Text 6 the moscow-lake baikal

Notes to the text:

terminal -конечная станция

trunk line - магистраль

to be initiated - быть начатым

as early as - вначале

to carry out – выполнять

volume - объем

reinforced concrete - предварительно-напряженный бетон

tо handle - перевозить

traffic density – грузонапряженность (перевозок)

heavy - напряженный, интенсивный

м

two unit locs - 2-х секционные локомотивы

The Moscow Lake Baikal Railway about 5, 500 km long stretches from Moscow to the Siberian city Irkutsk and the Sludianka terminal. It is known to be the longest electrified trunk line. The electrification of some sections of the line was initiated as early as 1944 but major work was carried out during 1956-60. A great volume of construction work has been involved in line's electrification. More than 210,000supports mostly of reinforced concrete for the overhead system, have been erected. There has been a considerable improvement in the track structure. Heavy-type rails have been laid on broken stone ballast throughout. This railway handles a major portion of the total railway freight traffic, its traffic-density being extremely high. Passenger traffic on this line is also heavy and has almost doubled during the last year: As to the locomotive fleet it includes the VL-23, VL-80 and VL-10 electric locomotive operating on d.c. sections. The VL-80 are of later design. They are eight axle two-unit locomotives. The capacity of the eight traction motors they are fitted with is over 68,000 kw. The VL-80 electric locomotives are considered to be among the most powerful locomotives in the world.

EXERCISES

I. Разбейте текст на 2 части и озаглавьте каждую из них.

II. Найдите в тексте предложения, которые отвечают на следующие вопросы:

а) Когда и где строилась эта дорога?

б) Расскажите о технической оснащенности этой дороги.

Ш. Найдите предложение, которое отражает содержание текста;

1. The Moscow-Lake Baikal Railway is the longest electrified trunk-line.

2. It is a modern, well-equipped line.

3. It carries a lot of traffic.

4. The electric locomotives are the most powerful in the world.

IV. В каком абзаце текста говорится об оснащенности данной дороги?

V. Ответьте на вопросы по данному тексту:

1. From where does this line stretches?

2. When was the electrification of some sections initiated?

3. What has been erected?

4. What type of rails have been laid?

5. Is its traffic density extremely high?

6. What does the locomotive fleet include? ,

7. Are they the most powerful locomotives in the world

Text 7 frow the history of transport

Shillibeer - название фирмы

Today we travel from one place to another quite easily. But for thousands of years, people had to walk or travel in horse-drawn carriages.

In 1829 Shillibeer started the first bus service in Lon­don. The bus introduced by Shillibeer looked like a large car­riage.

Everybody knows that the English buses are of red colour and are very high, as they are double-decked buses. But the up­per deck of the early buses had no roof. The passengers were given raincoats to put on if it started to rain.

In 1885 the Londoners saw the first petrol engine buses. In 1919 they achieved a speed of 12 mph.

As to the first important passenger railway in England it was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. In 1829 the company offered a prize for the best steam locomotive for this rail­way. The prize was won by George Stephenson who built a success­ful steam locomotive which he called the "Rocket". The inven­tion of the steam locomotives made the railway the most impor­tant of all means of transportation.

Today people use electric and diesel traction on their railways because electric and diesel trains attain a very high speed.

Now London is so large that one must learn to use buses and the Underground to get about. You can get a map of the Underground railways and the bus routes at any ticket office.

London transport is the name of the largest system of passenger transport in the world. It covers an area of about 2,000 square miles. Passengers are carried by underground trains, surface trains, buses and motor coaches.

The word "Underground" across a large circle shows you where the stations are. Tickets can be bought at the booking offices. Tickets to be obtained from automatic machines are for short journeys that cost a few pence. Coins are put into a slot. The machine will even give you change. At moot stations in the busy parts of London there are moving stair case в to take you down to the platforms.

EXERCISES

I. Озаглавьте каждый из абзацев текста.

II. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту:

1. What do you know about the bus service in London?

2. What was the first important passenger railway in England?

3. Why do people use electric and diesel traction today?

4. Why must one learn to use Underground to get about London?

5. By what means of transport are passengers carried in London?