Additional Texts
Text 1
A) Scan the text to find answers to these questions.
- What are three main types of automobiles?
- What components does an automobile consist of?
- What are the most common types of engines for land vehicles?
- What are the main advantages of petrol engines?
- What are the main advantages of diesel engines?
There are three main types of automobiles: passenger cars, buses and trucks. An automobile consists of the following components: the engine, the framework, the mechanism that transmits the power from the engine to the wheels and the body.
Passenger cars are propelled by an internal combustion engine. They are distinguished by the horse-power of the engine, the number of cylinders on the engine and the type of the body, the type of transmission, wheelbase, weight and overall length.
The two most common types of engines for land vehicles are petrol and the diesel engines. Petrol engines are usually lighter and smaller than diesel engines. Petrol engines are also less noisy than diesel engines. They usually go faster.
On the other hand, diesel engines use less fuel and last longer than petrol engines. This is why larger vehicles such as trucks and trains use them. They are also safer than petrol engines, because there is less danger of fire.
Text 2
A) Scan the text to say whether the following sentences are true of false.
- The heater is one of the main components of any vehicle.
- In the engine the fuel and air are burnt and they produce power.
- The fuel pipe carries the fuel to the engine.
- The upper limit of the piston movement is called the top dead centre.
- The electric pump is driven by the camshaft.
A motor vehicle is a complex engineering construction. It is composed of several thousand parts. One of the main components of any vehicle is the engine.
In addition to the engine itself, there are four separate mechanisms, which are used to feed the engine. These mechanisms are the fuel system, the lubrication system, the electrical system and the cooling system.
The fuel system consists of a tank, a fuel line or a tube, a pump and a carburettor. An engine produces power when air and fuel are mixed and burnt. The fuel is stored in a fuel tank. The fuel tank is connected to a fuel pipe. The fuel pipe carries the fuel to the fuel pump. This pump can be either electric or mechanic in operation. It is driven by the camshaft. The fuel pump is connected to the carburettor. In the carburettor the fuel is mixed with air.
The fuel and air are drawn into the engine. In the engine the fuel and air are burnt and they produce power.
Text 3
A) Scan the text to find answers to these questions.
- What instruments are there on the car panel?
- What is the function of a speedometer?
- What does the ammeter indicate?
- What gauge indicates the oil level?
- When do warning lights light up?
A driver must know the functions and locations of all interior mechanisms of the car. An instrument panel in a modern car provides the driver with valuable information.
The panel includes such instruments as a speedometer, a fuel gauge, an oil gauge, a tachometer, an ammeter as well as warning lights. The function of a speedometer is to indicate the speed of the car while the function of a tachometer is to show the engine speed. The fuel gauge indicates the fuel level in the petrol tank and the oil gauge is used to show the oil level. A car battery can easily become discharged in a short time. So the function of the ammeter is to indicate if the battery is charging or discharging.
Warning lights light up in case of a serious problem. There are three kinds of warning lights: an oil pressure warning light, a temperature warning light, a battery low warning light. An oil pressure warning light goes on when the engine oil is not circulating at the required pressure. When a battery low warning light goes on or the battery gauge reads LOW, this means that the battery power is running out.
Text 4
A) Scan the text to say whether the following sentences are true of false.
- The first Mini car was produced in America.
- The British Motor Corporation, wanted to build a cheap family car.
- A family car at that time was not long, about two and half meters.
- A family car at that time was expensive to make.
- A Mini car has enough room for four passengers.
Mini motorcars are sold all over Europe. The first Mini car was produced in Britain in 1959 and it has become Britain's most popular and successful car since that time.
In late 1950s BMC, the British Motor Corporation, wanted to build a car that was different from other cars. They wanted a small, cheap and economical car - a family car that was big enough to carry four passengers. In the 1950s it was a difficult problem. At that time a typical family car was quite long, about three and a half meters. It had large wheels and large space for the engine. So there wasn't much room for the passengers. Besides that, it was expensive to make.
The Mini car was designed by Issigonis. His design was revolutionary. First, the car was made a half a meter shorter. Next, the wheels were made smaller and they were put right at the four corners of the car. Then the engine was turned sideways and the gearbox was put underneath. And there was enough room for four passengers.
Text 5
A) Scan the text to complete the following sentences. Use the terms in the box.
repair / tank / unblock / check / replace / battery
- If your car doesn't start you should ... spark plugs first.
- If the ... is flat you should recharge it.
- If the petrol... is empty you should fill it up.
- If fuel pump is broken you should ... or ... it.
- If the pipe is blocked, take it off and ... it.
If you are not a driver of long standing and can’t trace the fault at once, don’t get upset. When you have some information about your car you can find a number of faults yourself. If your car doesn't start you should check three things first: the battery, the fuel level and the spark plugs. If the battery is flat, you should recharge it. If this doesn't work, you should replace it. If the petrol tank is empty, you should fill it up. If the spark plugs are dirty, take them off and clean them, and then check the gap in your spark plugs. The gap must be between 0.65 and 1.00 mm wide. If the gap in a spark plug is too narrow or too wide, adjust it to the correct width. If your car still doesn't start, the petrol pump may be broken or the fuel pipe may be blocked. If the pump is broken, it must be repaired or replaced. If the fuel pipe is blocked, take it off and unblocked it.
If there is a loud click, when you turn the key, the starter motor may be jammed. If it is, you can try to release it by pushing the car forwards and backwards. If the car still doesn't start, the starter motor should be repaired or replaced.
Text 6
B) Scan the text to complete the following sentences. Use the terms in the box.
antifreeze / bottom / cooling system / fan / radiator
- The primary job of the … is to cool the engine and to keep it from overheating.
- … is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol.
- The coolant flows around the engine and then passes through the … .
- The cooled liquid leaves the radiator through the … hose.
- The air is pulled by a … .
Burning in the engine the fuel-air mixture produces energy. Most of this energy turns into heat. The primary job of the cooling system is to cool the engine and to keep it from overheating. The coolant used in most cars is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol called antifreeze. The coolant flows around the engine and then passes through the radiator. Then it passes through the water pump and flows around the engine again. There are some stages of the cooling process. First, the liquid flows around the engine. The engine is cooled and the liquid is heated. The hot water enters the radiator through the top hose. Then it flows down through the radiator and here it is cooled by air. The air is pulled by a fan. This fan is turned by a belt which is driven by the engine. The cooled liquid leaves the radiator through the bottom hose. The coolant is pumped around the engine again. Another important job of the cooling system is to allow the engine to heat up very quickly and then to keep the engine at a constant temperature.
Morozova О.N., Ilina I.Y.Тамбов2015