Tom: Are you going to attend the seminar tonight?
Bill: I should go. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do so.
Т.: Why should you go there?
В.: The speaker will talk about composite ceramics. I must know all about this subject. As you know, I'll do some experimental work in this field next June. So I'll have to know about it.
Т.: In that case, you ought to cancel (отменить) your other plans and attend the seminar. You shouldn't miss (пропускать) it.
В.: You are right. But I can't go.
Т.: Why can't you?
В.: Don't you remember (помнить)? We are to take an exam in French tomorrow. I have to study for the examination.
T. Do you have to study? Is it a necessity?
В.: Well, I suppose the expression «have to study» is too strong. No one is forcing me. But I really ought to study tonight. Shouldn't you do it too?
Т.: I don't have to study. I studied last night and I am sure I can pass it. Besides that, I must attend the seminar.
В.: Why must you attend it?
Т.: Have you forgotten? I must introduce the speaker to the audience.
В.: Yes, that's right.
Т.: Well, I have to go now. I may be late. I'll see you later.
Exercise 4. Speak about:
Space industrialization and its importance for mankind.
The latest achievements in industrial materials production in space.
Use exercises 1, 2 and the following words and word combinations for your topic: carry out experiments; obtain useful and valuable data; on board a space vehicle; zero-gravity condition; zero-gravity state advantages, materials of better quality; at a larger scale; in case; according to.
Exercise 5. Read and smile.
The teacher was trying to explain the fundamentals of Science to her class. «Sir Isaak Newton was sitting under a tree looking up into it when an apple fell on his head, and from that he could discover the law of gravity. Wasn't that wonderful?»
«Yes, it certainly was», a pupil said, «and if he had been at school at his books, he wouldn't have discovered anything».
A Trick on a President
W.H. Harrison was the ninth President of the United States. Like so many other early American presidents he was born in a small town. As a boy, he was extremely quiet. In fact, he was so quiet that he had the reputation of being very stupid (глупый). The town people therefore often used to play tricks (шутка) on him. For example, they would put a nickel and a dime (монеты в 5 и 10 центов) in front of him and tell him to take whichever one he wanted. He would always choose the nickel and they would laugh at him.
One day, a woman took pity (пожалеть) on him. She said: «William, why do you always choose the nickel instead (вместо) of a dime? Don't you know that a dime, though smaller in size than a nickel, is worth (стоить) much more than a nickel?» «Certainly I know it», William answered. «But if I chose the dime, they wouldn't play the trick on me any more.»
Text 6B
Прочитайте текст и расскажите о новом способе повышения пластичности и износостойкости режущего инструмента из композиционной керамики.
Composite Ceramics
Advanced ceramic materials have such interesting properties that mechanical engineers are becoming more and more interested in their use as structural parts (конструкционные детали).
Ceramic cutting tools have been in use for some time. However, it is only during the last twenty years that there has been rapid development in this field because of the development of new composite ceramics.
Composite materials are materials in which two or more different substances, such as metals, ceramics, glasses, or polymers are combined without chemical reaction. As a result one can produce a material with properties different from those of any of the individual constituents. The constituents of a composite would retain their individual characteristics.
Recently engineers have developed various kinds of composite ceramics which must combine an increased toughness (пластичность) with the same hardness and strength of usual ceramics. A promising recent development is the addition of a tiny quantity of metal to increase toughness and tool life. Thus, at room and high temperatures (1000 °C) the composite ceramics for cutting tools should possess the following properties: high strength, high toughness, high hardness, high thermal shock resistance and high chemical inertness.
Text 6C
