Assignments:

1. Read, listen and translate the text paying special attention to professional terminology.

2. Key words and expressions:

• unchartered territory-an unfamiliar situation

• in control-has power to give orders and make decisions

• stuttered-gone through in an unsure way, with stop and start

• widespread allegations-a great number of statements not yet proven saying that illegal or improper things were done

• vote rigging-dishonest way of influencing the result of an election through tampering with the vote

• an embarrassment-bound to cause shame

• reflects-shows

• fatigue-tiredness

• dominated-influenced decisively

• political stage-arena of politics.

3. Give definitions to the following:

elections, popular, powerful, leader, decade.

4. Answer the questions on the text:

• Did Putin’s party suffer a setback in the elections?

• Why do you think the elections will come as an embarrassment to Mr Putin ?

• What does the parliamentary poll reflect?

• How long has Putin dominated the Russian political stage?

5. Put questions to the underlined words.

6. Speak on this issue adding extra information from other sources.

Unit 8 japanese garbadge island moves towards us

This theme is dealt with in a lot of sources. The following citation is to illustrate this:

“Following the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami disasters, a massive amount of rubbish has washed into the Pacific Ocean. The US Navy is watching the garbage with interest as it floats towards Hawaii and the west coast of the United States.

Entire houses, bodies, car parts, tractors and many upturned boats have amassed off the east coast of Japan on an epic scale.

The floating objects have been declared a maritime hazard by the American Navy, which warned they could pierce the body of a boat, or destroy engines in the Pacific's shipping lanes.

The island of debris of most concern, 110 kilometres long, is being closely monitored by the US Navy's seventh fleet, as experts predict it could hit Hawaii's shores in two years and the American west coast a year later.

Hawaiian scientists put it bluntly. They warned that a vast mess that originated in a few moments of destruction in Japan, could eventually foul beaches and reefs off the Eastern North Pacific and kill marine life.

The American Navy's working with civilian construction companies from the earthquake-hit country, as huge cranes and boats are deployed to clear the seas of this vast bobbing mass of wreckage of household furniture, wood, tyres, fishing equipment and other garbage, sweeping eastwards.”

The complete version of this text is at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/04/110411_witn_floating_debris_page.shtml

Assignments:

1. Read, listen and translate the text paying special attention to professional terminology.

2. Key words and expressions:

• amassed-gathered or collected a large amount

• an epic scale-a big or impressive size

• a maritime hazard-a danger, encountered while at sea

• pierce-puncture or damage the outer layer of

• shipping lanes-routes travelled by ships and boats at sea

• island of debris-here, large mound of wreckage or garbage

• bluntly-honestly or directly

• foul-here, make a dirty mess on

• deployed-sent or assigned

• bobbing-moving up and down with the currents of the sea.

3. Give definitions to the following:

earthquake, coast, furniture, beach, scientist.

4. Answer the questions on the text:

• Why did a massive amount of rubbish wash into the Pacific Ocean?

• What objects have been declared a maritime hazard ?

• How long is the island of debris?

• How is the American Navy working in the area?

5. Put questions to the underlined words.

6. Speak on this issue adding extra information from other sources.

UNIT 9 JOBS MOURNED IN CHINA

This theme is dealt with in a lot of sources. The following citation is to illustrate this:

“In China fans of Apple have been reacting to the death of the company's co-founder Steve Jobs.

At Beijing's flagship Apple Store they switched off the company's famous icon at midday. It was a tribute to Steve Jobs the visionary who had created a truly global brand. Flowers were laid at the entrance of the store. Some came to shop but others are gathered to pay tribute.

Speaker 1

"I just found out this morning from the news that Mr Jobs has passed away, so this is why I came here. I wanted to buy some flowers myself but I couldn't find where."

Speaker 2

"I'm kind of a diehard fan of Apple. It's really really sad to see that Steve Jobs passed away. This man I think really influenced the way I think, the way I observe the world. I really can't say how grateful I am to him."

Many Apple products are made in China. But unlike other western brands Apple is a household name here. Its iPhones and iPads are snapped up by the growing middle class. More than 35 million Chinese internet users also tweeted about his death.

Steve Jobs was a man who was idolised around the globe and many here say his vision helped connect the world.”

The complete version of this text is at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/10/111007_witn_china_jobs.shtml