Match the type of a car with the type of a commodity.

4. In the text find the words that mean:

1) a system which provides comfortable conditions of travel in any climate.

2) a rail car designed to transport liquids.

3) a closed car built with insulation in the floor, sides, ends, roofs, and doors, and some form of refrigeration equipment designed for cooling during transit.

4) a freight car having a flat floor, with no sides, ends or roof.

5) a device for slowing or stopping motion of a vehicle.

6) a device for coupling two railroad cars.

Answer the questions.

1. What happens when a load exceeds (превышать) the length of even the longest flatcar?

2. What method is used to reduce damage to goods in a transloading situation?

3. What were the early cars made of?

4. What way has been devised to move fresh fruit, vegetables, etc.?

5. What is an example of a special-service car?

Make up the summary of the text consisting of 10 sentences.

Read the text and render it in English.

Железнодорожные вагоны

В России первые грузовые и пассажирские вагоны были построены в 1850-1854 годах на Александровском заводе в Петербурге.

Пассажирский вагон в наше время – это сложное (complicated) транспортное средство. Системы отопления, освещения, кондиционирования создают в вагоне необходимые условия для пассажиров зимой и летом. Автотормоза гарантируют безопасность.

Грузовые вагоны подразделяются на универсальные (крытые, полувагоны, платформы, хопперы, цистерны) и специальные. В крытых вагонах перевозят грузы, требующие защиты от атм. воздействий. В России наиболее распространены 4-осные крытые вагоны грузоподъемностью 60 т.

Work in pairs. Talk about the improvements made in passenger and freight cars.

Describe each of freight car types. Say what they are used for.

Optional tasks

1. Are the words in the groups below listed from general to specific or from specific to general? Write G®S or S®G.

1) passenger ® crew ® humans

2) car ® vehicle ® transport

3) transport network ® railroad ® track

Find the word in each group that is different. Explain why.

1) Works, factory, plant, station.

2) Delay, damage, contamination, corrosion.

3) Door, window, floor, entrance.

4) Hopper, gondola, flatcar, boxcar.

5) Boxcar, tank car, refrigerator car, baggage car.

6) Transport, carry, handle, avoid.

Read these notes about traveling by train. Write them under the correct heading.

1) comfortable, 2) relaxing, 3) sometimes crowded, 4) sometimes delayed, 5) no traffic jams, 6) not door to door, 7) fast, 8) travelling at certain times, 9) safe.