HCMC UT Test Code: 006804/20 Invigilator 1 Invigilator 2 Total score Approved by

Subject code: 006804

English Department
Class: …………………… Book: English for
construction and
Name: …………………….
handling machines
…………………………… Units: 1 - 9
Credits: 2
Student’s code:……………

WRITTEN TEST
Time allowed: 60 minutes
I. READING COMPREHENSION (2.5 pts)
Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions.
Tower cranes are of predominant use in construction practice. They are used to lift materials,
parts and whole structures onto the building being erected, to install separate elements and for
loading and unloading operations. Tower cranes are provided with hoisting, slewing, travelling,
and luffing and jib mechanisms. These cranes are classified by:
- The load moment: 4, 16, 25, 40, 60, 100, 160, and 250 ton-metres. The load moment is the
product of the weight being lifted by the outreach (work arm);
- The number of working movements: three movements (hoisting, slewing, travelling) or four
movements (the same plus luffing or jibbing).
- The hook outreach can be changed by luffing the boom, or by a trolley moving along the boom
placed horizontally;
The design of the revolving structure: with an upper or lower revolving head; the arrangement
of the counterweight: at the top or at the bottom. A tower crane is made up essentially of support,
tower, revolving structure, boom, counterweight and controls. The support can take the form of a
tapered gantry or flat frames. The support carries the travelling mechanisms.
The tower carries the operator’s cab and some of the mechanisms. It is designed as a latticed
steel framework or is made of large diameter steel tubes. The operating members consist of the
boom, a hoisting pulley and a load handling attachment, usually a hook. Counterweight
compensates for the weight of the boom and part of the weight of the load being lifted by the
crane.
Questions:
1. What are tower cranes used to do?
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………...
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………...
2. What are tower cranes provided with?
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………..
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………..
3. How can the hook outreach be changed?
…………………………………………………………………………….………………….
…………………………………………………………………………….………………….
4. Is the tower designed as a latticed steel frame work?
…………………………………………………………………………….………………….
5. What does counterweight compensate for?
…………………………………………………………………………….………………….

II. TESTING TERMINOLOGY (2.5 pts)

Fill in each blank with a suitable word.
1. Conveyors with metal _______________ belts handle big-lump and abrasive materials.
2. A part or element of a larger whole, especially a part of a machine or vehicle is called a
_______________.
3. _______________ travelling cranes are applied to move loads in three mutually perpendicular
directions.

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 4. A large iron or steel beam or compound structure used for building bridges and the framework
of large buildings is called _______________.
5. This is a kind of equipment that is used to hold the load and lift. It is the _______________.
6. It is a kind of equipment of cranes and is used to bring dry bulk. That is a grab ______________.
7. The trackless cranes are always mounted on a _______________ chassis.
8. The action of cranes which can bring and move the load from ground to rise is
_______________.
9. The truck’s high-strength ____________ allows for lifting 9’6’’ or 8’6’’ containers five-high
in the first row.
10. Shifting of the jib is made by a toothed rack _______________ gear.

III. SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION (2.5 pts)

Rewrite the following sentences so that they have the same meaning as the originals.
1. My company always uses belt conveyors to transfer concrete horizontally and limited distances
vertically. (Use “passive voice” to rewrite the sentence.)
…………………………………………………………………………….……………………….
…………………………………………………………………………….……………………….
2. Because the container shipping industry is developing, the ports usually require more reach
stackers. (Use “because of” to rewrite the sentence.)
…………………………………………………………………………….………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………….………………………..
3. A container gantry crane is used in the operation sector of the shipping industry. It is designed
for loading and unloading the container cargo from a container vessel. (Use “relative clause” to
combine two sentences.)
…………………………………………………………………………….………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………….………………………..
4. The boom of the gantry crane is hinged at the water side. The operator can move it up and down
as per the requirement of the cargo operation or navigation. (Use “so that/ in order that” to
combine two sentences.)
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………
5. Although the workers followed the safety instruction carefully, they were injured in the
operation yesterday. (Use “in spite of/ despite” to rewrite two sentences.)
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………
…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………

IV. WRITING (2.5 pts)

Choose one of two following topics to write a 120-word paragraph.
1. Describe the handling machine or construction machine that you like best.
2. Tell about the most important reasons why you choose engineering major.

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