Task 3. Read and translate the following text using a dictionary
Ancient Rus was one of the early feudal states and held a leading place in the world history.
The Slavonic written language came to Rus from Bulgaria in the 9th century. Towards the end of this century the replacement of religious books for those in the Slavonic language began.
Between the 10th and 13th centuries Russians developed a high civilization, which formed the foundation of the Russian culture in the following centuries. During this period numerous cultural treasures were accumulated. The written works of the time show that the level of knowledge on most natural phenomena was as high as that of Ancient Greece.
Monasteries were cultural and educational centres. They had large and well-equipped book-making shops, in which not only church manuscripts were copied and translated but original books were written. Now we can confidently say that Ancient Rus was a state of high culture and knowledge.
In pre-revolutionary Russia there was a network of primary schools for common people. Nevertheless illiteracy among common people was very high. Well-off people taught their children in grammar schools, commercial schools or secondary schools teaching no classics.
There were also schools for nobles only. Entrance to those schools was limited For example, at lyceum where A.S. Pushkin studied the number of pupils ranged from thirty to one hundred. Only boys at the age of 10 or 12 fromnoble families of high rank were admitted and studied there for six years.
They were taught many different subjects. The most important were Russian literature, history, geography, mathematics, physics, logic, law, Rhetoric and such foreign languages as French, English, German and Latin. Great attention was paid to different arts and physical training: riding, swimming, fencing and dancing. The aim of this school was to bring up intelligent people in the broad sense of the word. Those who graduated from such educational institutions usually entered the service of their country to realize their abilities and knowledge to the benefit of their state.
The history of higher education in Russia goes back to 1755 when the first University was founded in Moscow on the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov and in accordance with his plan. Later, universities were opened in many other big cities of the country.
After the revolution in 1917, education was guaranteed to Soviet citizens by the Constitution and was free of charge, including higher education. Teaching at schools was conducted in almost all national languages. The system of education was the same throughout the country. School attendance was compulsory for those between 7 and 15. Those who completed their secondary education and passed entrance examinations to higher education establishments received monthly grants if they did not fail the examinations that they took at the end of each term. Higher education lasted five years.
In 1991 the former fifteen republics of the Soviet Union became independent states. The Russian Federation, the biggest and the most powerful of them began to develop as a democratic state. From the very start democratic reforms began to take place in many fields of life. The latest changes in political, economic and social conditions required changes in the system of education. Its aim is to prepare the growing generation for independent life and work in new conditions.
New curriculums were introduced in schools such as "The World Around Us" for younger students and "Fundamentals of Information Science and Computer Engineering", "Ethics and Psychology of Family Life" for senior students. Along with state schools where education is free of charge there appeared many private schools, colleges, lyceums, gymnasiums and different courses where students can study sciences and humanities including foreign languages.
Task 4. Read out the following words and word combinations and give the Russian equivalents:
feudal state, highly developed civilization, natural phenomena, monasteries, church manuscripts, common people, well-off people, illiteracy, to range from … to… , to bring up intelligent people in the broad sense of the word, to the benefit of the state; political, economic and social changes, to require, curriculum, ethics and psychology.
Task 5. Give the English equivalents of the following:
Древняя Русь, славянская письменность, хорошо оборудованные книгоиздательские цеха, сказать с уверенностью, дворянство/знать/аристократия, большое внимание уделялось, единый (одинаковый) по всей стране, бывшие республики, естественные и гуманитарные науки, многочисленные культурные сокровища, бесплатный.
Task 6. Complete the sentences:
1. Ancient Rus was …
2. The Slavonic written language …
3. Between the 10th and 13th centuries Russians …
4. Monasteries were …
5. Common people studied at …, well-off people taught … and there were also…
6. At schools for nobles there were taught such subjects as … and much attention was paid to …
7. The first university in Russia was …
8. Education after 1917 was …
9. In 1991 the former fifteen republics …
10. New curriculums …
11. Along with state schools there appeared…
Task 7. Choose the right variant:
1. Ancient Rus was
a) a republic b) a monarchy c) a feudal state
2. The Slavonic written language came to Rus from
a) Poland b) Roumania c) Bulgaria
3. In pre-revolutionary Russia common people were
a) educated b) intelligent c) illiterate
4. Nobles studied at
a) primary schools b) grammar or commercial schools c) lyceums
5. A lot of foreign languages were taught at lyceums except
a) English b) German c) Latin d) Chinese
6. The history of higher education goes back to
a) 1917 b) 1812 c) 1755
7. After 1917 the system of education was … throughout the country.
a) different b) the same
8. After the USSR collapsed the Russian Federation began to develop as
a) a communist state b) democratic state c) a socialistic state
Task 8. Agree or disagree to the following statements explaining, why:
1. The foundation of the Russian culture was formed between the 10th and 13th centuries.
2. Only church manuscripts were copied and translated in monasteries.
3. Entrance to schools for nobles wasn’t limited.
4. The first university was founded on the initiative of Mendeleyev.
5. After 1991 the changes in political, economic and social conditions didn’t require changes in the system of education.
6. There are only state schools in Russia now.