Тнe аnтаrctiс

The continent of Antarctica liеs at and around the South Pole within the Antarctic circle. It is in the centre of the Earth's southern part on the opposite side of the globe from the areas where most of the population of our planet lives.

Antarctica stretches from the South Pole to the 70th lati­tude and is twice as large in area as Australia.

Twenty million square kilometers of the land mass is thick ice which forms the largest load on the earth's crust; in some places it depresses the continent below sea level. The stormy ocean isolates Antarctica from other lands. In winter the tem­perature is coldest on earth, sea water freezes and doubles the area of the continent: it brings its border to the 50th parallel - the latitude of Paris. The summer season lasts for two months - from December to January. When the daily hours of sunshine are longest air temperature rises to 2 or 3 degrees Centigrade above zero. On a clear summer day the icebergs change color from red to violet and the sea is green but all the rest is white, quite white. A small piece of land free from ice and snow with a lake in its centre lies about 250 miles from the Mirny. The water in the lake is icy cold but the stones around it are quite hot from the sun rays. Because the ice reflects most of the solar heat back into space, ice and snow do not melt, but any object may get hot in the sunshine.

Geological exploration shows that the continent in the not too distant past had a rich flora and fauna. Geologists find signs of plants and animals that are characteristic of a temperate climate which brings Antarctica to the centre of interest in many fields of science. Geological exploration may help to solve many questions about the history of the earth. What lies under the cover of ice? How long did the life exist here? How many thousands of centuries ago did forests grow here and huge animals people them? Why did they disappear? The unique geography of the Antarc­tic makes it a great natural observatory for the study of the earth and its three southern poles: the geographic, magnetic and geomagnetic. Antarctica may become a laboratory for the scientists of many nations where they can work together and develop inter­national cooperation and contacts.

10. Переведите предложения, обращая внимание на составные пред­логи: according to - в соответствии с, согласно; as far as - насколько; because of - из-за; by means of - посредством; due to - благодаря, вследствие, из-за; in addition to - в дополнение, плюс к; in front of - перед; in order to - для того, чтобы; in spite of - несмотря на; instead of - вместо; on account of -вследствие, из-за; owing to - благодаря, из-за, вследствие; thanks to - благодаря, из-за.

1. By means of this device we can now carry out more opera­tions in shorter time. 2. The work goes on according to schedule. 3. The engine didn't operate well because of bad fuel. 4. In order to protect the surface from heat and cold it was covered with special substance. 5. Due to this new trolley-bus route the passenger service in the city was improved. 6. The monument was restored in spite of many difficulties. 7. Who can repair the apparatus instead of him? 8. No planes took off on that day on account of low clouds. 9. Is there any high building in front of your house? 10. Owing to his works not only was the problem solved at last but a wholly new approach to it was introduced. 11. The expedition sailed as far as Borneo. 12. In addition to sails the boat was also supplied with a motor. 13. In addition to the usual methods of computation they made use of computers. 14. According to the information the ship will arrive on the 10th of April. 15. I go by bus as far as the library and then walk a few blocks to my office. 16. They didn't go to the country because of the rain. 17. In big ports ships are loaded and un-loaded by means of cranes. 18. The train did not arrive in time due to the snow storm. 19. Who is sitting in front of you? 20. The new equipment was used in order to test the vibration of the engine. 21. He left in spite of all my protests. 22. What book can you give me instead of that one? 23. The match was de­layed on account of heavy rain. 24. Owing to the new system of regulations the number of accidents went down. 25. Thanks to his help we finished our work early.

11. Переведите предложения, обращая внимание на значение слова “which”.

1. The Moon has no atmosphere which is necessary for the life of plants. There is no atmosphere on the Moon, which is the reason of its being lifeless. 2. Plastics are a new material which is produced of chemicals. Plastics can be moulded under heat and pressure, which makes them important in industry. 3. Glass has some properties which have been recently discovered. Glass can be subjected to different methods of treatment, which should be taken into consideration by the engineer.

12. Переведите предложения, обращая внимание на составные союзы: both... and - как... так и; either... or - или... или neither... nor - ни... ни, sо that - так, чтобы, с тем чтобы.

1. Both the bridge and the tunnel will be finished in time. 2. I shall leave either tonight or tomorrow. 3. I could find him neither at home nor in the office. 4. They crossed the mountains sо that they could reach the village before dark. 5. You can get to this part of the city either by bus or by the underground. 6. Our firm knows neither crisis nor unemployment. 7. The sun gives us both light and heat.

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Дата добавления: 2015-11-15