Make sentences. Use the comparative or superlative form

1) Australia/small continent/in the world.

2) Asia/large/Europe

3) China/large/population/world

4) weather in Spain/good/weather in England

5) Paris/popular/tourist destination/Europe

6) Antarctica/cold & windy/Arctic

7) Pacific Ocean/deep/Atlantic Ocean

READING

Read and discuss the problems of nature.

THE PROTECTION OF NATURE

Since ancient times Nature was the source of people’s life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with environment and they thought that natural riches were unlimited. The development of civilization increased man’s harmful interference in nature.

Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink. Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with about 1000 million tons of dust and other harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Beautiful old forests disappear forever. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of lakes and rivers dry up.

The pollution of air and destruction of the ozone layer are the results of man’s attitude towards Nature.

The protection of the environment is a universal concern. We must be very active to create a serious system of ecological security.

EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

READING

Read the text and make your own list of new words and useful expressions.

Then ask the class about their definitions in English.

Citizens of Russia have the right for education which is guaranteed by the Constitution. The public educational system in this country incorporates pre-school, general school, specialized secondary and higher education.Education is an important part of modern life. Being educated means to know a lot of necessary and useful things for life, which is why every decent person studies at school.

Originally Russian education starts from the early age. Children can start going to kindergarten from the age of two, but this is not a compulsory education. It depends on parents’ decision and child’s wish to attend this institution.

Compulsory education is for children from 6(7) to 17 years old. In Russia children begin going to school at the age of seven. First they study at the elementary school. It lasts three or four years. The primary school teaches its pupils elementary skills, such as reading, writing, counting From the fifth form the secondary education begins. Children begin learning different subjects, such as Literature, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computing, Foreign Languages and so on.

At the 9th grade children face a very important period in their life. At the and of it pupils have to pass examinations. The nine-year secondary education is compulsory in Russia, but after completing the nine-year schooling pupils have to make the first serious decision in their lives. They have to decide either to continue their studies in the tenth and eleventh forms at a general secondary school, or to transfer to specialised colleges, that is to say, choose a particular career. Colleges give young people a secondary education plus practice. This means that after finishing a college they are both educated and financially independent, able to go straight to a job.

Persons who finish the general secondary school, receive a secondary education certificate, giving them the right to enter any higher educational establishment. Entrance examinations are held in July and August. Institutions are headed by rectors; the faculties are headed by the deans.. After finishing the fourth course they get the bachelor's degree and after graduating from the higher educational establishment — the master's degree. Higher educational institutions train students in one or several specializations.

Of course, it’s only the general pattern of education in Russia, but there can also be some exceptions nowadays. For example, there are lots of special schools, where they pay attention only to particular subjects. Also, apart from state schools, there are a number of private schools, where education is not free of charge.

To study is not an easy thing, of course, but in modern society it is quite necessary to be highly skilled and educated specialist.

SPEAKING