Insecurity Haunts North African Regimes
Southern Mediterranean states hope to exploit their growing internal security concerns as a means of intensifying pressure on the European Union to cement inter-regional ties during the Barcelona summit.
Among North African states there is growing insistence that the EU should respond more positively to demands for resources which would bolster the incumbent governments of the region in the face of insecurity they portray as threatening to Europe.
The EU aid package for Mediterranean states, amounting to 4 billion pounds, announced at the Cannes summit in June, is regarded by the beneficiaries as little more as a token gesture. North African states will use the Barcelona meeting to emphasize the link between political insecurity and a lack of investment. The Algerian councilor for foreign affairs says: “It’s necessary to give much more money than that provided at Cannes. There cannot be stability and security without the settling of the social questions.”
B
The gold paper was stamped with a pattern of ridges and spines, a miniature nautilus wrapped around dark imported chocolate. Unlike cheap candy that clawed and irritated, this confection slipped down the throat and satisfied.
The gold paper was subtly textured and, like fine damask, when angled just so to the light, it revealed secret designs – diamonds – iridescent and intermittent. Opened flat, the foil was about a three-inch square. It never failed to amaze Fei Lo how boxes and bags could be knocked down to a flat piece of hard paper with notches and missing corners. But the spines that formed this shell design could not be flattened. They were hot-stamped into the paper almost permanently giving the wrapped chocolate its crisp elegance. Fei Lo turned the foil over. A shard of chocolate fell free from the crease. He stared at it before knocking it into his mouth.
C
“O God of Earth and Altar
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die,
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride.”
Exercise 6. a) Read the two texts and say what country, the United Kingdom or the United States, the girls are from. Make a list of the differences between British and American English. Consult the wordlist of British and American vocabulary at http://www.english-zone.com/vocab/ae-be.html.
| Trudi: I got up at seven-thirty. I put on my bathrobe, went into the bathroom and turned on the bath-tub faucets. After my bath I ate breakfast with my parents on the deck. Out apartment’s on the fifteenth floor, so the view’s terrific. At eight o’clock my mom and I took the elevator to the parking lot underneath our apartment block. First we stopped for gas, then she drove me to school. The freeway was really busy – automobiles everywhere. When I got to school it was raining. Luckily I’d brought my galoshes and an umbrella, so I didn’t get wet. School was OK except that we had a math test before recess. I think I flunked it, Anyway, after school I took a bus downtown to meet my sister., Susan. She became a grade school teacher after she left college last year. We ate out at Chinese restaurant. Personally, I don’t like rice, so I ordered French-fries instead. Susan disapproved. After dessert and coffee we paid the check and left. It had stopped raining, but the sidewalks were still wet. Susan gave me a ride home, then I did a history assignment for the next day, watched a movie on TV and went to bed around. | Eileen: I got up at half past seven. I put on my dressing gown, went into the bathroom and turned on the bath taps. After my bath I had breakfast with my parents on the terrace. Out flat’s on the fifteenth floor, so the view’s terrific. At eight o’clock my mum and I took the lift to the car park under our block of flats. First we stopped for petrol, then she drove me to school. The motorway was really busy –cars everywhere. When I got to school it was raining. Luckily I’d brought my Wellington boots and an umbrella, so I didn’t get wet. School was OK except that we had a maths exam before break. I think I failed it, Anyway, after school I took a bus to the city centre to meet my sister, Susan. She became a primary school teacher after she left university last year. We went out for dinner to a Chinese restaurant. Personally, I don’t like rice, so I ordered chips instead. Susan disapproved. After sweet and coffee we paid the bill and left. It had stopped raining, but the pavements were still wet. Susan gave me a lift home, then I did some history homework for the next day, watched a film on the TV and went to bed. |
b) Study the meaning of the following words in British and American English from the “List of words having different meanings in American and British English” at https://en.wikipedia.org/
bureau, carnival, casualty (person), coach, custodian, dormitory, faculty, garbage, bathroom, liquor, mate, prom, reader
Exercise 7. It is well known that lexical differences between British and American English are obvious in the vocabularies of the educational systems. Fill in the table with British and American terms. Consult Wikipedia, if necessary
| Concept | British English | American English |
| государственная школа | state school | public school |
| директор школы | ||
| детский сад | ||
| начальная школа | ||
| средняя школа | ||
| класс (ступень обучения) | ||
| cтаршее звено средней школы | ||
| частная школа | ||
| оценка | ||
| диплом (свидетельство, аттестат) об окончании средней школы |
Clues: principal, public school, grade, primary school, general certificate of secondary education (GSCE), sixth form, infant school, senior high school, headmaster/headmistress, elementary school, private school, mark, high school diploma, comprehensive school, mark, day nursery , form, middle &junior high school
SEMINAR No. 2