6 Тексты для студентов специальности ук text 1 what if standards did not exist?

If there were no standards, we would soon notice. Standards make an enormous contribution to most aspects of our lives − although very often that contribution is invisible. It is when there is an absence of standards that their importance is brought home. For example, as purchasers or users of products, we soon notice when they turn out to be of poor quality, do not fit, are incompatible with equipment we already have, are unreliable or dangerous. When products meet our expectations, we tend to take this for granted. We are usually unaware of the role played by standards in raising levels of quality, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability − as well as in providing such benefits at an economical cost.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer of standards. Although ISO's principal activity is the development of technical standards, ISO standards also have important economic and social repercussions. ISO standards make a positive difference, not just to engineers and manufacturers for whom they solve basic problems in production and distribution, but to society as a whole.

The International Standards which ISO develops are very useful. They are useful to industrial and business organizations of all types, to governments and other regulatory bodies, to trade officials, to conformity assessment professionals, to suppliers and customers of products and services in both public and private sectors, and, ultimately, to people in general in their roles as consumers and end users.

ISO standards contribute to making the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner. They make trade between countries easier and fairer. They provide governments with a technical base for health, safety and environmental legislation. They aid in transferring technology to developing countries. ISO standards also serve to safeguard consumers, and users in general, of products and services − as well as to make their lives simpler.

When things go well − for example, when systems, machinery and devices work well and safely − then often it is because they conform to standards. And the organization responsible for many thousands of the standards which benefit society worldwide is ISO.

Слова к тексту:

notice	замечать
enormous	огромный
contribution	вклад
invisible	невидимый
purchaser	поставщик
turn out	оказываться
fit	подходить
incompatible	несовместимый
unreliable	ненадежный
expectation	ожидание
take for granted	считать само собой разумеющимся
interchangeability	взаимозаменяемость
repercussion	влияние
body	орган (организация)
conformity	соответствие
assessment	оценка
supplier	поставщик
customer	потребитель
ultimately	в конечном счете
fair	справедливый
legislation	законодательство
safeguard	гарантия, гарантировать
benefit	польза, приносить пользу
bring home	убедить, заставить понять

Упражнение 1. Найдите в тексте ответ на вопрос, вынесенный в заголовок.

Упражнение 2. Определите значение следующих слов по их фонетическому и графическому сходству с русскими словами:

standard, aspect, product, role, economical, engineer, international, professional, base, technology, system.

Упражнение 3. Найдите в тексте предложения, выражающие одну и ту же мысль.

Упражнение 4. Прочтите первые предложения абзацев и назовите вопросы, которые будут рассматриваться в тексте.

Упражнение 5. Сократите текст за счет подробностей, которые могут быть опущены без ущерба для содержания.

Упражнение 6. Какие из данных предложений можно использовать в тексте?

1. Suppliers can base the development of their products and services on specifications that have wide acceptance in their sectors.

2. International standards can contribute to the quality of life in general.

3. Each participating member in ISO has one vote.

4. ISO standards are voluntary.

5. ISO standards are technical agreements which provide the framework for compatible technology worldwide.

Упражнение 7. Дополните предложения информацией из текста.

1. International Organisation for Standardization is … .

2. ISO Standards … .

Упражнение 8. Переведите на английский язык.

1. Стандарты очень важны для всех.

2. ISO – крупнейший в мире разработчик стандартов.

3. Эти стандарты полезны для промышленных и торговых организаций всех типов.

4. Они облегчают торговлю между странами.

5. Стандарты приносят пользу обществу.

TEXT 2

Упражнение 1. Найдите в тексте ответы на вопросы:

1. What is ISO?

2. Is it an acronym?

3. Where does this abbreviation come from?

Упражнение 2. Найдите в тексте слова, однокоренные данным, определите их часть речи, переведите их:

1) represent; 3) govern; 5) power; 7) explain; 9) apply.

2) amend ; 4) except; 6) improve; 8) use;

Упражнение 3. Переведите словосочетания:

International standard-setting body, world-wide and commercial standards, each member country, common misconception, care must be taken.

Упражнение 4. Найдите соответствия:

1) body	a) чувствительность
2) proposal	b) поправка
3) treaty	c) орган, организация
4) link	d) обратная связь
5) participant	e) договор
6) amendment	f) проект
7) flaw	g) предложение
8) draft	h) участник
9) feedback	i) ошибка, упущение
10) sensitivity	j) связь