Train Model

One of Moscow designers¹ (to make – Present Simple) micro models of different vehicles. This (to be – Present Simple) his hobby. His first model (to be – Past Simple) a plane. Its weight (to be – Past Simple) 0.35 gr. It (to work – Past Simple) and (to make – Past Simple) several circuits in the air.

In the last 10 years, he (to construct – Past Simple) eight unique working micro models. He (to make – Past Simple) them of wood with the help of a knife.

His collection (to include – Present Simple) a little locomotive and a car – 13 cm and 18 cm long respectively. The locomotive (to consist – Present Simple) of 2,566 separate parts and the car – of 1,035. It (to take – Past Simple) him four months to study the locomotive design and fifteen months to build this model.

The locomotive and the car (to work – Present Simple) like full-size models. There (to be – Present Simple) even a whistle² 1 mm long. You can control the whole operation from the locomotive.

Notes: ¹designer – конструктор;

²whistle – гудок.

Ex. 12. Translate the sentences, paying attention to the tense/voice form of the verbs. Put general questions and give short answers.

1. About 75 % of the railroads in Latin America are concentrated in Argentina, southern and eastern Brazil, and Mexico.

2. The first Russian steam locomotive was built and tested in Nizhni Tagil.

3. The new railway will be 100 km long. It will be used for freight traffic only.

4. The first passenger cars were lighted by candles. Later, candles were replaced by oil and gas lamps. Nowadays electricity is used for lighting and heating passenger carriages.

5. When inactive, locomotives are housed in a train depot.

6. Heathrow (Britain’s largest international airport) is linked with the capital by the Underground railway.

7. After the test runs, the new loco will be used for hauling heavy iron-ore trains.

8. On the first railways, sleepers (шпалы) were laid down along the track; nowadays sleepers are laid down transversely.

9. Freight trains are loaded and unloaded in freight yards by using cranes.

10. The 1927 electric locomotive was newly restored in 1984.

Ex. 13. Put special questions. Begin with the question-words in brackets.

1. The first steel rails were made and laid in Derby in 1857. (When)

2. Tomorrow, the movement of trains on that section of the line will be stopped because of the track repair. (Why)

3. The number of passengers is usually increased in summertime. (When)

4. The first underground system was proposed by Charles Pearson in 1843. (Whom)

5. The old railway terminal will be upgraded next year. (When)

6. The Trans-Siberian Railway is divided into six railways in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. (How many)

7. The system of automatic ticket selling was developed in Japan. (Where)

8. This car will be coupled (прицеплять) to train No 15 going to the Far East. (What train)

9. The old London Bridge over the Thames River was constructed by monks (монахи) in 1209. (Whom)

10. In Canada and the United States, long freight trains are hauled by three, four, or even five locomotives. (How many)

Ex. 14. Put the verbs into the required tense/voice form. Translate the sentences.

1. The switch (стрелочный перевод) (to be – Present Simple Active) the mechanism, which (to use – Present Simple Passive) to move the trains from one track to another.

2. When the Liverpool-Manchester Railway (to build – Past Simple Passive), the railway company (to offer – Past Simple Active) a prize of £500 for the best steam train. The prize (to win – Past Simple Passive) by George Stephenson with his famous locomotive called the “Rocket”.

3. The distance between Boston and New York (to be – Present Simple Active) 230 miles; it (to take – Present Simple Active) the train 3 hours 15 minutes to cover it.

4. The two-speed escalators (to install – Future Simple Passive) at the new Metro stations.

5. The first railways (to appear – Past Simple Active) in England and (to use – Past Simple Passive) to carry coal.

6. Most railway stations in Great Britain (to date – Present Simple Active) from the Victorian era and (to locate – Present Simple Passive) on the edge of city centers.

7. Track (to strengthen – Future Simple Passive) on this section of the railway because it (to plan – Present Simple Passive) to increase the volume of freight traffic here.

8. The railway line between two large Japanese cities Yamagata and Akita (to open – Past Simple Passive) for traffic in March 1997. It (to become – Past Simple Active) so popular that passenger services between these cities (to increase – Past Simple Active) by more than 50 percent.

9. Modern steam locomotives (to operate – Present Simple Passive) only in countries where coal (to be – Present Simple Active) much cheaper than oil such as in China.

10. Tomas Bouch (to design and to construct – Past Simple Active) the railway bridge on the Tay River in 1878. This bridge (to speak – Past Simple Passive) about as one of the wonders of the world.

Ex. 15. Say the same, using the Passive Voice.

Model: The designers will test the new locomotive tomorrow.

The new locomotive will be tested by the designers tomorrow.

1. The London Underground transports around a billion passengers a year.

2. The Cherepanovs constructed the first steam locomotive in Russia.

3. The conductor will check the tickets during the journey.

4. A dispatcher controls the movement of trains over a definite section of track.

5. Last year, Taiwan Railways bought 225 trailers and 56 motor cars.

6. The engineers will install the new equipment next week.

7. The state spends large sums of money to train skilled engineers.

8. Heavy snowstorms disorganized the movement of trains in this region.

9. At present, diesel locomotives handle about 50 % of the transportation.

10. Rudolf Diesel got his first patent for developing the internal combustion engine (двигатель внутреннего сгорания).

Ex. 16. Say the same, using the Active Voice.

Model: The heavy freight trains are hauled by two locomotives.

Two locomotives haul the heavy freight trains.

1. Two Japanese islands are connected by the long railway bridge.

2. The first electric locomotive was developed by Werner von Siemens.

3. The trains of the future will be operated by automatic drivers.

4. Before 1947, the Britain’s railways were owned by four private companies.

5. The Internet is often used by people to work at home.

6. Wood was replaced by steel as a material for constructing passenger cars.

7. The articles about high speed trains are published in each issue of the journal.

8. The renewal of signaling equipment of all the railroads will be financed by the government.

9. The passengers were invited to get on the train. (the attendant)

10. This distance is covered by train in an hour.

Ex. 17. Find grammar mistakes and correct them. The number of mistakes is pointed out in brackets.

1. When our train will start? (1)

2. Electrical equipment will be export from the France. (2)

3. There is two types bus stops about Britain – compulsory stops and request stops. (3)

4. We were inform of the train delay. (1)

5. Where did he bought the train tickets? (1)

6. The length the Great Trans-Siberian Mainline are 8,000 km. (2)

7. Nowadays all the rail are make of steel. (2)

8. There are 3,000 Americans who likes to collect antique cars. (1)

9. Does the railways play an important role in the transportation of freight? (1)

10. How often are trains run in our Metro? (1)

11. Werner von Siemens was constructed first experimental electric locomotive. (2)

12. What the equipment do this plant produces? (3)

13. There are twelve bridges and viaducts at these railway line. (2)

14. The profession an engineer require special training. (2)

15. How much students will works as car attendants in this summer? (3)