Оригинал на английском:
Some philosophers and people of letters regard Man as the greatest wonder of the world. And in many aspects we can’t but agree with this opinion. Isn’t it a wonder that every human being begins life as a single cell no bigger than a dot and grows to be an individual composed of 6 million cells?
Isn’t it a wonder that Man is the only living being on our planet who possesses a great creative potential and is able to do wonders himself?
Isn’t it a wonder that people collect and store varied information and are able to hand it down from generation to generation?
Isn’t it a wonder that so many things which found no explanation in the past are quite comprehensible nowadays?
And isn’t it a wonder that Man, though quite a material essence, has rich spiritual life and what many people call a soul — a phenomenon that is so hard to define?
Aren’t such human features as love, sacrifice, sympathy, compassion, devotion, imagination wondrous and typical of Man? And why do people in order to help others or to save them perform heroic deeds often inflicting sufferings on themselves?
1 Answer the questions.
1. What can you say about major evolutionary stages of human development? How, in your opinion, did Man come to this world?
2. Can we say that human species are really widespread and that they have colonized most land masses of the world? all the continents? Do you know any places on our planet which Man hasn’t colonized? 3. Man is a great inventor and many of his inventions are extremely useful. But can’t we say that he is creating some instruments of self-destruction? 4. Man’s influence on all other forms of life on the Earth is great. But often this impact has negative results and can even be called dangerous. Can you give examples of such unfortunate influence on nature? 5. Scientists say that human beings are changing due to the progress in science and technology. In what spheres can we witness it? 6. Unlike plants, which can synthesize everything they require using energy from the Sun, humans must obtain their energy from food. What can you say about modern Man’s diet? Why do doctors pay special attention to the food people eat? What do you think of junk food, fast food and fizzy drinks? 7. Some people can overcome pain — some of them can walk across burning coals or sleep on beds of nails. How do you think this can be? Are some supernatural forces involved in these cases or do you think people can develop “pain tolerance”? 8. Learning, creativity and intelligence are all concerned with the acquisition and use of knowledge. Do you think knowledge is acquired through experience or does Man have inborn ideas about the world? 9. It is believed that love is one of the greatest feelings that Man can experience. Do you believe in love? Is this feeling important for humans? Can people exist without love? Do you think love can inspire people to do heroic deeds? Can it humiliate people?
Isn’t it a wonder that Man is the only living being on our planet who possesses a great creative potential and is able to do wonders himself?
Isn’t it a wonder that people collect and store varied information and are able to hand it down from generation to generation?
Isn’t it a wonder that so many things which found no explanation in the past are quite comprehensible nowadays?
And isn’t it a wonder that Man, though quite a material essence, has rich spiritual life and what many people call a soul — a phenomenon that is so hard to define?
Aren’t such human features as love, sacrifice, sympathy, compassion, devotion, imagination wondrous and typical of Man? And why do people in order to help others or to save them perform heroic deeds often inflicting sufferings on themselves?
1 Answer the questions.
1. What can you say about major evolutionary stages of human development? How, in your opinion, did Man come to this world?
2. Can we say that human species are really widespread and that they have colonized most land masses of the world? all the continents? Do you know any places on our planet which Man hasn’t colonized? 3. Man is a great inventor and many of his inventions are extremely useful. But can’t we say that he is creating some instruments of self-destruction? 4. Man’s influence on all other forms of life on the Earth is great. But often this impact has negative results and can even be called dangerous. Can you give examples of such unfortunate influence on nature? 5. Scientists say that human beings are changing due to the progress in science and technology. In what spheres can we witness it? 6. Unlike plants, which can synthesize everything they require using energy from the Sun, humans must obtain their energy from food. What can you say about modern Man’s diet? Why do doctors pay special attention to the food people eat? What do you think of junk food, fast food and fizzy drinks? 7. Some people can overcome pain — some of them can walk across burning coals or sleep on beds of nails. How do you think this can be? Are some supernatural forces involved in these cases or do you think people can develop “pain tolerance”? 8. Learning, creativity and intelligence are all concerned with the acquisition and use of knowledge. Do you think knowledge is acquired through experience or does Man have inborn ideas about the world? 9. It is believed that love is one of the greatest feelings that Man can experience. Do you believe in love? Is this feeling important for humans? Can people exist without love? Do you think love can inspire people to do heroic deeds? Can it humiliate people?