A. Read the text and complete the sentences after it.
Mikhail Lomonosov
M ikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711— 1765) was
a Russian scientist and w riter who made important
contributions to literature, education and
science. Among his discoveries was the atmosphere
['aetmasfta] of Venus ['vi:nas]. H is interests
lay in chem istry, physics, optics, geography, history
and art. H is poetry helped to develop the
modern Russian language.
Lomonosov was born in the village of Denisovka
(now Lomonosovo) near Kholm ogory in the far
north of Russia. H is father, first a fisherman,
eventually bought a ship and began transporting things from Arkhangelsk
to other places. W hen M ikhail was ten, his father decided that the
boy was old enough to help him.
However, young Lomonosov was not interested in the fam ily business.
Learning was what he wanted. H is neighbour had taught him to read
and he spent as much time as he could w ith books, among which there
was a grammar book and a book of arithm etic. The knowledge he got at
home was not enough for Lomonosov and in 1730, at nineteen he left
the village and joined a caravan ['kaeravan] travelling to Moscow.
Here he entered Slavic Greek Latin Academy [a'kaedami] and lived on
bread and water for quite a long time but made rapid progress ['praugres]
as a student. He completed a twelve-year study course [ka:s] in only five
years, and graduated from the Academy w ith b rilliant results. A fantastic
student, he was given an opportunity to go to Saint Petersburg U n iversity
and later to the U niversity of Marburg in Germany.
1 Persia ['рзг^э] — Персия
The latter was among Europe’s most im portant universities in the 18th
century, Lomonosov quickly learned German and developed an interest in
German literature and philosophy. He seriously studied chem istry and
began w riting poetry. In Germ any Lomonosov got m arried. The money
he got from the Russian Academy of Sciences was not enough for his
growing fam ily and he decided to return to St Petersburg.
A t home he became a member of the Academy, and soon was made professor
[prs'fesa] of chem istry. W ishing to improve education in Russia he
and Count1 Ivan Shuvalov founded Moscow University.
Lomonosov developed a number of im portant theories and made some
b rilliant discoveries, wrote poetry some of which is remembered till nowadays.
1) Lomonosov was not interested in ... .
a) astronomy
b) biology
c) literature
2) Lomonosov’s fath er ... .
a) sold goods
b) bought goods
c) delivered2 goods
3) Young Lomonosov left home for Moscow because ... .
a) he didn’t have enough books to read
b) he wanted to see the world
c) he wanted to receive a good education
4) Lomonosov was able to get a university education because ... .
a) the Russian government paid for his studies
b) the German government paid for his university course
c) he worked very hard and paid for him self
5) St Petersburg U niversity was founded ... .
a) before Moscow U niversity
b) after Moscow U niversity
c) at the same time as Moscow U niversity
B. In the text you've read there are some words you may not know. These
words are marked. Did you understand their meanings? What helped you to
understand them: a) the way the words look and sound, b) the context in
which they are used, c) both?
A. Use the text about Lomonosov and prove3 the following.
1) M ikhail Lomonosov had wide interests.
2) He was largely a self-made man.
3) He was a gifted student and a fast learner.
1 count [kaunt] — граф
2 to deliver [di'liva] — доставлять
3 to prove [pru:v] — доказывать
в
4) Lom onosov’s contribution to education is priceless.
5) He helped to develop both sciences and arts.
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