- •Оглавление
- •Введение
- •10 Features peculiar to the British
- •1. Before you read and translate the following text, study the vocabulary and learn the words by heart.
- •10 Features peculiar to the British
- •2. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •3. Give the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •4. Complete the sentences with the information based on the text.
- •5. Word-formation section.
- •6. Explain the following in English.
- •7. Find one word out. Explain your choice.
- •9. Do the translation into English.
- •10. Write an essay. Choose the subject.
- •National characteristics
- •1. Read the text and match these headings to paragraphs 1-6. There's one heading you don't need.
- •2. The following words are in the article. Choose the best meaning from the possible answers below.
- •3. Analyse the text, answering the following questions:
- •Part II Holidays in Great Britain
- •1. Before you read and translate the following text, study the vocabulary and learn the words by heart.
- •2. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •3. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •4. Say when the following holidays are observed.
- •5. Make up the words of different parts of speech. Use the following suffixes:
- •6. Guess what holiday or festival is meant in each sentence.
- •7. Say if these statements are true or false. Justify your answer. Use the following formulas:
- •8. Answer the following questions:
- •9. Do the translation into English.
- •10. Render the text. Use the following introductory phrases:
- •Part III Sport traditions
- •1. Match the following titles to the parts of the text:
- •2. Answer the following questions:
- •3. Match the words to make word combinations.
- •4. Do the translation into English.
- •5. Make the question plan of the text. Part IV Royal traditions and ceremonies
- •Swan-Upping
- •The Queen's Telegram
- •The Trooping of the Colour
- •Giving Honours
- •The State Opening of the Parliament
- •1. Complete the sentences. Consult the text if necessary.
- •2. Correlate each word / word combination with the royal tradition.
- •3. Match the English word combinations to their Russian equivalents.
- •4. Work in pairs. Make 2-3 questions to every paragraph and answer them.
- •5. Do the translation into English.
- •6. Write an essay expressing you ideas on any of the following statements:
- •Part V Holidays in the usa
- •1. Read the following text about the most popular holidays in the usa. Before reading, study the following words and word combinations:
- •2. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •3. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •4. Correct the statements. Consult the text if necessary.
- •6. Answer the questions according to the text content. Use the following introductory expressions:
- •7. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.
- •8. Make a plan of the text "Holidays in the usa". Retell the text using your plan. Part VI Anglosphere6
- •1. Read the text below and answer the question "What is anglosphere?"
- •Anglosphere factfile
- •3. Give the Russian equivalents for the following words and word combinations:
- •4. Complete the chart with the information from the text above.
- •5. Complete the sentences with the information based on the text.
- •6. Answer the following questions:
- •7. Do the translation into English.
- •Flags and emblems of the uk National flag of the uk
- •Is made up of:
2. The following words are in the article. Choose the best meaning from the possible answers below.
1. intentionally
a) in particular |
b) on purpose |
c) by chance |
2. astounded
a) worried |
b) shocked |
c) puzzled |
3. complicated
a) comprehensive |
b) difficult |
c) confusing |
4. conquered
a) fought |
b) defeated |
c) attacked |
5. preachers
a) religious speakers |
b) teachers |
c) instructions |
6. Trade union – is an organisation for
a) shoppers |
b) workers |
c) politicians |
7. emigrated
a) broken house |
b) flew away |
c) left your own country |
8. views
a) sights |
b) opinions |
c) scenes |
9. bearing in mind
a) remembering |
b) thinking |
c) proving |
3. Analyse the text, answering the following questions:
Do you think the writer intended to be serious or amusing, or both? Why?
What other opinions does the writer quote? Why do you think he does this?
Part II Holidays in Great Britain
1. Before you read and translate the following text, study the vocabulary and learn the words by heart.
bank holiday |
официальный нерабочий день, установленный законом |
charity |
благотворительность |
reunion [ri:׳ju:niәn] |
воссоединение |
chimney |
труба, дымоход |
Trafalgar Square |
Трафальгарская площадь |
Christmas Eve |
канун рождества |
Boxing Day |
день подарков |
servants |
слуги |
hot-cross bun |
горячая сдобная булочка с изюмом, украшенная сверху крестом |
Easter |
Пасха |
Hogmanay [׳hogmәnei] |
Хогманей (шотланд. назв. кануна Нового года) |
artificial |
искусственный |
to commemorate |
увековечить |
suppression |
подавление |
dummy |
кукла, чучело |
Good Friday |
Страстная пятница |
The most popular holidays in Great Britain are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter, May Day, that are considered as bank holidays1.
Most of bank holidays are religious holidays. Now for most people they are simply days on which people eat, drink and make merry.
Christmas Day is the most popular of bank holidays. It is celebrated on the 25th of December. On this day many people go to churches, open their Christmas presents, eat Christmas dinner of roast turkey and Christmas pudding.
Churches hold a carol service2 where special hymns are sung. Sometimes carol-singers can be heard in the streets as they collect money for charity.
Many people watch the Queen's Christmas broadcast on TV. This day is a traditional family reunion day. Also it is a special day for children, which leave a long sock or stocking at the end of their beds on Christmas Eve, that is on the 24th of December, hoping Father Christmas to come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets.
Every year the people of Norway give a present to the city of London. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square.
Boxing Day is on the 26th of December. People usually give presents to their friends, relatives and also to servants, delivery men and postmen on this day.
New Year's Day is on the 1st of January. It is not as widely celebrated as Christmas. Others, however, celebrate it, organizing parties and dances that are held on the New Year's Eve, the 31st of December. People see the old year out and the New Year in.
"Hogmanay" is a Scottish name of the New Year's Eve.
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter3 when the church marks the death of Christ. On this day people eat hot-cross buns – buns marked on top with a cross.
Easter is a religious holiday. And it is a traditional day for eating Easter eggs, which are usually made of chocolate. Nowadays Easter eggs are often artificial, made of wood or plastic. They are hidden about the house that children could find them.
In London there's Easter Parade in Battersea Park.
May Day (that is a bank holiday) is celebrated on the 1st of May to commemorate the suppression of demonstrations for the eight-hour working day in the USA on May 1, 1886. Since then May Day has been celebrated in many countries including Great Britain and the USA.
There's also another May Day (that is not a bank holiday) which falls on the first Monday after the 1st of May. It is a celebration of the coming of spring. On this day different outdoor events are held. Usually May Queen, the most beautiful girl of the celebration, is selected.
***
Besides public holidays there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November and is called Guy Fawkes's Day or Bonfire Night. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the tower and cut off his head.
Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks. This dummy is called a "guy" and children can often be seen in the streets before the 5th of November saying, "Penny for the guy". If they collect enough money they can buy some sweets or fireworks.
Another famous British tradition is a celebration of the day of love. St. Valentine is the saint of people in love, and St. Valentine's Day is on February, 14. On that day people send valentine cards and presents to their husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. Traditionally people never write their names on these cards. Some British newspapers have a page for Valentine's Day messages on the 14th of February.
April Fool's Day is celebrated on the 1st of April. This is a very old tradition from the Middle Ages. At that time servants became masters for one day of the year. Now April Fool's Day is different. It's a day for jokes and tricks.
Halloween means "holy evening", and takes place on the 31st of October. It is marked by organizing parties and dances, where people are dressed in costumes of witches and ghosts. They cut horrible faces in pumpkins and put a candle inside, which shines through the eyes. Such carved pumpkins are called "jack-o'-lanterns". People also play different games such as trying to eat an apple from a bucket of water without using their hands. Children dressed in white sheets knock at the door at Halloween and ask if you would like a "trick" or a "treat". If you give them some sweets, they go away, if not, they play a "trick" on you, such as making a lot of noise or spilling flour on your front doorstep.