a Hungarian genius named John von Neumann—perhaps the premier mathematician of this century-was pondering mechanical devices to help perform the calculations required for the Manhattan Project. A chance meeting at a train platform in 1944 led him to a team of scientists working at the University of Pennsylvania to create ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), which many people consider the true Adam of computers. Designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly to help crunch numbers for artillery-target esti­mates, this device used 18,000 vacuum tubes and cost $400,000. Von Neumann was fascinated, and he worked with the ENIAC people to take computing to the next level: ED VAC, which was essentially a blueprint for the machines that followed: memory, stored programs and a central processor for number crunching. This scheme was suffi­ciently versatile to launch computers into the commercial realm. But even then, underestimation was as thick as in Babbage's day. Thomas Watson Sr., the head of the company that was perhaps most prescient of all in embracing the idea—IBM — thought it unimaginable that there would ever be a worldwide need for the ma­chine. "I think there is a world market," said Watson, "for maybe five computers."

As we know, IBM sold a lot more than five computers. During the '50s and '60s big institutions and businesses used these expensive devices to perform complicated tasks, churning out responses to programs fed into the machine on manila cards. But while a quasi-priesthood of caretakers controlled access to the rooms that held these beasts, a small underground proto-hacker culture also emerged. These ad-venturesome supemerds used the com­puter to process words, to draw pictures

and even to play chess. (Naysayers pre­dicted that a computer would never mas­ter this purely human intellectual pursuit. Garry Kasparov probably wishes they were right.)

What finally bound those two cultures together was the development of the per­sonal computer. This was made possible by the invention of the microprocessor— a computer on a chip—by Intel Corp.'s Ted Hoffin 1971. Essentially, what once filled a room and cost as much as a man­sion had been shrunk down to the size of a postage stamp and the cost of a dinner. By 1975, the PC was just waiting to be born, and the obstetrician was Ed Roberts, a Florida-bom engineer who dreamed of a machine that would delivel to the ordinary man a machine that was the mental equivalent of what the pharaohs had in Egypt: thousands of workers to do one's bidding. His Altair microcomputer was announced in Janu­ary of that year, and though it had limited practical value (the only way to put a pro gram in was to painstakingly flick little switches), it caused a sensation among a small cult of tweak-heads and engineers.

Like who? A Harvard student named Gates, for one, who instantly began writ­ing Altair software. Another acolyte was Stephen Wozniak, who quickly designed his own machine, the Apple II.

Even then, people still kept underesti­mating. Consider what Ken Olsen, head of the then powerful Digital Equipment Corp., had to say when asked about the idea of the computer's becoming a common device: "There is no reason for any individ­ual to have a computer in his home." What proved him wrong was the

grass-roots development of software for these small devices: word processing, games and, perhaps the most crucial of all, a program called VisiCalc that not only automated the previously tedious task of calculating financial spreadsheets, but made modeling of business plans as easy as sneezing. Electronic spreadsheets were the tool that persuaded big business (which had previously turned its nose up at personal computers) to adopt the ma­chines wholesale. And a new industry was suddenly thriving. The next big step was the move to computer communications in the '90s, when program called Mosaic, written by stu­dents at the University of Illinois who Ii er helped found the Netscape company; shot what was already an accelerating ! global Internet into serious overdrive:

The prospect of millions of computers ^! connected worldwide was suddenly a reality. People are still processing the effects of that explosion. And a lot of people, still in denial, are kidding themselves by thinking that the end of the Net transforma­tions is anywhere in sight.

Where are the frontiers of computing? It's scary to contemplate, because the field is so young and the technology so flexible. But consider what some computer scientists are already working on. Nanocomputers — microscopic devices that may change the way we think of materials. ' Digital ink that will, in effect, transform paper into something as protean as com­puter screens. And "artificial life" soft- ' ware that works like biological organism so much so that it strives to be classified as itself alive.

Skeptics dismiss the feasibility of many of these ambitious projects. In other words, people still persist in underestimating the power of a machine whose limitations are seemingly unbounded. If history is our guide, even our imaginations cannot grasp what the computer will ultimately become.

 

 

Vocabulary

close - здесь: конец, завершение

obsess - завладеть

captivate - пленять

infuriate - приводить в ярость

ultimately - в конечном итоге

amazing - замечательный

invention - изобретение

artifact - здесь: изделие (рукотворное)

gross - большой

underestimation - недооценка

eventually - в конечном итоге

turn out - оказываться

dazzling - поразительный

tale - история

launch - стартовать, начать

quest - поиски

process - обрабатывать

elaborate - тщательно разрабатывать

engine - двигатель

dеvice - прибор, устройство

dub - шутл. давать прозвище

lack - отсутствовать, не хватать

keyboard - клавиатура

astonishingly - удивительно

decade - десятилетие

skill - умение

match - равняться, подходить

venture capital - стартовый капитал

be tossed into - быть погребенным в

core - сердцевина, ядро

dump - амер. мусорная куча

breakthrough - прорыв

outline - очертить, обрисовать

virtually - практически

proof - доказательство

involve - включать, вовлекать

ingenious - остроумный

imaginary - воображение

essentially - по сути, по существу

duplicate - продублировать

wrap around - обертывать, окутывать

contraption - шутл. странный прибор

breed (bred,bred) - здесь: порождать

controversy - противоречие

deserve - заслуживать

mantle - мантия

crack - здесь: взломать

wizard - волшебник, чародей

effort - усилие

realize - реализовать, осуществлять

ponder - тщательно обдумывать

perform - совершать

required - требуемый

team - команда

create - создавать

crunch - здесь: подбирать, выявлять

target - цель

estimate - оценка

fascinate - пленить, очаровать

tube - трубка

bluepring - (свето)копия

stored - сохраняемый

sufficiently - достаточно

versatile - вязкий

launch - здесь: запускать

realm - область, сфера

prescient - форм. предвосхищаемый

embrace - включать

businesses - мн.ч.:фирмы, компании

complicated - сложный

churn out - здесь: выдавать

response - ответ

feed(fed, fed) - здесь: загружать

manila - особый материал

quasi - псевдо-, квази

caretaker - хранитель, смотритель

access - доступ

beast - здесь: чудовище

emerge - возникать, появляться

adventuresome - рискованный

naysayer - амер. противник

predict - предсказывать

purely - чисто, только

pursuit - занятие, дело

bind* - связывать, объединять

mansion - особняк

shrink* - сжиматься

obstetrician - врач, сопровождающий рождение ребенка

deliver - поставить, обеспечить

bidding - приказание

announce - объявить, заявить

value - ценность

painstackingly - кропотливо,старательно

flick - щелкнуть, нажать

cause - вызвать, быть причиной

cult - культ

software - программное обеспечение

acolyte - служитель, помощник

common - общепринятый, обычный

device - прибор, устройство

prove - доказывать

grass-roots - обычные, простые люди

crucial - решающий

previously - ранее

tedious - утомительный

spreadsheet - бланк отчета

sneeze - чихать

turn one's nose up at - "воротить нос"

adopt - принимать

wholesale - оптовая торговля

thrive - процветать, преуспевать

prospect - перспектива

explosion - вхрыв

denial - отрицание

be kidding - разг. шутить

in sight - на виду

frontiers - мн.ч. границы

scary - страшно

contemplate - предполагать, размышлять

flexible - гибкий

digital - цифровой

ink - чернила

protean - постоянно меняющийся

screen - экран

artificial - искусственный

feasibility - вероятность, осуществимость

persist - настаивать

limitation - ограничение

unbounded - здесь: неограниченный

guide - гид, руководитель

imagination - воображение

grasp - здесь: понять, осознать

ultimately - в конечном итоге

 

Word Study to the Text.

Ex. Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. ultimately 2. chance meeting 3. gross underestimation 4.

feasibility of projects 5. lifelong quest 6. artificial life 7.

venturе capital 8. commercial realm 9. worlwide need (for) 10.

expensive device 11. essentially 12. noisy controversy 13.

imaginary device 14. complicated task 15. financial spreadsheet 16.

intellectual pursuit 17. postage stamp 18. wholesale 19. purely human

20. practical value 21. sufficiently

a/ случайная встреча b/ дорогостоящий прибор c/ осуществимость

проектов d/ почтовая марка e/ воображаемый прибор f/ в конечном

итоге g/ поиск длиною в жизнь h/ чисто человеческий i/ достаточно  

j / стартовый капитал k/ сфера торговли l/ шумное противоречие m/

по существу, по сути n/ практическая ценность o/ сложная задача p/

финансовый отчет   q/ интеллектуальное занятие r/ всемирная потребность

(в) s/ большая недооценка t/ сложная задача u/ искусственная жизнь

 

Ex. Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. to perform any task 2. to come to a close 3. to be kidding 4. to

infuriate 5. to deserve a mantle 6. to perform calculations 7. to

dismiss feasibility (of) 8. to prosess words 9. to perform a

breakthrough 10. to do one's bidding 11. to be tossed into 12. to

contol access (to) 13. to crack a code   14. to be in sight    

a/ заслуживать мантии b/ выполнять чьи-то приказы c/ подходить к

завершению d/ быть погребенным (в) e/ приводить в ярость f/

выполнять любую задачу g/ отрицать возможность осуществления h/

контролировать доступ (к) i/ проводить подсчеты j/ быть на виду 

k/ обрабатывать слова l/ взломать код m/ шутить n/ совершать

прорыв

 

Ex. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Столетие подходит к своему завершению. 2. Тезника, которая одновременно

пленяет и раздражает нас - это компьютер. 3. Мы входим в компьютерный век.

4. Это огромная недооценка того, чем компьютер стане в конечном итоге. 5.

Удивительно, но история начинается с того, что Чарльз Баббедж начал поиск

длиною в жизнь - изобретение машины, обрабатывающей информацию. 6. Прибору

недоставало клавиатуры и еще нескольких деталей (parts). 7. К сожалению,

его умению изобретать новинки (innovations) не соответствовала его

способность заработать стартовый капитал. 8. Идея программируемой машины,

которая могла совершить прорыв в этой сфере, пришла в голову другому

эксцентричного математика, А.Тюринга. 9. Он говорил, что возможно построить

нечто, что способно осуществить практически любую математическую задачу,

которую только можно описать. 10. Эта машина могла продублировать работу

любого другого прибора. 11. Их изобретение заслуживает профессорской

мантии. 12. Джон фон Нейман так никогда и не реализовал полностью свои

идеи. 13. Случайная встреча на перроне вокзала дала ему шанс стать членом

данной команды. 14. По сущесству, данный документ включал описание памяти,

сохраняемой программами. 15. Схема была достаточно разносторонней, чтобы

запустить компьютер в коммерческую сферу. 16. Противники предсказывали, что

компьютер никогда не овладеет чисто человеческими интеллектуальными

усениями (pursuit). 17. То, что когда-то заполняло комнату и стоило

столько, сколько стоил особняк, сжалось до размеров почтовой марки и

стоимости ужина. 18. Эд Робертс мечтал снабдить обычного человека машиной,

которая могла вы выполнять его приказы. 19. Люди всегда недооценивали это

изобретение. 20. Электронные финансовые отчеты были тем средством, которое

убедило крупных бизнесменов принять компьютеры для оптовой торговли. 21.

Скептики отрицают вероятность многих из этих амбициозных проектов. 22. Если

история - наш проводник, даже наше воображение не может осознать, чем

станет компьютер в конечном итоге.

 

Comprehension Check.

Ex. Answer the following questions:

1. What technology obsesses the mankind nowadays?

2. What does the tale begin with?

3. What did A.Turing outline?

4. Did scientists of other countries try to develop a computer?

5. What is considered to be the true Adam of computers?

6. How did John von Neumann join the scientists working at the University

of Pennsylvania?

7. What project did they perform?

8. What thing made it possible to create a personal computer?

9. What persuaded big businesses to adopt computers wholesale?

10. Can we see the frontiers of computing?

 

Topics to discuss.

1. Contribution of the following persons into computer development:

a/ Charles Babbage (USA);

b/ A.Turing (Great Britain);

c/ John Atanassov and his student Clifford Berry (USA);

d/ Konrad Zuse (Germany);

e/ John von Neumann (Hungarian genius, working then in America);

f/ J.Presper Ecker and John Mauchly (USA);

g/ Thomas Watson, Sr. (USA);

h/ Ed Roberts (USA);

i/ Bill Gates (USA);

j/ Stephen Wozniak (USA);

k/ Ken Olsen (USA).

2. Steps in computer development

 

Text II- A

Artificial stupidity

 

Creating machines that think like people is a great challenge, but a bad idea. In 1950 Alan Turing, a British mathematician of genius, challenged scientists to create a machine that could trick people into thinking it was one of them. By 2000, Turing predicted, computers would be able to trick most of the people most of the time - at least in conversations where neither party could see or hear the other, but instead "talk" by typing at computer terminals. Thanks to 40 years of research into artificial intelligence - a field which has adopted Turing's test as its semi-official goal - Turing's prediction may well come true. But it will be a dreadful anticlimax. The most obvious problem with Turing's challenge is that there is no practical reason to create machine intelligences indistinguishable from human ones. People are in plentiful supply. Should a shortage arise, there are proven and popular methods for making more of them; these require no public subsidy and little or no technology. The point of using machines ought to be that they perform differently from people, and preferably better. If that potential is to be exploited, machines will need to be given new forms of intelligence all their own.

Gradually, this is happening. Many human capabilities remain well beyond the reach of machines. No computer can understand a fairy tale. recognise faces or navigate across a crowded room. But machines have learnt a lot. Computer chess-players can beat all but the very best humans. Machines can solve logical puzzles, apply bureaucratic rules and perform passable translations from one language to another. Computers' new skills are winning them jobs alongside decision-makers in a variety of companies, complementing human weaknesses with computer strengths.

 

To err is human

With skill and skullduggery, computer intelligence can already be disguised as human. Last year, in a "Turing contest" held at Boston's Computer Museum, a computer program tricked five of the ten judges into believing that it was man rather than machine. But to fit into a human mould, machines have to display human limitations as well as human skills. The judges at the Computer Museum, for example, were particularly impressed by the winning programs uncanny ability to imitate human typing errors But who needs a computer that can't type?

Without such artificial stupidity, clever machines are not just people with the bugs worked out. They are different, and profoundly alien. Leave said the things on which people and machines cannot yet be compared – bodies, sex, a social life or a childhood - and consider only reasoning. Already machines can match, or better, human performance on many problems, but by using utterly inhuman techniques. Computer chess-players have no concept of strategy; instead, at each turn they scan through several billion possible sequences of moves to pick the one which seems best. Computer logicians make their deductions in ways that no human would — or could. Computer bureaucrats apply the rules more tirelessly and consistently than any of their overworked human brethren. Watching such machines at work, nobody could mistake them for humans - or deny their intelligence.

No wonder. People and machines bring quite different capabilities to the task of reasoning. Human reasoning if limited by the brains that nature evolved; machines are better engineered. Plug in enough memory and a computer can remember everything that ever happened to it, or to anyone else. Given a logical problem to work out or a theoretical model of how a complicated machine works, computers can deduce more consequences more quickly than humans.

Even on something as basic as assigning things to categories - tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor - people and machines do things differently. For a person, it is natural to conceive of something that is "sort of like" a fire engine, say; it is often hard to define precisely what a fire engine is. For a computer, the opposite is true. Precision conies naturally, and "sort of like" is difficult for machines to grasp. One day researchers may use the precision and power of computers to recreate human reasoning. In the process they may unravel many mysteries -including, possibly, the roots of human intelligence. But to do so they will first create sonic truly artificial intelligences, unencumbered by forgetfulness, faulty logic, limited attention span and all the other characteristics of the merely human.

The real challenge, then, is not to recreate people but to recognise the uniqueness of machine intelligence, and learn to work with it. Surrendering the human monopoly on intelligence will be confusing and painful. But there will be large consolations. Working together, man and machine should be able to do things that neither can do separately. And as they share 0 intelligence, humans may come to a deeper understanding of themselves. Perhaps nothing other than human intelligence - constantly struggling to recreate itself despite crumbling memories and helter-skelter reasoning -could even conceive of something as illogical and wonderful as machines that think, let alone build them and learn to live with them.

 

Vocabulary

artificial - искусственный

stupidity - глупость

create - создавать, творить

challenge - вызов

challenge - вызвать (на соревнование)

trick - обманывать, надувать

predict - предсказывать

neither - ни один

instead - вместо

research - исследование

intelligence - разум

adopt - принимать

come true - сбываться

dreadful - ужасный

climax - кульминация, развязка

obvious - очевидный

reason - причина

indistinguishable - неразличимый

human - человек

plentiful supply - множество

shortage - нехватка, дефицит

arise - здесь: возникать

proven - испытанный, доказанный

require - требовать

subsidy - субсидия, дотация

point -здесь: идея

perform - действовать

preferably - предпочтительно

exploit - эксплуатировать, использовать

gradually - постепенно

happen - происходить

capability - способность

remain - оставаться

beyond reach - вне достижимости

fairy tale - сказка

recognise - распознавать, узнавать

navigate - передвигаться

crowded - заполненный людьми

solve - решать

puzzle -загадка, головоломка

apply - применять

passable - сносный

skill - умение

alongside - наряду (с), рядом

variety - здесь: ряд

complement - дополнять

weakness - слабая сторона, минус

strength - сильная торона, плюс

err - ошибаться

skulduggery - надувательство

disguise - маскироваться

contest - состязание

judge - судья

fit into a human mould - сделать подобным человеку

display - проявлять

limitation - ограничение

particularly - особенно

impress - впечатлять, поражать

error - ошибаться

type - печатать

bug - разг.: неполадка, дефект

leave aside - оставить без внимания

compare - сравнивать

body - тело

sex - пол (мужской/женский)

consider - принимать во внимание, рассматривать

reasoning - рассуждение, аргументация

match - равняться, быть равным

utterly - совершенно

concept - концепция, идея

scan - (бегло) просматривать

sequence - последовательность

pick - выбрать

deduction - вывод, заключение

tireslessly - неутомимо, неустанно

consistently - последовательно

overworked - переутомленный

brethren - мн.ч. братья, собратья

deny - отрицать

no wonder - неудивительно

brains - разум, мозг

evolve - развивать(ся), эволюционировать

plug in - подключать

complicated - сложный

deduce - здесь: выводить заключение

assign - дать задание

tinker - лудильщик

tailor - портной

conceive - задумать, представить

engine - двигатель

define - определять

precisely - точно

recreate - освободить, дать отдых

grasp - понять

unravel - разгадывать

root - корень

unencumbered - необремененный

faulty - ошибочный

span - здесь: размах

merely - просто

surrender - уступать

confuse - приводить в замешательство

painful - болезненный

consolation - утешение

share - делиться

crumble - рушиться, блекнуть

helter-skelter - беспорядок, суматоха

 

Word Study to the Text.

Ex. Match the words with their Russian equivalents:

1. utterly 2. complicated 3. logician 4. sequence 5. brains 6.

brethren 7. no wonder 8. consistently 9. overworked 10. concept  

11. tirelessly 12. obvious

a/ неудивительно b/ очевидный c/ переутомленный d/ неутомимо  

e/ разум

f/ последовательность g/ совершенно h/ концепция, идея i/

сложный g/ последовательно h/ братья, собратья i/ логик

 

Ex. Match the verbs with their Russian equivalents:

1. deduce 2. plug in 3. deny 4. evolve 5. remain 6. pick 7.

create  8. recognise 9. accept 10. compare 11. trick 12.

complement 13. navigate 14. perform 15. require 16. despise 17.

predict 18. scan 19. err 

a/ творить b/ требовать(ся) c/ эволюционировать d/ узнавать e/

отрицать f/ передвигаться g/ ошибаться h/ маскировать(ся) i/

обманывать, надувать j/ предсказывать k/ сравнивать l/ дополнять

m/ выбирать n/ принимать о/ бегло просматривать p/ оставаться q/

действовать r/ делать выводы s/ включать в эл.сеть  

 

Ex. Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. come true 2. display human limitations 3. semi-official goal 4. in

plentiful supply 5. merely human 6. define precisely 7. who needs it

8. assigning into categories 9. solve puzzles 10. proven method 11.

obvious problem 12. task of reasoning 13. mistake for humans 14.

sequence of moves 15. typing error 16. plug in memory 17. unravel

mysteries 18. make deductions 19. public subsidiary 20. imitate

errors 21. faulty logic 22. apply rules

a/ чисто человеческий b/ доказанный метод c/ разбиение на категории

d/ решать головоломки e/ множество f/ задача аргументирования g/

очевидная проблема h/ сбываться i/ точно определять g/ ошибочно

принимать за людей k/ проявлять человеческие ограничения l/

последовательность ходов m/ полу-официальная цель n/ подключить память

o/ печатные ошибки p/ имитировать ошибки q/ государственная

дотация r/ делать заключения, выводы s/ кому это нужно t/ ошибочная

логика   u/ применять правила v/ сбываться

 

Ex. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Алан Туринг и другие ученые решили создать компьютер, который мог бы обманывать людей, заставляя их думать, что он (ПК) - один из них.

2. Благодаря 40 годам исследования искусственного разума их полуофициальная цель стала возможной.

3. На самом деле, нет практической причины создавать машины, неотличимые от человека.

4. В случае возникновения дефицита, есть опробированные методы, которые не требуют государственных дотаций.

5. Ни один компьютер не может понимать сказки, узнавать лица или передвигаться по комнате, полной людей.

6. Компьютеры-шахматисты могут побить любого человека-шахматиста.

7. Умение ошибаться - это чисто человеческая черта (feature).

8.  Посредством надувательства, компьютерный разум может быть замаскирован под человеческий.

9. На прошлом "Состязании Туринга" компьютерная программа обманула пять из десяти судей, заставив их думать, что они "общались" с человеком, а не с машиной.

10. Чтобы "уподобиться" человеку (to fit into human's mould), машины должны проявлять человеческие ограничения, равно как и человнческие умения.

11. Судьи, например, были поражены программой, которая могла имитировать печатные ошибки.

12. Но кому нужен компьютер, который не умеет печатать?

13. Компьютер применяет правила более неустанно и последовательно, чем любой из его переутомленных собратьев.

14. Даже разбиение слов на классы человек и машина делают по-разному.

 

Comprehension Check.

Ex. Answer the following questions:

1. What task did Alan Turing offer to other scientists in 1950?

2. What was his prediction?

3. What was the most obvious problem with Turing's challenge?

4. What can computers do?

5. Did the computer's program in a "Turing's Contest" manage to trick the judges?

6. What were they particularly impressed by?

7. Which things can't people and machines be compared on?

 

Topics to discuss.

1. Computer and human chess-players.

2. Task of reasoning for people and machines.

 

 

Text II-B

 

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