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5
WRITING AND LISTENING
1
Read the dialogue and complete it with the words in the box. Then listen and check.
17
Matt
Is this your first day as a trainee, Ben?
Ben
Yes, it is. I have always had a strong interest in
any kind of (
1
)
.....................................
.
Matt
Passion is important, but it’s not enough.
Ben
I know. Next year I hope I’ll get a
vocational
qualification
in vehicle maintenance and car
(
2
)
.....................................
.
Matt
Good luck, then! Well, as you can see, this
is an
assembly line
. Do you know how it
works?
Ben
I think so… each worker performs one or
more tasks using different machines.
Matt
Yes,
roughly
. Let’s say that in an assembly
line interchangeable parts are used to
assemble a finished product. Anyway, one
of the most important tasks we carry out in
this department is making
steering wheels
for (
3
)
.....................................
vehicles.
Ben
I guess it’s a difficult procedure.
Matt
Well, actually it isn’t once you learn how to do
it well. There are some precise (
4
)
.....................
to follow for the manufacturing of a steering
wheel. First the wheel is designed and always
tested on a computer.
Ben
And how is the shape chosen?
Matt
According to the car style. The (
5
)
...................
of the wheel is then cut out on a special
cutting machine. Next, the machine cuts out
the centre of the
hub
of the wheel. Finally the
hub is aligned and inserted into the wheel.
Ben
What are steering wheels made of?
Matt
They are made of
steel
and usually covered
with hard plastic. Now, the steering wheel is
(
6
)
.................
for accuracy and then sent to the
assembly station, where the horn button is
installed. We use simple
screws
to attach
the horn and the hub. Next the
horn button
is painted using a special conducting paint.
After the paint has (
7
)
.............................
, the
compressed air attachment for the air bag is
installed.
Ben
Is the air bag tested?
Matt
Yes. An electrical tester is used to test the
horn and the air bag switch. Now the wheel
is ready to be (
8
)
....................................
to the final
assembly line. Here the airbag and horn
button cover are installed. Finally the wheel is
balanced to ensure proper rotation… and
that’s how the steering wheel is made!
COMPREHENSION
2
Read the sentences. Tick True (T) or False (F). Correct the false sentences.
0
Ben is happy to start his work placement.
1
He is going to drop out of school the following year.
............................................................................................
2
Matt explains how an assembly line works.
.................................................................................................................
3
Ben then listens to how steering wheels are made.
..............................................................................................
4
A computer is rarely used in the manufacturing process.
..................................................................................
5
A horn button and an air bag are installed after the rotation test.
..................................................................
T F
DIALOGUE 2
sent design inspected vehicles motor repair steps dried
3
steering
wheel
volante
vocational
qualification
diploma di scuola
professionale
assembly line
catena di
montaggio
roughly
all’incirca
hub
mozzo,
perno
screw
vite
steel
acciaio
horn
button
clacson
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ENGLISH TOOLS-Sec2-U4.indd 53
11/01/