Если у вас возникли сложности с курсовой, контрольной, дипломной, рефератом, отчетом по практике, научно-исследовательской и любой другой работой - мы готовы помочь.
Предоплата всего
Подписываем
Английский язык для школьников
и поступающих в ВУЗы
УСТНЫЙ ЭКЗАМЕН
Топики
Тексты для чтения
Экзаменационные вопросы
Цветкова И. В.
Клепальченко И. А.
Мыльцева Н. А.
ГЛОССА-ПРЕСС
2004
АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК
для школьников и
ПОСТУПАЮЩИХ В ВУЗЫ
УСТНЫЙ ЭКЗАМЕН
ИЗДАНИЕ ПЯТОЕ
Авторы и составители:
Цветкова И. В., Клепальчецко И.А., Мыльцева Н.А.
МОСКВА
ГЛОССА-ПРЕСС
2004
ББК 43.6
Ж66
Рецензенты:
доктор филологических наук, профессор МГУ В.П. Конецкая;
доктор филологических наук, профессор МПУ С.В. Гринев;
доктор филологических наук, профессор ИПК и ПРНО МО В.В. Ощепкова
Цветкова Ирина Всеволодовна, доцент, кандидат филологических наук
Клепальченко Игорь Алексеевич, доцент, кандидат филологических наук
Мыльцева Нина Александровна, доцент, кандидат филологических наук
АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК ДЛЯ ШКОЛЬНИКОВ И ПОСТУПАЮЩИХ В ВУЗЫ
Устный экзамен
Издание пятое
Данное пособие адресовано абитуриентам, поступающим на гуманитарные факультеты высших
учебных заведений. В пособии представлены материалы, необходимые для сдачи устного экзамена по
английскому языку: тексты для чтения, перевода и пересказа; тексты-темы (топики) и тексты
страноведческого характера для дополнительного чтения. Пособие может быть также использовано
учащимися старших классов при подготовке к выпускным экзаменам.
Редактор Л. Кудрявцева
Компьютерная верстка М. Королева, О. Дорина
™ 4602010000-001 , . Ж 179030-95 Безобъявл.
ISBN 5-7651-0096-1 © ИЗДАТЕЛЬСТВО ГЛОССА-ПРЕСС
МОСКВА, 2003
Уважаемые читатели!
Пособие, которое вы держите в руках, в первую очередь адресовано тем, кто решил поступать на факультет иностранных языков и готовится к предстоящим экзаменам. Впрочем, и тем, кто поступает в неязыковые вузы, но должен будет сдавать экзамен по английскому языку, оно, как мы надеемся, тоже пригодится. Это пособие может оказаться полезным и для учащихся школ, гимназий и лицеев, для студентов колледжей и университетов при подготовке к сессии, зачетам или к устным беседам и выступлениям.
Устный экзамен по английскому языку состоит, как правило, из следующих заданий:
1. Прочитать вслух отрывок из текста (по выбору экзаменатора) и перевести его на русский язык.
2. Пересказать текст и/или ответить на вопросы экзаменатора по его содержанию.
3. Побеседовать с экзаменатором на одну из предложенных им тем.
В данном пособии вы найдете образцы экзаменационных текстов, тексты-темы (топики), которые помогут вам вести беседу с экзаменатором, тексты страноведческого характера для дополнительного чтения, вопросы, которые вам могут задать на экзамене.
В пособие включены как традиционные темы ("My Family", "My School", "My Working Day", "My Summer Holidays", "Great Britain", "London", "Moscow" и т.д.), так и темы, которые стали появляться в экзаменационных билетах относительно недавно ("Mass Media", "Life in the 21st Century", "Will We Live in Space?", "Can We Live Longer?", "Computer Revolution", "Our Planet Earth" и др.).
Возможно, какие-то топики подойдут вам полностью, какие-то частично, но любой из них может служить основой для составления собственного рассказа. Мы надеемся, что вы не будете заучивать топики наизусть, а используете свое воображение и фантазию и сочините что-нибудь сами.
Желаем удачи!
TEXTS:
THE HARD WAY
They were about to start Christmas lunch. The family were all sitting expectantly round the table: Dad, Mum, Ron and Jennie — and Jan.
Everybody was talking at once. Dad was waiting, a bit impatiently, to say what he said every year as he cut the first slice of turkey.
Jan didn't feel like talking. She was thinking of Davey, and didn't really pay any attention to the other people at the table.
When she saw the table — the huge brown turkey in front of her father, the dishes of potatoes and vegetables — she thought of Davey's words the night before. "We're killing ourselves with too much food and three quarters of the world are starving to death..."
"A bit of turkey, Jan?"
Jan hesitated, then took a deep breath and said, "No turkey for me, thank you."
Silence. The other members of the family stared at her.
"It's horrible," said Jan, trembling a little." — We're eating like pigs and they're starving —"
"Who's starving?" Dad asked, looking puzzled.
"Oh, everybody — the rest of the world —you know, you see enough of it on TV!"
Mr Morris stood still in front of the turkey. He was trying to keep control of himself. "So you think we're all a lot of pigs, do you? And where did you get that idea from?"
"Davey said —"
"Oh, Davey said, did he? That longhaired layabout? Well, shall I tell you what you can do?"
"Jim!" Jan's mother put her hand on his arm, but he shook her off. He was in a terrible rage.
"Shall I tell you what you can do?" he went on.
"You can get out of here and spend the rest of your Christmas with your Davey."
Jan knew her father didn't like Davey, but she hadn't expected this rage.
"You're wrong, Dad," she said. "Davey doesn't deserve that sort of criticism."
"Get out!"
The rest of the family didn't say a word as Jan left the room, crying.
There was nobody else around in the streets at three o'clock that after noon. It was Christmas Day, after all. Most people were inside watching TV, or eating.
She was walking towards Davey's house. Her father had told her to go and spend the rest of Christmas with him, and that was what she was going to do.
She was lucky: Davey was in.
"Hi, Jan! Fancy seeing you here! I thought you were spending Christmas in the heart of the family, eating Christmas pudding and all that stuff."
"Well, I was, but ... can I come in, Davey?"
There was a slight pause before he said. "Sure. I've got a few people here, but one more won't make any difference."
It was pretty dark in the room. There was one candle, burning in a saucer on a shelf in one corner of the room. Jan couldn't see how many people there were, but she guessed about seven or eight; they were all sitting, or lying on the floor. Indian music was coming from somewhere.
There was a smell, too: of damp, and old cooking, and something Jan didn't recognize — incense perhaps?
Jan sat down. She was feeling tired and, she had to admit, hungry. She wondered if Davey had, after all, any food.
Nobody was talking. The music droned on. The air got thicker and thicker, and the strange smell got stronger and stronger.
"Want one, Jan?"
Davey was standing over her. The candle had got so low she could hardly see what he was offering her.
"What is it?"
"This."
It was like a long cigarette. Everybody else seemed to be holding one.
"What is it?"
"Come on, Jan, you know."
Yes, she knew. So that was the smell: pot. She felt sick. The room spun in front of her eyes. She felt herself sweating.
The candle seemed to grow six feet tall. She struggled to her feet.
"Hey, kid. What's up?"
Davey grabbed her arm, and looked accusingly at her.
"Where are you going?"
Jan pulled her arm away from him. "I don't know — I — I need some air, that's all. Let me go, Davey."
He was smiling but it was a hard smile. "OK," he said. "Suit yourself. You must be nuts, or something. We were just about to have some food, too."
But Jan didn't hear him. She was already at the door, leaving a Christmas gathering for the second time that day.
(After M. Rodgers)
1 to starve to death умирать от голода
2 layabout [leiabaut] бездельник
3 incense ['inserts] ладан, фимиам
4 pot [pot] разг. марихуана
5 nuts [nAts] слэнг псих, чокнутый
STEPMOTHER
Iwas born at Number Nineteen, Tummill Street, London. My mother died when I was five years old. She died fifteen minutes after my sister Polly was born.
As my father worked from morning till night, he had no time to look after Polly and me, so he married again soon.
He married Mrs Burke, who was much younger and more good-looking than my mother.
But I did not like my stepmother and she did not like me. So we began to hate each other; but she did not show her hatred when my father was at home.
She beat me very often and she made me work very hard. From morning till night she found work for me to do. I looked after the baby. When she was awake, I took her for a walk, carrying her in my arms, and she was very heavy. I cleaned the rooms, went shopping, etc. There was always work for me to do.
One day a woman came to see my stepmother and they drank a lot of gin. All the money that my father had left for our dinner was spent. When the woman went home, my stepmother said to me in tears, "Oh, what shall I do, Jimmy, dear, what shall I do? Your father will come home soon, and mere's no dinner for him. He will beat me cruelly!
What shall I do, what shall I do?"
I was sorry for her, she had tears in her eyes, and she called me "Jimmy, dear" for the first time. I asked her if I could help her and she said at once, "Oh, yes, you can help me! When your father comes home in the evening,
Jimmy, dear, tell him that you lost the money he left for our dinner."
"How could I lose it?" I asked in surprise.
"You can tell him that I sent you to buy some food.
Suddenly a big boy ran against you and the money fell out of your hand and you could not find it. That will be very easy to say, Jimmy, dear, please, say it to у our father!"
"But he'll give me a good beating1 for it!" "Oh, no, he won't! I shall not let him beat you, you may be sure! Here is a penny for you, go and buy some sweets with it!"
So I went off and spent my penny on sweets.
When I came back and opened the door, my father was at home waiting for me with his waist-belt in his hand. I wanted to run out of the room, but he caught me by the ear.
"Stop a minute, young man!" he said.
"What have you done with the money?"
"I lost it, Father," said I in fear and looked at my stepmother.
"Oh, you lost it! Where did you lose it?"
"In the street, Father. Ask Mrs Burke, she knows!"
I told him what my stepmother had asked me to tell him. I was not much surprised that he did not believe my story.
But my stepmother's words surprised me very much.
"Yes, he told me the same thing," she said, "but he is a liar! He has spent your money on sweets. I can't beat him, he is your child, but you can give him a good beating!"
And she stood by while my father beat me with his belt till the blood showed. I hated my stepmother so much now that I wanted to see her dead.
(After J. Greenwood)
1 to give a good beating выпороть, устроить хорошую взбучку
A NOTE ABOUT WITCHES
In fairy-tales, witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks, and they ride on broomsticks.
But this is not a fairy-tale. This is about REAL WITCHES.
The most important thing you should know about REAL WITCHES is this.
Listen very carefully. Never forget what is coming next.
REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ORDINARY JOBS.
That is why they are so hard to catch.
Luckily, there are not a great number of REAL WITCHES in the world today. But there are still quite enough to make you nervous. In England, there are probably about one hundred of them altogether.
Some countries have more, others have not quite so many. No country in the world is completely free from WITCHES.
A witch is always a woman.
I do not wish to speak badly about women. Most women are lovely. But the fact remains that all witches are women. There is no such thing as a male witch.
As far as children are concerned, a REAL WITCH is the most dangerous of all the living creatures on the earth. What makes her doubly dangerous is the fact that she doesn't look dangerous.
Even when you know all the secrets (you will hear about those in a minute), you can still never be quite sure whether it is a witch you are looking at or just a kind lady.
For all you know, a witch might be living next door to you right now.
Or she might be the woman with the bright eyes who sat opposite you on the bus this morning.
She might be the lady with the dazzling smile who offered you a sweet from a white paper bag in the street before lunch.
She might even — and this will make you jump — she might even be your lovely school-teacher who is reading these words to you at this very moment.
Look carefully at that teacher. Perhaps she is smiling at the absurdity of such a suggestion. Don't let that put you off. It could be part of her cleverness.
I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But — and here comes the big "but" — it is not impossible.
Oh, if only there were a way of telling for sure whether a woman was a witch or not, we could round them all upand put them in the meat-grinder.
Unhappily, there is no such way. But there are a number of little signals you can look out for, little quirky habits that all witches have in common, and if you know about these, if you remember them always, then you might just possibly manage to escape danger.
(After R. Dahl)
1 they are so hard to catch их так трудно поймать
2 the fact remains факт остается фактом
3 As far as children are concerned [ken'S3:nd] Что касается детей
4 For all you know, a witch might be living next door to you Как знать, возможно, ведьма живет с
вами по соседству
5 Don't let that put you off Это не должно сбить вас с толку
6 Oh, if only there were a way... Ax, если бы существовал способ...
7 to round [raund] up согнать в одно место, произвести облаву
8 meat-grinder ['mi:t,grainda] мясорубка
9 that all witches have in common зд. свойственные всем ведьмам
THE SCHOOL-TEACHER
Three months passed. Little by little Andrew got used to this strange town, surrounded by the mountains, and to the people most of whom worked in the mines. The town was full of mines, factories, churches and small dirty old houses. There was no theatre, not even a cinema the workers could go to after work. But Andrew liked the people. They spoke little and worked much. They liked football, and what was more interesting, they were fond of music, good classical music. He often heard the sound of a piano, coming from this or that house.
It was clear to Andrew now, that Doctor Page would never see a patient again. Manson did all the work, and Mrs Page received all the money. She paid out to Manson less than one sixth of that — twenty pounds and sixteen shillings a month. Almost all of it Andrew sent to the University to pay his debt.
But at that time the question of money was not important to him. He had a few shillings in his pocket to buy cigarettes and he had his work, and that was more than enough for him.
He had to work hard and to think much for he saw now that the professors at his University had given him very little to know about practical medicine.
He thought about all that walking in the direction of Riskin Street. There in Number 3 he found a small boy of nine years of age ill with measles. "I am sorry, Mrs Howells," Andrew said to the boy's mother. "But you must keep Idris home from school." (Idris was Mrs Howells' other son.)
"But Miss Barlow says he may come to school."
"Oh? Who is Miss Barlow?"
"She is the teacher."
"Miss Barlow has no right to let him come to school when his brother has measles," Andrew said angrily.
Five minutes later he entered a classroom of the school. A very young woman of about twenty or twenty-two was writing something on the blackboard.
She turned to him.
"Are you Miss Barlow?"
"Yes." Her large brown eyes were looking at him friendly.
"Are you Doctor Page's new assistant?"
Andrew reddened suddenly.
"Yes," he said, "I'm Doctor Manson. You know Idris' brother has measles and so Idris must not be here."
"Yes, I know, but the family is so poor and Mrs Howells is so busy. If Idris stays at home, he won't get his cup of milk.
And, Doctor Manson, most of the children here have had measles already."
"And what about the others? You must send that boy home at once."
"Well, Doctor," she interrupted him suddenly. "Don't you understand that I'm the teacher of this class and here it's my word that counts?"
"You can't have him here, Miss Barlow. If you don't send him home at once, I'll have to report you."
"Then report me, or have me arrested if you like." She quickly turned to the class. "Stand up, children, and say: 'Good-bye, Doctor Manson. Thank you for coming.' "
Before Andrew could say a word the door closed quietly in his face.
(After A. Cronin)
1 mine шахта
2 ill with measles ['mi:zlz] больной корью
3 Howells ['haualz]
4 Idris ['aidris]
5 keep from school не пускать в школу
6 Barlow ['ba:leu]
7 here it's my word that counts зд. здесь я хозяйка
8 I'll have to report you. Мне придется заявить на вас в полицию.
9 have me arrested пусть меня арестуют
10 in his face зд. у него перед носом
AN EXPLOSION AT NIGHT
All that month Andrew worked from early morning till late at night. He loved his work. His patients were already almost well. The results of his work were even better than those of Denny's. The epidemic was coming to an end.
On the tenth of November Denny suddenly rang him up.
"Manson! I'd like to see you. Can you come to my place at three o'clock? It's important."
"Very well. I'll be there!"
On the way to Denny's house he saw Doctor Bramwell.
"Ah, Manson, my boy! I'm so glad to see you."
Andrew smiled. Doctor Bramwell, unlike Lewis, had been friendly towards Manson all that month. "Of course, we have all heard of your work with the typhoid cases, and we are proud of you, my dear boy. You must come to see us one evening."
Andrew promised to come.
When Andrew entered Denny's room, he saw immediately that something was wrong with Denny. He was very sad.
After a moment he looked up.
"One of my patients, a boy, died this morning," he said coldly. "And besides, I have two new typhoid cases. What shall we do?"
Andrew stood at the door, hardly knowing what to say.
"We have to do something about it," he began. "We must write to the Ministry of Health."
"We could write a dozen letters but it won't help much, I tell you. No! There's only one way to make them build a new sewer."
"How?"
"Blow up the old one. And let's do it tonight!"
"But there will be a lot of trouble if it becomes known."
Denny looked up angrily.
"You needn't take part in it if you don't want to."
"I'll go with you," Andrew answered.
He understood it was a crime, a dangerous game with the police. They might even strike him off at the very beginning of his beautiful career. Yet, he himself did not know why he could not refuse.
At eleven o'clock that night Denny and he started in the direction of Glydar Street. It was very dark. There was nobody in the street. The town was sleeping.
The two men moved quietly. In the pocket of his coat Denny had six small boxes of dynamite; each box had a hole in it, and a fuse." There was an electric torch in Andrew's hand.
Soon they reached the first manhole of the sewer in Glydar Street. Andrew's heart was beating fast. It was very difficult for them to open the cover, but after a short struggle it was done. Andrew took the electric torch out of his pocket. They saw a dirty stream running on the broken stone floor.
"Nice, isn't it?" Denny whispered.
"Take a look at the terrible holes in the floor. Take a last look, Manson. People are dying because of this, but the Council doesn't want to do anything."
No more was said. Andrew's hands trembled, but he worked quickly. They set fire to the fuses, then threw the boxes into the dirty stream, put the manhole cover back in its place and ran into the darkness.
They heard an explosion, two, three, four, five and the last.
"By God!" Andrew shouted. "We have done it, Denny."
He felt it was the best moment in his life. He almost loved the other man now.
They saw people running out of their houses and started walking home by the back ways.
(After A. Cronin)
1 explosion [iks'plau3n] взрыв
2 epidemic [,epi'demik] эпидемия
3 unlike Lewis [1u:is] не в пример Льюису
4 typhoid ftaifoid] брюшной тиф
5 Ministry of Health Министерство здравоохранения
6 sewer ['sju:a] канализационная труба
7 Blow up the old one. Взорвать старую.
8 strike him off лишить звания врача
9 Glydar Street ['glaida stn:t]
10 dynamite fdamamait] динамит
11 fuse [fju:z] бикфордов шнур, фитиль
12 manhole ['maenhaul] люк
13 Council ['kaunsl] муниципальный совет
14 set fire to поджечь
15 by the back ways окольными путями
ADVENTURE
It was a fine night when Hubert climbed the steps of a bus. He was returning from the Tumbersomes, pleasant but dull people who were friends of his family. They had given him a fairly good dinner but they had left him dissatisfied.
From the top of his bus which carried him along brilliantly-lighted but now deserted streets, Hubert sighed for adventure.
There is something theatrical about these streets when the hour is approaching midnight.
They suggest that at any moment the most unusual drama might begin. Hubert, a reader of fiction, a playgoer, a lover of film shows, always hoped that something mysterious, romantic would happen to him. But somehow it never did.
In a few minutes, he would leave the bus, walk down one street and arrive at the little flat in which he lived with his friend, John Langton. They would make some tea, talk for about half-hour, and then go to bed. The evening would be over, finished, and the next morning he would go to the office.
Meanwhile time was flying. Hubert was twentythree, and it seemed to him that he was nearly middle-aged.
He looked around at the other passengers on the bus. It was difficult to see their faces, but they were dull, as usual.
No men with scars stared at him, no beautiful girls with tears in their eyes asked for help. Then he saw a golden light which came from the coffee-stall at the corner.
From fiction Herbert knew that there was something romantic about coffee-stalls. He decided to leave the bus at the corner.
He went to the coffee-stall and ordered a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.
There were only two or three men there. Hubert tried the coffee and found that it was hotter and more tasteless than ever. What a life!
But at that moment a taxi came and stopped at the stall. The door opened and a man almost fell out of it. He came zigzagging over the stall and passing Hubert he pushed him so that his coffee and cake went flying.
"Sorry, old man," said the newcomer. "Very, very sorry. What was it?"
"It doesn't matter,"
Hubert told him. "I really didn't want that coffee."
The man looked at him, laughing, "Then why order it, why pay for it, if you don't want it?"
Hubert smiled and said, "Oh, I just stopped here — on my way home, you know —just for something to do."
"Too early to go home, eh?"
"Well, you know how you feel sometimes," said Hubert. The man patted Hubert on the shoulder.
"I do. I feel like it all the time. Now I'll tell you what. You come with me, old man. I am just going to a little club. You come with me. I'll show you something."
Hubert hesitated. The man was obviously drunk, and a visit to some night club in his company was not very attractive.
"Well, I don't know..." he began.
"The only thing is," said the man seriously, coming nearer, "can you keep a secret? That's important. If not, I can't invite you."
This decided Hubert. There was a real adventure! So.he thanked the man, and agreed to accompany him.
They got into the waiting taxi. In another minute they were moving along some dark and deserted street.
(AfterJ. B.Priestley)
1 Hubert ['hju:bat]
2 Tumbersome [ЧлтЬэзэт]
3 But somehow it never did. Но это как-то никогда не случалось.
4 meanwhile f'mi:nwail] между тем
5 coffee-stall ['kofisto:!] кафе
6 went flying полетели (на поп)
7 I'll tell you what знаете что; послушайте меня
8 This decided Hubert. Это заставило Хьюберта решиться.
UNDER THE DECK AWNINGS
Part I
"Can a man — I mean, a gentleman — call a woman a pig?"
The little man spoke to the whole group. Nobody answered.
The little man looked at each of the men in turn and spoke to one of them.
"I ask you, Mr Treloar, can any man call any woman a pig?"
Treloar, who was sitting next to him, did not answer at once.
"I think," he began slowly, "that it - it depends on the lady."
The little man looked angrily at him: "You mean ..."
"Yes, I mean that I have met a woman who was worse than a pig. If you wish, I shall tell you the story and then ask you what you think of her.
"Miss Caruthers shall » call her (though that is not her real name). It was on a boat sailing the Southern seas and it happened a few years ago. Her father was a high official whose name you all know very well, and that is the reason why I don't mention it.
"Miss Caruthers was charming. No, that is not the word. She was wonderful.
She was a beautiful young woman, and a lady.
She was with her mother and two maids at that time. They were going East to join her father there.
"She — excuse me for repeating it — was wonderful. There was nothing she could not do better than any woman and — most of the men. She could sing, play, dance, swim! Nobody could compete with her.
"But her swimming! She was very beautiful, as I have told you, small and thin. But she also had strength. She could stay under water for two minutes. No man on board, except Dennitson, could get as many coins with one dive. On the deck there was a big tank filled with six-feet sea water. We used to throw small coins into it. She would dive from the bridge — this was not an easy thing to do — and fetch up not less than forty-seven coins from the bottom of the tank.
"She was a sea-woman, really. But she was a landwoman too. She could ride, she could play tennis, she could do anything. She was a wonder. And she was clever, witty, charming.
All the men were in love with her. I myself was in love with her. She was always surrounded by men, young and old, who were ready to do everything she wished.
"She ran the ship, she ran the voyage, she ran everything, and she ran Dennitson. He was in love with her like all of us. But she liked him better than the others, and that feeling was growing.
What would have happened we shall never know, because we came to Colombo" and something else happened.
"You k'now Colombo, and how the native boys' dive for coins in the bay full of sharks. Of course they risk to do it only with the smaller and less dangerous sharks. It is really surprising how they know sharks and can feel the presence of a real killer — a tiger shark, for instance.
Whenever such a shark appears, all the boys get hurriedly out of the water.
"It was after lunch, and Miss Caruthers was as usual surrounded by her admirers. Old Captain Bentley had just been whistled up " and had given her permission (he had never allowed this before ... nor since14 for the boys to come up on deck. You see, Miss Caruthers was a swimmer, and she was interested. She took all our small coins and herself threw them into the water. She gave extra rewards to the best swimmers, in short, she ran the whole show.
(After J. London)
1 Under the Deck Awnings ['o:niijz] "Под палубным тентом"
2 Treloar [tri'laua]
3 Caruthers [кэ'глЭэг]
4 on a boat sailing the Southern ['злЭэп] seas на пароходе, который плыл по южным морям
5 that is the reason why I don't mention it поэтому-то я и не называю его имени
6 a big tank filled with six-feet sea water большой бассейн глубиной в шесть футов, наполненный морской водой
7 used [ju:st] to throw имели обыкновение бросать
8 would dive обычно ныряла
9 She ran the ship, she ran the voyage Она управляла кораблем, она командовала путешествием
10 What would have happened Чем бы все это кончилось
11 Colombo [ka'l/vmbou] Коломбо
12 native boys мальчики-туземцы
13 had just been whistled up его только что подозвали (свисткам — намек на то, что Мисс Карутерс стоило только свистнуть, чтобы он явился)
14 he had never allowed this before... nor since он никогда этого не разрешал ни до... ни после этого случая
UNDER THE DECK AWNINGS
Part II
That was a pretty sight. Among the boys there was a little fellow who could dive wonderfully, much better than the other boys. He could make the swallow-dive more beautifully than I had ever seen it. He dived again and again. We all watched him with delight, especially Miss Caruthers. He was not older than twelve or thirteen, but he was certainly the cleverest among the boys. He was their favourite and leader, though some of them were older than he. He was a beautiful boy, active and brave. He was so healthy, fresh and young, so full of life, that it was a pleasure to look at him.
"This was the boy. And it was he who gave alarm in the middle of the sport.
All the boys hurried to get out of the water. They were all frightened and swam towards the ship as quickly as they could.
They hurriedly climbed onto the deck. Now all of them were standing near the rail and looking down into the water.
"What's the matter?" asked Miss Caruthers.
"A shark, I think," Captain Bentley answered.
"Are they afraid of sharks?" she asked.
"Aren't you?" he asked back.
She shuddered, looked down into the water.
"Not for the world would I risk to dive if there was a shark nearby," she said and shuddered again. "They are terrible! Terrible!"
"Captain Bentley made a sign to the boys to go away. But Miss Caruthers stopped him.
"One moment, please, Captain."
"And then she turned to us and asked: "Who will lend me a half-crown and a sovereign?"
"Immediately all of us were holding out the coins to her.
"She held up the halfcrown so that the boys could see it. But none of them moved. She offered the coin to each of the boys, and each of them shook his head and smiled. Then she threw the coin into the sea. With sad faces they watched its silver flight through the air, but not one moved to follow it.
"Don't do it with the sovereign," Dennitson said to her in a low voice.
"But she held up the gold coin before the eyes of the boy who had made the swallow-dive.
"Don't do it," Dennitson said. If s a fortune to him. He may risk his life to get it."
"Wouldn't you?" she asked.
"Dennitson shook his head.
"She was silent for a moment. She had forgotten the boy, and was thinking of Dennitson.
"For me?" she said in a low voice.
"To save your life — yes. But not to get the coin."
"She turned back to the boy. Again she held the coin before his eyes.
"It is difficult to say why she did it. It was unexpected for all of us. Suddenly the gold coin flashed in the sunshine. Before a hand could stop him, the boy was over the rail and making a beautiful swallowdive after the coin.
"In the clear water from the high deck, we saw everything. The shark was very big and in an instant it cut the boy in half.
"There was a murmur among us and then there was silence. Miss Caruthers was the first to speak. Her face was very white.
"I ... never thought," she said, and laughed a short, hysterical laugh.
"She turned to Dennitson, and then from one to another of us. Her lips were trembling. But nobody moved. "Mr Dennitson," she said, "please take me to my cabin."
"He did not even change the direction of his look. His face was dark. Captain Bentley made a strange sound in his throat. That was all, that and the silence.
"She turned away and began to walk slowly down the deck."
Treloar had finished his story. He turned his head, looked at the little man and asked coldly.
"Well, what can you say to that?"
The little man opened his mouth and then closed it.
"I have nothing to say," he said.
"Absolutely nothing."
(After J. London)
1 a pretty sight красивое зрелище
2 could make the swallow-dive мог нырять "ласточкой"
3 it was he who gave alarm in the middle of the sport и именно он дал сигнал тревоги в самом
разгаре игры
4 he asked back ответил он вопросом на вопрос
5 Not for the world would I risk to dive, if there was a shark nearby Ни за что на свете я бы не
рискнула нырнуть, если бы поблизости была акула
6 Who will lend me a half-crown and a sovereign fsovrin]? Кто мне одолжит полкроны и соверен?
(полкроны — серебряная монета достоинствам в 2,5 шиллинга; соверен — золотая монета
достоинством в 1 фунт стерлингов; обе монеты вышли из употребления)
7 shook his head отрицательно покачал головой
8 watched its silver flight следили за полетом серебряной монеты
9 in a low voice тихо
10 It's a fortune ['fo:tjan] to him. Для него это целое состояние.
11 Wouldn't you? ... А вы бы рискнули? ...
12 cut the boy in half перекусила мальчика пополам
13 was the first to speak заговорила первой
HOW WE KEPT MOTHER'S DAY
We decided to have a special celebration of Mother's Day. We thought it a fine idea. It made us realise how much Mother had done for us for years, and all the efforts and sacrifices that she had made for our sake.
So we decided that we'd make it a great day, a holiday for all the family, and do everything we could to make Mother happy. Father decided to take a holiday from his office, so as to help in celebrating the day, and my sister Ann and I stayed home from college classes, and Mary and my brother Will stayed home from High School.
It was our plan to make it a day just like Christmas or any big holiday, and so we decided to decorate the house with flowers. We asked Mother to do it, because she always does it.
The two girls thought it would be a nice thing to dress in our best for such a big occasion, and so they both got new hats. Father had bought silk ties for himself and us boys. We were going to get
Mother a new hat too, but it turned out that she liked her old hat better than a new one.
After breakfast we decided that we would hire a motor car and take Mother for a beautiful drive away into the country.
But on the very morning of the day we changed the plan a little bit. We all felt that it would be nicer to have a definite purpose. It turned out that Father had just got a new rod the day before, and he said that Mother could use it if she wanted to: in fact, he said it was practically for her, only Mother said she would rather watch him fish than fish herself.
So we got everything arranged for the trip. Mother cut up some sandwiches and packed all up in a basket for us.
When the car came to the door, it turned out that we couldn't all get in.
Father said that he could stay at home and work in the garden. The girls said that Mother had only to say the word and they'd gladly stay at home and work.
In the end it was decided that Mother would stay at home and have a lovely restful day round the house. It turned out anyway that Mother didn't care for fishing and also it was just a little bit cold and fresh out-of-doors, though it was lovely and sunny, and Father was afraid that Mother might take cold if she came.
We had the loveliest day. Father and the boys fished, the girls met quite a lot of people. We all had a splendid time.
It was quite late when we got back. We sat down to dinner. It was grand. When it was over all of us wanted to help clear the things up and wash the dishes, only Mother said that she would really much rather do it. When we all kissed Mother before going to bed, she said it had been the most wonderful day in her life and I think there were tears in her eyes.
(After S. Leacock)
1 to keep Mother's Day отмечать (праздновать) День Матери
2 for our sake ради нас
3 it turned out... оказалось, что
4 we got everything arranged for the trip мы все подготовили к поездке
LOOKING BACK ON EIGHTY YEARS
In my long life I have seen many changes in our habits and customs.
The world I entered when at the age of eighteen I became a medical student was a,world that knew nothing of planes, motor-cars, movies, radio or telephone.
When I was still at school a lecturer showed us boys a new machine which reproduced the human voice. It was the first gramophone. The world I entered was a world that warmed itself with coal fires, lit itself by gas and looked upon a bathroom as a luxury out of the reach.
It was a very cheap world. When I entered St Thomas's Hospital I took a couple of furnished rooms for which I paid 18s a week. My landlady provided me with a solid breakfast before I went to the hospital and high tea when I came back at half-past six, and the two meals cost me about 12s a week. I was able to live very comfortably, pay my fees, buy my necessary instruments, and clothe myself.
I had enough money to go to the theatre at least once a week. The pit, to which I went, was not the orderly thing it's now.
There were no queues. The crowd collected at the doors, and when they were opened there was a struggle, with a lot of pushing and elbowing and shouting to get a good place. But that was part of the fun.
Travelling was cheap, too, in those days. When I was twenty I went to Italy by myself for the six weeks of the Easter vacation.
I spent five years at St Thomas's Hospital. I was an unsatisfactory medical student, for my heart was not in it. I wanted, I had always wanted, to be a writer, and in the evening, after my tea, I wrote and read.
I wrote a novel, called Liza of Lambeth sent it to a publisher, and it was accepted. It appeared during my last year at the hospital and had something of a success. It was of course an accident, but naturally I did not know that. I felt I could afford to chuck medicine and make writing my profession; so three days after passing the final examinations which gave me my medical qualifications, I set out for Spain to learn Spanish and write another book. Looking back now, after these years, and knowing as I do the terrible difficulties of making a living by writing, I realise that I was taking a fearful risk. It never occurred to me. I abandoned the medical profession with relief, but I do not regret the five years I spent at the hospital, far from it .
They taught me pretty well all I know about human nature, for in a hospital you see it in the raw. People in pain, people in fear of death, do not try to hide anything from their doctor, and if they do he can generally guess what they are hiding.
(After S. Maugham)
1 a luxury ['lAkJari] out of the reach недосягаемая роскошь
2 18$ a week 18 шиллингов в неделю
3 high tea "большой чай", ранний ужин с чаем
4 pay fees зд. платить за обучение
3 by myself сам, один
6 Liza of Lambeth "Лиза из Ламберта" (одно из ранних произведений Моэма)
7 to chuck разг. бросить, оставить
8 to make a living by writing зарабатывать на жизнь писательским трудом
9 far from it зд. наоборот
10 in the raw [ro:] без прикрас, в чистом виде, как есть
THE COP AND THE ANTHEM
On his bench in Madison Square, Soapy moved uneasily. Winter was coming and it was the time for him to look for shelter. Soapy's desires were not great. Three months in prison was what he wanted. There he was sure of a little food and a bed, safe from the winter wind and the cold.
For years prison had been his shelter during the winter. Now the time had come again. And that is why he moved uneasily on his bench.
Having decided to go to prison, Soapy at once set about fulfilling his desire.
There were many easy ways of doing this. The most pleasant was to dine well at some expensive restaurant, and then, after saying that he could not pay, be quietly arrested by a policeman and sent to prison by the judge.
Soapy got up and walked out of the square and across the level sea of asphalt, where Broadway and Fifth Avenue flow together. He stopped at the window of a brightly lit cafe. Soapy was shaven, and his coat and tie were decent. But his boots and trousers were shabby. If he could reach a table in the restaurant and nobody saw him, he thought, success would be his. The upper part of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter's mind. A roasted duck, two bottles of wine, a cup of coffee, and a cigar would make him happy for the journey to his winter quarters.
But just as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter's eyes fell upon his shabby trousers and boots. Strong hands turned him round and pushed him to the sidewalk.
Soapy turned off Broadway.
He had to think of another way of getting to prison. At a corner of Sixth Avenue he saw a brightly lit shop window. Soapy took a stone and threw it at the glass and broke it. People came running around the corner, a policeman at their head. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled when he saw the policeman's blue coat.
"Where is the man that has done it?" shouted the policeman.
"Do you think I have done it?" said Soapy in a friendly way.
The policeman did not understand Soapy's hint.
Men who break windows do not usually remain to speak to policemen. They run away. Just then the policeman saw a man who was hurrying to catch a car. Club in hand, he rushed after that man. Soapy had failed again.
On the opposite side of the street was a small and cheap restaurant. Soapy came in, sat down at a table, and ate a beefsteak and an enormous apple-pie. "Now call a policeman. I cannot pay. I have no money," said Soapy. "And don't keep a gentleman waiting."
"No cop for you," said the waiter, and seizing Soapy by the collar threw him out of the restaurant. Soapy got up and beat the dust from his clothes. He was in despair.
His last hope was to be caught for "disorderly conduct". Soapy began to yell at the top of his voice. He danced and cried like a madman. A policeman who was standing nearby turned his back to Soapy, and remarked to a passer-by: "It's one of those University lads. They are celebrating their traditional holiday. They are noisy; but they mean no harm". Soapy stopped in despair. He buttoned his thin coat against the cold wind and the rain, and walked on.
At last he reached a street where there was little traffic and few pedestrians. At a quiet corner he suddenly stopped. There was an old church in front of him.
Through one window a soft light shone, and he heard the sweet music of the organ which made him come closer. The moon was above, cold and beautiful, and the music made Soapy suddenly remember those days when his life was full of such things as mothers and roses, and ambitions and friends, and pure thoughts, and clean collars.
The organ music set up a revolution in him. There was time yet. He was still young. He would get out of the mire. He would be somebody in the world. He would — Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Nothing," said Soapy.
"Then come along," said the policeman.
"Three months' imprisonment," said the judge in the Police Court next morning.
(After O. Henry)
1 The Cop and the Anthem ['аепЭэт] "Полицейский и хорал"
2 Having decided to go to prison... Решив попасть в тюрьму...
3 set about fulfilling his desire приступил к осуществлению своего плана (желания)
4 to flow together сливаться
5 would raise no doubt [daut] in the waiter's mind не вызовет никаких сомнений у официанта
6 quarters ['kwo:t8z] зд. квартира, убежище
7 sidewalk ['saidwoik] амер. тротуар
8 Club in hand С дубинкой в руке
9 to keep waiting заставлять ждать
10 beat the dust from his clothes стряхнул пыль с одежды
11 disorderly conduct [dis,o:dali 'kondekt] нарушение общественного порядка, хулиганство
12 to yell at the top of his voice вопить во все горло
13 they mean no harm они безобидны
14 mire['maia] трясина, болото
15 Police Court [pa'li:s ,ko:t] полицейский суд (по мелким делам)
THE PROBLEM OF THOR BRIDGE
It was a cold morning in October. I went down to breakfast and found that Sherlock Holmes' had already finished his meal.
"I am going to have a visitor," my friend said. "It's Neil Gibson, the Gold King. He wants to speak to me about the tragic end of his wife. You have probably read about it in the papers. The man is an American, but he bought a large estate in Hampshire some years ago. Here is a letter I received from him in the morning."
I took the letter and read the following:
"Dear Mr Sherlock Holmes, I can't see the best woman I have ever met go to her death.I must try to save her. I can't explain what has happened. But I know Miss Dunbar is innocent. She has a kind heart, she has never killed a fly. I'll come at eleven tomorrow. I'll give you all the money I have if only you can save her.
Yours truly, J. Neil Gibson"
"Now, Watson," said Sherlock Holmes after I finished reading the letter, "a few words about the story. This man is a great financier and a man of violent temper. He had a wife, a middle-aged woman, who died tragically some weeks ago.
There was also a young and very attractive governess in the house who looked after the two small children. These are the three people who are connected with the tragedy. And the place where the woman met her death is an old English estate. The wife was found in the garden, nearly half a mile from the house, late at night, with a revolver bullet through her brain. No revolver was found near her. No revolver near her, Watson — remember that."
"But why suspect the governess?" I asked.
"A revolver was found on the floor of her wardrobe with one bullet missing." He paused and repeated slowly, "On-thefloor-of-her-wardrobe."
Then he was silent for some time. "Yes, Watson, it was found. What do you say to that? Then the dead woman had a note asking her to come" to that place in the garden near the bridge. The note was signed by the governess.
Do you like that? And, at last, there's the motive.
Gibson is a millionaire. If his wife dies ... she will have everything — love, money, power. Remember, Watson, she is young and beautiful."
"Anything else against her?"
"She could not prove an alibi. She herself said she had been near Thor Bridge, the place where the woman was killed. Some passing villager had seen her there too, at about eleven o'clock. And here is our client, I think."
But it was not the client. The man who entered the room was a Mr Bates. We had never heard of him before. He was a thin, nervous man with frightened eyes.
He told us that he was the manager of Mr Gibson's estate, that Mr Gibson was a villain and a hard man; that he had treated his wife cruelly, and she had been very unhappy; that she had been a Brazilian, a creature of the Tropics, and she had loved him as such women could love.
"We all liked her and were sorry for her," he said, "and we hated him. He didn't love her. And one thing more. He is a liar.
Don't believe his words. That's all I have to say. Now I must go. I don't want to meet him here."
With a frightened look our strange visitor ran to the door and disappeared.
At eleven o'clock we heard heavy steps upon the stairs and the famous millionaire entered the room. As I looked at him I understood the fear and dislike of his manager. He was very tall, his face was hard and cruel, with deep lines upon it. Cold grey eyes looked at us each in turn.
"Let me tell you, Mr Holmes," he began, "that money is nothing to me in this case. This woman is innocent and this woman must be cleared. You must do it. Name the sum."
"I am not interested in money," my friend answered coldly.
"Well, if dollars are nothing to you, think of your reputation. Your name will be in every paper in England and America."
"Thank you, Mr Gibson. We are wasting time. It will probably surprise you to know that I prefer to work anonymously. Sit down, please, and give me the facts."
(After A. Conan Doyle)
1 Sherlock Holmes [J3:lok 'haumz]
2 Neil Gibson [,neil 'gibsan]
3 Hampshire ['haempjia] Гемпшир
4 I can't see the best woman I have ever met go to her death Я не могу допустить, чтобы лучшей из женщин, которых я когда-либо встречал, грозила смерть.
5 Dunbar ['dAnba:]
6 she has never killed a fly она и мухи не обидит
7 Yours truly Преданный Вам (обычная форма вежливости в конце письма)
8 Watson ['wotsan]
9 with a revolver bullet through her brain с простреленной головой
10 A revolver... with one bullet missing. Револьвер..., в котором не хватало одной пули.
11 a note asking her to come записка, в которой ее просили прийти
12 She could not prove an alibi ['aelibai] Она не могла доказать свое алиби (т.е. что ее не было на месте преступления в момент совершения убийства)
13 a Mr Bates некто мистер Бейтс
14 a Brazilian [bra'ziljan] бразилианка
15 the IVopics ['tropiks] тропики
16 with deep lines upon it испещренное глубокими морщинами
17 this woman must be cleared с этой женщины надо снять подозрение
18 I prefer to work anonymously [a'nonimasli] я предпочитаю работать так, чтобы мое имя оставалось неизвестным
A SOUND OF THUNDER
The sign on the wall read:
TIME SAFARI.
SAFARIS TO ANY YEAR IN THE PAST.
YOU NAME THE ANIMAL.
WE TAKE YOU THERE.
YOU SHOOT IT.
Eckels put his hand into his pocket and slowly took out a check for ten thousand dollars.
"Does this safari guarantee I come back alive?" he asked the man behind the desk.
"We guarantee nothing," said the official, "except the dinosaurs." He turned.
"This is Mr Travis, your Safari Guide in the Past.
He'll tell you what and where to shoot. If he says no shooting, no shooting."
"Hell and damn," Eckels said, looking at the flickering Time Machine.
"A real Time Machine! If the election had gone badly yesterday, I might be here now running from the results. Thank God, Keith won. He'll make a fine President of the United States."
"Yes," said the man behind the desk. "We're lucky. If Deutscher had won, we'd have the worst dictatorship. People came to us, you know, joking but not joking.
Said if Deutscher became President they wanted to go live in 1492. Of course, our business is to organize Safaris, not Escapes. Anyway, Keith's President now.
All you've got to worry about is — "
"Shooting my dinosaur," Eckels finished it for him.
"A Tyrannosaurus rex. The Thunder Lizard, the most terrible monster in history.
Sign this paper. Anything happens to you, we're not responsible.
Those dinosaurs are hungry".
Eckels flushed angrily.
"You're trying to scare me! "
"Frankly, yes. We don't want anyone here who'll panic at the first shot. Six Safari Guides were killed last year, and a dozen hunters. We're here to give you the biggest thrill a real hunter ever had. Travelling you back sixty million years!"
First a day and then a night and then a day and then a night, then it was day-night-day-night-day.
A week, a month, a year, a decade! AD 2055. AD 2019. 1999. 1957. Gone!
The machine roared.
They put on their oxygen helmets and tested the intercoms.
The Machine slowed, then stopped.
They were in an old time, a very old time indeed, three hunters and two Safari Guides with their blue metal guns across their knees.
"Christ isn't born yet," said Travis.
"Moses has not gone to the mountain to talk with God. The Pyramids are still in the earth. Remember that, Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler — none of them exists."
The men nodded.
"That" — Mr Travis pointed — "is the jungle of sixty million two thousand and fifty-five years before President Keith."
He indicated a metal path running across the steaming swamp, among giant ferns and palms.
"And that," he said, "is the Path laid by Time Safari for your use. It is six inches above the earth. It's made of an anti-gravity metal. Its purpose is to keep you from touching" this world of the past in any way. Stay on the Path. Don't go off it. I repeat. Don't go off. For any reason! And don't shoot any animal we don't okay."
"Why?" asked Eckels.
"We don't want to change the Future.
We don't belong here in the Past."
"That's not clear," said Eckels.
"All right," Travis continued, "say you step on a mouse here and kill it. That means all the future families of this one mouse are destroyed, right?"
"Right."
"And all the families of the families of that one mouse! You destroy one, then a dozen, then a thousand, a million, a billion possible mice!"
"So they're dead," said Eckels. "So what?"
"So what? Well, what about the foxes that'll need those mice to survive? For want often mice, a fox dies. For want of ten foxes, a lion starves. For want of a lion, thousands of insects and billions of other life forms are thrown into destruction".
Fifty-nine million years later, a cave man, one of a dozen in the entire world, goes hunting saber-tooth tigers for food. But you, friend, have stepped on all the tigers in that region. By stepping on one single mouse. So the cave man starves. And the cave man is an entire future nation. Destroy this one man, and you destroy a race, a nation, an entire history of life. Perhaps Rome never rises on its seven hills. Perhaps Europe is forever a dark forest. Perhaps there'll never be a United States at all. So be careful. Stay on the Path. Never step off!"
(After R. Bradbury)
1 Hell and damn [daem] разг. Черт возьми
2 Deutscher f'doitja] нем. немец ("говорящая" фамилия кандидата является намеком на Гитлера и немецкий фашизм)
3 Tyrannosaurus rex [tiraena,so:ras 'reks] тираннозавр
4 Thunder Lizard ['0лпс1э lizad] Громогласный Ящер
5 Travelling you back sixty million years! Отправляя вас в путешествие на шестьдесят миллионов лет назад!
6 AD [.ei'di:] сокр. от лат. Anno Domini ['aenau 'dominai] нашей эры
7 intercom [Intakom] переговорное устройство
8 Moses ['mauziz] Моисей
9 Alexander [,aelig'za:nda] Александр Македонский
10 Caesar ['si:za] Цезарь
11 to keep you from touching чтобы вы не коснулись (прошлого)
12 For any reason! Ни при каких обстоятельствах!
13 are thrown into destruction обречены на гибель
14 saber-tooth f'seibatu:©] tiger саблезубый тигр
A NAME ON THE WALL
Steve Mason had lived in New York for three years. His address book was filled with the phone numbers of girls he knew and had dated. Then why, he wondered, was he sitting in a phone booth about to dial PL 1-2450 — the phone number of a girl he had never seen or even heard about?
Because he was curious.
He had seen the name Pam Starr and the number PL 1-2450 twice in one week.
The first time had been on the wall of a phone booth on 42nd Street. Then a minute ago he saw the name and number again — this time near a phone in a drugstore.
The name Pam Starr was the same. The handwriting was the same. And below it the same person had written, "Quite a chick".
Steve was so curious that he decided to call. He wanted to find out what would happen. It could be an interesting adventure.
He could hear himself telling the whole story to his friends and laughing about it when it was over.
So he took a deep breath and dialled PL 1-2450.
He heard two rings; then a soft, pleasant, girl's voice said, "Hello".
"May I speak to Pam Starr?" Steve asked.
"This is Pam," she answered. "Who is this?"
"Steven Wordsley," he said using a phoney name. "You don't know me," he added quickly. "I've just moved to New York from Chicago. But before I left, a friend of a friend of mine gave me your name... So how about a date?" He paused.
"Come on. Gamble.I swear I don't have two heads."
She laughed and said, "I'm sure you don't. I've got an idea. I like your voice, and I think I'll like you. But I might not.
And then again, you might not like me.
So why don't we go to a movie? You pick one out and call me back. Then we'll go out, and even if we don't like each other at least we can both enjoy the show."
"Uh, all right, sure," Steve answered. He felt proud of himself. There was no question in his mind that this chick knew her way around with men.
Steve found a movie that sounded good, but he didn't call her back right away. He waited two days so he wouldn't seem too eager. Then he called and made a date for the next Saturday evening.
At seven-thirty Saturday night Steve went to her address. For a moment he hesitated. But he was too curious to give up now.
She opened the door, and Steve knew he was a loser. The girl had tried to make herself look attractive, but she couldn't hide her homeliness. She wasn't really ugly, but she was no gorgeous chick.
Steve covered up his disappointment with a friendly smile. "Hello, Pam. I'm Steve."
She laughed and said, "I know I'm not the most beautiful girl in the world, but —"
"I wasn't looking for the most beautiful girl in the world," Steve lied. "Come on, let's go see the movie."
He smiled as cheerfully as he could.
This homely girl probably accepted a lot of blind dates just so she could go out.
And someone probably thought it was a good joke to write her name and number on the walls of phone booths.
"Do you go out often?" Steve asked.
"It's probably luck," she said, "but I get enough phone calls to keep me busy. I get a lot of calls from guys I don't know. I'm not sure where they get my name. Maybe from a friend, like you did. I don't know. Some are nice and some aren't."
"Well, which am I?" Steve asked.
"Nice," she laughed.
On their way back to her apartment, Steve lied again and told Pam that his company was sending him back to Chicago the next week and that he didn't know when he would return to New York.
Steve couldn't decide if she believed his story, but he didn't really care. He had taken her out and shown her a good time.
That was all she could expect with her looks.
When they got to her apartment, they stood in the doorway and said goodnight.
"Thanks for the lovely evening," she said. She seemed to know that she wouldn't be asked for another date.
Suddenly Steve felt very sorry for her.
He decided that it wouldn't hurt him to fake an interest in her, and it would probably mean a lot to her if she thought someone wanted to see her again.
"I'm sorry I have to leave town," he said. "There's just a chance that I'll get back to New York soon. For a day or so. Maybe we can go out again. Could I call you?"
For a minute she looked as if she didn't believe what she had heard. Then her smile got brighter. "Could you? I'd love that! Do you think they'll send you back soon?"
"Sure, sure, you never know," Steve said.
"You won't lose my number, will you? But if you're here only for a day, you could call me at my office. I'll write down my office number for you right now. Wait just a second."
She ran into her apartment to get a pencil and some paper. As she ripped a sheet from a pad, she dropped the pencil on the floor. She got down on her hands and knees and scrambled after the rolling pencil. Finally she grabbed the pencil and then quickly wrote her name and office phone number.
Steve watched her sadly. Even before she handed him the piece of paper, he knew that her handwriting would be the same as the handwriting on the phone booth walls.
(After R. Marmorstein)
1 drugstore ['diwgsto:] амер. аптека
2 quite a chick [tjik] зд. классная девчонка
3 Chicago [Ji'kaigau] Чикаго
4 Gamble ['gaembl] зд. Рискни
5 knew her way around with men умела обращаться с мужчинами
6 blind date [.blaind 'deit] свидание вслепую (с человеком, которого раньше не видел)
THE MODEL MILLIONAIRE
If you are not wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be charming. These are the great truths of modern life which Hughie Erskine never realised. Poor Hughie! He was wonderfully good-looking, but poor.
To make matters worse, he was in love. The girl he loved was Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired colonel. Laura adored him, and he was ready to kiss her shoestrings.
They were the handsomest couple in London, and had not a penny between them. The Colonel was very fond of Hughie, but would not hear of any engagement.
"Come to me, my boy, when you have got ten thousand pounds of your own, and we'll see about it," he used to say; and that made Hughie very unhappy.
One morning, as he was on his way to Holland Park, where the Mertons lived, he dropped to see his friend Alan Trevor, a painter.
When Hughie came in he found Trevor putting the finishing touches to a wonderful life-size picture of a beggar-man. The beggar himself was standing on a raised platform in a corner of the studio. He was a wizened old man, wit!) a wrinkled face, and a most piteous expression.
"What an amazing model!" whispered Hughie, as he shook hands with his friend.
"An amazing model?" cried Trevor. "I should think so! You don't meet such beggars every day. What an etching Rembrandt would have made of him!"
"Poor old man!" said Hughie, "how miserable he looks!"
"Certainly," replied Trevor, "you don't want a beggar to look happy, do you?"
At this moment the servant came in, and told Trevor that the framemaker wanted to speak to him.
"Don't run away, Hughie," he said, as he went out, "I'll be back in a moment."
The old beggar-man took advantage of Trevor's absence to rest for a moment on a wooden bench that was behind him. He looked so miserable that Hughie could not help pitying him, and felt in his pockets to see what money he had. All he could find was a sovereign and some coppers. "Poor old fellow," he thought to himself, "he wants it more than I do", and he walked across the studio and slipped the sovereign into the beggar's hand.
The old man got up, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Thank you, sir," he said, "thank you."
Then Trevor arrived, and Hughie took his leave, blushing a little at what he had done.
The next day he met Trevor again.
"Well, Alan, is your picture finished?" he asked.
"Finished and framed, my boy!" answered Trevor. "By the way, the old model you saw is quite devoted to you. I had to tell him all about you — who you are, where you live. What your income is, what prospects you have — "
"My dear Alan," cried Hughie, "I'll probably find him waiting for me when I go home. But of course, you are only joking.
Poor old man! I wish I could do something for him. I have heaps of old clothes at home — do you think he would care for them? His rags were falling to bits."
"But he looks splendid in them," said Trevor. "I wouldn't paint him in a frock coat for anything. What you call rags I call romance. However, I'll tell him of your offer."
"And now tell me how Laura is," said Trevor. "The old model was quite interested in her."
"You don't mean to say you talked to him about her?" said Hughie.
"Certainly I did. He knows all about the retired colonel, the lovely Laura, and the 10,000 pounds."
"You told that old beggar all my private affairs?" cried Hughie, looking very red and angry.
"My dear boy," said Trevor, smiling, "That old beggar, as you call him, is one of the richest men in Europe. He has a house in every capital, dines off gold plate, and could buy all London tomorrow if he wished."
"What on earth do you mean?" exclaimed Hughie.
"What I say," said Trevor. "The old man you saw in the studio is Baron Housberg. He is a great friend of mine, buys all my pictures, and he paid me a month ago to paint him as a beggar."
"Baron Hausberg!" cried Hughie.
"Good heavens! I gave him a sovereign!"
"Gave him a sovereign!" cried Trevor, and he burst into laughter. "My dear boy, you'll never see it again."
, Hughie walked home, feeling very unhappy, and leaving Alan Trevor in fits of laughter.
The next morning, as he was at breakfast, the servant handed him an envelope.
On the outside was written, "A wedding present to Hughie Erskine and Laura Merton, from an old beggar," and inside was a cheque for 10,000 pounds.
When they were married Alan Trevor was the best man, and the Baron made a speech at the wedding breakfast.
(After O. Wilde)
1 Hughie Erskine [,hju:i siskin]
2 Laura Merton [,lo:ra 'тз:1п]
3 Baron Housberg [,Ьзегэп 'hausbaig]
4 best man шафер, свидетель на свадьбе
TOPICS
The English Language
ENGLISH TODAY
The modern world is becoming smaller all the time. Every day distances between different countries seem less. For this reason it's becoming more and more important to know different languages, especially English.
One billion people speak English today. That's about 20% of the world's population.
400 million people speak English as their first language. For the other 600 million people it's either a second language or a foreign language.
English is the first language in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the official languages in Canada, the Irish Republic and the Republic of South Africa.
As a second language English is spoken in more than 60 countries. It is used by the government, businessmen and universities.
English is the language of politics and diplomacy, science and technology, business and trade, sport and pop music.
80% of all information in the world's computers is in English.
75% of the world's letters and faxes are in English.
60% of all international telephone calls are made in English.
More than 60% of all scientific journals are written in English.
To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. Learning a language is not an easy thing. It's a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and patience. But it's a must.
English is taught throughout the world and a lot of people speak it quite well. In our country English is very popular: it is studied at schools (sometimes even at nursery schools), colleges and universities.
Everyone will speak English soon — I'm sure of it. We all need to understand each other. To do that we need an international language, and that's English.
Names
the United Kingdom [ju:,naitid 'kirjdam] Соединен- Canada ['kaenada] Канада
ное Королевство (Великобритании и Северной the Irish ['aiarij] Republic Ирландская Республика
Ирландии) the Republic of South Africa Южно-Африканская
Australia [os'treilia] Австралия республика
New Zealand [,nju: 'zi:land] Новая Зеландия
Vocabulary
distance f'distans] расстояние
reason [Ti:zn] причина
especially [is'pefali] в особенности
billion ['biljan] миллиард
population [,popju'leijn] население
official [a'fijal] language государственный язык
government ['gAvanmant] правительство
politics f'politiks] политика
diplomacy [di'plaumasi] дипломатия
science ['saians] наука
technology [tek'noladji] техника
trade [treid] торговля
fax [faeks] факс
scientific [saian'tifik] научный
educated ['edjukeitid] образованный, культурный
process ['preusas] процесс
patience ['peifnsj терпение
it's a must это просто необходимо; без этого нельзя
throughout [6ru:'aut] the world no всему миру
nursery ['пз:зэп] school детский сад
Questions
1. Why is it necessary to know English today?
2. English is a world language, isn't it?
3. How many people speak English?
4. In what countries is English the official language (one of the official languages)?
5. Is English popular in Russia?
6. Is learning languages an easy thing?
7. When did you begin learning English?
8. How long have you been learning English?
9. Have you read any books in English?
10. Have you seen any films in English?
11. Have you ever visited an English-speaking country?
12. What other languages would you like to know?
Hot Issues
LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
We've entered a new era: the twenty-first century. Of course, it's exciting and we are trying to predict what our life will be like in the future.
It will certainly become better — I'm sure of it.
Robots will do all the dangerous and dirty work for us and our daily life will become easier. They'll sweep the floor, dust the furniture, wash the dishes and even cook! It doesn't mean we'll become lazier, no. When everything is automated, we'll be able to do more creative jobs.
We'll be able to call our friends on a videophone and type up homework by talking to a small gadget that understands the human voice.
Scientists (or probably computers?) will find solutions to our most urgent problems. People will stop dying from cancer and AIDS and will live to be 150 years old.
There will be no more famine on our planet and no more hungry children.
Our cities will become cleaner, greener and safer. We'll drive electric cars and live in houses with lots of plants and special air-cleaning gadgets.
Atmospheric pollution will be stopped and our planet will be saved.
There will be no more wars, no more criminals and no more terrorists.
People will learn to live in peace and understand each other.
We'll have more free time and longer holidays. We'll be able to travel in space and — who knows? — one day we'll be able to spend our holidays on Mars.
I'm really optimistic about the future. After all, we are becoming wiser.
The superpowers are disarming, governments are waking up to Green issues ...
Anyway, it's up to us to look after our planet and try to make it a better place to live.
Names
Mars [ma:z] Mapc
Vocabulary
era [lore] эра robot ['raubot] робот
exciting [ik'saitiQ] волнующий dangerous f'deir^aras] опасный
to predict [pri'dikt] предсказывать daily ['deili] повседневный
to sweep ['swi:p] (swept) подметать
to dust [d/vst] вытирать пыль
furniture ['f3:nitj8] мебель
lazy [leizi] ленивый
to automate [-o:tameit] автоматизировать
creative [krh'eitiv] творческий
videophone ['vidiafaun] видеотелефон
to type up ['taip 'лр] печатать
gadget ['gaed3it] приспособление
scientist ['saiantist] ученый
solution [sa'luijn] решение
urgent ['3:d3ant] неотложный
cancer ['kaensa] рак
AIDS[eidz] спид
famine ['faemin] голод
safe [self] безопасный
atmospheric pollution [,setma'sferik pa'lujn]
атмосферное загрязнение
criminal ['kriminl] преступник
terrorist ['terarist] террорист
optimistic [ppti'mistik] оптимистический
wise [waiz] мудрый
superpower f'suipa.paua] сверхдержава
to disarm [dis'a:m] разоружаться
government ['gAvanmant] правительство
are waking up to начинают осознавать, понимать
Green issues [1Ju:z], ['isju:z] экологические проблемы
it's up to us это зависит от нас; это наше дело
Questions
1. Are you optimistic about the future?
2. Do you believe that robots will do all the dangerous and dirty work for us?
3. What will robots do for us?
4. Do you think children will go to school in the future?
5. What's the difference between a telephone and a videophone?
6. Will writing by hand become the thing of the past?
7. Why do you think people will become healthier?
8. Will our planet become cleaner or more polluted?
9. Pessimists say that one day we'll have to pay for clean air just like we do now for clean water. Do you think it's possible?
10. Will there be wars in the future?
11. Have you ever seen an electric car?
12. Do you think the world will become more democratic?
COMPUTER REVOLUTION
50 years ago people didn't even heard of computers, and today we cannot imagine life without them.
Computer technology is the fastest-growing industry in the world. The first computer was the size of a minibus and weighed a ton. Today, its job can be done by a chip the size of a pin head. And the revolution is still going on.
Very soon we'll have computers that we'll wear on our wrists or even in our glasses and earrings.
The next generation of computers will be able to talk and even think for themselves. They will contain electronic "neural networks". Of course, they'll be still a lot simpler than human brains, but it will be a great step forward. Such computers will help to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, identify criminals and control space travel.
Some people say that computers are dangerous, but I don't agree with them.
They save a lot of time. They seldom make mistakes. It's much faster and easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library.
On-line shopping makes it possible to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money.
E-mail is a great invention, too. It's faster than sending a letter and cheaper than sending a telegram.
All in all, I strongly believe that computers are a useful tool. They have changed our life for the better. So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage?
Vocabulary
computer technology [tek'nolad3i] комгаотерные generation [,d3ena'reijn] поколение
технологии to contain [kan'tein] содержать
industry [Indastri] отрасль промышленности, neural network [,njuaral 'netwa:k] нейронная сеть
индустрия human ['hju:man] человеческий
minibus ['minib/\s] микроавтобус brain [brein] мозг
to weigh [wei] весить step [step] шаг
ton [1лп] тонна to diagnose f'daiagnauz] ставить диагноз
chip [tjip] чип, микросхема to identify [ai'dentifai] опознавать
pin head ['pin hed] булавочная головка criminal ['kriminl] преступник
wrist [rist] запястье dangerous f'deir^aras] опасный
to save [seiv] экономить e-mail [1: meil] электронная почта
to surf [sa:f] the Internet ['intanet] искать, invention [in'venjn] изобретение
"бродить" по Интернету all in all в общем
on-line [pn'lain] shopping покупки через Интернет tool [tu:l] инструмент
(интернет- магазины) So why shouldn't we make them work to our
exactly [ig'zaektli] именно то advantage [ed'va:ntid3]? зд. Почему бы их не за-
price [prais] цена ставить работать на нас?
Questions
1. Have you got a computer?
2. Do you think it's a useful tool?
3. Will computers become smaller in the future?
4. Can the Internet help you to do your homework?
5. Can computers help us to learn foreign languages?
6. Do you play computer games?
7. What are the advantages of on-line shopping?
8. What are the advantages of e-mail?
9. Do you think that computers are bad for health?
10. Some people have made friends through the Internet. What about you?
11. Some people say that computers make us less sociable. Do you agree?
12. What will the next generation of computers be able to do?
WILL WE LIVE IN SPACE?
People have dreamed of travelling in space for thousands of years. But it was not until 1957 that it became a reality.
On October 4, 1957 Russia launched the first man-made satellite into space. It was called Sputnik 1.
On April 12, 1961 the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth.
The first spacewoman in the world was Valentina Tereshkova. She made 48 orbits in 1963 in her Vostok 6.
On July 20, 1969 the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the Moon.
In 1986 the Russian space station Mir was launched.
Progress is inevitable and soon we'll be able to visit and even live on other planets. The 21st century may turn science fiction into science fact.
Scientists are already at work on the International Space Station, a "city of space". It will be the size of a football field and will weigh over 200 tons. A team of 10-15 spacemen will probably be able to live and work at the International Space Station in 2005.
The next step will be the first moonbase. 20 or 30 scientists will live inside a dome with an artificial atmosphere. This will make it possible for them to live and work without spacesuits. It also means that they will be able to grow food.
If the moonbase is a success, the first lunar city will be built. It will have schools and universities, cinemas and discos, scientific laboratories and hospitals. Even babies will be bom on the moon!
The next great step will be when people land on our nearest planet Mars.
Scientists say that the planet once had water on its surface. If that water is now frozen underground, humans will be able to use it someday. By the end of the 2Г' century, scientists hope, it will be possible to "terraform" Mars — transform the planet into an earthlike place with air and water.
Space awaits the 21st century's pioneers.
Vocabulary
reality [ri'aeliti] действительность, реальность man-made [,maen'meid] искусственный
to launch [b:ntj] запускать satellite ['ssetalait] спутник
cosmonaut [,kozma'no:t] космонавт
to orbit ['o:bit] зд. облететь вокруг
astronaut [,aestra'no:t] астронавт
to set foot on ступить на
inevitable [in'evitabl] неизбежный
science fiction [,saians 'fikjn] научная фантастика
to weigh [wei] весить
team [ti:m] команда
step [step] шаг
moonbase ['mumbeis] лунная база
dome [daum] купол
artificial |>:ti'fi;i] искусственный
atmosphere ['setmasfia] атмосфера
spacesuit ['speis(j)u:t] скафандр
to be a success [sak'ses] иметь успех
lunar [1u:na] лунный
surface ['S3:fis] поверхность
frozen f'frauzn] замёрзший, замороженный
humans ['hju:manz] люди
to terraform ['terafo:m] сделать похожим на Землю
earthlike ['3:9laik] похожий на Землю
to await [a'weit] ждать, ожидать
Questions
1. Do you believe that one day we'll be able to live in space?
2. When was Sputnik 1 launched?
3. Who was the first man to orbit our planet?
4. Who was the first spacewoman in the world?
5. Who was the first man to land on the Moon?
6. What do you know about the International Space Station?
7. What will the first lunar city be like?
8. Would you like to live on Mars?
9. Is there water on Mars?
10. Do you think it will be possible to "terraform" Mars?
11. Do you think that one day it will be possible to travel to other galaxies?
12. Do you believe that there's life on other planets?
OUR PLANET EARTH
The planet Earth is only a tiny part of the universe, but it's the only place where human beings can live.
Today, our planet is in serious danger. Acid rains, global warming, air and water pollution, overpopulation are the problems that threaten human life on Earth.
Who is to blame for the disaster? The answer is simple: all of us.
Our forests are disappearing because they are cut down or burnt. If this trend continues, one day we won't have enough oxygen to breathe.
The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas.
Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today may soon become extinct.
Air pollution is another serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is dangerous — equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for many Russian cities.
Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.
An even greater threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are.
Fortunately, it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place. We can plant trees and create parks for endangered species. We can recycle litter. We can support green parties and put pressure on those in power. Together we can save the planet and all of us with it.
Names
the Mediterranean [,medit8'reinian] Средиземное the Aral [a:'ra:l] Sea Аральское море
море Cairo ['kairau] Каир
the North Sea Северное море Chernobyl [tjai'nobl] Чернобыль
Vocabulary
tiny ['taini] крошечный
universe ['ju:niv3:s] вселенная
human being [,hju:man 'bi:io] человек
acid f'aesid] rains кислотные дожди
global ['gteubl] warming глобальное потепление
pollution [pa'lu:Jn] загрязнение
overpopulation [,auvapopju'leijn] перенаселение
to threaten ['6retn] угрожать
to blame ['bleim] винить
disaster [di'za:sta] несчастье, беда
to cut down ['k/\t 'daun] рубить, срубать
trend тенденция
oxygen ['oksid3an] кислород
to breathe ['britd] дышать
poison ['poizn] яд, отрава
industrial and nuclear ['nju:klia] waste промышлен-
ные и ядерные отходы
fertilizer [;f3:tilaiza] удобрение
pesticide f'pestisaid] пестицид
on the brink of extinction [ik'stiijkjn] на грани
исчезновения
to die out вымирать
species ['spi:fi:z] вид, род
to become extinct [ik'stiQkt] вымирать
equivalent [tkwivalant] равноценный, равнознач-
ный
the same holds true for это справедливо для, это
касается и...
to emit [i mit] выбрасывать
harmful ['ha:mfal] вредный
chemicals ['kemikalz] химикалии
emission [i'mijn] выброс
disastrous [di'zarstras] чудовищный
consequence ['konsikwans] последствие
greenhouse effect ['gri:nhaus i,fekt] парниковый
эффект
threat ['9ret] угроза
nuclear power station [,nju:klia 'paua ,steijn]
атомная электростанция
tragic ['traedjik] трагический
technology [tek'nolad3i] технология
endangered [in'deindjad] вымирающий (вид)
to recycle [,ri:'saikl] утилизировать
litter [lite] мусор
to support [sa'po:t] поддерживать
to put pressure ['preja] on оказывать давление на
those in power те, кто находится у власти
Questions
1. Why is our planet in danger?
2. Who is to blame for the disaster?
3. What is happening to our forests?
4. Why are the seas in danger?
5. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. Do you think it's possible to save it?
6. A lot of animals are dying out. But people wear fur coats, crocodile handbags, leather shoes, etc. Are you for or against hunting?
7. Is air pollution a serious problem? Why?
8. The car is now the world's number one polluter. Do you think it's possible to make it cleaner and safer? Have you heard about electric cars?
9. Why are nuclear power stations dangerous? What were the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster?
10. What is the main cause of the greenhouse effect and acid rams?
11. What will happen to our planet if the present trends continue? Do you think that one day it may become uninhabitable?
12. What can we do to save the planet?
CAN WE LIVE LONGER?
Scientists say that in the future people will live longer. With healthier lifestyles and better medical care the average person will live to 90 or 100 instead of 70 and 75 like today. When the human genome is decoded, we'll probably live up to 150. Incurable diseases will be cured and "bad" genes replaced.
But that's tomorrow. And today, we continue to stuff ourselves with fast food — chips and pizzas, hamburgers and hot dogs. We are always in a hurry.
We have no time to enjoy a home-cooked dinner with family and friends. We want to eat now and we want to eat fast.
What is tasty is not always healthy. Doctors say that chips and pizzas are fattening, cola spoils our teeth and coffee shortens our lives.
If we eat too much, we'll become obese, and obesity leads to heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses. But the world today is getting fatter and fatter. America is the world's leader in obesity, but Europe is quickly catching up.
Lack of exercise is another serious problem. We spend hours in front of our computers and TV-sets. Few of us do morning exercises. We walk less, because we prefer to use cars or public transport.
Research shows, however, that young people who don't take enough exercise often suffer from heart attacks.
It's common knowledge that smoking and drinking can shorten our lives dramatically. Cigarette-smoking, for example, kills about 3 million people every year. Many of them die from lung cancer. Some aren't even smokers. They are people who live or work with heavy smokers.
Yet many young people smoke and drink. Why? One answer is that tobacco and drinks companies invest enormous sums of money in advertising their products. For them cigarettes and alcoholic drinks mean money. For us they mean disease and even death.
We all know that the healthier we are, the better we feel. The better we feel, the longer we live. So why not take care of ourselves?
Vocabulary
scientist ['saiantist] ученый healthy ['helSi] здоровый
lifestyle [laifstail] образ жизни
medical care ['medikl ,kea] медицинское обслуживание
average ['aevarids] средний
human ['hju:man] человек; человеческий
genome ['d3i:naum] генетический код, геном
to decode [,di:'kau<3] расшифровывать, декодировать
incurable [in'kjuarabl] неизлечимый
disease [di'zi:z] болезнь
to cure ['kjua] лечить, излечивать
gene ['d3i:n] ген
to replace [ri'pleis] заменять
to stuff [sUf] oneself with зд. набивать желудки
pizza ['pi:tsa] пицца
hamburger ['haembaiga] гамбургер
fattening ['faetnirj] способствующий ожирению,
жирный
cola f'kaula] кола
to spoil [spoil] портить
obese [au'bi:s] тучный
diabetes [,daia'bi:ti:z] диабет
to catch up догонять
lack [laek] нехватка
to prefer [pri'fa:] предпочитать
research [ri'saitj] исследование
to suffer f'SAfa] страдать
heart attack ['ha:t a,taek] сердечный приступ
it's common knowledge ['nolidj] общеизвестно
dramatically [dra'maetikali] резко
lung cancer ['!AQ ,kaensa] рак легких
heavy smoker заядлый курильщик
tobacco [ta'baekau] табак; табачный
to invest [invest] инвестировать, вкладывать
enormous [i'no:mas] огромный
to advertise ['aedvataiz] рекламировать
product ['prodAkt] продукт, товар
alcoholic [,aelka'holik] алкогольный
Questions
1. Do you think people will live longer in the future?
2. Do you believe that one day genetic engineers will be able to correct "gene" mistakes?
3. Do you like fast food? Is it tasty?
4. Why is fast food bad for us?
5. What illnesses does obesity lead to?
6. Are Europeans getting fatter?
7. The USA is the world's leader in obesity, isn't it?
8. Do you take regular exercise?
9. How often do you go for a walk?
10. Do you spend much time in front of your TV-set?
11. Why is smoking dangerous?
12. In some countries tobacco and alcohol advertising has been banned (to ban запрещать). Do you think it's a good idea?
13. Is passive smoking dangerous?
14. Would you like to live a long life?
Mass Media
MASS MEDIA
The mass media play an important part in our lives. Newspapers, radio and especially TV inform us of what is going on in this world and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. They also influence the way we see the world and shape our views.
Of course, not all newspapers and TV programmes report the events objectively, but serious journalists and TV reporters try to be fair and provide us with reliable information.
It is true that the world today is full of dramatic events and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren't interested in ordinary events. That is why there are so many programmes and articles about natural disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news doesn't usually make headlines. Bad news does.
Some people say that journalists are given too much freedom. They often intrude on people's private lives. They follow celebrities and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or half-true. They take photos of them in their most intimate moments. The question is — should this be allowed?
The main source of news for millions of people is television. People like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. And that's an important advantage. Seeing, as we know, is believing. Besides, it's much more difficult for politicians to lie in front of the cameras than on the pages of newspapers.
Still, many people prefer the radio. It's good to listen to in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house.
Newspapers don't react to events as quickly as TV, but they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background information.
The Internet has recently become another important source of information.
Its main advantage is that news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life and you don't have to wait for news time on TV.
Vocabulary
mass media [,maes 'mhdia] средства массовой what's going on что происходит
информации possibility [posa'biliti] возможность
to inform [irrfo:m] сообщать, информировать entertainment [.enta'teinment] развлечение
to report [ri'po:t] сообщать, писать (о)
event [i'vent] событие, происшествие
objectively [ab'd3ektivli] объективно
fair [fee] честный, справедливый
to provide [prepaid] обеспечивать
reliable [rilaiabl] надежный
ordinary ['o:dnri] обычный, заурядный
disaster [di'za:ste] бедствие
crash [kraej] авария
murder ['тз:йэ] убийство
robbery ['robari] грабёж
to make headlines ['hedlainz] попасть в заголовки
газет, вызвать сенсацию
freedom ['fitdam] свобода
to intrude [in'tru:d] вторгаться
private ['praivit] частный, личный
to follow [fblau] преследовать
celebrity [si'lebriti] знаменитость
to print [print] печатать
sensational [sen'seijanl] сенсационный
untrue [Airtru:] ложный, неверный
half-true ['ha:ftru:] полуправдивый
intimate [Intimit] интимный
source [so:s] источник
advantage [ad'va:ntid3] преимущество
Seeing is believing. Лучше раз увидеть, чем сто
раз услышать.
besides [bi'saidz] кроме того
politician [,poli'tijn] политик
to He [lai] лгать
to prefer [pri'fe:] предпочитать
to react [ri'aekt] реагировать
extra detail [,ekstra 'di:teil] дополнительные
сведения, подробности
comment j/komant] комментарий
background ['baekgraund] information "закулисная"
информация
the Internet f'intanet] интернет
recently [Ti:santli] недавно
Questions
1. Do the media play an important part in your life?
2. Do you think that the media influence our life?
3. Millions of people get most of their news from television. What about you?
4. Do you read newspapers?
5. When do you usually listen to the radio?
6. Do you agree that most news we get from the media is bad news?
7. Do you think it would be nice if all news printed in newspapers and shown on TV was good news?
8. Do you think that journalists are given too much freedom?
9. If people have died in a plane crash, should their bodies be shown on TV?
10. How do paparazzi ([,paepa'raetsi]) earn their living?
11. Are you interested in politics? Don't you think that some politicians use the media to influence their voters (['vautaz] избиратели)?
12. What is the main advantage of the Internet?
TV OR NOT TV?
Whether we realise it or not, TV plays a very important part in our lives.
It's the main source of information and a cheap form of entertainment for millions of people.
It's the window on the world which gives us an opportunity to "travel" all over the world, to "meet" different people and learn about their customs and traditions .
It has the power to educate and broaden our minds.
It helps us to relax after a hard day's work and escape from reality.
There's always a great variety of programmes on TV: news and sports programmes, talk shows and TV games, documentaries and feature films, concerts and theatre performances...
Of course, not all programmes are good. But many are made in good taste and with great professional skill.
Some people argue that television is a terrible waste of time. It makes us lazier. We stay at home instead of going out. We read less. We think less. We even talk less.
It's true that some TV addicts spend hours in front of the "box" watching whatever's on — from second-rate Mexican soap operas to silly commercials.
The trick is to learn to control television and use it intelligently. The ideal is to turn on the TV-set only when there's a really interesting programme.
Violence on TV is another problem that worries people. As George Mikes once said, TV teaches us "how to kill, to rob, to shoot and to poison."
But the same can be said about computer games and many films and books.
And if you don't like a certain programme, why watch it?
Names
George Mikes ['mikej] Джордж Микеш (английский писатель-юморист венгерского происхождения)
Vocabulary
source [so:s] источник to educate ['edjukeit] обучать, развивать
entertainment [.enta'teinment] развлечение broaden ['bro:dn] one's mind расширять кругозор
opportunity [ppa'tjir.niti] возможность to relax [ttlaeks] расслабляться
power ['раиэ] сила, способность hard day's work тяжелый трудовой день
to escape [i'skeip] from reality уходить от реальности
variety [ve'raiati] разнообразие
documentary [,dokju'menteri] документальный
фильм
feature film ['fhtja ,film] художественный
фильм
in good taste со вкусом
professional [prefejnl] skill профессиональное
мастерство
to argue ['aigju:] спорить, возражать
waste of time бесполезная трата времени
addict f'aedikt] наркоман, зд. человек, которого
не оторвешь от телевизора
box разг. "ящик", телевизор
whatever's on что бы ни показывали (по теле-
визору)
second-rate [,sekend'reit] низкосортный, посредст-
венный
Mexican ['meksiken] мексиканский
soap opera f'saup ppere] "мыльная опера"
commercial [ke'maifl] телереклама
the trick is зд. секрет в том (что)
intelligently [in'telid3entli] с умом
ideal [ai'diel] идеал
violence [vaielens] насилие
to rob грабить
to shoot [Ju:t] (shot) стрелять
to poison f'poizn] отравлять, отравить
Questions
1. How often do you watch TV?
2. What are your favourite programmes?
3. Which is your favourite channel?
4. The average Russian teenager spends about 20 hours a week in front of the TV-set. What about you?
5. Why is TV often called "the window on the world"?
6. Do you agree that television has the power to educate?
7. What do you think of commercials? Do they annoy you?
8. Do you enjoy watching "soaps"?
9. Do you think that there's too much violence on TV?
10. Do you believe that violence on TV may turn people into criminals?
11. Some people say that television kills conversation. Do you agree?
12. Do you use TV intelligently?
NEWSPAPERS
In the past people learnt about news from newspapers. Nowadays people usually learn what is happening in the country and in the world from TV or radio news programmes or from the Internet.
Still we cannot imagine our life without newspapers. There are dozens of them on every news-stand. There are newspapers for professionals, for businessmen, for children and teenagers, for men and women, for sports fans, for those who are interested in gardening and for those who keep pets.
Some newspapers publish serious articles on politics, economy and finance, some aim to entertain their readers. Many newspapers express certain political opinion and people choose them according to their own political beliefs. In short, you can always find a paper which suits your interests.
Besides, there are many free local newspapers which are put into your postbox whether you ask for it or not. Probably they are not interesting, because they consist mainly of advertisements, but you can find a lot of useful telephone numbers and addresses there.
My parents subscribe to Argumenty i Facty. I also like this weekly. I don't read all the articles, but in every issue I find something interesting. I think that most articles are very well written, they give a detailed and well-balanced analysis of current events and trends in economy. I like to read articles on social issues, interviews, reviews of new books, plays and TV shows. One of my favourite columns is The Quotation of the Day, where they quote our popular politicians and give their comments. Sometimes it's very funny.
Quite often I buy Sovershenno Secretno (Top Secret) and practically in each issue there are some fascinating stories which you read like a detective story.
Sometimes they uncover things I have not heard about, sometimes they show well-known events in a completely new light.
From time to time I read Moskovsky Komsomolets. It's one of the most popular daily papers, but I don't consider it serious. However, I never miss an article written by Minkin. I think he is a very good journalist. I also like Merinov's cartoons. Sometimes they publish good reviews of new films, new CDs and so on.
In short, I think that TV, radio and the Internet have their advantages, but nothing can substitute newspapers.
Vocabulary
to imagine [i'maedjin] представлять себе dozens ['d/vznz] масса, множество
news-stand ['nju:zstaend] газетный киоск
fan [faen] поклонник, болельщик
politics ['politiks] политика
economy [i'konami] экономика
finance [fai'nsens] финансы
to aim [eim] ставить целью
to entertain [,enta'tein] развлекать
to express [ik'spres] выражать
opinion [a'pinian] мнение, взгляд
according [a'ko:dio] to согласно, в соответствии
political beliefs [bi'lhfs] политические убеждения
in short короче говоря
to suit [s(j)u:t] подходить
free бесплатный
local [laukl] местный
post-box ['paustboks] почтовый ящик
advertisement [ad'vartismant] реклама
to subscribe [sab'skraib] подписываться
weekly ['wi:kli] еженедельник, еженедельный
issue [IJii:], [Isju:] выпуск, вопрос
detailed ['dhteild] подробный
well-balanced [ wel'baelanst] взвешенный,
объективный
analysis [a'naelisis] (мн. ч. analyses) анализ
current events [Jwant rvents] текущие события
trend [trend] тенденция
social issues общественные проблемы
review [ri'vju:] обзор, рецензия
column ['kolam] колонка
quotation [,kwau'teijn] цитата
politician [poli'tijn] политик
comment ['komant] комментарий
fascinating ['faesineitig] увлекательный
to uncover [Aivk/wa] обнаруживать, раскрывать
completely [kam'plhtli] совершенно
daily ['deili] ежедневный
to consider [kan'sida] считать
advantage [ad'va:ntid3] преимущество
substitute ['sAbstitjiKt] заменять
Questions
1. Do you read newspapers regularly?
2. How many newspapers does your family subscribe to?
3. Do you like to read articles on politics and finance?
4. Do you read reviews of new films and books?
5. Do you follow sports news in newspapers?
6. Some newspapers run gossip columns (колонки сплетен). Do you read them?
7. Many newspapers print readers' letters, in which people write about their problems. Often there are answers written by psychologists, doctors, educators, etc. Do you read these letters and answers?
8. Have you ever written to a newspaper?
9. Do you read any newspapers in English?
10. What kind of newspapers do you prefer?
11. Do you like Sovershenno Secretno?
12. What do you think ofMoskovsky Komsomoletsl
THE BRITISH PRESS
Probably in no other country are there such great differences between the various national daily newspapers — in the type of news they report and the way they report it.
On the one hand, there are the "quality" newspapers: The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, the Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph. These concern themselves, as far as possible, with factual reports of major national and international events, with the world of politics and business and with the arts and sport.
On the other hand, there are the "populars" and "tabloids," so-called because of their smaller size. The tabloids — the most widely read of which are The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, the Daily Mirror, The Sun and The Daily Star — concentrate on more emotive reporting of stories often featuring sex, violence, the Royal Family, film and pop stars, and sport. It's often said that the popular press aims to entertain its readers rather than inform them.
The tabloid press is much more popular than the quality press.
In some countries, newspapers are owned by government or by political parties. This is not the case in Britain. Newspapers here are mostly owned by individuals or by publishing companies, and the editors of the papers are usually allowed considerate freedom of expression. This is not to say that newspapers are without political bias. Papers like The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express and
The Sun, for example, usually reflect Conservative opinions in their comment and reporting, while the Daily Mirror and The Guardian have a more left-wing bias.
In addition to the 12 national daily newspapers there are nine national papers which are published on Sundays. Most of the "Sundays" contain more reading matter than daily papers, and several of them also include "colour supplements" — separate colour magazines which contain photographicallyillustrated feature articles. Reading a Sunday paper, like having a big Sunday
lunch, is an important tradition in many British households.
Besides, nearly every area in Britain has one or more local newspapers.
The British are one of the biggest newspaper-reading nations in the world.
Names
The Times [taimz] the Financial Times [fai,naenfl 'taimz]
The Independent [indi'pendant] The Daily Telegraph [,deili 'teligraif]
The Gardian ['ga:djan] The Daily Mail ['deili 'meil]
The Daily Express [,deili iks'pres]
the Daily Mirror [,deili 'mira]
The Daily Star [,deili 'sta:]
The Sun [влп]
Vocabulary
various ['vearias] различный, разнообразный
national ['naejnl] национальный, государственный
daily ['deili] ежедневный
to report [ri'port] сообщать, писать, печатать
on the one hand с одной стороны
"quality" ['kwoliti] newspapers пресса "высокого
качества" (для бизнесменов, политиков и т.д),
газеты полного формата
to concern [kan'satn] oneself with заниматься,
интересоваться
factual ['faektjual] фактический, основанный на
фактах
major ['meidja] главный, основной
international [jnta'naejnl] международный
politics ['politiks] политика, политические взгляды,
убеждения
on the other hand с другой стороны
"popular" [popjula] газета для широкой публики
"tabloid" ['taebloid] малоформатная газета со сжа-
тым текстом и большим количеством иллюстра-
ций; бульварная пресса
to concentrate ['konsantreit] on сосредоточиваться на
emotive [i'mautiv] reporting эмоциональная подача
материала
to feature ['fi:tja] помещать в газете (на видном
месте)
violence [vaialans] насилие
royal ['roial] family королевская семья
it's often said часто говорят
to aim стремиться
to entertain [.enta'tein] rather than inform скорее
развлекать, чем информировать
to own [aim] владеть
This is not the case in Britain. He так обстоит
дело в Британии.
individual [jndi'vidjual] личность, индивидуум,
частное лицо
publishing company ['клтрэп!] издательство
editor ['edita] редактор
to allow [a'lau] разрешать, предоставлять
considerate [kan'sidarit] freedom значительная
свобода
bias f'baias] предубежденность, пристрастие, уклон
to reflect [ri'flekt] отражать
conservative [kan'saivativ] консервативный
comment f'koment] комментарий
left-wing левый
in addition to кроме, помимо
"Sundays" газеты, публикуемые по выходным
matter ['maeta] материал
supplement ['SAplimant] приложение
feature article ['fi:tjer 'a.-tikl] большая статья в газете
(посвященная какой-либо одной теме), очерк
household ['haushauld] семья; люди, живущие в
одном доме
local f'laukl] местный
Questions
1. What "quality" newspapers do you know?
2. What do they concern themselves with?
3. What does a "tabloid" mean?
4. What "popular" newspapers do you know?
5. It's often said that the aim of the popular press is to entertain its readers rather than inform them. What kind of materials do these newspapers concentrate on?
6. Are "quality" papers more popular than "tabloids"?
7. In some countries, newspapers are owned by government or by political parties. What about Britain?
8. What's the difference between daily newspapers and "Sundays"?
9. What does a "colour supplement" mean?
10. Are the British one of the biggest newspaper-reading nations in the world?
About Myself
MY FAMILY
I am Alex Sidorov. Alex is my first name and Sidorov is my surname. I am seventeen years old. I want to tell you a few words about my family. My family is large. I've got a mother, a father, a sister, a brother and a grandmother.
There are six of us in the family.
My mother is a teacher of biology. She works in a college. She likes her profession. She is a good-looking woman with brown hair and green eyes. She is forty-four but she looks much younger. She is tall and slim.
My father is a computer programmer. He is very experienced. He is a broad-shouldered, tall man with fair hair and grey eyes. He is forty-six. My father often sings and when we are at home and have some free time, I play the guitar and we sing together. My father knows all about new radio sets and likes to repair old ones. He is also handy with many things. When he was small, he liked to take everything to pieces. My grandmother told me a story that once my father tried to "repair" their kitchen clock. He managed to put all the wheels and screws back again — but the clock did not work. They had to give it to a repairman. But that happened a long time ago. Now he can fix almost everything: a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, a fridge and what not. He's got a few shelves where he keeps everything he needs. On the table there's always a radio in pieces.
My parents have been married for twenty-six years. They have much in common, but they have different views on music, books and films. For example, my father likes horror films and my mother likes "soap operas". My father is fond of tennis. My mother isn't interested in sports. But my parents have the same opinion about my education and upbringing.
My parents are hard-working people. My mother keeps house and takes care of me and my father. She is very good at cooking and she is clever with her hands. She is very practical. My father and I try to help her with the housework. I wash the dishes, go shopping and tidy our flat.
My grandmother is a pensioner. She lives with us and helps to run the house. She is fond of knitting.
My sister Helen is twenty-five. She is married and has a family of her own. She works as an accountant for a small business company. Her husband is a scientist. They've got twins: a daughter and a son. They go to a nursery school.My brother Boris is eleven. He is a schoolboy. He wants to become a doctor but he is not sure yet. Three months ago he dreamed of being a cosmonaut.
I want to become a student. I'd like to learn foreign languages. I think I take after my father. I'm tall, fair-haired and even-tempered. I always try to be in a good mood.
We've got a lot of relatives. We are deeply attached to each other and we get on very well.
Vocabulary
good-looking красивый, миловидный to go in for smth заниматься чем-либо
slim стройный opinion [ a'pinjan] мнение
experienced [ik'spiarianst] опытный, квалифициро- upbringing ['Ap,briniQ] воспитание
ванный, со стажем to take care f kea] of smb заботиться о ком-либо
broad-shouldered Lbroid'Jaulded] широкоплечий she is good at cooking она хорошо готовит
to play the guitar [gi'ta:] играть на гитаре she is clever with her hands у нее умелые руки
to repair [itpea] чинить, исправлять to tidy [laidi] убирать, приводить в порядок
to be handy with smth уметь делать что-либо, быть pensioner ['penfana] пенсионер
искусным в чем-либо to run the house вести хозяйство
to take to pieces ['pirsiz] разбирать на части to knit [nit] вязать
to manage ['тзетйз] суметь, справиться, ухитриться accountant [a'kauntant] бухгалтер
wheels [wi:lz] and screws [skru:z] колесики и винтики scientist ['saiantist] ученый
to fix чинить, исправлять twins близнецы
vacuum cleaner [vaekjuam,kli:na] пылесос nursery ['пз:зэп] school детский сад
washing machine ['wojio ma'Jm] стиральная машина cosmonaut ['kozmanoit] космонавт
fridge [frid3] холодильник to take after быть похожим, пойти (в кого-либо из
and what not и так далее, и тому подобное родителей)
in pieces разобранный на части fair-haired [fea'head] светловолосый
to have much in common иметь много общего even-tempered [,i:vn'tempad] уравновешенный
views [vju:z] on smth взгляды на ... to be in a good mood быть в хорошем настроении
horror ['hora ] film фильм ужасов to be deeply attached [a'taetjt] to smb быть сильно
"soap opera" "мыльная опера", многосерийная привязанным к кому-либо
мелодрама to get on well быть в хороших отношениях, ладить
to be fond of smth увлекаться чем-либо друг с другом
Questions
1. What is your first name? What is your surname?
2. How old are you?
3. When is your birthday?
4. Is your family large? How many are you in the family?
5. Have you got any brothers or sisters?
6. What are your parents? Where do they work?
7. How long have your parents been married?
8. Do they have much in common?
9. Do you spend a lot of time with your family?
10. What sort of things do you do together?
11. Do you go out with your parents?
12. Who runs the house in your family?
13. What are your household duties?
14. What is your father's hobby?
15. Can you describe your mother?
MY FLAT
Wе live in a new 16-storeyed block of flats in Strogino. It's situated in a very picturesque place not far from the Moskva River. There's a big supermarket on the ground floor and it's very convenient to do everyday shopping.
Our flat is on the fifth floor. It's very comfortable and well-planned. We have all modern conveniences, such as central heating, electricity, gas, cold and hot running water and a telephone. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. There's also a balcony and we can enjoy a lovely view of the river.
The largest room in our flat is the living room and we use it as a dining room and as a sitting room. In the middle of the room there's a big table and six chairs round it. Opposite the window there's a wall unit with lots of books, a TV-set and a video cassette recorder. There are two comfortable armchairs and a small coffee table in the right-hand corner. There is also a sofa and an electric fire in our living room. We like the living room best of all, because in the evenings we gather there to have tea, watch TV, talk and rest.
My room is the smallest room in our flat, but it's very cosy and light.
There's a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, an armchair and several bookshelves in my room. There's a thick carpet on the floor. The walls in my room are lightbrown and there are some big posters on them. I like my room very much, but from time to time I change it round. I quite often move the bed and change the posters on the wall.
Our kitchen is large and light. It's very well-equipped. We've got a refrigerator, a freezer, a microwave oven, a coffeemaker and a toaster. We haven't got a dishwasher yet, because it's very expensive. But I'm sure we'll buy it in the near future.
Vocabulary
16-storeyed ['sto:rid] 16-этажный convenient [kairvhnjant] удобный, подходящий
block of flats многоквартирный дом comfortable ['k/vmfatabl] удобный, комфортабель-
to be situated ['sitjueitid] быть расположенным ный, уютный
picturesque [,piktja'resk] живописный well-planned хорошо спланированный
supermarket ['su:pa,ma:kit] супермаркет modern conveniences ['modn kan'vi:njansiz] совре-
ground floor ['graund 'flo:] первый этаж менные удобства
central heating ['hhtirj] центральное отопление
electricity [tlek'tristtl] электричество
gas [gaes] газ
running water водопровод
balcony ['bselkani] балкон
to enjoy [in'djoi] наслаждаться
lovely ['l/wli] красивый, прекрасный
view [vju:] of вид на
living room жилая комната
dining ['dainio] room столовая
sitting room гостиная
wall unit [-ju:nit] стенка
video cassette recorder ['vidieu ke'set ri'ko:de]
видеомагнитофон
armchair ['a:mtjea] кресло
left-hand corner левый угол
coffee table журнальный столик
electric fire [i'lektrik 'faia] электрический камин
cosy ['keuzi] уютный
light [lalt] светлый
wardrobe [-wo:draub] платяной шкаф
desk письменный стол
bookshelf книжная полка (мн. ч. bookshelves)
carpet [-ka:pit] ковер
poster ['peuste] плакат
to change round менять местами (мебель и т.п.)
well-equipped [i'kwipt] хорошо оборудованный
refrigerator [rifridsareita] холодильник
(сокр. fridge)
freezer [1ri:za] морозильная камера
microwave oven ['maikraweiv 'ЛУП] микроволновая
печь
coffemaker кофеварка
toaster ['tauste] тостер
dishwasher ['dij,wojaj посудомоечная машина
expensive [iks'pensiv] дорогой
Questions
1. Do you live in a house or in a block of flats?
2. Which floor is your flat on?
3. Is your flat well-planned? Is it comfortable?
4. How many rooms are there in your flat?
5. Have you got a dining room (a sitting room, a study)?
6. Where do you usually have your meals?
7. Is there much furniture in your flat? Do you change it round from time to time?
8. What is there in your room?
9. Are there any pictures on the walls of your flat?
10. What colour are the walls in your room?
11. What is your kitchen like?
12. How often do you redecorate the rooms?
MY WORKING DAY
On weekdays the alarm-clock wakes me up at 6.30 and my working day begins. I'm not an early riser, that's why it's very difficult for me to get out of bed, especially in winter. I switch on my tape-recorder and do my morning exercises. Then I go to the bathroom, take a warm shower, clean my teeth and shave. After that I go to my bedroom to get dressed.
Usually my mother makes breakfast for me. But when she is away on business or just doesn't have to get up early, I make breakfast myself. While having breakfast, I listen to the latest news on the radio.
I leave the house at 7.30 and go to the nearest underground station. Last year I tried to enter Moscow University, but unfortunately I failed my entrance examinations. So I thought I should work somewhere. It wasn't easy to find a job, but I managed to get a position of a secretary in a small business company.
They agreed to take me because I had studied typewriting, computing and business organisation at school. And besides, I passed my English schoolleaving exam with an excellent mark.
It takes me an hour and a half to get to work. But I don't want to waste my time on the train. I've got a small cassette-player and I listen to different texts and dialogues. Sometimes I read a book and retell it silently. If I come across an interesting expression I try to memorise it. I also write some English words on flashcards and learn them.
I usually arrive at work at ten minutes to nine though my working day begins at 9 sharp. There are always some fax messages to translate from English into Russian. Sometimes my boss wants me to write a letter to our business partners abroad. There are also a lot of phone calls which I have to answer.
At 1 o'clock in the afternoon we have lunch. We usually have lunch in a small cafe just round the corner. At 2 o'clock we come back to work. And we work hard till 5 o'clock.
During the working day we also have several short coffee breaks. But sometimes we have no time for them.
I come home at about 7 o'clock in the evening. My parents are usually at home, waiting for me. We have dinner together. Then we sit in the living room, drink tea, watch TV or just talk.
Occasionally I have to stay at work till 6 or even 7 o'clock in the evening. When we have a lot of things to do we go to work on Saturdays. So by the end of the week I get very tired. All I can do on Sundays is to sleep till eleven o'clock, watch television, listen to music and read something in English.
And still I always look forward to my next working day because I like my job. I think I get a lot of useful experience.
Vocabulary
to be an early riser рано вставать excellent ['eksalant] отличный
especially [i'spejali] особенно to waste [weist] time терять время
to do morning exercises делать утреннюю зарядку to reten [rjle|] (retold) пересказать
to get dressed одеваться to come across встретить, натолкнуться
unfortunately [Arvfo:tJ(a)natli] к сожалению
to memorize [-memaraiz] запомнить
to fail [fell] не сдать, провалить (об экзаменах)
а flashcard [1taejle.d] K a
entrance T'entrans] examinations вступительные , I i * 1 a fax message ['mesidjj сообщение по факсу
a^SkTof a secretary ["sekratri] место секретаря а Partner ^'^ паРтнеР
a company ['клтрэШ] компания abroad C9'bro:dl за границей
typewriting ['taipraitio] машинопись to answer a Phone са11 ответить на телефонный
computing [kam'pju:tig] работа на компьютере
besides [bi-saidz] к тому же, кроме того a break [breik] перерыв
business organization ['biznis piganai'zeifn] occasionally [a'kei3nali] время от времени
делопроизводство experience [iks'piarians] опыт
Questions
1. Do you get up early? Is it easy for you to get up early?
2. Do you wake up yourself or does an alarm-clock wake you up?
3. Do you do morning exercises? Do you do your morning exercises to music?
4. Which do you prefer: a hot or a cold shower in the morning?
5. How long does it take you to get dressed?
6. What do you usually have for breakfast?
7. Some people look through newspapers or listen to the latest news on the radio while having breakfast. What about you?
8. When do you usually leave the house?
9. Do you work? Where do you work?
10. What do you usually do on your way to work (school, etc.)?
11. Where do you usually have lunch (dinner)?
12. What time do you come home?
13. How do you spend your evenings?
14. What time do you usually go to bed?
MY FRIEND
My best friend's name's Nick. We made friends a few years ago. We are of the same age. We live in the same block of flats, so we see each other almost every day.
Nick is a tall slender boy. He has got dark hair, large dark eyes, a straight nose and thin lips. He wears spectacles. He is a nice guy. He is very honest and just, understanding and kind. I trust him a lot and I'm sure that I can rely on him in any situation. He never lets people down. Nick is only 19 but he is very responsible — he finishes whatever he starts. He's got only one shortcoming - he is a bit stubborn. Nevertheless he is pleasant to deal with.
Nick's an only child and his parents love him very much. His father is a lawyer. He is the most brilliant man I've ever met. He knows everything there's to know about the law. His mother is a music teacher. No wonder Nick is so talented. He's got a very good ear for music. He likes jazz and plays the piano very well.
We spend a lot of time together. We often watch video or listen to music.
Sometimes we go to the cinema or to the theatre, or walk around the centre of Moscow, visiting small cafes, museums, art galleries, shops. We talk for hours about all sorts of things (politics, love, teachers, girls). We discuss films, television programmes, books.
I never quarrel with Nick. But if there's some misunderstanding between us we try to make peace as soon as possible. What I like best about him is that he is always willing to help and share his knowledge, thoughts and feelings. I respect him for his fairness, strong will, intellect and modesty.
I miss Nick when we don't see each other for a long time. Without him I would feel lonely and uncomfortable. Our friendship helps me to feel strong and sure of myself.
Vocabulary
to make friends подружиться
of the same age ровесники
block of flats многоквартирный дом
slender ['slenda] стройный
straight [streit] прямой
spectacles ['spektaklz] очки
guy [gai] парень
honest ['onist] честный
just [d3/\st] справедливый
understanding отзывчивый, чуткий
to trust доверять, верить
to rely [n'lai] on smb полагаться на кого-либо,
доверять
to let smb down подводить
responsible [ris'ponsibl] ответственный
whatever [wofeve] что бы ни
shortcoming ['fo:t,k/\mirj] недостаток
stubborn ['sUban] упрямый
nevertheless [,nevada'les] тем не менее
he is pleasant ['pleznt] to deal with с ним
приятно иметь дело
an only child единственный ребенок в семье
lawyer [1o:ja] юрист, адвокат
brilliant ['briljant] замечательный, блестящий
no wonder ['w/vnda] неудивительно
talented ['taelantid] талантливый
a good ear for music хороший музыкальный
слух
jazz [djaez] джаз
video ['vidiau] видеозапись
cafe f'kaefei] кафе
art gallery f'gaelari] картинная галерея
politics ['politiks] политика, политические взгляды,
убеждения
quarrel ['kworal] ссориться
misunderstanding [,misAnda'staendir)] недопонима-
ние
to make peace помириться
as soon as possible как можно скорее
share [Jea] делить, разделять
to respect [ri'spekt] уважать
fairness ['feanis] справедливость
strong will сильная воля
intellect [Intilekt] ум
modesty ['modisti] скромность
to miss smb скучать без кого-либо
Questions
1. Have you got a lot of friends?
2. What is your best friend's name?
3. How long have you been friends?
4. Where does he (she) live?
5. Do you often see each other?
6. Where did you meet for the first time?
7. What do you do in your free time?
8. What do you usually talk about?
9. Do you quarrel?
10. What do you like best about your friend?
11. Has he (she) got any shortcomings?
12. Do you think friendship depends on shared interests — hobbies and leisure activities?
13. Does it mean that if two people don't have common hobbies they can't be real friends?
14. What features do you like (dislike) in people?
MY SCHOOL
I've just left school and I'd like to tell you a few words about it. My school is one of the oldest specialized schools in Moscow. It's famous for its highquality education and strict discipline. The school is very well-equipped. On the ground floor there's a gym, a canteen, a library and two workshops. On the first floor there's a large assembly hall, a home economics room, a computer class and a language laboratory. On the second floor there are physics, chemistry and biology labs.
I went to school five days a week. Classes began at nine o'clock in the morning. But I usually came to school ten minutes earlier. Each lesson lasted forty minutes. After three or four lessons we had a thirty-minute break. During this break we went to the canteen to have lunch. Every day we had 7 or 8 lessons. The lessons were over at four o'clock in the afternoon.
We usually had a lot of homework and it took me several hours to do it. I sometimes had to sit up to write a composition, to prepare a report, to translate a newspaper article from English into Russian or to learn a poem by heart.
After classes I didn't usually go home right away. We had some out-ofclass activities. Our social and cultural life was well-organized. For example, we had an orchestra, a choir, an arts club, an International Friendship Club. I took part in the drama club.
At school we had classes in Russian, Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, English, History, Computer Programming. We also had Music, Physical Education, and Information Technology.
My favourite subject was English. I liked to learn new words, to dramatize texts and dialogues. I liked it when we discussed something interesting to us, when we were taught to debate, when we had small-group discussions or set up a role play.
But I wasn't very good at chemistry. I always failed to learn formulas and terms properly. Maybe our chemistry teacher was too serious, too academic.
She was not imaginative enough and her lessons were a little bit dull.
I liked my class. I always felt at home there. Everybody was so friendly and easy to get along with. I was on good terms with my classmates and we often spent our free time together.
Vocabulary
specialized ['spejalaizd] school специализированная high-quality высокого качества
школа strict строгий
discipline ['disiplin] дисциплина
well-equipped [,weh'kwipt] хорошо оборудованный
gym [d3im] спортивный зал
canteen [kaen'tiin] столовая
workshops мастерские
assembly [a'sembli] hall а ктовый зал
home economics [^ka'nomiks] room кабинет
домоводства
computer class компьютерный класс
language laboratory лингафонный кабинет
physics ['fiziks] физика
chemistry ['kemistri] химия
biology [bai'olad3i] биология
to sit up засиживаться допоздна, не ложиться
спать, бодрствовать
composition сочинение
report [n'po:t] доклад
right away сразу же
out-of-class внеклассный
social f'saujl] общественный
orchestra f'o:kistra] оркестр
choir f'kwaia] хор
arts club художественный кружок
International Friendship Club Клуб интернацио-
нальной дружбы
drama ['dra:ma] club драмкружок
geography [d3ftgrafi] география
physical education [,fizikal edju'kei/n] физкультура
Information Technology [tek'nobdji] информатика
to dramatize f'draemataiz] инсценировать
to debate [di'beit] проводить дебаты, спорить,
обсуждать
to set up a role play проводить ролевую игру
formula ['fcxmjula] формула
term [torn] термин
properly ['propali] как следует
serious ['siariasj серьезный
academic [,aka'demik] академичный, оторванный
от практики
imaginative [i'msedjinativ] изобретательный
dull [dAl] скучный
to get along with ладить
to be on good terms with быть в хороших
отношениях
Questions
1. What kind of school did you go to?
2. Was your school well or poorly equipped?
3. Was the quality of teaching high?
4. Did you have any problems with discipline?
5. How many lessons a day did you have?
6. Did you spend much time on your homework?
7. What was your favourite subject?
8. Were there any subjects you were bad at?
9. Were you taught computer skills?
10. What subjects do you think should be studied at school?
11. Did you take part in any out-of-class activities?
12. Were you on good terms with your teachers?
13. Did you get along with your classmates?
HOW I WENT SHOPPING
One day my friend Nick and I decided to go shopping. I took my salary and Nick took his father's salary. Nick needed some new clothes badly. There are a lot of shops, supermarkets and department stores in the centre of the city, so we decided to go through some of them.
The first shop on our way was a large supermarket. The choice of goods was very impressive. It seemed to us that on the counters and shelves there was everything one could want. We could see sausages of different kinds, fish, meat, poultry. At the bakery there was bread, rolls, buscuits. At the dairy department there was milk, cream, cheese, butter. Everything was nicely packed and when we came to the cashier our baskets were full.
Then we went to the department store which was right across the street.
Nick and I are fond of computers and video and hi-fi equipment, so we couldn't go past our favourite department. There were a lot of computers, video cassette recorders, TV sets, hi-fi centres and tape recorders. Nick bought three new CDs and I bought two video cassettes.
And then, at last, we found the men's clothing department. There were a lot of suits, trousers, jackets, shirts and many other things. Nick needed a suit because he was going to the theatre with his girlfriend and her parents to see Pygmalion. As you probably remember, Nick is very tall and slim. So it's always difficult to find clothes that would suit him perfectly.
The shop assistant asked Nick's size and offered him a nice suit. But when Nick tried it on I couldn't help laughing. The jacket was too big for him and the trousers were too short. He looked so funny! The shop assistant thought for a moment and then suggested that Nick should try on some jackets and some trousers separately. An hour later Nick looked like an English gentleman. The pinstriped jacket matched the black trousers perfectly. The shop assistant also showed Nick a wonderful tie and he immediately agreed to buy it.
We had to go home by taxi because our bags were so huge that we could hardly lift them. We came home completely broke but happy.
Vocabulary
to go shopping ходить по магазинам
salary ['saelari] зарплата
to need badly очень нуждаться
supermarket ['su:pa,ma:kit] универсам
department store [di'pa-.tmant sto:] универмаг
to go through [0ru:] зд. пройтись
on one's way по дороге, на пути
choice [tfois] выбор
impressive [im'presiv] впечатляющий
counter ['kaunta] прилавок
sausage [-sosid3] колбаса
poultry ['pauttri] птица
bakery ['beikari] хлебный отдел
roll [raul] булочка
biscuits ['biskits] печенье
dairy ['deari] молочные продукты
cream [kri:m] сливки
nicely packed красиво упакованный
cashier [kse'Jie] кассир
basket ['ba:skit] корзина
right across the street прямо через дорогу
video equipment [i'kwipmant] видео-аппаратура
hi-fi [,hai'fai] equipment аудио-аппаратура
to go past пройти мимо
men's clothing department отдел мужской
одежды
suit [su:t / sju:t] костюм
slim стройный
to suit perfectly быть впору, прекрасно подходить
size размер
to try on примерять
I couldn't help laughing Я не мог не рассмеяться
to suggest [sa'd3est] предлагать
separately ['sepratli] отдельно
gentleman ['d3entlmen] джентльмен
pin-striped ['pinstraipt] jacket пиджак в тонкую
полоску
to match соответствовать, подходить, сочетаться
immediately [i'mi:diatli] сразу же, немедленно
huge [hju:d3] огромный
hardly едва, с трудом
to lift поднимать
completely [kam'pli:tli] совершенно
broke [brauk] без денег
Questions
1. Who does the shopping in your family?
2. How often do you go shopping?
3. Do you prefer to go shopping on weekdays or at the weekend?
4. Do you like to go to small shops or to big department stores and supermarkets?
5. Which do you think is the most convenient time for shopping?
6. Some people are fond of window-shopping (разглядывание витрин). Can you say that you belong to such people?
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of big supermarkets?
8. When did you last go shopping? What did you buy?
MY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
When you leave school you understand that the time to choose your future profession has come. It's not an easy task to make the right choice of a job. I have known for a long time that leaving school is the beginning of my independent life, the beginning of a far more serious examination of my abilities and character.
I have asked myself a lot of times: "What do I want to be when I leave school?" A few years ago it was difficult for me to give a definite answer. As the years passed I changed my mind a lot of times about which science or field of industry to specialize in. It was difficult to make up my mind and choose one of the hundreds jobs to which I might be better suited.
A couple of years ago I wanted to become a doctor. I thought it was a very noble profession. I was good at biology and chemistry in the 8th and 9th forms. I wanted to help people who had problems with health. I knew that a doctor should be noble in work and life, kind and attentive to people, responsible and reasonable, honest and prudent. A doctor, who is selfish, dishonest can't be good at his profession. I tried to do my best to develop good traits in myself.
Now I have already decided what to do. I'd like to be a teacher. I know that it's very difficult to become a good teacher. You should know perfectly the subject you teach, you must be well-educated and well-informed. An ignorant teacher teaches ignorance, a fearful teacher teaches fear, a bored teacher teaches boredom.
But a good teacher develops in his pupils the burning desire to know and love for the truth and beauty. As John Steinbeck once said, a great teacher is a great artist and you know how few great artists there are in the world. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts. It's a great responsibility to bring up children. I think that's the reason why teachers are deeply respected.
More and more people realise that every educated person should know a foreign language. That's why I'm going to become an English teacher. I always remember these famous words and I'm going to teach them to my pupils: "He, who doesn't know a foreign language, doesn't know his own language".
Names
John Steinbeck ['steinbek] Джон Стейнбек (известный американский писатель)
Vocabulary
choice [t/ois] выбор to develop [di'vetep] развивать
independent [jndPpendant] независимый trait [trei/treit] черта характера
far more гораздо более well-informed эрудированный
serious ['siarias] серьезный ignorant f'ignarant] несведущий, незнающий, ма-
ability [a'biliti] способность лообразованный
character ['kaerakta] характер ignorance [Ignarans] невежество, незнание, нео-
to change one's mind передумать сведомленность
to make up one's mind решить(ся) fearful [fiaful] робкий, пугливый
to suit [sju:t] подходить fear [fia] страх, боязнь
noble ['naubl] благородный bored [bo:d] уставший, безразличный, равнодушный
attentive [a'tentiv] внимательный boredom ['bo:damj скука
responsible [ris'ponsibl] ответственный burning desire [di'zaia] жгучее желание
reasonable ['ri:zanabl] разумный, обладающий responsibility [risponsi'biliti] ответственность
здравым смыслом to bring up воспитывать
prudent ['pru:dant] осмотрительный, осторожный, reason ['ri:zn] причина
благоразумный deeply f'dhpli] глубоко
selfish ['selfij] эгоистичный to respect [ri'spekt] уважать
dishonest [dis'onist] бесчестный to realize ['rialaiz] понимать, осознавать
Questions
1. Have you decided on your career?
2. When did you begin making plans for the future?
3. When were you able to give a definite answer about your future profession? Did anybody help you to make the choice?
4. Are you going to work and study at the same time?
5. Why do you think teaching is a noble profession?
6. What traits must a good teacher have?
7. What difficulties of teaching profession can you name?
8. What did Steinbeck say about teaching?
9. What other jobs do you know?
10. In what jobs is the knowledge of a foreign language necessary?
11. Would you rather have a dull well-paid job or an interesting but poorly-paid job?
12. Have you got computer skills?
13. Do you think people will work less in the future?
14. Do you believe that one day teachers will be replaced by computers?
MY MEALS
It goes without saying that I prefer to have meals at home. At the weekend I like to get up late and have a good breakfast of scrambled eggs, or pancakes, or something like that. But on weekdays I'm always short of time in the morning. So I just have a cup of strong tea or coffee and a couple of sandwiches.
As I spend a lot of time at school (usually eight or nine hours) it's necessary to have a snack at midday just to keep me going. That's why I have to go to the school canteen to have lunch. Our school canteen leaves much to be desired. It has become a tradition with our canteen to serve chops and watery mashed potatoes every day with a glass of cocoa or stewed fruit.
But I enjoy my evening meal at home. My mother is a wonderful cook and her dinners are always delicious and various.
To begin with, we usually have some salad - - tomato and cucumber salad or mixed salad (I like it very much). For the first course we have some soup — noodle, mushroom or cabbage soup, or maybe some fish soup for a change. For the main course we have meat, chicken or fish dishes, for example, steak or fried fish with spaghetti or potatoes (boiled or fried). We also have a lot of vegetables — green peas, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers. I prefer meat to fish but my mother makes me eat fish from time to time. She says it's good for my brains.
For dessert we have some fruit, fruit juice or just a cup of tea with a slice of cake.
On Sundays we sometimes go to McDonald's. I like everything there: cheeseburgers, hamburgers and Big Macs, apple pies and fruit cocktails. But unfortunately we can't afford to go there very often, because it's rather expensive for a family and besides, they say it's not very healthy to eat at
McDonald's.
Vocabulary
it goes without saying само собой разумеется couple ['1<лр1] пара, два
to prefer [pitfe:] предпочитать, отдавать sandwich ['sanwid3] бутерброд, сандвич
предпочтение to have a snack перекусить
scrambled eggs rskraembld 'egzl яичница
pancakes [-paenkeiks] блины, оладьи to keeP smb 8ОШ« Д™ поддержания сил
short of time не хватает времени canteen [kaen'ti:n] столовая
leaves much to be desired [di'zaiad] оставляет
желать лучшего
to serve ['S3:v] обслуживать, подавать
a chop котлета
watery ['wo:tri] водянистый
mashed f'maejt] potatoes картофельное пюре
cocoa f'kaukau] какао
stewed fruit ['stju:d 'fru:t] компот
delicious [di'lijas] вкусный
various [vearias] разнообразный
to begin with для начала
salad f'saelad] салат
tomato [ta'ma:t9u] помидор
cucumber ['kju:kamba] огурец
mixed [mikst] смешанный
noodle ['nurdlj soup куриный суп с лапшой
mushroom ['rmjru:m] soup грибной суп
cabbage ['ksebidj] soup щи
for a change для разнообразия
steak [steik] кусок мяса, лангет, бифштекс
spaghetti [spa'geti] спагетти
to boil [boil] варить
to fry [frai] жарить
green peas [pi:z] зеленый горошек
carrot ['kaerat] морковь
to make smb do smth заставлять кого-либо
делать что-либо
from time to time время от времени
brain [brein] мозг
dessert [di'za:!] десерт
juice [d3u:s] сок
slice [slais] ломтик, кусочек
cheeseburger ['tji:zb3:ga] чизбургер (бутерброд с
бифштексом и сыром)
hamburger ['МзетЬз:дэ] гамбургер (булочка с руб-
леным бифштексом)
Big Mac [,big 'maek] Биг Мак (фирменное название
многослойного бутерброда)
apple pie [pai] пирог (пирожок) с яблоками
fruit cocktail ['kokteil] фруктовый коктейль
unfortunately [An'fortjhitii] к сожалению
to afford [a'fo:d] позволять себе
they say говорят...
it's not very healthy [tieiei] зд. вредно для здоровья
Questions
1. How many meals a day do you usually have?
2. What do you usually have for breakfast?
3. Where do you have lunch (dinner)?
4. How many courses does your lunch (dinner) usually consist of?
5. What is your favourite dish?
6. What vegetables do you like?
7. What do you usually have for dessert?
8. How often do you eat out?
9. Have you ever eaten at McDonald's?
10. Some people say that eating at a restaurant is a waste of money. Do you agree?
11. Can you cook?
12. Do you agree that the best cooks in the world are men?
AT THE DOCTOR'S
Is there anything more important than health? I don't think so. "Health is the greatest wealth," wise people say. You can't be good at your studies or work well when you are ill.
If you have a headache, heartache, toothache, backache, earache or bad pain in the stomach, if you complain of a sore throat or a bad cough, if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold in your head, or if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, I think you should consult a doctor.
The doctor will examine your throat, feel your pulse, test your blood pressure, take your temperature, sound your heart and lungs, test your eyes, check your teeth or have your chest X-rayed.
After that he will prescribe some treatment, pills, tablets or some other medicine which we can buy at the chemist's. He will recommend you to stay in bed for some time, because there might be serious complications. The only thing you have to do is to follow his recommendations.
Speaking about doctors' recommendations, I can't help telling you one funny story.
An old gentleman came to see the doctor. The man was very ill. He complained of weakness, insomnia, memory loss and serious problems with his heart, lungs and liver. The doctor examined the patient and said that no medicine could cure his desease.
Do you want to know what the doctor's advice was?
He told his patient to go to a quiet place for a month and have a good rest. He also advised him to eat a lot of meat, drink two glasses of red wine every day and take long walks. In other words, the doctor recommended him to follow the rule: "Eat at pleasure, drink with measure and enjoy life as it is."
The doctor also said that if the man wanted to be well again, he shouldn't smoke more than one cigarette a day.
A month later the gentleman came into the doctor's office. He looked cheerful and happy. He thanked the doctor and said that he had never felt a healthier man.
"But you know, doctor," he said, "it's not easy to begin smoking at my age."
Vocabulary
health [helG] здоровье wealth [we!6] богатство
wise [waiz] мудрый
to be good at studies хорошо учиться
headache ['hedeik] головная боль
heartache ['ha:teik] боль в сердце
toothache ['tu:Oeik] зубная боль
backache ['bsekeikj боль в спине или в пояснице
earache f'iareik] боль в ухе
bad pain сильная боль
stomach ['st/unak] желудок; живот
to complain [kam'plein] of жаловаться на
sore throat [.so: 'Graut] боль в горле
cough [kof] кашель
to run a high temperature ['tempritfa] иметь
высокую температуру
bad cold in one's head сильная простуда
to suffer ['SAfa] from страдать от
blood pressure ['blAd ,preja] кровяное давление
to consult [kan'sAlt] a doctor обратиться к врачу
to examine [ig'zaemin] осмотреть
to feel one's pulse [рл!з] проверить пульс
to test one's blood pressure измерить кровяное
давление
to take one's temperature измерить температуру
to sound one's heart and lungs [IAQZ] прослушать
сердце и легкие
to test one's eyes проверить зрение
to check one's teeth проверить зубы
to have one's chest X-rayed ['eksreidj сделать
рентген грудной клетки
to prescribe [pri'skraib] прописать (лечение),
выписать (рецепт)
treatment ['trhtmantj лечение
pill пилюля
tablet ['taeblit] таблетка
medicine ['medsan] лекарство
at the chemist's ['kemistsj в аптеке
complication [jompli'keijn] осложнение
to follow one's recommendations следовать
рекомендациям
I can't help telling я не могу не рассказать
weakness ['wi:knis] слабость
insomnia [irrsomnia] бессоница
memory loss потеря памяти
liver [live] печень
patient ['peifantj пациент
to cure [kjua] излечивать
desease [di'zhz] болезнь
quiet f'kwaiat] тихий, спокойный
to have a good rest хорошо отдохнуть
to take long walks много ходить пешком
rule [ru:l] правило
Eat at pleasure ['р!езэ], drink with measure ['meja]
and enjoy life as it is. Ешьте вволю, пейте в меру
и наслаждайтесь жизнью.
to be well хорошо себя чувствовать
to smoke [smauk] курить
cheerful ['tfiaful] бодрый
at my age [eid3] в моем возрвсте
Questions
1. Do you agree with the saying "Health is the greatest wealth"?
2. The doctor recommended his patient to follow the rule: "Eat at pleasure, drink with measure and enjoy life as it is." What do you think of this piece of advice?
3. When were you last ill? What did you complain of?
4. Did you see the doctor?
5. Did you have to stay in bed?
6. What treatment did the doctor prescribe?
7. How long did it take you to get well?
8. Have you ever had complications after a disease? Which did you take harder, the disease itself or the complications after it?
9. What do you usually do when you have a headache?
10. How often do you go to the dentist to check your teeth?
11. How long does it usually take you to recover from cold?
12. Have you ever been operated on? Was it serious?
Hobbies and Pastimes
HOBBIES
Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting.
Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things.
The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to travelling and from chess to volleyball.
Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a well-known fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses.
Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it's becoming more and more popular.
Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill. Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments.
Almost everyone collects something at some period in his life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches. Some collections have no real value. Others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many world-famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them.
No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.
Names
Eisenhower ['aiznhaua] Эйзенхауэр (президент Winston Churchill [,winsten 'tfaitjil] Уинстон Черчилль
США с 1953 по 1961г.; знаменитый генерал (известный политический деятель, премьер-министр
американской армии во время IIмировой войны) Великобритании во время IIмировой войны)
Vocabulary
character ['kaerakta] характер
taste [teist] вкус
according [a'ko:dio] to по, согласно
to include [in'klu:d] включать
variety [va'raiati] разнообразие
activity [aek'tiviti] занятие
gardening f'ga:dnio] садоводство
grown-up [удгэип'лр] взрослый (человек)
relatively ['retetivli] относительно, сравнительно
drawing [-dro:ig] рисование
painting ['peintiij] живопись
sculpture ['skAlptJa] скульптура
to design [di'zain] создавать, моделировать,
конструировать
costume ['kostju:m] одежда, костюм
handicraft ['haendikrarft] ремесло, ручная работа
hobbyist f'hobiist] любитель, человек имеющий
определенное хобби
to collect [ka'lekt] собирать
stamp марка
coin монета
matchbox спичечный коробок
record ['reko:d] пластинка
postcard ['paus(t)ka:d] почтовая открытка
value [vaelju:] ценность
valuable ['vaeljuabl] ценный, дорогой
to house [hauz] помещать, размещать
in a small way в малом масштабе, понемногу
item ['aitam] предмет
a good deal of много
rare [геэ] редкий
private ['praivit] частный, личный
to take pleasure in получать удовольствие от
no matter what kind of hobby a person has чем
бы человек ни увлекался
opportunity [ppa'tju:niti] возможность
to add добавлять
exciting [ik'saitirj] увлекательный, захватывающий
aspect f'aespekt] аспект, сторона
Questions
1. Tastes differ. Can you say the same about hobbies?
2. Have you chosen a hobby according to your character and taste?
3. Which hobby groups do you know?
4. The most popular hobby group is doing things, isn't it? What kind of activities does this group include?
5. What do you know about gardening?
6. Do you like computer games?
7. Are you fond of making things?
8. Do you know any famous hobbyists?
9. Have you ever collected anything?
10. What can be collected?
11. Do you know of any private collections that were given to museums or art galleries?
12. Do you agree that learning can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby?
MY FRIEND'S HOBBY
My friend Nick is very busy and he doesn't have much time to spare. But he's got a lot of hobbies and interests.
Five years ago Nick was fond of collecting stamps. His hobby helped him to learn a lot about other countries and other peoples' traditions, the world's flora and fauna. Maybe that's why he was good at geography and biology at school.
He used to bring the albums to school and we examined his stamps with great interest and envy. Sometimes he exchanged stamps with his schoolmates.
When Nick was in the tenth form his parents bought him a compact disc player and Nick decided to collect compact discs. Today, he has got more than one hundred CDs of his favourite groups and singers! I think that he is very proud of his collection.
Every time Nick buys a new CD he carefully studies the information printed on disc booklets. He also tries to find out everything about the singers he likes. That's why he reads a lot of specialised magazines and books on the history of rock.
Nick never misses MTV shows — he thinks he must keep up with the news in the world of music. He says he likes all types of music except "rave".
He even writes letters to some fan-clubs in other countries, so he has to brush up his English.
Nick never misses a concert of his favourite group. He brings his compact discs to the concert and asks the singers for their autographs.
But in spite of his new hobby, Nick sometimes sits in his room and looks through his albums of stamps (with his earphones on, of course).
Names
MTV [,em ti: 'vi:] = music television (24-часовой музыкальный канал американского телевидения)
Vocabulary
time to spare ['spea] свободное время
flora f'fkxra] растительный мир
fauna ['fo:na] животный мир
to be good at быть способным к
envy f'envi] зависть
to exchange [iks'tjeind3] обмениваться
schoolmates школьные друзья
compact disc ['kompaekt 'disk] player проигрыватель
компакт-дисков
booklet ['buklit] вкладыш (к компакт-дискам)
specialised ['spejalaizd] специализированный
to keep up with быть в курсе, не отставать
rave [reiv] рейв (музыкальный стиль) to brush up освежать (в памяти), восстанавливать
fan-club клуб любителей (той или иной группы) autograph ['o:tsgra:f] автограф
Questions
1. Nick doesn't have much time to spare, does he?
2. Why was he good at geography and biology at school?
3. What is his new hobby?
4. Why does Nick try not to miss MTV shows?
5. Do you think his English is good?
6. Have you ever written a fan letter to your favourite singer?
7. Are you fond of listening to music?
8. What kind of music do you prefer?
9. Do you play any musical instruments?
10. Have you ever collected anything?
11. What is your hobby?
12. What is your best friend's hobby?
13. Which of your friends collects stamps (records, compact discs, etc)?
14. Do you watch MTV?
15. How do you usually spend your leisure (['1езэ] досуг) time?
TRAVELLING
Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.
Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun.
Most travellers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them — the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds.
Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had.
People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car.
All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations.
If we are fond of travelling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes.
Vocabulary
ruins ['ridnz] руины, развалины
ancient ['einjant] древний
to enjoy [in'd30i] наслаждаться
picturesque [piktja'resk] живописный
change of scene [si:n] перемена обстановки
to discover [dis'k/we] открывать, обнаруживать
rhythm [ridm] ритм
art gallery ['gaeleri] картинная галерея
exotic [ig'zotik] экзотический
restaurant ['restront] ресторан
city-dweller ['dwele] горожанин
to bathe [beid] купаться
to laze [leiz] in the sun валяться на солнце
holiday-maker отдыхающий, отпускник
camera ['kaemare] фотоаппарат
to take pictures of фотографировать
sight ['salt] вид
church [tjaitj] церковь
castle f'ka:sl] замок
view [yju:] вид
valley [vaeli] долина
plain [plein] равнина
waterfall ['wo:tafo:l] водопад
to remind [ri'maind] напоминать
photo ['feutauj фотография
advantage [ed'va:ntid3] преимущество
disadvantage [,disad'va:ntid3] недостаток
destination [,desti'neijn] место назначения,
цель (путешествия, похода и т.п.)
Questions
1. Are you fond of travelling?
2. Why do people travel?
3. Why do people take a camera with them? What do they usually photograph?
4. What do we see and learn while travelling?
5. Do you agree that travelling broadens our minds?
6. How do different people spend their holidays?
7. What means of travel do you know? What are their advantages and disadvantages?
8. What places have you visited?
9. Have you ever taken a holiday cruise ([kru:z] круиз) along the Black Sea coast or down the Volga?
10. Some people prefer to travel on their own and hate travelling in a group. What about you?
11. What countries would you like to visit?
12. Do you like to explore new places?
13. If someone invited you to spend a week on a desert island, would you agree?
14. Do you believe that one day people will be able to travel hi space?
15. Would you like to go to Mars or some other planet?
MY LAST SUMMER HOLIDAYS
Ialways look forward to my summer holidays. In my opinion, there's nothing like the Russian countryside. We've got a small country house in a very picturesque place not far from Zagorsk. There's a river and a lake there. My friends and I often go swimming and boating there. I'm also fond of lying in the sun.
There's a lot offish in the lake, so I sometimes go fishing. I like to sit in silence for a while waiting for a fish to get caught and listening to the birds singing in the trees. When I happen to catch a fish I set it free at once, because I do fishing just for pleasure.
When it's very hot I usually go to the forest. The air is cool there. I like to walk in the shade of the trees and pick mushrooms and berries. I've got a dog called Jack. He becomes so happy when I take him with me to the forest.
Jack likes to run after butterflies or dragonflies. I sometimes play with him. I throw a stick and he brings it back to me.
But last summer my parents decided to go to some other place for a change. They made up their minds to go to the Crimea. I think it was the greatest mistake they had ever made. This, in a nutshell, is what happened.
To begin with, it was very difficult to find a place to stay. We rented a room in a house a long way from the sea. It was the only place we managed to get. It took us about half an hour to get to the beach. But it didn't matter, as it turned out a few days later. Suddenly our happy sunny days were over. It started to rain. It occasionally cleared up for a while but then the rain went on again. All we could do was to spend all our time in the cinema or in a cafe. It was impossible to leave because we had made reservations beforehand and we had to spend another week there.
I had never seen so many films in my life. By the end of the week I got very tired of the cinema and I could only lie on the bed reading books or staring at the ceiling.
At last the happy day of our departure came. You can't imagine how astonished we were. The sun began to shine early in the morning. It seemed to me that it was laughing at us.
After that holiday we decided to spend every summer in the country.
Names
the Crimea [krai'mia] Крым
Vocabulary
to look forward ['fcxwad] to с нетерпением ждать
чего-либо
in my opinion [a'pinjan] по-моему
there's nothing like нет ничего лучше
countryside ['kAntrisaid] сельская местность
picturesque [piktja'resk] живописный
to be fond of doing smth увлекаться чем-либо,
любить чем-либо заниматься
to lie in the sun загорать
for a while некоторое время
to wait for a fish to get caught ждать, когда
поймается рыбка
when I happen to когда я, случается...
to set free отпустить, освободить
at once сразу же
to do fishing заниматься рыбной ловлей
in the shade в тени
butterfly ['bAtaflai] бабочка
dragonfly ['draeganflai] стрекоза
for a change для разнообразия
to make up one's mind решить (что-либо
сделать)
in a nutshell ['rmtjel] вкратце
to rent снять (дом, комнату, квартиру)
to manage to do smth суметь что-либо сделать
as it turned out как оказалось
occasionally [a'keisnali] от случая к случаю, иногда
to clear up проясниться (о погоде)
to go on продолжать
to make reservations [,reza'veifnz] забронировать,
заказать заранее
beforehand [bi'fo:hsend] заблаговременно
to stare [stea] at smth уставиться на что-либо
to be astonished [a'stonift] быть в изумлении
Questions
1. Where do you usually spend your summer holidays?
2. Do you always look forward to your summer holidays?
3. What do you usually do in summer?
4. Do you like to go swimming (boating)?
5. Are you fond of lying in the sun?
6. What do you usually do in hot weather?
7. Are you fond of fishing?
8. What do you enjoy doing in the evenings?
9. Have you ever been to the Crimea?
10. Where did you spend your last summer holidays?
11. What is your idea of an ideal holiday?
12. Where would you like to spend your next summer holidays?
MY FAVOURITE SEASON
There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Every season is beautiful in its own way.
When spring comes nature awakens from its long winter sleep. The days become longer and the nights become shorter. The ground is covered with emeraldgreen grass and spring flowers. The air is fresh, the sky is blue and cloudless, and the sun shines brightly. The trees are in full blossom. The nightingale begins to sing its lovely songs, and sweet melodies may be heard from every wood and park. The days are warm and everything is full of life and joy.
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. 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's a short spell of dry sunny weather in September which is called Indian Summer. It's a beautiful time when the sky is cloudless, the trees around are golden, the air is transparent and it's still warm. But gradually it gets colder and colder. It often rains in October and November which makes autumn an unpleasant season.
In winter the sun sets early and rises late. The rivers and lakes are frozen over. Everything is covered with snow. Sometimes it's very cold, about 25-30 degrees below zero. Going out in such weather isn't very pleasant. Winter is a good time for sports. People go in for skating and skiing. Tobogganing is also popular, not as a kind of sports, but rather as fun.
As for me, I like all seasons, but I think there's nothing like late spring.
Vocabulary
season ['si:zn] время года to be in blossom быть в цвету
nature ['neitja] природа nightingale ['naitiqgeil] соловей
to awaken [a'weikn] пробуждать(ся) lovely [1/wli] красивый, прекрасный
ground [graund] земля sweet зд. приятный
to cover ['k/wa] покрывать melody ['meladi] мелодия
emerald-green [,етэгэИ 'gn:n] изумрудно-зеленый joy [d30i] радость
fresh свежий thunder ['G/vida] гром
lightning [laitnirj] молния
to pick mushrooms and berries собирать грибы
и ягоды
to go fishing заниматься рыбной ловлей
to go boating кататься на лодке
to prefer [pri'fa:] предпочитать
transparent [traen'spearant] прозрачный
to freeze (froze, frozen) замерзать
tobogganing [ta'boganig] катание на санках
there's nothing like нет ничего лучше
Questions
1. How many seasons are there in a year?
2. When does nature awaken from her long winter sleep?
3. Why do we like spring so much?
4. Why do people try to spend more time in the open air in summer?
5. Is summer the best season for tourism?
6. Where did you go last summer?
7. Do you like Indian summer? Why?
8. Do you like late autumn?
9. What do you usually do on a nasty rainy day?
10. What is the weather like in whiter?
11. Do you go in for skating or skiing?
12. Were you fond of playing snowballs and making snowmen when you were a child?
13. Most people prefer summer to any other season of the year. What about you?
14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each season?
Countries and Cities
GREAT BRITAIN
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244,000 square kilometres.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in everyday speech "Great Britain" is used to mean the United Kingdom. The capital of the UK is London.
The British Isles are separated from the continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.
Shakespeare called Britain a "precious stone set in the silver sea" because of its natural beauty. It has a varied countryside where you can find mountains, plains, valleys and sandy beaches. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain, but it is only 1343 metres high.
There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.
The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round.
The UK is one of the world's smaller countries. Its population is over 58 million. About 80% of the population live in cities.
The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen.
In practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties.
Names
The United [jirnaitid] Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern ['no:dan] Ireland ['aialand]
Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии
the British Isles [ailz] Британские острова
Edinburgh ['edinbara] Эдинбург
Cardiff ['ka:dif] Кардифф
Belfast [,bel'fa:st] Белфаст
the North Sea Северное море
the English Channel [tjaenl] Английский канал (приня-
тое в Великобритании название пролива Ла-Манш)
the Atlantic Ocean [a,tlaentik 'aujn] Атлантический океан
the Irish ['aiarij] Sea Ирландское море
Shakespeare ['Jeikspia] Шекспир
Ben Nevis [ben 'neyis] Бен Невис
the Severn ['seven] Северн
the Thames [temz] Темза
Gulf Stream ['длК strhm] Гольфстрим
the House of Lords палата лордов
the House of Commons палата общин
the Labour [leiba], the Conservative [kan'saivativ]
and the Liberal [liberal] parties Лейбористская,
Консервативная и Либеральная партии
Vocabulary
to be situated ['sitjueitid] быть расположенным
to consist [kan'sist] of состоять из
total area [,tautl 'earia] общая площадь
kilometre ['kila,mi:ta] километр
respectively [ri'spektivli] соответственно
to include [in'klu:d] включать
to mean [mi:n] (meant) означать
to separate ['separeit] разделять
to wash омывать
precious ['prejas] драгоценный
varied [vearid] разнообразный, меняющийся
(ландшафт)
plain ['plain] равнина
valley ['vaeli] долина
sandy beach ['bi:tj] песчаный пляж
deep глубокий
to influence ['influans] влиять
climate ['klaimit] климат
mild [maild] мягкий, умеренный
the whole year round круглый год
population [popjuleijn] население
highly developed [divelapt] высокоразвитый
producer [pra'dju:sa] производитель
exporter [ik'spo:ta] экспортер
machinery [ma'Jhnari] машинное оборудование
electronics [/elik'traniks] электроника
textile ['tekstail] текстиль
aircraft ['eakraift] самолеты
navigation [.naevi'geijn] судоходство
equipment [i'kwipmant] оборудование
chief [tfl:f] главный, основной
shipbuilding кораблестроение
constitutional monarchy [.konsti'tjujanl 'monaki]
конституционная монархия
in law [b:] по закону
the head of state глава государства
queen [kwi:n] королева
in practice ['praktis] фактически, на практике
to reign [rein] царствовать
to rule [ru:l] править
to elect [ilekt] выбирать
government ['gwanmant] правительство
Prime Minister премьер-министр
at the head во главе
parliament ['paMamant] парламент
chamber ['tjeimba] палата
Questions
1. The UK is an island state, isn't it? Where is it situated?
2. What countries is the UK made of? What are their capitals?
3. What channel separates the British Isles from the European continent?
4. Who called Britain a "precious stone set in the silver sea"?
5. The surface of the British Isles varies very much, doesn't it?
6. What's the highest mountain on the British Isles?
7. Are there a lot of long and deep rivers in Great Britain?
8. Why is the climate of the British Isles mild?
9. Is the UK a large country?
10. What's the UK's population?
11. The UK is a highly developed industrial country. What does it produce and export?
12. The UK is a constitutional monarchy. What does it mean?
CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN GREAT BRITAIN
The climate in Great Britain is mild and temperate due to the influence of the Gulf Stream.
The British often say: "Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather." The weather in Britain is very changeable. A fine morning can change into a wet afternoon and evening. And a nasty morning can change to a fine afternoon. That's why it is natural for the British to use the comparison "as changeable as the weather" of a person who often changes his mood or opinion about something.
The British also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when it rains all day long.
The weather is the favourite conversational topic in England. When two Englishmen meet, their first words will be "How do you do?" or "How are you?" And after the reply "Very well, thank you; how are you?" the next remark is almost certain to be about the weather. When they go abroad the
British often surprise people of other nationalities by this tendency to talk about the weather, a topic of conversation that other people do not find so interesting.
The best time of the year in Britain is spring (of course, it rains in spring too).
The two worst months in Britain are January and February. They are cold, damp and unpleasant. The best place in the world then is at home by the big fire.
Summer months are rather cold and there can be a lot of rainy days. So most people who look forward to summer holidays, plan to go abroad for the summer — to France, Spain or some other place on the Continent.
The most unpleasant aspect of British weather is fog and smog. This is extremely bad in big cities and especially in London.
The fog spreads everywhere, it is in the streets and it creeps into the houses. Cars move along slowly, but still street accidents are frequent in the fog. People cannot see each other. They creep along the houses touching them with their hands not to lose their way or not to be run over by a car.
Names
Gulf Stream ['длК strhm] Гольфстрим the Continent ['kontinant] континент (так англичане
называют Европу)
Vocabulary
climate ['klaimit] климат
mild [maild] мягкий
temperate ['temprit] умеренный
due to ['dju: tu:] благодаря, вследствие
influence [Influans] влияние
changeable ['tjeind3abl] изменчивый,
неустойчивый
nasty ['na:sti] мерзкий, противный
comparison [kam'paerisn] сравнение
mood [mu:d] настроение
opinion [a'pinjan] мнение
remark [ri'ma:k] замечание
to go abroad [a'bro:d] поехать за границу
nationality [jiaeja'naeliti] национальность
tendency ['tendansi] тенденция
damp влажный, сырой
fire [faia] камин
to look forward ['fo:wad] to с нетерпением ждать
aspect ['aespekt] аспект, сторона
fog туман
smog (smoke + fog) смог
extremely [iks'titmli] чрезвычайно
to spread [spred] (spread) распространять(ся),
расстилать(ся)
to creep (crept) ползти, красться
accident ['asksidant] несчастный случай
frequent [fitkwent] частый
to lose way заблудиться
to be run over by a car попасть под машину
Questions
1. Why is the climate in Britain mild?
2. The weather in Britain is very changeable, isn't it?
3. What comparison do the British use when they want to describe a person whose mood and opinion changes very often?
4. How often does it rain in Britain?
5. The weather is the favourite conversational topic in England, isn't it? Do you find this topic of conversation interesting?
6. What is the best time of the year in Britain?
7. When do the British prefer to stay at home by the big fire?
8. How do the British spend their short British summer?
9. What do you know about London fogs?
10. What kind of weather do you like best of all?
11. Where do you get the weather forecast (['fo:ka:st] прогноз погоды) from? Do you always believe it?
12. Which do you like better: when it's cold or hot?
13. What is the weather like today?
14. Do you know the weather forecast for tomorrow?
15. What is the weather like in Russia in winter (summer, autumn, spring)?
LONDON
London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It's one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million.
London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world.
Traditionally it's divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epochs.
The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre.
Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few people live here, but over a million people come to the City to work. There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them is St Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of British churches. It was built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal palace and a prison. Now it's a museum.
Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London.
Westminster Abbey has more historic associations than any other building in Britain. Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned here. Many outstanding statesmen, scientists, writers, poets and painters are buried here: Newton, Darwin, Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling.
Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, or the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as "Big Ben".
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen.
The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It's the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens belonging to wealthy people.
Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson's victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson's Column stands in the middle of the square.
On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum - - the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc, and is famous for its library.
The East End was once the poorest district of London — with lots of factories and docks, narrow streets and unimpressive buildings. Today, the district is changing very fast. There are huge offices and new blocks of flats in the East End.
Names
the Bank of England Английский банк
the Stock Exchange ['stok iks^Jeindj] Лондонская
фондовая биржа
the Old Bailey [,auld 'belli] Центральный уголовный
суд, находящийся в Олд-Бейли
St Paul's Cathedral [sant ,po:fc ka'0i:dral] собор
св. Павла (главный собор англиканской церкви)
Sir Christopher Wren [sa: ,kristafa теп] Кристофер
Рен
the Tower f'taua] of London Лондонский Тауэр
Julius Caesar [.djuMias 'si:za] Юлий Цезарь
William the Conqueror j^wiljam da 'kot)kara]
Вильгельм Завоеватель, Вильгельм I
(первый король из норманнов в Англии)
Westminster Abbey [,westminstar 'aebi]
Вестминстерское аббатство
Newton ['nju:tn] Ньютон
Darwin ['da:win] Дарвин
Chaucer ['t|o:sa] Чосер
Dickens ['dikinz] Диккенс
Tennyson ['tenisn] Теннисон
Kipling ['kiplirj] Киплинг
Westminster Palace [,westminsta 'paelis] (the Houses
of Parliament) Вестминстерский дворец (здание
английского парламента)
Big Ben "Биг Бен", "Большой Бен" (колокол
часов-курантов на здании парламента, бой
которых передается ежедневно породив как
сигнал точного времени)
Buckingham Palace [.bAkigam -paelis] Букингемский
дворец (главная королевская резиденция в
Лондоне)
Trafalgar Square [tra,faelga 'skwea] Трафальгарская
площадь
Nelson's Column [,nelsnz 'kolam] колонна Нельсона
(памятник адмиралу Нельсону)
the National Gallery [,naejanl 'gselari] Национальная
галерея (крупнейшее в Великобритании собрание
картин)
the National Portrait [ po:trit] Gallery
Национальная портретная галерея
the British Museum Британский музей (один из
крупнейших в мире)
Vocabulary
commercial [ka'rra:Jal] торговый
population население
to belong [bi'loo] принадлежать
epoch f'i:pok] эпоха
financial [fai'nsenjal] финансовый
numerous ['nju:maras] многочисленный
firm фирма
ancient ['einjant] древний
striking f'straikio] поразительный, замечательный
church [t}3:tj] церковь
to found [faund] основывать
to rebuild [,ri:'bild] перестраивать
fortress ['fb:tris] крепость
royal ['roial] королевский
palace ['paelis] дворец
prison ['prizn] тюрьма
governmental [,g/vvn'mentl] правительственный
association [a,sausi'ei/n] ассоциация
to crown [kraun] короновать
outstanding [auf staendirj] выдающийся
statesman ['steitsman] государственный деятель
scientist f'saiantist] ученый
painter ['peinta] художник
to bury ['ben] хоронить
tower ['taua] башня
official residence [a,fijal 'rezidans] официальная
резиденция
wealth [weie] богатство
wealthy [\ге!9!] богатый
symbol ['simbal] символ
luxury ['lAkJari] роскошь
restaurant ['restraint] ресторан
splendid ['splendid] великолепный
in memory of в память о
column f'kolam] колонна
to contain [kan'tein] содержать
priceless ['praislis] бесценный
manuscript ['msenjuskript] рукопись
coin монета
sculpture ['skAlptJa] скульптура
to be famous for быть знаменитым ..., славиться
dock док
narrow ['naerau] узкий
unimpressive [yyiim'presiv] невпечатляющий,
невыразительный
huge [hju:d3] огромный
Questions
1. Is London the largest city in the world?
2. What's the population of London?
3. Traditionally London is divided into several parts. Can you name them?
4. What do you know about the City?
5. Who was St Paul's Cathedral built by?
6. Who founded the Tower of London? When was it rebuilt?
7. What is Westminster Abbey famous for?
8. Where does the British Parliament sit?
9. What is Big Ben?
10. Why was Trafalgar Square named so?
11. Why does Buckingham Palace attract so many tourists?
12. What are the most famous London museums and art galleries?
THE USA
The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometres. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-boarder with Russia.
The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The population of the country is more than 270 million.
If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains.
The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska.
America's largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA.
The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.
The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It's the world's leading producer of copper and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper.
Though mainly European and African in origin, Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations, including Chinese and native Americans.
The largest cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San-Francisco, Washington and others.
The United States is a federal union of 50 states, each of which has its own government. The seat of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, headed by the President, the legislative, exercised by the Congress, and the judicial. The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic, though there's hardly any difference between their political lines.
Names
the United [ju:'naitid] States of America
Соединенные Штаты Америки
Russia [tAja] Россия
Canada ['kaenade] Канада
China ['tjaina] Китай
North America Северная Америка
the Pacific Ocean [pa,sifik 'aujn] Тихий океан
the Atlantic Ocean [a,tlaentik 'aufn] Атлантический
океан
Alaska [a'laeska] Аляска
Hawaii [ha'wai-i] Гавайи
Mexico ['meksikau] Мексика
District of Columbia [.distrikt av ka'lAmbia] округ
Колумбия
Washington ['wofirjtan] Вашингтон
the Rocky Mountains Скалистые горы
the Cordillera [,ko:di'jeera] Кордильеры
the Sierra Nevada [si,era nivaeda] Сьерра-Невада
Mount McKinley [,maunt ma'kinli] гора Мак-Кинли
the Mississippi [,misi'sipi] Миссисипи
the Missouri [mi'zuari] Миссури
the Rio Grande [,г\:э(и)'дгхпй] Рио-Гранде
the Columbia [ka'lAmbia] Колумбия
the Great Lakes Великие озера (5 озер: Мичиган,
Онтарио, Гурон, Верхнее озеро и Эри)
the Gulf of Mexico [,дл№ av 'meksikau]
Мексиканский залив
Florida ['florida] Флорида
Los Angeles [bs 'aend3ali:z] Лос-Анджелес
Chicago [fitegau] Чикаго
Philadelphia [,fila'delfia] Филадельфия
Detroit [di'troit] Детройт
San-Francisco [.saenfran'siskau] Сан-Франциско
the Congress ['koggres] Конгресс
the Senate ['senit] Сенат
the House of Representatives [,repri'zentativz |
Палата представителей
the Republican [ri'pAblikan] and the Democratic
Ldema'kraetik] parties Республиканская и
Демократическая партии
Vocabulary
to occupy ['okjupai] занимать
southern ['злдап] южный
to stretch тянуться, простираться
to include [in'klu:d] включать
total area [ .tautl 'earia] общая площадь
to border [ bo:da] on фаничить с
sea-border морская граница
federal ['federal] федеральный
lowlands [laulandz] низменность, долина, низина
to be located [lau'keitid] находиться, быть
расположенным
to vary [veari] меняться, варьировать
arctic ['a:ktik] арктический
continental [,kont'rnentl] континентальный
subtropical [,sAb'tropikl] субтропический
typhoon [tai'ftrn] тайфун
coast ['kaust] побережье
highly developed [divelapt] высокоразвитый
copper медь
oil ['oil] нефть
iron ore ['aian ,o:] железная руда
coal ['kaul] каменный уголь
manufacturing [,msenju'fsektjarir)] промышленный
aircraft ['eakra:ft] самолеты, самолетостроение
textile ['tekstail] текстиль
armament ['a:mamant] вооружение
origin ['orid3in] происхождение
Chinese [tfai'nhz] китайский; китаец
according [a'kotdirj] to в соответствии с, согласно, по
powers f'pauaz] полномочия
branch [bra:ntj] ветвь
the executive [ig'zekjutiv] исполнительная власть
the legislative [,led3is'leitiv] законодательная власть
the judicial [d3u:'dijal] судебная власть
Questions
1. Where is the USA situated?
2. What's the total area of the country?
3. What countries does the USA border on?
4. How many states does the USA consist of?
5. What is the capital of the country?
6. Can you name any other cities in the USA?
7. What is the population of the United States?
8. What mountains in the USA do you know?
9. What are the largest rivers?
10. What can you say about the climate of the country?
11. What does the USA produce?
12. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches. What are they?
13. How many chambers does the Congress of the USA consist?
14. What are the main political parties in the USA?
15. Who is the US President now?
WASHINGTON, DC
Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It's situated in the District of Columbia and is like no other city in the USA. It's the world's largest one-industry city. And that industry is government. The White House, where the US President lives and works, the Capitol, the home of the US Congress, and the Supreme Court, are all in Washington.
Washington was named after the first US President George Washington.
He selected the place for the capital and Pierre L'Enfant, a French engineer, designed the city.
Washington was first settled in 1790 and since 1800 it has been the federal capital.
Washington is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the United States. In the very centre of it rises the huge dome of the Capitol — a big white dome standing on a circle of pillars. The 535 members of the Congress meet here to discuss the nation's affairs. It's easy to get lost in this huge building, full of paintings and statues.
Not far from the Capitol is the Library of Congress, the largest library in the States. It contains more than 13 million books, more than 19 million manuscripts, including the personal papers of the US presidents.
The White House is the official residence of the US President. He works in the Oval Office.
One can hardly find a park, a square or an open area in Washington without a monument or a memorial. The most impressive and the best-known ones are the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
There are some important museums in Washington where you can see all kinds of things: famous paintings and sculptures, the dresses of Presidents's wives, the original of the Declaration of Independence, the largest blue diamond in the world, etc.
There are 5 universities in Washington.
There are no skyscrapers in Washington, because they would hide the city's many monuments from view. No building in the city may be more than 40 metres tall.
Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day. People from all parts of the United States come to see their capital.
Names
Washington ['woJiQtan] Вашингтон
the District of Columbia |,distrikt av Кэ'1лтЫэ] округ Колумбия
the White House Белый Дом (резиденция
президента США)
the Capitol ['kaepital] Капитолий (здание
конгресса США)
the Congress ['korjgres] Конгресс
the Supreme Court [su:(sju:) ,pri:m 'ko:t]
Верховный суд
Pierree L'Enfant [pi,ea la:n'fa:nt] Пьер Ланфан
the Library of Congress Библиотека конгресса
Oval ['auvi] Office Овальный кабинет (рабочий
кабинет президента США)
the Lincoln Memorial ['liQkan mi'mo:rial] памятник
Линкольну
the Washington Monument о белиск в честь
Джорджа Вашингтона
the Declaration of Independence [,dekle'reijn av
Jnda'pendans] Декларация независимости (приня-
та 4 июля 1776 года вторым континентальным
конгрессом в период войны за независимость
Северной Америки (1775—1783); провозглашала
Отделение колоний от метрополии и образова-
ние самостоятельного государства — США)
Vocabulary
to design [di'zain] проектировать, создавать
to settle ['sell] поселять, заселять
huge [hju:d3] огромный, колоссальный
dome fdaum] купол
circle ['S3:kl] круг
pillar f'pila] столб, колонна
affair [a'fea] дело
to get lost заблудиться
to contain [kan'tein] содержать
manuscript ['maenjuskript] рукопись
personal ['рз:зпэ1] papers личные бумаги
official residence [a,fijl 'rezidans] официальная
резиденция
ibmpressive [im'presiv] производящий
впечатление, впечатляющий
original [a'rid3inl] оригинал
diamond ['daiamand] алмаз, бриллиант
skyscraper ['skai,skreipa] небоскреб
Questions
1. Where is Washington situated?
2. Is Washington a typical American city?
3. It's the world's largest one-industry city, isn't it? What kind of industry is it?
4. What important government buildings are situated in Washington?
5. Where does the US president live and work?
6. Who selected the place for the capital of the USA?
7. Is there a monument to George Washington in the city?
8. When was Washington first settled?
9. Who designed the capital of the USA?
10. What places of interest in Washington do you know?
11. How many universities are there in Washington?
12. Why aren't there any skyscrapers in Washington?
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth's surface. It covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometres.
The country is washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the south Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders on Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Belorussia, the Ukraine. It also has a sea-border with the USA.
There's hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. We have steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east.
There are two great plains in Russia: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are several mountain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia.
There are over two million rivers in Russia. Europe's biggest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian rivers - - the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena — flow from the south to the north. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world's deepest lake (1,600 metres) is Lake Baikal. It's much smaller than the Baltic Sea, but there's much more water in it than in the Baltic Sea. The water in the lake is so clear that if you look down you can count the stones on the bottom.
Russia has one-sixth of the world's forests. They are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East.
On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental.
Russia is very rich in oil, coal, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources.
Russia is a parliamentary republic. The Head of State is the President.
The legislative powers are exercised by the Duma.
The capital of Russia is Moscow. It's its largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial centre. It's one of the oldest Russian cities.
At present, the political and economic situation in the country is rather complicated. The industrial production is decreasing. The prices are constantly rising, the rate of inflation is rather high. People are losing their jobs because many factories and plants are going bankrupt.
But in spite of the problems Russia is facing at present, there are a lot of opportunities for this country to become one of the leading countries in the world. I'm sure that we, the younger generation, can do very much to make Russia as strong and powerful as it used to be.
Names
the Russian Federation [,feda'reijn] Российская
Федерация
Europe ['ju:arap] Европа
Asia ['eifa] Азия
the Pacific Ocean [pa,sifik 'aujn] Тихий океан
the Arctic Ocean [,a:ktik 'aujn] Северный
Ледовитый океан
the Atlantic Ocean [a,tl3entik 'aujn] Атлантический
океан
China ['tjaina] Китай
Mongolia [morj'gaulia] Монголия
Korea [kau'ria] Корея
Kazakhstan [,kaezaek'sta:n] Казахстан
Georgia ['0(30:0)33] Грузия
Azerbaijan [,aezabai'd3a:n] Азербайджан
Norway ['no:wei] Норвегия
Finland [linlend] Финляндия
the Baltic ['bo:ltik] States Прибалтийские
государства
Belorus [,belau'rus] Беларусь
the Ukraine [ju:'krein] Украина
the Great Russian Plain Русская
(Восточно-Европейская) равнина
the West Siberian [sai'biarian] Lowland
Западно-Сибирская низменность
the Urals ['juaralz] Уральские горы
the Caucasus ['ko:kasas] Кавказ
the Altai [/O'tai] Алтай
the Volga ['volga] Волга
the Caspian ['kaespian] Sea Каспийское море
the Ob [ob], [o:pj] Обь
the Yenisei [jeni'sei] Енисей
Amur [э'тиэ] Амур
Lake Baikal [bai'ka:!] озеро Байкал
the Baltic ['boiltikj Sea Балтийское море
Siberia [sai'biaria] Сибирь
the Far East Дальний Восток
Vocabulary
to occupy ['okjupai] занимать
surface ['S3:fls] поверхность
eastern [1:stan] восточный
northern ['пэ:Ээп] северный
total area [,tautl 'earia] общая площадь
square [skwea] квадратный
kilometre ['kila,mi:ta] километр
to wash омывать
to border f'bo:da] on граничить с
sea-border морская граница
There's hardly a country in the world...
Едва ли найдется страна...
variety [va'raiati] разнообразие, множество
scenery ['shnari] пейзаж, ландшафт
vegetation [,ved3i'teijn] растительность
steppe [step] степь
plain равнина
midland ['midland] средняя полоса
tundra ['Undra] тундра
taiga [tai'ga:] тайга
highland ['hailand] нагорье, высокогорная
местность
desert ['dezat] пустыня
chain цепь
to separate ['separeit] разделять
to flow [Паи] into впадать
Siberian [sai'biarian] сибирский
to count ['kaunt] считать
bottom ['botam] дно
to concentrate ['konsantreit] сосредотачиваться,
концентрироваться
European [juara'phsn] европейский
vast [va:st] обширный
territory ['teritari] территория
various [vearias] различный
climate ['klaimit] климат, климатический пояс
arctic ['a:ktik] арктический
subtropical [,s/to'tropikl] субтропический
temperate ['tempi-it] умеренный
continental [,konti'nentl] континентальный
oil [oil] нефть
coal [kaul] уголь
iron ore ['aian ,o:] железная руда
copper медь
mineral resources [ri'soisiz] полезные ископаемые
parliamentary [,pa:la'mentri] парламентский
head of state глава государства
legislative [Jedjis'leitiv] законодательный
powers f'pauaz] полномочия
to exercise f'eksasaiz] осуществлять, выполнять
scientific [,saian'tffik] научный
complicated ['komplikeitid] сложный, запутанный
to decrease [di'kri:s] снижаться, падать
constantly ['konstantli] постоянно
the rate of inflation [in'fleijn] уровень инфляции
to go bankrupt ['baerjkrApt] обанкротиться
in spite of несмотря на
the younger generation [,d3ena'reijn] молодое
поколение
powerful ['pauaful] могучий
Questions
1. Where is the Russian Federation situated?
2. What is the total area of the country?
3. What countries does Russia border on?
4. What mountain chain separates Europe from Asia?
5. How many rivers are there in Russia?
6. Which is the longest river in Europe?
7. What do you know about Lake Baikal?
8. Do you know what strait separates Russia from America?
9. What mineral resources is the Russian Federation rich in?
10. What is the climate like in Russia?
11. What can you say about the present economic situation in Russia?
12. What great Russians do you know?
MOSCOW
Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. It was founded 8 centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky.
Historians have accepted the year of 1147 as the start of Moscow's history.
Gradually the city became more and more powerful. In the 13th century Moscow was the centre of the straggle of Russian lands for the liberation from the tartar yoke. In the 16th century under Ivan the Terrible Moscow became the capital of the new united state. Though Peter the Great moved the capital to St Petersburg in 1712, Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon's attack. Three-quarters of the city was destroyed by fire during Napoleon's occupation, but by the mid-19th century Moscow had been completely restored. After the October revolution Moscow became the capital again.
Now Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about nine hundred square kilometres (ancient Moscow occupied the territory of the present-day Kremlin). The population of the city is over 9 million.
Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The heart of Moscow is Red Square. It has more historic associations than any other place in Moscow. The Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral (Vasily Blazheny) are masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture.
The main Kremlin tower, the Spasskaya Tower, has become the symbol of the country. On the territory of the Kremlin you can see old cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Tzar-Cannon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world. St Basil's Cathedral was built in the mid-16th century in memory of the victory over Kazan. There's a legend that Ivan the Terrible blinded the architects Barma and Postnik, because he didn't want them to create another masterpiece.
There are a lot of beautiful palaces, old mansions, cathedrals, churches and monuments in Moscow. Now Moscow is being reconstructed and we all hope that in a few years the city will become even more beautiful.
There are more than 100 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Other unique museums in Moscow include the All-Russia Museum of Folk Arts, the Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art, Alexei Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Mikhail Glinka Museum of Musical Culture and many others.
Moscow is famous for its theatres. The best-known of them is the Bolshoi Opera House. Drama theatres and studios are also very popular.
Moscow is a city of students. There are over 100 higher educational institutions in it.
Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament (the Duma) and the centre of political life of the country.
Names
Ivan the Terrible [,aivn da 'teribl] Иван Грозный
Peter the Great [greit] Петр Великий (Петр I)
St Petersburg [sant 'pi:tazb3:g] Санкт-Петербург
Napoleon [na'paulian] Наполеон
St Basil's Cathedral [sant ,baezlz kaG'hdral] собор
Василия Блаженного
the Bell Tower ['taua] of Ivan the Great
Колокольня Ивана Великого
the Tzar-Cannon ['za:(tsa:) 'kaenan] Царь-пушка
the Tzar-Bell ['za:(tsa:) 'bel] Царь-колокол
Barma [Ьэ'та:] and Postnik ['paustnik] Барма и
Постник
the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Музей изобразительных искусств
имени Пушкина
Kazan [ka'zaen] Казань
the State Tretyakov ['tretjakof] Gallery ['gaeleri]
Государственная Третьяковская галерея
the All-Russia Museum of Folk [fauk] Arts
Всероссийский музей декоративного,
прикладного и народного искусства
the Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art
Музей древнерусского искусства имени Андрея
Рублева
Alexei Bakhrushin Theatre Museum
Театральный музей имени Бахрушина
Mikhail Glinka ['gliQka] Museum of Musical Culture
Музей музыкальной культуры имени Глинки
the Bolshoi [,bol'Joi] Opera House Большой театр
оперы и балета
Vocabulary
historian [his'to:rian] историк
to accept [ak'sept] принимать, допускать
gradually ['graedjuali] постепенно
powerful ['pauaful] сильный, могущественный
liberation [Jiba'reijn] освобождение
tartar yoke ['ta:ta 'jauk] татарское иго
united [jurnaitid] соединенный, объединенный
to remain [ri'mein] оставаться
target f'ta:git] мишень, цель, объект
attack [a'tsek] нападение, атака
to destroy [dis'troi] разрушать
fire [faia] пожар
occupation [pkju'peijn] оккупация
completely [kam'pli:tli] полностью, целиком
to restore [ris'to:] реставрировать, восстанавливать
ancient f'einfant] древний
masterpiece (;ma:stapi:s] шедевр
architecture ['a:kitektja] архитектура
architect ['a:kitakt] архитектор, зодчий
tower ['taua] башня
legend ['Ied3andj легенда
to,blind [blaind] ослепить
palace ['paelis] дворец
mansion ['maenjn] особняк
to reconstruct [/hkan'sti-Akt] перестраивать,
восстанавливать
unique [ju:'ni:k] уникальный, единственный
в своем роде
drama ['dra:maj theatre драматический театр
studio ['stu:(stju:)diau] студия, театр-студия
higher educational institution высшее учебное
заведение
Questions
1. When was Moscow founded?
2. Is there a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow? Where is it?
3. When did Moscow become the capital?
4. In 1712 the capital was moved to St Petersburg, wasn't it? When did Moscow become the capital again?
5. Was ancient Moscow a big city? What's the total area of modern Moscow?
6. What's the population of Moscow?
7. What places of interest in the centre of Moscow do you know?
8. What do you know about St Basil's Cathedral?
9. What can you see on the territory of the Kremlin?
10. What are the most famous Moscow museums? (art galleries?)
11. What theatres in Moscow do you know?
12. What is your favorite place in Moscow?
ST PETERSBURG
St Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the "Window on the West". Thousands of workmen were brought from all parts of Russia to build a new city on the swampy land at the mouth of the Neva River. Peter the Great was in a hurry. The work was fast and hard, and workmen dropped dead by the hundreds. But the work went on.
In 1917 St Petersburg, a city of great beauty, with palaces, cathedrals, churches, government buildings became the capital. Under later rulers the new capital of the Russian Empire grew rapidly in wealth and beauty. Architects were brought from western Europe to lay out the city in harmonious squares.
Buildings were constructed of grey and rose-coloured granite. The Hermitage Palace and the Winter Palace, the homes of the tsars, were equal to any in Europe.
When the First World War began in 1914, the German-sounding name, St Petersburg, was changed to Petrograd. After the October Revolution the city was renamed after Lenin.
During the Great Patriotic War the city suffered a great deal. The German armies laid siege to it in 1941, and for the next year and a half it was cut off from the rest of the country. No food could be brought in, and people died of starvation. Daily shelling and air raids destroyed parts of the city. Thousands of people were killed. Rebuilding took years.
Now St Petersburg is an important industrial, cultural and educational centre. The population of the city is over 5 million.
St Petersburg is indeed a wonderful city: at every turn there's something to catch your eye. The Winter Palace, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, St Isaac's Cathedral, the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, the Admiralty building attract thousands of tourists from every corner of the world.
Petersburg's many museums house some of the world's most famous art collections. The Hermitage, for example, contains the richest collection of pictures in the world.
The city is called the Northern Venice because there are 65 rivers, arms and canals there with artistically decorated bridges. It's also famous for its beautiful white nights.
Names
St Petersburg [sent 'p!:tezb3:g] Санкт-Петербург Peter the Great Петр Великий (Петр I)
the Neva ['neiva] Нева
the Hermitage ['haimitidj] Palace Эрмитаж
the Winter Palace Зимний дворец
Petrograd ['petragraed] Петроград
the Russian Museum Русский музей
St Isaac's Cathedral [sent ,aizaks ka-eh
Исаакиевский собор
the Peter-and-Paul Fortress ['pi:taran'po:l 'fcxtris]
Петропавловская крепость
the Admiralty ['aedmiralti] Адмиралтейство
Vocabulary
swampy ['swompi] болотистый
mouth [таив] устье (реки)
to drop dead [ded] упасть замертво
by the hundreds сотнями
ruler ['ru:la] правитель
empire ['empale] империя
rapidly ['raepidli] быстро
to lay out планировать
harmonious [ha:'meunjas] гармоничный
granite ['graenrt] гранит
equal [1:kwal] равный, не уступающий
to rename переименовывать
to suffer ['sAfa] страдать
to lay siege [si:d3] to осадить
starvation [sta:'veijn] голод
shelling ['Jelirj] бомбежки
air raid ['ea reid] воздушный налет
to destroy [di'stroi] разрушать
to catch smb's eye привлечь внимание, поразить
to attract [a'traekt] привлекать, притягивать
arm рукав (реки)
canal [ka'nael] канал
artistically [a:'tistikali] мастерски
to decorate ['dekareit] украшать
bridge [brid3] мост
Questions
1. Have you ever been to St Petersburg?
2. Is St Petersburg as old as Moscow?
3. Who was the city founded by and when did it become the capital of the Russian Empire?
4. Peter I thought that Moscow looked provincial in comparison with the capitals he had visited and decided to build a magnificent city equal to any European capital. Did he succeed?
5. How many times has the city been renamed and why?
6. Did the city suffer a great deal during the Great Patriotic War?
7. What is St Petersburg famous for?
8. Have you ever been to the Russian Museum? (the Hermitage?)
9. What other places of interest in St Petersburg do you know?
10. Why is St Petersburg called the Northern Venice?
Literature and Arts
LIBRARIES
The word library comes from the Latin word liber, meaning "a book". This is a place where information in print (books, manuscripts, periodicals and musical scores) and in other forms is collected and arranged to serve people of all ages and interests.
Libraries appeared in ancient times in Egypt, Assyria, Greece and Rome.
Perhaps the most famous library of that early day was at Alexandria. It was found by Ptolomy I. Ptolomy ordered the librarians to collect all Greek texts as well as manuscripts in other languages from every part of the known world. By the middle of the 1st century BC there were about 700,000 papyrus rolls in the library.
The first libraries in Russia were established in medieval monasteries.
Public libraries were opened in the 19* century at the Academy of Sciences and Moscow University.
The library today is a centre for all kinds of communications: printed, pictured, recorded, and even electronically stored. People go to the library to read, look, listen, search, inquire, relax, discuss, learn, and think.
Libraries can be found in many places. There are libraries in small towns and large cities, and there are libraries in schools, universities, colleges.
The largest and best known libraries in the world are: the British National Library in London, the Library of Congress in Washington and the Russian State Library.
The national libraries of different countries keep in touch and exchange books and information.
Most libraries have a professionally educated staff whose first duty is to help you. Librarians also select and purchase books and other materials, organize materials so that you can easily use them, answer questions about facts, people, events, or advise you how to find the information you need.
Many people have books at home. These are the books of their favourite authors, dictionaries and reference books and the like. My family also has a home library. It was my grandfather who started to collect it at the beginning of this century. There are over two thousand books in it. The authors I like most of all are Chekhov, Bulgakov, Fitzgerald, Cortasar and others.
Names
Egypt [1:d3ipt] Египет Assyria [a'siria] Ассирия (древняя империя в
Alexandria [,aelig'za:ndri8] Александрия (город Западной Азии на реке Тигр)
и порт в Египте, основанный Александром Greece [gri:s] Греция
Македонским) Rome [raum] Рим
Ptolemy I ['tolami da 'f3:st] Птолемей I (первый
представитель эллинистической династии
Птолемеев, правившей в Египте в 305-30 гг.
до н.э.; полководец Александра Македонского)
the Library of Congress Библиотека конгресса
the Academy of Sciences [a,kaedami av 'saiansizj
Академия наук
the British National t'naejnl] Library Британская
национальная библиотека
the Russian State Library Российская
государственная библиотека
Chekhov ['tjekof] Чехов А.П.
Bulgakov [bul'ga:kof] Булгаков М.А.
Fitzgerald [,fits'd3erald] Фицджеральд Ф.С.
(известный американский писатель XXв.)
Cortasar [ko:'ta:sa] Кортасар X. (аргентинский
писатель)
Vocabulary
information in print информация в печатной форме
manuscript ['maenjuskript] рукопись
periodical [piari'odikl] периодическое издание
musical score [sko:] музыкальная партитура
to arrange [a'reind3] приводить в порядок,
классифицировать
ancient ['einjnt] древний, старинный
to order ['o:ds] приказывать
librarian [lai'brearian] библиотекарь
BC [,bi."si:] до нашей эры (сокр. от Before Christ
[kraist])
papyrus rolls [pa'paiaras 'raulz] папирусные свитки
to establish [is'taeblij] учреждать, основывать
medieval [,medi'i:val] средневековый
monastery ['monastri] монастырь
public library публичная библиотека
communication [ka,mju:ni'keijn] передача
информации, общение, связь
to record [ri'kord] записывать (на пленку и т.п.)
to store [sto:] хранить
to search [sa:tf] искать
to inquire [in'kwaia] наводить справки, узнавать
to relax [ri'laeks] отдыхать, развлекаться
to keep in touch with поддерживать связь с
to exchange [iks'tjeind3] обменивать(ся)
staff [sta:f] служебный персонал, штат
duty ['dju:ti] долг
to select [si'lekt] выбирать
to purchase [-p3:tjas] закупать, приобретать
event [i'vent] событие
reference ['refarans] book справочник
and the like и тому подобное
Questions
1. What word does the word "library" come from?
2. What is a library?
3. Where did the first libraries appear?
4. What do you know about the famous library at Alexandria?
5. What is the library today?
6. Where can libraries be found?
7. Why do people go to libraries?
8. What are the famous libraries of the world?
9. What do we call the people who help us in libraries?
10. Have you got any books at home?
11. Who are your favourite authors?
12. Do you often borrow books from the library?
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
William Shakespeare, the greatest and most famous of English writers, and probably the greatest playwright who has ever lived, was bom on the 23d of April, 1564, in Stratford-on-Avon.
In spite of his fame we know very little about his life. At the age of six he was sent to school, but had to leave it at the age of 13. His father, John Shakespeare, was a glove-maker, and when he fell into debt, William had to help him in the trade.
Just what William did between his fourteenth and eighteenth year isn't known. At the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. Ann was eight years older than her husband and the marriage wasn't a happy one.
When Shakespeare was twenty-one, he went to London. We don't know why he left Stratford-on-Avon.
There is a story that Shakespeare's first job in London was holding rich men's horses at the theatre door. But nobody can be sure that this story is true.
Later, Shakespeare became an actor and a member of a very successful acting company. It's highly probable that The Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet and some other plays by Shakespeare were performed for the first time on this stage.
Very soon, however, the actors were told that they could no longer use the land that their theatre was built on and the company had nowhere else to perform. There is a story that in the dead of night the whole acting troop took down their theatre, timber by timber, brick by brick. They carried it across the river and rebuilt it. The new theatre was called the Globe.
Shakespeare's Globe was rather different from modern theatres. The plays were performed in the open air and the audience got wet if it rained. There was no scenery, very few props, and the only lighting was the daylight that came from the open roof above. Women in those days weren't allowed to act in public and all the parts (even Juliet!) were played by men. Much of the audience stood to watch the performance and moved around, talking with each other and throwing fruit at the stage if they didn't like something.
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays: 10 tragedies (such as Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth), 17 comedies (such as As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing), 10 historical plays (such as Henry IV, Richard III.). He also left 7 books of poems.
Most of Shakespeare's plays were not published in his lifetime. So some of them may have been lost in the fire when the Globe burnt down in 1613.
Shakespeare spent the last years of his life at Stratford, where he died, ironically, on the same date as his birthday, the 23d of April, 1616. He was buried in the church of Stratford. A monument was erected to the memory of the great playwright in the Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. In 1997, Shakespeare's Globe was restored.
Names
William Shakespeare [,wiliam -feikspia]
Вильям Шекспир
Stratford-on-Avon [,straetfad on 'eivn]
Стрэтфорд-на-Эвоне
Anne Hathaway ['haeSawei] Анна Хатавей
The Comedy of Errors [da 'komadi av 'eraz]
Комедия Ошибок
Romeo and Juliet [/aumiau and 'd3ii:liat]
Ромео и Джульетта
the Globe ['glaub] Глобус
Hamlet ['haemlit] Гамлет
King Lear [,kit) lie] Король Лир
Othello [a'Selau] Отелло
Macbeth [mak'beG] Макбет
As You Like It Как вам это понравится
Twelfth Night [,twelf0 'nait] Двенадцатая ночь
Much Ado [a'du:] About Nothing
Много шума из ничего
Henry IV [,henri da 'fo:9] Генрих IV
Richard III [,ritfad За 03:d] Ричард III
Westminster Abbey [,westminstar 'aebi]
Вестминстерское аббатсво
Vocabulary
playwright ['pleirait] драматург
fame ['feim] слава
glove-maker ['gl/wmeika] перчаточник
to fall into debt ['del] влезть в долги
trade [treid] ремесло
marriage ['maeridj] брак
to hold [tiauld] (held) держать
member ['memba] член
successful [sak'sesfal] удачливый, имеющий
успех
acting company ['tampani] театральная труппа
it's highly probable ['prababl] весьма вероятно
to perform [pa'fo:m] играть, исполнять
stage [steid3] сцена
however [hau'eve] однако, тем не менее
could no longer use больше не могут использовать
had nowhere else to perform негде было играть
in the dead [ded] of night под покровом ночи
troop [tru:p] труппа
to take down разобрать
timber by timber ['timba] по бревну
brick by brick [brik] по кирпичику
audience ['ordians] зрители
to get wet промокнуть
scenery ['shnari] декорации
props [props] реквизит
lighting [laitirj] освещение
daylight fdeilait] дневной свет
in public ['pAblik] публично, на людях
to move around ['mu:v e'raund] двигаться,
передвигаться
tragedy ['traed3idi] трагедия
comedy ['komidi] комедия
may have been lost возможно, утеряны
to burn down [ten 'daun] (burnt)
сгореть (до тла)
ironically [ai'ronikeli] по иронии судьбы
to be buried ['berid] быть похороненным
church ['tja:tf] церковь
monument ['monjumant] памятник
to erect [i'rekt] воздвигать
to the memory ['memeri] of в память о
to restore [ri'sto:] восстанавливать
Questions
1. The last half of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th centuries are known as the age of Shakespeare. Can you explain why?
2. When was Shakespeare bom?
3. He lived in Stratford-on-Avon until he was twenty-one, didn't he? Why did he leave Stratford?
4. What was his first job in London?
5. Why did the acting company decide to build a new theatre?
6. In what way was Shakespeare's Globe different from modem theatres?
7. How many plays did Shakespeare write?
8. Have you read any of his plays?
9. What happened to the Globe?
10. When was the Globe restored?
11. When did Shakespeare die?
12. Is Shakespeare famous in Russia?
ANTON CHEKHOV
My favourite writer is Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. In my opinion, he is the greatest Russian dramatist and short-story writer. I'm never tired of reading and rereading his plays and humorous stories.
Chekhov was bom in 1860 in Taganrog. In 1879 he went to Moscow, where he studied medicine. Though he practised little as a doctor in his lifetime, he was prouder of his medical knowledge than of his writing talent.
While in college, Chekhov wrote humorous sketches for comic papers to support his family. He collected the best ones into a volume, Motley Stories, in 1886. The book attracted the attention of the publisher of the Novoje Vfemja, Russia's largest paper, and Chekhov was asked to contribute stories regularly.
Chekhov, as an established writer, was able to develop a style of his own.
Though he never gave up writing comic stories, he began working in a more serious vein. In 1887 Ivanov, his first play, established Chekhov as a dramatist.
From then on, he concentrated on writing plays, as well as short stories.
Chekhov was seriously ill. He had tuberculosis and knew what it meant.
By 1892 his health was so bad that he was afraid to spend another winter in Moscow. He bought a small estate near a village Melikhovo, 50 miles from Moscow. He spent 5 years there, and those were happy years in spite of the illness. He wrote some of his best stories there, including Ward No.6, several well-known one-act comedies and two of his serious dramatic masterpieces, The Seagull and Uncle Vanya.
The Seagull was first staged in the Alexandrinsky Theatre in Petersburg.
It was a complete failure because of the dull and clumsy production. It was a cruel blow to Chekhov. However, the play was successfully performed as the first production of the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898. From then on, Chekhov was closely connected with this theatre and with its founder, K.S. Stanislavsky. In 1901 he married an Art Theatre actress, Olga Knipper, who acted in his play The Three Sisters the same year.
Chekhov's health went from bad to worse and he had to spend the remaining years in the Crimea and other health spas.
The Cherry Orchard, his last play, was produced in 1904. Soon after the first night Chekhov died. He was 44.
Chekhov had an immense influence on the 20th century drama. Besides, several generations of writers both in Russia and abroad studied and imitated Chekhov to perfect their own literary style.
Names
Chekhov Anton Pavlovich ['tjekof ,aentan 'paevlovitf]
Чехов Антон Павлович
Taganrog [Дэедэп'год] Таганрог
Motley ['motli] Stories Пестрые рассказы
Ivanov [i'va:nof] Иванов
Ward [wo:d] No.6 Палата N 6
The Seagull ['si:,gAl] Чайка
Uncle Vanya ['AQkl 'va:nja] Дядя Ваня
the Alexandrinsky [ajegzan'drmski] Theatre
Александрийский театр
the Moscow Art Theatre Московский
Художественный театр
The Three Sisters Три сестры
the Crimea [krai'mia] Крым
The Cherry Orchard [Men 'o:tjad] Вишневый сад
Vocabulary
in my opinion по-моему
dramatist ['dramatist] драматург
humorous ['hju:maras] stories юмористические рассказы
medicine f'medsin] медицина
lifetime (вся) жизнь
to be proud [praud] of гордиться чем-либо
sketch [sketj] зарисовка, набросок
comic ['komikj комический
to support [sa'po:t] поддерживать, содержать
volume [volju:m] том
to attract [a'traekt] attention привлечь внимание
to contribute [kan'tribju:t] сотрудничать (в газете,
журнале), писать (для газеты, журнала)
regularly ['regjulali] регулярно
established [is'taeblijt] признанный, известный
to develop [di'velap] развивать
a style of one's own собственный стиль
to give up бросить, отказаться (от чего-либо)
vein [vein] стиль, направление
from then on с тех пор, с той поры, с того времени
to concentrate ['konsantreit] on концентрироваться,
сосредоточиваться
tuberculosis [tju:,b3:kju'lausis] туберкулез
(сокр. форма: ТВ [,ti:'bi:])
estate [is'teit] поместье
one-act comedy ['komidi] одноактная комедия
masterpiece ['ma:stapi:s] шедевр
it was a complete [kam'pli:t] failure ['feilja пье-
са провалилась
dull [с!л1] скучный, монотонный
clumsy ['klAmzi] неуклюжий, грубый,
неудачный
production [pra'dAkfn] постановка
It was a cruel ['kru:al] blow to Chekhov.
Это был страшный удар для Чехова.
to perform [pa'fo:m] исполнять, играть
to go from bad to worse ухудшаться,
становиться все хуже и хуже
spa [spa:] курорт (с минеральными водами)
to produce [pra'dju:s] ставить (о пьесе)
first night премьера
immense [i'mens] огромный
influence [Influans] влияние
drama ['dra:me] драма
generation [,d3ena'rei/n] поколение
to imitate ['imiteit] подражать
to perfect [pa'fekt] совершенствовать
literary [litrari] литературный
Questions
1. Do you like Chekhov's humorous stories?
2. When and where was he born?
3. When did he begin writing his first humorous sketches?
4. Who helped Chekhov in his writing career?
5. What made Chekhov move to Melikhovo?
6. The Seagull was first staged in the Alexandrinsky Theatre. Why was it a complete failure?
7. What was Chekhov's last play?
8. Do you know any English or American writers who were influenced by Chekhov?
AGATHA CHRISTIE
Agatha Christie is known all over the world as the Queen of Crime. She wrote 78 crime novels, 19 plays and 6 romantic novels under the name of Mary Westmacott. Her books have been translated into 103 foreign languages.
She is the third best-selling author in the world (after Shakespeare and the Bible). Many of her novels and short stories have been filmed. The Mousetrap, her most famous play, is now the longest-running play in history.
Agatha Christie was born at Torquay, Devonshire. She was educated at home and took singing lessons in Paris. She began writing at the end of the First World War. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published in 1920. That was the first appearance of Hercule Poirot, who became one of the most popular private detectives since Sherlock Holmes. This little Belgian with the egg-shaped head and the passion for order amazes everyone by his powerful intellect and his brilliant solutions to the most complicated crimes.
Agatha Christie became generally recognised in 1926, after the publishing of her novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. It's still considered her masterpiece.
When Agatha Cristie got tired of Hercule Poirot she invented Miss Marple, a deceptively mild old lady with her own method of investigation.
Her last Poirot book, Curtain, appeared shortly before her death, and her last Miss Marple story, Sleeping Murder, and her autobiography were published after her death.
Agatha Christie's success with millions of readers lies in her ability to combine clever plots with excellent character drawing, and a keen sense of humour with great powers of observation. Her plots always mislead the reader and keep him in suspense. He cannot guess who the criminal is. Fortunately, evil is always conquered in her novels.
Agatha Christie's language is simple and good and it's pleasant to read her books in the original.
Names
Agatha Christie ^зедэвэ 'kristi] Агата Кристи the Bible ['baibl] Библия
Mary Westmacott [,теэп 'wes(t)makot] The Mousetrap ['maustraep] Мышеловка
МэриВестмакогт Torquay [torki:] Торки
Devonshire ['devnfla] Девоншир (графство в Англии)
The Mysterious [mis'tiarias] Affair [a'fea] at Styles
Таинственное дело в Стайпз
Hercule Poirot [ea,kju:l pwa:'rau] Эркюль Пуаро
Sherlock Holmes [Ja:lok 'haumz] Шерлок Холмс
Belgian ['ЬеМзэп] бельгиец
The Murder ['rra:da] of Roger ['rod3a] Ackroyd
['aekroid] Убийство Роджера Экройда
Miss Marple ['ma:pl] мисс Марпл
Curtain ['ka:tn] Занавес
Sleeping Murder Спящее убийство
Vocabulary
queen [kwi:n] королева
crime [kraim] преступление
to film [film] снимать фильм, экранизировать
running идущий, демонстрирующийся (о пьесе,
фильме)
appearance [a'piarans] появление
private detective [praivit dftektiv] частный детектив
egg-shaped ['egjeipt] в форме яйца, яйцевидный
the passion ['pae[n] for order страсть к порядку
to amaze [a'meiz] изумлять, поражать
powerful ['pauaful] сильный, могучий, мощный
intellect [Intilekt] интеллект
solution [sa'lu:Jn] решение, разгадка
complicated ['komplikeitid] сложный
to invent [in'vent] изобретать
deceptively [di'septivli] обманчиво
mild [maild] мягкий
method ['meSad] метод, способ, система
investigation [in,vesti'geijnj расследование
autobiography [p:tabai'ografi] автобиография
to combine [kam'bain] объединять, сочетать
plot [pbt] сюжет
character ['kaerakta] персонаж, литературный
герой, образ
to draw [dro:] (drew, drawn) выводить (образ)
keen sense of humour [hju:ma] тонкое чувство юмора
powers of observation [pbza'veijn] наблюдательность
to mislead [mis'lird] (misled) вводить в заблуждение
to keep in suspense [sAS'pense] держать в
напряжении, в мучительной неизвестности
evil [1:vl] зло
to conquer ['korjka] завоевывать
Questions
1. Some people say that reading detective stories is a waste of time. Are you of the same opinion?
2. What famous detective-story writers do you know?
3. Agatha Christie's novels have been translated into 103 languages. Shakespeare's plays have been translated into 14 languages. Do you know why?
4. When was Agatha Christie's first novel published?
5. When did general recognition come to her?
6. Can you describe Hercule Poirot?
7. What were Agatha Christie's last novels?
8. Why are her books so popular with the readers?
9. Have you read any books by Agatha Christie? Did you read them in the original or in translation?
10. Have you seen any films based on her novels?
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
Ernest Hemingway is one of the great 20th century American writers. His incredible career, and the legend which developed around his impressive personality, was that of a man of action, a devil-may-care adventurer, a brave war correspondent, an amateur boxer, a big-game hunter and deep-sea fisherman, the victim of three car accidents and two plane crashes, a man of four wives and many loves, but above all a brilliant writer of stories and novels.
Hemingway was born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois. His father was a doctor who initiated the boy into the outdoor life of hunting, camping and fishing. In high school Hemingway played football and wrote for the school newspaper.
In 1917, when the United States entered the First World War, Hemingway left home and schooling to become a young reporter for the Kansas City Star. He wanted to enlist for the war but was rejected because of an eye injury from football. Finally he managed to go to Europe as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross. He joined the Italian army and was seriously wounded.
His war experience and adventurous life provided the background for his many short stories and novels. He achieved success with A Farewell to Arms, the story of a love affair between an American lieutenant and an English nurse during the First World War.
Hemingway actively supported the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War and wrote another successful novel of war, love and death. It was For Whom the Bell Tolls.
During the Second World War Hemingway was a war correspondent first in China and then in Europe. He fought in France, and helped to liberate Paris.
In his later years Hemingway lived mostly in Cuba where his passion for deep-sea fishing provided the background for The Old Man and the Sea. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954.
Hemingway is famous for his lean style, which has been widely imitated but never matched. His heroes show courage in the face of danger, a characteristic which Hemingway admired greatly and which he prided himself on possessing.
Unwilling to live with the inevitable physical aging, Hemingway committed suicide, as his father had done before him under similar circumstances.
Names
Ernest Hemingway [,3:nist'hemirjwei] Эрнест Хемингуэй Illinois [JPnoi] Иллинойс (штат в США)
A Farewell [fea'wel] to Arms Прощай, оружие France [fra:ns] Франция
The Old Man and the Sea Старик и море
For Whom the Вей Tolls [taulz] По ком звонит колокол
China ['tjaina] Китай
Paris f'paeris] Париж
Cuba ['kju:ba] Куба
Nobel prize [nau,bel 'praiz] Нобелевская премия
Vocabulary
incredible [in'kredibl] невероятный
career [ka'ria] карьера, успех, жизненный путь
legend ['Ied3snd] легенда
develop [di'velap] around развиваться), создаваться)
impressive [im'presiv] впечатляющий, яркий
personality [psisa'naeliti] личность, индивидуальность
a man of action ['aekjn] человек действия
devil-may-care [,devil mei 'kea] безрассудный
adventurer [ad'ventfara] искатель приключений
brave смелый
war correspondent [,kori'spondant] военный корреспондент
amateur ['aemata] boxer боксер-любитель
a big-game hunter охотник на крупного зверя
deep-sea fisherman рыболов-глубоководник
victim ['viktim] жертва
car accident ['aeksidant] автомобильная катастрофа
plane crash авиакатастрофа
to initiate (into) [i'nijieit] познакомить, ознакомить,
посвятить
to enlist [in'list] поступить на военную службу,
записаться добровольцем
to reject [ri'd3ekt] отвергать, отклонять, не принимать
injury [1nd38ri] травма (ушиб, рана и т.п.)
ambulance ['aembjulans] driver шофер "скорой помощи"
the Red Cross Красный Крест
to be wounded ['wu:ndid] получить ранение
experience [iks'piarians] опыт, впечатление
to provide [pra'vaid] the background [traekgraund] for
послужить основой для
to achieve [a'tjhv] success [sak'ses] добиться
успеха
love affair [a'fea] любовный роман
lieutenant [leftenant] лейтенант
nurse [пз:з] медсестра
to support [sa'po:t] поддерживать
republican [ri'pAblikan] республиканец
civil ['sivil] war гражданская война
to liberate [libareit] освобождать
passion ['paejn] страсть
to award [a'wo:d] награждать
lean [li:n] скупой, без излишеств (о стиле)
to imitate [Imiteit] подражать
to match подходить, соответствовать
courage ['Iwids] мужество
characteristic [,kaerikta'ristik] характерная черта,
качество
to admire [ad'maia] восхищаться
to pride oneself on smth гордиться чем-либо
to possess [pa'zes] обладать
unwilling [/wwilirj] нежелающий, несклонный
inevitable [in'evitabl] неизбежный
physical aging [,fizikl 'eidjirj] физическое
старение
to commit suicide [ka'mit 'su:isaid] покончить
жизнь самоубийством
similar ['simila] подобный, схожий,
аналогичный
circumstance ['sarkamstans] обстоятельство
Questions
1. Hemingway's life was full of adventures, wasn't it? What legend developed around his impressive personality?
2. When and where was he born?
3. When did Hemingway begin writing?
4. Why was he rejected when he wanted to enlist for the war?
5. How did he manage to go to Europe?
6. When was he first wounded?
7. A Farewell to Arms brought Hemingway success, didn't it? What's the novel about?
8. What novel did Hemingway write after the Spanish Civil War?
9. When was he awarded the Nobel Prize for literature?
10. What is Hemingway famous for?
MY FAVOURITE BOOK
I've recently read a book which has made a very deep impression on me. It's called Gone with the Wind and it makes really unforgettable reading. The author of the book is Margaret Mitchell. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family of the president of the Atlanta Historical Society. All the family were interested in American history and she grew up in an atmosphere of stories about the Civil War.
After graduating from college Margaret Mitchell worked for a time for the Atlanta Journal. In 1925 she got married. In the following ten years she put on paper all the stories she had heard about the Civil War. The result was Gone with the Wind. It was first published in 1936 and became the talking point of all America. In 1939 it was made into a highly successful film. Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable played the leading roles. Vivien Leigh won the Oscar.
Everyone loved her high-spirited and beautiful heroine, Scarlett O'Hara.
The story is set around the time of the American Civil War (1861-65) when the Southern States went to war with the North to defend their way of life. It was a way of life in which rich gentry lived in large houses and owned huge areas of land, cultivated by black slaves. Scarlett O'Hara was born into one of these rich houses. When this way of life was destroyed and all her family's wealth taken away by the advancing Northerners, the spoilt, willful Scarlet had to grow up and use all her wit and intelligence — and beauty — to build a new life.
But Gone with the Wind is also about a love triangle. While Scarlett loves the quiet, gentlemanly Ashley Wilkes, the wild and decidedly ungentlemanly Rhett Butler is in love with her. After Ashley marries someone else, and after many adventures of her own, Scarlett does marry Rhett — but only for money.
The marriage is stormy and eventually Rhett walks out on her, but by that time Scarlett has realized that she loves him after all. Scarlett thinks of some way of getting him back, but we never know if she does.
Margaret Mitchell never wrote a sequel to answer this burning question.
She died in 1949 in a car crash.
In 1991 a publishing company asked Alexandra Ripley, a historical novelist to do the job. Her novel Scarlett was not in the same class as the original. Critics have been writing very bad reviews of Scarlett, but the book is popular with the public.
Names
Gone with the Wind Унесенные ветром
Margaret Mitchell [,ma:garat 'mitfal] Маргарет
Митчелл
Atlanta [atlaenta] г. Атланта
Georgia ['с!зо:с1зэ] Джорджия (штат в США)
the Civil ['sivil] War Гражданская война
между Севером и Югом
Vivien Leigh [,vivian 1i:] Вивьен Ли
Clark Gable [,kla:k -geibl] Кларк Гейбл
Oscar ['oska] Оскар (премия, ежегодно вручаемая в
США за выдающиеся достижения в киноискусстве)
Scarlett O'Hara |>ka:lit эи'Ьа:гэ] Скарлет О'Хара
Alexandra Ripley [yaelig'za:ndra 'ripli]] Александра
Риплей
Vocabulary
it became the talking point of all America
о ней говорили по всей Америке
a highly successful film фильм, пользующийся
большим успехом
high-spirited [,hai'spiritid] отважный, пылкий
heroine ['herauin] героиня
southern ['влдэп] южный
to defend [di'fend] защищать
gentry ['dsentri] господа (нетитулованное
мелкопоместное дворянство)
to own [aun] владеть, иметь в собственности
huge [hju:d3] огромный
area ['earia] площадь, пространство
to cultivate ['kAltiveit] обрабатывать
slave [sleiv] раб
to destroy [dis'troi] разрушать, уничтожать
wealth [welG] богатство
to advance [ad'va:ns] продвигаться вперед
northerner ['no:dana] северянин
spoilt [spoilt] избалованный
willful ['wilful] упрямый
wit сообразительность
triangle [traiaeggl] треугольник
gentlemanly ['djentlmanli] воспитанный
wild [waild] неистовый, дикий
decidedly [di'saididli] явно
stormy ['sto:mi] бурный
eventually [iventjuali] в конечном счете
to walk out on smb уйти (от жены, мужа)
burning ['Ьз:гнд] жгучий
sequel ['si:kwal] продолжение
review [ri'vju:] обзор
Questions
1. What do you think made Margaret Mitchell write a book about the Civil War?
2. Who starred in the film Gone with the Wind] Was the film successful?
3. Who are the main characters of the book Gone with the WincH
4. What is the story set around?
5. What can you say about Scarlett O'Hara?
6. Was it Margaret Mitchell who wrote the sequel under the Scarlett title?
7. Is the book popular with the public?
8. Have you read it? Did you read it in Russian or in the original?
TRETYAKOV GALLERY
The State Tretyakov Gallery is one of the best-known picture galleries in Russia. It takes its name from its founder Pavel Tretyakov, a Moscow merchant and art connoisseur.
In the mid-19th century, Tretyakov began to collect Russian paintings.
He visited all the exhibitions and art studios and bought the best pictures of contemporary artists. He was especially fond of the works of the Peredvizhniki (or Wanderers) — the artists who belonged to the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions. Little by little Tretyakov extended his range of interest and began to collect earlier Russian paintings. More than once he had to add wings to his house in Lavrushinsky Pereulok, because his collection grew larger and larger.
In 1881 Pavel Tretyakov opened his collection to the public. 11 years later he donated it to the city of Moscow. Since then the gallery has received hundreds of pictures from other museums and private collections.
The Tretyakov Gallery reflects the whole history of Russian art, from the 11th century to the present day.
It has a rich collection of old Russian icons. The world-famous icon is The Trinity, painted in the early 15th century by Andrei Rublev.
The gallery contains halls devoted to the magnificent works of such 18th-century celebrities as Rokotov, Levitsky, Borovikovsky, Shchedrin.
The first half of the 19th century is represented by brilliant paintings by Bryullov, Tropinin, Ivanov, Venetsianov. The second half of the 19th century is especially well represented. The gallery has the best collection of the Peredvizhniki, such as Kramskoy, Perov, Ghe, Yaroshenko, Myasoyedov, and others. Linked with the Peredvizhniki are such great names in Russian art as Surikov, Repin, Vereshchagin, Vasnetsov, Levitan. There you can see historical paintings, portraits, still-lifes, landscapes, seascapes, etc.
Further on we find the cream of turn-of-the century Russian art: Serov, Vrubel, Kustodiev...
Canvases of modern painters are housed in the new building situated on Krymskaya Naberezhnaya (Crimean Embankment).
The Tretyakov Gallery is not only Russia's biggest and most important museum of Russian Art. It's also a research, cultural and educational centre.
Names
the State Tretyakov ['tretjakof] Gallery ['gaelari]
Государственная Третьяковская галерея
the Society [sa'saiati] of Travelling Art Exhibitions
Товарищество передвижных выставок
The Trinity ['triniti] Троица
Vocabulary
merchant ['rrratjant] купец
connoisseur [,koni's3:] знаток
studio ['stu:(stju:)diau] студия
contemporary [kan'temprari] современный
little by little мало-помалу, понемногу
to extend [iks'tend] расширить
range [reinds] of interest круг интересов
wing крыло, флигель, пристройка к дому
to open to the public открыть для посетителей
to donate [dau'neit] преподносить в качестве дара,
передавать в дар
private f'praivit] collection частная коллекция
to reflect [ri'flekt] отражать
icon [ aikan] икона
to contain [kan'tein] содержать
to devote [di'vaut] to посвящать (чему-либо, кому-либо)
magnificent [mag'nifisant] великолепный
celebrity [si'lebriti] знаменитость
to represent [/epri'zent] представлять
to link связывать
portrait ['po:trit] портрет
still-life натюрморт (мн.число still-lifes)
landscape [Isenskeip] пейзаж
seascape ['si:skeip] морской пейзаж
further on далее
cream [krhrn] цвет, "сливки", самое лучшее
turn-of-the century начало века
canvas ['kaenvas] холст, полотно
to house [hauz] помещать, размещать
research [ri'sartf] научно-исследовательский
Questions
1. When did Pavel Tretyakov begin to collect Russian paintings?
2. Whose works was he especially fond of?
3. What do you know about the Peredvizhniki?
4. Where did Tretyakov keep his collection?
5. When did he open his collection to the public?
6. What did Tretyakov do with his collection?
7. Who was The Trinity painted by?
8. Do you know any other famous icon-painters?
9. What 18th century portrait-painters do you know?
10. Why is the second half of the 19th century especially well represented at the Gallery?
11. What great Russian names are linked with the Peredvizhniki?
12. What tum-of-the-century Russian artists do you know?
13. Where are canvases of modern painters housed?
14. When did you last go to the Tretyakov Gallery?
15. Who are your favourite Russian painters?
VALENTIN SEROV
One of my favourite artists is Valentin Serov. When I first saw his famous pictures - - the Girl with Peaches and the Girl in the Sunlight - - in the Tretyakov Gallery, frankly speaking, I wasn't too impressed. The girls seemed quite ordinary and I couldn't understand what was so special about these portraits.
Some years later I happened to be in Abramtsevo, where these two pictures had been painted. It's a very beautiful place. Abramtsevo belonged to Savva Mamontov, a well known patron of arts. Our guide told us about the people who had been invited there. It seemed that all artists, actors and writers of that period had stayed at Abramtsevo or at least visited it.
When I went to the Tretyakov Gallery after that and looked at the Girl with Peaches again, I suddenly remembered that day in Abramtsevo, and for the first time I noticed the play of light and shade in the picture, the atmosphere of a sunny summer day.
It's surprising that Serov painted this picture when he was only 22 years old. I read somewhere that at the time he had not seen the works of French Impressionists, who tried to catch the sunlight and the air and transfer it to the canvas. But he managed to do it perfectly.
Serov was born in 1865. His father was a well-known composer and the boy grew up in the atmosphere of creative activity. His first art teacher was Repin, who noticed that the boy could catch the likeness of a model often more quickly and surely than older artists.
Later Serov studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and graduated from it when he was 20.
For several years he taught at Moscow School of Painting Sculpture and Architecture. But teaching did not interfere with his painting. Probably now he would be called a workaholic. He painted almost 700 canvases, though, unfortunately, his life was not very long — he died in 1911.
He was a brilliant landscape painter, he created genre scenes, but he is mostly remembered as a portraitist. The list of his portraits reads as "who-iswho" in Russian culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He painted Sawa Mamontov, Konstantin Korovin, Ilya Repin, Isaak Levitan, Nikolai
Leskov, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the great actress Yermolova ... The list can be continued. And practically all his portraits are excellent from the technicalpoint of view — the colours, the composition, but there is more than that - they show people's personality.
Names
Valentin Serov [vaelan,tin si:'rof] Валентин Серов
Tretyakov Gallery [,tretjakof 'gaelari]
Третьяковская галерея
Abramtsevo [a:'bra:mtsavau] Абрамцево
Sawa Mamontov Lsa:va tnarmantof] Савва Мамонтов
Girl with Peaches Девочка с персиками
Girl in the Sunlight Девушка, освещенная солнцем
Academy of Fine Arts Академия изящных
искусств
Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture ['skAlptfa]
and Architecture ['arkitektja] Московское учили-
ще живописи, ваяния и зодчества
Vocabulary
frankly speaking откровенно говоря
to be impressed [im'prest] быть под впечатлением
ordinary [-o:danri] обыкновенный
special ['spejl] особенный
to belong [bi'loq] принадлежать
patron ['peitrn] of arts покровитель искусств
guide [gaid] гид, экскурсовод
atmosphere [ aetmasfia] атмосфера
Impressionist [im'prejanist] импрессионист
to transfer [trans'fa:] переносить
canvas ['kaenvas] полотно
composer [kam'pauza] композитор
creative [kri'eitiv] activity творческая деятельность
likeness [laiknis] сходство
to interfere [jnta'fia] with мешать
workaholic [.waika'holik] трудоголик
landscape ['laenskeip] painter пейзажист
genre scene ['зэпгэ ,si:n] жанровая сцена
portraitist fportratist] портретист
reads as читается как
"who-is-who" "кто есть кто"
from the technical ['teknikl] point of view [yju:]
с точки зрения техники
personality [.paisa'naeliti] личность, характер
Questions
1. What is Abramtsevo famous for?
2. Who did Sawa Mamontov invite to Abramtsevo?
3. When was Valentin Serov born?
4. Who was his first teacher?
5. Where did Serov study?
6. How old was he when he painted the Girl with Peaches!
7. How many canvases did he paint?
8. What kind of pictures did Serov paint?
9. Can you name any of his famous portraits?
10. Who is your favourite painter?
11. Have you ever been to the Tretyakov Gallery?
12. What kind of pictures do you prefer — portraits, landscapes, genre scenes?
13. Somebody said that when an artist creates a portrait it is not a portrait of his sitter, but a portrait of the artist himself. Do you agree?
ISAAC LEVITAN
Isaac Ilyich Levitan, the great Russian artist, became the first painter of the Russian scenery, who revealed all its beauty. He is a real poet of the Russian countryside. He continued and developed the traditions of painters of the Russian realistic school — Savrasov, Polenov, Serov. Levitan found significant meaning and poetry in what would seem the most everyday subjects.
He is a very individual sort of painter. You can't but appreciate his paintings, because there is something in his landscapes that reflects our own moods.
He deeply felt what he wished to express and his brush transferred these feelings to the canvas. It is interesting to note that a master of landscape, he never introduced figures into it. Though if you look at the Autumn Day in Sokolniki — everything seems to bring out the loneliness of the figure in the centre: the trees losing their leaves, the remote, indifferent sky, the path going off into the distance. But the fact is that it was not Levitan who painted the figure. It was Checkov's brother Nicolai who did it.
His travels over the Volga region influenced Levitan's art, the impression made on him by the great Russian river was unforgettable. For his life and painting he chose Plyoss — a small beautiful town on the Volga. His paintings Evening, Golden Plyoss, After Rain reflect his love for nature.
Last summer I visited Plyoss and saw the places where the great pictures were painted. Many people admire his pictures Deep Waters, Evening Bells, Springtime, The Last Snow and, of course, his famous Golden Autumn. All his paintings are very emotional, lyrical and realistic.
In the closing years of his life Levitan made several journeys abroad to France, Italy and Germany where he painted a number of landscapes, although his best works of the period were devoted to Russia. He was only 40 when he died in 1900.
Levitan's influence on the painters of lyrical landscapes was great.
Levitan's feeling for nature, his great love for his native land, his ability to reveal and depict the poetry of the Russian land have won his paintings the love and gratitude of people.
Names
Isaac Ilyich Levitan [i'sa:k ilj'itj ,levi'ta:n] Savrasov [ssvra:sof] Саврасов А.К. (русский
Исаак Ильич Левитан (1860-1900) живописец, передвижник)
Polenov [po'lenof] Поленов В.Д. (русский
живописец, передвижник)
Serov [sh'rof] Серов В.А. (русский живописец,
передвижник)
Plyoss [pljos] Плес (город на берегу Волги)
Vocabulary
scenery ['shnari] пейзаж
to reveal [rivkl] открывать, обнаруживать
countryside ['kAntrisaid] сельская местность
to develop [di'velap] развивать, совершенствовать
realistic [ria'listik] реалистический
significant [sig'nifikant] важный, значительный
individual [jndi'vidjual] индивидуальный,
особенный, оригинальный
you can't but нельзя не...
to appreciate [a'prifieit] ценить
landscape [Isenskeip] пейзаж
to reflect [ri'flekt] отражать
mood [mu:d] настроение
to express [iks'pres] выражать, отражать
brush кисть
to transfer [traens'fa:] переносить
canvas ['kaenvas] холст, полотно
to introduce [,intre'dju:s] вводить, представлять,
вносить
figure ['figa] фигура
to bring out выявлять, обнаруживать
loneliness ['iaunlinisj одиночество
remote [ri'maut] отдаленный
indifferent [in'difrant] безразличный, равнодушный,
холодный
to influence ['influans] влиять
to make an impression [im'prejn] on производить
впечатление на
unforgettable [yvnfa'getabl] незабываемый
to admire [ad'maia] восхищаться
emotional [i'maufanl] эмоциональный, волнующий
lyrical [lirikl] лирический
closing ['klauzig] years последние годы (жизни)
journey f'd33:ni] поездка, путешествие
abroad [a'bro:d] за границей, за границу
although [э:1'Ээи] хотя
to devote [dhreut] to посвящать (кому-либо,
чему-либо)
to depict [di'pikt] изображать, рисовать
gratitude ['grsetitju:d] благодарность
Questions
1. What is Levitan famous for?
2. Levitan is a very individual sort of painter. Can you prove it?
3. What traditions did Levitan continue and develop?
4. What place did Levitan choose for his life and painting?
5. Did the Volga influence his art?
6. How old was Levitan when he died?
7. Why do so many people like his pictures?
8. Who is your favourite Russian painter?
MOZART
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the greatest composers ever born. Like Shakespeare, he stands at the summit of human achievement. In every form, from serenade to fugue, from piano concerto and symphony to the heights of grand opera, his music amazes, enchants and invades the memory.
Thousands of books have been written about Mozart. Few lives have ever been so well documented as his, and yet he is one of the most mysterious figures in the world.
Mozart was born in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria.
He began playing the piano at 4, and when he was 5 years old, he already composed serious music. His father took him on tours of Western Europe and Italy and the boy was always a success.
Then the prodigy ripened into genius. The genius conquered Vienna and the world. Mozart's fame was great. He met all the great figures of his time, from Haydn to Goethe, from George III to the luckless Marie Antoinette. But then he suddenly fell from favour. The Vienna aristocracy grew tired of him. He lost pupils and contracts, had to move from his comfortable house in the centre to a modest flat in the suburbs. The genius was forgotten.
Mozart died in 1791, when he was only 35 years old. There's a legend that Mozart was poisoned by his rival composer Antonio Salieri. There's no truth in this legend, though it inspired many great poets, writers and composers. But it has been proved that in the last months of his life Mozart really believed that he was pursued by a spirit, "the grey messenger", who appeared and ordered him to write a requiem. In a state of depression Mozart imagined that he was to write the requiem for himself.
Not long ago a 150-volume edition of Mozart's works was published.
His works include 41 symphonies, nearly 30 piano concertos, 19 operas, a vast quantity of orchestral and other instrumental music, and volumes of church music (he wrote it mostly for financial reasons). His most famous operas are Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro.
Names
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ['wulfgaerj 8ema,deias Haydn ['haidn] Гайдн (знаменитый австрийский
'meutsa:t] Вольфганг Амадей Моцарт композитор)
Salzburg ['saeltsbaig] Зальцбург Goethe ['дз:1э] Гете (знаменитый немецкий поэт,
Austria ['ostria] Австрия автор "Фауста")
Vienna [vi'ena] Вена Salieri |>aeli'eri] Сальери
George III [,d3o:d3 da '03:d] Георг III (король ])on Giovanni [,don d3au'va:ni] Дон-Жуан
Великобритании и Ирландии с 1738 по 1820 г.; Пе м .. рШе ^ ,flu.t] Волшебная
считался безумным) .
Marie Antoinette [,maeri sentwa'net] Мария
Антуанетта (королева Франции, жена The Marriage of Figaro [,maerid3 av 'figarau]
Людовика XVI; была гильотинирована во Свадьба Фигаро
время Великой Французской революции)
Vocabulary
composer [kam'pauza] композитор luckless [>klas] несчастливый, злополучный
summit ['SAmit] вершина to fall from favour ['feiva] впасть в немилость
achievement [a'tfkvmant] достижение aristocracy [,aeris'tokrasi] аристократия
serenade [,seri"neid] серенада modest ^^1} скромный
fugue [fiu:g] фуга in the suburbs ['злЬз:Ьг] на окраине города
piano concerto [kan'tf3:tau] фортепьянный концерт voiume [volju-m] том
symphony ['simfani] симфония е(,Шоп [Щп] юдание
grand opera [,grand 'эрага] большая опера ,е
(в противоп. комической опере или оперетте)
to amaze [a'meiz] изумлять, поражать to Polson К50*1! ° травлять, отравить
to enchant [in'tja:nt] околдовать, очаровывать r*va" t'raivl] соперник
to invade [in'veid] овладевать, охватывать to inspire [in'spaia] вдохновлять
(о чувствах и т.п.) to pursue [pa'sju:] преследовать
genius ['d3i:nias] гений spirit ['spirit] дух, призрак
mysterious [mfstiarias] таинственный, загадочный messenger ['mesindsa] посланник
to compose [kam'pauz] сочинять музыку to order ['o:da] приказывать
tour [tua] гастроли, выступления, поездка requiem ['rekwiem] реквием (хоровое произведение
prodigy ['prodid3i] вундеркинд, необыкновенно траурного характера)
одаренный человек vast quantity f'kwontiti] огромное количество
to ripen ['raipn] созревать, превращаться orchestral [o:'kestral] оркестровый
to conquer ['korjka] завоевывать instrumental [ jnstra'mentl] инструментальный
Questions
1. Why is Mozart so often compared with Shakespeare?
2. Is Mozart's life well documented?
3. When did he begin playing the piano?
4. How old was he when he began composing serious music?
5. Was Mozart's fame long?
6. How did he spend the last years of his short life?
7. Was Mozart poisoned?
8. Have you read Pushkin's Mozart and Salieri? Do you remember the end of this "little tragedy"?
9. Have you heard Rimsky-Korsakov's opera Mozart and Saliertf
10. What made Mozart write his famous requiem?
11. Mozart was an unusually prolific (плодовитый) composer, wasn't he? What kind of music did he write?
12. What do you think of Mozart's music?
MY FAVOURITE SINGER
My favourite singer is Michael Jackson. I like his songs very much because they are full of energy and very melodic. I also like the way he dances.
There were nine children in Michael's family. They lived in a small fourroom house. Today he lives in a house which has seventeen rooms downstairs and sixteen rooms upstaires. It stands in 2,700 acres of ground. Besides the house there are guest houses, a golf course, a swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, gardens, lakes, forests and a zoo.
A lot of strange stories are told about Jackson. It's difficult to decide whether they are true or not. Michael never gives interviews and is rarely seen in public, except on stage. Certainly his behaviour may seem eccentric. In public he often wears a face mask to protect himself from germs, he sleeps inside an oxygen capsule, which he believes will help him to live longer. But his manager says that Jackson isn't eccentric. He is just shy. Michael sang in public for the first time when he was five. Since that time he has always been in the public eye. And since that time he has been working like a grown-up.
There were times when he came home from school and he only had time to put his books and get ready for the studio. He often sang until late at night, even if it was past his bedtime. There was a park across the street from the studio, and Michael looked at the kids playing games. And he just stared at them in wonder — he couldn't imagine such freedom, such a carefree life.
Now he says about himself that in the crowd he is afraid, on stage he is safe. Off stage he feels happiest with animals and children. He is well-known for his childish tastes. It's not a secret that his favourite hero is Peter Pan.
Michael has been called "the child who never grew up", but I think he is a grown-up who was never allowed to be a child.
Whether he is crazy, childish, eccentric or just shy, he is no fool. He has created a brilliantly successful image, he makes a lot of money and spends it on the things he wants. Who wouldn't like to do the same?
Names
Michael Jackson [,maikl 'c^seksn] Майкл Джексон
Peter Pan Питер Пэн (герой книг английского писателя Джеймса Барри, мальчик, который не рос)
Vocabulary
energy [-enad3i] энергия
melodic [mi'bdik] мелодичный
the way he dances как он танцует
acre ['eika] акр
golf course ['golf ,ko:s] поле для гольфа
stable ['steibl] конюшня
interview [Intavju:] интервью
rarely [Yeali] редко
behaviour [bi'heivje] поведение
eccentric [ak'sentrik] эксцентричный
mask [ma:sk] маска
to protect [pra'tekt] защищать
germ [d33:m] бактерия
oxygene capsule ['oksidgan 'kaepsju:!]
кислородная капсула
shy [Jai] застенчивый
in the public eye на виду
grown-up [,дгэип'лр] взрослый
studio ['stu:(stju:)diau] студия
it was past his bedtime ему давно было пора
ложиться спать
to stare ['stea] in wonder ['vwvnda] смотреть в
изумлении
to imagine [irnsedsin] представлять себе
carefree ['keafri:] беззаботный
crowd [kraud ] толпа
on stage he is safe на сцене он чувствует себя
в безопасности
childish ['tjaildif] детский
to allow [a'lau] разрешать, позволять
crazy f'kreizi] сумасшедший
Questions
1. What role does music play in your life?
2. What kind of music do you like?
3. How often do you listen to music?
4. Do you like Michael Jackson's songs?
5. Do you think that his behaviour is eccentric?
6. Why is Michael Jackson often compared to Peter Pan?
7. Do you think his childhood was happy?
8. When does Michael feel happiest?
9. Are all the stories printed about Michael Jackson true?
10. Do you like the way Michael dances?
THE BIRTH OF THE "SEVENTH ART"
Can you imagine life without films or television, cinema's little sister?
Today we can watch television 24 hours a day, we can go to the cinema or put a cassette into our video when we want. We can even make video films ourselves.
But imagine the surprise and the shock that people felt when they saw the first films in 1895! There was no sound, no colour and the films were very short: they lasted from 60 to 90 seconds! Besides, they did not tell a story.
They were glimpses of real life: a military parade, a running horse, a boxing match, the ocean ... One of the first films showed a train coming towards the camera. The audience panicked and ran away! The frightened people were sure that the train was coming into the theatre.
The early films were shown in music halls, theatres, cafes and even shops. Travelling projectionists brought the films to smaller cities and country towns.
The cinema was the perfect popular entertainment. It was not expensive and, at first, the audience consisted mainly of workers. The rich and intellectual classes ignored it. They didn't think it was art.
Gradually films became longer and started to tell stories. Edwin Porter was one of the first directors who made such a film in 1903. It was The Great Train Robbery, the first Western in the history of the cinema. This 11-minute film became a sensational hit.
As soon as the films learned to tell stories, they began to film the classics.
Silent films had orchestras or pianists. Later, printed titles were invented.
Film-makers soon learned how to use special effects. The first known special effect was created in 1895 by Alfred Clark in The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. It was a simple trick: the camera was stopped and the actress replaced with a doll.
In 1911 the first studio was opened in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Filmmakers soon realised that the place was perfect for shooting nearly any film — it had mountains, desert and ocean. Soon nearly all important American studios were in Hollywood. The next thirty years became Hollywood's greatest years.
The era of the talking film began in 1927 with the enormous success of Warner Brothers' The Jazz Singer. The film mostly told its story with titles, but it had three songs and a short dialogue. There were long queues in front of the Warner Theatre in New York... The silent film was dead within a year.
The first colour films were made in the 1930s. The introduction of colour was less revolutionary than the introduction of sound. The silent film soon disappeared, but the black-and-white films are made even today.
The most important aspect of the cinema was that, for the price of a ticket, people could dream for a few hours. The little boy who went to a Saturday matinee in Manchester or Marseilles could imagine he was a courageous cowboy. The mother in Birmingham or Berlin could imagine she was Scarlett O'Hara in the arms of Rhett Butler.
Today, no one disputes cinema's place as the "seventh art". It has provided as many great artists as literature, the theatre, and any of the other arts.
Names
Edwin Porter [,edwin 'po:ta] Эдвин Портер
The Great Train Robbery frobari]
Большое ограбление поезда
Alfred Clark Lselfrad 'kla:k] Альфред Кларк
The Execution [,eksi'kju:fn] of Mary, Queen of Scots
Казнь Марии, королевы шотландской
Hollywood ['holiwud] Голливуд
Los Angeles [los 'ззпйзэШг] Лос-Анджелес
Warner Brothers ['wo:na ,Ьглдэг] Уорнер Бразерз
(известная американская кинокомпания)
The Jazz [d3sez] Singer Джазовый певец
Manchester ['maentfista] Манчестер
Marseilles [marsei] Марсель
Birmingham [temirjem] Бермингем
Berlin [bai'lin] Берлин
Scarlett O'Hara Lska:lit au'ha:ra] Скарлет О'Хара
(героиня книги и фильма «Унесенные ветром»)
Rhett Butler [,ret 'ЬлИэ] Рет Батлер (герой книги и
фильма «Унесенные ветром»)
Vocabulalry
cassette [ka'set] кассета
video ['vidiau] видеомагнитофон
glimpse [glimps] зд. картинка (реальной жизни)
military parade [jnilitari pa'reid] военный
парад
surprise [sa'praiz] удивление
towards [to:dz ] по направлению к
audience ['o:dians] публика, зрители
to panick ['paenik] впадать в панику
projectionist [pra'd3ekfanist] киномеханик
entertainment [,enta'teinment] зрелище,
развлечение
expensive [iks'pensiv] дорогой, дорогостоящий
intellectual [jnta'lektjual] интеллектуальный
to ignore [ig'no:] не замечать, игнорировать
gradually ['graedjuali] постепенно
director [di'rekta] режиссер
Western f'westan] вестерн
to be a sensational [sen'seifanal] hit иметь
сенсационный успех
classic ['klaesik] классика, классическое произведение
silent ['salient] film немой фильм
orchestra ['o:kastra] оркестр
title ['tartl] титр
film-maker ['film/neika] создатель фильма, режиссер
special effect [,spejal i'fekt] спецэффект
trick [trik] трюк
to replace [ri'pleis] заменять
studio ['stu:(stju:)diau] студия
to shoot [fu:t] (shot) снимать (фильм)
desert ['dezat] пустыня
era [1эгэ] эра, эпоха
enormous [i'no:mas] огромный
queue [kju:] очередь
introduction [jntra'dAkJn] введение, внедрение
revolutionary [,reva'lu:Janari] революционный
price [prais] цена
matinee ['maetinei] фр. дневной спектакль to dispute [dis'pju:t] ставить под сомнение,
или сеанс (в кино) оспаривать; сомневаться
courageous [ka'reidsas] смелый, храбрый to provide [pravaid] давать, предоставлять
cowboy ['kauboi] ковбой
Questions
1. In 1895 the French Lumiere [lu'miea] brothers showed their first films in public. Were they different from modern films?
2. Where were the early films shown?
3. Why did the rich and intellectual classes ignore the cinema?
4. Why did The Great Train Robbery become a sensational hit?
5. When was the first special effect created?
6. When did the first studio open in Hollywood?
7. Why did film-makers like Hollywood?
8. Have you ever seen a silent film? Did you like it?
9. When did the era of the talking film begin?
10. Was the introduction of colour as revolutionary as the introduction of sound?
11. Do you agree that the cinema is "the seventh art"? Why?
12. Do you often go to the cinema?
13. What films do you like to see?
14. Who are your favourite actors?
15. Who are your favourite film directors?
DAVID DUCHOVNY
David Duchovny was born in New York City on the 7th of August, 1960.
His father is a writer and his mother is a housewife. Before David was bom his parents had been English teachers. When his parents divorced, David was raised by his mother, along with his sister Laurie and his brother Daniel.
David went to a prestigious private school in Manhattan. "He was a very bright kid with a brilliant sense of humour," his father remembers. "At school he was always top of the class."
After school he entered Princeton University. Then he studied English Literature at Yale University and worked as a teaching assistant.
David was working at his PhD thesis at Yale when one of his friends suggested that he should try acting classes.
Duchovny's PhD thesis, Magic and Technology in Contemporary Fiction and Poetry was never finished. He moved to Hollywood.
His mother was angry when he had given up studying. Even now, when she speaks to him on the phone, she always asks him: "When are you going to finish your thesis?" He laughs and says: "Later, later."
David's first year in Hollywood was very hard. He was unemployed and could hardly make both ends meet. Luckily, he was invited to play in a commercial and later in a feature film. "Acting gave me a sense of team and I liked this very much," David says.
Very soon Duchovny appeared in such feature films as Chaplin, Beethoven and California.
His work in the movies attracted the attention of Chris Carter, the famous creator of The X-Files. A TV series weren't in Duchovny's plans but he was impressed by the script for The X-Files. So he became agent Fox Mulder.
David is very surprised not only by the success of The X-Files but by his own personal popularity.
Actors who have worked with him describe him as modest, professional and hard-working.
David is fond of sports. He played basketball and baseball at school and university. He keeps in shape with jogging and yoga exercises.
He writes poetry, but, as he says, he does not read it in public any more.
Names
David Duchovny [,deivid du'kovni] Дейвид Духовный Laurie ['b:ri] Лори
Daniel ['daenjsl] Даниил
Manhattan [maen'haetn] Манхеттен (центральный
район Нью-Йорка)
Princeton University [prinstan juni'vaisiti]
Принстонский университет (один из старейших
университетов США)
Yale University [jell junhraisiti] Йельский
университет (один из старейших и и наиболее
престижных университетов США)
Hollywood ['holiwud] Голливуд
Chaplin ['tjaeplin] Чаплин
Beethoven ['beithauvn] Бетховен
California [,kaeli'fo:nia] Калифорния
Chris Carter [,kris 'ka:ta] Крис Картер
The X-Files [9i 'eks ,failz] Секретные материалы
Fox Mulder. Lfoks 'nrv\lda] Фокс Малдер
Vocabulary
to divorce [di'vois] разводиться
to raise ['reiz] растить, воспитывать
prestigious [pre'stid3as] престижный
private ['praivit] school амер. частная школа
teaching assistant [a'sistant] ассистент кафедры
(низшая преподавательская должность в
американских университетах)
PhD [,pi: eitj 'di:] (сокр. от Doctor of Philosophy)
доктор философии
thesis ['Gi:sis] (pi. theses ['9i:si:z]) диссертация
acting classes уроки актерского мастерства
magic ['msed3ik] магия
technology [tek'nolad3i] техника, технология
contemporary [kan'temparari] современный
fiction ['fikjn] художественная литература
unemployed [yuiim'ploid] безработный
could hardly make both ends meet едва сводил
концы с концами
commercial [ka'rrraijal] телереклама
feature ['fl:tja] film художественный фильм
to attract [a'traekt] attention привлечь внимание
series ['siari:z] сериал
creator [kri'eita] создатель
to impress [im'pres] произвести впечатление
script [skript] сценарий
agent feid3ant] агент
popularity Lpopju'laeriti] популярность
modest ['modist] скромный
hard-working [,ha:d'w3:kig] трудолюбивый
to keep in shape [Jeip] держаться в форме
jogging ['d3ogiQ] "джогинг", бег трусцой
yoga ['jauga] йога
Questions
1. Do you like David Duchovny?
2. Do you think he is a talented actor?
3. Is he handsome?
4. What do other actors say about him?
5. Was David a good student?
6. Where did he study?
7. What was his first job?
8. Do you think he'll finish his PhD thesis?
9. Does David like his new profession?
10. Have you seen The X-Filesl
11. Do you like Fox Mulder?
12. Fox Mulder believes in UFOs. Do you?
13. What is David Duchovny' s hobby?
14. What does he do to keep in shape?
Science and Scientists
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Albert Einstein is known all over the world as a brilliant theoretical physicist and the founder of the theory of relativity. He is perhaps the greatest scientist of the 20th century. Some of his ideas made possible the atomic bomb, as well as television and other inventions.
He was born in 1879 in a small German town. The Einstein family soon moved to Munich, where Albert went to school. Neither his parents, nor his school teachers thought much of his mental abilities. His uncle often joked: "Not everybody is born to become a professor."
In 1895 Albert failed the entrance examination to a technical college in Zurich. A year later, however, he managed to pass the exam and entered the college.
After graduating from the college, Einstein started to work at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern. In 1905 he wrote a short article in a science magazine.
This was his 'Special Theory of Relativity', which gave the world the most famous equation relating mass and energy (E = me2), the basis of atomic energy.
Later, he became a professor in several European universities and in 1914 moved to Berlin as a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. After ten years of hard work he created his 'General Theory of Relativity'.
In 1921 Einstein received the Nobel Prize for Physics.
A Jew, and a pacifist, he was attacked by the Nazis, and when Hitler came to power in 1933 he decided to settle in the United States.
In 1939 Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Roosevelt, at the request of several prominent physicists, outlining the military potential of nuclear energy and the dangers of a Nazi lead in this field. His letter greatly influenced the decision to build an atomic bomb, though he took no part in the Manhattan Project. After the war he spoke out passionately against nuclear weapons and repression.
Einstein died in 1955. The artificial element einsteinium has been named in his honour.
Names
Albert Einstein [,aelbat 'ainstain]
Munich ['mju:nik] Мюнхен
Zurich ['zuarik] Цюрих
Bern [Ьз:п] Берн
Berlin [,Ьз:'Нп] Берлин
the Prussian Academy of Sciences ['prAjn a.ksedami
av 'saiansiz] Прусская академия наук
Hitler ['hitla] Гитлер
Nobel Prize [nau,bel 'praiz] Нобелевская премия
Roosevelt ['rauzavelt] Рузвельт (президент США
с 1933 по 1945г.)
Manhattan Project [maen,haetn 'prod3ekt]
Манхеттенский проект (кодовое название работы
по созданию атомной бомбы в США в период
второй мировой войны)
Vocabulary
theoretical physicist [Gia'retikal 'fizisist]
физик-теоретик
theory of relativity ['Giari av /ela'tiviti] теория
относительности
atomic bomb [a,tomik 'bom] атомная бомба
invention [in'venjn] изобретение
mental abilities [.mentl a'bilitiz] умственные
способности
to fail [fell] examinations провалиться на
экзаменах
patent ['peitant] office патентное бюро
equation [i'kweijn] уравнение
to relate [ri'leit] связывать, устанавливать
отношение
mass [maes] масса
energy ['enad3i] энергия
basis ['beisis] основа, основание
Jew [d3u:] еврей
pacifist ['paesifist] пацифист
nazi ['na:tsi] нацист
to come to power ['paua] прийти к власти
to settle ['sell] поселиться
at the request [ri'kwest] по просьбе
prominent ['prominent] видный, выдающийся
to outline ['autlainj обрисовать, наметить в общих чертах
military potential [,militari pa'tenjalj военный
потенциал
nuclear ['nju:kliaj ядерный
lead [li:d] ведущее, первое место
to influence [Influans] оказывать влияние
to speak out against выступать против
passionately ['paejnitli] страстно
nuclear weapons [,nju:klia 'wepanz] ядерное оружие
repression [ri'prejn] репрессия
artificial [,a:ti'fijl] искусственный
element ['elimant] элемент
einsteinium [ain'stainiam] эйнштейний
in smb's honour Г'опэ] в чью-либо честь
Questions
1. Why is Einstein generally thought of as being the greatest scientist of the 20th century?
2. When and where was he bom?
3. What did his parents and relatives think of his mental abilities?
4. Did he manage to pass his entrance exams at once?
5. Where did Einstein work after graduating from the college?
6. When did he create his 'Special Theory of Relativity'? Why is it considered to be one of the greatest discoveries ever made?
7. How long did it take him to form his 'General Theory of Relativity'?
8. Why did Einstein leave Germany?
9. Why did he write a letter to President Roosevelt? What was it about?
10. Did Einstein take part in the Manhattan Project?
11. What do you know about nuclear weapons? Why are they dangerous?
12. What other outstanding physicists do you know?
ANDREI SAKHAROV
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov, an outstanding scientist and public figure, was born on the 21st of May, 1921, into the family of teachers. He graduated from Moscow University in 1942. In 1947 he defended his thesis for the degree of Candidate of Science. In 1953 he defended his Doctorate thesis and was elected member of the Academy of Sciences.
When he was a graduate student Sakharov began to work on the Soviet nuclear weapons programme and soon he suggested a totally new idea for a hydrogen bomb design. But he was getting more and more worried about the consequences of his work. He understood better than anybody else what nuclear weapons meant and he thought about his own responsibility and about the responsibility of the states which possessed such weapons.
In 1968 he wrote an article attacking Soviet political system. He wrote that people needed a democratic society, free of dogmatism.
Sakharov is often called the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, but he became more known as a champion for human rights and freedom. For this work the Nobel Committee awarded him the Peace Prize in 1975. The Committee called him "the conscience of mankind". The Soviet authorities, however, did not allow him to go to Norway to receive the award.
In 1966 he took part in his first human rights demonstration, a one-minute silent protest in Pushkin Square. A year later, he wrote a letter to Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev defending imprisoned dissidents.
His international repute as a scientist kept him out of jail, but in 1980 when he protested against Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, he was deprived of all his titles and orders and exiled to the city of Gorky. In 1986 Michail Gorbachev invited Sahkarov to return to Moscow. He was given back all his titles and orders.
Andrei Sakharov died in 1989. He is remembered by everybody as an outstanding humanist, who could teach and inspire and who foresaw the changes that are taking place now.
Names
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov [a:n'drei /JmitrievrtJ Peace Prize ['pi:s praiz] Премия мира
'«keroj Андрей Дмитриевич Сахаров Norway Норвегия
the Academy of Sciences [8,kaedami av 'saiansiz]
Академия наук Afghanistan [aefgsenista:n] Афганистан
Nobel Committee [nau,bel ke'miti] Нобелевский комитет Gorky ['go:ki] г. Горький
Vocabulary
outstanding [aufstaendirj] выдающийся
public figure ['figa] общественный деятель
to defend one's thesis ['9i:sis] защищать диссертацию
degree [di'gri:] of Candidate ['kaendidit] of Science
ученая степень кандидата наук
Doctorate ['doktarit] thesis докторская диссертация
to elect [i'lekt] выбирать, избирать
graduate student ['graedjuit ,stu:dant]
студент-старшекурсник
nuclear weapons Lnjuiklia 'wepanz] ядерное оружие
to suggest [safest] предложить
totally [lauteli] полностью, совершенно
hydrogen bomb ['haidrad3in ,130111] водородная бомба
design [di'zain] конструкция
consequence ['konsikwans] последствие
responsibility [risponsi'bilati] ответственность
to possess [pa'zes] владеть
to attack [a'tsek] нападать, критиковать
democratic [,dema'kraetik] демократический
dogmatism ['dogmatizm] догматизм
champion ['tfaempian] защитник, борец
human ['hju:man] rights права человека
to award [a'wo:d] награждать, присуждать
conscience ['konjans] совесть
mankind [maen'kaind] человечество
authorities [oi'Goratiz] власти
protest ['prautestj протест;
to protest [pa'test] протестовать
to defend [di'fend] защищать
to imprison [im'prizn] заключать в тюрьму
dissident ['disidant] диссидент
repute [itpju:t] репутация
jail [d3eil] тюрьма
intervention [jnta'venjn] насильственное
вмешательство, интервенция
to deprive [di'praiv] of лишать чего-либо
title [taitl] зд. титул, звание
order ['o:da] орден
to exile feksail] ссылать, изгонять
humanist ['hju:manist] гуманист
to inspire [in'spaia] вдохновлять, воодушевлять
to foresee [fo:'si:] (foresaw, foreseen) предвидеть
Questions
1. When was Andrei Sakharov bom?
2. What were his parents?
3. What university did he graduate from? When?
4. What is Sakharov famous for as a scientist?
5. When did he defend his Doctorate thesis?
6. What conclusion did he come to while working on the bomb?
7. When did he take part in his first human rights demonstration?
8. What prize was he awarded?
9. Why was he exiled to Gorky?
10. Who helped him to come back to Moscow?
11. Why is Sakharov known all over the world?
WILL WE LIVE TO SEE THE FIRST CLONED HUMAN?
Films and science fiction books have often played with the idea of reproducing exact copies of people. Today, science fiction has become science fact. We have our first real clones, though they are not human beings — yet!
The gene revolution began in 1997, when British scientists from Edinburgh University produced the first cloned sheep, Dolly. Since then scientists have cloned mice, cows, dogs and pigs.
Cloning animals opens exciting medical possibilities:
- Many people are in need of tissues and organs for transplantation. But it isn't easy to get such organs as, for example, heart, liver or kidneys. Cloning can solve this problem.
— Many animals are on the brink of extinction. Cloning can be used to preserve them.
— Scientists can create animals which produce more milk, meat and wool, or animals which don't catch certain diseases. This can save the lives of starving people.
Cloning is a controversial issue. Some people are ready to eat cloned fruits and vegetables, but many people are against cloning animals. They think it is morally unacceptable. The question of human cloning is even more controversial.
Suppose we cloned a man.
Are we really sure he will be a man? Who will be responsible for him? Who will bring him up? Will he be happy? Will he have the same rights as we have?
What would happen if a dictator, someone like Hitler, cloned himself?
Would we be able to survive?
Nevertheless, the idea of human cloning seems very exciting.
Names
Edinburgh University [,edinbara ^nfvaisiti] Hitler ['hitla] Гитлер
Эдинбургский университет (один из лучших
университетов Великобритании)
Vocabulary
to clone [klaun] клонировать, размножать science fiction [,saians 'fikjn] научная фантастика
вегетативным или клеточным путем to reproduce [,ri:pra'dju:s] воспроизводить, порождать
human being [,hju:man bi:irj] человек
gene [d3i:n] ген
to produce [pra'dju:s] создавать, производить
tissue ['tiju:], [lisju:] ткань
transplantation [,traenspla:n'teiln] трансплантация,
пересадка органа или ткани
liver [Miva] печень
kidney ['kidni] почка
on the brink of extinction [ik'stiQkfn] на грани
вымирания
to preserve [prrzaiv] сохранять
to starve [sta:v] голодать, умирать от голода
wool [wul] шерсть
disease [di'ziiz] болезнь
controversial [,kontra'v3:JI] спорный,
дискуссионный
issue [IJu:], [Isju:] вопрос, проблема
unacceptable [,Anak'septabl] неприемлемый
suppose [sa'pauz] предположим, допустим
to be responsible [if sponsibl] for нести
ответственность за
to bring up ['brio 'ЛР! (brought) воспитывать
rights [raits] права
dictator [dik'teita] диктатор
to survive [sa'vatv] выжить, уцелеть
nevertheless [,nevafla'les] тем не менее, все же,
однако
Questions
1 Is cloning a controversial issue?
2 Who produced the first cloned sheep?
3 What medical possibilities does cloning animals open?
4 Can cloning be used to preserve endangered species?
5 Scientists say that one day it will be possible to clone a dinosaur.
6 Does the idea seem exciting to you?
7 Do you think cloning can solve the problems of food shortages?
8 Are you for or against cloning animals? Why?
9. it would be exactly like you — from your hair colour to all your diseases. Would you like to have a clone?
10 What would happen if a dictator cloned himself?
11. Are you for or against cloning people?
Sports
OLYMPIC GAMES
The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in 777 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twelve centuries at Olimpia. They included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, wrestling, etc. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olimpia to compete in the Games. For the period of the Games all the wars stopped. So the Olympic Games became the symbol of peace and friendship.
In 394 AD the Games were abolished and were not renewed until many centuries later.
In 1894, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed all the sports governing bodies and pointed out the significance of sports and its educational value.
Two years later the first modern Olympic Games took place. Of course, the competitions were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition.
In 1896 the International Olympic Committee was set up. It is the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement. It is formed by the representatives of all countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the games, the number of the participants and the city-host for the Games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Besides, each country has its National Olympic Committee.
Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The most suitable is selected by the International Committee. After that the city of the Games starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels, press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games, and it takes great efforts to arrange everything. There is always an interesting cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, etc., for each Games.
Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver, and bronze medals. In 1980 Moscow hosted the Twenty- Second Olympic Games.
The latest Olympic Games were held in Sydney. Russian sportsmen got medals for their records in many sports events.
Names
Olympic Games [a,limpik 'geimz] Олимпийские игры
Baron Pierre de Coubertin f'baeran pi,ea da ,ku:ba'taer)]
барон Пьер де Кубертен (французский общественный
деятель, педагог, основатель международного
олимпийского движения)
Olympia [alimpia] Олимпия
the International [jnta'naefnl] Olympic
Committee [ka'miti] Международный
олимпийский комитет
Sydney ['sidni] Сидней (один из крупнейших
городов Австралии)
Vocabulary
ВС [,bi:'si:] до нашей эры (сокр. от
Before Christ [kraist])
wrestling ['resliij] борьба
athlete f'aeSlht] атлет
to compete [kam'pht] соревноваться
AD [,ei'di:] нашей эры (сокр. от лат. Anno Domini)
to abolish [a'bolif] отменять, упразднять
to renew [ri'nju:] возобновлять
governing ['g/wanig] административный,
руководящий
body ['bodi] орган, комитет
to point out указывать (на)
significance [sig'nifikans] значимость, важность
value ['vaelju:] ценность, важность, значение
to be held проводиться
to symbolyze ['simbalaiz] символизировать
to set up организовать, создать
policy-making ['polisi] body орган, определяющий
политику, цели (олимпийского движения)
representative [,repri'zentativ] представитель
participant [partisipant] участник
city-host [,siti'haust] город-хозяин Олимпийских
игр
national ['naejnl] национальный, государственный
separately ['sepratli] отдельно
to host [haust] принимать гостей, быть хозяином
suitable ['sju:tabl] подходящий
to select [si'lekt] отбирать, выбирать
sports facilities [fa'silitiz] спортивные сооружения
stadium ['steidjam] стадион
it takes great efforts ['efets] нужны большие усилия
to arrange [a'reinds] устраивать, организовывать
gold [gauld], silver ['silva] and bronze ['bronz]
medals ['medlz] золотые, серебряные и
бронзовые медали
record ['reko:d] рекорд
sports event [i'vent] спортивное соревнование
Questions
1. When and where did the Olympic Games begin?
2. Why did the Olympic Games become the symbol of peace and friendship?
3. When did the Games in Greece stop?
4. Who renewed the Olympic movement?
5. When and where did the first modem Games take place?
6. When was the International Olympic Committee set up? What is its function?
7. Are Summer and Winter Games held separately?
8. How does the city-host prepare for the Olympic Games?
9. When did Russia join the Olympic movement?
10. Where were the latest Olympic Games held?
SPORTS IN GREAT BRITAIN
The British are known to be great sports-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have come from Britain.
One of the most British games is cricket. It is often played in schools, colleges, universities and by club teams all over the country. Summer isn't summer without cricket. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behaviour. When they consider anything unfair, they sometimes say: "That isn't cricket."
But as almost everywhere else in the world, the game which attracts the greatest attention is Association football, or soccer. Every Saturday from late August till the beginning of May, large crowds of people support their favourite sides in football grounds. True fans will travel from one end of the country to the other to see their team play. There are plenty of professional and amateur soccer clubs all over Britain. International football matches and the Cup Finals take place at Wembley.
Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly by amateurs.
Next to football, the chief spectator sport in British life is horse-racing. A lot of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. The Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event in the whole world.
Britain is also famous for motor-car racing, dog-racing, boat-racing, and even races for donkeys. The famous boat-race between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge attracts large crowds of people.
A great number of people play and watch tennis. Tennis tournaments at Wimbledon are known all over the world. The innumerable tennis courts of Britain are occupied by people between the ages of 16 and 60 who show every degree of skill — from practically helpless to the extremely able.
The British also like to play golf, baseball, hockey, grass-hockey. Various forms of athletics, such as running, jumping, swimming, boxing are also popular. You can sometimes hear that there are no winter sports in England. Of course the English weather is not always cold enough to ski, skate, or toboggan, but winter is a good season for hunting and fishing. Indeed, sport in one form or another is an essential part of daily life in Britain.
Names
Wembley [-wembli] стадион Уэмбли в Лондоне Wimbledon ['wimbldan] Уимблдон (предместье
the Derby ['da:bi] Дерби (ежегодные скачки Лондона, в котором находится Всеанглийский
лошадей-трехлеток на ипподроме Epsom
Downs " близ Лондона; по имени графа Дерби) теннисный и крикетный клуб)
Vocabulary
cricket f'krikit] крикет (английская национальная rugby ['глдЫ] football регби (разновидность
спортивная игра; отдаленно напоминает футбола; по названию привилегированной
русскую лапту) средней школы "Rugby", где в 1823г. впервые
standard ['staendad] норма, образец стали играть в эту игру)
behaviour [bi'heivja] поведение next to football на следующем месте после
to consider [karrsida] считать, рассматривать футбола
unfair [лп-fea] нечестный, несправедливый chief [tji:f] главный, основной
to attract [a'traekt] attention привлекать внимание spectator [spek'tekjula] sport зрелищный вид спорта
crowd [kraud] толпа racing бега (конские, собачьи и пр.)
association [a,sausi'eijn] football футбол (по boat-race гребные гонки
названию английской Футбольной ассоциации, tournament ['tuansmant] турнир
разработавшей правила современного innumerable [Knjuimarebl] бесчисленный
футбола); разг. soccer ['soka] degree [di'gri:] степень, уровень
to support [sa-po:t] поддерживать, болеть skill умение
football ground футбольное поле helpless беспомощный
fan болельщик extremely чрезвычайно
professional [pra'fefanl] профессиональный able ['eibl] умелый
amateur ['aemeta] любительский to toboggan [ta'bogan] кататься на санях, санках
Questions
1. What do the British do when they are neither playing, nor watching games?
2. What kind of sport is especially associated with Britain?
3. What is cricket for an Englishman?
4. What is the most popular game in the world?
5. Where do the Cup Finals take place?
6. Is rugby played by professionals?
7. What kinds of racing are popular in Britain?
8. What do you know about Wimbledon?
9. What other games do the British play?
10. What winter sports are popular in Britain?
SPORTS IN RUSSIA
Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games and always win a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.
Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Certainly watching sports events and going in for sports are two different things.
In the past it was never admitted that professional sport existed in our country. The official point of view was that our sport was totally amateur. Now everybody knows that sport can be a profession and a business.
But sport can be fun as well. Besides, it helps to stay in good shape, to keep fit and to be healthy.
Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally — swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter — but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis.
For those who can afford it there are clubs where they give lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their rollerskates and skate in the streets and parks.
Vocabulary
sporting society [sa'saiati] спортивное общество point of view [vju:] точка зрения
tournament ['tuanamant] турнир, чемпионат totally ['tautali] полностью
record [Teko:d] рекорд amateur ['aemata] любительский
gymnast ['d3imnast] гимнст fun удовольствие
vveightlifter ['weitlifta] тяжелоатлет in good shape в хорошей форме
figure skater ['flga ,skeita] фигурист fit зд. в хорошем состоянии, в хорошей форме
high jumper прыгун в высоту to do sports заниматься спортом
to admit [ad'mit] признавать on a more regular basis ['beisis] более регулярно
professional [pra'fe/anal] профессиональный gym [djim] тренажерный зал
aerobics [ea'raubiks] аэробика to jog [41309] бегать трусцой
yoga ['jauga] йога to afford [a'fo:d] позволить себе
body-building ['bodibildirj] бодибилдинг scuba diving ['sku:ba /JaMrj] дайвинг, плавание с
work-out ['wa:kaut] тренировка аквалангом
treadmill [iredmil] тренажер "беговая дорожка" roller skates ['raula ,skeits] роликовые коньки
Questions
1. Why is sport so important in our life?
2. Do Russian sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games?
3. Do they often win medals?
4. Was there a gym or a sports ground in your school?
5. What professional sporting societies or clubs do you know?
6. Are there any keep-fit centres in your neighbourhood? Do you go there?
7. Do you go in for sports or do you prefer to watch other people playing?
8. What team are you a fan of?
9. What is your favourite kind of sport?
10. How long have you been playing it?
11. Do you take part in competitions?
12. What games are popular in Russia?
Customs and Traditions
HOLIDAYS IN GREAT BRITAIN
There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.
The most popular holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated.
Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charity and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a carol service on the Sunday before Christmas.
The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets.
Christmas is a family holiday. Relatives usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or perhaps sit at home and watch football.
New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland, Hogmanay is the biggest festival of the year.
Besides public holidays there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head.
Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks.
This dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes) and children can often be seen in the streets before the 5th of November saying, "Penny for the guy." If they collect enough money they can buy some fireworks.
There are also smaller, local festivals in Britain.
Names
Christmas ['krismas] Day Рождество (25 декабря) New Year's Day Новый год
Boxing ['boksiQ] Day второй день Рождества, день
рождественских подарков (в этот день принято
дарить подарки)
Good Friday Великая пятница (пятница на
страстной неделе)
Easter [1:sta] Monday первый понедельник после
Пасхи
May Day майский праздник, праздник весны
(отмечается в первое воскресенье мая)
Spring Bank Holiday весенний день отдыха
(в мае или начале июня)
Summer Bank Holiday летний день отдыха
(в августе или сентябре)
Trafalgar Square [tra;fselga 'skwea]
Трафальгарская площадь
Norway ['no-.wei] Норвегия
Father Christmas Рождественский дед, Дед Мороз
Hogmanay ['hogmanei] хогманей, канун Нового
года
Guy Fawkes [,gai 'fo:ks] Гай Фокс (глава
"Порохового заговора")
the Houses of Parliament ['pavement] здание
английского парламента
King James I [,d3eimz da "f3:st] Джеймс I (король
Англии с 1603 no 1625г.)
the Tower ['taua] Тауэр
Vocabulary
Christmas tree рождественская елка
to decorate ['dekareit] украшать
charity ['tfaeriti] благотворительность
carol ['kaeral] кэрол (рождественская песня
религиозного содержания, славящая
рождение Христа)
service ['saivis] служба (церковная)
to hang (hung) развешивать
stocking t'stokir)] чулок
chimney ftjimni] труба
relative f'relativ] родственник
turkey ['ta:ki] индейка
Christmas pudding ['pudio] рождественский
пудинг (с изюмом, цукатами и пряностями)
festival ['festival] празднество, праздник
to blow up взорвать
to succeed [sak'shd] достигнуть цели, добиться
bomb [bom] бомба
to cut off smb's head отрубить кому-либо голову
to celebrate ['selibreit] праздновать, торжественно
отмечать
to burn [Ьз:п] жечь, сжигать
dummy [Шт1] кукла, чучело, манекен
straw [stro:] солома
bonfire ['bonfaia] костер
to let off fireworks ['faiawarks] устроить фейерверк
penny ['peni] пенни, пенс
local ['laukl] местный
Questions
1. Are there many holidays in Great Britain?
2. What is a "bank holiday"?
3. What is the most popular holiday in Britain?
4. When is Christmas celebrated?
5. What are the traditional Christmas songs called in Britain?
6. What do children leave at the end of their beds and why?
7. What do the British do on Boxing Day?
8. What is the name of New Year's Eve in Scotland?
9. When is Guy Fawkes Night celebrated?
10. What do you know about Guy Fawkes?
HOLIDAYS IN RUSSIA
There are many national holidays in Russia, when people all over the country do not work and have special celebrations.
The major holidays are: New Year's Day, Women's Day, May Day, Victory Day, and Independence Day.
The first holiday of the year is New Year's Day. People see the new year in at midnight on the 31st of December. They greet the new year with champagne and listen to the Kremlin chimes beating 12 o'clock.
There are lots of New Year traditions in Russia. In every home there is a New Year tree glittering with coloured lights and decorations. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present. Many people consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday. But the young prefer to have New Year parties of their own.
A renewed holiday in our country is Christmas. It is celebrated on the 7th of January. It's a religious holiday and a lot of people go to church services on that day.
On the 8th of March we celebrate Women's Day when men are supposed to do everything about the house, cook all the meals and give women flowers.
The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day. On the 9th of May, 1945, our army completely defeated the German fascists and the Great Patriotic War ended. We'll never forget our grandfathers and grandmothers who died to defend our Motherland. We honour their memory with a minute of silence and put flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Independence Day is a new holiday in our country. On the 12th of June, 1992, the first President of Russia was elected.
We also celebrate Day of the Defender of Motherland on the 23d of February, Easter, Day of Knowledge and lots of professional holidays which are not public holidays and banks, offices and schools do not close.
Names
Independence [Jndi'pendans] Day День
независимости
Father Frost Дед Мороз
Christmas f'krismes] Рождество
Easter ['i:sta] Пасха
Day of the Defender [di'fenda] of Motherland
День защитника Отечества
Day of Knowledge ['пэМз] День знаний
Vocabulary
celebration [,seli'breijn] празднование
major ['meidja] главный
to see the new year in встречать новый год
to greet [gri:t] встречать (возгласами,
аплодисментами)
champagne [Jxnrpein] шампанское
chimes [tjaimz] куранты
to beat [bi:t] (beat, beaten) бить, отбивать
a New Year tree новогодняя елка
to glitter ['glita] блестеть, сверкать
to consider [kan'sida] считать
the young молодежь, молодые люди
renewed [ri'nju:d] возобновленный,
восстановленный
religious [ri'lidsas] религиозный
service ['sa:vis] служба
men are supposed [sa'pauzd] to... предполага-
ется (подразумевается), что мужчины...
to defeat [di'fi-.t] наносить поражение, разбивать
fascist ['fsejist] фашист
to elect [i'lekt] избирать
public ['рлЬНк] общенародный, общественный
Questions
1. What public holidays are celebrated in Russia?
2. What is your favourite holiday?
3. How is New Year's Day celebrated in your family?
4. Do you see the new year in at home?
5. What New Year traditions do you know?
6. When is Christmas celebrated?
7. What holiday do we celebrate on the 8th of March?
8. What is the greatest national holiday in our country?
9. Why is the 9th of May so sacred (священный) for the Russian people?
10. What other Russian holidays do you know?
SUPPLEMENTARY READER
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH
Have you ever wondered how many people there are who speak English?
It's quite a number!
Geographically, English is the most widespread language on earth, and it is second only to Chinese in the number of people who speak it. It is spoken in the British Isles, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and much of Canada and South Africa. That"s about 400 million people.
English is also a second language of another 300 million people living in more than 60 countries.
If you add to this the enormous number of people who learn to understand and speak English (like yourself), you will realise that English is indeed a "world language".
In Shakespeare's time only a few million people spoke English. All of them lived in what is now Great Britain.
Through the centuries, as a result of various historical events, English spread throughout the world. Five hundred years ago they didn't speak English in North America: the American Indians had their own languages. So did the Eskimos in Canada, the aborigines in Australia, and the Maoris in New Zealand. The English arrived and set up their colonies ...
Today, English is represented in every continent and in the three main oceans — the Atlantic, the Indian and the Pacific.
English is mixing with and marrying other languages around the world. It is probably the most insatiable borrower.
Words newly coined or in vogue in one language are very often added to English as well. There are words from 120 languages in its vocabulary, including Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.
Other languages absorb English words too, often giving them new forms and new meanings. So many Japanese, French and Germans mix English words with their mother tongues that the resulting hybrids are called Japlish, Franglais and Denglish. In Japanese, for example, there is a verb Makudonaru, to eat at McDonald's.
One of the many "Englishes" spoken and written today is Euro-English. Euro- English has its origins in the political arena of the European community.
A century ago, some linguists predicted that one day England, America, Australia and Canada would be speaking different languages. However, with the advent of records, cinema, radio, and television, the two brands of English have even begun to draw back together again.
Britons and Americans probably speak more alike today than they did 50 or 60 years ago. (In the 1930s and 1940s, for example, American films were dubbed in England. It's no longer the practice today).
People have long been interested in having one language that could be spoken throughout the world. Such a language would help to increase cultural and economic ties and simplify communication between people. Through the years, at least 600 universal languages have been proposed, including Esperanto. About 10 million people have learned Esperanto since its creation in 1887, but English, according to specialists, has better chances to become a global language. So why not learn it?
(from Speak Out, abridged)
SOME FACTS ABOUT ENGLISH
• There were only 30,000 words in Old English. Modern English has the largest vocabulary in the world — more than 600,000 words.
• There are about 60,000 words in common use.
• About 450-500 words are added to the English vocabulary every year.
• 70 per cent of the English vocabulary are loan words and only 30 per cent of the words are native.
• There are are words from 120 languages in English, including Russian.
• The most frequently used words in written English are: the, of, and, to, a, in, that, is, I, it, for and as.
• The most frequently used word in conversation is I.
• The longest word in the English language is: Pneumonoultamicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (a lung disease).
• The commonest letter is "e".
• More words begin with the letter "s" than any other.
• The most overworked word in English is the word set. It has 126 verbal uses and 58 noun uses.
• The newest letters added to the English alphabet are "j" and "v", which are of post- Shakespearean use.
• The largest English-language dictionary is the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, with 21,728 pages.
• The commonest English name is Smith. There are about 800,00 people called Smith in England and Wales, and about 1,700,000 in the USA.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
HOT ISSUES
WHAT WILL OUR LIFE BE LIKE?
Can you imagine what our life will be like in the year 2050? What will our cities be like in the future? How will we live and behave? Will medical science win its battle against the terrible illnesses that mankind continues to suffer from?
If things go as researchers plan, by 2050 computers and Internet connections will be in every room in the home, and so will robots!
By 2010 most of us will be working on the move. Your office will be wherever you are. It'll be possible to have a virtual meeting instantly. Simply say to your computer "I want to have a meeting with my team at 11 o'clock" and they'll appear before your eyes on the screen of your wearable computer.
By 2025 we will have cars that drive themselves. By 2040 we could be driving on fully automated highways. Some scientists believe one day there will be flying cars, too.
Our power will come from sources cleaner than coal, oil and gas.
In the near future, progress in technology, electronics and genetic engineering will make it possible to regulate DNA. We'll become healthier and will be able to live longer.
In the next thirty years, we may all know someone who has travelled in space. Space travel is really expensive at the moment, but scientists are trying to find a solution.
"Fly me to the moon" may become a common demand, with package tours to lunar resorts.
By the end of the century we could travel to Mars as easily as we do to New York.
Mars could be the base for space exploration into the outer regions of the solar system and the Earth may even become a quieter planet
CHIPS ARE CHANGING THE WORLD
Modern man appeared perhaps 70,000 years ago — a very short period of time if you consider that life has existed on earth for more than 3,000 million years.
Still, it took man thousands of years to learn how to control fire. And again, thousands of years passed before he invented the wheel. This great invention, which revolutionized travelling, transport and industry, is not more than 5,000 years old. And it was only 200 years ago that the age of inventions started, when man invented the steam engine, electricity and a lot of other clever machines that have completely changed our way of life. Now we cannot imagine how it was possible to live without cars, television, the telephone, the plane and the computer and thousands of other machines that make our life easy.
Today, silicon chips half the size of a fingernail can book seats on jumbo (and keep the planes working smoothly in the air), help children learn to spell, and play chess well enough to beat even very good players.
Computers that used to be large enough to fill a room are now toys on our children's desks.
There are hardly any field of human activity which has not been invaded by computers. And in the end, the machine revolution will do far more to enrich life than most people realise. These machines will not only control space travel and help businesses by evolutionizing office work, they will also offer solutions to our most difficult problems — the sharing of energy resources, finding enough food for all, and the worldwide improvement of health care.
(from English for Business and Everyday Use, abridged)
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
What does the future hold? What is our life going to be like in the 21st century?
Some people are rather optimistic about the future, others predict the end of the world.
Here is what pessimists say
• Our planet will be invaded by aliens. Those who survive will become their slaves.
• There will be a nuclear war and our planet will become uninhabitable.
• Atmospheric pollution will be so awful that people will have to live in underground cities.
• People will be replaced by robots. There will be more unemployed. Life will be harder.
• There will be more criminals. Terrorist groups will be more powerful. It will be dangerous to go out. People will be killed by remote control.
• Our simple pleasures will become a thing of the past. We'll take food in the form of capsules, tablets and pills.
Here is what optimists say
• People will be able to travel in space. They will be able to spend their holidays on other planets.
• We'll be stronger and healthier. Scientists will invent anti-ageing pills and people will live much longer than now.
• Air pollution will be stopped. Special underground pipes will carry smoke and fumes from factories to air-cleaning plants.
• Robots will do all the dangerous and dirty jobs. Our working hours will be shorter and our holidays will be longer.
• There will be no more wars, no more criminals. The world will become more democratic.
• Our daily life will become easier. Everything will be automated. We'll shop, pay our bills and even cook with the help of computers.
And what do you think of the future?
(from Speak Out, abridged)
WHY ARE WE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE INTERNET?
What exactly is it that gets us all so excited about the Internet?
As well as being a global network of networks, the Internet is a global network of people, ideas and information. The Net is as interesting and exciting as the people, organisations, companies, governments and weirdoes that are connected to it.
There is another thing that's exciting about the Internet. Like love and life, the Net is what you make it. If you don't like what's happening on one part of the network, you can build yourself a whole new cybercity, appoint yourself as mayor and run it exactly as you want.
The Internet enables you to do a lot of things simultaneously. You can read the latest copy of your favourite newspaper while planning your night's TV viewing and ordering some cheap CDs from an American discount disc store.
You can send e-mail to someone you've never met before ... Some people have "met" over the Internet and got married.
The first web browsers only supported simple texts and images, but now a multitude of multimedia plug-ins enables webpages to sing and dance.
From PC banking to online shopping and chats with celebrities, the Internet is already changing our lives. The arrival of digital TV promises even more exciting things.
WE MAY HAVE NO CHOICE
We've climbed the highest mountains, conquered the deepest oceans and crossed the widest deserts. It seems there's little left for us to see on this planet. So what's next?
Space, of course. The idea of living on a space station or in a lunar city may sound like science fiction, but a hundred years ago no one even heard of an aeroplane — yet today more than 500 million people a year travel by air.
We may have no choice, in any case.
The world's population is growing at a rate of 97 million a year. It means that by the middle of the century there will so many people on our planet that if everyone in India jumped up and down at the same time, it would cause a tidal wave big enough to cover Europe.
Greenpeace warns that if we continue to burn fossil fuels at the same rate as we do today, global warming will reach catastrophic levels. They predict sinking continents and severe drought. Add to that the problems caused by hunger, disease, war and natural disasters, and you will see why space agencies across the globe are pouring millions of dollars into space research.
The first pieces of the International Space Station have been launched — a giant project which will allow scientists to carry out ground-breaking research in technology and medicine and see just how long people can live in space.
So sometime in this century we might very well see the emergence of a space generation — that means humans born and raised somewhere other than Earth.
ARTHUR CLARKE PREDICTS
Space travel has inspired thousands of science fiction writers. Here is what Arthur Clarke, many of whose predictions have come true, writes about space.
I think I became interested in space through the early science fiction magazines.
And I can still vividly remember some of those bright covers. That was in 1930 I think I saw my first. And it wasn't until quite some time later — a few years — that I came across a book which really changed my life. It was called The Conquest of Space. And that was the first book on the subject which took it seriously.
And I then realised: this could be for real. And from then on, of course, I was hooked.
Until the Russians put up Sputnik 1, in 1957,1 suppose 90 per cent of the public thought it was all nonsense. But after Sputnik people realised that the space age had started.
But nobody — not even us enthusiastic space cadets — realised that things would happen as quickly as they have.
It was back in 1945 that I wrote the paper suggesting that satellites could be used for communication. So I'm rather proud of that. Though sometimes, when I see some of the things that come down from satellites, I feel a certain kinship with the great Dr Frankenstein.
After the war I became interested in space stations.
The idea which I'm most interested in today — and which I wrote a novel about, The Phantoms of Paradise, is the Space Elevator. The idea of building an elevator from the Earth's surface right up to the stationary orbit, twenty-six thousand miles above, seems fantastic. But it's theoretically possible. The material that can make it possible is Buckminster Fullerine, the C60 molecule — which is maybe a hundred times stronger than steel in some of its forms.
And here's a strange thing. Bucky Fuller was a good friend. When I recorded The Phantoms of Paradise, he drew a picture of the Space Elevator. Yet Bucky never lived to see the discovery of the material named after him — which will, I think, make the Space Elevator possible.
THE EARTH IS OUR HOME
The Earth is our home. What sort of home it is depends on how we treat it, just as the houses we live in depend on how we take care of them.
Do you like to fish or swim? Do you like to walk through the woods? Do you like to breathe fresh air? Or to watch birds and hear them sing?
If you do, we'll have to treat our Earth home in a different way. Why? Because we are making lakes and rivers too dirty for fish to live in or for people to swim in.
Because we're cutting down our forests too fast, we are spoiling the nature.
Because we're making so much smoke, dirty air often hides the sky and even nearby things. The dirty air makes it hard for us to breathe, and it can cause illness, and even death.
Because we're putting so much poison on the things birds eat, they are finding it hard to live.
Have you seen smoke pouring out of tall factory chimneys? Have you smelled the gas fumes from the back of a bus? Have you noticed the smoke from a jet plane taking off?
All of these things make the air dirty — they pollute it. In crowded cities thousands of automobiles and factories may add tons of poison to the atmosphere each day.
Have you wondered where the sewage from one house, many houses, a big city goes? It pollutes rivers and lakes and may even make them die. Fish can't live in them, and you can't swim in them.
Have you wondered where the wood for houses comes from? And the paper for books and newspapers? From our forests. And what does the land look like when the trees are gone?
Have you thought where the poison goes that we spray on gardens and grass to kill insects and weeds? Onto the things the birds eat, making it hard for them to live and share with us their beautiful colours and songs.
Have you seen piles of old cars and old refrigerators? Not very nice to look at, are they? Have you seen piles of old boxes, glass jars, and cans? Not very beautiful, are they?
If we don't do anything about this spoiling of the world around us — its air, its water, its land, and its life — our lives are not going to be so nice. But there is much that we can do.
Factories can clean their smoke. Cars and planes can be made so that their fumes do not add to the pollution.
The dirty water from factories can be made clean. Sewage, too, can be changed so that water is clean enough to use again. Fish can live again, and you can swim again in oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes.
The mountains can still be covered with forests if the cutting of trees is done with care. We must plant again where we have cut. And we can have enough wood for houses and paper for books.
There is no need to throw away things we do not want or cannot use any more. We can change many things back into what they were made of, and use them again. Old newspapers can become new paper. Old glass jars can be turned into new glass. Old iron can help to make new cars and refrigerators.
We can also learn not to litter. We all know the sign: DO NOT LITTER. But not everyone does what the sign says.
For a long time, people have used their Earth home without thinking of what was happening to it. Now we see that we must treat it better if it is to be a nice home. It can be.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR PACKED PLANET?
The official number of people on our planet is 6,000,000,000. Six billion!
The world's population is growing very quickly. It adds up to 184 people every minute, 11,040 every hour, 264,960 every day and 97 million every year! Just imagine how many people there will be on our planet by the year 2150 if the present trend continues.
Of course, the world's population hasn't always grown so quickly. In fact, the number of people on the planet started off growing very slowly. That's because people didn't live as long as they do today.
As time passed, better medical care and nutrition and cleaner water helped people live longer. Population growth began to pick up speed. Before long, the world's population doubled — and it has kept doubling!
Every new person added to the planet needs food, water, shelter, clothes and fuel. More people mean more cars, roads, schools, hospitals and shops.
The trouble is our planet's riches are limited. Take water, for example: although water covers most of the planet, less than 1% of it can be used for drinking and washing. One out of every 13 people around the world does not always have enough clean water.
Food shortages are even more common.
In many countries, there is simply not enough food to feed the growing populations. 150 million children in the world suffer from poor health because of food shortages. Worldwide, 1 of every 7 people does not get enough to eat. As more people drive more cars, use more electricity, throw away more litter, and cut down more trees, our planet becomes more and more polluted.
Although every person uses the planet's resources, some people use a lot more than others. The richest billion people — especially Americans — use the most resources. They also produce the most waste.
Of course, having 6 billion people also means that there is more brainpower around to find a way out.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
"SMOG" WAS INVENTED IN BRITAIN
It was in Britain that the word "smog" was first used (to describe a mixture of smoke and fog). As the world's first industrialized country, its cities were the first to suffer this atmospheric condition. In the 19th century London's "pea-soupers" (thick smogs) became famous through descriptions of them in the works of Charles Dickens and in the Sherlock Holmes stories. The situation in London reached its worst point in 1952.
At the end of that year a particularly bad smog, which lasted for several days caused about 6,000 deaths.
Water pollution was also a problem. In the 19th century it was once suggested that the Houses of Parliament should be wrapped in enormous wet sheets to protect those inside from the awful smell of the River Thames. People who fell into the Thames were rushed to hospital to have their stomachs pumped out!
Then, during the 1960s and 1970s, laws were passed which forbade the heating of homes with open coal fires in city areas and which stopped much of the pollution from factories. At one time, a scene of fog in a Hollywood film was all that was necessary to symbolize London. This image is now out of date, and by the end of the 1970s it was said to be possible to catch fish in the Thames outside Parliament.
However, as in the rest of western Europe, the great increase in the use of the motor car in the last quarter of the 20th century has caused an increase in a new kind of air pollution. This problem has become so serious that the television weather forecast now regularly issues warnings of "poor air quality". On some occasions it is bad enough to prompt official advice that certain people (such as asthma sufferers) should not even leave their houses, and that nobody should take any vigorous exercise, such as jogging, out of doors.
(from Britain, abridged)
DO WE LIVE TO EAT?
How much food do you think you will eat by the time you are seventy nine?
The average Frenchwoman, for example, will eat:
25 cows 9,000 litres of orange juice
40 sheep 6000 litres of mineral water
3 5 pigs 1.37 tonnes of apples
1,200 chickens 768 kg of oranges
2.07 tonnes of fish 430 bags of carrots
5.05 tonnes of potatoes 720 kg of tomatoes
30,000 litres of milk 1,300 lettuces
13,000 eggs Hundreds of packets of coffee,
50,000 loaves of bread sugar, spaghetti, etc
12,000 bottles of wine 8 kg of dirt
Delicious, isn't it? How many cows and pigs have you swallowed already?
Scientists say that we eat about half-a-ton of food a year — not counting drink!
Some people eat even more.
According to WHO (World Health Organization), Americans are the fattest people in the world. 55% of women and 63% of men over 25 are overweight or obese.
Britain has replaced Germany as Europe's most overweight nation.
Russia, the Czech Republic and Finland also have some of the heaviest people in Europe.
Even in such countries as France, Italy and Sweden, Europe's slimmest nations, people (especially women) are becoming fatter.
The epidemic is spreading!
So think twice before you start eating!
(from Speak Out, abridged)
THERE IS A DANGER HANGING OVER YOUR LIFE
L he world is getting fatter.
If you are young and fit, don't think this doesn't concern you. Teenagers, too, are getting fatter. Obesity rates in teens, according to experts, are doubling!
Surveys show that the favourite foods among teenagers both in Europe and the USA
are:
• hamburgers (cheeseburgers, fishburgers, beefburgers, eggburgers ... in fact anythingburgers!)
• chips (they are called French fries in America)
• hot dogs
• pizzas
• ice-cream
Besides, young people watch too much TV. The average British teenager, for example, spends 27 hours a week in front of the "box", and nobody knows how much time he sits in front of the computer.
What will today's teenagers look like when they grow up? Imagine yourself as a lazy, fat old man or woman with eyes glued to the TV screen, hands down a packet of chips, munch-munch, staring at the glaring pictures. A real nightmare! But this is the danger hanging over your life!
(from Speak Out, abridged)
GAME OF CHANCE
Are there any practical rules for healthy living? Very few. The formula for healthy life cannot be put into words — it can only be practised. Some people break the so-called health every day and escape punishment and some look after their health and don't live any longer in the end.
There are hardly any rules worth having but there are some principles which will help to counteract the harmful genes.
These principles are: love in childhood. Love from parents.
Another principle is — healthy nutrition — with all elements in proper proportion.
Then comes control of environment— air, water and especially the new pollutives.
Remember, too, the animals — they have a right to share in the health we want for ourselves.
Stresses are an essential part of being alive — but the art of life is to arrange rules that stress does not become strain. A healthy organism is extremely tough. It can withstand overwork, fatigue, anxiety, microbes — up to a certain point, of course.
A personal belief— the most important element in a healthy life is some faith in life which mobilizes our faculties and makes the most of them.
Perhaps these health principles seem too theoretical, but they are golden rules which can stretch our powers and help us in our fight against harmful genes.
(from Health, abridged and simplified)
MASS MEDIA
WHAT IS NEWS?
What is news? The kind of event that becomes news depends on several factors.
When did it happen? To be news it must be immediate and current. What happened? Was the event important? If so, it's news. How and where did it happen?
Who did it happen to, and what may happen as a result? The answers to all these questions make up what we call news.
What kind of stories make news? Accidents, murders, awful fires — do only sad events make news? It depends on what is happening on a particular day. At first glance it may seem that newspapers print more "bad" news than "good" news. On certain bad days that may be true, but if you look through a typical newspaper, you may be surprised at the amount of good news on its pages.
Events make news because they are out of the ordinary. To most people, a story that describes an unusual happening is far more interesting than one about what's happening and if an important event happens, it's news, good or bad.
(from The World Around Us)
AMERICAN PRESS
Because of the great size of the USA, local newspapers are more important than national ones. Only the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal are read over a large part of the country. But there are other newspapers that have a wide interest and influence; they include the Washington Post, the popular Daily News, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the St Louis Post Dispatch and the San Francisco Examiner. Most US newspapers are controlled by large monopolists.
The US press plays an important part in the business of government; the press conference is an American invention.
In the 20m century newspapers have ranged from tabloids featuring pictures and sensational news to, "responsible journals". Their pages are varied and include columns devoted to news, editorials, letters to the editor, business and finance, sports, entertainment, art, music, books, comics, fashions, food, society, television and radio.
As the great newspaper chains and news agencies grew, America's press lost its individualistic character; many features are common to newspapers all over the country, which therefore have a uniform appearance.
Although there are no separate Sunday papers as there are in Great Britain, US daily papers do have special Sunday editions. Many of these are remarkable in size: the New York Times Sunday edition regularly has over 200 pages, and has had 946.
The New York Times has the largest circulation of any newspaper in the US, selling more than two million copies each day.
Aside from a few notable exceptions like the New York Times, the St Louis Post- Dispatch, the" Washington Post, the press is daily filled with sex and violence. It is a river of morbidity, murder, divorce and gang fights. It's a melange of chintzy gossip columns, horoscopes, homemaking hints, advice to the lovelorn, comics, crossword puzzles and insane features like: "Are you happily married? Take the following test..."
Almost every American newspaper carries comic strips, usually at least a page of them.
In contrast to daily newspapers, many magazines in the USA are national and even international. Those with the widest circulation are Time, Reader's Digest, TV Guide, Woman's Day, Better Home and Gardens, Family Circle, the National Geographic Magazine and Ladies' Home Journal.
(from The USA by G.D.Tomakhin, abridged)
NEWSPAPER WARS
With so many modern forms of communication such as radio, TV and the Internet, newspaper companies now find it difficult to sell enough copies of their papers to survive. Many papers have a low circulation.
They use many methods to increase their circulation and to decrease the circulation of the other papers. Such strong competition has created the paper wars.
Newspaper companies use many methods to increase their circulation. One method is to offer cheap annual subscription; another is to sell a paper at a very low price for a month or two. Only big companies can afford this predatory pricing.
Newspapers also try to introduce new ideas. The problem is, however, that every time one company introduces a new idea, the other companies simply copy it!
(from BBC English)
HOOKED ON THE NET
The latest addiction to trap thousands of people is the Internet, which has been blamed for broken relationships, job losses, financial ruin and even suicide.
Psychologists now recognize Internet Addiction Syndrome (IAS) as a new illness that could cause serious problems and ruin many lives.
IAS is similar to other problems like gambling, smoking and drinking: addicts have dreams about the Internet; they need to use it first thing in the morning; they lie to their parents and partners about how much time they spend online; they wish they could cut down, but are unable to do so.
Many users spend up to 40 hours a week on the Internet. Some of the addicts are teenagers who are already hooked on computer games and who find it very difficult to resist the games on the Internet.
(from Sunday Times, abridged)
WHAT KIND OF VIEWER ARE YOU?
Everyone has a different way of using television. Here are some types of television viewers.
The absent-minded
This type of viewer leaves the TV on all day. In the meantime, he eats, phones, reads or does his homework. For him television is really just background noise for his day.
The addict
He won't give up TV for anything in the world. He watches the programmes in silence, with great concentration. Even during commercials, he won't leave the screen for fear of losing a second of the programme. He usually chooses the programmes he wants to watch very carefully.
The bored
He puts the TV on when he's got nothing better to do. For him TV is the last resort. He only watches it when it's raining or when he's ill.
What sort of viewer are you?
HOBBIES AND PASTIMES
WHAT IS A HOBBY?
In the 16th century a favourite toy for children of all ages was the hobbyhorse. In appearance a hobbyhorse could be as simple as a stick, or it could have a decorated wooden framework with an imitation horse's head attached.
Whether simple or elaborate, children used them for the games of the time involving war and knighthood, much as children in the early part of the 20& century played cowboys and Indians. In time the popularity of the hobbyhorse declined, but the pleasure of doing something outside the routine activities of daily life had brought a new word into the language, the word hobby, which is a shortened form of hobbyhorse.
Hobbies today include a vast range of activities. The definition that best covers all these activities is probably constructive leisure-time activities. It excludes games and leaves out purely spectator activities like watching television.
It also excludes schooling and work done to make a living. A hobby, like playing with a hobbyhorse, is an activity apart from the ordinary routines of life. It should encourage the use of creativity and imagination and bring the reward of learning. Some hobbies bring monetary rewards as well.
(from Compton 's Encyclopaedia)
VIDEO GAMES
Everybody's tried them at least once. Sitting in front of a screen with a button or a joystick you can make cars go very fast or move strange little green men about as they escape from dangerous enemies.
You do it with video games, the electronic toys which are loved by young people and adults alike. Some people prefer space settings, others prehistoric scenes and still others realistic situations in the present. With only a little money an a lot of skill, you can pass several hours absorbed in new and unexpected situations.
But, some experts say, excessive use of these screens can be bad for your health.
And some very violent video games are now in circulation.
So, video games can be bad for you if you don't limit the time you spend in front of the screen or choose intelligent programmes which don't contain violence.
Often players forget reality and start to live the adventures of imaginary "heroes".
However, there are also educational video games. These can stimulate imagination or help with the study of history, geography and natural sciences.
THE FUTURE OF TRAVELLING
There are few safe predictions to be made about the future of travelling, but one of the surest is that more of us will visit more places than ever before. Travel and tourism is growing into the largest industry in the world — but who will be travelling, where will they go, and what will they do?
There are few places which do not bear the tourist's footprints. Even Antarctica is firmly on the vacation map. Sightseeing trips into outer space or to the ocean depths, are, perhaps, only a few years away.
Technology is certainly fuelling the travel revolution, helping to cut costs and extend horizons. But it also provides opportunities for virtual tourism, where an Internet user can explore some of the world's most celebrated sights with a few clicks of the mouse.
(from The Essential Guide to the 21st Century, abridged)
COUNTRIES AND CITIES
SCOTLAND: THE LAND OF LOCHS AND LEGENDS
If we travel all over Scotland, we can see that geographically it consists of three main parts: Lowlands, Uplands and Highlands with their Grampian Mountains, where the tallest mountain peak, Ben Nevis (1,342 metres), is located. It is a vast territory of about 79,000 square kilometres, but the population of Scotland is only five million people. If we compare it with Moscow, it is just half of the population of our capital!
You are sure to enjoy the beauty of the Scottish varied landscape: the hills, covered with purple heather (if you manage to find the white one, then you are lucky), its beautiful lakes (here they are called lochs), its green and narrow valleys (or glens) ...
Other countries might have higher peaks, deeper lakes and broader valleys, but the unique Scottish combination of mountain, loch and glen continues to capture the hearts of all who come here.
The biggest and the most beautiful lake in Scotland is Loch Lomond, but the most famous one is Loch Ness with its mysterious monster Nessie. Nessie sometimes appears to scare the tourists but only in fine weather, which is a great rarity for Scotland!
But what can be more peculiar and attractive for tourists than a man in the kilt, playing the bagpipes? The Celts of Scotland made the chequered pattern of tartan the national dress of the country. The earliest Scots formed themselves into clans (family groups) and the tartan became a symbol of the sense of kinship. Sometimes there were fierce battles between different clans but nowadays the Macdonalds and the MacKenzies (Mac means "son of), the Campbells and the Camerons live in peace with each other. There are about 300 different clans in Scotland, and each has its own colour and pattern of tartan together with the motto.
Scotland is a land of many famous people: writers and poets, scientists and philosophers. Just imagine: you are reading about the far-away, rainy and foggy, mysterious and romantic Scotland and hear a telephone bell. You come up to the phone (by the way, invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh) and answer it. This is your friend who wants you to keep him company and go for a walk, but it is raining outside.
No problem: you put on your raincoat (patented by chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow) and are ready to leave the house, but your mother asks you to send a letter to your favourite auntie. So you put an adhesive stamp on it, invented by John Chalmers, bookseller and printer of Dundee.
Be careful not to get pneumonia in such weather, or you will have to take injections of penicillin, discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming of Darvel, Scotland. Well, in the evening, after a walk, you are eager to sit in a comfortable armchair with a cup of hot coffee and read an adventurous novel by Sir Walter Scott from Edinburgh, or, maybe, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, or, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Edinburgh, or, maybe, a book of poems by Robert Bums.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
WHAT DOES THE QUEEN DO?
Britain is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the head of state is the Queen. But in reality she has very little power. She has to put her signature on new laws, even if she doesn't like them. Every autumn she opens Parliament, but the speech she makes from the throne, is written by the Prime Minister.
" The Queen is a symbol of Britain's long history and tradition and her most important function is ceremonial.
• She represents Britain when she meets other heads of state.
• Once a week she has a meeting with the Prime Minister.
• As head of the Commonwealth, she meets and entertains prime ministers of the member states.
• Every year she speaks on TV on Christmas day.
• She opens new hospitals, bridges and museums.
• After disasters, she sends messages to the families of the victims.
THE NEW FACE OF LONDON
With the arrival the new millennium London's face has changed. From now on, the UK's capital is going to be an even more exciting place to visit.
The observation wheel erected on the bank of the River Thames is more than double the height of Big Ben! It's called the London Eye and on a clear day you'll be able to see 7 countries from its top! The Wheel doesn't stop for passengers — instead they just walk into the large egg-shaped glass capsules while it is in motion. A full trip takes 30 minutes.
The Millennium Dome is probably the most ambitious of all millennium projects.
It's the largest building of its kind in the world. It's over 50 metres high and over 300 metres in diameter. It's as high as Nelson's Column, could swallow 2 Wembley Stadiums, 3300 double-decker buses and still have some spare room!
The Dome was designed by the architect Richard Rogers, who created the Pompidou Centre in Paris. There are 14 exhibition zones in the Dome, and each of them has something to amaze and educate everyone who visits it. In Home Planet zone, for example, you'll be able to go on a virtual trip through space.
The Millennium Bridge is a thin blade of steel with wooden decking, connecting the Tate Gallery of Modern Art on Bankside with the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. It's the first pedestrian-only bridge to be built across the Thames for more than 100 years.
THE TOWER OF LONDON
"Halt! Who goes there?"
"The Keys."
"Whose Keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's Keys."
"God preserve Queen
Elizabeth."
"Amen!"
These words can be heard every night just before 10 o'clock. They mean that the Tower's been locked up for the night. The Ceremony of the Keys is at least 700 years old.
What is the Tower?
The Tower has been many things: a palace, a fortress, a prison, a place of execution, a Zoo. Today, it is best known as a historical museum. About 150 people and six ravens live here.
The Zoo
Kings sometimes get strange presents. About 700 years ago King Henry III got 3 leopards, 1 elephant and a polar bear. He kept them in the Tower. The elephant died after two years but the polar bear was happy as it went swimming and fishing in the Thames with a strong rope round its neck. That was the start of the London Zoo. In 1835 all animals left the Tower and were sent to the Zoo in Regent's Park. Only the ravens stayed on.
Ravens
There are always at least 6 ravens at the Tower. The first ones probably built their nests here because they liked the old stone houses and walls. There is a story that they bring good luck to Britain, if they stay at the Tower. That's why they get "paid" meat and biscuits every day. But their wings are cut so that they can't fly away. They are not very friendly. Once one of them bit a German minister.
The Beefeaters
The Beefeaters used to guard the Tower and its prisoners. Today they work mostly as guides. They show people around and tell stories about all the terrible things that have happened here. They still wear the high ruffs and scarlet tunics assigned to them during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The Prison
The Tower was a royal palace long ago. Then it became a prison. Kings, queens and noblemen were locked up here. Many, like Lady Jane Grey, lost their heads on Tower Green inside the walls or nearby on Tower Hill. The last time it was used as a prison was during the Second World War when German spies were kept and sometimes shot there.
The Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels are shown in the Jewel House. They are well looked after. Once they were stolen by a man called Colonel Blood. But he was caught just as he was leaving the Tower. Thomas Blood didn't have to go to prison. The king gave him a pension instead. It was in 1671.
(from Speak Out, abridged
ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
St Paul's Cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in the world, and it is also one of the greatest survivors!
There was once a Roman temple on the site, dedicated to the goddess Diana. Since then there have been four different Christian buildings. The first Christian church was built by the Saxon King, Ethelbert of Kent. Being made of wood it didn't stand a chance and was eventually burnt down. It was rebuilt in stone but that didn't work either as it was destroyed in a Viking invasion. When the Saxons used wood again on the third church, it was doomed to be destroyed by fire again!
When old St Paul's was built in the time of William the Conqueror, stone from Northern France was used and it was much taller and wider than it is today. During the reign of King Henry VIII, financial problems meant there wasn't enough money for the cathedral's upkeep. Parts of it were destroyed and a market place was set up inside selling, bread, meat, fish and beer!
The first public lottery was held at St Paul's by the West Door. But instead of the profits going to the cathedral they went to the country's harbours. Elizabeth I granted money to the cathedral for repairs and an architect was appointed. Inigo Jones cleared out the shops and market place ready for repairs. However it fell in to decay again when soldiers used it as barracks during the Civil War.
Christopher Wren, the cathedral's final architect, was asked to restore it. Before he could make much progress, parts of it were destroyed by the Great Fire of London, which started in a baker's shop in Pudding Lane and raged for five days, destroying many of the buildings in the City.
Christopher Wren started once more with a magnificent vision of St Paul's and the rest of the City. All this in spite of the fact that he was more of a scientist and hadn't actually built or designed anything until he was 30 years old. He laid the foundation stone for the cathedral in 1675. 35 years later he set the final stone in place. When he died he was buried in his own magnificent building.
The clock tower on the West Side houses the bell known as Great Paul. At three metres in diameter, it is the heaviest swinging bell in the country. Of course there is the famous dome and the cross on top is 365 feet from the ground. It is the second largest cathedral dome in the world. Only St Paul's in Rome is bigger.
Why not pay St Paul's a visit? One feature you will find interesting is the Whispering Gallery, where you can whisper at one wall, and then hear what you whispered on the opposite wall 107 feet away!
(from BBC English)
LONDON'S EAST END
Samuel Johnson said two centuries ago, "He who is tired of London, is tied of life."
London has everything you could possibly want out of life ... if you plan it well.
Which means exploring further than the square kilometre that most tourists see.
London is one of Europe's largest capitals, and the further you get away from Buckingham Palace, the better. Remember, not all of London's history revolves around the Royal family soap operas. The priceless jewels of London are the people, not those trinkets locked in the Tower.
One of London's most interesting and undiscovered areas is the East End. In the 1880s, Jack the Ripper stalked these tiny backstreets — at the same time William Booth, "the East End Saint" set up the Salvation Army. America's Libery Bell was made in the still-existing 16th-century bell foundry. It's also where London's "East End Mafia" operated in the 1960s.
The East End is a slice of "real" London and represents our culture as it is, today.
I'm a born-and-bred Londoner and yet still get a thrill every time I see Big Ben.
Wonderful though it is, it's no comparison to sitting in a pub in the East End, listening to someone tell you incredible stories which will inform your heart.
(from London's East End by J. Payne)
MADAM TUSSAUD'S
Madam Tussaud's is the most popular and talked about wax museum in the world. There are wax models of the famous and infamous, both living and dead, from every walk of life.
Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monro, Michael Jackson, Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin, the British Royal family, Bill Clinton, Jack the Ripper ... There is no other place where you can see all the celebrities at once, even if they are only wax figures.
So if you want to rub shoulders with kings and queens or the latest pop stars, or probably with notorious criminals, this is the place to go.
The museum is situated in Marylebone Road, not far from the street which is famous as the home of the first great detective in fiction, Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
There's usually a long queue in front of the museum. No wonder! Many tourists would consider their trip to London worthless if they didn't visit the famous Madam Tussaud's.
There are several halls at Madam Tussaud's. Highlights include the Grand Hall, the Chamber of Horrors and "The Spirit of London" exhibition.
The wax figures are standing and sitting, and sometimes even moving and talking.
They are extremely realistic and when they look at you, their eyes sparkling, you often feel uncomfortable in their company. Computer controlled figures (they are called audioanimatronics) are especially popular with the visitors.
New models are being produced all the time while the old ones are quietly removed from display.
Over the years hundreds of celebrities have made their way to Madame Tussaud's studio. Most people agree to be portrayed, but some refuse. Mother Teresa was one of the few who declined, saying her work was important, not her person.
THE WHITE HOUSE
In Washington, DC, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a very special address. It's the address of the White House, the home of the President of the United States.
Originally the White House was grey and was called the Presidential Palace. It was built from 1792 to 1800. At this time, the city of Washington itself was being built. It was to be the nation's new capital city. George Washington, the first president, and Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place for the new city. L'Enfant then planned the city and the President's home was an important part of the plan.
A contest was held to pick a design for the president's home. An architect named James Hoban won. He designed a large three-story house of grey stone.
President Washington never lived in the Presidential Palace. The first president to live there was John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his wife.
Mrs Adams did not really like her new house. In her letters, she often complained about the cold. Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house warm!
In 1812 the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814 the British invaded Washington. They burned many buildings, including the Presidential Palace.
After the war James Hoban, the original architect, partially rebuilt the president's home. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House.
The White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Every year more than 1.5 million visitors go through the five rooms that are open to the public.
(from All about the USA)
NEW YORK
Although New York is not the capital of the United States (and not even of New York State), it is the biggest and most important city of the country. Situated at the mouth of the deep Hudson River, it has always been the gateway to the USA. But it is more than just a door: it is also a window through which the life of the whole nation may be observed.
New York is many things to many people. It's the financial and media capital of the world. It's the headquarters of the United Nations. It's the centre of American cultural life. It's the national leader in fashion and entertainment.
The "Big Apple', as New York City is nicknamed, is a city unlike any other. It has everything for everyone. It offers the best, the biggest and the brightest of everything.
It is a place of excitement, beauty ... and contradictions. There is, for example, no canal on Canal Street, Battery Park is not a power station, and Times Square is a triangle. As they say, only in New York!
New York is known as a "melting pot", because people of different races and nationalities make up its population of more than 7 million. About 13 of every 100 people in New York were bom in another country. More than 80 languages are spoken throughout the neighbourhoods and streets of the city. There are places where the English language is hardly ever heard.
When people say "New York City" they usually mean Manhattan. It is the real centre of the city. The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, the United Nations building, tremendous traffic, dazzling advertisements, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, Harlem, Chinatown, the most famous avenues and streets — all these are to be found in Manhattan.
The map of Manhattan seems unusual to a European eye. It is crossed from north to south by avenues and from east to west by streets. Only one avenue, Broadway, runs east to west. Each avenue has either a name or a number. The streets are numbered from one to over a hundred. Only a few of them have names.
Wall Street in Manhattan is the financial heart of the USA and the most important banking centre in the world.
Broadway is the symbol of American theatre, as Hollywood is of American cinema.
The intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue forms world-famous Times Square, the heart of the New York Theatre District. It is one of many New York City "squares" that are actually triangles. New Year's Eve celebrations always start here and at midnight a large red ball is lowered down to show that the New Year has begun.
Park Avenue represents luxury and fashion because of its large expensive apartment houses.
Madison Avenue is known as the centre of advertising industry.
Fifth Avenue is the most famous shopping centre.
If you want to have a good view of New York City you can do it from the top of the World Trade Center (110 stories) or from the Empire State Building (102 stories).
The Empire State Building is no longer the world's tallest building, but it is certainly one of the world's best-loved skyscrapers. Today more than 16,000 people work in the building, and more than 2,500 000 people a year visit the 86th and 102dfloor observatories. At night the top 30 stories are illuminated with colours appropriate to the season: red and green for Christmas, orange and brown for Halloween.
Not far from the Empire State Building there is an interesting architectural complex — Rockefeller Centre. It is a city-within-a-city. It was begun during the Great Depression of the 1930s by John Rockefeller and was built according to one general plan. Rockefeller Centre consists of 19 skyscrapers. It houses all kinds of offices, enterprises, banks, theatres, music halls, restaurants, shops, etc. All parts of the complex are linked by underground passageways.
New York is often called the cultural capital of the USA. There are more than 800 museums in New York. One of the best known is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the largest art museum in the United States. Its magnificent collection of European and American paintings contains works of many of the greatest masters of art world.
The second best known is the Museum of Modern Art. The reputation of the "Moma", as the museum is nicknamed, rests on its wonderful collections of modern art and photography. The Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art contains an impressive collection of modern artists ranging from impressionists to abstractionists. The unusual circular building of the museum was designed by F.L. Wright.
No other city in the world offers as much theatre as New York where there is a daily choice of almost two hundred productions. You can see the newest plays and shows on Broadway. But away from the bright lights of Broadway are many smaller theatres. Their plays are called "off-Broadway" and "off-off-Broadway" and they are often more unusual than the Broadway shows.
The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Centre (the Met) is known throughout the music world. International stars sing here from September until April. The Carnegie Hall is the city's most popular concert hall. It was opened in 1891 with a concert conducted by P.I. Tchaikovsky.
New York is famous for its festivals and special events: summer jazz, one-act play marathons, international film series, and musical celebrations from the classical to the avant-garde.
There are a lot of colleges and universities in New York, among them such giants as Columbia University, the State University of New York, the City University of New York, New York University and others.
The New York Public Library is the largest library of the city. You can see a lot of interesting things here: Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, Charles Dickens's desk, and Thomas Jefferson's own handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence.
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
People who come to New York by sea are greeted by the Statue of Liberty. It has become a symbol of the city (if not of the whole country) and an expression of freedom to people all over the world. The statue shows liberty as a proud woman draped in the graceful folds of a loose robe. In her uplifted right hand, she holds a glowing torch. She wears a crown with seven spikes that stand for the light of liberty shining on the seven seas and seven continents. In her left arm, she holds a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence. A chain that represents tyranny lies broken at her feet.
The Statue of Liberty was France's gift to America. It was designed by the French sculptor Bartholdi and presented to the USA in 1886. The Lady in the Harbour stands 151 feet tall, weighs nearly 225 tons and has a 35-foot waist. In 1986 she underwent a face-lift in honour of her 100th birthday.
There is a museum in the base of the statue devoted to the history of immigration to the United States.
365 steps lead from the entrance to the observation area in the seven-pointed crown (visitors are not allowed to climb to the torch). The views are breathtaking. The Lady of the Harbour is tourists' favourite souvenir. It takes the form of salt shakers and pencil sharpeners, adorns plates and T-shirts.
FROM THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK
The first European explorer who saw Manhattan Island was Giovanni da Verrazano, an Italian merchant who was in the service of the French king, Francis I. The date was April, 1524. Today a bridge which carries his name, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, is one of the city's most impressive sights. It is the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Other Europeans followed Verrazano, most notably Henry Hudson, an Englishman employed by the Dutch East India Company. The mighty Hudson River is named after the navigator who set foot on these shores in 1609.
Even in the days when America was known as the New World, it was a country with a reputation for its spirit of enterprise and the ability of its people to make a good deal. In 1626 the Dutch Trade Company bought Manhattan Island from the local Indians for twenty four dollars. It was probably the most spectacular business deal of all times. (Today, $24 would not buy one square foot of office space in New York).
Here the Dutch founded their colony and gave it the name New Amsterdam.
Forty years later the English fleet under the Duke of York entered the harbour, captured the city without firing a shot and renamed it New York.
During the War of Independence it was the scene of heavy fighting. The English held it until the end of the war in 1783 when it became the first capital of the new republic — the United States of America. On April 30, 1789 George Washington, the first President of the US, stood on a balcony there and swore a solemn oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
The city grew very quickly. Today's New York is the greatest contrast possible to the island settled by the Dutch in 1624. In 1811 a "city plan" was adopted under which straight lines cut through the woods and fields of Manhattan, flattening its hills, burying under the surface its countless little rivers. In a sense, New York is now one of the least historic cities of the world. Practically nothing has remained of Dutch New Amsterdam.
AUSTRALIA
If you go to Australia it will seem to you rather an upside-down world. The seasons are the other way round. Summer is from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August, and spring from September to November.
New Year is at midsummer, midwinter is in June. Hot winds blow from the north; cold winds blow from the south. The farther north you go, the hotter it gets.
You will be dazzled with magnificent landscapes and unusual plants. It will seem strange to you that trees lose their bark, not their leaves, and a lot of flowers have no smell. Even stranger than plants are the animals. Many of them are found nowhere else in the world. There live kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, platypi and a lot of rare birds.
Australia is the world's largest island and its smallest continent. People often call Australia the "land down-under" because it lies entirely south of the equator.
Australia is the oldest of all continents. Its mountains are the worn and ancient stumps that were once higher than the Himalayas; its desert sands rose from the waves of the sea millions of years ago and still contain fossils of the marine creatures that formerly swam over them, Its animals are ancient and unique. Its wandering aboriginal tribes still live like the men of the Stone Age.
Australia is the driest continent on earth. The four great deserts of central Australia cover 2,000,000 square kilometres. There are few rivers there. Australian lakes which look impressive on the map, are usually little more than clay and salt pans.
Australia is the flattest of all continents. Unlike any other continent, it lacks mountains of truly alpine structure and elevation. Its most significant mountain chain is the Great Dividing Range running down most of the east coast. Because of its overall flatness and regular coastline, Australia is often called a "sprawling pancake".
An island continent, Australia was cut off from the rest of the world for millions of years. As a result, it was the last continent to be discovered and settled by Europeans.
Australia is the only continent that is also a country. As a country, it has the sixth largest area in the world after Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil.
Australia is the least populated of the continents. Only 0,3% of the world's population live there. However, Australia is the most urbanized country in the world.
Two out of three of its citizens live in the eight largest cities.
The capital of Australia is Canberra.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
CANADA
Canada is the second largest country in the world. It covers the northern part of North America and its total area is 9,975,000 square kilometres. Canada's only neighbour is the USA. The border between the two countries is the longest unguarded border in the world.
Canada's motto, "From Sea to Sea," is particularly appropriate because the country is bounded by three oceans — the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. Its vast area includes some of the world's largest lakes and countless smaller ones. One-third of all fresh water on Earth is in Canada.
Canada's name comes from an Indian word kanata, which means "village". The first French settlers used the Indian name for the colony, but the official name was "New France". When the area came under the British rule in 1897, the new country was called the Dominion of Canada, or simply Canada. Canada is a union of ten provinces and two territories.
Compared with other large countries, Canada has a small population, only about 27,300,000. The country, however, is one of the world's most prosperous. Canadians developed its rich natural resources and, in the process, have achieved a high standard of living.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and Queen Elizabeth II is its official head of state. Although the Queen holds this high position, she doesn't rule. She serves as a symbol of British tradition. Her representative in Canada is the Governor General, whom she appoints on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. The Governor's duties are limited to symbolic, mostly ceremonial acts.
The real power belongs to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Canadian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate.
There are two official languages in the country: English and French. All Canadian children have to learn both French and English at school, but Francophones and Anglophones do not enjoy learning each other's language.
"We have two races, two languages, two systems of religious belief, two sets of laws ... two systems of everything," said one Canadian journalist.
There was a time when Quebec Province (its population is 90% French) decided to separate from Canada and form a new country. Fortunately, the movement has waned. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.
SOME FACTS ABOUT MOSCOW
The oldest church in Moscow is the Kremlin Uspensky Cathedral, built in 1475-1479.
The highest monument is the 107-metre-tall obelisk called "To the Conquerors of Space" (1967) located in Prospect Mira.
The first theatre open to the public was established in Red Square, near the Nikolaevskaya Tower of the Kremlin, in 1702-03, by order of Tsar Peter I. Today, there are about 200 theatres in Moscow, the oldest of which is the Moscow University Student Theatre.
The first museum in Moscow was established in 1791. It was the Moscow University Exhibition of Natural History, later renamed as the Zoological Museum.
The oldest parks in Moscow are Alexandrovsky Park, Neskutchny Park, and Hermitage Park, built in the 18m and 19Ш centuries.
The largest of Moscow's 500 libraries is the Russian State Library (the former Lenin Library), with a depository of over 40 million pieces in 247 languages.
The Moscow Zoo, founded in 1864, is the largest zoo in Russia. It contains more than 3,000 specimen of 550 species.
The first sports stadium appeared in the vicinity of Petrovka Street in the second half of the 19tn century. Its playing surface has survived and exists today, but cannot be seen from the street because it is hidden from view by tall buildings.
The oldest clock in Moscow is the Kremlin Chimes.
The largest clock in all Russia is on the main building of Moscow University. The clock face has a diameter of 9 metres. The minute hand is 4.2 metres long and weighs 50 kilograms. The hour hand is 50 centimetres shorter and 11 kilograms lighter.
The total length of Moscow streets is 4,350 kilometres. To cover that distance on foot at an average speed of 5 km per hour, a pedestrian would have to walk nonstop for 36 days.
LITERATURE AND ARTS
THE FUTURE OF THE BOOK — IF IT HAS A FUTURE
The death of the book has been predicted for centuries. There were those who thought that the invention of printing heralded the end of civilisation. Cinema, radio and television have all been presented as the murderers of our most treasured cultural icon. The Internet is the latest suspect to hold the smoking gun.
The problem is that this is a murder without a victim. More books are being published than ever before. The mass media of the twentieth century have generated print, not destroyed it. Books derived from movies and broadcasts groan on the shelves of bookshops throughout the world. Newspapers are filled with stories about media people, both in reality and in the soapy world, which they inhabit. Far from killing the book, the media have been one of its saviours.
Computing, and the development of the Internet, may be different. Some books are indeed being replaced by electronic media. Who wants to use a twenty-volume encyclopaedia when information can be retrieved instantaneously from a CD-ROM?
Why should a lawyer spend time (and a client's money) searching through massive tomes, when what is sought can be found in seconds from a database? But no one will lie in bed reading a novel from a CD-ROM. Even with laptops, electronic books are not easily transportable.
This medium, so powerful and so pervasive, has its limits just like any other. It is, of course, the greatest revolution in communications since the invention of printing and arguably comparable in its impact with the invention of writing itself. The marriage of computing and telecommunications has finally broken the tyrannies of time and distance to which we have been subjected since the dawn of time. But reading — and the books, magazines and newspapers that we read — still have a part to play. They will continue to instruct, amuse, influence and infuriate for decades and centuries to come.
(from Sure, abridged)
ON BOOKS AND READING
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
Francis Bacon
A good book is the best of friend , the same today and forever.
Martin Tupper
All books are divisible into two classes, the books of the hour and the books of all time.
John Ruskin
There are books to read, books to reread, and books not to read at all.
Oscar Wilde
I would sooner read a time-table or a catalogue than nothing at all.
W. Somerset Maugham
Choose an author as you choose a friend.
Wentworth Dillon
A man ought to readjust as inclination leads him; for what he reads as a task will do him little good.
Samuel Johnson
In science, read the newest works, in literature, the oldest.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
THE GLOBE THEATRE
In 1949, an American actor Sam Wanamaker came to London and decided to visit the site of the famous Globe Theatre where Shakespeare had staged his plays. All he found, however, was a plaque on the wall of a brewery: "Here stood the Globe Playhouse of Shakespeare". Wanamaker was so shocked that he decided to rebuild the Globe.
It took many years to raise the money, get permission and find out exactly what the place looked like in the old days.
On June 12 1997, Her Majesty the Queen opened the International Shakespeare Globe Centre, the re-creation of Shakespeare's theatre. Unfortunately, Sam Wanamaker died in 1993 and wasn't in the audience to see his dream finally come true.
Today, you can visit the beautiful new Globe, and in summer you can even see a play performed as it would have been in Shakespeare's day.
The architects who have worked on the building believe the new theatre is as close to the original as it is possible to be.
Shows at the new Globe are staged in much the same way as they were then — with no scenery, spotlights or microphones. And, as in Shakespeare's time, the crowd is free to join in, calling out to the actors and getting involved in the story.
Women now play on the stage of the Globe, but on special occasions you can experience Shakespeare's plays the way his audience would have: an all-male performance in original clothing and without interval. If it rains, however, you'll be given a rain hat so that you wouldn't get wet to the skin.
The theatre's artistic director, Mark Rylance, says that his dream is "to reawaken a love of words — a theatre for the heart, not just the intellect". He expects the audiences to move around, talk, drink beer and throw fruit at the actors as they did in Shakespeare's time.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
ROBERT BURNS
Robert Burns was born in 1759 and was the eldest of 7 children, growing up in a life of poverty and hard farm work. His father made sure that his sons were well educated and employed a private tutor to teach them English, French, Latin, and even Philosophy. It was the kind of education that rich children of the day might have had, certainly not the son of a poor farmer.
When Robert wasn't having lessons he would help his father on the farm. In his spare time he started to write poetry. In 1784 Robert's father died leaving Robert with his mother, and the rest of the family, to support. The farm was a failure, the crops wouldn't grow and to make matters worse, Robert had fallen in love with Jean Anna.
They wanted to marry but Jean's father disapproved. Burns was a poor farmer with little money and not good enough for his daughter.
Burns was fed up and planned to emigrate from Scotland to Jamaica and in order to make some money for the voyage he decided to print some of his poems. When Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect was published, Burns became famous overnight and editions appeared all over the world.
Burns didn't just write poems, he was Scotland's first collector of folk songs. In 1787 he set off on a journey around Scotland, jotting down fragments of old songs like Auld Lang Syne, often rewriting them into the versions we know today.
In 1788 Burns and Jean Arma married and went to live at Ellisland Farm. There he wrote his famous Тат О 'Shanter — a tale of a farmer who, after a night of drinking, stumbles across some dancing witches on his way home.
Burns and his family left Ellisland and moved to Dumfreys in 1793. My love is Like a Red Red Rose was written soon after.
By 1796 Bums had become dangerously ill and on the 21st of July he died, aged just 37 years old. Scotland had lost one of its best loved poets and a national hero.
Bums dreamt of immortality and wanted to be the poet of Scotland. His dream came true and today his work is loved by millions all over the world.
(from BBC English, abridged)
MARK TWAIN
Mark Twain is one of America's most famous authors. He wrote many books, IV'I including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain's own life was interesting enough to be a book.
Twain was bom in 1835 in the state of Missouri, near the Mississippi River. He came from a poor family. His father died when he was twelve, so he had to leave school. While he was still a boy, he worked as a riverboat pilot. He steered boats up and down the long Mississippi River.
The Civil War, which started in 1861, made travelling on the Mississippi impossible.
Twain then went west to Nevada. There he worked on a newspaper. In 1864 he went to California to find gold. Twain did not have much luck as a gold miner. He left California to travel in Europe. Twain wrote a book about his trips around Europe.
But the most important influence on Twain and his books was the Mississippi River. When Twain finally settled down, he lived in a house with a porch that looked like the deck of a riverboat. Huckleberry Finn, Twain's greatest book, is about the adventures of a boy on the Mississippi River. Another of Twain's books is called Life on the Mississippi.
In fact, even the name Mark Twain comes from the Mississippi. Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Langhome Clemens. On the river Samuel Clemens often heard the boatmen shout "Mark twain!" This meant the water was twelve feet deep. When Samuel Clemens began to write he chose for himself the name Mark Twain.
(from All about the USA)
MICHELANGELO
Michelangelo Buonarroti was one of the most famous artists in history. He was a painter, a sculptor, an architect, and a poet. He created some of the world's most beautiful and most famous paintings and statues.
Michelangelo was born in 1475 in a small Italian town near Florence. At the age of twelve, he was apprenticed to Ghirlandaio, a well-known Italian artist.
He learned to draw by copying other artists' paintings. He soon became interested in sculpture, too. At the age of 21, he went to Rome, and began to create the works of art that made him famous all over the world.
Michelangelo's first great work was the Pieta for St Peter's Cathedral. This statue shows Jesus Christ in the arms of the Virgin Mary after his death on the cross.
Michelangelo then went to Florence, where he produced his famous statue of David. It is 18 feet high and carved from a solid piece of marble. The statue is so lifelike that it seems ready to spring into action. We have a copy of this statue in the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum.
At the age of 30 Michelangelo was called to Rome and for the next 30 years he worked there for a succession of Popes.
In 1508, he began painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. He spent more than two years painfully lying on his back on a scaffold, painting the figures and Biblical scenes on half of the ceiling. After a long rest, he completed the second half in about a year. People consider the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to be one of the world's greatest and most amazing works of art.
Michelangelo embodied the perfect multi-talented Renaissance man. His influence on later artists is immense.
WILLIAM HOGARTH
Willliam Hogarth (1697-1764), was a great English painter and engraver, who is famous for his portrayals of human weaknesses. He was born in London.
His father was a schoolmaster. From childhood, Hogarth showed a talent for drawing.
He was apprenticed to a silverplate engraver until 1720 when he went into his own business as an engraver. He also studied painting at the art school of Sir James Thornhill, and in 1729 he married Thornhill's daughter.
Hogarth's earliest completed series of six paintings for which he first became famous was The Harlot's Progress, completed in 1731. This was followed by two other series, A Rake's Progress, eight paintings, and Marriage a la Mode, six paintings.
He made engravings of all these.
In all his paintings Hogarth tried to do the same things. He wanted his paintings to be like a play. Instead of actors on a stage speaking parts, he wanted his paintings to be his stage and the men and women he drew to be his actors and to tell a story. He tried to have them tell their story by certain actions and movements. Although he is often humorous in the way in which he drew things, he never softened or made his subjects pleasant if they were not so.
Because these pictures show wit and are often entertaining, at times Hogarth's talent as a fine portrait painter have been overlooked. His portraits show the same harmony in colour, direct handling of subject, and excellent composition as his storytelling pictures. Some of his more famous portraits are of Peg Woffington, himself with his dog Trump, his sister Mary Hogarth, and also those of Lavinia Fenton and of David Garrick, a famous English actor.
Most of Hogarth's pictures can be seen in the National Gallery in London.
(from Britannica Junior Encyclopaedia)
ABSTRACT ART
Have you ever seen a painting that puzzled you? Perhaps you could not see anything "real" or "natural" in it. Perhaps it seemed a jumble of lines and colours. You were probably looking at an example of abstract art.
Before the 20Ш century, most artists showed things more or less as they might look to an observer. Their scenes were recognisable. Even when they painted imaginary scenes, the elements of the picture could usually be identified.
Of course, artists have always put their own personalities into their paintings. A painting by Van Gogh, for example, can easily be recognised — it has his personal stamp. It shows the way Van Gogh looked at real things. Because of his particular style, his paintings look strange to many people. But in his art, people are still recognisable as people. No tree ever looked quite like a Van Gogh tree (he painted trees as great swirling figures), but his trees are still clearly trees.
Individual painters have always experimented with unusual ways of showing real objects. But in the 21st century artists in large numbers began to break away from realistic ways of paining. Many artists seemed to be saying, "If you want an accurate picture of a scene, buy a photograph or a picture postcard." They began to paint life in different ways. They concentrated on form, colour and shape, and avoided any attempt to tell a story or show a scene naturally.
The kind of art just described is often called abstract art. Once upon a time it was a revolutionary movement. Now it has won acceptance. Most museums have examples of abstract art. Some modern museums contain only abstract art.
Great numbers of people still prefer a more realistic art. But even the tastes of these people have been shaped, in part, by the abstract artists. Modem design has been influenced by abstract art. Even the floor covering in your kitchen may have been copied from the design of an abstract artist.
PABLO PICASSO
Pablo Picasso was bom in Spain in 1881 and lived for 91 years. For most of his life he lived in Paris, France. When he died his mansion was turned into Museum Picasso, where his art can be seen today.
People say Picasso could draw before he could walk, with two well known paintings being achieved at the ages of 9 and 13. When Picasso was a child, pictures by Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne were the modem masterpieces. These paintings looked nothing like real life.
With Picasso's fantastic imagination he took those ideas even further. He started to paint about what he knew about the object or person. Anything solid was broken down into flattened, cut out 'pieces' so you could see all around it. The pieces were shaped like patterns, or cubes, so the new style was called 'Cubism'. When cubism first appeared some critics said it was a complete disaster. Some still do, though the style was Picasso's first gift to the art world. He didn't stop there.
Picasso once said that "a head has an eye, nose, ear and mouth and you can put them anywhere in a picture but the head remains a head". The exciting thing about Picasso was that he kept developing new styles, constantly switching between them.
It is impossible to label his work for one simple reason — Picasso was a genius in just the same way that Mozart magically composed music. Style didn't bother him and he painted and sculptured in any way he wanted. A few years after his cubism period he painted a portrait of his wife, Olga, a Russian ballerina in a peaceful and calm way.
Unlike many other artists Picasso wasn't poor. He had been successful nearly all his life and so had plenty of money. He lived in an elegant flat in a fashionable Paris street.
Picasso constantly tried out new forms of art and invented a new style which, strangely, remained a secret for most of his life — his sculptures. What made them so new and different was that he built them rather than carved them. He loved animals and built sculptures of them from materials he found just lying around, often in rubbish heaps.
One of Picasso's most striking animal sculptures grew out of the handle bars and saddle of an old bike. He found them by chance and decided they were in fact a bull's head. It is even more powerful because Picasso made it during the second World War when Paris was occupied by the Nazi German Army. The Bull is said to be like a menacing enemy.
(from BBC English)
BEETHOVEN
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the greatest composers who has ever lived. He was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770. His father and grandmother were court musicians. His father taught him to play the piano and the violin — hoping that one day he would earn money, as Mozart did.
Beethoven's instruction was poor until he was able to study under court organist Christian Gottlob Neefe, who drilled him in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Neefe also helped young Ludwig to publish his first compositions.
In 1792 Beethoven moved to Vienna. There, he began studying with Franz Haydn, but the old composer was unimpressed by his stormy young pupil.
Beethoven soon enjoyed success as a pianist, playing at private houses or palaces rather than in public. As a pianist, he was reported, he had fire, brilliance and fantasy as well as depth of feeling. During this period Beethoven wrote his famous Pathetique and Moonlight sonatas.
Devoting himself more and more to composing, Beethoven made fewer appearances as a pianist. From 1801 his hearing grew steadily worse. Proud and independent, Beethoven did not want anybody to know about it. He withdrew into isolation and devoted himself to his work.
He was opening up what he called a "new path", a more expressive and dramatic musical language, richer in emotion and deeper in thought, than the other music of his time. During this period he wrote some of his most famous music: several symphonies, the opera Fidelia, the Appassionato Sonata, the Violin Concerto, and the Emperor Piano Concerto.
In his last years he was completely deaf. Several love affairs ended unhappily, and his attempt in later life to bring up and reform a nephew ended in failure.
During the last period, Beethoven's break with the past was sharper than ever.
There is a new sense of feeling in his Ninth Symphony and Missa Solemnis. His last string quartets suggest a profound mood of acceptance, a triumphal peace over his sufferings.
(from Britannica Junior Encyclopaedia)
THEATRE AND CINEMA IN BRITAIN
The theatre has always been very strong in Britain. Its center is, of course, London, where successful plays can sometimes run without a break for many years. But every large town in the country has its theatres. Even small towns often have "repertory" theatres, where different plays are performed for short periods by the same group of professional actors (a repertory company).
It seems that the theatrical play gives the undemonstrative British people a safe opportunity to look behind the mask of accepted social behaviour. The country's most successful and respected playwrights are usually those who explore the darker side of the personality and of personal relationships.
British theatre has such a fine acting tradition that Hollywood is forever raiding its talent for people to star in films. British television does the same thing. Moreover, Broadway, when looking for its next blockbuster musical, pays close attention to London productions. In short, British theatre is much admired. As a consequence, it is something that British actors are proud of. Many of the most well-known television actors, though they might make most of their money in this latter medium, continue to see themselves as first and foremost theatre actors.
In contrast, the cinema in Britain is often regarded as not quite part of "the arts" at all — it is simply entertainment. Partly for this reason, Britain is unique among the large European countries in giving almost no financial help to its film industry.
Therefore, although cinema-going is a regular habit for a much larger number of people than is theatre-going, British film directors often have to go to Hollywood because the resources they need are not available in Britain. As a result, comparatively few films of quality are made in the country. This is not because expertise in film making does not exist. It does. American productions often use studios and technical facilities in Britain. Moreover, some of the films which Britain does manage to make become highly respected around the world. But even these films often make a financial loss.
(from Britain, abridged)
STEVEN SPIELBERG: MOVIE WIZARD
He seems to be the all-power wizard and a cinematic magician for us. His films make us scream with laughter or shiver with horror.
The son of a computer scientist and a gifted pianist, Spielberg spent his early childhood in New Jersey and, later, Arizona. He was 11 when he first got his dad's camera and began shooting short films about flying saucers and World War Two battles.
At the age of 13 he won a contest with his 40-minute film Escape to Nowhere. At the age of 16 he produced the movie Firelight and it was shown at the local cinema.
But a real success came in 1975, when Spielberg created Jaws. That little fish tale became the biggest hit of its time. This movie opened up the doors for Spielberg to work on many more great projects. And he went on to shake Hollywood with Close Encounters, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, and Jurassic Park.
Today, Spielberg is one of the most financially successful filmmakers ever. But his talents aren't limited to the movie set. Spielberg has also proved to be one of Hollywood's most nimble entrepreneurs. His business empire includes video games, toys and even restaurants.
But what is his source of inspiration? He draws it from his 7 children (two of them are adopted). Spielberg likes to spend time with his children. His house resembles a large playground — he keeps there 2 parrots, several snakes, and a fish tank.
Ask him where he gets his ideas and he shrugs. "The process for me is mostly intuitive," he says. "There are movies I feel that I need to make, for a variety of reasons, for personal reasons, for reasons that I want to have fun, that the subject matter is cool, that I think my kids will like it."
Does he ever worry that he will run out of ideas? "I don't have enough time in a lifetime to tell all the stories I want to tell," says Spielberg. It sounds like the story master is going to be busy for a long, long time ...
(from Speak Out, abridged)
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
He certainly knows what he wants. At the age of six, he decided he wanted to be an actor. When he was seven, he tried to get an agent. The agent said he should change his name because it was too Italian. Leonardo refused.
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the hottest young film stars around at the moment.
His face has been on the covers of all the top movie and youth magazines and he has been the subject of countless articles, rumours and showbiz gossip. Leonardo doesn't like reading about himself. "I read things about me that I've never said in my life and never done," he says.
Leonardo DiCaprio was born in Los Angeles on November 11,1974. He's a Scorpio.
His full name is Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio. His mother is German and his father Italian-American. They called him Leonardo because when his mother was pregnant he started kicking while she was standing in front of a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
His parents separated before he was born. Leo grew up in a poor neighbourhood of Hollywood.
At school he was very good at imitating people (especially Michael Jackson). This made him very popular. His childhood hero was Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.
After appearing in TV commercials, he played the part of a homeless boy in a TV comedy.
His big break was his leading role in This Boy's Life.
One of his least famous films is Total Eclipse which tells the story of the poet Arthur Rimbaud and his relationship with the writer Verlaine.
One of his most famous films was a modem version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in a fantasy world. Leo described his first kiss for a film as, "the most disgusting thing in my life."
After the tremendous success of Titanic, "Leomania" hit the world.
Leo simply says of the Titanic experience: "I was part of something that doesn't come about often, if ever. I can tell my grandchildren I was in the film." In Leo's opinion, "the film will be remembered forever."
He spent his post-Titanic life avoiding interviews. "Certainly that whole year was a huge learning experience for me. There's no handbook on what it's like to become famous and how to survive it." He says that "fame is a monster that you have no control over. If you try to fight it, it just feeds the fire."
Leonardo is very careful about the roles he chooses. He turned down the role of Robin in Batman Forever and it took him an awfully long time to choose The Beach.
Leo likes his job. "The best thing about acting is that I get to lose myself in another character and actually get paid for it," he says. "As for myself, I'm not sure who I am. It seems that I change every day."
(from Speak Out, abridged)
SCIENCE AND SCIENTIESTS
GREAT INVENTIONS
Television (1920s)
The invention that swept the world and changed leisure habits for countless millions was pioneered by Scottish-born electrical engineer John Logie Baird.
It had been realised for some time that light could be converted into electrical impulses, making it possible to transmit such impulses over a distance and then reconvert them into light.
Motor Car (Late 19th Century)
With television, the car is probably the most widely used and most useful of all leisure-inspired inventions. German engineer Karl Benz produced the first petroldriven car in 1885 and the British motor industry started in 1896. Henry Ford was the first to use assembly line production for his Model Т car in 1908. Like them or hate them, cars have given people great freedom of travel.
Electricity
The name came from the Greek word for amber and was coined by Elizabeth I's physician William Gilbert who was among those who noticed that amber had the power to attract light objects after being rubbed. In the 19th century such great names as Michael Faraday, Humphry Davy, Alessandro Volta and Andre Marie Ampere all did vital work on electricity.
Photography (Early 19th Century)
Leonardo da Vinci had described the camera obscura photographic principle as early as 1515. But it was not until 1835 that Frenchman Louis Daguerre produced camera photography. The system was gradually refined over the years, to the joy of happy snappers and the despair of those who had to wade through friends' endless holiday pictures.
Telephone (1876)
Edinburgh-born scientist Alexander Graham Bell patented his invention of the telephone in 1876. The following year, the great American inventor Thomas Edison produced the first working telephone. With telephones soon becoming rapidly available, the days of letter-writing became numbered.
Computer (20th Century)
The computer has been another life-transforming invention. British mathematician Charles Babbage designed a form of computer in the mid-1830s, but it was not until more than a century later that theory was put into practice. Now, a whole generation has grown up with calculators, windows, icons, computer games and word processors, and the Internet and e-mail have transformed communication and information.
Aeroplane
The plane was the invention that helped shrink the world and brought distant lands within easy reach of ordinary people. The invention of the petrol engine made flight feasible and the American Wright brothers made the first flight in 1903.
(from Club, abridged)
THE GENE REVOLUTION
Every plant, animal and person has genes. They are passed on from generation to generation. They make sure that humans give birth to humans or cows give birth to cows. They also make sure that a pig cannot give birth to a frog, or a horse to a dog.
The recipe for a human being is contained in the 80,000 genes we inherit from our parents. These genes have the instructions that not only make us human but also determine things like skin colour and the shape of our nose.
Scientists have known about genes for a long time. What they haven't known until recently is how to change them. Now they do.
Genetic engineers put duck genes into chicken to make the chickens bigger. They put genes from flowers into soya beans and from scorpions into corn.
British scientists managed to create the first "geep," an animal which is 50% sheep and 50% goat.
Now people are wondering if the world will soon see another incredible sight: a clone of a human being.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
MINIATURE REVOLUTION
Nanotechnology is the trendiest area of modern science. It is a form of molecular technology, which can combine biotechnology with atomic electronics. Put simply it is the technology of building very, very small things.
Making things' as small as a nonometre — one thousand millionth of a metre — might sound impossible, but today's scientists are building tiny machines and structures from components as small as single atoms.
But why would anyone want to go to the trouble of moving single atoms around with highly sophisticated machinery?
"Nanotechnology makes it possible to take all the atoms in your body and reassemble them. If you're just about to die of some nasty disease, we could send nanotechnology robots into your body and undo that damage and repair all of the cells," says a British scientist. "Nanotechnology can also undo your age. It can make a 90-year old man a young man of twenty-one again."
The possibilities of nanotechnology are enormous.
Nanotechnology is a fairly new area of research, and most of the work going on is to develop tools and techniques rather than practical inventions. But just as the space race gave us spin-offs like digital watches and ever-smaller computers, so nanotechnologists are already finding that their skills have a surprising range of uses.
SPORT
IN-LINE ROLLER-SKATING
Children and grown-ups are doing it. Skiers and ice hockey players are doing it.
Athletes and acrobats are doing it. What is "it"? In-line skating!
In-line roller skates are more and more popular. Millions of people in Europe and the USA are putting on their skates and doing the strangest things.
Ice-hockey players and skiers use them in summer. Some have stopped playing ice hockey and play roller hockey with in-line skates instead. Why? It's more fun! Roller hockey combines elements of hockey and basketball. Even women play in-line roller hockey.
The streets of America are full of children playing hockey on their skates. In London parks there are now special skating sections so that skaters don't frighten joggers and walkers when they whizz past at 50 kilometres per hour!
Of course, some people like competition, so there are in-line speed-skating championships with different distances.
Joseph Merlin, a Belgian inventor and musical instrument maker, invented the roller skates in about 1760. He was also the first person to wear them. He wore his new metal skates to a party in London, where he crashed into a very expensive mirror.
He wasn't very interested in skating after this experience.
In 1863, James Plimpton, an American businessman, invented a roller skate that could turn. Plimpton opened a skating club in New York where gentlemen enjoyed showing off for the ladies by doing fancy figures, steps and turns.
Within 20 years, roller skating had become a popular pastime for men and women.
Indoors, wealthy gentlemen played "roller polo," a hockey game. Others held contests in dance and figure skating. Outdoors, men and women were racing in speed contests.
The more the public saw of skating, the more they wanted to try it themselves. Roller skating was soon enjoying its first boom. Roller hockey teams were playing throughout Europe as early as 1901.
In the 1970s, the first plastic skate wheels were made. Such wheels were quieter than those made of wood or metal, and skaters could move faster and easier.
In 1980s, a new kind of roller skates appeared. They are called in-line roller skates.
They were invented by two brothers in Minnesota, USA, who wanted to practice icehockey in the summer.
Everybody liked the invention and soon the two brothers started to produce in-line skates commercially. In 1984, Rollerblade, the first in-line skate company was bom.
Today, there are lots of companies and lots of skates.
(from Speak Out, abridged)
SNOWBOARDING
Snowboarding is the fastest-growing winter sport. It's catching on all over the world and is now included in the Olympic Games.
Did we say sport? Snowboarding is also a way of life, with its own equipment, style, music, clothing and even language.
The "father" of snowboarding is Jake Burton. He became hooked on the idea when he was a teenager and took 15 years to develop the perfect snowboard. Now he owns the largest snowboard business in the world.
Snowboarding is different from skiing. "The only thing skiing has in common with snowboarding is the snow," says one snowboarding fan.
A snowboard looks like a big skateboard without wheels. While standing up with both feet on a board, a snowboarder slides down a slope, controlling the direction with the same small movements that a skateboarder uses. The most difficult thing is, of course, to keep balance.
Skiers, however, aren't happy about the latest craze. They say that snowboards ruin the surface of the snow, and snowboarders can be intimidating as they fly down hills at amazing speeds. Besides, their baggy trousers, baseball caps, bright shirts and Walkmans playing Hip Hop music are not what traditional, conservative skiers are used to.
But snowboarders will give you a long list of reasons why snowboarding is better than skiing.
Snowboarding is especially popular with teenagers and college students (some say as many as 90% of snowboarders is between the ages 10 and 25). "Skiing is for old people," says a student from Colorado. "Snowboarding is for the young. You can go crazy when you snowboard and that's cool."
(from Speak Out, abridged)
SURF'S UP!
Surfing is popular all over the world. It's practised on lakes and rivers, seas and oceans — anywhere with good wind.
Some people think that it's a new kind of sport. But it is not. It was first reported by the British explorer Captain Cook in 1778. It became popular with the introduction of mass-produced, lightweight boards made of fibreglass in the 1960s.
The birthplace of surfing is Hawaii and today it's home of the most famous surfing competition. Huge waves crash along mile after mile of beautiful sand, and every surfer dreams of experiencing surfing in Maui or Oahu.
The best time for surfing is when the waves are high. Serious surfers must be very brave, love adventure and have lots of energy. Once they've experienced the excitement of a ride on top of the waves, they never want to stop.
It takes time to learn to catch a wave at the right moment, stand up on your board and stay there. But during a hot summer day, who minds practising?
(from Speak Out, abridged)
SPORT AND COMPETITION IN BRITAIN
Think of your favourite sport. Whatever it is, there is a good chance that it was first played in Britain, and an even better chance that its modern rules were first codified in Britain. The public schools of the Victorian era believed that organized competitive games had many psychological benefits. These games appealed to, and developed, the British sense of "fair play". You had to be a "good loser". To be a cheat was shameful, but to lose was just "part of the game". Team games were best, because they developed "team spirit".
Modem sport in Britain is very different. "Winning isn't everything" and "it's only a game" are still well-known sayings, but to modern professionals, sport is clearly not just a game. These days, top players in any sport talk about having a "professional attitude" and doing their "job" well, even if, officially, their sport is still an amateur one.
Sport probably plays a more important part in people's lives in Britain than it does in most other countries. For a very large number, this is especially true for men, it is their main form of entertainment. Millions take part in some kind of sport at least once a week. Many millions more are regular spectators and follow one or more sports. There are hours of televised sport each week. Every newspaper, national or local, quality or popular, devotes several pages entirely to sport.
Sometimes the traditions which accompany an event can seem as important as the actual sporting contest. Wimbledon, for instance, is not just a tennis tournament. It means summer fashions, strawberries and cream, garden parties and long, warm English summer evenings.
Many of such events have become world-famous. Therefore, it is not only the British who tune in to watch. The Grand National, for example, attracts a television audience of 300 million. The cup finals of other countries often have better quality and more entertaining football on view — but more Europeans watch the English Cup Final than any other. The standard of British tennis is poor, and Wimbledon is only one of the world's major tournaments. But if you ask any top tennis player, you find that Wimbledon is the one they really want to win. Every footballer in the world dreams of playing at Wembley, every cricketer in the world of playing at Lord's.
Wimbledon, Wembley and Lord's are the "spiritual homes" of their respective sports.
Sport is a British export!
(from Britain, abridged)
BASEBALL
Baseball is America's most popular sport. In a baseball game there are two teams of nine players. Players must hit a ball with a bat and then run around four bases. A player who goes around all the bases scores a run for his team. The team that finishes with more runs wins the game.
Where did baseball come from? No one knows for sure. Many people believe that the idea came from a game played by children in England. Other people believe that a man named Abner Doubleday invented the game in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839. But the first real rules of baseball were written in 1845 by Alexander Cartwright. Two teams from New York played a game following Cartwright's rules.
The rules worked well. Soon there were many teams.
These early teams were not professional. They played only for fun, not money. But baseball was very popular from the start. Businessmen saw that they could make money with professional baseball teams.
The first professional team was started in 1869. This team was the Red Stockings of Cincinnati. Within a few years there were professional teams in other cities. In 1876 these teams came together in a league, or group, called the National League.
The teams in the National League played one another.
In 1901 a new league, called the American League, was formed. To create some excitement, in 1903 the two leagues decided to have their first-place teams play each other. This event was called the World Series.
Each year since then the National League winner and the American League winner play in the World Series. And, each year, millions of people look forward to this exciting sports event.
(from All about the USA)
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN BRITAIN
Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in people's life than in other countries.
The British are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. Some ceremonies are rather formal, such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the Colour, the State opening of Parliament. Sometimes you will see a group of cavalrymen riding on black horses through the streets of London. They wear red uniforms, shining helmets, long black boots and long white gloves. These men are Life Guards. Their special duty is to guard the king or the queen of Great Britain and very important guests of the country.
To this day a British family prefers a house with a fireplace and a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating. Most British love gardens. Sometimes the garden in front of the house is a little square covered with cement painted green in imitation of grass and a box of flowers. They love flowers very much.
The British like animals very much, too. Pet dogs, cats, horses, ducks, chickens, canaries and other friends of man have a much better life in Britain than anywhere else. In Britain they have special dog shops selling food, clothes and other things for dogs. In recent years the British began to show love for more "exotic" animals such as crocodiles, elephants, tigers, cobras, camels.
Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday and in Scotland it is not observed at all. But six days later, on New Year's Eve the Scots begin to enjoy themselves. All the shops and factories are closed on New Year's Day. People invite their friends to their houses. Greetings and presents are offered.
Some British traditions are strange, some are funny, but they are all interesting.
TIME FOR TEA
The British and tea are inseparable. 8 out of 10 people in Britain drink tea every day and Britain imports about 20% of all the world's tea. Tea makes up about half of all that a British person drinks. Tea has even played a part in British literature and history.
Do you remember the Mad Hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland? And there was the "Boston Tea Party" when a group of Americans threw a delivery of tea from the ships into the waters of Boston harbour because the ruling British government wanted to tax it. This particular tea party marks the beginning of the movement to make America independent.
Tea didn't come to Europe until 1610 and was introduced to Britain in 1657 by Catherine of Braganza, King Charles II's wife. But by the 1800s, the exotic drink became so popular that special ships ("clippers") were designed to bring it quickly from China.
Most people in Britain drink tea with black leaves although now herbal teas which do not contain caffeine are becoming more popular.
The taste of teas can be very different even if they are from the same farm and expert tea-tasters have to blend them to ensure that packets of tea which have the same label taste the same when you buy them in a shop.
The British are very fussy about how their tea is made. The teapot must be warmed before the tea is put in, the water must be boiling properly, the right quantity of tea — "one spoon for each person and one for the pot" — must be used and the tea must be brewed for three minutes. They see the drinking of tea as the opportunity to relax for a few minutes. It's also regarded as a great comforter. If you've just suffered a misfortune in Britain and you call on a friend, you're likely to be told, "Oh well, just sit down and I'll make you a nice cup of tea"!
BRITISH CHARACTER
One of the most striking features of British life is the self-discipline and courtesy of people of all classes. There is little noisy behaviour, and practically no loud disputing in the street. People do not rush excitedly for seats in buses or trains, but take their seats in queues at bus stops in a quiet and orderly manner.
The British are naturally polite and are never tired in saying "Thank you", "I'm sorry", "Beg your pardon". If you follow anyone who is entering a building or a room, he will hold a door open for you. Many foreigners have commented on a remarkable politeness of the British people.
The British don't like displaying their emotions even in dangerous and tragic situations, and ordinary people seem to remain good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.
They don't like any boasting or showing off in manners, dress or speech.
Sometimes they conceal their knowledge: a linguist, for example, may not mention his understanding of a foreigner's language.
HALLOWEEN
Halloween
Hey, hey, for Halloween!
Then the witches shall be seen,
Some in black, and some in green,
Hey, hey, for Halloween!
You should be very careful on the night of October 31. This is the night when witches and ghosts come out!
Halloween is the most famous of witches' festivals. They ride on brooms through the midnight air to meet with the Devil. Black cats, their best friends, usually accompany them.
Poor cold ghosts come out of the lonely woods and fields and warm themselves in people's houses.
Ghosts and witches are not the only ones who come out at Halloween. From their hiding places come hundreds of demons, skeletons, goblins and other supernatural creatures.
Children in the US, Great Britain and Ireland like Halloween very much.
In the weeks before October 31, they decorate the windows of their houses and schools with pictures of witches, black cats and bats.
They make lanterns out of pumpkins. They are called jack-o'-lanterns.
Black and orange are traditional Halloween colours.
On October 31, children dress up as ghosts and witches, skeletons and Draculas, and have noisy parties.
Sometimes they go to the people's houses and ring at the door, shouting "Trick or treat!" The person who opens the door must give the children a treat — some sweets or cookies. If not, the children play a trick on them. For example, they can throw flour at the window or draw a funny picture on the door.
Halloween parties are great fun.
APRIL FOOL'S DAY
Most European countries "celebrate" April 1st in some strange way, either by mocking the simple-minded or honouring the fool.
Most of the tricks played on this day are far from original, and many have been used so often that they have become traditional.
The most common form of the joke is to send a simple-minded person on some fruitless errand. Naturally, children are the easiest victims. They may be sent to get a dozen cock's eggs, or a stick with one end, or a litre of sweet vinegar, or, probably, a leather hammer, or a pint of pigeon's milk.
A popular joke is to say that something is wrong with your victim's dress (when in fact everything is in order) or that a cockroach is crawling over his or her clothes (there's no cockroach, of course).
At school children try to pin notices like "Kick me", or "I'm a fool" on each other's backs. Teachers have to be very careful or they, too, might find themselves walking around with a silly sign on their backs.
Some jokes are not so harmless. For example, you may step into a basin of water placed secretly where you are sure to step into it. You may get salt in your coffee instead of sugar. You may fall on the floor because your trousers are sewn up or your shoe-laces are tied.
These jokes may be silly, but they succeed again and again.
On April 1st television and radio services join in the fun. They tell unbelievable stories and advertise nonexistent goods. Newspapers print long articles which turn out to be jokes. Often, you have to read the long article to the very end to realise that you have been fooled.
HOLIDAYS IN THE USA
American holidays are strikingly different in origin and show surprising similarities in the manner of their celebration. No matter what the holiday's origin is, they all seem to be the same thing. A holiday has simply become, for most Americans, a day off from work, though some (for example, Thanksgiving and Christmas) retain some individuality.
The major holidays in the USA are:
New Year's Day, January, 1st:
People stay awake until after midnight on December 31st to "watch the Old Year out and the New Year in." Many parties are given on this night. Theatres, night clubs, restaurants are crowded.
When midnight comes, they greet the New Year: people gather in the streets of big cities, they ring bells, blow whistles and automobile horns, some shoot off guns and firecrackers.
Valentine's Day, February, 14th:
It is not a national holiday. Banks and offices do not close, but it is a happy little festival in honour of St Valentine, patron of sweethearts and lovers. It is widely celebrated among people of all ages by the exchange of "valentines." A "valentine" may mean a special greeting card or a little present. The greeting cards are often coloured red, have red trimmings and pictures of hearts.
Washington's Birthday, February, 22d:
In addition to commemorating the birth of the United States' first President, it's a great day for shoppers. The department stores of Washington, DC, stated a national tradition of sales marked by unusual bargains.
It is not a national holiday. Many schools, offices and banks close for this day, some stay open. The US Congress observes the birthday of George Washington with speeches and readings from his works.
Easter:
Easter is in memory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon between March, 22, and April, 25. The 40 days before Easter are called Lent. Just before Easter, schools and colleges usually close. Students have a week or ten days of spring vacation.
Easter is a church holiday, and many churches have an outdoor sunrise service.
People give each other presents of coloured or even decorated eggs which are the symbol of new life. There is a popular belief that wearing three new things on Easter will bring good luck throughout the year.
Memorial Day, May, 30th:
It is a national holiday. Schools, banks and offices close for the day. On that day, Americans honour the servicemen who gave their lives in past wars. Schools, clubs and churches decorate the cemeteries. They put up the flags on the graves of the army, navy and airmen. They hold memorial services in churches, halls, parks and cemeteries.
In addition to solemn services Memorial Day is often marked by other, more joyful ceremonies: colourful parades, sports competitions.
Independence Day, July, 4th:
On this day, in 1776, America signed the Declaration of Independence. It is a national public holiday celebrated with fireworks and speeches praising "Americanism, democracy, free enterprise".
Labor Day, the first Monday in September:
It is a holiday of recreation. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Vacation time is over. Resorts, camps and beaches close ... Parents go to summer camps and take their children back home.
Halloween, October, 31st:
Halloween is the day or evening before All Saints' Day. Halloween customs date back to a time when people believed in devils, witches and ghosts. They thought that these evil spirits could do all kinds of damage to property. Some people tried to ward off witches by painting magic signs on their barns. Others tried to scare them away by nailing a piece of iron, such as a horseshoe, over the door.
Now most people do not believe in evil spirits. On this day they just have a nice holiday. Children dress up as ghosts and witches and go out into the streets to beg.
They go from house to house and say: "Trick of treat!", meaning "Give me a treat or I'll play a trick on you". People give them candy, cookies and apples.
A favourite custom is to make a jack-o'-lantem. Children scrape out a pumpkin and cut the outlines of eyes, nose and mouth in its side. They light a candle inside the pumpkin to scare their friends. This custom refers to a man named Jack who still wanders around the earth lighting his way with a pumpkin lantern.
Veterans Day:
On this day, the radio and television broadcast services held at the National Cemetery in Arlington. High officials come from Washington to attend these services.
They place a wreath of flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. All stand in silence for a few minutes at eleven o'clock to honour the memory of the servicemen killed in the two World Wars.
Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November:
In the USA it is a national holiday. It was first celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrim Fathers after their first good harvest.
Thanksgiving is a family day, for it is customary for all members of the family to gather at the home of their parents. The family eats a large traditional dinner, usually with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
Christmas Day, December, 25th:
It is usually a one-day official holiday, but it is preceded and followed by festive parties, and marked by special church services, gift-giving and feasting.
Christmas is a family holiday. Schools and colleges close between Christmas and New-Year's Day. People stay at home and spend the time with their families.
Everybody tries to come home for Christmas. People send cards or Christmas greetings to family and friends away from home. Every family tries to have a Christmas tree, which is beautifully decorated. Santa Claus comes from the North Pole in his sleigh, dressed in red cap and jacket, entering the house from chimney. He is a merry and fat individual. He has gifts of whatever kind you may wish for — nothing is too fabulous nor too trivial for him to provide.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
July 4m, or Independence Day, is the most important American holiday. It's the birthday of the United States of America. On this day, in 1776, America signed the Declaration of Independence and started the fight for freedom from British rule.
Before 1776., the King of England, George III, ruled the thirteen colonies in America. The colonists were tired of the taxes that George III imposed on them. "We have no representation in the British Parliament," they said, "so what right does he have to tax us?" "No taxation without representation" became their battle cry.
In 1767, the British government placed new taxes on tea and paper that the colonists imported from abroad. The colonists got angry and refused to pay. George III sent soldiers to keep order.
In 1773, a group of colonists dressed up as Indians threw 342 chests of tea belonging to the East India Company into the waters of Boston harbour. King George didn't think it was funny. His reply to this "Boston tea party" was a set of laws to punish the colonists. Boston harbour was closed until the tea was paid for. More soldiers were sent there to keep order.
But the "Intolerable Acts", as the colonists called King George's laws, served only to unite the colonies against the British rule. The War of Independence began.
On July 4, 1776, the colonists declared their independence from Britain. Led by Thomas Jefferson, the representatives of all thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. A large part of it was written by Jefferson himself. The document stated that the colonies were now "free and independent states" and officially named them the United States of America. It also said that all men had a natural right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
The following day, copies of the Declaration of Independence were distributed and, on July 6, The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print the extraordinary document. People celebrated the birth of a new nation.
But the War of Independence dragged on until 1783 when the colonists finally won. The head of the Revolutionary army was George Washington, who later became the first President of the United States of America. In 1783, Independence Day was made an official holiday.
Today, the country's birthday is widely celebrated with parades, public meetings, patriotic music and speech-making. There are picnics and barbecues, and in the evening there are big fireworks shows. Wherever Americans are around the globe, they will get together for a traditional 4th of July celebration!
(from Speak Out, abridged)
COLUMBUS DAY
Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. At least that is what all elementary school children were always taught: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Of course, Columbus never "discovered" North America, and the regions he explored were already inhabited. He only discovered them from the viewpoint of the Europeans. Yet his first voyage did prove one thing for sure, that the earth was not only round, but that it was bigger than he had thought.
One of the first known celebrations marking the discovery of the "New World" by Christopher Columbus was organised by the Italian population of New York on October 12m, 1866. Three years later, in 1869, Italians in San Francisco celebrated October 12m calling it C-Day. In 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12tn as Columbus Day. In 1971 it was declared a federal public holiday. Today, Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October.
Christopher Columbus was bom in 1451 in Italy. He probably worked as a weaver before going to sea.
At that time the life of a sailor was full of adventure and danger; so Columbus had many exciting experiences. Once during a battle with a vessel off the coast of Portugal, he had to leave his boat and swim to the shore a long distance away. He afterwards lived in Portugal a number of years, and while there, he married the daughter of a sea captain. For some time he earned his living, partly by making sea voyages, and partly by drawing maps and selling them.
Knowing that the earth was round, he decided to reach India by sailing to the west.
It was very difficult for him to organise his expedition as nobody wanted to help him.
Many years after, the Spanish government gave him some money for his expedition.
In 1492 he sailed with three small ships into the Atlantic Ocean. They soon met a north-eastern wind that drove them farther and farther south-west.
They had been sailing for more than two months. The sailors began a mutiny.
They were afraid that they would not be able to return home. At last they saw land.
When they landed they saw strange trees and flowers. Men and women with olivecoloured skins gathered around them and looked at them with great surprise.
Columbus was certain that the lands he discovered were part of India, and he called these islands the West Indies. The people living there have been called Indians since then, though they have nothing in common with the real Indians — inhabitants of India.
Columbus' second voyage to America took place in 1493. This time he discovered some other islands of the West Indies.
Twice more Columbus tried to find India. During his third voyage, enemies spread false rumours about him. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were led to believe that he was a tyrant. Columbus was sent home in chains. Back in Spain, he quickly proved his innocence.
His last voyage was made in 1502-1504. After that, seriously ill, he remained in Spain until his death. He died believing that Cuba was part of Asia.
Columbus was tall and imposing. No real portrait of him exists, but he is described in the writings of the men of his time as having blue eyes, red hair, and a freckled complexion, which reddened when he was excited.
Columbus' voyages gave Europe its first important knowledge of the New World.
Other explorers, their imaginations fired by his discoveries, sailed for the Americas after Columbus. In the western hemisphere many places have been named in his honour. The Americas, however, were named after another explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.
ЗОО QUESTIONS
(Вопросы для общей беседы)
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your surname?
3. How old are you?
4. Where do you live?
5. Where were you born?
6. What is your date of birth?
7. What is your address?
8. What is your telephone number?
9. Is your family large?
10. Are you an only child?
11. What are your parents?
12. Who do you most take after, your mother or your father?
13. Can you describe yourself?
14. Can you describe your parents?
15. What are your household duties?
16. Do you always plan your day beforehand?
17. What do you usually do in the evenings?
18. How do you spend your weekends?
19. Are you a stay-at-home or do you prefer to go out when you have some time to spare?
20. Are you fond of having friends in?
21. Do you often have parties?
22. What do you think makes one's home cosy?
23. Have you got a room of your own?
24. Can you describe it?
25. What is your hobby?
26. Who is your best friend?
27. Can you describe him/her?
28. How long have you been friends?
29. Do you have much in common or are you different?
30. How do you spend your free time together?
31. Is your friend easy to get along with?
32. What qualities do you most admire in people?
33. What characteristics annoy you most in people?
34. What does the word " lazy" mean?
35. How would you describe a person who helps other people?
36. What do we call a person who expects good things to happen?
37. What do we call a person who expects bad things to happen?
38. Do you believe in horoscopes?
39. What are the good and bad characteristics associated with your sign of the zodiac?
40. What is your attitude to astrology?
41. When did you leave school?
42. What kind of school was it?
43. What subjects were you good at?
44. What subjects did you like?
45. What subjects did you dislike?
46. What subjects were you bad at?
47. Who was your favourite teacher? Why?
48. Did you spend a lot of time at school?
49. What out-of-class activities did you take part in?
50. Were there any hobby clubs or societies in your school?
51. Did you take part in any of them?
52. What time did you usually come home from school?
53. Did you have to wear a uniform?
54. Could you choose the subjects you studied?
55. Did you like your English classes?
56. What did you do during your English lessons?
57. When did you begin studying English?
58. Had you studied English before you came to school?
59. How long have you been learning English?
60. Were all your English teachers good?
61. What marks did you usually get in English?
62. Do you find English grammar easy or difficult to study?
63. What about English pronunciation?
64. How many vowels are there in the English alphabet?
65. How many letters are there in the English alphabet?
66. What English-speaking countries do you know?
67. Have you been to any of them?
68. Which variant of the English language do you like more: British or American?
69. Did you study any other languages at school?
70. How long does it take a person to learn to speak a foreign language, in your opinion?
71. Do you find languages easy or difficult to learn?
72. What other languages besides English would you like to learn?
73. What languages belong to the family of Romance languages?
74. What languages belong to the family, of Slavic languages?
75. What family does the English, language belong to?
76. What language is spoken in France? Germany? China?
77. What language is spoken in Holland? Switzerland? Brazil?
78. Why is it important to know foreign languages?
79. What are your future plans?
80. Why did you decide to study at our University?
81. What professions do you know?
82. Which of them require the knowledge of foreign languages?
83.What is an interpreter?
84.What's the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
85.What's the difference between "to take an exam" and " to pass an exam" ?
86.Which are the most prestigious professions today?
87.Science and technology constantly create new jobs. Can you name any of them?
88.Will people work less in the future? Why do you think so?
89.Experts say that we'll have to change jobs more often in the future? Do you know why?
90.Are you optimistic about the future?
91.Are you fond of reading?
92.What famous English writers do you know?
93.What famous American writers do you know?
94.Who are your favourite English (American) authors?
95.Who are your favourite Russian writers?
96.Do you like poetry?
97.Which do you prefer to read, poetry or prose?
98.Have you ever written any poetry?
99.What is the basic difference between poetry and prose?
100.Who are your favourite Russian poets?
101.Do you read much?
102.How much do you read in English?
103.Is it difficult for you to read English books in the original?
104.What kinds of books do you know?
105.If you could choose between reading a book or seeing the same story on TV, which would you prefer? Why?
106.Do you believe that one day computers will replace books?
107.What are the advantages of the Internet?
108.Do you choose different sorts of books for different occasions (holidays, journeys, bed)?
109.What's the difference between a biography and autobiography?
110. What's the difference between fiction and non-fiction books?
111. Who are your favourite modern authors?
112. What kind of books do they write?
113. Which book did you particularly enjoy reading recently?
114. What did you like about the book?
115. What was it about?
116. Are there any books you'd like to reread?
117. Do you sometimes borrow books from a library?
118. What do you call a person who works in a library?
119. Have you got a lot of books at home?
120. Do you think it is good to have a home library?
121. Have you got any books in English at home?
122. Why do so many people like to read crime stories?
123. Can you explain the difference between a bookshop and a library?
124. Do you read newspapers?
125. What newspapers do you read?
126. What are your favourite magazines?
127. Where can you buy newspapers and magazines?
128. What newspapers and magazines do you subscribe to?
129. Which sections of a newspaper are you especially interested in?
130. Do you read reviews of new books, films and plays?
131. What is an editorial?
132. What's the difference between an editor and a reporter?
133. Do you like to read stories about the private lives of pop stars and actors?
134. Do you read any newspapers in English?
135. What British newspapers do you know?
136. Do you agree that radio and television have made newspapers unnecessary?
137. Do you like watching TV?
138. How much time do you spend watching TV?
139. Do the mass media report the events objectively?
140. What TV programmes are most popular with young people?
141. What are your favourite TV programmes?
142. What programmes do your parents usually watch?
143. What do you think of soap operas?
144. Do you like quiz shows?
145. Do you ever watch educational TV programmes? Are they helpful?
146. Are you an Internet-user?
147. How many times have you been to the cinema this year?
148. Who are your favourite actors?
149. Who are you favourite film directors?
150. What do you think of horror films?
151. Which film did you particularly like recently?
152. What was it about?
153. Who starred in the film?
154. Have you seen any films in English?
155. How often do you go to the theatre?
156. When did you last go to the theatre?
157. Did you like the performance?
158. Did the audience like the performance?
159. Was the house full?
160. Where were your seats?
161. Did you like the scenery?
162. What was the play about?
163. Who played the leading parts?
164. Was the cast good?
165. What do you call a place where the performance takes place?
166. Where do you buy tickets?
167. What do we call a person who writes plays?
168. What do we call a person who directs the staging of a play?
169. What is your favourite theatre and why?
170. Which do you enjoy more: going to the theatre or going to the cinema?
171. Do you like opera?
172. What are your favourite operas?
173. What are your favourite ballets?
174. Which do you prefer: ballet, opera or musical concerts?
175. Who are your favourite composers?
176. Do you enjoy listening to classical music?
177. Which do you prefer: pop music or classical music?
178. What's the difference between a concert and a rehearsal?
179. What's the difference between a composer and a musician?
180. Does loud music annoy you?
181. Who are your favourite pop singers and groups?
182. Does music help you to escape from the problems of everyday life?
183. How often do you go to discos?
184. Do you play any musical instruments?
185. Did you take music lessons? For how long?
186. Have you ever been to a concert you didn't like?
187. Do you watch MTV?
188. How often do you visit art galleries or fine arts museums?
189. How many times have you been to the Tretyakov Gallery?
190. When did you last go to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts?
191. What museums have you been to this year?
192. Have you been to any exhibitions lately?
193. Who are your favourite Russian painters?
194. What famous English and American painters do you know?
195. Where did you see their pictures?
196. Do you like abstract art?
197. What's the difference between a landscape and a seascape?
198. Can you draw?
199. Have you ever been to the Hermitage in St Petersburg?
200. What art galleries in London do you know?
201. Are you fond of reading science fiction?
202. Who is your favourite science fiction author?
203. Which of the writers foresaw the flight to the Moon?
204. Which great Russian scientist worked out the theory of space flights and designed the first rocket?
205. What achievements have been made in space exploration?
206. Who was the first cosmonaut?
207. Who was the first man to land on the Moon?
208. Do you think there is life on other planets of the solar system?
209. Do you believe in UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects)?
210. Can you predict the future? What will our life be like in 50 years?
211. What outstanding scientists do you know?
212. What famous inventors do you know?
213. What kind of people are considered to be outstanding? What qualities must they possess?
214. Is it enough to be talented to be called outstanding?
215. Do you agree that computers have completely changed our lives?
216. What possibilities does genetic engineering open?
217. Are you for or against cloning people? Why?
218. Do you think people will live longer in the future? Why?
219. What has man's interference in nature led to?
220. Why do so many species of animals and plants die out for ever?
221. What pollutes and poisons the air?
222. Why are acid rains so dangerous for people?
223. What do you know about the consequences of the Chernobyl tragedy?
224. What should every country do to protect nature and to clean the environment?
225. Is international cooperation necessary to create a system of ecological security? Why do you think so?
226. What countries is the UK made up of?
227. What is the capital of the UK?
228. What is the capital of Wales?
229. What is the capital of Scotland?
230. What is the capital of Northern Ireland?
231. Who is the Prime Minister of Great Britain?
232. What places of interest in London do you know?
233. What do you know about Westminster Abbey?
234. What do you know about the Houses of Parliament?
235. Where is the residence of the Queen?
236. Who was St Paul's Cathedral built by?
237. What do the stars on the American flag stand for?
238. How many stars are there on the US flag?
239. What is the capital of the USA?
240. Who was the first president of the USA?
241. Who is the US President now?
242. What great Americans do you know?
243. Who discovered America?
244. What large cities in the USA do you know?
245. Which city is more American: Washington or New York?
246. What places of interest in Washington do you know?
247. When did the Russian Federation become an independent state?
248. What parts of Russia have you been to?
249. What is Russia rich in?
250. When was Moscow founded and who by?
251. Can you describe the centre of Moscow?
252. What historical monuments in Moscow do you know?
253. What world-famous museums in Moscow do you know?
254. What do you know about Red Square?
255. What is your favourite place in Moscow?
256. What are the most interesting tourist sights in your city?
257. What kinds of public transport do you know? Which do you prefer?
258. Are you fond of travelling?
259. If you were free to travel wherever you wanted, what countries would you visit?
260. Why do you think so many people like travelling?
261. Which is the most convenient way of travelling?
262. Which is the quickest way of travelling?
263. What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by car?
264. What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by air?
265. Have you ever been abroad?
266. What's the difference between a voyage and a journey?
267. What great travellers of the past do you know?
268. Would you like to travel in space?
269. Do you find time for sports?
270. What kinds of sports do you know?
271. What is you favourite kind of sports?
272. What sports do you enjoy watching?
273. What do you do to keep fit?
274. Have you got any bad habits?
275. .)oes anyone in your family smoke?
276. What do you know about the history of the Olympic Games?
277. What kinds of sports are popular in Britain?
278. What's the difference between an amateur and a professional?
279. What do you do when you fall ill?
280. What does the doctor do when he comes to examine you?
281. What is the dentist's job?
282. What must we do to be in good health?
283. What are the most important national holidays in Russia?
284. What do we celebrate on the 9th of May?
285. When do we celebrate Independence Day?
286. What religious holidays do you know?
287. What is you favourite holiday?
288. What are the most important public holidays in Great Britain?
289. What are the most important public holidays in the United States?
290. Are Christmas and Easter celebrated at the same time in all Christian countries?
291. How is New Year celebrated in your family?
292. Have you got a watch? What time is it now?
293. What are you doing now?
294. What will you be doing this time tomorrow?
295. What were you doing at six o'clock in the evening yesterday?
296. If you were a millionaire, how would you spend your money?
297. If you were free today, where would you spend the day?
298. If friends come to visit you tonight, how will you entertain them?
299. What are you going to do tonight?
300. If you are admitted to this faculty, what specialization would you like to take up?
СОДЕРЖАНИЕ
TEXTS:
The Hard Way (After M. Rodgers) 4
Stepmother (After J. Greenwood) 6
A Note About Witches (After R. Dahl) 8
The School-Teacher (After A. Croniri) 10
An Explosion at Night (After A. Croniri) 12
Adventure (After J. P. Priestley) 14
Under the Deck Awnings. Part I (After J. London) 16
Under the Deck Awnings. Part II (After J. London) 18
How We Kept Mother's Day (After S. LeacocK) 20
Looking Back on Eighty Years (After S. Maugham) 21
The Cop and the Anthem (After O. Henry) 22
The Problem of Thor Bridge (After A. Conan Doyle) — 24
A Sound of Thunder (After R. Bradbury)- 26
A Name on the Wall (After S. Marmorsteiri) 28
The Model Millionaire (After O. Wilde) 30
TOPICS:
The English Language
English today 32
Hot Issues
Life in the 21st century 34
Computer revolution 36
Will we live in space? -38
Our planet Earth 40
Can we live longer? 42
Mass Media
Mass media 44
TV or not TV? 46
Newspapers 48
The British press 50
About Myself
My family 52
My flat 54
My working day 56
My friend 58
My school 60
How I went shopping 62
My plans for the future ; 64
My meals 66
At the doctor's 68
Hobbies and Pastimes
Hobbies 70
My friend's hobby 72
Travelling 74
My last summer holidays 76
My favourite season 78
Countries and Cities
Great Britain 80
Climate and weather in Great Britain 82
London 84
The USA 87
Washington, DC 90
The Russian Federation — 92
Moscow 95
St Petersburg 98
Literature and Arts
Libraries 100
William Shakespeare 102
Anton Chekhov 105
Agatha Christie 107
Ernest Hemingway 109
My favourite book — 111
Tretyakov Gallery 113
Valentin Serov 115
Isaac Levitan 117
Mozart 119
My favourite singer 121
The birth of the "seventh art" 123
David Duchovny 126
Science and Scientists
Albert Einstein 128
Andrei Sakharov 130
Will we live to see the first cloned human? 132
Sports
Olympic Games 134
Sports in Great Britain : 136
Sports in Russia 138
Customs and Traditions
Holidays in Great Britain 140
Holidays in Russia 142
SUPPLEMENTARY READER:
The English Language
The future of English 145
Some facts about English 146
Hot Issues
What will our life be like? 147
Chips are changing the world 147
What does the future hold? 148
Why are we so excited about the Internet? 148
We may have no choice 149
Arthur Clarke predicts 150
The Earth is our home 150
What shall we do with our packed planet? 152
"Smog" was invented in Britain 152
Do we live to eat? 153
There is a danger hanging over your life 154
Game of chance 154
Mass Media
What is news? 155
American press 155
Newspaper wars 156
Hooked on the Net 156
What kind of viewer are you? 157
Hobbies and Pastimes
What is a hobby? 158
Video games 158
The future of travelling 159
Countries and Cities
Scotland: the land of lochs and legends 160
What does the Queen do? 161
The new face of London 161
The Tower of London 162
St Paul's Cathedral 163
London's East End 164
Madam Tussaud's 164
The White House 165
New York 166
The Statue of Liberty 168
From the history of New York 168
Australia 169
Canada 170
Some facts about Moscow 171
Literature and Arts
The future of the book — if it has a future 172
On books and reading 172
The Globe Theatre —173
Robert Burns 174
Mark Twain 174
Michelangelo 175
William Hogarth 176
Abstract art 176
Pablo Picasso 177
Beethoven — 178
Theatre and cinema in Britain 179
Steven Spielberg: movie wizard 180
Leonardo DiCaprio 180
Science and Scientists
Great inventions 182
The gene revolution 183
Miniature revolution 183
Sports
In-line roller-skating 184
Snowboarding 184
Surfs up! 185
Sport and competition in Britain 186
Baseball 187
Customs and Traditions
Traditions and customs in Britain 188
Time for tea 188
British character 189
Halloween 190
April Fool's Day 190
Holidays in the USA 191
Happy birthday, America 193
Columbus Day 194
300 QUESTIONS