Match these words with their definitions

Cockpit a □ an airplane used for carrying passengers

Pilot b □ the place where instruments are mounted on

Airliner c □ the enclosed space in an aircraft for the crew and passengers

Cabin d □ the space in an airplane which contains the flying controls

panel e □ the person who operates an aircraft in flight

 

Read the text and answer the questions.

The Signal Box

You are probably familiar with the small buildings standing next to railway lines, but possibly do not Know what they are used for. These constructions are known as signal boxes or switch towers, and were fundamental for the development of the railway system. The signal box was first used in the mid-19th century, and was a space for signalmen to control the direction of trains and ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles. At first, this job was carried out manually by moving levers to move the track, but with the invention of electrical and electronic technology, the signalman’s job changed radically. First, he was able to control much larger areas of track from a control panel, and could communicate directly with trains by radio or telephone, and later he was able to perform all of these tasks by computer. Eventually the signal box fell into disuse. Today most signaling is controlled centrally by very sophisticated computers, but for many years the simple signal box guaranteed safe rail travel all over the worlc; and perhaps many of these little buildings still exist to remind us of their important role in the development of the railway system.

1. What was the purpose of the signal box?

2. What innovations changed the job of the signalman?

3. How did the signalman communicate with trains?

4. Why are signal boxes no longer in use?

5. Why co signal boxes still exist?

 

 

Weather 2

□ Have you ever been in a situation when the weather

forecast predicted sunny skies, but then it rained all day?

You think: ‘Oh no, I wish I had my umbrella!’

□ The job of predicting weather accurately is a difficult one,

because our atmosphere is constantly changing. Weather forecasters must analyse information they receive from a number of sources, including mobile weather observers, weather balloons, weather stations and satellites.

□ NASA uses a series of satellites called the Afternoon

Constellation, nicknamed the ‘A-Train’, which are orbiting in air and are collecting all sorts of data, including those that will help predict weather and climate changes.

□ Two additioral satellites, CloudsatandCalipso, will soon

be launched to extend the series. Cloudsat will help improve weather forecasting, by studying the different aspects of clouds, as it name implies. Calipso will help predict climate change and how aerosols or particles affect the Earth’s atmosphere.

□ We rely on weather predictions for many activities:

farmers need to know the best time to plant and harvest their crops;

airplanes take-offs, landings and flight plans are scheduled according to local weather conditions;

■ weather forecasters warn newspapers about severe storms that could endanger life or proper

Most people want to know what the weather will be like as they go to and from work or school, or pla- activities; but although we receive weather data from such a great variety of sources, we know that: impossible to predict the weather accurately 100% of the time.

 

Weather

Of all human activities, transport is probably one of the most influenced by the weather. From deciding whether or not to go for a walk in the park to cancelling or delaying intercontinental passenger flights, the weather influences our movements all the time. Extreme weather conditions can cause accidents, death and destruction so predicting the weather is a priority when people and goods are moved from one place to another. Today man has developed some very sophisticated means for predicting the weather, but despite this, our predictions are not always accurate because weather conditions can change very suddenly.