SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS

Scientists study a wide variety of subjects. Some scientists search for clues to the origin of the universe and examine the structure of the cells of living plants and animals. Other researchers investigate why we act the way we do, or try to solve complicated mathematical problems.

Scientists use systematic methods of study to make observations and collect facts. They develop theories that help them order and unify facts. Scientific theories consist of general principles or laws that attempt to explain how and why something happens or has happened. A theory is considered to become a part of scientific knowledge if it has been tested experimentally and proved to be true.

Scientific study can be divided into three major groups: the natural, social, and technical sciences. As scientific knowledge has grown and become more complicated, many new fields of science have appeared. At the same time, the boundaries between scientific fields have become less and less clear. Numerous areas of science overlap each other and it is often hard to tell where one science ends and another begins. All sciences are closely interconnected.

Science has great influence on our lives. It provides the basis of modern technology - the tools and machines that make our life and work easier. The discoveries and inventions of scientists also help shape our view about ourselves and our place in the universe.

П. Выберите заголовок для каждого абзаца текста:

1. The Fields of Scientific Research. 2. Different Groups of Sciences. 3. The Importance of Science. 4. Methods of Scientific Research.

III. Найдите в тексте эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний:

широкое разнообразие, ищут разгадки, происхождение Вселенной, структура клеток, собирать факты, упорядочить и обобщить, общие принципы, что-то произошло, основные группы, общественные науки, в то же самое время, все менее и менее четкие, многочисленный, открытия и изобретения.

IV. Найдите в тексте синонимы следующих слов:

wide, to research, to attempt, main, difficult, various.

V. Найдите в тексте антонимы следующих слов:

narrow, easy, practice, old, more, to begin, small.

VI. Разделите следующие слова на три группы: существительные, прилагательные, наречия:

wide, inventions, view, great, more, study, how, general, law, experimentally, scientific, major, knowledge, new, field, less, closely, influence.