Put the sentences in the right order according to the text.

§  It is sometimes poured as a monolith without expansion joints but with ample steel reinforcement.

§  The rock used should be capable of resisting erosion and withstanding loads of high intensity.

§  Foundation requirements for this type of dams are more rigid than for earth dams.

§  The quantity of used material is less for a rock-fill dam than for an earth dam.

§  Slab thickness is usually between 6 and 18 in.

§  Leakage can be controlled by periodic repair of the membrane.

§  The embankment usually consists of an upstream section of dry rubble or masonry and a downstream section of loose rock fill.

§  Rocks may vary from small stones to boulders.

§  A rock-fill dam generally has high resistance to earthquakes.

§  The impervious membrane is most commonly constructed of concrete.

§  Rock-fill dams are subject to considerable settlement.

§  The rock-fill dam has an impervious membrane and an embankment which supports the membrane.

 

Finish the following statements according to the text.

1) Rock-fill dams have characteristics both ….

2) The rock-fill dam has two structural components ….

3) The embankment consists of ….

4) The impervious membrane is constructed of ….

5) The membrane is sometimes poured as a monolith without … but with …..

6) Rock-fill dams are subject to ….

7) The greatest disadvantage of rock-fill dams is ….

8) A rock-fill dam has high resistance to ….

9) Less material is required for … than for ….

10) Foundation requirements for rock-fill dams are more … than for earth dams.

11) Rock-fill dams are cheaper than concrete dams and can be constructed more rapidly if ….

Answer the following questions.

1) What are the two main structural components of the rock-fill dam?

2) What does the embankment usually consist of?

3) Should the rock be capable of resisting erosion and strong enough to withstand loads of high intensity even when wet?

4) Where can large stones of regular shape be used?

5) Why do most membranes have expansion joints at intervals of about 50 ft with asphaltic joint filler?

6) Where is slab thickness greater?

7) What may settlement result in?

8) What can leakage be controlled by?

9) Does a rock-fill dam of good design and careful construction have high or low resistance to earthquakes?

10) Why are foundation requirements for rock-fill dams more rigid than for earth dams?

11) Are rock-fill dams cheaper than concrete dams?

12) Can you name the most famous rock-fill dams in the world?

Read the text again, make a plan of it. Write down an abstract for text E.

Language Focus

Match the words with their synonyms.

 

1) characteristic	a) constructional
2) component	b) quick
3) structural	c) space
4) basic	d) feature
5) withstand	e) cope with
6) flat	f) occasional
7) ample	g) stiff
8) interval	h) element
9) instance	i) case
10) periodic	j) plentiful
11) rapid	k) even
12) rigid	l) fundamental

Match the words with their opposites.

 

1) loose	a) flexible
2) intense	b) tight
3) flat	c) bumpy
4) repair	d) wet
5) rapid	e) slow
6) dry	f) weak
7) regular	g) insufficient
8) ample	h) irregular
9) possibility	i) impossibility
10) rigid	j) brake

Using the dictionary add as many words as possible into the table.

Verb	Noun	Adjective
1.	characteristic
2.		structural
3.	base
4. to intensify
5.	settlement
6. to resist
7.		thick
8.	possibility
9. to withstand
10.	rapidity

Translate the following phrases into English.

 

Основные структурные компоненты, свободная каменная наброска, выдерживать нагрузку, десять метров в диаметре, получать ровную поверхность, построенный из бетона, монолит без деформационных швов, горизонтальное и вертикальное направления, подвергаться значительной осадки, основной недостаток плотины, во многих случаях, регулярный ремонт мембраны, более строгие требования к основанию, доступный строительный материал, уменьшать утечку, заделывать швы эмульсией, из-за узкой ширины основания,

 

Reading Task: F