Light rail grows
Construction is beginning on Regional Transit's light rail lines into south Sacramento and the Folsom area.
One of the new lines is a six-and-a-half mile stretch to the Meadowview area. To run the line to south Sacramento, workers will have to lay new track through several road crossings. One such crossing is where Freeport turns into 21st Street. To minimize traffic disruptions, workers plant to complete the project in 96 hours straight.
Crews moved Union Pacific tracks Sunday evening, so workers can eventually put in double lines for light rail. Starting Friday, the project closed down 21st Street where Freeport Boulevard splits off. Traffic coming up Freeport has to detour several blocks, but a few traffic problems now will mean an eventual easing of traffic on Interstate-5 and on surface streets leading to downtown Sacramento.
Plans call for seven new stops from Broadway to Meadowview. The project is expected to take a total of about two years. When it's done, 15,000 passengers a day are expected to use this line.
Adapted Text
Light rail grows
If the work going on this week proceeds on schedule, the crossing should be done and the 21st Street reopened by late Monday or early Tuesday.
Light rail vehicles are like small trains that run through city streets. Many people ride light rails to get places. Light rails help keep traffic down by allowing more people to leave their cars at home.
There is a need for one light rail to reach a certain area. Workers are beginning to make the tracks go there. To do this workers are going to add six miles onto the tracks.
Because light rails run through the streets, working on them can cause traffic problems. Traffic problems often frustrate people. Workers are going to try to finish the job as quickly as possible.
Workers say that they will finish the job in four days. It will be hard for some people to have to find other roads to drive on for a few days. When the job is done it should help make traffic problems much better.
The light rail helps many people. It takes them to work and around town. Hopefully by making the tracks longer more people will be able to use the light rail.
Ex.1. Choose the correct alternative (a-d) and translate the sentences into Russian.
1. Hopefully by making the tracks longer ♦ people will be able to use it.
a) bigger b) less c) more d) fewer
2. To reach the area, workers are going to add ♦ miles onto the tracks.
a) ten b) sixteen c) six d) four
3. There is a need for one light ♦ to reach a certain area.
a) rail b) rain c) train d) bulb
4. When the job is done it should help make traffic problems much ♦.
a) slower b) better c) heavier d) worse
5. Light rails are like small ♦ that run through city streets.
a) trains b) bikes c) cars d) horses
6. Workers are going to try to finish the job as ♦ as possible.
a) quickly b) sloppy c) slowly d) good
7. The light rail ♦ many people.
a) helps b) hurts c) angers d) slows
8. Workers say that they will finish the job in ♦ days.
a) six b) four c) two d) eight
9. Light rails help keep ♦ down by allowing more people to leave their cars at home.
a) clouds b) tempers c) traffic d) noise
10. Because light rails run through the streets, working on them can cause ♦.
a) car b) noise c) traffic d) pollution
☺Read the jokes and retell them in Russian.
1. Eurostar drivers who operate trains between London, Paris and Brussels are trained to speak French and English so they can converse with controllers and other railway staff on both sides of the Channel Tunnel. An English driver, speeding across northern France one day, saw a large stag (олень) wandering dangerously close to the line. Not knowing the French word for stag, he told his French colleague, in his limited French, that what he had seen was "a cow with a pantograph".
2. A man called the taxi company and said "Can you help me, I need a taxi urgently, I need to catch the 10:00 train to Dublin." The man at the other end said "Well we are very busy at the moment, but we'll have a taxi out to you as soon as we possibly can, but don't worry, the 10:00 is always late." The first man then said, "It will be today, I'm the driver."
Lesson TWO
Ex. 1. Copy and memorize the following terms.
bolt tightening – затяжка болта derailment – сход с рельсов, крушение to excavate – копать, производить земляные работы excavation – земляные работы, выемка грунта gang/ crew – бригада (рабочих) track maintenance – техническое содержание железнодорожных путей track walker/ trackman – линейный обходчик to patrol – осматривать, производить осмотр patrolling – обход, осмотр precision – точность rail spike – рельсовый костыль to remove – вынимать грунт; демонтировать spiking – перешивка железнодорожного пути to tamp – подбивать (балласт) tamping – трамбование, уплотнение tamping machine / tamper – шпалоподбивочная машина |
Ex. 2. Copy the following words and memorize their meanings:
to avoid – избегать, остерегаться
to deteriorate – ухудшаться; разрушаться
to enable – давать возможность
essential – важнейший; необходимый
to exist – существовать, жить
existence – существование
to insert – вставлять
to monitor – отслеживать, контролировать
monitoring – (текущий) контроль, наблюдение
point - момент (времени).
Read the following sentences and translate them into Russian.
1. We went early to avoid the traffic jams. 2. Leave your car at the hotel and avoid paying to drive into London Congestion Zone (overcrowded area). 3. Doing this avoids losing data if the program is crashed for any reason. 4. The weather deteriorated rapidly, and by the afternoon it was raining. 5. The economic situation could quickly deteriorate and resulted in crisis. 6. There are plans to enlarge the runway to enable planes to land. 7. This device enables users to conduct live video conversations. 8. It is essential that all equipment is properly maintained. 9. Even in small companies, computers are an essential tool. 10. Insert the plug into the earphone socket. 11. His hand vibrated slightly as he inserted the key into the lock. 12. The patient temperature is carefully monitored by the nurse. 13. We need a better system for monitoring what is going on. 14. At that point we all got up and walked out of the room. 15. I had reached a point in my career where I needed to decide which way to go. 16. The company came into existence at the end of the 1990s. 17. It is impossible to prove the existence of God. 18. Scientists have many theories about how the universe came into existence. 19. There is no evidence that life exists on other planets. 20. You can’t exist for long without water.
Ex. 3. A. Translate the words given in the box into English.
момент необходимый ухудшаться точность давать возможность отслеживать осматривать существовать существование избегать вставлять копать наблюдение |
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word and translate the sentences. Mind the Grammar!
1. Road safety is taught to young children to ♦ road accidents. 2. The weather conditions start to change rapidly and ♦ when they reach the 25,000 feet mark. 3. His help ♦ me to study at college. 4. Light is absolutely ♦ condition for the healthy development of plants. 5. A strong blade ♦ between the door and its frame. 6. Patients who are given the new drug will be asked ♦ their progress. 7. She had got to ♦ where she felt that she could do nothing any more. 8. The car park ♦ by security officers. 9. He kicks the ball with ♦ and accuracy. 10. An archaeologist Schliemann ♦ the ancient city of Troy. 11. Unfortunately, violence still ♦ in our life. 12. He lived a hand-to-mouth ♦ in a poor area of London. 13. The special delegation was sent to do ♦ during the elections.
Ex. 4. Read the sentences and translate them into Russian paying attention to the translation of the verb to operate (to operate + adv.mod. = работать; to operate + noun = управлять) and its derivatives.
1. The device has a single button, allowing for easy operation. 2. Check that the equipment is operating in a safe manner. 3. The bus is designed to operate in all weather conditions. 4. Safe operation of trains requires a system of signaling. 5. The locomotive’s engine operation was normal. 6. Nowadays the operation of a railway would be absolutely impossible without a signaling system. 7. Modern trains are operated automatically. 8. A friend of mine is experienced in operating the computers. 9. The computer performs this operation many times every day. 10. Do you know how to operate the air conditioning? 11. The London Underground was also the first underground railway to operate electric trains.12. Protective clothing must be worn when the machine is in operation. 13. Most railways operate signals from a control center.14. Connecting the water supply is a very simple operation. 15. The number of trains operating on the line has increased. 16. The Canadian National Railway operated much second-hand equipment from US roads.
Ex. 5. Translate the following attributive groups:
rail inspection, rail break, rail communication, rail crane, rail defect detection service, rail excavator, rail fastening, rail gauge test, rail height, rail joint insulation, rail length, rail traffic, rail-welding machine, track machine, track section, track clearer, track-laying train, track equipment, track maintenance tools, track measuring device, track patrolling, track structure, track tamping machine, track-bolt tightening machine.
Ex. 6. A. Translate the following sentences into Russian paying attention to the very ‘simple’ word look.
1. Dan looked at his watch. 2. I spent most of the morning looking for my passport. 3. ‘What does your brother look like?’ - ‘He’s tall and thin, with brown hair.’ 4. Susan looked at herself in the mirror. 5. It’s hard work looking after three children all day. 6. If you look through this window, you can see the cathedral. 7. Looking ahead, I think the company needs to develop some new services. 8. You could tell that the car had been well looked after. 9. He was looking for work as a builder. 10. He had worked hard and was looking forward to his retirement. 11. I’m looking for Jim. Have you seen him? 12. Look out! There’s a car coming. 13. I saw Angela this morning. She looked beautiful in blue. 14. I didn’t know what ‘talkative’ meant and had to look it up in a dictionary. 15. When I look back on those days I realize I was desperately unhappy. 16. I'm really looking forward to our vacation. 17. I’ve been looking for you everywhere. 18. Stop looking out of the window and listen. 19. Could you look up Mr White’s address, please? 20. I’m looking for a book about cats. 21. I’m looking forward to seeing you.
B. Tell about yourself completing the sentences below.
1. I think I look good in ♦. 2. I’m really looking forward to ♦. 3. When I look out of my bedroom window, I can see ♦. 4. I would like to look like ♦. 5. I look up about ♦ new words every English lesson. 6. When I’m on a bus, I look at ♦ . 7. I connect the Internet to look for ♦.
Ex. 7. A. Form verbs with the suffix -en meaning “to make something have a particular quality”. For example, dark (тёмный) → darken (темнеть). Translate the verbs into Russian.
black, height, strength, weak, heart, worse, tight, wide, straight, dark, short |
B. Translate the following sentences into Russian.
1. An educational effort to heighten awareness about global warming is currently underway. 2. Increased levels of fat in the diet could heighten the risk of cancer. 3. The weather worsened, and temperatures fell. 4. The bill will worsen relations between Democrats and Republicans. 5. A mass of birds blackened the sky. 6. The sky darkened and heavy rain began to fall. 7. Many buildings had already been weakened by last year’s storms. 8. Philip’s face darkened. 9. The mood was darkened further by a gloomy economic forecast. 10. He was heartened by the public’s support. 11. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart. 12. Doctors say his injured shoulder will take time to strengthen. 13. The bridge will need to be strengthened. 14. Tighten the screws firmly. 15. I'd put the new tyre on, but I hadn't tightened up the wheel. 16. Many analysts expect the situation to worsen over the next few years. 17. Over the last two years the president's position has weakened. 18. Metal supports were added to strengthen the outer walls. 19. Our friendship has steadily strengthened over the years. 20. The pound has strengthened against other currencies. 21. As traffic grew, the task was to widen the roads. 22. The path soon bends to the right then straightens out. 23. His life was shortened by troubles. 24. We shorten the hours of waiting by conversation.
Ex. 8. Translate the following sentences into Russian paying attention to the words machine (машина); machinery (машины, машинное оборудование); and mechanism (устройство, механизм).
1. Sue showed him how to operate the machine. 2. He said the cash machine had swallowed his card. 3. Is it okay to put my dirty shirt in your washing machine? 4. There’s a message on the answering machine for you. 5. Could you get me a coffee from the drinks machine? 6. The fax machine is broken. 7. You should not drive or operate machinery after taking the medicine. 8. The use of heavy machinery has damaged the site. 9. Be careful not to get anything caught in the machinery. 10. The machine is designed to travel at track speeds while pulling up four fully loaded ballast cars. 11. Loram equipment incorporates high power, flexible modules with the patented control system to maximize efficiency and create the most productive machinery on the market. 12. RGI Series Grinders can meet your specific requirements with a variety of machine sizes ranging from 16 stones to 114 stones. 13. Early machines only lifted the track and packed the ballast. 14. Drum brakes (барабанныe тормозa) have more parts than disc brakes and are harder to service, but they are less expensive to manufacture, and they easily incorporate an emergency brake mechanism. 15. The park mechanism, or parking brake mechanism of your car, locks into your transmission. 16. Many machines have a quick return mechanism. 17. Maintenance is facilitated by a variety of specialised machines. 18. A simple machine is a device that transforms the direction of a force without consuming any energy.
Ex. 9. The text below is about the words machine, device, gadget, appliance. Grasp its main idea and give a short summary of the text in Russian.
A machine is a piece of equipment that uses power to do a particular job. It is usually large and stays in the same place, for example
a machine that sorts mail,
a washing machine.
You use the words device and gadget especially when you think the equipment is very cleverly designed. A device is a piece of equipment that does a particular job, for example takes measurements or controls the operation of a machine. It may use electrical power or be operated manually:
a device for detecting blood alcohol levels from breath samples,
a temperature control device.
A gadget is a small piece of equipment that does something useful or impressive
one of those gadgets that sorts coins,
kitchen gadgets.
An appliance is a piece of electrical equipment used in your home such as a microwave oven or fridge. This word is used especially by the companies that produce and sell them
the world's largest producer of household appliances,
domestic appliances.
Ex. 10. Some technical words look similar to each other but are used in different ways. One way to remember these words and the differences between them is to put them into groups. For example, mechanic belongs to a group containing people and jobs; mechanics belongs to a group of subjects. You can think of your own groups to help you remember other technical terms. Put the list of common technical words into groups using the table below.
Subjects |
People and jobs |
Things |
Adjectives |
engineering |
engineer |
engine |
engineering |
engine engineer engineering
mechanic mechanics mechanical mechanism
electron electronic electronics
technical technology technician
electricity electrical electrician
Ex. 11. You can use have (got) in different ways: a) as an auxiliary verb; b) to talk about possession, relationships, and other states; c) to talk about actions; d) to talk about obligation (like must). Read the sentences and translate them paying attention to have (got).
1. Our guests have already arrived. 2. She has dark hair and brown eyes. 3. We've been spending too much money. 4. We don't have to rush - there's plenty of time. 5. You need to have a lot of patience to be a teacher. 6. I haven't seen him for fifteen years. 7. 'I hope you've read the safety instructions.' - 'Yes, of course I have.' 8. Can I have the car tonight, Dad? 9. If you earn more than £5000, you will have to pay tax. 10. You haven't done much to pass your exam successfully, have you? 11. Japan has a population of over 120 million. 12. I have to say I don't know the first thing about computers. 13. Did you have a good holiday? 14. Had we known about it earlier, we could have warned people of the danger. 15. We're having a party on Saturday - you're very welcome to come. 16. ‘Has Jerry done his homework?’ ‘No, he hasn’t.’ 17. I never have breakfast. 18. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. 19. ‘Have you washed your hands?’ - ‘Of course I have.’ 20. The room had a balcony facing the sea. 21. So, you’ve decided to join the party, have you? 22. I’m glad we haven’t got to get up early tomorrow. 23. Have you just had a shower?
Ex. 12. Can is a modal auxiliary verb and is used to talk about ability. Can has the past form could. To say that someone had the ability to do something in the past we use could or a past form of be able to. You must use be able to in the following cases: with used to, to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past but no longer does; to talk about future ability; after other verbs, for example might, may, would, want, or hope. Use the correct forms of the expressions to fill in the blanks. Sometimes two answers are possible.
be able to can can’t could couldn’t |
When I was little, I ♦ ride a bike but I could swim. 2. The car broke down but the mechanic ♦ fix it after a while. 3. ♦ you use spreadsheets on the computer? 4. Next year, I ♦ afford a new car. 5. No one ♦ tell me where the railway station was. 6. I’m sorry but I ♦ help you today. I’m too busy. 7. ♦ you really speak two languages when you were six? 8. The survivors of the crash ♦ escape from the car seconds before it exploded. 9. I’m afraid we ♦ get to Brussels by tomorrow – it’s already very late. 10. Sonia’s amazing. She’s only ten and she ♦ already play five musical instruments. 11. He didn't want to buy a new suit but at last we ♦ persuade him. 12. He spoke so quickly that I ♦ understand him at all. 13. She might not ♦ fly to London. 14. One day people ♦ go to the moon on holiday. 15. I ♦ find a really nice dress in the sale yesterday.
Ex. 13. Do the “Car” quiz.
What can you put in the boot of a car?
How many gears may be in a car?
What do you have to do if you get a puncture?
What two things can protect the driver in an accident?
How many wheels might a car have?
What are three problems you can have on a car journey?
When do you have to use the brakes?
When mustn’t you overtake?
What do you have to use the steering wheel for?
What do you have to turn on before you can drive?
When mustn’t you speed up?
Can you answer all the questions?
Ex. 14. Write true sentences. Read them to a partner.
1. I can ♦ very well. 2. I can’t ♦. 3. I couldn’t ♦ until I was ♦ years old. 4. I used to be able to ♦ very well. 5. I’ve never been able to ♦. 6. If I go to Britain, I’ll be able to ♦. 7. I was able to ♦. 8. I could ♦ when I was at school. 9. I might be able to ♦.
Ex. 15. Mark the difference between it’s (=it is or it has) and its (the possessive form of "it"). Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. It's high time to go. 2. That's an interesting device - what is its purpose? 3. This machine was produced by a Japanese company; it’s exported to many countries. 4. It’s necessary to design more powerful bulldozers. 5. Do you know where my purse is? - It's on the table. 6. I saw Les Misérables during its initial run. 7. Television has its own gods and heroes. 8. It’s cold outside. 9. It’s been raining for hours. 10. The bird lost some of its feathers. 11. It’s true that men are naturally stronger than women. 12. Salzburg is famous for its beautiful buildings. 13. It’s too bad that you can’t come with us. 14. Society should not punish its criminals but rehabilitate them. 15. The Internet has its pros and cons. 16. Take an umbrella, it's raining. 17. It's been cloudy all day. 18. This cooker has its own timer. 19 The cat’s hurt its foot. 20. She’s got a luxurious car.
Ex. 16. Transform the following sentences using relative pronouns who, which, that and where according to the model.
Model:
I saw the girl. She works in the travel agent’s |
I saw the girl who/that works in the travel agency. |
This is the book. It has the information.
|
This is the book which/that has the information. |
There’s the house. John and Mary live in it. |
There’s the house where John and Mary live. |
1. Jack wrote the letter. It arrived this morning. 2. There’s a park. We play football in it. 3. Tom’s the boy. He loves Anna. 4. This is the hotel. I always stay here. 5. Barbara’s got a car. It’s faster than yours. 6. I’ve got an uncle. He lives in America. 7. We have built a structure. This structure should last for hundreds of years. 8. Look at the pictures. They’re on page six. 9. Bogart starred in the film Casablanca. The film was made in 1942. 10. I discussed it with my brother. He is a lawyer. 11. Now they were driving by the houses. Andy had described them. 12. I want you to meet my friend Marjorie. I think I mentioned her in my last letter. 13. We may find ourselves in a difficult situation. We can’t pay our debts in this situation. 14. We were led to the dining room. Lunch was being served in this room. 15. Alison Jones and her husband David live in Hartlepool. They are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. 16. I recently talked to Michael Hall. He lectures in Maths to advanced students at the university. 17. Read a story. Every child will enjoy it. 18. It is much easier to maintain continuous welded rail than the older jointed rail. The jointed rail required being bolted together.
Ex. 17. Read the text about the car inventions and translate it paying attention to Passive.
The motor car is probably the most important invention in the history of transportation since the wheel. The first car for 12 passengers was built by a Frenchman Amedee Bollee in 1873. But its steam engine was impractical and the vehicle was too slow. Then a practical petrol engine was invented.
A car with a two-cylinder petrol engine was produced by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany in 1889. This car was able to travel at 10 mph. In the same year another petrol-engined car was made by a German Karl Benz. However, only a few motor cars were manufactured in Europe and the United States before 1900.
In 1901, The Curved Dash Oldsmobile was the first to be produced in large numbers, but Henry Ford of Detroit is said to have introduced the modern method of mass production using assembly lines. He began making his Model-T in 1908, and by 1927, when Ford stop making it, over 18 million had been produced. The Model-T Ford opened the way to affordable (доступный по цене) motorized transport, and is considered to be the father of today’s family car.
Ex. 18. Answer the quiz questions using Passive and by + agent.
Model: Who invented radio? Bell, Edison or Marconi? → It was invented by Marconi.
Who built the first steam locomotive? G. Stephenson, J. Watt or R. Trevithick?
Who won the World Cup at football in 2006? France, Italy or Germany?
Who wrote stories about a French detective called Maigret? Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen or Georges Simenon?
Who invented television? John Logie Baird, Alexander Graham Bell or Thomas Edison?
Who built the pyramids? The Egyptians, the Greeks or the Romans?
Who spoke the words “To be or not to be”? Alexander, Hamlet or Julius Caesar?
Who made mass production of cars? Wilhelm Maybach, Karl Benz or Henry Ford?
Who produces Lamborghini? Japanese, Germans or Italians?
Who maintains the railroad? A trackwalker, a maintenance crew or a walkman?
Who maintains the track? A trackwalker, a maintenance crew or a walkman?
Who drives a locomotive? An engine driver, a track walker or a dispatcher?
Ex. 19. Read the following sentences and translate them paying attention to the Infinitive of Purpose.
1. I sat down for a minute to rest. 2. He went abroad to make business. 3. I’m going to Austria to learn German. 4. He got up earlier to have time to park. 5. I had to move to a new flat to be near my work. 6. I’m going to leave now not to be late. 7. We decided to go for a picnic to spend a whole day enjoying good weather. 8. Ballast is provided to give support, load transfer and drainage to the track. 9. A rigid base is required to ensure track stability. 10. Trains operate extremely slowly to avoid derailment. 11. Tracks and rails were inspected by track walkers to look for defects. 12. Special track machines are used to maintain tracks. 13. Modern machinery enables workers to maintain a relatively long section of railroad track. 14. The track alignment must be set to give a train a good ride. 15. The crossties of the underground railway are laid directly on concrete base to keep air free from dust. 16. To avoid accidents the driver must strictly follow traffic rules. 17. A bar of metal was used to strengthen the joint. 18. They had to stop to fuel the car. 19. To protect wooden sleepers against decay, they are treated with creosote. 20. I drive to the garage twice a year to provide regular maintenance of my car.
Ex. 20. Match the English attributive group with its Russian translation.
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ailway
maintenanceText A. Read the text and translate it using a dictionary if necessary.