UNIT 3
TASK 1
1. What do you think about the possibility of existence of living organisms in the
Universe?
2. What do you think about the following statement?
“Only certain addresses in the galaxy are suitable for life.“
A. READING
Read the following text carefully.
SEARCHING FOR LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
PART 1
by Bruce Jakosky
Is there life on other planets? Why are we looking for life elsewhere? What would it
mean to find life? Or to search thoroughly and not find it? What it is about these
questions that have grabbed people´s interest and attention? Perhaps not surprisingly,
scientists and non-scientists often have different perspectives on these questions and
on what finding life elsewhere would mean. For the public, this is in large part due to
a number of major scientific advances that have made front-page headlines during the
last year or two. These include the history of planets orbiting around other stars,
finding evidence within meteorites that have come from Mars for possible fossil life
there, and finding life on Earth that thrives in extremely harsh environments.
From the scientific perspective, finding any example of extraterrestrial life would be
the capstone of the “scientific revolution“ that begun hundread years ago. The
scientific approach to understanding our world has helped us to understand our place
in the universe even as it displaced us from its centre. The first part of this revolution
was the recognition by Nicolas Copernicus in the 1500s and then Galileo in the 1600s
that the Earth revolved around the Sun rather than the other way around. This
realization displaced the Earth from the centre of the physical universe and began its
movement away from the centre of the spiritual universe.
The second part was the realization by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace in
the mid-1800s that all living species (including humans) are descended from
preexisting species. Life was not created recently in its current diversity, but instead
forms a chain of evolution and modification that stretches back to the origin of life on
Earth about four billion years ago. This discovery was immediately recognized as the
unifying theme that connects all of biology. Individual species came into existence by
the gradual accumulation of changes resulting from random mutations. The process is
random, not in the sense of arbitrary direction or results, but in the sense that no
specific changes or mutations could be expected or predicted. Because of this
unpredictability, humans were displaced from the centre of the biological universe –
they are no more the epitome of living organisms than bunny rabbits, mosquitoes, or
bacteria.
In searching for life elsewhere, scientists recognize that life formed very quickly on
Earth after its formation; this suggests that life might be able to arise on any planet
that has the proper environmental conditions. As we discover more planets, and
understand more about the processes by which planets might form, we are beginning
to think that Earth-like planets might be common throughout the galaxy. Thus, we
expect that it is reasonable that origins of life may be commonplace in the universe.
Finding proof that life is not unique to the Earth would cement our role in the galaxy
as just another result of especially interesting chemistry. It also would complete the
transition from an Earth-centered and human-centered view of the universe to one in
which chemical and physical processes are seen as being responsible for shaping the
world around us.
We must recognize that, if there is life elsewhere, it is most likely to be bacteria-like.
Bacteria were the first organisms to evolve on the Earth and the only ones that were
present at all for billions of years. Only in the last 1/6 or so of the Earth´s history did
organisms that were substantially more complicated exist, and only during the last
0.01% or so of Earth´s history have humans existed. Although not yet widely
recognized, bacteria probably continue to dominate the biosphere today in terms of
total numbers of species, organisms, or their total mass. Finding extraterrestrial
bacteria would tell us that life had had an origin that was independent from life on
Earth.
We have the highest probability of finding extraterrestrial life in our lifetime on Mars.
Mars seems to have (or to have had) all of the ingredients necessary for an origin of
life, and possibly for its continued existence today. In particular, we see clear
evidence for the presence of both liquid water and a readily accessible source of
chemical energy that could power life.
..... searching for life on Mars but finding no evidence of it would have significant
implications for our understanding of the origin of life on Earth. If there has never
been martian life, we would have to seriously question our current views of the origin
of life on Earth and the possibility of widespread life in the universe.
adapted from Internet
http://argyre.colorado.edu/life/prlifeuni.htlm
Bruce Jakosky is a Professor of Geology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and
a member of the Mars Global Surveyor science team. His book The Search for Life on
Other Planets will be published in summer 2001 by Cambridge University Press.
Reading comprehension
Answer the following questions.
1. What is the purpose of scientific approach to understanding our world?
2. What scientific discoveries played an important role in the history of a mankind
and why?
3. What is the role of bacteria in the evolution of the life on the Earth?
4. Where is the highest probability of finding extraterrestrial life in our lifetime?
B. VOCABULARY USE
The Solar System consists of a central star, the Sun, and the bodies that orbit it. What
are the names of the planets that belong to the Solar System?
the Earth – Mars – Jupiter – Saturn – Uranus – Mercury – Neptune – Venus –
Pluto
Vocabulary extension A
to discover
make a discovery
discoverer
discovery
discoverable
discovered
discovering
TASK 2
Fill in the correct form of the expression and say what part of speech it is.
1. In 1919 Ernest Rutherford ..... the nucleus.
2. Wallace was the co- ..... with Darwin of the process of evolution by natural
selection.
3. Many people believe that ..... and advances have brought us to the brink of
discovering life elsewhere.
4. An ink pen running at regular intervals over a paper chart was the hint that led
Jocelyn Bell Burnell to ..... an astonishing ..... about the universe.
to innovate
innovation
innovator
innovative
innovated
innovating
See the following examples and use your own examples using the word innovate and
the relevant words.
Innovators bring new ideas, developments, and improvements.
The first invention is but a fraction of innovation.
People innovate themselves and collaborate in the innovations of others.
The project is full of innovative ideas and can help the scientists around the world.
Innovators are individualswho are always seeking to innovate or try out new ideas or
equipment. They come in many forms and shapes, for example Clive Sinclair type of
innovating genius.
to invent
invention
inventor
inventive
invented
inventing
inventiveness
Study the following examples.
Who invented the steam engine?
Britain is notoriously slow at commercialising inventions.
Edison was a successful inventor of electric bulb light.
People are so much more flexible and inventive than robots.
The Japanese are a living proof of a briliant technological inventiveness.
Vocabulary extension B
different – various – varied – diverse
TASK 3
Fill in the correct words.
1. Scientists and non-scientists often have ..... perspectives on what finding life
elsewhere would mean.
2. Mendeleev stated that
the properties of the ..... chemical
elements depend on their atomic weights.
3. ..... opinions were expressed about the new discovery.
4. The programme deals with subjects as ..... as mathematics and ecology.
to orbit – to revolve –to circle – to circulate
Study the following examples:
The satellite orbits the Earth every 48 hours.
The Earth revolves on its own axis once every 24 hours.
The electrons circle round the nucleus.
Blood circulates through the body.
proof – evidence
Study the following examples of using proof and evidence:
Have you been provided any scientific proof?
Is there any evidence for believing the world is round?
transition – transmission – transfer – transport
TASK 4
Fill in the correct expression:
1. It also would complete the ..... from an Earth-centered and human-centered view of
the universe to one in which chemical and physical processes are seen as being
responsible for shaping the world around.
2. We interrupt our normal ..... to bring you a special news flash.
3. We have been expecting the new banking service – the electronic ..... of money.
4. The ..... of goods by air is very expensive.
C. WORD-FORMATION
NOUNS of ABSTRACT PROCESS
verb + -ion/-tion/-ation
e.g. mutation/ recognition/ realization
TASK 5
Fill in the missing forms of abstract nouns.
verb
noun
determine
explore
realize
modify
accumulate
reproduce
form
dominate
mutate
transmit
D. GRAMMAR AWARENESS
ADJECTIVES IN ENGLISH
An adjective describes the person, thing, idea etc.which a noun refers to. Adjectives
are used to say what a person, thing, idea, etc. is like or seems like.
1. PREFIXAL AND SUFFIXAL ADJECTIVES IN ENGLISH
a) One-word adjectives formed with prefixes
a-
amoral
anti-
antiseptic
dis-
dislocated
il-
illegal
im-
impure
in-
inanimate
ir-
irrelevant
non-
non-metallic
un-
undiscovered
hyper-
hyperactive
hypo-
hypochlorous
inter-
intercellular
mal-
maladjusted
over-
overdue
pre-
prewar
pro-
pro-nuclear
re-
rearranged
sub-
subatomic
super-
superhuman
trans-
transatlantic
under-
undersaturated
b) One-word adjectives formed with suffixes
-able/ible
remarkable/possible
- full
careful
-ian
Victorian
-ish
greenish
-ive
radioactive
-less
careless
-like
businesslike
-ly
friendly
-al
chemical
-ant
important
-ar
circular
-ary
visionary
-ate
affectionate
-ent
sufficient
-eous
gaseous
-esque
picturesque
-ic/ical
electric/electrical
-ious
glorious
-ory
sensory
-ous
porous
-some
fearsome
-ing
freezing
-ed
produced
-proof
waterproof
TASK 6
Use correct adjective forms in the following sentences.
1. The ..... (science) approach to understanding our world has helped us to understand
our place in the universe.
2. Because of the unpredictability of .....(specify) changes and mutations humnas were
displaced from the centre of the ..... (biology) universe.
3. It is ..... (reason) that origins of life may be commonplace in the universe.
4. In particular, we see clear evidence for the presence of both liquid water and a
readily ..... (access) source of ..... (chemistry) energy that could power life.
5. For a ..... (quantity) analysis the substances would have to be weighted.
6. Such a pattern of innovation is not ..... (except), nor even quite common, but .....
(type).
7. NASA researchers believe contact with other ..... (intelligency) life will be one of
the most ..... (signify) events in the history of the human race.
2. COMPOUND ADJECTIVES
a) Compound adjectives formed with participles
- compounds formed with past participles: a self-employed author, an
extremely- surprised person.
- compounds formed with present participles: a time-consuming activity, a
long-playing record.
- ed words that look like participles although they are formed from nouns:
Earth-centered, open-minded.
b) Compound adjectives formed with prefixes and suffixes
Compounds can be formed from a variety of prefixes and suffixes: fire-resistant,
vaccum-sealed, tax-free.
Many compounds can be formed with well and badly: well-done, well-behaved,
badly-built, badly-paid.
c) Compound adjectives of measurement, time and others
Cardinal numbers can combine with nouns (usually singular) to form compound
adjectives relating to measurement, time, etc.:
Age: a three-year old project
Area/volume: a two-litre container
Duration: a two-hour meeting
Length/depth: a twenty-centimetre ruler/depth
Price: a £ 200, 000 equipment
Time/distance: : a thirty-minute presentation, a twelve-hour journey
Weight: a ten-kilo case
TASK 7
Use your own examples of compound adjectives of measurement, time and others.
d) Ordinal numbers can be used in compounds: a second-hand clothes, a twentiethcentury events
3. NOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES
Names of materials, substances, etc. (leather, plastic, polyethylene) resemble
adjectives. So do some nouns indicating use or purpose, e.g. a tea pot.
Note: Some other names for materials have adjectival forms: gold – golden, lead –
lead/leaden, silk – silken/silky, stone – stony; but the adjectival form generally has a
methaphorical meaning “like“, for example, a gold watch is 'a watch made of gold',
but a golden sunset is a sunset which is 'like gold'.
4. POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
When we use more than one adjective before a noun, there is often a preferred order
for these adjectives. However, this order is not fixed: opinion + size/physical
quality/shape/age + colour + participle adjectives + origin + material + type +
purpose + noun.
* an old plastic container
(age + material +noun)
* a hard red cover
(quality + colour + noun)
* a frightening Chinese mask
(opinion + origin + noun)
* a round biscuit tin
(shape + purpose(for holding biscuits) + noun)
* a small broken plate
(size + participle adjective + noun)
* a useful digital alarm clock
(opinion + type + purpose + noun)
To help you to learn this order, it can be useful to remember that gradable adjectives
(describing opinion, size, quality, shape, and age) usually precede ungradable
adjectives (participle adjectives and adjectives describing origin, material, type,
and purpose).
TASK 8
Put the adjectives in brackets in the sentences in the most appropriate order.
1. Mine´s the ........... car. (blue, Japanese,small)
2. I´ve just bought a ..........table. (modern, coffee, wooden)
3. Their .......... forces soon overcame the invasion. (combined, military, powerful)
4. Have you seen this .......... invention? (fantastic, Danish, new)
5. Another area of ..........chemistry which will continue to develop is metal enzyme
chemistry. (specific, biological, inorganic)
E. COMMUNICATION ACTIVITY
ASKING FOR AND GIVING OPINIONS (form and uses)
The list of expressions to introduce the opinion:
strongly
I am convinced/sure/positive that ...

I strongly believe that ...

I have absolutely no doubt that ...

I definitely/certainly think that ...

I really do think that ...
I really feel that ...
In my opinion/view ...
neutrally
I think/consider/feel that ...

I believe that...

As I see it, ...

To my mind ...

From my point of view ...
I am inclined to think that ...
weakly
I tend to think that ...
Similarly we can ask for opinions on a scale from forcefully to tactfully. Below is a
list of expressions to ask for an opinion.
strongly
Do you really think that ...?

Do you really believe that ...?

Are you absolutely sure/convinced/positive that ...?

Don´t you think that ...?
neutrally
Do you think ....?

Do you believe that ...?

Do you consider that ...,

Am I right in thinking that ...?
tactfully
Would I be right in thinking that ...?
Other expressions to give opinions:
As far as I am concerned, we should talk to the bank now.
According to the bank manager, interest rates are due to fall soon.
TASK 9
Work with your partner.
Zack.
It happened in a dark late night. As you couldn´t sleep, you were walking in the park.
Immediately, you saw two tiny lights comming from near distance. When you came
closer you saw a strange-looking man sitting under the tree. He was dressed in
something like a spacesuit and the tiny lights were coming from the top of his head.
They were such a kind of an aerial. He was completely exhausted, almost dying. You
took him in your home and took care of him. He told you about the place he had come
form. It was an unknown planet in the Universe called Zeta. After some days you
showed him your town and people. Then you decided to have a talk to him to know
more about his home planet and the life on it, and you wanted to know his opinion on
the life on our planet, the Earth, to compare it to the life on Zeta.
Make a dialogue between you and your friend (an allien ?) to ask for his opinion and
to express your own ideas.
F. PREPOSITIONS IN SOME POSITIONS
approach to understanding
life was not created in its current diversity
to stretch back to the origin of life
to come into existence
to displace from something
G. VOCABULARY
accessible
prístupný
bacteria-like
podobný baktérii
cement
upevniť
descend
pochádzať z
displace
premiestniť
diversity
rozmanitosť, rôznorodosť
epitome
typický príklad
evolve
vyvíjať (sa)
extraterrestrial
mimozemský
fossil
fosilný
grab
uchopiť
harsh
tvrdý, drsný
martian
marťanský
orbit
obiehať okolo
plausible
jasný, zdravý
proof
dôkaz
public debate
verejná diskusia
random
nepravidelný, náhodný
realization
uvedomenie, predstava
recognition
uznanie, spoznanie
revolve
obiehať, otáčať sa
shape
formovať, tvarovať
species
živočíšne a rastlinné druhy
stretch back
stiahnuť sa späť
substantially
podstatne
transition
prechod
unify
zjednotiť
unpredictability
nepredpovedateľnosť
Bibliography
1. Alexander, L.G.: Longman English Grammar. Longman.1991
2. Brieger,N., Sweeney, S.: The Language of Business English. Prentice International
Hall. 1994
3. Hewings, M.: Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press. 1999
4. Mascull, B.: Key Words in Science and Technology. Collins Cobuild. 1997
5. Walker, E., Elsworth, S.: Grammar Practice for Upper Intermediate Students.
Longman. 1995
6. Weise, G. a kol.: Angličtina pro chemiky. STNL. Praha. 1988
7. Dictionary of English Language and Culture. Longman. 1992