1. What is the text about? 2. What is the range of the engineers functions? 3. Is the detailed knowledge of scientific concepts very important? 4. What knowledge and skills does the engineer require? 5. What are the professional requirements to the design engineer? 6. What are the production and construction engineers responsible for? 7. What specialists may be employed at a large plant? 8. What are the requirements to the sales engineer? 9. Could knowledge of economics law and psychology be useful for the sales engineer? 10. What position do many engineers eventually move into after several years in one or more of the above areas?
Exercise 3 Translate and memorize the following expressions from the text.
Area of engineering, a wide range of functions, research and development, most likely, in the reverse direction, to move toward, to become more detailed, in general, similar requirements, the implementation of a completed design, to be responsible for, to produce the hardware, methods of manufacture, to employ specialists, the equipment is installed correctly, aspects of safety and pollution control, rapid changes, constantly modifying products, to be useful, a decided advantage.
Exercise 4 Find synonyms among the following words.
To manufacture, method, useful, to install, for example, thorough, to be responsible for, several, to require, correctly, to include, quickly, rapid, important, implementation, to produce, to demand, means, fast, significant, to equip, accurately, helpful, fulfillment, rapidly, comprehensive, to be in charge of, for instance, some, to comprise.
Exercise 5 Write a summary of the text, presenting the content of each paragraph in 2-3 sentences. Use the expressions:
The main idea of the text is... The text deals with one of the most important (urgent) issues... Much attention (consideration) is given to (classification, description)... It focuses on the matters of The text gives an overview of... The text is mainly concerned with... The aim of the survey is to show (demonstrate, find)... Particular emphasis is given to the analysis of... The text gives a detailed analysis of (reports on)... To sum up... In conclusion
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Exercise 1 Read the text and translate it in written form.
Realms of Engineering
Traditionally, engineering activities have been grouped into certain areas of specialization. Scientific discoveries and their development gave birth to a variety of fields of application. Several of the more commonly accepted categories are described below.
Electrical Engineering, in general, deals with the creation, storage, transmission, and utilization of electrical energy and information. Most of its activities may be identified with power or communications. Electrical engineering is of recent origin, dating back only to the eighteenth century, when electrical phenomena were first subjected to scientific scrutiny. After this, useful applications were quickly identified. Today, the impact of a power failure graphically illustrates our dependence on electrical power. The field encompasses information systems, computer technology, energy conversion, automatic control, instrumentation, and many other specialties.
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Industrial Engineering is mainly concerned with the manufacture of useful commodities from raw materials. Since most of the other engineering fields have a bearing on this activity, the industrial engineer requires a particularly broad view. The management of men, materials, machines, and money are all within his endeavor in achieving effective production. Plant layout, automation, work methods, and quality control are included, and, more than in most of the other traditional branches of engineering, the industrial engineer needs to have some grounding in psychology and dealing with personnel.
Mechanical Engineering develops machines for the generation and utilization of power. Mechanical engineers design turbines, engines, pumps, and their ancillary mechanisms and structures. Heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, transportation, manufacturing, and vibration are some areas falling within their domain. The art of mechanical engineering dates back to the labor-saving devices and military machines of ancient times, but it received its greatest boost in the eighteenth century with the invention of the steam engine and industrial machinery, which marked the onset of the industrial revolution.
Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, the production and use of metals, has two distinct branches. One deals with the location, extraction, and treatment of ores to obtain base metals, and the other with the transformation of these metals into useful forms and with the study of techniques for improving their performance in specific applications. The study of ceramics is often included in this field. Special topics range all the way from materials that may be used with living tissue to the development of composites for high-temperature applications such as in the heat shields used for satellite reentry.
In addition to the fields identified above, other categories of engineering are often encountered. These include aerospace, agricultural, chemical, civil, architectural, nuclear, textile engineering, etc.
Engineering Societies
No other profession has organized itself into as many different ties as engineering has. In all, 22 societies and related groups are listed in the directory of the Engineers Joint Council. In the main, the different societies disseminate information and exchange ideas through technical meetings and publications. They endeavor to maintain a professional consciousness and try to enhance, for example, by the improvement and accreditation of engineering education. Many also support and encourage research and development. Membership in society is possible at several levels, each requiring a specified amount of experience and achievement. It is by participating in such societies that engineers enhance their professional awareness and activities.
