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BIOLOGY AS A SCIENCE

Biology is the science of living things. The word "biology" comes from two Greek words: bio – "life" and logos – "discourse" or "study". Biology includes all the facts and principles which are derived from a scientific study of living things. The special study of plants, called Botany, and of animals, called Zoology, are the two great subdivisions of the science of biology. Plants and animals are called organisms, so biology may also be defined as the science of organisms.

Life exists in many places on the earth, often in spite of very difficult conditions. In the Arctic regions, the temperature may fall to 60 degrees below zero, while in deserts it may climb to over 120 degrees. Some animals live under the immense pressure of the deep seas, and others live near the tops of the highest mountains. But no matter where they exist, all living things must have certain necessary conditions. Let us see what these are: living things need oxygen, living things must have the right amount of pressure, living things must have water, living things need the proper temperature, living things must have food.

Most people think that plants are not alive in the same sense that animals are, or that there is some fundamental difference between plant and animal life. But this is not so. Plants and animals have much in common. Their more important points of resemblance are: 1) The living substance of plants and animals is organized into protoplasm. Protoplasm is the basic material of all living systems and its general properties are fundamentally the same in each system both in plants and animals. 2) The living matter is organized in both plants and animals into microscopic units called cells. 3) Certain vital processes take place in plant bodies in the same manner as in animal bodies. These processes are respiration, digestion, assimilation, growth and reproduction. 4) Both animals and plants cannot live without water, air, food, light and moderate amount of heat. They both are of different shapes, sizes and colours. In fact, the differences are not so many as the likenesses although they are more apparent, for only three are important, namely: plants are not conscious, they are unable to move about, they make their own food.

Notes to the text:

In the same sense— в тому самому сенсі, що й...

of the same kind— того ж виду, сорту

to be certain — бути впевненим

no matter — неважливо

in spite of — незважаючи на

3. Translate the following words bearing in mind the meaning of the affixes and memorize them:

to specialise (v), specialist (n), speciality (n), special (adj), specialization (n), especially (adv)

science (n), scientist (n), scientific (adj), scientifically (adv)

to include (v), to exclude (v), inclusion (n), inclusive (adj)

to derive (v), derivation (n), derivative (adj)

to divide (v), division (n), divisor (n), divisible (adj)

to define (v), definition (n), definite (adj)

to differ (v), difference (n), different (adj), differently (adv)

indifference (n), indifferent (adj), indifferently (adv)

to resemble (v), resemblance (n)

4. Form adverbs from the following adjectives and translate them:

inclusive, scientific, definite, different, special, certain, common, fundamental, apparent

5. Give synonyms for the following words:

to exist, immense, to form, to need, same, fundamental, some, common, vital, manner, to call, certain, main, likeness, right, basic, high, to resemble, general

6. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian:

1) I like both of these plants.

2) I like both the flowers and the leaves of this plant.

3) Both functions of this organ are important.

4) Both water and air are necessary for the living organisms.

5) General properties of protoplasm are the same both in plants and animals.

6) Both plants and animals cannot live without water.

7) Both these plants are of the same shape and size.

7. Supply the Infinitives of the following verbs:

told, gave, known, made, led, came, thought, taken, called, climbed, put, written, included, defined, saw

8. Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian, paying attention to the various meanings of "to have", "to be" and ways of translating different modal verbs:

1) Variation in plants is the basis for plant improvement.

2) These plants are improved by us.

3) They are at the University now but they are to meet here.

4) The crop yields are to be increased this year.

5) He has a lot of literature on this subject.

6) He has to translate a new article so he will have to work the whole evening.

7) You must read this book.

8) You have to read this book.

9) You should read this book.

10) You are to read this book.

11) You ought to read this book.

12) We have to develop new varieties of plants.

13) We had to adapt the plants to new conditions.

14) We shall have to create suitable conditions for this experiment.

15) Our teacher is to be here at 9 o'clock.

16) The principle of isotope analysis can also be applied in cases where a greater number of substances are to be determined.

17) This plant has to be treated with cold.

18) We have to read much to become good specialists.

19) These fruits are to be crossed.

20) The structure of this soil had to be improved.

21) You ought to plant this seed in spring.

22) The grain had to pass through a low temperature stage.

9. Find the subject and the predicate and put questions to all parts of the sentence:

1) Most of the animals have great importance for man.

2) Bodies of plants and animals contain inorganic substances.

3) We shall consider plants and animals together.

4) Biology became more dependent on other sciences.

5) Certain vital processes take place in plant body every season.

6) These plants differ greatly in size.

10. Answer the following questions:

1) What is biology? Define it.

2) What do you call the science of living organisms?

3) What elements does living matter consist of?

4) Are plants and animals similar in their fundamental composition? What are the differences and similarities?

5) How can biology be defined?

6) What does the word "biology" mean?

7) Do plants and animals depend upon one another?

8) How do plants or animals differ from lifeless things?

11. Translate the text into Ukrainian; say what new information about plants and animals you got from it:

Biology is the study of living things. In studying them we learn the relations of plants and animals to one another, with the world around them and how we can control them. Biology is commonly divided into two branches – botany and zoology. Both animal and plant life is continually changing and there are great differences and likenesses between them.

All organisms are capable of responding to changes in the environment by reacting to external stimuli.

In animals this coordination and response to stimuli are accomplished by sense organs and the endocrine and nervous systems.

Plants lack a nervous system, and specific sense organs, but they respond to external stimuli and their chemical coordination in somewhat analogous to that regulated by the endocrine system of animals.

Both plants and animals have hormones. These substances are produced in one part of the organism and in very small amounts, influence specific psychological processes when transported to another part of the organism. Plant hormones, however, are not produced in specific glands as animal hormones are, and they differ chemically from the hormones of animals, being in general simpler substances. Other substances which act like hormones but are not known to be produced by the plant are called plant regulators. The study of plant hormones and these synthetic substances is one of active fields of plant physiological research and their use in agriculture has become very important.

12. Read the text; guess the meaning of the unfamiliar words from the context:

In external appearance, plants are usually green. Some plants have varied and colourful flowers and others have no apparent blossoms. Among animals there is great variety of sizes, shapes and colours. The basic difference between plants and animals lies in the unit of structure and function of each, namely, the cell. Plant cells have a cell wall which is actually nonliving in chemical nature.

Animal cells do not have this.

13. Translate into English:

Живі організми живуть в різних умовах. Деякі з них можуть існувати за дуже високих температур, інші легко переносять сильні морози. Все вони повинні пристосовуватися до оточуючого середовища.

Біологія вивчає життєві процеси як у тварин, так і у рослин. Ці два великі підрозділи біології називаються ботанікою и зоологією. Як рослини, так і тварини повинні мати певні умови для існування. І ті, й інші не можуть жити без повітря, води, їжі та світла. Однакові життєві процеси відбуваються як у тварин, так і у рослин. Ці процеси називаються диханням, травленням, ростом и розмноженням.

Дуже важливий принцип живих організмів – це здатність реагувати на зовнішні подразники. Тварини реагують на зовнішні подразники через нервову систему и органи чуття. Рослини також пристосовуються до оточуючого середовища і реагують на зовнішні подразники. Однак механізм реакції подразнення у рослин сильно відрізняється від тваринного.

14. Write a brief summary of the texts in English. Be prepared to speak on the topic "Differences and Similarities between plants and animals".

15. Get ready for the following imaginary situations:

1. The boy next door is in the fifth form. He states that he studies botany but not biology. Explain his mistake to him.

2. One of your friends believes that only animals are living organisms, another one thinks that both animals and plants are alive with no difference whatsoever. Are they right? Why? Discuss the ways in which living things differ from lifeless objects.

3. Your friend alleges that there is no life on the bottom of deep seas. Prove that life exists nearly everywhere on earth. What evidence can you give to prove this?

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2. BIOLOGY IN OUR LIFE
3. BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
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5. Computational Biology
6. Do you know different kinds of science? Match science with its definition.
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11. History of language as a science.

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