1Строительные Материалы Student's Book

ВОЕННЫЙ ИНЖЕНЕРНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ
Е.И. Чиркова, Е.Г. Черновец, Ю.С. Цуприк
учебное пособие
по английскому языку
«СТРОИТЕЛЬНЫЕ МАТЕРИАЛЫ»
(Student’s book)
для курсантов II курса
Допущено решением Ученого совета института

в качестве учебно-методического пособия
для курсантов II курса специальности IA
Санкт-Петербург 2010
Чиркова Е.И., Черновец Е.Г., Цуприк Ю.С.
Учебное пособие по английскому языку
«Строительные материалы»
для курсантов II курса специальности IA /
ВИТИ. – Спб., 2010. – 117 с.
Данное пособие составлено в соответствии с Учебной Программой по

иностранному языку для высших военно-инженерных учебных заведений.
Пособие является основным для специальности I A при прохождении темы 1-го
семестра. Его цель – развитие комплексных навыков всех видов устной и письменной
речевой деятельности по теме «Строительные материалы».
Пособие предназначено для аудиторных занятий на II курсе, но может быть
рекомендовано и для самостоятельной работы курсантов. Лексико-грамматический и
текстовой материал, а также тренировочные и контрольные задания распределены по
трем уровням: А-базовый, B-средний и C-продвинутый.
Units XI-XIV (Level B), Supplementary Reading, Translation guide (Unit I) написаны д.п.н.,
профессором Чирковой Е.И.
Units I-X (Level B), Use of English for Units I-X (Level B) написаны к.п.н., доцентом
Черновец Е.Г.
Units I-XIV (Level A, Level C), Unit XV (Test focus), Приложение (Teacher’s book) написаны
к.псих.н. Цуприк Ю.С.
Общая редакция осуществлена Цуприк Ю.С.
Рецензенты: д.п.н., проф. Шарухина Т.Г. (Санкт-Петербургский военный институт

внутренних войск МВД России), к.ф.н., доцент Чеснович Е.П. (ВИТИ)
© ВИТИ, 2010
Contents
General information Page
Unit I. Classification of building materials 4-7

Translation guide 8-10
Translation bank 11
Unit II. Properties of building materials 12-18
Translation bank 19
Main building materials
Unit III. Metals 20- 23
Unit IV. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys 24- 28
Translation bank 29
Unit V. Natural Stones 30-33
Unit VI. Artificial Stones. Brick 34-38
Translation bank 39
Unit VII. Concrete 40-45
Unit VIII. Reinforced concrete 46-50
Translation bank 51
Unit IX. Wood 52-56
Translation bank 57
Binding materials
Unit X. Mortar 58-62
Translation bank 63
Aggregates
Unit XI. Sand and gravel 64-68
Translation bank 69
Writing (Letter of request) 70-73
Modern building materials
Unit XII. Modern concrete 74-80

Translation bank 81
Unit XIII. Modern glass 82-85
Translation bank 86-87
Unit XIV. Plastics 88-90
Translation bank 91
Unit XV. Test focus 92-99
Supplementary reading 100-117

UNIT I. CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING MATERIALS
Vocabulary
1. Mind the different meanings of the word “building”
Level A
2. Read and translate the sentences:
Building – здание 1) The Empire State building is one of the world’s tallest
Building - строительный buildings.
Building – строительство 2) There are different types of building materials.
syn. construction 3) House building is an important industry in our
country.
3. Learn the words and translate their derivatives

WORD FORMATION given in italics.
according to – согласно, в соответствии join (v) – соединять
artificial (adj) – искусственный - lime (n) – известь
artificially origin – начало, происхождение -
bear (v) – нести, поддерживать - bearing original
belong (v) принадлежать, относиться plaster (n) - штукатурка
bind (v) – связывать, скреплять - binding purpose (n) – цель, назначение
brick – кирпич require (v) – требовать - requirement
clay (n) - глина sand (n) - песок
concrete (n) – бетон stone (n) – камень, syn. rock
deposits(n) – залежи structure - строение, структура;
fabricate (v) – создавать; собирать, конструкция, - structural
компоновать из составных частей timber (n) – древесина
finish - 1.(v) – завершать, заканчивать
2. (n) отделка, отделочное покрытие
Present Simple Past Simple

Active Passive Active Passive
Engineers use this This material is used Engineers used This material was
material. by engineers. this material. used by engineers.
используют используется использовали использовался
Engineers use these These materials are used Engineers used These materials were
materials. by engineers.– these materials. used by engineers.
используют используются использовали использовались
Active Grammar. Passive Voice be + PII(V3)
4. Give Participle II(V3) of the verbs: to classify, to know, to divide, to take, to fabricate
5. Make examples with these verbs in Present and Past Tense, using the table above, and
translate them.
1. Read and translate the sentences. Mind the different meanings of the word
Levels B,C
“building”. Consult Task 1 and Active Grammar (Level A) if necessary.
1) The Empire State building is one of the world’s tallest buildings.

2) There are different types of building materials.
3) House building is an important industry in our country.
4) Building materials are used in the construction industry to create buildings and
structures.
5) This building can hold 80000 people.
6) All building materials were brought to the building site.
7) Building houses is as old as civilized life.
Classification – classify, nature- natural, fabricate, origin – original, product-production,

cement, finish - finishing, plastics, plaster, steel, interior, exterior, gypsum
2. Read the words and guess their meanings. Then consult Task 3 (Level A) to check if you
were right.
3. Make up collocations. The first word is from column A and the second is from column B.
for example: building material, building structure
A B
building
natural by/according to origin
interior by/ according to purpose
to fabricate finish
stone
to classify
material
bearing houses
finishing structure
artificial deposits
binding
4. Can you guess:

How are building materials classified by origin?
How are building materials classified by purpose?
5. Now read the text in Task 6 (Level A) to see if you were right.
6. Read the text and make up a scheme “Classification of Building Materials”

Level A
according to the content of the text:
Classification of building materials

The materials which are used for the construction of the buildings are known as building
materials. All building materials may be classified according to their origin and the purpose for
which they are used.
According to the origin building materials are divided into natural and artificial ones.
Natural building materials are taken from natural deposits. They do not require technological
changes. Examples of natural materials are sand, stone and timber. Artificial building
materials are fabricated. Cement and concrete belong to artificial materials.
By the purpose buildings materials are divided into main, finishing and binding
materials. Main building materials are used for bearing structures such as bearing walls and
foundations (фундаменты). Steel and concrete belong to main building materials. Finishing
materials are used for interior and exterior finish of the building. Plaster and plastics belong to
finishing materials. Binding materials are those which are used to join structural units and to
produce artificial stones. Cement, lime and gypsum belong to binding building materials.
Building materials
By origin
artificial binding
no bearing
technological structures
changes
stone concrete plastics
H o m e t a s k : learn the words in Task 4
6. Read the text again and make up the scheme on p. 6.

Levels B,C
7. Decide if the following statements are true or false. Correct the false ones.
1. All building materials can be divided into main and finishing materials.
2. Natural materials are not fabricated.
3. Cement, clay and concrete are fabricated.
4. Steel and concrete belong to main building materials.
5. Cement and concrete are taken from natural deposits.
6. Lime and gypsum are used in building foundations.
7. We use concrete for making artificial stones.
8. Steel and concrete are used for making bearing structures.
4. Scan the text and guess the meaning of the words in italics.
5. Find the synonym of the word “common” (обычный, распространенный) in the text.
6. Guess the meaning of the word “brush” from the context of the underlined sentence.
Divide the text into logical parts.
Common Building Materials

Traditionally, the basic types of building materials used for construction were mud
(земля), stone and brush. Centuries ago houses were made entirely (полностью) of mud and
clay. Then people began to use rocks as building material. From Neolithic period granite has
been commonly used as a building material. Brush structures are built entirely from plant
parts and are generally found in tropical areas, where very large leaves and branches can be
used in building construction. Stone and bricks were also common in construction. Mud was
also used for filling the spaces between bricks and acted as concrete and insulation. Different
types of bricks have been and are still used for masonry (каменная кладка). They include
specially shaped bricks and glazed bricks for decorative purposes. Another building material is
wood. It is a product of trees and is used for construction purposes when it is cut or pressed. It
is an ordinary building material and can be used for any type of structure in most climates.
Wood can be very flexible (гибкий) under loads. It is strong when it is bent and when it is
compressed vertically. Concrete is a composite building material consisting of an aggregate
(заполнитель в бетоне) and a binder (cement). Concrete finds good use in all types of
building construction. More recently, new types of building materials are being used. These
include metals (for the structural frame of large buildings), modern types of concrete, plastics
and others.
H o m e t a s k : Level B: speak about classification of building materials

according to the scheme in Task 6. Use the words underlined in the text.
Level C: speak about classification of building materials according to
the scheme in Task 6.
TRANSLATION GUIDE Levels A,B,C
1. Какой из данных ниже отрывков можно отнести к разряду научных текстов и

почему?
А. Do you think I know anything about those terrible building materials? I’m not a
specialist. The only thing I know for sure is that concrete is the strongest construction
material, isn’t it? Our really nice and comfortable summer cottage is made of wood.
And that is that! ... Oh, yes, I also know that a wooden house is warmer than a brick
one. Well, as for the foundation ... They say that there are a lot of types of them, but, as
you know, I’m not a specialist.
B. According to their inner structure, building materials can be classified in many
ways. For instance, one of the classifications categorizes them as homogeneous
materials and heterogeneous materials.
2. Разделите на две группы признаки, характерные для литературно-

художественного и научного текстов, использовав словосочетания в рамке
(некоторые признаки могут входить в обе группы):
наличие терминов; наличие эмоционально окрашенных слов; наличие
перечислений; разделение на классы, группы; использование общеразговорной
лексики; использование общеразговорной и специальной лексики; наличие
сокращений; наличие знаков препинания, таких как !, ?, … и т.д.; наличие слов-
связок (according to, for instance, for example, so); наличие слов-связок (well, the
only thing I know, that is that); безличные предложения; использование
разговорных словосочетаний; восклицания; риторические вопросы.
3. Проанализируйте приведенный ниже текст. Какие языковые средства, присущие

научному стилю, присутствуют в нем? Чем образован юмористический характер
текста?
Колобок
Функционировали себе Старик со Старухой – субъекты интенсивной пауперизации.
Такой интенсивной, что однажды реквизировал Старик самый экстремальный
минимум Муки – ультимативного фактора старческой экзистенции. Из нее
сфабриковали они со Старухой Колобка – сферу их гастрономических интересов.
Но когда его экспонировали на Окно – локализованный натуральный рефрижератор,
- Колобок моментально диссоциировал. Курсирует себе Колобок акселеративно, а в
оппозиции к нему Заяц – минимальный индивидуум неурбанизированных
территорий. – Куда курсируешь? – апеллирует Заяц. А Колобок на это и реагирует:
«Я реквизирован как таковой из экстремального минимума Муки и сфабрикован как
сфера гастрономических интересов. Я от Деда диссоциировал, а от Бабы
диссоциировал, и от тебя, Зайца – регрессирую»…
4. Допустимо ли в переводе смешение стилей? К чему это приводит?
5. Помните, что для перевода не всегда подходит первое, данное в словаре значение
слова. Необходимо определить какой частью речи слово является в данном
предложении, а также учитывать контекст.
 These new houses face the face (n.) – лицо; (v.) – выходить, быть
park. обращѐнным (к кому-л., чему-л., в
определѐнную сторону)
 I like this building
material.
That building material is like the previous one.
This new modern material is something like concrete. like – (adj.) -
What is it like? подобный, похожий;
It looks like wood. (adv.)- так; как что-л.;
подобно чему-л;
look – (n.) взгляд; внешность (v.) – любить,
(v.) смотреть; выглядеть нравиться,
6. В английском языке Participle II часто ставится предпочитать
после определяемого слова(*), но при переводе на
русский ставится перед ним.
basic raw *material used - основные используемые сырьевые материалы
Переведите на русский язык, используя словарь:
the materials applied the experimental observations made
secondary materials bought the equipment installed
the design proposed the method applied
7. Participle II правильных глаголов совпадает по форме со сказуемым, выраженным

правильным глаголом в Past Simple. Опираясь на порядок слов и контекст,
определите, чем является глагол с окончанием –ed в следующих предложениях.
Переведите предложения письменно.
1) The method applied increased the output of the building materials.
2) The laboratory used the method improved.
3) Heat resistant materials developed in the last decade produced a revolution in a number of
industries.
8. Приступая к переводу текста, сначала прочитайте его полностью, чтобы

«включиться» в контекст и уяснить основную идею (мысль, смысл) текста.
Прочитайте текст, выберите среди предложенных вариантов один, отражающий
основную идею текста:
- basic raw materials,
- classification of the building materials,
- use of the building materials,
- their field of application,
- their origin.
Building materials can be classified in various ways: according to the form in which they
come from the manufacturer (piece products, roll materials, mastics, etc.), basic raw material
used (ceramics, materials based on mineral binders, polymeric materials, etc.), manner of
manufacture (materials and products fabricated by moulding, forgerolling, etc.), field of
application (materials for walls, roofs, heat insulation, etc.), origin (natural or manmade,
mineral or organic), and so on.
9. Прочитайте текст еще раз, выберите лучший вариант его перевода (А или B).
Обоснуйте свой выбор.
A. Строительные материалы могут классифицироваться по-разному: в соответствии

с формой, в виде которой они поступают от производителя (отдельные изделия,
рулонные материалы, мастики и т.д.), используемым основным сырьевым
материалом (керамические изделия, материалы, основанные на минеральных
вяжущих, полимерные материалы и др.), со способом производства (материалы и
продукты, изготовленные путем литья, вальцевания и т.д.), областью применения
(материалы для стен, крыш, теплоизоляции и др.), происхождением (природные
или искусственные, минеральные или органические) и т.д.
B. Строительные материалы могут классифицироваться различными способами:
- в зависимости от формы, в виде которой они поступают от производителя
(штучные изделия, рулонный материал, мастики и др.);
- в соответствии с основным используемым сырьем (керамические изделия;
материалы с минеральными вяжущими, полимерные материалы и др.);
- по способу производства (материалы и изделия, изготовленные путем литья,
вальцевания и др.);
- по происхождению (природные, искусственные, минеральные или органические
материалы) и т.д.
10.Используйте следующий алгоритм для перевода текстов на следующей странице.
Переведите текст в письменном виде.

1. Начните с общего смысла. Прочитайте быстро данный вам текст и
постарайтесь понять, о чем он.
2. Прочитайте, не торопясь. Сравните свои предыдущие мысли с теми,
которые автор передал в тексте.
3. Опирайтесь на знакомые слова, пытаясь понять общее содержание текста.
4. Найдите в каждом предложении сказуемое в соответствии с его основными
признаками.
5. Постарайтесь перевести текст без словаря, оставляя непереведенными
только те слова, которые вам абсолютно непонятны.
6. Воспользуйтесь словарем, чтобы найти перевод незнакомого слова.
7. Не используйте при переводе первое значение незнакомого слова, по
формальным признакам выясните, к какой части речи оно относится.
8. Запишите черновой перевод текста.
9. Исправьте русский вариант текста в зависимости от стиля, избегая
ненужных повторов, неадекватного перевода слова и т.д.
10. Затем сопоставьте полученный перевод с английским текстом.
11. Сделайте заключительные правки.
Translation bank
Translate the text in writing:

The materials used in building various structures are chosen based on many
factors, including how they look, how easy they are to find, and how strong they are.
Level A
Stone has been mainly used for building for thousands of years. It has often
been used for large monuments because it is durable and can be easily carved.
Brick, which has been used since at least 2000 BC, was the chief building
material in the ancient Near East. It is easy to produce, transport and lay. Wood is
easier to acquire, transport and work than other natural materials.
Concrete is an artificial mixture of cement and water with pieces of sand and
stones. It was used in ancient Egypt and elsewhere, but it became most useful in the late
1800s when people learned to make it stronger.

Cretaceous period – меловой период
New Kingdom – Новое царство (1580-1070 до н.э.)
Egypt is a country which is rich in stone and was sometimes even called the
"country of stone". Egypt has a lot of limestone formations, which the Egyptians called
Level B
"white stone", because during the Cretaceous period Egypt was covered with seawater.
The country is also rich in sandstone, but it was never really used much until the New
Kingdom.
Many of the pyramids were built with a number of different stone materials. Most of
the material used was limestone. It was used to build the pyramid core, while fine white
limestone was often employed for finishing exterior of the pyramids and to cover interior
walls, though pink granite was also often used on inner walls.

There are multitudes of Building Materials, and just about every type of available
material has been used at one time or another for building various human and animal
Level C
homes or structures. From mud to metal, and from plastic to grass has been used to
create living abodes and their related structures. These days there is a multibillion
dollar industry involved in the production and assembly of various building materials.
And much environmental concern has recently surfaced about the effects of such a
massive resource extraction on a global scale. Mud, Stone, and Brush are probably the
most basic building materials aside from tents. Peoples all over the world have used
these three materials together to create homes to suit their local weather conditions. In
general the stone and brush are used as the basic structural components in these buildings,
while the mud is used to fill in the space between acting as a type of concrete and insulation.
UNIT II. PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS
WORD Vocabulary Level A

FORMATION
1. Complete the table with the derivatives given below.
Noun Verb Adjective Participle II Adverb
able - способный
compressed –
сжатый
conductive -
проводящий
definition -
определение
dense – плотный
endure - durable –
выдерживать прочный,
долговечный
hardness - твердость
insulate -
изолировать
porous - пористый
Home task:
pressure speak on the building materials classification according to the
-давление
scheme (Level A) using the phrases underlined in the text (Task 6, Level A)
proper –
присущий,
свойственный
resistance -
сопротивление
strength – сила ,
прочность
tense –
натянутый, тугой
tensile –
растяжимый,
эластичный
withstandability –
устойчивость,
стойкость
- ability, enable - pore, porosity
- compression, compressive - press
- conduct, conductivity , conductor - property
- define, defined - resist, resistant
- densely, density - strengthen, strong, strongly,
- durability strengthened
- hard, harden, hardened - tension
- insulation, insulated, insulator - withstand
1. Do Task 1 (Level A).

2. Choose the correct alternative.
1. Mechanical properties of metals___________them to resist a) able b) ability c) enable

deformation.
2. Water resistance of the material depends on their a) density b) dense c) densely

___________and the structure of the pores.
3. In the___________materials water fills the pores only a) pore b) porous c) porosity

partially.
4. Lightweight concrete has high _______ and low density. a) pores b) porosity c) porous
5. Granite is a durable material, its________depends on the a) durable b) durability

quantity of the quartz.
6. Wood must be_________to resist breakage. a) strong b) strength

c) strengthen
7. The valuable mechanical property of wood is its a) strength b) strong
combination of________and lightness. c) strengthen
8. There are three brands of white cement according to their a) compress b) compression
________strength. c) compressive
9. Density is ______________as the mass per unit volume of a) define b) defines c) defined
a material.
10. Materials that __________electric current (эл. ток) easily a) conduct b) conducts
are called conductors. c) conducting
11. There are two basic methods of prestressing steel: pre- a) tensioning b) tense c) tensile
tensioning and post-__________.
12. Compressive strength is the response of a material a) compress b) compression

to____________. c) compressive
13. Some materials are poor conductors of electricity, they are a) insulating b) insulators
called____________. c) insulation
14. A______________ is a quality or characteristic that belongs a) property b) durability
to something. c) strength
15. Material which is impossible to press down, break or cut is a) porous b) dense
___________. c) hard
1. Choose the correct alternative. Level A
1. Lightweight concrete has high _____ and low density. a) pores b) porosity c) porous
2. The___ of granite depends on the quantity of the a) durable b) durability
quartz.
4. Materials that __________electric current (эл. ток) a) conduct b) conducts
easily are called ___________. c) conductors d)conductivity
6. ____________ strength is the response (ответ) of a a) compress b) compression
material to_____________. c) compressive d)compressor
2. Study the table. Translate the words below the table.

water-proof, sound-proof, heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant, fire-resistant, weather-proof
-tight, -proof, -resistant характеризуют свойства материалов, их устойчивость к
воздействию окружающей среды (gas-tight – газонепроницаемый)
3. Match the sentences (1-6 and A-F).
1. Stone doesn’t burn or melt if you heat it. A. It’s heat resistant.
2. Brick doesn’t corrode if you put it in water. B. It’s dense.
3. Stone lasts long. C. It’s corrosion resistant.
4. Concrete has a lot of pores in relation to its volume. D. It’s durable.
5. Stone has a lot of mass in relation to its size. E. It’s porous.
6. Plastic doesn’t allow water to pass through it. F. It’s water-proof.
5. Match the numbers and the letters

A B
1. compressive strength a. механическая прочность
2. tensile strength b. компактность
3. mechanical strength c. теплоизоляция
4. sound insulation d. прочность на растяжение
5. heat insulation e. прочность на сжатие
6. compactness f. звукоизоляция
Active Grammar. Modal verb SHOULD

Modal verb should denotes recommendation and is translated into Russian as
«следует», «должен».
E.g.: You should be more attentive. (Тебе следует быть более внимательным)
Building materials should meet several requirements. (Строительные материалы должны
отвечать некоторым требованиям).

4. Make sentences about properties of materials
Levels B,С
Steel good sound insulation
Stone good thermal insulation
has the property of
Glass high compressive strength
Brick high tensile strength
it can resist high compressive forces
it can resist high tensile forces
This means
it does not transmit heat easily
it does not transmit sound easily
5. Make sentences about the materials with “can …, but … can’t” or “can … and … can”
Model: (bend/metal/wood) You can bend metal, but you can’t bend wood.
1. (heat/air/water)____________________________________________.
2. (melt/plastic/wood)_________________________________________.
3. (stretch/nylon/glass)________________________________________.
4. (break/glass/wood)_________________________________________.
5. (cut/wood/metal)___________________________________________.
6. (compress/air/glass)________________________________________.
7. Identify these materials from the table.
Density kg/m3 Melting point O C Tensile strength N/mm2

Glass 2520 1500 60
Concrete 2300 - 4
Softwood (pine) 5500 - 40
Hardwood (oak) 8800 - 100
Aluminium 2640 660 90
Zinc 7100 420 110
1) This material has the highest melting point.

2) This material has a little lower density than aluminium.
3) This material has a tensile strength much higher than concrete, but a little lower than zinc.
4) This material has a tensile strength approximately twice that of pine.
5) The density of this material is approximately half that of pine.
6) This material is ten times as strong as concrete in tension.
8.Read the text and find information about:
Level A
1) requirements (требования) that building materials should meet,
2) materials that are commonly used in construction,
3) the difference between common building materials,
4) the properties of wood,
5) the properties of stone,
6) basic groups of properties.
The Properties of Building Materials
All materials have certain properties that can be defined and tested. Materials that are
used for structural purposes should meet several requirements. In most cases it is important
that they should be hard, durable, fire-resistant and easily fastened together.
The most commonly used materials are steel, concrete, stone, wood and brick. They differ
in hardness, durability and fire-resistance.
Wood is the most ancient structural material. It is light (легкий), cheap and easy to work.
But wood has certain disadvantages: it burns and decays (разрушается, гниет).
Stone belongs to one of the oldest building materials used by man. It possesses many
valuable (ценный) properties. They are mechanical strength, compactness, porosity, sound
and heat insulation and fire-resistance.
Some materials should have very high compressive strength (for example, an engineering
brick).
There are three basic groups of properties: physical (describing mass and structure, as well
as the response of the materials to water, gases, heat, fire, etc.), mechanical (ability to resist
deformation) and protective (ability to withstand the destructive (разрушительные) factors).
6. Read the text again and complete the table.
VALUABLE PROPERTIES OF
wood stone brick
lightness
…
Home task: revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text (Level A)
in Translation bank
Levels B,С
8. Read the text in Task 6 (Level A). Consult Active Grammar (Level A) if necessary. Complete the table in
Task 7.
9. Arrange the properties from the table in Task 7 (Level A) into three basic groups.
10.Think of properties of steel and concrete that are valuable in construction.
11. Write the properties (1-9) according to the given definitions.
1) C__________ s_______ is the ability to withstand downward force or pressure.

2) T______ s_______ is the ability not to be destroyed by stretching.
3) D______ is the mass of a substance per unit volume.
4) C___________ is the ability of a material to allow electricity to pass through it.
5) P_______ is the amount of space or pores that a material contains in relation to its overall volume.
6) T______ c___________ is the ability of the material to pass heat.
7) F___ r_________ is the ability to withstand fire.
8) S____ r_________ is the property of a material that describes how well a sound can pass through it.
9) D_________ is the property of a material that describes how long it will last.
12.Scan the text. Guess the meaning of the words in italics. Read the text again. Decide what group each
property in Task11 belongs to. Complete the table below the text.
Properties of Building Materials
A property is a quality or characteristic that belongs to something. All materials have

certain qualities and characteristics that can be defined and tested.
Materials that are used for structural purposes should meet several requirements. The
main properties of building materials include compressive strength, tensile strength, density,
conductivity and porosity.
There are many other properties including thermal conductivity, fire resistance, sound
resistance and durability. Certain materials are designed to have specific properties. A material
may be designed to have very high compressive strength (for example, an engineering brick).
Properties of building materials may be classified into three basic groups, namely
physical, mechanical and protective properties.
 Physical properties are mainly structural and mass characteristics as well as the ones describing the
response of a material to water, gases, heat, fire, cold, electric current etc.
 Mechanical properties do with the ability of a material to resist deformation under action of external
forces. They include various kinds of strength, hardness, elasticity etc.
 Protective properties characterize the ability of a material to withstand the destructive factors.
BASIC GROUPS OF PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL MECHANICAL PROTECTIVE

PROPERTIES PROPERTIES PROPERTIES
Home task (Levels B, C):

1) revise vocabulary and grammar
2) speak on basic groups of properties using the words underlined in the
text (Task 12)
3) translate the text in Translation bank
Translation bank

A property is a quality or characteristic that belongs to something. All materials
have certain qualities and characteristics that can be defined and tested. The main
Level A
properties of construction materials include compressive strength, tensile strength,

density, conductivity and porosity. There are many other properties including thermal
conductivity, fire resistance, sound resistance, durability and appearance. Certain
materials are designed to have specific properties. For example, a material may be
designed to have very high compressive strength or thermal insulation.
Compression is a pressure causing a decrease in volume. When a material is

Level B
subjected to a bending or torsion (twisting) force, both tensile and compressive forces
are simultaneously at work. When a metal bar is bent, one side of it is stretched and
subjected to a tensional force, and the other side is compressed.
Tension is a pulling force (тяговая сила); for example, the force in a cable holding a
weight. Under tension, a material usually stretches, returning to its original length if the force
does not exceed the material’s elastic limit. Under larger tensions, the material does not
return completely to its original condition, and under greater forces the material ruptures.
Engineers must know how materials respond to external forces, such as tension,
compression, torsion, bending and shear (поперечная сила). All materials respond to
these forces by elastic deformation. Materials return their size and form when the
Level С
external force disappears. The materials may also have permanent deformation or
they may fracture.
The results of external forces are creep and fatigue. Creep is slow, permanent
deformation that results from a steady force acting on a material. Materials at high
temperatures usually suffer from deformation. Fatigue is the growth of cracks under
stress. No deformation is seen during fatigue, but small cracks propagate through the
material. Knowledge of tensile stress, elastic limits, and the resistance of materials to creep
and fatigue are of basic importance in engineering.
UNIT III. METALS

Active Grammar: Quantifiers
countable nouns uncountable nouns
много many bricks much cement
Level A
мало few bricks little cement
несколько/некоторое количество a few bricks a little cement
1. Use a suitable quantifier before the following words:

clay products sand substances steel
chemical elements aggregate rocks concrete metals
building material iron bronze granite lime
2. Choose the alternative:
1) Bricks were used much/many thousands years ago.
2) We use a few/ a little building materials for bearing structures.
3) Unlike limestone, sandstone finds little/few use in industry.
4) Much/many materials resist tension and compression.
5) A few/a little metals are found in a pure state.
3. Learn the words and translate their derivatives:

ore [o:]- руда opaque [ə'peik] (adj) – непрозрачный –
cast iron ['aiən]– чугун opacity [ə'pæsəti] - ?
wrought [ro:t] iron – сварочное железо plasticity (n) – пластичность plastic - ?
ductility (n) – ковкость, тягучесть process (v) – обрабатывать processed,
ductile -? unprocessed, processor, - ?
luster (n) – блеск lustrous -? shape (n,v) – форма, формировать
malleability [¸mæliə'biləti](n) – ковкость shaping, shaped, shapeless - ?
malleable - ? solid (adj., n) – твердый ant. liquid
melt (v) – плавить syn. smelt solidify - ?
melted, melter, melting point - ?
4. What are the properties of metals? Choose from the list and complete the sentence:
Metals are opaque, …
5. Read the text and decide which answer a), b), c) best fits each space.
Metals make up about 75% of 112 elements in the Periodic table of the elements. At
room temperature most metals are 1____ and have a silvery grey, shiny appearance called
2_____. Most metals are good 3____ of heat and electricity. Most metals are 4_____. They can
be pulled into wire (проволока) and pressed into sheets (листы). Because of their 5____,
conductivity and 6____ to be worked into different forms, metals are important building
materials.
1. a) solid b) liquid c) plastic
2. a) malleability b) ductility c) luster
3. a) conductors b) processors c) insulators
4. a) plasticity b) plastic c) plastics
5. a) strong b)stronger c) strength
6. a) ability b) able c) enable
1. Complete the table. Consult Active Grammar (level A)
Levels B,C
more bricks
…….. bricks (много the most bricks
(больше/еще
кирпичей) (большинство кирпичей)
кирпичей)
a few bricks
the fewest bricks (меньшее
(немного, …………….. (меньше
количество кирпичей,
несколько кирпичей)
меньше всего кирпичей)
кирпичей)
much cement (много more cement (больше the most cement (большая
цемента) цемента) часть цемента)
the least cement (меньшее
a …….. cement less cement (меньше
количество цемента,
(немного цемента) цемента)
меньше всего цемента)
2. Choose the alternative:

1) When especially strong concrete is needed, we use fewer/less aggregate and more
cement.
2) Materials that are used for structural purposes should meet many/much
requirements.
3) When a piece of wood dries it undergoes greater or fewer/less change of shape.
4) Stainless steel contains chromium and a few/a little nickel.
5) Much/many materials resist tension and compression, that is, they return their
original size and form when external force disappears.
3. Match the following description with the word from the box.
Consult t.3 (Level A)
melting point, solid, luster, plasticity, shape, to melt, ore , liquid, opacity
1) An attractive shiny appearance
2) Rock or earth from which metal can be obtained.
3) The property which something has when it is difficult or impossible to look through.
4) The property of being easily made into any shape.
5) The form which something has.
6) To heat a metal object until it becomes a liquid.
7) The temperature at which a solid substance becomes a liquid.
8) Hard, with a fixed shape.
9) Substance that is not a solid or gas.
4. Complete the text.

Metals make up about 75% of 112 elements in the Periodic table of the
Level C
elements. At room temperature most metals are 1________________ and have a
silvery grey, shiny appearance called 2______________. Most metals are good
3_____________ of heat and electricity. Metals also have considerable4_______. They
can be pulled into wire and pressed into sheets. Because of their 5_______________,
conductivity and 6_______________ to be worked into different forms, metals are
important building materials.
6. Look through the text and guess the meaning of the words in italics.
Metals
Level A
About three-quarters of all known chemical elements are metals. Most of
metals are found in ores (mineral-bearing substances), but a few such as
copper, gold, platinum and silver frequently occur (встречаются) in the free
state because they seldom react with other elements.
The physical properties of most metals include high density and high
strength, hardness, ductility and malleability. Most metals also have great
plasticity: they can change their shape without breaking. At room temperature metals are
solid. Optically speaking, metals are opaque and lustrous. Metal is a chemical element that
is a good conductor of both electricity and heat.
Metals began to be widely used as construction materials not so long ago. Before the
beginning of the 19-th century metals played little structural role in the process of
building. Mostly they served for joining parts of buildings. The first all-metal structure was
built in Europe in the 18-th century. It was a cast-iron bridge across the river Severn in
England. The strength of the bridge was so great that now, more than two centuries after
its construction, it still carries heavy modern traffic across the Severn.
In the first half of the 19th century many architects began to use cast iron and
wrought iron for industrial construction in Europe and North America. Steel was not
widely used because it was expensive. Inexpensive steel first began to be produced and
used only with the invention of the Bessemer process, in the 1850s. From that period on,
metal became popular and useful building material. The famous Eiffel Tower of Paris was
constructed of wrought iron in 1889. By that period a few steel frame (каркас, несущая
конструкция) skyscrapers had already been built in the United States. That was the
beginning of the new era: a new highly useful and popular construction material was
introduced into building industry.
6. Find the word “state” (given in bald type) in the text. Does it have the same meaning in both word
combinations? Choose the proper meaning:
a)государство, страна b)штат c)состояние
7. Read the text again. Say if the following statements are true or false.
1) Most chemical elements are metals.
2) Metals are solid at room temperature, but when they are melted they break easily.
3) Metals can conduct electricity and heat.
4) Metals play little role in the process of building.
5) The bridge across the river Severn was the first all-metal structure.
6) Cast iron and wrought iron was widely used for industrial construction in Europe and North America
in the first half of the 19th century.
7) Steel was an expensive building material before the invention of the Bessemer process.
8) Metal became popular building material at the end of the 19th century.
Home task: 1) learn the words in Task 3

2)translate the 1st and the 2nd paragraphs of the text “Metals” in writing
Reading
5. Read the text “Metals” (Level A). Do task 7 (Level A).
Levels B,С
6. Does the text give answers to the following questions:
1) Where are most metals found?
2) What metals seldom react with other elements?
3) Are metals much stronger and harder that stones?
4) What are the main properties of metals?
5) Are metals solid at any temperature?
6) In what year did metals begin to be widely used in construction?
7) Did metals play the least important role in construction in the 19-th century?
8) When and where was the first all-metal structure built?
9) Who built the cast-iron bridge across the river Severn?
10) What kinds of iron were introduced in the first half of the 19-th century?
11) Why was steel as a building material not popular for a long time?
12) What was the result of the invention of the Bessemer process?
13) What materials is the famous Eiffel Tower constructed of?
14) From what time has metals been widely used as building material?
7. Read the text again. Give the main stages of using metals in construction process.
8. Look through the text and guess the meaning of the underlined words.
Read the text and choose the most appropriate title from the list A-C:
A. Ores
Level С
B. Production of metals
C. Ores and metals
Metals are found naturally in Earth’s crust (земная кора). A few metals, such as gold and
silver, are found in a pure state, not in ores. Most metals are found mixed with rock in substances
called ores. The ores first are taken out of the ground, and then metals are separated from other
substances. The separation is most often done with heat. The ore is heated until chemical
substances mixed with metal turn into gas and the metal melts. Other ways to separate metal
from ore involves electricity or chemicals.
Once the metal is separated from the ore, it can be shaped, or worked, in one of two ways. The ways
of working a metal depends on its properties. The first way, called cold working, is done with metal at
room temperature. In that process metals are bent, rolled, pulled or pressed flat. The second way of
shaping metal is called hot working. In that process the metal is heated to very high temperatures. Once
it is heated it melts and becomes liquid and can be formed into shapes. Some metals are worked hot at
first and then worked cold for a fine finish.
H o m e t a s k : Level B: translate the 1st and the 4th paragraphs of the

text “Metals” in writing
Level C: translate the text in t.8 in writing
UNIT IV. FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS AND

ALLOYS
1. Match the words from column A and B.

Which are metals and which are alloys (сплавы)?
A B A B A B
silver железо cast iron цинк steel алюминий
gold серебро zinc углерод copper латунь
lead золото carbon олово aluminium медь
iron свинец tin чугун brass сталь
2. Study Active Grammar. Translate the sentences below. Pay attention to punctuation marks.
Active Grammar. Giving example
We use “ like, such as, for example/ for instance” to give examples:
Scientists are creating alloys with improved properties such as higher strength and durability.
Some metals like gold and silver are only used as decoration.
Ferrous alloys are widely used for bearing elements, for example, steel and cast iron.
3. Read the text and complete it with the sentences given below the text. One sentence is extra.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys
Scientists often combine metals with other metals. They also combine metals with materials that are
not metals. These combinations are called alloys. __________1____________ Scientists make alloys because
they have more valuable properties than a metal itself. Iron is the main element of the most frequently used
alloys. __________2___________. When iron is mixed with carbon, the resulting alloy is steel. Such alloys
have different properties. It depends on how much carbon there is in the alloy. Alloys that contain no iron are
called non-ferrous. __________3__________ Examples of copper alloys are brass and bronze.
a) The increase of zinc makes the alloy more tensile.

b) Alloys are usually mixed when the metals are in a liquid form or when they are melted.
c) Copper alloys are the largest group of non-ferrous alloys.
d) Such alloys are called ferrous alloys, from Latin “ferrum”, meaning “iron”.
1. Read and translate the sentences. Consult Active Grammar (Level A).
Levels B.C
1) Like bronze, brass is a copper alloy.
2) Building materials are made of many natural products such as clay, sand, wood and many
others.
3) Steel is a strong metal and like other metals is a good conductor of electricity.
4) Products, such as glass and metals, can be reused.
5) Many building materials, for example, glass, metals, concrete, can be reused.
2. Study the vocabulary in Task 1 (Level A). Complete the sentences:
1. ______ is a substance that contains more than one chemical element.

2. ______ is an alloy of iron and carbon, it was invented by Bessemer in 1858.
3. ______ is a non-ferrous metal of bright reddish colour, good conductor of electricity.
4. ______ is a soft whitish metal with low melting point, used to cover metal objects.
5. ______ is a very hard yellow metal, an alloy of copper and zinc.
6. ______ is a soft heavy metal, grey coloured, used for pipes and to cover roofs.
7. ______ is a light silvery white metal.
3. Read the text and complete it with the sentences given after the text. One sentence is extra.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys
________1_______ To meet these requirements, scientists create alloys – metals consisting of more
than one element. These elements may be either metals, non-metals or both – to improve properties of
metals. ________2________ Steel, for example, is an alloy of iron and carbon. Steel is much stronger and
easier to work with than iron. Steel is therefore used for building construction and many other industries.
Alloys that contain no iron are called non-ferrous. ___________3__________ The most important non-ferrous
alloys include brass – an alloy of copper and zinc – and bronze – an alloy of copper and tin. The increase of
zinc content, for instance, increases the tensile strength, which makes the properties of an alloy more
valuable in construction.
a) Alloys with iron as the main element are called ferrous alloys, from Latin “ferrum”, meaning “iron”.
b) Copper alloys are the largest group of non-ferrous alloys.
c) Scientists combine metals and non-metals to make alloys.
d) Despite the great variety of natural metals, engineers often require materials that have specific
properties which none of the metals have.
4. Read the text and the questions to it. Cross out the questions to which there is no
answer in the text.
Level C
Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals

All metals and alloys fall into two principle groups: ferrous metals (iron and its alloys
accounting for about 95% of world’s production) and non-ferrous metals (all the other metals and
their alloys). Depending on their carbon content, ferrous alloys are divided into steel (up to 2%
carbon) and cast iron (more than 2% carbon). This group also includes what are known as
ferroalloys (iron alloyed with silicon, manganese, chromium and other elements). Ferrous alloys
are commonly used for construction of bearing elements. Steel and other ferrous alloys serve as
reinforcement (укрепление, усиление) in ferro-concrete constructions.
In present day building industry non-ferrous alloys are also widely used. Copper alloys (brass and
bronze) are strong, easily shaped and have a pleasing appearance.
Aluminium and its alloys possess low density, high strength and high corrosion resistance. They are
mostly used in finishing public buildings and furniture. Alloys of zinc, tin, lead and other non-ferrous materials
find fewer applications. Thus, both ferrous and non-ferrous metals and their alloys serve many functions in
load-bearing elements, exterior and interior finishes of the buildings.
1. How many groups of metals are there?

2. What metals belong to the group of ferrous metals?
3. What do we call non-ferrous metals?
4. Where are pure non-ferrous metals used?
5. What is the main difference between steel and cast iron?
6. Is carbon the only element alloyed with iron?
7. What are the main properties of ferroalloys?
8. Are ferrous alloys used in construction?
9. Is silicon the only element alloyed with iron?
10. Non-ferrous metals and alloys are used in construction industry, aren’t they?
11. What are the most common copper alloys?
12. What are the properties of copper alloys?
13. Is cooper the most useful of the non-ferrous metals?
14. What properties of aluminium and its alloys make them useful in finishing buildings?
15. What purposes is pure aluminium used for?
16. Besides copper and aluminium alloys, other alloys are used in building construction, aren’t they?
17. What functions do ferrous and non-ferrous metals perform in building construction?
Listening Level A
Listen to the text about historical development of metals and choose the most appropriate
alternative a, b or c:
1. The first metals used by ancient people were______________.

[Введите текст]
a) gold and silver

b) silver and iron
c) gold and copper
2. People in ____________ knew how to smelt gold, silver, tin and other metals and make objects.
a) the Middle East
b) different parts of the world
c) Europe
3. Bronze Age began about
a) 3000 BC
b) 4000 BC
c) 5000 BC
4. Copper-gold and lead-tin alloys were used by
a) 3000 BC
b) 1000 BC
c) 1000 AD
5. In the _________ people began using iron.
a) 4th century BC
b) 4th century AD
c) 6th century AD
1. Silver was discovered __________ gold and copper. Level B

a) before
b) after
c) at the same time
2. Bronze Age began when ancient people found out how to alloy_____________.
a) copper and tin
b) bronze and gold
c) copper and gold
3. By 3000 BC ________________ were in use.
a) only bronze and gold
b) bronze and other alloys
c) iron alloys
4. Copper alloyed with zinc produce__________.
a) brass
b) bronze
c) cast iron
5. People began to use iron ________________ bronze was discovered.
a) before
b) after
c) at the same time when
Listen to the text and say if the following statements are true or false.
Level C
Correct the false ones.
B , Cfalse
true
+ -
1. Gold and silver were the first alloys discovered by man.
Archeologists found ancient objects made of gold, silver,
2.
copper, lead, tin and iron.
3. Bronze had more valuable properties than copper.
Bronze is an alloy of coper with lead, that has a low melting
4.
temperature and is easier to cast.
5. The Bronze Age began about 3000 BC .
6. Brass was much stronger than iron.
7. The Iron Age began in the 6th century AD.
Home task (Levels A, B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the
text in Translation bank
Translation bank

Level A
Nonferrous metals and nonferrous alloys are not based on iron and include
metals and alloys of aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin, titanium, zinc,
nickel, etc. They are used in different spheres, for instance, in construction and in
medical devices. Many nonferrous metals can be used in alloys and are chosen for
specific characteristics such as strength, magnetic and electrical properties, and
corrosion resistance. Nonferrous metals and nonferrous alloys are useful because of their
versatility (многофункциональность, универсальность), high density, and tensile strength.
Level B

Iron is the main component of the most widely used alloys, the ferrous alloys. The
name comes from the Latin “ferrum”, meaning “iron”. When carbon is dissolved in iron, the
resulting alloy is steel. Ordinary carbon steel, or wrought carbon steel, has various properties
depending on its carbon content. It can be given other properties by including other
elements. Steel containing manganese is easier to shape, steel with nickel is rust resistant.
Chromium steels are hard and strong. Silicon steels have magnetic properties that make
them ideal in electric devices.

The physical properties of most metals include high density, or high mass per
unit volume, and high strength, or the ability to resist being distorted from their
Level С
original shape. Most metals also have great plasticity: they can change their shape
without breaking. Metals also have considerable elasticity. A metal spring can be
stretched, for example, but when the load is removed, it contracts to its original
length.
All metals can be formed by drawing, rolling, hammering and extrusion, but
some require hot-working. Metals are subjected to metal fatigue and creep (the slow
increase in length under stress) causing deformation and failure. Both effects are taken into
account by engineers when designing, for example, airplanes and gas-turbines.
Home task: revise vocabulary and grammar in Units IV -

V
UNIT V. NATURAL STONES

Level A
Active Grammar. Present Perfect Passive
I/We/You/They have+ been + PII. He/She/It has + been +
PII.
Many world-famous monuments have been built using Natural stone has been
natural stones. known in construction since
Многие всемирно известные памятники построены из ancient times.
(с использованием) природного камня . Природный камень
известен в строительстве с
древности.
1. Choose the right variant.
1) Different types of stones have/has been used for masonry.
2) Granite is an example of rock which have/has been used in building construction.
3) Marble is a natural stone that have/has been used as main and finishing material in building
construction.
4) A few types of stone have/has become popular with sculptors and builders.
Vocabulary
2. Match the words from column A and B: A B
3. Read the text and match the titles to the paragraphs. One title silica мрамор
is extra. shale/slate сланец
a) Marble as one of the most beautiful building materials.
b) Artificial stones in construction marble песчаник
c) Stones in design of the building feldspar полевой шпат
d) Natural stones
sandstone кремнезем
e) Characteristics of marble as building material
Natural stone in construction. Marble
1. Stones play important role for exterior and interior designing of the building. They are used in building
walls of the house and in decoration pieces.
2. Stones may be artificial and natural ones. Natural stones are created by nature. They are divided into
three geological classes: sedimentary (осадочные), igneous (вулканические) and metamorphic.
Natural stones are naturally good. They are always shiny and lustrous, while (в то время как) artificial
stones can lose their color. Natural stones have been used in house building since ancient times. They
are used as main and finishing material.
3. Marble is a good building material. It is one of the most durable natural stones. Marble is also one of
the best heat and fire resistant stones among all the natural stones. Marble stone varies widely in
hardness and colour. It can be used in interior or exterior of the houses or buildings.
4. Marble has very soft look, and therefore it is very popular with sculptors especially. Various
monuments and places have been built using this stone. The best is the Taj Mahal, which is one of the
Seven Wonders of the World. Marble still provides elegance and beauty to our modern era.
1. Study the vocabulary (Task 1, Level A).

2. Do Task 2 (Level A). Consult Active Grammar if necessary. Levels B,C
3. Read the text below. Guess the meaning of the words in Italics. Read again and say
which paragraph speaks about :
a) the composition of granite
b) granite as one of the oldest natural stones used in construction
c) valuable properties of granite as building material
Granite
1. Granite has been used as a building material since ancient times. It is one of the
oldest and most durable building products available. It has become the material for
today's luxury homes and offices because of its enduring beauty, and because тo synthetic
material can yet compare to its elegance and performance.
2. Granite is a hard and durable rock made up mostly of mineral crystals such as quartz and
feldspar and a few dark coloured minerals. So granite contains quartz, but the principal
constituent (компонент) of granite is feldspar. _________1________If the granite
contains a large proportion of quartz, it will be hard to work.
3. Granite is one of the hardest stones available, having a rating of 6 on the Moh's
Measurement of Hardness Scale. In contrast, marble is rated only a 3.
_______2__________Granite is widely used in construction of bridges and buildings not

only because of its strength, durability and hardness. Its unique variations in color and
veining turns (узорчатость текстуры) make each specimen a natural work of art. It is cool
to the touch, and presents an image of classic grace and beauty.
4. Read the text in T.3 again and complete it with the sentences given below. One sentence is extra.
a) Its durability depends on the quality of the quartz and the nature of the feldspar.
b) It can be broken like many other building materials.
c) Granite is also proof against the action of frost.
5. Tick () columns according to the texts p.30 (level A) and p.31 (Level B).
Marble Granite
used in house building since ancient times
used as main material
used as finishing material
used in construction of bridges
durable natural stone
Its durability depends on the quartz and the feldspar
one of the hardest stones available
is frost resistant
is fire and heat resistant
has a beautiful look
4. Choose the alternative. Explain your choice.

Level A
Stone have/has always been one of the most important
building materials. Stone is used for building walls and for decoration/decorate.
Artificial/artificially stones are created by man, while natural stones are created by
nature/natural. Marble is very good for construction/construct. Marble has many/much
valuable properties, for example durability/durable, heat and fire resistance/resistant.
Home task:
translate the 3rd and the 4th paragraphs of the text in T.3
6. Compare marble and granite according to the model:
- Both marble and granite ………………
Levels B,C
- Marble as well as granite ……………

- Marble ……………… . granite …………………as well.
- Unlike marble, granite …………………
- Marble ………………, but granite …………...
 e.g.: Both marble and granite are very durable stones.

7. Look through the text and guess the meaning of the underlined words.
Read the text and 14 statements. Cross out the statements that do not correspond to the text content:
Types of Stone
Man has been creating art ever since he found that he could shape it by striking a softer stone with a
harder one. Over the millennia, a few types of stone have become popular with sculptors and builders. Here
are the most common ones used for carving from three different types of rock: igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic.
Igneous: The characteristics of igneous rocks result from the way in which they were formed. Deep in
the earth, under the intense heat of volcanic action, magma was forced up through the older solid rock. It
then cooled, forming granite, basalt and diorite. Granite is made of quartz crystals and feldspar which contain
silica. Granite is very hard stone and difficult to carve. Diamond saws (алмазная пила) and cup grinders
(шлифовальный круг) cut through granite easily and can speed up the carving and finishing process. Granite
comes in a wide variety of colours, and the crystal size can vary from large and coarse to very fine and dense.
Sedimentary: As rocks began to erode from wind and sun, the particles were washed into low lying areas
where the sediment accumulated. In the sea, small plants and animal forms died and drifted to the bottom,
adding to the sediment. Over thousand of years, the pressure of these layers cemented the sediment onto
limestone or sandstone.
Limestone is formed on the sea floor from sediment and the bodies of primitive sea creatures. It is
composed mainly of the mineral calcite or calcium carbonate. Limestone is easy to carve and will hold small
detail work, but is also strong. It can be polished, but the polish doesn’t last long outdoors. Sandstone is
formed from sedimentary sand held together by silica or calcium carbonate.
Metamorphic: Metamorphic: rocks are formed when a sedimentary layer is exposed to heat
and pressure and undergoes a chemical change which forms a new crystalline material.
After metamorphism, limestone becomes marble. Marble has been the most popular stone for carving
since the time of the ancient Greeks. Marble is moderately hard to work. It will hold very fine detail. Alabaster
is a very soft stone for carving. In fact it is so beautiful that the viewer may overlook your sculptural forms and
only admire the stone. Soapstone, or steatite, is soft enough to carve with a knife. It is composed of talc and
has slippery, soapy feel.
1. Man has been using natural stones since ancient times.

2. There are four different types of stones according to their origin.
3. The classification of stones is based on the manner in which they were formed.
4. Igneous rock is formed when magma comes to the surface and solidifies.
5. Examples of igneous rocks are granite, diamond and limestone.
6. Although granite is hard stone, it can be easily carved with other stones.
7. Special tools are used to cut through granite.
8. Sedimentary rocks are formed on the sea bed.
9. Sediment is formed from small plant and animal forms.
10. Sediment can also be formed by erosion of igneous stones.
11. Limestone and sandstone are examples of sedimentary rock.
12. Metamorphic stones are made from existing materials that underwent a chemical change.
13. Marble comes from quartz and feldspar.
14. Soapstone is talc which underwent chemical change.
8. Read the text and divide it into paragraphs according to the plan:
Level C
1. Origin of marble.
2. Stones called “marble”.
3. Various colors.
4. Usage of marble.
5. Disadvantages of marble.
Marble is metamorphic rock composed wholly or in large part of calcite or dolomite crystals. The
crystalline texture is the result of metamorphism of limestone by heat and pressure. The term marble is
applied to any limestone or dolomite that takes a good polish and is suitable as building stone or ornamental
stone. Marbles range in color from snow-white to grey and black, yellow, pink and green. The colour depends
on the presence of impurities. Marble is used as a material in statuary and monuments, as facing stone in
buildings and colonnades. Like all limestones, it is corroded by water and acid fumes and thus it is an
uneconomical material for use in open places and in large cities. The presence of certain impurities decreases
its durability. Marbles are quarried in all parts of the world.
Home task: Level B: translate the 1st and the 3rd paragraphs of the text in T.3
Level C: translate the text in T.9 in writing
UNIT VI. ARTIFICIAL STONES. BRICK

There are two main types of questions:
Yes/No-questions Wh/How-questions
Is granite a natural building material? – What are the types of stones? – Stones can be
Yes, it is. natural and artificial.
Have many monuments been built using limestone? – Where is marble used? – Marble is used in
No, they haven’t. building construction.
Does marble have the soft look? – Yes, it does. How do we use marble in construction? –
We use marble for exterior and interior designing
of the building.
Prepositions in special questions. Look at the sentences. Compare the position of the
 preposition in the Russian and English questions. Translate the following questions
into Russian.
what ... from - из чего
what ... for - для чего
where ... from - откуда
what ... in - в чем
1. What material is this building made of?

2. What is concrete used for?
3. Where do you get this material from?
4. What aggregate are you interested in?
5. What do hydraulic cements consist of?
6. What does the maximum size of coarse aggregate depend on?
Level A
Vocabulary
1. Match the words from column A and B.
A B A B
cut резать quarry печь для обжига
straw сушить kiln добывать
dry солома lay класть
2. Read the text on p. 36 and guess the meaning of the words in Italics. Answer the questions below the
text.
1. Study Active Grammar and Vocabulary (Level A).Do Tasks 2, 3 (Level A).
Levels B,C
2. Read the text and choose the most suitable heading for each of the numbered paragraphs.
There is one extra heading. Give the title to the text.
a) rick composition d) Development of brick-making
b) Types of bricks e) History of brick-making
c) Sundried bricks
1. The common brick is one of our greatest inventions in construction industry. It is an artificial
stone and can be made from clay, soft slate, calcium silicate, concrete or shaped from quarried stone.
Clay has always been the most common material for making bricks. Brick-making transforms low-strength
clay into strong and durable building material.
2. Brick is one of the oldest building materials. The ancient Babylonians made brick houses 6000 years ago.
The ancient Egyptians made bricks from mud (clay) and dried them in the sun. Often mud was mixed with
some other materials. Adding some sand helped to keep these bricks from cracking. Making sundried
bricks with a little straw helped to bind the clay. The ancient Romans made stronger bricks by baking
them in kilns. The process took several days. The bricks were kept in kilns, where the temperature
reached 1000 °C, for a day or so, then cooled bricks gradually (постепенно).
3. Bricks were widely used as a building material in the 1700, 1800 and 1900s. Early builders often made
their bricks right at the construction site (место). In the 1800s people developed new and faster ways of
making bricks. Factories began producing them in large quantities.
4. Common brick is the everyday building brick. It doesn’t have special color or texture. It is typically red.
Face brick is often applied on top of common brick. It’s made in a variety of colors, is more durable than
common brick, and is graded according to its ability to withstand freezing temperatures and moisture.
Refractory (огнеупорный) bricks are made from clays with a high alumina or silica content or nonclay
minerals such as bauxite, zircon, silicon carbide, or dolomite. Refractory bricks are heat resistant and are
used in various types of kilns and fireplaces. Calcium silicate bricks are often made in areas where clay is
not readily available. Glazed bricks are made primarily for walls in buildings such as dairies, hospitals, and
laboratories, where easy cleaning is necessary.
3. Correct mistakes in the following questions to the text above. Three questions have no mistakes.
Answer the questions.
1) What one of the greatest inventions in construction industry?
2) Is clay the only component of brick?
3) When Babylonians did make brick houses?
4) How ancient Egyptians make bricks?
5) Did sand help to keep bricks from cracking?
6) Did straw helped to crack the clay?
7) How many did days ancient Romans bake bricks in kilns?
8) Where did early builders often made their bricks?
9) When did people develop new and faster ways of making bricks in large quantities?
10) What the main types of bricks?
Artificial stones
Synthetic stone products are called artificial stones. They have been used from
Level A
the 18th century. They are made from concrete and special colored pigments.
Brick is also an artificial stone. It can be made from clay, soft slate, calcium
silicate, concrete or shaped from quarried stone. Brick is one of the oldest building
materials, because making bricks is easier than cutting natural stone for building
construction. Brick has been used since at least 2000 BC. The ancient Egyptians made
bricks from clay and dried them in the sun. Often clay (mud) was mixed with some other
materials. Sand, for instance, helped to make bricks harder. A little straw helped to bind the
clay. Brick was fire- and weather-resistant, and it was easy to produce, transport and lay.
Modern bricks are burnt in kilns and are of high quality. They have such valuable
properties as good shock resistance, high melting point and satisfactory porosity. They may be
beautifully colored. There are thousands of different bricks, but most of them are made from
clay and kiln-fired.
1) Is artificial stone a synthetic stone product?

2) What are artificial stones made from?
3) Is it difficult to quarry, transport and cut stone?
4) How many years has stone been mainly used in construction?
5) What did ancient Egyptians make bricks from?
6) Did a little sand help to bind the clay?
7) Where are modern bricks made?
8) Do the modern bricks have valuable properties?
9) What are they?
3. Make up questions. Answer them. Consult Active Grammar.

1) are synthetic products/ called / how
2) from the 18th century/ have the artificial stones/ been used
3) made/ are artificial stones/ from cement and sand
4) for building houses/ what material/ has been mainly used
5) has stones/ been also used/ why/for monuments
6) is brick/ building materials/ one of the oldest
7) cutting natural stone/ is making bricks/ easier than
8) been used/ since when/ has brick
9) did / make bricks from sand/ the ancient Egyptians
10) bricks harder/ sand help to make/ did
11) what did / for/ the Egyptians use straw
12) brick/ was/ fire-resistant
13) modern bricks/ where are/ burnt
14) have/ what properties/ do/ modern bricks
H o m e t a s k : revise vocabulary and grammar,

translate the text (Level A) in Translation bank
4. Translate the following questions into English.
Levels B,C
1. Является ли кирпич искусственным камнем?
2. Из чего делают искусственные камни?
3. Почему искусственные камни лучше для строительства, чем
природные?
4. Из чего изготовляли кирпич древние египтяне?
5. Египтяне сушили кирпич на солнце?
6. Для чего использовалась солома?
7. Помогал ли песок сделать кирпичи прочнее?
8. Как римляне делали более прочные кирпичи?
9. Из чего состоит современный кирпич?
5. Read the text and complete the scheme according to its content:
Modern Artificial Stones
Many artificial stone products are both lightweight and durable. They may have any
desired colour. Every type of artificial stone is made by mixing small, lightweight pieces of
aggregate, Portland cement, and different iron oxide pigments.
This mixture is poured into hundreds of different flexible molds which vibrate. This
vibratory motion is the key to producing realistic textures and color variations in each
individual stone. Because these stones are very similar to concrete and are manufactured
under controlled conditions, they are very durable.
The fact that modern artificial stones are lightweight gives them a unique advantage
over natural stones. They are easily attached to the required surface using a layer of mortar.
The stones are set directly into this fresh mortar. Manufactures recommend using specific
colored mortars depending upon the color of the stone used.
Artificial stones
composition properties ways of advantages

production over natural
stones
6. Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions on the scheme in T.6. Consult Active Grammar.
7. Read the text and complete the scheme below. Give the title to the text. Level С
Brick is one of the world’s oldest building materials, because making bricks is easier than
cutting natural stone for building construction. A brick is a block of ceramic material used in
masonry (каменная кладка) construction. It is usually laid using mortar.
Bricks were made in the following way: first, workers dug up the clay. Sometimes they mixed the clay with
sand or other materials to make it stronger. Next, workers formed the clay into small rectangular blocks called
bricks. After the bricks dried, workers baked or fired them in very hot ovens called kilns.
Nowadays clay bricks are formed in one of three processes – soft mud, dry press or extruded. The soft
mud method is the most common as it is the most economical. It starts with the raw clay, preferably in a mix
with 25-30% sand to reduce shrinkage. The clay is first ground and mixed with water to the desired
consistency. The clay is then pressed into steel moulds with a hydraulic press. The shaped clay is then fired at
900-1000ºC to achieve strength. The dry press method is similar to soft mud method, but it starts with a much
thicker clay mixture. Using this method we make more accurate, sharper-edged bricks. The greater force in
pressing and the longer burn make this method more expensive. With extruded bricks the clay is mixed with
10-15% water to make hard dense bricks. The material is put on conveyers and given the proper width and
depth. Then it is cut into bricks by a wall of wires. Holes are made in the bricks by the die (штамп). Extruded
bricks are lighter and have thermal properties different from solid bricks. The cut bricks are hardened by
drying between 20 and 40 hours. Then the conveyer moves through a continuously fired tunnel kiln.
Brick-
Ancient making Modern
method methods
ways of making
materials used
- ways of making, ways of ways of
- materials used making, making,
materials used materials used
properties properties properties
Home task (Levels B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the
Translation bank

All rocks can be grouped into three main categories: igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic. Igneous rocks are rocks that have crystallized from magma. Volcanic
Level A
rocks have erupted from a volcano, while plutonic rocks have cooled at depth, and are
often coarse-grained (granite and dioirite). Sedimentary are rocks that laid down as
layers, often on the sea floor. This group includes limestone, sandstone and mudstone.
Metamorphic stones are igneous or sedimentary rocks that have been recrystallised by
the effects of pressure and heat. Marble is metamorphosed limestone, schist is
metamorphosed sandstone, and slate is metamorphosed mudstone.
Translate the text in writing
Building brick, also called common, hard, or kiln-run brick, is made from
ordinary clay or shale and is fired in kilns. Face brick is better quality and has better
Level B
durability and appearance than building brick. Because of this, face bricks are used in
exposed wall faces. The most common face brick colors are various shades of brown,
red, gray, yellow, and white. Clinker brick is overburned in the kiln. Clinker bricks are
usually rough, hard, durable, and sometimes irregular in shape. Pressed brick is made
by a dry-press process, not by kiln firing. Pressed bricks have regular, smooth
faces, sharp edges, and perfectly square corners. Ordinarily, they are used like face brick.
Glazed brick has one surface coated with a white or colored ceramic glazing.

Several properties are necessary for stones used in construction. Among them
are ease of working, strength and durability and pleasing appearance.
Level C
Ease of working. The best stones to work are moderately soft, lacking cracking
and of even grains so that they can be sawn in any direction as well as being carved or
shaped.
Strength and durability. Almost all rocks have high enough strength for most
building uses, but only the hardest are suitable for high wear areas (steps and paving)
Good building stone also needs to be resistant to decay from frost, acid pollution and general
weathering.
Appearance. Pleasing colour and texture is a commercial necessity and for use in
decorative panels a hard dense stone that retains a high polish is required.
UNIT VII. CONCRETE

Vocabulary Level A
1. Match the numbers and the letters. Learn the words:
1) mixture a) твердеть
2) to bind b) смесь
3) matrix c) заполнитель
4) to harden d) раствор, вяжущее вещество
5) aggregate e) дроблёный камень, щебень
6) crushed stone f) связывать, скреплять
7) blast furnace slag g) доменный шлак
2. Read the sentence. Choose the most appropriate variant of translation for the words given in bold
type.
There are two basic types of aggregates: fine aggregate and coarse aggregate.
fine – 1) тонкий, изящный 2) прекрасный, совершенный 3) мелкий
coarse – 1) грубый 2)невежливый, вульгарный 3) крупный
3. Read the text and choose the most appropriate heading from the list (A-E) for each part of the text.
There is one extra heading which you do not need to use:
A. Classification of concretes
B. Composition of concrete
C. Application of concrete
D. Properties of concrete
Concrete
1. This artificial stone is a mixture which consists of cementing components and aggregate. The cementing
component includes a matrix mixed with water. The examples of binding materials are Portland cement
and rapid-hardening cement. Aggregates are inert materials; they may be fine or coarse. Clean sand is the
best fine aggregate. Crushed stone, blast furnace slag and gravel are used as coarse aggregates.
2. Nowadays concrete is the main constructional material because it possesses many valuable properties:
durability, fire- and frost-resistance, compressive strength, etc. However (однако), concrete has some
disadvantages and builders should know them very well. For example, low corrosion resistance and low
tensile strength.
3. There are several classifications of concrete. It may be divided into groups according to the type of
binding material (cement, silica or gypsum), the type of aggregate (fine or coarse), the structure (dense,
porous, cellular concretes), the weight (light or heavy), the purpose (plain (ordinary) or special).
Vocabulary
Levels
1. Learn the words. Consult Task 1 and 2 (Level A)
B,С
Field of nouns verbs adjectives/
application participles
Classification bulk density silicate classify heavy comm
application gypsum divide super-heavy on
cement purpose fall into light plain
super-light mass
organic specia
l
gener
al
Composition, mixture paste harden bind fine
production matrix cement set mix coarse
aggregate gypsum consist produce crushed
blast furnace slag silicate pour last rocklike
stone stonelike
Properties
quality quality acid hard strong
aamount amount durable
2. Read the text in Task3 (Level A). Answer the questions:
1) What does concrete consist of?

2) What is the cementing component?
3) Is Portland cement a binding material?
4) What kind of materials are aggregates?
5) Is gravel the best fine aggregate?
6) Why is concrete the main building material nowadays?
7) Does concrete have any disadvantages? What are they?
8) How can concrete be classified?
3. Read the text and choose the most suitable word underlined in the sentences:
In its simplest from/form, concrete is a mixing/mixture of paste and aggregates. The paste
consisting/lasting of Portland cement/gypsum and water binds/mixes fine and coarse aggregates. Through
chemical reaction called hydration, the paste hardens/mixes and becomes as strong as stone.
4. Read the text in T.3 again and complete the table:
CONCRETE
Level A
Aggregates ….
fine coarse matrix water

…. … Portland
… cement
… …
… Classification
durability
type of …. type of …
aggregate
…
… … dense
silica … …
… … …
…
…
…
light purpose
…
…
…
Home task: …
Level A: learn the words in T.1, 2
4. Complete the sentences with a suitable word/phrase:
1. Concrete is ___. b) gypsum Levels B,С

a) a natural stone c) gravel and sand
b) a binding material 5. When concrete is made on the
c) an artificial stone construction site it is
2. Examples of binding called__________.
materials are ___. a) precast concrete
b) cast-in-place concrete
a) cement, Portland cement
c) special-purpose concrete
b) sand 6. Concrete has many good
c) blast furnace slag properties such as economy,
3. Matrix consists of durability, fire-resistance,
__________. _____________.
a) crushed stone a) low tensile strength
b) aggregate b) compressive strength
c) binding material c) low corrosion resistance
4. Examples of aggregates
are ________.
a) water
5. Look through the text and guess the meaning of the words in italics. Read
the text and make up a plan of it: Level C
Concrete
Concrete is a building material consisting of a mixture of matrix, water and fine or coarse aggregates.
Coarse aggregates are generally gravel, crushed stone and blast furnace slag. The most typical fine aggregate
is sand. Cement and Portland cement are used as matrix. Before hardening the mixture is called a concrete
mix. Cement, sand, gravel and water are taken in proportional amounts and mixed. The quality of concrete
depends mostly on the quality of the cement used.
The process of production consists of pouring the mixed components into forms and holding them there
until they set and harden. The process of hardening generally lasts for about 28 days. The paste hardens
through chemical reaction of cement with water. A paste of Portland cement and water binds inert
aggregates into a rocklike mass.
There are two ways of production of concrete. It can be produced by mixing the ingredients and pouring
the mixture into forms on the construction site. Then it is called in-situ (cast-in-place) concrete. If concrete is
produced in a factory and used for manufacturing elements of a building, it is called precast concrete.
Concretes may be classified according to their bulk density (объёмный вес), the kind of cementing
material and application. By the bulk density concretes are divided into heavy and lightweight, super- heavy or
super-lightweight. By the kind of cementing material they may be cement, silicate and organic. By application
they fall into mass (common, plain) concrete and special concretes. Common concretes are general-purpose
ones. They are used for making load-bearing elements of buildings. Special-purpose concretes include
hydraulic (гидротехнический), acid-resistant, heat-resistant and other types. Hydraulic concrete is strong,
frost-resistant and water-resistant. Acid-resistant concrete offers good resistance to attack by concentrated
inorganic acids.
Important properties of all types of concrete are durability, water-resistance, frost-resistance, corrosion-
resistance, thermo-resistance and compressive strength.
Listening
1. Read the geographical names and give their Russian equivalents:
Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Roman Empire, Isle of Portland
Names of inventors: John Smeaton; Joseph Aspdin
2. Listen to the text about the history of cement and concrete. Choose the best variant.
1. Aggregate in concrete is 4. John Smeaton invented _________ Level A

a____________ material. cement.
a) liquid a) lime
b) hard inert b) gypsum
c) cementing c) hydraulic
2. Typical binding material in 5. Portland cement was invented in
concrete in Assyria and Babylon ______.
was___________. a) 1824
b) 1756
a) clay
c) 1825
b) silica 6. Joseph Aspdin named his invention
c) lime and gypsum “Portland cement” because it was the
3. Romans used ___________ as name of ___________.
binding material in their concrete. a) his native town
a) clay
b) island where stone was quarried
b) lime and gypsum
c) crushed brick c) his assistant
Level B
1. Cement and water bind the ______ 3. Roman cement __________
together. a) has been used for many centuries
a) aggregate b) was forgotten
b) concrete c) was used by Babylonians
c) clay 4. The history of the cement like the one which
2. Builders in ancient _________ used lime we use now started in_________ century.
and gypsum as binding materials. a) 17-th
a) Assyria and Babylon b) 18-th
b) Egypt, Rome and Greece c) 19-th
c) Assyria and Egypt
5. ________ cement was invented in the 6. _______ laid the foundation for modern
second part of the 18th century. cement industry with the invention of
a) Portland Portland cement.
b) lime a) Aspdin
c) hydraulic b) Smeaton
c) Aspdin and Smeaton
1. The components of concrete are _____ .

a) cement and aggregate
b) cement, aggregate and water
c) cement and water
2. Builders in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome used __________ .
a) the same binding materials
b) different binding materials
c) no binding materials
3. Since the fall of Roman Empire ____________.
a) Portland cement has been widely used
b) clay was used as a binding material
c) composition of Roman cement was forgotten
4. _________________ was discovered in Britain.
a) modern cement
b) cementing material
c) crushed stone
5. _________ changed the properties of limestone and clay.
a) mixing with water
b) burning process
c) crushing into powder
6. ________ invention included limestone and clay burnt together and powdered.
a) Smeaton’s
b) Aspdin’s
c) both Smeaton’s and Aspdin’s
Home task:
Level B: Speak about concrete according to the scheme. T4 (Level A)
Level C: Speak about concrete composition, classification and properties.
UNIT VIII. REINFORCED CONCRETE
Active Grammar. Participle II (V3)

Participle II has different functions in the sentence. It can be
1. a part of predicate (часть сказуемого): Concrete is divided into several groups.

2. an attribute (определение):
- Crushed stone is a coarse aggregate. Дробленый камень – это крупный заполнитель.
- Synthetic stone, also called artificial stone, have been used from the 18th century. Синтетический
камень, также называемый искусственным камнем, используется с 18 века.
Vocabulary Level A
1. Study the vocabulary. Translate the word combinations given below.
reinforce (v) – укреплять, усиливать, pour (v) – лить, налить
армировать bar (n) – балка, арматурный стержень, прут
reinforcement – усиление, арматура fibre (n, adj.) – волокно; волоконный
embed (v) – 1)вставлять, внедрять, вводить, mesh (n) – сетка syn. grid
врезать; 2)покрывать wire – проволока; провод
chop (v.) - рубить, разрубать, крошить
 embedded steel
 reinforced concrete
 chopped wire
 tension caused by wind
 steel bar
 iron mesh
 concrete mixer
2. Read the text and underline sentences with Participle II. What is the function of Participle II in every
sentence? Translate the sentences.
Reinforced concrete
Common concrete has a high level of compression strength, while the tensile strength is rather low. It
doesn’t easily resist tension stresses caused by wind, vibration and other forces. Concrete can crack under its
own weight, so it should be reinforced.
Concrete that includes embedded metal (usually steel) is called reinforced concrete. It is generally
reinforced by steel bars or fibre and iron mesh. During construction, bars or mesh are placed in a form and
then concrete from a mixer is poured to embed them.
Reinforced concrete combines the tensile strength of metal and the compression strength of concrete.
It helps concrete to resist external forces.
Reinforced concrete was invented in 1849 by Joseph Monier. Later it was used in railway ties (шпалы),
pipes (трубы), floors, arches and bridges.
1. Read four definitions of reinforced concrete and answer the Level B,C
questions. Consult Active Grammar and Vocabulary (Level A).
B,C
1) What are the ingredients of reinforced concrete?
2) What is the function of steel bars and mesh?
3) What other material may be used as reinforcement?
Reinforced concrete is a strong hard building material composed of sand, gravel, cement
and water with metal bars or mesh added to provide extra resistance against stresses.
Reinforced concrete is a composite building material made from combination of
concrete and steel to produce a material with good resistance to stresses.
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which steel reinforcement bars, plates (пластины) or
fibre are embedded to strengthen a material that would otherwise be brittle (хрупкий).
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which steel is embedded in such a manner that two
materials act together to resist forces. The reinforced steel – rods, bars or mesh absorb
tensile and compressive stresses in a concrete structure.
2. Learn the words and translate their derivatives.

bend (v) сгибать - bended, bending, bender
WORD
damage (n, v) вред, повреждение, ущерб - damaging,
damaged, damageable FORMATION
embed (v) - embedded, embedding
extend (v) –простираться, тянуться, расширять
extended, extending, extension, extensible, extensive
lattice (v) –решетка, сетка latticed
mesh (n) - meshy
stretch (v) –тянуть, растягивать stretching, stretched, stretcher, stretchable
suit – подходить соответсвовать
3. Read the text and decide which answer a, b or c best fits each space.
Common concrete does not easily resist 1_____________ stresses caused by wind, vibration
and other forces, therefore it is 2_____________ in many structures. In reinforced concrete
the tensile 3____________ of steel bars or glass 4___________ and compressive strength of
concrete work together. During construction, bars or mesh are placed in a 5______________
and then concrete from a mixer is poured to 6_____________ them. After the concrete has
hardened, it resists both tensile and compressive stresses.
1. a) tensile b) tension c) extension

2. a) suit b) suitable c) unsuitable
3. a) strength b) strong c) strengthen
4. a) rods b) fibres c) mesh
5. a) from b) form c) for
6. a) embed b) damage c) place
3. Read the text again and answer the following questions: Level A
1) Why doesn’t concrete easily resist tension stresses?
2) What kind of concrete is called reinforced concrete?
3) Is reinforced concrete embedded by steel bars or fibre and iron mesh?
4) What properties does reinforced concrete combine?
5) Was reinforced concrete invented in the 18th century?
4. Read the text. Four sentences have been removed from it. Choose from sentences A-D the one
which fits each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A. Reinforcement may also be used to help resist compressive forces.

B. Concrete has high compressive strength but low tensile strength.
C. Therefore (следовательно), reinforcement must usually be placed in more than one
direction.
D. Generally, steel bars are used for such reinforcement.
Reinforced concrete is Portland cement concrete that has higher-strength solid

materials which improve its structural properties. 1_________________________ Some
fibres, chopped wires or mesh can provide the same results.
Common concrete cracks under relatively small loads or temperature changes
because of low tensile strength. To prevent cracking or to control the size of cracks
reinforcement is embedded in the concrete. 2_______________________. It improves
dynamic properties as well.
During construction, the bars are placed in a form and then concrete from a mixer
is poured to embed them. After the concrete has hardened, deformation is resisted and
stresses are transferred from concrete to reinforcement. Individual bars resist stretching
and tensile stress in the concrete only in the direction in which such reinforcement
extends (распространяется). Tensile stresses and deformations, however, may be
in other directions. 3__________________________________. For this purpose
reinforcement sometimes is assembled as a rectangular (прямоугольный) grid.
Home task: revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text (Level A) in
Translation bank
Levels B,C
5. Pick up sentences with Participle II. What is the function of Participle II
in every sentence? Translate the sentences.
6. Correct mistakes in the following questions to the text in Task 4 (Level A). Some questions have no
mistakes. Answer the questions
1) What does the composition of reinforced concrete?

2) Does high-strength solid materials improve structural properties of reinforced concrete?
3) What materials are usually using for reinforcement?
4) Why is common concrete crack under relatively small loads or temperature changes?
5) Where is embedded to prevent cracking or to control the size of cracks?
6) How did reinforced concrete made?
7. Scan the text and guess the meaning of the words in italics. Level C
Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete, is concrete in which reinforcement

bars have been embedded to strengthen the material that would otherwise be brittle.
The use of reinforced concrete is a relatively recent invention, usually dated to 1848
when Jean-Louis Lambot became the first to use it. Joseph Monier, a French gardener,
patented a design for reinforced garden tubs in 1868, and later patented reinforced
concrete beams (балки) and posts (столбы) for railway and road construction. The major
developments of reinforced concrete have taken place since the year 1900, since then
reinforced concrete became a widely used building material. Concrete is a mixture of
Portland cement and stone aggregate. Stone aggregate can be made up from small grains
of sand or a combination of sizes. When mixed with a small amount of water, Portland
cement hydrates to form a microscopic opaque crystal lattice structure that locks the
aggregate into its rigid (жесткий) structure. Typical concrete mixes have extremely high
resistance to downward compressive stresses, however, any bending (tension) will break
the microscopic rigid lattice which results in cracking of the concrete. If a non-stretchable
material, such as steel, is included with the aggregate, the reinforced concrete is
transformed into structural elements which resist stretching, bending, or other direct
tensile action. A reinforced concrete section where the concrete takes the compression
and steel takes the tension is so efficient that it can be made into any shape and size for
the construction industry. The amount of steel required for typical strengthening is
usually quite small and varies from 1% for most beams and slabs (плиты) to 6% for some
columns. Reinforcing bars are round and vary from 0.25 to 1 inch in diameter. Corrosion
and frost may damage poorly designed or constructed reinforced concrete. When bars
corrode, the rust expands, cracking the concrete. Frost damage occurs when water
penetrates the surface and freezes.
8. Read the text again. Divide it into logical parts. Give the title to each part.
9. Does the text give answers to the following questions?
1) What is the purpose of reinforcement in concrete?

2) What country was reinforced concrete invented in?
3) When did reinforced concrete become a very popular building material?
4) What happens to Portland cement when it is mixed with water?
5) What is the function of microscopic opaque crystal lattice structure?
6) Does common concrete has high tensile strength?
7) What is the advantage of common concrete?
8) Does reinforcement make concrete resistant to cracking ?
9) How much steel is required for typical reinforcement?
10) May reinforced concrete be damaged because of bending and compression?
11) What can damage reinforced concrete?
Home task (Levels B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar,

translate the text in Translation bank
Translation bank
Concrete is construction material consisting of a hard, chemically inert

material, known as aggregate (usually sand and gravel), that is bound together by
Level A
cement and water. Ancient Assyrians and Babylonians used clay as binding material.
The Egyptians used lime and gypsum as binders. Lime had been used as the main
binder until the early 1800s. In 1824 an English inventor, Joseph Aspdin, burned and
ground together a mixture of limestone and clay. This mixture, called Portland
cement, has become the dominant cementing agent used in concrete production.
Concrete is a material that is very strong in compression, but relatively weak in tension. To
compensate for this imbalance in concrete's behaviour, rebar is cast into it to carry the tensile
loads. A rebar (short for reinforcing bar) is a steel bar, and is commonly used as a tensioning device
Level B
in reinforced concrete. Bars are usually formed from carbon steel.
Rebars were known in construction well before the era of the modern reinforced concrete.
Some 150 years before its invention rebars were used to form the carcass of the Leaning Tower of
Nevyansk (Невьянская ͷашня) in Russia, built on the orders of the industrialist Akinfiy (Ͷкинфий)
Demidov. The purpose of such construction is one of the many mysteries of the tower. The cast iron
used for rebars was of very high quality, and there is no corrosion on them up to this day.
Translate the texts in writing
Concrete is a mixture of inert materials of varying sizes which are bound

together with a cement paste. A mixture of cement, water and fine aggregate is
called mortar; concrete contains coarse aggregate in addition.
Level С
Concrete should possess the qualities of strength, safety and durability. To
provide these qualities the concrete must be dense. To get these requirements the
material must be well graded, of a good quality, well mixed and the concrete must be
properly placed and protected until it is hardened. In securing a dense concrete, the
amount of water used is important. In mixing concrete water is required for chemical
reaction with the cement, wetting the surface of the aggregates and making the concrete into
a sufficiently workable state. Water-cement ratio is of great importance in securing a better
quality concrete. The quality and quantity of fine and coarse grained aggregates used is also
very important.
UNIT IX. WOOD
Vocabulary Level A
1. Look through the list of new words. Pronounce them correctly and try to
remember.
bend (v.) сгибать, гнуть, изгибать
strip (v.) срывать, очищать, счищать
notch (v.) размечать
lash (v.) складировать
keep (v.) держать, хранить
process (v.) обрабатывать
saw пила
put up строить, воздвигать (здание)
lumber пиломатериал
timber строительный лесоматериал; крепь, крепёжный лес
board доска
plank брус, толстая и широкая гладко оструганная доска, планка (от
20-ти см в ширину и от 5-ти до 10-ти см в толщину)
log бревно, лесоматериал, годный для распиловки
wood-lot лесной участок, делянка
bark кора (дерева)
2. Study the suffixes. Guess the translation of two adjectives given below.
NEGATIVE SUFFIXES: un-, im-, ir-, in-
WORD alloyed (сплавной) – unalloyed (беспримесный, чистый)
FORMATION material (материальный) – immaterial (нематериальный)
regular (правильный) – irregular (неправильный)
processed (обработанный) – unprocessed (……..?........)

damaged (поврежденный) – undamaged (……..?........)
expensive (дорогой) – inexpensive (……..?........)
3. Read the text on p.54. Guess the meaning of the words in italics. Choose the best title for each paragraph.
One title is extra.
A. Important invention in wood processing

B. Wood as an environmentally friendly building material
C. Usage of wood
D. Wood processed for construction
E. Wood as an economical building material
F. Properties of wood
1. Study the vocabulary in Task 1 (Level A) Levels B,С

2. Read the text in Task 3. Guess the meaning of the words in italics.
Find in the text:
- what makes construction work faster [ ];

- how wood was used long ago[ ];
- the types of construction wood is used for[ ];
- wood-lots for personal needs[ ];
- the properties of wood [ ].
Put the number of the paragraph into [ ].

Wood
[1] Wood is a product of trees, and sometimes other fibrous plants, used for
construction purposes when cut or pressed into lumber and timber, such as boards, planks
and similar materials. It is one of the oldest construction materials. (A)_____________ . It is
used in building in most climates. Wood can be very flexible under loads, keeping strength
while bending, and is strong when compressed vertically. There are many different qualities to
the different types of wood, even among same trees species (вид, разновидность). This
means specific species are better for various uses than others. And growing conditions are
important for deciding quality.
[2] Historically, wood for building large structures was used in its unprocessed form as
logs. (B)_______________. The trees were just cut to the needed length, sometimes stripped
of bark, and then notched or lashed into place.
[3] In earlier times, and in some parts of the world, many country homes or
communities had a personal wood-lot from which the family or community would grow and
harvest (заготавливать) trees to build with. These lots would be tended to like a garden.
[4] With the invention of mechanizing saws came the mass production of dimensional
lumber (строевой лес). This made buildings quicker to put up and more uniform.
(C)____________.
4. Read the following information and say where it can be placed in the text.
Choose one of the gaps (A-C).
People have used wood for millennia for many purposes, primarily as a fuel or as a
construction material for making houses, tools, weapons, furniture, packaging, artworks, and
paper.
Wood Level A
1. Wood is a product of trees, and sometimes other fibrous plants, used for
construction purposes. People have used wood for millennia for many purposes, for example for making
houses, tools, weapons, furniture, packaging, artworks, and paper.
2. In construction wood is cut or pressed into lumber and timber, such as boards, planks and similar
materials. It is one of the oldest construction materials. Historically, wood for building large structures
was used in its unprocessed form as logs. The trees were just cut to the needed length, sometimes
stripped of bark (кора дерева), and then notched or lashed into place.
3. Wood is used in construction in most climates. Wood can be very flexible under loads. It keeps strength
when it is bended and when it is compressed vertically. Wood is durable material. The oldest log houses
in the world are over 800 years old. After earthquakes (землетрясения) most of the undamaged
buildings are made of logs.
4. Wood is an inexpensive material. Forest is a wood factory which produces wood using only solar
(солнечный) energy. In processing and production too, wood requires far less energy than other building
materials.
5. With the invention of mechanizing saws came the mass production of lumber. This made buildings
quicker to put up and more uniform.
4. Complete the scheme according to the text in task 3.
Wood
Properties
Usage
flexibility
making houses
…
…
Wood …
…
in construction
timber logs
Home task: revise vocabulary and grammar,

translate the text (Level A) in Translation bank
5. Read more information about wood. Divide the text into logical paragraphs Levels B,С
according to their names:
- Wood used for the construction of boats.

- The difference between lumber and timber.
- Engineered wood products.
- Wood as a supporting material.
- Wood as a shuttering material.
Wood has been an important construction material since humans began building shelters,
houses and boats. Nearly all boats were made out of wood until the late 19th century, and
wood remains in common use today in boat construction. Wood to be used in construction
work is commonly known as lumber in North America. Elsewhere, lumber usually refers to
felled trees (срубленные деревья), and the word for sawn planks ready for use is timber.
New domestic housing in many parts of the world today is commonly made from timber-
framed construction. Engineered (man-made) wood products are becoming a bigger part of
the construction industry. They may be used in both residential and commercial buildings as
structural and aesthetic materials. In buildings made of other materials, wood will still be
found as a supporting material, especially in roof construction, in interior doors and their
frames, and as exterior cladding (наружная обшивка стен здания). Wood is also commonly
used as shuttering material (опалубка) to form the mould into which concrete is poured
during reinforced concrete production.
6. Read the text in task 5 again and answer the following questions.
1) Is wood an ancient building material?

2) Where is wood still in common use today?
3) What is the difference between lumber and timber?
4) Are engineering wood products becoming more popular in construction industry?
5) Where is engineered wood used?
6) Where is wood found as a supporting building material?
7) How is wood used in reinforced concrete construction?
7. Speak about wood in construction. Use the scheme in task 4 (Level A) to help you.
8. Speak about wood in construction. Level C
Work in pairs Levels B,C

REAL LIFE QUESTIONS AN ENGINEER CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Work with your partner. Here is some information about high pressure laminate floor.
You don’t know anything about this new building material. So ask him some questions about it.
Use the question card.
Question card Question card

 Как называется новый строительный  What / the name / a new building
материал? material?
 Каковы его составляющие?  What / its constituents?
 ͹де он используется?  Where / used?
 Сколько существует видов  How many types / high pressure
ламинированного полового покрытия? laminate floor / there?
 Что включает одна секция полового  What /the floor section / include?
покрытия?
 Какова толщина покрытия?  How thick / Fibro-Trespo Laminate
 Сколько досок в упаковке? floor?
 Является ли покрытие огнеупорным?  How many / boards / there / a pack?
 Какой адрес у фирмы, производящей  Fire-resistant?
ламинированное половое покрытие?  What / the address / the firm /
 Телефон фирмы и факс? produces / this type / laminate floor?
 What / phone / fax?
HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE FLOOR

Suitable for new build or for redecoration and renovation schemes, the latest Fibo-Trespo
Laminate floor, from Norske Skog Flooring, Constructed using a high-density wood fibre core
sandwiched between high-pressure laminates, the
durable wear resistant floor is combined with the
authentic appearance of traditional wood and is offered
in a choice of 15 types which include oak, maple, beech,
pine, birch and cherry. Different colours, surface
characteristics and structures allow design variations.
Each floor section has tongue and groove joints which
are glued when laying. The system includes matching
mouldings, glue and cleaning solutions as well as
accessories and tools. Fibo-Trespo Laminate floor is
7.2mm thick and is supplied in packs of eight 1200mmx1
90mm boards. It has Class G fire resistance.
Further information from: Norske Skog Flooring,
4B The Courtyard, Meadowbank, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5AU. Tel: 01628 527298. Fax: 01628
529837.
Home task (Levels B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the
Translation bank
A knot is a particular type of imperfection in a piece of wood; it
Level A
will affect the technical properties of the wood, usually for the
worse, but may be exploited for artistic effect. In a longitudinally
sawn plank, a knot will appear as a roughly circular "solid" (usually
darker) piece of wood around which the grain of the rest of the
wood "flows" (parts and rejoins). Within a knot, the direction of the wood (grain
direction) is up to 90 degrees different from the grain direction of the regular wood.

Logs in log homes have varying degrees of moisture
content. Any log will have moisture in it when it is freshly
Level B
cut. In the case of "handcrafted" logs this moisture will

naturally leave the timber, drying it out until it stabilizes
with the climate it is in. This drying out causes movement
and shrinkage of log diameters. As logs and timbers dry,
the differential shrinkage (radial versus tangential)
causes small cracks, also known as "checks," to open
slowly over time. Checking is a natural occurrence for both air-dried and kiln-dried logs. This
occurs in all log homes, regardless of construction method or how the timbers are allowed to
dry and is considered normal as well as part of the charm of owning a log home.
Milled logs are processed in a different manner than handcrafted logs. Logs destined to
become milled logs can become one of several types depending on the desired quality and
end result.

Engineered wood, also called composite wood or man-
Level C
made wood, includes a range of derivative wood products
which are manufactured by binding together the strands,
particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with
adhesives, to form composite materials. These products are
engineered to precise design specifications which are tested
to meet national or international standards. Plywood is
sometimes called the original engineered wood
Typically, engineered wood products are made from the same
hardwoods and softwoods used to manufacture lumber. Sawmill
scraps and other wood waste can be used for engineered wood composed of wood particles
or fibers, but whole logs are usually used for veneers, such as plywood. Alternatively, it is also
possible to manufacture similar engineered cellulosic products from other lignin-containing
materials such as rye straw, wheat straw, rice straw, hemp stalks, kenaf stalks, or sugar cane
residue, in which case they contain no actual wood but rather vegetable fibers.
UNIT X. MORTAR
WORD Vocabulary
FORMATION
Level A
1. Complete the table with the following words. Translate them:
- application, applied
- coat, coated
- deliver, delivered
- exclude, exclusion, exclusive, exclusively
- filling, filled
- mason, masonry
- provided, provision, provider
- powder, powdered
- replace, replaced
Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Participle II
apply – применять
coating – покрытие,
облицовка
delivery - доставка
excluded -
исключенный
fill - наполнять
mason – класть камни
provide - снабжать,
давать
powder - порошок
replacement - замена
2. Read the text and choose the answer a, b or c which you think fits best according to the text:
Mortar
Mortar is a material used in masonry to fill the gaps between blocks in construction and
to bind the blocks together. The blocks may be stone or brick.
Mortar is a mixture of sand, a powdered binder such as cement, and water. It is applied
as a paste which then dries hard.
The earliest known mortar was used by the ancient Egyptians and was made from
gypsum. The form was mainly a mixture of plaster and sand and was quite soft.
Cement mortar is created by mixing Pozzolana or Portland cement with sand and water
and is harder than gypsum mortar. Though cement was first invented by the Egyptians, the
first known use of cement mortar is found in the Roman Empire. However, the use of cement
mortar did not become widespread (широко распространенный) in Europe until the 18-th
century and did not fully replace lime mortar until about 1930.
Lime mortar is created by mixing sand and quicklime (негашеная известь), or quicklime
and cement, and water. The earliest known use of lime mortar dates to about 4000 BC in
Ancient Egypt. Lime mortars were used throughout the world, notably in Roman Empire
buildings throughout Europe and Africa. Lime mortar dries very slowly. In some buildings, lime
mortar made of quicklime and sand alone may take several years or even decades to
completely solidify. When quicklime is mixed with cement, it dries faster.
1. Translate the derivatives in T.1 (Level A). Levels B,C

Read the definitions. Can we say that “cement” and “mortar” are
2. synonyms?
Cement - a fine grey powder made of a mixture of Mortar - a mixture of cement or
calcined (обожженный) limestone and clay. It is lime or both with sand and water,
used with water and sand to make mortar, or with used as a bond (binding material)
water, sand, and aggregate, to make concrete. between bricks or stones.
3. Read the text “Mortar” in T.2 (Level A) and say what questions have no answer in this text.
1) What is mortar composed of?
2) Where is mortar used?
3) How does it work?
4) What are the most popular kinds of mortar?
5) In what construction was the first mortar used?
6) What is Pozzolana cement?
7) Who invented cement?
8) Was the use of cement mortar widespread in Egypt?
9) What does lime mortar consist of?
10) IS lime mortar widely used in modern construction?
11) Does lime mortar dry fast?
4. Look through the text and guess the meaning of the words in italics. Read the text and choose the most
suitable heading for each of the numbered paragraphs. There is one extra heading.
Dry Mortar Information
1. Earlier mortars were produced by masons or plasterers directly at the building site. This method could not
provide for the constant quality of mortars. To guarantee the constant quality, dry mortars are nowadays
produced and pre-mixed at factories and delivered to the building site in bags. After mixing with water
directly at the building site, dry mortars are immediately ready to use.
2. Since dry mortars are pre-mixed at the plant, any dosing and mixing errors can be excluded. This is a
guarantee for the production of top-quality products. Since mortars can be applied both manually and
mechanically, construction process becomes more rational. Dry mortars can be produced for various
specific applications.
3. In order to be ready to use, dry mortars must be mixed with water directly at the building site. This can be
made both manually and with continuous mixers. Mechanical processing of dry mortars, e.g. with the help
of plastering machines (штукатурный агрегат), makes the application easier.
A. Factory-produced mortars.
B. Mortar strength.
C. Ways of getting the mortar ready.
D. Advantages of dry mortars.
Level A
1.The purpose of mortar is to__________.
a) to hold blocks in place
b) bind the blocks in masonry
c) fill space between blocks
2. Masons use mortar for masonry when it is
_____.
a) wet
b) in the form of paste
c) dry
3. The earliest mortar was made from_____.
a) gypsum
b) plaster
c) lime
4. ____were the first to use cement mortar.
a) the Egyptians
b) the Romans
c) the Europeans
5. During the 19-th century_____mortars
were applied.
a) cement
b) lime
c) cement and lime
6. The first people who used lime mortar
were _______.
a) the Egyptians
b) the Romans
c) the Europeans
7. The disadvantage of lime mortar is that
it___________.
a) dries quickly
b) dries slowly
c) does not dry
3. Make up word combinations using the words of two columns.
A B A B A B
artificial sand decorative binder water-proof aggregate
cement stone organic coating fine material
porous mortar fire resistant lime mortar
4. Read the text and complete the scheme in T.4 (Level B)

Mortar is an artificial material. It consists of mixture of binders, fine aggregate and
water. According to their purpose mortars are classified into masonry mortars used for walls
and foundations; finishing mortars used for plastering and decorative coating; special purpose
mortars such as water-proof mortars, acid-proof mortars, heat resistant mortars, heat
insulating mortars and acoustical mortars.
Mortars can also be classified according to the type of binder used (inorganic, organic,
mixed and combined), density, strength and resistance to freezing. For example mortars based
on inorganic binders may be divided into cement mortars (using various forms of Portland
cement), lime mortars (using quicklime and hydraulic lime) and gypsum mortars (using cement
plaster).
Depending on their density, mortars are classed as heavy (using sand as the fine
aggregate) and lightweight (using pumice (пемза), slag and other porous sands as aggregate
and forming a porous paste).
Translation bank
4. Read the text in T.4 (Level A) and complete the scheme below.
Levels B,C
According to the purpose mortars are classified into

According to the type of binder mortars are divided into
Depending on density mortars are classed as
5. Guess the type of mortar. Try without consulting the text.
1) used for walls and foundations

2) used for plastering and decorative coating
3) has no reaction with acids
4) heat doesn’t go through it
5) using cement plaster
6) using quicklime
7) using hydraulic lime
8) containing porous sands as aggregates
Home task (Level B): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text
(Level B) in Translation bank
6. Read the paragraphs and rearrange them according to the plan. One item of Level C
the plan is extra.
1. Composition and purpose of mortar.

2. Methods of producing good mortar.
3. Ratio of constituents in lime mortar.
4. Disadvantage of lime mortar.
5. Ratio of constituents in cement mortar.
6. Advantages of cement mortar.
7. Early types of mortar
A.
Primitive mortars took various forms: in early Egypt Nile mud was used as a
binder; the Mesopotamians used bitumen or sometimes a mixture of clay, water,
and chopped straw, to cement together their unbaked bricks; Greeks probably
used soft bituminous clay.
B.
Mortar in building is a mixture of lime or cement with sand and water, used as a
bedding and adhesive between adjacent pieces of stone, brick, or other material
in masonry construction.
C.
Cement mortar, besides having a high strength, generally equal to that of brick
itself, has the very great advantage of setting or hardening underwater.
D.
Lime mortar, a common variety, consists usually of one volume of well-slaked
lime to three or four volumes of sand, thoroughly mixed with sufficient water to
make a uniform paste easily handled.
E.
Lime mortar hardens by absorption of carbon dioxide from air. Once universally
used, lime mortar is now less important because it does not have the property of
setting underwater and because of its comparatively low strength
F.
It has largely been replaced by cement mortar, commonly made of one volume
of Portland cement to two or three volumes of sand, usually with a quantity of
lime paste added to give a more workable mix.
Home task: revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text in Translation
bank
Translation bank

Mortar is a material used in masonry to fill the gaps between block s and bind them
together. Mortar becomes hard when it sets resulting in rigid structure. Nowadays the
Level A
most popular type of mortar is Portland cement mortar. Portland cement mortar
(often
known simply as cement mortar) is made by mixing Portland cement with sand and
water. It was invented in the mid-19-th century and gradually replaced lime mortar for
new construction. The main reason for this was that it hardens quickly. It helps to
speed up the construction. However, it should not be used for repair of older buildings
constructed in lime mortar.

Lime is manufactured from limestone. When limestone is heated in a kiln, it
decomposes producing quicklime. Quicklime is very reactive. When quicklime reacts
Level B
with water this process is called slaking. After slaking we obtain slaked or hydrated
lime. Hydraulic lime is a kind of cementing lime that sets and hardens under water like
Portland cement. Hydraulic limes are widely used in Europe for mortars in masonry
construction. Both quicklime and hydrated lime are white in colour. Limes vary in
chemical and physical properties very much. Quicklime is commonly produced by
burning well graded limestone in rotary kilns.

Polymer cement mortars are the materials which are made by partially replacing
the cement binders of conventional cement mortar with polymers. A polymeric
Level C
admixture is defined as an admixture which consists of a polymeric compound that acts
as a main ingredient for the improvement of mortars and concretes properties. The
polymeric admixtures include latexes or emulsions, water-soluble polymers, liquid
resins and monomers. They have strength, low permeability and deformability,
adhesion, durability and reduce the incidence of drying shrinkage cracking.
UNIT XI. SAND AND GRAVEL
Vocabulary Level A
1. Match the words in column A and the translation in column B.
A B A B
particle зерно песка, песчинка silt мука, порошок
to range варьироваться to rub осадок, шлам, ил
grain частица flour тереть
2. The verb “to feel” has several meanings. Read the sentences and choose the best
translation.
to feel (felt, felt) – чувствовать, чувствовать себя, ощущать, прикасаться, осязать
I feel good. Я чувствую себя больным.

Я чувствую себя хорошо. I feel a little pain.
Я чувствую хорошо. Я ощущаю небольшую боль. Stone feels cold.
Камень чувствует холод. Камень холодный на ощупь.
3. Read the text and say in which paragraph you can find information about:
a) particles size of gravel

b) the difference between sand and silt
c) the composition of sand
d) the general size of sand particles
e) standards for particles size of sand
Sand
1. Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. Sand
particles range in diameter from 0.0625mm (or 1⁄16 mm, or 62.5 micrometers) to 2
millimeters. An individual particle in this range size is called a sand grain.
2. The next larger size class above sand is gravel, with particles ranging from 2 mm up to
64 mm. The next smaller size class is silt: particles smaller than 0.0625 mm down to
0.004 mm in diameter.
3. The size specification between sand and gravel has not always remained constant. A 1953
engineering standard set the minimum sand size at 0.074 mm. A 1938 specification was
0.05 mm. In the United States, sand is commonly divided into five sub-categories based on
size: very fine sand (1⁄16 - 1⁄8 mm diameter), fine sand (1⁄8 mm - 1⁄4 mm), medium sand
(1⁄4 mm - 1⁄2 mm), coarse sand (1⁄4 mm - 1⁄2 mm), and very coarse sand (1 mm - 2 mm).
4. Sand feels gritty (зернистый) when rubbed between the fingers, while silt feels like flour.
4. Read the text again and complete the table.
MATERIAL PARTICLE SIZE

from 2 up to 64 mm
sand from … up to….
from … up to….
Read the following text and divide it into paragraphs according to

1. the plan. Consult Tasks 1,2 (Level A) if necessary.
- general information; - the size
- the range of sand particles; specification Levels
- a sand grain; according to a B,С
- gravel; 1953 engineering standard;
- silt; - a 1938 specification;
- the size specification; - the US sub-categories of sand.
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and
mineral particles. As the term is used by geologists, sand particles range in diameter from
0.0625mm (or 1⁄16 mm, or 62.5 micrometers) to 2 millimeters. An individual particle in this
range size is termed a sand grain. The next larger size class above sand is gravel (гравий,
галька, галечник), with particles ranging from 2 mm up to 64 mm. The next smaller size class
in geology is silt (ил, осадок, наносы): particles smaller than 0.0625 mm down to 0.004 mm in
diameter. The size specification between sand and gravel has remained constant for more
than a century, but particle diameters as small as 0.02 mm were considered sand under the
new standard in use during the early 20th century. A 1953 engineering standard set the
minimum sand size at 0.074 mm. A 1938 specification was 0.05 mm. Sand feels gritty
(песчаный, крупнопесчаный, зернистый) when rubbed between the fingers (silt, by
comparison, feels like flour). In the United States, sand is commonly divided into five sub-
categories based on size: very fine sand (1⁄16 - 1⁄8 mm diameter), fine sand (1⁄8 mm - 1⁄4 mm),
medium sand (1⁄4 mm - 1⁄2 mm), coarse sand (1⁄4 mm - 1⁄2 mm), and very coarse sand (1 mm -
2 mm).
2. Read the text again and find the answer to the questions: What do you feel when you
rub sand or silt between the fingers? How many groups sand is divided into in the USA?
3. Look through the figures taken from the text and write what they mean.
from 0.0625mm to 2 millimeters - sand particles range in diameter
1
⁄16 mm - equals 0.0625mm
62.5 micrometers -
from 2 mm up to 64 mm -
from 0.0625 mm down to 0.004 mm -
0.02 mm -
the early 20th century -
1953 -
0.074 mm -
1938 -
0.05 mm -
1 1
⁄16 - ⁄8 mm diameter -
1 1
⁄8 mm - ⁄4 mm -
1 1
⁄4 mm - ⁄2 mm - 1) ............ 2) ............
1 mm - 2 mm
WORD 5. Translate the words and their derivatives given in Level A

FORMATION italics. Mark the suffixes.
condition – условие conditioner, conditional
considerable – значительный, заслуживающий consider, consideration

рассмотрения, внимания
derivation – происхождение, получение, derive, derived
извлечение
erodent – разъедающий, разрушающий erosion, erode, eroded
erodible – подверженный эрозии, разъедаемый
vary – различаться, варьироваться variable, variability
6. Read the text and choose the best title. Divide the text into logical parts:
The most common component of sand is silica, usually in the form of quartz. Quartz, because of its
chemical inertness and considerable hardness, is the most common mineral resistant to weathering
(разрушение под влиянием атмосферных воздействий). The composition of sand is highly variable. It
depends on the local rock sources (источник) and conditions. The bright white sands found in tropical and
subtropical coastal settings (побережье) are eroded limestone and may contain coral and shell fragments in
addition to other organic or organically derived fragmental material. The gypsum sand dunes of the White
Sands National Monument in New Mexico are famous for their bright, white color. Arkose (аркозовый
песчаник) is a sand or sandstone with considerable feldspar content. Arkose is typically grey. Some sands
contain magnetite (магнетит), chlorite (хлорит), glauconite (глауконит) or gypsum. Sands rich in magnetite
are dark to black in colour, as are sands derived from volcanic basalts and obsidian. Chlorite-glauconite sands
are typically green in colour. Sands derived from basaltic (lava) with a high olivine (оливин) content are also
green. Many sands, especially those found extensively in Southern Europe, have iron impurities within the
quartz crystals of the sand, giving a deep yellow colour. Sand deposits in some areas contain garnets (гранат)
and other resistant minerals, including some small gemstones (драгоценные камни).
a) The properties of sand
b) White sands
c) Types of sand
d) The composition of sand dunes
4.Translation bank
Do Task 5 (Level A)
5. Scan the text in Task 6 (Level A). What is it about (there could be more than one Levels
answer)? B,С
- the sand particles, - the resistance of sand,
- the composition of sand, - the properties of sand,
- the colour of sand, - sandstone
6. Now read the text attentively. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences according to the text.
The most common component of sand is ... . The gypsum sand dunes are in ... .
Silica is found in the form of ... . The gypsum sand dunes are famous for ... .
Sand is chemically inert and considerably ... . Arkose is a sand or sandstone with ... .
Sand is resistant to ... . The colour of sands rich in magnetite is ...
The composition of sand is... . Chlorite-glauconite bearing sands are ... in
The composition of sand depends on ... . colour.
The bright white sands are found in ... . Sands found in Southern Europe have ... ...
The bright white sands may contain ... . and are ... in colour.
7. Fill in the table according to the text.

Type of sand Constituents Colour
bright white sand eroded limestone + coral and shell fragments and white
other organic fragmental materials
gypsum
grey
sands rich in
magnetite
chlorite-glauconite
sands derived from
basaltic (lava)
yellow
sand deposits
Home task(Level B): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text
(Level B) in Translation bank
8. Sand is used for many purposes. Match the field of industry and
application of sand in it. Level C
Field of industry Sand application

agriculture Sand improves traction (and thus traffic safety) in icy or snowy
conditions.
aquaria Media filters use sand for filtering water.
artificial reefs Sand is often a principal component of this critical construction
material.
brick Mixing sand with paint produces a textured finish for walls and
ceilings or non-slip floor surfaces.
car engine Sand makes small hills and slopes (for example, in golf
courses).
concrete Sandy soils are ideal for crops such a s watermelons, peaches,
and peanuts and their excellent drainage characteristics make
them suitable for intensive dairy farming.
glass Sand makes a low cost aquarium base material which some
believe is better than gravel for home use
landscaping Train operators use sand to improve the traction of wheels on
the rails.
paint Geotextile bagged sand can serve as the foundation for new
reefs.
railroads Manufacturing plants add sand to a mixture of clay and other
materials for manufacturing bricks.
roads Sand is the principal component in common glass.
sand animation Casters moisten or oil molding sand, also known as foundry
sand and then shape it into molds into which they pour molten
material. This type of sand must be able to withstand high
temperatures and pressure, allow gases to escape, have a
uniform, small grain size and be non-reactive with metals.
sand casting Car Engine Disablement Sand is also used in addition to Sodium
Silicate to inexpensively, quickly, and permanently disable
automobile engines.
sandbags Performance artists draw images in sand. Makers of animated
films use the same term to describe their use of sand on
frontlit or backlit glass.
water filtration These protect against floods and gun fire. The inexpensive bags
are easy to transport when empty, and unskilled volunteers
can quickly fill them with local sand in emergencies.
Translation bank
Sand is used to provide bulk, strength, and other properties to construction
Level A
materials like asphalt and concrete. It is also used as a decorative material in
landscaping. Specific types of sand are used in the manufacture of glass and as a
molding material for metal casting. Other sand is used as an abrasive in sandblasting
and to make sandpaper.
Sand was used as early as 6000 B.C. to grind and polish stones to make sharpened
tools and other objects. Today, the processing of sand is a multi-billion dollar business with
operations ranging from very small plants supplying sand and gravel to a few local building
contractors to very large, highly automated plants.
Sand is transported by wind and water and deposited in the form of beaches,
Level B
dunes, sand spits, sand bars. In environments such as gravel-bed rivers and glacial
moraines it often occurs that many grain sizes are represented. Sand-bed rivers such
as the Platte River in Nebraska, USA, have sandy beds largely because there is no larger
source material that they can transport. Dunes, on the other hand, are sandy because
larger material is generally immobile in wind, and are a distinctive geographical feature
of desert environments.
The study of individual grains can reveal much historical information as to the origin
and kind of transport of the grain. Quartz sand that is recently weathered from granite
Level C
or gneiss quartz crystals will be angular. It is called grus in geology or sharp sand in the
building trade where it is preferred for concrete, and in gardening where it is used as a
soil amendment to loosen clay soils. Sand that is transported long distances by water or
wind will be rounded, with characteristic abrasion patterns on the grain surface. Desert
sand is typically rounded.
Writing (Levels A,B,C)

1. Your firm is interested in buying Sand Making Machine. But you need more information.
Read this advertisement and the notes you’ve made. Then use the information to write a
letter to the company which produces these machines. You may add any other relevant
points of your own.
VSI Sand Making Machine is newly researched equipment, with international advanced
level. Technology and modern processing equipment make it a leading role in this
industry. VSI Sand Making Machine is widely used for artificial sand, in metal and non-
metal ores, cement, refractory material, bauxite, silicon carbide, glass material, building
material.
Questions to ask
- detailed information about the machine;
- its main features;
- working principles;
- technical data;
- prospectus and details of Sand Making Machine design.
2. Make up questions according to the information you are going to ask about. Use the
model.
I would be grateful for detailed information about the machine
We would like to know more about its main features
Could you send us the working principles
Would it be possible to have technical data
Could you let us know about prospectus and details of Sand Making Machine design
3. Before writing a letter answer the following questions:

1. Who are you writing to?
2. How did you learn about the machine?
3. Why are you writing?
4. What style should you write in: friendly or business-like?
It is essential to select the right information to put in your letter. You should:
- include all the relevant points,
- not fill the letter with unimportant information;
- keep to the facts.
4. Which of the following questions would you ask in your letter? Answer yes, no or maybe.
- dates, - personal information, - details about the machine,
- details about the firm, - information about your - the colour of the machine,
- cost, company, - its size.
5. Learn the following rules.
ЗАПРОС, ТРЕБОВАНИЕ (LETTER OF REQUEST)
Цель таких писем - получить информацию, помощь и т.д., т.е. некое желательное для вас
действие со стороны ͸ашего адресата.
План письма:
1. Дать ссылку на источник, их которого ͸ы получили информацию о фирме.
- I am writing to enquire about the machine which you advertised in yesterday’s “Morning Post”.
- You were recommended to us by Mary Stuart from VSI firm.
- With reference to our call of yesterday, we would like more detailed information about your Sand
Making Machine design.
2. Представить себя коротко, свою фирму.
- Our company specializes in making building materials.
- We are one of the main producers of modern building materials in Russia, and we are interested
in ... .
- Our company, which is affiliate to the National Construction Company, is mainly concerned with
... .
3. Объяснить, почему ͸ы пишете это письмо, проявить ͸аш интерес.
- We are interested in buying this machine.
- We would like to know more about the technical data of the machine you advertised in the last
issue of “Morning Post”.
4. Объяснить, что бы ͸ы хотели получить от адресата.
- Please would you send us ... .
- We would be grateful for detailed information about ... .
- Would it be possible to have ... .
- Could you therefore send us your prospectus and details of the ... .
5. Закончить письмо стандартной фразой.
- We look forward to hearing from you.
- We would be grateful for an early reply.
- Thank you for your attention. We hope to hear from you in the near future.
- We would like to point out that delivery before August, 1 is essential and hope that you can offer
us this guarantee. Thanking in advance for your help.
6. Подпись, имя и должность автора письма.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Sir/Madame,
We are writing in answer to your advertisement for VSI Sand Making Machine in
the May edition of “Military Engineer”.
As one of the largest building materials companies in Russia, we are interested in
retailing (полный комплект поставки) of this model.
Could you please send us your latest catalogue and price list, including details of
quantity discounts, service available, together with you firm promotion video
film.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
M. Nikolaev,
Managing Director.
6. Arrange parts of the letter in a proper order. Level A
a) Our joint venture CONSTRUCTION.RU Ltd. specializes in producing building materials for
different construction purposes. Since our business is expanding in Europe, we are
interested in long term contacts with your firm.
b)
c) Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
d) We would therefore appreciate if you could send us price list for sand making machines
you are selling and all their technical data.
e) Managing Director
f) With reference to our telephone conversation of today, we would like more detailed
information about your service.
g) We would be grateful if you could indicate your e-mail address to send our Essential
Elements to you. Or please let us know how to transfer them to you. We would be also
grateful to you if you would send us information about service you can provide.
h) Dear Mr. Simon,
i) Ann Smith
j) In the mean time we are kindly inviting you to visit our Internet home page to learn about
our company and its work.
k) Sincerely yours,
7. Study the advertisement below. Write the letter of request Levels B,C
according to the letter outline.
http://www.artificialsand.com/
VSI CRUSHER (дробилка)
Industrial Application: Quality Sand, Abrasives, Manganese Ore, Cement Clinkers,

Ceramics, Glass, Silica, Iron Ore
Letter Outline
Greeting Dear Sir/Madame

Paragraph 1 Say where and when you saw the advertisement.
Say why you are writing.
Paragraph 2 Give relevant information.
Paragraph 3 Ask for necessary information.
Closing paragraph Give your thanks. Say that you are looking forward to
their reply.
Signing off Yours faithfully (your name).
UNIT XII. MODERN CONCRETE

I. FERROCEMENT
Active Grammar. Modal verb CAN/COULD.
1. Modal verb can/could has different meanings. Study the examples in the table. Translate the
sentences.
Meanings Examples
- умственная способность - I can speak English.
- физическая способность - My grandfather could dance when he was young.
- возможность, вероятность - He isn’t at work. He can be home.
- просьба - Could you open the window?
- удивление - Can it be you?
2. Choose the best translation of the following sentence.

to consider –
Ferrocement can be considered a form of reinforced concrete. рассматривать,
считать, полагать
a) Ферроцемент может считаться разновидностью железобетона.
b) Ферроцемент считался разновидностью железобетона.
c) Ферроцемент может быть разновидностью железобетона.
3. Look at the words in the box and say what parts of speech they belong to and why. Translate the
words:
FORMATION
Reinforced, construction, usually, continuous, relatively, modified,
difference, structural, normally, thickness, exceeding, reinforcement,
WORD
percentage, behaviour, strength, fabrication, economical, performance,

hydraulic, storage.
4. Match the linking word with its translation and definitions:
1. on the other hand a) исходя из, с точки зрения, в сравнении с;
LIMKING
2. moreover b) более того;
WORDS
3. in terms of c) вместо;
4. in short d) короче говоря;
5. instead of e) с другой стороны.
1. What is the meaning of the verb can/could in every sentence? Match the Levels B,C
numbers and the letters. Consult Active Grammar (Level A).
1. The cadets of our group can already read scientific A. Умственная и физическая
articles in English. возможность, способность
2. He cannot be at the construction site. It’s his day совершить действие в
off. настоящем или прошлом.
3. Ferrocement can be considered a type of thin B. ͸озможность, зависящая от
reinforced concrete construction. обстоятельств.
4. The major differences can be as follows. C. ͸ежливая просьба.
5. Could you give me the Building Regulations, D. Удивление, сомнение (в
please? вопросительных и
6. I couldn’t see him yesterday as I was out. отрицательных
7. Can’t you stop complaining all the time? предложениях).
 We only use cannot instead of can’t in very formal writing or speaking.

In normal everyday language, we use can’t.
2. Make up questions according to the model:
- have a look at that project (can);

- leave work early this afternoon (could); Model: borrow your calculator
- work out the plan for the reconstruction Can I borrow your calculator?
(can);
- turn off the machine (could);
- give me a lift to the construction site (could);
- consider ferrocement a type of thin reinforced concrete construction (can).
3. Translate the parts of sentences into Russian. Consult T.5 (Level A)
a type of thin reinforced concrete construction; is reinforced with layers of continuous and
relatively small-diameter wire meshes; a modified form of reinforced concrete; the major
differences between mass reinforced concrete structural elements and ferrocement
members; thickness rarely exceeding 25mm; the reinforcement in ferrocement; reinforcing
bars used in reinforced concrete; structural behaviour; formwork is very rarely needed (or
used) for the fabrication.
Level A
5. Match the numbers and the letters.
1) continuous wire meshes a. высокая трещиностойкость конструкции
2) structural elements b. опалубка
3) superior cracking performance c. неразрезная арматурная сетка
4) formwork d. арматурный стержень
5) reinforcing bar e. элементы конструкции
6. Read the text and complete the table below.

Ferrocement
Ordinary concrete is much weaker in tension than in compression. It is usually strengthened
with a strong material, for example, steel reinforcing bars. Ferrocement can be considered a
modified form of reinforced concrete. Ferrocement is hydraulic cement reinforced with
continuous small-diameter wire meshes.
The major differences between mass reinforced concrete and ferrocement can be as
follows:
 Ferrocement structural elements are normally thin, usually not more than 25mm. Mass reinforced
elements, on the other hand, have thick sections, thickness often more than 100mm.
 Matrix in ferrocement mainly consists of Portland cement mortar instead of concrete which contains
coarse aggregate.
 The reinforcement in ferrocement consists of smaller-diameter wires or wire meshes instead of
reinforcing bars used in reinforced concrete. Moreover, ferrocement normally more reinforcement.
 In terms of structural behaviour, ferrocement shows very high tensile strength and superior cracking
performance.
 In terms of construction, formwork is very rarely needed (or used) for the fabrication of ferrocement.
Construction of domes (купол), wind tunnels, circular storage structures and swimming pools (бассейны)
can be very economical.
*In short, ferrocement can be considered a type of reinforced concrete that has wire meshes
instead of reinforcing bars and Portland cement mortar instead of concrete.
MASS REINFORCED CONCRETE FERROCEMENT

elements size … not more than 25mm
… coarse aggregate …
smaller-diameter wires or wire
… …
meshes
structural behaviour low tensile strength …
… always needed …
Home task:
Translate the last part of the text in T.6 (*) in a written form.
4. Read the following text and find out what information is not given in it. Levels B,C
Complete the table in Task 6 (Level A).
1. the inventor of ferrocement

2. the function of reinforcing bars
3. the definition of ferrocement
4. the difference between mass reinforced concrete structural elements and ferrocement
members
5. various types of ferrocement members
6. the constituents of ferrocement matrix
7. the reinforcement in ferrocement
8. structural behaviour of reinforced concrete
9. the necessity of formwork for ferrocement fabrication
Ferrocement
Ordinary concrete is much weaker in tension than in compression, so it is usually strengthened
with steel reinforcing bars to resist tension. Ferrocement can be considered a modified form
of reinforced concrete. Ferrocement is hydraulic cement reinforced with layers of continuous
and relatively small-diameter wire meshes. The major differences between reinforced
concrete structural elements and ferrocement members can be as follows:
 Ferrocement structural elements are normally thin, thickness rarely exceeding 25mm.
Reinforced concrete members, on the other hand, consist of relatively thick sections
with thickness often exceeding 100mm.
 Matrix in ferrocement mainly consists of Portland cement mortar instead of concrete
which contains coarse aggregate.
 The reinforcement in ferrocement consists of large amounts of smaller-diameter wires
or wire meshes instead of reinforcing bars used in reinforced concrete. Moreover,
ferrocement normally contains a greater percentage of reinforcement, distributed
throughout the cross-section (поперечное сечение).
 In terms of structural behaviour, ferrocement shows very high tensile strength and
superior cracking performance.
 In terms of construction, formwork is very rarely needed (or used) for the fabrication of
ferrocement. This aspect permits economical construction of certain structures such as
domes (купол), wind tunnels, circular storage structures and swimming pools.
*In short, ferrocement can be considered a type of reinforced concrete where instead of
reinforcing bars, large amounts of smaller diameter wire meshes are used uniformly
throughout the cross-section, and instead of concrete, Portland cement mortar is used.
5. Compare and contrast reinforced concrete and ferrocement. Use the Level C
following linking words:
both, but, like, unlike
Home task:
Translate the last part of the text in T.4 (*) in a written form.
II. FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE (фибробетон) Level A
CONJUNCTION
S 1. Study the sentences. Choose the proper variant of translation.
1. Reinforced concrete has been widely used in construction since the since –
beginning of the 20th century. a) с, с тех пор как
2. Since common concrete has low tensile strength, it is reinforced b) так как
with high-strength materials.
1. Because fibre reinforced concrete is corrosion resistant, it’s more because –
durable than reinforced concrete. a) потому что
2. Reinforced concrete isn’t durable because it’s not corrosion b) так как
resistant.
2. Study the compound conjunctions. Translate the following sentences.
neither…nor - ни …ни Reinforced concrete is neither corrosion resistant nor water

as…as – такой же…как proof.
Plastic bars can be as strong as steel.
3. Scan the text. Translate the underlined phrases.

Non-Steel Reinforcement
In some cases, the lifetime of the concrete structure is more important than its
strength. Since corrosion is the main cause of failure (разрушение) of reinforced concrete, a
corrosion proof reinforcement can make it more durable.
For these purposes some structures have been constructed using plastic bars, grids or
fibers. The plastic reinforcement can be as strong as steel. Because it resists corrosion, it does
not need a protective concrete cover (покрытие) of 30 to 50 mm or more as common
reinforced concrete does. This means the fiber-reinforced structures can be lighter, have
longer lifetime and for some applications can be cheaper (дешевле) than steel-reinforced
concrete.
The main barrier to the use of non-steel reinforcement is the fact that it is neither
ductile nor fire resistant.
4. Read the text again, look at the plans and choose the one which corresponds to the content of the text:
A B
1. Ways of making concrete stronger 1. Increase of durability
2. Fiber reinforcement 2. Advantages of fiber reinforcement
Translation bank
3. Fire-resistant concrete 3. Disadvantage of plastic reinforcement
Vocabulary
Levels B,C
1. Do Task 1 and 2 (Level A).
2. Match the words in column A and translation in column B.
Column A Column B
- fracture toughness - сопротивление развитию трещин
- flexural strength - усталостная прочность
- structural integrity - прочность на изгиб
- resistance to fatigue - динамическое воздействие
- impact - температурная деформация
- thermal shock - структурная целостность
3. Read the text. Divide the text into three parts. Choose the best title for each paragraph. One title is extra.
A. The properties of fiber.
B. The components of fibre reinforced concrete.
C. The history of using fibre in construction.
D. Fiber is used to improve engineering properties.
Fibre Reinforced Concrete
Fibre *‘faibə] reinforced concrete contains fibrous material which increases its structural
integrity. Fibres include steel fibres, glass fibres, synthetic fibres and natural fibres. Fibres have
been used as reinforcement since ancient times. Historically, horsehair was used in mortar
and straw in mud bricks. In the early 1900s, asbestos fibres were used in concrete. By the
1960s, steel, glass, and synthetic fibres such as polypropylene fibres were used in concrete.
The "plastic" reinforcement can be as strong as steel, because it resists corrosion. Structures
can be reinforced with external reinforcement as carbon fibre. In this case especially the
strength can be increased. Research into new fibre reinforced concretes continues today. The
use of fibre reinforcement in concrete, mortar and cement paste can enhance (улучшать)
many of the engineering properties of the basic materials, such as fracture toughness, flexural
strength, resistance to fatigue, impact and thermal shock or spalling (расслаивание бетона).
4. Read the text again. Choose the answer (a, b or c) according to the text.
a) Right b) Wrong c) Doesn’t say
2. Fibre is a very strong building material.
3. Horsehair and straw are ancient natural fibres.
4. Synthetic fibres have been used since the second part of the 20th century.
5. Research into new fibre reinforced concretes has stopped.
6. Fibre reinforcement in concrete, mortar and cement paste enhances engineering properties.
7. Fibre reinforced concrete is fire resistant.
8. Engineering properties of the basic materials are fracture toughness, flexural strength, resistance to
fatigue, impact and thermal shock or spalling.
5. Read the text. Ask your partner some questions about steel-fibre reinforced Levels B,C
concrete. Use the question card.
 Question card
Steel-fibre reinforced concrete (сталефибробетон) How / steel-
A number of fibre types are available as reinforcement. Round fibre/produce?
steel fibres (стружка), the earliest examples, are produced by cutting
round wire into short lengths. Steel fibres having a rectangular cross- What / thickness /
section are produced by cutting round wire about 0.25 mm thick. round wire?
A satisfactory fibre concrete in the hardened state requires that
the fibre reinforcement is uniformly distributed and that the concrete What / a
is well compacted (провибрирован). satisfactory fibre
Application of steel-fibre concrete may be classified into six concrete / the
categories: 1) Highway and airfield pavements; 2)Hydraulic structures hardened state?
(резервуары); 3)Fibrous shotcrete (торкрет-бетон); 4)Refractory
(жаростойкий) concrete; 5)Miscellaneous precast (отдельные Where / steel-fibre
сборные конструкции) applications; 6)Structural applications reinforced concrete
(структурные конструкции). / used?
5. Compare the Russian text with the English text in T. 3. What information is Level C
common in both texts?
Известны методы значительного повышения рабочих характеристик и
эксплуатационного ресурса конструкций за счет применения при их изготовлении
сталефибробетона, т.е. бетона с добавлением стальных волокон (фибр).
Сталефибробетон по сравнению с обычным неармированным бетоном обладает рядом
преимуществ: повышение прочности при сжатии до 25%, при осевом растяжении до
65%, при изгибе до 2,5 раз; повышение модуля упругости до 15%.
Сталефибробетон (СФБ) – бетон с хаотически равномерно расположенными по объему
стальными волокнами (фиброй). СФБ является композитным материалом. Он состоит из
трех составляющих: крупного заполнителя (щебень), стальных волокон (фибры) и
связующего материала (раствора). Свойства СФБ складываются из свойств его
компонентов и зависят от их количественного состава. Наиболее эффективной
реализацией всех положительных свойств сталефибробетона является использование его
для устройства полов в помещениях производственного назначения и местах общего
пользования. Для него характерны высокая износостойкость к образованию трещин,
высокие механические характеристики, а, следовательно, более длительный срок
службы, чем обычного железобетона. В мировой практике строительства около 70%
СФБ применяется при изготовлении промышленных полов. Свойства СФБ при
строительстве промышленных полов позволяют обойтись без армирования
металлическими сетками и уменьшить толщину слоя с 20 см до 18 см.
Home task (Levels B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text
in Translation bank
Translation bank
Level A
Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete. When added to the concrete mixture, steel fibers help
enhance many of concrete's mechanical characteristics. The fibers can be between
30mm and 100mm in length, and come in straight, textured and hooked varieties.
These fibers improve structural properties, including toughness, durability and tensile
strength of the concrete. Most importantly, the fibers help to restrain cracking which
occurs during the curing process.

Autoclaved Aerated concrete (AAC), or otherwise known as Autoclave Cellular
Concrete (ACC) was invented in the mid-1920s by Max Ginsberg. It is a lightweight,
Level B
precast building material and provides structure, insulation, fire and mold resistance in
a single material. AAC products include blocks, wall panels, floor and roof panels, and
lintels.
It has since been refined into a high thermally insulating concrete-based material used
for construction both internally and externally. Besides insulating capability, one of
AAC's advantages in construction is its quick and easy installation since the material
can be routed, sanded and cut to size on site using standard carbon steel bandsaws, handsaws
and drills.

GFRC (Glassfibre Reinforced Cement) is a mixture of cement, fine aggregate,
water, chemical admixtures and alkali resistant glassfibres. Early borosilicate glass
Level C
reduced concrete strength because alkali reacted with the cement paste. Alkali
resistant glass fibers (AR glass) were then produced for providing long term durability.
AR glass is also used with newly developed low alkaline cement to get even better
durability.
Fibers are usually used in concrete to control plastic shrinkage cracking
(пластическая усадка) and drying shrinkage (усадка высыхания) cracking. They also lower
the permeability of concrete and thus make it more water-proof. GFRC is similar to concrete in
its characteristics, but it is 80% lighter. GFRC is produced in a wide selection of colors and
textures.
GFRC is ideal for building facade panels, domes, columns and other architectural details
traditionally made from precast concrete. GFRC is easily molded into different shapes with
clean lines and sharp details.
UNIT XIII. MODERN GLASS
Vocabulary Level A
1. Learn the following words by heart.
fragile – хрупкий to subject - подвергать tempered glass -
syn. brittle to plunge – погружать, закалённое стекло
tough – плотный, упругий, окунать insulation - изоляция
прочный transparent - прозрачный
2. Say in Russian according to the model. Model:

This material is as transparent as plastic. as heavy as steel – такой же
It is no longer used for the construction purposes. тяжелый как сталь
The lightest metal is aluminium. no longer - больше не
The most durable material is concrete. the strongest – самый твердый
This structure is stronger than that one. the toughest – самый прочный
is stronger than – крепче чем
3. Put into the Passive Voice.
Some materials (могут быть нагреты) to a very high temperature.
They (погружены) into ice water.
It (подвергается) to atomic radiation.
It (используется) in products including building insulation.
4. Match the questions and their Russian versions.

1) Is glass a fragile material? a. Может ли огнеупорное стекло нагреваться
2) When did scientists create a number до красноты?
of tough and strong glasses? b. Свинцовое стекло такое же тяжелое как
3) Can heat resistant glasses be heated сталь?
until they are red? c. Является ли стекло хрупким материалом?
4) Is a lead oxide glass as heavy as d. Как делается огнеупорное стекло?
steel? e. Какой вид стекла самый прочный и
5) How is tempered glass made? твердый?
6) What is the strongest and toughest f. Когда ученые создали разные виды
form of glass? твердого и прочного стекла?
5. Read the text and answer the questions from the previous exercise.
Glass is no longer a fragile material of limited usage. In recent years scientists have
created a number of tough and strong glasses. Some heat resistant glasses can be heated until
they are red and then plunged into ice water without breaking.
A lead glass is almost as heavy as steel. It remains transparent even when subjected to
heavy atomic radiation.
Tempered glass, made by heating glass until it begins to soften and then quickly cools
its surface, has the strength of cast iron.
And the strongest and toughest form of glass made today – fibre glass (стекловолокно)
– is stronger than any other material of the same weight, if its surface is perfect. Fibre glass is
now used in products including electrical insulation, building insulation, car bodies and so on.
Vocabulary Levels
1. Say in English. Consult Vocabulary (Level A) B,C
- хрупкий material
- a number of прочный and strong glasses
- some жаропрочный glasses can be heated
- погруженный into ice water without breaking
- remains прозрачный
- when подверженный to heavy atomic radiation.
- закаленное glass, made by heating glass
- including electrical изоляция
Open (открывать, отворять) – opening
2. Scan the text in Task 5 (Level A). Fill in the tableVary (различаться) – various
with the participles from the text given in boldEmit (испускать) – emittance
type.
Часть Обстоятельство Определение

сказуемого
4. Read the text in Task 7 (Level A) and say what

extra information you got as compared to the text
in Task 5.
- glassmaking as an art;
- glass in the construction of British
Museum Great Court;
- glass windows;
- glass made in kilns;
- an unusual building in St Petersburg
made of glass;
- the constituents of glass;
- coloured glass;
- glass figures;
- glass in architectural buildings;
- glass curtain walls;
- corrosion resistance of glass;
- prefabricated glass structures;
- bullet proof glass;
- glass spans.
5. Find the synonyms of the following words (use

both texts (Task 5 and Task 7)):
Fragile - ?
Stove - ?
Small opening in a building - ?
Properties - ?
Widely used - ?
Different - ?
6. Translate the derivatives of the following words.

What parts of speech are they?
Level A
Add (добавлять) – addition, additional,

additive
Invent (изобретать) – invention
7. Read the text. Divide the text into paragraphs according to the plan:
1. Glassmaking as an art form.

2. Glass windows.
3. How glass is manufactured.
4. Glass curtain walls.
5. Glass roof structures.
Glassmaking is considered an art form as well as an industrial process. Glass windows
have been used since the invention of glass to cover small openings in a building. They
provided humans with the ability to both let light into rooms while at the same time keeping
inclement (суровый) weather outside. Glass is generally made from mixtures of sand and
silicates in a very hot fire stove called a kiln. Glass is very brittle. Very often additives are
added to the mixture when making to produce glass with shades of colours or various
characteristics (such as bullet proof glass, or light emittance). The use of glass in architectural
buildings has become very popular in the modern culture. Glass curtain walls (навесные
стены) can be used to cover the entire facade of a building. It can also be used to span over
(перекрывать, охватывать) a wide roof structure in a space frame (каркас,
пространственная рама). Some sort of frame is required to hold sections of glass together,
as glass by itself is too brittle.
8. Read the text again. Match the numbers and the letters. One letter is extra:
a) glass window c) glass curtain walls
b) glass kiln d) glass
e) space
f) frames in the roof structure
1 2 3
Translation bank
6. Read the text in Task 7 again. Choose the answer (a, b or c) according to the text.
Levels B,C
a) Right b) Wrong c) Doesn’t say
1) Glassmaking can be considered an art form.

2) Glass windows have been used since the invention of glass additives.
3) Windows are used to keep the room warm inside.
4) Glass is made from mixtures of sand and stoves.
5) Glass is water-proof.
6) Bullet proof glass is made by adding special additives to the mixture of sand and silicates.
7) Glass is widely used in architectural buildings nowadays.
8) The facade of a building can be covered by glass curtain walls.
9) Frames are used to hold sections of a glass roof together.
Level C
7. Work in pairs.
This is your house made mostly of glass.
Tell your friend about it.
What types of glass have been used to build it and
why? Use texts in Task 5 and Task 7 to help you.
8. Would you like to live in an all-glass house/a
house with glass roof?
Why? Give your reasons.
Home task (Levels B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the text
in Translation bank
Translation bank
Most ordinary glass is made by mixing silicon

dioxide, lime, sodium carbonate, and small amounts
Level A
of other minerals. This is known as soda-lime glass
and is used for glass bottles and jars, windowpanes,
and other common applications. In the late 1900s,
German chemist Otto Schott invented borosilicate
glass by adding boron to the mix. Heat-resistant glass
is glass that is more resistant to thermal shock than
ordinary glass. It is therefore suitable for industrial,
construction, and cooking applications where changes in
temperature would likely cause ordinary glass to shatter. Heat-resistant glass is usually
borosilicate glass, tempered soda-lime glass, or glass-ceramic.
Lead glass. Metal in glass is a very important element
Level B
controlling the optical and thermal properties of glass.
Glass containing metal is applied to many fields in this
modern society. Metal inside glass controls not only
color and refractive index but also the melting point of
glass. Glass used for electronic parts should have a
melting point of below 600 C. Otherwise the electronic
parts will be broken. This type of glass, which is called “low-
melting glass”, is becoming a more important material in the electronics field. Almost all of
low-melting glass contains lead, because the chemical bond between lead and oxygen is weak
and easily dissociates at a low temperature so that the melting temperature becomes low. The
lead largely decreases the melting temperature, without decreasing the chemical durability of
glass.
Glass which has a low melting temperature usually has low chemical durability, but glass
containing lead is special. Until recently the reason was unknown. However, studies have now
shown that it might be related to the structure of lead inside glass.
Fibre glass (or glass fibres). Glass fibres are useful because
Level C
of their high ratio of surface area to weight. However, the
increased surface area makes them much more susceptible
to chemical attack. By trapping air within them, blocks of
glass fiber make good thermal insulation.
The strength of glass is usually tested and reported for
"virgin" or pristine fibers—those that have just been
manufactured. The freshest, thinnest fibers are the strongest because the thinner fibers are
more ductile. The more the surface is scratched, the less the resulting tenacity. Because glass
has an amorphous structure, its properties are the same along the fiber and across the fiber.
Humidity is an important factor in the tensile strength. Moisture is easily adsorbed, and can
worsen microscopic cracks and surface defects, and lessen tenacity.
In contrast to carbon fiber, glass can undergo more elongation before it breaks. There is a
correlation between bending diameter of the filament and the filament diameter. The
viscosity of the molten glass is very important for manufacturing success. During drawing
(pulling of the glass to reduce fiber circumference), the viscosity should be relatively low. If it
is too high, the fiber will break during drawing. However, if it is too low, the glass will form
droplets rather than drawing out into fiber.
Tempered glass. Tempered (toughened) glass is two

or more times stronger than annealed glass. When
broken, it shatters into many small fragments which
prevent major injuries. This type of glass is intended for
glass facades, sliding doors, building entrances, bath and
shower enclosures and other uses requiring superior
strength and safety properties. There are two different
methods used to produce tempered glass:
- heat treating: the annealed glass is subjected to a special heat-treatment in which it is
heated to about 68 °C and afterwards cooled. If it is cooled rapidly, the glass is up to four
times stronger than annealed glass and its breaks into many small fragments (fully-tempered).
If it is cooled slowly, the glass is twice as strong as annealed glass and the fragments of the
broken glass are linear and more likely to remain in the frame;
- chemical strengthening: the glass is covered by a chemical solution which produces a
higher mechanical resistance. Chemically-strengthened glass has similar properties to thermal-
treated glass. The product is not generally used for window glass, but more commonly seen in
industries where thin, strong glass is needed.
UNIT XIV. PLASTICS

Vocabulary Level A
1. Translate the words and their derivatives
found – основывать,
FORMATION
foundation - ?
WORD
transparent – прозрачный, transparency - ?

penetrate – проникать, penetrable - ?, impenetrable - ?
flex – сгибать, гнуть, flexible - ? flexibility - ?
abrasion – истирание, шлифовка, abrasive -?
apply – применять, application -?
contribute – содействовать, вносить вклад, contribution - ?
2. Scan the text. Translate the phrases in italics.
Plastics
Plastics are among the most important materials resulting from scientific discoveries of
the last hundred years. The first plastic was created by Alexander Parkes at the end of the 19th
century, but the foundation of the modern plastics industry really began with the discovery of
bakelite (бакелит) by Baekeland, the Belgian chemist, in 1907. Bakelite was the first plastic
that held its shape even when it was heated. Plastics can be thermosetting
(термореактивный) like Bakelite or thermoplastic (changing its shape when heated).
There are now hundreds of different plastics. They have different properties. On the
one hand, plastics can be hard, rigid (жесткий, негнущийся) and quite impenetrable by light.
On the other hand, we can make plastics which are as flexible as celluloid, even more
transparent, and yet very hard. Plastics can have glass-like transparency, abrasion resistance,
resistance to sunlight, waterproofing, resistance to low temperatures and resistance to acids
and chemicals.
Building industry is the second most important application area for plastics, coming
second to packaging applications. Plastic pipes (трубы) were first manufactured in the mid
1950's to replace (заменить) cast iron and lead pipes. Plastics also make a great contribution
to the saving of energy. Plastic foams (пенопласт) are used widely for thermal insulation of
house walls, floors, roofing, pipes and many other applications. After pipes and insulation, the
third major application area is wallcovering and flooring.
There are also unusual application areas for plastics. For example, it can be applied in
bridge construction. Some experimental plastic bridges have already been built in the USA and
in the UK.
3. Study Active Grammar. Find sentences with Participle I in the text. Translate them.
Active Grammar. Participle I (V ing)

Причастие I может выполнять функцию определения, то есть отвечать на вопрос какой?
(какая?, какие?) и стоять перед или после определяемого слова (*).
e.g. There are many *materials having valuable properties. Есть много материалов,
имеющих ценные свойства.
4. Read the text again. Say if the following sentences are true or
Level A
5. false. Correct the false ones.
1) Plastics are the result of scientific discoveries.
2) Bakelite was the first plastic.
3) Bakelite doesn’t change its shape when it’s heated.
4) All plastics are rigid.
5) Water doesn’t penetrate through plastics.
6) Plastics have many properties valuable in construction.
7) Plastics are widely used as main building materials.
1. Study the vocabulary (Level A).
2. Before reading the text answer the following questions: Levels B,С
 What plastic products do you know?
 Which of them are used in construction?
 What are their main properties?
 Are they main or finishing building materials?
3. Now do Task 2 and Task 3 (Level A).
4. Read the text again. Make up questions to the text. Answer them.
1) the foundation/ why/ was /the invention of bakelite /of the plastic industry?
2) have/ plastics/ similar/do all /properties?
3) mostly/ is /plastics /where /applied?
4) save energy/ how/ plastic /does?
5) building/ one of the main/ is plastics/ materials?
6) used/ in bridge construction/ has plastics/ been traditionally?
5. Read the text. Complete the text with suitable properties from the list.
light weight, easily shaped, waterproof, hard, impenetrable by light, abrasion resistant,
sunlight resistant, resistant to acids and chemicals
More recently synthetic polystyrene (полистирол) or polyurethane (полиуретан)

foam has been used on a wide scale. It is ………………………………….. It is usually used as part of a
structural insulated panel where the foam is sandwiched between wood or cement.
6. You are building your own house. Where would you use plastics? Why?
Would you like to have an all-plastic house? Give your reasons. Level C
Listening
1. Study the pronunciation of the following words before listening:

PVC – polyvinyl chloride *¸polivainil kloraid] – поливинилхлорид (П͸Х)
polystyrene *͵poliʹstairi:n+ полистирол
carcinogen [ka: sinəd ən] – канцероген
2. Listen to the text and choose the best variant (a, b, c).
Level A
1)Plastics are produced by __________ . 4)Thermosetting plastics are _______ .
a) polymerization b) insulation a) heat resistant b) fire resistant
c) thermosetting c) environmentally friendly
2)The main component of plastic is ____. 5) Most plastics are __________ .
a) vinyl b) carbon c) chloride
a)environmentally friendly
3)Thermoplastics can be __________ . b)dangerous for people
a) reused b) recycled c) reformed c)dangerous for environment and people
Level B
1) There are ________of plastics. a) the UK b) the USA c) Germany
a)two types b) 50 types 4) Nowadays _______ is popular in building
c)many different types construction.
2) Plastics __________ . a) PVC b) polystyrene c) vinyl
a) can have different properties 5) The problem about plastics is that they
b) are heat resistant c) are elastic
a) have low weight
3) The first plastic widely used in building
construction was introduced in _____ . b) are cheap in transportation
c) are dangerous for environment
Level C
1)The composition of plastics includes a) the exhibition in Chicago
_______ as main component. b) the first part of the 20th century
a)polymers b) carbon c) compounds c) the second part of the 20th century
2)Polymerisation is the method of_____. 5)Plastic products are_______ .
a)recycling rubber b)reforming plastics a) easily maintained
c)producing plastics b) expensive to transport
3)Plastics are divided into two groups c) easy to break down
according to _________ . 6)Vinyl chloride and polystyrene are ____
a) their ability to change shape when heated a) the only dangerous plastics
b) valuable properties c)durability b) environmentally friendly
4)PVC window frames have been used c) the examples of carcinogens
since ___________ .
Home task (Levels A, B, C): revise vocabulary and grammar, translate the
Translation bank
Level A
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer. Polyvinyl chloride is the

third widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely
used in construction because it is cheap, durable, and easy to assemble. Like some
other plastics PVC is dangerous for environment, because it doesn’t break down
easily.
PVC was accidentally discovered twice in the 19th century, first in 1835 by Henri Victor
Regnault and in 1872 by Eugen Baumann. In the early 20th century the Russian chemist
Level B
Ivan Ostromislensky and Fritz Klatte of the German chemical company Griesheim-
Elektron both attempted to use PVC in commercial products, but difficulties in
processing the rigid, sometimes brittle polymer blocked their efforts. in 1926 Waldo
Semon and the B.F. Goodrich Company developed a more flexible and more easily
processed material that soon achieved widespread commercial use.
The term plastics covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic
Level C
condensation or polymerization products that can be moulded or extruded into objects
or films or fibres. Their name is derived from the fact that in their semi-liquid state
they are malleable, or have the property of plasticity. Plastics vary immensely in heat
tolerance, hardness, and resiliency. Combined with this adaptability, the general
uniformity of composition and lightness of plastics ensures their use in almost all
industrial applications today.
UNIT XV. TEST FOCUS
VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR
1. Complete the scheme with the following words: Level A
building materials, origin, purpose, natural, main, secondary (finishing), binding, artificial,
stone, sand, gravel, concrete, brick, plaster, plastics, timber, cement, lime, metals
2. Give the name to the described materials.
1) Materials used in construction.

2) Materials used in bearing structures.
3) Materials used for joining structural units.
4) Materials used for interior and exterior finish.
5) Materials that are fabricated.
6) Materials that require no technological changes.
3. Express the same idea: Level B
1) We can divide all building materials into natural and artificial.

……….can be divided into……..
2) Natural materials require no technological changes in their chemical structures.
When ……… do not require…..are called…….
3) Natural building materials include stone, lime, sand and timber.
…….belong to………..
4) Cement, concrete and brick belong to artificial materials.
……….are examples of……………
5) Bearing structures require main building materials.
……...are used in……
6) We use binding materials to join structural units.
………are used…..
7) Plaster and plastics are examples of binding materials.
……..belong to……….
8) Interior finish of the building requires secondary materials.
………are used…..
4. Match the sentences in columns A and B.

A B
1) Concrete can’t burn. a) It’s flexible.
2) Steel can resist high tension. b) It’s fire-resistant.
3) Rubber returns its shape after stretching or c) It has good thermal insulation.
compressing. d) It’s transparent.
4) You can see through glass. e) It’s opaque.
5) You can’t see through wood. f) It’s corrosion resistant.
6) Stainless steel can resist corrosion. g) It has high thermal conductivity.
7) We can bend rubber. h) It’s elastic.
8) Clay can’t return its shape after stretching or i) It’s plastic.
compressing. j) It has high tensile strength.
9) Heat can easily pass through copper.
10) Heat doesn’t pass easily through wood.
5. Answer the questions:

Level C
1) Why is glass used for windows? – Because …………….. .
2) Why is some steel covered with a thin layer of zinc?
3) Why is concrete used for the columns of a building structure?
4) Why is common concrete reinforced with steel bars?
5) Why has wood been widely used in construction?
6. Make up sentences.
a) building/materials/divide/main/finishing/binding.
b) natural/materials/not/require/technological/changes.
c) cement/artificial/belong/building/material.
d) secondary/ require/ interior/ materials/ finish.
e) necessary/make/binding/stone/materials/artificial.
f) artificial/man-made/materials.
READING
7. Read the text. Choose the best title.

Level A
A. Application of stone.
B. Stone. General information.
C. Decorative stone.
In building construction, rock is cut into blocks and slabs or broken into pieces. It can be as
hard as granite and as soft as limestone or sandstone. Where available, stone has generally
been the preferred material for monumental structures. It has such a valuable property as
durability. It can be used in its natural state. But it’s difficult to quarry, transport and cut, and
its weakness in tension limits its use. The simplest stonework is rubble (бутовая кладка),
roughly broken stones bound in mortar. Some stones are strong enough to act as monolithic
(one-piece) supports. Roman built big stone bridges and aqueducts because stone has great
strength.
8. Read the text. Three sentences have been removed from it. Choose from the list A-D the one that fits
each gap. One sentence is extra.
A. Natural stone is used both as main and finishing material.

B. It is a binder, i.e. a substance that binds materials together.
C. Stones are used for various purposes at house construction.
D. They are made from concrete and special colored pigments.
Stones are important for home constructing. Stones play important role for both
exterior and interior designing of the building. 1________________________. From building
beautiful walls of the house to decoration pieces, stones are useful. The only thing that differs
is the type of stone to be used. Stones may be artificial and natural ones. Though both are
used respectively for construction of houses.
Natural stones are creation of nature, i.e. they are created naturally. They have been
used in house building since ancient times. 2__________________________.
Artificial stone is a name for various kinds of synthetic stone products used from the
19th century. They are used in building construction, civil engineering work, and industry.
3______________________________. Artificial stones are generally used for exterior of the
house like walls, pavements, and roof flooring. Though some artificial stones are used as
decorative pieces.
Natural stones are naturally good. Their shine and luster for long cannot be faded.
While there is possibility that artificial stones lose its color.
9. Choose the sentences to make up two texts about two different building materials. Name them.
Text 1”………………………” : sentence №, …

Text 2”………………………” : sentence №, ….
1. This is a workable mixture used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them.
2. This is an artificial stone made of a mixture of cement, aggregate and water.
3. The blocks may be stone or brick.
4. Mortar becomes hard when it sets.
5. In addition to its compressive strength concrete is fire-resistant and has become one of the most
common building materials in the world.
6. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder such as cement or lime, and
water.
7. The binder usually used today is Portland cement.
8. The aggregate is usually sand and gravel.
9. It can also be used to fix masonry when the original mortar has washed away.
10. Additives called admixtures may be used to accelerate hardening process of concrete in low
temperature conditions.
10. Some parts of the sentences (1-3) were removed from the texts. Insert them Levels B,
into the gaps (a-c). One part is extra.
C
1. ... allow big spans ...;
2. ... becoming a bigger part ...;
3. ... cellulose is used as a component of some synthetic materials ...;
4. ... new more advanced products will appear on the marketplace ... .
(1) _____________
Wood used in construction includes products such as glued (клееная) laminated timber
(glulam), laminated veneer lumber (LVL) (балки, склеенные из шпона). On the one hand
these allow the use of smaller pieces, and on the other hand (a) ________ . They may also
be selected for specific projects such as public swimming pools or ice rinks where the wood
will not deteriorate in the presence of certain chemicals. These engineered wood products
prove to be more environmentally friendly, and sometimes cheaper, than building
materials such as steel or concrete.
(2) ____________
Wood unsuitable for construction in its native form may be broken down mechanically
(into fibres or chips) or chemically (into cellulose) and used as a raw material for other
building materials such as chipboard (древесно-стружечная плита – ДСП), engineered
wood, hardboard (твердая древесноволокнистая плита - Д͸П), medium-density
fibreboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB) (структурированная плита). Such wood
derivatives are widely used: wood fibres are an important component of most paper, and
(b) ____________. Wood derivatives can also be used for kinds of flooring, for example
laminate flooring.
(3) ____________
Further developments include lignin glue applications, recyclable food packaging,
rubber tyre replacement applications, anti-bacterial medical agents, and high strength
fabrics or composites. As scientist and engineers further learn and develop new techniques
to extract various components from wood, or alternatively to modify wood, for example by
adding components to wood, (c) ____________.
11. Give the titles to the texts. One title is extra.
a) Wood used for domestic housing.

b) Engineered wood.
c) Next generation wood products.
d) Wood unsuitable for construction.
12. Read the texts again and find

Level C
- the names of modern materials;
- constructions they are used for;
- the properties of modern wooden products;
- the use of wood which is unsuitable for construction;
- what wood fibres are;
- where wood derivatives are used;
- where wood products can be used in future.
13. Complete the sentences according to the texts (a-c).
1. Engineered wood can be used for

a) swimmig pools and skating rinks;
b) certain chemicals;
c) steel or concrete.
2. Wood unsuitable for construction may be used
a) for glued laminated timber;
b) as a raw material for chipboards;
c) for chemicals.
3. Further development of wood products is possible in the field of
a) mathematics;
b) medicine;
c) information technology.
14. What text (1, 2 or 3) touches upon
a) different types of wood products,

b) wood fibres,
c) automobile industry where wood is used,
d) different components of wood as further development,
e) wood used for span constructions.
LISTENING
Listen to the text and choose the best answer (a, b, c) to the following questions.
LEVEL A a) b) c)
1 Do metals make up 74% of Periodic yes no the text
Table? doesn’t say
2 Where are most metals found? in ores in free state in melters
3 Are most metals lustrous? yes no the text
doesn’t say
4 Can metals change their shape without yes no the text
breaking? doesn’t say
5 What do ferrous metals mostly consist iron and carbon and iron and
of? silicon chromium carbon
6 What is the carbon content in cast 2% less than 2% 2 to 4,3%
iron?
7 What is carbon content in steel? 2% less than 2% 2 to 4,3%
8 What makes cast iron more different more some silicon

durable, heat and corrosion admixtures chromium
resistant?
LEVEL B a) b) c)
1 Are all metals found in ores? yes no the text
doesn’t say
2 Why do gold, platinum and silver they have they are rare they are
often occur in free state? almost no metals solid
reaction
with other
elements
3 What happens if they pull and they break they change they
press metals? their shape change
and break their shape
4 Can ferrous metals contain other yes no the text
elements except iron and carbon? doesn’t say
5 How can ferrous metals be by heat by silicon by carbon
classified into cast iron and steel? resistance content content
6 What can make steel harder? more iron more carbon more nickel
7 Is cast iron brittle? yes no the text

doesn’t say
8 What properties of steel can be mechanical mechanical chemical
improved by adding various and physical
substances?
LEVEL C a) b) c)
1 Are there fewer metals in Periodic yes no the text
Table? doesn’t say
2 Do metals react with other yes no the text
elements to make an ore? doesn’t say
3 What property of metals lets them conductivity luster ductility
change their shape?
4 How Is cast iron obtained? iron is iron is it’s found
alloyed with alloyed with in ores
carbon chromium
5 Can non-ferrous metals be yes no the text
classified? doesn’t say
6 What can make cast iron more various high more
durable, heat and corrosion admixtures temperature carbon
resistant?
7 Is cast iron more durable than yes no the text
steel? doesn’t say
8 Is steel more brittle than cast iron? yes no the text
doesn’t say
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
1. Переведите письменно следующий текст.
Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many
naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks, even twigs and leaves have
been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made
products are in use, some more and some less synthetic. The manufacture of building
materials is an established industry in many countries and the use of these materials is
typically segmented into specific specialty trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, roofing and
insulation work.
2. Найдите ответы на вопросы:
What groups of building materials are described in the text?

What are natural building materials?
What are synthetic building materials? Give examples.
Building materials can be generally categorized into two sources, natural and synthetic.
Natural building materials are those that are unprocessed or minimally processed by industry,
such as lumber or glass. Synthetic materials are made in industrial settings after much human
manipulations, such as plastics and petroleum based paints. Both have their uses.
3. Прочитайте текст и скажите:
What are the most basic building materials?

Переведите письменно подчеркнутое предложение.
Mud, stone, and fibrous plants are the most basic building materials, aside from tents
made of flexible materials such as cloth or skins. People all over the world have used these
three materials together to create homes to suit their local weather conditions. In general
stone and/or brush are used as basic structural components in these buildings, while mud is
used to fill in the space between, acting as a type of concrete and insulation. A basic example
is wattle and daub mostly used as permanent housing in tropical countries or as summer
structures by ancient northern peoples.
4. Прочитайте текст и выделите предложение, в котором говорится о разных

типах жилищ.
Fabric
The tent used to be the home of choice among nomadic groups the world over. Two
well known types include the conical teepee and the circular yurt. It has been revived as a
major construction technique with the development of tensile architecture and synthetic
fabrics. Modern buildings can be made of flexible material such as fabric membranes, and
supported by a system of steel cables, rigid framework or internal air pressure.
5. Переведите следующий текст устно, выписав незнакомые слова.
Mud and clay
The amount of each material used leads to different styles of buildings. The deciding
factor is usually connected with the quality of the soil being used. Larger amounts of clay
usually mean using the cob/adobe style, while low clay soil is usually associated with sod
building. The other main ingredients include more or less sand/gravel and straw/grasses.
Rammed earth is both an old and newer take on creating walls, once made by compacting clay
soils between planks by hand, now forms and mechanical pneumatic compressors are used.
Soil and especially clay is good thermal mass; it is very good at keeping temperatures
at a constant level. Homes built with earth tend to be naturally cool in the summer heat and
warm in cold weather. Clay holds heat or cold, releasing it over a period of time like stone.
Earthen walls change temperature slowly, so artificially raising or lowering the temperature
can use more resources than in say a wood built house, but the heat/coolness stays longer.
Peoples building with mostly dirt and clay, such as cob, sod, and adobe, resulted in
homes that have been built for centuries in western and northern Europe as well as the rest of
the world, and continue to be built, though on a smaller scale. Some of these buildings have
remained habitable for hundreds of years.
6. Сделайте письменный перевод текста.
Ice
Ice was used by the Inuit for igloos, but has also been used for ice hotels as a tourist
attraction in northern areas that don’t have many winter tourists.
7. Прочитайте текст. Ответьте на вопрос:
Where do people usually build houses from thatch?
Thatch
Thatch is one of the oldest of building materials known; grass is a good insulator and
easily harvested. Many African tribes have lived in homes made completely of grasses year
round. In Europe, thatch roofs on homes were once prevalent but the material fell out of
favour as industrialization and improved transport increased the availability of other
materials. Today, though, the practice is undergoing a revival. In the Netherlands, for instance,
many of new builds too have thatched roofs with special ridge tiles on top.
8. Переведите текст письменно.
Brush
Brush structures are built entirely from plant parts and are generally found in tropical
and sub-tropical areas, such as rainforests, where very large leaves can be used in the
building. Native Americans often built brush structures for resting and living in, too. These are
built mostly with branches, twigs, leaves and bark.
9. Read the text, look at two plans and choose the one which corresponds to the content of
the text:
1. Composition 1. Aggregates
2. Origin of the word 2. Meaning of the word
3. Process of making 3. Quality of water used
4. Application 4. Common types
5. Production volume 5. Production
6. Concrete types 6. Properties
Concrete
Concrete is a construction material composed of cement (commonly Portland cement)

and other cementing materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate (generally a coarse
aggregate made of gravels or crushed rocks such as limestone, or granite, plus a fine
aggregate such as sand), water, and chemical admixtures.
The word concrete comes from the Latin word "concretus" (meaning compact or
condensed), the past participle of "concresco", from "com-" (together) and "cresco" (to grow).
Concrete solidifies and hardens after mixing with water and placement due to a
chemical process known as hydration. The water reacts with the cement, which binds the
other components together, creating a stone-like material.
Concrete is used to make pavements, pipes, architectural structures, foundations,
roads, bridges/overpasses, parking structures, brick/block walls and footings for gates, fences
and poles.
Concrete is used more than any other man-made material in the world. As of 2006,
about 7.5 cubic kilometers of concrete are made each year—more than one cubic meter for
every person on Earth.
There are many types of concrete available, created by varying the proportions of the
main ingredients. By varying the proportions of materials, or by substitution for the cementing
and aggregate, the finished product can be made suitable to its application with varying
strength, density, or chemical and thermal resistance properties. The properties of concrete
depend on the type of structure being built, how the concrete will be mixed and delivered,
and how it will be placed to form this structure.
10.Read the text and choose the most suitable heading for each of the numbered
paragraphs. There is one extra heading:
A. Durability
B. Thermal properties of concrete
C. Mixing
D. Concrete materials
1. The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most
abundant mineral on earth. Concrete can also be made with fly ash, slag cement, and
silica fume, all waste byproducts from power plants, steel mills, and other
manufacturing facilities.
2. Concrete builds durable, long-lasting structures that will not rust, rot, or burn. Life spans
for concrete building products can be double or triple those of other common building
materials.
3. Homes built with concrete walls, foundations, and floors are highly energy efficient
because they take advantage of concrete’s ability to absorb and retain heat. This means
homeowners can significantly cut their heating and cooling bills and install smaller-
capacity HVAC equipment.
11.Read the text. For questions 1-10 choose the answer a, b or c, which you think fits best
according to the text:
Metals
Steel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1%
by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but
various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and
tungsten. Carbon and other elements act as a hardening agent, preventing dislocations in the
iron atom crystal lattice from sliding past one another.
Varying the amount of alloying elements and form of their presence in the steel (solute
elements, precipitated phase) controls properties such as the hardness, ductility, and tensile
strength of the resulting steel. Steel with increased carbon content can be made harder and
stronger than iron, but is also less ductile.
Alloys with a higher carbon content are known as cast iron because of their lower
melting point. Steel also differs from wrought iron, which can contain a small amount of
carbon. The advantages of steel are increased rust resistance and better weldability.
Though steel had been produced by various inefficient methods long before the
Renaissance, its use became more common after more efficient production methods were
developed in the 17th century. With the invention of the Bessemer process in the mid-19th
century, steel became an inexpensive mass-produced material.
Today, steel is one of the most common materials in the world, with more than 1300
million tons produced annually. It is a major component in buildings, infrastructure, tools,
ships, automobiles, machines, appliances, and weapons.
Modern steels are made with varying combinations of alloy metals to fulfill many
purposes. Carbon steel, composed simply of iron and carbon, accounts for 90% of steel
production. High strength low alloy steel has small additions (usually < 2% by weight) of other
elements, typically 1.5% manganese, to provide additional strength for a modest price
increase. Low alloy steel is alloyed with other elements, usually molybdenum, manganese,
chromium, or nickel, in amounts of up to 10% by weight to improve the hardness of thick
sections. Stainless steels contain a minimum of 11% chromium, often combined with nickel, to
resist corrosion (rust).
Hadfield steel (after Sir Robert Hadfield) or manganese steel contains 12–14%
manganese which when abraded forms an incredibly hard skin which resists wearing.
Examples include tank tracks and bulldozer blade edges.
1. Steel is a ___________. a) better b) worse c) the same

a) alloying material b) alloy 7. Methods of producing inexpensive steel
c) type of iron were developed ___________.
2. There are __________ alloying elements a) long before the Renaissance
used to produce steel. b) in the 17th century
a) one b) two c) many c) in the mid-19th century
3. Properties of steel depend on 8. Nowadays steel is used as a common
the_____________ of alloying elements. material in _______________.
a) type b) amount and form c) number a) construction only
4. Greater percentage of carbon makes the b) many applications c) tool making
resulting steel ____________. 9. Different combinations of alloying
a) harder but less ductile elements provide for _____________.
b) stronger but harder a) improved properties
c) stronger and more ductile b) ductility
5. Cast iron __________ carbon. c) rust resistance
a) contains b) doesn’t contain 10. Hadfield steel is very _______________.
6. Steel possesses ___________ properties a) strong b) rust resistant c) ductile
than iron.
1. Прочитайте тест. Заполните пропуски в предложениях.

Rock is the ______________________ . Level B
The main property of rock structures is ________________________ .
The main disadvantages of rock material are _____________________ .
Different forms of mortar for dry-stone walls were used to __________________ .
Huts in the U.K. were constructed from _________________________ .
Granite was used in different periods of our history: _______________________ .
Slate is mostly used for _______________ .
Rock
Rock structures have existed for as long as history can recall. It is the longest lasting
building material available, and is usually readily available. There are many types of rock
throughout the world all with differing attributes that make them better or worse for
particular uses. Rock is a very dense material so it gives a lot of protection too, its main draw-
back as a material is its weight and awkwardness. Its energy density is also considered a big
draw-back, as stone is hard to keep warm without using large amounts of heating resources.
Dry-stone walls have been built for as long as humans have put one stone on top of
another. Eventually different forms of mortar were used to hold the stones together, cement
being the most commonplace now.
The granite-strewn uplands of Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom, for example,
provided ample resources for early settlers. Circular huts were constructed from loose granite
rocks throughout the Neolithic and early Bronze Age, and the remains of an estimated 5,000
can still be seen today. Granite continued to be used throughout the Medieval period (see
Dartmoor longhouse) and into modern times. Slate is another stone type, commonly used as
roofing material in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world where it is found.
Mostly stone buildings can be seen in most major cities, some civilizations built entirely
with stone such as the Pyramids in Egypt, the Aztec pyramids and the remains of the Inca
civilization.
2. Разделите текст на абзацы. Используйте вопросы в качестве плана.

Переведите устно, выписав незнакомые слова.
- what is wood?
- what are the main properties of wood?
- what is important for the choice of a definite wooden material?
- how was wood used in ancient times?
- what is a wood-lot?
- what has changed with the invention of mechanizing saws?
Wood
Wood is a product of trees, and sometimes other fibrous plants, used for construction
purposes when cut or pressed into lumber and timber, such as boards, planks and similar
materials. It is a generic building material and is used in building just about any type of
structure in most climates. Wood can be very flexible under loads, keeping strength while
bending, and is incredibly strong when compressed vertically. There are many differing
qualities to the different types of wood, even among same tree species. This means specific
species are better for various uses than others. And growing conditions are important for
deciding quality. Historically, wood for building large structures was used in its unprocessed
form as logs. The trees were just cut to the needed length, sometimes stripped of bark, and
then notched or lashed into place. In earlier times, and in some parts of the world, many
country homes or communities had a personal wood-lot from which the family or community
would grow and harvest trees to build with. These lots would be tended to like a garden. With
the invention of mechanizing saws came the mass production of dimensional lumber. This
made buildings quicker to put up and more uniform. Thus the modern western style home
was made.
3. Read the text and 20 statements. Cross out the statements that do not correspond to
the text content:
1. Stone has always been used in construction as it possesses valuable properties.
2. In the past stone was used more widely than nowadays.
3. Stone is one of the most expensive building materials.
4. Different types of stone were used for many purposes.
5. It is necessary for any builder to know the classification of stone by their origin.
6. Igneous stones are the hardest.
7. Granite is hard and non-porous.
8. Sedimentary rocks were formed on sea beds.
9. Limestone and granite are examples of sedimentary rocks.
10. Metamorphic stone was formed on sea beds.
11. Heat and pressure formed metamorphic stone from pre-existing stone.
12. All existing stones belong to one of the three groups.
13. Any stone can be used for construction.
14. Only special types of stone may be used for construction.
15. Different types of stone suit different purposes.
16. Both igneous and sedimentary stones are used for construction of walls.
17. Roofs are made of sandstone and limestone.
18. Granite is the hardest stone, it never cracks.
19. Some types of sandstone can’t be used for load-bearing elements.
20. Knowledge of the origin of stones can help builders to choose the right material for
structural elements.
Stone
Stone has been used as a building material for thousands of years. It has long been
recognized as a material of great durability and superior artistic quality, the foremost choice
for buildings associated with status, power and religion. The pyramids in Giza, burial chambers
in the UK and temples in Malta were all built from stone over 4000 years ago and are still
standing. The use of stone in construction has declined over the last hundred years, but it
remains an aristocrat of building materials.
As far as ancient building materials, the most obvious ones would be natural stone,
particularly limestone and marble. All these were used extensively in the Middle East, and
Southern Europe. The Greeks and Romans used these materials for exteriors, for tile, for
support elements like columns, and for their artwork too – statues of gods, etc.
In working with stone one should know the various types of stone. There are three main
types, given their name from the manner whereby they were formed.
Igneous stone is formed when magma from below the earth's crust comes to the
surface and solidifies. The liquefied material from beneath the crust of the earth spews forth
from a volcano as lava. Igneous stones are hard and non-porous, the best example is granite.
Sedimentary stone is a soft and fairly porous rock formed from deposits of eroded pre-
existing rock that settled in layers mostly on sea beds, and became compacted. The best
examples are sandstone and limestone.
Metamorphic stone is a hard and non-porous rock formed from pre-existing rock that
has been altered by intense heat or pressure. The best examples are marble and slate.
There are huge variations within each of these rock types, caused by specific mineralogy
and geology conditions, and while any stone can be used for building, they each have
constraints that make them more or less suitable for different purposes. Granite, sandstone
and limestone can all be used for building walls, but slate is only suitable for roofs and floors.
Some types of granite can contain mineral salts that cause cracking; slate can contain harmful
minerals that break down on exposure to the atmosphere causing stone damage; and
sandstone can be too porous and fragile for load-bearing structures. An understanding of how
the rock material was formed will reveal how it can be used in a building, what its limitations
are, and how it will weather over time.
4. Переведите текст письменно.
Concrete
Concrete is a composite building material made from the combination of aggregate
(composite) and a binder such as cement. The most common form of concrete is Portland
cement concrete, which consists of mineral aggregate (generally gravel and sand), Portland
cement and water. After mixing, the cement hydrates and eventually hardens into a stone-like
material. When used in the generic sense, this is the material referred to by the term
concrete.
For a concrete construction of any size, as concrete has a rather low tensile strength, it
is generally strengthened using steel rods or bars (known as re-bars). This strengthened
concrete is then referred to as reinforced concrete. In order to minimize any air bubbles that
would weaken the structure, a vibrator is used to eliminate any air that has been entrained
when the liquid concrete mix is poured around the ironwork. Concrete has been the
predominant building material in this modern age due to its longevity, formability, and ease of
transport.
5. Read the text and give the title to it:
Due to its cost, concrete is the most commonly used construction material in the
world. In fact, commercial builders have long used concrete wall systems for fast, cost-
effective erection of buildings. Precast concrete components will not corrode or rust and
require little maintenance to retain their durability. No painting is needed to protect a
structure built with precast concrete, nor is it necessary to apply any other protective
coatings.
Most of these advantages are due to the natural characteristics of concrete, which is
exceptionally strong. While its durability is irrefutable, builders are increasingly choosing
precast concrete for an entirely different reason: the significant life safety advantage it
provides over conventional masonry, steel, wood frame or block designs.
6. Прочитайте текст. Дайте название каждому абзацу. Одно название лишнее.
1) Application of metals in construction.

2) Properties of different types of metals.
3) Main characteristics of metal.
4) Steel is the main construction material.
5) Human labour used for metal structures.
A. Metal is used as structural framework for larger buildings such as skyscrapers, or as

an external surface covering. There are many types of metals used for building. Steel is a metal
alloy whose major component is iron, and is the usual choice for metal structural building
materials. It is strong, flexible, and if refined well and/or treated lasts a long time. Corrosion is
metal's prime enemy when it comes to longevity.
B. The lower density and better corrosion resistance of aluminium alloys and tin
sometimes overcome their greater cost. Brass was more common in the past, but is usually
restricted to specific uses or specialty items today.
C. Metal figures quite prominently in prefabricated structures such as the Quonset hut,
and can be seen used in most cosmopolitan cities. It requires a great deal of human labor to
produce metal, especially in the large amounts needed for the building industries.
D. Other metals used include titanium, chrome, gold, silver. Titanium can be used for
structural purposes, but it is much more expensive than steel. Chrome, gold, and silver are
used as decoration, because these materials are expensive and lack structural qualities such as
tensile strength or hardness.
7. Read the text. Four sentences have been removed from it. Choose from sentences A-E
the one which fits each gap (1-4). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to
use.
Mortar
Mortar is a workable paste made of water and cement. It is used primarily in

bricklaying but may also be used for tile and stone work. Mortar used for tile installation will
have higher water content than brick or stone mortar. Early mortars were produced by
calcining limestone in a kiln and slaking it for long periods of time in water creating lime putty.
1________________ . Locally available sand was added to the slaked lime putty to create lime
mortar. These mortars were used to construct masonry walls containing brick, block or stone.
The lime in these mortars absorbed carbon dioxide from the air to convert it back to its
original chemical form (limestone).
To increase the speed of construction, pozzollans such as brick dust and volcanic ash
were added to lime. Natural cements and hydraulic lime products were produced by calcining
limestone high in silica content or with clay. 2________________. In the early 1870's Portland
cement was introduced in the United States. 3_____________________.
Combinations of lime and cement were developed using alternate letters of the
phrase MASON WORKS. Type M mortar is the strongest mortar with the least lime.
4_______________. In these formulations, lime enhances workability, water retention and
bond strength. The carbonation of lime also enhances long term strength development.
A. Type K is the weakest mortar with the most lime.

B. Portland cement provided a more uniform alternative to pozzollans, natural cement and
hydraulic lime and became widely used
C. This was necessary to enhance the workability and the soundness of the mortar.
D. The first mortars were made of mud or clay and water.
E. These products would develop strength without the addition of pozzollans and would
set under water.
8. Найдите в тексте информацию о ненесущей наружной стене (стене из лёгких

навесных панелей). Переведите на русский язык.
Glass
Glassmaking is considered an art form as well as an industrial process or material.

Clear windows have been used since the invention of glass to cover small openings in a
building. They provided humans with the ability to both let light into rooms while at the same
time keeping inclement weather outside. Glass is generally made from mixtures of sand and
silicates in a very hot fire stove called a kiln. Very often additives are added to the mixture
when making to produce glass with shades of colors or various characteristics (such as bullet
proof glass, or light emittance).
The use of glass in architectural buildings has become very popular in the modern
culture. Glass «curtain walls» can be used to cover the entire facade of a building, or it can be
used to span over a wide roof structure in a "space frame". These uses though require some
sort of frame to hold sections of glass together, as glass by its self is too brittle and would
require an overly large kiln to be used to span such large areas by itself.
9. Передайте содержание текста на русском языке.
Modern Industry
Modern building is a multibillion dollar industry, and the production and harvesting of
raw materials for building purposes is on a world wide scale. Often being a primary
governmental and trade key point between nations. Environmental concerns are also
becoming a major world topic concerning the availability and sustainability of certain
materials, and the extraction of such large quantities needed for the human habitat.
10.Прочитайте текст. Сделайте устный перевод, выписав незнакомые слова.
Озаглавьте текст.
Cellular concrete is produced by the substitution of a uniform cellular structure of air

cells (voids) for some or all of the aggregate particles found in standard concretes. Precise
volume management of these air cells, produced mechanically by means of special foam liquid
concentrates, results in controlled density over a broad range of applications, from
geotechnical fills, insulated roof deck construction, floor fills and leveling courses, firewalls,
and storm water runoff detention, to pre-cast, reinforced floor, roof, and wall units and mine
tailings disposal and backfill.
11. Прочитайте текст. Опишите по-русски, как производят газобетон.
A method of producing gas concrete

A castable mass is prepared by mixing water, a lime component including lime having a
t60 value of less than ten minutes, and a sand component. A calcium sulphate-containing
component is subsequently admixed and a rising agent, such as aluminum powder, is
subsequently admixed. The mass thus prepared is cast into molds and fabricated into gas
concrete by the conventional steps of permitting the mass to rise and harden, cutting the
hardened material to size, and hydro thermally curing. The process makes possible the use of
readily available inexpensive lime material without the disadvantages normally resulting from
use thereof.
12.Прочитайте текст. Дайте устный перевод. Подчеркнутое предложение

переведите письменно.
Plastic
The term «plastics» covers a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic condensation
or polymerization products that can be molded or extruded into objects or films or fibers.
Their name is derived from the fact that in their semi-liquid state they are malleable, or have
the property of plasticity. Plastics vary immensely in heat tolerance, hardness, and resiliency.
Combined with this adaptability, the general uniformity of composition and lightness of
plastics ensures their use in almost all industrial applications today. Plastic is used to do
preservatives too.
13.Переведите текст письменно.

Foam
More recently synthetic polystyrene or polyurethane foam has been used on a limited
scale. It is light weight, easily shaped and an excellent insulator. It is usually used as part of a
structural insulated panel where the foam is sandwiched between wood and cement.
Level C
1. Read the text and make up a plan of it. After reading the text translate its title.
Stabilized Soil Building
As the population of the world continues to grow, so does the need for housing, thus
cheap, easy to build accommodation for the thriving masses is a big problem in the developing
world.
Soil has been used as a building material for thousands of years, but unprotected
structures seldom withstand wet climates for long periods of time. Relatively new materials
such as cement have meant that blocks can be made which will last for centuries, but they are
too expensive for most people in developing countries. A possible solution to this would be to
make a block using soil that is then stabilized, as this adds strength and durability to the raw
material, even in less arid conditions.
Earth building is the most common method of making cheap accommodation since
earth or soil is readily available almost anywhere on the planet. To give an idea of how big the
earth building field Houben states: "Thirty percent of the world’s population, or nearly
1,500,000,000 human beings, live in a home of unbaked earth. Roughly 50% of the population
of developing countries, the majority of rural populations, and at least 20% of urban and
suburban populations live in earth homes. Statistics show that there must be an extra
36,000,000 homes built for the urban population in Africa alone, by the year 2000." Note
particularly that these figures do not include rural populations and indeed rural areas are
where earth homes are becoming more common.
Stabilization techniques can be broken down into three categories: mechanical, physical
and chemical.
Mechanical stabilization compacts the soil, changing its density, mechanical strength,
compressibility, permeability and porosity. Physical stabilization changes the properties of the
soil by acting on its texture, this can be done by: controlling the mixture of different grain
fractions, heat treatment, drying or freezing and electrical treatment. Chemical stabilization
changes the properties of the soil by adding other materials or chemicals. This happens either
by a physic-chemical reaction between the grains and the materials or added product, or by
creating a matrix which binds or coats the grains.
Stabilization fulfills a number of objectives that are necessary to achieve a lasting
structure from locally available soil. Some of these are: better mechanical characteristics
(leading to better wet and dry compressive strength), better cohesion between particles
(reducing porosity which reduces changes in volume due to moisture fluctuations), and
improved resistance to wind and rain erosion. Using one or more of the stabilization
techniques listed above, many of these objectives may be fulfilled. Optimum methods depend
greatly on the type of soil, and a careful study of the local soil is necessary to suggest an
effective method of stabilization.
In the case of mechanical stabilization, the soil is compacted to a greater density, and
there will always be an improvement in its mechanical properties with virtually any soil type.
This is not true however with other forms of stabilization, where different soil mixtures can
lead to better or worse properties using the same technique. In the majority of cases
mechanical stabilization is used in conjunction with a common chemical stabilizer, such as
cement. If the stabilizer and the soil are mixed together thoroughly and there is a suitable clay
fraction in the soil, the compaction process reduces the quantity of chemical stabilizer
required in the block. The increased density also increases the effectiveness of the cement
matrix, given that the cement is left in a moist environment (the hydration period to let the
cement cure) for at least 7-14 days
2. Прочитайте текст. Расскажите, о чем в нем идет речь. Найдите информацию

в тексте:
What is wood-cement compatibility?
What is maturity concept?
Cement composites
Cement bonded composites are an important class of building materials. These

products are made of hydrated cement paste that binds wood or alike particles or fibers to
make pre-cast building components. Various fibrous materials including paper and fiberglass
have been used as binders.
Wood and natural fibers are composed of various soluble organic compounds like
carbohydrates, glycosides and phenolics. These compounds are known to retard cement
setting. Therefore, before using a wood in making cement boned composites, its compatibility
with cement is assessed.
Wood-cement compatibility is the ratio of a parameter related to the property of a
wood-cement composite to that of a neat cement paste. The compatibility is often expressed
as a percentage value. To determine wood-cement compatibility, methods based on different
properties are used, such as, hydration characteristics, strength, interfacial bond and
morphology.
Various methods are used by researchers such as the measurement of hydration
characteristics of a cement-aggregate mix; the comparison of the mechanical properties of
cement-aggregate mixes and the visual assessment of micro structural properties of the
wood-cement mixes.
It has been found that the hydration test by measuring the change in hydration
temperature with time is the most convenient method. Recently, Karade et al. have reviewed
these methods of compatibility assessment and suggested a method based on the «maturity
concept» i.e. taking in consideration both time and temperature of cement hydration
reaction.
3. Прочитайте текст. О чем в нем идет речь? Переведите письменно

подчеркнутое предложение.
Building Products
In the market place the term Building products often refers to the ready-made
particles/sections, made from various materials that are fitted in architectural hardware and
decorative hardware parts of a building. The list of building products exclusively exclude the
building materials, which are used to construct the building architecture and supporting
fixtures like windows, doors, cabinets, etc. Building products do not make any part of a
bajingo rather they support and make them working in a modular fashion .It also can refer to
items used to put such hardware together such as glues, caulking, paint, and anything else
bought for the purpose of constructing a building.
4. Прочитайте текст. В каком из абзацев речь идет о
 важном исследовании, проведенном американском профессором;

 том, что мире производят миллиарды тон бетона в строительных целях;
 том, что в последние годы появились новые технологии в изготовлении
бетона;
 переработанном стекле, которое используется в качестве заполнителя;
 армированном волокнами композиционном материале;
 современных цементных композиционных материалах;
 том, что современная строительная индустрия использует больше
природных материалом, чем любая другая;
 том, где можно найти информацию о переработанных материалах;
 умных материалах, способных менять свои свойства.
Classification of Building Products
(1) The construction industry consumes more natural resources than any other
industry. With increasing public awareness of the needs and demands of sustainable
development and environmental conservation, no other industry is called on as much as the
country's construction and building industry to evolve their practices to satisfy the needs of
our current generation, without curtailing the resources of future generations to meet theirs.
For example, concrete is by far the most important building material, with billions of tons
produced each year worldwide, and without which the nation's infrastructure is unthinkable.
Considerable progress and breakthroughs have been made in recent years in concrete
technology, which have largely gone unnoticed by the public at large.
(2) It has been said that more progress has been made in the last 25 years than in the
previous 150 years since Portland cement was invented. Modern cement composites can now
be engineered to have strengths approaching those of steel, energy dissipation capacities of
body armor, and durability properties that can make products last basically indefinitely, and
be as decorative and aesthetically pleasing as natural stone, yet with superior mechanical
properties. Fiber-reinforced composites permeated the aerospace and automotive industries
decades ago and are now slowly finding their way into civil engineering structures. Smart
materials, defined as those materials that can change their properties in response to external
conditions, are also being introduced into civil infrastructure systems, and so are new
developments in metals, with new high-strength steel alloys and non-corrosive steels that are
changing engineering practice. All of these advanced materials are essential for an efficient
renewal and maintenance of our infrastructure and offer exciting prospects for vibrant
research areas. Yet, all of these research efforts should be guided by the overarching goal of
reducing the construction industry’s footprint on planet Earth.
(3) One important series of research projects completed under the direction of
Professor Meyer resulted in the successful use of recycled glass as aggregate for concrete
products such as floor tiles, wall panels, table counter tops, etc. Several other projects dealing
with the beneficial use of recycled materials are briefly described on his Web site as well.
5. Прочитайте текст. О чем в нем идет речь? Переведите следующие

предложения на русский язык. Вставьте их в пропуски в тексте.
1. … the service life of concrete structures is often not as long as would be desirable.
2. Modern reinforced concrete emerged as the building material of choice towards the
end of the nineteenth century, and prestressed concrete followed in the late 1920s as a
special variation of structural concrete.
3. … a material that the architects say will save 125 tons of carbon emissions compared to
a concrete structure of similar size.
4. Another challenge is the capability of such structures to resist the effects of strong
ground motion as experienced during earthquakes.
5. We are looking at a variety of low carbon building materials including crop-based
materials, innovative uses of traditional materials and developing low carbon cements
and concretes to reduce impact of new infrastructure.
6. … the construction industry is a major contributor of environmental pollutants.
(а) ____________________ . Since then, the built environment has been shaped by
concrete as by no other structural material. Although the design and construction of
reinforced and prestressed concrete structures can be considered a «mature» field, with
almost 100 years of experience to draw on, there are always new challenges to be overcome
through research efforts.
Due to economic pressures or inadequate quality control, (b) ________________.
Research can lead to design and construction alternatives that result in much more durable
structures.
(c) _________________ . And then there are the security and safety concerns of a
public sensitized by recent terror attacks and natural disasters, which pose significant
challenges to the research community to devise schemes of protecting our built environment
against impact and blast loads, as well as other man-made and natural disasters.
Building houses out of crops could help combat climate change
The world's tallest wooden residential building is being built in Murray Grove, in
Hackney, London, by the architect Waugh Thistleton. The nine-storey building will be built of
cross-laminated timber panels – (d) _________________ .
Houses made of modern hemp, timber or straw composites could help combat climate
change by reducing the carbon footprint of building construction, according to researchers at
the University of Bath.
Currently (e) ______________, with buildings and other build infrastructure
contributing to around 19% of the UK’s eco-footprint.
The environmental impact of the construction industry is huge. For example, it is
estimated that worldwide the manufacture of cement contributes up to ten per cent of all
industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
(f) _______________________ . As well as reducing the environmental footprint, many
low carbon building materials offer other benefits, including healthier living through higher
levels of thermal insulation and regulation of humidity levels.
6. Прочитайте текст и переведите его на русский язык, используя словарь.

Straw bale houses are increasingly popular in Europe. Here is an example from
Switzerland, where prefab meets straw in a clean, modern aesthetic. The Strohaus, designed
by Zurich-based architect Felix Jerusalem, makes use of compressed straw panels.
7. Прочитайте текст и объясните, что такое «a grid shell».
«A grid shell» is a structure which derives its strength from its double curvature (in the
same way that a fabric structure derives strength from double curvature), but is constructed
of a grid or lattice.
The grid can be made of any material, but is most often wood (similar to garden trellis)
or steel.”
8. О чем идет речь в следующем тексте? Озаглавьте его. Найдите в словаре, что
означают подчеркнутые сокращения
Foamed concrete or lightweight concrete derived from aqueous foams are suitable for
both precast and cast-in-place applications. Some of the highly insulative cementitious foams
at densities 48 kg/m3(3 pcf) to 645 kg/m3(40 pcf) or higher can be used as block fills,
lightweight roof deck and void-fill materials. Good strength characteristics with reduced
weight make lightweight concrete based on aqueous foams suitable for structural and semi-
structural applications such as lightweight partitions, wall and floor panels, and lightweight
blocks. Cementitious foams derived from premium systems are suitable for thin layer coating
applications where specific performance criteria are required.
Foamed concrete and foamed cement made with foam have very fine pore structure,
unlike that made with conventional proteinaceous and surfactant foams. The pore structure of
foams hardly show any sign of deterioration as the density of the foamed cement decreases to
below 160 kg/m3 (10 pcf). At densities below 160 kg/m3, the pore texture of foamed cement
derived from conventional foam agents becomes so coarse that most of them show severe
structural collapse.
The inert nature of foam systems makes them compatible with different kinds of
aggregates, fillers, extenders, accelerators, colorants, hydraulic inorganics and many other
additives.
9. Прочитайте информацию. К какому типу текста она относится:
- статья,
- реклама,
- текст учебника,
- часть разговора,
- письмо.
Переведите письменно выделенные жирным шрифтом словосочетания.
We are a company based in Asia and have been supplying the technology for the
production of lightweight foamed or cellular concrete locally & worldwide. We cater for small
and large scale production of foamed concrete such as precast wall blocks and panels. In
addition we also have experience in providing technology for cast in-situ wall systems,
decorative architectural components, floor screeds, roof insulation and also foundations or
bases for roads and building aprons.
We mainly do:
1) supply of foam generators and mixers;
2) supply of foaming chemicals;
3) training and technical assistance.
Our technology is not just about equipment & materials but it’s also know how &
method in producing quality foam concrete. Therefore we place great emphasis on
equipment, training & consultancy. We have been providing training & tailoring our systems
to small & medium builders for some time now and have exported our technology overseas.
We have made production of lightweight foam concrete simple with low capital investment
and we have tailored our equipment & techniques towards this end. Our equipment is
friendly, easy to install & maintain and available in various capacities depending on your
budget.
Welcome to cellular-concrete.com a resource for people interested in learning about
cellular concrete technology and the constructive role it plays in solving construction, mining,
and manufacturing challenges.
10.Прочитайте текст и объясните, что такое геополимеры и как они

производятся?
Apparently the science of geopolymers is an ancient technology that was recently

rediscovered and is now used in many fields where it replaces Portland cement or for making
low temperature ceramics. It is claimed that the Ancient Egyptains used this technology in
casting many of the stones used in building the Pyramids. It is supposed they carried the
materials for geopolymers up the pyramid and cast the stones in place. Although this has been
the subject of much controversy by Egyptologists, no matter it has been found the technology
works. It is a Green answer to the manufacture of Portland cement. Geopolymers are made
from earth products like Portland cement without using the high heat needed for Portland
Cement.
To make a batch of geopolymers there two different approaches that you can take. The
first of these is treating sand with a 50% solution of sodium hydroxide (lye) that causes the
sand to be converted into sodium silicate (waterglass). The other method is to start with a
solution of sodium silicate. The second method is the easiest, and also less hazardous. Sodium
hydroxide solution can cause severe burns if it contacts your skin.
By adding to the solution of sodium silicate that is from either of the processes finely
ground stone or clay that has been fired. Ground glass works as well, so does finely ground
ceramics or even bricks. What this adds to the mixture is a source of alumino-silicate minerals.
It works in the same fashion as epoxy. The sodium silicate acts as the unset polymer, and the
ground-up alumino-silicate minerals act as the activator causing the whole mixture to harden.
Before the mixture hardens you can blend in aggregates consisting of sand and gravel or
crushed stone. They should be mixed in a 3 to 1 ratio with the geopolymer mixture. Three
times as much aggregate as geopolymer mixture. This is like modern concrete. If you want to
make a finer grade of stone instead of a coarse stone like concrete. This can also be used to
make a low temperature ceramic that will set as low as 50º C. You will need various mineral
pigments to either paint the moldings or to color the geopolymers.
You can use geopolymers in any fashion where Portland cement is used. It can be used in
forms to make walls or used in rubber molds to make more intricate objects. Many people
manage to make this a part or full time business doing custom rubber mold making and
casting using geopolymers.
Елена Ивановна Чиркова
Елена Георгиевна Черновец
Юлия Сергеевна Цуприк
СТРОИТЕЛЬНЫЕ МАТЕРИАЛЫ
STUDENT’S BOOK
Учебно-методическое пособие
по английскому языку
___________________________________________________________
Подписано в печать . формат бумаги 60х 1∕16
Усл. печ. л. 6,5. Зак. 100.
Отпечатано на ротапринте.
_________________________________________________________________
Тип.ВИТИ

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ВОЕННЫЙ ИНЖЕНЕРНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ

Е.И. Чиркова, Е.Г. Черновец, Ю.С. Цуприк

для курсантов II курса

Допущено решением Ученого совета института

Данное пособие составлено в соответствии с Учебной Программой по

Рецензенты: д.п.н., проф. Шарухина Т.Г. (Санкт-Петербургский военный институт

General information Page

Unit I. Classification of building materials 4-7

Unit XII. Modern concrete 74-80

Unit XV. Test focus 92-99

Supplementary reading 100-117

3. Learn the words and translate their derivatives

Present Simple Past Simple

1) The Empire State building is one of the world’s tallest buildings.

Classification – classify, nature- natural, fabricate, origin – original, product-production,

for example: building material, building structure

4. Can you guess:

6. Read the text and make up a scheme “Classification of Building Materials”

according to the content of the text:

Classification of building materials

H o m e t a s k : learn the words in Task 4

6. Read the text again and make up the scheme on p. 6.

Common Building Materials

H o m e t a s k : Level B: speak about classification of building materials

TRANSLATION GUIDE Levels A,B,C

1. Какой из данных ниже отрывков можно отнести к разряду научных текстов и

2. Разделите на две группы признаки, характерные для литературно-

3. Проанализируйте приведенный ниже текст. Какие языковые средства, присущие

4. Допустимо ли в переводе смешение стилей? К чему это приводит?

7. Participle II правильных глаголов совпадает по форме со сказуемым, выраженным

8. Приступая к переводу текста, сначала прочитайте его полностью, чтобы

A. Строительные материалы могут классифицироваться по-разному: в соответствии

10.Используйте следующий алгоритм для перевода текстов на следующей странице.

Переведите текст в письменном виде.

Translate the text in writing:

Translate the text in writing:

Translate the text in writing:

UNIT II. PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

WORD Vocabulary Level A

1. Do Task 1 (Level A).

1. Mechanical properties of metals___________them to resist a) able b) ability c) enable

2. Water resistance of the material depends on their a) density b) dense c) densely

3. In the___________materials water fills the pores only a) pore b) porous c) porosity

5. Granite is a durable material, its________depends on the a) durable b) durability

6. Wood must be_________to resist breakage. a) strong b) strength

12. Compressive strength is the response of a material a) compress b) compression

1. Choose the correct alternative. Level A

2. Study the table. Translate the words below the table.

3. Match the sentences (1-6 and A-F).

5. Match the numbers and the letters

Active Grammar. Modal verb SHOULD

3. Do Task 3 (Level A).

7. Identify these materials from the table.

Density kg/m3 Melting point O C Tensile strength N/mm2

1) This material has the highest melting point.

8.Read the text and find information about:

The Properties of Building Materials

6. Read the text again and complete the table.

10.Think of properties of steel and concrete that are valuable in construction.

11. Write the properties (1-9) according to the given definitions.

1) C__________ s_______ is the ability to withstand downward force or pressure.

Properties of Building Materials

A property is a quality or characteristic that belongs to something. All materials have

BASIC GROUPS OF PROPERTIES

1) C____ s_ is the ability to withstand downward force or pressure.

_2____Granite is widely used in construction of bridges and buildings not