Exercise 12. Write a letter from a contractor to a site manager about finishing the site layout. Use the words and word-combinations from the box.
| site plan; property lines; utilities; builder’s level, grade rod; horizontal; bench marks; to stake out the property lines; batter boards; wire; to run. |
Text B
Exercise 13. Here is the letter from a contractor to a landowner. Its parts have been mixed. Put them in the correct order.
Mr. Muldon,
___ Next, a subsurface investigation will be necessary. We need to know what kind of soil the foundation will rest on. A preliminary check showed mostly sand and larger pieces of gravel. However, there may also be weaker silt or clay soils present.
____Before we begin construction on your property, we must conduct a thorough site investigation. This letter explains the steps in that process.
___ We will dig several test pits to obtain a complete soil profile. Some of these will only be a few meters deep. For others we will use a drill rig to dig twenty meters down.
___ First we will do a complete surface investigation. This will include a topographic survey of the surface features. The designers will use this data to design appropriate landscape features. We will also know if we need to move soil to make the site level.
__Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Jackie Sandburg
Exercise 14. Read the letter once again and mark the statements as True or False.
1. The topographic survey provides data for landscape design.
2. The preliminary investigation showed silt soil to be present.
3. The soil profile includes soil from twenty meters below the surface.
Fig. 7. A surveyor at work with an infrared reflector used for distance measurement
Exercise 15. Discuss these questions with your groupmates.
1. What surveying instruments do you know?
2. What scientific knowledge do surveyors use for surveying?
3. What associated services does land surveying include?
4. Why has surveying always been important in the development of human environment?
5. What modern uses of surveying do you know?
6. How can a surveyor measure a slope?
7. How was a compass improved?
8. Why are levels calibrated?
9. How is the height of a mountain determined?
Exercise 16. Match the words with their meanings.