John S. Nixon
Modern English for Aeronautics and Space Technology
Preface
6
Contents
8
1. Aerodynamic Forces
12
1.1 Introductory Discussion
12
1.2 Exercises
12
1.2.1 Exercise A
12
1.2.2 Exercise B—Vocabulary
14
1.2.3 Exercise C—Translation
15
1.3 Why an Aircraft Flies
16
1.3.1 Exercise A: Comprehension
18
1.3.2 Exercise B: Vocabulary
19
1.3.3 Exercise C: Fill in the Blanks
20
1.3.4 Exercise D: Writing
21
1.4 How Does an Aircraft Really Fly?
22
1.4.1 Exercise A: Diagram
23
1.4.2 Exercise B: Discussion Questions
23
1.4.3 Language Corrections
23
1.5 James Bond 007—Reading Numbers Aloud in English
25
1.5.1 Multiple Digits
25
1.5.2 Zero
26
1.5.3 The Decimal Point
27
1.5.4 Plural Forms and False Friends
27
1.5.5 Dates
28
1.5.6 Fractions
28
1.5.7 Percent
29
2. Wings and Airfoils
30
2.1 Geometry Definitions
30
2.1.1 Exercise A: Basic Vocabulary
30
2.1.2 Exercise B: Further Terminology
31
2.1.3 Exercise C: Swept Wings
32
2.2 The Secret Behind Mini-TEDs: Novel Aerodynamic Wing Flaps
32
2.2.1 Exercise A: Comprehension Questions
34
2.2.2 Exercise B: Technical Vocabulary
35
2.2.3 Exercise C: Academic Vocabulary
36
2.2.4 Exercise D: Group Work
37
2.3 Reading Mathematical Equations Aloud
38
2.3.1 Basic Arithmetic Operations
38
2.3.2 Superscripts and Subscripts
38
2.3.3 Roots
39
2.3.4 Brackets
39
2.4 Exercises
40
2.4.1 Further Mathematical Symbols
40
2.4.2 Further Practice
41
3. Aircraft Motion
42
3.1 Pitch Motion
42
3.2 Roll Motion
43
3.3 Yaw Motion
44
3.4 Trim Systems
45
3.4.1 Comprehension Questions
49
3.4.2 Vocabulary
50
3.5 Mathematical Symbols and Formulae
51
4. Propulsion Systems
52
4.1 Propeller Propulsion
52
4.2 Gas Turbine Propulsion
55
4.3 Ramjet Propulsion
56
4.4 Rocket Propulsion
58
4.5 Paraphrasing
60
4.6 Jet Engines
61
4.7 Shapes
62
4.8 Geometry
63
4.8.1 Exercise A
63
4.8.2 Exercise B
64
5. Composite Materials
65
5.1 Vocabulary
65
5.2 Composite Materials
66
5.2.1 Background Information
66
5.2.2 Discussion Questions
66
5.3 Common Chemical Elements from the Periodic Table
68
6. Helicopters
70
6.1 How Helicopters Work
70
6.1.1 Exercise A: Comprehension Questions
73
6.1.2 Exercise B: Vocabulary Questions
74
6.1.3 Exercise C: Words of Motion
75
6.1.4 Exercise D: Translation
76
6.2 Describing the Movement of a Graph
77
6.2.1 Exercises
80
6.3 Agreeing and Disagreeing
80
6.3.1 Text: Helicopter with Flapping Rotors
81
6.3.2 Writing
82
7. The Future of NASA
83
7.1 NASA’s Vision
83
7.2 The Shuttle Program
85
7.3 Delayed Discovery Launch
87
7.3.1 Vocabulary Exercise
87
7.3.2 Audiotext: Delayed Discovery Launch
88
7.4 Ares Program
91
7.4.1 Introductory Text
91
7.4.2 After the Shuttle (Summary)
92
7.5 False Friends
94
8. Space Elevators
95
8.1 Satellites on a Leash
95
8.1.1 Vocabulary
97
8.1.2 Comprehension Questions
97
8.2 Summarizing/Paraphrasing/Clarifying
98
8.2.1 Text One
98
8.2.2 Text Two
99
8.3 Attending a Conference
100
8.3.1 Exercise A
100
8.3.2 Exercise B
101
8.4 Uncountable Nouns
102
9. Electrical Rocket Propulsion
103
9.1 Introduction to Electrical Rocket Propulsion
103
9.1.1 Vocabulary
106
9.1.2 Questions
107
9.2 Hall Effect Thrusters
108
9.2.1 Vocabulary
109
9.2.2 Comprehension Questions
110
9.3 Comparison of Propulsion Technologies
111
9.4 Discourse Markers
112
10. Orbits and SMART-1
114
10.1 SMART-1’s Lunar Mission
114
10.2 Orbits
116
10.2.1 Preliminary Questions
116
10.2.2 Vocabulary
117
10.2.3 Comprehension Questions
117
10.2.4 A spiral pathway to the Moon
117
10.2.5 Translations
118
10.3 Ion Electric Propulsion on SMART-1
119
10.4 Clarifying Information
120
10.4.1 Speaking Exercise
121
10.4.2 SMART-1 mission overview
122
10.5 Cause and Effect
123
10.5.1 Exercise A
123
10.5.2 Exercise B
124
11. Commercial Space Flight
125
11.1 Preliminary Discussion Questions
125
11.2 Commercial Space Flight: Listening Comprehension
126
11.2.1 Exercise A
127
11.2.2 Exercise B
128
11.3 Translation: SpaceShipOne
131
11.4 Respectively/Beziehungsweise
132
12. International Space Station
133
12.1 The International Space Station
133
12.1.1 Overview of International Space Station
133
12.1.2 Comprehension Questions
135
12.2 Ad Lib Elaboration: Zarya and Unity Modules
136
12.3 Systems Operations
139
12.3.1 Systems Operations of an ISS Module
139
12.3.2 System Operations of the Columbus Module
139
12.3.3 Collocations
140
12.4 Auslautverhärtung / Terminal Devoicing
141
Credits
142
Selected Reference List
145
Answer Key
147
Student’s Lexicon
175
© 2009-2024 ciando GmbH