II. Form the comparative and superlative degrees from the adjectives:

a) high, rich, deep, wide, long, old, easy, good, fine, great, little, far, bad, strong.

b) interesting, effective, experienced, practical, attractive, durable, comfortable.

c) hard-working, well-educated, little-known, badly-done, well-informed.

III. Choose the right form of adjectives or adverbs.

1. The Nile is much (long, longer, longest) than the Thames.

2. He is (nearly, near, nearer) finished this difficult work.

3. The (tall, taller, tallest) trees in the world grow in California.

4. They passed all exams very (successful, successfully, more successful).

5. Who speaks English (most correctly, more correct, correctly) in your group?

6. Professionals with additional language skills are in ( great, greatest, greater) demand.

7. The last report at the conference was the ( - , more, most) interesting.

8. He was as talented in maths as his father.

9. She is (less, little, least) experienced in construction than her friend.

10. Nina was the (good, better, best) student in our group.

IV. Read the information and entitle the text. Convert feet to metres.

The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest – 29,002 feet high. The largest ocean is the Pacific having a total area of 63,986,000 square miles. The Atlantic Ocean, the next largest, is only 31,530,000 square miles, the Indian Ocean with 28,350,000 square miles comes third. The longest river is the Nile which is more than 4,000 miles long or about twice the distance by air from London to Beirut. The biggest island is Greenland which belongs to Denmark and is about 840,000 square miles in extent. The largest lake is the Caspian Sea. Geographers consider it as a lake because it is not connected with any of the great oceans. It has an area of about 170,000 square miles. Which is the deepest sea? So far, as we know at present the greatest depth is in the Pacific Ocean near the Philippines and goes down to 37,000 feet, which is much more than the height of Everest. The biggest volcano is in Ecuador, South America. It is still active and is 19,612 feet high. There is another one between Argentina and Chile and it is more than 3,000 feet higher.

V. Learn the new words and word compositions to the topic Building materials.

Secondary materials - вторичные материалы

Timber - древесина

Tiling - облицовочная плитка

Glue - клей

Alloy - сплав

Composite – композит, составной

Fiber - волокно

Matrix - матрица

Bound =fasten - соединять

Polymer matrix Composites (PMC) –полимерные матричные композиты

Resistance – сопротивление

Tension - напряжение

Impact- удар

VI. Read and translate the topic Building materials.

All building materials are divided into three groups:

1. Main building materials such as rocks and artificial stones, timber and metals which are used as bearing structures (несущие конструкции).

2. Binding materials such as lime, gypsum and cements which are used for binding various units.

3. Secondary materials which are used for interior and exterior parts of the building such as tiling, synthetic linoleum, paints, coatings, timber, laminate… and other facing materials.

There are natural and artificial building materials.

If the materials do not require any technological changes in their chemical structure they are called natural materials. These are stone, timber, clay, sand, chalk, lime, rocks, shellac (природная смола для спиртовых лаков и политур), sandstones, limestones, natural rubber (каучук).

Artificial materials are cement, brick, clay and film products, alloys, glass, steel, concrete, reinforced concrete, precast prestressed concrete, glues.

The use of composite materials is a new trend in engineering.

The combinations of two or more materials are called composites. They have unique mechanical and physical properties as they combine the best properties of different materials. Composite materials usually consist of synthetic fibers within a matrix, a material that surrounds and is tightly bound to the fibers.

The most widely used type of composite material is polymer matrix composite (PMC). Its main disadvantage is high manufacturing cost. The properties of building materials are generally classified as physical, for example, weight, density, resistance to aggressive environmental conditions. Chemical properties of materials include their resistance to acids, alkalis and salt solutions, and mechanical properties that is the ability to resist compression, tension, impact etc.

Knowledge of materials properties is extremely important for engineers. New technologies help specialists create quite unexpected materials, But materials with universal properties are as yet a challenge of the future. The course Building Materials is an integral part of general students training. That’s why at the university students study different building materials 1) to know their properties,

2) how they are made, 3) how they are fastened together, 4) how they stand up to stress, 5) how they break, 6) how they catch fire to make building materials useful for man in structures, machines and products.

The durability of any structure depends on:

1. Professional skills of builders.

2. High – quality of building materials.

3. Good organization of construction work.

4. Timely maintenance and correct exploitation of projects.

In conclusion I would like to say that all building materials are very important for people, because no structure can be designed, built and exploited without them.

VII. Discuss the following questions with your partner.

1. What’s the title of the topic?

2. What information does the text contain?

3. How many groups are building materials divided into?

4. What principle is this classification based on?

(appearance, function, size).

5. Speak about main building materials.

6. What are binding materials?

7. Do you think secondary materials are important? Why?

8. What is a general classification of materials?

9. What natural materials do you know?

10. Tell us about artificial building materials.

11. What is a new trend in engineering?

12. What materials do prevail in modern construction?

13. How are the properties of building materials classified?

14. What physical properties of materials do you remember?

15. What can you say about mechanical properties of materials?

16. What are chemical properties of materials?

17. What’s the role of building materials in our life?

18. Make a conclusion about building materials.

VIII. Choose a topic about 3 groups of materials, general classification, properties or application. Act the dialogue with your partner.

IX. Sum up the topic Building Materials.

Unit III

Phonetics: Compare the words and their meanings.

Grammar: Perfect Active and Passive verb forms.

Text: Plastics.

Topic: My speciality.

Exercises.

1. Read the following words and translate them into Russian:

plastics plastic plastering;

wall well will;

plan plane plain;

resin rubber;

hotel hostel;

offer off;

colour column;

synthetic scientific;

date data;

theme them;

retain restore;

property produce;

modify mould;

by buy;

form from.

2. Say, translate and memorize the following words.

Plastics, resin, resulting, initial, flexible, production, petroleum, alloying, polymer, replace, durability, reason, undergo, laminate, wonder, deformation, conclusion, condition, insulating, extremely, covering, subjected.

III. Work in pairs. Compare the sentences and translate them into Russian.

1. He came by car yesterday.

2. They didn’t go to Kiev last year.

3. I knew him in 2000.

4. They were learning the new English words when I came into the room.

5. We shall finish the work tomorrow.

6. The experiment was completed two days ago.

7. Her plans are changed every day.

1.He has just come by car.

2.They have never been to Kiev.

3.I have known him since 2000.

4.They had already learnt the new English words when I came into the room.

5.We shall have finished the work tomorrow by 5 o’clock.

6.The experiment had been completed by the end of last month.

7.Her plans have been already changed.

IV. Translate these sentences into Russian.

1. This is a very good book. I have just read it with pleasure.

2. He has been absent this week. He has been ill.

3. I haven’t seen you for a long time. Where have you been?

4. By the beginning of the lecture the laboratory assistant had brought all the necessary diagrams.

5. Have you finished your diploma work yet? No, I shall have finished it by the end of June.

6. They won’t have passed their exams by the time you return.

7. Show me the dress you have made yourself, please.

8. She has never spoken to him.

9. Give me a pencil please. I’ve lost mine.

V. Choose the correct verb forms. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. He (has graduated, graduated) from Moscow University named after Lomonosov this year.

He (will graduate, will have graduated) from Moscow University named after Lomonosov in 6 years.

2. She (saw, has seen) us in the morning yesterday.

She (saw, has seen) us this morning.

3. I (have met, met) him last year.

I never (had met, have met) him before.

4. Our group (will do, will have done) a lab work tomorrow.

Our group (will have done, will do) a lab work by 7 o’clock.

5. This problem (is discussed, has been discussed) in the press lately.

This problem (was discussed, had been discussed) yesterday.

VI. Work in pairs. Use Perfect Passive verb forms. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Model: He has received a letter.

The letter has been received.

1. The students have done their homework very well.

2. Tom has left his notebook at home.

3. I have told you about a lecture.

4. The assistant had prepared the experiment by 2 o’clock.

5. She had finished her test when we came.

6. The teacher had examined all the students by 5 o’clock.

7. I have not made my plans yet.

8. The boy has not told the truth.

VII. Learn the new words and word combinations to the text Plastics.

Plastics [`plæstiks] - пластмасса, синтетические материалы

Discovery [dis`k٨vƏri] – открытие

To contain [kƏn`tein] - содержать

Synthetic resin [sin`θetik `rezin] - искусственная смола

Celluloid [selju:`loid] - целлулоид

To mould [`mould] -формовать

Rigid [`ridჳid] - жесткий

Impenetrable [im`penitrƏbl] – непроницаемый

Flexible [`fleksƏbl] - гибкий

To derive from [di`raiv] - происходить от

Thermosetting [θƏ:mou`setiŋ] - термореактивный

Thermoplastic [θƏ:mou`plæstik] - термопластический

To distinguish [dis`tingwi∫] - различать

Behaviour [bi`heivjƏ] - поведение

Fibrous material [`faibrƏs] - волокнистый материал

To replace [ri`pleis] - заменять

Covering [`k٨veriŋ] - покрытие

VIII. Read and translate the text Plastics.

Plastics are the most important materials resulting from scientific discoveries. They contain synthetic resin, forming high molecular substances. The word plastic is a general name for a group of materials meaning “capable of being moulded”. The plastics industry dates perhaps from 1870 with the initial production of celluloid.

There are now hundreds of different plastics, each with its own particular properties. Some plastics are hard, rigid and quite impenetrable by light. Others are flexible as celluloid even more transparent and extremely hard. But all of them were developed by scientists from chemicals derived from coal, petroleum, water and air.

By alloying, modifying and changing the structure of polymers technologists produce different kinds of plastics. There are two basic groups of plastics: “thermosetting” and “thermoplastic” distinguished by their behavior when heated.

Today plastics are of great importance because they offer a unique combination of properties valuable for construction. They are: small unit weight, great mechanical strength, durability, good insulating properties, variety of colours, resistance to corrosion and chemicals.

Plastics can be reinforced by fibrous materials such as glass fibre, nylon. Plastics are suitable for many purposes. In some cases they replace metal and glass.

Nowadays plastics can be applied to almost every branch of building, from the laying of foundation to the final coat of paint. A lot of decorative plastics have brought about a revolution in interior and exterior design. Plastics are good for walls covering. It can last for 20 years or more due to its durability in schools, hostels, cinemas, offices, hotels, and ships. Wall covering is easily and simply cleaned with hot soapy water and a cloth – this is the only maintenance required. Laminate is another example. It is a strong material manufactured from many layers of paper or textile impregnated with thermosetting resins. This sandwich is then pressed and subjected to heat. Laminate gives the tough (strong) surface. It resists severe weather conditions for more than ten years without serious deformation.

In conclusion we can say that plastics are really the wonder engineering materials of the modern age.