М. М. Кутепова The World of Chemistry Мир

a) Listen to the following dialogue and say what the subject of the conversation is. The following notes and words will help you to understand the dialogue better:

NOTES

1. 
   for that matter — в этом отношении
   
2. 
   just a minute — минутку
   
3. 
   just think — только подумай
   
4. 
   benefit mankind — приносить пользу человечеству
   
5. 
   Come on! — Перестань!
   
6. 
   to be under way — проходить, вестись
   
7. 
   I wouldn’t say that exactly. - Я бы так не сказал.
   
8. 
   At least this is my way of looking at it. - По крайней мере, я так думаю.
   
9. 
   You see what 1 mean. — Ты понимаешь, что я хочу сказать.
   
10. 
    How shall 1 say? — Как это сказать?
    

140

WORDS

by-product — побочный продукт
besides — кроме того
to furnish — обеспечить
incidentally — случайно
moreover — более того


nourishing — питательный positively - конечно are underfed - не доедают virtually — в сущности


MARY: I can’t understand, James, what right have the Americans and... the Russians — or anyone else for that matter — to spend huge sums of money on research into space?
JAMES: Could I just... ?
MARY: Just a minute... huge sums of money are being spent on research of this kind? We should think about solving our problems on the Earth before we try to make further investigations in space. Just think... If that money were spent on protein research or cell research, for example, what progress they could make, how they could benefit mankind!
JAMES: True... But there is research that would be of more immediate use. Other kinds too... not just research into...
MAR Y: What d’you mean? The research into proteins and cell are absolutely necessary. Just think... Proteins are vital to our lives and furnish us with virtually every atom of nitrogen that’s found in our tissues.
JAMES: Yes, yes, right. Moreover, even the secret of life itself seems to be sealed in a protein molecule. But... cloning...
MARY: Come on! What’s wrong with cloning? Especially now when the lamb Dolly’s examination is underway.
JAMES: And yet, they’re questioning the legitimacy of the research.
MARY: But, James, the research is perfectly legitimate, I feel.
JAMES: Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly... But - at least this is my way of looking at it - cloning is absolutely useless. If we spent money on cultivating new foods, ... discovering new types of foods. Well you see what I mean, now, when a big percentage of population is underfed.
MARY: That’s one way of looking at it. But simplistic. You don’t always solve the problem by concentrating on it. Solutions often come... er... How shall I say? — incidentally.


141

JAMES: As by-products?

MARY: Yes, if you like... as by-products or other discoveries. I mean can you imagine... Think a bit... Can you imagine how many problems could be solved as by-products of protein and cell research? Ah? New materials, new nourishing foods, mm... . More than that, many of these have already found their way into our homes and... well... little do we realise their origin. JAMES: You maybe right, Mary... but all the same....
b) All your answers to the following questions will be reports on the opinions of the speakers and the ways they are trying to persuade each other. Answer each question briefly and as far as possible in your own words:

1. 
   What does Mary think about research into space?
   
2. 
   What arguments does she use to try to persuade James to share her opinion?
   
3. 
   Mary has a definite view about how money set aside for research should be spent? What is her view?
   
4. 
   Does it seem to James that research into cell and proteins are justified?
   
5. 
   What does he think of cloning?
   
6. 
   Explain James’ arguments for uselessness of cloning?
   

12.