LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES. 1. A dog is bigger than a mouse, but smaller than an elephant

Reading Tests

Test 1

1. A dog is bigger than a mouse, but smaller than an elephant.
A dog is smaller than a mouse.
A dog is very big.
A dog is the biggest.
An elephant is bigger than a dog.

2. Sangay is English but Teresa isn't; she's American.
Teresa is English.
Sangay isn't English.
Sangay isn't American.
Teresa and Sangay aren't English.

3. He is the oldest man in the world.
He is not as old as my grandmother.
Many men are older.
There are no older men anywhere.
He's older than some other men.

4. You can't come without a ticket.
You can come if you have a ticket.
You mustn't go with a ticket.
You don't need a ticket to come.
You cannot buy a ticket outside.

5. Andrea is looking after the children.
She can see the children.
She is taking care of the children.
She is looking at the children.
The children are in front of her.

6. They only have one car for the family.
They only like cars.
They do not like any other cars.
They do not have two cars.
They have a big family.

7. What does Vonica like?
What are her favourite things?
How is she?
Does she look like Vonica?
Does he like Vonica?

8. He hopes to go home, but he may go to work.
He'll be at home before the office.
It is possible that he will go to work.
He's allowed to go to work.
He always goes home after work.

9. I want you to clean the car when you come back.
You want to clean it.
We will clean it together.
I don't want you to forget to clean it.
I want to clean the car.

10. She used to smoke cigarettes.
She is used to cigarettes.
She smoked before, but she doesn't now.
She usually smokes cigarettes.
She used two cigarettes.

11. Shall I take you to the station?
Would you like me to take you to the station?
Must I take you?
Will it be necessary to take you there?
Did I take you before?

12. They should talk more slowly.
They talk too quickly.
They would like to talk more slowly.
They might have slower talks.
Talking is not fast.

13. Mirana remembered to phone the doctor.
She remembered phoning the doctor.
Mirana forgot to remember to phone.
She didn't forget to phone the doctor.
She remembered that she phoned her.

14. Madame Traiviey has lived nearly 115 years.
She was very old.
She is very old.
She died when she was nearly 115.
Madame Traiviey has many more years.

15. She can hardly see it.
She sees very hard.
She is hard with it.
She cannot see it very well.
It is hard to see her.

16. Yeuk Yee had her house painted white yesterday.
She had to paint her house white yesterday.
Her house was not blue last week.
They painted her house white for her yesterday.
She painted her house yesterday.

17. Either teacher knows the answer.
No teachers know the answer.
Both teachers know the answer.
All the teachers know the answer.
Any teacher can answer.

18. I'd rather be a millionaire.
I've been a millionaire.
I'd better be a millionaire.
I'd prefer to be a millionaire.
You have more millions than me.

19. You don't have to do this test.
You can choose not to do this test.
You mustn't do it.
You can't do this test.
You have no desire to do it.

20. If Muriel had come, she would have won.
If she hadn't won, she'd have come.
Muriel didn't win because she didn't come.
When Muriel came she always won.
She didn't come, but she won anyway.

Test 2

Choose the right order to make up a story.

a) Della sold her hair to buy a chain for Jim`s watch

b) Jim sold his watch to buy combs for Della.

c) Della and Jim lived in New York in a small room on the top of a high building.

d) On the eve of New Year Day they wanted to give each other presents.

3,4,1,2

3,1,4,2

4,1,2,3

2,1,3,4

4,3,1,2

a) When I was two my father was offered a new job and we moved to another part of England.

b) The first day I was taken there by my mother.

c) Soon after we moved I was told that a little baby brother or sister was coming.

d) I was born 14 years ago and it was said that I looked exactly like my mother.

e) At the age of five I was very happy when I was told that I was going to start school.

4,5,2,1,3

4,1,3,5,2

5,3,1,4,2

1,5,3,2,1

3,5,1,4,2

– No, I am older than I look. To tell the truth, since I`ve worked here, I have been so busy that I haven`t had time to grow.

a) – May I speak to you, sir?

b) – Don`t you think that ten shillings is too much for such a small boy?

c) – Yes, what`s the matter?

d) – I was hoping you would agree to a rise of four shillings.

4,5,2,3,1

3,1,2,4,5

2,4,3,1,5

2,4,5,3,1

1,2,4,5,3

a) But two times in twenty four hours sea water runs far up the river and makes it deep.

b) At those times big ships can get to London.

c) London is situated on the River Thames.

d) The Thames is not very long and very deep.

2,3,1,4

3,4,1,2

3,1,4,2

4,1,2,3

1,2,4,3

a) He tried to stand up but his leg hurt.

b) "Bill, I`ve hurt my leg."

c) When he stood, he felt a pain and he couldn`t move his leg.

d) Suddenly one of the men fell into the water.

e) "Help me," said the man.

4,1,3,2,5

1,2,3,4,5

5,1,4,3,2

4,1,2,3,5

2,1,4,3,5

a) In a short time I felt something alive moving on my left leg.

b) My hair, which was long and thick, was tied down in the same manner.

c) I was lying on my back, and my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground.

d) When I awoke, it was just daylight.

e) I could only look upwards and could see nothing in the sky.

4,5,1,2,3

3,2,4,5,1

2,5,3,1,4

4,3,2,5,1

4,1,2,3,5

a) He read the letter;

b) One day a man came home;

c) He climbed up to the window and with great difficulty entered the room;

d) He saw that the door was locked;

e) On the dining room table he saw a letter for him;

f) «Dear John, I shall be home late. The key will be under the door.»

2,4,3,5,1,6

1,2,3,4,5,6

2,5,6,4,1,3

2,5,6,1,3,4

2,3,1,4,5,6

a) Northern Europeans are willing to pay a lot of money for the sun because they have so little of it.

b) Some tourists go to see battle fields or religious shrines.

c) People travel for a lot of reasons.

d) But most European tourists are looking for a sunny beach to lie on.

e) Others are looking for culture or simply want to have their picture taken in front of famous places.

1,2,5,3,4

4,5,2,3,1

3,2,4,1,5

3,2,5,4,1

3,2,1,4,5

1. – What is your aunt?

2. - No, with my friend. My parents are away.

3. – She is an employee.

4. – This evening I am going to visit my aunt.

5. – Are you going to visit her with your parents?

4,2,5,1,3

5,3,2,4,1

4,1,3,5,2

4,3,1,5,2

5,2,3,1,4

1. In Britain, there are fifty two different police forces.

2. Although these forces co-operate with each other, it`s unusual for members of one force to operate in another area unless their assistance is requested.

3. This is not the situation in Britain.

4. Most countries have a national police force.

5. The country is divided into separate areas, usually counties, each with its own independent police force.

4,3,1,5,2

1,5,2,4,3

4,1,3,5,2

5,2,1,4,3

2,4,1,5,3

a) In the street he was stopped by a policeman who grabbed him by the shoulder;

b) «What have I done?» asked Brown;

c) Brown was out walking one day with his large family;

d) «I certainly don`t know what you`ve done,» answered the policeman;

e) «But I do want to know why the crowd is following you!».

5,2,3,4,1

3,2,1,4,5

3,4,5,1,2

3,1,2,4,5

3,5,4,1,2

1. They made gas from wood and plants instead.

2. The cars didn`t go fast, but it was better than nothing.

3. There is not enough petrol on the world for everybody now.

4. In the second World War some people didn`t use petrol in their cars.

5. But we cannot cut down all our trees to make gas.

6. They put it in big bags on top of their cars.

3,6,2,1,4,5

1,6,2,4,3,5

4,3,1,5,6,2

3,4,1,6,2,5

4,1,5,2,6,3

1) Each Nobel prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal and money

2) Nobel prize is given to people who make contribution to the world science

3) He died and left 3.5 mln dollars

4) Nobel was a rich Swedish scientist

5) The money became prize as Nobel wanted

3,2,4,5,1

4,2,1,3,5

5,3,4,1,2

4,3,2,5,1

4,3,5,2,1

1. I`ve started a new job.

2. Thornton is a small town in Midlands.

3. It`s as a sales representative with a company.

4. The area manager is due to retire next year.

5. It produces garden furniture and it`s based in Thornton.

6. This means, if I do well, I might get his job.

2,1,3,5,4,6

1,3,5,2,4,6

4,5,6,3,2,1

2,5,4,6,1,3

3,4,6,2,1,5

1. At a dinner party he was in Jenner`s for the first time.

2. Bred had a terrible argument with Jenner’s father.

3. Jenner and Brent are terribly in love and hope to get married.

4. What are Brent and Jenner to do now?

5. Brent was thrown out and told never to come.

3,1,4,5,2

1,2,5,3,4

3,1,2,4,5

1,2,4,3,5

1,5,2,4,5

1. "Master has gone out."

2. "She has also gone out, sir."

3. "The fire has gone out too."

4. "Never mind. I shall speak to your mistress."

5. A man knocks at his neighbour`s door where he is a frequent but not a welcome visitor."

6. "Look here! It`s rather cold today. I`d like to sit by the fire for a while."

7. A servant girl opens the door and says:

5,7,4,1,2,6,3

4,1,3,5,7,6,2

5,7,1,4,2,6,3

7,1,5,6,4,3,2

3,4,6,5,7,1,2

1. Whenever Mrs. Smith called, she stayed for hours and hours.

2. Her heart sank when she saw Mrs. Smith.

3. «I was just passing and thought I`d drop in to say hallo.»

4. The door bell rang.

5. Mrs. Carson opened the front door.

6. «Good afternoon, Mrs. Carson,» Mrs. Smith said.

6,5,3,2,4,1

4,5,2,1,6,3

5,6,3,1,2,4

4,2,5,1,6,3

4,5,2,1,3,6

1. S.Maugham was born in the family of a British diplomat.

2. When a boy he lost his parents.

3. S.Maugham wrote many books - novels, short stories.

4. Maugham received school education and studied to be a doctor.

5. He was taken to England by his uncle.

2,5,4,3,1

3,2,4,5,1

4,2,5,3,1

1,4,3,2,5

1,2,5,4,3

1. Buy some very fresh oranges.

2. Squeeze the halves in a juicer until all the juice is out.

3. Fresh orange juice tastes better than frozen orange juice.

4. Add a little sugar and drink.

5. Cut the oranges in half.

6. It can be made in the following way.

3,6,1,5,2,4

1,5,2,4,3,6

2,3,6,1,5,4

5,2,4,6,1,3

1,2,4,5,3,6

1. Meat comes from animals.

2. People can not live without food.

3. Where does our food come from?

4. People eat domestic birds too.

4,2,3,1

1,2,3,4

2,1,4,3

2,3,1,4

3,4,2,1

1) - Why should I?

2) - Yes, certainly, but where`s your money?

3) - You`re mad. You should have told them.

4) - I lost my wallet last Friday.

5) - Because it is better to make your parents angry for 5 munites than to ask your friends for lunch money all week.

6) - Can you lend me some money for lunch, John?

7) - Because if I told my parents, they`d be angry.

8) - Why didn`t you tell your parents you had lost it?

8,7,4,3,1,5,2,6

6,2,1,5,4,8,7,3

6,2,4,8,7,3,1,5

4,3,6,5,2,7,8,1

5,4,1,3,2,6,8,7

Let`s go ... today as I have a splitting headache.

somewhere

nowhere

anywhere

everywhere

somehow

2. Choose the synonym to the underlined word.

She runs a small shop.

functions

races

manages

completes

hurries

Choose the synonym to the underlined words.

When we bought our new house we thought that everyone would welcome us to the neighbourhood. But people seem to give us the cold shoulder.

turn up their noses at us

give us a hand

give us unnecessary difficulty

be very generous

treat us delicately

Rita asked if I could give Paul a ride home. Who needed a ride?

A) Paul did

B) I did

C) Rita did

D) Paul and Rita did

E) Paul and I did

What he says is clear and is obviously well-prepared, and this, among other things, has earned him the high regard of his colleagues. How do his colleagues feel about him?

A) They are jealous of him

B) They don`t understand him

C) They ignore him

D) They respect him

E) His colleagues feel ashamed

Anybody, who has the natural ability and education that Dave has, doesn`t have to worry about getting a job. Is Dave likely to get a job?

A) Yes, without a doubt+

B) No, because he worries too much

C) No, because he lacks ability

D) Yes, if he goes to college

E) Yes, if he had ability and education

Vocabulary Tests

Начало формы

1. You must ….. the word in the dictionary if you don't know its meaning.
	look for
	look in
	look up
	look

2. The dog lay at her ….. snoring.
	legs
	heels
	tiptoes
	feet

3. He ….. us how to work the machine.
	showed
	explained
	demonstrated
	read

4. All these colleges together ….. the university of Cambridge.
	take up
	set up
	make up
	bring up

5. He's been working in the garden since morning, and he is completely …...
	exhausted
	tiring
	destroyed
	exhausting

6. He was often ….. to as the architect of the country's foreign policy.
	considered
	looked
	referred
	mentioned

7. We can communicate ….. of the Internet.
	by help
	by means
	via
	through

8. She is quite ….. her elder sister.
	different
	the same
	unlike
	alike

9. She broke the promise, she did not ….. it.
	make
	keep
	take
	have

10. I was an hour late because of the ….. traffic.
	difficult
	hard
	heavy
	densely

11. English is the ….. language of most Englishmen.
	mother
	home
	native
	nature

12. A ….. of birds often fly in a "V" …...
	herd, size
	pack, figure
	flock, shape
	collection, view

13. He is feeling rather …... The result of the exam will ….. his future career.
	awkward, relate
	excited, rule
	anxious, determine
	nervous, control

14. The statue in Trafalgar Square ….. Admiral Nelson who defeated the combined fleet of Spain and France at the ….. of his life.
	remembers, price
	commemorates, cost
	celebrates, value
	reminds, worth

15. Great emphasis is ….. at Oxford and Cambridge on what are called "tutorials".
	given
	laid
	brought
	made

16. When they arrived, the party was in full ……
	order
	meal
	load
	swing

17. You are tired, you ….. rest a little.
	would rather
	prefer
	would like
	had better

18. My parents ….. to my taking ….. lessons at home.
	allow, particular
	approve, personal
	agree, private
	permit, additional

19. You could not help enjoying his company, though he was good for …...
	everybody
	anybody
	everything
	nothing

20. He hoped to be ….. for years of hard work by getting his promotion.
	awarded
	rewarded
	granted
	prized

Конец формы

Вариант 1

JOHN RONALD TOLKIEN

The author of the famous book The Lord of the Rings was born in 1892 in South Africa and grew up in a village near Birmingham. He took part in the First World War. Then he became a professor of English at Oxford University.

It was while he was correcting exam papers that Tolkien wrote down a strange sentence that started; "In a hole in the ground where lived a hobbit..."

Obviously, creative writing was more interesting than correcting papers, that's why Tolkien went on to transform this sentence into a full novel called The Hobbit, published in 1938. The main characters of this book later appeared in The Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien hated technology, he longed for England before the invention of engines (he died in 1973 and he never had a refrigerator, he never had a TV, he refused to buy an electric iron, although he bought cars for his children and grandchildren). He loved ancient myths, and for his books he borrowed characters from Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian and other European mythology. He created his own world inhabited by wizards, elves, dwarves, goblins and certainly hobbits.

Hobbits are Tolkien's own invention. The word is a combination of Homo (man) and rabbit. Hobbits are rather short (about 1 metre) creatures with furry legs. They are peaceful, home-loving race, fond of their gardens and their cosy underground homes. They don't like adventures, but the main character of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins is forced to take part in a long and dangerous journey full of risk and extraordinary adventures.

The book was an immediate success. Tolkien's magic world caught reader's imagination.

Tolkien sold the film rights to The Lord of the Rings in 1969, but didn't believe that a film would ever be made. He was wrong. But it took filmmakers 50 years to bring the book to a big screen. At first a cartoon version was made, but nobody took the risk to make a live-action film. But finally the thing that Tolkien hated so much — technology — helped. With modern computer effects it became possible to create a realistic and exact interpretation of the book. The director Peter Jackson wanted the film to be real. He found suitable settings in his native New Zealand, and they built the set where "the hobbits" lived a year before they started shooting. They planted cabbages and carrots, grass and weeds, so after a year the whole place had grown and looked completely real.

The Lord of the Rings was published in 1954. The book took years to write. The trilogy is more than 1,000 pages. 100 million copies have been sold. It has been translated into 25 languages. In 1970 the word hobbit was included in the Oxford dictionary. The book is considered to be the champion of fantasy novels. Sometimes it is called the greatest book of the 20^th century and Tolkien is called one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

Notes

1. long for – тосковать

2. wizard – волшебник

3. dwarf - гном

4. settings – обстановка

5. set – съемочная площадка

6. shooting – съемки

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Each country is proud of its famous people, and Russia is among them. There are a lot of Russian famous writers, poets and musicians. A. Pushkin is the most important Russian writer and poet of all the time. He is like Shakespeare in England. He provided the standards for Russian arts and literature in the 19th century. In 1823 Pushkin began writing his masterpiece Eugene Onegin. It became his linguistic and literar standard. It is a commentary on the life of the early 19th-century Russia. Pushkin also wrote a lot of other poems and created masterpieces in drama and prose. All Russian people know Pushkin. Galleries and museums were named after him. In the centre of Moscow there is a monument to Pushkin built by famous Russia-architect Opekunshin in 1880. Pushkin's memorial museums in different cities attract many visitors.

One of the other famous poets and writers in Russia was M. Lermontov. He won fame as a poet after his poem on Pushkin`s death had been published. Lermontov's poems Demon, Mtsyri, his great novel A Hero of Our Time and his play Masquerade are masterpieces of Russian literature.

Russian famous musicians and composers such as Serge Rachmaninov and Peter Tchaikovsky are recognized all over the world. Tchaikovsky composed a lot of symphonies and created beautiful music for operas and ballets. His famous operas Eugene Onegin, Ioianta and his famous ballets The Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty are masterpieces. His memorial museum was opened in 1894 in Klin not far from Moscow. And the International Tchaikovsky Music Competition started in 1958 in Moscow.

S. Rachmaninov was an outstanding Russian composer and pianist. He became famous with audience around the world for his piano performances.

Great Britain is also proud of its famous people. One of its famous writers A. Conan Doyle invented Sherlock Holmes, one of the famous characters and detectives. Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Scotland. He was a doctor. In 1882 he moved to England to set up a practice. One of the doctors he worked for was the model for Dr. Watson. Conan Doyle's medical knowledge was a great help in his detective stories. He started the fashion of the detective stories. And nowadays there are few people who don't like detective stories. We know a lot about Sherlock Holmes. We even know his address — 221 " B" Baker Street in London. When Conan Doyle began to get tired of writing detective stories, he "killed" Holmes in one of his stories. But the public didn't like it. Conan Doyle had to write another story in which Holmes came back.

In the history of the United States there are a lot of famous names. There are many people that have influenced life in America, and each of them is well-known in a certain field of activity.

To many people the name of Walt Disney means the world of funny cartoons. He developed the family-entertainment park Disneyland in California, the place to return to the world of childhood.

Many outstanding writers lived and worked in America. For example, Jack London who went to Alaska to find gold. Instead, he found ideas for his stories there. He is best-known for his books The Call of the Wild and Martin Eden.

Mark Twain (the real name is Samuel Clemens) wrote his masterpiece The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Because of his sense of humour and the style with which he wrote, his books are considered to mark the beginning of modern American literature. O'Henry is a well known American short-story writer. Ernest Hemingway was one of the Hollywood's favourite authors. The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell to Arms made him famous. Another famous novelist is Theodore Driser. He wrote such novels as Sister Carrie, Financier, Titanic. Ray Bradbury is the author of many imaginative science-fiction stories and novels.

Many talented people played their role in shaping America-life and culture. The whole world knows the names of great inventors, because their inventions, such as a car, aeroplane, electric lamp and telephone, have changed our life significantly: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Alexander Bell and many others.

Edison believed that only work could bring success. So did the greatest American architect Frank Lloyd Write. He made an important contribution to the modern movement in architecture. He designed homes which were less crowded and had more space.

We can't imagine America without the name of M. Jackson. Elvis Presley is known as a king of rock-and-roll. He brought together the musical sounds of the blacks in America and of country people.

Louis Armstrong was the first jazz soloist who received world-wide recognition. He was a singer and a wonderful trumpet player.

American centre of movie industry — Hollywood has produced a galaxy of brilliant actors and actresses: M. Monro, E. Tailor. M. Duglas, B. Streisand, S. Stallone, L. DiCaprio, J. Roberts and others.

Everybody knows the name of Neil Armstrong — the first man on the Moon.

Among the most famous people, that are greatly honoured by their compatriots, are well-known statesmen G. Washington. A. Lincoln and B. Franklin.

Notes

1. are considered - считается

2. imaginative - художественный

3. science-fiction – научная фантастика

4. compatriot - соотечественник

Вариант 2

ANCIENT RUSSIAN CITIES

Nearly all Russian cities and towns have a lot of historic architectural monuments, such as Russian orthodox churches, cathedrals and monasteries. They are valuable symbols of ancient Russian culture. The most attractive city for foreign tourists is Moscow. There is a lot to see in the capital but the most important place to visit is the Kremlin.

Here visitors can admire beautiful cathedrals, built in the 15th century, visit the Faceted Palace and the Armoury, and get a fantastic view of the city from the top of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, which is the composition centre of the entire Kremlin. There are quite a lot of other examples of ancient Russian architecture outside the Kremlin, such as St. Bazil's Cathedral, Novodevichy Convent and Pokrova Church in Fili.

Moscow's attraction for tourists is not only its historical sites but the fact that it's a modern city with hundreds of museums and galleries, theatres and restaurants. It's impossible to be bored in Moscow, but if you want to enjoy some fresh sightseeing impressions, you may visit two major towns of the "Golden Ring of Russia", Suzdal and Vladimir.

Upon your arrival in Suzdal you will find yourself in a fairy-tale world. The town has a kremlin, a convent, two monasteries, dozens of churches, dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries and a nearly 200-year-old shopping arcade with traditional iron signs outside the shops. There are no high buildings here. The city is like an extended village of wooden houses, with lace curtains and geraniums in the windows.

Vladimir attracts tourists by the severe architecture of its white stone cathedrals and churches. The most famous of them are Dormition Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Demetrius and Pokrova Church on the Nerl.

These two towns are like two islands of beauty in a sea of mediocrity. Yet, there are very few foreign visitors there. Why? They are scared off by the lack of comfortable hotels, coaches, good roads with road signs and well-trained guides. Besides, some of the architectural monuments have become ruined by time and really have to be renovated. But local authorities usually lack funds and it restricts the possibilities for developing tourism in these towns.

It is obvious that sustainable tourism could provide good profits for local residents, especially at the height of the tourist season. But to draw more tourists into Russian towns, we must provide good accommodation and eating facilities, build roads and parking places, develop outdoor activities and make these towns known to the public. If only Russian cities and towns could become popular tourist destinations, then they would really prosper and flourish.

Notes

1. Faceted Palace – Грановитая палата

2. Armoury – Оружейная палата

3. sightseeing – осмотр достопримечательностей

4. sonvent – женский монастырь

5. arcade - пассаж

6. severe - строгий

7. Dormition Cathedral – Успенский собор

8. mediocrity - заурядность

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in ancient Greece where they were held in honour of Zeus, the principal god of the Greeks. They lasted for five days and became a symbol of peace and friendship, because in keeping with the decree of that time no wars could be waged during the Games. The athletes competed in running, boxing, wrestling, horse and chariot racing, and the like. However, women were unable to compete. They couldn't even be present among the spectators during the games. The winners were presented with laurel wreaths in the temple of Zeus. There is a list of winners dating from 776 ВС. Though there were other regular sports competitions in ancient Greece, the Greeks considered the Olympics, which took place every four years, so important that they calculated time by them. The Olympic Games were held for nearly twelve centuries until they were abolished in 394 AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I who became Christian.

The Olympic Games were revived only at the end of the 19th century thanks to Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896 to underline the importance of precedent. The International Olympic Committee, the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement, was also set up in 1896. It is composed of representatives from all the countries, which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides on the programme of the games, the number of the participants, and the host-city for the games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Each country also has its National Olympic Committee. Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities keen to host the Games. The International Committee selects the most suitable city and it starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels, press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists, and guests come to the Games, so it takes a lot of effort to arrange everything. There is always an interesting cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions, festivals etc. for every Games.

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Notes

1. wage - вести

2. сhariot – колесница

3. the like – тому подобное

CITY AND COUNTRY

There are many cities and towns in Russia. The biggest cities are Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are differences in the way of life people lead there due to the city's size, its geographical location, and economical situation, but there are undoubtedly common traits that separate it from the way of life people lead in the country.

Living in a city you usually have more choices about where to work, where to study, where to shop and where to spend your free time. Cities have public transportation systems so usually even in a big city you need not spend more than an hour and a half going wherever you need to go. Sometimes buses, trams and trolleybuses may be late in coming, but once you're in, they'll take you wherever you need to go. The biggest cities also have subway system which is more convenient since its trains' speed doesn't depend on rush-hours. Cities have many shops, big and small, cinemas, libraries, theatres, and other places where you can pursue your interests and spend your free time. There are more different educational institutions and workplaces, so you have more freedom in choosing your career.

In addition, living in the city you can use many conveniences even without leaving home. City apartments have central heating, running hot and cold water, garbage chute, and telephone; their TV sets take more channels and it's easier to get a good Internet connection.

Living in the country in Russia has always been more difficult than the city life. You are closer to nature and can breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat home-grown food, but the country life is still devoid of many benefits of the city. The choice of jobs for country people is limited and you have to go to a city or town for your professional training. The possibilities of buying what you want and choices of places to spend your free time are also limited. For all those reasons many Russian villages are dying. Only the old people stay there, and the young people from the countryside move to the cities to get an education and to look for a job.

Great Britain is a much smaller country than Russia, and all the distances inside the country are shorter. This might be one of the reasons why there are many villages where life isn't so different from the cities; indeed, many people working in big cities prefer to live outside of them, in charming villages, and go to work by train each day.

There are many big cities in USA, but there are also vast territories of the agricultural states, primarily in the Mid-west, where most people live in the countryside. However, there aren't really any villages there; small towns with shops, post offices and schools are surrounded by fields and farms standing far away and separate from each other.

Notes

1. trait - черта

2. once - если

Вариант 3

SEASONS

There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season lasts three months. In most countries of the world the new year begins on the 1st of January. This day is a holiday in Russia.

Every season is beautiful in its own way. In winter the sun sets early and rises late. The rivers and lakes are frozen over. Everything is covered with snow. Sometimes it is very cold, and the temperature can drop to thirty below zero. Going out in weather like this isn't very pleasant unless you're doing some kind of physical activity. That's why winter can also be a good time for sports. Many people go out skating and skiing; tobogganing is also popular, not as a kind of sport, but rather as fun.

In March it gets warmer and warmer. The sun becomes hotter and brighter, the days grow longer, the snow and ice gradually melt away. Spring comes, and nature awakens to new life after its winter sleep. The air is fresh; the sky is blue and cloudless. Little by little all kinds of plants and flowers appear. The ground is covered with bright-green grass and the first flowers; the trees are in full blossom. Birds return to the North from their winter stay in the South and start building their nests. Farmers get ready to plough their fields.

Spring is followed by summer. The weather is usually fine in summer, but it can be very hot, especially in July. Sometimes there are storms with thunder and lightning, but they do not last long; they freshen the air and help the plants fight the heat. In summer people try to get away from the city noise and spend more time in the open air. They pick mushrooms and berries in the forest, swim in the rivers and lakes, go fishing and boating. Most people prefer to have their holidays in summer.

Autumn begins in September. The days become shorter and the nights become longer. The leaves turn yellow, red, and brown and fall to the ground. Most birds fly away to warm countries. There is a short spell of dry sunny weather in September which is called Indian summer. It is a beautiful time when the sky is cloudless, the trees around are golden, the air is transparent and it is still warm. It starts to get colder in the end of September, and mists and drizzle begin. In October there are some really chilly nights, and November often brings snow with it.

In different parts of our hemisphere the seasons have different kinds of climate (and in Southern hemisphere they have winter when we have summer and vice versa. The further to the north you are, the colder is the winter; everyone knows that. But other things can also influence the climate, among them the proximity of the sea. The closer you are to the sea, the milder is the climate. Winters aren't so cold, but the summers also aren't particularly warm. The climate of Britain, for instance, is very much influenced by the Gulf Stream which brings warm waters to its coasts and makes for humid and rather mild climate.

Most of Russia has continental climate with cold and snowy winters and hot summers. Such weather is typical for the regions of Central Russia around Moscow. In the northern and eastern parts of Russia the winters are even colder. The climate of such regions as St. Petersburg in the northwest is influenced by the sea; the winter there is worse than in Central Russia, because it is damp and clouds often cover the sun. St. Petersburg's proximity to the Arctic Circle results in the sun never setting down in June. This is the famous period of White Nights.

The weather plays an important role in our life, determining if we are comfortable going outdoors. Weather is usually the most popular discussion topic in Britain because the weather there is so changeable.

If you are travelling to a new place, it makes sense to learn about the weather there so that you know what to pack and how to dress. Fortunately, with Internet being available it's not that difficult to find out what the weather would be like tomorrow in any geographical point in the world.

Notes

1. tobogganing – катание на санях

2. spell - период

3. transparent - прозрачный

4. vice versa – наоборот

5. proximity – близость

6. result in – приводить к…

7. it makes sense – имеет смысл

HOW TO HELP OUR PLANET

Today environmental issues are much spoken about on TV, radio and in newspapers. If people want to survive, they must do their best to solve these problems. Fortunately, it's not too late to save our planet. We understand that our environment is not just our home town but the whole Earth. The protection of the environment requires the cooperation of all nations. Governments should take measures that will help improve the environment.

There are a lot of environmental groups and international organizations whose main goal is to strengthen cooperation among environmentalists from different countries. The most famous of them is "Greenpeace", which combines the people's efforts for peace with the huge movement for nature conservation. "The World Wildlife Fund” (WWF) is the name of another international organization that appeared in 1961. It has given support to National Parks in five continents. You may also join "Friends of the Earth Trust", which is an educational charity set up to help people of all ages become aware of the threats to our environment.

However, there are a lot of simple things we should all do to stop the destruction of the environment. First of all, we must keep our cities and towns clean. That means, we mustn't drop litter in public places. If we see litter on the ground, we must put it into a litter bin. Besides, we shouldn't dump our rubbish without thinking which things, such as bottles and paper, can be recycled. And of course, we mustn't draw or paint on pavements, walls or trees.

We must stop using aerosol sprays because the stuff they contain destroys the ozone layer. We should take care of birds and animals. We can help to plant trees and create parks for endangered species. We can clean rivers and canals and create footpaths. But first of all we must change people's attitude towards the environment.

If we take action now, there might be some hope for the future. If we do nothing, we are heading for disaster!

Notes

1. environmentalist – защитник окружающей среды

2. Trust – общество

3. endangered species – вымирающие виды

RUSSIAN CHARACTER

There are a lot of wonders in Russia. But it is true to say that Russia is most famous for its people.

To understand Russian people, one must know from where they come. Nature has not been kind to Russia. Winters in Russia are cold, windy and snowy. So in old Russia people could do little during long winter months. But in spring there was a lot to be done, and in a short period of time. Perhaps, this explains why the Russians are often inactive for long periods of time and then show bursts of energy.

The harsh climate explains the Russians' strength and their ability to overcome hardships. Climate has also made them cautious.

Yet most of the Russians are open people. They are neither reticent nor reserved as the British. Russian people love to sit down for a nice long chat. They like having parties and receiving guests. The Russians are known to be a hospitable people. According to old traditions, a guest should always be welcomed with the symbol of life-giving food — bread and salt.

Russian people have always loved their country, though life in Russia has never been easy. They have always been devoted to their Motherland, fighting for peace and independence against enemies.

We can't say that the Russians are conservative. On the contrary, they encourage research and innovation. Still, there are a lot of customs and traditions in their life. For example, before leaving on a journey, many Russian people sit down quietly together for a few minutes.

Russian people are clever and talented. We can name a lot of outstanding Russians who are well-known all over the world. And we can say that we are a nation that has done a lot for the world civilization.

When foreign guests leave Russia, they usually say different things about the country. Some of them like it, others don't. But practically everybody agrees that Russian people are wonderful. They are friendly, kind and very hospitable.

Notes

1. yet – тем не менее

2. reticent – скрытный

3. are known – известно

4. still – и все-таки

Вариант 4

CITY AND COUNTRY

Notes

1. trait - черта

2. once - если

AMERICAN FOOD

When we speak about American food, we always imagine hamburgers and hot dogs, fried chicken and giant steaks. But in fact Americans eat every kind of food imaginable, even spaghetti and pizza. The expression "as American as apple pie" means something that is typically American, but even apple pie came from somewhere else. The only true American foods are those that the Native Americans gave the first settlers, including corn, squash, pumpkin and turkey. Roast turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie are still eaten at Thanksgiving.

The typical day starts with breakfast. During the week this might be something quick: cereal with milk, a muffin or toast with coffee, tea, milk or juice. On the weekends when people have more time, breakfast might be pancakes, waffles, an omelet, or bacon and eggs.

Lunch at work or school is usually between 12 and 1 pm. Some people prefer to bring their lunch from home. Tuna fish, sliced meat or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are kids' favorites. Most schools and some businesses have cafeterias that serve lunch.

Dinner, the biggest meal of the day, is generally at 6 or 7 pm. A typical dinner includes a hot vegetable, a salad, meat, and a potato or pasta dish. Stew (meat cooked with vegetables) and soup are also favorite dinner foods.

Americans love desserts. The standard dessert is pie. You can have fruit pies made from apple, peach, apricot or cherry, or berry pies with blackberry, raspberry or blueberry. A piece of pie is often served with ice cream.

But the truth is that Americans don't have much time for old-fashioned cooking at home. Quick snacks all through the day have taken its place. Takeout meals from restaurants and pizza parlors have become a regular part of everyday life. Ready-to-eat and instant processed foods that are quick to prepare are also very popular. TV dinners are complete dinners on a tray that you take from the freezer and heat up in the oven or micro-wave.

An enormous fast-food industry gives hungry Americans the snacks they want when they want them. Ice cream, popcorn and hot dogs are on sale everywhere. Best known, perhaps, is the McDonalds hamburger business.

But fast food makes you fat, that's why Americans are the fattest people in the world. More and more Americans worry about it and take greater interest in their health. The fashion for health food is growing all the time. Among middle-class people salads, beans and fruit have taken the place of steak and ice cream. Drinking is going down too. Smart businesspeople order mineral water, not wine, at their business. So now Americans pay more attention to their eating habits.

Notes

1. squash - кабачок

2. waffles – вафли

3. tuna fish – тунец

4. stew - рагу

MUSIC IN OUR LIFE

Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments.

But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn't only a combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art, which reflects life. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music written nowadays, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat.

Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country. Over the last 30 years rock and pop music have been very popular in Britain. The Beatles, with their style of singing, eloquent and exciting, is still one of the most popular groups. British groups often set new trends in music. New styles, groups and singers continue to appear. Some of the more recent pop groups are Dire Straits, Eurhythmies and Spice Girls. Many of the new bands have been able to use the changes in technology to develop their music. Computerized drum machines, synthesisers and other electronic instruments are now just as popular as the piano and electric guitars.

Tastes differ. So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical music and opera.

It's a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern music. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It can give you delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Some pieces of classical music are really wonderful.

It goes without saying that music plays a very important role in people's life. It reflects our mood and emotions. Music appeals to our hearts and transforms our feelings. It conquers our souls and enriches our minds. Besides, listening to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. You can hardly find a person who doesn't like or need music, who never sings or dances. Music is beauty in sounds, it is our magic source of inspiration.

Notes

1. еloquent - красноречивый

2. conquer – покорять

Вариант 5

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Notes

1. wage - вести

2. сhariot – колесница

3. the like – тому подобное

THEATRE

The theatre has recently become less popular than the cinema and lost even more of its attraction due to the popularity of television and since the appearance of video and DVD. Besides, theatre tickets are very expensive, especially in good theatres. So we can say that a visit to a famous theatre has become a luxury.

Still, the theatre is an inseparable part of the cultural life of any country. We can even say that the theatre as an art reflects the state of society and of the mind of the nation. In every country theatre has its own history, traditions, and peculiarities.

Theatre was one of the most important branches of art in Ancient Greece. Ancient Greek plays have some peculiarities due to the strict rules the Greeks had for theatre, but they are still very popular and we can say that the Ancient Greece is the birthplace of the theatre. In medieval times the theatrical art was often disapproved by the church, but at the same time there were things like sacred plays representing in dramatic form the Bible stories. Since 16th century theatre has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment.

There are a lot of theatres in Russia and some of them are popular all over the world. In Moscow theatre-goers try not to miss the first nights at the Vakhtangov, Sovremennik, or Khudozhestvenny (Art) theatres. St. Petersburg also has a variety of theatres, which meet all the tastes. Lovers of classic music never miss a chance to visit, the Philharmonic Society Hall. Opera and ballet lovers can go to Mariinsky opera house and Maly opera house. Those who are fond of drama visit the Bolshoi Drama Theatre, Alexandrinsky Theatre, Lensovet theatre, and many others. Many new theatres and studios have appeared during the last five or ten years. Many theatres are famous for their excellent company, sets, and great directors.

Notes

1. due to – из-за

2. meet - удовлетворять

3. Philharmonic Society Hall – зал Филармонии

RUSSIAN CHARACTER

There are a lot of wonders in Russia. But it is true to say that Russia is most famous for its people.

The harsh climate explains the Russians' strength and their ability to overcome hardships. Climate has also made them cautious.

Russian people have always loved their country, though life in Russia has never been easy. They have always been devoted to their Motherland, fighting for peace and independence against enemies.

Notes

1. yet – тем не менее

2. reticent – скрытный

3. are known – известно

4. still – и все-таки

HOW TO HELP OUR PLANET