- •Great britain, the usa and australia
- •In the post - second world war period
- •Cold War
- •Language practice
- •Discussion
- •There is a divergence in opinions about who was to blame for the Cold War. Read the preface and agree or disagree with the statements that follow. Ground your opinion.
- •The four following statements typify the four different interpretations of the causes of the Cold War. Which of them is closer to your understanding of the issue? Explain why.
- •Make a short presentation (up to 7 minutes) describing the current global economic crisis. Use texts 40, 41 from supplementary reader and other sources.
Language practice
Ex. 1. Match the words with their synonyms and learn them.
aftermath |
to drop, to fall, to plunge |
to deploy |
crime, offense, wrong |
to plummet |
to abuse, to maltreat, to mistreat |
to uncover |
to install, to arrange, to position |
to misuse |
consequences, outcome, result |
misdeed |
to expose, to discover, to reveal |
ambivalent |
to increase, to enhance, to advance |
rapid |
to reinforce, to fortify, to make stronger |
to boost |
to pay attention to, to observe, to regard |
to outstrip |
unsure, unclear, ambiguous |
to strengthen |
sophisticated, complex, highly developed |
instrumental |
fast, quick, swift |
advanced |
supportive, helpful, influential |
to heed |
to surpass, to exceed, to outdo |
Ex. 2. In diplomatic terms there are three types of war. Make sure you understand the difference.
Hot War |
Talks are still going on and there would always be a chance of a peaceful outcome but armies, navies etc. are being fully mobilized and war plans are being put into operation ready for the command to fight. |
Warm War |
Neither side fights the other but they do ‘fight’ for their beliefs using client states who fight for their beliefs on their behalf. |
Cold War |
Actual warfare when all talks have failed and the armies are fighting. |
Ex. 3. Match the definitions to their appropriate terms and learn them. Translate the terms into Russian.
1. |
arms race |
The action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits. |
2. |
détente |
A metaphoric name symbolizing the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe after World War II. |
3. |
containment |
Encouraging people to start or join a war. |
4. |
“iron curtain” |
The easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation, a thawing at a period roughly in the middle of the Cold War. |
5. |
brinkmanship |
A competition between two or more parties for real or apparent military supremacy |
6. |
warmongering |
The practice of pushing dangerous events to the verge of disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome |
Ex. 4. Complete the sentences by translating the words and phrases in brackets. Use your active vocabulary. Make necessary grammatical changes.
The (холодная война) was the continuing state of political conflict, (напряженность), and economic competition after World War II.
World War II brought the two countries into (союз), based on the (общий) aim of (разгром) Nazi Germany.
The world greatly changed when USA exploded the (водородная бомба) in 1952.
They expressed the conflict through military coalitions, strategic force (размещение), espionage, propaganda, and (гонка вооружений).
Due to their great range and firepower (ракеты дальнего радиуса действия) would carry most of the destructive force.
The USSR and the US disagreed about political philosophy and the configuration of the (послевоенный) world.
The US and its (союзники) used (политика сдерживания коммунизма) as a main strategy.
Both sides sought (разрядка) to (ослаблять политическую напряженность).
The distinct differences in the political systems of the two countries often prevented them from reaching a (взаимный) mutual understanding on key policy issues.
In the early 1970s, the Soviet regime proclaimed a policy of (разрядка) détente and sought increased economic cooperation and (разоружение) disarmament negotiations with the West.