The art of architecture and civil engineering

Architecture is the art and the technique of building, employed to fulfill the practical and expressive requirements of civilized people. Almost every settled society that possesses the techniques for building produces architecture. It is necessary in all but the simplest cultures; without it, man is confined to a primitive struggle with the elements; with it, he has not only a defense against the natural environment but also the benefits of a human environment, a prerequisite for and a symbol of the development of civilized institutions.

The characteristics that distinguish a work of architecture from other man-made structures are (1) the suitability of the work to use by human beings in general and the adaptability of it to particular human activities; (2) the stability and permanence of the work's construction; and (3) the communication of experience and ideas through its form.

All these conditions must be met in architecture. The second is a constant, while the first and the third vary in relative importance according to the social function of buildings. If the function is chiefly utilitarian, as in a factory, communication is of less importance. If the function is chiefly expressive, as in a monumental tomb, utility is a minor concern. In some buildings such as churches and city halls, utility and communication may be of equal importance.

Kazakh Leading Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering (KazGASA) is a main and leading institution among the higher educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of Architecture, Design, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics and Management in Construction. Since 2000 President of the Academy is Kussainov Amirlan Aidarbekovich. It has the old traditions, highly skilled staff and scientists. More than ten thousand graduates have been come out from the walls of KazGASA and many of them are known in Kazakhstan and abroad as experts, hold important posts on state service and leaders of large companies and firms. KazGASA is a multiple-discipline institution that comprises all stages of educational process – secondary school (represented by the Lyceum and Vocational School) up to Undergraduate, Graduate and Postgraduate Degrees. There is also College of KazGASA which train specialists according to the program of technical and vocational education. For those who wish to improve the qualification or to get another Degree there are Institute of Continuous Education (ICE) and Republican Centre of Improvement Professional Qualification of the Specialists in the field of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

 

Exercise 2. Translate the first paragraph of the text without dictionary.

E xercise 3. Role play.

1. Students of KazGASA.

2. Representatives of the foreign University (e.g. Alabama University).

E xercise 4. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of civil engineering education in both countries.

E xercise 5. Listen to the text. After the listening do the next activities [Part III p. 173], [2, T 28

Fill in the gaps.

I’m a ______________________ . I look at beautiful paintings and sculptures and wish I could be artistic. I can’t draw or paint ______________________ life. I wonder why some people are so talented and can create ______________________ , when other people, like me, can’t even draw good ______________________ . I would like to fill my house ______________________ all over the world. It’s interesting to see how different cultures have different ______________________ . There’s nothing better than visiting ______________________ when you go to another country. I prefer more traditional art. I don’t really understand a lot of modern art. I look ______________________ of a pile of bricks in a museum but can’t see ______________________ . I always laugh when my children say, “Daddy, I can do better than that!” ______________________ they can.

Exercise 6. Retell the main idea of the text.

Exercise 7. Correct the spelling.

I’m a great art orlev. I look at beautiful paintings and sculptures and wish I could be titsairc. I can’t draw or paint to save my life. I rdowen why some people are so talented and can eectar amazing pictures, when other people, like me, can’t even draw good matchstick geifusr. I would like to fill my house with art from all over the world. It’s interesting to see how different uertucsl have different kinds of art. There’s nothing better than vsgtiiin art galleries when you go to another country. I frpere more traditional art. I don’t really understand a lot of modern art. I look at an ebtixih of a pile of bricks in a museum but can’t see how it’s art. I always glhau when my children say, “Daddy, I can do better than that!” I often think they can.

Exercise 8. Write an application letter using the model.

Model

Application letter Dear Mr. Jackson, I am writing you to follow up my conversation with you at your office in New York. I appreciate your taking the time to meet and to allow me the opportunity to learn more about... I also appreciate the opportunity to present in depth the experience of... as well as my prior experience with... Thank you very much again for the meeting with you.

1 . Choose the right variant. I saw her… into the building.

a) to coming

b) coming

c) came

d) come

2. Choose the right variant. I believed you… three mobile phones.

a) to have

b) haven’t been

c) having

d) have

3. Choose the right variant. He made me… the window.

a) close

b) to close

c) closing

d) have close

4. Choose the right variant. I felt someone… me on the shoulder.

a) to touch

b) touched

c) touch

d) to be touch