I. Read the title of the text and recollect everything you know about engineering and the profession of an engineer. Discuss your answers with a partner
II. Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1. Why have you decided to become an engineer?
2. Do you think that modern society experiences a lack of skilled engineers? Is there no need in so much technical staff nowadays as everything is computerized and one good technician is enough to operate complicated electronic systems? Give your reason.
3. Dwell upon skills, habits and competences that are necessary for engineers. Think about requirements an engineer has to meet while applying for a job?
III. Read the text and find answers to the following questions.
1. How is engineering defined?
2. What does engineering deal with?
3. Who gets Master’s or Doctor’s degree?
4. What does mechanical engineering deal with?
5. What are the interests of the research engineer?
6. What are the problems of the technologist?
7. When was a steam engine invented?
8. What is the most important function of the engineer?
9. What are the basic machining processes?
10. What skills should an engineer have?
Text A
ENGINEERING
Engineeringis one of the most ancient occupations in history. It is often defined as making practical application of theoretical sciences such as physics and mathematics. Many of the early branches of engineering were based not on science but on empirical information that depended on observation and experience. Engineering is a science which deals with design, construction and operation of structures, machines, enginesand other devices used in industry and everyday life. That there is no single meaning of this word makes it sometimes difficult to find the proper Russian equivalents at once. The result of the increase of scientific knowledge is that engineering has become a profession. A profession is an occupation like law or medicine that requires specialized advanced education. Today it requires at least four or five years of university study leading to Bachelor of Science degree. More and more often engineers, especially those engaged in research, get an advanced Master’s or Doctor’s degree. Even those engineers who do not study for advanced degrees must keep up with changes in their profession. A mechanical engineer who does not know about new materials cannot successfully compete with one who does.
The engineer typifies the twenty first century. He is making vast contribution in design, engineering and promotion. In the organization and direction of large-scale enterpriseswe need his analytical frame of mind.
Engineers design and make machines, equipment and the like. Such work requires creative ability and working knowledge principles. The engineer must also have an understanding of the various processes and materials available to him and could be working in any of the following areas: the organization of manufacture, research and development, design, construction, sales and education. The principal work of the engineer is design. He has to design products, machines and production systems. Like the research engineer, the engineer asks «why?» Like the technologist he is also concerned with «how?» The interests of the research engineer are in the area of applied science and research. The technologist, on the other hand, works in the real world of specific things and concrete objects. His problems are practical. The engineer must combine many of the characteristics of the scientist, research engineer and technologist. He must have basic knowledge of sciences and understanding of the abstract techniques of the research engineer and should know much of the technology employed by technologists. The most important function of the engineer is to integrate the work of the essential triangle. His interest must be in combining the abstract theoretical world and the technical-practical world. In the 21st century the engineer has at his command many sources of power. He wants to make machinery automatic.