NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING

SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE

TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

UNIT I

READING TECHNIQUES

Prepared by: Lic. Hilda María Reyes Chávez

February, 2016.
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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

UNIT I: READING TECHNIQUES

THEMES:
3. Interpretation techniques of unknown words. The 100 words more used
in English
3.1 Synonyms or alternative
3.2 Cognates – True and false
- Practice: Reading I: Analysis of technical texts (according to each
engineering)

Objectives:
To know and apply reading techniques in the comprehension and analysis of
English technical texts.
 To identify synonyms and cognate words in context.
DEVELOPMENT

3. DEDUCTION OF UNKNOWN WORDS BY CONTEXT, EXPERIENCE AND OR LOGIC

BY CONTEXT: The reader concludes the meaning of an unknown word by analyzing the
information contained before and after this.

Examples:
 To read efficiently and effectively, a student of English must have a solid understanding of
the rules of English Grammar.
 It is always necessary for a construction firm to hire a Civil engineer.

BY EXPERIENCE: The reader knows about the theme he/she’s reading, therefore he/she can
guess the meaning of a word using his/her knowledge about the subject.

Example:
 There are clues that give you an idea about the text before you begin to read.

BY LOGIC: This is when you apply the reasoning in a correct way.

Example:
 Scientists are now able to use computers to conduct research into complex problem areas.

3.1 SYNONYMS OR ALTERNATIVE

“OR” introduces a) Alternative or choices

b) Synonymy or Repetition.

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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Example:
 Inductive reasoning is involved in arriving at a generalization or general principle by starting
with large number of facts.

Example:
 One may proceed by inductive reasoning from two or more specific facts.

PRACTICE

EXERCISE I: EACH SENTENCE HAS ONE WORD WHICH IS UNDERLINED. YOU MUST
DEDUCE THE MEANING WITHOUT USING THE DICTIONARY.

1. If you don’t understand a word try to get the meaning of the word from the context.

2. Automation replaces man-power in some instances.

3. Another method of education that is gaining popularity is computer-based Training using

multimedia.

4. The Law of conservation of Matter states that matter is neither created nor destroyed during
chemical change.

5. Disinfections of water is the killing of disease-causing microorganisms that it may contain.

6. Computers have now permeated all aspects of business and the economy. It is a
sophisticated tool that can significantly increase productivity.

7. The National Center for Health together with the Geological survey is using computers to
evaluate and control the level of pollution.

EXERCISE II: Explain if OR stands for synonymy or alternative.

1. Information is the output from computer printed on paper or displayed on a screen.

2. You can establish broad or general categories by looking at all pictures, graph, titles,
heading and subheading that accompany the text and by reading the first and last
paragraph and the topic sentence of the paragraphs.

3. Electronic mail is an electronic system which can store and deliver message that would
otherwise be sent through postal services or over telephone lines.

4. It is a usual practice for the doctor or nurse to ask the patient a series of questions about
past illnesses or health problems.

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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

3.2. COGNATES AS A READING TECHNIQUE

COGNATE WORDS.

They are words linguistically akin or similar in different languages. There are two types of
Cognate Words:

TRUE COGNATES: Are words which have similar writing and meaning as their counterparts in
Spanish.

- Corrosion - element
- Important. - atom
- Civil - System
- Resistance - Factor
- Metal - Solar
- Temperature - Collector
- Concrete - Area
- Plastic - Problem
- Plant - Combustion
- Energy - Industrial

FALSE COGNATES: Are words which have similar writing but different meaning as their
counterparts in Spanish.

Examples: sentence
design
library
bat
crane
rate
actually. (realmente)
exit.
ratio.
success.
several
firm

Exercise: Write 5 True Cognates and 5 False Cognates.

True Cognates Meaning False Cognates Meaning

1.-____________ _____________ 1.- ______________ _______________

2.-____________ _____________ 2.- ______________ _______________
3.-____________ _____________ 3.- ______________ _______________
4.-____________ _____________ 4.-_______________ _______________
5.-____________ _____________ 5.-_______________ _______________
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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF WORDS

Most common affixes in technical English

PREFIXES
AFFIXES
SUFFIXES

Affix: An affix is an element found at the beginning or at the end of words to modify their senses
or functions. Simple words can be combined with certain word beginnings and word endings
called prefixes and suffixes, to produce new words.

Prefixes and Suffixes: They are word parts that cannot stand alone.
They must always be combined with a base word.

A base word is a word that can stand alone.

- After this information, you are going to learn the most common prefixes and suffixes used in
technical English. They have to be learned by heart and then analyzed in words, it is the only
way in which you can identify them in a word and deduce its meaning.

Prefix : is a word part that may be added to the beginning of a base word.

Examples : Un - Product ive

Prefix Base word Suffix

PREFIXES

1.- NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE PREFIXES :

Prefix Meaning Examples

un - - unprofitable
Negative in - - inflexible
im - Not - immovable
il - - illogical
ir - - irrational

Prefix Meaning Examples

not involved with non–programmable.

Non - not related with non-existence.
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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Prefix Meaning Examples

Mis - badly miscalculate.
misunderstanding.

Mal - wrong malnutrition.

malformation.

Dis - opposite feeling disapprove.

opposite action dislocate.

anti - against antiviral.

de - reduce deform.
reverse demagnetize.

under - too little, in or to a underestimate.

position lower than. undertone.
underweight.

Positive re - do again revalue.

reactivate.

over - too much overproduction.

overload.
2.- Prefixes of size :

Prefix Meaning Examples

Semi - half, partly semiconductor
semicircle.

Equi - equal equilateral.

equidistant.

Mini - small minicomputer.

miniseries.
minibus

Micro - very small microcomputer

Microprocessor

Macro - macroeconomy
Mega - large, great macroeconomics
megabyte
megaton
megawatt
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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

3.- Prefixes of location :

Prefix Meaning Examples

Inter - Between, among interchange

Interdependence
interconnect

Super - over super structural

supernatural

Trans - across transcontinental

transoceanic.

Ex - out ex-president.
excommunicate

Extra - beyond extraordinary

extracurricular

Sub under subsoil

substandard

Infra - below infrastructure

Peri - around perimeter

4.- Prefixes of time and order

Prefix Meaning Examples

Ante - before antedate

Anteroom

Pre - prefabricate
predetermination

Post - after postdated

postgraduate

retro - backward retroactive

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SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

1.- Noun – Forming suffixes :

Suffix Meaning Examples

- ance state grievance,

Performance

- ence quality of independence

- er, or a person who operator

a thing what producer,
Programmer
Worker
Writer

- ist a person who analyst,

yst typist.

- ian pertaining to electrician,

- tion the act of - oxidation,

production,

- ness condition of - happiness,

hardness
spaciousness

- ing activity performing

acting

- ment state / action development.

management.

- ity state, quality mobility

electricity

- ism condition / state magnetism

professionalism

- dom domain kingdom

-ship condition / state friendship

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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

2. - Verb – forming suffixes:

Suffix Meaning Examples

- ize / ise mobilize, mobilise

Homogenize, homogenise

- ate to make originate

automate
calculate

- ify simplify, electrify.

clarify

- en harden
widen

3.- Adverb – forming suffix :

Suffix Meaning Examples

-ly in the manner originally

of . . . logically
electronically
comparably
4. - Adjective – forming suffixes:

Suffix Meaning Examples

- al having the mechanical,

- ar quality of electrical
- ic molecular
circular
allergic
magnetic
automatic
logical

-able capable creditable

-ible of being profitable
divisible
reversible

-ous like/ full of famous

Homogeneous
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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Suffix Meaning Examples

-full characterized by helpful

beautiful
successful

-less without needless

hopeless

-ish like yellowish

greenish

- ed having the closed

quality of arranged
- ive interactive
excessive

EXERCISE I: Write the meaning of the words in the EXAMPLE list. Analyze them according
to the prefix or suffix in their structure.

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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

READING # 2

MISION OF AN ENGINEER
1.-Engineers around the world understand that they have a tremendous responsibility in the
implementation of sustainable development. 2.- Many forecasts indicate there will be an additional.
3.- The people require more water, waste treatment systems, food production, energy,
transportation systems, and manufacturing of which require to participate in land planning, and to
research, study, design, construct, and operate new and expanded facilities. 5.- This future “built
environment” must be developed while sustaining the natural resources of the world and enhancing
the quality of life for all people.

6.- They have the priority on sustainable development, because of its global importance
today. 7.- For this, they have to study, train and assist the world on sustainable development
principles, technologies, standards and practices which will be updated periodically as engineering
responses to sustainable development become known.

9.- Engineers are addressing their responsibilities in implementing the sustainable

development action disciplines within the engineering profession. 10.- Concerned with advancement
of technology, standards of practice, engineering qualification, education, and ethics, play an
important role in technological progress and living standards.

11.- The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is also playing a key role in
exploring and strengthening industry-engineering contributions, on Environment and Development.
12.- To ensure that world’ business community participate actively in the ideas and solutions
recommended at the Earth Summit. 13.- To sustaining around the world and continues to stimulate
analysis and discussion on those public policies that concern business in the community move
toward sustainable development.

14.- The principal mission of engineers is to provide information, and to serve society and to
be recognized as a source of advice and guidance on the policies, interest and concerns that relate
engineering and technology to the human and natural environment. 15.- It is also to foster peace
and security through the proper application of technology and to facilitate relationships by
contributing at world dimension to discussions on policies and investment. 16.- This mission is
pursued by the implementation of objectives that include the development of a worldwide
understanding and commitment to sustainable development.

VOCABULARY:
forecasts pronosticos
foster: promover
Strengthening :fortalecer
investment: inversion
updated: actualizada
pursued: demandada
commitment: ompromiso
expanded: ampliada,extendida

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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

EXERCISE I: FIND THE CONTEXTUAL REFERENCE OF THE FOLLOWING

WORDS.

1.- In sentence (2) WHICH refers to: ______________________________________

2.- In sentence (6) ITS refers to:__________________________________________
3.- In sentence (7) FOR THIS refers to: ____________________________________
4.- In sentence (9) THEIR refers to: _______________________________________

EXERCISE II: DEDUCE THE MEANING OF THESE WORDS

1.- In sentence (4) FACILITIES mean: ____________________________________

2.- In sentence (5) ENHANCING means: __________________________________
3.- In sentence (10) ADVANCEMENT means: ______________________________
4.- In sentence (11) KEY means: ________________________________________
5.- In sentence (13) SUSTAINABLE means:________________________________
6.- In sentence (15) POLICIES means:____________________________________

EXERCISE III: ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN SPANISH

1.- Why is very important the sustainable development by engineers?

2.- What is the main task of an engineer?

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 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING
SUPERIOR STUDIES INSTITUTE
TECHNICAL ENGLISH I
CIVIL/INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

EXERCISE V: COMPLETE THE CHART GIVING THE FOLLOWING

INFORMATION FROM READING

NO.SENT. FUNCTION EXAMPLE MEANING

SUFFIX

TRUE COGNATE

FALSE COGNATE

SUFFIX

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