16 A) Read the following texts on interior timber decoration and answer the questions that follow:

Your staircase is an integral piece of your home. It is usually the first thing you see when you open the front door. With timber staircases and timber handrails you can create a stunning, high-impact feature without the hassle. A lot of people love the warm, classic feel of staircases. The choice that natural timber gives you is wide and varied. Sapele has a dark red colour, very like mahogany but not harmful to environment, and when polished, looks stunning. Oak stair parts will give you a classic, opulent timber staircase. Pine is a flexible choice as it can be stained, polished or painted, and is cheaper than hardwood timber options. However, don't feel restricted to just choosing one. Mix and match different timbers to create a beautiful yet cost effective staircases. To achieve the feel of a classic staircase you do not need to use all timber stairparts. For your staircase balustrade you could choose decorative wrought iron or glass panels. Timber handrails will finish off an all-timber staircase to create a warm, traditional feel. Alternatively, timber handrails can also be used in stark contrast to very contemporary materials to stunning effect. To really achieve a luxury staircase you should look at continuous curved handrail. Bespoke, complex timber handrails are manufactured for each individual environment to ensure a smooth handrail. Continuous timber handrail cannot be beaten when creating a distinctive staircase.

When you are building your home or commercial property there is nothing that compares to the luster and beauty of the timber floor. In fact a home nicely decorated with wooden floor gives a different kind of elegance to the entire place. In fact the flooring plays an important part in the interior decoration. Timber floor is good looking, durable and easy to clean. It is always better to go for the wood flooring because of its beauty and is also at the same Choosing the type of hard wood that best suits the space is an important step in planning the installation of your new home. Solid wood flooring comes in three types. There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the appropriate type of wood flooring for your home. Solid wood flooring may require a little more upkeep than engineered wood flooring, but they can always be re-sanded and refinished. If you like thin, long planks of wood, you should choose strip flooring. If you prefer the aesthetic of very wide planks of wood, then plank flooring is the best choice. And, if you have a more decorative look in mind - perhaps a geometric design - parquet floors will be a perfect match for your taste. It is important to keep the flooring user friendly so that you feel comfortable whenever you walk or move hurriedly. One of the biggest drawbacks of timber flooring is the surface deterioration of the floor due to improperly sealed joints.

1. The first text talks about “a stunning, high-impact feature”. Where is this echoed in the second text?

2. What term does the second text use to refer to “not harmful to environment” that we read in the first text?

2. In a paragraph of 120-150 words, summarize in your own words as far as possible, how interior timber decoration make homes warm and luxurious according to the two texts. Use the expressions from Appendix 2.

17 You are a manager of a woodworking enterprise. Your company has been placed a large timber order with. Write a letter of confirmation. Look at the example of the letter of confirmation and use expressions from Appendix 3.

18. Translate into English using your active vocabulary:

1. Производство изделий из дерева и обработку древесины можно подразделить на следующие виды работ: лесозаготовку, мебельную промышленность и производство древесной массы, целлюлозы, бумаги и картона, а также изделий из бумаги и картона.

2. Процесс заготовки древесины начинается с отбора участка для лесоповала; затем производится лесопиление и распиловка поваленных деревьев на брёвна.

3. На лесопильных предприятиях производится начальная стадия переработки брёвен в пиломатериалы, которая выполняется с помощью циркулярных или ленточных станков.

4. Однако кроме пиления применяются и другие способы обработки бревён, в числе которых можно назвать фрезерование, лущение, строгание, точение, сверление и шлифование.

5. Дерево – это экологически чистый, натуральный материал, который не выделяет вредных токсичных веществ при нагревании.

И

18. Study the table, find and present information about each point:

TIMBER DETERIORATION
WEATHERING	FUNGAL ATTACK	INSECT ATTACK	FIRE

20 Read the text. Make up a dialogue based on the text and learn it by heart. Use the expressions from Appendix 1. Underlined expressions are necessary to use and be ready for a quiz:

WOOD VS. BRICK HOUSE

Choosing the right material for building or renovating a house is the cornerstone of comfort, quality and design. Both brick and wood are beautiful and practical choices for homes. They also come in a variety of colors, finishes, treatments and styles. They are natural looking, durable and insulate well.

Location. Brick and wood are suitable for both city and country residences. Brick works well in cold climates. It retains natural heat and stays warm a long time. Brick protects well against storms and is a reliable option where storms are a threat. Wood is more convenient and appropriate in remote settings, in vales (where erosion and silt accumulation can damage brick walls) and where wood is widely available. Wood is relatively light compared to brick and more flexible.

Purpose. Many varieties of brick are guaranteed to last for one or two lifetimes. However, brick is marginally more expensive than wood. Wood is biodegradable, affordable, healthy and safe. Wood homes are easier to renovate, alter and build than brick. Thick, rot-treated logs can last up to one hundred years or more. Hardwoods and older trees are strong and durable.

Advantages. Brick has several advantages in addition to weatherproofing, heat and property value. It is fireproof, termite resistant and energy efficient. Brick is incredibly stable. It requires no maintenance. Wood also insulates well and is safe. Its flexibility, variety and natural properties make it easy to work with. Some woods are thought to release terpenes, a substance that soothes the mind and body ("forest bath effect"). Wood is also a natural air conditioner and absorbs humidity.

Disadvantages. Poorly made bricks such as clinkers and older recycled bricks might be pitted, irregularly shaped, worn or prone to chipping. In damp or humid climates, porous brick invites mold. It suffers damage as water and ice expand and contract in its pores. Wood is vulnerable to natural disasters such as fire, infestations of termites and decomposition through rot. Wood is susceptible to cracking when soaked.