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Белгородский инженерно-экономический институт



ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ АГЕНТСТВО ПО ОБРАЗОВАНИЮ

Белгородский государственный технологический университет

Им. В.Г. Шухова

Белгородский инженерно-экономический институт

 

С.И. ГАРАГУЛЯ

LET’S SPEAK ENGLISH

 

БУДЕМ ГОВОРИТЬ ПО-АНГЛИЙСКИ

Учебное пособие

По разговорному английскому языку

Белгород 2005


ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ АГЕНТСТВО ПО ОБРАЗОВАНИЮ

 

Белгородский государственный технологический университет

им. В.Г. Шухова

 

Белгородский инженерно-экономический институт

 

 

С.И. ГАРАГУЛЯ

 

LET’S SPEAK ENGLISH

 

БУДЕМ ГОВОРИТЬ ПО-АНГЛИЙСКИ

 

Утверждено советом университета в качестве учебного пособия             для студентов всех специальностей, изучающих английский язык

 

 

3-е издание, стереотипное

 

Белгород 2005


 

УДК 802.0

ББК 81.2 Англ

   Г  20

 

  Р е ц е н з е н т ы:

     Кандидат филологических наук, доцент Белгородского

    государственного технологического университета

    Т.В. Беседина

 

Кандидат педагогических наук, доцент Белгородского юридического института

Н.В. Агопова

 



Гарагуля С.И.

    Г  20    Let’s Speak English. Будем говорить по-английски: Учебное пособие по разговорному английскому языку. – 3-е изд., стер. – Белгород: Изд-во БИЭИ, 2005. –  188 с.

 

В данной книге представлены тексты и диалоги на английском языке по наиболее употребительным темам, предлагаемым студентам. Цель пособия – помочь изучающим английский язык овладеть разговорной речью по определенной тематике. Текстовый материал и диалоги сопровождаются упражнениями, направленными на развитие у студентов навыков и умений читать и вести беседу в пределах предложенных тем, а также понимать устную речь на слух.

Учебное пособие предназначено для студентов всех специальностей неязыковых вузов.

 

Библиогр.: 14 назв.

 

        УДК 802.0

ББК 81.2. Англ

 

Ó Белгородский инженерно-

                                                                               экономический институт

                                                                                (БИЭИ), 2005


 

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ

    Настоящее учебное пособие предназначено для студентов неязыковых вузов, продолжающих изучать английский язык, цель которого – развитие у студентов навыков и умений читать и вести беседу или делать несложные сообщения в пределах предложенных тем, а также понимать устную речь на слух с помощью технических средств обучения, так как профессиональная деятельность выпускников технических вузов предусматривает владение английским языком не только в узкой специальной сфере, но и в повседневной жизни. Учебное пособие состоит из 12 уроков-тем (Units), каждый из которых делится на три раздела: Reading and Discussion, Speaking, Listening, а также содержит часть Tapescripts.

    Раздел Reading and Discussion (Чтение и дискуссия) включает три текста по тематике урока. Текстовой материал и упражнения к ним подобраны так, что они способствуют развитию навыков монологической речи – умению констатировать факт или высказать мнение, сделать короткое сообщение или обобщение.

    Раздел Speaking (Устная речь) состоит из трех диалогов, объединенных общей темой данного урока, которые знакомят студентов с разговорным стилем современного английского языка. Задания, составленные к диалогам, построены по принципам моделирования различных жизненных ситуаций, в которых могут находиться студенты, они также способствуют развитию умения давать на них быструю и соответствующую речевую реакцию.

В разделе Listening (Аудирование) представлены два текста, которые могут быть прочитаны преподавателем, либо звучать в записи. Контроль понимания осуществляется с помощью вопросно-ответных упражнений, либо путем заполнения таблиц.

В конце учебного пособия дан раздел Tapescripts, в котором приводятся тексты, записанные на магнитную ленту. К этой части учебника студенты обращаются на заключительном этапе работы над разделом Listening, что позволяет им проверить правильность понимания текста, а также выявить непонятные фрагменты, выписав незнакомые слова.

Материалы книги были проверены на практике. В течение ряда лет они использовались для обучения студентов в Белгородском государственном технологическом университете. Есть основание полагать, что их также можно использовать и в других неязыковых вузах.




UNIT 1

 

STUDENT LIFE

READING AND DISCUSSION

TEXT 1A

MY STUDIES

 

My name is Boris Klimov. I am a first-year student of the Civil Engineering Department at the Belgorod Shukhov State Technological University. I had to take entrance examinations in Mathematics, Physics and Russian in order to be accepted to the University. I entered the University in 2003. I am a full-time student, that is I attend classes, lectures and seminars in the daytime, whereas the University accepts a lot of young people for a correspondence course.

2. The University has a five-year course of study. The academic year begins in September and ends in June. There are two terms in it. So students take end-of-term tests and examinations twice a year, that is in January and June. If a student passes them successfully, he is granted a monthly scholarship.

3. We have two vacations a year - winter and summer ones. The winter vacation is quite short, it lasts only two weeks, the summer one is longer, and it lasts a month.

4. We go to the University on week-days. We have no classes on Sunday. At the University, classes begin at 8.15 in the morning and are over at 3.55 in the afternoon. During the first two years, students are taught different subjects of general nature. My favourite ones are Mathematics, Descriptive Geometry and English. From the third year onwards, students take some special subjects of their chosen profession.

5. Every day we usually have three or four classes, lectures and seminars. During a long forty-five minute break students go to dining rooms, snack bars or a canteen to have their midday meal.

6. I go to the University library after my classes. I am in the habit of doing my homework there. But a lot of my fellow-students prefer doing it at home.

7. I live with my parents. I have to take a trolley-bus or a bus to get to the University. It usually takes me twenty minutes to reach it. Those studying away from home are given accommodation in the University hostel. It is situated near the University and students walk there.

8. I am a diligent student. I don’t miss any classes or lectures and always do my best to prepare properly for them.

Pronounce correctly.

accommodation [э,komэ‘dei∫n] canteen [kæn’ti:n] correspondence [korэs’pondэns] course [ko:s] department [di’pa:tmэnt] descriptive [di’skriptiv] diligent [ ‘dilid эnt] dining [‘dainiŋ] engineering [,endζi’niэriŋ] entrance [‘entrэns] examination [ig,zaemi’nei∫n] favourite [‘fevrэt] geometry [d  i’omэtri]      lecture [‘lekt∫э]   mathematics [,mæθэ‘mætiks] minute [‘minit] onwards [‘onwэdz] parents [‘peэrэnts] physics [‘fiziks] prefer [pri’fэ:] scholarship [‘skolэ∫ip] seminar [‘semina:] special [spe∫l] successfully [sэk’sesfuli] taught [to:t] technological [,teknэ‘lod  ikl] university [,ju:ni’vэ:sэti] walk [wo:k]

 

 

2. Express in one word the meaning of each of the following phrases. All    the words required are in the Text. You are given the first letter of each word and the number of letters in it.

 

1. a lodging-house for students                                  - (h_ _ _ _ _)

2. to take or receive smth. offered or given               - (a_ _ _ _ _)

3. to become a member of; to join                             - (e_ _ _ _)

4. studying for the normal number of hours or days  - (f_ _ _ - t _ _ _)

5. to be present at; go to                                                               - (a_ _ _ _ _)                                                         6. to finish an educational course                                               - (g_ _ _ _ _ _ _)

7. one of the periods of time into which                                      - (t_ _ _)

the univer­sity year is divided

8. a sum of money given to a student by an official body        - (s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)

to support him during his/her studies

9. a period of holiday                                                                       - (v_ _ _ _ _ _ _)_                                           10. one of the several divisions of a university                              - (d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)

11. to like better                                                                             - (p_ _ _ _ _ )

12. a public eating place                                                                 - (s_ _ _ _ - b_ _ )

13. a student of the same group, faculty, etc.                              - (f_ _ _ _ _ - s_ _ _ _ _ )

14. to continue for a period of time                                            - (l_ _ _ )

15. a place to live; room; flat; house                                          - (a_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ )

16. hardworking; showing steady effort                                     - (d_ _ _ _ _ _ _ )

MY WORKING DAY

 

  1. I get up at seven o’clock. I open the window and do my morning exercises. Then I go to the bathroom to wash and clean my teeth. At half past seven, I have my breakfast. My mother gets breakfast ready for the whole family. It takes me about ten minutes to have breakfast. Then I put all my textbooks and copybooks into my bag. I put on my coat and cap when it is cold and leave home for the University. I take a bus in order to get to the University. It takes me about 40 minutes to get there from my home.

    2. At the University I take off my cap and coat and leave them in the cloak-room. Then I go to the time-table to see in what classroom we shall have our first class. I go to the classroom and prepare everything for the class. At 8.15 the bell rings, the teacher comes in and the class begins. Each class lasts for an hour and a half broken up by a five-minute break. After each class, we have a 10-minute break. During this break, we can have a smoke, talk about our student life or sport news. After the third class, we have an hour lunch break during which we can go to the canteen or to the snack-bar to eat and drink something. We have three or four classes a day. At 3.55 p.m., the classes are over. Sometimes I can go home after my classes but I usually have to stay at the University. I have either to go to the library or to work at a laboratory. We very often have to listen to the tape-recorder at the language laboratory and do some exercises in English. When I stay at the University, I have lunch at the canteen. If I go home after my classes, I have lunch at home.

    3. When I come home, I have a short rest and then I begin preparing my homework. I usually have to prepare my homework. Sometimes my friend Mike comes to see me and we do our homework together. It takes us about two or three hours to prepare it. After this we go for a walk or play chess. If an interesting programme is on, we watch TV. Then we have dinner and after this Mike goes home. At midnight I go to bed.  

      

The Belgorod SHUKHOV State

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

 

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 2A

THE UNIVERSITY I GO TO

1. The Belgorod Shukhov State Technological University was founded in 1970 and since that time, it has grown into a big higher educational institution.

2. There are seven faculties at the University. They are the Faculty of Silicate and Composite Materials, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the Faculty of Architecture and Technology of Building Materials, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the Faculty of Economics and Management, the Faculty of Industrial Automation and Information Technologies and the Faculty of the Correspondence Course. The University has about 50 departments.

3. About 5,000 students go to the University. About 60 professors, 250 assistant professors and a lot of lecturers work at it. The Belgorod State Technological University trains highly-skilled specialists for the industry of building materials: mechanical engineers, chemists, economists, civil engineers, architects, computer engineers and others. There are a lot of laboratories at the University. They are fitted with modern equipment and instruments to provide a high level of training. They are of great help to students. Here students carry out their experiments and do research work.

4. There is also a good library at the students' disposal where they can borrow text-books, manuals and literature on the subjects they are interested in, and a few reading rooms at the University.

5. Almost all the students go in for different kinds of sports. They do them in a few large well-equipped gyms.

6. A period of study at the University lasts five years. The academic year begins in September. It lasts ten months and ends in June. According to the University curriculum the 5-year period is divided into: 1) two years of general study when students are taught different subjects of general nature, for example, Strength of Materials, Theoretical Mechanics, History of Russia, Foreign Languages, Descriptive Geometry and some others; and 2) three years of professional training when students learn special subjects, quite necessary for their future profession. There are two terms in the course of the academic year. Therefore, students take oral tests and examinations twice a year. If they pass them successfully, they are granted monthly scholarships. During the terms, students have to attend lectures and seminars, carry out laboratory tests and do practical work. At the end of the period of study, a student writes and gets ready a graduation paper and then defends it in the presence of the examiners' body. Soon the defence is over and the former student becomes an engineer with a University diploma.

7. A post-graduate course was organised at the University in 1973. At present about 150 post-graduate students take it.

8. Every year a lot of young engineers graduate from the University. They work at plants, factories, research institutes, design offices, carry out research work, create new types of materials, and work out new methods of production processes. The industry of building materials needs such experts and always gladly receives them.

9. The Belgorod Shukhov State Technological University is young but it has great prospects.

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.

 architect [‘a:kitэkt]  chemical [‘kemikl]  course [kо:s]  curriculum [kэ‘rikjulэm]  disposal [dis’pэuzl]  economics [,i:kэ‘nоmiks]  educational [,edju’kei∫эnl]  engineering [,endζi’niэriŋ]  equipment [I’kwipmэnt]  experiment [ik’sperimэnt]  faculty [‘fæklti]  gym [dζim]  higher [‘haiэ]  industry [‘indэstri] institution [,insti’tju∫n] laboratory [lэ‘bоrэtэri] lecturer [‘lekt∫эrэ] manual [‘mænjuэl] manufacturing [,mænju’fækt∫эriŋ] mechanical [mi’kænikl]] mechanics [mi’kæniks] organize [‘о:gэnaiz] period [‘piэriэd] quite [kwait] receive [ri’si:v] research [ri’sэ:t∫] specialist [‘spe∫list] technology [tek’nоlэdζi]

My UNIVERSITY

 

1. There are a lot of students at the Belgorod State Technological University. Unlike school most of the work at the University is not done in class but must be done in the library or in laboratories.

    2. Among the students there are young men and girls from different villages, towns and cities of Russia. Every morning the students enter the classrooms of the University.

    3. Now we are in one of the classrooms. It is a large sunny room. There is a door to the right and four windows to the left. There are some tables and a lot of  chairs. In front of the blackboard, there is a table and a chair for the teacher.

    4. Some of the students are at their tables. All the students have textbooks on their tables as they will have an English class. At 8.15, the door opens and the teacher comes in. The class begins. Nobody is late. All the students attend classes regularly.

5. As the students have to do a lot of drawing they do it in special drawing-rooms equipped with drawing boards.

    6. In the language laboratory the students work with equipment. They put on ear-phones, listen to tape-recorders and try to imitate the correct pronunciation of English words. They also try to imitate correct intonation.

    7. Besides studying in class students have much homework, which they must prepare at home. Some students prefer preparing homework in the reading-room of the University. They can get all the necessary textbooks there. If they need any consultation, their teachers answer their questions.

    8. After their working day is over the students train in many different sports clubs.

    9. At the end of each term students must pass end-of-term tests before they can take exams. Those students, who study regularly, pass their exams very well, but those who spend little time on their studies often fail at the exams.       

SPEAKING

 

DIALOGUE 1

Meeting a friend

 

Peter: Hello, Nick.

Nick: Hello, Peter. Haven’t seen you for ages.

Peter: What are you doing here? Are you a student of this University?

Nick: Oh, yes. I’ve finished the eleventh form this year and decided to enter the University to acquire a civil engineering course degree.

Peter: Glad to hear that. As you know, I’m a third-year student of this University.

Nick: What course degree will you acquire?

Peter: I study at the faculty of Economics and Management. In two years, I’m going to become an economist. I like my future profession very much.

Nick: And I chose a course degree of civil engineering. I hope I’ll graduate from the Academy in five years and become a qualified civil engineer.

Peter: Do you stay in a hostel? I’ve not seen you there.

Nick: No, I live with my parents. Come to see me at my place some time.

Peter: Thank you. I’ll come. Good-bye.

Nick: Good-bye.

 

LISTENING

 

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 3A

 Russia

 

1. The vast territory of the Russian Federation lies in the eastern part of Europe and in the Northern part of Asia. It is one of the largest countries in the world. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometers.

2. Russia is washed by twelve seas and three oceans. The oceans are: the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific. The northern and eastern coasts of Russia are washed by the White Sea, the Barents Sea and the Okhotsk Sea.

3. There are various types of climate on the territory of Russia. It is very cold in the North even in summer. The central part of the country has mild climate. In the South the temperature is usually above zero all year round even in winter, the climate is very favourable.    

4. The land of Russia varies a lot from thick forests to barren deserts, from high peaked mountains to deep valleys. Russia is located on two plains: the Great Russian plain and the West Siberian plain. The Urals, the longest mountain chain, separates Europe from Asia.

5. Russia is a land of long rivers and deep lakes. The broad Volga river system is of great historic, economic and cultural importance to Russia. Numerous canals join all the rivers in the European part of Russia, making it the 1argest inland water transportation route in Europe. The Volga River runs into the Caspian Sea, which is in reality, the largest lake in the world. The Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.

6. Russia is rich in natural resources. It has deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, nickel, etc.

7. Russia borders on fourteen countries, including the former republics of the USSR, which are now independent states.

8. Russia has all modern branches of industry. It is a foremost producer of cement, metal-cutting machines, timber, woollen cloth, sugar and butter. It takes one of the leading places in Europe in industrial output and electric energy production.

9. The population of Russia is about 150 million people. 83 per cent of the population is Russians. 70 per cent of the population lives in cities.

10. Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation. It was founded in 1147. It is a nice city. There are a lot of places of interest in Moscow. You can see a lot of museums, art galleries, theatres and monuments in our capital. There are also other big beautiful cities in Russia, such as St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and others.

11. The history of Russia dates back to the year 862. Now Russia is a Presidential Republic. The Russian Federative Republic is set up by the Constitution of 1993. The Federal Government consists of three branches: the legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President.

12. The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers. The Upper Chamber is the Council of Federation. The Lower Chamber is the State Duma. Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. Legislature may be initiated in either of the two chambers. However, to become a law a bill must be approved by both chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill.

13. The President is Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he makes treaties, enforces laws, and appoints ministers to be approved by the Federal Assembly.

14. The executive power belongs to the Government, which is headed by the Prime Minister. The first action by the Prime Minister on appointment is to form the Cabinet. The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and regional courts. The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by the popular vote for a four-year period.

15. Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolises the earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one symbolises liberty. A new national emblem is a two-headed eagle. It is the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of the Ruricovitchies.

16. Russia has always played an important role in the word. It is one of its leading powers.

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.

approve [ ‘pru:v] ocean [‘эu∫n]
Arctic [‘a:ktik] originate [э‘ridζineit]
Asia [‘ei∫э] Pacific [pэ‘sifik]
chamber [‘t∫eimbэ] per cent [pэ‘sent]
climate [‘klaimэt] route [ru:t]
cultural [kΛlt∫rэl] Siberian [sai’biэriэn]
either [‘aiðэ] stripe [straip]
Europe [‘juэrэp] supreme [sju’pri:m]
executive [ig’zekjutiv] symbolize [‘simbэlaiz]
foremost [‘fо:mэust] territory [‘terэtэri]
initiate [I’ni∫iэit] Urals [‘juэrэlz]
judicial [d udi∫l] various [‘v эriэs]
legislative [‘ledζislэtiv] vary [‘v эri]
natural [‘næt∫rэl] veto [‘vi:tэu]
numerous [‘nju:mэrэs] zero [‘ziэrэu]

 

 

Some cities of Russia

 

1. St. Petersburg lies on the same parallel as Alaska and the southern part of Greenland. However, its climate due to the warm Gulfstream is milder. The winters are warmer than in Moscow, it becomes dark early during the short winter days but in early summer the white nights last for weeks.

2. Founded it 1703 by Peter the Great St. Petersburg was Russia’s capital until 1918.

3. The second largest city in Russia St. Petersburg has above 5 million people. Now St. Petersburg is one of Russia’s most important cultural centers. It has more than 40 institutions of higher education and a large number of research institutes. There are a lot of museums in St. Petersburg including the world-famous Hermitage with its 323 halls. Many of the former palaces are now museums.

4. Novosibirsk is situated on the Ob. Novosibirsk is a relatively young city. Today it has a population of about 1.5 million and is one of the largest industrial centers of Russia.

5. The most interesting feature of Novosibirsk’s cultural development is the appearance of the Siberian branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation. A new scientific center was built in a pinewood near the Ob Storage Lake formed by the Novosibirsk hydropower station. A lot of famous scientists came from all over the country to work here.

6. Volgograd stands near the Volga-Don Canal. There the left bank of the river is higher and from the deck of a ship people get a magnificent view of the 70-kilometer-long city. A bitter battle was fought here in 1942-43. It was history’s greatest battle, fighting continued for six and a half months, at the walls of the hero city, in its streets and squares.

7. This battle which ended in February 1943 with encirclement and destruction of a huge nazi army showed people patriotism, courage and heroism and was the turning point in the Great Patriotic War.

8. Industrial development of this city began long before the World War II. Many heavy industries that turned the city into one of the most important industrial centers of Russia were built during the prewar five-year plan periods.

9. Nazis turned the city into heaps of brick and metal. Today it is a city of beautiful buildings, busy streets and large parks.

       

Siberia

 

1. Siberia is extremely rich. 75 per cent of coal deposits in this country, up to 80 per cent of its hydropower resources and 80 per cent of its timber reserves, the biggest deposits of non-ferrous and precious metals, huge resources of iron ore, building materials, etc. are concentrated here. The difficulty is to find easy and cheap ways of extracting coal, ores and other minerals. This can be done by the common effort of big scientific establishments. Oil was first discovered in Western Siberia in 1960. Extraction began in 1964. In 1971, Siberian oil workers obtained approximately 45 million tons, and in 1972, the yield exceeded 60 million tons. A major oil-producing centre has been set up in a short period under very difficult natural and climatic conditions. 

2. Siberia, which used to be a place of exile in tsarist times, now has scores of modern cities. There are a lot of educational establishments, research institutes, modern plants and factories there. These modern plants and factories, whether already in operation or still under construction express the gigantic scale of everything in Siberia. All the technology is based firmly on the latest achievements of science.

3. The rivers of Russian Siberia are an impressive symbol of its inexhaustible strength and might. The Angara alone has a greater power-engineering potential than all the power stations in France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Holland and Spain put together. The Bratsk Hydro-Power Station is one of the biggest in the world.

4. Siberia is not only a highly-industrialized region. It is a major granary. The climate in some regions of Siberia is very warm and humid and never affected by severe drought. Good harvests are usual. Lake Baikal in Siberia is a huge depository of fresh water. Siberia is a major economic area in the country.

 

SPEAKING

 

DIALOGUE 1

On the Isle of Kizhi

 

Guide: This church is an excellent example of Russian wooden architecture. It was built at the turn of the seventeenth century and is made of wood. It was built with an axe alone, no other tools were used by the craftsman, and the wooden parts were joined without any nails.

Tourists: Fantastic! Unbelievable! Incredible!

Tourist A: It’s the most beautiful wooden church I’ve ever seen! Who was it designed by?

Guide: It was designed and built by one and the same man. There’s a legend about him. Would you like to listen to it?

Tourists: Yes, yes, of course!

Guide: Well, the legend says that after finishing his work he looked at the church and thought: “I’ll never be able to build anything better than this, even if it takes me a lifetime!” So he threw his axe into the lake and left the island for good!

 

St. Petersburg

A.: May I ask you some questions about St. Petersburg?

B.: Certainly.

A.: When was it founded?

B.: It was founded in 1703 by Peter the First.

A.: Was St. Petersburg the original name of the city?

B.: Yes, it was originally called St. Petersburg, then it was called Petrograd, and later Leningrad.

A.: And when was it renamed Leningrad?

B.: It was renamed Leningrad after V.I. Lenin’s death in 1924. And now the city has its original name.

A.: Are there many places of interest in St. Petersburg?

B.: Oh, the whole city is a wonderful museum in itself because many famous architects took part in the creation of St. Petersburg.

A.: Name the most beautiful places of the city, please.

B.: With pleasure. They are the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, the Rostral Columns, the Bronze Horseman, Palace Square, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral and many others.

A.: What is the Bronze Horseman famous for?

B.: It is famous because it is the statue of the city’s founder, Peter the First. Pushkin wrote about this statue in his famous poem “Bronze Horseman”.

A.: Thank you very much.

B.: Not at all. I like St. Petersburg very much and it is real pleasure to speak about it.

 

LISTENING

 

Exercises

 

1. Pronounce correctly.

architecture Baltic cultural engineering major modernize nowadays   ['a:kitekòэ] ['bоltik] [ 'kΛltòrэl] [,endζi'niэriŋ] ['meidζэ] [ 'mоdэnaiz] ['nauэdeiz]   record research science scientific stadium technical university   ['rekо:d] [ ri'sэ:tò] [ 'saiэns] [ ,saiэn'tifik] ['steidiэm] [ 'teknikl] [, ju:ni'vэ:sэti]  

2. Express in one word the meaning of each of the following phrases. All the words required are in the Text. You are given the first letter of each word and the number of letters in it.

1. a town where the centre of the government is                             - (c _ _ _ _ _ _)

2. a written statement of facts, events, etc.                         - (r_ _ _ _ _)

3. at the present time                                                                   - (n_ _ _ _ _ _ _)

4. the (number of) people living in an area, etc.                     - (p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)

5. a factory                                                                            - (p_ _ _ _)

6. a large motor vehicle for carrying heavy goods                    - (l_ _ _ _)

7. a place where something is carried on                                    - (s_ _ _)

8. a subject of knowledge                                                           - (b_ _ _ _ _)

9. an advanced and detailed study of a subject, so as                - (r_ _ _ _ _ _ _)

to learn new facts

10. different                                                                                     - (v_ _ _ _ _ _)

11. in or of times long ago                                                           - (a_ _ _ _ _ _)

12. a tall building standing alone or forming part of                - (t_ _ _ _)

a castle, church, etc

13. a chief church in a diocese (епархия)                                   - (c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)

14. suited to one's needs                                                               - (c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)

15. a person who is present when something happens                 - (w_ _ _ _ _ _)

16. something worth seeing                                                         - (s_ _ _ _ _)

 

Moscow Places of Interest

1. Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation. It attracts tourists from all over the world.

2. Moscow is known for its beautiful old cathedrals, churches and monasteries. Some of them date from the 15th to the17th centuries. Before the revolution of 1917 Moscow had 350 churches, but many of them were destroyed after the revolution.

3. Moscow is also noted for its art museums. The most popular of them are the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique collection of Russian painters. Almost all famous Russian paintings are represented there.

4. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts contains a vast collection of antiquities and a well-known collection of modern foreign painters including Impressionists.

5. The oldest part of Moscow is the Kremlin. This is the main tourist attraction in Moscow. The Kremlin stands at the heart of the city. The word “Kremlin” means fortress, and the Moscow Kremlin used to be a fortress. In 1156 a small settlement in Moscow was surrounded with a wooden wall, and became a Kremlin. The town and the Kremlin were burnt in 1237 and 1293 during the Tatar invasion, but they were rebuilt. In 1367 Prince Dmitry Donskoy built a white-stone wall around the Kremlin. In the 15th century, by order of Tsar Ivan III the Kremlin was surrounded with a new red-brick wall.

6. Twenty towers of the Kremlin wall were constructed in the end of the 17th century. By that time Moscow had already ceased to be a fortress. The towers were built for decoration and had no military significance. Five of the towers were gates. The Tainitskaya Tower had a secret passage to the Moskva River. The Spasskaya Tower is a symbol of Russia and Moscow. It has a famous clock; one can hear its chimes on the radio. The clock which we can see today was installed in the middle of the 19th-century.

7. The buildings inside the Kremlin wall were built between the 15th and 17th centuries. There is the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great (16 c.), and a famous group of churches. The Uspensky Cathedral is the largest one. It was built in 1479; there Russian tsars and imperators were crowned. In the Archangel Cathedral one can see tombs of Moscow princes and tsars. Among them are the tombs of Ivan the Terrible, his sons Ivan and Tsar Fyodor. Blagoveshensky Cathedral was built in 1484. It is noted for its frescoes by Andrei Rublyov and his pupils.

8. Granovitaya Palata is another masterpiece inside the Kremlin wall. Moscow tsars held magnificent receptions in honour of foreign ambassadors there. The Tsar Cannon (16 c.) and the Tsar Bell attract crowds of tourists, too.

9. Outside the Kremlin wall there is the famous Red Square. Tourists can look at the magnificent Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, the Lenin Mausoleum and the monument to K.Minin and D.Pozharsky.

Doing the sights of Moscow

 

A.: Well, it seems we’ve got a chance of doing the sights of Moscow.

B.: I suggest we start with Red Square.

A.: Who will be our guide?

B.: If you like I can show you round the Square.

A.: Splendid! Red Square, the Kremlin… these words symbolize Russia for millions of people both in this country and abroad.

B.: That’s right. For centuries, the Kremlin has remained the center of the country’s life.

A.: It has a long history. As far as I know it used to be a fortress, a residence of the tsars. Who was the founder of Moscow?

B.: As far as I remember the chroniclers first mention Prince Yuri Dolgoruky as the founder in 1147. Take a look at the Spassky Tower!

A.: The melodious chimes of the clock-tower are well-known all over the world.

B.: The Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral are really unique creations. Masterpieces of Russian architecture!

A.: Majestic sights! If only their stones could speak.

B.: Let’s go to “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

(They look at the eternal flame of the memorial.)

B.: Peace and quiet, a lot of flowers!

A.: I should write an article about today’s excursion. It has moved me deeply and made me see a lot of things differently. Noble aims, life and death for the sake of people, memory, gratitude, eternal values – that’s what I’m thinking of now. People should keep up the traditions of their nation.

B.: Next time we’ll see other historic places of Moscow. There are a lot of palaces, old mansions, monuments associated with the history of this country. However, it requires a special tour.

A.: Oh, yes, we do understand. Moscow like Rome wasn’t built in a day and it can’t be seen in a day, can it?

 

Seeing Moscow

 

A.: How long are you going to stay here after the congress, Mr. Fennell?

B.: A week or so, I think. Is it possible to see anything of Moscow in a week?

A.: Well, yes, but of course not much.

B.: What do you think I should see first?

A.: Well, if you are interested in historical places, you should go to the Kremlin first. It would be a good idea to go to Ostankino or Kuskovo, too.

B.: That would be fine, but I’d like to leave some time for art galleries, too.

A.: We could go to the Tretyakov Gallery tomorrow, there’s a marvelous collection of Russian artists here, and the day after tomorrow we could see the Museum of Fine Arts.

B.: Wonderful! I feel most grateful to you. When will I see you tomorrow, then?

A.: Tomorrow’s Saturday. What about ten in the morning?

B.: Right. See you!

A.: Till tomorrow!

 

19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.

 

20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.

 

A.: Is there anything worth seeing in Moscow?

B.: … .

A.: What would you recommend me to see first?

B.: … .

A.: I’d like to begin with the latter.

B.: … .             

A.: When is it open to the public?

B.: … .

 

DIALOGUE 3

Driving to Ostankino

Victor Lavrov is taking Alan Landon, his American counterpart, round Moscow. They are driving to Ostankino.

 

A.: I can recognize this monument. It’s a statue to Pushkin, isn’t it?

V.: Quite right. It’s my favorite Moscow monument.

A.: And that building on the left … What a fine piece of architecture!

V.: It used to be called “The English Club” before the Revolution. I’m sorry I don’t remember the architect’s name. It’s such a pity I’m not a professional guide.

A.: That’s all right! I don’t much like sightseeing with professional guides. You’re doing well enough for me.

V.: Oh, thanks, then I’ll go on. Soon you’ll see the clock on the Puppet Theatre. At exactly twelve all doors in the clock open, and figures of animals come out and dance. It’s worth seeing. A lot of people come to watch.

A.: I’d like to see one of their plays if I manage to leave some time for theatres. Our programme’s going to be very crowded, isn’t it?

V.: Oh, not as crowded as all that! We can go on Saturday evening.

 

21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.

 

22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.

 

1. You are taking your friend to one of the places of interest in Moscow connected with the history of Russia.

2. You are a guide of Red Square.

 

LISTENING

 

Belgorod

 

1. Belgorod is an old and beautiful city. Its history is bound up with the history of Russia. The first mention of Belgorod can be found in the Russian chronicles dated back to the 16th century. It was founded in 1596. Since that time, it has become larger and larger.

2. During the Great Patriotic War fascist invaders burned, blasted and bombed it using the powerful artillery. The Kursk Bulge Memorial situated not far from Belgorod is devoted to the heroic defence of the city during the war. After the war, Belgorod has risen from under the heaps of ruins and now it is young and beautiful.

3. Belgorod is an important industrial and cultural centre of Russia. At present, its population is about 400,000 people. It is the centre of the Belgorod region.

4. Belgorod is a very green city. Everybody likes its abundance of trees and flowers in avenues, public gardens and parks, just in streets near residential blocks of flats. There are a lot of places of interest in Belgorod, such as Revolution Square, the Kursk Bulge Diorama, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Local Lore, the Lenin Park, the monument to M. Schepkin, beautiful churches and others.

5. Today Belgorod is a large industrial city of Russia. There are a lot of plants and factories in it. The trademarks of Belgorod can be seen on machine tools, boilers, power equipment, radio receivers, cement, various metal structures, chemical products, medicines, canned food products and others.

6. Belgorod is also a city of science. It has a lot of research institutes and six higher educational institutions. The city has rich cultural traditions. There are a lot of cinemas, libraries, palaces of Culture and Sports in it. In the centre of Sobornaya Square there is Schepkin Drama Theatre which is very popular with theatre-goers. Children like to go to the Puppet-Show Theatre. Many writers, poets, artists, scientists, engineers and doctors live and work here.

7. The city of Belgorod honours its past and is full of creative effort and vitality. We are proud of it.

 

Pronounce correctly.

artillery       [a:'tilэri]                            medicine         ['medsn]                                    

avenue        ['ævэnju:]                          memorial        [mэ'mоriэl]                                                                       

bulge          [bΛldζ]                              popular           ['pоpjulэ]                                                                        

chronicle     ['kronikl]                           power              ['pauэ]                                                             

creative       [kri'eitiv]                           puppet             [p'Λpit]                                                             

cultural       ['kΛlt∫эrэl]                         residential       [,rezi'den∫l]                                 

fascist         ['fæ∫ist ]                                 scientist           ['saiэntist]                                   

heroic          [hi'rэuik]                           structure          ['strΛktэ]

 

industrial    [in'dΛstriэl]                      various         ['veэriэs]                            

machine-tool      [mэ'∫i:ntu:l]                   vitality        [vai'tælэti]

 

SPEAKING

 

DIALOGUE 1

Talking of the home town

 

Mary: Where are you from, Peter?

Peter: From Kazan. What about you, Mary?

Mary: I’m from Ekaterinburg, the capital of the Urals region.

Peter: Oh, I do remember now, I heard you sing a song about the Urals at the student concert. You are very fond of your native town, aren’t you?                                                                                                                                                                                   Mary: Yes, I am. I adore it. I am always dreaming of going back to my native lands. Very often I am home-sick.

Peter: When did you last visit your parents?

Mary: A year ago. But I often write to them. My mother and father are missing me terribly, and so am I.

Peter: Would like you to tell me something about Ekaterinburg?

Mary: With pleasure, but not at this moment. Now I am in hurry. Tonight I’m going to Helen’s birthday party.

Peter: Well, I send her my best regards and wish her many happy returns of the day. Excuse my detaining you. Hope to see you tomorrow.

Mary: So long, Peter. Drop in tomorrow evening if you have time.

 

17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.

 

18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as model.

 

Situations: You meet your groupmate and talk about:

                    a) your native town;

                    b) some places of interest of your native town;

                    c) the letter you received from a friend of yours who lives in                                                

                        your native town.

 

DIALOGUE 2

LISTENING

 

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 6A

 THE SYSTEM OF Higher education in Russia

 

Citizens of Russia have the right to education, which is guaranteed by the Constitution and ensured by the broad development of secondary education, vocational, specialized secondary and higher education, by the development of correspondence and evening courses, by the provision of state scholarships and privileges for students.

2. In Russia there is a nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a higher educational institution one has to study two years more.

3. After finishing secondary school, lyceum or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Entrance examinations are held in July and August. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Vice-rectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. Higher educational institutions train students in one or several specializations. Faculties are headed by Deans. There are departments within faculties. The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of the autonomy of higher educational institutions, expansion of academic freedoms of faculties and students, development of a new financial mechanism. All Russian schools until recently have been state-subsidised.

4. In the terms of the ratio of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world.

5. The Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. On the one hand, an educated person contributes more to the society and, on the other hand, education gives a person the prospect for professional advance. The citizens of Russia show a great concern for education for themselves and their children.

6. Institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, teachers' training colleges, universities and academies which offer master's and doctoral degree programmes.

7. The faculties have specialized councils for conferring advanced academic degrees. 

Exercises

 

Pronounce correctly.

broad [brо:d]         competitive [kэm'petэtiv] compulsory [kэm'plsэri] contribute [kэn'tribju:t] council ['kaunsl] decentralization [di:,sentrэlai'zei∫n] financial [fai'næn∫эl] guarantee ['gærэnti] institution [,insti'tju:∫n]      mechanism ['mekэnizm] provision [prэ'viζn] ratio ['rei∫iэu] social ['sэul] specialization [ ,spe∫эlai'zei∫n] subsidize ['sΛbsidaiz] through [оru:] transitional [træn'zi∫nl] vocational [vэu'kei∫nэl]  

Education in Russia

 1. Every citizen of this country has the right to education. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not only a right but a duty, too. Every boy or girl must get secondary education. They go to school at the age of the six or seven and must stay there until they are 14-17 years old. At school, pupils study academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, a foreign language and others.

 2. After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the10th and 11th form. They can also go to a vocational or technical school, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession. A college gives general knowledge in academic subjects and a profound knowledge in one or several subjects.

3. After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school or college, young people can start working or enter a university or an academy. Universities and academies train specialists in different fields. A course at a university usually takes 5 years. Many universities and academes have part-time and correspondence departments. They give their students an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. Universities and academies have post-graduate courses, which give candidate or doctoral degrees.

 4. Education in this country is free at most school. There are private primary and secondary schools where pupils have to pay for their studies. Students of universities and academies get scholarships. At many universities and academies there are also departments at which students have to pay for their education.

 

TEXT 6C

SPEAKING

 

DIALOGUE 1

DIALOGUE 2

TALKING OF STUDIES

(Two friends, Ivan and Paul, meet each other in the reading room of the library. It’s been ages since they saw each other. Both of them served in the Russian Army, returned to their former work and became students. Ivan is a part-time student and Paul is a correspondence student.)

Ivan: Hallo, Paul, old chap! Haven’t seen you for ages. How are you getting on?

Paul: I’m very glad to see you again! Everything is O.K. Well, Ivan, I suggest we should go somewhere and have a drink.

Ivan: No objections. But first tell me, old man, what are you doing here? You look so anxious as though you are solving a very serious problem.

Paul: Right you are, Ivan. I’m a correspondence student of the Academy. They send me a lot of written assignments and demand that everything should be done on time. I’m busy like hell, you know…

Ivan: So am I! The difference is that you don’t have to attend classes three times a week. You can manage your time more freely than me, a poor part-time student.

Paul: There are pros and cons in every situation. As for me, I prefer the type of study I’ve chosen. Well, enough of that! Let’s go, old chap … .

DIALOGUE 3

End-of-term exams

 

Peter: How many exams did you take last term?

Boris: Four.

Peter: Did you pass all of them?

Boris: Certainly, but I didn’t do very well, unfortunately I got a sat in Physics. How about you?

Peter: I passed three exams and failed math.

Boris: But you were quite good at math. Why did you fail that exam?

Peter: I’m afraid I was loafing the second half of the term; that’s the reason.

Boris: Oh, I see. I hope you’ll manage to pass the exam in math very soon.

 

LISTENING

 

UNIT 7

 

Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated off the Northwest coast of Europe. The UK consists of four parts. They are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK lies on the British Isles. The two main islands are Great Britain and Ireland. They are separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. The west coast of the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, the east coast is washed by the North Sea. The population of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is nearly 60 million.

Geographically Great Britain is divided into Lowland Britain and Highland Britain. Lowland Britain comprises Southern and Eastern Britain. Highland Britain includes Scotland, Wales, the Pennines and the Lake District. The highest mountain, Ben Nevis, is in Scotland. The flora of the British Isles is much varied and the fauna is similar to that of the north-west of Europe.

Britain is not very rich in natural industrial resources. The main coal areas are the South Wales fields, the Lowlands of Scotland, the Yorkshire field and others. The deposits of iron ore are in the east of England and in the Middle-England plain.

The climate of Great Britain is mild. The Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the weather of the British Isles. Summers are cool and rainy. There is a lot of rain and fog in autumn and in winter.

The United Kingdom is one of the world's most industrialized countries. Big cities and towns such as London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and others have enterprises of nearly all branches of industry, old and new.

7. The biggest centers of iron and steel industry are situated in the
neighbourhood of coal basins. They are Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow and
Sheffield. Steam engines and electric motors, machine tools, derricks, textile
machinery, locomotives and automobiles are produced at the machine-building plants of Birmingham, Sheffield and London. The shipbuilding industry is of great importance for Britain. Many countries place orders for new ships with the British shipyards in Glasgow, Belfast and Newcastle. The most important branches of the textile industry are woolen and cotton industries. British woolen stuffs are widely known for their high quality. The main center of the cotton industry is Manchester. Britain imports cotton from America and other countries through the port of Liverpool. 




Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The powers of the British Queen are limited by Parliament. The British Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The main political parties of Great Britain are the Conservative and Labour Parties. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has always played an important role in world politics.

 

Notes:

1. English Channel [‘iŋgli∫’t∫ænl]     2. Highland Britain [‘hailэnd’britn] 3. Lowland Britain [‘lэulэnd’britn]   4. Lowlands of Scotland 5. Lake District [‘leik’distrikt]     6. The Pennines [‘penainz] 7. Strait of Dover [‘streitэv’dэuvэ] - Английский канал (принятое в Великобритании название пролива Ла-Манш) -гористая часть Великобритании - низменная часть        Великобритании - Шотландская низменность - Озерный край, Озерный округ (живописный район рек и озер на северо-западе Англии) - Пеннинские горы - Па-де-Кале (букв. Дуврский пролив)

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.

Atlantic Ocean [эt’læntik’эu∫n] Belfast [,bel’fa:st] Birmingham [‘bэ:miŋэm] monarchy [‘mоnэki] neighbourhood [‘neibэhud] Newcastle [‘nju:kasl]
British Isles [‘briti∫’ailz] Cardiff [‘ka:dif] England [‘iŋglэnd] Europe [‘juэrэp] Northern Ireland [‘nо:ðэn’aiэlэnd] Parliament [‘pa:lэmэnt] Scotland [‘skоtlэnd] Severn [‘sevn]
Glasgow [‘gla:zgэu] Great Britain [,greit’britn] Gulf Stream [‘gΛlf’stri:m] Irish Sea [‘airi∫’si:] Liverpool [‘livэpu:l Sheffield [‘∫efi:ld] Southern Britain [‘sΛðэn’britn] Sovereign [‘sоvrin] Thames [temz] United Kingdom [ju’naitid’kiŋdэm]
London [‘lΛndэn] Manchester [‘mænt∫istэ] Wales [weilz] Yorkshire [‘jо:k∫iэ]

An interview

 

Robert: Excuse me; are you the Russian students who’ve been visiting England?

Boris: Yes, that’s right!

Robert: I’m a reporter from the “Mirror”. I’d like you to tell me something about

your visit. Were you invited by the National Union of Students, the biggest

students’ organization of Great Britain?

Boris: Yes, we were.

Robert: How long have you been here?

Boris: Since last Monday.

Robert: And what have you seen during your visit?

Boris: Oh, we’ve been to so many places, I really don’t know where to begin. First, we visited Cambridge, then Oxford and Stratford- on-Avon – the town where Shakespeare was born.

Robert: It’s a pity you’ve had such bad weather.

Boris: Well, we expected rain when we came to England and we are sorry we had no fog.

Robert: You’ll have to come again one winter, if you want to see a real London fog. Well, what did you like best in England?

Boris: Oh, the Jodrell Bank telescope, one of the biggest radio-telescopes in the world. I am studying astronomy, you see.

Robert: Now, may I ask you what you disliked most?

Boris: But really, we enjoyed everything.

Robert: Nonsense! There must be something you don’t like. Apart from the weather, of course.

Boris: There was just one thing, you know. They woke us every morning at seven with a horribly strong cup of tea with milk.

Robert: I am glad it wasn’t anything worse.

Boris: The train will be leaving in a moment. I’m afraid we have to say good-buy.

 

17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.

Talking of the British

Stogov’s stay in London is coming to an end. Before leaving the country he visits Mr. Brown with whom he has been doing business.

 

Stogov: Well, Mr. Brown. I’ve come to say good-bye. This time on Monday I’ll be in Moscow.

Brown: I’m sure you’ll be glad to get back; I hope you are not disappointed with your stay here.

Stogov: On the contrary. I did enjoy it. On the whole, business went well.

Brown: Lots of people think that the British are cold and reserved. Many foreigners say: “Oh, you English are unsociable!”

Stogov: Yes, I’ve heard that said. But after meeting British people I realized that they could be as friendly and helpful as people anywhere else.

Brown: And what do you think of English cooking? I’m afraid it doesn’t enjoy the best of reputations.

Stogov: Why? It may be plain but it’s wholesome1 and healthy. What did strike me is your love of tea. It seems to be your national drink.

Brown: I couldn’t agree with you more. We are great tea-drinkers. We even drink it while watching television.

Stogov: That reminds me! The other day I saw an advertisement for tea which said: “Join the Tea-V set!”

Brown: Speaking of advertising I’d say things are changing in this country. There was a time when our industries resisted advertising strongly. Now it’s considered respectable and industry invests heavily in advertising.

Stogov: I’ve noticed that your advertisements are not wordy but to the point and very expressive. The ads are witty, too.

Brown: Yes, they are. A lot of skill and humour goes into the ads.

Stogov: But it’s not easy for foreigners to understand the English sense of humour.

Brown: That may be true to a certain extent. English humour is ironical and is often directed against the person himself who tells the joke.

Stogov: You’re fond of verbal battles, too, aren’t you? It’s quite common to find good friends insulting each other. Of course, they both realize that they are just pulling each other’s legs2.

Brown: As English people say: “We always try to find something outside ourselves. It restores our sense of proportion.”

 

LISTENING

UNIT 8

 

London

 

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 8A

 the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

 

   1. London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is an ancient city of more than twenty centuries old. It is the largest city in Britain and one of the largest of the world. London is not only the capital of the country; it is also a huge port.

   2. The population of London is about 9 million.

   3. London is situated on the river Thames. The Thames, which is known to Londoners simply as “the river”, flows through London, dividing it into north and south. There are 17 bridges over the Thames, but perhaps the best known of them are Waterloo, Tower and London bridges. All of them carry heavy traffic from one side of the river to the other.

   4. The most important parts of London are the City, the West End and the East End.

   5. The City is the oldest part of London. It covers only about a square mile and about ten thousand people live there. During the day it is full of people, but at the end of the day businessmen, clerks and secretaries go home and the City becomes silent and almost empty. Over a million people come to the City every day to work in big banks and offices. The City is the financial and business part of London. Numerous banks, offices and trusts are concentrated there.

   6. The West End is a symbol of wealth and luxury. It is the richest part of London. Here you can see the most beautiful places of London: wide streets, the finest theatres, cinemas and concert halls, large museums and the best hotels and the largest department stores. There are splendid houses and lovely parks and gardens there.

   7. The East End is unattractive in appearance. It includes the port, docks, a lot of factories and workshops. This part of London is very important in the country's economy and commerce because a lot of workers work and live there. There is a striking contrast between the East End and the West End, the streets are narrow and there are no big parks or gardens in the East End. It is a densely populated district.

   8. There are a lot of places of interest in London, such as the Tower, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and others.

   9. The Tower of London is an old castle on the bank of the Thames formerly a fortress, a palace and a prison. Now the Tower is a museum and houses the Crown jewels and other treasures.

   10. The Palace of Westminster - the proper name for the Houses of Parliament - was the king's palace for five hundred years. Big Ben is the name given to the clock and bell of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. It is interesting that the clock "Big Ben" came into service in 1859. Big Ben is the biggest clock bell in Britain. It weighs 13.5 tons. Westminster Abbey is very old and very beautiful, and it is full of history. Nearly all the kings and queens of Britain were crowned and buried there. Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Newton, Darwin were buried there too.

   11. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was so named in memory of Lord Nelson's great naval victory in 1805, when he destroyed the French fleet in the battle of Trafalgar. The statue of Lord Nelson, Britain's national hero stands on top of the column in the centre of the square.

   12. St. Paul's Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren. The most notable feature of it is the enormous dome. It took Wren 35 years to build the cathedral.

   13. Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Queen. It was built in the 18th century.

   14. London is the centre of Britain's cultural life. There are a lot of museums and art galleries in London: the National Gallery, the Tate gallery, the Natural History Museum and a lot of others. The British Museum is well known as one of the largest museums in the world. It is really a history museum. One can see there Egyptian statues, sphinxes, mummies, Roman sculptures, drawings and paintings. The Museum has a rich library with copies of rare manuscripts.

 

Exercises

 

Pronounce correctly.

Buckingham Palace [‘bΛkiŋэm] Charles Dickens [‘t∫a:lz’dikinz] Chaucer [‘t∫о:sэ] Christopher Wren [‘kristэfэ‘ren] clerk [kla:k] commerce [‘komэ:s] commercial [kэ‘mэ:∫l] Darwin [‘da:win] Egyptian [i’dζip∫n] feature [‘fi:t∫э] financial [fai’næn∫l] Great Britain [,greit ‘britn] Houses of Parliament [‘hauziz эv’pa:lэmэnt] jewels [‘dζu:эlz] London [‘lΛndэn] naval [‘neivl]     Northern Ireland [‘nо:ðэn’aiэlэnd] numerous [‘nju:mэrэs] rare [reэ] silent [‘sailэnt] St. Paul’s Cathedral [snt’pо:lz kэ‘θi:drэl] striking [‘straikiŋ] Thames [temz] Thomas Hardy [‘tоmэs’ha:di] Tower [‘tauэ] Trafalgar Square [trэ’fælgэ‘skweэ] treasure [‘treζэ] United Kingdom[‘junaitid’kiŋdэm] Waterloo [,wо:tэ‘lu:] weigh [wei] Westminster Abbey [‘westminstэ’ræbi]

 

The Tower of London

 

1. Whoever comes to London is eager to see the Tower of London, the scene of nearly 900 years of England’s history. The Tower has in the past been a fortress, a palace and a prison. It was William the Conqueror who began building the Tower for the purpose of protecting the city, other monarchs made additions in later centuries.

2. The Tower comprises several towers: the Jewel Tower, the White Tower, in which the Kings of England held their Court, and others. Though kings were born, lived and were married there, it happened also that kings and queens were murdered in the Tower. Some terrible deeds of which we read in the history of England took place in this grim old Tower. It was said that whoever held the keys to the Tower, held the keys to the kingdom. It is impossible in a few lines even to mention the historical events connected with the Tower of London. One of the Towers is called the Bloody Tower, being believed to be the scene of the murder of Edward V and his brother, the Duke of York, Queen Anne Boleyn, the Princess Elisabeth (afterwards Queen Elisabeth I) and many other persons of high rank passed under the arch of the Traitors’ Gate on their way to prison or the scaffold.

3. Now the Tower is a museum and houses the Crown jewels and other treasures. The Ceremony of the Keys which is centuries old takes place every night at 10 p.m. Five minutes before the hour the Chief Warder and an escort of four approach the gates. The sentry calls out: “Halt, who comes there?”

“The keys.”

“Whose keys?”

“Queen Elisabeth’s keys.”

“Advance Queen Elisabeth’s keys. All is well.”

4. All towers are locked and the keys are finally carried by the Chief Warder to the Queen’s House where they are secured for the night.

5. Now the only inhabitants of the Tower are ravens. There is a legend that the Tower will fall if it loses its ravens. Therefore, the birds with clipped wings are carefully guarded.

 

Notes:

   1. William the Conqueror [‘kоŋkэrэ] – Вильгельм Завоеватель, герцог Нормандский, под предводительством которого в 1066 г. норманны завоевали Англию, стал английским королем Вильгельмом I (William I) 1028 – 1087 гг.

2. The Jewel Tower – Башня сокровищ

3. The Bloody Tower – Кровавая башня

   4. Edward V and his brother, the Duke of York – Эдвард V (1470 – 1483) и его брат герцог Йорский (Эдвард V после смерти отца Эдварда IV унаследовал трон в возрасте 13 лет, но его дядя Ричард, герцог Глочестерский, назначенный регентом, заключил его и его брата герцога Йорского в Тауэр, где они были умерщвлены. Герцог Глочестерский был коронован как Ричард III.)

5. Queen Anne Boleyn – королева Анна Болейн (1507 – 1536), вторая жена короля Генриха VIII, была казнена

6. Queen Elisabeth I – королева Елизавета I (1533 – 1603), дочь Анны Болейн и Генриха VIII. Во время правления своей сестры Марии была заключена в Тауэр. После смерти сестры она была коронована и правила страной в течение 45 лет.

7. the Traitors’ Gate – «Ворота изменников», главные «водные ворота» со стороны реки Темзы; через них в Тауэр привозили узников

8. the Ceremony of the Keys – церемония передачи ключей

 9. the Chief Ward – старший страж

 

SPEAKING

DIALOGUE 1

Sightseeng in London

Tom: What are you going to do this week?

John: Well, we don’t really know.

Tom: Why not visit Kew Gardens?

Helen: Well… we’ve been there. We’ve done a lot of sightseeing since we came here.

John: Yes, we’ve seen all the usual things like the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and the British Museum.

Tom: Have you been to the National Gallery?

Helen: Oh, yes. We’ve been paying regular visits there for the last fortnight. You know how keen John is on painting. We’ve heard some good lectures there, too.

Tom: Have you visited Westminster Abbey?

John: Yes, we went there a week ago. But I haven’t seen St. Paul’s Cathedral since I was here last time. 

Helen: I have! I’ve been there two times.

John: But I really ought to think about the business side of my visit now. I haven’t been to a motor-car factory yet. I expect things have changed over the past five years.

Tom: I’m sure they have. Yes, there have been some very big developments since you were here last. Tell me – would you like to go and see the factory at Reading?

John: Yes, I would.

Tom: They have a very big modern factory, and I happen to know the Personnel Manager there.

John: Thank you. I’d be very grateful to you.

 

LISTENING

UNIT 9

 

Higher education in Great Britain

 

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 9A

Exercises

 

Pronounce correctly.

agriculture [‘ægrikΛlt∫э] associated [э‘sэu∫ieitid] Birmingham [‘bэ:miŋэm] Cambridge [‘keimbridζ] commerce [‘kоmэ:s] consequently [‘kоnsikwэntli] divinity [di’vinэti] Edinburgh [‘edinbэrэ] engineering [,end i’niэriŋ] extremely [ik’stri’:mli] faculty [‘fæklti] illustrate [‘ilэstreit] knowledge [‘nоlidζ] lecture [‘lekt∫э] Liverpool [‘livэpu:l] Manchester [‘mænt∫istэ] medicine [‘medsn] Oxford [‘оksfэd] particular [pэ‘tikjulэ] philosophy [fэ‘lоsэfi] private [‘praivэt] series [‘siэri:z] somewhat [‘sΛmwоt] successful [sэk’sesful] university [,ju:ni’vэ:sэti] whole [‘hэul]

 

Universities and colleges

 

1. Most big towns in Britain have both a university and a college of higher education. There are 41 universities in Britain and 47 colleges of higher education, universities offer three- and four-year degree courses; colleges of higher education offer both two-year HND (Higher National Diploma) courses, as well as degree courses.

     2. A degree is the qualification you get from university when you pass your final exams. You are then awarded a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or BEd (Bachelor of Education).

3. Undergraduates, students who are studying for degrees, go to large formal lectures, but most of the work takes place in tutorials: lessons in groups of ten or more when the students discuss their work with the lecturer.

4. Only 25 per cent of the population goes on to higher education. Competition to get into one of Britain's universities is fierce and not everyone who gets A levels can go. Students usually need three A levels to go to university and grades at A level go from A, the highest grade, to E.

5. Students apply to universities months before they take their A levels. The students are given a personal interview and the universities then decide which students they want. They offer them a place, which depends on A-level results. The more popular the university, the higher the grades it will ask for.

6. Most British students choose to go to university a long way from their home town: university is seen as a time to be independent, to live away from home and develop new interests.

7. British students do not have to pay to go to university, but do need money to live away from home while they are studying. Some students whose parents do not earn a lot of money are given a grant (money) from the local education authority. If students do not get a grant, parents are expected to pay for their children. Some students borrow money from the bank, which must be paid back after they leave university. In theory, the grant pays for rent, food, books, transport and socialising. In fact, the grant is not a lot of money. Students have to work during the holidays to earn more money, but it is now difficult to find such jobs. The result is that more students are dropping out, failing to finish their courses.

8. Not all students study full-time at university or college. Many people combine their studies with work. Some companies release their staff for training one or two days a week or for two months a year. Large companies often have their own in-house training schemes.

   9. The British government is very enthusiastic about such training schemes, in particular because so few people go to university. It wants at least half the workforce to have a formal professional qualification by the year 2000.

10. If you are unemployed, there are two forms of training schemes: employment training for people who have been out of work for a long time and Youth Training Schemes for school leavers who cannot find a job.

 

Notes:

1. A level – сокращ. от Advanced Level, экзамен по программе средней школы на повышенном уровне на получение аттестата об общем образовании

2. a grade – оценка, отметка

3. a grant – стипендия

4. to drop out – покидать учебное заведение, бросать учиться

5. in-house – внутренний, внутриведомственный

 

Oxford University

 

1. Oxford University is one of the two oldest and most respected universities in the UK. It is situated 100 km of London in the city of Oxford.

2. The University’s origins can be traced to the early 12th century. It was modelled on the University of Paris, with initial faculties of theology, law, medicine and liberal arts.

3. Oxford is a collegiate university. It consists of about 35 separate colleges. Colleges are self-governing institutions consisting of a head and fellows. Each has its own hall, chapel, library, and endowments.

4. The university has 16 faculties including medieval and modern European languages and literature, agricultural science, social studies and others.

5. The usual course for a bachelor’s degree is 3 years, but in classics and chemistry it is four. Final examination takes place in June, and students are classified. No further examination is required for a master’s degree, which is taken on the payment of the necessary fees seven years after matriculation.

6. Oxford houses the Bodleian Library and the Ashmolean Museum. The Oxford University Press, established in 1478, is one of the largest and most prestigious university publishers in the world.

7. Oxford University is considered to give a very high standard of education, and is known to be a difficult place for students to be accepted to study in. Oxford University graduates often become powerful and successful members of British society, and many of the leading people in professions such as law, politics, and the civil service have traditionally been “Oxford-educated”, though this is beginning to change. Oxford and Cambridge Universities are sometimes criticized for the fact that about half their students come from public schools (expensive private schools), even though most British children do not attend these schools. Some people also think of Oxford and Cambridge colleges as too old-fashioned, traditional, and elitist, and regard them as not really understanding how ordinary people think and live.

 

Notes:

  1. a collegiate university [kэ’li:dζэt] – университет, объединяющий несколько самостоятельных колледжей

  2. a fellow – член совета колледжа

  3. matriculation [mэ,trikju’leiòn] – зачисление в университет

  4. the Bodleian Library [‘bodliэn] – Бодлианская библиотека Оксфордского университета; вторая по значению в Великобритании после Британской библиотеки (British Library); имеет около 5 млн. томов; основана в 1598 г.; названа по имени основателя Томаса Бодли (Thomas Bodley)

  5. the Ashmolean Museum [æò’mэuliэn] – музей Ашмола; музей и библиотека древней истории, изящных искусств и археологии при Оксфордском университете; основан в 1683 г.; назван по имени основателя Элиаса Ашмола (Elias Ashmole)

 

11. Ask your groupmates about Text 9C and let them answer these questions.

 

1. Where is Oxford University situated?

2. When was Oxford University established?

3. How many colleges does it consist of?

4. What are Oxford University colleges like?

5. What colleges does the University have?

6. What is the system of degrees at the University?

7. Why is Oxford University considered to be prestigious?

8. What do Oxford graduates become?

9. What are Oxford and Cambridge Universities often criticized for?

 10. What does the term “Oxford-educated” mean?

 

12. Consider the following statements.

 

  1. Oxford University is a collegiate one.

      How do you understand it? Can you express your opinion on the above?

  2. Oxford University is considered to give a very high standard of education.

       Do you agree? Can you give your reasons?

3. Oxford University graduates often become powerful and successful

members of British society, though this is beginning to change.

       Do you agree to that? What is really meant?

 

13. Discuss pros and cons of the fact that some people think that Oxford and Cambridge Universities are too old-fashioned, traditional, and elitist.

 

Here are some useful expressions for the supporters:

The point I’m making is…; it is generally felt…; I’m bound to say …; I’m inclined to point out…; everyone knows that …, etc.

Some useful expressions for the opponents:

That’s not the point…; I think it’s absurd to…; anyone can see…; the facts just don’t support…, etc.

 

14. Retell Text 9C.

 

15. Make up a story about higher education of Great Britain based on the information given in the above Texts.

 

SPEAKING

 

DIALOGUE 1

Talking of higher education of Britain

 

A.: What kinds of higher educational institutions are there in Great Britain?

B.: There are universities and colleges of higher education.

A.: What are the oldest and best-known universities in Great Britain?

B.: The oldest and best-known universities in Great Britain are Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

A.: What can you say about other universities of Great Britain?

B.: All other universities are fairly new.

A.: Which is the biggest of the new universities?

B.: The biggest of them is London University.

A.: What is London University made up of?

B.: London University is made up of a great variety of colleges and other institutions including medical schools.

A.: What educational establishment usually has both faculties and     departments?

B.: A university has.

A.: What are the common faculties?

B.: The most common faculties are arts, law, medicine, science, and theology.

A.: What does the department include?

B.: The department includes engineering, economics, commerce, agriculture, music, and technology.

 

16. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1 as a model.

 

17. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.

 

Situations: You meet your friend who graduated from one of the Universities in Great Britain and talk to him about:

a) the University he went to;

b) what he liked and disliked about higher education of Great Britain;

c) the difference between higher education of Great Britain and that of Russia.

 

DIALOGUE 2

Talking of Oxford University

 

John: Who is that scholarly-looking man who walked past and smiled at you? Surely he isn’t an undergraduate.

Pete: No, that’s my tutor.

John: What is a tutor?

Pete: The tutorial system is one of the ways in which Oxford and Cambridge differ from all the other English universities. Every student has a tutor and as soon as you come to Oxford one of the first things you do is to go to see your tutor. He, more or less, plans your work, suggests the books you should read and sets work for you to do, for example an essay to write. Each week you go to him in his room, perhaps with two or three other students, and he discusses with you the work that you have done, criticizes in detail your essay and sets you the next week’s work.

John: Does the tutor also give lectures?

Pete: Yes, he may.

John: But aren’t lectures given by professors?

Pete: Yes, though professors don’t give a great many lectures. They are often appointed not so much to do teaching work as to carry on research in their particular subjects.

John: Can you go to any lecture you like, no matter whether it is by a tutor or professor of your college or not?

Pete: Yes. Lectures are organized not by the colleges but by the university, and so any member of the university may attend, for all students are members of the college and of the university. The result is that where you get a famous professor, you will often find that his lecture-room is crowded; a dull professor may have only a handful of students.

John: You said that lectures were organized by the university. Where is the University?

Pete: It must seem rather strange to you but there isn’t really any university at Oxford as there is, for example, at Manchester or Bristol or Edinburgh. Oxford (like Cambridge) is a collection of colleges, each self-governing and independent. “The University” is merely an administrative body that organizes lectures, arranges examinations, gives degrees, etc.

John: What do you want to do when you leave Oxford?

Pete: What I should like more than anything else would be to start a school in Oxford for teaching English to foreign students.

John: Well, I wish you like.

Pete: Thanks, John. But let’s walk on again; you’ve hardly seen any of the colleges yet.

 

18. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.

 

19. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.

 

Anton: Hello, Mark. I’d like to ask you some questions about higher education in Britain.

Mark: Oh, I’ll do it with great pleasure.

Anton: Who are lectures given by?

Mark: … .

Anton: Who are the students’ studies supervised by?

Mark: … .

Anton: What are advanced students engaged in?

Mark: … .

Anton: What degree may a student proceed to after three years of study?

Mark: … .

Anton: What other degrees can a student get after a few years more at the university?

Mark: … .

Anton: Is the education in the universities and colleges free of charge?

Mark: … .

Anton: Thank you very much.

 

DIALOGUE 3

Talking of proctors and “Bull-dogs” at Oxford University

 

John: Who is that man in the cap and gown with those two men in bowler hats behind him? Is he a tutor?

Pete: No, he’s a proctor. And the two men behind him are “bull-dogs”. The proctor’s job is to keep discipline, to see that students aren’t out after midnight, or aren’t driving a car without having first received permission from the proctor.

John: What punishment can the proctor give?

Pete: Students can be fined a sum of money, or, for a very serious offence, they can be expelled.

John: And the “bull-dogs”, what are they for?

Pete: They are to catch the student if he tries to run away before his name can be taken.

John: Oh, I see. Thanks a lot.

 

 

20. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.

 

21. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.

 

   1. Your groupmate asks you about student life in Oxford or Cambridge.

   2. You explain the functions of the following members of the university teaching staff: a lecturer, a reader, a tutor, a professor.

 

 

LISTENING

 

22. Listen to the Text “Universities” about higher education in Britain.

 

a) Answer the questions that follow.

           

       1. Are British universities open to everyone?

       2. How is it possible to get a place at a British university?

       3. Is the number of students on a particular course limited?

       4. Why are drop-out and failure rates low?

       5. What is the negative side of the system of higher education in       Britain?

       6. Why have the numbers of school-leavers who went on to university doubled over the last 20 years?

       7. What do all universities in Britain differ in?

       8. What are the most prestigious universities?

       9. How do students make their choices about the university to go to?

     10. How do students pay for their study?

     11. Are British universities popular with overseas students?

     12. What does the Erasmus programme arrange?

13. Are all universities in Britain equal on status?

b) Read Tapescript 9A of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in your dictionary.

c) Retell the story about higher education in Britain.

d) Tell your groupmates about Cambridge University based on the information collected.

 

 

23. Listen to the text “Modern Universities”.

 

The difference of modern universities from Oxford and Cambridge Faculties of modern universities The University of Stirling The University of Sussex The University of York The features of modern universities
           

a) Fill in the chart.

 b) Check your answers with your groupmates.

  c) Read Tapescript 9B of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in your dictionary.

d) Retell the story.

 

UNIT 10

 

The United States of America

 

READING AND DISCUSSION

TEXT 10A

The USA

 

The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world. Its territory stretches from the Atlantic seaboard, across the central plains, over the Rocky Mountains to the densely populated west coast and then to the island state of Hawaii.

America is a land of physical contrasts including the weather. It possesses every variety of climates, from that of the tropics, to that of the Arctic regions. The United States is also a land of rivers and lakes. The Northern state of Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. The broad Mississippi River is the world’s third river after the Nile and the Amazon.

3. American farmers plant wheat on the western plains. They raise corn, wheat and fine beef cattle in the midwest. Florida and California are famous for their vegetables and fruit production, and the Northern States are known for apples, pears, berries and vegetables.

4. A wealth of minerals provides a solid base for American industry.

5. The United States of America was founded in 1776. The Constitution was adopted in 1787. 26 amendments have been introduced since then. The Constitution operates today and sets the basic forms for the US government. The United States of America is a federation of 50 states.

6. The USA is largely an urban nation. Approximately two-thirds of the population live in urban areas.

7. At present the population of the USA is about two hundred and thirty nine million. The USA is called "the nation of immigrants". The country was settled, built and developed by generations of immigrants and their children.

8. The language of Americans is somewhat different from English spoken in Great Britain. Its grammar and structure are the same but there are new meanings in its vocabulary. There is also marked difference in pronunciation.

9. There are a lot of big cities in the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, San Francisco and others.

10. New York is the largest city in the United States. It is in the south eastern New York State at the mouth of the Hudson River. It is a financial centre of the country, the headquarters of the clothing industry and the publishing business. It has a lot of schools and libraries, and some of the finest art galleries and museums in the world.

11. Two hundred miles south of New York is the city of Washington, the capital of the United States of America. It is the largest metropolitan area in the country. Laid out by the French architect in the late eighteenth century, it was the world's first city especially planned as a centre of government.

12. Chicago is the second largest city in the United States. It was built on the shore of Lake Michigan and is a busy inland port. Chicago is the centre of the meat packing industry. The city is famous for its stores and museums. It is a gigantic industrial and economic centre.

13. San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast in California, is considered to be the most beautiful city in the United States. It has a fine natural harbor; it carries on the trade with other countries.

14. Los Angeles in southwestern California is famous for Hollywood, where both movie and TV shows are produced, and its world-famous Disneyland in the nearby suburb (Anaheim).

15. Philadelphia is the centre of culture, education and science as well as business and industry.

16. The United States of America became the world leading country at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.

Amazon [‘æmэzэn] America [э‘merikэ] Anaheim [‘ænэhaim] Arctic [‘a:ktik] Atlantic [эt’læntik] California [,kælэ‘fо:niэ] Chicago [∫I’kagэu] Dallas [‘dælэs] Disneyland [‘diznilэnd] financial [fai’næn∫l] Florida [‘flоridэ] gigantic [dζai’gæntik] harbour [‘ha:bэ] Hawaii [hэ‘waii] headquarters [,hed’kwо:tэz] Hollywood [‘holiwud] Hudson [‘hΛdsn] Los Angels [lоs’ænd эli:z] Michigan [‘mi∫igэn] Minnesota [‘mini’sэutэ] Mississippi [‘misi’sipi] movie [‘mu:vi] New York [,nju:’jо:k] Nile [‘nail] pairs [‘peэz] Philadelphia [,filэ‘delfiэ] San Francisco [,sænfrэn’siskэu] seaboard [‘si:bо:d] United States [ju’naitid’steits] Washington [‘wо∫iŋtэn]

 

The melting pot

 

The American Dream, the hope for a better life in a new country, has attracted people from all over the world. Most of them leave their homeland because they are poor and have few opportunities. Some are forced to leave because of famines and civil war; others come for religious freedom.

    2. The number of legal immigrants into the United States is controlled by the immigration quotas. These quotas are constantly changing. For example, in recent years, the number of Haitians allowed into the United States has increased by 5.2 percent. The quota for Mexicans has decreased by 19.3 percent.

    3. Some immigrants enter the United States illegally; they cross the southern border from Mexico or stay after their visas run out. They live with the fear that they will be found and sent back to their country. Under the 1986 Immigration Act, a number of illegal immigrants have become legal refugees, because it is too dangerous for them to stay in their homeland.

    4. Immigrants from many different countries have helped make the United States a land of ethnic diversity. Modern Americans value their ethnic and cultural identity, and practice their traditions openly. A typical American may be a mixture of several ethnic and religious backgrounds.

    5. The present spirit of ethnic pride is quite different from the attitude that Americans had in the past. Before the late 1960s, immigrants were expected to become part of the mainstream of American culture – this was the idea of the melting pot. Society discourages immigrants from passing on their language and traditions to their children.

    6. Recent immigrants now see a value in keeping their own language and cultural traditions, even after they have lived in the United States for a number of years. In states with a high percentage of immigrants who speak languages such as Spanish and Chinese, bilingual schooling is available; students can continue to study subjects in their own language while learning English.

    7. After five years of residence in the United States, immigrants may apply to be naturalized and become American citizens. Every applicant must pass a test that shows that he or she can read and write English correctly, and knows about the history of the United States and its form of government, as well as general information about the country.

    8. There is also a face-to-face interview with an immigration officer to make sure that the applicant can speak English and meets the requirements for citizenship. Applicants must also prove that they have not committed any crimes, and support the Constitution of the United States.

 

 

Notes :

1. The melting pot – “плавильный тигель”; США, особенно Нью-Йорк, как место, где иммигранты переплавлялись в единую американскую нацию.

2. The American Dream – “американская мечта”; представление о США как о стране, где каждый может разбогатеть и добиться успеха.

 

New York

 

    1. New York. Some call it a poem in stone and steel, others a soulless monster. It is unlike any other city in the world.

    2. At the beginning of the 17th century, only the wigwams of the Iroquois stood where the skyscrapers of New York now reach to the clouds. In 1626 the Dutch bought the island from the natives for the ridiculously low price of 24 dollars worth of beads and trinkets. 

    3. Later the Indians named the island “Manhatta” which in Iroquois means: “They cheated us”. Present-day Manhattan is the main borough of New York.

    4. New York has two natural advantages: it is located at the mouth of the Hudson River, and it is well located for travel and trade between the United States and Europe.

    5. At the turn of the present century millions of people driven by poverty emigrated to the United States from various countries of Europe. They entered the New World through New York, the “Gateway of America”. Hundreds of thousands of them settled down in that city. That is what makes people call it the “Modern Babylon”.

    6. Near the southern end of Manhattan Island is a smaller island called Liberty Island. On it stands one of the most beloved statues in the country, the Statue of Liberty. To many people who have come to the USA from foreign lands this statue has given the first welcoming greeting from free people of America.

    7. New York attracts people from all over. If you get on subway in New York and look at the newspapers that people are reading you can see them in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Italian, Yiddish and French.

    8. While New York is composed of five boroughs, joined in 1898, the place most people come to visit is Manhattan. Here at the lower end is a financial district with its stockbrokers, investment banks, and headquarters of many large corporations.

    9. A few miles uptown are Greenwich Village and the East Village; both have always been at the centre of New York’s excitement. Both have an active nightlife with plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs.

    10. In midtown, one finds the most familiar sites – Rockefeller Centre, Radio Music City Hall, The Museum of Modern Art, and Carnegie Hall. On the East side stands the United Nations complex. Times Square is the heart of theatre district – the area where Broadway plays are performed. 

    11. New York is, in many ways, America’s premier city. It’s the nation’s financial, communications, and cultural centre. Above all, an international city, it houses the General Assembly and the Security Council.

    12. The streets themselves are symbolic: Madison Avenue for advertising, Wall Street for finance, Broadway for theatre, Seventh Avenue for fashion, and Fifth Avenue for elegant shopping. Unlike Tokyo or London, Paris or Beijing (Peking), New York is a 24 hours city, a place where buses and subways operate round the clock.

    13. New York is a city of extremes. Its hotels, apartment houses, restaurants, and shops rank with the most exclusive and expensive anywhere. In contrast, the city also has more of the homeless and addicted.

 

12. Read Text 10C and answer the following questions.

1. What do people call New York?

2. What is the historical background of New York?

3. What are the advantages of New York?

4. What makes people call New York the “Modern Babylon”?

5. Where does the Statue of Liberty stand?

6. Is New York a multinational city?

7. What is Manhattan like?

8. What are Greenwich Village and the East Village famous for?

9. Why is New York so important for Americans?

 10. Why is New York a city of contrasts?

 

SPEAKING

 

DIALOGUE 1

American cities

 

Teacher: Can you name the most important cities in the USA?

Student: I think I can, but you’ll have to help me a bit.

T.: Oh, I’m sure you are able to do so without my help. Well, go ahead!

S.: The capital of the USA, Washington, D.C., should be mentioned first.

T.: Right! It’s good that you started with the capital.

S.: Then comes New York, which is the largest city and seaport in the USA.

T.: What about Chicago?

S.: Chicago is the second largest city in the US. It’s an important center of heavy industry.

T.: Do you happen to know what Chicago produces?

S.: It produces different electrical and agricultural machines.

T.: It’s also famous for its tinned meat industry, isn’t it?

S.: It is, yes. And after Chicago comes Detroit, a large city in Michigan. Detroit is one of the biggest producers in the motor-car industry.

T.: You are right! Detroit produces millions of car. Now say a few words about Baltimore, will you?

S.: Baltimore is a large port city in northern Maryland and a shipbuilding center.

T.: And it is also a big center of the aircraft, electronics, chemical, electrical and food industries.

S.: I think we should also mention Boston, which is a large seaport and shipbuilding center. 

T.: Boston also produces aeroplanes, chemical, electronic and other machines.

S.: Another shipbuilding and machine building center of the USA is Philadelphia.

T.: Philadelphia is also famous for its agricultural and food industries.

S.: San Francisco is a large port and shipbuilding center, the second largest city in California. Los Angeles is a port in southern California, the third largest city in the United States.

T.: What is Los Angeles famous for?

S.: It’s famous for Hollywood, the center of the motion-picture industry in the US.

 

Talking of the USA

 

Alex: Hi, Pete! Is that true that you’ve just returned from the United States of America?

Pete: Yes, that’s true. I spent a whole month there.

A .: What cities and towns did you visit?

P .: I spent two weeks sightseeing in New York City. Then my friend drove me to Boston and from there to Rhode Island.

A.: So you went to Boston by car. How long did it take you to drive to Boston, by the way?

 P.: It took us only three hours to get there because we drove at breakneck speed. Americans like to show how fast they can drive, you know.

Anne: I wish I had been in your place, Pete. I have never been to the States. I hope some day I’ll also get a chance to visit New York and Boston.

P.: I’m sure you will.

A.: What did you do in Boston, Pete?

P.: My friends and I went sightseeing and we also visited MIT.

Anne: What’s MIT, Pete?

A.: Don’t you know? MIT is the world-famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

P.: MIT impressed us more than anything else in Boston.

Anne: I wish I could visit Boston some day.

A.: Someone told me that Boston was one of the first towns built on the Atlantic coast of America.

P.: That’s right! Boston is an ancient town in comparison with many others. It’s an important port and a financial and cultural center, too. Boston has three universities.

 

The most populated state

Teacher: Which is the most populated state in the US?

Student: I’m sure anybody can tell you that it’s California.

T.: … .

S.: The population of California is around 25 million people.

T.: … .

S.: It’s over 400 thousand square kilometers.

T.: … .

S.: No, two states – Alaska and Texas – are bigger.

T.: … .

S.: Because gold was found in California over a hundred years ago.

T.: … .

S.: I’ll try. Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose and Oakland, and, of course, its capital Sacramento.

 

 

DIALOGUE 3

LISTENING

  

23. Listen to the Text “New Orleans”. Study the following notes:

    Cajun [‘keidζэn] – кейджан, житель южных районов штата Луизиана.

    Acadia [э‘keidiэ] – Акадия, название французской колонии, существовавшей до XVIII в.

    Jambulaya – джамбулайя, рагу.

    Gumbo [‘gΛmbэu] – суп, приготовленный из мяса или морских продуктов

    Okra [‘эukrэ] – (бот.) окра съедобная, кушанье приготовленное из окры.

 

a) Answer the following questions.

  1. Where is New Orleans situated?

  2. What state is New Orleans located in?

  3. What is New Orleans famous for?

  4. Who occupied the territory of this area at different times?

  5. Who are the Cajuns?

  6. What is the origin of Cajun?

  7. What is the music of New Orleans like?

  8. What instruments is Cajun music played on?

  9. What is the food of the area like?

b) Read Tapescript 10A of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in your dictionary.

c) Retell the Text about New Orleans.

d) Collect some more information about New Orleans and the state it is in and make up a story about them.

 

24. Listen to the Text “American English”.

 a) Fill in the chart.

 The number of people speaking English in the USA  
The languages of immigrants from which some words were absorbed    
The ways of learning native American words by the Europeans  
Dialects of American English  
The language of teenagers    
Some differences between American and British English  

b) Check your answers with your groupmates.

c) Read Tapescript 10B of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in your dictionary.

d) Study some differences in spelling between American and British English. Give your own examples.

           

            American English                 British English

                

           honor                                      honour

               theater                                  theatre

           color                                     colour

            traveled                                travelled         

            standardize                           standardise

            organize                                organise

 

e) Retell the story.

 

 



UNIT 11

 

Washington , D.C.

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 11A

Exercises

 

Pronounce correctly.

abbreviate [э‘bri:vieit] organ [‘о:gэn]
America [э‘meriэ] Pacific coast [pэ‘sifik‘kэust]
Atlantic ocean [эt’læntik‘эu∫n] pilgrimage [‘pilgrimid  ]
bury [‘beri] plateau [‘plætэu]
Columbia [kэ‘lΛmbiэ] sculpture [‘skΛlpt∫э]
column [‘kоlэm] sky-scraper [‘skaiskreipэ]
court [kо:t] soldier [‘sэuld  э]
event [i’vent] stripe [straip]
George Washington [‘dζэ:dζ ’wо∫iŋtэn] supreme [sju’pri:m] tomb [tu:m]
item [‘aitэm] United States [ju’naitid’steits]
Mall [mо:l] various [‘veэriэs]
Maryland [‘meэrilэnd] Virginia [vэ‘d  iniэ]
moment [‘mэumэnt] Washington [‘wо∫iŋtэn]
navy [‘neivi] wax [wæks]
   

The White House

    1. When the capital was moved to the city of Washington, Congress decided to build a special home for all future presidents. This house would belong to the nation, and it would serve as the home and the office for each President.      

    2. When you enter the White House, history comes alive to you. Throughout the big, public rooms, there are paintings, furniture, and other items that belonged to some of the famous Presidents of early years. One room, for example, is called the Lincoln Room. President Abraham Lincoln worked in this room and used the furniture that is still there.

    3. But the White House is not a museum. It is a hard-working building; it is still the home of American Presidents and the place where they do most of their work.

    4. Today it is much larger than it was when President John Adams moved in. It has more than 150 rooms! It has offices and a health clinic, a post office, a swimming pool, a barbershop, a kitchen and all other rooms needed by the President and the staff.

    5. Every day the White House hums with activity. Heads of other nations, members of Congress come to the White House to talk to the President. From there the President speaks to the whole nation on radio and television. There is a special line to Russia that provides direct communication between the two most powerful nations in the world.

    6. Part of the White House is open to the public. Visitors may tour the library and some of the dining rooms and reception rooms on the ground floor and the first floor. Private rooms on the second and third floors include family rooms, guest rooms, and recreation rooms.

    7. The White House is more than the President’s home and workshop. Like the Capitol, it is a national symbol. Its white walls and setting remind people of the strength and beauty of the American nation.

 

SPEAKING

DIALOGUE 1

Washington , D.C.

A.: What’s the meaning of D.C. after the name of the U.S. capital?

B.: Oh, it stands for District of Columbia.

A.: Is it the name of a state?

B.: No, the District of Columbia does not belong to any of the fifty states of the USA. It is a tract of land about 70 square miles (181 sq. km) on the east bank of the Potomac River. The city was founded in 1790 on a site chosen by George Washington, the first President of the US. Maryland and Virginia granted land on each side of the river.

A.: What is the population of the city?

B.: About one million.

A.: Is it like other large cities in the US?

B.: No, quite different. The city was built according to a preliminary plan. There is a law that forbids to build structures more than 90 feet (27.4 metres) high in the city.

A.: You mean, there are no skyscrapers in Washington?

B.: That’s right. The White House, the official name of the President’s executive mansion, is only four stories high.

A.: Where is it located?

B.: It’s located on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue, facing Lafayette Square.

A.: They say it is the oldest public building in Washington.

B.: Yes, that’s true. The first President who lived in the White House was Adams. It was back in 1800.

A.: Why is it called “the White House”?

B.: You see, during the war of 1812 – 1814 the British burned most of the public buildings in Washington, including the White House and the Capitol. In 1814 the brown stone walls of the President’s home were painted white and it has been the “White House” ever since.

A.: That’s interesting. You seem to know a lot about the White House. Do you know anything about the East Room, the Blue Room? I mean, what are they used for?

B.: Well, I’ve read somewhere that the White House has 132 rooms. Large receptions and news conferences are held in the East Room. The elliptical Blue Room is for different social, diplomatic and official receptions. The Red and Green Rooms are used for private and quasi-official gatherings.

 

The streets of Washington

The day after Nick arrived in Washington, Nick took a long walk through the city together with his friend Pete. Nick asked Pete several questions about the Washington street plan.

 

Nick: What does “N. W.” mean?

Pete: It means Northwest. The city’s divided into four parts: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast.

Nick: So this hotel is in Northwest. Is that right?

Pete: That’s right. Almost all of the hotels are in Northwest.

Nick: And the streets? Some have numbers, but others have letters.

Pete: Well, the northsouth streets have numbers. The eastwest streets have letters.

Nick: And what about the avenues?

Pete: They are named for the different states: New York, Pennsylvania, and so on.

Nick: But they don’t run from north to south or east to west.

Pete: No, they don’t. They run through the squares made by the streets.

Nick: I see. They run diagonally.

 

Washington cabs

 

    In many American cities taxi-cabs have meters which show how much a passenger has to pay. In Washington, however, the taxis do not have meters. The city is divided into zones, and the fare depends on the number of zones a passenger rides through. Yesterday Nick and Pete took a taxi to Georgetown. It was Nick’s first ride in a Washington taxi, and he noticed the absence of a meter.

 

Nick: This taxi has no meter.

Pete: No, in the District fares are taken by the zones.

Nick: What is the fare per zone?

Pete: Well, for the first zone it’s sixty cents. Even if you ride only for a half block.

Nick: I see. It is sixty cents just to get in.

Pete: Right. Then for each additional zone you pay thirty cents.

Nick: Let’s see, I get in the cab in zone one; I get out in zone two. How much is the fare?

Pete: Ninety cents – sixty cents for the first zone and thirty for the second.

 

LISTENING

 

UNIT 12

 

Higher education OF THE USA

READING AND DISCUSSION

 

TEXT 12A

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.

average [‘ævэridζ] basic [‘beisik] classify [klæsifai] community [kэ‘mju:niti] competence [‘kоmpitэns] continue [kэn’tinju:] examination [ig,zæmi’nei∫n] facilities [fэ‘silitiz] final [‘fainl] graduate (v) [‘grædjueit] graduate (n) [‘grædjuit] philosophy [fэ‘lоsэfi] prestige [prэ‘sti: ζ] privaite [‘praivэt] programme [‘prougræm] science [‘saiэns] secondary [‘sekэndэri] technical [‘teknikl]

SPEAKING

DIALOGUE 1

LISTENING

 

UNIT 1

 

TAPESCRIPT 1A

Student life

 

    After passing the entrance examinations your student life begins.

    Oleg Petrov was accepted to the Belgorod State Technological University two and a half years ago. Now he is a third-year student at the mechanical engineering faculty. He stays at the hostel in Kostyukov Street.

    Oleg is a full-time student, that is he attends classes and lectures in the daytime, whereas the University accepts a lot of young people for the correspondence course.

    Petrov is a diligent student; he tries hard not to miss his classes or lectures. While in the third year he is doing quite a number of subjects. Oleg is good at Strength of Materials and Mathematics. He has passed quite successfully the winter end-of-term tests and examinations.

    Petrov is in the habit of doing his homework in the University library reading room. He is a great book-lover and usually borrows magazines and fiction literature from the library. As the librarians always insist on books being returned in time, Oleg never breaks the rule.

    Recently Petrov has become very interested in computers. As soon as a chance came about, he went to see some new types of computers that had been installed at the University computer center. He is also very keen on experimenting in the field of modern mechanical engineering facilities in big industrial cities in Russia.

    There are a lot of serious problems to tackle here and a lot of technical books to read. Oleg is eager to get down to business, that’s why he has of late joined the scientific club at his faculty. He will surely make a very good researcher in the near future.

 

TAPESCRIPT 1B

The student Rob Fellows

 

    Hello! My name’s Rob Fellows. I come from Dundee, a town on the east coast of Scotland, but I’m a student at Durham University, in the north of England. I’m studying French and German, and I can speak the languages quite well. I also know a little Spanish, so I can speak four languages. I’m enjoying the course a lot, but it’s very hard work!

    I live in Durham Castle, because the Castle is part of the University, with about thirty other students. The course started two years ago, and I’m in my third year. After the course, I’m going to work in France, but I don’t know where yet.

 

UNIT 2

 

TAPESCRIPT 2A

Moscow University

 

    Universities have long been sources of scientific knowledge and culture. Moscow University is the largest and one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Russia. M. Lomonosov, the great Russian scientist, founded it in 1755.

    The university trains students with a high degree of culture and knowledge. It has a lot of fine traditions and possesses excellent training facilities. Those studying at the University are students and research workers at the same time.

    Sixteen faculties, which embrace 276 departments, train people in 237 specialties.

    Practically, all the nationalities of the Russian Federation are represented. Some 75 per cent of the students receive scholarships.

    The University’s international ties are numerous and varied. Thousand of foreign students and postgraduates study there. Many university professors and lecturers go abroad to lecture and research. In recent years, they have delivered lectures in many countries including the USA, the UK, France, Canada and other countries.

    Moscow University has long-term agreements on cooperation with universities in a number of countries.

 

 

UNIT 3

 

TEPESCRIPT 3A

Resources of Russia

 

    Russia is among the world’s richest countries in mineral resources. It is the biggest producer of coal, petroleum, and natural gas, as well as iron, ore, copper, zinc, lead, nicked, aluminum, and tin. Russia’s chemical industry is well developed, and the country’s enormous forests are capable of supplying all its wood and paper products. Energy is generated mostly by thermal plants using the country’s vast fossil-fuel reserves. About three-fifths of Russian farmland is used to grow crops; the remainder is given to pasture and meadow. The main product has always been grain-chiefly wheat, rye, barley, and oats – along with such industrial crops as sunflower seeds, sugar, beets, and flax.

 

TAPESCRIPT 3B

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 to 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. However, the work went on. St Petersburg, a city of great beauty, with palaces, cathedrals, churches, and government buildings became the capital.

    Under later rules, the new capital of the Russia 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 gray 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 Great 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 center. The population of the city is over 5 million.

St Petersburg is indeed a wonderful city. At every turn there is 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.

    St Petersburg’s many museums house some of the world’s famous art collection. The Hermitage, for example, contains the richest collection of pictures in the world. The city is called Northern Venice because there are 65 rivers and canals there with artistically decorated bridges. It’s also famous for its beautiful white nights.

 

 

UNIT 4

 

TAPESCRIPT 4A

The Tretyakov Gallery

 

    In a quiet little street in Moscow there is a building which is like many other old Russian houses. It was built at the end of the 19th century and was decorated by the well known painter, Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. It is the Tretyakov Gallery.

    More than a hundred years ago in 1856 a young business man Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, the owner of the biggest linen factory in Russia, began collecting pictures by Russian painters.

    Soon he decided to organize a museum of national art which must be open to all. He wanted to have in his collection everything, which showed best the development of Russian national art. He bought all the new and interesting paintings from the art galleries. The basis of his collection was founded on the works by Perov, Kramskoi, Shishkin, Surikov, Vasnetsov, Repin and many other artists of that time. Later he bought paintings by Levitan, Serov and Korovin.

    In 1892 Tretyakov presented his collection to the City of Moscow. The name of its founder was given to the Gallery. Later the Tretyakov Gallery got a number of other collections devoted to ancient and Russian art of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.

    The collection is being constantly expanded by the addition of the best works of Russian painters.

    There are more than forty thousand works of art, paintings, sculptures and many other examples of decorative art in the Tretyakov Gallery now.

    The Tretyakov Gallery collection reflects the history of old Russia, the life, work and ideals of its people, their struggle for freedom and happiness.

 

TAPESCRIPT 4B

The Kremlin

 

    The Kremlin is the heart of Moscow. It is surrounded by a high wall of 2.5 kilometers long, built by the Russian builders by order of Ivan III (1462 – 1505), and supervised by the Italian architects. The twenty towers on the Kremlin wall, which give it a unique aspect, were built for decorations and have no military significance. They were constructed in the seventeenth century when Moscow had ceased to be a fortress. Among the ancient buildings in the Kremlin are the churches and tall bell tower built in 1600 by Russian architects under Boris Godunov and known as the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. The largest cathedral, the Uspenski (Assumption), was built in 1475 – 1479 by Aristotle Fiorovante. There are some very fine old frescoes, some of which were restored in the 20th century. It was there that the Russian tsars and emperors were crowned.

    The Archangel Cathedral was built in 1505 by the Italian architect, Aleviso Novy. The tombs of the Moscow princes and tsars are here among them the graves of Ivan the Terrible, of his son Ivan, and of his second, Tsar Fyodor. The Blagoveshchensky (Annunciation) Cathedral was built in 1484 by architects from Pskov. It is noted for the unusual oil paintings done in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries by Andrei Rublev and his pupils, the greatest artists of the time.

    Facing the same square is the very beautiful building known as Granovitaya Palata (Palace) which was built in the end of the 15th century by Marco Ruffo and Pietro Solari. In this palace the Moscow tsars held magnificent receptions in honour of foreign ambassadors. The Granovitaya Palace is connected with the enormous Grand Kremlin Palace.

    Among other historical monuments in the Kremlin are the Tsar Cannon (sixteenth century) and the Tsar Bell (eighteenth century), both of enormous size and made by Russian masters. In a large wing of the Palace are the Armoury and a museum of applied art where imperial collections of utensils, furniture, weapon and garments of eastern and western workmanship are on display.

    In the north-eastern section of the Kremlin is a beautiful building of classic design built famous Russian architect of the eighteenth century, by  the  most

M. Kazakov. In the square opposite this building is the former Arsenal, along the façade of which are numerous cannons captured by the Russian Army from Napoleon in 1812 – 1814.

 

UNIT 5

 

TAPESCRIPT 5 A

Newcastle, my home town

 

    I was born in Newcastle, a city in the north-east of England. Newcastle is on the bank of the River Tyne. It is quite big, with a population of about 200,000 people. There is a cathedral and a university. There are five bridges over the River Tyne, which link Newcastle to the next town, Gateshead, where there is one of the biggest shopping centers in the world, the Metro Center.

    A few years ago, the main industries were shipbuilding and coalmining, but now the chemical and soap industries are more important.

    I moved from Newcastle ten years ago but I often return. I miss the people, who are so warm and friendly, and I miss the wild, beautiful countryside near the city, where there are so many hills and streams.

    People who are born near the River Tyne have a special name. They are called “Geordies”. I am very pleased to be a “Geordie”!

 

 

UNIT 6

 

TAPESCRIPT 6A

St Petersburg University

 

    St. Petersburg University is one of the most important educational and scientific centers in the country. Its history goes back to 1819. This educational institution gave the world such outstanding public men, writers and scientists as I.P. Pavlov, I.I. Mechnikov, D.I. Mendeleyev, and others.

    The University occupies many buildings not only in St. Petersburg, but also in Petrodvoretz, one of its suburbs. The main building of the University was originally Peter I’s “Twelve Colleges”. Next door to it is a two-storey building which houses the faculties of Philology and Oriental Studies. The teaching staff of the University consists of professors, assistant professors and lecturers, many of them are well-known not only in this country, but also abroad.

    In October 1994 Elizabeth II, Queen of Britain, visited St. Petersburg University during her State Visit. She met professors and students in the University main hall and visited some of the laboratories. In her speech addressed to the professors, undergraduates and graduates she said:

    “We know that it was not faint-hearted who first created the splendours of St. Petersburg from flat and barren wasteland; and I am confident that the young people who will emerge from the lecture halls of this University to be a new generation of builders will be able to draw on those same qualities of vision and courage”.

 

TAPESCRIPT 6B

UNIT 7

 

TAPESCRIPT 7A

Wales

    Wales has been united with England for hundreds of years, and for centuries England and Wales have formed one single political and administrative unit. The son and heir of the monarch are given the title “Prince of Wales”, but his title has no political significance.

    If you look at the bottom of the map you’ll see Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Financially and industrially, Cardiff is the most important city in Wales. Most of the inhabitants of Wales live and work in this city and the adjoining area. Apart from the docks Cardiff is a beautiful city.

If you go to Wales, and can’t understand what people are saying, don’t worry! They are not speaking English, they are speaking Welsh. Quite a lot of people speak Welsh, and children learn it at school. The Welsh language is a Celtic language and is very different from English. In general, this is the only distinctive national feature left in Wales.

 The Welsh are famous for their singing. A lot of Welsh people play musical instruments, too. The Welsh national costume is still worn by some girls for folk dancing and music festivals. Wales has a very strong folk culture and many people still learn Welsh as their first language.

 

TAPESCRIPT 7B

William Shakespeare was born in the centre of England in Stratford-on-Avon. It is situated on the quiet river Avon. There are no mountains there but beautiful green fields and woods. A small house with small rooms in the centre of Stratford is Shakespeare's birthplace. There is a wooden desk that Shakespeare sat at when he was a pupil of the grammar school in Stratford.

Behind the house one can see the garden where all trees and flowers that Shakespeare mentioned in his plays are growing.

Shakespeare's parents were country people.

At twenty-eight Shakespeare was in London as an actor. Some years later he became a playwright. His plays were staged at a London theatre “The Globe”.

In the church where Shakespeare was buried there is a bust of Shakespeare made by a Dutch sculptor who lived near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and saw Shakespeare many times.

Shakespeare is known as a writer of historical dramas and comedies, among them “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet”.

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford has the best stage in England. One can see Shakespeare's plays there with best actors and actresses of England.

UNIT 8

TAPESCRIPT 8A

                         Trafalgar Square

This famous square is so named in honour of Brit­ain's great victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets at Cape Trafalgar of the coast of Spain in 1805 during the Napoleonic war. The national hero of this battle was Lord Horatio Nelson, admiral of the British fleet. A column 185 feet high with a 17 foot statue of Nelson on top was erected in 1843. The bronze reliefs are on sides of the pedestal: the battle of the Nile in 1798 (North); Nelson's death at Trafalgar in 1805 (South); the battle of Copenhagen in 1801 (East); the battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797 (West).

Admiral Nelson lost an eye in one battle, an arm – in another, a leg – in the third, and his life in Trafalgar. His laconic command "England expects every man to do his duty" is carved in the granite on the southern side of the pedestal.

The four lions by Landseer (English painter and sculptor, 1802 – 1873) were added in 1867. When the sculptures were unveiled over a hundred years ago, they were des­cribed as being badly modeled and badly cast. The only consolation was that they could not last more than a few years. But, a hundred years later, the lions are still there. They have seen the passing of coronation processions and royal funerals, and have been in the midst of political demonstrations too. 

 

TAPESCRIPT 8B

      Big Ben

 

      Big Ben is the name of the huge clock on the Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament. One can get a good view of the Tower from Westminster Bridge. The Clock Tower is 313 feet high and 41 feet square. The present clock was made by Mr. Dent. It first came into service in 1859, and, except for a few stoppages, it has run continuously ever since.

When the great bell was cast in a London foundry in 1858, the question of its name was discussed in Parliament. One member said, “Why not call it Big Ben?” There was much laughter among the members because the Chief Commissioner of Works at that time was Sir Benjamin Hall, a very tall stout man, whose nickname was 'Big Ben’. From that time, the bell has been known as Big Ben.

The Clock has four dials each 22 feet in diameter. The Bell weighs 13.5 tons. It has four little Bens round him. Big Ben strikes only once an hour but the other four tell the quarters and the half hours. At the side of Big Ben there is a huge hammer weighing over 200 kilograms. The faces of the clock are very large. The minute hands are 14 feet long, the hour hands 9 feet, and the figures are 2 feet long.

 People are allowed to get inside the tower if they wish to see the work of Big Ben. There is no lift in the Tower and there are three hundred and forty steps up to Big Ben.

 Above the clock is an iron lantern, which is lit after sunset when the House is sitting. 

 

 

UNIT 9

TAPESCRIPT 9A

Universities

British universities are not open to everyone. To get a place, you normally apply in your last year at school, before you have taken your A levels. The university makes you an offer; for example, it will give you a place if you get at least one grade A and two Bs in your A levels. The offer depends on market forces; for popular, high-prestige courses, the university will ask for very good A level results.

The number of students on a particular course (for example, Economics at Cardiff University) is strictly limited. The system does not allow students to follow full-time courses in a casual way, having a job or living in another town as they study. Students are quite closely monitored, and have to see their teachers regularly. Consequently, drop-out and failure rates are low.

The negative side of the system was that, compared with other countries, a rather small percentage of British school-leavers actually went on to university. But there has been a dramatic improvement; the numbers have doubled over the last 20 years. One explanation of this is that in the 1980s many polytechnics and higher education colleges were given university status. As a result, many cities now have two universities – an old one and a new one. For example, in Bristol there is Bristol University and the University of the West of England; in Oxford there is Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University.

Officially, all universities in the country are equal in status. But they differ greatly in reputation and public image. In general, the older a university is, the higher its status. So the most prestigious are the ancient ones – Oxford and Cambridge – followed by long-established ones such as London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Some of this is just based on tradition and snobbery. In fact, each university has strengths and weaknesses, and sensible students make their choices according to their own particular needs and priorities.

About half of British students go away to university, rather than attend the one closest to home. This is an expensive thing to do; the government used to give grants (money to live on during studies), whereas now students have to borrow money or get their parents to pay. But still many students find that combining study and family life is impossible.

British universities are very popular with overseas students. There are about 70,000 – mostly from Africa, the Arab world and Far Eastern countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The Erasmus programme arranges exchanges (from three months to one year) for students and teachers between universities in 24 countries including all the members of the European Union. In fact, the UK is the most popular destination, receiving over 25 per cent of all Erasmus students.

 

TAPESCRIPT 9B

MODERN UNIVERSITIES

With the advance of industrialization in the nineteenth cen­tury and the growth of manufacture the government needed tech­nicians and scientists. The older universities did not produce them. Therefore, the government organized science classes in in­dustrial centres and they developed into either technical colleges or the “Modern Universities”, e.g. London, Durham, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, etc.

Every university is autonomous and responsible only to its governing body. The regulations differ from university to university. While there are similarities between them, they all differ considerably from Oxford or Cambridge, where there is a number of separate colleges, each with their own regulations and courses of study. The new, so-called “redbrick” universities which have various faculties, e. g. Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, etc., differ from university to university. In each faculty there may be a number of departments dealing with separate subjects.

The University of Stirling is the first new university built in Scotland. There are more eight new universities that appeared in Britain after the war.

The University of Sussex at Brighton is probably the best known modern one. The University of York, in contrast, is conser­vative and adopted many of the traditions of older universities.

Among professional educationalists the new Universities pro­vide an opportunity for a wide experiment in teaching methods, and an outlet for the energies and enthusiasms of young and revolutionary teachers: Sussex, East Anglia, and Essex experi­ment with multi-subject schools of studies instead of the tradi­tional single-subject departments. At Sussex, for example, all students take a preliminary course in philosophy and history as well as their major subject. York, on the other hand, believes that most students will still want single-subject courses, but it intro­duces a completely new way of studying music at the university.

They also experiment with the social side of university life. At Sussex, for instance, tutors follow students at meals and live in a common room with the students. At most of the universities the students are themselves largely responsible for discipline.

The British government does not think to build more new universities. There is a tendency to expand the older ones and make colleges of technology into universities. An old university can take 3,000 more students by adding staff and laboratories whereas a completely new university for 3,000 students costs up to 15 million pounds. Even at Stirling where the Government al­ready owns the site, the buildings alone cost about 8 million pounds, not including halls of residence. There are thir­teen subject departments not to mention the cost of building libraries and buying other equipment. One must mention that many educationalists say that it is better to enlarge the older universities.

We know that the entrance examinations at British universi­ties are very strict. However, at the University of Sussex and some others one can see some relaxation at entrance exams, for the British government needs a large number of capable scien­tists. 

 

 

UNIT 10

 

TAPESCRIPT 10A

New Orleans

 

New Orleans, at the mouth of the Mississippi River, is the largest city in Louisiana and second most important seaport after New York City. At different times in its history, the area was occupied by the Spanish and the French.

There is still a French-speaking community – the Cajuns. They are descended from French Canadians who went from another French colony called Acadia to Louisiana in the eighteenth century. They became known as Acadians, and the word was shortened to Cajuns.

The music and food of the area is a combination of many influences. Jazz originated in New Orleans as a blend of French and Spanish music, blues, brass-band music, and African slave songs. Cajun music is played on a guitar, accordion, and washboard, and blends French dance tunes, Caribbean music, and the blues.

A typical Louisiana dish, jambalaya, is made of rice and shrimp or chicken, something like a Spanish paella but spicier. Gumbo, a soup or stew, takes its name from a West African word for okra, one of its ingredients.

 

TAPESCRIPT 10B

American English

 

Nearly 265 million people live in the USA and speak English. There are more native speakers of English there than any other country.                

American English is very flexible and has absorbed many words from the languages of immigrants. Words like liaison and rendezvous (from French), and rodeo and tornado (from Spanish) came into the language because France and Spain once controlled parts of North America. Dutch and German settlers gave words such as waffle and cookies, and hamburger and noodles to American English.

The first English speakers to arrive met Native Americans who spoke many different languages. To trade with them, the Europeans learned words from the local languages, and some of these words became part of American English. Native Americans also worked as guides, leading the European traders around the country. The Europeans learned the Native American names for the places they were passing through. Over half the states now have Native American names.

American English has different dialects. People in the southern states speak with a drawl – they tend to speak slowly and lengthen the last sound of each word. They use expressions like “Howdy, y'all” for “Hello, everybody”. Ex-president Clinton, from Arkansas, has a southern accent.

In New York City, especially in the boroughs outside Manhattan, many people have a way of speaking English that is called New Yorkese. Speakers of New Yorkese often speak very fast. They tend not to pronounce the "r" in words that end in “er”. A word like “water” sounds like “wata”.

Teenagers often like to use a lot of slang, along with expressions such as “like” and “you know”, which can make their way of talking seem vague. The words they choose are strongly influenced by popular music and fashion.

Today, there are some differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling between American and British English. Sometimes, the difference in spelling is because Americans wanted to make things simpler, so that a word would be spelled the way it is pronounced. As far back as the 1780s, Noah Webster, founder of one of the most famous American English dictionaries, decided to eliminate from a word any letters that were not pronounced.      

UNIT 11

 

                               TAPESCRIPT 11A

                       Position of the city

Washington, D. C., is one of the few capitals in the world that was simply ordered to exist to house the nation's government. President George Washington, in whose honour the city was named, picked out the spot that included the old tobacco-trading Potomac River port of Georgetown, not far from George Washington's own home of Mount Vernon. The Congress approved the choice. The city belongs neither to the North nor to the South. It is too far north to escape the snows and too far south ever to be prepared for them, a neutral, in-between place of mixed styles and uncertain tastes, where the magnolias bloom in the slush.

Washington is humid year round because it sits between two rivers, the Potomac and Anacostia. During summer hot spells, the combination of heat and humidity can occasionally be almost overpowering. By contrast, Washington's winters are not severe, although they can be damply chill. Washington shares the sweaty summers of Louisiana and the windy cold of the Northwest.

One season, however, has to be seen is Washington’s cherry-blossom time. Several thousand of these cherry-trees were given to Washington in 1912 by the City of Tokyo. When they flower in early April, the whole city draws its breath and drinks them in for almost exactly 12 days. It is indeed Washington's wonderful season, possibly because it is the one occasion in the natural cycle of this city that has nothing to do with its politics and politicians.

 

TAPESCRIPT 11B

Different Washingtons

As you walk along the streets of the USA's capital, you will see different cities within the city. There is a Washington of politics and lobbyists. Its inhabitants move from the Capitol to House and Senate office buildings nearby, down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, to the cocktail lounge of the Mayflower Hotel for a conference with a V.I.P. (very im­portant person), then by taxicab swiftly back to the Capitol.         

There is a Washington of government girls. It is centred at office buildings on Constitution Avenue or 15th Street, and is dedicated to the "great god paperwork". It is a Washington of hurried lunches in soda-fountains, of packed trolley cars, of bus rides to house developments across the Potomac River in Arlington, of Sunday afternoons at the zoo adjoining Rock Creek Park. There is a Washington of "Society" in George­town and along Massachusetts Avenue.

The newspaper man's Washington is a composite of all these cities. Hundreds of reporters are continually visiting the Capitol and White House, the court-rooms, the offices of department heads, the national headquarters of labour unions and business associations, the social haunts of "People Who Know" ("haunt" is an Americanism for a place which one often visits). Washington has a beautiful setting and an atrocious climate. It has a fine collection of first-rate minds as can be found in the United States, but lacks a first-rate secular university. It is a place where big money is made, but it is not a centre of commerce and industry.

 

 

UNIT 12

 

TAPESCRIPT 12A

Harvard University

 

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. From its classrooms have emerged six American presidents – from John Adams to John F. Kennedy – and an impressive group of statesmen, business leaders, and literary figures. Its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston, provides a rich architectural mix that includes the ivy-covered brick of Puritan New England and the con­crete and glass of contemporary design.

Today, the university includes Harvard and Radcliffe undergrad­uate colleges, 10 professional schools, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and an extension school. There are some 1,600 students from every state and 45 foreign countries in it; tuition is about $22,000 a year (not including room and board), and 70% of those attending receive financial aid in the form of load or outright grants.

The university's library system is the largest in the world; it con­tains more than 10 million volumes and subscribes to 100,000 periodi­cals. There are three notable art museums, which house works from an­cient Egyptian to contemporary American. There are also the Botanical Museum, 40 acres of fields, an experimental forest located in New En­gland, a centre for a study of the Italian Renaissance in Italy, and a centre for Byzantine studies in Washington, D. C.

 

 



БИБЛИОГРАФИЧЕСКИЙ СПИСОК

 

Бурлак А.И. Знакомство с Америкой / Бурлак А.И., Бурлак Дж.Г., Кравцова Л.И. – М.: Астрель, АСТ, 2000. – 96 с.

Бутюгина С.А. Пособие по развитию навыков устной речи на английском языке с применением технических средств. – М.: Высшая школа, 1976. – 256 с.

Игнатова Т.Н. Английский язык. Интенсивный курс. – М.: Высшая школа, 1992. – 256 с.

Занина Е.Л. 95 устных тем по английскому языку. – М.: Айрис, Рольф, 1977. – 320 с.

Кошманова И.И. Устные темы по английскому языку / Кошманова И.И., Сидорова Н.А. – СПб., 1999. – 272 с.

Матюшкина-Герке Т.И. Английский язык. Учебник для I курса филологических факультетов / Матюшкина-Герке Т.И., Балашова С.П., Броссе Н.Н. и др. – М.: ГИС, СПб.: Санкт-Петербургский Университет, 1998. 526 с.

Нечипоренко В.Ф. Словарь-минимум разговорной лексики (англо-русский) для неязыковых вузов. – М.: Высшая школа, 1971. – 96 с.

Bordman M. In the USA. – London: Chancerel, 1998. – 106 p.

Eckersley C.U. Essential English for Foreign Students. Book 3. London: Longman, 1968. – 312 p.

Vaugham-Rees M. In Britain. – London: Chancerel, 1995. – 120 p.

Vlasova E.L. Focus on the USA / Vlasova E.L., Kostenko S.M.– St. Petersburg: Nauka, 1991. – 254 p.

Soars J. Headway Pre-intermediate / Soars J., Soars L. – London: Oxford University Press, 1997. – 144 p.

Strzhalkovskaya I.M. A Way to Better English / Strzhalkovskaya I.M., Shereshevskaya A.D. – Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 1981. – 216 p.

Tomakhin G.D. Across the United States of America. – Moscow: Prosveshcheniye, 1980. – 176 p.



ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ …………………………………………………………….3                                                                  

 

UNIT 1. Student Life……………………………………………………..........4

UNIT 2. The Belgorod Shukhov State Technological University.……………16

UNIT 3. The Russian Federation……………………………………………...29

UNIT 4. Moscow……………………………………………………………...42

UNIT 5. My Home Town……………………………………………………..54

UNIT 6. Higher Education of Russia………………………………………….67

UNIT 7. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland………..79

UNIT 8. London……………………………………………………………….93

UNIT 9. Higher Education of Great Britain…………………………………108

UNIT 10. The United States of America…………………………………….123

UNIT 11. Washington, D.C………………………………………………….138

UNIT 12. Higher Education of the USA……………………………………..153

 

TAPESCRIPTS………………………………………………………………169

 

БИБЛИОГРАФИЧЕСКИЙ СПИСОК……………………………………..186

 

 

 

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