Lexical exercises

Exercise 4. Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian :

1. Concrete has been used in construction for over 2,000 years, perhaps first by the Romans in their aqueducts and roadways.

2. Hadrian's Pantheon in Rome is an example of Roman concrete construction.

3. The Romans used a primitive mix for their concrete.

4. Mortar consisted of small gravel and coarse sand mixed together with hot lime and water.

5. To reduce shrinkage, they used horse hair, much like we use polypropylene fibers today.

6. They even unintentionally entrained the air in the mix by adding animal blood.

7. That process created small air bubbles in concrete, making the mix more durable.

8. ‘The Romans' use of concrete was extensive -- they built some 5,300 miles of roads (compare this to 4,200 miles of interstate highways in the United States).

9. Some homes in hurricane-ravaged Florida are being replaced by concrete dwellings because of their high wind resistance.

10. In Malibu, Calif., a fire several years ago decimated an entire hillside of homes, except for one house: it was made of concrete.

Hadrian's Pantheon in Rome

is an example of Roman

concrete construction

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A modern building: Boston City Hall (completed 1968) is constructed largely of concrete, both precast and poured in place.

Exercise 5. It is interesting to know. Read the text “Dangerous Concrete”.

Carbon dioxide emissions and climate change

The cement industry is one of two primary producers of carbon dioxide (CO2), creating up to 5% of worldwide man-made emissions of this gas, of which 50% is from the chemical process and 40% from burning fuel. The CO2 emission from the concrete production is directly proportional to the cement content used in the concrete mix; 900 kg of CO2 are emitted for the fabrication of every ton of cement. Cement manufacture contributes greenhouse gases both directly through the production of carbon dioxide when calcium carbonate is thermally decomposed, producing lime and carbon dioxide, and also through the use of energy, particularly from the combustion of fossil fuels.

Urban heat

Both concrete and asphalt are the primary contributors to what is known as the urban heat island effect.

In many cities, pavement covers about 30–40% of the surface area. This directly affects the temperature of the city and contributes to the urban heat island effect.

Concrete dust

Building demolition and natural disasters such as earthquakes often release a large amount of concrete dust into the local atmosphere.

Toxic and radioactive contamination

The presence of some substances in concrete, including useful and unwanted additives, can cause health concerns. Natural radioactive elements can be present in various concentration in concrete dwellings, depending on the source of the raw materials used.

Blocks of concrete in Brazil

Pouring and smoothing out concrete at Palisades Park in Washington DC.

Concrete plant facility (background) with concrete delivery trucks.

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