Technical English Level 3

Progress Test 5 (Units 9-10)

Answer all the questions.

Section 1: Vocabulary

1 Choose the correct option (a-d).

1 Unfortunately the beam cracked due to metal __________.

a) tension b) fatigue c) shock d) impact

2 The bridge began to __________ dangerously and then collapsed.

a) buckle b) break c) corrode d) load

3 The inspections proved to be totally __________ . They weren't carried out properly.

a) unstable b) unproven c) inadequate d) impossible

4 You need to draw a __________ line from one corner of the square to the opposite corner.

a) diagonal b) elliptical c) conical d) zigzag

5 The __________ of the bike is much better with three wheels. It's very unlikely to tip over when cornering fast.

a) acceleration b) comfort c) functionality d) stability

6 The line along the bottom of the graph is known as the __________ axis.

a) vertical b) horizontal c) perpendicular d) inclined

7 The building you are looking for is __________ to this one. It's right next door.

a) adjacent b) adjusted c) opposite d) enclosed

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2 Complete the sentence with a word formed from the word in capitals at the end.

8 The __________ shape of the building makes is very attractive. CYLINDER

9 The results of the bridge collapse were __________ CATASTROPHE

10 What's the __________ of the bridge? WIDE

11 You need to put the __________ at the end of the report. ATTACH

12 I think they used __________ force to break the lock. EXCESS

13 I'm looking for a __________ piece of metal. Can you find it? TRIANGLE

14 There isn't very much __________ space on the two-wheel bike. STORE

15 The temporary bending was due to__________. COMPRESS

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Section 2: Language

3 Complete the text with ONE word only.

I bought a new mobile phone last month and I'm not very happy with it. Looking back, I (16) __________ not have bought the Motorola. In fact, (17) __________I had done more research, I would not have chosen the phone I did. I think the Apple (18) __________ have been much (19) __________ useful for me, although it was a lot more expensive (20) __________ the others at the time. Another problem with the Motorola is that it has (21) __________ capacity than the others. For example the Apple has twice as (22) __________ gigabytes memory as my phone and even the Nokia had half as (23) __________ memory as mine. Another problem is that my phone is by (24) __________ the smallest phone in the world and I can't read the screen clearly. They (25) __________ have designed it for people with extremely small fingers and excellent eyesight! The other phones seems to have a screen which is at least (26) __________ third bigger than the one I have and it's a (27) __________ easier to read them. I suppose I only bought my phone because it was a (28) __________ deal cheaper than the others. I (29) __________ have gone for the Apple if I (30) __________ known people who already had it.

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Section 3: Reading

4 Read the text and answer the questions.

31 Which of these cladding materials is NOT mentioned?

a) aluminium b) glass c) marble d) stainless steel e) granite

__________

32 What is the third tallest building in the world?

__________

33 How tall is the tallest building? __________

34 Which building has the largest floor area and what size is it?

__________ & __________

35-40 What do these figures refer to?

35 508 ____________________

36 124 ____________________

37 50+ ____________________

38 512 ____________________

39 412,500 ____________________

40 31,400 ____________________

SKYSCRAPERS

Skyscraper design presents some complex challenges to both designer and engineers. The structural design is vital because of the buildings' size and the large numbers of people who will be housed in them. One of the major factors is wind loading because wind pressure increases with height. The taller and larger the building is, the bigger the supporting wall needs to be but as there is limited floor space, skyscrapers usually use a shear wall (a wall of braced panels) to counter the effects of lateral loads such as wind and earthquakes. Therefore reinforced concrete is used to make supporting columns. Elevators are not only functional for those who use the building, but also they are an essential part of the design because designers and engineers have to make sure that the space required by elevator shafts is used efficiently. Another extremely important design feature is the exterior cladding and a variety of materials is used such as glass, aluminium, marble, limestone and granite to name but a few.

The Taipei 101 building, opened at the end of 2004 was the tallest building in the world for a while. It has 101 storeys from ground level although there are another five storeys below ground. It can withstand strong typhoon winds of over 130 miles an hour and the strongest earthquake which is ever likely to occur. This was done using an anti-sway mechanism which cost $4million. The building is officially 508 metres to its spire and 448m to the roof where the highest occupied floor of the building is and there is an observation deck on the 101^st floor. To support the structure, 380 piles (1.2m in diameter) were driven 79.2m into the ground, nearly 30m of which is solid bedrock. The piles are made of the highest performance steel available and can take weights of more than 1320 tonnes. It has a floor area of 412,500 m² and the whole building weighs 705,130 tonnes.

The Burj Kalifa Tower in Dubai holds the currently record as the tallest structure in the world with the spire reaching 828m and the highest occupied floor is at 584. It has a floor area of 517,240 m² and there is an observation deck on the 124^th floor. Over 45,000 m3 of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes were used to construct the concrete and steel foundation, which has 192 piles buried more than 50 m deep. The tower also has the world record for the highest installation of an aluminium and glass façade, at 512 metres.

In November, 2007, the highest reinforced concrete corewalls were pumped using 80 MPa concrete from ground level; a vertical height of 601 metres beating the previous pumping record 470m on the Taipei 101. The amount of rebar used for the tower is 31,400 tonnes, the total length of which would extend more than a quarter of the way around the world.

The Shanghai World Financial Centre was planned as the tallest building in the world when it was designed in 1997. However, by the time it was completed it came in as the third tallest at 492 meters. It has a floor area of 377,300 m² which includes 3 floors of underground parking, shops and a conference center on floors 1 to 5, offices on floors 7 to 77, a hotel located on floors 79 through 93, and finally observation and exhibition areas on floors 94 to 100. In fact, the observation bridge is the highest outdoor observation deck in the world.

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Section 4: Writing

5 Write the report extracts using the notes given.

41/42 purpose/present results/investigation/bridge collapse

43/44 wide range procedures/CCTV footage/wreckage/photos/inspection documents

45/46 evidence discovered/bearings & gusset plates/corroded/gusset plates/too thin

47/48 after/study/decide/ collapse/weakness/gusset plates

49/50 non-destructive tests/all gusset plates/introduce system/detect faults/early stage

41/42 Introduction

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

43/44 Method _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

45/46 Findings _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

47/48 Conclusions _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

49/50 Recommendations _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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Section 5: Listening

Track 5

6 Listen to the recording twice and complete the notes. USE NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

51 Maritime Studies building design has been __________ for award as best site.

52 Campus site surrounded on three sides by water and the __________ on the other.

53 Lake situated to __________ of campus site.

54 __________ building is beside curved water area.

55 Student __________are on opposite side of lake.

56 Academic block plan resembles set of__________.

57 The oval-shaped building is the __________.

58 Workshop is __________ to Research Centre.

59 Services building is on opposite side of the __________.

60 The campus ship is straight at one end and __________ at the other.

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