Modern tractors use synchronized or continuously variable transmissions.

6. They allow power to be transferred from the engine to implements.

7. It allows for better fuel efficiency.

8. Over time, different configurations of wheels have been developed to suit the environment in which they are used.

 

(B)Exercise 9. Answer the following questions.

1. What roles do modern tractors play on today’s farm?

2. What did tractors use when they were first invented? Was that safe?

3. When did tractors start using internal combustion engines?

4. What do modern tractors run on?

5. Why do many older tractors that feature manual transmissions are still in use?

6. Do today’s tractors always follow the classic design?

7. What allows power to be transferred from the engine to implements that are typically pulled behind or in front of the tractor?

 

(A, B, C)Exercise 10. Make up a plan of the text in a form of:

a) (A) key-words

b) (B) key-sentences

c) (C) questions

(B)Exercise 11. Make up a summary of the text answering the following questions in written form.

1. What is the title of the text?

2. Is the purpose of the text to give the reader some special information about main components of a tractor?

3. How many parts does the text consist of?

4. What does the first part present?

5. What does the second part deal with?

6. What does the third part touch upon?

7. What does the fourth part include?

 

(B, C)Exercise 12. The text has an introduction but doesn’t have any conclusion. Can you make the conclusion based on the information from the text. You may use the following phrases to make your speech:

 

In conclusion, …

The author comes to the conclusion that...

We can make the conclusion according to the text that …

For (B) – 2-3 sentences

For (C) – 4-6 sentences

 

(B, C)Exercise 13. Express your opinion about the text. You may start with the phrases given below.

I found the text interesting (useful, informative) …

I think (believe, should say, consider) …

In my opinion …

To my mind …

It seems to me …

From my point of view …

For (B) – 2-3 sentences

For (C) – 4-6 sentences

 

(C)Exercise 14. Express your attitude to the text in your own words. Say what information from the text you consider the most interesting and useful. Why?

(C)Exercise 15. Make a short summary of modern components of tractors compared to older ones.

(C)Exercise 16. Suppose you are delivering a lecture on the latest innovations in main components of the tractor. You have to feature all the components.

(C)Exercise 17. Suppose you have to cover the topic of the main components of modern tractors at the agricultural conference. Prepare your speech. Be ready to report back to your partner.

3.4 Учебно-методические материалы к тексту D

 

(A) Exercise 1. Read the title of the text and try to guess what it is about.

(A) Exercise 2. Read the first paragraph of the text and say what questions are discussed in it.

 

(B) Exercise 3. Scan the text. Focus on the general ideas of each part to say how they are connected and why.

 

(B) Exercise 4. Think of the alternative way to entitle each part.

 

(B, C) Exercise 5. Extend the following statements.

for(B) – 1-2 sentences

for(C) – 3-4 sentences.

 

1) Agricultural implements and machines need day-to-day maintenance and repair activities.

2) Farm machinery maintenance and repair may result in environmental pollution.

(A, B, C) Exercise 6. State what you have learned from the text about:

a)

1) Maintenance activities.

2) Strategies to achieve maximum farm machinery life

3) Lubrication

4) Oil filter

5) Oil analysis

6) Machinery storage

 

(B,C) b) Promote theses to the text.

for (B) – 4-6 sentences

for (C) – 6-10 sentences

 

(B) Exercise 7. Look through the text again. Write down a concise summary. You may use the following expressions:

The text presents an outlook of…

The text gives information about…

The text highlights…

The text encapsulates…

The expresses the main idea of…

The text wraps up …

The importance of … is emphasized in the text.

The target reader of the text …

The text is addressed to…

The text is of interest to…

The text is instructive to…

(C) Write down an expanded summary. Express your attitude to the text. Derive a conclusion. Elicit the information from the text and use additional information from your general knowledge of the subject or any other source of information that is coherent to the subject of farm machinery maintenance.

3.5 Учебно-методические материалы по грамматике

Grammar revision

The Infinitive

(А) Exercise 1. Find the infinitives in these sentences. Translate the sentences.

1) The purpose of the test is to collect data that can be used to assess the performance of tractors of different makes and models.

2) To enhance the quality of life of rural and urban people it is necessary to provide programs focused on human activity, food, fiber and natural resource systems.

3) For the computer system to operate, computer programs are required.

4) The purpose of the dynamometer is to apply varying loads through the PTO and to measure the power generated by the tractor.

5) The soil is bad to cultivate.

(A) Exercise 2. Complete the table with the appropriate form of the infinitive.

Tense form	Active voice	Passive voice
Simple	To supply, to apply, to increase, to produce, to harvest, to plow, to thresh, to till, to mount, to improve
Continuous
Perfect

(A) Exercise 3. Choose the right variant. Translate the sentences.

1) We decided to get/ get our education at the Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University.

2) Agriculture can provide/ to provide us with many products.

3) Using the Internet farmers may use/ to use of data provided by agricultural colleges or other information centers.

4) If I were an engineer I would to design/ design tools.

5) They prepare students to do/do specific jobs.

(В) Exercise 4. Open the brackets using the infinitives. Translate the sentences.

1) There are good facilities (study) at the university.

2) Do you consider these species (grow) for many centuries?

3) The chairman ordered the field (plow).

4) They must (work) in the garden now.

5) They are said (be) at the agricultural exhibition in London last month.

 

(B) Exercise 5. Join the following pairs of sentences using the infinitive. What is the function of infinitives in all these sentences?

1) The students carry out research work in different student’s groups and societies. They want to be better prepared for work in industry.

2)Wind, water and animals were used. They provided energy for various devices.

3)They study a lot of subjects. They want to have a basic knowledge of the sciences.

4)Tractors, lorries and other machinery permit it. The time required for agricultural work is reduced.

 

(B) Exercise 6. Put the words into the right order to get sentences with the infinitive as a:

a) Subject

Me, gives, to study, at, the Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University, it, pleasure.

b) Adverbial modifier

To increase, they, fertilizers, the quality of, in the yield of the grain, improve.

c) Attribute

To rest, to work, I, a desire, at the University, and, here, have.

d) Predicative

Use of chemicals, cause, to, can, the environment, improper, damage.

E) Object

To operate, is, the implement, easy.

 

(С) Exercise 7. Group the sentences according to the functions of the Infinitive. Translate the sentences.

1) To increase the yields collective farmers must use fertilizers.

2) The aim of science and technology is to help make agriculture more productive.

3) Agriculture uses areas of land to produce food, closing, shelter.

4) All farms have to introduce better crop rotation systems.

(C) Exercise 8. Translate into English.

1) Обрабатывать этот участок (земли) очень трудно.

2) Чтобы повысить урожай, нужно применять удобрения.

3) Этот механизм слишком устарел, чтобы его использовать.

4) Очень важно использовать современное оборудование в сельском хозяйстве.