Unit 5

THE SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE

 

Task 1. Read and learn the words and word combinations.

scientific attitude – науковий підхід

to find out – з’ясовувати

to direct - спрямовувати

to look for - шукати

underlying relationships – відносини, що лежать в основі (чого-н.)

patient - терплячий

persistent - наполегливий

to utilize - застосовувати, використовувати

velocity - швидкість

to reject – відкидати, відхиляти

authority – авторитетне джерело

to verify – перевіряти, підтверджувати

installment – пристрій, інструмент

impartial – неупереджений, справедливий

 

Task 2. Make up sentences with the words given in task 1.

 

Task 3. Try to guess the meaning of the following phrases

1. to be full of curiosity — to be full of desire to learn or know.

2. pure and applied knowledge — theoretical and practical body; facts accumulated by mankind.

3. to solve the problem — to find the answer (to), to explain a question proposed for solution.

4. to apply persistent and logical thought — to use practically сonstantly repeated and correct reasoning of an idea (concept).

5. man is the least reliable of scientific instruments — a human being is in the smallest degree true (trustworthy) scientific means.

6.  to disturb impartial and objective investigation —  to break up fair and real (without bias or prejudice) careful search.

 

Task 4. Read the text and discuss it. Write a synopsis of the text in five sentences.

THE SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE

What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, political science, chemistry, psychology, engineering, management, medicine or any other science?

What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is full of curiosity he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually directs his attention towards problems which he notices have no satisfactory explanation, and his curiosity makes him look for underlying relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions, whether of pure or applied knowledge, and enjoys trying to solve these problems which this involves.

He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and applies persistent and logical thought to the observations he makes. He utilizes the facts he observes to the fullest extents. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star (e.g. distance mass, velocity, size, etc.) mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum.

He is skeptical — he does not accept statements which are not based on the almost complete evidence available — and therefore rejects authority as the sole basis of truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively to verify them.

Furthermore, he is not only critical of the work of others, but also of his own, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific installments and that a number of factors tend to disturb impartial and objective investigation. 

Lastly, he is highly imaginative since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to make hypotheses how process works and how events take place.

These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.

 

Task 5. Translate the following words and word combinations:

Спрямовувати увагу, існуючі умови, спостереження, доступні дані, задовільне пояснення, здаватися непов’язаними між собою, прикладні знання, велика кількість інформації, точний аналіз, відкидати авторитетні джерела, перевіряти твердження, надійний науковий інструмент, неупереджене дослідження.

 

Task 6. Read the following statements from the text and comment them:

1. A successful scientist is full of curiosity. ‘Curiosity’ is a children’s quality. Can we treat a scientist like a child? Is it necessary for a grown-up person who deal with science to be curious? Why?

2. A successful scientist is a good observer. Nowadays there is a great number of different devices for observation, so perhaps it’s needless for a scientist to be a good observer because these devices can perform all his work.

3. Authoritative sources are proved by different scholars so they are reliable. Why should a successful scientist reject them?

4. Do you agree with the statement that a successful scientist needs imagination? Prove it.

 

Task 7. Put questions to underlined  words.

1. A successful scientist wants to find out how and why the universe works.

2. A successful scientist utilizes the facts he observes to the fullest extents.

3. Trained observers obtain a very large amount of information from the accurate analysis .

4. Scientists always check statements to verify them.

5. A man is the least reliable scientific installment.

6. A successful scientist must look for relationships in data.

 

Task 8. Translate the following sentences.

1. Справжній вчений повинен бути допитливим для того, щоб виявляти та досліджувати невідомі явища природи. 2. Проблеми та явища, які не мають задовільного пояснення, завжди привертають увагу вчених. 3. Хороший вчений повинен бути спостережливим, терплячим та об’єктивним для того, щоб проаналізувати та застосувати свої спостереження на практиці. 4. У своїх дослідженнях вчені ніколи не покладаються лише на авторитетні та перевірені джерела і таким чином рухають науку уперед. 5. Для підтвердження своїх гіпотез вчені проводять багато експериментів. 6. Щоб зробити щось неможливе дослідники повинні мати добре розвинену уяву.

 

Task 9. Speak on the following problems and discuss them with your colleagues:

a) You are a successful scientist. Give some useful advice to your young colleague about the qualities he/she should possess.

b) Discuss the qualities you consider to be the most and the least important for a good scientist.

 

Lexical revision. Commonly misused words.

Translate the sentences. Choose the correct usage with the help of a dictionary if necessary.

1. Marlene cannot find her glasses anywhere /anywheres.

2. Paula looks very much like /as her sister. Kate swims like /as well as Pam does. Carl looks like /as if he needs a nap.

3. The ascent /assent to the tower was frighteningly steep. Because I value his opinion, I will not go ahead with the project without his ascent /assent.

4. This milk tastes very real / awful. She wore very real / awful pearls.

5. Linda likes to sit besides /beside Ellen at the table. Who, besides / beside Pam, is taking swimming lessons?