Cairo University - Faculty of Engineering

Technical English
Chemical, Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgical Engineering Departments
M. Sc. Preparatory Year
Time: 3 hours Make Up Exam
1998 / 1999

Open Book Examination

You are advised to read the whole exam first, then select questions; reread each question before answering.
Plan your time to include revision of your answers.

Question 1
The text on Page 3 has paragraphs fused together.
A) Define where each one of the paragraphs starts and where it ends.
B) Define the type of each paragraph: introductory, body, conclusion.
C) Define the thesis statement for these paragraphs then propose a title for the
whole text.
Put down your answer directly on the attached text (of Page 3) and submit Page 3
with your answer booklet. Please, do not put your name or any signs that may
divulge you identity.
Question 2
Define (i) the type(s) of error and (ii) propose a correct version only if the sentence is
faulty:
In writing texts on new subjects, the techniques for discovering ideas
could be very useful.
bThe measurement of grain sizes was conducted using separation by
gravity methods which is very important to prescribe cost of the product.
cThe start of the work was after the collection of the funds.
a-

Question 3
Write a mixed (descriptive/informative) summary on this exam.
Question 4
Show the techniques of cohesion between sentences used in the following text.
A scrabble master is not born. Like the alphabet he uses, he is made. An enormous
amount of training lies behind his apparent gift. The basic skill to develop is memorizing
short words composed of two, three and four letters. First , all of the two-letter words
must be memorized. Also learned are which ones can be pluralized and which one
cannot. For instance ka can take an S and xu cannot. Next, all three-letter words like kab
and those that stand alone like neb. After this, all four-letter words that hook to three-letter
words (as rani and taro) must be memorized. Then all four-letter words are memorized.
Short words are not the majority in the language, but they are disproportionately important
in Scrabble. In a typical game, they account for three quarters of the words put down and
for more than half of points scored. Knowing these two-, three-, and four-letter words
makes possible the dumping of unwanted letters and the hoarding of important ones. This
is called rack management.

Chemical, Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgy, M. Sc. Preparatory Make Up Exam 1998 / 1999

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Question 5
Comment on the following text
New job descriptions. New ways of thinking and working. New challenges. And, in some cases,
new people. Restructuring of SPE operations is largely completed (see this months SPE News
section). The new structure reflects quite a departure from the old one.
First, generation and delivery of programs and products central to the Societys mission is collected
under the umbrella of Professional Programs and Publications (PPP). This groups job is to serve
the SPE membership member benefits, publications, meetings, short courses, Distinguished
Lecturers, etc. not only well, but better. An important component in PPP is creation of a
programs and publications advisor, whose job is to facilitate effective technology coverage through
both established and new programs and to seek new ways of dissemination (videoconferencing is
already under examination).
Second, support functions, including a consolidation of records maintenance and development of a
new fulfillment area, are delegated to Finance and Administration. This change was a major step
toward more efficient and cost-effective operations. We recognized that too many people were
separately spending considerable time in gathering materials from a variety of locations to send
somewhere and in trying to find the most cost-effective way to send them. By consolidating this
responsibility into a single area, we should see significant improvements in efficiency and
expenditures.
Third, activities whose purpose is to stimulate existing revenue streams and generate new ones to
help fund PPP aims are assigned to the Enterprises group. This group includes a strong
marketing and research element. Promotion of SPE programs previously was done on a largely
fragmented basis, often by staff without sufficient knowledge, training, and resources to be most
effective. A good marketing effort is important not only to let members know about what programs
are available, but also to maximize income from revenue-generating activities to support other
programs (member dues provide only about 19% of the Societys income). The research element
was considered especially critical to help SPE focus on what members need/want.
Like most reorganizations, this one wasnt easy. It will be no surprise to many of you that this
was a stressful period, both for those who participated on the reorganization team and those who
waited to learn the outcome. Perhaps the biggest challenge was developing a structure that is best
for SPE while knowing that the decisions being made could change some lives radically. Human
nature being what it is, it can be difficult to keep ones self-interest from affecting the view of the
big picture. But professionalism and dedication prevailed, and I thank my colleagues for their
commitment to SPEs continued success.
Initial reorganization meetings were spent in looking at what we do and how we do it. Those
meetings gave us the opportunity to article frustrations without own inefficiencies and redundancies
that had crept in over the years. Subsequent meetings gave us the chance to do something about
them. By the end of the process, we had learned that structure does not just mean lines of
reporting; its how you perform tasks, how the organization behaves, how you communicate, and
how you work together to achieve a vision.
Question 6
Write one paragraph developing the message of the attached graph (Page 4). Define
R. Observe the rules of planning and writing paragraphs.

Chemical, Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgy, M. Sc. Preparatory Make Up Exam 1998 / 1999

Text for Question 1

Insert your answer directly on this page. Return same.

Metal contamination of the environment arises not only from natural

sources, but from industrial activity. Combustion of fossil fuels
releases about 20 toxicologically important metals into the
environment including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, and nickel.
Industrial products and used industrial material may contain high
concentrations of toxic metals. For example, mercury is used by the
chlor-alkali industry to produce chlorine and caustic soda in the pulp
and paper industry and in the production of battery cells, fluorescent
bulbs, electrical switches, paints, agricultural products, dental
preparations, and pharmaceuticals. Although both adults and
children may be exposed to lead dust from such industries as
battery manufacturing through contact with workers clothing,
children are frequently exposed to lead through leaking painted
chips. This exposure of children may be a major health hazard;
however, the environmental release of lead from the combustion of
tetraethyl lead containing auto or industrial fuels remains the
greatest source of exposure. Cadmium, a by-product of zinc and
lead mining, is an important environmental pollutant. It has many
industrial uses in paints, pigments, batteries, and plastics. Another
use is as an anticorrosive agent for steel, iron, copper, brass, and
other alloys.

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Chemical, Mining, Petroleum and Metallurgy, M. Sc. Preparatory Make Up Exam 1998 / 1999

Basic Roles of Elements of the English

Sentence

People
S

do
what?

tend to make
V

what
?

what
?

inference about

what?
when?
why? how?

stated information
O

as they

do
what?
Adv

read

erb
clau
s

what
?

end.

any sentence.
O

As writer, you should satisfy readers

expectations as they read.

Wish you the best of luck.

4

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