Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I. VOCABULARY
Choose the best answers to complete the following sentences
1. Electronic devices are made up of common basic units connected together. The
function of each of these units and the path of the signals between them can be shown
in a ……………
A. block diagram
B. circuit diagram
C. schematics
2. The connections and values of the ………………. inside the basic units of an
electronic device can be shown in a circuit diagram using standard electronic symbols.
A. components
B. parts
C. elements
3. In the future, electronics are likely to become even more common in the home as
multimedia entertainment systems and ……………-controlled robots are developed.
A. computer
B. automatic
C. machine
4. The development of the computers, and then the microcomputers, embedded
computers, and associated information …………… and software advances, made
mechatronics an imperative in the latter part of the 20th century.
A. data
B. engineering
C. technologies
5. …………… is a device which causes realization of mechatronic system functional
motion.
A. Sensor
B. Actuator
C. Integrated circuit
6. …………… is a device which detects or measures some condition, indicates, or
responds to the received information.
A. DSP
B. Microcontroller
C. Sensor
7. n electrical source is a device that is capable of converting …………… energy to
…………… energy.
A. nonelectric, electric
B. electric, nonelectric
C. Both A and B are correct
8. A resistor is a …………… electrical component that acts to reduce current flow, and,
at the same time, acts to lower voltage levels within circuits.
A. passive
B. active
C. electromechanical
9. …………… values have been coded by coloured bands painted around the body of
the resistor.
A. Resistance
B. Capacitance
C. Inductance
10. …………… is an electrical component that opposes any change in electrical current.
A. Conductor
B. Inductor
C. Insulator
11. …………… is similar to a battery in that they can store electrical charge.
A. A resistor
B. An inductor
C. A capacitor
12. The most common function of …………… is to allow an electric current to pass in
one direction, while blocking current in the opposite direction.
A. a diode
B. an amplifier
C. a generator
13. The diode acts as ……………. when operated in the forward direction.
A. an open circuit
B. a short circuit
C. a closed circuit
14. ……………. is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric
current passes through it.
A. A light-emitting diode
B. A semiconductor diode
C. A diode
15. …………….. is a circuit that gives an output signal if there is a signal on any of its
inputs.
A. AND gate
B. OR gate
C. NOT gate
16. Digital electronics accepts only two numbers, “0” and “1”. Zero means ……………..,
while “1” means ……………...
A. small, big
B. low, high
C. short, long
17. Both bronze and brass are common ……………...
A. non-ferrous metals
B. ferrous metals
C. non-metals
18. …………….., which are alloys, or mixture of iron and carbon, are the two most
important ferrous metals.
A. Cast iron and steel
B. Aluminium and copper
C. Plastic and ceramic
19. Plastic and ceramic are non-metals; however, …………….. may be machined like
metals.
A. plastic
B. ceramic
C. wood
20. ……………... are used because of desirable properties such as low weight (e.g.
aluminium), higher conductivity (e.g. copper), non-magnetic property or resistance to
corrosion (e.g. zinc).
A. non- ferrous metals
B. ferrous metals
C. non-metals
II. GRAMMAR
Choose the best answers to complete the following sentences
1. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Resistors are made in a range of preferred values which meet all the needs of
circuit designers.
B. Resistors are made in a range of preferred values, which meet all the needs of
circuit designers.
C. None of them is correct
2. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Aluminum, which is light, soft, and ductile, is used to make aircraft.
B. Aluminum which is light, soft, and ductile is used to make aircraft.
C. Aluminum, which is light, soft, and ductile is used to make aircraft.
3. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Friction is sometimes a help and it is often a hindrance.
B. Friction is sometimes a help so it is often a hindrance.
C. None of them is correct
4. Which sentence is INCORRECT?
A. Mechanisms deliver the power to do work so they play a vital role in industry.
B. Mechanisms play a vital role in industry because they deliver the power to do
work.
C. Both A and B are incorrect
5. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Safety shoes protect the feet against falling objects because they prevent the feet
getting caught in machinery.
B. Safety shoes protect the feet against falling objects and they prevent the feet
getting caught in machinery.
C. Safety shoes protect the feet against falling objects but they prevent the feet
getting caught in machinery.
6. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Respirators should be worn in dusty conditions because dust can damage the
lungs.
B. Respirators should be worn in dusty conditions so dust can damage the lungs.
C. Respirators should be worn in dusty conditions and dust can damage the lungs.
7. The ceramic is marked with colour bands ……………... the value and tolerance.
A. to indicate
B. indicates
C. indicated
8. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Noise, whom is any unwanted signals can be a problem with amplifiers.
B. Noise, who is any unwanted signals, can be a problem with amplifiers.
C. Noise, which is any unwanted signals, can be a problem with amplifiers.
9. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. The sounds are converted to electrical signals by using a microphone.
B. The sounds are converted to electrical signals by use a microphone.
C. The sounds are converted to electrical signals by uses a microphone.
10. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. A ceramic coating which is applied over the graphite insulates the graphite.
B. A ceramic coating whose is applied over the graphite insulates the graphite.
C. A ceramic coating whom is applied over the graphite insulates the graphite.
11. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Before detecting an intruder, the alarm triggers an audible warning.
B. When triggering an audible warning, the alarm detect an intruder.
C. When detecting an intruder, the alarm triggers an audible warning.
12. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. After the switch is opened, voltage drop across inductor immediately .
B. Before voltage drop across inductor immediately, the switch is opened.
C. After voltage drop across inductor immediately, the switch is opened.
13. ……………... the switch is turned off, no current flows through the ammeter.
A. So
B. After
C. Before
14. Which sentence is INCORRECT?
A. A milliammeter is used to measure very small currents.
B. A milliammeter is used to measured very small currents.
C. A milliammeter is used for measuring very small currents.
15. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Copper is highly conductive so it is used for electric wiring.
B. Copper is highly conductive because it is used for electric wiring.
C. Copper is highly conductive but it is used for electric wiring.
16. Which sentence is CORRECT?
A. Resistors are electronic components, which add resistance to a circuit.
B. Resistors are electronic components which add resistance to a circuit.
C. Resistors are electronic components, whose add resistance to a circuit.
17. Special effects can be __________ on the mixing desk.
A. adding
B. added
C. adds
18. The antenna is __________ the coil.
A. connected to
B. connected across
C. connected between
19. Find exact words from two column of words
A B
primary wave
reverse current
alternating cell
surface bias
A. primary cell – reverse bias – alternating current – surface wave
B. primary current – reverse bias – alternating wave – surface cell
C. primary cell – reverse bias – alternating wave – surface current
20. Which sentence is INCORRECT?
A. Laser beams can be used to measure structure.
B. Laser beams can be used to measured structure.
C. Laser beams can be used for measuring structure.
1. RACING BICYCLE
The standard design of the bicycle has been in existence for about 100 years. But
in the past 10 years there have been more changes than during any other decade.
Bicycles, and especially racing bicycle, have much in common with aircraft: both
are designed to minimize wind resistance, maximize energy efficiency, respond instantly
to the demands placed on them, yet weigh very little without, losing strength. So much of
technology used in aerospace has found its way into racing bicycles.
The heart of the bicycle is its frame. It must be strong, light, flexible enough to
absorb bumps, but not so much that it wastes the energy the rider transmits by pedaling.
Bicycle frame designers share many aims with aircraft engineers, who must design wings
which are strong, light, aerodynamic, and efficient at converting engine power into lift.
Yet the wings must be flexible enough to absorb turbulence without wasting the engine’s
thrust. Therefore, the modern bicycle frame and aircraft wings share both materials and
design features. Many racing bicycle frames which consist of tubes joined together are
made from aluminium alloys similar to those used in aviation. The French company,
Vitus, glues the tubes together using the same techniques as those used for connecting
aircraft components.
In recent years, aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing have been experimenting
with composite materials like Cheval and carbon fibres. It is no surprise that some racing
bicycle frames are now manufactured from the same materials.
Perhaps the most innovative frame to date is constructed from die-cast magnesium
alloy. It’s the designer, Frank Kirk, formerly worked in aerospace.
Components which fit on bicycle frames have also benefited from aerospace
engineering. Many components, such as gears, brakes, handlebars, and wheels, are both
aerodynamic and often made from aluminium alloys or titanium-another light, strong
metal used in aircraft.
*Read carefully the text above, and answer the following questions:( 3 marks)
1. How long has the design of the bicycle been in existence?
2. What are the properties of the bicycle frame?
3. What are the handle bars made from?
4. What is the function of the aircraft wings?
5. What are the racing bicycle frames made from?
6. How are the compound nouns formed?
a/ aluminium alloy b/racing bicycle c/strong metal d/modern bicycle
e/ wind resistance
2. LASERS
Lasers are devices which amplify light and produce beams of light which are very
intense, directional, and pure in colour. They can be solid state, gas, semiconductor, or
liquid.
When lasers were invented in 1960, some people thought they could be used as
‘death rays. In the 1980s, the United States experimented with lasers as a defence against
nuclear missiles. Nowadays, they are used to identify targets. But apart from military
uses, they have many applications in engineering, communications, medicine, and the
arts.
In the engineering, powerful laser beams can be focused on a small area. These
beams can heat, melt, or vaporize material in a very precise way. They can be used for
drilling diamonds, cutting complex shapes in materials from plastics to steel, for spot
welding and for surfacing techniques, such as hardening aircraft engine turbine blades.
Laser beams can also be used to measure and align structures.
Lasers are ideal for communications in space. Laser light can carry many more
information channels than microwaves because of its high frequency. In addition, it can
travel long distances without losing signal strength. Lasers can also be used for
information recording and reading. Compact discs are read by lasers.
In medicine, laser beams can treat damaged tissue in a fraction of a second without
harming healthy tissue. They can be used in very precise eye operations.
In the arts, lasers can provide fantastic display of light. Pop concerts are often
accompanied by laser displays.
*Read carefully the text above, answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What are lasers ?
2. What are the properties of lasers ?
3. List three applications of lasers in engineering ?
4. In the arts, what are lasers used for ?
5. In military, what are lasers used for ?
6. Look back the text, and find the synonyms the following words:
a. exact. b. very strong. c. make hot. d. make
3. STRAIN GAUGES
Strain gauges measure the amount of strain in a member. They work on the
principle that electrical resistance of a wire changes as it is stretched, becoming longer
and thinner. The more it is stretched, the greater its resistance.
By arranging the wire in tightly packed rows, quiet long lengths can be fitted on to a
small pad. Modern strain gauges are made not of wire, but by etching a pattern into metal
foil which is stuck to a polyester backing.
In use, a gauge is stuck on the surface of the member being tested. Its active axis is
fixed along the direction in which you want to measure the strain. Movements on the
passive axis will have no real effect on it. The gauge must then be connected to an
electronic circuit. The resistance of the gauge is compared with the resistance of fixed
values resistors in the circuit. Any differences in resistance are converted into voltage
differences. These very small changes in voltage are amplified before being display.
The final circuit includes a dummy gauge. This compensates for any changes in
the resistance of the active gauge caused by temperature changes. The active and dummy
gauges form part of the Wheatstone bridge. With no forces applied to the active gauge the
output from this part of the circuit should be zero. When force is applied, the resistance of
active gauge changes so the output voltage to the amplifier changes. The amplifier
magnifies that change so that it can be clearly seen on the meter. The three variable
resistors in the circuit each allow difference adjustment to be made. VR1 allows you to
‘balance’ the bridge, getting the resistance exactly equal. VR2 allows you to adjust the
‘gain’ of the amplifier, in other words, how much the voltage is amplified. By adjusting
VR3 the output can be adjusted exactly zero before a load applied to the member being
tested.
In practice, strain gauges tend to be used in pairs or groups, often measuring the
strain in various parts of a structure at the same time. When used like this they are often
linked to a computer rather than a series of display meters. The computer keeps a
constant check on the outputs from each of the strain gauges, making sure that no part of
the structure is being loaded beyond normal limits.
*Read carefully the text above, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What principle do strain gauges operate on?
1. Why is an amplifier necessary?
2. Why would you adjust the output to exactly zero?
3. Why is a dummy gauge included in the circuit?
4. What is the function of the strain gauge?
5. Find out 5 compound nouns (adjective + noun)?
4. MECHANISMS
Mechanisms are an important part of everyday life. They allow us to do simple
things like switch on lights, turn taps, and open doors. They also make it possible to use
escalators and lifts, travel in cars, and fly from continent to continent.
Mechanisms play a vital role in industry. While many industrial processes have
electronic control systems, it is still mechanisms that deliver the power to do the work.
They provide the forces to press steel sheets into car body panels, to lift large
components from place to place, to force plastic through dies to make pipes.
All mechanisms involve some kind of motion. The four basic kinds of motion are:
Rotary: Wheels, gears, and rollers involve rotary movement.
Oscillating: The pendulum of a clock oscillates – it swings backwards and forwards.
Linear: The linear movement of a paper trimmer is used to cut the edge of the
paper.
Reciprocating: The piston in a combustion engine reciprocates.
Many mechanisms involve changing one kind of motion into another type. For example,
the reciprocating motion of a piston is changed into a rotary motion by the crankshaft,
while a cam converts the rotary motion of the engine into the reciprocating motion
required to operate the valves.
*Read carefully the text above, and answer the following questions:(3 marks)
1. What does a cam do ?
2. What is the function of a crankshaft ?
3. How are car body panels formed ?
4. Give an example of a device which can produce a reciprocating motion.
5. How many kinds of motion are there ? What are they ?
6. What do mechanisms provide in industry ?
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What is an electric motor used for?
2. List the main components of a simple electric motor?
3. What is the function of the commutator?
4. What makes the armature run?
5. What happens if you put two magnets close together?
6. Find out 5 compound nouns in the text ? How are they formed ?
6. STEPPER MOTOR
Stepper motors are used wherever accurate control of movement is required. They
are used extensively in robotics and in printers, plotters, and computer disk drives, all of
which require precise positioning or speed, in a plotter, for example, by using two motors
running at 90 degrees to each other, they can be used to drive a pen an exact distance in
all directions. In robotics, they are used to position manipulators exactly where required.
A stepper motor does not run in the same way as a normal DC motor, i.e.
continuously rotating. Instead, it runs in a series of measured steps. These steps are
trigged by pulses making from a computer, each pulse making the motor turn either in a
forward or a reverse direction by an exact interval, typically 1.8, 2.5, 3.75, 7.5, 15, or 30
degrees. Accuracy is within 3% to 5% of the last step.
The rotor in a stepper motor is constructed from several permanent magnets with
north and south poles. The stator is wound into a series of electromagnets usually four,
which can be switched on and off. When current is applied to the stator coils, it creates
the pole arrangement. When the stator currents are changed to produce the pole
arrangement. This repels the rotor which moves to the new position. Each polarity change
on the stator causes the rotor to move 45 degrees.
*Read carefully the text above, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What are the stepper motors used in ?
2. What are the differences between a normal DC motor and a stepper motor ?
3. What is the accuracy of a stepper motor ?
4. How is the rotor in a stepper motor constructed ?
5. How many electromagnets are there in a stator of a stepper motor ?
6. What drives a pen in a plotter ?
*Read carefully the text above, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What does the central heating system contain?
2. What is the heat exchanger made of? Why?
3. What controls the flow of gas? How does it operate?
4. Where does the cold water return to?
5. What is the function of the pump?
6. What is the function of the flue?
8. FORCES IN ENGINEERING
To solve the ship problem, we must look at the forces on the ship. The weight,W,
acts downwards. That is the gravity force. The buoyancy force, B, acts upwards. Since
the ship is in equilibrium, the resultant force is zero, so the magnitudes of B and W must
be the same.
Another very important force in engineering is the one caused by elasticity. A
good example of this is a spring. Spring exert more force the more they are stretched.
This property provides a way of measuring force. A spring balance can be calibrated in
newtons, the unit of force. The block has a weight of 10 newtons. The spring pulls up to
oppose that weight. This upward force, F1, equals the weight of the block, W.
It is important to get distinction between mass and weight absolutely clear. Mass is
the quantity of master in an object. Weight is the force on that object due to gravity. Mass
is measured in kilograms, whereas weight, being a force, is measured in newtons.
We have looked at buoyancy, elasticity, and gravity. There is a fourth force
important in engineering, and that is friction. Friction is a help in some circumstances but
a hindrance in others. Let us examine the forces on the box. Firstly, there is its weight, W,
the gravity force, then there is the reaction, R, normal to the plane. R and W have a
resultant force trying to pull the box down the slope. It is the friction force, F, acting up
the slope, that stops it sliding down.
Friction in the machines is destructive and wasteful. It causes the moving parts to
wear and it produces heat where it is not wanted. Engineers reduce friction by using very
highly polished materials and by lubricating their surfaces with oil and grease. They also
use ball bearings because rolling objects cause less friction than sliding ones.
*Read carefully the text , and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. Why doesn’t the ship sink ?
2. What makes the spring stretch and what keeps the weight up?
3. Why doesn’t the box slide down the slope?
4. What are the differences between mass and weight?
5. How do engineers reduce friction in machines?
6. Why do engineers use rolling object in machines?
9. ELECTRONIC SCALES
Electronic scales use a weighing device called a load cell underneath the platform.
The load cell, an aluminium alloy beam, eliminates the need for springs, cogs, or the
other moving parts which can wear, break, or cause inaccuracy in mechanical scales.
A strain gauge is bonded on the load cell. The strain gauge consists of a small
piece of metal foil which detects any bending of the beam. A controller input voltage is
supplied to the strain gauge from a battery-powered circuit.
When a load is placed on the platform, it causes the load cell to bend very slightly.
This, in turn, causes a change in strain, which triggers a change in the in the electrical
resistance of the strain gauge.
As the resistance changes, so does the output voltage from the strain gauge. In
short, the change in voltage across the strain gauge is proportional to the load on the
platform.
The voltage from the gauge is small and has to be amplified and then converted
into a digital signal. This signal is fed to a specially programmed microprocessor, which
converts it into a weight reading. This is displayed on the LCD. This display will
automatically switch off a few minutes after weighing is finished, thereby saving battery
power.
*Read carefully the text , and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What is a load cell ?
2. What is the disadvantage of a mechanical scales?
3. Where is the load placed ?
4. Where is the load cell placed ?
5. What is the function of the strain gauge ?
6. Find out 5 compound nouns in the text ? How are they formed ?
10. THE DC MOTOR
An electric motor is a machine for converting electrical energy into mechanical
energy. Motors can be designed to run on direct or alternating current. We consider a dc
motor. Its most important parts are the rotor, stator and the brush-gear.
The rotor is the moving part. It contains an armature, which is a set of wire loops
wound on a steel core. When current is fed to the armature, these windings produce a
magnetic field. The armature and core are mounted on a shaft which runs on bearings. It
provides a means of transmitting power from the motor.
The rotor also contains a commutator. This consists of a number of copper
segments insulated from one another. The armature windings are connected to these
segments. Carbon brushes are held in contact with the commutator by springs. These
brushes allow current to pass to the armature windings. As the rotor turns, the
commutator acts as a switch making the current in the armature alternate.
The stator does not move. It consists of magnetic and electrical conductors. The
magnetic circuit is made up of the frame and the poles. Wound round the poles are the
field coils. These form the stator’s electrical circuit. When current is fed to them, a
magnetic field is set up in the stator.
The motor operates on the principle that when a current-carrying conductor is
placed in a magnetic field, a force is produced on the conductor. The interaction of the
forces produced by the magnetic field of the rotor and the stator makes the rotor spins.
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What is an electric motor?
2. How many mains parts are there in the DC motor? What are they?
3. What is the electrical circuit of the stator?
4. How is the power from the motor provided?
5. What is the principle of the DC motor?
6. The word “segments” is closest in meaning to:
a/ sections b/ pieces c/ wires
*Read carefully the text above, and answer the following questions:(3 marks)
1. How is the volume of a television adjusted?
2. What is the input of the control system?
3. What is the function of the control unit?
4. What are the main factors of a modern washing machine?
5. What is the function of a thermostat in a central heating system?
6. Find out 5 compound nouns in the text. How are they formed ?
12. FRIDGE
Refrigeration preserves food by lowering its temperature. It slows down the
growth and reproduction of micro-organisms such as bacteria and the action of enzymes
which cause food to rot.
Refrigeration is based on three principles. Firstly, if a liquid is heated, it changes
to a gas or vapour. When this gas is cooled, it changes back into a liquid. Secondly, if a
gas allowed to expand, It cools down. If a gas is compressed, it heats up. Thirdly,
lowering the pressure around a liquid helps it to boil.
To keep the refrigerator at a constant low temperature, heat must be transferred
from the inside of the cabinet to the outside. A refrigerant is used to do this. It is
circulated around the fridge, where it undergoes changes in pressure and temperature and
changes from a liquid to a gas and back again.
One common refrigerant is a compound of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine known as
R12. This has a very low boiling point – 29 0C. At normal room temperature (about 200C)
the liquid quickly turn into gas. However, newer refrigerants which are less harmful to
the environment, such as KLEA 134a, are gradually replacing R12.
The refrigeration process begins in the compressor. This compresses the gas so
that it heats up. It then pumps the gas into a condenser, a long tube in the shape of a
zigzag. As the warm gas passes through the condenser, it heats the surroundings and
cools down. By the time it leaves the condenser, it has condensed back into a liquid.
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
14. ENGINEERING
Engineering is largely a practical activity. It is about putting ideas into action. The
main branches of engineering are civil, mechanical, electrical and electronic. Civil
engineering is concerned with making bridge, roads, airports, etc. Mechanical
engineering deals with the design and manufacture of tool and machines. Electrical
engineering is about the generation and distribution of electricity and its many
applications. Electronic engineering is concerned with developing components and
equipment for communications, computing, and so on.
Mechanical engineering is concerned with machinery of all kinds. This branch of
engineering includes marine, automobile, aeronautical, and heating and ventilating. The
first three are concerned with transport, ships, cars and planes. The last deals with air-
conditioning, refrigeration, etc.
Electrical engineering deals with electricity from generation to use. Electricity
generating is concerned with power stations. Electrical installation deals with cables,
switchgear, and connecting up electrical equipment.
Two branches of engineering include both electrical and mechanical engineers.
These are mining and medical engineering. The former deals with mines and mining
equipment, the latter with hospital equipment of all kind.
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What are the main branches of engineering ?
2. What is the concern of Civil engineering ?
3. What is the concern of Electronic engineering ?
4. What does mechanical engineering include?
5. What deals with mines and mining equipment ?
6. How are the following nouns formed?
a. equipment b. installation c. developing
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What is the frame made from ?
2. What is the advantage of the frame ?
3. What is the advantage of the aerodynamic handlebars ?
4. When did the aerodynamic handlebars become popular ?
5. How are the compound nouns formed ?
a. flywheels b. spoked wheels c. lightweight
6. What is the antonyms of the following words:
a. heavyweight b. much c. unsafer
*Read carefully the text, and answer the following questions: (3 marks)
1. What device is used to lock the door ?
2. What provides feedback to the control unit about the door position ?
3. What device is used to check the water level ?
4. What provides feedback to the control unit about the water level ?
5. What device is used to check the water temperature ?
6. Find out 5 compound nouns in the text. How are they formed ?
IV. WRITING
Choose a topic and write a passage (at least 150 words)