The Brakes

1. How to check the brake system. The most important safety item on the car is often the most ignored. A simple test will signal the problem. If you have power brakes, turn on the engine to do the test. Push the brake pedal down and hold it down. The pedal should stop firmly about halfway to the floor and stay there. If the stop is smooth or the pedal keeps moving slowly to the floor, you should have your brakes checked.

2. Parking brakes let you know when they need adjustment. As lining wear, you must move the handle or foot pedal a greater distance before the brakes are fully engaged. Also, the cables and linkage should be lubricated when the parking brakes are adjusted.

3. How you can check the brake fluid. The most important item in brake system maintenance is periodic checking of the brake-fluid level. Check the level monthly or, at least, at every oil change. Many new cars have translucent brake fluid reservoirs in which the level can be seen or checked without removing the cover. Check your owner’s manual for its exact location.

4. On cars with opaque reservoirs, carefully wipe off the reservoir cover to remove any dirt before checking the level then pry the retaining clip aside and remove the cover. The fluid level should be kept about a half inch from the top on reservoirs that are not otherwise marked.

5. If you add your own brake fluid, buy it in small cans and store them tightly sealed in a cool dry place. Discard open containers after one year. Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Excess moisture can damage your brake system.

6. Three different grades of automotive brake fluid are available. Using the correct grade is essential to maintaining proper brake operation in all driving conditions. Check your owner’s manual for the right brake fluid for your car.

Transmission

7. How a driver can check the automatic transmission. An automatic transmission is a very complicated item and expensive to replace. Checking your fluid level is easy and can prevent an expensive repair job. You will first find the transmission fluid dipstick. Usually it is at the rear of the engine and looks like a smaller version of the oil dipstick. To get an accurate reading, the engine should be warmed up and running. If the fluid is below the ADD line, pour in one pint at a time. Be sure not to overfill the reservoir.

8. While checking the fluid, note its colour. It should be bright cherry red. If it is a darker, reddish brown one, the fluid needs changing. If it is very dark, nearly black, and has a burned smell, like vanish, your transmission may be damaged. You should take it to the specialist. Automatic-transmission fluid is available at most department stores. Check the owner’s manual or the transmission dipstick for the correct type for your car because the choice of transmission fluid affects the shifting characteristics of the.

9. How a driver can check the manual transmission. Always be sure the clutch pedal is loose enough to push down a half inch to an inch, depending on the car, before the clutch engages. If should require more pressure yet to push it to the floor. Have your clutch adjusted if the amount of play exceeds one inch. Fluid levels in both the transmission and differential should be checked with each oil change, or when you notice erratic or rough gear shifting. Both are signs that the level is low. On most cars the manual transmission lubrication does not require changing but should be replenished if it gets low.

10. How a driver can make the transmission last. Automatic transmissions are more susceptible to damage than manual transmissions. One reason is that they are so automatic that we tend to neglect them. Another reason is that they are more complex than manual transmissions

Exercise 2 Answer the following questions.

1. What item on the car is often ignored? 2. What test shows that the problem exists? 3. What does worn lining cause? 4. What needs lubricating when the parking brakes are adjusted? 5. What are the conditions of keeping brake fluid cans? 6. What type of transmission is a very complicated item? 7. What can prevent an expensive repair job? 8. What is necessary to use for checking fluid level in transmission? 9. Should the engine be warmed up and running for checking the fluid level? 10. Why are automatic transmissions more susceptible to damage than manual transmissions?

Exercise 3 Translate and memorize the following expressions from the text.

To check the system, turn on the engine, push the brake pedal down, to need adjustment, to be fully engaged, brake system maintenance, oil change, exact location, to be available, owner’s manual, to absorb moisture, automatic transmission, a very complicated item, expensive repair job, may be damaged, shifting characteristics, clutch pedal, require more pressure, gear shifting, manual transmission.

Exercise 4 Find synonyms among the following words.

To check, characteristic, slowly, to affect, to change, different, operation, require, to damage, correct, soft, important, location, to prevent, amount, to verify, significant, smooth, action, demand, various, feature, quantity, proper, to replace, to stave off, sluggishly, position, to harm, to influence.

Exercise 5 Write a summary of the text, presenting the content of each paragraph in 2-3 sentences. Use the expressions:

The main idea of the text is ... The text deals with one of the most important (urgent) issues ... Much attention (consideration) is given to (classification, description)... It focuses on the matters of … The text gives an overview of... The text is mainly concerned with ... The aim of the survey is to show (demonstrate, find)... Particular emphasis is given to the analysis of... The text gives a detailed analysis of (reports on)... To sum up ... In conclusion ...

Индивидуальное задание для студентов заочного отделения к курсу

«Английский язык»

Вариант № 10/3c

Exercise 1 Read the text and translate it in written form.

TRUCKING INDUSTRY: Classification of Carriers.

The trucking industry is made up of those persons and firms engaged in the business of owning and operating motor trucks for hire to transport products over roads. Such companies are known as carriers.

The three principal categories of carriers are: private carriers, who use trucks to transport only their own products from farm to market, or raw materials from source to processing or manufacturing plants, or finished products to their markets, or for interplant movements; contract carriers, who enter into contractual agreements, usually long-term in nature, with business establishments to transport materials and products for those firms; and common carriers, who serve the general public on any and all commodities. A contract carrier may contract with several firms: however, shipments from different firms cannot be mixed together Common carriers are granted operating certificates by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) as either irregular-route carriers or regular-route carriers.

Irregular-route carriers serve the public on ‘call and demand’. They usually operate from a central, office or terminal, shipping either specified commodities (such as textile products) or general, commodities from specified points or areas to other specified areas.

Regular-route common carriers are granted authority by the ICC to operate over specified highway routes on a regular basis, using terminals located strategically to consolidate and distribute freight in a surrounding area. Commodities handled by regular-route carriers may be specified, or the carrier may have authority to handle general commodities, usually with some exceptions for which special and specific authority must be granted by the ICC. Such special goods include small-package express, armored express (for transporting items of unusual value), household goods, automobiles, and explosives, liquids carried in tank trucks, dry bulk goods, logs, and cement.

Agricultural produce (unprocessed farm products) is not subject to ICC regulation and may be handled by what are known as unregulated motor carriers. The ability of a truck to pick up produce from several farms and bring it quickly to market makes trucking well suited for this purpose.