Task 1. Listen to the story and fill in the gaps. Don’t you think books are the 1 thing in the 2? I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t reading a book. I still have memories of being in my school library when I was about five years old. I have been a bit of a bookworm since then. You’ll usually see me with my head buried in a 3. I love all kinds of books. Novels are great for getting to know other worlds and 4. A good book is one where you never want the story to end. I also like autobiographies because I think it’s interesting to read about people’s lives. Encyclopedias are cool too – you can learn everything about everything in these. I still prefer books to the 5. Books need to be in your hand and made of paper.
2) Much of the equipment in the office needs updating.
3) A car is a means of transport.
4) How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?
5) When I got to the theatre, they were already playing the second act.
6) Unusual facts, marvels are called phenomena.
7) The brown sweater is the best.
8) That was the most interesting movie I have ever seen.
9) Uncle Carl is really a sweet old man.
10) Which is the longest river, the Dnipro or the Dnister?
11) Fanny can sew dresses so well.
12) Taras drives dangerously.
13) Those apples look delicious. May I have one?
14) She often sneaks out of the house quietly.
15) I absolutely refuse to stay here any longer.
Muscle Contraction: Muscles are made up of bundles of individual muscle fibers. When these muscle fibers receive signals from the nervous system, they contract, which means they shorten and generate force. This contraction is the primary mechanism by which muscles create movement.
Muscle Groups and Antagonistic Pairs: Muscles often work in groups and pairs to create coordinated movements. For example, when you bend your arm at the elbow, the biceps muscle contracts, while the triceps muscle relaxes. These muscles are known as antagonistic pairs, as they have opposing actions.
Tendons and Bones: Muscles are attached to bones via tendons, which are strong connective tissues. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the attached tendon, which, in turn, pulls on the bone, causing movement around the joint.
Muscle Fiber Types: Our muscles consist of different types of muscle fibers, including slow-twitch fibers and fast-twitch fibers. Slow-twitch fibers are responsible for endurance activities and sustained contractions, while fast-twitch fibers generate more force and are involved in quick, powerful movements.
Muscle Synergies: Multiple muscles often work together in a coordinated manner to perform complex movements. These muscle synergies involve the activation and synchronization of various muscle groups to produce smooth and efficient motions.
Fine Motor Control: In addition to larger movements, our muscles also enable fine motor control. Small, intricate movements, such as typing on a keyboard or holding a pen, require precise coordination of muscles and motor units to execute precise actions.