Active Vocabulary (Text b5) nouns and noun phrases

VERBS

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

2.2 Основные тексты

TEXT A: THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION

(ознакомительное чтение)

Engineering is one of the most ancient occupations in history. Without the skills of engineering our present day civilization never could have evolved. The first tool-makers who chipped arrows and spears from rock were the forerunners of modern mechanical engineers. The craftsmen who discovered metals in the earth and found the ways to use them were the ancestors of mining and metallurgical engineers. And the skilled technicians who erected buildings of the ancient world were the civil engineers of their time.

Almost everything we use in modern life is made by engineers. For example, if a manufacturer wants a faster car, a smaller personal stereo, or a better pen, he will ask a design engineer to find a practical solution.

Engineers use theory (ideas about engineering) to produce practical answers. The design solution must be a reasonable price, safe and reliable. A new idea that is expensive, dangerous, or doesn’t always work is not a good solution.

Generally, engineers solve problems in a methodical way. Engineers:

• define a problem,

• design a solution,

• test the solution,

• evaluate the solution.

If the solution isn’t right, the process is repeated. When a good solution is found, the next step is to:

• communicate the solution.

Engineering is often defined as making practical application of theoretical sciences such as physics and mathematics. There are a lot of different types of engineering. The one thing they have in common is that they all use Maths and Science to improve industry and manufacturing. The whole science of engineering can be broadly divided into three main areas:

• civil engineering (building, roads, etc.);

• mechanical engineering (machines, including tool-making);

• electrical engineering (electricity, lighting, etc.).

Clearly there is a big difference between building a road and designing a computer system. When you have decided which area you are interested in and thought realistically what sort of person you are, then you can decide what sort of engineer you want to be.