Read the passage about the steam engine history and choose the correct word.

The history of the steam engine stretches / stretched back as far as the first century AD; the first recording / recorded rudimentary steam engine was /being the aeolipile was described / described by Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria. In the following centuries, the few steam powered / powering "engines", like the aeolipile, were / are essentially experimental devices using / used by inventors to demonstrate / demonstrated the properties of steam.

A rudimentary steam turbine device was described / described by Taqi al-Din in 1551 and by Giovanni Branca in 1629. Jerónimo de Ayanz Beaumont received / was received patents in 1606 for fifty steam powering / powered inventions, included / including a water pump for draining inundated /inundating mines.

Since the early 18th century, steam power has been applied / had been applied to a variety of practical uses. At first it applied / was applied to reciprocating / reciprocated pumps, but from the 1780s rotative engines began appear/ to appear, driven / driving factory machinery such as spinning mules and power looms. At the turn of the 19th century, steam powering /powered transport on both sea and land began to make / make its appearance becoming / became ever more dominant as the century progressed / progressing.

 

LISTENING

Listen to the text about the Steam Engine invention and tell your group mates what inventors are mentioned in the text.

 

Think of the endings of these sentences, then listen and check.

1. The steam engine was the first machine to convert burning fuel into …..

2. The first steam engines were powered by wood, and later ones by …..

3. It was at the heart of the first form of high-speed mechanized transportation …..

4. Newcomen's device was also used primarily to pump …..

5. Watt’s machine was vastly more efficient than were previous devices, chiefly because of its separate …..

6. Watt added other improvements, such as …..

7. Watt also designed a system of gears that translated the up-and-down motion of the steam-driven piston into …..

8. Steam-powered railroad trains played a huge role in …..

9. It is tempting to think of the car or the airplane as among the …..

10. In 1698 English engineer Thomas Savery developed a …..

11. Watt’s machine was patented in …..

12. Steam engine freed factories from their dependence on …..

13. Discuss in pairs the meaning of the following phrases in relation to the information from the text:

– the most important inventions of the millennium;

– evolutionary refinements of the steam engine;

– limitations of people’s own muscles;

– the heart of the first form of high-speed mechanized transportation;

– useful in driving machinery;

– dependence on water power;

– the expansion of the British Empire;

– Industrial Revolution;

– to stand on the shoulders of the steam engine.

 

SPEAKING

14. The early examples of steam engine application were notified from the 1^st century and it was developed till 18^th century (See Appendix A, p. 78). Discuss the most important invention or improvement of a steam engine which took place at that time. Share your opinion with your group. Support your points. Use the following phrases.

- In my opinion, …

- As far as I am concerned, probable / improbable …

- In fact, very true.

- I should say that, quite correct / incorrect.

- To tell the truth... entirely feasible.

- I rather think that … perfectly possible / impossible.

- I must say that, certain / uncertain …

- I dont think that, necessary / unnecessary …

- I suppose that, …

- As a matter of fact, …

15. In Appendix A (p. 81) you can find a poster with information on the environmental impact of a steam engine. Discuss the information and share your opinion with the group. Your discussion should include the following points:

– the source of power;

– problem of excessive heat;

– steam engine application;

– if the steam engine environmentally friendly or not.

Use the following phrases.

- The steam engine gets inputs from …

- It provides power to …

- Machines convert expanding steam into …

- Excess or vented steam can also be used to …

- It is designed to function as …

- It is proved to be a …

- It causes a …

- It is considered to be a …

- The electricity obtained from …

- It is the solution for …

Work in pairs. Discuss the risks, advantages, disadvantages, application, possibilities, environmental audit, operation, and maintenance of a steam engine. Then compare your ideas with the rest of the class. Justify your opinion. Use the words and phrases in the box below.

- expanding steam - turbine

- electric generators - piston

- heat energy - furnace

- rotary motion - boiler

- reciprocating motion - wheel

- compound engine - crankshaft

 

WRITING

17. You are writing a short dictionary for students of technical universities. Your chapter is about a steam engine. Write the definition of the following terms:

– flywheel;

– drive shaft;

– bump valve or bash valve;

– bump pin;

– valve case;

– valve seat;

– exhaust plenum;

– piston ring;

– bore;

– cylinder liner or sleeve.

18. Webquest. You are going to learn about the development of the steam engine and its influence on the transportation. Write a review (200-250 words) about it. The following information should be included:

- What transport used the steam engine?

- How does the steam locomotive work?

- How fast was the fastest steam locomotive?

- Who invented the steam locomotive?

- How did the changes in transportation affect the economy and industry?