Билет №2. Вопрос 1.

EASTER: A CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE

Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar, and it holds the key to understanding Christianity.

Easter has a very important religious meaning for Christians all over the world. The events that happened to Jesus Christ and his followers in the days before and during Easter, 2,000 years ago, remain at center of Christian belief. For a Christian writer, Joanna Bogle, the story of these events is like great drama.

"It begins with God's creation of the world at the beginning of time, man sinning against God, and then God sending his own son, Jesus Christ, to Earth," she explains. "He, in a way we really have to describe as mys­terious, died, took on all the sins of the world and then finally, and that's what Easter is all about, rose from the dead."

Christians believe that God made his son suffer in this way so that humans' sins could be forgiven and their souls could go to heaven when they die. That's why Jesus Christ is a Saviour of all Christians. This is how the Bible tells the story, and every year Christians remember this event and re-live it through ceremonies and special church services.

The actual date of Easter changes every year. For centuries, different groups of Christians celebrated it at different times. Then, eventually, western Christians agreed that Easter should fall on the first Sunday fol­lowing the first full moon after 21 March. Eastern Orthodox Christians have a different way o£ working out when Easter should be, and also a different calendar, so they celebrate Easter a few days on a few weeks later. That's why Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas apart.

The preparations for Easter really begin 40 days before Easter, on Shrove Tuesday. This marks the beginning of a period of fasting called Lent. Orthodox Christians take fasting very seriously. Russian Orthodox priest Father Sergei Hackel explains which foods are forbidden. "People who are serious about their Orthodox religion abstain from all animal foods, all luxuries and all dairy foods through the period of Lent."

The main Easter celebrations take place during the "Holly Week", which begins on Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter). Maundy Thurs­day (the Thursday before Easter) is traditionally the day when Christians do good acts. The Queen of England still distributes "Maundy money".

1. What is the text about?

2. What two groups of Christians are mentioned in the text?

3. Why does the date of Easter change every year?

4. Why do different groups of Christians celebrate Easter separately?

5. Comment on celebrating Easter in your country.

Билет №2. Вопрос 2.

Russia's institutions of higher education

There are a lot of institutions of higher education in our country. The Linguistic University, previously known as Maurice Thorez Institute of Foreign Languages, Pedagogic University, and Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia are well known not only in Russia but also abroad. There are numerous regional educational centres in our country. Almost every city of Russia has its university and colleges.

Moscow State University is the largest educational institution in Russia. Mikhail Lomonosov (1711-1765) inspired the foundation of Moscow University. On the Day of St. Tatiana, Count I.I. Shuvalov officially asked the permission of Empress Elizabeth to establish the University. The University was set up by the edict of the Empress issued on January 12, 1755 (according to the Russian old style). Since that time St. Tatiana has become the patron saint of Moscow University, and January 25 is celebrated as University Day in Russia.

When Moscow University was founded there were three faculties - philosophy, law and medicine there. Today there are 24 faculties mere. From the outset the best Russian scholars lectured at Moscow University. Professors were invited from all European countries. The instructions were given in Russian and in Latin. Young people from all estates but serfs could be enrolled as students. Moscow University was the centre of advanced Russian science and social thought. In the Age of Enlightenment the University was patronised by Catherine the Great. In 1785 the Empress granted the University some land for the construction of the central building.

The fire of Moscow of 1812 destroyed the magnificent classical building of the University. Precious books and archives were also lost. The construction of the new building was carried out under the supervision of D.I. Zhilyardi. Today the Institute of Asia and Africa, one of the University faculties, is housed there. In 1832 Nicholas I granted the mansion of the Pashkovs to the University. Today the Journalist Faculty is located here. During the period 1833-1836 the mansion was reconstructed into a Lecture Block. The library was located in the left wing. The University Chapel occupied the right wing. Following the October Revolution of 1917, the University got the state status and became known as Moscow State University (MGU in Russian). In May 1940 it was named after M.V. Lomonosov. In 1953 the modern University building on the Vorobyevy Hills was constructed. Sciences faculties were transferred here. In the years 1950-1970 the University campus was laid out. Now almost all the faculties are located there.