Read the text and answer the questions

The Cab

Propulsion for the train is provided by a (1) separate locomotive, or by individual

(2) motors in self-propelled multiple units. Most modern trains are powered

by (3) diesel locomotives or by electricity supplied by overhead wires or

(4) additinol rails, although historically the steam locomotive was the dominant

form of locomotive (5) steamlocomotive.

The cab, crew compartment or driver's compa'tment is the part of the locomotive housing the (6) traindriver and the controls necessary for the locomotive's

operation. On steam locomotives, the cab is normally (7) locate to the rear

of the firebox. The cab of a diesel or electric locomotive is either (8) inside a

cabin or forming one of the structural elements cf a cab unit locomotive.

 

The Cabin

The cabin of a lorry is an enclosed space where the driver is seated. A sleeper (or sleeper berth or bunk) is a compartment attached to the cab where the driver can rest while not driving, sometimes seen in articulated lorries. Cabins have a few possible configurations:

Cab over engine (COE), where the driver is seated on top of the front axle and the engine. Access to a COE cabin is commonly by steps near the front tyres.

Conventional cabins are the most common in North America and Australia. The driver is seated behind the engine, as in most passenger cars or pickups. Access to a conventicnal cabin is commonly by steps at or near the fuel tank(s) behind the front tyres.

Cabin beside engine designs also exist, but they are rather rare.

 

 

The Forklift Truck

A □ What is smeller than a car. stronger than an e ephant, can reach as high as a giraffe, works a ox and never falls over? The forklift truck! Everybody has a vague idea of the existence of this hjn: e little machine, but very few people ever think about how it works and how important it is to us. Invented nearly a hundred years ago, the forklift truck is used in just about every industry - without it we would not be able to manufacture or transport goods the way we do.

B □ It was invented by a U.S. company in 1917 for internal use, but quickly became popular with the

company's clients, who wanted one for themselves. In 1930 the pallet was standardised, which ed to a great increase in demand for the truck; and in the 1950s warehouses started to develop vertically - so the forklift followed in the same direction and was redesigned to be able to lift pallets to a heigh: of 15 metres!

C □ There are in fact 7 d fferent classes of fordift truck, mainly differentiated by their engines and tyres, but all forklifts share a series of common characteristics:

frame, the foundation of all the forklift parts;

counterweight, used to stabilise the forklift when lifting heavy loads;

mast, hydraulically operated lift used to raise and lower a load;

forks, prongs that lift up a wooden pallet;

load back-rest, stops the load from shifting backwards;

• overhead guard, protects the operator from a falling load.

D □ The little truck has always been respected in industry for its resistance and versatility, but of course new technological progress has brought changes al&D to this machine: the 3 most significant of these are increased engine efficiency, making it more environmentally friendly; the arrival of the automated truck controlled from a computer and no longer driven by an operator; and the ‘sidewinder'forklift, which can move in any direction, and so also to places that were previously off limits for this type of vehicle. It will certainly see more changes in the future too. but we can be sure that this little work horse will still be a common site in industry for years to come.

Freight transport.

Transport is everywhere! In the air, by rail or road, on the water, by cable or pipeline and even in space - people, animals and goods are constantly on the move. Transport is fundamental both for trade between people and for establishing cultural exchanges and increasing understanding between different cultures. As a field of study transport can be divided into three categories: infrastructure, vehicles, and operations. Infrastructure for transport is all around us| - from airports, railway and bus stations to warehouses, truckingterminals, refueling depots and seaports. Vehicles include automobiles, bicycles, buses, trains, trucks, people, ships, helicopters and airplanes. Operations deal with the way the vehicles are operated, and the procedures set for this purpose, including financing, legalities and policies. Passenger transport may be public or private. Freight transport is today focused on containerisation. Transport plays an important part in economic growth and globalisation, but can also cause air pollution and use large amounts of land. It is commonly heavily influenced by governments, both in terms of subsidies and planning, which is essential to make traffic flow and control urban sprawl.

Read the text and answer the questions.

1. What are the most common forms of transport?

2. Why is transport so important?

3. What are the most common forms of infrastructure for land-based transport?

4. Which category cf transportation controls its regulations?

5.Name two problems that can result from the transport industry.

6.What areas do governments need to influence in the transport industry?

 

The GPS System

A □ GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is a radio navigation system belonging to the American Ministry of Defense, that allows land, sea, and airborne users to determine their exact location, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, anywhere in the world.

B _J The complete name of the system is NAVSTAR GPS, which means ‘Navigation Satellite Timing And Ranging Global Positioning System’. It was born as a top secret project of the American Department of Defense during the final years of the Cold War so initially it was intended just for military purposes.

C Today the GPS service is provided free of charge by the United States Air Force to the entire world. It is a constellation of satellites (21 active and 3 spare ones) orbiting at 11,000 nautical miles above the Earth and a series of ground stations that control and monitor those satellites. The satellites are spaced so that from any point on Earth, four satellites will be above the horizon.

D □ On the ground, any GPS receiver contains a computer that ‘triangulates’ its own position by getting bearings from three of the four satellites. The result is provided in the form of a geographic position - longitude and latitude - for most receivers, within a few metres. If the receiver is also equipped with a display screen that shows a map, the position can be shown on the map. When a fourth satellite can be received, the receiver/computer can calculate the altitude as well as the geographic position. If you are moving, your receiver may also be able to calculate your speed and direction of travel and give you estimated times of arrival to specified destinations.