Reading Comprehension Exercises

Ex. 16. Answer the questions. For each answer choose A, B or C to show the correct choice.

1. What is the term for building structures from bricks and blocks with the help of mortar?

A. mason B. masoning C. masonry

2. Which building material is commonly used in masonry?

A. stone B. wood C. straw

3. What does the quality of mortar affect most often?

A. beauty B. durability C. servicability

4. What are the even rows of bricks in masonry called?

A. routes B. layers C. courses

5. What is the most common kind of bond in bricklaying?

A. stretcher B. basket C. herringbone

6. Which of the following ingredients isn’t added into the mixture to make mortar?

A. sand B. timber C. water

7. What is built up on top of the structure's foundation first?

A. the ends … B. the middle … C. the top of the building

8. What is stretched between the ends to ensure each row of bricks stays level?

A. ribbon B. string C. measuring tape

9. How can brick and stone inflence the thermal mass of the building?

A. can increase… B. can decrease … C. can double …

10. What kind of weather can cause degradation of masonry wall surfaces?

A. rainy B. sunny C. frosty

11. What is not used to emulate older, rougher work in masonry?

A. burnt bricks B. recycled blocks C. surface treatments

12. How is stone masonry using dressed stones known?

A. as ashlar masonry B. as block masonry C. as rubble masonry

Ex. 17. Text 2 is devided into parts, each having a subtitle. Trying not to look into the text arrange the subtitles in the right order (make up a plan).

a) Advantages.

b) Brick laying techniques.

c) Definition of masonry, its main characteristics.

d) Disadvantages.

e) Masonry in the 20^th century.

f) Stonemasonry.

Ex. 18. A. Look through the sentence given below and say to which part of the text the statements could belong (consult the plan you made up in ex.17).

a) A wide range of structures including arches can be built using bricks.

b) Being heavy, masonry must be built upon a strong foundation.

c) Brick and stone can increase the thermal mass of the building and provide good fire protection, too.

d) Brick typically does not require painting.