Foreign languages in the life of an engineer
You can't imagine an educated person who doesn't know any foreign language. It is especially important nowadays. Some people learn languages because they need them in their work, others travel abroad, for the third studying languages is a hobby.
Every year thousands of people go from one country to another either on business or for pleasure. And the knowledge of languages opens the door to any foreign country and gives them a possibility to communicate1, to understand people and to be understood.
A real professional cannot do without2 knowing languages, especially English as it is international language. You don't need to know Japanese when you go to Japan or Hindi when you visit India. English is spoken all over the world. You can hear it everywhere: in a street, in shops, at restaurants.
A modern engineer or even a worker deals with3 instruments and machines from other countries. He must be able to read the instruction which is usually written in English.
Scientists and scholars must understand English well because they use foreign literature to write their articles and books. They must speak English fluently to make speeches at international conferences.
Diplomats need foreign languages in their work too. They make contracts4, conclude treaties5, hold negotiations6.
If you want to be a stewardess, a pilot or a businessman you must learn English, the language of international communication. Even a shopgirl or a cashier in a big department store must know at least7 some phrases in English to understand a foreign customer.
Foreign languages develop our mind. They help us to get acquainted8with new customs and traditions, make it possible to read many books in the original.
Besides, languages are very helpful in establishing friendly relations9between peoples and nations. Children and young people will understand each other better if they speak one language10.
That's why11 all the pupils should master English or other foreign languages to become a top specialist12 in any branch.
VOCABULARY
1) a possibility to communicate– возможность общаться
2) to do without - обойтись
3) to deal with - иметь дело с...
4) to make contract - заключить контракт
5) to conclude treaties – заключать договоры
6) to hold negotiations - вести переговоры
7) at least - по меньшей мере
8) to get acquainted with – познакомиться с
9) to establish friendly relations – установить дружественные отношения
10) speak one language – говорить на одном языке
11) That's why – вот почему
12) a top specialist – специалист высшего класса
Текст № 7.
PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH
Youth is the time when a person is trying to find his place in the world. And during this search he or she comes across1 different problems, which are as important as those of the adults. The youth of the twenty first century face2 almost the same problems, which were acute3 to their parents when they were young.
One of them is a generation gap4. Every generation is unique in its experience. It has its own ideals and a system of values concerning5every aspect of human life. Adults6 always complain that the young are not what they were. These words are repeated from generation to generation.
Undoubtedly7 it is correct. In fact today the young are better educated. They grow up more quickly. They derive joy8 from more freedom. At present the young do not blindly accept9 the ideals of their parents. For them everything that the adults bear in mind10 is past history. And this is inevitable11, because different generations take different directions.
Moreover, the young look forward and the old people look backward. The adults always teach the young how to live. They apply old standards to the new way of life. The past is hanging over them preventing them from appreciating the things around them anew12. The young think that the adults have lost touch13 with everything that is important in life.
They are right, because what is important to the adults is the past. The young know what they want. They prefer to make their own mistakes rather than to listen to the warnings of the adults. The past exists to help the young to avoid unnecessary blurs14. But they do want to have them. The young want to live their own life. They want to overcome15 their own difficulties without turning back. Unfortunately the life of the young is frequently determined by the adults. The adults start the war but the young die in it. The young and adults have different points of view concerning everything. And it generates the conflict of the generations.
In the 19th century Ivan Turgenev in his novel «Fathers and Sons» perfectly illustrated the eternal problem of fathers and children's misunderstanding. I think that parents will never understand their children. Every new generation is different from the one that preceded it. Today the differences are especially considerable. The adults always believe that they know best only because they have been around a bit longer. They don’t want their values to be doubted. The young on the other hand are questioning the assumptions16 of the adults; they suspect that the world created by their predecessors was not the best one.
It is known far and wide that the clash of tastes and value17 between generations occurs in the main in highly developed countries. Occasionally18 it was sharp, especially in the 1960s and 70s in Western Europe and the USA.
I think that the only way to solve this insoluble problem both the young and adults should be tolerant and patient. Despite19 our generation differences there are no clashes of values in our family and my parents are my best friends. They always help me, console20 me, and try to help me to solve my problems.
Another problem of the youth is the relationship of the young people with their friends and beloved. I believe in male friendship, and I doubt that there can be any real female friendship.
I think it is impossible to have a lot of friends. A person can be on good terms21 with his or her classmates, but have only one or two real friends. I believe that real friends will never betray22 each other. They will always understand and help each other. It is true that tolerance is the pledge of friendship23. It is wonderful if your school friend will remain your friend for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, when one enters a university, school friends are often replaced by the new ones.
The problem of love is very important for the young. Today the young fall in love when they reach the age of Romeo and Juliet. Romanticism and idealism very often accompany the love of the young. Their belief in eternal love can end dramatically. Today nobody doubts about the depth of his or her passion24. It is regrettable25, but the young are not always ready to have stable relations. For a happy family life two people must understand and respect each other.
It should be said that the young have other problems as well. They are concerned with education, money, employment, and hobby, spending their free time, communication, and the like. And of course one of the most urgent problems is the accommodations problem26. Few young people in our country have their own apartments. In the main they share the apartments with their parents even after getting married.
VOCABULARY
1) comes across – наталкиваться
2) face – сталкиваться
3)to be acute to – быть острым (о проблемах)
4) generation gap – разногласия между поколениями
5) a system of values concerning – система ценностей, касающаяся
6) adults- взрослые
7) undoubtedly – несомненно, бесспорно
8) to derive joy – получать радость
9) blindly accept – слепо принимать
10) to bear in mind – помнить что-н., иметь что-н. ввиду
11) inevitable – неизбежный
12) anew – заново
13) to lose touch – терять связь
14) unnecessary blurs – ненужные воспоминания
15) to overcome – преодолеть
16) an assumption – предположение
17) the clash of tastes and value – совпадение вкусов и ценностей
18) occasionally– время от времени, изредка
19) despite – несмотря на
20) to console – утешать
21) to be on good terms with smb. – поддерживать хорошие отношения с кем-л.
22) to betray – предавать
23) (pledge) of friendship – (обязательство) гарантия дружбы
24) passion– страсть
25) regrettable– прискорбный, достойный сожаления
26) accommodations problems – проблемы жилья
Текст № 8.
SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS
Science is a sphere of people's activity. Those who are involved in1 science are called scientists2 and scholars3. Scientists deal with exact4 and natural sciences5: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography. Scholars study History, Art, Literature and Languages.
The aim of their work is to understand the fundamental laws of nature and society, to analyse and systematize the data obtained6 experimentally. They work hard to investigate unknown phenomena in various branches of science.
Usually scientists and scholars working in the same field are united in Research Laboratories7, Institutes8 and Centres9. If problems are of great importance (significance) International Research Centres or Counsels10 are set up. They join their efforts11 to work out different programmes which help to solve serious problems of our time. Among these problems are ecology, medicine, space exploration12, new sources of energy and many others.
Research is a noble occupation13, though it is seldom profitable14 or rewarding15. Not everyone can become a real scientist. You should work hard to develop уоur abilities to watch and see, to examine and interpret16, to be able to analyse and 
come to certain conclusions17. You should read a lot and accumulate profound knowledge18.
The history of the mankind gives us a lot of examples of great scientists who started making their scientific career since childhood.
For example the greatest English scientist Charles Darwin knew the names of all the planets when he was eight. He had wonderful collections of plants, shells, birds' eggs and insects. Charles was fond of making chemical experiments near his house. While studying at Cambridge University he continued to study nature, collecting insects. This hobby of his childhood led him to his wonderful ideas of evolution.
Another outstanding scientist Isaac Newton was known19 as a silent thinking boy. He played little with other children giving all his time to Mathematics, Mechanics and Physics. Such curiosity and diligence20 resulted in21 his amazing22 discovery of the most fundamental law of the Universe - the law of gravity23.
VOCABULARY
1) to be involved in -быть вовлеченным в...
2) a scientist - ученый (занимающийся точными и естественными науками)
3) a scholar - ученый (занимающийся гуманитарными науками)
4) exact science - точная наука
5) natural science - точная наука
6) to obtain data - получать данные
7) Research Laboratory - исследовательская лаборатория
8) Research Institute - научно-исследовательский центр
9) Research Centre - научно-исследовательский центр
10) International Research Counsel - международный совет по научным исследованиям
11) to join efforts - объединять усилия
12) space exploration – исследование космоса
13) a noble occupation – благородное занятие
14) profitable– прибыльный, выгодный
15) rewarding – приносящий удовлетворение
16) to interpret - объяснять, интерпретировать
17) to come to a conclusion - прийти к выводу
18) accumulate profound knowledge – накапливать глубокие знания
19) to be known - быть известным
20) curiosity and diligence – любопытство и усердие (прилежание)
21) to result in - привести к (иметь результатом)
22) amazing – поразительный, изумительный
23) the law of gravity - закон всемирного тяготения
Текст № 9.
MY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
When you leave school you understand that the time to choose your future profession has come. It's not an easy task to make the right choice of a job1. It is known that each school leaver has to make serious decisions2.
It is a dilemma for the whole family. Fathers usually want their children to follow their footsteps3. Mothers don't want their sons and daughters to leave the native town. So they persuade4 kids to enter local colleges and universities.
But it's extremely5 difficult for a person to solve this problem. On the one hand6 young people want to acquire7 and accumulate knowledge, develop their skills. On the other hand it is not easy to make yourself study hard for many years. In addition they want to earn as much money as possible. Each young man would like to do flourishing business8/and to establish and run his own company9.
To make a right choice you should consider your traits of character10. To become a good doctor you must be patient11, caring12 and kind. The teacher's work requires love for children13, profound knowledge14 of subjects and the ability to explain. Detective's job is very stressful15. He must be brave, fair, witty and strong.
Since childhood kids16 have been trying to choose their way in life. There are too many wonderful professions around. Very often they change their mind17. Little girls, for example wish to be actresses (stars), mega models (top models). Boys dream to become cosmonauts (astronauts), presidents, outstanding sportsmen. As years pass we understand that all the jobs are necessary and useful. And the most important thing for a person is to do any work professionally.
VOCABULARY
1) to make the right choice of a job – сделать правильный выбор работы
2) to make a decision - принять решение
3) to follow one's footsteps - пойти по чьим-то стопам
4) to persuade – убеждать
5) extremely – чрезвычайно
6) on the one (other) hand – с одной (другой) стороны
7) to acquire - приобретать
8) to do flourishing business - иметь процветающий бизнес
9) to run a company - управлять компанией
10) traits of character – черты характера
11) patient - терпеливый
12) caring – заботливый
13) to require love for children – требовать любви к детям
14) profound knowledge – глубокие знания
15) stressful – напряжённый, fair - справедливый, witty – остроумный
16) a kid – ребёнок
17) to change one’s mind - передумывать
Текст № 10.
PEOPLE AND THEIR RELATIONS:
APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER
The attitude of people to a person depends on many things: his character, mind, manners, behaviour, abilities and appearance. If a person is good-looking he feels more confident. Unfortunately, to be pretty or handsome doesn't mean to be happy. Very often beautiful people are stupid, stubborn1and arrogant.2And unattractive people can be intelligent, kind and generous. That's why people say: "Do not judge by appearance".
I have many friends, but Jane Brown and Andy Johnson are my special friends3.Andy is tall (short) and lean. Jane is middle-sized (of medium height). She isn't slim, she is pretty plump. Andy is strong and well-built.4As for Jane, she doesn't care about her figure. She is never on a diet5and hates doing morning exercises. That's why she often puts on weight.
John took after6his father in appearance and • character. His face is long and thin (square). His features are regular and stern7a bit. His complexion8is ruddy (fair, dark, clear). His forehead9is broad (doomed) and high (law, narrow). He has got large (small) wide-set (close-set) and deep -set eyes (bulging eyes10) They are hazel (green, steel-grey). People remember his eyes because they are piercing (curious, prying11).His nose is straight (aquiline12,hooked). His chin is pointed (protruding, round, square). His cheeks are hollow (plump, chubby). He has got thin (full, thick) lips. He is a brunette (blond). He has got chestnut (auburn13,red, dark, black) straight thick (thin) hair.
Jane looks like (resembles) her mother. She is a blue-eyed girl. Everybody admires her expressive shining eyes. She has got thick long curving eyelashes. Her eyebrows are pencilled (bushy, arched), her nose is small and snub (turned up). Jane has plump cheeks with dimples in them. She never worries about her hairdo (hairstyle), because she has got beautiful, long, thick, curly (wavy) hair. She thinks she would look nicer with a short haircut, and she wants to change the colour of her hair, but her mother doesn't let her to do it. To look more attractive she sometimes wears makeup: she puts a little black mascara on her eyelashes and some eye shadow on her eyelids. She hates lipstick and never applies it (puts it on) because she believes that her well-cut lips are good enough.
As for their characters, I like them both. Let me give a touch14on Jane's character. It is easy to get along with her. People find her sociable15and easygoing.16Nobody can call her selfish (unselfish), greedy (generous), ill-bred (well-bred), angry (kind). She is reserved, modest (shy) and good-tempered (hot-tempered). I think she is of a romantic nature, she is interested in music, art, theatre. She is keen on17literature especially she likes poems. She is good at writing verses.
A lot of my classmates envy that my best (good, bosom, true, faithful) friend is Andy. I respect many traits of his character. He is honest, brave (courageous),cheerful with a good sense of humour. He is always the life and soul18of the party.
I am proud of my friends because they are caring, faithful (sympathetic) and sincere.They are ready to help you when it is necessary.
We have much in common, we spend plenty of time together and 1 appreciate their charming (magnetic, dynamic, striking, strong) personalities more than their appearance (looks).
VOCABULARY
1) stubborn - упрямый
2) arrogant - надменный
3) a special friends - лучший друг
4) well-built - крепкий, хорошо сложенный
5) to be on a diet - сидеть на диете
6) to take after - унаследовать от •
7) stern - суровый
8) complexion - цвет лица
9) forehead – лоб
10) bulging eyes - глаза навыкате
11) prying eyes - любопытные глаза
12) aquiline - орлиный
13) auburn - темно-рыжий
14) to give a touch - затронуть, коснуться (в беседе)
15) sociable - общительный
16) easy-going - легкий в общении
17) to be keen on - увлекаться
18) to be life and soul - быть душой
Текст № 11.
ENGINEERING PROFESSION
An engineer is one of the most ancient1 professions. From the old ages humanity2 tries to make its life easy. For example people invented3 a mill, because they did not want to grind4 grain5 by hands. This people were ancient engineers. So the contribution6 of engineers to improving7 of our life is hard to exaggerate8.
In our time science and technique develop by great temps and this progress can not be stopped. Mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, genetics, robot building - all this and other sciences help us make our life more comfort.
On this conditions development and modernization engineer's profession become not only important, but required9. An engineer makes investigations10, improvements and control. An engineer must know market for the results of his activity were maximum good11 in each field of his work. An engineer must learn market, before he makes investigations and offer new methods. On this aspect he looks like on economist. This is needed for his work to be useful and it has demand12. Let's take, for example, such field as robot building. This branch of industry develops especially with high temps in our times, trying to automate different production processes more as it can. An engineer of automation is among those who is in this field. His task is to decide problems with minimum expenses13 and with maximum results.
Besides learning of market can help in installation14 of new technology in production more successfully.
For example, when first automobiles have been produced, people hadn't trust15 new kind of transporting. But soon automobiles became popular and demand on them began to grow, and it is growing in our time too. This has obliged16 to develop the technology of their building. And so many years later automotive conveyer substituted17 hard work, robots work instead of people, and each of them make it's own function.
For example, let's take the development of computer techniques. A man always wanted to make his work easier on complex calculations. The steps of improving of calculations are abacus18, calculator and computer. Computer can make millions of operations to second but a man can't. And engineers invented a computer. So an engineer depends on market, and market depends on an engineer. That is why the profession of an engineer valuable19 in the modern world.
VOCABULARY
1) ancient-древний
2) humanity-человечество
3) to invent-изобретать
4) to grind-молоть, измельчать
5) grain-зерно
6) the contribution-вклад
7) to improve-улучшать
8) to exaggerate-преувеличивать
9) to require-требовать
10) to make investigations-делать исследование
11) An engineer must know market for the results of his activity were maximum good – Инженер должен знать рынок, чтобы результаты его деятельности были предельно хорошими
12) to have demand-быть востребованным
13) minimum expenses-минимальные затраты
14) installation-внедрение
15) trust-доверять
16) to oblige-обязывать
17) to substitute-заменять
18) abacus-счеты
19) is valuable-быть ценным
Текст № 12.
MY FUTURE SPECIALITY
I am a day student of the first course of the Sterlitamak Branch of the Ufa State Petroleum Technical University. My speciality is "Automation of Technological Processes and Productions". Many enterprises1 are needed in such specialists. Our University trains highly skilled2 specialists in this field. It trains specialists with a wide theoretical and practical outlook3.
"Automation" is a word coined4in the 1940-s to describe processes by which machines do tasks previously5 performed by people.
Advances6in industrial production of some goods7 need in high-accurate processes8 of manufacturing, assembling, etc.
In five years9 I'll graduate from the University and shall become an automation engineer. During the first two years we are taught general subjects, such as, Physics, Mathematics, Strength of materials, Theoretical mechanics, English, etc. In a year we shall begin specializing in one or another field we like best.
In our time computer technologies occupy10 an important part of the industry. All machines work by computer commands. And machines talk to each other in a binary code11. We will study many subjects of this field in final courses, such as, "New Computer Technologies", "Languages of programming", etc.
The higher school has a specific task to train engineers of a new type who would combine fundamental knowledge with a high professional level and practical training in the specific field of the national economics. I like my speciality and I'm sure it will be useful for the humanity.
At present automation of the industry is vital12.
When I finish my study, I'll work in an enterprise on my speciality. There are many enterprises of this field in our city, such as "Chemical factory", joint stock company13"Kaustik", joint stock company "Kauchuk", etc.
VOCABULARY
1) enterprises-предприятие
2) highly-skilled – высококвалифицированный
3) outlook-взгляд
4) to coin-придумывать
5) previously-ранее
6) advances-продвижение
7) goods-товары
8) high-accurate processes – высокоточные процессы
9) in five years-через пять лет
10) occupy-занимать
11) a binary code-бинарный код
12) vital - жизненно-важный
13) joint-stock company – акционерное общество
MY FUTURE SPECIALITY
From the times I was a pupil I got interested1 in sciences and most of all in physics and mathematics. My teachers recommended me the right books to read and supplied2 me with different bits of equipment3 to set up4 my own experiments, let alone the participation in different competitions in Physics and mathematics. Later on I got interested in engineering and after leaving school I firmly5 decided to enter the faculty of general engeneering6 of the Ufa Oil University and become an engineer. Now I am a first-year student of the mechanical department. Our University is one of the major7 centres for training engineers for different branches of our industry.
In five years I shall graduate from8 the University and shall become a mechanical engineer. I like my future speciality and study with great interest. During the first two years we are taught9 general subjects, such as, Physics, Mathematics, Strength of materials10, theoretical mechanics, English. In a year we shall begin specializing in one or another field we like best. I am deeply interested in Engineering. Engineering demands a sound11 training in general sciences particularly in physics, mathematics and chemistry. So I work hard. At the last examination session I passed all my exams with good marks. A friend of mine is also interested in engineering and looking forward to12 become a mechanical engineer. It is our future speciality. Our work will deal with13 designs, constructions and operation of structures, machines, engines and other devices used in industry and everyday life. By the way14 my friend is very good at15 English and often helps me with it since I'm only a beginner.
VOCABULARY
1) to get interested in – заинтересоваться
2) to supply – снабжать, обеспечивать
3) bits of equipment – зд. детали оборудования (части оборудования)
4) to set up – проводить
5) firmly – твердо
6) general engineering – общетехнический
7) major – главный
8) graduate from – выпускаться из
9) to be taught – обучаться
10) strenght of materials – сопротивление материалов
11) sound – глубокий
12) to look forward to – ожидать с нетерпением
13) deal with – иметь дело с; иметь отношение к
14) by the way – кстати
15) to be good at - успевать по
MY FUTURE SPECIALITY
I am a first (second) - year student of the Ufa Oil University. I study at the faculty of "Chemical Technology of Organic Substances and Compounds". I am very fond of chemistry. I wish to become a specialist in petroleum refinery engineering1. Students entering our faculty may specialize in various branches, such as organic synthesis, reception of rubber and other compounds of petroleum.
I wish to become a specialist in petroleum refinery engineering. Those who will choose the branch of petroleum and refining engineering will deal with designing and operating various plants with work at research institutes and laboratories. Besides practicing in the Institute laboratories students of our department are to get some practical training at various refineries of the country.
A refinery is a huge chemical enterprise2. Distillation units3 are the heart of the refinery, every distillation unit consists of at least two distillation towers4, a tube still5, heat exchangers6, pumps7, etc.
One of the distillation towers is operated at atmospheric pressure, the other one is operated at vacuum. Pumps deliver8 preheated crude oil to the tube still where it is heated to 360°C at atmospheric pressure. Heated oil is then passed through the distillation tower. Lighter hydrocarbon vapours flown up the tower, are removed at different levels and condense9 in specials coolers.
Heavier fractions are accumulated at the bottom as residue10, which undergoes further dissipation11 in the vacuum tower.
Within the refinery one may see many other installations for cracking, dehydrogenation, refining and alkalizing huge storage vessel pumping stations, etc. All the units are remotely12 controlled from a single centre.
The whole process of obtaining valuable products from crude oil is called refining. As a result of refining a great variety of products is obtained, such as gasoline, kerosene, gas oil, lubricating oils13, fuels, coke, paraffin and gas for synthesis of petrochemicals and many others.
VOCABULARY
1) petroleum refinery engineering – нефтеочистительное производство
2) a huge chemical enterprise – огромное химическое предприятие
3) distillation units – дистилляционное оборудование
4) a tower – башня
5) a tube still – труба
6) heat exchangers – теплообменники
7) a pump – насос
8) to deliver – доставлять, передавать
9) to condense – оседать
10) residue – осадок
11) dissipation – рассеивание
12) remotely – отдалённо
13) lubricating oils - смазочные масла
MY FUTURE SPECIALITY