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LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES





АНО ВПО ЦС РФ

«РОССИЙСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ КООПЕРАЦИИ»

И.В. Балакирева

Д.Г. Васьбиева

АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК

СБОРНИК УЧЕБНЫХ ТЕКСТОВ И ЗАДАНИЙ

ПО ВНЕАУДИТОРНОМУ ЧТЕНИЮ

ДЛЯ САМОСТОЯТЕЛЬНОЙ РАБОТЫ

для студентов заочной формы обучения

Всех специальностей

Москва 2010


Балакирева И.В., Васьбиева Д.Г. Английский язык: Сборник учебных текстов и заданий по внеаудиторному чтению для самостоятельной работы студентов. – М.: Российский университет кооперации, 2010. – 73с.

 

 

Сборник учебных текстов и заданий по внеаудиторному чтению для самостоятельной работы студентов по дисциплине «Иностранный язык (английский язык)» для всех специальностей заочной формы обучения разработан в соответствии с учебным планом от 04.07.2006г. и учебной программой, утвержденной 13.11.2007г.

 

 

Рецензент: доцент В.В. Авдеева

 

 

Сборник учебных текстов и заданий по внеаудиторному чтению подготовлен для студентов 1-2 курсов заочной формы обучения всех специальностей.

 

 

Сборник текстов рекомендован к изданию решением кафедры иностранных языков от 08.02.2010г., протокол №7



©АНО ВПО ЦС РФ

«Российский университет кооперации», 2010

© Балакирева И.В., Васьбиева Д.Г., 2010


От составителей

Настоящий сборник текстов предназначен для студентов I и II курсов заочной формы обучения для экономических специальностей вузов системы потребительской кооперации Российской Федерации.

Цель данного сборника – подготовить студентов к чтению и пониманию оригинальной литературы на английском языке по экономической специальности.

Сборник составлен в соответствии с требованиями программы для студентов I и II курсов заочной формы обучения для экономических специальностей.

Сборник состоит из двух частей. В первой части представлены общенаучные тексты, предназначенные для студентов 1-го курса. Вторая часть сборника – это экономические тексты для студентов 2-го курса.

При подготовке внеаудиторного чтения студент должен уметь:

1) читать и переводить тексты, рекомендуемые преподавателем кафедры;

2) отвечать на вопросы по тексту.



При работе над текстом необходимо выписывать все незнакомые слова в словарной форме в тетрадь. При приеме внеаудиторного чтения тетрадь с выписанными словами следует предъявить преподавателю.

Систематическая работа с текстами, представленными в настоящем сборнике, поможет студенту сформировать умения и навыки беспереводного понимания англоязычных текстов и расширить его словарный запас.


PART I

TEXT 1

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Each country is proud of its famous people, and Russia is among them. There are a lot of Russian famous writers, poets and musicians. A. Pushkin is the most important Russian writer and poet of all the time. He is like Shakespeare in England. He provided the standards for Russian arts and literature in the 19th century. In 1823 Pushkin began writing his masterpiece Eugene Onegin. It became his linguistic and literar standard. It is a commentary on the life of the early 19th-century Russia. Pushkin also wrote a lot of other poems and created masterpieces in drama and prose. All Russian people know Pushkin. Galleries and museums were named after him. In the centre of Moscow there is a monument to Pushkin built by famous Russia-architect Opekunshin in 1880. Pushkin's memorial museums in different cities attract many visitors.

One of the other famous poets and writers in Russia was M. Lermontov. He won fame as a poet after his poem on Pushkin`s death had been published. Lermontov's poems Demon, Mtsyri, his great novel A Hero of Our Time and his play Masquerade are masterpieces of Russian literature.

Russian famous musicians and composers such as Serge Rachmaninov and Peter Tchaikovsky are recognized all over the world. Tchaikovsky composed a lot of symphonies and created beautiful music for operas and ballets. His famous operas Eugene Onegin, Ioianta and his famous ballets The Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty are masterpieces. His memorial museum was opened in 1894 in Klin not far from Moscow. And the International Tchaikovsky Music Competition started in 1958 in Moscow.

S. Rachmaninov was an outstanding Russian composer and pianist. He became famous with audience around the world for his piano performances.

Great Britain is also proud of its famous people. One of its famous writers A. Conan Doyle invented Sherlock Holmes, one of the famous characters and detectives. Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Scotland. He was a doctor. In 1882 he moved to England to set up a practice. One of the doctors he worked for was the model for Dr. Watson. Conan Doyle's medical knowledge was a great help in his detective stories. He started the fashion of the detective stories. And nowadays there are few people who don't like detective stories. We know a lot about Sherlock Holmes. We even know his address — 221 " B" Baker Street in London. When Conan Doyle began to get tired of writing detective stories, he "killed" Holmes in one of his stories. But the public didn't like it. Conan Doyle had to write another story in which Holmes came back.



In the history of the United States there are a lot of famous names. There are many people that have influenced life in America, and each of them is well-known in a certain field of activity.

To many people the name of Walt Disney means the world of funny cartoons. He developed the family-entertainment park Disney­land in California, the place to return to the world of childhood.

Many outstanding writers lived and worked in America. For example, Jack London who went to Alaska to find gold. Instead, he found ideas for his stories there. He is best-known for his books The Call of the Wild and Martin Eden.

Mark Twain (the real name is Samuel Clemens) wrote his masterpiece The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Because of his sense of humour and the style with which he wrote, his books are considered to mark the beginning of modern American literature. O'Henry is a well known American short-story writer. Ernest Hemingway was one of the Hollywood's favourite authors. The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell to Arms made him famous. Another famous novelist is Theodore Driser. He wrote such novels as Sister Carrie, Financier, Titanic. Ray Bradbury is the author of many imaginative science-fiction stories and novels.

Many talented people played their role in shaping America-life and culture. The whole world knows the names of great inventors, because their inventions, such as a car, aeroplane, electric lamp and telephone, have changed our life significantly: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Alexander Bell and many others.

Edison believed that only work could bring success. So did the greatest American architect Frank Lloyd Write. He made an important contribution to the modern movement in architecture. He designed homes which were less crowded and had more space.

We can't imagine America without the name of M. Jackson. Elvis Presley is known as a king of rock-and-roll. He brought together the musical sounds of the blacks in America and of country people.

Louis Armstrong was the first jazz soloist who received world-wide recognition. He was a singer and a wonderful trumpet player.

American centre of movie industry — Hollywood has produced a galaxy of brilliant actors and actresses: M. Monro, E. Tailor. M. Duglas, B. Streisand, S. Stallone, L. DiCaprio, J. Roberts and others.

Everybody knows the name of Neil Armstrong — the first man on the Moon.

Among the most famous people, that are greatly honoured by their compatriots, are well-known statesmen G. Washington. A. Lincoln and B. Franklin.

(5061)

Notes

1. are considered - считается

2. imaginative - художественный

3. science-fiction – научная фантастика

4. compatriot - соотечественник

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What outstanding people from Russia are world famous?

2. Why does everybody know the name of Neil Armstrong?

3. What does the name of Walt Disney mean to many people?

4. What is the address of Sherlock Holmes?

TEXT 2

JOHN RONALD TOLKIEN

The author of the famous book The Lord of the Rings was born in 1892 in South Africa and grew up in a village near Birmingham. He took part in the First World War. Then he became a professor of English at Oxford University.

It was while he was correcting exam papers that Tolkien wrote down a strange sentence that started; "In a hole in the ground where lived a hobbit..."

Obviously, creative writing was more interesting than correcting papers, that's why Tolkien went on to transform this sentence into a full novel called The Hobbit, published in 1938. The main characters of this book later appeared in The Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien hated technology, he longed for England before the invention of engines (he died in 1973 and he never had a refrigerator, he never had a TV, he refused to buy an electric iron, although he bought cars for his children and grandchildren). He loved ancient myths, and for his books he borrowed characters from Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian and other European mythology. He created his own world inhabited by wizards, elves, dwarves, goblins and certainly hobbits.

Hobbits are Tolkien's own invention. The word is a combination of Homo (man) and rabbit. Hobbits are rather short (about 1 metre) creatures with furry legs. They are peaceful, home-loving race, fond of their gardens and their cosy underground homes. They don't like adventures, but the main character of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins is forced to take part in a long and dangerous journey full of risk and extraordinary adventures.

The book was an immediate success. Tolkien's magic world caught reader's imagination.

Tolkien sold the film rights to The Lord of the Rings in 1969, but didn't believe that a film would ever be made. He was wrong. But it took filmmakers 50 years to bring the book to a big screen. At first a cartoon version was made, but nobody took the risk to make a live-action film. But finally the thing that Tolkien hated so much — technology — helped. With modern computer effects it became possible to create a realistic and exact interpretation of the book. The director Peter Jackson wanted the film to be real. He found suitable settings in his native New Zealand, and they built the set where "the hobbits" lived a year before they started shooting. They planted cabbages and carrots, grass and weeds, so after a year the whole place had grown and looked completely real.

The Lord of the Rings was published in 1954. The book took years to write. The trilogy is more than 1,000 pages. 100 million copies have been sold. It has been translated into 25 languages. In 1970 the word hobbit was included in the Oxford dictionary. The book is considered to be the champion of fantasy novels. Sometimes it is called the greatest book of the 20th century and Tolkien is called one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

(2852)

Notes

1. long for – тосковать

2. wizard – волшебник

3. dwarf - гном

4. settings – обстановка

5. set – съемочная площадка

6. shooting – съемки

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

 

1. How did it happen that Tolkien began to write?

2. From what mythology did Tolkien borrow his characters?

3. What is the origin of the word hobbit?

4. When was the word hobbit included in the Oxford dictionary?

TEXT 3

ANCIENT RUSSIAN CITIES

Nearly all Russian cities and towns have a lot of historic architectural monuments, such as Russian orthodox churches, cathedrals and monasteries. They are valuable symbols of ancient Russian culture. The most attractive city for foreign tourists is Moscow. There is a lot to see in the capital but the most important place to visit is the Kremlin.

Here visitors can admire beautiful cathedrals, built in the 15th century, visit the Faceted Palace and the Armoury, and get a fantastic view of the city from the top of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, which is the composition centre of the entire Kremlin. There are quite a lot of other examples of ancient Russian architecture outside the Kremlin, such as St. Bazil's Cathedral, Novodevichy Convent and Pokrova Church in Fili.

Moscow's attraction for tourists is not only its historical sites but the fact that it's a modern city with hundreds of museums and galleries, theatres and restaurants. It's impossible to be bored in Moscow, but if you want to enjoy some fresh sightseeing impressions, you may visit two major towns of the "Golden Ring of Russia", Suzdal and Vladimir.

Upon your arrival in Suzdal you will find yourself in a fairy-tale world. The town has a kremlin, a convent, two monasteries, dozens of churches, dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries and a nearly 200-year-old shopping arcade with traditional iron signs outside the shops. There are no high buildings here. The city is like an extended village of wooden houses, with lace curtains and geraniums in the windows.

Vladimir attracts tourists by the severe architecture of its white stone cathedrals and churches. The most famous of them are Dormition Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Demetrius and Pokrova Church on the Nerl.

These two towns are like two islands of beauty in a sea of mediocrity. Yet, there are very few foreign visitors there. Why? They are scared off by the lack of comfortable hotels, coaches, good roads with road signs and well-trained guides. Besides, some of the architectural monuments have become ruined by time and really have to be renovated. But local authorities usually lack funds and it restricts the possibilities for developing tourism in these towns.

It is obvious that sustainable tourism could provide good profits for local residents, especially at the height of the tourist season. But to draw more tourists into Russian towns, we must provide good accommodation and eating facilities, build roads and parking places, develop outdoor activities and make these towns known to the public. If only Russian cities and towns could become popular tourist destinations, then they would really prosper and flourish.

(2690)

Notes

1. Faceted Palace – Грановитая палата

2. Armoury – Оружейная палата

3. sightseeing – осмотр достопримечательностей

4. sonvent – женский монастырь

5. arcade - пассаж

6. severe - строгий

7. Dormition Cathedral – Успенский собор

8. mediocrity - заурядность

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What can you see on the territory of the Kremlin?

2. What are the main places of interest in Suzdal?

3. What are the main problems of ancient cities and towns of Russia?

 

 

TEXT 4

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in ancient Greece where they were held in honour of Zeus, the princi­pal god of the Greeks. They lasted for five days and became a sym­bol of peace and friendship, because in keeping with the decree of that time no wars could be waged during the Games. The athletes competed in running, boxing, wrestling, horse and chariot racing, and the like. However, women were unable to compete. They couldn't even be present among the spectators during the games. The winners were presented with laurel wreaths in the temple of Zeus. There is a list of winners dating from 776 ВС. Though there were other regular sports competitions in an­cient Greece, the Greeks considered the Olympics, which took place every four years, so important that they calculated time by them. The Olympic Games were held for nearly twelve cen­turies until they were abolished in 394 AD by the Roman Em­peror Theodosius I who became Christian.

The Olympic Games were revived only at the end of the 19th century thanks to Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896 to underline the importance of precedent. The International Olympic Commit­tee, the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement, was also set up in 1896. It is composed of representatives from all the countries, which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides on the programme of the games, the number of the participants, and the host-city for the games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Each coun­try also has its National Olympic Committee. Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities keen to host the Games. The International Com­mittee selects the most suitable city and it starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, ho­tels, press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists, and guests come to the Games, so it takes a lot of effort to arrange every­thing. There is always an interesting cultural programme of con­certs, exhibitions, festivals etc. for every Games.

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.

(2294)

Notes

1. wage - вести

2. сhariot – колесница

3. the like – тому подобное

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. When did the Olympic Games begin?

2. Who took part in the an­cient Olympic Games?

3. When were the Olympic Games revived?

TEXT 5

SEASONS

 

There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each sea­son lasts three months. In most countries of the world the new year begins on the 1st of January. This day is a holiday in Russia.

Every season is beautiful in its own way. In winter the sun sets early and rises late. The rivers and lakes are frozen over. Ev­erything is covered with snow. Sometimes it is very cold, and the temperature can drop to thirty below zero. Going out in weather like this isn't very pleasant unless you're doing some kind of physical activity. That's why winter can also be a good time for sports. Many people go out skating and skiing; tobog­ganing is also popular, not as a kind of sport, but rather as fun.

In March it gets warmer and warmer. The sun becomes hotter and brighter, the days grow longer, the snow and ice gradually melt away. Spring comes, and nature awakens to new life after its winter sleep. The air is fresh; the sky is blue and cloudless. Little by little all kinds of plants and flowers appear. The ground is covered with bright-green grass and the first flowers; the trees are in full blossom. Birds return to the North from their winter stay in the South and start building their nests. Farmers get ready to plough their fields.

Spring is followed by summer. The weather is usually fine in summer, but it can be very hot, especially in July. Sometimes there are storms with thunder and lightning, but they do not last long; they freshen the air and help the plants fight the heat. In summer people try to get away from the city noise and spend more time in the open air. They pick mushrooms and ber­ries in the forest, swim in the rivers and lakes, go fishing and boating. Most people prefer to have their holidays in summer.

Autumn begins in September. The days become shorter and the nights become longer. The leaves turn yellow, red, and brown and fall to the ground. Most birds fly away to warm countries. There is a short spell of dry sunny weather in September which is called Indian summer. It is a beautiful time when the sky is cloudless, the trees around are golden, the air is transparent and it is still warm. It starts to get colder in the end of Septem­ber, and mists and drizzle begin. In October there are some re­ally chilly nights, and November often brings snow with it.

In different parts of our hemisphere the seasons have differ­ent kinds of climate (and in Southern hemisphere they have win­ter when we have summer and vice versa. The further to the north you are, the colder is the winter; everyone knows that. But other things can also influence the climate, among them the prox­imity of the sea. The closer you are to the sea, the milder is the climate. Winters aren't so cold, but the summers also aren't particularly warm. The climate of Britain, for instance, is very much influenced by the Gulf Stream which brings warm waters to its coasts and makes for humid and rather mild climate.

Most of Russia has continental climate with cold and snowy win­ters and hot summers. Such weather is typical for the regions of Central Russia around Moscow. In the northern and eastern parts of Russia the winters are even colder. The climate of such re­gions as St. Petersburg in the northwest is influenced by the sea; the winter there is worse than in Central Russia, because it is damp and clouds often cover the sun. St. Petersburg's proximity to the Arctic Circle results in the sun never setting down in June. This is the famous period of White Nights.

The weather plays an important role in our life, determin­ing if we are comfortable going outdoors. Weather is usu­ally the most popular discussion topic in Brit­ain because the weather there is so changeable.

If you are travelling to a new place, it makes sense to learn about the weather there so that you know what to pack and how to dress. Fortunately, with Internet being available it's not that difficult to find out what the weather would be like tomorrow in any geographical point in the world.

(3995)

Notes

1. tobog­ganing – катание на санях

2. spell - период

3. transparent - прозрачный

4. vice versa – наоборот

5. prox­imity – близость

6. result in – приводить к…

7. it makes sense – имеет смысл

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. How can you describe the climate of Russia?

2. How does the sea influence the climate?

3. Why do English people like discussing the weather?

4. What season is your favourite?

TEXT 6

CITY AND COUNTRY

There are many cities and towns in Russia. The biggest cities are Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are differences in the way of life people lead there due to the city's size, its geographical location, and economical situation, but there are undoubtedly common traits that separate it from the way of life people lead in the country.

Living in a city you usually have more choices about where to work, where to study, where to shop and where to spend your free time. Cities have public transportation systems so usually even in a big city you need not spend more than an hour and a half going wherever you need to go. Sometimes buses, trams and trolleybuses may be late in coming, but once you're in, they'll take you wherever you need to go. The big­gest cities also have subway system which is more convenient since its trains' speed doesn't depend on rush-hours. Cities have many shops, big and small, cinemas, libraries, the­atres, and other places where you can pursue your interests and spend your free time. There are more different education­al institutions and workplaces, so you have more freedom in choosing your career.

In addition, living in the city you can use many conveniences even without leaving home. City apartments have central heat­ing, running hot and cold water, garbage chute, and telephone; their TV sets take more channels and it's easier to get a good Internet connection.

Living in the country in Russia has always been more difficult than the city life. You are closer to nature and can breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat home-grown food, but the country life is still devoid of many benefits of the city. The choice of jobs for coun­try people is limited and you have to go to a city or town for your professional training. The possibilities of buying what you want and choices of places to spend your free time are also limited. For all those reasons many Russian villages are dying. Only the old people stay there, and the young people from the countryside move to the cities to get an edu­cation and to look for a job.

Great Britain is a much smaller country than Russia, and all the distances inside the country are shorter. This might be one of the reasons why there are many villages where life isn't so different from the cities; indeed, many people working in big cities prefer to live outside of them, in charming villages, and go to work by train each day.

There are many big cities in USA, but there are also vast territories of the agricultural states, primarily in the Mid-west, where most people live in the countryside. However, there aren't really any villages there; small towns with shops, post offices and schools are surrounded by fields and farms standing far away and separate from each other.

(2766)

Notes

1. trait - черта

2. once - если

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What are the advantages living in the city?

2. What are the advantages living in the country?

3. How are British villages different from Russian villages?

 

TEXT 7

AMERICAN FOOD

When we speak about American food, we always imagine hamburgers and hot dogs, fried chicken and giant steaks. But in fact Americans eat every kind of food imaginable, even spaghetti and pizza. The expression "as American as apple pie" means something that is typically American, but even apple pie came from somewhere else. The only true American foods are those that the Native Americans gave the first settlers, including corn, squash, pumpkin and turkey. Roast turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie are still eaten at Thanksgiving.

The typical day starts with breakfast. During the week this might be something quick: cereal with milk, a muffin or toast with coffee, tea, milk or juice. On the weekends when people have more time, breakfast might be pancakes, waffles, an omelet, or bacon and eggs.

Lunch at work or school is usually between 12 and 1 pm. Some people prefer to bring their lunch from home. Tuna fish, sliced meat or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are kids' favorites. Most schools and some businesses have cafeterias that serve lunch.

Dinner, the biggest meal of the day, is generally at 6 or 7 pm. A typical dinner includes a hot vegetable, a salad, meat, and a potato or pasta dish. Stew (meat cooked with vegetables) and soup are also favorite dinner foods.

Americans love desserts. The standard dessert is pie. You can have fruit pies made from apple, peach, apricot or cherry, or berry pies with blackberry, raspberry or blueberry. A piece of pie is often served with ice cream.

But the truth is that Americans don't have much time for old-fashioned cooking at home. Quick snacks all through the day have taken its place. Takeout meals from restaurants and pizza parlors have become a regular part of everyday life. Ready-to-eat and instant processed foods that are quick to prepare are also very popular. TV dinners are complete dinners on a tray that you take from the freezer and heat up in the oven or micro-wave.

An enormous fast-food industry gives hungry Americans the snacks they want when they want them. Ice cream, popcorn and hot dogs are on sale everywhere. Best known, perhaps, is the McDonalds hamburger business.

But fast food makes you fat, that's why Americans are the fattest people in the world. More and more Americans worry about it and take greater interest in their health. The fashion for health food is growing all the time. Among middle-class people salads, beans and fruit have taken the place of steak and ice cream. Drinking is going down too. Smart businesspeople order mineral water, not wine, at their business. So now Americans pay more attention to their eating habits.

(2640)

Notes

1. squash - кабачок

2. waffles – вафли

3. tuna fish – тунец

4. stew - рагу

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What do Americans usually eat for breakfast?

2. When do they generally have lunch?

3. Why do Americans often prefer fast food?

TEXT 8

HOW TO HELP OUR PLANET

Today environmental issues are much spoken about on TV, radio and in newspapers. If people want to survive, they must do their best to solve these problems. Fortunately, it's not too late to save our planet. We understand that our environment is not just our home town but the whole Earth. The protection of the environment requires the cooperation of all nations. Governments should take measures that will help improve the environment.

There are a lot of environmental groups and international organizations whose main goal is to strengthen cooperation among environmentalists from different countries. The most famous of them is "Greenpeace", which combines the people's efforts for peace with the huge movement for nature conservation. "The World Wildlife Fund” (WWF) is the name of another international organization that appeared in 1961. It has given support to National Parks in five continents. You may also join "Friends of the Earth Trust", which is an educational charity set up to help people of all ages become aware of the threats to our environment.

However, there are a lot of simple things we should all do to stop the destruction of the environment. First of all, we must keep our cities and towns clean. That means, we mustn't drop litter in public places. If we see litter on the ground, we must put it into a litter bin. Besides, we shouldn't dump our rubbish without thinking which things, such as bottles and paper, can be recycled. And of course, we mustn't draw or paint on pavements, walls or trees.

We must stop using aerosol sprays because the stuff they contain destroys the ozone layer. We should take care of birds and animals. We can help to plant trees and create parks for endangered species. We can clean rivers and canals and create footpaths. But first of all we must change people's attitude towards the environment.

If we take action now, there might be some hope for the future. If we do nothing, we are heading for disaster!

(1984)

Notes

1. environmentalist – защитник окружающей среды

2. Trust – общество

3. endangered species – вымирающие виды

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What is the aim of "The World Wildlife Fund”?

2. What must we do to protect our environment?

 

 

TEXT 9

RUSSIAN CHARACTER

There are a lot of wonders in Russia. But it is true to say that Russia is most famous for its people.

To understand Russian people, one must know from where they come. Nature has not been kind to Russia. Winters in Russia are cold, windy and snowy. So in old Russia people could do little during long winter months. But in spring there was a lot to be done, and in a short period of time. Perhaps, this explains why the Russians are often inactive for long periods of time and then show bursts of energy.

The harsh climate explains the Russians' strength and their ability to overcome hardships. Climate has also made them cautious.

Yet most of the Russians are open people. They are neither reticent nor reserved as the British. Russian people love to sit down for a nice long chat. They like having parties and receiving guests. The Russians are known to be a hospitable people. According to old traditions, a guest should always be welcomed with the symbol of life-giving food — bread and salt.

Russian people have always loved their country, though life in Russia has never been easy. They have always been devoted to their Motherland, fighting for peace and independence against enemies.

We can't say that the Russians are conservative. On the contrary, they encourage research and innovation. Still, there are a lot of customs and traditions in their life. For example, before leaving on a journey, many Russian people sit down quietly together for a few minutes.

Russian people are clever and talented. We can name a lot of outstanding Russians who are well-known all over the world. And we can say that we are a nation that has done a lot for the world civilization.

When foreign guests leave Russia, they usually say different things about the country. Some of them like it, others don't. But practically everybody agrees that Russian people are wonderful. They are friendly, kind and very hospitable.

(1920)

Notes

1. yet – тем не менее

2. reticent – скрытный

3. are known – известно

4. still – и все-таки

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. How can you describe the Russian national character?

2. Are Russian people hospitable?

TEXT 10

GENERATION GAP

Sometimes our parents don't understand us. They don't understand some problems and things which are very important in teens life; for example, the lifestyles of young people, piercing, tattoos, drugs, sex, relationship with friends and teachers. So sometimes teens can't tell them about their private life. Some parents don't want to understand modern views, ideals and system of values.

Elderly people usually compare their childhood and youth with the present, and regard old times as better, always talking about "the good old days". The young people tend to think their times as the best. Teens look at the world with fresh eyes. Everything is new, interesting to them. Sometimes they cannot solve their everyday problems. But they want to cope with them by themselves. So adults shouldn't prevent them from making their own mistakes.

People are considered to become wiser with age. Sometimes it is true and sometimes it is not. I think that you can meet a wise man among the old as often as among the young. It is false that when old age wisdom has come, useless illusions have disappeared. Sometimes when teens talk to adults, a monologue is a preferred form of expressing adults` ideas in such talks. That's why some teens don't like to talk to adults.

Probably, that it's in people's nature to give advice. It seems to people that giving advice they can help somebody or put somebody on the right track. But if a person takes their advice and fails, he can blame an adult all of his life.

Parents have their own ideas and views that their children don't share and understand. They think that their children won't find their place in life. They often say that now teens are very difficult to socialize with and dumpy. But children should settle all problems peacefully because they are their parents. They brought them up with loving care. And if children come to their parents for advice and help, they will do their best and help children to cope with problems and difficulties.

(1998)

Notes

1. are considered – считается

2. teens – подростки

3. dumpy – унылый

4. do their best – сделать все возможное

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why don't parents understand their children?

2. Can parents help their children?

 

TEXT 11

TRADITIONS IN OURLIFE

What is a tradition? Probably, traditions are a way of defining who people are, that's why it is very important that traditions do survive in the country. Take Great Britain, for instance. It is a unique country because it has a link with quite ancient traditions. Traditional uniforms are still preserved in Great Britain. There are also a lot of traditional ceremonies such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the Colour, which is performed on the Queen's official birthday, or the Ceremony of the Keys, that takes place every night at the Tower of London. The British people are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up.

People all over the world traditionally celebrate such common holidays as Easter, Christmas or New Year. But of course, each country has its own traditional holidays connected with its history. So we may say that tradition is the passing down of the beliefs, practices and customs from the past to the present.

Russia is also a country of great traditions. For example, Russian people traditionally mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring by burning straw scarecrows of winter on bonfires and eating pancakes with honey or sour cream. This long­standing tradition is still alive in many places in Russia.

There are a lot of traditions in our everyday lives, for example celebrating birthdays, holidays and traditional wedding ceremonies. The family meal is another tradition that we should try to keep up in our everyday life. Family meals reflect a country's culture and traditions. Besides, it's a good way to bring the family together and a good chance for parents and children to talk.

The oldest universities, like Oxford and Cambridge, are world-famous for their traditional practices, which have stood for hundreds of years. Student life is quite modern there, but the traditions are kept and the students are proud of them. I wish we had more traditions in our schools and universities because traditions make us feel a little bit different.

There are some old traditions in our everyday life that make me especially proud. For example, a guest in Russia should always be welcomed with the symbol of lifegiving food — bread and salt.

So, traditions are something that people keep doing for a long time. They are an essential part of our life because they join different generations together.

(2387)

Notes

1. Trooping the Colour – вынос знамени

2. Ceremony of the Keys –церемония передачи ключей

3. scarecrow - чучело

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What is a tradition?

2. What traditions in Britain do you know?

TEXT 12

MUSIC IN OUR LIFE

Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments.

But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn't only a combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art, which reflects life. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music written nowadays, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat.

Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country. Over the last 30 years rock and pop music have been very popular in Britain. The Beatles, with their style of singing, eloquent and exciting, is still one of the most popular groups. British groups often set new trends in music. New styles, groups and singers continue to appear. Some of the more recent pop groups are Dire Straits, Eurhythmies and Spice Girls. Many of the new bands have been able to use the changes in technology to develop their music. Computerized drum machines, synthesisers and other electronic instruments are now just as popular as the piano and electric guitars.

Tastes differ. So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical music and opera.

It's a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern music. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It can give you delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Some pieces of classical music are really wonderful.

It goes without saying that music plays a very important role in people's life. It reflects our mood and emotions. Music appeals to our hearts and transforms our feelings. It conquers our souls and enriches our minds. Besides, listening to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. You can hardly find a person who doesn't like or need music, who never sings or dances. Music is beauty in sounds, it is our magic source of inspiration.

(2522)

Notes

1. еloquent - красноречивый

2. conquer – покорять

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What is music?

2. How can music influence people?

3. What famous British bands do you know?

 

TEXT 13

A SHORT HISTORY OF HAIR

Over thousands of years some very odd things have been done to hair. Here are some of them.

It's strange to think of tough soldiers having their hair curled, but that's what the Persians did over 2000 years ago. The curls were made by twisting the hair round hot rods. Their thick beards and moustaches were curled too.

In about 1150, during the Norman period, women grew hair as long as they could. They spent hours having their hair done in plaits. They wrapped their hair in ribbons and stuffed the ends into metal cases.

In the seventeenth century men and women wore wigs. Wigs could be made from animal hair, someone else's hair or even one's own hair. By 1780, women's wigs had become enormous. They were padded out with pillows, decorated with feathers, ribbons and jewels. It took so long to have the wigs styled that they were worn for a month, and women had a scratching stick to use when they itched beneath the wig.

In the 1940s a blond film star called Veronica Lake started a craze for wearing long hair hanging over one eye. This caused trouble in factories where thousands of women were working for the first time. Women would catch their hair in the machines.

Nowadays people prefer to have different hairstyles. They usually choose if this or that hairstyle suits them. Men and women both have long and short hair.

There are some young people who have incredible hairstyles. They are punks. Today they are part of London's tourist scene.

In American English the word punk is often used to describe someone who is immoral and worthless. In Britain the word was borrowed to describe a new group of people who first appeared in the early 1970s. They were mixture of art students, hippies and followers of fashion who rejected conventional styles of dress. They were fans of loud, fast and violent tuneless music, which tried to shock with violent lyrics, and their hair and clothing did the same.

In the days before hair gel they used everything to make their hair stiff. Sugar, toothpaste, washing-up liquid, butter, oil, glue were all used. The clothes were also "DIY"(do it yourself) and punks spent hours tearing their jeans and jackets and creating the punk look with safety pins, studs, paper clips and everything they could find.

By 1977 punk music was at the top of the hit parade and the punk "look" was high fashion. Fashion designer Zandra Rhodes produced a collection of clothing based on the punk look, and you could have your hair done in punk styles in hairdressers all over Britain.

Today's haircuts are far more exaggerated and colourful than anything that existed during the early punk era. These haircuts have been created for American cameras, and punk rockers are one of the few youth movements to have sold themselves in this way. The original violent movement, which changed the way many people looked and felt, is a thing of the past.

(2886)

Notes

1. rod – стержень

2. plait – коса

3. ribbon – лента

4. case – коробка

5. pad out – подкладывать

6. scratching stick – палочка для почесывания

7. itch – чесаться

8. craze – повальное увлечение

9. tuneless – без мелодии

10. safety pin – безопасная булавка

11. stud – кнопка

12. clip – скрепка

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What hairstyle did soldiers in Persia have?

2. What does the word punk mean?

 

 

TEXT 14

THEATRE

The theatre has recently become less popular than the cine­ma and lost even more of its attraction due to the popularity of television and since the appearance of video and DVD. Besides, theatre tickets are very expensive, especially in good theatres. So we can say that a visit to a famous theatre has become a luxury.

Still, the theatre is an inseparable part of the cultural life of any country. We can even say that the theatre as an art reflects the state of society and of the mind of the nation. In every coun­try theatre has its own history, traditions, and peculiarities.

Theatre was one of the most important branches of art in Ancient Greece. Ancient Greek plays have some peculiarities due to the strict rules the Greeks had for theatre, but they are still very popular and we can say that the Ancient Greece is the birthplace of the theatre. In medieval times the theatrical art was often disapproved by the church, but at the same time there were things like sacred plays representing in dramatic form the Bible stories. Since 16th century theatre has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment.

There are a lot of theatres in Russia and some of them are popular all over the world. In Moscow theatre-goers try not to miss the first nights at the Vakhtangov, Sovremennik, or Khudozhestvenny (Art) theatres. St. Petersburg also has a variety of theatres, which meet all the tastes. Lovers of classic music never miss a chance to visit, the Philharmonic Society Hall. Opera and ballet lovers can go to Mariinsky opera house and Maly opera house. Those who are fond of drama visit the Bolshoi Drama Theatre, Alexandrinsky Theatre, Lensovet theatre, and many others. Many new theatres and studios have appeared during the last five or ten years. Many theatres are famous for their excellent company, sets, and great directors.

(1850)

Notes

1. due to – из-за

2. meet - удовлетворять

3. Philharmonic Society Hall – зал Филармонии

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why has the theatre recently become less popular?

2. What makes theatres famous?

 

 

TEXT 15

LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Learning foreign languages is very important, in today's so­ciety. Progress in science and technology has led to an explo­sion of knowledge and has contributed to an overflow of infor­mation. The total knowledge of mankind is known to double every seven years, and foreign languages are needed as the main and the most efficient means of information exchange between the people of our planet. Since Russia is being integrated into the world community, the problem of learning English for the purpose of communication is doubly urgent in our country.

Today English is the language of the world. It is the lan­guage of progressive science and technology, trade and cul­tural relations, commerce and business, the universal language of international aviation, shipping, and sports, and the major language of diplomacy.

Hundreds and hundreds of books, magazines, and newspa­pers are printed in English and read all over the world. Half of the world's scientific literature is written in English. 75% of the world's mail and 60% of the world telephone calls are in English, and it is spoken by more than 350 mil­lion people. Geographically, it is the most widespread lan­guage on earth.

English is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and from there it has spread to many countries that used to be British colonies, from the USA to South Africa. The number of second-language speakers may soon exceed the number of native speakers, and millions of people all over the world, including Russia, study English as a foreign language.

What does it mean to know a foreign language? There can be many answers to this question. Many Americans, for ex­ample, think that you know a foreign language if native speak­ers understand you. Nobody cares about your mistakes. This is a sensible standard to achieve if you only need the language for occasional tourist trips. However, if you are connected with foreign countries very closely, especially through your work, you'll need a better command of the language. Your pronunci­ation should be standard; you should speak more or less flu­ently and without mistakes. And of course you should under­stand your partner correctly. The latter sometimes is the most difficult part of all and you need to practice to achieve this ability. As to spelling, the necessity of mastering it depends on whether you have to write or not. If you do then of course you should make an effort to learn the English spelling.

There is no universal or ideal method of learning languages. Everybody has his own way, depending on the way their memory works best and on their particular interest. The easiest way to learn the language is to do it while young, that's why today there are lots of classes for preschool children. Very young children learn new words as if it were a game, but for a grown-up it is often quite boring to study grammar or to learn new words. That's why many new methods of learning languages are advertised, from a new system of explaining grammar that makes learning it very easy to video courses and computer programmes and even learning the language while you sleep. Many of those courses promise you good knowledge of the language in a very short time. And it is cer­tain that some things, like computer programmes that give you word-learning drill, are a great help in increasing your vocabulary. However, just knowing a lot of words is not enough to begin speaking the language.

Ultimately to learn a language you need a lot of work and also a lot of practice, the best way is to use a foreign language every day, even if you don't know it well. That's why the language schools abroad became very popular. What can be better than learning En­glish in England where it surrounds you completely and you have a chance to see the practical uses of knowing a foreign language?

However, even if you cannot afford such a course, reading books in the original, listening to the BBC news, and communicating with English-speaking people wherever possible will help a lot. If you are determined and prepared to work, you will be able to master the language and your world will become much wider.

(4176)

Notes

1. explo­sion - прорыв

2. is known – известно

3. used to be – раньше были

4. command - знание

5. аs to – что касается

6. as if – как будто

 

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

 

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why is English called the language of the world?

2. What does it mean to know a foreign language?

3. Is it necessary to know the English spelling well?

4. How can you practice a foreign language every day?

 

 

 








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