И. А. Курбасова Е. И. Силантьева

2. Определите значения выделенных слов и словосочета­ний, не пользуясь словарем.

1. Electric energy is generated at electric power stations. 2. The electric power stations operating on coal, gas or oil are known as the thermal power plants. 3. Coal, gas or oil are used as fuel at the thermal power stations. 4. D. I. Men-deleyev discovered the Periodic Law of Elements in 1869. 5. Steam locomotives were replaced by diesels and electrics because their possibilities had been exhausted. 6. The speed of the trains is not so high as that of the airplanes. In this respect, railways cannot compete with aviation. 7. The fault in the electrical equipment caused the accident. 8. A high initial cost of the electrified railways is their main drawback. 9. A flow of electrons is called the electric current. If the electric current flows in one direction, it is called the direct current. The electric current changing constantly the direction of its flow is known as the alternating current. 10. The transformer is an electrical instrument which is used to increase or lower the voltage of the electric current. 11. All railway substations are fitted with transformers. 12. The turbines are used to convert the energy of steam into mechanical energy.

3. Прочтите текст (5 мин. на каждую часть) и ска­жите, (а) какие типы электростанций упоминаются в части I; (б) разделите часть И на четыре логические части и озаглавьте их.