13. Scan the text: “Let’s communicate.” Memorise the ten golden rules.

Communication is the process that allows organisms to exchange information by several methods. There are different types of communication: language, dialogue, nonverbal (body language) communication. You cannot only learn new about some persons by communication, but you can introduce yourself properly. All people are unique and different and this makes communication complicated. Two basic qualities of every good communicator are: knowing when to talk and when to listen. They seem like easy enough things to do but like everything else, they need a lot of practice before you get them right.

Here is a list of ten golden rules, which you can try out for yourselves:

1. First and foremost learn to speak to yourself. Once you’re sure of what you really want to say, communicating it to others is much easier. 2. Never force others to listen to your problems. A one-sided conversation isn’t a real dialogue. 3. Choose carefully the people you confide in. Not everyone is willing to listen to problems and secrets or help you to solve them. 4. Wait for the right moment. Check that the person you want to talk to has enough time to dedicate to you. 5. Don’t exaggerate! Don’t think that others will only listen to you if you have serious or weird problems. 6. Express yourself creatively. All your friends are on holiday and you’ve got no one to talk to. Try writing a diary, or sending messages to your e-mail friends, or expressing your feelings through poetry or art. 7. Listen carefully when others are speaking. Don’t expect others to listen to you if you don’t listen to them! 8. Respect other people’s ideas. Don’t be judgmental. If you criticize others too much they will only tell you what you want to hear rather than the whole truth. 9. Accept criticism. When you ask for others’ help and advice be prepared to accept their criticism. 10. Don’t gossip. Some people are only interested in listening to your problems in order to be able to gossip about you later. It’s not really on, is it?

Grammar, Lexical and Speech Tutorials: Miscellaneous

14. А) Skim the texts bellow; b) Try to explain the underlined grammar peculiarities; c) Choose one of the texts as a topic for discussion, define the professional field it belongs to.

A. Air bag is safety device in automobiles. Designed to cushion the occupants of automobiles in the event of an accident, air bags were considered life-saving improvements to vehicles when they were introduced in 1977. Despite some controversy about air bag safety in the 1990s, they remained a requirement in every new car sold. Air bags are designed to prevent passengers and drivers from striking the dashboard, window, or windshield of a car in a collision. There are two types of airbags: frontal and the various types of side-impact air bags.

B. The first major use of vacuum technology in industry occurred about 1900 in the manufacture of electric light bulbs. Other devices requiring a vacuum for their operation followed, such as various types of electron tube. Furthermore, it was discovered that certain processes carried out in a vacuum achieved either superior results or ends actually unattainable under normal atmospheric conditions. The advent of nuclear energy in the 1950s provided impetus for development of vacuum equipment on a large scale: in space simulation, microelectronics, etc. Industrial vacuum applications range from mechanical handling (such as the manipulation of heavy and light items by suction pads) to the deposition of integrated electronic circuits on silicon chips.

C. Roof gardens are appropriate for people who live in urban areas where very little or no space is available on the ground for planting. Since many urban apartment and commercial buildings have flat roofs, development of attractive roof gardens is possible. These gardens follow the same principles as others except that the depth of soil is less, to keep the weight on the rooftop at a minimum, and so the size of the plants is limited. The plants are generally set in tubs or other containers, but elaborate roof gardens have been made with small pools and plots

D. A machine tool is a power-driven tool that changes the size, shape, or finish of metal objects. A true machine tool does at least four things: It holds a work-piece, holds a cutting tool, moves one or both of these objects, and provides a feeding movement for the tool or the work-piece. The cutting tool makes a new part by shaving metal from an original piece. An outstanding feature of a modern machine tool is its great precision. It can cut metal to an accuracy of millionths of an inch. This figure is approximately equal to 1/300 of the thickness of a human hair. Such precision makes it possible to produce two parts or thousands of parts that are exactly alike.

E. Generally, a computer is any device that can perform numerical calculations: even an adding machine, an abacus, or a slide rule. Currently, however, the term usually refers to an electronic device that can perform a series of tasks according to a precise set of instructions. The set of instructions is called a program, and the tasks may include making arithmetic calculations, storing, retrieving, and processing data, controlling another device, or interacting with a person to perform a business function, to play a video game or to send a message by e-mail.

F. Most of mankind's energy needs, except transportation, are met by electric power. It is a willing servant in home, office, factory, school, and theatre. Electric energy is available almost everywhere. Its ease of production, distribution, and utilization has accounted for the rapid rise of electrical devices during the 20th century. Most electric power is generated in large plants that use coal, gas, oil, or nuclear energy. These are generally called central stations, and they require only a few workers. Central stations can be located at any convenient site, generally as long as cooling water is available. Sometimes it is convenient to place a plant near the source of fuel and at other times near the majority of users.

G. Industrial psychology concerns the physical and psychological conditions of the workplace and how these factors contribute to an efficient work environment. Industrial psychologists are also concerned about the design of manufactured products. Some industrial psychologists, for example, are involved in the design of such items as dashboards, which are used in airplanes and automobiles. Their aim is to apply knowledge of human capabilities and limitations to the design of instrumentation that is to be used by humans.

H. For many children with a handicap, communication is one of the largest obstacles. Many find art and craft the simplest mediums through which they can express themselves. Numerous activities involve no much speech but the choice of materials, processes and actions can clearly be indicated. Once twelve pupils were introduced to pottery, taught how to wedge clay and told why it was important to do so (if any air bubbles are left in, the clay will explode when being fired). They then rolled the clay between 1 cm thick wooden battens and cut out a 20 x 22 cm tile. The twelve tiles were assembled on a large piece of wood. The pupils drew a picture of Black Beauty on a large sheet of tracing paper, placed it over the tiles and used a cocktail stick to prick the outline through to the clay. The outline was completed and pottery tools were used to etch in lines to represent textures such as wood.

I. Hockey, skate dancing, figure skating, and speed skating can be even more fun on ice skates. The blades of shoe skates are adapted to each of these activities. Another sport on ice is skate sailing. By carrying a small triangular or square sail, the skater is propelled up to 55 miles (90 kilometres) an hour. For many years ice-skating had to be done outdoors in freezing winter weather. Then, in 1876, an artificial ice rink was opened in London those days. The ice was made by sending a mixture of glycerine and water through copper pipes. It was not until the start of the 20th century that artificial ice rinks became practical. Electric refrigeration and indoor rinks made ice-skating popular everywhere. Professional figure skaters began to stage ice carnivals across the world. Ice dancing became a Winter Olympics sport in 1976.