V. Reading and Comprehension

Exercise 11. Read the text B.

Text b Miscellaneous Fibres

In addition to the main textile fibres cotton, flax, wool and silk which are used for the manufacture of garments and fabrics there are a number of other types of textile fibres.

The most important of them are hemp, ramie, jute and nettle fibres.

All of these are obtained from the stalks of plants which like flax stalks are built up of various soft ingredients. They are strengthened by tenacious cellulose fibres aligned in the lengthwise direction of the stalk. To separate the fibres it is necessary to take the same steps as with flax.

Hemp is extremely valuable for the manufacture of cord, rope and string. Jute is much used for making sacks, mats and wrapping cloths. Ramie is highly lustrous and resembles linen.Actually ramie is obtained from a species of nettle but there are other types of nettle fibres in limited use.

Kapok is another natural fibre and it is obtained from the seed pods of the kapok tree. It is cotton – like fibre but owing to the presence in each fibre innumerable small air pockets kapok is very light. Furthermore it is not easily penetrated by water. These fibres have considerable importance as the most satisfactory filler for life-saving jackets and other equipment used to reduce loss of life at sea by drowning.

Note:

Cord – вірьовка

Rope – канат

String – мотузка, шнур

Sack – мішок

Mat – циновка

To wrap – загортати

VI. Comprehension.

Exercise 12. Answer the questions:

1. What textile fibres are obtained from the stalks of plants like flax fibres?

2. What textile fibre is very lustrous and resembles linen?

3, For what purpose is jute used?

4. What is hemp extremely valuable for?

5. How is kapok obtained?

6. Where do kapok fibres have considerable importance?

VI. Oral Practice.

Exercise 13. Describe how are hemp, jute and ramie fibres obtained.

Exercise 14. Explain why kapok is widely used for life-saving jackets.

Exercise 15. Look through text “Flax Fibres“ and text “Miscellaneous Fibres“ and comment on the additional information in text B.

While doing the exercises given above use some of these conversational formulas:

1. To begin with - Почнемо з того, що

2. It is interesting to note – Цікаво відзначити

3. It is well known that - Добре відомо, що

4. It should be added – Необхідно додати

5. To cut a long story short – Коротше кажучи

6. It is worth pointing out – Слід підкреслити

7. We cannot but mention – Ми не можемо не згадати

8. In conclusion, I would like to stress – На закінчення мені б хотілося підкреслити

Exercise 16. Role play the following situation.

You are a teacher at the Textile College. One of your students have written the term paper “History of Flax”. Discuss with him some questions on the subject of the paper. Comment on the mark you have given him.

UNIT V

Wool