Vi. исправление работы на основе рецензий
1. При получении от рецензента проверенной контрольной работы внимательно прочитайте рецензию, ознакомьтесь с замечаниями рецензента и проанализируйте отмеченные в работе ошибки.
2.Руководствуясь указаниями рецензента, проработайте еще раз учебный материал. Все предложения, в которых были обнаружены орфографические и грамматические ошибки или неточности перевода, перепишите начисто в исправленном виде в конце данной контрольной работы.
3.Только после того, как будут выполнены все указания рецензента и исправлены все ошибки, можно приступить к изучению материала очередного контрольного задания и его выполнению.
4.Отрецензированные контрольные работы являются учебными документами, которые необходимо сохранять; помните о том, что во время зачета или экзамена производится проверка усвоения материала, вошедшего в контрольные работы.
VII. ПОДГОТОВКА К ЗАЧЕТАМ
В процессе подготовки к зачетам рекомендуется: а) повторно прочитать и перевести наиболее трудные тексты из учебника; б) просмотреть материал отрецензированных контрольных работ; в) проделать выборочно отдельные упражнения из учебника для самопроверки; г) повторить материал для устных упражнений.
КОНТРОЛЬНЫЕ ЗАДАНИЯ
КОНТРОЛЬНОЕ ЗАДАНИЕ 1
Для того чтобы правильно выполнить задание 1, необходимо усвоить следующие разделы курса.
1. Имя существительное. Множественное число. Артикли и предлоги как показатели имени существительного. Выражения падежных отношений в английском языке с помощью предлогов и окончания –s. Существительное в функции определения и его перевод на русский язык.
2. Имя прилагательное.Степени сравнения имен прилагательных. Конструкция типа the more .. the less.
Числительные.
4. Местоимения: личные, притяжательные, вопросительные, указательные, неопределенные и отрицательные.
5. Наречия.Степени сравнения наречий.
6. Форма настоящего (Present), прошедшего (Past) и будущего (Future) временигруппы Indefinite действительного залога изъявительного наклонения. Спряжение глаголов to be, to have в Present, Past и Future Indefinite. Повелительное наклонение и его отрицательная форма.
7. Просто распространенное предложение: прямой порядок слов повествовательного и побудительного предложений в утвердительной и отрицательных формах: обратный порядок слов вопросительного предложения. Оборот there is (are).
8. Основные случаи словообразования.
ВАРИАНТ 1
I. Перепишите следующие предложения. Переведите их на русский язык.
Определите по грамматическим признакам, какой частью речи являются слова, оформленные окончанием –s и какую функцию это окончание выполняет, т.е. служит ли оно:
a) показателем 3-го лица единственного числа глагола в Present Indefinite;
b) признаком множественного числа имени существительного;
c) показателем притяжательного падежа имени существительного
1. The postman brings us the newspaper in the morning.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
2. Tom’s son is very ill now.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
3. My sisters speak two foreign languages.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
4. He usually has his English in the morning.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
5. I do my exercises at home.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их, обращая
внимание на особенности перевода на русский язык определений, выраженных именем существительным .
1. Read the grammar notes that follow this text.
2. We are going to attend the Music Festival next year.
3. He became a famous knitwear designer.
4. I passed my psychology examinations last week.
5. My sister is a student of the Rostov State University.
Изучите тему: степени сравнения прилагательных и наречий.
III. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. It is ___ today than it was yesterday.
a) warm b) warmer c) more warmer
2. This book is ___ than that one.
a) more interesting b) interesting c) the most interesting
3. London is ___ from Moscow than Paris is.
a) farther b) the farthest c) more farther
4. Mathematics is one of the ___ subjects at a technical college.
a) less important b) most important c) more important
5. The ___ I thought of that plan, the ___ I liked it.
a) more … less b) shorter … longer c) better … worse
Изучите тему: неопределенные и отрицательные местоимения.
IV . Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. Give me ___ books to read.
a) some b) no c) not any
2. I don’t have ___ magazines at home.
a) not any b) any c) some
3. Are there ___ flowers in the vase?
a) no b) some c) any
4. There are ___ pictures on the wall.
a) any b) no c) no any
5. ___ student knows the history of his city.
a) any b) - c) some
Изучите тему: временагруппы Indefinite (Present Indefinite, Past Indefinite, Future Indefinite).
V. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите следующие предложения:
1. Dinosaurs ___ million of years ago.
a) died out b) will die out c) die out
2. I ___ go shopping yesterday.
a) wasn’t b) doesn’t c) didn’t
3. I ___ John tomorrow.
a) shall call b) called c) call
4. I like coffee but my sister ___ it at all.
a) don’t like b) doesn’t like c) shan’t like
5. There ___ ten students in the classroom now.
a) were b) are c) is
VI. Прочитайте и устно переведите текст.
LONDON
London is the capital of Great Britain. It lies in the South East of England on both banks of the river Themes. London is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest port and industrial town in England. London is more than twenty centuries old.
The heart of the capital is the City. The territory of the City is only about one square mile, but it is the financial and business center of the country. It contains almost all important English banks and offices.
The West End of London is famous for its beautiful monuments and palaces, fine parks, fashionable shops and big hotels. The East End is quite different from the West End. It is the district of factories, plants and docks. The narrow streets and poor houses of the East End present a contrast to the homes of the rich people in the West End.
There are many places of interest in London. One of them is Trafalgar Square with the Nelson monument 185 feet high. Buckingham Palace is the royal residence. Westminster Abbey is one of the most beautiful buildings in London. It contains the memorials of many famous citizens of Britain.
Across the road from Westminster Abbey are the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British government.
The Tower of London is one of the most interesting places in London. It was a fortress, a royal residence, a prison, now it is a museum.
London is famous for its green parks. Hyde Park is the most popular of them. It is the greatest park in London as well.
London is the center of the country’s cultural life. There are many picture galleries and museums there. The National Gallery houses a priceless collection of paintings. The famous British Museum is one of the best museums in the world.
VII. Выпишите соответствующие содержанию текста предложения и письменно переведите их.
1) London lies in the North-East of England.
2) The capital of England is more than twenty centuries old.
3) The City is the financial and business center of the country.
4) The Nelson monument is one of the numerous places of interest in London.
5) The territory of the City is more than one square mile.
6) The seat of the British government is the Houses of Parliament.
7) The British museum has a priceless collection of paintings.
8) Hyde Park is the greatest park in London.
9) Westminster Abbey is the place where you can see the memorials of many famous citizens of Britain.
10) There are factories, plants and docks in the East End.
ВАРИАНТ 2
I. Перепишите следующие предложения. Переведите их на русский язык. Определите по грамматическим признакам, какой частью речи являются слова, оформленные окончанием -s и какую функцию это окончание выполняет, т.е. служит ли оно:
а) показателем 3-го лица единственного числа глагола в Present Indefinite;
b) признаком множественного числа имени существительного;
c) показателем притяжательного падежа имени существительного
1. My sister goes to University by tram.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
2. The Bolshoi Theater is the country’s best opera house.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
3. They go home after classes.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
4. He has a dog and a cat at home.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
5. The cold weather affected everybody’s work.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
II. Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их, обращая внимание на особенности перевода на русский язык определений, выраженных именем существительным.
1. I bought a very good tennis racket yesterday.
2. The meeting will take place in the Conference Hall.
3. You can buy leather boots in this shop.
4. This University was founded after the Second World War
5. I learn grammar rules every day.
Изучите тему: степени сравнения прилагательных и наречий.
III. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. This house is ___ than that one.
a) older b) more older c) old
2. This arm chair is ___ than that one.
a) comfortable b) more comfortable c) the most comfortable
3. My car is ___ than yours.
a) the best b) good c) better
4. Football is the ____ sport in the world.
a) less popular b) most popular c) more popular
5. The ____ we learn, the ___ we know.
a) more … more b) better … worse c) larger…bigger
Изучите тему: неопределенные и отрицательные местоимения.
IV. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. ____ people like traveling.
a) no b) - c) some
2. He didn’t make ___ mistake in his dictation.
a) some b) any c) no
3. Have you got ___ objections?
a) any b) some c) no
4. We had ___ time to discuss this problem.
a) no any b) any c) no
5. ___ picture of this museum is valuable.
a) any b) some c) –
Изучите тему: временагруппы Indefinite (Present Indefinite, Past Indefinite, Future Indefinite).
V. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите следующие предложения:
1. Tom ___ busy at the moment.
a) is b) shall be c) were
2. I know how to use a calculator but I ____ know how to operate a computer.
a) aren’t b) don’t c) doesn’t
3. Peter ___ twenty five years old when he graduated from the university.
a) is b) will be c) was
4. We ___ see him till Monday.
a) shall not b) were not c) are not
5. He usually watches TV in the evening, but yesterday he ___ to music.
a) listened b) will listen c) listens
VI. Прочитайте и устно переведите текст.
New York
New York is one of the largest cities in the world. It lies in the mouth of the Hudson River.
The centre of New York is Manhattan Island. Today Manhattan is the centre of business and financial life of the country. Very few people live in Manhattan, although the majority works here. Numerous bridges and tunnels link Manhattan with other districts of New York. In Manhattan there is Columbia University, one of the biggest Universities in the country.
New York is the city of sky-scrapers. Many sky-scrapers house banks and offices of American businessmen. There are many places of interest in New-York. For example, Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, the United Nations Building and the shopping districts,
There are several theatres, museums and art galleries in New York. The most famous of them are American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has a magnificent collection of American and European pictures. There is New York Public Library, the biggest library in New York.
New York.
New York is a multinational city. People of almost all nationalities live here. At the turn of the 20-th century a lot of people came to the USA from different countries of the world.
The poorest part of New York is Harlem, the overcrowded .black community. Its population соnsists of Negroes and Latin Americans.
New York is a city of contrast. It is a city of big business, money, wealth, beauty, unemployment, poverty and crime.
VII. Выпишите соответствующие содержанию текста предложения и письменно переведите их.
1) New York is the city of sky-scrapers.
2) Many people live and work in Manhattan.
3) New York’s American Museum is one of the most famous museums.
4) The inhabitants of New York are people of many nationalities.
5) Manhattan Island is one of the far districts of New York.
6) The United nations Building is one of the places of interest of New York.
7) Only Latin Americans live in Harlem, the poorest part of New York.
8) New York is a city of big business, money, wealth, beauty, unemployment, poverty and crime.
9) There are several theatres, museums and art galleries in New York.
10) The city’s biggest library is New York Public Library.
ВАРИАНТ 3
I. Перепишите следующие предложения. Переведите их на русский язык. Определите по грамматическим признакам, какой частью речи являются слова, оформленные окончанием -s и какую функцию это окончание выполняет, т.е. служит ли оно:
а) показателем 3-го лица единственного числа глагола в Present Indefinite;
b) Признаком множественного числа имени существительного;
c) Показателем притяжательного падежа имени существительного
1. He always comes to his work in time.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
2. We had dinner at our friend’s.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
3. I write to my parents very often.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
4. My sister has a very cosy house.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
5. My mother has two sisters.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
II. Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их, обращая внимание на особенности перевода на русский язык определений, выраженных именем существительным.
1. This town is known for its Picture Gallery.
2. The government provides extra money for science teachers.
3. The bus stop is not far from the Institute.
4. I only like cowboy films.
5. Italy is called a country of wine drinkers.
Изучите тему: степени сравнения прилагательных и наречий.
III. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. This classroom is ___ than other classrooms.
a) larger b) the largest c) large
2. This exercise is ___ than that one.
a) difficult b) more difficult c) the most difficult
3. We have ___ interest in this work than you.
a) more little b) less c) the least
4. I am the ___ in my family.
a) older b) oldest c) old
5. The ___ I studied English, the ___ I liked it.
a) less … better b) more … more c) farther…worse
Изучите тему: неопределенные и отрицательные местоимения.
IV . Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. I have ___ French magazines at home.
a) any b) some c) no any
2. We haven’t got ___ time.
a) any b) no c) some
3. Did you borrow ___ books from the library?
a) no b) some c) any
4.There is a cat in the room, but there is ___ dog there.
a) any b) no c) some
5. ____ monument in this city has its own history.
a) any b) some c) no any
Изучите тему: временагруппы Indefinite (Present Indefinite, Past Indefinite, Future Indefinite).
V. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите следующие предложения:
1. I like dogs very much but I ____ cats.
a) doesn’t like b) don’t like c) aren’t like
2. He ___ to Moscow two days ago.
a) returns b) will return c) returned
3. The train ___ at 5 o’clock tomorrow.
a) arrive b) will arrive c) arrived
4. My sister plays tennis but she ____ basketball.
a) prefer b) shall prefer c) prefers
5. I saw a film yesterday. The film ___ boring.
a) is b) was c) will be
VI. Прочитайте и устно переведите текст.
Philadelphia
One of the main cities of the United States of America is Philadelphia. It lies in the east of the US A.
Now Washington is the capital of the USA, but Philadelphia was the first capital of the United States of America from 1790 till 1800. Many people consider that Philadelphia is an important political centre of the USA, because in this city in 1787 people adopted the first constitution.
Philadelphia is a seaport and shipping centre of the country. It is an important industrial centre. There are many important branches of industry in the city.
There are many places of interest in Philadelphia, for example, the Independence National Historical Park. You will see many monuments in it, for example, the Liberty Bell. Now the Liberty Bell is a symbol of freedom. The sound of this 'Bell told the people about the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was in July, 1776.
Philadelphia is one of the cultural centers of the country. The Parkway is the cultural centre of Philadelphia. There are many museums in the city. For example, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (one of the greatest museums of the world), College of Art, Academy of Sciences and Academy of Fine Arts.
There are a lot of .theatres, shops and hotels in the city. You will see Pennsylvania University in Philadelphia. This University has an interesting and large library. Philadelphia is a beautiful city with many sky-scrapers in it.
VII. Выпишите соответствующие содержанию текста предложения и письменно переведите их.
1) Philadelphia was the first capital of the USA from 1790 till 1800.
2) You can see many theatres and monuments in Philadelphia, for example, the Liberty Bell, which is a symbol of freedom.
3) The Philadelphia Museum of Art is near Independence National Historical Park.
4) The sound of the Liberty Bell told the people about the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
5) Philadelphia is one of the cultural centers of the country because there are many museums there.
6) Pennsylvania University has an interesting and large library.
7) Philadelphia is the most important city of the USA
8) The first constitution was adopted in 1787 in this city.
9) Philadelphia is an important industrial and political centre of the country.
10) Washington is considered to be the center of the country because it is the capital of the United States of America.
Вариант 4
I.Перепишите следующие предложения. Переведите их на русский язык. Определите по грамматическим признакам, какой частью речи являются слова, оформленные окончанием -s и какую функцию это окончание выполняет, т.е. служит ли оно:
а) показателем 3-го лица единственного числа глагола в Present Indefinite;
b) признаком множественного числа имени существительного;
c) показателем притяжательного падежа имени существительного
1) An Englishman’s house is his castle.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
2) Peter Browns works as a manager.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
3) He usually has breakfast at 8 o’clock.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
4) I hate writing letters.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
5) Michael plays tennis two times a week.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
II. Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их, обращая внимание на особенности перевода на русский язык определений, выраженных именем существительным .
1. Helen is a university student.
2. What are your plans for summer holiday?
3. Mr. Taylor and his wife listened to six o’clock news.
4. This is a very interesting newspaper article.
5. There is a large State Library in our town.
Изучите тему: степени сравнения прилагательных и наречий.
III. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. The Volga is ___ than the Dnepr.
a) the longest b) longer c) long
2. This video cassette recorder is ____ than that one.
a) more expensive b) expensive c) the most expensive
3. Today we have ___ free time than you have.
a) the most b) much c) more
4. The Moscow underground is the ____ in the world.
a) better b) best c) good
5. The ____ we leave, the ____ we will arrive.
a) more … more b) longer … shorter c) earlier … sooner
Изучите тему: неопределенные и отрицательные местоимения.
IV . Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. He gave me ___ newspapers.
a) any b) some c) no any
2. He didn’t ask me ___ questions.
a) any b) no c) some
3. Have you got ___ animals at home?
a) some b) any c) no
4. I can’t buy a car because I have ____ money.
a) no b) some c) any
5. Tell me if you need ____ help.
a) any b) no c) not any
Изучите тему: временагруппы Indefinite (Present Indefinite, Past Indefinite, Future Indefinite).
V. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите следующие предложения:
1. The film ___ at 6 o’clock yesterday.
a) begins b) began c) will begin
2. He is a nice person but I ____ trust him.
a) don’t b) isn’t c) doesn’t
3. I saw him yesterday. He ___ very angry.
a) will be b) are c) was
4. He ____ back home next week.
a) were b) will be c) are
5. I hope that you ___ quite well.
a) are b) was c) shall be
VI. Прочитайте и устно переведите текст.
Washington
Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities of the United States. In Washington there is no industry. It is a political, administrative, cultural and educational centre of the country.
Washington is the seat of the US government; Washington's .government buildings include the White House and the Capitol. The White House is the official residence of the US President, where he lives and works. The Capitol is the building where the US Congress meets.
Not far from the Capitol there is the library of Congress, the largest library in the country. It contains more than 13 million books, more than 19 million manuscripts and the personal papers of the US Presidents.
There are some important museums in Washington, where you will see famous paintings and sculptures, the original of the Declaration of Independence, the largest blue diamond in the world, etc.
There are five Universities, several museums and galleries in the capital. You will not find a park or a square in the city without a monument or a memorial. The most impressive and the best known monuments are the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
There are no sky-scrapers in Washington. There is a law that forbids building houses higher than the Capitol. Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day.
VII. Выпишите соответствующие содержанию текста предложения и письменно переведите их.
1) Washington is the capital of the United States of America.
2) The library of Congress, the largest library in the country, is situated not far from the Capitol.
3) Washington is a political, administrative, cultural and educational centre of the country.
4) The White House and the Capitol are Washington’s government buildings.
5) There are no parks in Washington.
6) There is a law that forbids building houses higher than the Capitol.
7) The original of the Declaration of Independence as well as the largest blue diamond in the world is in one of the museums of Washington.
8) There are five Universities and five museums in Washington
9) The Washington Monument is one of the most impressive and the best known monuments of the city.
10) The White House is the building where the US Congress meets.
ВАРИАНТ 5
I. Перепишите следующие предложения. Переведите их на русский язык. Определите по грамматическим признакам, какой частью речи являются слова, оформленные окончанием -s и какую функцию это окончание выполняет, т.е. служит ли оно:
а) показателем 3-го лица единственного числа глагола в Present Indefinite;
b) признаком множественного числа имени существительного;
c) показателем притяжательного падежа имени существительного
1. My brother has many friends.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
2. This is my sister’s book.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
3. We often buy tomatoes and potatoes in the supermarket.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
4. Ann lives in Moscow.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
5. I am always in time for the lessons.
a) –s b) –s c)-s
II Перепишите следующие предложения и переведите их, обращая внимание на особенности перевода на русский язык определений, выраженных именем существительным .
1. There are different types of rocket motors.
2. Where is the sports goods department? It’s on the fourth floor.
3. What is the room temperature?
4. This scientist got two State prizes.
5. There are some students on the sport ground.
Изучите тему: степени сравнения прилагательных и наречий.
III. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1.She ___ than her sister.
a) tall b) taller c) more taller
2.You are even ___ than before.
a) more beautiful b) beautiful c) the most beautiful
3.I earn ___ than a postman.
a) little b) the least c) less
4. She is the ____ pupil in the school.
a) most intelligent b) more intelligent c) less intelligent
5. The ___ is the day, the ____ is the night.
a) taller … smaller b) shorter … longer c) more … worse
Изучите тему: неопределенные и отрицательные местоимения.
IV. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. He asked me ____ questions.
a) some b) any c) not any
2.I haven’t ___ money at all.
a) no b) some c) any
3.. Are the ____ pictures on the wall?
a) some b) any c) not any
4. There are ____ textbooks on the desk.
a) no b) no any c) any
5. You can buy stamps at ___ post office.
a) some b) no c) any
Изучите тему: временагруппы Indefinite (Present Indefinite, Past Indefinite, Future Indefinite).
V. Выполните тест. Письменно переведите следующие предложения:
1. I ___ John and Mary last week.
a) see b) saw c) shall see
2.I ___ live far from the center of town.
a) aren’t b) don’t c) isn’t
3.My boss ____ away for the next three days.
a) are b) were c) will be
4. Do you think this style ____ me?
a) suits b) suit c) shall suit
5. Harry ___ ill last week but now he is better.
a) is b) was c) will be
VI. Прочитайте и устно переведите текст. (Stratford-on-avon –г. Стратфорд –на- Эйвоне, Avon – река Эйвон)
STRATFORD-ON-AVON
Stratford-on-Avon lies at the very heart of England. It attracts people not by its history and connection with William Shakespeare, but also by its wonderful nature and typical English character.
Stratford stands on the river-Avon and is one of the oldest market towns. It preserves its own atmosphere. There are beautiful woods, green fields, a quiet river and lovely houses in it. You will not see modern buildings there. The houses are small and a lot of them are very old. Some of them date back to Shakespeare’s time.
Here you will visit Shakespeare’s birthplace. It is a museum now. In one room there is a little wooden desk, which he sat at, when he went to school. There is a wonderful garden behind the house. Round the corner there is Grammar school that Shakespeare attended.
Thousands of people from all parts of England and foreign tourists come here on Shakespeare’s birthday (23-d April) every year.
Among other sights there is a monument with the statue of the great poet on the top and with characters from his plays round it.
And, of course, you will visit the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a redbrick building on the banks of the Avon. It is a living memorial to the poet’s work. The Royal Shakespeare Company is one of the best known and largest theatre companies in the world, which regularly performs here and in London.
VII. Выпишите соответствующие содержанию текста предложения и письменно переведите их.
1) Stratford-on-Avon is a town where Shakespeare was born.
2) Some of the old houses in Stratford date back to Shakespeare’s time.
3) There are beautiful woods, green fields, a quiet river and modern buildings in Stratford.
4) The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a redbrick building that stands on the banks of the river Avon.
5) In Stratford you can visit Grammar school that Shakespeare attended.
6) One of the sights of Stratford is a monument with the statue of Shakespeare on the top and with characters from his plays round it.
7) Stratford-on-Avon is one of the oldest market towns and it preserves its own atmosphere.
8) There is a wonderful garden behind the Shakespeare’s house.
9) Shakespeare’s house is situated on the banks of the Avon.
10) Many tourists come here only because they want to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.
Тексты для чтения
Text 1
LONDON
London is undoubtedly one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s got everything a visitor could possibly want: rich history, beautiful architecture, charming parks, incredible museums and amazing restaurants. Although there are other great cities that can boast similar attractions, London is truly unique in its multiculturalism. The main reason why London has become a 'melting pot' of nations is the long history of immigration to Britain. More recently, the British Empire and the Second World War have had a serious impact on the number of immigrants in Britain. About 8,000 Caribbeans (e.g. Jamaicans) served as soldiers in Britain during the Second World War. After the war, many decided to stay. As they were citizens of the British Empire, they had the right to work and live in Britain. In the 1950s and 1960s, when Britain had finally recovered from the hardships of war and needed more workers, many Indians and Pakistanis came to live and work in Britain. A few years later, the first Indian restaurants were opened. Forty years on, it's hard to imagine British cuisine without Chicken Tikka Masala, the most famous Indian curry specially designed for British taste.
There are lots of other reasons why people come to live in Britain, such as seeking protection from war, poverty or political persecution back home. So many people have chosen London to be their 'home from home' that today, an incredible 300 languages can be heard in its streets.
There are areas in London that are mainly populated by people of a particular ethnic origin. For example, Brixton in South London is famous for its well-established West-Indian community, whereas Wood Green in North London is a large Turkish settlement. But almost every part of London is populated with a wide mixture of people from lots of different countries and cultures. And, of course there are also large numbers of Irish, Scottish and Welsh people living in London. However, unlike New York, where each community is tightly knit and doesn't mix with other communities, London is truly multicultural. Here's one example. If you're a Turk, you can wander round the Greek areas and markets without any worries. If you're an Anglo-Saxon (the original peoples of England) you can drop into a Jamaican bar without offending anyone. British people can be rightly proud of their multicultural achievements. In addition, coming to live in London from other countries doesn't mean that newcomers have to forget their own culture (as they are encouraged to do in the USA and France). Everywhere you go, you'll see how other cultures have been embraced by mighty London. Ethnic festivals, markets, centres and events are as much part of London as Big Ben and the Tower of London.
Of course, there are some problems. For example, although there are laws against racial discrimination, people from ethnic minorities are more likely to do unskilled jobs or be unemployed than the majority of the population. However, there are also many examples of people from ethnic minorities occupying the best and most prestigious jobs. Lots of Asians are doctors and lawyers. The Chinese communities are economically very active.
Answer the questions:
1. What features distinguish London from other cities?
2. How many languages are spoken by Londoners?
Choose the right answer to the question:
Why did London become a cosmopolitan city?
a) the long history of immigration to Britain; b) the life in London is better
c) the friendly way of life
Text 2
MADAME TUSSAUD’S
Madame Tussaud's is the most popular and talked about wax museum in the world. There are wax models of the famous and infamous, both living and dead, from every walk of life. David Beckham, Madonna, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Charlie Chaplin, Jack the Ripper... There is no other place where you can see all the celebrities at once, even if they are only wax figures. The wax figures are standing and sitting, and sometimes even moving and talking. Computer-controlled figures (they are called audio-animatronics) are especially popular with the visitors. There are several halls at Madame Tussauds. Highlights include the Grand Hall, the Chamber of Horrors and 'The Spirit of London' exhibition.
In the Grand Hall you will find all kinds of celebrities, from presidents to pop stars. The politicians stand in solemn silence watching each other. A very strange company indeed: Winston Churchill, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Tony Blair, Vladimir Putin...The earliest figure from history here is William the Conqueror. There is a special place for the Royal Family here too. New models are being produced all the time while the old ones are quietly removed from display. Over the years hundreds of celebrities have made their way to Madame Tussaud's studio. Most people agree to be portrayed, but some refuse. Mother Teresa was one of the few who refused, saying her work was important, not her person.
The Chamber of Horrors is probably the eeriest place in the whole museum. No wonder visitors are quieter there than in other places. Count Dracula greets you at the entrance to the dark cellar full of villains and their victims, as well as the instruments of torture. An eerie reconstruction of one of the streets of London stalked by Jack the Ripper forms the centrepiece of the exhibition. One of his six victims — Catherine Eddowes — lies in a pool of blood. Here you can also see Madame Tussaud's original exhibition of relics from the French Revolution — the death masks of French nobility and the guillotine blade that was used to behead Marie Antoinette...
'The Spirit of London' exhibition covers a period of more than 400 years and spans London's history from Elizabethan times to the present day. Sights, sounds and even smells combine to tell you the colourful story of Britain's capital city. Visitors climb into a 'Time Taxi' and begin their historical journey...First you visit an Elizabethan theatre, then an old tavern where the great Shakespeare is working at Hamlet...You'll go through the Plague and the Great Fire, you'll see St Paul's Cathedral being built...
There are more than 70 figures in 'The Spirit of London' exhibition. Many of them are animated: they 'breathe', talk and move.
Answer the questions:
1. What wax model was created first among the historical figures?
2. Why did Mother Teresa refuse to pose for the museum?
Choose the right answer to the question:
What was the first original exhibition in Madame Tussaud’s?
a) The Chamber of Horrors
b) the Grand Hall
c) 'The Spirit of London' exhibition
Text 3
HOW THE BRITISH RELAX
As British people say, ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. Like everybody else, British people like doing things outside work. Gardening is a well-known favourite. As the weather in Britain is relatively mild, British people manage to do gardening almost all the year round. Sometimes this can be just doing a bit of weeding and sometimes, serious vegetable and fruit growing. In fact, regardless of the size of the garden, the British can always find plenty to do in it. Mowing grass is also very important. Every Sunday morning (except for winter) they come out to mow their lawns. To outsiders, it almost seems like an obsession but to a British person it is an important social duty. The British see an unmown lawn, not only as a sign of laziness, but also as disrespect to others (and you can get fined for it as well).
Walking is also very popular. Ask any British person if they have a pair of walking boots and the answer will probably be yes. Except for dry summer days, the beautiful British countryside is pretty muddy, so you need a good pair of walking boots or 'wellies' to enjoy your walk. Walking as a leisure activity has a long tradition in England. You can buy a variety of maps and guides to walking routes. Organised walking is also popular and is a good way to discover local sights of interest with a group of like-minded people and a good guide.
Cycling is another popular activity. Unfortunately, many British roads are very busy and don't have cycling paths, so cycling can be a bit dangerous in Britain, many people find quiet country roads and spend their whole holidays exploring their homeland on their bikes. More extreme sports like rock climbing also attract people. And, of course, the famous British eccentricity is the cause of unusual sports like extreme ironing. Extreme ironing is a serious sport where teams of people compete at who can do their ironing in more extreme conditions. Extreme ironing is now an international sport with serious competitions and organised events.
Of course, not all British people keep fit by engaging in extreme sports. Many go to the gym, swimming pool or fitness classes. However, it has to be said that the British are not the most sporting nation in the world. You see, watching TV often gets in the way. Increasingly, British people spend their free time watching TV. The only comforting thing is that they are not on their own - most of the world seems to be doing the same!
As far as actually going away on holiday, many British people choose to spend their holidays abroad, preferably somewhere warm and dry. Spain, France and Greece are regular destinations, due to convenient location and kind climate, but by far the greatest numbers use the USA, especially Florida and California for their holidays. City breaks are also a good idea for changing the scenery and enjoying new places without too much trouble.
Answer the questions:
1. Can British people be fined for an unmown lawn?
2. What are the most popular recreational activities?
Choose the right answer to the question:
Why can cycling be dangerous in the UK?
a) the cyclists often break traffic rules
b) there are no cycling paths
c) traffic is very heavy in most places and there few cycling paths.
Text 4
CLASS SYSTEM
Some things about Britain make sense only to the British. Of these, probably the strangest is social class. There are three main class divisions in Britain with some 'in between' variations (such as 'upper middle'): upper, middle and lower or working class. And people in Britain are very conscious of class differences.
The different classes in Britain tend to eat different food at different time of the day (and call the meals by different names), they like to talk about different topics, they enjoy different pastimes and sports and have different ideas about the correct way to behave.
The easiest way to guess the class to which the person belongs to is to listen to the way he or she speaks. A person's accent in Britain is an identity card. Other people will be able to say what social background you come from, where you were born or educated, and what kind of job you do.
Changing an accent is difficult, even for actors. To achieve the desired accent, a British person must speak it from childhood. This is one of the reasons why people still send their children to expensive private schools. It is not only that the education there is better, but because, as adults, they will have the right accent and manners, and equally importantly, they will make good social contacts that they can use later in life.
A person's vocabulary is also very important. Here is a good class-test you can try: when talking to an English person, say something too quietly for them to hear you properly. A lower-middle or middle-class person will say 'Pardon?'; an upper-middle class will say 'Sorry? (or perhaps 'Sorry — what?'); but an upper-class and a working-class person will both say 'What?' The working person, however, will drop the 't' — 'Wha'?'
'Toilet' is another word that makes the higher classes exchange knowing looks. The correct upper class word is 'lavatory' or 'loo'. The working classes all say 'toilet', as do most lower-middles and middle-middle classes, the only difference being the working-class dropping of the final 't' again.
An interesting thing about the class system in Britain is that very often it has nothing to do with money. A person with an upper-class accent, using upper-class words, will be recognized as upper class even if he or she is unemployed or homeless. And a person with working-class pronunciation, who calls a sofa a settee, and his midday meal 'dinner', will be identified as working class even if he is a multi-millionaire living in a grand country house.
Answer the questions:
1. How many major class divisions are there in Great Britain?
2. What are the differences between the social classes?
Choose the right answer to the question:
Is it difficult to achieve the desired accent?
a) no, if you speak it from childhood
b) yes, for everyone
c) what other features can be used to distinguish class background?
Text 5
BIG RED LONDON BUSES
On October 25th 1911, the London General Omnibus Company ran their last horse-drawn omnibus through the streets of the capital. Then followed the era of the tramcar, but since then the big red motor bus has been London's 'king of the road'. Every day, thousands of Londoners use the big red buses to move around town; and lots of tourists know that a one-day London bus pass, valid on all regular bus routes, offers a wonderful way to see the sights of Britain's capital city.
The idea of the 'double decker' is actually much older than the motor bus; it is simply a continuation of the system that was used for public transport in the age of horse-drawn vehicles, when some of the passengers sat inside, and the rest travelled on the roof. If it rained, passengers could take a sort of oil-cloth cover out of the back of the seat in front of them, and pull it over them, but they still got pretty wet. It wasn't until the 1930s that all new buses became equipped with roofs over the upper deck. Today the only open-topped buses are the special tourist buses. The most famous London buses, however, are not those that filled the capital's streets in the 1930s, but the powerful 'Routemasters' which date from the 1950s and 60s. These are the buses that have been taken all over the world, the buses that you can see in the tourist brochures, and the ones which have been sold, in miniature, to millions of visitors and souvenir hunters.
The Routemaster is a legend in itself! With its open platform at the back end, the Routemaster is still the most popular bus in London, because passengers can climb on and off when they want, even if the bus is moving (though this is not recommended!).
These buses were designed specially for London, by people who knew what London needed, and they have served their purpose well.
Things started to go wrong for the London bus in the late 1960s. That was when the Ministry of Transport decided that it would only give financial assistance to bus companies that bought new buses with doors! They had to choose other models instead. Today, European Union rules also stipulate that new buses for public transport must have doors. Determined to keep the buses that Londoners (and tourists) want, London Transport has decided to keep the old Routemasters going as long as possible. The RM was taken out of use in June 2007 due to a law requiring busses to have access for disabled people. However London Transport has kept two RM routes running as tourists’ attractions. They are routes No 9 and 15. Both run from Trafalgar Square and run past many of London tourist sites. Five hundred of the popular old buses have been renovated, and are now back on the road as good as new, if not better! The London Transport museum at Covent Garden has exhibits of all London buses from 1850 to the present day including the RM.
The black London taxi cab is another traditional symbol of London. It looks old-fashioned and clumsy, but in fact it's comfortable and speedy. Besides, London taxi drivers know the city very well. They spend up to two years studying and memorizing 25,000 streets, as well as the locations of hospitals, hotels, theatres, clubs, museums, etc. Then they have to pass a very difficult test called 'The Knowledge'. So when you climb into the famous black cab you can be absolutely sure that it'll get you wherever you want and by the quickest possible route.
Answer the questions:
1. Why was the RM taken out of use?
2. What kind of test do London taxi drivers have to pass?
Choose the right answer to the question:
Is the RM an open-topped bus?
a) yes b) no c) no, but it was before 1960s.
Text 6
FAMILY LIFE
In 1870, the average family had five or six children and it was a typical Victorian family. Each member of the family had its own place and children were taught to 'know their place.' The father was often strict and was obeyed by all without question. The children were taught to respect their father and always spoke politely to him calling him 'Sir.' Very few children would dare to be cheeky to their father or answer him back. When he wanted a little peace and quiet he would retire to his study and the rest of the family were not allowed to enter without his special permission. The mother would often spend her time planning dinner parties, visiting her dressmaker or calling on friends, she did not do jobs like washing clothes or cooking and cleaning. Both parents saw the upbringing of their children as an important responsibility. If a child did something wrong he would be punished for his own good. 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' was a saying Victorians firmly believed in. For poorer families their greatest fear was ending up in the workhouse, where thousands of homeless and penniless families were forced to live. If your family was taken into the workhouse you would be split up, dressed in uniform and have your hair cut short.
The family in Britain is changing. People get married at a later age and many career-oriented women don't want to have children immediately. They prefer to do well at their jobs first and put off having a baby until late thirties. In 1969, the law made it easier to get a divorce and now Britain is often called 'the divorce capital of Europe'. That means that there are more and more one-parent families.
However, marriage and the family are still popular. Most people in Britain still get married and stay together until the end of their lives. The majority of divorced people marry again, and they sometimes take responsibility for a second family. Relationships within the family are also changing. Parents treat their children more as equals than they used to. Children have more freedom and the things they are interested in reflect this: music, computers, television, the Internet, fashion, shopping and money.
As for young British people, they are keen to become independent and can't wait to move out of their parents' homes, although for some of them this may be financially impossible. Members of a family try to keep in touch, but they see less of each other than they used to. This is because people often move away from their home town to a different part of the country to find a job, which makes it more difficult for them to be in regular contact with their parents. That's why Christmas is so important in Britain. It's the traditional season for reunions and relatives often travel many miles in order to spend the holiday together.
Answer the questions:
1. How many children were there in a typical Victorian family?
2. Why is Britain called 'the divorce capital of Europe'?
Choose the right answer to the question:
Why do young British people leave their parent’s homes?
a) their parents are too strict with them
b) they want to be independent
c) they want to live and work in different part of the country
Text 7
OXBRIDGE
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Britain. Known together as 'Oxbridge' (the word was invented by Lewis Carroll, the author of 'Alice in Wonderland' and a lecturer in mathematics at Oxford), they have been chosen as national icons. Of the two universities Oxford is the oldest. Nobody knows for sure when it was founded but teaching was already going on there by the early 12th century. Life was hard at Oxford at that time because there was constant trouble, even fighting, between the townspeople and the students. Then one day a student accidentally killed a man of the town. The Mayor arrested three other students who were innocent, and by order of King John they were hanged. In protest, many students and teachers left Oxford and settled in another little town, and so the University of Cambridge was born.
Since then there has been constant friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge. In the early centuries, Oxford and Cambridge were the only universities in the country - if you wanted a university education, that's where you went. But in those days student life was very different from what it is now. Students were not allowed to play games, to sing or to dance and all the lessons were in Latin. Until the late 19th century, only men were allowed to be students at the two universities.
Both Oxford and Cambridge students refer to each other as 'the other place'. Oxonians sometimes call Cambridge 'a pale imitation of the real thing'. (Cambridge's colours are light blue). Cantabrigians (people of Cambridge) refer to Oxford as 'the dark side' (Oxford's colours are dark blue).
Oxbridge is made up of independent colleges. The 'University' is just an administrative body that organises lectures, arranges exams, gives degrees, etc. Today, there are 70 colleges at Oxbridge, and each college has its name, its coat of arms and its own buildings, including a chapel, a library, a dining hall and rooms for students to live in. Each college has its own character and its own traditions. Students go to lectures that are arranged by the University and are open to all students. The normal length of the degree course is three years, after which the students take the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Some courses, such as medicine or languages, may be one or two years longer. The students may work for other degrees as well.
Oxbridge has 35,000 students from the UK and all over the world. Oxbridge graduates often become powerful and successful members in British society, and many leading people in professions such as the law and politics have traditionally been 'Oxbridge-educated'.
Sport is a very important part of Oxbridge life. Colleges within each university often compete with each other in various tournaments. The most famous competition between the two universities is the Boat Race, a rowing race which takes place every year on the River Thames. It's a popular national event and is shown on television.
Answer the questions:
1. Who invented the word 'Oxbridge'?
2. Could women study at universities in the 19th century?
Choose the right answer to the question:
What is the name of the most famous competition between the two universities?
a) chess tournament
b) basketball
c) a rowing race
Text 8
Rolls Royce
After Henry Royce's father died in 1872, the boy worked as a newspaper seller and telegram delivery boy. In 1884, Frederick Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business. He made his first car, a "Royce", in his Manchester factory in 1904. He was introduced to Charles Stewart Rolls at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on May 4 of that year, and the pair agreed to a deal where Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold exclusively by Rolls. A clause was added to the contract stipulating the cars would be called "Rolls-Royce". So, the most luxurious classic car in the world was born more than 100 years ago. It was the brainchild of engineer Henry Royce and car trader Charles Rolls. When they founded the Rolls Royce