Text A. Housing

1. Houses are built of wood, brick, stone, and concrete. A lot of houses are built of prefabricated blocks (prefabs). All the parts of such houses are produced on an industrial scale in factories and assembled on the spot. The building process takes place under the supervision of foremen and engineers. The structure is put up by bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, painters, locksmiths, glass-cutters, etc.

2. In the construction of a house the first step is to make a careful survey of the site and to examine the soil in order to find its bearing power. Next, the building lines are staked out. After this, the foundations are built. The excavation is dug for thebasement and then followed by the actual building of the foundation walls below ground level. Then the foundation work is finished by providing anchoring sills. That is the case of a wooden building. In the case of a brick structure, the building of the walls may be directly proceeded with.

3. Foundations are to keep the floors and walls from contact with thesoil, to act against the action of the frost and to prevent from settlement. The part upon which the stability of the structure depends is framework. It carries the loads which are imposed on it. To do this work properly and safely the floors, walls, roofs and other parts of the construction must be correctly designed, proportioned, spaced and arranged.

4. The building of a wall consists in laying down courses of bricks and binding them together with mortar. The instrument used by the bricklayer is called a trowel. Walls are constructed to enclose areas and to support the weight of floors and roofs. The walls may be solid and hollow. They may be plastered, then covered with wall-paper or painted. The chief instruments used by the plasterer are the trowel and the float.

5. When doors or windows are to be made, a lintel is usually inserted in the wall above the opening. Storeys are separated by reinforced concrete slabs. The staircase leads to the upper floors. The staircase consists of stairs (steps). When we ascend or descend from step to step we hold on to the banisters (handrails). The steps between two landings are called a flight of stairs

6. The whole structure is crowned by the roof which covers the building and protects it from exposure to the weather. It ties the walls and gives strength to the structure. A complete roof consists of covering, sheathing, rafters, purlins and roof trusses. The covering is the outer or weather resisting coating of the roof. The materials mostly used for the covering are shingles, slate, tiles and iron. After the building of the house is completed there will be need to make a number of connections: sewer and water pipes with faucets (taps). This particular part of the work is undertaken by plumbers, while electrical, gas, and other connections are made by the electricians, etc.

4. Are these statements true or false? If they are false, say why. Use the following phrases:

I can’t agree to this statement because…

Just the contrary…

I think…

To my mind…

1. Some houses are built of wood, brick, stone and concrete.

2. The structure is put up by engineers.

3. It isn’t necessary to examine the soil of the site.

4. The floor carries the loads which are imposed on it.

5. The walls may be solid only.

6. The staircase consists of steps.

7. The whole structure is crowned by the ceiling.

8. A number of connections are made after the building is completed.

5. Study the text and answer the following questions:

1. What is the first step in the construction of a house?

2. Are the building lines staked out after this?

3. Then the foundation is built, isn't it?

4. When does the actual building of the foundation walls begin?

5. Do we provide anchoring sills when the foundation work is finished?

6. Which of the buildings needs anchoring sills?

7. Is the part upon which the stability of the structure depends called the framework?

8. Does it carry the loads which are imposed on it?

9. What do we call the tools used by a bricklayer?

10. Can you name the chief tools used by a plasterer?

11. How are storeys separated?

12. What is the function of the staircase?

13. What is the whole structure crowned by?

14.Will there be a need to make a number of connections after the building of the house is completed?

6. Complete these sentences:

1. In order to build a house a careful ... of the site has to be made and the soil has to be examined in order to ... .

2. When the building lines are staked out, the ... .

3. The foundation work is finished by providing... .

4. Foundations keep the floors and walls from... .

5. The stability of a structure depends on... .

6. The designer decides how ... are to be spaced and arranged.

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Text 2. Housing in Britain

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III. Reading Comprehension	\|	Render the text in Ukrainian.

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