MAJORING IN READING

CORPORACIÓN UNIVERSITARIA MINUTO DE DIOS

ENGLISH 3- MAJORING IN READING - (ENGINEERING) SECOND TERM

Before reading

Read the questions and circle the right answer (15 points, 5 each)

1. What is an invention?

a. A new device

b. An act of telling information

c. To process a product quality

2. What is important to be innovative?

a. To speak fluently b. To make peoples’ lives easier and improve processes

c. To study more hours

3. What do you think is a Human powered drill?

a. A person who makes machines b. some people helping to operate a machine

c. Some people producing electricity

While reading

Read the text and answer the following questions

A Human-Powered Drill for Clean Water

Posted on April 28th, 2011 by axb

Seven engineering students designed a water drill that might improve the lives of millions.

Lack of sanitary drinking water is a serious and well-known problem that continues to plague many third-world nations. In Tanzania alone, over 800,000 people do not have access to clean water.

A group of seven engineering students from Brigham Young University in Utah hope to alleviate this problem by giving Tanzanians an efficient and inexpensive way to obtain drinking water. For their senior capstone project, they have designed a human-powered drill that can dig a freshwater well much faster than many more expensive devices.

Challenged by instructors to find a solution for a real-world problem, the engineering students teamed up with WHOlives.org, a non-profit organization working to provide safe water, health care, and entrepreneurship opportunities to impoverished regions. Together they came up with the innovative drill. Operated by four people, it would create a 250 foot-deep, 6 inch-wide hole in just a few days. If people used this device often, they would solve many problem related to water.

In addition to its digging power, the drill also boasts an easy-to-(dis)assemble framework, and uses no gears or custom materials. Operation is simple: three people spin the wheel that powers the drill bit, and a fourth person moves the bit up and down when more power is needed. If there is an excess dirt, the pump will remove it from the hole. While comparable drilling projects in Tanzania can cost up to $15,000, the students’ invention only runs about $2,000.

According to the founders of WHOlives.org, a drill like this has the potential to bring much-needed water to millions of people. The organization currently is focusing its relief efforts in Tanzania, but plans to expand its reach in the future. If countries spent less in war and more in technology development, the quality of life would be better.

Taken from: http://students.egfi-k12.org/a-human-powered-drill-for-clean-water/

After reading

VOCABULARY

Match the word with its correct synonym (35 points, 5 each)

4. plague a. join forces

5. drill b. poor

6. impoverished c. tool for boring holes

7. teamed up d. torment

8. digging e. possess

...