view

5. Use the Internet to find information about world-famous science centers. Choose one and describe it according to the following plan:

1)Where is it located?

2)When and how was it established?

3)What kind of research is conducted there?

4)What kind of equipment is used in the center?

5)Why is/isn’t the center at the cutting edge of modern science?

6)In what spheres of life can you see the results of the center’s activities?

Text C. “Engineering Wonders of the World”

According to the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), the following civil engineering marvels are the wonders of the modern world:

1)Channel Tunnel (England & France)

2)CN Tower (Toronto)

3)Empire State Building (New York)

4)Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco)

5)Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay)

6)Netherlands North Sea Protection Works (Netherlands)

7)Panama Canal (Panama)

1. Read and translate the text about two of the above-listed engineering wonders.

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge links San Francisco with Marin County. The bridge is one of the architectural marvels of the Twentieth Century and a testament to human strife, as it was constructed during the years of the Great Depression. For years, the Golden Gate Bridge held the title as the longest suspension bridge in the world. Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered impossible to build, due to persistently foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds,

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and strong ocean currents, which whipped through a deep canyon below. In fact, the bridge is commonly known as the "Bridge that couldn't be built." Despite these natural elements, the bridge was constructed in a little more than four years. The total cost was $35 million (447,227,000 in today's money). The total length of the bridge spans 1.2 miles. Eleven men lost their lives during the construction of the bridge.

The bridge sways 27 feet to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour. International Orange was the color chosen for the bridge because it blended well with the bridge's natural surroundings. The two great cables extending from the bridge contain 80,000 miles of steel wire, which is enough to circle the equator three times. The concrete poured to cement the bridge into the stormy waters below could have also been used to pave a five-foot wide sidewalk from New York to San Francisco. Because of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is one of the most recognizable cities in the world.

The North Sea Protection Works, Netherlands

Much of the territory of the Netherlands lies below sea level, and tides would daily inundate about half the country if previous generations of industrious Dutch had not raised dikes and dams. Severe storms often cause tidal waters to crash into the dikes and inundate rivers and estuaries. Although all of the coastal areas are threatened, two particularly vulnerable ones are the large tidal inlet formerly known as the Zuider Zee and the delta created by the Rhine and Meuse rivers in the southwestern corner of the country. Unique in the world, this vast and complex system of dams, floodgates, storm surge barriers and other engineering works literally allows the Netherlands to exist.

The North Sea Protection Works consists of two monumental steps the Dutch took to win their struggle to hold back the sea. Step One — a 19-mile- long enclosure dam built between 1927 and 1932.

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The immense dike, 100 yards thick at the waterline, collars the neck of the estuary once known as the Zuiderzee. Step Two was the Delta Project to control the treacherous area where the mouths of the Meuse and Rhine Rivers break into a delta.

The crowning touch was the Eastern Schelde Barrier, a two-mile barrier of gates slung between massive concrete piers. The gates fall only when stormwaters threaten. The North Sea Protection Works exemplifies humanity’s ability to exist side-by-side with the forces of nature.

2.Answer the following questions on the text.

1) Where is the Golden Gate Bridge located?

2) Why was the construction of the bridge considered to be impossible? 3) Why is it included into the list of the engineering marvels of the world? 4) Why was the bridge painted orange?

5) What forced the Dutch to build dikes and dams?

6) What makes The North Sea Protection Works a unique structure? 7) What were the two great steps of the project?

3.Read the text again and decide if the sentences below are true (T) or false (F).

1) The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was carried out in difficult political and economic conditions. _______

2) The construction of the bridge took a very long time. _______

3) Enormous amounts of construction materials were used to build the bridge.

_____

4) All territory of the Netherlands is subject to floods. _____

5) The construction of The North Sea Protection Works began more than 80 years ago. ______

6) The gates of the Eastern Schelde Barrier are raised in quiet weather. _____

4.Complete the definitions below (1-10) with the italicized words from the text.

1) A place, thing, or idea that is _____________________ is easy to attack or criticize.

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2)If something _________ _______ other things, it is combined with them in a way that produces an effective or pleasant result.

3)A bridge that has no supports under it, but is hung from strong steel ropes fixed to towers is called a_____________ __________.

4)To be a _____________ to something means to prove or show very clearly that something exists or is true.

5)To _________________ means to be strong enough to remain unharmed by something such as great heat, cold, or pressure.

6)When tidal waves ____________ some area, they cover it with a large amount of water.

7)________________ means trouble between two or more people or groups of people.

8)Ground, roads, weather conditions that are ______________ are particularly dangerous because you cannot see the dangers very easily:

9)If a bridge ___________ an area of water, especially a river, it goes from one side to the other.

10)When you give an example of something, you ____________ it.

5. What were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? Could any of them be called engineering wonders? Find out about an ancient engineering structure that you consider a wonder and present this information to the class according to the following plan:

1)What is it?

2)Where is it located?

3)When was it built?

4)How big is it?

5)What is it made of?

6)Who built it? (if known)

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UNIT IV

DAILY LIFE

Section I. Let’s speak about …

A.Home

1.Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions about home.

1)Where is your home? Is it where you live, where you were born, or where your parents live?

2)Do most people live in a flat or a house in Russia?

3)Do people prefer new homes?

4)Which of these features would you expect to see in a typical home?

2a. Read the first paragraph of the text. What does home mean to the writer? Do you agree?

What does the word “home” mean to you? How do you say the word in your language? Although people usually know what the word means, it often has no exact translation. It’s not surprising really, because the idea of home varies from country to country, and from person to person. A home is more than a roof and four walls. It’s the cooking, eating, talking, playing and family living that go on inside which are important as well. And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed.

2b. Read the rest of the text and think about answers to the questions for your country.

This is what some people from different countries say about their homes.

What are typical features of homes in your country?

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“In Britain, even in the town there’s always a garden and sometimes a cellar. We have separate bedrooms and living rooms. But we don’t often have balconies or terraces. The weather isn’t warm enough!” (Pat, Exeter, England)

How often do people move home in your country?

“In the USA many people move every ten years.” (Cheryl, Boston, USA)

What is the main room in your home?

“The kitchen. Because it’s warm and we have breakfast, lunch and dinner there seven days a week. (Jackie, Cork, Ireland).

3.Work in pairs and talk about your answers to the questions in the text.

4.Work in groups of three or five. Prepare a description of a home that would suit all of you. Use the following ideas:

5. Work in groups of three or four and discuss your answers to the following questions:

1)Do you live in a house or flat?

2)If you live in a flat what floor is it on?

3)If you live in a house do you have a garden?

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4)Do you have your own garage or personal parking space?

5)Does the house/flat belong to you (or your family) or do you rent it?

6)What sort of furniture do you have?

7)What is the most important item for you?

8)Would you describe your house/flat as comfortable, dark or light (noisy or quiet)?

B.Eating Habits

1.Make these sentences true for you. Compare with a partner.

1) We often eat together in my family.

2) A typical dinner lasts about one hour.

3) Eating together keeps the family close.

4) We often eat out.

5) I like fast food.

6) We have special meals at the weekend.

2.Read a magazine article in which two families describe their eating habits. Are they different or the same?

Separate tables

The Norris family is a monument to modern-food technology. “I can’t remember the last time we all ate together,” says husband Michael Norris. “Mostly the food comes out of the freezer and goes straight into the microwave. We have two dining-tables but they never get used, not unless my mother-in-law, who lives with us, cooks something.” The children, Sophie and Ben, eat when they come home from school, while watching TV. Pat Norris, who works irregular hours and travels a lot, boils soup and makes a salad when she’s at home; Michael often eats out. It’s informal, but everyone likes it.

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The art of course eating

The Scott family like a bit of formality in their lives. “We are not stuffy,” insists Caroline, “but we always have napkins and white linen and flowers on the table. My husband always has a bath before dinner, and we always change clothes. I think it’s important for the children to have good manners.” Caroline drives across town to find food that’s not “full of all sorts of nasty chemicals”. The result is “meals that sometimes take an hour and a half, at least, and longer at weekends”. The children attend an equally civilized breakfast served at 8.00 a.m. prompt in the dining-room. “It’s a sort of ritual so we can all see one another. We all feel it’s important”, says Caroline, who doesn’t have a microwave and does most of the cooking herself. “I seem to spend a lot time cooking,” she says. “I don’t know why. I suppose it’s because we’ve always done it.”

3.Answer the questions.

Which of the families:

1) eats together every morning?

2) almost never eats together?

3) eats a lot of frozen food?

4) has special meals at the weekend?

5) has very good table manners?

4.Complete the following sentences about your eating habits. Develop the idea using the words and words expressions from the article:

1) In my family we often …

2) We usually have dinner …

3) I feel it’s important …

4) I sometimes cook …

5) At weekends we …

6) I spend a lot of my free time …

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5. Read the questions in ‘Mind your manners!’ Think about your answers. Work in pairs and discuss your answers.

Mind your manners!

1)What do you say at the start of a meal?

2)Do you usually use a knife and fork?

3)Do you use a napkin?

4)Where do you put your hands when you are at the table but not eating?

5)When do you usually drink coffee and tea?

6)When you can’t reach something on the table what must you do?

7)When you don’t want a dish what do you say?

8)How do you indicate that you have had enough?

C.Shops and Shopping

1.Match the definitions on the left with the words on the right.

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2.Read the conversation, fill in the gaps with the appropriate word from 1, then act out the dialogue.

Mother: OK. Let me look at my list. First of all we need to go to the (1) ….because I want to send some flowers to your Aunt Mary. And then we’ll go over to the post office so that I can send these Christmas cards off.

Jane: Oh, Mum, that’ll take ages! There are always long queues on Fridays. You go and post your letters while I go and get the meat from the (2) …. .

Mother: Could you pop into the (3) …. and get that cough medicine for your father. It’s just next door to the (4) … . Actually you could pop in there too and get a couple of onions and a cauliflower. No, let’s get all the fruit and vegetables with all the other things we need from the (5) … .

Jane: Didn’t you say you wanted to go back to the shoe shop where you bought those sandals that the heel came off?

Mother: Yes, but I doubt that they’ll give me a refund. I bought them in the end of season (6) … .And I thought they were such a bargain at only ₤10. Oh, no! Jane: What’s the matter?

Mother: I can’t find my purse! I must have left it at home and it’s got the original receipt for the sandals and all my credit cards in it.

Jane: Don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of money so we can still get all the things on the list.

3.Study useful words and expressions.

ASSISTANT: Can I help you?

CUSTOMER: Yes, I'm looking for (= I want) a blue jumper/ CUSTOMER: No, I'm just looking, thanks. (= I don't need help)/ CUSTOMER: I'm being served, thanks. (= another assistant is helping me)

ASSISTANT: What size are you looking for? (e.g. big? small? medium? 12? 14? 16?)

CUSTOMER: Where's the changing room? ASSISTANT: It's down there on the right.

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