Вариант 4

Modern building materials

Some of the most important building materials are: timber, brick, stone, concrete, metal, plastics and glass.

Timber is provided by different kinds of trees. Timbers used for building purposes are divided into two groups called softwoods and hardwoods. Timber is at present not so much used in building construction, as in railway engineering and mining. However, timber is still employed as a building material in the form of boards.

A brick is best described as a “building unit”. It may be made of clay, of concrete, of mortar. There exists variety of bricks for different purposes: ordinary, hollow or porous, lightweight, multicolor bricks for decorative purposes. Bricks are usually laid in place with the help of mortar.

Sometimes natural stones such as marble, granite, basalt, limestone and sandstone are used for the construction of dams and foundations. Marble, granite and sandstone are widely used for decorative purposes as well, especially with the public buildings.

Metals: Aluminium, principally in the form of various alloys, is highly valued for its durability and especially for its light weigh.

Steel finds its use in corrugated sheets for roofing, for girders, frames. Various shapes are employed in construction.

Plastics are artificial materials used in construction work for a vast number of purposes. Nowadays plastics can be applied to almost every branch of building, from the laying of foundation to the final coat of paint. Plastics have some good advantages as they are lighter than metals, not subject to corrosion, and they can be easier machined. Besides, they are inflammable, they can take any color and pattern, and they are good electrical insulators. They can be worked with ordinary builders’ tools.

Foamed glass is widely used in prefabricated house building, to ensure heat insulation of exterior wall panels, and in industrial construction.

Structural foamed glass blocks designed to fill ceilings and for making interior partitions in buildings and rooms, to ensure heat and sound insulation.

1. Прочитайте и переведите текст на русский язык письменно.

2. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту письменно.

1. Which building materials are the most important?

2. In what form is timber employed?

3. How can brick be described?

4. What can be brick made of?

5. How can natural stone be used?

6. What is aluminium valued for?

7. What are plastics?

8. How can plastics be applied in construction?

3. Найдите в тексте эквиваленты к следующим словам.

Использовать для строительных целей; применяется как строительный материал; общественные здания; высоко ценится; разнообразные формы; иметь хорошие преимущества; обычные строительные инструменты.

4. Дополните следующие предложения.

1. Timber is used for…

2. Brick may be made….

3. Natural stones are widely used…

4. Aluminium is valued for….

5. Plastics have some…

5. Выпишите из текста предложения с глаголами во времени Present Simple.

6. Задайте общие вопросы к следующим предложениям

1. Timber is an important building material.

2. Steel finds its use in corrugated sheets for roofing.

3. Plastics are artificial material.

4. Plastics have some good advantages.

7. Переведите предложения на английский язык.

1. Древесина может быть мягкой и твердой.

2. Цветной кирпич используют для декоративных целей.

3. Алюминий ценится за легкий вес.

4. Пластик легче чем металл.

5. Природный камень используют для строительства фундаментов.