Vocabulary, grammar and text exercises

I Analyze the structure of the following words, define parts of speech and translate the words.

exceptional standing bookprinting

strengthen utilization shipyard

overestimate backwardness personally

II Make up pairs of synonyms.

a) an avenue, standing, to hold, a territory, to raid, to plunder, to kill, to train, an enterprise, ahead

2. to murder, to possess, a plant, a road, to invade, to rob, a position, forward, to prepare, an area

3. Make up pairs of antonyms.

1. right, strength, military, success, to continue, definite, archaic, to capture, an enemy, industry, foreign

2. failure, to finish, to free, left, a friend, internal, civil, indefinite, agriculture, weakness, advance

IV. Read the following sentences translating the Russian parts into English.

1. Peter I was one of the greatest (личностей, выдающийся государственный деятель и реформатор).

2. The economy, culture, education of the Russian state, its (военная мощь) and its (международное положение) - all altered radically (во время правления) of Peter I

3. At the end of the 17^th century Russia had poor (промышленность и торговлю); her roads were (плохо развиты), there was no (светского образования).

4. Russia had only (зачатки) of a (регулярной армии) and no (флота) .

5. Her north-western neighbour was still holding territories (захваченных) at the beginning of the 17^th century, (отрезая) her off from the Baltic Sea.

6. Throughout the seventeenth century (Российское правительство платило дань) to the Crimean Tatars, but even this (не спасло) the country from the (опустошающих набегов).

7. Peter knew about Russia’s (отсталость).

8. (Именно во время его правления) a navy was built.

9. Industry ranging from (больших металлургических предприятий и судостроительных верфей до шелкопрядильных и текстильных фабрик) was vigorously established.

10. The army and navy (полностью снабжались оружием, сделанным в России).

11. Radical reforms (были введены) in agriculture.

12. (Благодаря успешным компаниям) of 1695 and 1696 the Tatars (были отброшены назад).

13. A major result (столкновений) with Turkey and the (крымским ханством) was (отмена платы дани), which was (несовместима) with Russia’s status as (суверенное государство).

V Pick out from these sentences the ones with Passive Voice and translate them.

1. Peter I is referred to as a truly great man.

2. There was no secular education.

3. A certain balance and the beginning of a rapprochement with Poland alone were established in the second half of the 17^th century.

4. It was during his reign that a navy was built and a naval academy established.

5. The first Russian newspaper was also founded in is days.

6. Peter was aware of Russia’s backwardness.

7. Foreign and internal trades were pushed ahead.

8. It was characteristic of Peter I.

9. Peter was similarly concerned with the development of Russia’s regular army.

6. Find in the text the passage where it is told about Russia’s backwardness at the end of the 17^th century. Read it and translate.

6. Comment the following statements according to the text.

1. Russia had access neither to the Baltic nor to the Black Sea.

2. Peter I is the creator of navy.

6. Answer the following questions.

1. What role did Peter I play in the history of Russia?

2. What fields of life did his reforms touch?

3. Did Russia have regular army and navy at the beginning of the 17^th century?

4. How can you prove that the international standing of the country was very low?

5. How did the campaigns of V.V. Golitsyn end?

6. What reforms were introduced in the field of education by Peter I?

7. Can we say that industry was rapidly developed? Why?

8. What reforms took place in the administration?

9. How can you prove that reforms also happened in agriculture?

10. Was there an opposition to his reforms?

11. What were the results of his military victories in the south? And in the north?

12. Why can we say that Peter I was the son of his time?

6. Render the text.

Text 9

THE ENGLISH REVOLUTION

The Commons in the Long Parliament had a cohesion and a conscious purpose new in English history. In earlier parliaments members were elected as individuals, for their standing in their own shires and boroughs rather than for their political alignment. But in the interval since the Parliament of 1628 the first political party had begun to take shape. It was the work of a group of Puritan squires and nobles, of Pym, a leader of the last Parliament, of the Earl of Bedford, the grandfather of all the Whigs and others.

During the elections, in autumn of 1640, Pym, Hampden and others toured the country, urging the return of known Puritans and strengthening their claim to leadership of the opposition. The result was an overwhelming electoral victory for the party of the big bourgeoisie, the landowners and merchants, not republican but determined for the most part to make the Crown subordinate to a Parliament of which they were complete masters.

In the first session of the Long Parliament the new party met with no real opposition. Charles had alienated almost all classes and there was as yet no Royalist Party. Men like Hyde and Falkland, who were not Puritans and later fought for the King in the Civil War, went with the majority in attacking royal absolutism and demanding the removal of Strafford. In November 1640 it appeared as if the battle was won without a blow being struck. Strafford and Leud were arrested, other unpopular ministers escaped abroad and the Commons, protected on one side by the Scottish Army encamped at Newcastle and one the other by the London masses, appeared irresistible. London became the great centre of revolutionary ferment and discussion. Popular demonstrations to Westminster often exercised decisive political effect, coercing the King and driving the Parliamentary Party into more aggressive action. Pym and his fellows were at times terrified by the violence of the forces they had set in motion but were too much in need of popular support against the Crown to venture to restrain it.

In March Strafford was impeached for high treason. Since treason had in the past always been a crime against the King, and since Strafford had acted throughout on the King’s behalf, a new conception of treason had to be put forward, treason against the State and the liberty of the subject. It was a crime unknown to law but Pym and his followers knew that as long as Strafford was alive there was danger of a counter-revolution in which they would be lucky to escape with their lives. When the Lords seemed unlikely to find Strafford guilty, the procedure was suddenly changed and a Bill of Attainder introduced. It was significant of the state of opinion at this time that only fifty-nine votes were given because of disapproval of the procedure rather than from a feeling that Strafford ought not to die.

A crisis had been precipitated by the discovery of a plot among the officers of the Army at York to march on London, release Strafford and dissolve Parliament. It was encouraged by Charles and the Queen and organized by the most unscrupulous and irresponsible courtiers and adventurers.

The discovery of the plot produced a panic in London. The Attainder was rushed through the two houses early in May and presented to the King for his signature. With it went a Bill to prevent the dissolution of Parliament without its own consent. For some days huge demonstrations surrounded Westminster and threatened to storm and sack the royal palace of Whitehall. Charles gave way and on May 12 Strafford was beheaded on Tower Hill before a crowd which contemporary writers estimated at 200, 000. From this time two things were clear. First, that a decisive conflict had opened in which both sides were fighting for absolute supremacy, and, second, that the Parliamentary Party must triumph or perish because Charles would never be satisfied with less than their complete destruction.

In November the Puritans drew up the Grand Remonstrance, a frankly party document, designed as an assertion of the unfitness of the King to be trusted with an army. So even were the parties at this time that the Remonstrance was passed by only eleven votes. If Charles had been content to stand on his ancient rights and the letter of the law he would perhaps have been successful at this point. He preferred to trust to his gentlemen bravos, who formed armed bands which swaggered about the London streets provoking brawls with the citizens and apprentices. The latter, at any rate, were only too ready to retaliate. Finally, Charles threw away the advantage of his legal position by his attempt to arrest Pym, Hampden and other three parliamentary leaders. On January 4 he entered the House of Commons with some hundreds of armed followers to demand the arrest of these five members. They had been warned and had taken refuge in the City. Pym, always a master of political tactics, was quick to grasp the advantage. The alarm was sounded, the London train bands were called out to protect Parliament from massacre and it transferred its session to the Guildhall in the heart of the City. On January 10 Charles fled to York, with about one-third of the Commons and two-thirds of the Lords drifted in twos and threes during the winter. Both sides began at once to raise he forces necessary for an armed struggle.

PHONETIC EXERCISES

1. Read the following words paying attention to the way of pronunciation of the stressed vowels.

/)/ commons, conscious, borough

/):/ subordinate, brawl, warned, support, courtiers

/a:/ demand, Parliament

/ :/ purpose, earlier, earl, urging, merchant, ferment, coercing

/ai/ shires, squires

/ju:/ Puritan, huge

/ou/ noble

/u / toured

/au/ crown, counter

/ei/ alienate

/æ/ absolutism, battle, encamped, massacre

/ai/ decisive, alive, lives (pl), crises

/i:/ procedure, cohesion

II. Mind the rules of reading.

/w/ Whigs, overwhelming; /t∫ / signature, but /ai/ sign; / dζ / procedure; / ζn/ cohesion, /g/ guilty

III. Pronounce correctly the following proper names.

Pym, Earl of Bedford, Hampden, Charles, Hyde, Falkland, Strafford, Laud, Newcastle, London, Westminster, York, Whitehall, Tower, Guildhall.