Unit Six. Engineering Materials Section a. Metals and Non-metals Lead-in

I. List the materials you know which are used in engineering. Combine your list with that of your friend and say which of the materials are metals and non-metals.

II. Some students and their Instructor are discussing the materials that are used for making tools and instruments. Listen to their dialogue and learn how to name engineering materials.

1. Julia: Is this a workshop, Instructor?

Instructor: Yes, you are quite right. It is a workshop and there are many tools for your practice here. They are made of different engineering materials.

Paul: What are these materials called?

Instructor: They are called plastic, glass, wood, rubber and metal.

Michal: I think steel, iron and copper are widely used for making tools.

Instructor: That is right. These metals are widely used for making bolts, screws, pipes, rods, nuts, wires, etc.

2. Paul: Look. There is a box of nuts and bolts. They are made of steel.

Julia: And that wire is made of copper, isn't it?

Michal: Yes, it is. What about this hammer? Is it made of copper too?

Paul: No, it is not. It is made of wood and steel. The handle is made of wood and the head is made of steel.

Julia: Michal, give me that beaker, please.

Michal: Be careful, Julia. Don't drop it. It is made of glass. Put it here on this shelf.

III. Complete the dialogues with suitable words.

1. – … a workshop? – … and there are many … . – What are they made of? – They … .

2. – … What is this box made of? – … . – And by the way, is its lid …, too? – … . – Bring …, please. – … .

Language Practice

I. Match the English phrases with the Russian equivalents.

cast iron пластмассовая коробка

a plastic box железный болт

a steel pipe стеклянная ваза

a copper cup чугун

a glass vase медная чашка

an iron bolt стальная труба

II. Rephrase the following sentences and translate them into Russian.

Example A: This wire is made of copper. This is a copper wire.

1. This rod is made of metal.

2. This handle is made of rubber.

3. This tin is made of aluminium.

4. This beaker is made of glass.

Example B: This is a steel blade. This blade is made of steel.

1. This is a plastic cover.

2. This is a copper pipe.

3. This is a plastic ruler.

4. This is an iron bolt.

III. Give instructions to your groupmates.

Example: steel / ruler / wooden Helen, don't use the wooden ruler (rulers). Use the steel one (ones).

1. metal / tray / plastic

2. rubber / pipe / copper

3. glass / rod / plastic

4. iron / bolts / steel

5. copper / nuts / steel

6. wooden / beams / concrete

IV. Complete the dialogue.

a tin-metal a chisel: handle – wood blade – steel tyres – rubber nails – iron

Paul: What is this device ... of? Julia: It … made of … . Paul: What … it called? Michal: … is called a … . Paul: What … the handle of the chisel … of? Michal: … is made of … . Paul: The blade … … of …, isn't it? Michal: Yes, … … . The blade … … of steel. Julia: What … these tyres … of? Paul: … are made of … Julia: … is a tough material, isn't …? Paul: …, it is. … is used for … tyres. Michal: What ... these nails … of? Julia: … are made of … . Michal: … is a hard …, isn't it? Julia: …, it is. … is a … material.