Retell the text in brief. Supplementary tasks:

Supplementary tasks:

Text: THE RAILROAD TRACK(І)

1.Read and memorize new words and expressions on the text:

to operate well;

to be a success;

to be far slower and lighter;

the fastest locomotive;

moth more comfortable than;

not so important as;

thanks to the new development;

the more powerful modern locomotives;

to introduce electricity as a tactile power;

the introduction of diesel traction;

a locomotive suitable for service;

gauge switch joint following: basic feature permanent way temporary tracks heavy blocks of granite heavy steam trains steel(iron)rails

2.Read and translate the text;

The track is one of the basic features of a railway. It is called the permanent way. The fact is that in the early days of railroad building the workers fist had to lay temporary tracks to transport the materials to the construction site. And only after that they laid down the permanent tracks or the permanent way, as it was called. The first tracks had no ballast the rails were made of wood and rested on heavy blocks of granite. The permanent way consists of rails, ties, and ballast.

The railroad track of today is quite different from that used in the early days of railways. Then the wooden rails were replaced by iron ones, and the granite blocks were replaced by wooden ties or sleepers. This kind of track however was not strong enough for heavy steam trains. The discovery how to make cheap steel was of great importance to the railways for, when placed in the same track steel rails had a life 15 time as long as iron rails. The distance between the rails is called the gauge. The standard gauge in most countries is 1.435 mm while our country the railroads have a gauge of 1.524 mm. That gauge was small) adopted when the first main line MOSCOW - ST. PETRSBURG railway was under construction (1842-1851).

3.Answer the questions:

What is called a permanent way?

What is a gauge?

What was the kind of railroad in the early days?

What event have influenced the railroad building development?

Why is switch used?

4.Give Ukrainian equivalents to the following words and expressions on the text::

to operate well;

to be a success;

to be far slower and lighter;

the fastest locomotive;

moth more comfortable than;

not so important as;

thanks to the new development;

the more powerful modern locomotives;

to introduce electricity as a tactile power;

the introduction of diesel traction;

a locomotive suitable for service;

gauge switch joint following: basic feature permanent way temporary tracks heavy blocks of granite heavy steam trains steel(iron)rails

5.Complete the sentences:

The track is …

Then the wooden rails were replaced …

The discovery how to make …

The distance...

Supplementary tasks:

Text: THE RAILROAD TRACK(ІI)