Try to retell the text giving all possible information about our outstanding scientist

Text

M.V. Lomonosov

Famous Russian Scientists.

Topic 5

Scientist D.I. Mendeleyev.

Read and remember the following word-combinations from the text:

to discourage a young scientist – обескуражить (сбить с пути) молодого учёного

brilliant capabilities and hard work – блестящие способности и упорная работа

a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences – полноправный член Российской Академии Наук

tireless scientific and practical activities – неустанная научная и педагогическая деятельность

to strike for breadth and diversity – поражать широтой и разнообразием

to grasp in full and to appreciate – осознать в полной мере и оценить

achievements in many spheres of science – достижения во многих сферах науки

the Law of Conservation of Mass – Закон сохранения массы

to formulate the fundamental law of chemical change of substance – сформулировать основной закон химического изменения вещества

to develop a corpuscular theory of the structure of substance – развить молекулярную теорию строения вещества

to anticipate the present-day theory of atoms and molecules – предвидеть (предопределить) сегодняшнюю атомно-молекулярную теорию

outstanding Russian scientist – выдающийся русский учёный

to emphasize the necessity – подчеркнуть необходимость

to treat chemical phenomena – трактовать химические явления

to explain chemical phenomena through the laws of physics – объяснять химические явления через законы физики

to come to the conclusion on the question of – прийти к заключению по какому-либо вопросу

the relation of thought to being – отношение сознания и бытия

the promotion of Russian science – продвижение русской науки

to become a major centre of Russian enlightenment and science – стать главным центром просвещения и науки России

The Russian scientist Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was born in 1711, in the village of Denisovka near the town of Kholmogory, Arkhangelsk Gubernia, to the family of a fisherman. Taught to read and write by a literate fellow-villager, Lomonosov had soon read all the books he could obtain in his village. At the age of 17 he left his native village and made his way to Moscow. In Moscow he succeeded to enter the Slav-Greek-Latin Academy, the only higher educational institution in Moscow at that time.

Neither the conditions of work nor material difficulties discouraged young Lomonosov. His brilliant capabilities and hard work enabled him to complete the seven-grade curriculum of the Academy in four years. Lomonosov did not finish the last grade, as he was transferred together with eleven others of the best pupils to Petersburg to study at the University of the Academy of Sciences.

Less than a year after he came to Petersburg Lomonosov was sent abroad to study metallurgy and mining.

In 1741, after his return to Russia Lomonosov was appointed Adjunct of the Academy in the class of physics and soon became a professor in chemistry and a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

His tireless scientific and practical activities were striking for their breadth and diversity.

“Only now, after two centuries have passed, can we grasp in full and appreciate all that was done by this

giant of science”, wrote S. Vavilov. “His achievements in the spheres of physics, chemistry, astronomy, instrument-making, geology, geography, linguistics and history would be worthy of the activities of a whole academy”. No wonder A.S. Pushkin called Lomonosov “our first university”. Among the numerous discoveries of Lomonosov is the Law of Conservation of Mass. This is the fundamental law of chemical change of substance formulated as follows:

The mass of a body remains unchanged by any physical or chemical change to which it may be subjected.

Lomonosov developed a corpuscular theory of the structure of substance in which he anticipated the present-day theory of atoms and molecules. Lomonosov considered chemistry his “main profession”, but he was at the same time the first outstanding Russian physicist. He constantly emphasized the necessity of a close connection between chemistry and physics. He said that chemical phenomena could be treated correctly only on the basis of physical laws.

Explaining chemical phenomena through the laws of physics, Lomonosov founded a new science, namely, physical chemistry.

Lomonosov was not only a talented scientist, but a materialist philosopher as well. Examining the phenomena of nature, he came to the materialistic conclusion on the fundamental question of philosophy – that of the relation of thought to being. He gave all his energy to the promotion of Russian science. In 1755 Moscow University was founded thanks to the efforts and after the project of Lomonosov. This university became a major centre of Russian enlightenment and science.

Lomonosov died in 1765, at the age of 54.

Exercises:

1 Match the words into the right word-combinations:

1.1 literate difficulties

1.2 conditions discoveries

1.3 material of science

1.4 to send connection

1.5 numerous fellow-villager

1.6 to complete mass of a body

1.7 giant philosopher

1.8 to be worthy of work

1.9 unchanged abroad

1.10 close of the activities

1.11 materialist curriculum

2 Agree or disagree to the following statements. Find the correct answers in the text:

2.1 The Russian scientist M.V. Lomonosov was born in 1711 in Arkhangelsk Gubernia, in the family of

a fisherman.

2.2 At the age of 21 he left his native village and made his way to Petersburg, where he succeeded to

enter the University.

2.3 Material difficulties and the conditions of work discouraged young Lomonosov.

2.4 Lomonosov’s tireless scientific and practical activities were striking for their breadth and diversity.

2.5 The Law of Conservation of Mass is formulated as follows: “The mass of a body changes by any

physical or chemical change to which it may be subjected”.

2.6 Lomonosov developed a corpuscular theory of the structure of substance.

2.7 Explaining chemical phenomena through the laws of physics, the great scientist founded a new

science, namely, physical chemistry.

2.8 This outstanding Russian physicist emphasized the necessity of a close connection between

chemistry and mathematics.

2.9 The Moscow University was founded in 1855 thanks to the efforts and after the project of

Mendeleyev.

2.10 The Moscow University became a major centre of Russian enlightenment and science.

2.11 Lomonosov was a good citizen and patriot, who devoted all his life and energy to the promotion of

Russian science.

3 Answer the following questions:

3.1 When, where and what family was M.V. Lomonosov born to?

3.2 Who taught him to read and write?

3.3 Where did Lomonosov study?

3.4 Why didn’t Lomonosov finish the last grade of the Academy?

3.5 How did he get to Moscow?

3.6 Did Lomonosov study only in Russia?

3.7 What scientific degrees did he receive?

3.8 What theories and laws did the great Russian scientist discover and formulate?

3.9 Was Lomonosov a materialist philosopher?

3.10 What fields of science did he work in?

3.11 Do you remember how Pushkin called Lomonosov?

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27