Download Lesson 12. Topic “Early history of electricity” Grammar material: The

Lesson 12.
Topic “Early history of electricity”
Grammar material: The Past Perfect Tense.
Text : “ Early history of electricity”
Let us now turn our attention to the early facts, that is to say, let us see how it all
started.
History shows us that at least 2,500 years ago, or so, the Greeks were already familiar
with the strange force (as it seemed to them) which is known today as electricity.
Generally speaking, three phenomena made up all of man's knowledge of electrical effects.
The first phenomenon under consideration was the familiar lightning flash —a dangerous
power, as it seemed to him, which could both kill people and burn or destroy their houses.
The second manifestation of electricity he was more or less familiar with was the
following: he sometimes found in the earth a strange yellow stone which looked like glass.
On being rubbed, that strange yellow stone, that is to say amber, obtained the ability of
attracting light objects of a small size. The third phenomenon was connected with the socalled electric fish which possessed the property of giving more or less strong electric
shocks which could be obtained by a person coming into contact with the electric fish.
Nobody knew that the above phenomena were due to electricity. People could neither
understand their observations nor find any practical applications for them.
As a matter of fact, all of man's knowledge in the field of electricity has been obtained
during the last 370 years, or so. Needless to say, it took a long time before scientists
learned how to make use of electricity. In effect, most of the electrically operated devices,
such as the electric lamp, the refrigerator, the tram, the lift, the radio, and so on, are less
than one hundred years old. In spite of their having been employed for such a short period
of time, they play a most important part in man's everyday life all over the world. In fact,
we cannot do without them at present.
So far, we have not named the scientists who contributed to the scientific research on
electricity as centuries passed. However, famous names are connected with its history and
among them we find that of Phales, the Greek philosopher. As early as about 600 B. C.
(that is, before our era) he discovered that when amber was rubbed, it attracted and held
minute light objects. However, he could not know that amber was charged with electricity
owing to the process of rubbing. Then Gilbert, the English physicist, began the first
systematic scientific research on electrical phenomena. He discovered that various other
substances possessed the property similar to that of amber or, in other words, they
generated electricity when they were rubbed. He gave the name "electricity" to the
phenomenon he was studying. He got this word from the Greek "electrum" meaning
"amber".
Many learned men of Europe began to use the new word "electricity" in their
conversation as they were engaged in research of their own. Scientists of Russia, France
and Italy made their contribution as well as the Englishmen and the Germans.
TEST . Early history of electricity
I. Connect the word combinations with the correct meanings:
- 1.
1.at least
2.as a matter of fact
- 2.
3.that is to say
- 3.
4.in one’s turn
- 4.
5.in question
- 5.
6.so far
- 6.
7.instead of
- 7.
8.more or less
- 8.
9.in spite of
- 9.
10.thanks to
- 10.
11.as a result
- 11.
12.by the way
- 12.
,
II. Put the questions to the following sentences:
1.This article deals with the history of electricity.
2. 2,500 years ago Greeks were familiar with electricity.
3. All of man’s knowledge in the field of electricity has been obtained during the last
370 years.
4. Most of the electrically operated devices are less then 1,000 years old.
5.Gilbert began the first systematic research on electrical phenomena.
III. Fill in the blanks with the words and phrases:
Takes much time, famous, knowledge, to come into contact, due to, more or less, that is
to say, under consideration, turned his attention to, at least, generated, in spite of, mean,
needless to say, research, various, as a mater of fact.
1. The words “atmospheric electricity” and “lightning”…… one and the same thing.
2. …… there is a relation between electricity and magnetism.
3. We burn coal …… its being a source of chemical products.
4. Ukrainian scientists contribute greatly to scientific …… .
5. Electrical devices were invented …… 100 years ago.
6. It is dangerous …… with high voltage.
7. We can watch TV …… electricity.
8. Galileo …… the properties of magnetic materials.
9. Gilbert made …... experiments on electricity and magnetism.
10. The instructions …… were written for the new installation.
11. …… scientists work at our institute.
12. The first nuclear power-plant …… current in 1954.
13. Students get …… at the institute.
14. All metals have …… similar properties.
15. …… we need more and more electrical energy.
16. Nuclear fuel, ……, uranium is used in reactor.
17. Learning English words …… .
Grammar:
I. Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple.
1. The pupils talked about the film they…. (watch).
2. I was late for work because I ….(miss) the bus.
3. We lived in the house that my father …(build).
4. We admired the picture that Lucy… (paint).
5. They watered the trees that they …(plant).
6. The teacher corrected the tests that the pupils …(write).
7. I received a good mark in my test because I (practise) ….on ego4u.
8. The mail order house did not send me the shirt that I …(order).
9. I had to clean the floor because my cats (knock)…. over the flower pots.
10. My friend was in hospital because she (slip) ….on a banana skin.
II. Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple. Use the negative form.
1. In the shopping centre, I met a friend who I (see / not) …for ages.
2. The thief could walk right into the house because you (lock / not) ….the door.
3. We lost the match because we (practise / not) ….the days before.
4. At school, Jim quickly copied the homework that he (do / not)….
5. We ate at a restaurant last night because I (buy / not) …anything for dinner.
6. When we came back, it was cold in the house because Alice (close / not) …the
windows.
7. All day long, Phil was angry with me just because I (greet / not) …him first.
8. When I met Jane at eleven o’clock, she (have / not) …breakfast yet.
9. I couldn’t go to the cinema with my friends last night because I (finish / not) …my
homework yet.
10. Fred answered my question although I (ask / not) …him.
III. Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.
(what / Bob / do) … that he was kept in after school?
(you / eat) …. anything before you went to the theatre?
(he / live) … in London before he moved to Glasgow?
(she / find) … a new job by that time?
(they / book) … a room before they went to Dublin?
(how often / you / ring) … the bell before he answered the door?
(why / they / have) …dinner before they came to the party?
(Carly / wash) … the dishes when her mum came home?
(you / read) … the contract before you signed it?
(who / live) … in the house before we moved in?
IV.Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect simple).
1. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we … (build).
2. He (not / be) … to Cape Town before 1997.
3. When she went out to play, she (do / already) …her homework.
4. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make)….
5. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on) … six weeks before.
6. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order) … .
7. I could not remember the poem we (learn) … the week before.
8. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall) … from the tree.
9. (he / phone) … Angie before he went to see her in London?
10. She (not / ride) … a horse before that day.