V. Study the following speech patterns concerning a visit to a building plant, try to memorize them

We would like to see your building plant.   When could you arrange a visit to the building plant? What is the total annual output of the plant? This is one of the biggest plants of its kind. Power consumption is …. per year. How many workers does the plant employ? Is the staff of engineers big?   What raw materials do you use? You use up-to-date technology.   The shop is highly mechanized and automated. This plant is overmanned. The unit price reflects this.   The plant is operating at full capacity (is often idle). Quality control is an essential factor. It is carried out in the quality control section.   Final inspection is done by our engineers.   The new venture will guarantee world standards in quality.   We have started producing new concrete box units. Our design department always keeps up with modern technology. There are canteens, sporting facilities, a recreation center, a medical care centre (dispensary) at the plant. The medical care centre is open round the clock for emergencies.   The plant works in three eight-hour shifts.   The labour protection is effective. Now our trade unions are trying to ensure workers’ participation in management.   There’s a training section at the plant.   Apprentices get a training there.

Мы хотели бы посетить завод по выпуску строительных единиц. Когда можно договориться о посещении завода? Какой общий годовой объём выпускаемой продукции? Это один из крупнейших заводов такого типа. Потребление энергии …. в год. Сколько рабочих занято на заводе?   Штат инженерных работников большой? Какое сырьё вы используете? У вас достаточно современная технология. Цех механизирован и имеет высокий уровень автоматизации. На заводе используется слишком много рабочих. Это отражается на себестоимости продукции. Завод работает с полной загрузкой (часто простаивает). Контроль за качеством – очень существенный фактор. Он осуществляется в отделе контроля за качеством. Окончательная приёмка проводится нашими инженерами. Новое предприятие будет гарантировать качество на уровне мировых стандартов. Мы начали выпуск новых бетонных блоков. Наш проектный отдел всегда использует современную технологию. На заводе есть столовые, спортзалы, места для отдыха, кабинет медобслуживания. Кабинет медобслуживания открыт круглосуточно для оказания первой помощи. Завод работает в три восьмичасовых смены. Меры охраны труда эффективные. Сейчас наши профсоюзы стремятся обеспечить участие рабочих в управлении заводом. На заводе есть курсы для обучения специалистов. Там обучаются молодые рабочие.

VI. Act out the following dialogues:

1)

– You wanted to look at our building factory, didn’t you, Mr. Brown?

- Yes, I’d appreciate if you could arrange a visit to your factory.

- That’s possible. We could take you to the plant on Monday, it’s one of our biggest manufacturers.

- That would be wonderful. I’d like to see their production and training facilities.

- We can show you round the main shops and then we can have a talk in the chief engineer’s office.

- Good. Can you tell me how many workers you employ here?

- Roughly about 1000.

- I think you do not use enough up-to-date technology in the factory. The factory is not overmanned, is it?

- Perhaps, but we are going to change technology. We would like to increase the total annual output and diversify the range of production.

2)

- I’m glad to welcome you at our factory, Mr. Waneright.

- The pleasure is mine. I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen. I understand the factory is operating at full capacity.

- Yes, we have plenty of orders, both for home needs and for export.

- Do you produce new structural elements?

- Yes, we have introduced a new technology and started new models.

- Is the staff of engineers big?

- We have design engineers and production engineers on the factory floor.

- How do you ensure quality control?

- Well, it’s done by our quality control department.

3)

- Is this the shop where our engineers are going to be trained?

- Yes, and in other shops too. We are setting up a training programme for them.

- I’d be very glad to look at the programme.

- We’ll send it for your approval as early as possible.

Тексты для индивидуального чтения (Supplementary reading)

Civil engineering

The term “civil engineering” was first used to distinguish the work of the engineer with a non-military purpose from military engineering. But increasing specialization has led to subdivision of engineering into civil, mechanical, electrical and other forms. Today the term “civil engineering” is usually applied to such as excavation and embankment, the construction of railways, bridges, docks and harbours, the control of water by dams and reservoirs, canal, aqueducts and pipelines.

Civil engineering did not develop until the rise of Rome. The Cloaca Maxima, the great drain of Rome, was built in the sixth century B.C. It is in existence today, but the oldest part still standing probably dates from the third century B.C. Like most ancient drains and sewers, it was at first open, but was later closed. The original purpose of Rome’s sewers was to drain off waste waters. For efficiency, the sewers were built along the lines of the natural streams. Of the approximately 200 aqueducts the Romans built throughout their Empire, at least nine were in Rome. Though they were able to deliver 85 million gallons of water per day, consumption averaged only 40 million. Like other ancient systems, the Romans’ set-up had no main pipe leading from the reservoir to the town. Instead, the water flew from the source partly along conduits which were often of considerable length, and partly over aqueducts to the water tower. The water tower interior was divided into four compartments – the tank itself and three subsidiary tanks. Two of the smaller tanks supplied the baths and the private houses of the rich. The third tank supplied the public fountains, where the majority of the people drew their water.

Lead or clay pipes were used to conduct water to the houses. The lead pipes were made from sheet lead.

The Romans, although did not invent paved roads, advanced road building to a new height. The total length of the roads built by the Romans in Britain is estimated at over 47,000 miles. They were constructed to last forever and many are in use today; some have simply been resurfaced.

In the construction of their road network, the Romans aimed at the shortest route, regardless of obstacles. Rocks were cleared away, tunnels were dug through hills, and swamps were drained. At first the Romans built timber roads, then a timber road mounted on stakes, many having a covering of pavement.

Roman bridges, at first made of wood, were later built of stone. Typical Roman style was a semicircular arch and short span. The bridge builders’ chief problem was to provide solid foundations.

Town building was based on a camp tradition, and some towns arose out of army camps. A typical town built this way was Manchester, England.

Fusion of Roman and North European traditions was reflected in many ways. Buildings combined the Roman arch and the steep peaked roof of Northern Europe. Roman traditions were continued in an architectural form known as Romanesque.

The first significant advance over Roman methods, however, was the invention of the ribbed wall. The ribs were built independently of the wall and supported the stone-vault web.

London bridge, finished in 1209, took thirty years to build. It consisted of nineteen irregular pointed arches, its piers resting on broad foundations designed to withstand the current of the river Thames.

The use of pointed arches was another advance upon Roman methods, yet the medieval bridge was not as great an engineering achievement as was the cathedral. Providing for only one-way traffic, the typical bridge was narrow. It was not adapted to heavy vehicles. (3700)