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2
Match these words with their meanings and to the pictures on page 8.
1
assembly line
a
a bench at which carpentry or other mechanical practical work is done
2
tools
b
a device used to carry out a particular function
3
machine tools
c
a series of workers and machines by which a succession of identical
items is progressively assembled
4
factory worker
d
a person qualified in a branch of engineering who designs, builds or
maintains engines, machines or public works
5
workbench
e
a person with few or no professional qualifications who works in a
factory
6
engineer
f
devices driven by a machine
3
Skim this passage and read the questions in the multiple choice exercise on page 10, then go back to
the passage and scan it to look for the right answers.
What is Engineering?
E
ngineering is broadly defined by the
Encyclopaedia
Britannica
as
“the study, or the science-based
profession, by which the physical forces of nature and
the properties of
matter
are made useful to mankind in
the form of structures,
machines
, and other products
or processes at a reasonable expenditure of time and
money”.
Most people associate engineering with activities like
manufacturing cars and aircraft. However, engineering
activities are carried out
1
in a huge variety of industries.
Engineers are employed by the chemical industry,
food manufacturers, clothing companies, electronics
companies – almost every company that makes a
product employs or uses the services of engineers.
There is a wide variety of jobs available in engineering.
These range from hands-on practical roles, such as
machine operators and fitters, to technical roles, such
as designers and metallurgists, to line and factory
management, to the directors who run the companies.
Engineering is a very exciting, creative and interesting
subject to study. There is much to learn but most of this
can be covered through practical designing and making
activities.
It involves:
-
designing
products, through drawing, modelling,
testing
- selecting the
materials
to be used;
-
planning
production activities;
- making products using a wide range of different
equipment, ranging from
hand tools
, to
machine
tools
, to automated equipment.
Mechanical engineering is a branch of engineering
concerned primarily with the industrial application of
mechanics and with the production and use of the tools
and the machinery used, in industry (and in agriculture)
required to produce goods for sale.
A technician or an engineer in a machine shop is a
person who has been trained or is skilled
2
in designing,
planning, or
performing
specific operations.
1
carry out
: to do or perform a task
2
skilled
: having or showing the knowledge, ability, or
training to perform a certain activity well
TEXT 1
SEARCH READING See
Reading strategies
on page 14
Engineer checking out a new building construction.
(to) design
progettare
hand tool
utensile manuale
machine
macchina industriale
machine tool
macchina utensile
material
materiale
matter
materia
(to) perform
eseguire
(to) plan
pianificare, programmare
TECHNICAL ENGLISH
Progetto FOR MECHANICALS_unit_1.indd 9
24/01/