Task 2. Match words 1-15 with their synonyms in italics and memorize them. Think of sentences using the words from the box.

1) to found ▪ to establish ▪ to start 2) a challenge ▪ an issue ▪ trouble ▪ a task ▪ a difficulty ▪ a problem 3) a team ▪ a collective ▪a group ▪ a company 4) holidays ▪ vacation ▪ a leave 5) to celebrate ▪ to mark 6) leisure ▪ spare time ▪ free time time off work 7) to repair ▪ to fix ▪ to put right

8) a journey ▪ a trip ▪ a voyage ▪ a tour 9) a picture ▪ a shot ▪ a photo 10) to run out ▪ to be short of ▪ to expire 11) comfortable ▪ convenient ▪ cosy 12) to discover ▪ to learn ▪to find out 13) a tourist attraction ▪ a place of interest ▪ a visitor attraction 14) to damage ▪ to ruin ▪ to spoil ▪ to hurt ▪ to harm 15) terrible ▪ dreadful ▪ awful ▪ bad ▪ horrible

Task 3 a) match a word from the box with one of the definitions below:

to survive to complain an achievement an adventure

 

1) a thing that somebody has done successfully, especially using their own effort and skill –

2) to continue to live or exist despite a dangerous event or time –

3) to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about smb/smth –

4) an unusual, exciting or dangerous experience, journey or series of events –

b) complete the sentences with the appropriate word from the box.

1. The manager was proud of his employees’……………………….

2. When you're a child, life is one big ………………………….

3. Local people ……………………… about the increase of traffic problems in their city.

4. The company managed …………………… the crisis.

5. Many birds didn't …………………… the severe winter.

6. I'm going …………………………. to the manager about this.

7. Popper described science as the greatest ……………………. in the world.

Task 8 a) translate the text into Russian and comment on any new information contained in the text; b) express your opinion about this project.

A few years ago in Tokyo the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) developed partner robots which function as personal assistants for humans. TMC exhibited these robots at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan in March.

 

Toyota carries out its corporate activities based on the spirit of “contributing to society through making things and making automobiles.” At the same time, people around the globe are starting to demand and desire better and more diversified lifestyles. These changes are especially prominent in Japan where birth rates are decreasing and people are ageing rapidly. They understand that they need to secure a stable labor force for the future so that people can enjoy comfortable standards of living.

 

Toyota focused on these issues and promoted the development of human-assisting partner robots. It used the collective experience cultivated by the Toyota Group in automotive development and production engineering.

 

Toyota wanted its partner robots to have human characteristics, such as being agile, warm and kind and also intelligent enough to skillfully operate a wide range of devices in the areas of personal assistance, care for the elderly, manufacturing, and mobility. Furthermore, since each area requires a special set of skills, Toyota is promoting the development of three different types of partner robots (walking, rolling, and mountable), each with its own areas of experience and skills.

 

Toyota plans to continue focusing the energy of the Toyota Group to further utilize their wealth of technical experience in automotive development and production to expand the usefulness of these robots and broaden their functions and areas of application.

 

The following is a description of the partner robots:

 

The walking model walks on two legs similar to a person. It is 120 cm high and weighs 35 kg.

           

The rolling model zooms along quickly without taking up much space. It is 100 cm high and weighs 35 kg. The walking model and the rolling model use their hands to carry out a wide variety of tasks.

 

The mountable model can carry its passengers almost anywhere they need to go. It is fun to ride and operate. It is 180 cm high and weighs 75 kg.        

 

Toyota also developed the following “advanced technologies” for use in its partner robots:

 

1. Artificial lips which enable robots to play musical instruments (trumpets, for example) like humans do. Their lips move with the same finesse as human lips.

 

2. Mobility Control Technology – Toyota came up with the new stabilizing technologies for robots. Small, light-weight and low-cost high-precision-sensors are based on automotive sensor technology. They are used to detect a tilt of a robot.

 

3. Wire-operation system. The actuators as power sources are located on its torso, and wires are used to move the arms and legs. As a result, this can reduce the weight of the arms and legs and add limberness and speed to the motion.