2) Match the following adjectives with their antonyms.

1) boring a) greedy

2) stupid b) exciting

3) generous c) lazy

4) brave d) clever

5) hard-working e) cowardly

Exercise 36. Speak on the following questions.

1. What kinds of people do you like or dislike?

2. What usually attracts your attention when you meet someone for the first time?

3. What qualities make someone a good friend? Is it better to have a wide circle of friends or a few close friends?

4. Is friendship between two women / a man and a woman / two men possible? Why?

5. What is your attitude to marriage?

Exercise 37. Write invitation and letter of apology.

Unit 2.

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.

Fire service ladders

Although firefighters use many tools and devices, fire service ladders are essential in the performance of both major functions: saving lives and extinguishing fires. Fire service ladders are similar to any other ladder in shape, design, and purpose, but they have to be constructed under rigid specifications. All of the various types of fire service ladders have a purpose. The specific task at hand will determine which type of ladders is to be used.

A STRAIGHT LADDER is nonadjustable in length and consists of only one section. The straight ladder, sometimes called a wall ladder, is used for quick access to windows and roofs of one and two-storeyed buildings. These ladders must be constructed to have a maximum strength and minimum weight. Straight ladders are generally used in lengths of 12, 14, 16, 18, and 24 feet.

AN EXTENSION LADDER is adjustable in length. It consists of two or more sections which travel in guides or brackets to permit length adjustment. It provides access to windows and roofs within the limits of its extendable length. Extension ladders are heavier than straight ladders and more manpower is needed to safely handle them. They generally range from 24 to 55 feet in length.

AN AERIAL LADDER is a mechanical unit generally operated by hydraulic power that is mounted upon a specially built chassis. Aerial ladders are constructed of metal and are trussed to provide adequate strength. Aerial ladders generally range in length from 65 to 100 feet, but longer aerial ladders do exist.

A ROOF LADDER is designed for only one specific function. It is equipped with folding hooks at the top end which provide a means of anchoring the ladder over the roof ridge or other roof part. Roof ladders are generally required to lie flat on the roof surface so that firefighters may stand on the ladder for roof work. Their lengths range from 12 to 20 feet.

Ladders can be made of wood, metal, plastic. Metal ladders are usually built of heat-treated aluminum alloy. They are light in weight, have adequate strength, permit a reliable visual inspection of all ladder parts. But aluminum is a good conductor of electricity and can become very cold in winter and noticeably hot in summer because of its good conductive qualities. Some ladders are manufactured as composites of wood and aluminum to take advantage of lightness, strength and resistance to electricity. These ladders have wooden rails and aluminum rungs.

Regular and proper cleaning of fire service ladders is absolutely necessary. Ladders should be cleaned after every use. Dirt should be removed with a brush and running water. Solvent cleaners must be used to remove any oily and greasy residues. After rinsing or anytime the ladder is wet, it must be wiped dry. The movable parts should be lubricated at least every six months with waterproof grease. During each cleaning period, firefighters should watch for defects in the ladder. Damaged or weakened portions of a ladder can best be found by regular and systematic inspections.

Exercise 2. Read the definitions of the words. Translate and memorize them.

- access – 1) means of entering, way in, entrance; 2) means or right of using, reaching or obtaining;

- to adjust – to change slightly in order to make right or suitable for a particular purpose or situation;

- advantage – 1) something that may help one to be successful or to gain a favourable result; 2) a favourable condition resulting from a particular course of action, gain, benefit;

to take advantage of – to make use of, profit from;

- aerial – 1) antenna; 2) of, from or happening in the air;

- alloy – a metal that consists of two or more different metals mixed together;

- to consist of – to be made up of;

to consist in – to have as a base, depend on;

- damage – 1) the process of spoiling the condition or quality of something and the harm and loss that results; unwelcome and detrimental effects; 2) pl. money that a person is ordered by a court to pay to another person in compensation for a loss or injury;

- device – a piece of equipment intended for a particular purpose;

- to extend – 1) to reach, stretch, continue; 2) to make longer or greater, especially so as to reach a desired point;

- to handle – 1) to pick up, touch, feel with the hands; 2) to deal with, control; 3) to have responsibility for, be in charge of;

- ladder – a structure, consisting of two bars or ropes joined to each other by steps (rungs), and used for climbing;

- length – the measurement of something from one end to the other; the quality or condition of being long;

- manpower – the number of workers needed for a certain type of work;

- means – 1) a method or way of doing; 2) money, income, wealth, especially large enough to afford all one needs;

- to notice – to pay attention with the eyes, other senses, or mind;

- to perform – 1) to do, to carry out; 2) to act or show, especially in the presence of the public;

- to permit – to allow;

- to provide – to supply with the necessary things;

- purpose – 1) an intention or plan, a person’s reason for an action; 2) a use, effect, result;

on purpose – intentionally;

- quality – 1) the degree to which something is excellent, standard of goodness; 2) characteristic;

- to rely on / upon – to trust, have confidence in;

- to resist – 1) to oppose, fight against; 2) to remain unchanged or unharmed by;

- surface – the outer part of an object, the top of a body or liquid, the part that is easily seen;

- specifications – a detailed plan or set of descriptions or directions;

- strength – the quality or degree of being strong;

- tool – a simple instrument that is held in the hands and used for doing special jobs;

- to use – 1) to employ for a purpose, put into action or service; 2) to finish, consume; 3) to take unfair advantage of, exploit;

- to treat - 1) to act or behave towards in the stated way; 2) to deal with or handle in the stated way; 3) to give medical care or attention; 4) to buy or give someone something special, as a friendly act; 5) to put something through chemical or industrial process in order to change it;

treat someone to – to provide someone with food, drink, entertainment at one’s expense;

to treat oneself – to do or have something very pleasurable;

- weak – not strong (to work, in character);

- weight – 1) the heaviness of something, amount that something weighs; 2) a piece of metal that has a known heaviness and can be balanced against something else in order to measure its heaviness;

- wet – covered with liquid or in a liquid state, not dry;

Exercise 3. Translate the following words without a dictionary.

Function, service, shape, design, to construct, specifications, specific, type, section, maximum, minimum, limit, mechanical, generally, to operate, hydraulic, chassis, adequate, foot, to lubricate, period, defect, inspection, metal, hook, aluminum, electricity, to manufacture, absolutely, regular, systematic.

Exercise 4. Spell the words. Write them in alphabetical order.

Aluminum, alloy, aerial, all, any, adjust, although, access, adjustable, adequate, anchor, advantage, absolutely, adjustment.

Exercise 5. 1) Translate the following words. Name part of the speech.

Performance, permission, provision, lightness, adjustable, adjustment, extension, anchoring, treatment, accessibility, cleaning, weakened, lubricant, disadvantage, extinguisher, various, conductive, safely, equipped, strengthen, requirement, reliable, noticeable, resistive, movable, damaged, inaccessible, nonexistent, advantageous, lengthen, weightless, weakness, qualitative, similarity.