English

Macmillan English grammar in context

4.

Galileo

As well as being a scientist, Galileo was interested a in painting and music. He started his studies b by attending medical school in Padua. Unlike most scientists at that time, who usually relied c on discussing the facts, not trying to prove them, he recognized the importance d of doing experiments to prove the facts. He is famous e for dropping different weights from the Tower of Pisa to prove that all bodies fall at the same rate, though this is probably not a true story. Through practice, he also became good f at observing the stars, and identified craters on the Moon, sunspots, and the moons of Jupiter. As a result g of studying the planet Venus, he succeeded h in proving that Copernicus was correct, and that the Earth moved around the Sun. Unfortunately, the Church authorities accused him i of publishing unacceptable ideas. In the end, he was forced to choose j between being punished by the Church, or denying his own ideas. He spent most of the last nine years of his life imprisoned in his own house.

5.

a. Are you interested in fossil-collecting?
b. Does fossil-collecting involve walking long distances?
c. I often find rocks that I keep, but they aren’t really fossils.
d. There is a risk of falling when you look for fossils on a cliff.
e. I don’t think this place will help you find fossils.
f. Going on the club trip means getting up early.
g. I didn’t remember to bring my hammer.
h. I feel like sitting down and having a rest.
i. I am good at finding fossils.
j. Fossil-collecting is only worth doing if you’re serious about it.

6.

The first explorers to cross Australia

John Stuart decided to cross (cross) Australia from south to north in 1859. He wanted to win (win) a prize offered by the South Australian government. This meant traveling (travel) across mountains and desert for 3,000 kilometers. He and his three companions kept riding (ride) for eight months before reaching the center of the continent.

What had they expected to find (find)? So far, they had only succeeded in discovering (discover) a huge desert. On this expedition, Stuart failed to reach (reach) the coast and turned back ill and short of food. He tried to complete (complete) the journey the next year but failed again.

Finally, in 1861, he managed to arrive (arrive) at the northern coast, near the modern city of Darwin. Ever since, he has been famous for crossing (cross) the continent, though sadly he died soon after his return to Adelaide.