B. 3. Translate the sentences

1. Since there is so much water, some people think that it is of little value or interest. 2. We still use alcohol in modern thermometers, since its expansion is greater than the expansion of mercury. 3. The phenomena of nature are of great importance since weather is one of the chief elements in man's life. 4. Since ancient times people studied nature and natural phenomena. 5. Peter wants to become an engineer for he likes technology. 6. Magnesium is a very light metal for which we find more and more uses. 7. Mendeleyev's system has served for almost 100 years as a key to discovering new elements. 8. The student couldn't translate the sentence for he didn't know the meaning of some words. 9. Alloys of copper are of great value for engineering.

C. 1. Read the text FROM THE HISTORY OF HUMAN DWELLINGS and find answers to the following questions:

1. What materials is the history of architecture embraced in?

2. Does the climate of a country influence the style of its architecture?

Architecture is the art and science of building. Nearly 2000 years ago the Roman architect Vitruvius listed 3 basic factors in architecture - convenience, strength and beauty. These three factors are always present and interrelated in the best structures.

In prehistoric times men looked for protection under the branches of trees. The people of the Old Stone Age had to find some warm and dry place to shelter from bad weather. They chose caves. When man began to build a home for himself, caves were imitated in stone structures, trees were taken as a model for huts built of branches. From these beginnings was developed the column and beam method of construction. For many centuries the column and beam was the only generally employed method of stone construction.

Most of the world's great architecture¹ is in stone, because until recently this was the material used in practically all the buildings. But to say that the history of architecture is embraced entirely in stone structures is not accurate, for this neglects² the remarkable work of the Romans in concrete and many structures of wood and brick throughout the world. It is of interest to note briefly the influence of materials upon the schools of architecture. Where clay abounded, as in Egypt, sun-dried bricks were easily and cheaply made. Stone was also obtainable, and because of its durability it became the material of the temples and palaces. Simple dwellings were built of brick.

In Mesopotamia the presence of excellent clay and the scarcity of stone and timber led in the very early days to the introduction of brick construction and in the absence of stone and wood to span their areas, the arch and dome came into being.³ Greece possessed perfect marble for columns and beams, and the arch and dome received little attention. A fortunate combination of lime, limestone, clay and pozzuolana gave Rome stone and cement, and the great part of structures is largely due to the union of stone, brick, strong mortar and concrete. During the Roman Empire round arches, vaults and domes were perfected in stone, brick and concrete; this development being made possible by the abundance in Italy of good limestone and pozzuolana, a volcanic material which when mixed with lime produced an excellent cement. The pointed arch was an inherent feature of the Gothic style. In Nothern Europe, Switzerland and Russia, where forests abounded and other materials were difficult to obtain, wooden architecture was characteristic for buildings of all types.

The climate of a country is one of the factors that influence the style of its architecture. It can be best illustrated by British residential buildings. The weather in England is often cloudy and there are few sunny days in the winter season. Therefore, as a rule, the windows in an English house are of a large size to catch as much light and sunshine as possible. Since there is much rain in England, typical British houses have high steep roofs where rain water and melting snow can easily flow down. Most of the houses have a fireplace which forms the most characteristic feature of an English home and is seldom seen in other European countries.

In our time the use of steel and reinforced concrete introduced new possibilities into construction. Great changes in building methods together with numerous mechanical inventions and the appearance of new materials such as concrete resulted in great buildings being erected during the following centuries. The structural scheme today is one of skeleton framework.

1. великая архитектура мира 2. пренебрегать (не принимать во внимание)

3. появились арка и купол

D. Speak on the usage of building materials in different countries using the text, Table and the following: as far as I know, I think, it should be noted, besides