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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

UNIT 1
TUNNELS

OBJECTIVES
The students will be able to:
• Outline the content of the article “Tunnels” containing main information.
• Write sentences using the simple past and the modal verbs in the passive voice.

PRE-READING
Task 1. From the list below tick (√ ) all the words related to tunnels.
- underground Chambers √ - Fresh water
- Transportation - ground condition
- boring machine - excavation
- span - drilling test holes
- mountainous - highways
- dynamite - bridges

WHILE-READING
Task 2. After reading the text below write a subtitle for each section on the line. Check your
answers with a partner.

TUNNELS BASIC
A)____________________________

With more than six million kilometers of highways and 240,000


kilometers of railways snaking across the United States, life above
ground has become increasingly congested. Tunnels provide some of the
last available space for cars and trains, water and sewage, and even
Ancient Roman aqueduct power and communication lines. Today, it's safe to bore through
mountains and burrow beneath oceans -- but it was not always this way. In fact, it took engineers
thousands of years to perfect the art of digging tunnels..
Before cars and trains, tunnels carried only water. Roman engineers created the most extensive
network of tunnels in the ancient world. They built sloping structures, called aqueducts, to carry
water from mountain springs to cities and villages. They carved underground chambers and built
elegant arch structures not only to carry fresh water into the city, but to carry wastewater out.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

By the 17th century, tunnels were being constructed for canals.


Without roads or railways to transport raw materials from the country to
the city, watery highways became the best way to haul freight over great
distances.

Worsley Underground Canal


Tunnel

With trains and cars came a tremendous expansion in tunnel


construction. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the development of
railroad and motor vehicle transportation led to bigger, better, and
longer tunnels.

B)_________________________________
Holland Tunnel

Today, not even mountains and oceans stand in the way.


With the latest tunnel construction technology, engineers can bore
through mountains, under rivers, and beneath bustling cities. Before
carving a tunnel, engineers investigate ground conditions by analyzing
soil and rock samples and drilling test holes.

Tunnel boring machine C)_________________________________

There are three steps to a tunnel's success. Today, engineers know that there are three basic steps to
building a stable tunnel. The first step is excavation: engineers dig through the earth with a reliable
tool or technique. The second step is support: engineers must support any unstable ground around them
while they dig. The final step is lining: engineers add the final touches, like the roadway and lights,
when the tunnel is structurally sound.

D)_________________________________

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Hoosac Tunnel interior Based on the setting, tunnels can be divided into three major types:
Soft-ground tunnels... are typically shallow and are often used as subways, water-supply systems, and
sewers. Because the ground is soft, a support structure called a tunnel shield, must be used at the head
of the tunnel to prevent it from collapsing.
Rock tunnels... require little or no extra support during construction and are often used as railways or
roadways through mountains. Years ago, engineers were forced to blast through mountains with
dynamite. Today they rely on enormous rock-chewing contraptions called tunnel boring.

Underwater tunnels... are particularly tricky to construct, as water


must be held back while the tunnel is being built. Early engineers used
pressurized excavation chambers to prevent water from gushing into
tunnels. Today, prefabricated tunnel segments can be floated into
position, sunk, and attached to other sections.
Tunnel segment, Boston Harbor
Adapted from Wikipedia

Task 3. Work in pairs. Answer the following questions according to the text.
a) Why did engineers start to build tunnels?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) Who built the most extensive network of tunnels in the ancient World?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) How many steps are there to build a tunnel?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d) What kind of tools do engineers use to build tunnels?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
e) Where can engineers build tunnels thanks to technology?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Task 4. Complete the table with the appropriate information according to the reading.
Check your answers with your partner.

Steps to build a tunnel Description

Engineers dig through the earth with a


Excavation reliable tool or technique.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Task 5. Work in pairs. Based on the reading classify the tunnels according to the setting.

Setting Tunnel Type Characteristics


They are shallow and used
Soft-ground - cities Soft-ground tunnels as subways, water supply
systems and sewers.

POST-READING
Task 6. Work in groups. Write about a tunnel in Bolivia, following the format below (See
Annexes).

Tunnel Name

Tunnel type (Setting)

Setting

Characteristics

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Task 7. Represent the logical structure of the text “Tunnels” in an outline. Check your
answers with a partner.

LANGUAGE REFERENCE

The Simple Past


We use the past simple of regular and irregular verbs to talk about something that happened and
finished in the past, a completed action. The regular verb + ED shows the verb is in the past. The
irregular ones have a different form.

SUBJ + VERB (ED) / IRREGULAR VERB + COMPLEMENT


Ex:
Roman engineers + created + the most extensive network of tunnels in the ancient world
It + took + engineers thousands of years to perfect the art of digging tunnels.

Modal verbs in passive voice:

SUBJ + MUST/ CAN/ MAY/MIGHT/ SHOULD/ + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE +


COMPLEMENT

They express obligation and probability.

Ex:
A tunnel shield, must be used at the head of the tunnel
Tunnels can be divided into three major types.

Task 8. Identify past sentences in the text and copy them. Check your answers with a
partner.
a) ...............................................................................................................
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
c) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
d) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Task 9. Fill in the gaps with the past tense.


a) Engineers …… followed.…. (follow) three steps to build a tunnel
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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

b) Roman engineers ……………….. (build) a lot of civil works in the past.


c) Rock tunnels ………………………. (require) a lot of extra support when they were built.
d) Many years ago engineers ………………(use) dynamite to bore through the mountains.

Task 10. Write four sentences of your own using different verbs and subjects and the past
tense.
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
c) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
d) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Task 11. Read the text and find sentences with modal verbs in the passive voice
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
c) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
d) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Task 12. Fill in the gaps with modal verbs (must, can, may, might, should be + verb) in
passive voice.
a) Tunnels … can be bored … (can bore) through mountains, under rivers, etc.
b) A tunnel ……………………… (must support) to prevent a possible decline.
c) Rock tunnels …………………. (can build) with modern boring machines and avoid the use
of dynamite as in the past.
d) Civil engineer students …………………….. ( prepare) to be able to build tunnels.

Task 13. Write your own sentences using modal verbs in passive voice.
a) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
b) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

GLOSSARY

Bore: Make (a hole) in something, esp. with a revolving tool: they bored holes in the sides. The drill can bore through rock.
Perforar
Blast : Blow up or break apart (something solid) with explosives: quantities of solid rock had to be blasted away | the explosion
blasted out hundreds of windows. Explosión. Verb. Detonar explosivos
Chambers : An enclosed space or cavity : an echo chamber. • A large underground cavern. Cámaras
Dig : Make (a hole, grave, etc.) by breaking up and moving earth in such a way : he took a spade and dug a hole.cavar, excavar
Drill : A hand tool, power tool, or machine with a rotating cutting tip or reciprocating hammer or chisel, used for making holes.
taladro. Verb. Taladrar
Haul : Transport in a truck or cart : Bennie hauls trash in North Philadelphia. Arrastrar, acarrear
Lining : Cover the inside surface of (a container or garment) with a layer of different material : a basket lined with
polyethylene. • Form a layer on the inside surface of (an area); cover as if with a lining : hundreds of telegrams lined the walls.
Revestimiento interior
Sewage : Waste water and excrement conveyed in sewers. Aguas servidas/ Alcantarillado
Support :verb. 1 Bear all or part of the weight of; hold up : the dome was supported by a hundred white columns. Soportar/ dar
soporte
Subways :1 An underground electric railroad. 2 Brit. A tunnel under a road for use by pedestrians. Metros, subterráneos
Tunnel shield : Protector de tunnel,refuerzo
Wastewater : adj. 1 (of water or a material, substance, byproduct) eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required
after the completion of a process. Agua de desecho
Watery highways : Canales.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

STUDENTS’ NOTES

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

UNIT 2

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
OBJECTIVES
The students will be able to:
• Translate sentences that include passive voice structures, sentences about a successful
transportation system.
• Summarize the article “Intelligent Transportation Systems” in Spanish.

PRE-READING
Task 1: In pairs match the words and the Spanish translation.

1. single length tarifa de congestionamiento (vehicular)

2. speed recognition cámaras de velocidad


3. magnetic consumption un sólo carril

4. plate lane dispositivos inductivos

5. inductive loops reconocimiento de placa

6. vehicle field tamaño o longitud del vehículo

7. congestion charge campo magnético

8. fuel cameras consumo de combustible

WHILE-READING
Task 2: Skim the article and tick ( √ ) the central idea from the options given below.

__ Referente histórico sobre diferentes sistemas de transporte.

__ Caracterización de sistemas de transporte funcionales en los 80.

__ Sistemas de transporte funcional que contrarrestan el embotellamiento

vehicular.

__ Sistemas de transporte “inteligente o funcional” aplicados en Latinoamérica.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Intelligent Transportation Systems


Transportation engineering and transportation planning are two sides of the same coin aiming at the
design of an efficient infrastructure and service to meet the growing needs for accessibility and mobility.

Intelligent transportation systems vary in technologies applied, from basic management


systems such as automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitoring
applications ;for example, security systems and inductive loop detection.

Inductive loop detection

Inductive loops can be


placed in a roadbed to detect vehicles as they pass over the loop by measuring the vehicle's
magnetic field. The simplest detectors simply count the number of vehicles during a unit of time
(typically 60 seconds in the United States) that pass over the loop, while more sophisticated
sensors estimate the speed, length, and weight of vehicles and the distance between them. Loops
can be placed in a single lane or across multiple lanes, and they work with very slow or stopped
vehicles as well as vehicles moving at high-speed.

Cordon zones with congestion pricing

Cordon zones have been implemented in Singapore, Stockholm, and


London, where a congestion charge or fee is collected from vehicles entering a congested city
center. This fee or toll is charged automatically using electronic toll collection or automatic
number plate recognition, since stopping the users at conventional toll booths would cause
long queues, long delays, and even gridlock. The main objective of this charge is to reduce
traffic congestion within the cordon area.

Interest in ITS comes from the problems caused by traffic congestion and the synergy of new
information technology. Congestion reduces the efficiency of transportation infrastructure and
increases travel time, air pollution, and fuel consumption.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Adapted from Wikipedia

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Task 3: In pairs match the key words to the corresponding subtitle.

1st subtitle: ………


Cabinas de cobranza de peaje
- toll collection
monto a pagar o tarifa
- inductive loops
fijación de precios de congestión vehicular
2nd subtitle: ………..
dispositivos
cobranza o recolección de peaje - congestion pricing
zonas acordonadas - charge or fee
- cordon zones
- toll booths

Task 4: Read the paragraph and choose the most suitable translation.

Intelligent transportation systems vary in technologies applied, from basic management systems
such as automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitoring applications, such
as security systems and parking guidance.

TRANSLATION VERSION TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES


METHOD
1 Inteligente transportación de sistemas Identificación adecuada de:
varían tecnologías aplicadas, de básica
- Grupos nominales
administración de sistemas como ser:
- Tiempo gramatical
LITERAL
automático número de placa
(verbos)
reconocimiento o velocidad de cámaras
- Conexión Lógica
hasta monitoreo aplicaciones tales
- Consideración del
como seguridad de sistemas y
contexto en la
estacionamiento guía.
interpretación de
vocabulario

2 Los sistemas de transporte inteligentes Identificación adecuada de:


varían en la aplicación de tecnologías,
- Grupos nominales
desde sistemas de manejo básico tales
- Tiempo gramatical
SEMÁNTICO
como el reconocimiento automático del
(verbos)
número de placa o cámaras que
- Conexión Lógica

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

registran la velocidad, hasta - Consideración del


aplicaciones de monitoreo como ser contexto en la
sistemas de seguridad y guía de interpretación de
estacionamiento. vocabulario.

TASK 5: Work in groups and read the information about the subtitle “INDUCTIVE LOOP
DETECTION” in detail and write (IN SPANISH) three ideas you understand.

a) …………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) …………………………………………………………………………………………..
c) …………………………………………………………………………………………….

Task 6: Read the subtitle “CORDON ZONES WITH CONGESTION PRICING” and answer the
question in ENGLISH.

- What are the benefits of cordon zones with congestion pricing?

POST-READING
Task 7: Work in groups and answer the questions (IN SPANISH). Your answers should be
developed in one paragraph, minimum six lines long.

1. ___ What other “intelligent transportation systems” have you heard or


read about?
2. ___ Which of the two subtitles called your attention the most? Why?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………....................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................……………………………………………………

Task 8: Work in pairs and write a summary of the article in Spanish considering the principal
ideas developed in each paragraph.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

LANGUAGE REFERENCE

Passive Voice
SUBJ + VERB TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT

1. Transportation regulations are respected in cordon zones. PRESENT


A transportation regulation is respected in cordon zones.

2. The necessary road construction tools were bought as needed. PAST


The necessary road construction tool was bought as needed.

3. New transportation problems have been identified. PRESENT PERFECT


4. A new transportation problem has been identified.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Task 9: Copy and translate two sentences that have a PASSIVE VOICE structure from the
article.

a) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
T. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
b) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
T. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Task 10. In pairs complete the sentences using the suitable verb form.

a) Automatic number plate recognition is used (use) for monitoring toll collection and
other applications.
b) (Chile 2009-201…) Inductive loops ………………………….. (place) in roadbeds to detect
vehicles as they pass over the loops to estimate the speed, length, weight and the
distances between them.
c) Engineering data and methods ………………….(study) for solving problems in the
planning, design, construction and operation of various transportation modes in Brazil
in 2011.
d) Transportation systems planning …………..………. (consider) a truly transdisciplinary
approach to effective results.

Task 11: Translate the sentences into Spanish using the semantic method.

a) Intelligent Transportation Systems have not been restricted to Road Transport; they
also include the use of information and communication technologies for rail, water
and air transport.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………….

b) This field of knowledge is known as transportation systems engineering.


………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………..

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

c) Transportation systems were and still are closely interrelated with other systems that
are external to them.
………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

GLOSSARY
Plate: A flat piece of metal on which a car number is engraved. Placa de auto
Speed: The rate or a measure of the rate of motion of a car. Velocidad
Toll: A fixed charge or tax for passing across a bridge or along a road. Peaje
Drive through: Area for clients who drive up to a window and remain in their automobiles. Ventanilla de atención desde el
volante
Toll gate: A gate devoted to tall collection. Puesto de peaje sobre carretera
Cordon zone: To form a cordon around an area so as to prevent movement in or out. Zona acordonada, zona delimitada
Charge: To impose a duty, responsibility, or task . Monto a pagar
Fee: A fixed sum charged. Tarifa
Booth: A small compartment or boxlike room. Cabina
Gridlock: A traffic jam in which no vehicular movement is possible. Paralización total de tráfico
Fuel: A material such as wood, coal, gas, or oil burned to produce energy. Combustible
Air pollution: The condition in which air is contaminated. Contaminación del aire
Inductive loop: It is an electromagnetic communication or detection system. It is considered the most reliable traffic
detection method available. Dispositivo electromagnetico inductivo
Lane: A lane is a part of the roadway. Carril
Roadbed: The foundation of a road. Capa de asfalto

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STUDENTS’ NOTES

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UNIT 3
HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING

OBJECTIVES
The students will be able to:
• Translate sentences that include terms formed using suffixes and prefixes.
• Summarize the article “Hydraulic Engineering” in English considering just the main
information.

PRE-READING
Task 1: Work in pairs and match the word with their definitions.
1. Bridges ____ The deeper part of a river or harbor, especially a deep
navigable passage.

2.Dams ____ It is the integration of science and engineering principles to


improve the natural environment (air, water, and/or land
resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land for human
3.Channels
habitation.
4.Canals
____ An embankment raised to prevent a river from overflowing.

5.Levees ____ A branch of civil engineering dealing with matters

affecting public health, as water supply or sewage disposal.

6.Sanitary Engineering
__1_ Structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or
7.Environmental barrier, such as a river or roadway.
Engineering

____ An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for


travel, shipping, or irrigation.

____ A barrier constructed across a waterway to control flow or


raise the level of water.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

WHILE-READING
Task 2: choose the right word that finishes the idea below.

The words: collection, storage, control, transport, regulation, measurement, and use are
related to……………………….

a) Landfills b) water c) materials d) machinery


Hydraulic Engineering
Hydraulic engineering as a sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the flow and
conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage. One feature of these systems is the extensive
use of gravity as the motive force to cause the movement of the fluids. This area of civil
engineering is intimately related to the design of bridges, dams, channels, canals, and levees (also
known as dikes), and to both sanitary and environmental engineering.

Hydraulic engineering is the application of fluid mechanics principles to problems dealing


with the collection, storage, control, transport, regulation, measurement, and use of water. Before
beginning a hydraulic engineering project, one must figure out how much water is involved.

The Hydraulic Engineer


The hydraulic engineer is concerned with the transport of sediment by the river, the
interaction of the water with its alluvial boundary, and the occurrence of scour and deposition.
This engineer actually develops conceptual designs for the various features which interact with
water such as spillways and outlet works for dams, culverts for highways, canals and related
structures for irrigation projects, and cooling-water facilities for thermal power plants.

The modern hydraulic engineer uses the same kinds of computer-aided design (CAD) tools as
many of the other engineering disciplines while also making use of technologies like
computational fluid dynamics to perform the calculations to accurately predict flow
characteristics, GPS mapping to assist in locating the best paths for installing a system and laser-
based surveying tools to aid in the actual construction of a system.

Applications
Common topics of design for hydraulic engineers include hydraulic structures such as dams,
levees, water distribution networks, water collection networks, sewage collection networks, storm
water management, sediment transport, and various other topics related to transportation
engineering and geotechnical engineering.

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Related branches include hydrology and rheology while related applications include
hydraulic modeling, flood mapping, catchment flood management plans, shoreline management
plans, estuarine strategies, coastal protection, and flood alleviation.

An Example of a Hydraulic structure


A hydraulic structure is structure submerged or partially submerged in rivers, a sea or any
body of water, which disrupts the natural flow of water where there is a need for a change. They
can be used to divert, disrupt or completely stop the flow. An example of a hydraulic structure
would be a dam, which slows the normal flow rate of the river in order to power turbines.

A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the
primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as flood gates or levees are used
to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage
hydroelectricity are often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be
used to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations.

Dams can be classified by structure (arch dams, gravity dams, arch-gravity dams, barrages,
embankment dams), by use (saddle dam, weir, check dam, dry dam, diversionary dam,
underground dam, tailings dam), by material (steel dams, timber dams), by size and other types.

The Last Words


So far, hydraulic engineering has reached the stage of confidence that makes it possible to
re-channel major rivers, to develop hydroelectric power adequate to supply a country's needs and
to build ports and breakwaters on coasts where it was formerly impossible to dock more than a
small canoe.

Adapted from Wikipedia

Task 3. Read the text above then complete the sentences. Check your answers with a
partner.
a) Hydraulic engineering as a sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with……the flow

and conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage

b) Hydraulic engineering is the application of ………………………………………………………………………….


c) The hydraulic engineer is concerned with ……………………………………………………………………………

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

d) A hydraulic structure is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….


e) Dams generally serve ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Task 4. Circle if the statements are true or false. Check your answers with a partner.
a) Hydraulics is the field that deals with the flow and control of highways. T F
b) Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are used
in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. T F
c) Hydraulic engineers don’t use modern tools to develop their projects T F
d) Dams can be classified by structure, by use, by size and by material T F
e) This area of civil engineering is intimately related to the design of
tunnels, highways, and airports. T F
Task 5. Answer the following questions according to the text about ‘Hydraulic Engineering’.
a) According to the text, what kind of projects do hydraulic engineers develop?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) Where is a hydraulic structure located?
…………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………
c) What is the purpose of building hydraulic structures?
……………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………
d) What type of tools do hydraulic engineers use to develop a hydraulic structure?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
e) What are the branches related to hydraulic engineering?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

POST-READING
Task 6: Write three kinds of DAMS that you are interested in reading more about.
Types of Dams
By…………….. By………………. By…………………

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Task 7: Work in pairs and complete the chart in SPANISH.

CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LA TAREAS PROFESIONALES DEL MI MAYOR RETO COMO


INGENIERÍA HIDRÁULICA INGENIERO CIVIL EN EL ÁREA INGENIERO CIVIL EN EL ÁREA
DE LA HIDRÁULICA DE ………………..
- Relacionada con el

diseño de represas, canales


-
y diques.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Task 8. Transfer the information from the reading ‘Hydraulic Engineering’ to the diagram
below.

GI

Ingeniero Sus aplicaciones Estructura


Hidráulico Hidráulica

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LANGUAGE REFERENCE

Word Formation
The most common processes of Word formation in English are by combining words and prefixes or
suffixes.
Prefixes. They are added to the beginning of a word.

Prefix Meaning Examples


Aero- Airplanes or the air Aero+space= Aerospace,
En- Within, in En+code= Encode,
Geo- Earth Geo+magnetic= Geomagnetic,
Hydro- Water Hydro+plane= Hydroplane,
In-, Im-, Un- No In+formal=informal,
Re- Again Re+apply= Reapply,
Sub- Below or under Sub+group=Subgroup,
something
Under- Below Under+tone,=Undertone,

Suffixes. They are added to the end of a word.

Suffix Meaning Examples


-able To make adjectives describing a Comfort+able= Comfortable,
quality something or someone has.
-age To form mass or abstract nouns. Marry+age= Marriage,

-al Pertaining to, having the form or Nature+al= Natural,


character of.
-er, -or To form words designating persons Inspect+or= Inspector,
from the object of their occupation
or labor.
-ly To form adverbs from adjectives. Gradual+ly= Gradually,
-ment To form nouns that denote an Base+ment= Basement,
action or resulting state (product).
-ion, -tion, To form nouns from action or state Relate+ ion= Relation,
-sion verbs (Latin words).
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-ty To form nouns from adjectives Certain+ty= Certainty,
denoting state or condition (Latin
Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Task 9. Work in pairs. Complete the tables below with two more words; you can use your
dictionary.

Task 10. Work in pairs. Copy from the text ‘Hydraulic Engineering’ six sentences containing
prefixes and suffixes, and then translate them.

Prefixes
a) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………
……..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
b) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
c) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Suffixes
d) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
e) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
f) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Task 11. Write the translation from the following words. Then check your answers.

ROOT FORMED WORD

Direct …Directo….. Indirect ………………………………………

Possible …………………………………. Impossible ……………………………………

Moral ………………………………….. Immoral ……………………………………

Arrange ………………………………….. Rearrange ………………………………….

Urban ……………………………………. Suburban ……………………………………

Origin ……………………………………. Original …………………………………….

Manage ………………………………….. Management ………………………………..

Subtract …………………………………... Subtraction …………………………………..

Slow ………………………………………. Slowly ………………………………………..

Enjoy ……………………………………. Enjoyable …………………………………..

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

GLOSSARY

Alluvial: Made of sand, Earth, etc., left by rivers or floods. Aluvial, aluvión.
Boundary: Line that marks a limit, dividing line. Límite, frontera.
Channels: Sunken bed of a river, stream or canal. Canal.
Catchment area: From which rainfall flows into a river, reservoir, etc. Cuenca colectora.
Catchment flood management plans: Planes de manejo de inundaciones de cuenca.
Coastal protection: Of or near a coast. Protección costera
Cooling-water facilities: Equipment that make possible to cool water. Instalaciones de refrigeración de agua.
Conveyance: Thing that conveys. Conducción, acarreo.
Culverts: Drain that crosses beneath a road, railway, etc. Alcantarilla.
Computer-aided design tools: Herramientas de diseño computarizado asistido.
Deposition: Removing from power, dethronement. Desposición, destitución, sedimento.
Divert: Turn something or somebody from one course to another. Desviar (río)
Decrease: Cause something to become smaller or, diminish. Disminuir.
Disrupt: Cause disorder in something. Interrumpir.
Estuarine strategies: estuary: Wide river mouth into which the tide flows. Estrategias de estuario (estuario: desembocadura
de ríos caudalosos en forma de embudo).
Endangered: Cause danger to something. Poner en peligro.
Flood: Great quantity of water over a place that is usually dry. Inundación.
Floodgate: Gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow of water. Compuerta de Dique o represa.
Flood alleviation: Mitigación de inundaciones.
Flood mapping: Cartografía de inundaciones.
Features: Distinctive characteristic, Características.
Figure out: Come to understand something. Deducir, resolver.
Flumes: Cañada por donde pasa un río, saetín.
Fluids: Able to flow freely as gases and liquids do, not solid or rigid. Fluidos.
Flow: Move freely and continuously. Fluir.
GPS mapping: Cartografía GPS
Harbour: Place of shelter for ships. Puerto, anclaje.
Harm: Damage, injury. Dañar.
Hydraulic modeling: Modelo hidráulico.
Impound: To shut up in or as if in a pound; confine. Encerrar.
Increase: Amount by which something increases. Incrementar.
Inland lake: Situated in the interior of a country. Lago interno.
Laser-based surveying tools: Instrumentos de medición a laser.
Levees: Embankment built to prevent a flooded river from overflowing. Dique.
Loss: Act, instance or process of losing. Pérdida.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

Networks: Complex system of roads, etc. Red, cadena, sistema.


Outletworks: Way out for water. Desembocadura, desagüe.
Paths: way or track made for or by people. Sendero, camino.
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity: Energía hidroeléctrica por bombeo de agua.
Rate: Expressing the quantity or amount of one thing. Promedio
Rheology: Reología.
Streams: Small river or large Brooke. Corriente, arroyo.
Shoreline: land a long the Edge of the sea or of any large body of water. Orilla de un río.
Sewage: waste matter from human bodies, factories, towns, etc. Alcantarillado.
Scour: The place scoured, the erosive force of moving water. Zanja, barranco.
Storage: Storing of goods. Almacenamiento.
Spillways: Vertederos.
Storm-water Management: Control de tormentas.
Thermal power plants: Centrales Térmicas.
Underwater: Situated below the surface of the water. Subacuático, submarino.
Weir: Wall or barrier built across a river in order to control or divert the flow of water. Presa vertedero.

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

STUDENTS’ NOTES

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Technical English II-Civil Engineering Soruco E., Flores R,, Orcini C.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Estaire, Sheila. La enseñanza de lenguas mediante tareas: principios y planificación
de unidades didácticas. Tareas EPA. 1999.
• Fuchs, Marjorie and Bonner, Margaret. Grammar Express. Longman. 2002.
• Hall, Eugene. The Language of Civil Engineering in English. Prentice Hall, 1977.
• Hutchinson, Tom and Waters, Alan. “English for Specific Purposes”. Cambridge
University Press. England. 1987.
• MahdiErfani, Seyyed et al. Integrating Task-based Instruction as an Alternative
Approach in Teaching Reading Comprehension in English for Special Purposes: An
Action Research. Theory and Practice in Language Studies. Academy Publisher. 2011.
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/building/bridge/index.html
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova
• http://www.english4civilengineering.com

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