А) About Parents and Family.
Words and expressions.
1. family
2. sense of stability and tradition
3. support and understanding
4. “My home is my castle”
5. “East or West, home is best”
6. wise
7. to feel lost
17. to feel safe
18. nothing can discourage me
19. parents are frank and honest with their children
20. to learn how to form relationship among the equals
21. consist of
8. to be strong both in body and character
9. to be generous and full of joy
10. to be very busy
11. to have little time for private life
12. a good professional
13. a woman of character
22. to be well-bread
23. to be warm-hearted
24.to have a thin face
25.to have grey eyes
26. to have a snub nose
27. to have curly ash-blond long hair
14. to be married
15. to have a family of (her, his) own
16. to be funny and curious
28. remote relatives
29. to do the house work
30. to live in Belarus
31. from time to time
Relations by birth: parents (father, mother), child (children), son, daughter, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparents (grandmother, grandfather), grandchildren, cousin..
Relations by marriage: husband, wife, mother-in-law, stepmother.
Marital status: married, unmarried, single, divorced, widowed, bachelor.
Sex: male, female.
Occupations:lawyer, engineer, computer operator, housewife, businessman
(-woman), economist, accountant, secretary, security guard, salesman (- woman), office clerk.
I believe that everything has its beginning in the family. Family is very important for every person, because it gives you a sense of stability and tradition, a feeling of having a support and understanding. The English say “My home is my castle” or “East or West, home is best” and I’m sure these sayings are very wise. There are moments in our life when one feels lost and nothing is left but a deep sigh. But I feel safe, the little world within my family is perfect, and nothing can discourage me now. When I’m discouraged, I come to my parents. I tell them my feelings and ask them to help me understand why I’m depressed. In happy families parents are frank and honest with their children, they treat their children without moralizing them all the time and children learn how to form relationship among their equals.
My family consists of my father, my mother and my sister. My father’s name is Ivan Petrovich. He is 47 years old. He is strong both in body and character. He is generous and full of joy. He can make different things with his own hands. At present he is a director of a large plant. He is very busy, always concentrated on his work and has little time for private life.
My mother’s name is Irina Ivanovna. She is an economist. She is very interested in her work; she is a good professional. My mother is a woman of character, well-bread , tactful and fair. She is warm-hearted and at the same time practical. She has got a thin oval attractive face, grey eyes and a snub nose, curly ash-blond long hair. She does all the housework; we try to help her.
Mum understands me in the way no other person would and she means a lot to me.
My sister Mary is about 25. She is married. She has a family of her own. She has two sons. The boys are funny and curious.
I have many remote relatives: two grandmothers, aunts and cousins. All of them live in Belarus and we get together from time to time.
That’s all I can say about my family. If you have any questions you are welcome.
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1. (b) About Myself.
Words and expressions.
Let me introduce myself.
1. full name
2. to be born on the... of...
3. appearance
4.to be tall (short, average)
5. to be short-sighted
6. to wear spectacles
7. stars influence our fate and character
18. Aries
19. to be full of energy
20. to be ambitious
21. to be frank
22. hot tempered
23. to apologize
24. rather reserved
25. to be calm
8. to be modest.
9. to be angry
10. to be sad
11. to have sense of humour
12. appreciate
13. unfortunately
14. to be witty
26. to be sincere
27. to be tolerant
28. to be friendly
29. to be faithful
30. to be hard-working
31. to like and dislike
32. knowledge is useful
15. playing the guitar
16. reading
17. going to the theatre
33. to be fond of...
34. to be not keen on...
35. to hate
Astrological signs: Capricorn (23 Des.- 20 Jan.), Aquarius (21 Jan.-18 Feb.),
Pisces (19 Feb.-20 March), Aries (21 March-20 Apr.), Taurus (21 Apr.-21 May),
Gemini (22 May-21 June), Cancer (22 June-22 July), Leo (23 July-22 Aug.),
Virgo (23 Aug.-22 Sep.), Libra (23 Sep.-22 Oct.), Scorpio (23 Oct.-22 Nov.),
Sagittarius (23 Nov.- 22 Des.).
Let me introduce myself. My full name is Andrei Andreevich Ivanov. I was born on the 29th of March 1985 in Minsk, where I live now together with my parents and my younger sister.
As to my appearance, I’m rather tall, i.e. 180 centimetres tall, but not of a very powerful built. My hair is dark and my eyes are blue. I am shortsighted and I have to wear spectacles most of the time.
I believe that stars influence our fate and character, so as you see I am Aries. They say that Aries is full of energy, a leader, ambitious and frank, likes sport, hot tempered, but quick to apologize. Partially it is true. I think I am even-tempered, rather reserved, calm and modest. But sometimes I can lose my temper and become either angry or sad.
I’ve got a sense of humour; I understand humour and appreciate it. But unfortunately, I’m not often witty myself. Besides I’m sincere and tolerant, friendly and faithful, hard working and serious.
There are many things in our life, which I like, and some I dislike. I like when everything is OK. Being happy is one way of being wise. I like to study, because knowledge is useful. My favourite occupation is playing the guitar, reading and going to the theatre. I’m fond of the music of the 60-s, like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presly. I’m fond of sport as well. I’m not keen on television; I rarely watch it. I getting up early and dislike overcrowded buses. I’m happy I have got more things I like than I dislike. That’s all I can say about myself.
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C) About Myself.
Words and expressions .
1. mid twenties
2. slender athletic build
3. do not smoke
4. drugs
5. to work ... hours a day
6. day off
11. to enjoy
12. gardening
13. cooking
14. good physical shape
15. military history
7. international law
8. a healthy life
9. a home of my dreams
16. never stop growing spiritually
17. to share (with)
10. a well rounded person 18. to be majoring in
Allow me to introduce myself to you. My name is John and I am single, male in my mid twenties. I have blond hair, blue-eyes, slender athletic build. I do not smoke.
I do not drink and I don’t do any type of drugs.
I work for a large business company in California. I usually work 10-12 hours
a day and have three days off. I’m majoring in History and German, which I will use to study international law. I hope to be able to study law for use between the U.S. and Europe.
When I’m not busy with work and studies, I enjoy spending time and relaxing with friends. I also enjoy gardening, cooking, keeping in good physical shape, reading and researching military history. The things I hope to achieve in life are to have a very successful career, a healthy life, to build a home of my dreams and to become a well rounded person, never stop growing spiritually and learning about the world. What I hope for most is to find someone in life to share all this with.
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A) My working day.
Words and expressions.
1. Finance Law Department
2. Law School
3. academic year
4. classes
5. to attend lectures regularly
6. (not) to miss
7. to have a shower
8. to dress
9. to brush hair
10. to have breakfast (dinner, supper)
11. toasted bread
12. fried eggs
13. hostel
14. it takes me ... minutes to get to the...
15. to take notes
16. twice a year we take our exams
17. to do something meaningful in the adult world
I study at the Finance Law Department of the Belarus Law School. I want to be a lawyer. Our academic year begins in September. We have our classes in the morning. I attend lectures regularly. I do not miss my lectures and seminars.
On weekdays I usually get up at 7 o’clock and do my morning exercises. Then I have a shower, get dressed, brush my hair and have breakfast. For breakfast I usually have toasted bread, fried eggs and tea or coffee.
I live in the hostel. It is not very far from the Institute. It takes me 10 minutes to get there. Our lessons begin at half past eight. I go to the classroom, take my books and notebooks out of the bag and put them on the desk. We have lectures and practical lessons every day.
We study the law and judiciary, computer programming, economics, civil law, criminal law, the theory of business, history and some other subjects. We take notes at our lectures and prepare for our practical lessons at home. At our seminars we discuss different questions concerning law and judiciary. It is not easy to study law, but we do our best. Twice a year we take our exams in different aspects of law and other subjects. We should prepare for our exams carefully. We try to work hard because we are eager to do something meaningful in the adult world.
After classes I go home and have dinner and a short rest. I am not fond of television, but sometimes I like to watch an interesting film. Before falling asleep I have supper, read books or listen to music. Usually I go to bed at 11 o’clock.
B) My working day.
Words and expressions.
1. a freshman
2. housing
3. opportunities
4. to rent a flat
5. to share my room with another boy
6. to turn on (off) the radio
7. to leave the house
8. to pass my exams successfully
9. occasionally I have to stay at the Institute till...
Hi, nice to meet you all.
My name is Nick Ivanov. I am a freshman at the Institute of Law. My parents live in Gomel, but I decided to study in Minsk, so I needed some housing. There were two opportunities for me: I could live in a students hostel or rent a flat. I decided to rent a room. To make the rent smaller, I also decided to share my room with another boy. He studies at the Institute too and he is my best friend now.
Now let me describe my usual working day. My classes begin at 8.30. So on weekdays I have to get up at 7. 15. I don’t have an alarm clock and usually my roommate wakes me up and my working day begins.
I turn on the radio and do my morning exercises while he takes a shower. Then I take a cool shower, brush my teeth. After that I go back to our room and get dressed. I brush my hair and have breakfast. I love to listen to the latest news on the radio while I am eating. We leave the house around 8 and walk to the nearest bus stop. We live rather close to the Institute and it usually takes us about 10-15 minutes to get there by bus. The classes begin at 8. 30 in the morning and they end at 2 p.m.. We have lectures in different subjects. As a rule we have three or four classes a day. Sometimes it is very hard to wait till they end. Usually I don’t miss my classes because I want to pass my exams successfully. Occasionally I have to stay at the Institute till 5 or even 6 o’clock because I go to the library to get ready for my classes or to write a report. By the end of the week I get very tired.
At about 7 o’clock we have supper together and share the news. After supper we wash dishes, drink coffee and watch TV. At about 11 at night I go to bed. I like to read something before going to bed. It calms me down after a long day.
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3. My Institute.
Words and expressions.
1. a commercial Institution of Higher Education
2. to train
3. main building
4. three departments
5. in the sphere of foreign economic activity
6. merchant law
7. advocating and notary regulations
8. tax and banking.
9. skilled lectures
10. is headed by
11. to be at the disposal of...
12. the curriculum for full-time (part-time) students
13. correspondence department
14. field department offices
15. to give a solid background in all spheres of knowledge
Every year a lot of young men and women enter Universities and Institutes of Higher Education in Belarus. I’m very glad to tell you that now I’m a first year student at the Belorussian Law Institute. I should like to tell you some words about my Institute.
Our Institute was opened in 1991. It is a commercial Institution of Higher Education. The Institute is headed by Rector Stephen Sokol, Professor and Doctor of Law. Our Institute trains lawyers in economy, finance, international relations, accounting, analysis and auditing.
The main building of our Institute is modern and nice. It is situated in Korolya Street. There are three departments at our Institute. The department of International Economic Relations and International Law trains lawyer in the sphere of foreign economic activities and international merchant law. The law department trains specialists in economics law, in the sphere of advocating and notary regulations. The Economic department trains managers in the sphere of banking and tax. Many skilled lectures and professors teach at our Institute.
Modern computer classes, a lot of lecture and classrooms, a cafe and a library are at the disposal of our students. So we have good opportunities to master the subjects.
The first two years of study are generally the most difficult. The students usually have a lot of seminars, lectures and classes. We study Philosophy and Economy, crime Psychology and Criminalistics, special courses of Detective Activities, tax and banking.
Student’s life is a very full one, both academically and culturally.
We have holidays at the end of each set of examinations.
The curriculum for full-time students is differ from part-time students. As for me I study at a correspondence department.
Our Institute has field department offices in Mogilev, Baranovichi and Grodno. The graduates work at different business firms as legal advisers, at industrial enterprises and judicial offices.
I am happy that I study here. It is one of the finest higher educational institutions. Many famous people of Belarus have graduated from our Institute. Studying at our Institute gives a solid background in all spheres of knowledge and prepares for practical work.
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My Future Profession.
Words and expressions.
1. to choose a career
2. a first-year student
3. a future lawyer
4. interesting and socially important
5. while crime exists in our country
6. to fight (to prevent) crime
7. quick and accurate solution of a crime
8. the professional skills of a lawyer
11. to protect the rights and legal interests
12. to master the subjects
13. you will have to face...
14. a highly qualified specialist
15. noble
16. rate
17. the prestige and salary
18. average
19. court
9. training
10. legal service of national economy
It’s rather difficult sometimes to choose a career and to speak about future occupation, because a lot may change in our life in a moment. Now I am a first-year student of the Belorussian Law Institute.
I am a future lawyer. My dream has always been to become a lawyer. I’ve chosen this profession as my future occupation a long time ago. From my childhood, little by little I got interested in this profession and began thinking of Law as my future occupation.
In my opinion job should be interesting and socially important. That is why I have chosen the profession of a lawyer.
I consider that this profession is necessary and important while crime exists in our country. The principal tasks of our profession are to fight crime and to prevent crime. We know that quick and accurate solution of a crime depends on the professional skills of a lawyer, on his training. Besides lawyers should know how to protect the rights and legal interests of citizens, organizations and institutions. That is why we try to master all the special subjects. Nobody knows what crime you will have to face tomorrow, so you should be a highly qualified specialist. It’s very noble and necessary to protect life and property of our people. Some lawyers choose job in the financial world, or run their own companies. To become a lawyer in business you need to have original ideas; be well organized and practical, understand the business world.
The rate at which the legal profession is growing will probably continue. Why is the career in law so popular? Of course because of the prestige and salary. The average salary of an experienced lawyer is still substantially greater than that of many other professionals. But this work isn’t so interesting as it may seem.
So, that’s what I know about my profession now. And it makes me think that in some years I’ll be able to find the job in accordance with the knowledge I get, because our Institute trains specialists for working in court, Office of Public Prosecutor, Notary, other juridical bodies and also in legal service of national economy.
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Курс. 2 семестр.
A) Travelling.
Words and expressions.
1. scientific and technological progress
2. to overcome time and distances
3. in the twinkle of an eye
4. limits and frontiers
5. on business or for holiday
6. place of our destination
7. to travel by...
8. cockpit
9. to reclining in comfortable armchairs
10. kitchenette
11. stewardesses
12. to inform about the altitude
13. a geographical map
14. to book tickets in advance
15. the appointed day
16. to board the big air-liner
17. to take off
18. the plane is due to arrive
19. in time
Types of travelling: by train (railway), by air (plane), by car (bus), by sea (ship),
by metro (underground), on foot, hitchhiking ,on horseback.
The scientific and technological progress of the 20-th century has allowed people to overcome time and distance, to cover in the twinkle of an eye the vast expanse of our planet. The whole world is open now. The limits and frontiers of the previous period have stopped to exist.
We can choose any place on the planet and go there on business or for holiday. We can go to the place of our destination by sea, by air, by rail or by road.
Most people travel from curiosity, for fun; or because they like to see different beautiful and strange things. Some people also think that a change is as good as rest.
If you want to get somewhere as quickly as possible the best way is to travel by plane. It is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too. It is better to book tickets in advance. On the appointed day you go to the airport by car. Soon you will board the big airliner and it will carry you to new lands. When on the plane you may look about. In front of you in the cockpit you will see a pilot and his crew. Some of the passengers are reclining in comfortable armchairs. There is a kitchenette in the rear part of the plane where the stewardesses are cooking. Presently we take off and in a few minutes the voice informs us about the altitude we are flying. Sometimes it is possible to see the land. It is like a geographical map. Our plane is due to arrive in eight hours. Time passes quickly. The plane arrives at the airport in time.
There are other ways of travelling. If you are an adventurer you can travel by hitchhiking, bicycles, on horseback. All means of travelling are not perfect. They all have their advantages and disadvantages .For most people speed is very important, but other people prefer comfort to speed. Of course, safety is the most important factor. In fact, no matter which way of travelling you choose, it’ll give you great pleasure.
Words and expressions.
1. expensive
2. to do a lot of sightseeing
3. coach tours
4. luggage
B)
Coach tours are not expensive and I like them very much. They are planned as holidays and there is a chance to do a lot of sightseeing and have a good rest at the same time.
Last year I went by coach through a few countries and enjoyed the tour very much. During the ten-day holiday we visited Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. Sightseeing was combined with rest. For a few days we stayed at some lovely small hotels. There was no trouble with the luggage because it was taken care of at every night stop. Moreover hotels were carefully selected and booked in advance.
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Shopping.
Words and expressions
1. dozens of
2. all sort of goods
3. for cash
4. convenient
5. department store
6. different departments
7. expensive (cheap)
8. to run out of
9. to call at
10. provision shops
11. a lot of counters
12. a self-service shop
13. ready-weighed and ready-packed
14. to have a sweet tooth
Kinds of shops: supermarket (grocery, bakery, butchery, confectionery, dairy, greengrocery, fishmonger’s).
Department store. (clothing, shoe, toy, furniture, music, jeweller’s, perfumery, stationery, gift, china, hardware, haberdashery).
Drug store (chemist’s), bookshop, sports fashion, florist’s, newsagent’s, tobacconist’s.
In our city there are dozens of shops where one can buy all sort of goods for cash and on hire purchase. Of course, specialized shops (draper’s, hosiery’s, man’s outfitters, jeweller’s, stationer’s, etc.) have a wider choice of goods but it is more convenient to do shopping at a department store which sells various goods such as shirts and cameras, pots and pans, refrigerators and hats, underwear and furs, vacuum cleaners, tape-recorders and many other things under one roof.
In the department store there are hundreds of salesmen and saleswomen and dozens of different departments: haberdashery, hosiery, stationery, ready-made clothes for men and women, foot-wear, textiles, millinery, electric appliances, household goods, knitted goods, leather goods, sport goods, perfumery, toys, gift and souvenir and others.
The other day my husband, my son and I went to the Central Department Store. We had to buy a lot of things and we went from one department to another, from umbrellas to gloves, from suits to shoes, from socks and stockings to hats and bags up and down the department store.
First of all we went to the ready-made clothes department to buy a summer frock for me. I chose a nice cotton dress not too expensive and went to the dressing-booth to try it on. It was a close fitting sleeveless dress with a square neck. The dress was a good fit and I bought it. Then we went to the footwear department to buy a pair of shoes to match my new dress. I tried on some pairs but they were either a size too big or pinched in the toe. At last I bought a pair of nice low-heeled leather shoes. I also bought a bottle of perfume, a lipstick and nail varnish.
Then we went to the ready-made clothes department for men as my husband wanted to buy a single-breasted light suit. He tried on many suits but they were a bad fit: one of them was too tight in the waist and the trousers were too long and baggy, another was too loose and so on. Then we went to the shirt department and bought him two shirts. He also bought a scarf, cuff links, and a pair of socks and then our son persuaded us to buy him a new toy.
We had run out of some food products and on our way home we called at the provision shops. First we went to the baker’s and bought a loaf of white and brown bread, two rolls, a bun and half a kilo of rusks. Then we went to the butcher’s. There was a wide choice of lean and fat meat there such as beef, pork, mutton, veal, minced meat and poultry (goose, chicken, duck and turkey). We bought a kilo and a half of beef, a kilo of pork not too fat, a chicken and we all went to the dairy. There was bottled and loose milk, cream, sour cream, butter, cheese and eggs there. We bought half a pound of butter, a bottle of cream, two bottles of milk and went to the fishmonger’s. There were a lot of people there as there were different kinds of fresh, frozen, salted, smoked, dried and tinned fish: carp, cod, perch, pike, herring, sprats, caviar. We bought a herring, two carps and a pike to stuff. Next we called at the grocer’s. There were a lot of counters there and different food products: flour, tea, sugar, salt, jam, cereals, spice, tinned and frozen food. The grocer’s was a self-service shop. The customers went to the counters, chose the goods and paid at the cash desk. The goods were ready-weighed and ready-packed. We bought two kilos of flour, a kilo of sugar, half a kilo of macaroni. We also dropped in at the greengrocer’s and bought a good-sized head of cabbage, oranges, cucumbers, carrots, onions, apples and potatoes.
Our son has a sweet tooth so we went to the confectionery and bought candies, a chocolate bar and a tart.
Loaded with packages and awfully tired we went home.
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Health Problems.
Words and expressions
1. to be lucky never to be sick
2. for examination and treatment
3. to have an appointment
11. patient
12. illness
13. to feel the pulse
4. to taste blood pressure
5. to sound the patient’s heart and lungs
6. X-ray
7. prescribe
8. medicine
9. chemist’s
10. to be fit
14. habit
15. plenty of fresh air and exercise
16. recommendations
17. regular meals
Some people are lucky never to be sick, but most of us have to go to a doctor sometimes for examination and treatment.
It is necessary to have an appointment when call at a doctor’s office. When a patient visits a doctor for the first time he will be asked a number of questions by the doctor’s assistant. Then the doctor can have your complete medical history. This will help the doctor in making a diagnosis.
The doctor asks the patient about the symptoms he has and about any illnesses he has had. Almost all the patients have to go through the necessary analyses. The doctor feels the pulse and naturally you will have your blood pressure tested. After sounding the patient’s heart and lungs the doctor sometimes asks the patient to be
X-rayed. After that the doctor prescribes some medicine and sometimes a diet and the patient goes to the chemist’s to have his prescription made up. Most medicines are sold by prescription only. The doctor’s prescription will say how much of the medicine the patient is to take, how often he is to take it and so on.
Very many people hate going to the dentist.
The dentist cleans the teeth first of all. One or two cavities can be filled in the visit, but sometimes you need return visits. Naturally it is better to have one’s teeth looked at regularly.
* * *
Lots of young people are not fit at all. They have already lost the energy and happiness that comes from the feeling really well.
Fitness comes from the way you live all the time, not just from some exercises done now and then. Good eating habits, wise drinking habits, regular sleeping habits, and plenty of fresh air and exercise, kept up during the week, are all important parts of the way to keep fit.
Physical exercise is of an exceptional importance. The man or woman who takes regular exercise will stay physically fit, retain youthful vigour and, perhaps most important to many people, keep a youthful shape. Good muscle tone is not synonymous with bulging biceps or muscular things and most of the exercises are designed to keep you supple and make you look slimmer.
Active and healthy life is especially important for students. They must keep fit to do well at the University. One has to get up early to get to the University in time; one has to spend long hours indoor, attending lectures and seminars or reading in the library. One has to stay up late getting ready for seminars, compositions. So one needs to be strong and healthy. What are ways to keep fit? Here are some recommendations for you.
First of all you must miss no chances of outdoor activities. Of course, there is your physical training class but that is definitely not enough. Skating or skiing in winter and swimming in summer must become part of your everyday life. Second, exercise. You must exercise whenever you can. Jogging has become quite popular nowadays and a lot of people run before breakfast. Third, regular meals are a must if you want to keep fit. Try to avoid going without any food for hours. Remember that an apple, a glass of milk or just a raw carrot that you brought from home is a better snack than sandwiches and coffee. Fourth, and this is very important, smoking, drugs, spirits is something you must give up for good if you want to keep fit.
There is nothing new in all this. The key word to all recommendations is everything. You must work on everything at once – exercise, diet, and healthy habits. These are basic principles.
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Minsk.
Words and expressions
1. the capital
2.population
3. area
4. was founded
5. the city changed greatly
6. block of flats
7. square
8. plants and factories
9. to produce
10. centre of science
11. a circus
12. scientific
13. narrow ( wide)
14. one-storied houses
15. workshop
16. the Great Patriotic War
17. ruined to the ground
18. a leading industrial centre
19. a big traffic centre
20. two Underground lines
21. to be proud of
Minsk is the capital of the Republic of Belarus and its political, administrative, economic, scientific, industrial and cultural centre. Minsk has a population of about 1.8 million people. The city stands on the River Svisloch and its area is of 200 square km. Minsk was founded in 1067. Before the Revolution Minsk was a small provincial town with narrow streets, one-storied houses, factories and workshops. After the Revolution the city changed greatly. Minsk became the capital in 1913. Blocks of flats, green wide streets, beautiful squares, new plants and factories appeared in the capital.
Foreign invaders destroyed Minsk many times over the centuries. In the years of the Great Patriotic War it was practically ruined to the ground. After the war Minsk was rebuilt and it is more beautiful today than it used to be. The capital has become a well-built city with a lot of beautiful buildings and houses, wide and straight avenues and streets, big and modern plants and factories.
Minsk today is a leading industrial centre of the republic. It has a powerful industry. In the capital there are many plants and factories which produce tractors, TV sets, radios, motorcycles, bicycles, heavy trucks, watches, refrigerators, computers, textiles, footwear, food and other goods.
Minsk is also a city of science, students and schoolchildren. The centre of science in the Republic is the Academy of Sciences, which was opened in 1929 in Minsk. There are 5 000 doctors and candidates of science among Minsk scientists. Researches carried out here are in the different fields of modern science. Minsk has about 20 state higher educational institutions.
The cultural life in the capital is very interesting. There are about 10 theatres, some concert halls, a circus, a lot of cinemas, many palaces of culture, libraries, clubs and other cultural centres in the city.
There are many large parks, gardens and museums in our capital. Parks and gardens make a fifth of the city’s territory.
Minsk is a big traffic centre too. Thousands of cars, buses, trolley buses, trams go along its wide and beautiful streets. The first Underground line was built in Minsk in 1984 and there are two Underground lines here now.
In 1974 Minsk became a Hero-City. Our capital was awarded this title for its heroism and courage during the Great Patriotic War.
Although its history goes back more than 900 years, Minsk is actually a young and modern city. We are proud of our capital, which is beautiful at any time of the year and is growing and changing every year.
2 курс 3 семестр.
A) Great Britain.
Words and expressions
1. Northwest coast of Europe
2. lies on the British Isles
3. to be separated from
4. the English Channel
5. the Strait of Dover
6. washed by
7. conquer
8. invader
9. much varied
10. parliamentary democracy
11. head of State
12. legislative
13. executive
14. judicial
15. independent
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the Northwest coast of Europe. The UK consists of 4 parts. They are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK lies on the British Isles. There are some 5 500 islands. The two main islands are: Great Britain and Ireland. They are separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. The west coast of the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea; the east coast is washed by the North Sea. The area of the UK is some 244.100 square km. Its population is over 57 million people.
English is the official language, but it is not the only language, which people speak in the country.
Britain has been many centuries in the making. The Romans conquered most part of Britain, but were unable to subdue the independent tribes in the West and in the North. Other invaders were Angels, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings and Normans. For many centuries this country was known simply as England. It had a strong army and navy. It waged numerous colonial wars. In the modern world England was the first country, where capitalism was established.
Geographically Great Britain is divided into Lowland Britain and Highland Britain. Lowland Britain comprises Southern and Eastern England. Highland Britain includes Scotland, Wales, the Pennies and the Lake District. The highest mountain – Ben Nevis – is in Scotland. The flora of the British Isles is much varied and the fauna is similar to that of the northwest Europe. The country is not very rich in natural resources.
There are many rivers in Great Britain. The Severn is the longest river; the Thames is the most important one.
London is the capital of the UK. It was founded by the Romans. The population of London is over 8 million people.
London is situated on the river Thames. Traditionally it is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. London offers the visitors a great variety of places of interest. World famous places are the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London and so on.
The largest cities of Great Britain besides London are: Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh. Oxford and Cambridge are famous for their universities.
Great Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of State. The organs of government are: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.
In Great Britain there is no written constitution, only customs, traditions and precedents.