см. Введение

Text 1; p23-24

NIKOLAI IVANOVICH LOBACHEVSKY (1792-1856)

N. I. Lobachevsky is a great Russian mathematician and the creator of non-Euclidean geometry1. He was born on December 1, 1792 in Nizhni Novgorod in a poor family. When N. Lobachevsky was a child, his father died and the family moved to Kasan. There the boy learned at the "gymnasium" from 1802 to 1807 and inl807 he entered Kasan University. At the University N. I. Lobachevsky spent the next forty years of his life as a student, professor and rector.

Lobachevsky became interested in mathematics when be was still a schoolboy and be remained true to2 this science all his life long.

Lobachevsky did a lot to make Kazan "University a first-rate3 educational institution of that time. At the same time he made extensive researches into mathematics.

On February 23, 1826 a great event took place at Kazan University. N. I. Lobachereky presented a paper "A brief outline of the principles of geometry strictly demonstrating the theorem of parallel lines4." That day a new geometrical system, the so-called non-Euclidean geometry was born. In the paper he attacked the theory which was the basis of geometry for 2,000 years and made a real revolution in mathematics.

In the years that followed Lobachevsky wrote a number of works in the field of algebra and mathematical analysis. However, nearly nobody understood and recognized his works at that time. They were recognized only twelve years after his death.

Lobachevsky's ideas greatly influenced the development not only of geometry and other mathematical sciences, but also mechanics, physics and astronomy. One British mathematician called Lobachevsky "Copernicus of Geometry"

Text 2 p31

THE FOUNDER OF IBM

Thomas J. Watson Senior began his business Career as a sewing machine salesman and later, when he became President of IBM, he used his sales techniques to promote the company's name.

There were IBM anthems, IBM songbooks, IBM regulation clothes, and the company motto, "Think" appeared on every wall in the organization. When Watson joined IBM in 1914, the company was almost broke. Under his leadership, it grew beyond all expectations, and established a leading position in the information-processing industry. So how did he do it?

Watson believed that the way to win a man's loyalty is to build up his self-respect. So under his management, IBM employees earned above-average1 salaries and good pensions. In return, he demanded loyalty and enthusiasm. Everyone worked long hours.

Until the 1950s, IBM never sold machines. They just rented them to customer. Watson insisted on this policy, and it helped the company to survive the Depression of the 1930s. He had a strong personality and made all the major decisions himself. As many as forty top people reported to him personally. Watson thought that a manager should be an assistant to his men, and IBM run no management training schools in his day. The only advice he gave was: "You're promoted to Assistant Manager. Be careful with people, don't swear, and wear a white shirt."

Text 3 p 26-27

Parliament of Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a parliamentary monarchy. The Parliament consists of two Houses: The House of Commons' having 630 members and House of Lords with approximately 800 peers.

That party which obtains the majority of seats in the House is called the Government, and the others - the Opposition.

The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party that has a majority in the House of Commons. All the affairs of the state are conducted in the name of the Queen (or King), but it is the Prime Minister who is the ruler of the country, presiding over the meeting of the Cabinet, which are always secret. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and ministers.

People outside Great Britain believe that if a man is elected to sit in Parliament, he ought to have a seat. The new House of Commons built after the war instead of the bombed one, has, however, seats for only two-thirds of its 630 members.

Only four members of the House of Commons have reserved seats.

One, of course, is the Speaker. Another is the member who has sat in the House for the longest unbroken period, the member who is known as "the Father of the House of Commons." The other two reserved seats are for the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Any Member of the Parliament may introduce a bill to the Parliament. Every bill has three readings at first in the House of Commons. There is no debate allowed after the first reading. After the second reading there may be a discussion. The speaker calls upon different member who are eager to speak. All speeches are addressed to him, beginning with "Mr. Speaker, sir." After the discussion the voting is done, but not by show of hand. There are two corridors - "Division Lobbies" - at each side of the House. The one on the right is for the "Yes", and on the left for the "No", when voting is announced, the members go out into these Lobbies, to the right or to the left. As they re-enter the House, they are counted at the door, one by one - and it may take ten or fifteen minutes before the Speaker reads out the results of the voting.

After the third reading the bill goes before the House of Lords. If the Lords agree to the bill, it will be placed before the Queen for signature. The Queen having signed it, it becomes an Act of Parliament.

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