Learn new words and get general information about the history of surveying
Lesson 5
The History of Surveying
- Words to master:
survey - зйомка
to survey - проводити зйомку
surveyor - землемір
boundary - межа,кордон
В.С before Christ - до нашої ери
divide - ділити
plot - наносити на карту, ділянка
stretch - тягнути
measure - виміряти, міра
apply - застосовувати
include - включати
calculation - вирахування
contain - вміщувати в собі
2. Make up five sentences using the words from the word listabove.
3. Read and translate the text:
The History of Surveying
Surveying is one of the oldest arts practiced by men. From the earliest times people found it necessary to mark the boundaries and divide the lands. The oldest historical records that exist today state that surveying began in Ancient Egypt. Herodotus said that Sesostris (about 1400 B.C.) divided the land of Egypt into plots to make it easier to get taxes. The annual floods of the river Nile swept away portions of these plots, and surveyors were appointed to replace the bounds. These early surveyors were called "rope stretchers". Their measurements were made by means of ropes with markers on them. As a consequence of this work, there arose the science of geometry.
The early Greek thinkers developed the science of geometry. Heron was the author of several important writings that interested engineers, including one called "The Dioptra ". It showed the methods of surveying a field, drawing a plan, and making calculations. It also contained the most interesting description of a surveying instrument called the Diopter, one of the first surveying instruments. The work of Heron was the authority for many years among Greek and Egyptian surveyors.
4. Give Ukrainian equivalents to the following words and expressions:
a) one of the oldest arts
b) mark the boundaries
c) divide the lands
d) Ancient Egypt
e) get taxes
f) annual floods
g) replace the bounds
h) rope stretchers
i) the science of geometry
j) drawing a plan
k) making calculations
l) surveying instrument
5. Complete the sentences:
a) Surveying is one of the ………..
b) The oldest historical records…………..
c) Herodotus said …………..
d) The annual floods of the river Nile …………….
e) The early Greek thinkers developed …………….
6. Answer the questions:
a) Where did the surveying begin?
b) What did Sesostris do?
c) What swept away portions of the plots in Egypt?
d) What were the names of the early surveyors?
e) Who developed the science of geometry?
7. Make up a dialogue using the text.