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Чуркіна Англійська мова 2006 частина 2.doc
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I. Make up situations of your own using the given words and word combinations

1. The American economy has always been immensely suc­cessful (conventional measures; evolve out of; federal government; free-market system; in the marketplace; industrial world; investors and voters; mixed economy; overlap­ping roles as consumers; produc­tive resources; rates of growth; standard of living).

2. Continuing debate over the proper role for government (absence of government involvement; ac­cessible to the people; dampen inflation; economic opportunities; flagrant abuses; gov­ernment intervention; marketplace economy; on free enterprise; private ownership and initiative; role for government; stimulate growth).

3. Government involvement in economic decision-making (development of agriculture; Earth satellites; federal government; huge investments in infrastructure; interstate highways; measure of economic security; meet their medical costs; new laws; private sector; regular income; retired people; social welfare programmes).

4. The transformation of the U.S. economy by emerging technologies (agricultural sector; electron­ics and biotechnology; food and fiber; goods and services; information-processing industries; new farming technology; old stalwarts; pri­vate sector; production of steel; semiconductor circuits; world's manufacturing power­house).

5. International trade policy (advocate; capital; colonial; commodities; competition; conducted; degree; expansion; export; import; industries; inte­gration; international trade; linchpin; manufacturing; pro-free trade; protec­tionist; shield; support; system; tariffs; trade).

II. Complete the open dialogue and learn it by heart

E.

F.

Frankly speak­ing the American economy is constantly evolving out of the choices and decisions made by millions of citizens.

E.

F.

To tell the truth they play multiple, often overlap­ping roles as consumers, producers, investors and voters.

E.

F.

As far as I know Americans have often been described as pragmatists.

E.

F.

As a rule clear evidence of the American people's pragmatism is demon­strated by their actions.

E.

F.

The matter is that Americans accept an important role for government to help create an environment with the widest possible opportunities for individual opportunity, and eco­nomic growth and progress.

E.

F.

As far as I remember they always had the continuing debate over the proper role for government in what is basically a marketplace economy.

E.

F.

On the contrary. An economy based on free enterprise is generally characterized by private ownership and initiative, with a relative absence of government involvement.

E.

F.

I don't think so. Gov­ernment intervention has been found necessary from time to time to ensure that economic opportunities are fair and ac­cessible to the people, to prevent flagrant abuses, to dampen inflation and to stimulate growth.

E.

F.

As far as I am concerned ever since colonial times, the government has been involved, to some extent, in economic decision-making.

E.

F.

As a matter of fact the federal government has made huge investments in infrastructure, it has provided social welfare programmes that the private sector was unable or unwilling to provide, it has supported and promoted the development of agriculture.

E.

F.

Moreover, the government began to provide workers with a measure of economic security in their old age.

UNIT 3

BRITISH INDUSTRY

BEFORE YOU READ

Answer these questions

1. Can you give the definition of the word industry? What industries are well developed in Britain?

2. What are the main trends of Britain's industry nowadays?

READING TASKS

A Understanding main points

Read the text below about Britain's industry and answer these questions, beginning your answers with the fol­lowing phrases: as a rule …; to tell the truth …; as far as I know …; the matter is that …; as far as I remember …; as far as I am concerned …; frankly/strictly speak­ing …; to make a long story short …

1. How many main groups can British industries be divided into? What are they?

2. What primary industries are there in Britain? What do they provide?

3. Do you agree that Britain has the largest energy resources in Europe? Why?

4. What do you know about British agriculture? Is the occupation level in this area gradually increased?

5. What percentage of the working population does British agriculture employ?

6. Where are most of the farms devoted to cattle and sheep found?

7. What percentage of British fish does the fishing industry provide?

8. What manufacturing industries in Britain do you know? What do they produce?

9. What are service industries? What percentage of Britain's Gross Do­mestic Product do they account for?

10. What part of the national income do the business services contribute?

B Understanding details

Mark these statements T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the text. Give your reason using the fol­lowing phrases: as a matter of fact ...; I don't think so …; I'm of the same opinion …; in my opinion …; on the contrary …; strictly speaking ...; to my mind ...

1. Nowadays the main trends of Britain's industry are the decline in the electronic industry and the offshore oil and gas industry, the rapid development of the heavy industry.

2. Primary industries provide raw materials and food from the land and the sea.

3. Britain has the largest energy resources in Europe and is a ma­jor world producer of oil, natural gas and coal.

4. The occupation level in British agriculture is gradually increased.

5. British agriculture employs more than six percent of the working population, yet industry produces one fifth of Britain's food.

6. In agriculture they try to support a high level of self-sufficiency, except for manufacture of sugar and cheese which are imported.

7. The manufacturing industries are still employing the greatest number of people.

8. Service industries have expe­rienced the fastest growth in recent years.

9. The banking services contribute about one sixth of the national income.

10. The government does nothing to make the British economy more efficient.

BRITAIN'S INDUSTRY

Among the main trends of Britain's industry are the decline in the heavy industry, the growth of the offshore oil and gas industry, the rapid development of the electronic industry, the continual rise in the service industries. British industries can be divided into three main groups: primary industries, manufacturing industries, service industries.

Primary industries are energy resources and agriculture. They provide raw materials and food from the land and the sea. Britain has the largest energy resources in Europe and is a ma­jor world producer of oil, natural gas and coal. The coal-mining industry has been transformed by internal deposits of natural gas and oil. By successfully exploiting oil and gas from the North Sea Britain has become self-sufficient in energy. About eighty percent of offshore produc­tion of oil and gas is brought ashore by submarine pipeline.

Nuclear fuel has insignificantly raised the level of developed energy in the country while hydroelectric power stations have kept their positions, and here and there, for example, in Scotland, the main energy sources have remained. The overwhelming majority of energy is made on usual power stations.

British agriculture is known for its high efficiency and produc­tivity. At the commercial intensification of crops and high level of mechanization on some positions volumes of agroindustrial manufacture have surpassed the level of demand in the country. The occupation level in this area is gradually reduced. It employs less than three percent of the working population, yet industry produces nearly two thirds of Britain's food. The most important cereals are wheat, oats, horns. The significant part of cereals goes on a proforage of cattle, however the rest goes on manufacture of bread, groats, etc. In animal industries the most important is the horned livestock. In agriculture they try to support a high level of self-sufficiency, except for manufacture of sugar and cheese which are imported.

More than half of the farms devoted to cattle and sheep are found on the hills and moorland of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ire­land and western England. Farms devoted to arable farming are found mainly in eastern, central and southern England. Britain is one of Europe's most important fishing nations. The fishing industry provides about sixty-five percent of British fish supplies.

Manufacturing industries, such as electronics, aerospace, chemical make finished goods from raw ma­terials. The manufacturing industries once employed the greatest number of people. There are still a number of large companies in the electronic, aerospace and chemical industries. But the average company is rather small with eighty percent employing fewer than 20 people.

The electronic industry produces an extensive range of compu­ter hardware systems, associated equipment and software. The aerospace industry, the third largest in the world, exports over seventy percent of its production. It produces both civil and military aircraft, satellites, space systems, guided weapons and components. The chemical industry, the third largest in Western Europe, ex­ports nearly fifty percent of its production. The most rapid growth has been in pharmaceuticals, pesticides and cosmetics.

Service industries are banking, business, computing and tourism. They account for sixty-six percent of Britain's Gross Do­mestic Product (GDP) and seventy-one percent of employment. Services have expe­rienced the fastest growth in recent years.

The banking services are responsible for about twenty percent of interna­tional bank lending and insurance. The business services promoting extensive distribution networks of retailers and wholesalers contribute about one sixth of the national income.

The computing services include such areas of software develop­ment as data and word processing, telecommunication, defence and consumer electronics.

The tourism services employ nearly 1.5 million people. More than 20 million overseas visitors come to Britain annually and spend about £7,500 million. British residents make about 35 million trips abroad and spend more than £10,500 million.

At the same time almost one tenth of the British workforce has been out of work. To make the British economy more efficient the government tries to stimulate innovation in industry, encourage competition, reduce taxes, increase profits, promote exports and work for worldwide free trade.