David Bonamy

Technical
English SECOND EDITION

Course Book and eBook 4

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David Bonamy

Technical
English SECOND EDITION

Course Book and eBook 4

 Contents
Unit / Section Function / Skill Genre / Text type Grammar / Discourse Lexis / Technology
Unit 1 Innovations

1.1 Eureka! p.4 Questioning Talk + Q&A session Past / present perfect Oil and gas drilling
continuous

1.2 Smart wells p.6 Clause linking Technical article Past participle; cohesion Drilling; remote control

1.3 Lasers p.8 Giving a talk Lecture; technical description Section markers in a talk Laser technology

2.1 Spin-offs p.10 Function of a device Product description Present / past simple passive; to Products from space
+ infin; for + -ing; that / which research
Unit 2 Design

2.2 Specifications p.12 Necessity, ability, Design specification; meeting Modals and semi-modals Design; mechanical
recommendation

2.3 Properties p.14 Describing properties Brainstorming session Phrases to encourage Construction; synthetic
participation textiles

Review Unit A p.16

3.1 Problems p.20 Low probability; reassuring Product recall notice Present continuous passive; Automotive
Unit 3 Systems

phrases suggesting low risk

3.2 Solutions p.22 Summarising; linking Product recall notice Non-defining relative clause; Automotive; braking systems
present participle; although

3.3 Controls p.24 Contrasting; note-taking Lecture Linkers of contrast Automotive; aeronautics

4.1 Explaining potential Technical article; spoken Present active and passive; AI; sensors; environmental
Cyberinfrastructure p.26 applications of a technology technical explanation modal verbs can, could, would measurements
Unit 4 Networks

4.2 Applications p.28 Writing a report of Report of experiment in Past active vs passive in reports AI; robotics; automotive
an experiment IMRD format assembly

4.3 Developments p.30 Explaining past Illustrated spoken presentation; Past active vs passive; spoken AI; sensors
developments slides; flow diagram vs written features

Review Unit B p.32

5.1 Causes p.36 Cause and effect Brainstorming session; Verb / noun / prepositional Metallurgy; chemistry
Unit 5 Processes

‘fishbone’ diagram phrases of cause and effect

5.2 Procedure p.38 Explaining a process Technical factsheet Choosing active or passive Iron and steel making

5.3 Stages p.40 Note-taking; writing up Lecture; flow diagram Gerunds / nouns as captions; Aluminium refining / smelting
lexical cohesion

6.1 Risk p.42 Degrees of certainty Risk assessment tool Phrases expressing degrees of Petroleum; environment
certainty
Unit 6 Planning

6.2 Crisis p.44 Immediate / long-term plans Critical path analysis; crisis Future / future perfect passive; Petroleum; marine
meeting about to / on the point of

6.3 Projects p.46 Participating in meetings; Engineering team meeting Phrases for chairing a meeting Transportation; mechanical;
arguing for engineering electrical
solutions

Review Unit C p.48

2 Contents
Unit / Section Function / Skill Genre / Text type Grammar / Discourse Lexis / Technology

7.1 Developments p.52 Describing developments Technology review Range of forms and functions ICT; AR; software
and progress engineering
Unit 7 Products

7.2 Comparisons p.54 Comparing; contrasting Product comparison Phrases / linkers expressing Electronics; touch screens
comparison and contrast

7.3 Product launch p 56 Explaining technology to Product launch Phrases introducing Electrical; materials science
non-specialists explanations / analogies

8.1 Theft p.58 Speculating about past Work memo; work discussion Present perfect passive modal Logistics; warehousing
Unit 8 Incidents

8.2 Security p.60 Investigating; questioning Incident report; policy Indirect questions and related ICT; telecoms; security
document noun phrases

8.3 Emergency p.62 Degrees of agreement / Safety talk; serious incident Phrases qualifying ‘yes’ or ‘no’; Health and safety; HazMat
disagreement report up to a point / on the contrary

Review Unit D p.64

9.1 Proposals p.68 Proposing; recommending Meeting with client Noun clause / gerund after Electronics; wireless controls
Unit 9 Agreements

propose / recommend / suggest

9.2 Definitions p.70 Defining a term Definition; glossary Defining relative clause; pre- / Sensor technology
post-modifiers in definitions

9.3 Contracts p.72 Stipulating conditions Contract; pre-contract Alternatives to if: on condition / Work contracts
discussion provided that

10.1 Plans p.74 Concise technical writing Test plan Nouns / hyphenated phrases Destructive testing;
used as pre-modifiers earthquake proofing
Unit 10 Testing

10.2 Reports p.76 Report format; report-writing Test report Grammar / markers associated Testing buildings and
with report sections bridges

10.3 Methods p.78 Collaborative problem- Meeting; pre-meeting briefing Range of language forms Non-destructive testing
solving documents

Review Unit E p.80

11.1 Investigations p.84 Collaborative data Raw data for a report Expressions of causation, Hydro-electric power;
Unit 11 Accidents

organisation sequence and speculation. maintenance

11.2 Reports p.86 Format of report; abstract; Investigative report Third conditional, present Accident investigation
writing a report perfect modal

11.3 Communication p.88 Assertiveness; summarising; Communication guidelines Phrases to signal Aviation; aeronautics
writing an abstract communicative intent

12.1 Projects p.90 Sequence of events; past Project evaluation report Perfect participle; past tense of Agricultural engineering
Unit 12 Evaluation

necessity modals

12.2 Performance p.92 Past ability; self-evaluation Employee appraisal interview Three-part phrasal verbs; past IT, robotics, petroleum
tense of modals

12.3 Innovations p.94 Debating; persuading; Team presentation; awards Range of language forms Nanotechnology
teamwork committee

Review Unit F p.96

Language summary p.100

Extra material p.111

Speed search p.117

Audio script p.119

Contents 3
 1 Innovations
1 Eureka!
START HERE » 1 Work in pairs. Talk about accidental discoveries or A

inventions in science or technology which you have

heard about, for example Velcro fasteners, microwave
ovens, Teflon non-stick coating.

TASK » 2 Work in pairs. Match the notes (1–5) and the images
(A–D) with the accidental discoveries.
1, A antibiotics vulcanised rubber
inkjet printer X-ray
B
safety glass
1 Alexander Fleming – researches bacteria – leaves uncovered petri dish containing
bacteria near open window – penicillium mould falls on dish – Fleming notices – mould
kills bacteria
2 Charles Goodyear – works with raw rubber powder containing sulphur – brushes
powder off hands – powder falls onto hot stove – forms tough elastic substance
3 Wilhelm Roentgen – experiments with cathode ray tube – suddenly sees light from tube
pass through thick cardboard cover – lights up screen some metres away
4 Ichiro Endo – works with a hot iron and a syringe full of ink – touches neck of syringe C
with iron – forces ink out
5 Edward Benedictus – puts away glass flask – flask contains liquid plastic – drops flask
on floor – flask doesn’t break – thin plastic film holds pieces together

3 Describe the accidental discoveries outlined in the notes

in 2. Use the past continuous and the past simple tenses
where appropriate.

Language Example: 1 Alexander Fleming was researching bacteria

page 101 when he accidentally left an uncovered petri dish containing D
bacteria near an open window and some penicillium mould
fell on the dish. Fleming noticed that the mould killed the
bacteria. That is how he discovered antibiotics.

WRITING » 4 Write about the most interesting discovery or invention

you talked about in 1. Use the past simple and
continuous, as in the example in 3.

SCANNING » 5 Practise your speed reading. Look for the information

E
you need on the SPEED SEARCH pages (117–118). Try to
be first to complete this text.
We don’t know if Archimedes really stepped into his bath and
shouted ‘Eureka!’ (‘I’ve discovered it!’) when the water level
(1) . But we do know that he discovered that a
body immersed in fluid experiences a (2) force
equal to the weight of the liquid displaced. We also know
that Archimedes invented the (3) and the
(4) .
4 1 Innovations
 LISTENING » 6 1.1 Listen to this talk and choose the picture that
illustrates what Jaap (Will’s colleague) was looking at
when he had his eureka moment.

7 Listen again and answer these questions.

1 What is Will’s (the speaker’s) job title at his
petroleum company?
2 What problem has the speaker been trying to solve for
the last few years?
3 What was happening when Jaap suddenly had his
eureka moment?
4 What was the name of the type of drill that Jaap and his
team invented as a result?
5 How does this new drill solve Will’s problem?

SPEAKING » 8 In the question and answer session after his talk, Will
gives these answers. Write down the questions that
Language were asked. Then practise the questions and answers
page 101 + page 102
in pairs.
1 Well, I would say that the main reason for using this technology is mainly economic.
Snake wells allow us to get more oil out of a single field.
2 Yes, it does. The technology has a very big environmental benefit, because snake wells
mean that you can build fewer oil platforms and do less drilling.
3 Yes, we are. We’re using it right now, at this very moment. We have a number of snake
wells in operation as we speak.
4 Well, most of the oil in the field is between 2,000 and 4,000 metres below the
seabed, I think.
5 You mean me personally? I’ve been working at this oilfield for about four years now.
6 Well, our company first started exploring this oil field a long time ago. I believe the first
survey was in the 1970s.
7 Yes, we have. In addition to the snake well, we’ve been expanding our network of
sensors that transmit data from the drilling equipment to cloud-based servers.
8 Well, I don’t know exactly what my next project is going to be! I think I may be moving
to an oil field in Nigeria.

LANGUAGE » Present perfect continuous

How long have you snake wells?
been using
Our company has them for several years.

SPEAKING » 9 Work in pairs. Take turns to act the roles of a reporter and an oil company
representative. When you are the reporter, use the present perfect continuous in your
first question about each project and then follow up with different types of questions.
Student A: Turn to page 116. Student B: Turn to page 114.

1 Fracking project, Oman: how long? 2 Shale gas project, Saudi Arabia: how
how deep? how it works? average gas long? based where? what is shale gas?
production? environmental policy? process? wasting scarce water? why gas
carbon emissions? important? effect on environment?

1 Innovations 5
 2 Smart wells

START HERE » 1 Work in pairs. Discuss these questions about the illustration below. Make notes.
1 What are the advantages of this method of oil extraction compared with vertical wells?
2 How do you think computers and sensors are used in this method?
Extracting oil from small isolated pockets
‘Horizontal snake’ wells
connect pockets of oil that
stretch for up to 3 miles
under the seabed.

seabed
gas

oil oil gas

Valves and seals are oil

located in the oil pockets
so they can be shut down
water
if too much gas or water
enters the pipeline.

READING » 2 Read this article and check the notes you made in 1.

DIGITAL
reducing cost and ensuring that no For example, if water or gas
oil is overlooked. 50 threatened to break into the well,
25 A snake well uses steerable remote-controlled hydraulic valves

Oil Fields
If an oil company discovers a large
drills that can be positioned with
great accuracy. Imaging software
could close down the inlet to seal it
off from the rest of the system.
generates detailed computer models Inspired by the snake-well concept,
single reservoir of oil and gas, the
of underground geology and 55 digitalised horizontal wells can be
solution is relatively simple: drill a
30 reservoirs. This enables drills to hit found wherever complex drilling is
vertical well down to the reservoir
a target far underground that is less required, such as in fracking, water
5 and bring up the oil. But what can
than two metres across. injection and geothermal energy.
be done when an oilfield consists
Located about 35 km off the Developments in cloud computing
of hundreds or even thousands
coast of Brunei, Shell’s Champion 60 and, more recently, edge computing
of small, isolated pockets of oil?
35 West oilfield lay dormant from enable drilling equipment to make
It would be too expensive to drill
around 1975 to the mid 2010s. Its autonomous decisions in real
10 hundreds of vertical wells to reach
rich oil reserves were locked 2,000 time, responding to conditions
them all.
to 4,000 metres beneath the seabed underground. For example, the
An innovative solution to this
in a complex web of small reservoirs 65 oilfield services group Schlumberger
problem is the ‘snake well’. Unlike
40 which were too expensive to develop has produced an at-bit steerable
the conventional vertical well, this
– until Shell’s engineers had the idea system (ABSS) that can drill a
15 is a horizontal well that weaves
of using snake well drills, guided by curved horizontal well in a single
laterally back and forth across a
advanced software, to reach them. run. The ABSS uses edge computing
number of oil-containing zones.
Buried deep beneath Champion 70 located at the drill bit (not in
Guided by smart technology, a
45 West’s seabed, sensors sent digital the cloud) to enable it to change
single snake well can access multiple
information about temperature, direction with minimal latency (that
20 pockets of oil and achieve output
pressure and other factors to control is, immediately) in response to the
equivalent to several individual wells,
centres on land via fibre-optic cables. conditions it meets.
which has the dual advantage of

6 1 Innovations
 3 Answer these questions about the article.
1 What are the two main economic reasons for drilling a snake well?
2 How accurate is the drill of a snake well when it is guided remotely?
3 For how long was the Champion West oilfield left unused following the discovery of oil
there? Why was it left unused?
4 How is data about conditions inside the snake well transmitted to the surface?
5 How do engineers stop the oil in the well being contaminated with water or gas?
6 Explain two advantages of the ABSS compared with a drilled steered remotely by a
human operator.

4 Match the reference words 1–6 from the article with the correct words or ideas
a–j that they refer to.
1 this (line 12) a) increased output from f) small reservoirs
2 which (line 22) many oil zones g) computer model
3 that (line 26) b) conventional vertical well generation
4 This (line 30) c) engineers h) steerable drills
5 them (line 43) d) snake well i) drill bit
6 it (line 52) e) latency

VOCABULARY » 5 Match these words or phrases with their synonyms (in bold) in the article in 2.
1 independent 6 having two parts
2 complicated 7 close to the data source
3 capable of being guided 8 separated from one another
4 delay 9 horizontally sideways
5 normal 10 equal in value

LANGUAGE » Linking (past participial phrase)

The past participle alone can sometimes replace subject + passive verb. It makes
the text more concise.
• The Champion West oilfield, located about 35 km off the coast of Brunei, lay dormant …
(= The Champion West oilfield, which is located …)
The past participle can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence. Find these
examples in the text in 2:
• Located about 35 km off the coast of Brunei, the Champion West oilfield
lay dormant …
• Guided by smart technology, a single snake well can access pockets of oil …
• Buried deep beneath Champion West’s seabed, sensors along the completed well …
Note that the participle must have the same subject as the verb in the main clause.

6 Join the information in each note into a single sentence in a similar way. Begin
each sentence with the past participle in italics.
Example: 1 Isolated in small pockets, the oil can’t be extracted using vertical wells.
1 the oil is isolated in small pockets + it can’t be extracted using vertical wells
2 the sensors are connected by fibre-optic cable + they collect data from inside the
snake well
3 the drills are guided by remote controllers + they can hit a target only 2 m wide
4 the oil is locked 4,000 m beneath the seabed + it couldn’t be extracted for 30 years
5 the sensors are attached to the drill bit + they allow controllers to guide the drill
6 the ABSS was developed by Schlumberger + it enables the drill bit to
act autonomously
1 Innovations 7
 3 Lasers

START HERE » 1 Work in pairs. Discuss these questions and make notes. Then share your ideas
with the rest of the class.
1 What does LASER stand for?
by Stimulated of
2 Study the diagrams below. What are the three main differences between ordinary light
and laser light? Use some of the words and phrases in the box.

An ordinary light beam

A laser beam

Torch Laser

laser light amplification stimulated emission of radiation organised disorganised

directional in one direction in all directions coherent concentrated photon
colours of the spectrum wavelength 1.2

LISTENING » 2 1.3 Listen to part of a talk about lasers. Match the words in the box with the
labels 1–8 in the diagram on the next page.

ruby crystal atom light tube mirror power source photon laser beam
partial mirror

8 1 Innovations
 2 4 5
3

8
6

7
1

3 Work in pairs or small groups. Before you listen to the next part of the talk, put
these notes into the best order.
Note: The eight items in the notes correspond to the eight points in the diagram above.
A escaping photons form a powerful laser beam
B atom absorbs photon – gets excited – calms down – emits new photon
C tube flashes on / off rapidly – pumps energy (photons) into crystal
D partial mirror lets 1% of photons escape
E power source makes tube flash on / off 1
F new photon hits excited atom – atom emits two photons (instead of one)
G photons are reflected by mirror along inside of crystal
H new photons travel inside crystal at speed of light
4 1.4 Listen to the next part of the talk, and check your answers to 3.

5 1.4 Listen again and tick the phrases that you hear. (Note: X is a number, and A
is someone’s name.)
1 A has been explaining 5 as you can see in point X on the
2 let’s move on to the next section of the talk diagram
3 if you look at point X on the diagram, 6 I think I’ve covered the main points
you will see 7 I’ll now ask A to take over
4 we can now turn to the next part of the talk 8 now I’m going to hand over to A
6 Group the phrases from 5 under these headings.
Moving to the next topic Referring to the previous topic(s)
Handing over to the next speaker Referring to a visual
SPEAKING » 7 Work in groups to prepare a talk on lasers. Divide into three sub-groups and
prepare one section of the talk with your sub-group. Then return to the main
group to finalise the talk.
Sub-group A: Laser light – a brief explanation
Sub-group B: The basic components of a laser machine
Sub-group C: How a laser machine works
8 Give your talk to another group. Use phrases from 5 to signpost the sections of
the talk, to refer to the diagram and to hand over to the next sub-group. Invite
and answer questions from the audience.
WRITING » 9 Write a description of how a laser machine works, referring to the diagram above.
Use past participial phrases where possible.
Begin: Here is a brief outline of how a laser machine works. First of all, the high-voltage
power source, located below the ruby crystal, makes the tube flash on and off rapidly.
These flashes inject particles of light, known as ʻphotons’, into the ruby crystal. …
1 Innovations 9
 2 Design
1 Spin-offs
START HERE » 1 Work in pairs. Discuss the four statements below and
decide if they are true (T) or false (F).
Many everyday applications on Earth are actually spin-offs
from technology originally invented for space exploration.
But there are many myths (false beliefs) about spin-offs.
1 Teflon is often added to pans to
provide a non-stick surface for
cooking and frying. It was originally
invented to provide a surface for
shields on spacecraft. T / F
2 Portable computers were first developed for use on a NASA shuttle mission in 1983.
Laptop computers are now widely used for work and play. T / F
3 Velcro is now used for quickly attaching two items together, such as straps on trainers.
It was primarily developed for anchoring items in zero gravity. T / F
4 Microwave ovens were originally invented for use on an early Earth-orbiting space
station to enable astronauts to warm up their meals safely. They are now commonly
used in many kitchens on Earth. T / F

Language 2 Underline four examples of the present simple passive and four examples of the
page 100 + page 101 past simple passive in 1.

3 Fill in the gaps in these sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Add an appropriate adverb from the box to each gap.

originally first primarily often commonly frequently usually

1 A new technology was originally developed (develop) to correct errors in signals from
spacecraft. Now the same technology is often found (find) in satellite TV to improve
the sound and picture quality.
2 Bar coding (invent) to help space agencies keep track of millions of
spacecraft parts. Nowadays bar codes (see) on parcels and products.
3 A laser sensor (install) on the Mars Perseverance rover to search for signs
of past life on the planet. Now the technology (use) in hospitals on Earth
for identifying bacteria in wounds.
4 A system (create) to change carbon dioxide on Mars into rocket fuel for
return journeys. Now a similar system (utilise) in oilfields on Earth to
convert methane emissions into green energy.

SPEAKING » 4 Work in pairs. Discuss what applications on Earth you think were developed from
these space applications.
Example: Solar panels were originally invented to provide solar power for satellites. Today
solar panels . . .
solar panels on satellites fireproof fabrics in space suits
UV-resistant visors on space helmets pixel sensors for tiny space cameras

10 2 Design
 READING » 5 Compare your ideas in 4 with the items in the text below. Which ones were similar?

Web Images Videos News Shopping Books More

Spin-offs from space programmes

1 Fireproof fabrics that were originally developed to protect astronauts from fires on spacecraft are now commonly used
in clothing to protect firefighters on Earth.
2 Technology originally designed to prevent astronauts’ visors from being scratched by dirt and other particles is now
regularly used in manufacturing sunglasses that can resist scratching.
3 High-performance solar panels first used on satellites to optimise output when facing away from the sun are now used
on solar-powered racing cars.
4 CMOS active pixel sensors that were designed as components of small, high-definition, low-powered digital cameras
for space photography are now found almost everywhere in mobile phones and on selfie sticks.
5 Materials primarily used in spacesuit visors to protect astronauts’ eyes from ultra-violet rays are now used in clothing
which protects people’s bodies from the sun’s rays.
6 A drill bit on the Perseverance robot arm designed to drill into rock on Mars, break the rock sample off neatly and keep
it for examination, can now be used by geologists on Earth to collect perfect rock samples.

Done

6 Match the original space technology 1–6 with the uses on Earth a–f.
1 a visor to protect astronauts’ eyes from the sun a) mobile phone cameras
2 a fabric for protecting astronauts from fire b) scratch-resistant sunglasses
3 solar panels that provide power for a satellite c) a useful tool for geologists
4 a visor which resists cuts and scratches from stones d) PV panels for solar-powered cars
5 tiny pixels to capture HD images in space e) UV-resistant clothing
6 a drill bit for collecting rock samples on Mars f) flame-resistant clothing

LANGUAGE » Expressing the use or function of a device

• to + infinitive: a visor to protect astronautsʼ eyes from the sun
• for + -ing: a fabric for protecting astronauts from fire
• that / which + present simple: solar panels that provide power for a satellite

7 Say the items 1–6 in 6 in two different ways, using language forms in the box.
Examples: Item 1 is a visor for protecting astronautsʼ eyes from the sun. Item 1 is a visor
that protects astronautsʼ eyes from the sun.

8 Make full sentences from these notes. Use a variety of forms from the language
box above.
Example: 1 A solar panel is a panel of PV cells which is used for generating electrical power
from the sunʼs rays.
1 solar panel – panel of PV cells – use – generate – electrical power from sun’s rays
2 stress sensor – instrument – monitor – changes in the load on a structural component
such as a girder
3 stress sensors – originally – design – monitor – problems with external systems
on spacecraft
4 clean air system – originally – invent – clean – air breathed by astronauts in
spacecraft, now – commonly – find – in portable sterile rooms – in hospitals
5 CMOS active pixel sensor – device – converts – light signals – into electric signals –
and – main component – phone cameras
6 Perseverance drill bit – located – robot arm – precision tool – used – collection of rock
samples – surface of Mars
2 Design 11
 2 Specifications

START HERE » 1 Work in pairs. Discuss a product or facility that you and your partner both use.
Make notes of any problems or features that you would like to improve in the
product or facility. Explain your ideas briefly to another pair.
Examples: a computer operating system, a mobile phone network, a web browser, a gym
or sports centre, a canteen or food court, a transport system

TASK » 2 Work in small groups. Look at the illustration and the information below. What
do you think the complaints were about? Make notes under these headings:
safety, performance, appearance and
ergonomics = adapting ergonomics. Then compare your notes with
a machine (or job) to the information on page 113.
the user so that it is
comfortable, safe and harness
efficient to use
Product: TreadAir
Designed for: people recovering from an accident or injury
Purpose: so that they can exercise on treadmill safely counter
Method: body is lifted by winch and harness and weight
supported by counter-weight winch
Feedback: complaints received from users about
problems with . . .
treadmill

LISTENING » 3 2.1 Listen to a product design team brainstorming how to improve the
TreadAir. Complete this form.

REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW PRODUCT

Description An inflatable airbag enclosing the body which can without
• Maximum support: % of body weight
Performance • Air pressure adjustable in increments of %
• Maximum speed: kph
• Display type: (1) (2)
Ergonomics • Able to control: (1) (2)
• Able to alter settings during workout without
Dimensions x m footprint
Weight Compared with normal treadmill:
Operating range Temperature: to °C
Safety Standards: (1) (2)

4 Work in groups to discuss this question and make notes. To what extent do you
think that the product illustrated here would meet
the requirements outlined in the brainstorming
session?

12 2 Design
 READING » 5 Mark four items in this draft design specification which were not mentioned in
the brainstorming session in 3.

Draft Product Design Specification

1 Recommended product name: the name should • change settings while running, without needing
reflect the fact that it is a space spin-off, and to stop
suggest weightlessness: for example MoonWalker • attach body safely to machine using special shorts
or SpaceRunner. that zip into airbag
2 Recommended product description: ‘an enclosed 5 Operating environments: machine must be able to
treadmill that utilises air pressure in an inflatable bag function within
to support body weight, without a winch or harness’. • an ambient temperature range of 10–29ºC
3 Performance requirements for new product: • a relative humidity range of 20–95%
• reduce user’s weight by up to 80% 6 Dimension and weight requirements:
• give precise measured support • maximum 4 x 2.5 m footprint to allow for
• allow incremental (1%) adjustment of air pressure adequate space around machine
• provide unrestricted motion for legs and • similar weight to a normal running treadmill
upper body 7 Safety requirements:
• run at a variable speed adjustable up to 16 kph Since the product is intended for export throughout
• present a variable incline (or slope) up to 15º Europe including the UK, compliance with all
4 Recommended ergonomics features: applicable BS and EU safety standards is essential.
• touch button on screen to increase / reduce
support for body weight
• adjust speed, incline and air pressure using
simple controls

6 Match these words and phrases with the adjectives (in bold) in the document in 5
which have the same or similar meaning.
1 changeable 3 surrounding 5 sealed 7 comparative
2 sufficient 4 without constraints 6 step-by-step 8 exact

LANGUAGE » Expressing necessity, recommendation and ability

A necessity must / have to / need to / have got to
B recommendation should / ought to
C ability be able to / be capable of / have the ability to

SPEAKING » 7 Work in pairs. Choose eight specifications from the document in 5 which are the
most important, in your view.

8 Talk about each specification, using a variety of items from the language box
above. Use a modal from list A or B, combined with a phrase from list C.
Example: The equipment has to be capable of reducing the userʼs weight by up to 80%.

WRITING » 9 Rewrite sections 3 and 4 of the document in 5 as a memo to the manager of your
product design team. You want to persuade your manager to support you in
Language
designing the product. Describe the product as if it already exists. Link the phrases
page 103 in the document together using present participial phrases where appropriate.
It reduces the personʼs weight. It gives precise measured support. It allows incremental
adjustment.
 It reduces the personʼs weight, giving precise measured support and allowing
incremental adjustment.
Begin: The new SpaceRunner is capable of reducing the personʼs weight by up to 80%,
giving . . .
2 Design 13
 3 Properties

START HERE » 1 Work in pairs. The architectural fabric used on these buildings is a spin-off from
space technology. Discuss these questions.
1 What properties must this roof fabric have (e.g. tensile strength, durability)?
2 What do you think this fabric was originally used for in space?
3 Do you know any buildings in your own country where this material is used?

LISTENING » 2 2.2 Listen to a team brainstorming the properties of roof fabric. Write
numbers in the boxes to show the order in which these properties are mentioned.
thermal protection solar reflectance
kilo for kilo stronger than steel 1 good acoustics
solar translucency low maintenance
non-flammable high melting point

VOCABULARY » 3 Match the phrases in italics in this text with the words or phrases in 2 that are
closest in meaning.

Tensile roof fabric is a safe, economic and architecturally stunning material for concert hall roofs.
The fabric is extremely fire-resistant. In case of fire, it (1) will not burst into flames. Even in a severe fire, the fabric
(2) won’t melt until the temperature is very high, in fact over 650°C.
During the day, when the sun is shining, about 25% of the (3) sunlight can pass through it, but the other 75% of
the (4) sunlight is reflected away from the outside of the fabric. This means that the material
(5) protects the building from the heat of the sun. As a result, the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning is
very low, which means that the building is very cost-effective to run.
The roofing material is lightweight and yet (6) it has greater strength than steel relative to its weight. It can easily
be formed into sound panels, which means that the (7) quality of sound is very good inside the building, which
makes it suitable for concerts and gigs.
Finally, we can say that this fabric is durable, and (8) will not need to be repaired for many years.

14 2 Design