Now read the text attentively to learn more about mini motor cars.

 

Mini motor cars are sold all over Europe. The first Mini was pro­duced in Britain in 1959 and it has become Britain's most popular and successful car since that time.

In the late 1950s, BMC, the British Motor Corporation,

want­ed to build a car that was different from other cars.

They wanted a small, cheap and economical car -a family

car that was big enough to carry four passengers. In the

1950s it was a difficult problem. At that time a typical

family car was quite long, about three and a half meters.

It had large wheels and large space for the engine. So there

wasn't much room for the pas­sengers. Besides that, it was

very expensive to make.

The Mini was designed by Alec Issigonis. His design was revolu­tionary. First, the car was made half a meter shorter. Next, the wheels were made much smaller and they were put right at the four corners of the car. Then the engine was turned sideways and the gear­box was put underneath. And there was still enough room for four passengers.

Today nearly every small car is based on the design of the Mini. So why is the Mini so popular? The answer is simple: it is well designed, very economical, it is easy to drive around the city and easy to park!

Answer these questions.

 

1. When was the first Mini produced?

2. Who was this car designed by?

3. How did a typical family car look like in the 1950s?

4. What changes did Alec Issigonis make in a new car, called the Mini?

5. What are the advantages of the Mini?

6. Do you think that the Mini is a good car? Why? / Why not?

7. Would you like to drive such a car yourself?

Complete the sentences.

1. Mini motor cars are... all over Europe.

2. The Mini has become Britain's most... and... car.

3. In the 1950s BMC wanted to build a... and... car.

4. The Mini... by Alec Issigonis.

5. The car... half a meter....

6. The wheels were made....

7. The engine... sideways and the... was put underneath.

8. Today almost every car is... on the... of the....

 

7. The Technical University will hold a students' conference tomorrow called "Small cars - a myth or reality?" Make a short report on mini cars.

Your brother started working in a prosperous engineering company last year and he has saved enough money for a small, cheap car. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of buying a small car and give your brother a piece of advice.

UNIT 16

FUTURE TRENDS

How future-oriented are you? Do this quiz and find-out.

The car will be able to make more intelligent driving decisions than a human can.

aThis is true and the result will be fewer accidents.

b Surely there are times when people are more intelligent

than machines.

c Driving will be no fun if I can’t think for myself.

There will be no more switches, only voice control.

aGreat! You don’t need to look at the dashboard any

more.

b Some voice control is OK, but I still want some

Switches.

c I prefer switches.

The car will be made of self-cleaning materials.

aNo more wasting time at the car wash! This is also good

for recycling.

b Aren’t we going to become very lazy?

c But I want to clean my car! I really enjoy it.

Joysticks will replace steering wheels.

aThis is something new and sounds like fun.

b This could be OK, but it will take me a long time to

get used to it.

cYou only need one hand for a joystick. I like having

both hands on the steering wheel.

Sensors in the car will prevent accidents.

aThis means I can really depend on my car.

b I would like to turn the sensors on and off when I

want.

c What happens if the sensors don’t work?

Most of the tasks you do in your office you’ll be able to do in your car.

aThis means I won’t waste any time on business trips.

b I’m not sure if I want to think about work all the time.

c My car is for fun and relaxing, not for work!

Mostly ‘a’s: Congratulations! You are ready for the future. You are not afraid of change, and you see new technology as challenge and something positive.

Mostly ‘b’s: You’re not quite ready for the future. You are still asking yourself why changes are necessary instead of accepting that changes are going to happen.

Mostly ‘c’s: You are fighting against change and new technology. You seem to be afraid of what the future will bring.

Science and new technology are gradually changing everything in our life. Can you imagine how a car of the future will look like?