EFL Tech - France a Site for Teachers of English ( as a Foreign Language) for  Engineering

Back to CONTENTS Page  [frameless version]
 
 

1 - Read this text and pick out the words / phrases used to compare and contrast the two welding machines.

SANDVIK 5015 - Fully automatic MIG welding machine for blade widths of up to 260mm.

The Sandvik 5015 is very similar to the Sandvik 5010. The main difference is in its capacity for different saw blades widths.  The Sandvik 5015 is designed for the welding together of band saw blades of a maximum of 260mm while the Sandvik 5010  accommodates blades of all widths, from 60mm up to 420mm. Another difference is that the Sandvik 5015 has a fixed welding speed, set to a predetermined optimum value, unlike the Sandvik 5010 with infinitely variable welding speed.
Otherwise, the Sandvik 5015 works just like the 5010, with thermostat-controlled preheating and tempering...

2 - Look at the following table comparing two computers, then read the text and  pick out the words / phrases used to compare and contrast the two computers. (Pay no special attention to the words / phrases in italics at this stage of the exercise)
 
 

	KRYLOG 4	COSMOS
processor	Intel Pentium III ( 867 MHz)	Intel Pentium III ( 867 MHz)
memory	64 Mo SDRAM	64 Mo SDRAM
display	17'' - Pitch 0.29mm	17'' - Pitch 0.29mm
hard disk	10 Go	20 Go - 7,200 rpm
CD-ROM	CD-ROM 20 / 48x	DVD-ROM 12x
video	ATI AGP, 16 Mo	NVIDIA M64 AGP, 32 Mo

    Buying  a computer can be  difficult because of  the different types of computer models on the market. Since  there are also different prices, the  final decision is difficult to take too. However , we have narrowed our search to two computer systems. A comparison and contrast study  has been made between the similarities and differences of  KRYLOG 4 series and COSMOS Series.

  The  KRYLOG 4 is very similar to the  COSMOS : the former  has an Intel Pentium III processor running at  867 MHz exactly like the latter. Furthermore, both  computers  have the same SDRAM memory. Finally, the display of  the KRYLOG 4  the same as the one of the  COSMOS.

    Despite their similarities, the KRYLOG 4 and the COSMOS  have some important differences in the following areas: hard disk, CD-ROM and video.

    The first major difference between the KRYLOG 4 and the COSMOS is their hard disk. The KRYLOG 4  has a
disk space of 10 GB while a COSMOS  features  a disk pace of 20 GB.

    Another difference between the two computers lies in the video system . The NVIDIA card of the COSMOS faster and more efficient than  the ATI fitted on the KRYLOG 4. Although the KRYLOG 4 has a great CD-ROM, it is not as
good as COSMOS's  DVD-ROM.

    For all these reasons I  recommend buying a COSMOS computer.

 3 -  Read this text about e-books and fill in the blanks with the words from the list below.
.
 The chasm between the convenience of paper and the possibilities of the Internet has caught the attention of several groups (..)  Three e-books are about to come on the market: the NuvoMedia, the Softbook and the EB Dedicated Reader.

The NuvoMedia is ****  the others in several ways : it has an enlargeable text and backlit screen to make reading easy. It also **** the others in that they all claim access to large libraries to select from.

The NuvoMedia is a paperback-size unit  **** the others are larger ( the size of a ream of copier paper or even more). The Dedicated Reader is **** the other two as it features two leaves that open like a book. **** the others, the latter has a full-colour screen. The NuvoMedia is the only one to plug into a PC. ****,  a phone line connects the others directly to a Website. **** the Dedicated Reader also stores books on removable cards, so that you can easily lend your 'book' to other people. Finally, the format used by the NuvoMedia is HTML, **** the Softbook, **** the third uses a PDF format which produces detailed  page images **** the text-plus-graphics mosaic of HTML.

On the whole, it seems that the dedicated Reader has several features which make it **** to use and **** . On the downside, **** , the Dedicated Reader is 3 times **** the others ( over $2,000).

 Use:  similar to -  different from -  the same as - easier - more versatile - as expensive as - resembles - while - whereas - unlike - instead - however - rather than - though

4 - Look at the table and write your own compare / contrast essay. You are invited to copy as much as possible from the text about computers ( exercise 2), making a few changes as you can. (Do try to keep all the words / phrases in italics)
 

	Renault Clio RXT	Peugeot 206 XT
2 similarities PRICE LENGTH	13,000 Euro 3773 mm	13,000 Euro 3835 mm
3 differences ENGINE TYPE FUEL SYSTEM SPPED	1.4 L petrol 186 kph	1.8 L diesel 163 kph

5 - Now read  this text about the KRYLOG 4 and COSMOS computers

Buying  / choosing ( verb + ING) a computer can be (extremely)  difficult because of  the different types of computer models on the market.  Since / because / as  there are also different prices , the  final decision is difficult to take too. (=  taking the final decision can be difficult)
Nevertheless / however , we have narrowed our search to two   (fine) computer systems. A comparison and
contrast study  has been made between the similarities and differences of  KRYLOG 4 series and COSMOS Series.

  The  KRYLOG 4 is very similar to the  COSMOS : the former  (= the first) has an Intel Pentium III processor running at  867 MHz exactly like the latter (= the second). Furthermore / moreover , both  computers  have the same SDRAM memory. Finally, the display of  the KRYLOG 4  the same as the one of the  COSMOS. These features make these two computers, if not the very best on the market, but excellent multipurpose computers.

    Despite / in spite of their similarities (= although they have similarities) , the KRYLOG 4 and the COSMOS  have some important differences in the following areas: hard disk, CD-ROM and video.

    The first major difference between the KRYLOG 4 and the COSMOS is their hard disk. The KRYLOG 4  has a
disk space of 10 GB while / whereas  a COSMOS  features  a disk space of 20 GB (= Unlike the KRYLOG 4 which  has a
disk space of 10 GB, s a COSMOS  features  a disk pace of 20 GB ). This is to say that a user will   have no problems of  storage space as a 20 GB is a lot more than what  he normally  requires.

    Another, difference between the two computers lies in the video system . The NVIDIA card of the COSMOS faster and more efficient than  the ATI fitted on the KRYLOG 4. Although the KRYLOG 4 has a great CD-ROM drive,  it is not as
good as COSMOS's  DVD-ROM. (= Instead of [+verb + ING] having a CD-ROM player,  a COSMOS had a more modern DVD-ROM)  Both the DVD and the NVIDIA card ensure  excellent quality to produce better images and clearer  music and movie shows.

    For all these reasons I (would) recommend buying / choosing (verb + ING)  a COSMOS computer.

6 - Look at the following table comparing France and Switzerland, then continue the compare / contrast study below. As in the text above (exercise 5 , passages in italics),  try and add comments, justifications and appreciation.
 
 

	France	Switzerland
location	Western Europe	Western Europe
language spoken	French	French (but also German and Italian)
area	550,000 km²	41,000 km²
population	60 million	8 million
weather	mostly mild and wet	mostly  alpine

Choosing a country to spend one's holiday can be extremely interesting and difficult too since there are so many parameters to take into account. We have finally narrowed our choice to two beautiful countries... ( Continue)
 

7 -  Read the following texts and write your own compare / contrast study. As in the text above (exercise 5 , passages in italics),  try and add comments, justifications and appreciation.

A - The Arctic
A 12  million square kilometre ocean, lost of it covered with ice. It includes parts of three continents ( Europe; Asia, North America) and lies within the 66th parallel ( Arctic Polar Circle).
The ice covers its biggest area in February and its smallest in June  when 4/10 of the Ocean are ice-free. Temperatures are not far below  O°C in summer. Life abounds, both plant and animal, so that men have always lived there.

B- The Antarctic
A 14 million square kilometre continent ( larger than Europe) surrounded by oceans. Its is 1,000km from Southern America and 3,600 km from New Zealand. it lies within the 60th parallel. 98% of the continent is covered with ice, where, in places, the ice cap is 4,000 metres thick/ The floating continental ice extends into the sea far beyond  the Antarctic Circle.
Average temperature: -45°C ( about 16°C inferior to those in the Arctic). Neither plant nor animal life can be found outside the sea and the immediate coastal areas.

Back to CONTENTS Page  [frameless version]