THE EARLY DAYS OF THE AUTOMOBILE




Like most other great human achievements, the motor car is not the product of any single inventor.

One of the earliest attempts to propel a vehicle by mechanical power was suggested by Isaac Newton. But the first self-propelled vehicle was constructed by the French military engineer Cugnot in 1763. He built a steam-driven engine which had three wheels, carried two passengers and ran at maximum speed of four miles perhour.

In 1784 the Russian inventor Kulibin built a three-wheeled carriage.

In his vehicle he used for the first time such new elements as brakes, rollers and a gearbox.

In 1825 a steam engine was built in Great Britain. The vehicle carried 18 passengers and covered 8 miles in 45 minutes. However, the progress of motor cars met with great opposition in Great Britain. Further development of motor car lagged because of the restrictions resulting from legislative acts. The most famous of these acts was the Red Flag Act of 1865, according to which the speed of the steam-driven vehicles was limited to 4 miles per hour and a man with a red flag had to walk in front of it.

In Russia there were cities where motor cars were outlawed altogether. When the editor of the local newspaper in the city of Uralsk bought a car, the governor issued these instructions to the police: “When the vehicle appears in the streets, it is to be stopped and escorted to the police station, where its driver is to be prosecuted”.

Vocabulary Notes:

to suggest engine wheel carriage brakes rollers gearbox further to lag restriction legislative to limit famous to issue to appear to prosecute - предлагать - двигатель - колесо - карета - тормоз - ролики, піодштпники - коробка передач - дальнейший - отставать - ограничение - законодательный - ограничивать - известный - видавать - появляться - преследовать в судебном порядке

Задание2. Дополните предложения.

1. Like most other great human _____, the motor car is not the product of _____.

2. In his vehicle Kulibin used for the first time such new elements as _____, _____, and _____.

3. The progress of motor cars _____ in Great Britain.

4. The speed of the steam-driven vehicles was to 4 miles per hour and a man with a red flag _____ front of it.

5. In Russia there were cities where _____ altogether.

Задание 3. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. Is the motor car a product of a single inventor?

2. When was the first self-propelled vehicle constructed?

3. What elements did the Russian inventor Kulibin use for the first time in his vehicle?

4. Did the progress of motor cars meet with great opposition?

 

Задание 4. Переведите слова и словосочетания на английский язык.

Достигнуть, двигать, строить, двигатель, пар, тормоза, ограничение, покупать, водитель, преследовать, предлагать, военный, разработка, попутки.

 

Задание 5. Прочтите и переведите текст.

THE ENGINE

The word engine originally meant any ingenious device, and came from the Greek word “ingenious”, clever. Any kind of vehicle must be able to move. The ability to move demands power. A machine that produces mechanical power or energy is called an engineor a power plant.

Engines present one of the most interesting groups of problems considered in the engineering field. One of the main problems is receiving the maximum possible power or thrust for minimum weight. The weight is included in the factor called the weight/power radio, which may be defined as the weight in pounds per horse power output.

Another important problem is that of fuel. Both in the past and today the designers work at the problem of getting lower specific fuel consumption. Specific fuel consumption is obtained by dividing the weight of the fuel burned per hour by the horse power developed.

Another possible problem considered in any engine is its flexibility. Flexibility is the ability of the engine to run smoothly and perform properly at all speeds and through all variations of atmospheric conditions.

One more important problem worked at by the designers is the engine reliability. The engine is to have a long life, with maximum of time between overhaul periods. In some cases the problem of balance is one of the main. Balance has several possible meanings but the principle factor is freedom from vibration. Besides any engine must be started easily and carry its full load in a few minutes. There are gasoline engines, diesel engines, gas turbines, steam engines, jet engines and rocket engines. Each of them has certain advantages and disadvantages over other forms of power plants.

 

Vocabulary Notes:

to mean (meant) power plant thrust weight per hour ability smoothly perform reliability overhaul flexibility - обозначать - силовой агрегат (двигатель) - сила тяги, тяга - масса - за час - способность - ровно, гладко - работать, выполнять работу - надёжность - капремонт - „способность приспосабливаться”

Задание6. Дополните предложения.

1. A machine that _____ mechanical power or energy is called an engine or a _____ plant.

2. One of the main problems is _____ the maximum possible power or _____ for minimum weight.

3. The weight is included in the factor called the weight/power _____, which may be _____ as the weight in pounds per horse _____ output.

4. Flexibility is the _____ of the engine to run _____ and perform properly at all speeds and through all _____ of atmospheric conditions.

5. The engine is to have a _____ life, with maximum of time between _____ periods.

6. There are _____ engines, _____ engines, _____ turbines, _____ engines, _____ engines and _____ engines. Each of them has certain _____ and _____ over other forms of _____ plants.

Задание 7. Переведите слова и словосочетания на английский язык.

Соотношение масса/мощность, использование топлива, способность приспосабливаться, надёжность, равновесие, вес в фунтах на конскую силу, свобода от вибрации, полная нагрузка, период работы до капремонта, силовое усилие, силовая установка.

Задание 8. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What did the word “engine” originally mean?

2. What machine is called an “engine” or a “power plant”?

3. What is one of the main problems engines present?

4. What is the weight/power ratio?

5. What is flexibility of the engine?

6. Do the designers work at the engine reliability?

7. What engines do you know?

 

Задание 9. Прочтите и переведите текст.

AUTOMOBILE

Automobile is the most important means of personal transportation for many millions of people around the globe. Worldwide, there are more than 400 million passenger cars plus more than 100 million light trucks, such as vans and pickups. People depend on their cars and trucks to travel to and from work, to run errands, to visit friends and relatives, and to take vacations.

The United States, Canada, Japan, Western Europeancountries, and other developed nations have the most automobiles. But even in developing countries, more and more people own cars, and bumper-to-bumper traffic clogs the streets of big cities in many of those countries.

The automobile helped give people the freedom to live, work, travel wherever they wanted. It ended the lonely lives of farm families by placing neighbours, cities and towns within by reach. The automobile led to the growth of suburbs, motels, shopping centres, superhighways, drive-in restaurants.

But along with all the glories of the automobile culture came serious problems. Car accidents killed and injured at an alarming rate, exhaust fumesfouled the air, and the roar of the city traffic became nerve-racking. Some people yearned for the old days before the automobile, when the life seemed simpler, slower, and gentler. But there could be no going back. The automobile has become woven into the fabric of modern life. And the auto industry itself has become basic to the economic well-being of developed countries. Today many developing nations also seek to set up an automotive industry because it generates and supports wide range of businesses and so can stimulate economic growth.

 

 



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