Вопрос I. Belarus The Republic of Belarus has its own state flag & state emblem. They were adopted by the people in May 1995.The state flag represents a piece of cloth with two broad stripes - of red & green colour. The flag is decorated with the folk B-n ornament. The state emblem represents the map of the country on the globe in the wreath made of rye, clover & flax. These agricultural items remind us of the main wealth of the republic.Belarus lies in the heart of Europe. Its population is more than 10 mln people. It boarders on Lithuania and Latvia in the North, Russia in the East, Ukraine in the South and Poland in the West. The area of the country is about 207thosand square km. The relief of the country is characterized by extensive plains, low hills, forests and lakes.

The climate is moderately continental: mild and humid winters; cool and rainy summers; damp autumns; sunny springs but

with changeable weather. The republic has about 3.000 rivers. Some of the rivers are big ,others are quite small; some are navigable, others are not and have no other economic value. All the rivers flow into the Black or the Baltic Sea. The largest of them are :the Dnieper. the Western Dvina, the Nyoman ,the Sozh the Berezina, the Pripet. There are about 11.000 lakes on the territory of Belarus. The largest lake districts are B-n Poozerye and Polesye. The biggest B-n lake is the Naroch. The lakes are of great importance: they provide villages and towns with water, but their main wealth is fish. Forests,marshes and meadows cover the country like a green carpet. One third of the territory is covered with forests. The biggest ones are called pushchas. The most beautiful of them are the Belovezhskaya, the Naliboki and the Grodno pushchas. The pride of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the aurochs-a rare animal.(a bison)

Belarus is rich in wat er and potash salt resourses. The country also contains oil, slate, iron, ore, bauxites and phosphates . Belarus consists of 6 regions. Belarussian national economy comprises over a hundred brunches of industry. The modern industrial character of the state is determined by the automobile and tractor building, mining, oil refinery and chemical industries, by machine-tool building , production of electronic devices, mineral fertilizers and synthetic fibers, motor-cycles and watches, TV-sets, refrigerators and other items.

Belarus is famous for its hospitable, kind and hardworking people which are the true symbol of our country. I ‘m proud of my country and I love it very much.

Minsk The capital of my Motherland is Minsk. . It is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. Minsk was first mentioned in the old chronicles in the 11th century. Then it was a commercial & trade centre. People sold their products for salt, iron & other goods. That is why the city was called "Mensk'. During the Great Patriotic war fascists destroyed Minsk almost completely. When the Soviet Army Soldiers liberated Minsk on July the third 1944,the whole city laid in ruins. Modern Minsk is a large beautiful city. The river Svisloch runs through its centre. Minsk is an industrial, cultural, political & business centre. Our government works here. Minsk can be proud of its plants & factories. They produce different types of lorries, tractors & machines, refrigerators, watches, TV sets, radios, woolen fabrics & other items.

Minsk has a lot of theatres, cinemas, clubs & the circus. In the Opera & Ballet theatre people can watch ballets & operas, in the Y.Kupala & M.Gorky drama theatres they can watch different plays, in the Musical Comedy theatre one can listen to operettas. Children like to visit the circus. In the capital there are many universities, academies, & colleges where students from the whole country study to get the profession of a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, an engineer. In the museums we can see various pictures, sculptures, we can learn about the heroic past of our country, about its customs & traditions, about its famous people. . There are many churches and cathedrals in Minsk but the most famous are The Red Church and The Yellow Church. When tourists come to Minsk they can visit many sights: the Troitsky Suburb with a lot of cafes & restaurants, Victory Square with the Obelisk & the Eternal Flame, Independence Square with the Catholic Church, Yakub Kolas Square,the Botanical garden etc. Tourists from all over the world come to Minsk to see its sights & enjoy its beauty.

Text 3. Belarusian Cuisine. Cuisine plays an important role in manifesting the hospitality, cordiality, and friendliness implicit in the traditional Belarusan greeting, "A guest in the house is God in the house." Since Belarus is located in the forest, grain, and potato belts of eastern Europe, Belarusan cooking reflects the riches of the land. Favorite dishes include a wide variety of grains, a diversity of mushrooms, meats, and many kinds of fish dishes. There are, of course, a number of items which Belarusans share in common with their Slavic neighbors: halubcy (stuffed cabbage), borscht, and kaubasa (kielbasy). One popular comestible well known to many Americans is the bagel. The traditional bagel comes from the town of Smarhon in the northwestern part of Belarus. But unquestionably the most famous food of Belarus is the potato. The Belarusian housewife has close to 100 ways of preparing potato dishes for every occasion. Traditional dishes include draniki (fried potato pancakes) and babka (oven-baked, mushed potatoes and lard); various sauces such as mochanka (made from mushrooms) and poliuka which accompanies bliny (another variety of potato pancake) or meat dishes; soups such as zatirki combined with meatballs or dough balls; and desserts such as kisel' (fruit jellies).

Text 4. Belarusian Traditional Costumes. The most visible and expressive Belarusan folk art is found in national apparel, where the predominant colors are red, white, black, and occasionally green. There are distinct patterns, designs, and materials for men and women. A woman's holiday dress consists of a white linen blouse, always ornamented with embroidery or a woven design; an apron, usually of white linen with embroidery; a long pleated skirt of colorful woolen material; a vest, laced or buttoned in the front, often with slits from the waist down; and a headdress. The man's costume is composed of linen trousers and a shirt. The shirt is long, always embroidered, and worn with a hand-woven belt or sash.

Text 5. Belarusian Dances & Songs. Scholars trace the origins of Belarusan music to pagan times. A national characteristic is the tendency to form instrumental groups. The most commonly used instruments are the violin (skrypka), accordion (bajan), cymbals, pipe (dudka), and the tambourine. An important part of the Belarusan musical heritage is the huge repertoire of songs, suitable for every occasion, including birth, marriage, death, entering military service, the change of seasons, work, and leisure. Belarusans sing solos, duets, and harmonize in ensembles and choirs. Singing is often accompanied by one or more instruments, very often the husli (psaltery). The lullaby is especially popular in Belarusan families. Generations of children have grown up learning the lyrics to these songs sung to them by their mothers and grandmothers.

Dancing has enjoyed a millennium-long life span in Belarus. Belarusan folk dancing is characterized by the richness of its composition, uncomplicated movements, and small number of rapid steps. Folk dances are often accompanied by song expressing the feelings, work habits, and life style of the people.

Text 6. Belarusian Crafts. Among the Belarusan crafts that are widespread in the world are woven rugs and embroidered table covers and bedspreads. Hand-woven belts and embroidered towels are perhaps most prized. Towels have particular significance because of the numerous solemn occasions when they are employed—weddings, christenings, and adorning icons. Pottery, straw incrustations, and woodcarving are also popular age-old Belarusan crafts.

Вопрос II. Education in Belarus. In Belarus children go to school at the age of six. Secondary education which is compulsory lasts 11 years. It consists of three levels: primary school, secondary school and high school. Primary school lasts for four years. In the form of games children learn not only to read, write and count but also to draw, design simple things, sing and dance.

The second level is five years of instruction with a wide choice of subjects. Parents may choose the curriculum according the abilities and inclinations of their children. At the end of the 9^th form pupils take Basic Certificate Examination in Maths, History, Russian and Belarusian. According to their results pupils can go to high school or get professional education.

High school consists of two years of instruction. Every pupil can make a particular choice which subjects he or she wants to study on advanced level: sciences, humanities, linguistics etc. There can be no more than three compulsory subjects. In the 11^th form pupils take General Certificate Examination in Maths, Russian or Belarusian and are free to choose the third exam among the subjects they have studied on advanced level.

School takes place five days a week. Every lesson lasts 45 minutes with breaks from 15 to 20 minutes. The school begins on the 1^st of September and is over on the 31^st of May. It is divided into four terms with holidays up to 14 days between them. The summer holidays last from June to September.

Why do we study english

It is necessary to learn at least one foreign language today.That"s why pupils have got such subject as a foreign language at school.

The problem of learning languages is very important today.Foreign languages are socially demanded especially at the present time.We know that the progress in science and technology has led to an explosion of knowledge and has contributed to an overflow of information.The total knowledge of mankind is known to double every seven years.Foreign languages are needed as the main and the most efficient means of information exchange of the people of our planet.

Today English is the language of the world.English is not only the national or official language of some thirty states which represent different cultures,but it is also the major international language of communication in such areas as science,technology,business and mass entertainment.English is one of the official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations.It is the language of literature,education,modern music,international tourism.

I learn English because I understand that I can use it.As I"m going to become an economist,I think that it"s very important for specialist of high qualification to speak at least one foreign language.English is extreme­ly necessary as it is the most popular language of international business communication.

I learn English because I want to read foreign literature in the ori­ginal.Besides,the English language is the language of the great literature.A lot of modern literature and many new films in English come out every year. If you know English,you can understand them without translation.No wonder that most educated people speak English fluently. I like to travel,but it is difficult to visit new places,when you don"t know the language of these countries.And it is much easier to travel when you know the language.If I want to ask something,I can do it in English. There are international camps in the world.If you can speak English, it will be easy for you to visit such camps and speak with the boys,girls,men and women who do not know Russian. Today,one person in seven of the world"s population either knows English or learns it.So a modern and a cultural person must learn foreign languages.

What Do You Think of Dress Codes for School?

1. I thought that was something that died 20 ears ago. And I thought everybody knew by now that it’s what inside a person that counts, not how he’s dressed. Our school recently adopted a dress code. I was sure they couldn’t be serious - just something to appease parents and the school board. So I ignored it, of course. The upshot was that when I came to school as usual in my fatigues and T-shirt I was thrown out of class! Can you imagine? In this day and age!!!

2. I like to present a good appearance. So I spend a lot of time in the morning on make up, and dress up. I wear designer dresses and use jewelry for accent purposes. The other day I chose a set of bracelets to highlight a new outfit. My teacher told me to get rid of the awful clank, and while I was at it to wash my face. I was never so mortified! They want you to dress nicely for school, and when you do that’s what you get.

3. I earn pretty good money after school, so I can buy a lot of my own clothes. What I buy is the latest. I mean up-to-the minute. I watch men’s fashions in the magazines and newspapers, and I’m always the first in school to wear what’s hot in the largest cities of my country and abroad. And what do I get for my trouble? Ridicule! Not just other kids make fun of my clothes, but teachers too! They are worse than the kids are. I suppose it’s because they grew up in the 50s and 60s when anything went. Do they want me to dress like a slob in old fatigues and a greasy T-shirt?

Do you want to know the author’s opinion? Here it is.

Selecting the right clothes to wear isn’t easy. It is to be learned just as you learn most other things. And that’s one of the reasons behind dress codes at school - to help teach you what is appropriate in your work place. Very often people try to defend themselves in order to excuse inappropriate way of dressing. They usually say: =It doesn’t matter how you dress... =I dress to be comfortable... =You can’t tell a book by its cover... =I dare to be different... and so on.

The word appropriate is a key word for choosing an outfit. You wouldn’t crawl under the car in a good sweater and slacks, and you shouldn’t wear greasy fatigues to school. Clanking bracelets and dramatic makeup may work well at a party, but they are not good for the work place - school, that is.

And one more. Most fashion fads that work well and make splash in big cities never make it in the rest of the country.

Clean, neat, appropriate. Those are the buzz words for the successful dressing. If your outfit is all of these, you’ll rarely have to worry about dress codes, or about what other people think.

Вопрос III. Text 3 Healthy Food All food is made up of nutrients which our bodies use. There are different kinds of nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats» vitamins and minerals. Different foods contain different nutrients.

Before we cut down on fat, sugar and salt, we have to know a bit more about the kind of food these things might be in. The biggest problem comes when these things are hidden in other foods: biscuits, crisps, sausages, meat pies, soft drinks and so on.

The best way is to get into the habit of checking the ingredients and nutritional value on the sides of packets although this isn't always easy to do. Another thing to know is, for example, that we do need fat to live, it's an essential part of our diet and physically we couldn't exist without it.

But we all know that to eat much fat is bad for our health. The matter is that there are different kinds of fat. There are fats that are good for us and fats that are bad for us. Eating less of the bad ones and more of the good ones can actually help us to live longer! Bad fats are the saturated fats, found in animal productions, like red meat, butter and cheese.

Friendly fats are the unprocessed fats found naturally in foods like nuts and seeds, olives, avocados and oily fish, including tuna.

One more thing to know is that when food is cooked, its structure changes. It can change the vitamin and nutrient contents of food.

More and more people feel strongly about the way, their food is produced. Nowadays so much of the basic food we eat — meat, fish, fruit and vegetables — is grown using chemicals and additives.

Although fertilizers and pesticides have greatly increased the quantity of food and helped to improve its appearance, there is a growing concern about the effects of these chemicals in the food chain. This concern has led to a growth in the demand for organically grown products. Today there is another problem. It is modified food, which is cheaper that ordinary one. There is a rumour that such food can cause cancer and other problems. Nobody knows, either it is just an imagined fear or a real problem. This problem could be solved and examined, but it will take some time.

The food we eat, depends on lots of things. Taste is a big factor. Culture, religion and health also play a part in what food we eat. Advertising and social factors also have a big influence. Income is also an important factor. That is why not surprisingly, money, rather than a lack of knowledge about how to eat well, is at the heart of the problem.