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Архитектура Аудит Военная наука Иностранные языки Медицина Металлургия Метрология Образование Политология Производство Психология Стандартизация Технологии |
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Архитектура Аудит Военная наука Иностранные языки Медицина Металлургия Метрология Образование Политология Производство Психология Стандартизация Технологии |
Кафедра «Иностранные языки-1»Стр 1 из 14Следующая ⇒
МОСКОВСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ПУТЕЙ СООБЩЕНИЯ (МИИТ)
Кафедра «Иностранные языки-1» Практикум По английскому языку по устным темам для студентов I курса всех специальностей ИУИТа, Гуманитарного института, Юридического института и Вечернего факультета
по дисциплине " Английский язык" МОСКВА - 2010 МОСКОВСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ПУТЕЙ СООБЩЕНИЯ (МИИТ)
Кафедра «Иностранные языки-1» Практикум По английскому языку по устным темам по дисциплине " Английский язык" МОСКВА - 2010 МОСКОВСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ПУТЕЙ СООБЩЕНИЯ (МИИТ)
Кафедра «Иностранные языки – 1» Практикум По английскому языку по устным темам Рекомендовано редакционно-издательским советом университета в качестве практикума для студентов I курса всех специальностей ИУИТа, Гуманитарного института, Юридического института и Вечернего факультета
под редакцией Е.В. Федоткиной
МОСКВА – 2010
УДК 42 П 69
Практикум по английскому языку по устным темам для студентов I курса всех специальностей ИУИТа, Гуманитарного института, Юридического института и Вечернего факультета / под редакцией Е.В. Федоткиной. – М.: МИИТ, 2010. – 84 с.
Практикум предназначен для развития навыков и умений устной речи по темам, указанным в «Рабочих программах» по курсу «Иностранные языки». Практикум представляет собой коллективный труд преподавателей кафедры «Иностранные языки - 1» Гуманитарного института. Он включает 6 модулей, 30 тем и приложение. Текстовый материал заимствован из оригинальной английской литературы и адаптирован в соответствии с целью данных методических разработок.
Апресян К.Г.- Модуль I темы 2, 3, Модуль II тема 4, Модуль IV темы 1, 2, Модуль V I темы 2-10 Приложение: №5, 8 Дергунова Л.Е. - Модуль III тема 4 Дронова Н. А. - Модуль IV тема 3 Солопенко Т.А. - Модуль III темы 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 Модуль IV темы 4, 7 Мирзабекова А.А - Модуль I тема 1, Модуль II тема 3 Мохнаткина Г.В. - Модуль II тема 2 Петрова И.М - Модуль II темы 1, 3 Решетникова В.В. – Модуль V тема 1 Русакова Н.В. - Модуль IV темы 5, 6б Модуль V темы 2, 3, 4 Модуль VI тема 9 Черкас В.Ю. – Приложение: № 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
©Московский государственный университет путей сообщения (МИИТ), 2012
Учебно-методическое издание
Практикум по английскому языку по устным темам
для студентов I курса всех специальностей ИУИТа, Гуманитарного института, Юридического института и Вечернего факультета
под редакцией Е.В. Федоткиной
Подписано в печать Формат Тираж 200 экз. Усл.- печ. л. - Заказ Изд. № 279-10 127994, Москва, ул. Образцова, 9, стр.9, ГСП - 4 Типография МИИТа
Module I: About myself, applying for a job Text 1: About myself Let me introduce myself. I am Gleb Pavlov. I was born on the 29 of September, 1993 in Moscow. I live in Moscow with my family, which is not large. There are three of us: my mother, my father and me. I would like to begin with my mother, a pleasant – looking woman, in the middle of her forties. Her name is Elena Pavlova. She works as a Personnel Manager for a large travel company. She is well respected by her colleagues and knows how to build strong relationships with all departments at the company. The next one to speak about is my father, he is 45. His name is Andrew Pavlov. He is a software developer at JSC Russian Railways. His strong technical experience and education make him a a real professional in the sphere of IT. They are always ready to support me and give me some good advice Now some words about me. I am tolerant, easy-going and responsible and diligent. I am fond of sport, music, literature and foreign languages. I am a confident computer user. This year Ive left secondary school and got the Certificate of Complete Secondary Education. To get this document I had to pass three Unified State Exams on Mathematics, Russian language and Social science. The total score of them gave me a chance to apply for five universities and be accepted by two of them. But I have chosen t he Moscow State University of Railway Engineering. The University is the leading and the largest transport institution in Russia. Now I am a first year full time student of MSURE, studying at the Institute of the Humanities. These days it is evident for almost everyone that to have a good education and a permanent job you need to know at least one foreign language and English is the most useful language to learn. We have English only once a week, so I've decided to join evening classes of the University Language Centre to have extra lessons on English. After graduating from the University I am interested in getting a prestigious and well-paid job in the sphere of Railway Management.
Questions for discussion: 1. When and where were you born? 2. What are your parents? 3. What are the main features of your character? 4. What are you fond of? 5. What exams did you have to pass to get the Certificate of Complete Secondary Education? 6. Would you like to improve your foreign language? 7. You had to take entrance examinations, didn’t you? 8. What are you now? 9. Where are you going to work after graduating from the University? 10. What are your plans for the future?
Text 2: Applying for a job Finding permanent or summer employment is often a difficult and confusing process, with stressful interviews and unfamiliar rules of etiquette. First of all it is important to know where to learn about job openings. You can get the information about a vacancy through personal contacts, classified advertisings innational and local newspapers, trade magazines, the Internet resources, and employment agencies. The most important rule to remember when applying for a job is to follow the directions. If the employer tells you to apply in person, don't call. If the job posting says to mail your resume, do not send it via email. After you have found some jobs that interest you, the next step is to apply for them and to prepare thoroughly for the entire hiring process, so you can pass the interview and receive a job offer. Many potential employers require completing an application form and submitting a CV / resume. Later an applicant will need to go on an interview to meet with an employer face to face. An application form contains information on a candidate's education, work experience and skills. Often, your application form is the only information your potential employer has about you, so it should be complete, correct (no errors) and accurate. It needs to tell them clearly what makes you suitable for the vacancy. The most suitable candidates, based on their applications, will be interviewed and you need to be among them. A CV/ resume is a summary of educational background, work experience, and accomplishments, as well as research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, and other details . The primary differences between a resume and a CV are the length, what is included and what each is used for. A resume is used exclusively in the USA. A CV is used in Europe, Asia and Africa. While a resume is brief and concise - no more than a page or two, a Curriculum Vitae is a longer and more detailed summary.A resume emphasizes information on the experience, abilities and studies relevant for the objectives that must be fulfilled in a certain position for which you are applying.A CV is a compilation of all the academic data and experience of a person throughout his/her life. The purpose of a CV / resume is to get an interview. Thus, your CV / resume needs to be perfect and persuasive to impress the hiring manager. There is a saying “First impression lasts long”. Your CV / resume makes the first impression on an employer. It must be to the point and needs to set out, clearly but briefly, why you want the job and what you can do for the Company. It's important to include all your contact information in your CV / resume, so employers can easily get in touch with you. A jobinterview is one of the most important parts of your job search. An interview is a formal discussion, in which an employer assesses an applicant for a job. Once you have been selected for a job interview, it's important to prepare properly. That means practicing interview questions and answers, dressing in appropriate interview clothes. After an interview, it is advantageous to send a thank-you note. This helps establish a relationship with the recruiter, shows interest in the position, and indicates personal responsibility. The first interview may be followed up with the second round. From there it is a short wait until the company calls back with their offer, or mails a rejection. Thus, it is evident that getting a job depends on many factors such as an impressive application form, a well-done CV / resume and a job interview. Your chances of getting the job increase in proportion to the amount of time you spend preparing, so it really is worth the effort. *Appendix: № 1, 2, 3
Questions for discussion: 1. What sources can you use to find information about vacancies? 2. What is the most important rule to follow when applying for a job? 3. What is an application form? 4. What is a CV / resume? 5. What is the difference between a resume and a CV? 6. What is the purpose of a CV / resume? 7. What is a job interview? 8. What will you have to prepare properly to a job interview? 9. What is the purpose of a thank-you note? 10. What are the factors that influence on getting a job?
Text 3: Job interview A job interview is a 'conversation with an objective'. The objective for the interviewer is to find out if you are a suitable candidate for the vacancy. The process of interviewing constitutes an important part of the recruitment procedure. Interviews are often stressful but you have to deal with this hiring process. Once you have been selected for a job interview, it's important to prepare properly. That means practicing interview questions and answers before appearing for any interview. It is good practice to research the company background. Do not leave preparation for the interview for the last stage, or hope to say anything that comes to your mind at the moment. There is the phrase " failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Prepare well and you will improve your chances for success. Interview etiquette is a very important part of getting a job. A candidate's ability to communicate is a very important point. It is necessary to have a logical flow of thoughts, an ability to listen and the art of taking correct decisions. For any job interview, it's important to impress the interviewer from the moment you arrive. Here are some tips on how you can make the right impression.
Remember, the job interview is a strategic conversation with a purpose. Don't forget that the interviewer is just trying to solve a problem - they need someone in that job. The interviewer is NOT trying to test you or to find fault. They want the vacancy filled as much as you want the job! Thus your goal is to persuade the employer that YOU have skills, background and ability to do the job and that you can comfortably fit into the organization.
Questions for discussion:
Module II: Education Text 2: Our University The Moscow State University of Railway Engineering is the Russian federal state higher educational institution. It is one of the oldest, largest and the most prestigious transport universities in the country. Our university is inseparably connected with railway transport and railway construction. Its graduates work in different structures of railway industry which role and importance for Russia cannot be overestimated. The history of the university dates back to September 1896 when on the command of His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II Moscow Engineering School was founded. Its first students were prepared as specialists of railway track construction. In 1913 Engineering School was reorganized into Moscow Railway Transport Institute. Since 1993 it has become The Moscow State University of Railway Engineering. Now the university consists of several institutes. They are: the Institute of Rail Operation and Information Technologies, the Institute of Economics and Finance, the Institute of the Humanities, Law Institute and others. It also has the Part-Time and the Pre-University Training Faculties. The university comprises the Medical College, the Railway Transport College, the Law College and the gymnasium. The university provides its students with modern knowledge oriented towards constant and rapid changes in the railway system. The equipment of the classes and laboratories satisfies all the requirements of the modern standards. Though the university is one of the oldest in Russia it is still growing and developing. It is integrating into the world’s educational and scientific community. New demands to the system of education make the university apply innovative programmes and seek partnership for their implementation. Today the university is a modern research and educational centre with advanced laboratory facilities for study and qualified staff training. It is one of the few transport universities in Russia with a branched network of departments. The university carries out great scientific research work. It involves such directions as Information Technologies on transport and traffic safety programmes. Our university actively represents its scientific and educational interests at international forums in Russia and abroad. *Appendix: № 5
Questions for discussion:
6 What was the name of the first speciality at Moscow Engineering School? 7. How many institutes does the university consist of? Name some of them. 8. What facilities for study and qualified staff training are there in the university? 9. Does the university carry out scientific research work? 10.What are the main directions of scientific research work?
Text 3: My Study I am a first-year full-time student of Moscow State University of Railway Engineering. I study at the Institute of Railway Operation and Information Technologies My speciality is Transport Management. I have to study for four years to get a Bachelor degree. There I have met a great number of students who come to acquire knowledge and to storm the summits of science. Our group consists of 30 students. We attend the University 5 days a week. I study a wide range of general subjects such as History, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Computer Science and special subjects such as Management, Marketing, Advertising, Statistics and so on. I’m good at these subjects and hope to be a good specialist. Our classes begin at 8'o clock in the morning. Every day except Saturday and Sunday we listen to lectures, have seminars and tutorials on various subjects. There are different laboratories where we do research work. I try to miss no classes because they are very important for my study. Many lecturers from different chairs teach us. Teachers try to connect theory with practice experience. There is a library at students’ disposal and I attend a reading-room in order to do my homework. Our academic year consists of two terms: the first is from September till the end of January and the second term is from February till the end of June. At the end of each term we take test and exams. Those students who pass all exams well get grants. If students pass successfully the exams at the end of the academic year they have an opportunity of going abroad to improve their professional skills and foreign languages according to the Programme of Students’ Exchange. Some students of our group live in a hostel but I live with my parents. Our university has a Sports Centre which offers many training facilities so all my group-mates go in for different kinds of sports. There is a Community Centre not far from the University where I can spend my leisure time. In my spare time I enjoy visiting cinema or theatre, going out with my friends or spending hours by using “chat” services in the Net. At the end of my study I’ll pass final university exams and write a graduate work to get a diploma. The graduates of our university work for different firms and in the sphere of railway transport. After graduating from the University and I hope to get a good job in the sphere of transport communication where I’ll become a highly-qualified specialist.
Questions for discussion: 1. Are you a first-year student of MSURE? 2. What institute do you study at? 3. What is your speciality? 4. How long do you have to study to get a diploma? 5. How many students does your group consist of? 6. What subjects do you study? 7. How many terms does the academic year consist of? 8. Do you live in a hostel? 9. What facilities does MSURE have? 10. Where would you like to work after graduating from the University?
Questions for discussion 1. What has the Educational Reform Act in the UK led to? 2. What is a National Curriculum? 3. How many children attend private fee-paying schools? 4. What is the education system in the UK divided into? 5. At what age do children have to attend school in Britain? 6. When does school start in Britain? 7. What is GCSE? 8. Where does FE take place? 9. What degrees can students getat a university? 10. What is a sandwich course?
The Ivy League The Ivy League is the name generally applied to eight universities (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale) that over the years have had common interests in scholarship as well as in athletics. The Ivy League schools are often viewed by the public as some of the most prestigious universities worldwide and are often ranked amongst the best universities in the United States and in the world.
Questions for discussion: 1. How are the main US Universities ranked according to the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities? 2. How do the accreditation agencies rate universities and colleges? 3. How do the colleges and universities in the USA vary in terms of goals? 4. What are the types of the higher education institutions in the US? 5. What is the difference between the tuition charged in public and private universities? 6. How do students in the USA pay tuition fee? 7. How do students traditionally apply to receive admission into colleges or universities? 8. What is an undergraduate academic degree in the USA? 9. What is a postgraduate academic degree in the USA? 10. What is a PhD degree? And Northern Ireland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is a country to the north-west of Europe. It comprises the island of Great Britain, the north-east part of the island of Ireland and many small islands. The UK is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The United Kingdom is divided into four constituent parts: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Most of England consists of lowlands. The main rivers are the Thames and the Severn. Scotland has lowlands in the south and east and highlands in the north and west. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Wales is mostly mountainous. Northern Ireland is mainly hilly. The capital of the UK is London. The United Kingdom's population is 60.5 ml. The language of the state is English. The flag of the UK is known as the Union Jack. It is made up of three crosses that symbolise patron saints of England, Scotland, and Ireland. As for the national emblems, they are a red rose for England, a thistle for Scotland, a shamrock for Ireland, and a yellow daffodil and leek for Wales. The UK is a major centre for international business and commerce. London is the world's largest financial centre. It is the leader of three “command centres” for the global economy (along with New York City and Tokyo). The principles of liberalisation, the free market, low taxation and regulation make the UK economy the fifth largest in the world. The UK service sector (73% of GDP) is dominated by financial services, especially in banking and insurance. Tourism is very important to the British economy. With over 27 mln tourists a year, the United Kingdom is the sixth major tourist destination in the world. The British manufacturing sector is still an important part of the economy. But it only accounts for one-sixth of national output. This includes British motor industry, civil and defense aircraft production, chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The UK agriculture is only 0.9% of the country's GDP. The UK has a small coal reserve and large natural gas and oil reserves. Officially Great Britain is a state of the constitutional monarchy. This means that the monarch is the head of state. But the Crown is only sovereign by the will of parliament. The Queen acts on the advice of her ministers. That's why we say that the monarch reigns but does not rule. Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom. The main functions of Parliament are to legislate bills and debate or discuss important political issues. British Parliament is bicameral with an upper house, the House of Lords and a lower house, the House of Commons. The Queen is the third component of Parliament. The public do not elect the Lords, they are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister or of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. The House of Commons is a democratically elected chamber with elections held at least every 5 years. The House of Commons is an elected House. The party that has won the General election makes up the majority in the House of Commons. It also forms the Government. The party with the next largest number of members in the House forms the official Opposition. The main political parties of the country are the Conservative, the Labour, and the Liberal parties. The executive power belongs to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Crown. Automatically it isthe leader of the party which winsthemajority. The Cabinet is composed of about 20 ministers. They are personally chosen by the Prime Minister. The Cabinet of Ministers introduces legislation, controls finance, conducts foreign affairs, and supervises every department of administration. The judicia l system of the UK is represented by criminal and civil courts. This includes magistrates, crown and county courts, as well as the High Court of Justice. The UK is a leading member of various international organisations, for example, the EU, the G8, and NATO. It has close relationship with the countries of the Commonwealth and other English-speaking countries. *Appendix: № 6 Questions for discussion:
Text 4: The Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Nations is a worldwide political organisation of independent nations with their dependencies, all of which recognize the British monarch as the head of the Commonwealth. The origin of the Commonwealth lies in the British Empire. Startingfrom the 16th century, Britain invaded a lot other lands. This was very violent most of the times. Some colonies, such as India, had large local populations ruled by British overlords. Others, such as Australia, became colonies for settlement by the British. At the beginning of the 20th century, these lands of settlement, known as Dominions, were largely internally governed. As these settlements became less profitable, there came the idea of the Commonwealth. In 1931 Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa were granted 'independence'. When World War II broke out, these Commonwealth nations and the colonies fought alongside the UK and its allies for the ideals of liberty. They helped the Allies to win in 1945.The independence for the remaining colonies followed soon after. Most joined the Commonwealth to remain close to the vast amount of resources that Britain had. From the start, the UK was the dominant force in what was known as 'the British Commonwealth'. It was run from the Commonwealth Office in London. By the 1950s, it had become 'the Commonwealth of Nations'. In 1965, an office called the Commonwealth Secretariat was set up to run the Commonwealth. The UK remained the dominant power giving directives through the various offices. Under the 'old Empire', the UK allowed some special rules for trade with the colonies. These rules made things from the colonies cheaper in the UK. They also encouraged the colonies to buy goods produced in the UK. The Commonwealth consists of most of the countries that were once parts of the British Empire. In 1926, Britain and its dominions agreed they were equal in status. They decided to be freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. There are fifty three members. Some are very large countries like Canada, India, and Australia. Some are just small islands like Barbados and Tonga. The issue of countries with constitutional structures not based on a shared Crown, who wished to remain members of the Commonwealth, was resolved in April 1949 atthe Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting in London. Under the formula of the London Declaration, Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth. The land area of the Commonwealth nations is about 21% of the total world land area. The Commonwealth promotes educational programmes and exchanges between different countries. Every four year they hold the Commonwealth Games.
Questions for discussion: 1. What is the Commonwealth of Nations? 2. Who is in the Head of the Commonwealth? 3. How did the idea of the Commonwealth come? 4. Why did some countries fight alongside the UK and its allies? 5. What was set up in 1965? 6. What trade rules did the UK allow under the “Old Empire”? 7. What countries does the Commonwealth consist of? 8. What decision did Britain and its dominions come to in 1926? 9. What is the land area of the Commonwealth? 10. What does the Commonwealth promote? Text 5: Canada Canada is the second largest country in the world. It is situated in North America. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It has land borders with the United States. The chief rivers are the Mackenzie and the Saint Lawrence. As for the Niagara river and its famous Niagara Falls, it forms together with the region of the Great Lakes is a border between Canada and the USA. The capital of the country is Ottawa. The population of the country is about 33 ml people. The population density is among the lowest in the world. Canada is a bilingual country. Both English and French are official languages at the federal level. Most French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec. The national symbol is a maple leaf. It is depicted on the nation’s flag. Canada is one of the world's wealthiest nations with high income. Canada has a free market economy that is dominated by the service industry. Canada's most important industries are logging and oil industries. Canada is an exporter of energy. Canada is one of the world's most important suppliers of agricultural products, wheat and other grains mostly. The country is a world leader in such natural resources as gold, nickel, aluminum, and lead. In Canada’s manufacturing sector automobiles and aeronautics are particularly important industries. Canada is a constitutional monarchy. Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada, is the head of state. The Monarch's representative in Canada is the Governor-General. Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories. The country is a parliamentary democracy. The federal parliament represents legislature. It is made up of the Queen and two houses: the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate. Elections are held every five years. Members of the Senate are chosen by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by the Governor-General. Canada's major political parties are the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, etc. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of ministers. The Prime Minister is the head of government. He is the leader of the political party that getsthe majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are formally appointed by the Governor General. They are responsible to the elected House of Commons. The judicial branch of power includes the Supreme Court as the highest court of justice and other courts. Canada is a member of different international organisations, namely the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight (G8).
Questions for discussion: 1. Where is Canada situated? 2. What is the capital of Canada? 3. What is the population of Canada? 4. What languages are official in Canada? 5. What are the main industries of Canada’s economy? 6. Who is the head of state? 7. Who is the head of government? 8. What are Canada’s major political parties? 9. What does the judicial system include?
Text 7: New Zealand New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. It comprises two large islands (the North and the South Islands) and numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea. The total land areais 268, 680 km². The country has extensive marine resources. The islands are mountainous and are also marked by volcanoes. The highest peak is Mount Cook. The capital city is Wellington. The population is about 4.2 mln. New Zealand has three official languages: New Zealand English, the Maori language, and New Zealand Sign Language. In practice only English is widely used. New Zealand has a developed economy and a high standard of living. Principal export industries are agriculture, gardening, fishing, and forestry. Tourism plays a significant role in New Zealand's economy. It contributes almost 9% to New Zealand’s total GDP. The most developed industries are machinery, textile, furniture, and food industry. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand. The Queen’s position is largely symbolic. She is represented by the Governor-General. Political power is held by the Parliament of New Zealand and the Prime Minister. The legislature is represented by Parliament, which has only one chamber, the House of Representatives. Parliamentary general elections are held every three years. The leading political parties of the country are the Labour Party, New Zealand First, etc. The Prime Minister is leader of Parliament as well as Head of Government. The Cabinet is the most senior policy-making body and is led by the Prime Minister. The Governor-General has the power to appoint and dismiss the Prime Ministers and to dissolve Parliament. The Governor-General also chairs the Executive Council. The Executive Council is a formal committee of all the Crown ministers. New Zealand's judiciary includes the Supreme Court of New Zealand (the highest court); the High Court; the Court of Appeal; and subordinate courts. New Zealand is a member of the following geopolitical organisations: APEC, East Asia Summit, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations. Questions for discussion:
3. What is the population New Zealand?
Module IV: Railways Text3: British Railways Britain has one of the most efficient and heavily used railway systems in the world. Both freight and long-distance passenger services now operate without subsidy from the Government and in direct competition with other forms of transport. British Rail has а computerized freight information and traffic control system known as TOPS (Total Operations Processing System). In Britain а network of city to city services operates at speeds of up to 100 mph (161 km/h). On some lines the speed is raised to 125 mph (201 km/h). The 1970s saw British Rail successfully introduced high speed diesel train services. The InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) was introduced on some services, and the InterCity brand was adopted. This created an increase in passengers using the railways and improved British Rail's finances. The InterCity125 was an outstanding success and is still in widespread use. British Rail also started development of the world's first tilting train – the Advanced Passenger Train (APT) achieving 150 mph (241 km/h). The APT is powered either by electric motors or by gas turbines, and it can use existing track. The object of the tilt was to minimise the discomfort to passengers caused by taking the curves at high speed. Between 1994 and 1997 British Rail was privatized and passed to Railtrack. Privatization made an improvement in passenger services. But the public image of rail travel was severely damaged because of the series of significant accidents caused by a train going through a red light and by a rail fragmenting due to the development of microscopic cracks. Following these accidents Railtrack imposed over 1200 speed restrictions across its network and started an extremely costly nationwide track replacement programme. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for rail transport in Britain. Railways operate in direct competition with road hauliers and airlines. Questions for discussion: 1. Do British Railways have a subsidy from the Government? 2. What is another name for British computerized freight information and traffic control system? 3. What speed do British city to city services operate at? 4. When and why did British Rail introduce HST and APT? 5. What do the abbreviations “HST” and “APT” mean? 6. What speed do “HST” and “APT” trains achieve? 7. What happened in the British railway services between 1994 and 1997? 8. What were the reasons of the railway accidents after privatization? 9. What did the authorities do to improve the situation on the rail track? 10. What do British railways compete with?
Text 4: Russian Railways Railway systems are essential to the economy and infrastructure of any country. A highly developed railway network is vital to Russia as well, partly because of its huge territory. Rail connects Russia’s regions and provides services to main cities and towns. Much of the population relies on the railways because of rather cheap transportation. Russian railways are one of the largest in the world. The total length of track is 85, 500 km. The majority of railways in Russia are electrified. The national gauge standard is 1, 524 mm. Modern Russian railways are transcontinental, they provide international passenger and freight service between Europe and Asia. The Russian railway system transports most of the country's industrial goods and raw materials. It also carries the bulk of passenger traffic. More than 1 billion passengers and 1 billion tons of freight travel via Russian Railways annually. Actually, the rail network of Russia comprises 17 railways such as Oktyabrskaya Railway, Northern Railway and Moscow Railway. This division is based on historical and regional principle. However, the density of the railways in Russia is still comparatively low. The country should enlarge its railway system, especially in the East with its relatively poor road connection. The rolling stock used on Russian railways is reliable in operation and environmentally friendly. For instance, the locomotives possess high performance in quick acceleration and in tractive and braking power. The passenger coaches are modernised and comfortable. They also may have some extra facilities - conditioning, toned windows, or TV. High-speed railway transportation is the priority goal of the breakthrough development of rail transport in Russia. To conclude, new technologies and equipment as well as high quality of service make Russian railways a competitive mode of transport.
Questions for discussion: 1. Railways are essential to the economy of any country, aren’t they? 2. Why does the population of Russia rely on railways? 3. What is the length of Russian railways? 4. Are modern Russian railways transcontinental? 5. Are Russian railways electrified? 6. What freight and passenger turnover does the Russian rail account for? 7. How many railways does the Russian rail system consist of? 8. Is the rolling stock used on Russian railways reliable and modern? 9. Why should Russia enlarge its railway network? 10. What makes Russian railways a competitive mode of transport? Text 7. Logistics Logistics is the art and science of managing and controlling the flow of goods, energy, information and other resources like products, services, and people, from the source of production to the marketplace. It is difficult to accomplish any marketing or manufacturing without logistical support. It involves integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging. The operating responsibility of logistics is geographical repositioning of raw materials, work in process, and inventories. They are required at the lowest cost. Logistics as a concept evolved from the military's need to supply the Armed Forces moving from their base forward. In ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires, there were military officers with the title “Logistikas”. They were responsible for financial and supply distribution matters. Military logistics first appeared in the 19th century. However, only in World War II logistics theory and practice became sophisticated. As the conflict was carried out with an unprecedented deployment of personnel, equipment and supplies, logistics played a central role in ensuring success for the Allies. Logistics as its own concept in business appeared only in the 1950s. This was mainly due to the increasing complexity of supplying business with materials and shipping out products in an increasingly globalised supply chain. The main functions of a logistics manager include purchasing, transporting, warehousing, organising and planning. Logistics managers combine general knowledge of each function to coordinate the resources of the organisation. There are two fundamentally different forms of logistics. The first one optimises a steady flow of material through a network of transport links and storage nodes. The other coordinates a sequence of resources to carry out some projects. Questions for discussion: 1. What is logistics? 2. What integration does logistics involve? 3. How can you describe the operating responsibility of logistics? 4. What did logistics as a concept evolve from? 5. What did the word “Logistikas” mean? 6. How can you characterize the role of logistics in World War II? 7. When did business logistics appear? 8. What factors caused the appearance 9. What are the primary functions of a logistics manager? 10. What are the main forms of logistics?
Module V: Ecology Text 2 Transport Ecology Every human activity has a minor or major effect on the environment. Railway transport industry also impacts negatively on nature by building railroads and industrial enterprises. The operation of railways and rolling stock lead to great fuel and energy consumption and exhaust fumes from diesel locomotives contain a lot of harmful substances. Construction and functioning of railways is connected with pollution of natural complexes by emissions, drains and waste which break the balance in ecological systems. However, in comparison with other means of transport railways are more environmentally friendly. Thus, electrified railways can carry large volumes of passengers with essentially no pollution at the train, while diesel-powered trains generate fifteen times less harmful substances than automobiles for the same traffic. The origin of noise from rail traffic usually comes from the engine of rolling stock, wheel-rail interaction, pantograph-contact wire and aerodynamic effects during the movement of the train. The most efficient way for the reduction of rail noise is the proper track layout and reduction of noise of the diesel engine. However, if the rail nose cannot be reduced in origin, then the solution is in noise barriers. They should be placed as close as possible to the track and have a height no less than 2 meters. In addition noise barriers should be made of special absorbing materials for additional noise reduction. The transport sector consumes annually 1/3 of the total energy in the world community. Railways have the lowest unit energy consumption compared to other transport modes. Besides, in electrified railways, energy can come from clean forms such as hydro power stations rather than from oil. People have already assessed the advantage of electrified railways especially now when the oil reserves are becoming exhaustible. Finally, land occupation is much less for rail transport than for other transport modes and specifically three times less than for road transport. For the purposes of comparison with airplanes, it is important to mention that the high-speed Paris-Lyons line (a distance of 427 km), occupies as much space as the Paris airport at Roissy. Different methods based on new technologies can help people use railway transport in the most efficient way. Questions for discussion: 1.Does human activity effect on the environment? 2.How does railway transport industry impact on nature? 3.How is construction and functioning of railways connected with pollution of natural complexes? 4. What does the operation of railways lead to? 5.What transport is considered to be environmentally? friendly? 6.What is the origin of noise from rail traffic? 7. How do railways try to reduce noise? 8. How much energy does the transport sector consume? 9.What forms of energy can be used for electrified railways.? 10. What can help people use railway transport more efficiently? Text3 Green IT The world's ICT carbon emissions are thought to be equal to the emissions of the aviation industry. The amount of electricity required to send read and delete all the spam email in the world could power millions of homes instead. Conversely, using videoconferencing instead of flying to the meeting, can considerably reduce air transport carbon emissions. Allowing computers to run smart buildings, where the heating, cooling, ventilation and lightning are managed as economically as possible is another useful application of digital technologies. However electronic equipment itself should be as efficient as possible. Data centres use huge amounts of electricity to power chips that generate lots of heat, and more power is needed to cool them down. Data centres could be made greener by being built in locations with lots of sunlight. Thus they could be powered by solar energy. At users level there are initiatives like " Blackle", which highlights that black computer screens and white letters would use less power. When we come to the end of a product's life we should know how to dispose of tones of computers, screens, mobiles, smartphones and cables each year. European countries have signed the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover electrical and electronic equipment. The directive places the responsibility and associated costs of disposal onto the manufacturer or the user. The result is that equipment should be designed and made to last longer. When it is thrown away and replaced by the latest models, much of it can be recycled and sent to developing countries where it can be used again. Questions for discussion 1. What is the world's ICT carbon emissions equal to? 2.How can IT industry be dangerous for the environment? 3.How could IT industry be good for the environment? 4. What do Data centres use and generate in order to function? 5. What could be done to make Data centres greener? 6. What is the aim of " Blackle" initiative? 7. What document has Europe signed? 8. Who is responsible for disposal of old computers and mobiles? 9. What should be done with the thrown away models? 10. Where can recycled equipment be used again? Answer the questions 1. Why do we have to recycle old computers? 2. How many computers are expected to become obsolete? 3. Why are old computers harmful for the environment? 4.Why do consumers and manufacturers oppose to recycling? 5. What have scientists developed to evaluate recycling facilities? 6. Why is it difficult to simulate PCs recycling? 7.What has the team of researchers developed? 8. What can encourage authorities to the opening of local glass-reprocessing facilities 9. What is the ultimate goal of the scientists? 10.What can start working in Russia?
Text 2: The European Union The EU is the largest political and economic entity on the European continent. The EU is a supranational and intergovernmental union of democratic member states which are located primarily in Europe. The European Union was set up to end frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which had culminated into World War II. It was important to rebuild Europe eliminating the possibility of another World War. Thus, West European nations created the Council of Europe in 1949. It was the first step towards cooperation among countries. In 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community united European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. The six founders were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC), or the ‘Common Market’. Later it was transformed into to the European Community. As for the European Union, it was established in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht. Thus, the EU managed to evolve from a trade body into an economic and governmental partnership. The Union has a single market consisting of a Customs union with a single currency called the euro - the official currency of the Eurozone. It has a common agricultural, trade and fisheries policy, a common external customs tariff, a common position in international trade negotiations, a Common Foreign and Security Policy, a common policy on asylum and immigration and a common funding of research and technological development. The Schengen Agreement has abolished passport control for the EU member states. Customs checks have been abolished at many of the EU's internal borders, creating a single area of free movement for the EU citizens to live, travel, work and invest. The EU's decision-making process in general and the co-decision procedure in particular involve three main institutions. 12. the European Parliament (EP), which represents the EU’s citizens and is directly elected by them 13. the Council of the European Union, which represents the individual member states 14. the European Commission, which seeks to uphold the interests of the Union as a whole. This ‘institutional triangle’ produces the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU. In principle, it is the Commission that proposes new laws, but it is Parliament and Council that adopt them. The Commission and the member states then implement them, and the Commission ensures that the laws are properly taken on board. There are two other institutions that have a vital part to play: the Court of Justice upholds the rule of European law, and the Court of Auditors checks the financing of the Union’s activities. The EU has no official capital and its institutions are divided between several cities: Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg and Frankfurt.
The European Union law is the first and the only example of a supranational legal framework. Becoming EU members, sovereign nation states pool their authority for the mutual social and economic benefit of their peoples. The EU has significant religious diversity, mirroring its diverse history and culture. A nominal majority of the population professes Christianity, (predominantly Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy), Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism. The European Union has the largest economy in the world considered as a single entity. The EU has 23 official languages and three official alphabets: Latin, Greek and Cyrillic. There are only three internal working languages in the European Commission: English, French and German.
Questions for discussion: 1. What kind of entity is the EU? 2. What is the primary goal of the EU? 3. What does the term “Common market” mean? 4. What is the official currency of the Eurozone? 5. What opportunities does the Schengen Agreement give to the EU member states? 6. What are the main Institutions of the EU? 7. What is the Court of Justice responsible for? 8. What is the Court of Auditorsresponsible for? 9. What can be said about the European Union law? 10. What are the internal working languages in the European Commission?
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the largest security-oriented organisation in the world. It is an international organisation for securing stability, based on democratic practices and good governance. The OSCE currently has 56 participating states from Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North America. The Organisation was established in 1973 as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). However talks had been mooted about a European security grouping since 1950s. But the Cold War had prevented any substantial progress until the talks at Finland Hall in Helsinki in November 1972. These talks were held at the suggestion of the Soviet Union to reduce tension in the region by furthering economic cooperation and to strengthen piece and security in Europe. A unique aspect of the OSCE is the non-binding status of its provisions. Rather than being a formal treaty, the OSCE Final Act represents a political commitment of all signatories to build security and cooperation in Europe. The high-level decision making bodies of the organisation are the Summit and the Ministerial Council, with the weekly Permanent Council serving as the regular negotiating and decision-making body, under the leadership of the Chairman-in-Office, who holds the position for a year. The OSCE Secretariat, under the direction of the Secretary General, provides operational support to the Organisation. It is based in Vienna, Austria and assisted by the office in Prague. The Organisation also has offices in Copenhagen, Geneva, The Hague, Prague and Warsaw. The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE is a body of parliamentarians from the OSCE's member states. A forum for the Security Cooperation meets once a year to discuss and make decisions regarding military aspects of security in the OSCE area. |
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