I. Look through the vocabulary below that may be useful when speaking about appearance and character.
ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ
Настоящий практикум предназначен для студентов дневной формы обучения неязыковых специальностей всех факультетов высших учебных заведений. Цель практикума – совершенствовать коммуникативную компетенциюв единстве всех составляющих: языковой, речевой, социокультурной, компенсаторной, учебно-познавательной; дать более глубокие знания многофункциональной направленности; содействовать совершенствованию сформированных ранее навыков устной речи; развить умение излагать информационный материал, а также сформировать новые умения в устном общении.
Настоящий практикум состоит из 9 модулей, приложения в двух частях, включающего тексты социокультурного, социально-политического, учебно-профессионального и производственного общения для реферирования и аннотирования, и списка литературы.
Практикум строится на основе методических принципов, способствующих совершенствованию коммуникативных навыков будущих специалистов в свете социального заказа на современном этапе. Тематическое содержание пособия соответствует требованиям современной типовой программы. Лингвострановедческая ориентация текстов, включающих как функциональную страноведческую информацию, так и фоновую, содержащую сведения о культуре, нормах и традициях общения на английском языке, обеспечивает устойчивость коммуникации. Тексты, используемые в пособии, способствуют реализации не только практических, но и воспитательно-образовательных целей обучения. Они являются оригинальными и снабжены словарем и пояснениями. Учебная цель текстов – совершенствовать умения разных видов чтения, служить познавательным источником, расширяющим и углубляющим эрудицию студентов и дающим возможность вести беседу по соответствующей теме.
Задачи практикума (развитие у студентов навыков чтения и понимания текстов страноведческой, социокультурной и социально-политической направленности; умение выделять основную информацию и передавать содержание прочитанного; умение начать, поддержать беседу и высказывать свое мнение, вести дискуссию на английском языке) определяют характер упражнений. Цель заданий, предшествующих тексту, – расширение словарного запаса студентов, отработка лексических навыков устной речи и чтения, введение и закрепление коммуникативных структур. Послетекстовые задания предназначены для отработки навыков более глубокого осмысления содержания текста и для реализации заданной коммуникативной ситуации. Такие упражнения ориентируют студентов на самостоятельное извлечение информации из текстов и носят творческий характер.
Представленные в пособии задания не ограничивают творческую инициативу преподавателя в поиске новых дидактических материалов, методов и приемов их изучения.
THE WORLD AROUND ME
Section I
Appearance and Character
II. Choose the opposites
a) optimistic, shy, stupid, kind, polite, boring, generous, mean, hard-working, strong-willed
b) weak-willed, clever, cruel, cheerful, lazy, sociable, rude, pessimistic, greedy, fair
III. Here are some adjectives to describe a person’s character. Match them with the definitions below:
lazy, clever, stupid, greedy, polite, hark-working, sociable, selfish (эгоистичный), happy, generous
1) He is always interested only in himself. He is …
2) She is fond of going to the parties and meeting her friends. She has a lot of them. She is very …
3) He dislikes spending money and never buys any ice-cream, sweets or juice. He is …
4) She is fond of learning and always passes her exams well. She is … and …
5) He prefers to spend the whole day in bed watching TV. He is …
6) Mary will never forget to say “Thank you” and “Please”. She is a very .. girl.
7) She is always smiling and says she is fond of life. She is really …
8) He doesn’t want to study. He can’t even write the word “newspaper” correctly. He is …
9) She is always helping people. She is …
Section II
Family
IV. Read the following text. Use the information given in it while speaking about your family.
| scruffy | ['skrAfI] | неряшливый, нечесаный |
| to tower | ['tauq] | выситься |
| morose | [mq'rous] | угрюмый |
| sullen | ['sAlqn] | сердитый |
| to mutter | ['mAtq] | бормотать |
| hem | рубец на платье | |
| tights | ['taIts] | колготки |
| bluish | ['blu:IS] | голубоватый, синеватый |
| to splash | ['splxS] | брызгать(ся), шлепать(по грязи) |
About my family
I enjoy the honest and open relations in my family – but I think discipline must be used when necessary. There’s never been a division between us, the children, and them, parents. Freedom has made us close.
I knew a girl whose parents were very strict and it made her a liar. I wouldn’t like to do anything to upset my parents.
(from “Incentive English” by w.s. Fowler, J. Pidceck)
Section III
Pastime and Leisure
I.
| ambition | стремление | |
| be fond of smth | любить что-либо | |
| be interested in smth | интересоваться чем-либо | |
| be keen on smth | увлекаться чем-либо | |
| choose a profession | выбирать профессию | |
| desire | желание, желать | |
| dislike smth (to do smth) | не нравится что-либо (делать что-либо) | |
| do sports | заниматься спортом | |
| dream | мечта | |
| dream of smth | мечтать о чем-либо | |
| competitin / contest | соревнование | |
| team | ||
| compete | соревноваться | |
| to lose / win | проигрывать / выигрывать | |
| go on for | заниматься (спортом) | |
| to be in good / bad sport shape | быть в хорошей / плохой спортивной форме | |
| root for / support | болеть за | |
| be a … fan | быть … болельщиком | |
| ground | спортивная площадка | |
| gym (gymnasium) | спортивный зал | |
| track suit | спортивный костюм | |
| theatre | театр | |
| What’s on at the theatre tonight? | Что идет сегодня в театре? | |
| drama theatre | драматический театр | |
| audience | зрители, публика | |
| spectator | зритель | |
| theatre-goer | театрал | |
| to be popular / a success with the public | пользоваться популярностью / успехом публики | |
| film / movie | фильм | |
| screen version | экранизация | |
| feature film | художественный фильм | |
| cinema-goer | любитель кино | |
| plot | сюжет | |
| see a film on TV | смотреть фильм на ТВ |
HOBBIES FOR PLEASURE
Nowadays everybody knows that people are very busy and don't have much time to spare. Sometimes it's only the weekend. So let's treasure every hour we can devote to ourselves and think of the ways of having a good time in the best way possible for us.
There are people who want to broaden and enrich their knowledge during their free time. If you are among them, go to the library or reading-hall where you can find a lot of books of your favorite writers and poets, or to the museums and picture galleries where you see the works of well-known painters and sculptors of all times. You shouldn't forget the computer — your greatest helper in searching for knowledge.
If you want to be strong and healthy, go in for sports. There are many sports clubs, swimming-pools, gymnasiums and sports grounds for everybody who loves sports. Sport will make you not only healthier and stronger, but kinder, more sociable, cheerful and even wiser. Sport will give you its strength and energy and you'll become a greater admirer of life with all its problems and wonders.
And don't forget about hobbies. You should have at least one, it'll help you to relax, dream and enjoy life better. There are so many hobbies to choose. So, look around more carefully and you'll find your own and the only one (or even more). And then you'll enjoy sweet melodies at the Concert Hall of chamber music, a ballet at the Opera House, a play at the Drama Theatre, a beautiful place beside a river or somewhere else.
And then isn't it a pleasure to see lots of things made with your own hands, to look through a large collection of old and rare coins, books or stamps, to present your friends with the pictures and drawings created by yourself, to amuse everyone with your green winter garden at home?
Tastes differ and if you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky. If not, don't waste your time and your life will become more interesting.
Travelling is also a good way to spend your spare time. Visiting new places, seeing sights and meeting new people is a very exciting and useful relaxation. Those who prefer a quiet holiday can go hiking. Your family or your friends are the very people to go with to the river bank, to the forest or to the seashore. It’s really wonderful to put up a tent, make a fire and spend time in the picturesque place.
People are always dreamers, our dreams are different but everyone can find his own way of enjoying his pastime.
Section IV
VITEBSK STATE UNIVERSITY
V. Say it in English.
Четыре университета, пять студентов, учебные учреждения, много традиций, три типа, два отделения, одиннадцать факультетов, четыре корпуса, шесть общежитий, пять музеев, семь спортзалов.
VITEBSK STATE UNIVERSITY
Vitebsk State university named after P.M. Masherov is the oldest higher educational institution in the republic of Belarus. It’s famous for its main traditions in training professionals. The history of our higher educational institution dates back to the year of 1910, when the Ministry of Peoples Education of Russia decided to set up a Teacher-training Institute in Vitebsk. It was the first educational establishment of such a type on the territory of modern Belarus. A new page in the history of the Institute was opened after the October revolution. In May, 1918 an all-Russia Congress of Representatives of Teacher-training Institutes was held. It made a decision to reform Teacher-training Institutes into higher educational establishments. So in October 1, 1918 Vitebsk Teacher-training Institute was renamed into Vitebsk State Pedagogical Institute. It became the first higher educational establishment of Belarus after the October revolution of 1917 and the first higher teacher-training establishment of Belarus. The temporary occupation of the territory of Belarus by fascist invaders stopped the activity of the Institute. After the liberation of Vitebsk from German invaders the Institute resumed its work on October,2,1944. The same faculties that had existed before the war resumed their work. Vitebsk The State Pedagogical Institute became the main centre for training teachers for national schools. 33 590 day-time and part-time students graduated from its departments. In September, 1, 1995 Vitebsk Pedagogical Institute named after S. M. Kirov was granted the status of Vitebsk State University. The new name meant also new directions of activities. Research work has become one of the main directions. Today the university is the centre of international, republican and regional conferences. The University has 4 buildings, 6 hostels, a botanical garden, an agricultural biological station, a stadium, 7 gym halls, a publishing house, a calculating and television centres, 5 museums (the museum of the history of the University, Masherov memorial museum, the museum of biology, the museum of literature and the museum of decorative and applied arts. In February 1998 the university was renamed after the statesman of the Republic of Belarus, a graduate of Vitebsk Teachers-training Institute Peter Mironovich Masherov. Today the efforts of the staff are aimed at turning the University into a leading educational scientific and cultural centre of the Vitebsk Region. There are 11 faculties at the University: The Law Faculty, the Physics Faculty, the Philology Faculty, the Mathematical Faculty, the Faculty of Belarussian Philology and Culture, the Faculty of History, the Faculty of Social Studies, the Physical Training and Sport Faculty, the Arts Faculty, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Further and Advanced Training. The scholars of our university, our graduates and students do their best for the stabilization of the economy of the republic and its further development.
III
- Hi, …! Glad to see you!
- Hi, …! I haven’t seen you for ages. You were going to enter the University, weren’t you? Has your dream come true?
- Yes, it has. I’m a first-year student.
- My congratulations! So in five years you’ll have a profession. How lucky you are! By the way, what will your future speciality be?
- A teacher of drawing.
- Is it difficult to study at your faculty?
- Rather! We are taking a lot of subjects having three or four and even more lectures and classes a day. But still it’s interesting for me to study here. In short I like it.
- And they say, it’ll be more interesting when you begin taking your special subjects.
- I hope so.
COMMUNICATIONAL CLICHÉS
The following situational dialogues will improve your communication skills.
Countries and Nationalities
I. Read the following proper names correctly:
A. Europe, Asia, South America, North America, Africa, Australia
B. Argentina , Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahrain [bR'reIn], Barbados ['bRbeIdLz], Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia ['bPznIq]-Herzegovina [hFqtsq'gPvInq], Brazil [brq'zIl], Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Chile ['CIlI] , China, Croatia [krqu'eISIq], Cuba, Cyprus ['sQIprqs], the Czech [Cek] Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea ['gInI], Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel ['IzreIl], Italy, Japan [Gq'pxn], Korea, Kuwait [kHweIt], Lebanon ['lebqnqn], Liechtenstein ['lIktnstaIn] Luxembourg ['lAksmbWg], Macedonia ["mxsI'dqunIq], Malta ['mLltq], Nepal [nJ'pLl], the Netherlands, New Zealand ['neTqlqndz], Norway, the Philippines ['fIlIpJnz], Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Montenegro ["mPntI'nJgrqu], Spain, Sweden ['swJdn], Switzerland, Thailand ['taIlxnd], Turkey ['tWkI], Ukraine, the UAE ( the United Arab ['xrqb] Emirates ['emIrqts], the USA (the United States of America)
II. Match the country and its capital:
China Stockholm ['stPkhqum]
Austria Vienna [vI'enq]
Norway Oslo ['Pzlqu]
Poland Warsaw ['wLsL]
Italy Rome
France Valletta
Japan Tokyo
Malta Athens ['xTnz]
Greece Copenhagen ["kqupn'heIgn]
Denmark Paris 'pxrIs]
Sweden Beijing
III. Endings –ese, - an, - ish, -i are used to form the word denoting ‘nationality’
Form each nationality according to the modal:
- an
America – American: Austria, Belarus, Egypt, Canada, Norway, Italy.
He is from the USA. He is an American. He speaks English. (the English language). The Americans are easy-going. (The Americans are an easy-going people.)
- ese
Portugal – Portuguese: Burma, China, Japan, Lebanon, Malta, Nepal.
He is from Portugal. He is a Portuguese. He speaks Portuguese (the Portuguese language). The Portuguese are friendly. (The Portuguese are a friendly people.)
- i
Iraq – Iraqi: Israel, Pakistan, Kuwait.
He is from Iraq. He is an Iraqi. He speaks Arabic (the Arabic language). The Iraqis are independent and warlike. (The Iraqis are an independent and warlike people.)
Irregular cases:
Cyprus – a Cypriot, the Cypriots; Spain – a Spaniard, Spanish, the Spanish; Great Britain – an Englishman/woman, English, the English; Denmark – a Dane; the Danes, Danish; France – a Frenchman/woman, the French, French; Turkey – a Turk, the Turks, Turkish; Poland – a Pole, the Poles, Polish; The Netherlands – a Dutchman/woman; the Dutch, Dutch.
PRE-LISTENING TASKS
Look at the list of countries in the pre-listening exercise. Complete the columns with the nationality adjectives of the countries not mentioned in the dialogues. Consult a dictionary to spell the words correctly.
Buying Tickets
VII. a) Read and translate the dialogue.
- I’d like to book a flight to Berlin for Monday the tenth.
- I’ll find out for you now.
- I want to go Business Class, and I’d prefer the morning, please.
- Lufthansa LH203 takes off from Minsk Airport at 8.20 and flies direct.
- When am I supposed to check in?
- You’ll have to be at West Terminal by 7.10 at the latest (не позже).
b) Replace the words in bold type by your own ideas and act out the new dialogue.
Accommodation at a Hotel
VIII. a) Read the following dialogues. Learn the phrases in bald type.
1.
— Good morning, sir. What can I do for you?
— We are tourists. Reservations have been made to accommodate 11 people from Minsk.
— Oh, yes, sir. Five double rooms and one single room for a fortnight.
— Thank you. We hope the rooms are not noisy.
— They're very quiet. They face the sea.
— Good. Are all the rooms with the house phones?
— Certainly, sir. And you can have our central papers free every morning. Fill in the arrival card and take all the keys. When you go out, please, leave your keys at the reception desk.
— Sure.
— If you want a maid, sir, or to order anything, you may use the house phone. All the numbers you may need are on the list beside the phone.
— Thank you. Show us the rooms, please.
— This way, please.
2.
— Do you have a single room for a week?
— Yes, but only on the top floor.
— What price is it?
— 250 euro with service and TV.
— Fair enough. Can you show me the room, please?
— Of course. Would you like to follow me?
3.
— Can I have a double room from now until Monday?
— You can have Room 5, overlooking the sea.
— What does it cost?
— 45 euro a day, not counting the service.
— Can I have a look at this room, please?
— Yes, of course. Come this way.
— Can you show me something a little cheaper, but also with a view of the sea?
— Yes, of course. I won't keep you a moment.
4.
— Will you register, please? Here is an arrival card. Thank you. May I have your passport, please? Thank you.
— May I have a look at my room now?
— Yes, of course. I'11 show you up to your room now.
5.
— Are you signing out today, sir?
— Yes. Make the bill ready, please. In five minutes I'll come down to pay it.
— Thank you. Shall I send a porter to help you with your luggage, sir?
— Yes, please. And let him call the taxi for 9 o’clock.
— In a minute, sir.
b) Make up your own dialogues using these phrases.
Asking the Way
IX. a) Read and translate the following dialogues. Choose one dialogue for acting out.
1.
— Excuse me, can you tell me where Prater Street is, please?
— Take the second on the left and then ask again.
— Is it far?
— No, it's only about five minutes' walk.
— Thank you.
— That's OK.
2.
— Excuse me but I'm trying to find Heldenplatz.
— Take the third turning on the right and go straight on.
— Should I take a bus?
— No, you can walk it in under five minutes.
— Thank you very much indeed.
— That's quite all right.
3.
— Excuse me, sir.
— Yes, what is it?
— Which is the quickest way to the sea?
— Go straight on, take the street on your right and go as far as the sea.
— Thank you ever so much.
— It's all right, sir.
4.
— Excuse me... I want to get to Kunsthistorisches Museum. At what stop do I get off?
— Kunsthistorisches Museum? Just a minute. Go farther. Four stops more. Or... wait a moment. You may get off at the next stop and take another route bus. It'll be probably quicker.
— Oh, thank you. I'll go by this bus, just not to change.
— Yes, it surely is more convenient.
5.
— Does this bus go to the market?
— No, you'll have to get off at the bank and take a 12.
— Can you tell me where to get off?
— It's the next stop but one.
6.
— Do we go to the seafront?
— No, you're going the wrong way. You want a 16 from the bridge.
— Have we got much further to go?
— It's the next stop.
7.
— Is this the right bus for Donaupark?
— No, you should have caught a 9. Jump out at the Church and get one there.
— Could you tell me when we get there?
— It's two stops after this one.
8.
— Excuse me. Would you tell me where I can buy postcards with a view of this town?
— First right, second left. You can't miss a small bookshop with a stand of postcards in front of it.
— Is it too far to walk?
— No, it's only half a kilometer.
— Thank you very much.
— It's a pleasure.
b) Say it in English:
Не подскажите, как добраться до …; далеко ли до; это в 15 минутах ходьбы; поверните налево (направо); нужно ли садиться на автобус?; на какой остановке сходить?; сойдите на …; нужно ли делать пересадку?; идет ли этот автобус до …?; вы не сможете пропустить (не заметить); далеко ли пешком до …?
Meals
Feeling Unwell
Buying a Souvenir
a) Read the dialogue.
At a Department Store
Betty: Let's do all our shopping here at the Kaufman department store. Then we can have lunch and go to the movies in the afternoon.
Mrs Black: That's a good idea. I want to buy some gloves and a purse at this counter. There's the clerk. Are you busy? Can you help us?
Shop Assistant: Certainly. What can I show you?
Mrs Black: I want a pair of brown gloves, size 6. What's the price of this pair?
Shop Assistant: They are 3.50. They wear very well.
Mrs Black: I'lltake one pair. Can you show me a brown purse to match the gloves?
Shop Assistant: Here's a nice one. It's the latest style.
Mrs. Black: How much does it cost?
Shop Assistant: It's ten dollars.
Betty: Do you want a larger purse? I like that one, mother. Why don't you buy it?
Mrs Black: All right, Betty. Please, wrap the purse and gloves together.
Shop Assistant: I'll write a check for them.
Betty: Let's take this elevator to the fourth floor. I want to look at a suit.
Shop Assistant: Good morning. May I help you?
Betty: Yes, I'm looking for a grey suit, size 12.
Shop Assistant: We have several your size. Do you want to try on one of these? The quality is excellent.
Betty: Yes. Oh, I like this one. How much is it?
Shop Assistant: It's 75 dollars.
Betty: That's too expensive. Do you have a cheaper
suit?
Shop Assistant: Yes, this grey flannel is cheaper than that cotton one. It's on sale today for 45 dollars. Do you want to try it on?
Betty: It fits perfectly. I'll take it.
b) Answer these questions:
1. What does Mrs Black want to buy at the Department Store? 2. Is the shop assistant very helpful? 3. What is Betty looking for?4. Do they have a good choice of suits at the department store? 5. What size does Betty wear? 6. How much did the suit Betty bought cost?
c) Find the appropriate English phrases for the following:
Хорошая идея. Вам помочь? Я ищу серый костюм, размер 12. Они хорошо носятся. Вы не можете показать мне коричневый костюм, который бы подходил по цвету к перчаткам? Это последняя мода. Вы можете нас обслужить? Сколько стоит эта пара перчаток? Ты не хочешь кошелек побольше? Почему бы тебе не купить его? Вы не хотите примерить один из этих костюмов? Качество отличное. У вас есть костюм подешевле? Костюм сегодня в продаже за 47 долларов. Костюм сидит на мне хорошо.
d) You want to buy a souvenir for your friend. Make up a dialogue of your own.
NATIONAL TRADITIONS
GREAT BRITAIN
DID YOU KNOW?
1. The first Christmas card, as the term is now understood, is believed to have been designed in England in 1843 by John Callcott Horsley. An edition of 1,000 hand-coloured copies was placed on sale in London. A triptych, the card depicted a family party in the centre, beneath which were the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” In the United States the owner of a variety store in Albany, New York, in the mid 19th century produced a card carrying Christmas greetings from “Pease's Great Variety Store in the Temple of Fancy.” Boston lithographer Louis Prang is credited with producing the first commercial Christmas cards in the United States; by the 1880s he was producing more than five million a year, using the chromolithography process, which allows subtle and realistic coloration and detail.
2. In most European countries gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, December 24, in keeping with the notion that the baby Jesus was born on the night of the 24th. The morning of December 25, however, has become the time for the exchange of gifts in North America. In 17th- and 18th-century Europe the modest exchange of gifts took place in the early hours of the 25th when the family returned home from the Christmas mass. When the evening of the 24th became the time for the exchange of gifts, the Christmas mass was set into the late afternoon of that day. In North America, the centrality of the morning of the 25th of December as the time for the family to open presents has led, with the exception of Catholic and some Lutheran and Episcopal churches, to the virtual end of holding church services on that day, a striking illustration of the way societal customs influence liturgical practices.
3. The Russian Orthodox church and the Ethiopian Orthodox church also recognize January, 7 as Christmas day, and the Armenian church honours January, 6.
4. Christmas tree is an evergreen tree, often a pine, balsam, or fir, decorated with lights and ornaments as a part of Christmas festivities. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime; it survived further in the custom, also observed in Germany, of placing a Yule tree at an entrance or inside the house during the midwinter holidays. The modern Christmas tree, though, originated in western Germany. The main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve was a “paradise tree,” a fir tree hung with apples, that represented the Garden of Eden. The Germans set up a paradise tree in their homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve. They hung wafers on it (symbolizing the host, the Christian sign of redemption); in a later tradition the wafers were replaced by cookies of various shapes. Candles, symbolic of Christ, were often added. In the same room was the “Christmas pyramid,” a triangular construction of wood that had shelves to hold Christmas figurines and was decorated with evergreens, candles, and a star. By the 16th century the Christmas pyramid and the paradise tree had merged. Introduced into England in the early 19th century, the Christmas tree was popularized in the mid 19th century by the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. The Victorian tree was decorated with toys and small gifts, candles, candies, and fancy cakes hung from the branches by ribbon and by paper chains.
5. Blown-glass ornaments were offered for sale in Britain and the United States as early as the 1870s, many produced in small workshops in Germany and Bohemia, which also created decorations made from tinsel, cast lead, beads, pressed paper, and cotton batting. In the United States, F.W. Woolworth was selling $25 million in ornaments annually by 1890, by which time strings of electric tree lights were also available.
6. In South and Central America, unique religious and secular traditions mark the Christmas celebration. In Mexico, on days leading up to Christmas, the search of Mary and Joseph for a place to stay is reenacted and children try to break a piñata filled with toys and candy. Christmas is a great summer festival in Brazil, including picnics, fireworks, and other festivities as well as a solemn procession of priests to the church to celebrate midnight mass. In India, the fir as Christmas tree is replaced by the mango tree or the bamboo tree, and houses are decorated with mango leaves. Japan serves as illustration of a different sort. There, in a predominantly Shintō country, the secular aspects of the holiday – Christmas trees and decorations, even the singing of Christmas songs such as "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" or "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" – instead of the religious aspects are widely observed.
Halloween
Halloween (October, 31)
Since most holidays honour famous people or celebrate important events, what started this rather strange holiday that seems to "honour" witches and ghosts?
Halloween wasn't always a children's "fun" holiday. At one time, it was a very serious and rather frightening event.
Thousands of years ago, in England, Scotland, Ireland, and some other places, the day that is now November 1 was the beginning of the new year. People also thought of this day as the start of winter. They called it "Summer's End."
People believed there was a sort of war between winter, with its cold and darkness, and summer, with its bright, long days and pleasant greenery. They felt that at Summer's End, the "army" of winter – ghosts, goblins, witches, and other evil creatures – grew very strong.
The night before Summer's End, October, 31 became a frightening time. People were sure that all the wicked creatures would be out celebrating – and might attack them.
To protect themselves, people held special ceremonies. They built big bonfires on hilltops to light up the night. They put on masks and animal skins. They hoped that their strange "costumes" would keep the evil creatures from knowing who they were.
Hundreds of years later, the Christian religion came tо these countries. In the 7th century AD, Pope Boniface IV established All Saints' Day, originally on May 13, and in the following century, perhaps in an effort to supplant the pagan holiday with a Christian observance, it was moved to November 1. The evening before All Saints' Day became a holy, or hallowed, eve known as All Hallows' E'en (e'en is an old way of saying "evening"). After a time, it was shortened to Halloween.
Many people, especially in England, kept up some of the old Summer's End customs. Even after thousands of years had passed, people remembered that ghosts, goblins, and witches were supposed to be most powerful on Halloween. They also remembered that it was a night on which people had once put on special costumes.
As a secular holiday, Halloween has come to be associated with a number of activities. One is the practice of pulling usually harmless pranks. Celebrants wear masks and costumes for parties and for trick-or-treating, thought to have derived from the British practice of allowing the poor to beg for food, called “soul cakes.” Trick-or-treaters go from house to house with the threat that they will pull a trick if they do not receive a treat, usually candy. Halloween parties often include games such as bobbing for apples, perhaps derived from the Roman celebration of Pomona. Along with skeletons and black cats, the holiday has incorporated scary beings such as ghosts, witches, and vampires into the celebration. Another symbol is the jack-o'-lantern, a hollowed-out pumpkin, originally a turnip, carved into a demonic face and lit with a candle inside. Since the mid 20th century, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has attempted to make the collection of money for its programs a part of Halloween.
Guy Fawkes Day
ADDITIONAL READING
Here are some more British traditions. Read and translate them. Try to classify them into 1) unique customs, distinctive for Britain; 2) traditions, analogous to those of our country. Substantiate your choice. What is precisely in common? What are the differences?
PANCAKE DAY
Many people in the United Kingdom eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins. The custom began long ago, when people could not eat butter and eggs during Lent. So, to use up their butter and eggs before Ash Wednesday, they made pancakes.
On Pancake Day, as it is called, the women of Olney, England, have a pancake race. On this day, the women line up in the market square. Each carries a pancake in a frying pan. The women must flip their pancakes three times as they race for the church door at the other end of the square.
A bell clangs. They're off! Pancakes are flipping and feet are flying. The race lasts about a minute. The winner gets a kiss from the bell ringer of the village.
On the same day, there is also a pancake race in Liberal, Kansas. The people of Olney and the people of Liberal compare winning times by telephone to see which town has won the pancake race.
THE BEGINNING OF LENT
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It can be as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. The exact date depends on the date set for Easter Sunday.
Ash Wednesday is observed in Roman Catholic churches and in some Protestant churches. In Roman Catholic churches, ashes from burned palm leaves are blessed. A priest then uses these ashes to mark a cross on each person's forehead. The ashes are to remind people that they came from dust and will one day return to dust.
Lent is a religious season that is a time of fasting (not eating as much food as usual) and of prayer. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter (not counting Sundays) and ends on Easter Sunday. The forty days of Lent are to remind people of the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. The word Lent comes from the Old English word lencten, which means "spring."
In many countries, special foods are eaten during Lent. These foods are usually a substitute for meat. In Ireland, people have a dish called champ. It is made up of scallious, a kind of onion, whipped in with hot mashed potatoes and served with a lump of butter in the middle.
The English also make special foods for Lent. One is a pudding of flour and milk, flavored with fruit syrups. Because it can be made quickly, it is known as hasty pudding.
In most places, fish is a standard food throughout Lent. So are eggs. But there was time when people were forbidden to eat eggs and butter, as well as meat. During the forty weekdays of Lent they could have only bread and water.
CHEESE ROLLING
Of all Britain's famous customs and traditions, cheese rolling is probably the strangest – and certainly the most spectacular.
Every year, large crowds of people gather at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire to watch the Cheese Rolling Championship.
A group of brave (and crazy) people roll a large cheese down the hill, and then run down after it. In theory, competitors must catch the cheese, but as it can reach speeds up to 70 miles an hour, this rarely happens.
Cheese Rolling is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain. It's been going on for hundreds of years and nobody knows for sure when it first started.
The master of the ceremonies must wear a white coat, ribbons and a top hat. He starts the event with the traditional signal: 'One to be ready, two to be steady, three to prepare – and FOUR to be off.'
In the past the cheese-rolling day also included a fair that took place at the top of the hill.
Four races are held on the day: three for men and one for women. There are also uphill races for children.
Cheese Rolling is a dangerous sport. There is usually an ambulance at the event – to treat people with sprained ankles, black eyes and sometimes more serious injuries.
Oh, and what's the prize for winning in this 'extreme' sport? You get to keep the cheese!
BELARUS
"KALYADY" HAS COME
I. Pay attention to these words. Pick out sentences with these words from the text and read them out:
Kalyady – Каляды;
Christmas – Рождество;
Epiphany [i'pifsni] – Крещение;
Svyatki – Святки;
Kalyadnaya Kuttzya –Калядная кутья;
Bethlehem –г. Вифлеем (библ.);
Christ [kraist] – Христос
II. Read out these phrasal verbs and expressions several times till you remember them:
to get rid of – избавляться от чего-л.;
to see the New Year in – встречать Новый год;
treat to – угощать чём-л.;
they say – говорят;
to play the accordion – играть на аккордеоне;
to act out – представлять, разыгрывать.
III. Match the English words and their Russian equivalents:
eternity ярмарка
fair бессмертие
mysterious вечность
vagrant избавляться от
smart предки
to get rid of бродячий
forefathers веселый
merry таинственный
immortality переодеваться
to disguise нарядный
IV. Combine the words with the help of the preposition of:
groups a. everything bad
many countries b. Christ's birth place
the masks c. elite
a sort d. ''Kalyady"
a symbol e. Goats and Bears
eternity f. immortality
the name g. the world
holiday h. porridge
to get rid i. merry young boys and girls
V. Give the comparative and superlative of the following adjectives:
Long, old, late, young, ancient, delicious, bad.
VI. Give the three forms of the following verbs:
to come, to spoil, to begin, to call, to hold, can, to treat, to bear, to disguise.
VII. Give the plural of:
Calendar, amateur, carol, fair, story, masquerade, holiday.
VIII. Write the derivatives of the following words:
To fall, a mystery, to celebrate, a host, to congratulate, music, to perform, an origin.
IX. These words can be used both as verbs and nouns. Make up your own sentences to show the difference in their usage:
Generation Gap
I. Pay attention to these words. Pick out sentences with these words from the text and translate them into Russians:
Generation gap — проблема «отцов и детей», разрыв между поколениями;
the awkward age - переходный возраст;
juvenile [´dƷu:vənail] delinquency [di´liŋkwensi]- подростковая преступность;
out of sheer boredom - от (всепоглощающей) скуки;
the smart set - законодатели моды;
gilded youth - «золотая» молодёжь;
to live below the poverty line — жить за чертой бедности.
II. Read out the following words and memorize their meaning:
vagary (n) [´veigəri] причуда, каприз, чудачество
coin (v) [kכin] создавать новые слова
insatiable (adj) [in´sei∫əbl] ненасытней, жадный
аре (v) [eip] подражать, обезьянничать
adolescence (n) [´ædə´lesns] подростковый возраст, юность
adolescent (n) [ædə´lesnt] подросток
cool (adj) [ku:l] крутой
clumsy (adj) [´klÙmzi] неуклюжий, нескладный
elation (n) [i´lei∫n] приподнятое настроение
despair (n) [di´speə] отчаяние, безнадёжность
jealousy (n) [´dƷeləsi] зависть
acute (adj) [ə´kju:t] острый
inhibit (v) [in´hibit] сдерживать, тормозить
impressionable (adj) [im´pre∫ənəbl] впечатлительный, восприимчивый
arrogant (adj) [´ærəgənt] нахальный, самонадеянный
harsh (adg) [ha:∫] жестокий
lenient (adj) [´li:njənt] мягкий, снисходительный
annihilation (n) [əֽnaiə´lei∫n] истребление, уничтожение
shed (v) [∫ed] отбрасывать, оставлять
III. Read out these phrases several times till you remember their meaning:
in a fearful hurry страстно жаждущие;
to grow up повзрослеть
twice their age два раза старше их;
to get through a confusion преодолеть неразбериху, замешательство;
to get into a bad company попасть в плохую компанию;
to become stratified расслаиваться (на классы);
to bring about приводить;
under the constant threat of под постоянной угрозой;
to question the wisdom подвергать сомнению
and sanity of their elders мудрость издравомыслие старших (старшего поколения).
IV. Read the text and get ready to speak about the problems of teenagers:
GENERATION GAP
Old people are always saying that the young are not what they were. The same comment is made from generation to generation and is always true. It has never been truer than it is today.
These days grown-ups describe children as «difficult», «rude», «wild» and «irresponsible». Only some people say that they will grow up to make our country a better place.
For kids from 8 to 14 a new term «teens» has recently been coined. They are no longer children nor yet teenagers, just between - teens. They are said to be a generation in a fearful hurry to grow up. Instead of playing with Barbies and Legos they are interested in the vagaries of love on TV serials. Girls wear provocative make-up. At this very age kids start pairing off. Teens have got an insatiable desire for the latest in everything - from jeans with labels so that everyone will know that they've got the latest stuff - to CDs. Kids at their age desperately need to belong and that's why everything comes down to appearance. They think that having the right «stuff» is the quickest way to acceptance. For parents and teachers they can be a nightmare, aping the hairstyle, clothes and make-up of celebrities twice their age. Experts saythat the rush to grow up is due to the mass media. Being raised by single-parent families as well as watching TV, which sucks up most of their free time, can also accelerate the desire of children for being independent and creates behaviour problems.
But the most painful part of childhood is the period when they begin to emerge from it: adolescence or the awkward age. There is a complete lack of self-confidence during this time. Adolescents are overconscious of their appearance and the impression they make on others. They feel shy, awkward and clumsy. Feelings are intense and hearts - easily broken. Teenagers experience moments of tremendous elation or black despair. And besides, friends are becoming more and more important these years. At schools there are cliques who decide what is «cool». Adolescents may rebel violently against parental authority, but this causes them great unhappiness. And they are not always helped to get through a confusion of life in a steady, productive way. But even teenagers with sympathetic and supportive parents can fall in with bad company.
Most children don’t belong to any clubs and they just start roaming the street after school out of sheer boredom. A lot of them become addicted to drugs and/or alcohol because their life is hollow and they don't think of life-long goals. They have nothing to fill the emptiness of their souls with. They demand to have all that they see, and regard it as their right to be entertained every waking moment.
And besides our society is becoming more und more stratified. There has appeared a class of rich people and a class of poor people (to be more exact - people leaving below the poverty line). Children of well-off parents consider themselves «the smart set» or «gilded youth». Their parents give them every material benefit, pocket money any time they ask. A lot of these children have their own brand-new cars and personal computers. It goes without saying that it causes jealousy and the desire to possess the same things on the part of children whose parents are poor and cannot afford it. Such feelings can push teenagers to committing a crime and it leads to a wide spread of juvenile delinquency.
Nowadays children start using computers very early. Teens are so fascinated by them that they spend hours and hours at their personal computers or at computer clubs. The electronic universe replaces their contacts with friends and dominates their life completely. Obsession with computers brings about a mechanical, disillusioned mentality and inhibits their emotional development.
The heads of youngsters are also being filled with violent pictures they have seen on TV. Children are very naive and impressionable. And no wonder that they are so aggressive and arrogant in real life. They are thrown into such a harsh world, especially if they live in a city.
These days a lot of parents think that they should be lenient with their children, they should let them find out about life for themselves, they should leave children to develop their own idea of right and wrong. But it's a grave mistake, Parents should try to protect their children from possible bad influences and give them clear guidance about right and wrong.
There is no way to predict how today's children will turn out. Keeping faith in kids is necessary. They are not bad. They are optimistic. They expect to have a better life than their parents'. And grown-ups - if they are prepared to admit it - could learn a thing or two from their children. One of the biggest lessons they could learn is that enjoyment is not «sinful». Enjoyment is a principle you could apply to all aspects of life. It is not wrong to enjoy your work and enjoy your leisure, to shed restricting inhibitions. It is surely not wrong to live in the present rather than in the past or future. This emphasis on the present is only to be expected because the young have grown up under the constant threat of World War II, which means complete annihilation. This is their «glorious» heritage. Can we be surprised that they question the wisdom and sanity of their elders?
V. Answer the questions:
1. What comment is usually made about the younger generation? 2. What epithets do grown-ups use speaking about children? 3. Does anyone believe that children will make our country a better place to live in? 4. What term has been coined recently? 5. Are teens interested in playing with dolls and toys? 6. What things do they want to have and why? 7. Why is the awkward age the most painful part of childhood? 8. Do teenagers obey their parents? 9. Teenagers with sympathetic and supportive parents never get in bad company, do they? 10. Why do teenagers become addicted to drugs and alcohol? 11. What do teens regard as their right? 12. What society do we live in? 13. Are there any people who live below the poverty line in this country? 14. Who belongs to the smart set or gilded youth? 15. What can push children from poor families to commit a crime? 16. When do children start using computers nowadays? 17. What does preoccupation with computers bring about? 18. Children are easily influenced by violence on TV, aren't they? 19. How do they behave in real life? 20. What do many parents think about upbringing nowadays? 21. Are they right? 22. What should parents do? 23. Is it possible to predict what people today's children grow up? 24. What sort of life do children expect to have? 25. What could grown-ups learn from their children? 26. Why do young people prefer to live in the present? 27. What does World War II mean? 28. Do young people have a right to question the wisdom and sanity of their elders?
Vocabulary
to relate to относиться к ч-л.
peer сверстник
adult взрослый
overwhelming неодолимый
breakdown разрыв
to affect оказывать влияние
drug наркотик
pregnancy беременность
delinquency преступление
complex сложный
citizen гражданин
to drop out of бросать, уходить
to neglect- пренебрегать, пропускать занятия
ample обильный
to rebel восставать
survey исследование, опрос
barbiturate барбитурат
overdose передозировка
grown-up взрослый
curiosity- любопытство
deprived лишенный, бедный
adoption усыновление
unemployed безработный
puberty половая зрелость
anorexia nervosa анорексия
bulimia nervosa булимия
promiscuity беспорядочность
juvenile юношеский
VI. Find synonyms for the words in the frame:
| Complex to neglect adult to rebel Juvenile survey to drop out Curiosity ample affect |
To disobey, abundant, interest, young, difficult, to disdain, to leave, enquiry, grown-up, influence.
VII. Match the words and their definitions:
To drop out, barbiturate, overdose, deprived, unemployed, anorexia, bulimia, peer, adult, to affect, pregnancy.
1. A powerful drug that makes you feel calm and relaxed or puts you to sleep.
2. Too much of a drug taken at one time.
3. To leave school, college without finishing your studies.
4. Without a job although able to work.
5. An emotional disorder leading to dangerous weight loss.
6. Without enough food, education and all the things that are necessary for people to live a happy and comfortable life.
7. An emotional disorder in which a person repeatedly eats too much and then forces himself/herself to vomit.
8. A person who is the same age as you.
9. To produce a change in smb. /smth.
10. A fully grown person who is legally responsible for their actions.
11. The state of being pregnant.
VIII. Insert the words in the gaps:
YOUTH PROBLEMS
All adolescents have problems from time to time. However, most young people pass through this stage of development without serious difficulty. These young people make new friends, join clubs, and take part in sports and social activities. For these young people, the teen-age years are generally happy and exciting.
Most of the problems that adolescents have are related to schoolwork, finances, peer group and family relationships. The majority of such problems are minor, at least from an adult’s point of view. However, a problem that appears unimportant to an adult may seem overwhelming to an adolescent. This difference in viewpoints may itself cause problems if it leads to a breakdown in communications between parents and their teen-agers. Most personal problems of adolescents do not affect society as a whole. But certain problems are so serious and widespread that they are considered social problems. These problems include attitudes toward schooling, the use of drugs, early pregnancies, food disorders and delinquency.
Attitudes towards schooling.Education is increasingly important in today’s complex industrial societies. More and more jobs in these societies require a high degree of specialized knowledge of technical skill. In addition, democratic societies have traditionally relied on the schools to help produce well-informed, responsible citizens. Nearly every state of the United States requires young people to attend school until they are at least 16 years old or until they graduate from high school.
Many teen-agers who drop out of school or neglect their studies come from homes where learning is not encouraged. But many students do not fully develop their abilities even though they receive ample encouragement at home. In some cases, parents may need to reevaluate the goals they have set for their children. Even able students may rebel if they feel that too much is demanded of them.
The use of drugs.Surveys of the U.S. teen-agers indicate that the great majority have at least experimented with such drugs as alcohol, barbiturates, cocaine, LSD, or marijuana. Some have experimented with heroin, morphine or other drugs. Many of these drugs are physically harmful if taken regularly. A single overdose of some drugs, such as heroin or barbiturate, can result in a coma or death.
Adolescents can take drugs for various reasons, including peer group pressure, the desire to appear grown-up, the example of parents, and curiosity. Most teen-agers pass through the experimentation stage without developing a drug abuse problem. Others are not so fortunate. Alcohol is one of the most frequently abused drugs among teen-agers, as it is among adults. About 15 per cent of the U.S. high school students may have serious drinking problems.
Early pregnancies. The UK has the highest proportion of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe. Each year in England 90000 girls get pregnant. 2200 of these are under 14, and 7700 are under 16 years old. The British figure for the first, younger group is ten times higher than in Japan, and eight times higher than in Sweden and the Netherlands, where attitudes to sex are more open. According to the United Nations, the dramatic situation with teenage pregnancies in the UK is largely due to the lack of general education and appropriate family support, as most teenage mothers come from poorly educated and deprived families.
Bei