Text 11 PYTHAGORAS
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priests – священники
I. 1. Read the article and say in 2-3 sentences what it is about.
Pythagoras* is often described as a very important mathematician, yet we know little about his achievements. What we do know is that he was the leader of a society which was half scientific and half religious. It was a secret society and today Pythagoras is still a mysterious figure.
It is believed that Pythagoras was born on the Greek island of Samos. His father was a merchant, and as a child, Pythagoras travelled with him selling their goods. Pythagoras was well educated. He learned music and poetry and had three philosophers to teach him who introduced Pythagoras to mathematics and advised him to travel to Egypt to learn more about mathematics and astronomy. So in 535 BC, Pythagoras travelled to Egypt where he visited many temples and took part in discussions with priests. Many of the customs he learnt in Egypt he came to adopt. For example, the Egyptian priests refused to eat beans and wear animal skins, as did Pythagoras later in his life.
In 525 BC the King of Persia invaded Egypt. Pythagoras was taken prisoner and was transported to Babylon. It was here, taught by the Babylonians, that he reached perfection in arithmetic and music. When Pythagoras returned to Samos he founded there a school which was called ‘The Semicircle’. It seems that the people of Samos did not appreciate the teaching methods of Pythagoras and they treated him rudely and improperly. Furthermore, they wanted to involve Pythagoras in local politics against his will. For these reasons, he went to Italy.
Pythagoras believed that numbers rule the universe and that numbers are present in all things. He also connected mathematics to music and recognized the healing power of music. He used it as a kind of therapy to help those who were ill. Another of his beliefs was that there are three types of men: those who love wisdom, those who love honour and those who love wealth.
Pythagoras was a mathematician, an astronomer, and a philosopher. Today we remember him best for his famous geometry theorem, known as Pythagoras’ theorem.*
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1. *Pythagoras [paɪˈθæɡərəs] Пифагор
2. Pythagoras’ theorem [paɪˈθæɡərəsɪz ˈθɪərəm] теорема Пифагора
2. Where did Pythagoras go to learn mathematics and astronomy? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. Why did Pythagoras go to Italy?
4. What are the three types of men according to Pythagoras?
Pythagoras* is often described as a very important mathematician, yet we know little about his achievements. What we do know is that he was the leader of a society which was half scientific and half religious. It was a secret society and today Pythagoras is still a mysterious figure.
It is believed that Pythagoras was born on the Greek island of Samos. His father was a merchant, and as a child, Pythagoras travelled with him selling their goods. Pythagoras was well educated. He learned music and poetry and had three philosophers to teach him who introduced Pythagoras to mathematics and advised him to travel to Egypt to learn more about mathematics and astronomy. So in 535 BC, Pythagoras travelled to Egypt where he visited many temples and took part in discussions with priests. Many of the customs he learnt in Egypt he came to adopt. For example, the Egyptian priests refused to eat beans and wear animal skins, as did Pythagoras later in his life.
In 525 BC the King of Persia invaded Egypt. Pythagoras was taken prisoner and was transported to Babylon. It was here, taught by the Babylonians, that he reached perfection in arithmetic and music. When Pythagoras returned to Samos he founded there a school which was called ‘The Semicircle’. It seems that the people of Samos did not appreciate the teaching methods of Pythagoras and they treated him rudely and improperly. Furthermore, they wanted to involve Pythagoras in local politics against his will. For these reasons, he went to Italy.
Pythagoras believed that numbers rule the universe and that numbers are present in all things. He also connected mathematics to music and recognized the healing power of music. He used it as a kind of therapy to help those who were ill. Another of his beliefs was that there are three types of men: those who love wisdom, those who love honour and those who love wealth.
Pythagoras was a mathematician, an astronomer, and a philosopher. Today we remember him best for his famous geometry theorem, known as Pythagoras’ theorem.*
____________________________________________________
1. *Pythagoras [paɪˈθæɡərəs] Пифагор
2. Pythagoras’ theorem [paɪˈθæɡərəsɪz ˈθɪərəm] теорема Пифагора
2. Where did Pythagoras go to learn mathematics and astronomy? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. Why did Pythagoras go to Italy?
4. What are the three types of men according to Pythagoras?
II. Listen to the interview taken by the “Youth Magazine” with Mr Ron Cansler and answer the questions below. (23)
1. How old is Mr Cansler?
2. What kind of of life did he have when he was young?
3. What does he recommend listeners to do?
1. How old is Mr Cansler?
2. What kind of of life did he have when he was young?
3. What does he recommend listeners to do?
Script
Journalist: Mr Cansler, how does it feel to be one hundred?
Mr Cansler: Well, actually, I’m not one hundred yet. My birthday’s in two weeks’ time.
Journalist: You’re in perfect shape, what do you do to keep fit?
Mr Cansler: Nowadays, people seem to be crazy about having a healthy lifestyle. When I was young, nobody thought about such things. I was one of ten children in my family. We had no idea what a healthy diet was. We were happy if we had enough to eat. There was no need to take any exercise, the work on the farm was hard, and we spent all days outdoors. You had to be strong; I lost one brother and one sister quite early, but those that survived lived into an old age. We all probably took after my father, who died at the age of ninety-four.
Journalist: Have you ever smoked?
Mr Cansler: Well, I haven’t tried cigarettes, no. But once I thought I’d look interesting with a pipe* so I tried that. But my wife couldn’t stand it, so after a week or so I threw the pipe away.
Journalist: What can you advise our listeners?
Mr Cansler: I don’t think you can do anything to guarantee a long life. You can’t avoid hardships, even tragedies. What you can do is be as active as possible and have a positive attitude.
Journalist: Thank you, Mr Cansler.
Mr Cansler: Well, actually, I’m not one hundred yet. My birthday’s in two weeks’ time.
Journalist: You’re in perfect shape, what do you do to keep fit?
Mr Cansler: Nowadays, people seem to be crazy about having a healthy lifestyle. When I was young, nobody thought about such things. I was one of ten children in my family. We had no idea what a healthy diet was. We were happy if we had enough to eat. There was no need to take any exercise, the work on the farm was hard, and we spent all days outdoors. You had to be strong; I lost one brother and one sister quite early, but those that survived lived into an old age. We all probably took after my father, who died at the age of ninety-four.
Journalist: Have you ever smoked?
Mr Cansler: Well, I haven’t tried cigarettes, no. But once I thought I’d look interesting with a pipe* so I tried that. But my wife couldn’t stand it, so after a week or so I threw the pipe away.
Journalist: What can you advise our listeners?
Mr Cansler: I don’t think you can do anything to guarantee a long life. You can’t avoid hardships, even tragedies. What you can do is be as active as possible and have a positive attitude.
Journalist: Thank you, Mr Cansler.
1. What role does the Internet play in your life? Which of them do you prefer?
2. Are all mass media means popular among your classmates? Why or why not?
3. What questions will you ask a photojournalist about his/her work?
4. Unfortunately, I have little time to surf the Net. Which sites will you advise me to visit first of all?
5. Can the Internet replace all the other means of mass media? What do you think about it?
2. Are all mass media means popular among your classmates? Why or why not?
3. What questions will you ask a photojournalist about his/her work?
4. Unfortunately, I have little time to surf the Net. Which sites will you advise me to visit first of all?
5. Can the Internet replace all the other means of mass media? What do you think about it?
POSSIBLE RESPONSE
1. Mass media play an important role in the life of society. They inform, educate and entertain people. Millions of people in their spare time watch TV and read newspapers.
Mass Media have made our world small. Now information gets from one part of the world to another at the speed of light. Everyday a huge amount of information is given by newspaper articles, TV news and radio. For us it is to choose what’s the truth and what’s not.
A wide range of different shows, films and other kinds of programs are created just for our pleasure. We are fed up with various kinds of entertainment. Mass Media add spice to our lives. They make us laugh and cry.
As for me I’m not a TV fan. But my parents still watch TV. My mother enjoys watching lifestyle programmes, talk shows, soaps, drama and sitcoms. My father prefers news and sports programmes.
To tell the truth, I’m not really interested in any traditional media. Instead I enjoy using the Internet, which unites all media sources nowadays. So I can easily watch the same films or channels online. Besides, sometimes I use the Internet for communication with my friends who live far away from me. I am sure that the Internet has changed my life for the better, because it’s the easiest and quickest way to stay informed.
2. Certainly, not. Most of my classmates rarely read newspapers and don’t listen to the radio. Nowadays young people are really into modern technologies so they use the Internet to get necessary information and watch some interesting programmes, films or videos.
3. When did you decide to become a photojournalist?
5. It's hard to say now. The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many people. But there are always those who prefer watching or reading a good newspaper to surfing the Internet. Let's wait and see.
Mass Media have made our world small. Now information gets from one part of the world to another at the speed of light. Everyday a huge amount of information is given by newspaper articles, TV news and radio. For us it is to choose what’s the truth and what’s not.
A wide range of different shows, films and other kinds of programs are created just for our pleasure. We are fed up with various kinds of entertainment. Mass Media add spice to our lives. They make us laugh and cry.
As for me I’m not a TV fan. But my parents still watch TV. My mother enjoys watching lifestyle programmes, talk shows, soaps, drama and sitcoms. My father prefers news and sports programmes.
To tell the truth, I’m not really interested in any traditional media. Instead I enjoy using the Internet, which unites all media sources nowadays. So I can easily watch the same films or channels online. Besides, sometimes I use the Internet for communication with my friends who live far away from me. I am sure that the Internet has changed my life for the better, because it’s the easiest and quickest way to stay informed.
2. Certainly, not. Most of my classmates rarely read newspapers and don’t listen to the radio. Nowadays young people are really into modern technologies so they use the Internet to get necessary information and watch some interesting programmes, films or videos.
3. When did you decide to become a photojournalist?
- Your job is really exciting, isn’t it?
- How often do you travel on business?
- What countries have you visited?
- Do you work with celebrities?
- What do I need to get such a job?
5. It's hard to say now. The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many people. But there are always those who prefer watching or reading a good newspaper to surfing the Internet. Let's wait and see.