Electrical Current Serves Us In A Thousand Ways

Text 1

Active Words and Expressions

source – источник furnace – печь

contribution – вклад to make use of – использовать

application – применение everyday life – повседневная жизнь

to imagine – представить to measure – измерять

as for – что касается to serve – служить, обслуживать

current – ток to transform – преобразовывать

device – прибор owing to – благодаря

to be familiar with – хорошо знать to weigh – весить

to do without – обходиться без to heat – нагревать

mention – отмечать

The electric current was born in the year 1800 when Volta constructed the first source of continuous current. Since that time numerous scientists and inventors, Russian and foreign, have greatly contributed to its further development and practical application.

As a result, we cannot imagine modern civilization without the electric current. We can’t imagine how people could do without the electric lamp, without vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washing machines and other electrically operated devices that are widely used today. In fact, telephones, lifts, electric trams and trains, radio and television have been made possible only owing to the electric current.

The student reading this article is certainly familiar with the important part which the electric current plays in our everyday life. From the moment when he gets up in the morning until he goes to bed at night, he widely uses electric energy. Only going to the Institute either on foot or by bicycle, can he do without electricity. In fact, it is well known that electric current is necessary for the operation of trolley-buses and modern trains.

During the day he (that is the reading student) will also use some electrical devices, working in the laboratory, making use of the telephone, the lift, the tram and so on. As for the evening, if he studies or reads, by an electric lamp, watches television, goes to the theatre or cinema, he certainly uses electricity.

Some people are more familiar with the various applications of the electric current in their everyday life than they are with its numerous industrial applications. However, electric energy finds its most important use in industry. Take, for example, the electric motor, transforming electric energy into mechanical energy. It finds a wide application at every mill and factory. As for the electric crane, it can easily lift objects weighing thousands of tons.

A good example which is illustrating an important industrial use of the electric current is the electrically heated furnace. Great masses of metal melted in such furnaces flow like water. Speaking of the melted metals, we might mention one more device using electricity – that is the electric pyrometer. The temperature of hot flowing metals can be easily measured owing to the electric pyrometer.

These are only some of the various industrial applications of the electric current serving us in a thousand ways.

6. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the participle:

1. The student is translating an article on refrigerators. 2. The student has translated an article. 3. The article is translated by the student. 4. The article is being translated by the student. 5. The student translating an article is Novikov. 6. The article translated by the student is difficult. 7. Translating an article, the student used a dictionary. 8. Having translated the article, the student gave it to the teacher. 9. Having been asked to translate the article, the student translated it very well.

7. Form four sentences using the words given below:

Model: lift, the, heavy, can, electric, objects, crane.

The electric crane can lift heavy objects.

1) finds, industry, energy, in, application, electric, wide, a;

2) does, study, he, at, not, the, institute;

3) day, use, every, do, devices, you, electrical;

4) the theatre, go, to, we, yesterday, not, did.

8. Give short answers to the following questions:

1. Does the motor find a wide application in industry? 2. Is Volta a Russian scientist? 3. Does your friend go to the Institute on foot? 4. Did you go to the theatre yesterday? 5. Is there an electric lamp on your table? 6. Has your friend bought a new bicycle? 7. Are there many trolley-buses and trams in Moscow? 8. Do you watch television every day? 9. Do you use electrical devices? 10. Can you do without electricity? 11. Does the electric current play an important part in our life? 12. Does the electric motor transform electrical energy into mechanical energy? 13. Is the electric current necessary for the operation of trolley-buses and trams? 14. Is your room heated by an electric furnace?

9. Translate the following sentences:

1. Электрический мотор, преобразующий электрическую энергию в механическую, используется в повседневной жизни. 2. Говоря об электрическом токе, мы можем упомянуть имя Вольта. 3. Электрический пирометр измеряет температуру расплавленных металлов. 4. Проработав на заводе, мой друг поступил в институт. 5. Электрические приборы, упомянутые в этой статье, были созданы русскими учеными. 6. Измеряя температуру горячих металлов, студент пользовался пирометром. 7. Измерив температуру металла, мы начали измерять температуру воды.

10. Form sentences using the following expressions:

to play a part in; to go on foot; to do without; to make use of; to be familiar with;
to get up; to go to bed; to watch television; owing to.

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