Английский язык. Зайцева И.А. - 18 стр.

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18
Ex. 9. Do you know what an acronym is? Read the text below and translate it into Russian.
Acronyms are words formed from the initial letters or parts of a word or phrase. They can be
pronounced as a series of letters:
EEC - European Economic Community,
UN - United Nations,
FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation,
PAL - phase alteration line,
Secam - Se′quentiel Couleur a′ memoire = color sequence by memory,
LAN - local area network,
lev - lunar excursion vehicle,
Linac - linear accelerator,
lisp - list processing – a computer programming language,
Toshiba - Tokyo Shibaura Electrical Corporation,
lifo - last in, first out,
maglev - magnetic levitation,
Masta - Medical Advisory Service for Travellors Abroad,
metsat - meteorological satellite,
micro - Multinational Initiative for the Use of Computers in Research Organizations,
midi - musical instrument digital interface,
Stopp - Society of teachers opposed to physical punishment,
swalk - sealed with a loving kiss,
LED – light-emitting diode,
GSM – Global System for Mobile Communications.
But often they are pronounced as if they formed a word: UNESCO - United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization, SAM - Surface-to-air-missiles, ASLEF - Associated Society of
Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, Aids - acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Some of these pronounceable words are written without capitals and are therefore not recognizable as
acronyms: laser - light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, radar - radio detection and ranging,
cat - carburator air temperature, modem – modulator-demodulator.
Read and translate the text using a dictionary if necessary.
RAILWAY AUTOMATION
(1) At present control of high-speed trains is semi-automatic since they are automatically forced to
comply with permissible speeds at any instant. Stops at station platforms are under the driver’s control.
(2) The whole line in Japan, for example, is directly controlled from Tokyo and for this purpose is
divided into four systems. The state of the line is continuously surveyed and information is transmitted at high
speed to the control centre. Each train automatically identifies itself by generating a unique frequency as it
passes fixed ground equipment and the information is displayed on the control panel at Tokyo. Trains entering
stations automatically set the points system according to classification, i.e. whether super express, express or
freight.
(3) One interesting but simple safety feature enables the operator on the line to stop the train in an
emergency. It consists of push-button switches placed at intervals of 50m. Operation of the switch completes
the circuit, and the consequent indication in the driver’s cab of an approaching train causes the brakes to be
applied automatically when at an appropriate distance from the danger position. All the circuits are fail-safe,
and the possibility of an accident due to human error has been virtually eliminated.
(4) Great work is being carried out in order to improve circuits performance. It means introduction of
such techniques as programmed control, obstacle detection by a guided radar, controlled braking to a fixed
point and centralized computer control. Extensive research is under way in our country to utilize television
technique in industry, science and agriculture. Some years ago one of the research institutes of our country
designed a television apparatus which is now used in railway transport to record the serial numbers of freight
cars arriving at a station. As a train pulls in at a station, somewhere at a distance of ten kilometers an operator
sees this train on a screen of his television set. The operator reads aloud the serial number of the freight cars and
they are recorded by a tape recorder. On another television set the operator can see all the railway lines in a
station. The operator only has to press the button and another station will appear on the screen. These

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