English for Engineering

Meeting people

Complete these dialogues with words in the box.

all
too

is
you

meet
welcome

names
whats

N: Hi, my (1)___ Nat.

K: Pleased to (2)___ you. Im
Khal.
N: Pleased to meet you, (3)___.
P: Good morning. (4)___ your
name?
A: Im Ari. And (5)___ are?
P: My names Phil. (6)___ to
meet you.

nice this

Tim: Hi, everybody, (7)___ is Pin.

All: Hi, Pin!
Tim: Pin, this (8)___ Akh, and Lin.
Pin: Nice meeting you (9)___.
Lin: Likewise.
Tim:(10)___ to the team and
good luck.

1. Complete this email with am, is, are, their, our, or

my.

2. Write a reply to the email. Introduce your self.

Language focus

Language focus

Write three sentences about yourself and your daily schedule.

Reading Unit 1
ELECTRICAL CLASIFICATION OF ALL
MATERIALS

Pre-reading (1)
What does these terms mean to you?
Conductor
Insulator
Semiconductor

Pre-reading (2)
Mention some things belonging to conductor
or insulator from your surrounding!
Describe briefly the use of the things you have
mentioned above!

Read the text carefully

Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors

If we connect a battery across a body, there is a
movement of free electrons towards the positive end.
This movement of electrons is an electric current. All
materials can be classified into three groups according
to how readily they permit an electric current to flow.
These are: conductors, insulators, and semiconductors.
In the first category are substances which provide
an easy path for an electric current. All metals are
conductors; however some metals do not conduct well.
Manganin, for example is a poor conductor. Copper is a
good conductor, therefore it is widely used for cables.
A non-metal which conducts well is carbon. Salt water
is an example of a liquid conductor.

A material which does not easily release electrons is

called an insulator. Rubber, nylon, porcelain and air are all
insulators. There are no perfect insulators. All insulators will
allow some flow of electrons; however this can usually be
ignored because the flow they permit is so small.
Semiconductors are midway between conductors and
insulators. Under certain conditions they allow a current to
flow easily but under others they behave as insulators.
Germanium and silicon are semiconductors. Mixtures of
certain metallic oxides also act as semiconductors. These
are known as thermistors. The resistance of thermistors
falls rapidly as their temperature rises. They are therefore
used in temperature-sensing device.
(Glendinning, 1980:1)

 What do the pronouns in italics in these

sentences refer to?
All materials can be classified into three groups
according to how readily they permit an electric
current to flow.
Under certain conditions they allow a current to flow
easily but under others they behave as insulators.

These are known as thermistors.

They are therefore used in temperature-sensing
device.

Writing
Link the following pairs of ideas using suitable connective because or therefore.

Example:
a.
b.

Copper is used for cables.

Cooper is a good conductor.
a + b = Copper is used for cables because it is a good conductor.

a.
b.

The flow of electrons through insulator is very small.

The flow can be ignored.
a + b = The flow of electrons through insulator is very small,
therefore it can be ignored.

It is easy to control the speed of dc motors.

DC motors are used when variable speeds are required.
Soft iron is used in electromagnets.
Soft iron can be magnetized easily.

 A cathode-ray tube screen glows when an electron beam strikes it.

The screen is coated with phosphor.
Transistors can be damaged by heat.
Care must be taken when soldering transistors.
PVC is good to cover cables.
VC is a good insulator.
The voltage is 250 V and the current is 5 A.
The resistance is 50 .
PVC is good to cover cables.
PVC is a good insulator.
The voltage is 250 V and the current is 5 A.
The resistance is 50 .

Speaking
Discuss with your fiend(s) the benefit of conductor, insulator
and semiconductor in our daily life.
Use the following expressions in your discussion.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

What about___________________________________________________
What do you think of____________________________________________
Whats your opinion____________________________________________
Im of the opinion______________________________________________
As I know____________________________________________________
In my view___________________________________________________
I think_______________________________________________________

The following view points may guide and focus your

discussion.
Household appliances using conductor, insulator and/or
semiconductor
Industrial apparatus using conductor, insulator and/or semiconductor
Educational aids using conductor, insulator and/or semiconductor

Thank you