1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is always celebrated on 31 October. On that night, many people will look like frightening creatures such as vampires or ghosts. They do this with the help of special clothing and face paint.

Halloween traditions developed from Celtic beliefs in ancient Britain. The Celts believed that spirits of the dead would return to their homes on October the thirty-first, the day of the autumn feast. They built huge fires to frighten away evil spirits that night.

People from Scotland and Ireland brought these ideas with them when they came to America. Some believed that spirits played tricks on people on the last night of October. Historians say many of the Halloween traditions of today developed from those of ancient times. They say that wearing a mask to hide a person’s face is similar to the way ancient villagers covered their faces to make evil spirits go away.

On Halloween night, American children put on masks and other clothing. They go from home to home shouting “Trick or treat”! If the people in the homes do not give them a treat, the children may play a trick on them.

Some adults put on costumes and attend Halloween parties. They also decorate their homes. They might clean out the insides of pumpkins and cut funny faces ^ _surf_ace Then, they place a burning candle inside. Some hang fake* bats. no/mejibin.iH, spider webs and other things around the home.

HCKyccTBeHHbift The National Retail Federation is predicting that Americans will spend more on Halloween treats and products this year. The group says about six point nine billion dollars will be spent in all. That is eighteen percent more than last year when Americans spent five point eight billion dollars to celebrate Halloween.

The National Retail Federation also has information about what Americans will be wearing for Halloween this year. It says zombie costumes are tops among women, men and children.

2. The author describes how the ideas of celebrating Halloween came to the USA. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3. What do adults and children do to get ready for Halloween?

4. Why do many people celebrate this holiday nowadays?

1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is always celebrated on 31 October. On that night, many people will look like frightening creatures such as vampires or ghosts. They do this with the help of special clothing and face paint.

Halloween traditions developed from Celtic beliefs in ancient Britain. The Celts believed that spirits of the dead would return to their homes on October the thirty-first, the day of the autumn feast. They built huge fires to frighten away evil spirits that night.

People from Scotland and Ireland brought these ideas with them when they came to America. Some believed that spirits played tricks on people on the last night of October. Historians say many of the Halloween traditions of today developed from those of ancient times. They say that wearing a mask to hide a person’s face is similar to the way ancient villagers covered their faces to make evil spirits go away.

On Halloween night, American children put on masks and other clothing. They go from home to home shouting “Trick or treat”! If the people in the homes do not give them a treat, the children may play a trick on them.

fake [feikj

no/meJibHbifi,

MCKyCCTBGHHblH

Some adults put on costumes and attend Halloween parties. They also decorate their homes. They might clean out the insides of pumpkins and cut funny face? on the surface. Then, they place a burning candle inside. Some hang fake* bats, spider webs and other things around the home.

The National Retail Federation is predicting that Americans will spend more on Halloween treats and products this year. The group says about six point nine billion dollars will be spent in all. That is eighteen percent more than last yea: when Americans spent five point eight billion dollars to celebrate Halloween.

The National Retail Federation also has information about what Americans will be wearing for Halloween this year. It says zombie costumes are tops among women, men and children.

2. The author describes how the ideas of celebrating Halloween came to the USA. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3. What do adults and children do to get ready for Halloween?

4. Why do many people celebrate this holiday nowadays?

*

'. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

FELT BOOTS* ARE FEAST FOR THE EYES

• , , . The financial-economic crisis of the 2009 was the third of its kind for Smilovichi

selt boots

felt'bu:ts] Felting ractory s Director, Vasily Saban. Flowever, each time his unique •.Piemen company recovered from its challenging situation. Mr Saban, 55, has not only

■ m i in .in ■ survived these times of trouble but has discovered a solution for ‘his’ factory —

the company modernized its felt boot production, with the range of wool-made products expanded.

“This branch may be one of the oldest but it has seen progress,” says Mr Saban, looking at black-and-white photos from the 1950—T960s. “In 1928 Smilovichi staff made just 8—10 pairs of felt boots daily; the figure is ten times larger now, the quality has also improved. We are now working on making women’s felt boots more attractive and fashionable, without giving them high heels!”

Felt boots have been worn for over two centuries but still enjoy popularity with villagers, buiders, the military, steel workers and ice fishermen. In recent years, felt boots have even gained special status, being bought in Russia, the Baltic States, Ukraine and Finland; Smilovichi-made footwear is worn with pleasure.

The company makes 37 different wollen products — including felt boots for children and adults, technical felt, woollen blankets and pillows, and sets for banyas. Its major supplies of raw materials are based in Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan. The company has managed not only to avoid bankruptcy but to advance significantly in its traditional manufacture. The process of felt boot making is complicated and labour intensive, including 36 operations, with only a few of them mechanised.

...I went to Smilovichi to buy felt boots for my sister and ended up buying some

for myself and my family. They are beautiful and warm and environmentally

glue fglu:] friendly, being produced from sheep’s wool, without addictive and synthetic

i-ciefi * glue*. Anyone wearing Smilovichi-made felt boots must surely feel warm; their

footwear has been made with love and keeps the warmth of their makers’ hands.

2. The director of the felting factory tells us about the factory's achievements over the years. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3. What does the factory produce?

4. Why are felt boots becoming more and more popular all over the world?