Compose your own dialogues using the information of texts 5C and 5D.

What would you answer if somebody asked you the following?

A.: I’d like to check out this book, please.

B.:

A.: Here you are. I am in the English department.

B.:

A.: Can I have it renewed after then?

B.:

A.: Thank you very much. Bye.

53. Discuss the following:

1. Does reading play an important role in your life?

2. How much time do you devote to it?

3. Do you read for pleasure or information, or both?

4. How often do you visit library? Do you like it?

5. How long can you keep books?

54. Speak about the statements below. To what extend do you think they are true? Express your own point of view:

1. Love for reading gives those who are great readers of books an advantage over those who have not read so much.

2. There is an art of reading as well as an art of writing.

3. The classics are boring.

4. The classics never die.

WRITING PRACTICE

55. Read the following text carefully in order to discover the main line of thought and make a plan for writing a short summary:

The Library of Congress

The Library of congress is the Nation’s library in the USA. It serves not only to members and committees of the Congress, but to libraries throughout the USA and the world, and to the scholars, researchers and scientists who use it.

Its foundation was laid in 1815 when President Thomas Gefferson offered his personal library accumulated for 50 years and considered one of the best in the United States at that time as the basis for a great national library. Now the Library of Congress complex on Capital Hill includes three buildings. The Thomas Gefferson Building, which has been built in Italian Renaissance style, is the oldest of them. It was the largest and costliest library building in the world when it was completed in 1897. It is decorated with splendid sculpture, murals created by 50 American artists. Its Main Reading Room is 160 feet high.

The Room houses a collection of 45,000 reference books, a part of the extensive main catalog of more than 23 million cards and desks for 212 readers. The computer Catalog Center provides public access to the Library’s automated catalog.

The simply designed John Adams Building faced with white marble, was opened in 1939. Sculptures on its large doors represent 12 famous writers. The white marble James Madison Memorial Building opened in 1980 more than doubled the Library’s available Capitol Hill space. The building, which is the official memorial to the Nation’s fourth President, contains the James Madison Memorial Hill, exhibition areas, eight reading rooms, offices and storage areas for collections which number over 50 million items.

READING FOR FUN

Put in the missing words from the box. Be ready to discuss this joke with your partner.

Down, in (4), at (2), off (2), out of, of (2), into, to (2), with, on (2), instead, by, about

A Frenchman, an Englishman and an American were boasting ___ how fast the trains go ___ their countries. The Frenchman said ‘___ my country the trains go so fast that the telegraph posts ___ the line look like the a garden fence.’ The Englishman said ‘___ England the trains go so fast that we have to pour water ___ the wheels to cool them because they get white hot and could melt.’ The American said ‘That’s nothing. You must come ___ America to see how fast the trains go there. I was once leaving ___ a trip and my wife came ___ me to see me ___ . I got ___ the train and was standing ___ the window ___ my compartment. I wanted to give a kiss ___ my wife as the train was just starting. So I leant ___ ___ the window ___ my compartment to give her a kiss. But the train went ___ ___ such a speed that ___ I kissed a cow ___ a field six miles ___ the line.

UNIT 6

Pre-Text Exercises: Word Building Active Vocabulary   Text 6 A. Our planet – the Earth Text 6 B. Environmental Problems of the Earth Text 6 C. Ecological Problems of Russia Text 6 D. Pollution of Environment   Text And Vocabulary Exercises Conversational Practice Writing Practice

PRE-TEXT EXERCISES

1. Look at the following international words, guess their meaning and check the pronunciation:

Million; galaxy; planet; person; diameter; kilometer; equator; mass; kilogram; orbit; second; perspective; system; meter; energy; absorb; temperature; season; effect; dramatic; circulation; atmosphere; ozone; result; ocean; factor

2. Here are some expressions with the preposition after. Translate and learn them:

§ after all	§ to be named (called) after somebody
§ day after day	§ the day after tomorrow
§ long after, soon after

3. Fill in the gaps with the preposition after or the expressions above in the appropriate form:

1. They did this hard work ___.

2. We shall finish this exercise ___.

3. She will clean the flat ___ he comes.

4. John is ___ his uncle.

5. ___ days and nights of waiting his parents were happy to see him.

6. We ___ our baby ___ our great grandfather.

7. ___ these years of searching he found his treasure.

8. The tournament will be held ___.

9. He polishes his car ___ and looks so happy.

10. We shall eat this cake ___ the guests come.

4. Fill in the gaps with the correct prepositions:

1. ___ fact he was right but she didn’t want to tell it.

2. He met her ___ the street but didn’t call her.

3. She went to the cinema ___ going to the lectures.

4. In our country children go to school ___ seven.

5. The children threw the stones ___ crows and laughed.

6. He did it ___ once without thinking about it.

7. We learn a lot of poems ___ heart at school.

8. Harry cared ___ his children very much as he was a model father.

5. Choose the correct word to complete the sentences:

1. He will always depend ___ his brother because he has no money.

a) in; b) over; c) on.

2. They found ___ that she had lost the documents.

a) over; b) above; c) out.

3. She was upset very much because all her dresses were ___ fashion.

a) out of; b) on in; c) out after.

4. We came here not on holiday but ___ business.

a) to; b) on; c) at.

5. Our children spend a lot of time ___ doors and they look well.

a) from above; b) on in; c) out of.

6. You know we must talk it ___ and then we shall tell you our decision.

a) among; b) over; c) above.

7. Nancy apologized ___ her friend and closed the door.

a) to; b) on; c) at.

8. Larry is always so attentive ___ his nieces.

a) at; b) to; c) from.

9. This house has been ___ repair for five years.

a) over; b) after; c) under.

10. She was shaking ___ fear and was deathly pale.

a) on; b) with; c) in.