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The spread of telephone cables
Words and word combinations:
To patent – запатентовать
single insulated wires – одиночные изолированные провода
to clutter – загромождать
underground telephone cable – подземный телефонный кабель
vacuum tube – вакуумная труба
to strengthen – укреплять
twisted cables – скрученный кабель
along the ocean floor – вдоль океанского дна
telephone call – телефонный вызов
The American scientist Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876 by the late 1800’s, thousands of telephones had come into use. Early telephone and telegraph lines consisted of single insulated wires. As a result, many cities in the United States and Canada became cluttered with cables strung on wooden poles. In the late 1880’s, engineers found that by twisting wires together they could produce a stronger cable and help limit the clutter. In 1902, the first underground telephone cable was installed, between New York City and Newark.
In 1907, the American inventor Lee De Forest patented a new kind of vacuum tube. His tube, also called an audion, could strengthen weak electric signals. In 1912, this tube was adapted as an amplifier for long-distance telephone calls. In 1913, two American engineers, Lloyd Espenschied and Herman A.Affel, patented the coaxial cables could carry many more telephone conversations than the twisted cables then in use. In the 1950’s, telephone companies began using transistors in repeaters.
The first transatlantic telephone cable was laid in 1956. this cable, which is still in operation, extends from Clarenville, Nfld., to Oban, Scotland. Since the 1950’s, many cables have been laid along the ocean floor. Most carry telegraph signals as well as telephone calls.
Exercises:
1. Give Russian equivalents of the following phrases:
Patented the telephone; single insulated wires; cluttered with cables; a stronger cable; underground telephone cable; coaxial cable; telephone conversations; telegraph signals
2. Say if the following sentences are true or false.
1. Early telephone and telegraph lines consisted of single insulated wires. 2. In the late 1881’s, engineers found that by twisting wires together they could produce a stronger cable and help limit the clutter. 3. In 1902, the first underground telephone cable wasn’t installed, between New York City and Newark. 4. In 1913, two German engineers, Lloyd Espenschied and Herman A.Affel, patented the coaxial cables could carry many more telephone conversations than the twisted cables then in use. 5. In the 1950’s, telephone companies began using transistors in repeaters.
3. Insert missing words, use the text’s vocabulary:
1. The American … Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876 by the late 1800’s; thousands of telephones had come into use. 2. Early … and … lines consisted of single insulated wires. 3. In 1912, this … was adapted as an amplifier for long-distance telephone calls. 4. In 1913, two American engineers, Lloyd Espenschied and Herman A.Affel, patented the … … could carry many more telephone conversations than the twisted cables then in use. 5. Since the 1950’s, many … have been laid along the ocean floor.
4. Translate these sentences into your native language:
1. As a result, many cities in the United States and Canada became cluttered with cables strung on wooden poles. 2. In 1902, the first underground telephone cable was installed, between New York City and Newark. 3. In 1907, the American inventor Lee De Forest patented a new kind of vacuum tube. 4. In 1913, two American engineers, Lloyd Espenschied and Herman A.Affel, patented the coaxial cables could carry many more telephone conversations than the twisted cables then in use. 5. The first transatlantic telephone cable was laid in 1956 this cable, which is still in operation, extends from Clarenville, Nfld., to Oban, Scotland.
Retell the text.
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