I. Прочитайте и переведите текст (устно). MARIE CURIE AND THE DISCOVERY OF RADIUM

Marie Curie was born in Warsaw on November 7, 1867. Her father was a teacher of science and mathematics in a school, and it was from him that little Marie Sklodowska (her Polish name) learned her first lesson of science.
In 1891 she went to Paris to continue her studies at the Sorbonne. She determined to work for two Master’s degrees – one in physics, the other in mathematics. Yet she had scarcely enough money to live on. She studied night after night after her hard day’s work at the University. She chose her course and nothing could turn her from it. Among the many scientists whom Marie met and worked with in Paris was Pierre Curie. When he met Marie he was 35 years old and was famous throughout Europe for his discoveries in magnetism.
Pierre Curie and Marie, both of whom loved science more than anything else, very soon became the closest friends. After a little more than a year Marie became Madame Curie.
At that time she had already had her Master’s degree in physics and mathematics and was busy in researches on steel. She wished to obtain a Doctor’s degree. Pierre and Marie Curie were greatly interested in the work of the French scientist Becquerel. There is a rare metal uranium which, as Becquerel discovered, emits rays very much like X-rays. The Curies wanted to discover the mystery of the rays of uranium. What caused them? How strong were they?
The research was carried out under great difficulties. Marie Curie had to use an old store-room at the University as her laboratory. There was no proper apparatus and very little space for research work. But she had to make the best of it.
Besides uranium Marie Curie began to examine every known chemical substance. She repeated her experiments time after time and found that one mineral emitted much more powerful rays than uranium. So she could only decide that this mineral must contain a new element. It was a mystery. This seemed unthinkable. Scientists declared that every element was already known to them. However, all Marie’s experiments proved that the mineral contained a new and unknown element. There was no other explanation for the powerful rays which it emitted. Scientists call the property of giving out such rays ―radioactivity‖, and Marie decided to call the new element ―radium‖.

II. Выберите правильный вариант ответа на вопросы к тексту.
1. Why did Marie go to Paris?
a) to discover the mystery of the rays of uranium
b) to continue her studies
c) to begin her research
2. What was the result of her numerous experiments?
a) She discovered the mystery of the rays of uranium.
b) She found that one mineral emitted much more powerful rays than uranium.
c) She proved that the mineral contained some new elements.
3. Why did little Marie learn her first lessons from her father?
a) because he was a teacher
b) because she was a clever girl
c) because there were no schools in the suburbs of Warsaw

III. Закончите предложения по содержанию прочитанного текста.
4. Pierre and Marie Curie were greatly interested ….
a) in researches
b) in X-rays
c) in the work of the French scientist Becquerel
5. There was no proper apparatus and very little space ….
a) for laboratory experiments
b) for research work
c) for scientific work
6. Pierre Curie was famous throughout Europe ….
a) for his discovery of X-rays
b) for his discovery in magnetism
c) for his discovery of uranium
7. In 1891 Marie went to Paris ….
a) to discover the mystery of the rays of uranium
b) to obtain Doctor’s degree
c) to continue her studies
8. Besides uranium Marie Curie began to examine ….
a) X-rays
b) the rays of uranium
c) every known chemical substance

Azozylya    2   30.04.2021 20:58    6