Task 1 Gifted teenager breaks science record
13-year-old Jamie Edwards made history when he became the youngest person in the world to create nuclear fusion in the laboratory of his secondary school. When Jamie first informed his head teacher about his plan to create nuclear fusion in the school, he was stunned. ‘I was a little nervous,’ he admits.
Fortunately, after Jamie gave a presentation about the safety and the benefits, head teacher Jim Hourigan agreed to let the experiment go ahead. Jamie had always been interested in science and developed a fascination for radiation. He even saved up to buy a Geiger counter, a device that detects radiation, with his pocket money. But his ambition to create nuclear fusion was sparked when he came across a story about Taylor Wilson, a 14-year old schoolboy from the US who had become the youngest person to produce a small fusion reactor in 2008. ‘I looked at it, thought “that looks cool” and decided to have a go,’ he says. He calculated that he needed about £2,000 to build the machine, and first contacted nuclear laboratories, engineering companies and universities to enlist their help. Not surprisingly, they didn’t take a 13-year-old seriously. So with the help of his science teacher, he turned to his head teacher and persuaded him to fund the project. After months of work, and making many of the parts himself, he was ready to try it out just days before his 14th birthday. … And when he turned on the switch, the Geiger counter registered that fusion had indeed taken place. ‘Seeing that purple glow was the best part,’ said Edwards.
As the neutron detector confirmed it, Jamie knew that he’d become the world’s youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion from scratch, using high energy to smash hydrogen atoms together to create helium. Speaking after the experiment, Jamie was delighted. ‘It’s quite an achievement. I can’t quite believe it!’ he said. Scientists around the world are now repeating Jamie’s experiment, but on a much bigger scale, in the hope of using it to fuel cheap, environmentally friendly power stations with the aim of producing clean, carbon-free energy. Meanwhile, Jamie, who has ambitions to become an engineer or nuclear physicist in the future, remains down-to-earth and is modest about his achievements. As he says, ‘None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for a science teacher who believed in the dreams of her pupil, and a head teacher who was willing to take a risk to give me the opportunity. So to any young scientists out there, no matter how young, nothing is ever too big for you to try. All you need is curiosity, determination and an open mind. NUCLEAR FUSION is a reaction in which two or more atoms collide at a very high speed and form a new type of atom. During the process, energy is produced.
Read the article again and choose the best answers.
1. Jamie’s experiment was exceptional because …
a. nobody believed that he could do it.
b. only older people had done it before.
c. everyone thought that it was too dangerous.
2. He was motivated to do the experiment because …
a. he was interested in radiation.
b. he wanted to be the youngest person to achieve nuclear
fusion.
c. he was inspired by a young scientist that he read about
online.
3. He got the money to build his machine from …
a. his school.
b. engineering companies and universities.
c .his science teacher.
4. The experiment was useful because …
a. Jamie built the machine using simple materials.
b. the idea may help to produce a form of energy.
c. teachers, experts and newspapers could see it.
5. For Jamie, the experiment showed that …
a. young people can do extraordinary things.
b. he could become an engineer or nuclear physicist in the
future.
c. he had support from his teachers and school.
Сравните значения форм в пассивном времени будущее Пассивное настоящее Пассивная Пассивная Великобритания омывается морями, известными как Англия со всех сторон. Ника отправят в морскую поездку в Англию, следующая Великобритания была на протяжении многих веков. лето. ПОМНИТЕ! Настоящий совершенный пассив (Теперішній перфектний час. Пасивний стан) используется, когда исполнитель действия неизвестен или не важен. Сравните: Активный голос Пассивный голос Новое правило было установлено недавно. Географический отчет был наконец закончен. Президент установил новое правило. Боб закончил свой географический отчет.
Welcome to my favourite city Samarkand!
1. Today Samarkand is one of the oldest and most important cities in Asia, the third largest city in Uzbekistan. Сегодня Самарканд - один из старейших и важнейших городов Азии, третий по величине город Узбекистана.
2. More than half a million people live in the city of Samarkand. В городе Самарканде проживает более полумиллиона человек.
3. It is famous for its ancient culture and architecture, as well as eventful history. Он славится своей древней культурой и архитектурой, а также богатой историей.
4. In 1925-1930 it was the capital of Uzbekistan, before being replaced by Tashkent in 1930. В 1925-1930 годах он был столицей Узбекистана, прежде чем был заменен Ташкентом в 1930 году.
5. The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold embroidery, silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting on wood. В городе бережно сохранились традиции старинных ремесел: вышивка, золотое шитье, шелкоткачество, гравировка на меди, керамика, резьба и роспись по дереву.
6. Thousands of tourists visit Samarkand to see its various sights every year. Тысячи туристов ежегодно посещают Самарканд, чтобы увидеть его различные достопримечательности.
7. Modern Samarkand is divided into two parts: the old city, and the new city which developed during the days of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Современный Самарканд делится на две части: cтарый город и новый город, который развивался во времена Российской Империи и Советского Союза.
8. The old city includes historical monuments, shops and old private houses, while the new city includes administrative buildings along with cultural centres and educational institutions. Старый город включает в себя исторические памятники, магазины и старые частные дома, а новый город включает в себя административные здания, а также культурные центры и образовательные учреждения.
9. The state and official language in Samarkand, as in all Uzbekistan, is the Uzbek language, which is one of the Turkic languages. As in the rest of Uzbekistan, the Russian language is de facto the second official language in Samarkand. Государственным и официальным языком в Самарканде, как и во всем Узбекистане, является узбекский язык, который относится к группе тюркских языков. Как и в остальной части Узбекистана, русский язык де-факто является вторым государственным языком в Самарканде.
10. In Samarkand you can enjoy a tasty Uzbek cuisine. В Самарканде можно отведать вкусные блюда узбекской кухни.
11. People in the city are friendly and hospitable. Люди в городе дружелюбные и гостеприимные.