Exercises

1 Render the following word combinations in Russian. Do it in written form.

Railway tracks, a layer of broken stone, suitable material, to distribute loads, over the subgrade, to reduce dust, to prevent growth of brush and weeds, to provide good drainage, a suitable foundation, to hold the sleepers in their correct position, to pre­vent displacement, longitudinal or lateral thrusts, crushed rock, washed and screened gravel, broken stone.

2 Find in the text the English equivalents of the following Russian word combinations:

высокая степень устойчивости, движущийся поезд, существенное смещение, периодическая подбивка балласта вручную, содержание зем­ляного полотна, толщина балластного слоя, защитный слой, линии с ин­тенсивным движением, необходимо отметить, различные климатические условия.

3 Make up a list of words and word combinations in the text dealing with materials used for ballast.

4 Complete the sentences according to the text.

1 Ballast in railway tracks is...

2 Ballast is used...

3 Ballast provides...

4 Ballast increases...

5 Materials generally used for ballast are...

6 The best ballast consists…

7 Depth of ballast varies...

8 In general the thickness of ballast is...

9 On the railways of the Russia a thickness beneath the sleeper…

10 It should be noted that...

5 Answer the following questions:

1 What is ballast?

2 What is ballast used for?

3 What does ballast provide?

4 What materials are generally used for ballast?

5 What are the beat materials for ballast?

6 Why is occasional tamping of ballast needed?

7 What does depth of ballast vary with?

8 What is the usual thickness of ballast?

9 What does the behavior of ballast depend on?

6 Find key sentences in each paragraph of the text "Ballast":

7 Speak about the functions of ballast using the following table.

Ballast	is	a layer of…
It	is used	to distribute loads...
	provides	to hold the track structure...
		to reduce...
	increase	to prevent...
	holds	good drainage...
		a suitable foundation...
		the sleepers in their correct position
		the elasticity...

8 Look through paragraphs 3 and 4 of the text "Ballast" and get ready to speak about the materials used for ballast. Use the following words and word combinations:

crushed rock, gravel, slag, cinders, the best ballast, very ha­rd, asbestos ballast, crushed – rock particles, a high degree of sta­bility, the waving action, considerable dispacement, rounded parti­cles, tamping of ballast, by hand, mechanical tampers.

9 Suppose you ere a teacher. You are delivering a lecture about "Ballast". One of the students asks you a question aboutthe depth of ballast. What can you say on that topic.