Билет №9. Вопрос 1.

IN A STORM

(after Herman Wouk)

Norman and Irene set out on their sailing trip at seven on the morning of a perfect day. They loaded the catamaran, hoisted sail, and left the harbour. While they sailed down the south shore of Amerigo, the catama­ran went like a train through calm green waters. But at Hog Point, the western end of the island, they saw big waves from the north rolling by, throwing up thirty-foot showers of spray. As they passed the point, the catamaran began to pitch and roll.

The sails rattled and flapped in the wind and big waves broke over Irene, Norman and the picnic baskets. They were in swimming suits, and getting wet at first seemed to be part of the fun. Irene rounded the point with Norman's awkward help, and the catamaran went foaming up the north shore, over a blue sea. The speed was good but they were making little way toward Big Dog. There the island set, bright green in the morn­ing sunlight, due north-east, and straight from there the wind blew. Swear­ing at then} unluckily direction of the wind, Irene tried again and again to bring the catamaran about. At the end of several hours of this, the island remained three good open miles away. The sun was high and hot. The wind was growing stronger. Norman and Irene were wet to the bones.

Trying to come about once again, Irene slipped and fell on the pitch­ing deck, and hurt her head. She lay there swearing till she was breath­less. Then she took another breath and shouted over the flapping of the sails and the noise of the rolling waves, "This was the craziest idea I've ever had! I can't make it, Norman! I'm sorry."

Norman was glad when she gave up. He was wet, sunburned, chilled and seasick, and also scared, out there in the wild sea, in a bulky boat with an angry, exhausted woman. It was a long slow sail back. As they turned into the harbour, the noon whistle blew from the fort.

1. What is the text about?

2. Who are the main characters of this story?

3. Can you call the wind the third character?

4. Were they afraid of big waves at the beginning?

5. What happened when they were near Hog Point?

Билет №9. Вопрос 2.

Holidays in Russia, Britain and the USA

Feasts and festivals serve to meet specific social and psychological needs of the people of the country. Holidays can be religious and secular, national and local, official and unofficial. The dates that are memorable to every Russian citizen are Victory Day, May Day, Constitution Day, Women's Day, and the Day of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation. These are national holidays; people do not work on these days. The most important date in Russia is Victory Day. Observed on May 9, it commemorates the Victory of the Russian troops over the Nazi invaders. On that day the veterans meet in the parks and squares of the cities to recollect the days of war and exchange greetings. Wartime music is played everywhere. At night fireworks are let off. May Day is also very popular in our country. This is the day of friendship and support.

One of the biggest festivals of the year is New Year. Peter I the Great decreed that New Year should be marked in Russia on January 1.

The major holidays in Great Britain are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Public holidays are called Bank Holidays, because on these days banks, most of the shops and offices are closed. The Bank Holidays were appointed by the Act of Parliament in 1871.

National festivals in the United States include Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day. Independence Day is observed on July 4. On this day, in 1776, America adopted the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, and started the fight for freedom from the British rule. The celebration of it began in the American Revolution. Since then it has been a patriotic holiday. People go out into the streets on July 4, dress up and take part in parades and open-air meetings. In the evening there are always parties and fireworks.

In the USA there are 50 states, and there are many holidays that are not observed nation-wide but are celebrated in certain states only. Columbus Day is observed on October 12 in 34 states. It commemorates the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus who landed in the New World on October 12, 1492. The major celebration of the day takes place in New York City, which holds a huge parade each year.