The world around me

gresses, researches, award of medals and in many other ways. The Royal Society has its Statutes. The Statutes was adopted by the Council in 1915. The Council consists of eleven Council members and ten outstanding nonscientists. The work of the Society is to order, to read, to discuss letters, reports and other papers, containing philosophical matters. The scientific and historical manuscript collections of the Society are preserved in Archives. They are available for consultations and study.

COMPREHENSION TEST

Choose the correct variant:

1.The Royal Society was founded ... .

a)in 1660

b)in the 20-th century

c)50 years ago

8.The Royal Society consists of ... .

a)500 outstanding scientists and 50 foreign members

b)one hundred musicians

c)500 writers and painters

3.The Society has a library of ... .

a)140,000 scientific books

b)a collection of paintings

c)some four thousand scientific books

4.The Royal Society ... .

a)was founded at the end of the 19th century

b)holds conferences

o)does not hold conferences

5.The British Government ... .

a)does not support the Society

b)gives a certain sum of money to the Society

c)controls the Society's work

6.The Royal Society ... .

a)uses money for publications and researches

b)does not use money at all

c)supports schools and Universities

7.The work of Society is ... .

a)to organize parties

b)to discuss letters, reports and other papers

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c) to publish books

TEXT 20

AUSTRALIA

Memorize the words: once – однажды

to reach – достигать remains – останки lizard – ящерица

latitude – географическая широта flat – плоский

average – средний

Australia is the fifth and the smallest of the continents, three quarters the size of Europe, a quarter the size of Africa and a sixths the size of Asia or the Americas. On the other hand, it is by far the largest island in the world with a coastline of 12,200 miles.

Geologically Australia dates back at least 2,000 million years. Some people believe it was once part of the Antarctic continent. There is also a theory that until a few million years ago it was part of a great land which reached north to Asia and east as far as New Zealand. Skeletal remains indicate that at one time Australia was inhabited by giant land fauna, for example, kangaroos and emus up to three times their present size, and lizards up to twenty feet long. The country's vegetation in those days was very much as it is now. In its present shape more than a third of Australia lies within the tropics. Cape York, its northern tip, is in mоrе or lees the same latitude as the far south of India and the central islands of Philippines.

The southern tip of Tasmania has the same latitude as the Black Sea and Vladivostok. Because of this there is much variety in physical character and climate. It is a rather flat country with not very high mountain ranges near the eastern coast. Much of the country's interior is almost rainless, and as a result most of the people live on the east and south-east coasts. Large cities such as Sydney and Melbourne are crowded with people but the average number of inhabitants to the square mile in Australia is only four.

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drop – падение, понижение, перепад grandeur – грандиозность, великолепие fury – неистовство

queer – странный

rapid – порог (реки), стремнина islet – островок

pristine – чистый, нетронутый erupt – извергаться (о вулкане)

sequentially – последовательно, друг за другом extinct –потухший

dormant – спящий, дремлющий

Kohala [koˈhɐlә] – Кохала

Mauna Kea [mɔːnә ˈkeɪә] or [maʊnә ˈkeɪә] –Мауна Кеа Hualālai [huәˈlaːlei] – Хуалалаи

Mauna Loa [mɔːnә ˈloʊә] or [maʊnә ˈloʊә] –мауна Лоа Kīlauea [kiːlaʊˈeɪә] –Килауэа

cedar tree – кедр

runner-up – участник состязания, занявший второе место

The United States Travel Service conducted wide-ranging polls to determine the most popular tourist spots. The polls were conducted among travel officials, senior citizens, students and others. More than 60 natural and man-made wonders were nominated, stretching from Florida to Alaska and Hawaii.

The following leading beauty spots are the semi-official SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS of the USA. So, these outstanding natural attractions are the Grand Canyon, The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls, Mount McKinley, Volcanoes of Hawaii, The Yosemite national Park.

COMPREHENSION TEST

I. Choose the correct variant:

1.The United States Travel Service conducted wide-ranging polls … a) to nominate one leading beauty spot

b) to determine the most popular tourist spots

c) to discuss the outstanding natural attractions of the USA

2.More than … .

a) 60 man-made wonders were nominated, stretching from Florida to

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Alaska and Hawaii

b)60 natural and man-made wonders were nominated, stretching from Florida to Alaska and Hawaii

c)60 natural wonders were nominated, stretching from Florida to Alaska and Hawaii

3. The semi-official SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS of the USA are …

.a). the Grand Canyon, Arizona; Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming; Niagara Falls, New York; Carlsbad Caverns, the Great Lakes, Alaska's Glacier Bay, Mammoth Cave and the Mississippi River

b)Mount McKinley, Alaska; California's big trees; The Volcanoes of Hawaii; the Yosemite National Park; Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco; Mount Rushmore National Museum; Astrodome in Houston; Statue of Liberty; Hoover Dam; Walt Disney World in Florida; Gateway Arch in St. Louis

1. The Grand Canyon. Arizona

Top choice on the list is generally considered to be one of nature's greatest masterpieces in the world. The Colorado River cuts through the Colorado plateau (tableland) at the length of 320 km. Its width at the plateau level is 8 – 25 m, the depth – 1,800 m. The width of the river bed is 90-100 m, the depth 10-15 m, the speed of the current 25 km an hour. Students of geology can trace the history of centuries in its layered rock walls. Its plant and animal life ranges from sub-arctic to desert forms.

COMPREHENSION TEST

1. The Grand Canyon (Arizona ) is generally considered to be… .

a)not of great interest

b)one of nature's greatest masterpieces in the world

c)one of man-made wonders

2. The Grand Canyon’s plant and animal life … .

a)ranges from sub-arctic to desert forms

b)is rather poor

c)is subtropical

2. Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming.

Yellowstone National Park in the Rocky Mountains in 1872 became the first US area set for man's enjoyment of nature. Among its beauty spots are 85 geysers. Geyser "The Old Faithful" sends out fountains of hot water every 67 minutes. The temperature of the water is 90° C and the height of

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the fountain is 42 m.

COMPREHENSION TEST

1.Among Yellowstone National Park’s beauty sports are … . a) its sculptures

b) its 85 geysers c) its glaciers

2.Yellowstone National Park in the Rocky Mountains in 1872 became the first US area set … .

a) for man's enjoyment of nature b) for sale

3.Niagara Falls. New York.

Niagara Falls was first seen by Frenchmen in 1613. The River Niagara flows from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, and in its course plunges more than 150 feet over the cliffs of the Niagara Falls, the Falls are separated into two parts by the Goat Island. On the US side the drop is 51 m, on the Canadian side – 48 m. The Falls pass more than 6 million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water every minute in high flaw and almost 4 million cubic (110,000 m3) feet, i.e. nearly a million tons of water every five minutes. It is impossible to describe the grandeur, the fury and the beauty of the falls. The falls freeze in winter and then the ice builds up into queer towers and hanging columns, while the rapids below look like whipped cream. The falls produce a great amount of electric power. The power station is situated at Queenstown.

COMPREHENSION TEST

1.Niagara Falls (New York) was first seen by ... .

a) Englishmen in 1660 b) Frenchmen in 1613 c) Spanish in 1690

2.The River Niagara flows … .

a)from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario

b)into the Pacific Ocean

c)from Lake Superior into Lake Erie 3. The Niagara Falls … .

a)freeze in winter

b)don’t freeze in winter

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height

2.Calaveras Big Trees State Park became a state park … . a) in 1931

b) in 1852

3.The Redwood National and State Parks preserve … . a) only the redwood forests

b) other indigenous flora, fauna, grassland prairie, cultural re-

sources, portions of rivers and other streams, and 37 miles (60 km) of pristine coastline

6. The Volcanoes of Hawaii. The Island of Hawaii is built from five separate shield volcanoes that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are (from oldest to youngest): Kohala (extinct), Mauna Kea (dormant), Hualālai (dormant), Mauna Loa (active, partly within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park), Kīlauea (very active; part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park).

Kohala is the oldest of five volcanoes that make up the island of Hawaii. It is believed to have last erupted 120,000 years ago. It is 5,400 feet (1,670 meters) high. and it travels 130 km (81 mi) across the sea.

Mauna Kea. The peak of Mauna Kea is 13,803 feet (4,207 m) above mean sea level but 33,476 feet (10,203 m) above its base on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It is the world's tallest mountain by this measure, taller than Mount Everest which is the highest mountain above sea level. Mauna kea means "white mountain" in the Hawaiian language, a reference to its summit being regularly covered by snow in winter.

Hualālai is the third most historically active shield volcano on the Island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. Its peak is at 8,271 ft (2,521 m) above sea level. Hualālai lies more or less due west of the saddle between the much taller Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa mountains. The town of Kailua-Kona is built on the southwestern slope of this mountain, where most of the world famous Kona coffee is grown.

Mauna Loa (7,100 ft or 2,160 m) is the largest volcano on earth in terms of area covered and one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. But its peak is about 120 feet (37 m) lower than that of its neighbor, Mauna Kea. The Hawaiian name "Mauna Loa" means "Long Mountain". Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are silica-poor, thus very fluid: and as a result eruptions

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tend to be non-explosive and the volcano has extremely shallow slopes. Kīlauea (it is 4,091 ft. or 1,247 m. high) In Hawaiian, the word kīla-

uea means "spewing" or "much spreading", in reference to the mountain's frequent outpouring of lava. Issuing lava continuously since January 1983, Kīlauea is currently the most active volcano on the Earth, an invaluable resource for volcanologists, and also the planet's most visited active volcano. The volume of erupted material could pave a road across the world 3 times. Lava less than 1000 yrs old covers 90% of Kilauea.

Kīlauea is the most recent of a series of volcanoes that have created the Hawaiian Archipelago, as the Pacific Plate has moved and is moving over the Hawaii hotspot. An eruption that started in 1983 is ongoing. Thir- ty-three eruptions have taken place since 1952 not including the current episode.

COMPREHENSION TEST

1.The highest volcano of Hawaii is … . a) Hualālai

b) Mauna Kea

2.The oldest of five volcanoes is … . a) Kīlauea

b) Kohala

7.The Yosemite National Park.

The Yosemite national Park lies in the west of Sierra Nevada Moun-

tains in California. Yosemite Valley is formed by glaciers of the Merced River Canyon. Its rocks are covered with pine woods, cedar trees, sequoias. There are also many picturesque waterfalls.

COMPREHENSION TEST 1. The Yosemite National Park lies … .

a)in the east of Sierra Nevada Mountains in California

b)in Florida

c)in the west of Sierra Nevada Mountains in California 2. Yosemite Valley is formed by … .

a)glaciers of the Mersey River Canyon.

b)glaciers of the Mississippi River Canyon

3. Rocks of Yosemite Valley are covered with … .

a)pine woods, cedar trees and sequoias

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b) palm and banana trees

4. In Yosemite Valley there are … .

a)many picturesque waterfalls

b)many picturesque lakes

Among the runners-up with numerous votes were Carlsbad Caverns, the Great Lakes, Alaska's Glacier Bay, Mammoth Cave and the Mississippi River. For travelers more interested in man-made wonders the poll chose the following:

1.Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco;

2.Mount Rushmore National Museum;

3.Astrodome in Houston;

4.Statue of Liberty;

5.Hoover Dam;

6.Walt Disney World in Florida;

7.Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

COMPREHENSION TEST

1. Among the runners-up with numerous votes were … .

a)Carlsbad Caverns, the Great Lakes, Alaska's Glacier Bay, Mammoth Cave and the Mississippi River

b)the Great Lakes and Alaska's Glacier Bay

2.For travelers moreinterestedinman-madewonders the poll chose … .

a)Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Mount Rushmore National Museum, Astrodome in Houston, Statue of Liberty, Hoover Dam, Walt Disney World in Florida, Gateway Arch in St. Louis

b) Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Statue of Liberty and Gateway Arch in St. Louis

TEXT 22

MOUNT ETNA

Memorize the words:

exciting – захватывающий, волнующий excitement – волнение

show – зрелище flame – пламя

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