UFO Do you believe in UFO's? UFO is an acronym which stands for Unidentified Flying Object. UFO's are the source of much controversy because of all the conspiracy theories surrounding them and the mystique about UFO's and alien life. Have you ever seen a UFO? Kenneth Arnold, an American business man, claimed that he saw a UFO in 1947 which was shaped like a disc. This is considered to be the first wide-reported sighting of a UFO. After this, he became a minor celebrity and even interviewed other people who claimed that they saw UFO's as well. Because of the money and fame that this brought him, some people considered his story to be a hoax . What about extraterrestrials (aliens)? Do you believe that life exists outside of the planet Earth? What movies do you know that feature UFO's? What did you think about them? What type of alien is more likely – the kind that was depicted in “E.T.” or the kind that was depicted in “Independence Day”? What would you do if you met an alien? Mystique = [NOUN] A n aura of mystery, power, or awe surrounding a particular occupation, thing, person, or pursuit . [The mystique of nuclear power was a major reason that John studied Nuclear Physics and became a nuclear scientist.] Hoax = [NOUN] Something intended to deceive or defraud; Deception; Fake; Fraud. [Pictures of the Loch Ness Monster submitted in 1968 were proven to be nothing more than a hoax after the man who released the pictures finally admitted to this on his death bed.] Copyright©2011 English Republic .ru All rights reserved AREA 51 Area 51 is a military base and a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base in the United States. It is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western part of the US, 83 miles (133 km) northwest of downtown Las Vegas. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large military airfield. The base's primary purpose is to support development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems. The base lies within the United States Air Force's large Nevada Test and Training Range. Though the name Area 51 is used in official CIA documentation, other names used for the facility include Dreamland, Paradise Ranch, Home Base, Watertown Strip, and Groom Lake. The federal government explicitly concedes (in various court documents and government directives) that the USAF (United States Air Force) has an "operating location" near Groom Lake, but does not provide any further information. Unlike most places in the US, the area surrounding the lake is permanently off-limits both to civilian and normal military air traffic. Radar stations protect the area, and unauthorized personnel are quickly expelled. Even military pilots training in the area might get disciplinary action if they stray into the exclusionary "box" surrounding Groom's airspace. Satellite technology allowed the Soviet Union to get a general picture of the airfields, runways, and hangars in Area 51, but the strict rules and the extensive underground facilities are the source of much controversy. Some theories include: • The storage, examination, and reverse engineering of crashed alien spacecraft, the study of their occupants (living and dead), and the manufacture of aircraft based on alien technology. • Meetings or joint undertakings with extraterrestrials • The development of exotic energy and laser weapons • The development of means of weather control • The development of time travel and teleportation technology • Underground transcontinental railway • Disappearing airstrip (“Cheshire airstrip” - from Lewis Carrol's book) • Activities related to a supposed shadowy one world government What have you heard about Area 51? What do you think about it? Is there an equivalent of Area 51 in Russia? Copyright©2011 English Republic .ru All rights reserved Explicit/Explicitly = [ADJECTIVE/ADVERB] F ully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied;. [His explicit directions were impossible NOT to understand. Because Sarah is such a good worker, she carried out the plan explicitly.] To stray = [VERB] To deviate from the direct course, leave the proper place, or go beyond the proper limits, especially without a fixed course or purpose; to wander; to roam. [Don't stray too far from the road! This area is dangerous, and if you go into the forest, then a wolf might eat you!] Shadowy = [ADJECTIVE] (1) Mysterious or secretive (2) Resembling a shadow, or having many shadows. [Al-Queda is a shadowy terrorist organization which threatens world peace. Because of all the trees, this area is shadowy, so it would be a nice, cool place to have a picnic.] PHRASAL VERB OF THE WEEK To dredge up = (1) To bring to notice or to make known with significant difficulty and from an obscure, unknown, or unpleasant source; раскопать, докопаться ( об информации ) , вытаскивать на свет. (2) To mention something unpleasant from the past. [Please, let's not dredge up that old quarrel! Be careful! By dredging up the facts surrounding the ex- mayor's death, additional suffering could result.] IDIOM OF THE WEEK The powers that be (NOUN) = TPTB is a phrase used to refer to those individuals or groups who collectively hold authority over a particular domain ; сильные мира сего. [I am so mad that we won't be able to watch the Victory Day parade from Red Square! The powers that be decided that ordinary citizens cannot be in the square because of the extra security risk.] [NOTE: The phrase is always plural (NEVER “power that be”) and often suggests a sense of resignation or cynicism. For instance, the phrase “The powers that be” might suggest that the decision made is unfathomable to the speaker and possibly even arbitrary (without purpose or not helpful). The authority of the "powers," and their right to make the decision, is not itself necessarily questioned.] QUIZ Can you get a '5' on today's quiz? CONVERSATION Natasha : You'll never believe it, guys! I just saw a UFO! Viktor : I don't believe it. It was probably just a secret military aircraft. Or you're hallucinating ! Varya : You're such a nay-sayer , Viktor. Just because it's beyond the realm of your comprehension, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. Sergei : Oh Varya, so you've gone crazy, too? You girls must have been shopping at Zara too long. Viktor : Tell 'em, Seryozha! Copyright©2011 English Republic .ru All rights reserved Natasha : I'm telling you – I saw a UFO! Viktor : Okay, I'll play along.......what did it look like? Natasha : Well, it was large, circular, and it moved very quickly. Sergei : Sounds like a volleyball after I spike it. Varya : Oh let her finish, Seryozha. Besides, everyone knows that you always lose to those geriatrics , so don't pretend that you're some Olympic-caliber player! Natasha : The UFO flew away really quickly – it could not have been a secret military aircraft! Viktor : DO NOT underestimate the POWER of skilled engineering! Varya : Oh get a grip, Viktor. You sound like a Sith . Sergei : Gosh Varya, I was hoping that after you got a cat, you would be a little bit nicer. Varya : Our freakishly long-limbed cat Toffee just keeps me up at night, so I'm even grumpier! Viktor : Yes, we've noticed. Sergei : Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got a flight to catch to Rostov-na-Donu this afternoon. Natasha : Well, be careful – that UFO might still be flying around. Sergei : I'm about as worried about your UFO as I am about vampires and werewolves! Varya : Oh, looks like someone has been reading Stephanie Meyer..... Viktor : Well, good luck on your business trip, Seryozha. Varya : Yeah, and don't forget to bring me back a souvenir.....something expensive. To hallucinate = [VERB] To have or experience hallucinations (illusions; a sensory experience that in reality does not exist outside of your mind). [I ate a strange mushroom and then started hallucinating! My hallucinations were full of bright colors, and included flying elephants and man- sized cats that walked on two legs and spoke fluent French!] Nay-sayer = [NOUN] A person who doesn't believe anything and/or criticizes everything. To spike (a volleyball) = To hit or strike a volleyball very hard in a way that makes the volleyball descend quickly and at a sharp angle to the ground in the opponent's territory. [After John spiked the ball, the other team dove to try to return the volleyball to the other side of the net, but they were unsuccessful, and John's team got the point.] Geriatrics = [NOUN - COLLOQUIAL] A group of old people Sith = [NOUN] Antagonists of the Jedi; The “Dark Side” from the Star Wars series, including Darth Vader, Darth Sidius, Count Dooku, and the Emperor. Associated with evil. Just Speak! Written by Bunny Designed by Vadim Copyright©2011 English Republic .ru All rights reserved

Дата публикации: 11 Май 2011 Владелец: EnglishRepublic Просмотров: 329

Категория: Образование Название: UFO (English Topic) Описание: Do you believe in UFO's? UFO is an acronym which stands for Unidentified Flying Object. UFO's are the source of much controversy because of all the conspiracy theories surrounding them and the mystique about UFO's and alien life. Have you ever seen a UFO? Тэги: UFO, подкасты на английском, английский по скайпу, vadim zakharov, английский бесплатно, englishrepublic, аудио топики, топики на английском, english topics, english by skype, english over skype