Unit 8 britain in the wars of the 20th century

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Alliance, the bulk of, brink, on the brink of, Entente, fierce, to neglect, rivalry, determined, louse (lice), point, seemingly, shell, trench, trench warfare, truce, weapon.

Ex.2 Insert the words from exercise 1 in the gaps:

1. The Government decided to form an … with our neighbors against adversaries. 2. The … competition between the … was over. 3. Show the direction to that … when he asks. 4. The house was in the state of … . 5. She is … to finish law school. 6. Is this animal full of …? 7. The … treaty was signed. 8. Can you handle a …? 9. His attitude to me was seemingly amicable. 10. The … was fired. 11.The … of his materials are generally stocked. 12. The soldiers couldn’t stop digging the … even under the rain. 13. … … was to begin. 14. That was an excellent moment for agreeing on the … . 15. Being on the … of war they changed the politics.

Ex.3 Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. At the beginning of the 20th century the USA became the most developed country in the world. 2. The main powers formed opposing alliances. 3. On August 4 Britain declared war on Germany. 4. It was the first time chemical weapons were used, the first time tanks and aeroplanes took part in battle and the first time plastic surgery was introduced. 5. For many young men it seemed like a chance for a great adventure and the army said if they joined up with their friends they could fight together in what were called the Pals Regiments . 6. On Christmas Eve, 1914 it had been snowing when suddenly from the German trenches came lights and the sound, not of gunfire, but of voices singing Silent Night.

Ex.4 Read the text and give answers to the following questions:

1. What was the position of Great Britain by the end of the 19^th century? 2. What did the main powers form? 3. What was on August 1, 1914? 4. Why was the First World War called “the war to end all wars”? 5. What kind of weapon and fighting equipment was used there? 6. Who began the war?

Text 1

By the end of the 19th century Britain was gradually losing her position of the world’s leading industrial power. At the beginning of the 20th century the USA became the most developed country in the world. Britain had many colonies and the exploitation of the colonies made up the bulk of the British profits. Home industries were neglected and became relatively less important in the British economy of the period.

Economic and political rivalry over trade and colonies between the highly developed countries became fierce by the beginning of the 20th century. The main powers formed opposing alliances. Thus there was a Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy against the Triple Entente consisting of Great Britain, Russia and France. The world was on the brink of war.

On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on Russia, on August 3 it declared war on France. On August 4 Britain declared war on Germany.

It was called the “war to end all wars” because no one believed there could ever be another war as terrible as World War I. Ten million people were killed.

It was the first time chemical weapons were used, the first time tanks and aeroplanes took part in battle and the first time plastic surgery was introduced.

There were many reasons for the outbreak of World War I but it was mainly due to the ambition and aggression of the German leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II. On August 4th, 1914 his army invaded Belgium, one of Britain's allies, and war was declared.

Many people did not understand why they were at war but they were determined to teach Germany a lesson and believed they would win the war by Christmas. For many young men it seemed like a chance for a great adventure and the army said if they joined up with their friends they could fight together in what were called the “Pals Regiments”.

When these men reached France a new reality hit them; they would not be home by Christmas and they were fighting a different kind of battle - trench warfare. Seeking cover from the bombard­ment of the guns both armies dug trenches and waited. The soldiers only went ‘over the top’ to fight when their offices told them the time was right.

The trenches were frightful. They were cold, wet, full of mud and full of lice and rats. The soldiers developed a strong sense of com­radeship to help them deal with trench life and the constant pressures created by the endless sound of exploding shells and guns. The constant bombardment caused a new illness in men whose nervous systems could no longer cope with the endless noise - shell shock.

The war was going on for years. Most men could no longer see a point in a war seemingly without a meaning or an ending.

One of the most famous events of the war showed that it wasn't just the British who felt this way. On Christmas Eve, 1914 it had been snowing when suddenly from the German trenches came lights and the sound, not of gunfire, but of voices singing “Silent Night”. The British sang back and food was thrown from one side's trench to the other’s. On Christmas Day officers from both sides met and formally saluted each other. For a few short hours the gun fell silent and this day became known as “The Christmas Truce” and it was the last time anything like it happened in war.

Ex.5 Look through the text again and translate the following words:

Colony, exploitation, profit, to declare, chemical, surgery, to invade, adventure, mud, to cope, pressure, gunfire.

Ex.6 Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:

Принадлежало много колоний; составлять большую часть дохода; быть на грани войны; использовать химическое оружие; новая реальность поразила их; было много причин, чтобы начать войну; в поисках укрытия; армия копала траншеи; война продолжалась годами; поздороваться официально.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

1. At the beginning of the twenties century Britain was losing her position of the world’s leading industrial power. 2. The Triple Entente consisted of Great Britain, Russia and France. 3. On August 5 Germany declared war on Britain. 4. The soldiers couldn’t develop a strong sense of comradeship during the war. 5. On Easter Eve, 1914 it had been snowing.

Ex.8 Give questions to which the following sentences are the answers:

1. Home industries were neglected in the British economy of the period. 2. The main powers formed the opposing alliances. 3. The world was on the brink of war. 4. Ten million people were killed.

5. On August 4, 1914 German army invaded Belgium. 6. The soldiers only went “over the top” to fight when their officers told them the time was right. 7. The war was going on for years. 8. On Christmas day officers from both sides met.

Ex.9 Use the text to enlarge the given statements:

1. Economic and political rivalry over trade and colonies became… . 2. The First World war I was called … . 3. Chemical weapons were … . 4. Many people didn’t understand … . 5. It seemed like a chance … .

6. The trenches were … . 7. One of the most famous events of the war … .

Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. What became fierce between the highly developed countries by the beginning of the 20^th century?

2. What was Triple Alliance?

3. What was Triple Entente?

4. When did Britain declare war on Germany?

5. How did the young British respond to the news about the war?

6. What was the reality of the war?

7. What did it happen on Christmas Eve, 1914?

Ex.11 Reorder the items of the plan according to the logic of the text. Describe item 6 of the plan in detail. 1. On Christmas Eve, 1914 it had been snowing when suddenly from the German trenches came lights and the sound, not of gunfire, but of voices singing Silent Night.

2. On August 4 Britain declared war on Germany.

3. The main powers formed opposing alliances.

4. For many young men it seemed like a chance for a great adventure and the army said if they joined up with their friends they could fight together in what were called the Pals Regiments .

5. It was the first time chemical weapons were used, the first time tanks and aeroplanes took part in battle and the first time plastic surgery was introduced. 6. At the beginning of the 20th century the USA became the most developed country in the world.

Ex.12 Give a written summary of the text in 5-7 sentences.

Text 2

Ex.1 Translate and memorize the following words:

Armistice, conscription, coward, cowardice, to be eager, to encourage, prior to, a recruit, to recruit, to turn a blind eye to, to vow.

Ex.2 Insert the words from exercise 1 in the gaps:

1. Everyone was happy because the armies decided to … . 2. The new … turned out to be the brother of the general. 3. This is a secret … you don’t tell that story to anybody. 4. We can’t understand the … on the war. 5. He was … to buy the book but the price was rather high. 6. That was a real problem. Nobody could … . 7. Do you mean your brother is a …? I’ll never believe he could refuse a girl to help.

Ex.3 Translate the following sentences from English into Russian:

1. The war turned out to be a great tragedy for the British. 2. Government introduced conscription which meant that it became compulsory for any man aged 18 and over to fight. 3. There were also thousands of boys who were eager to fight. 4. Troops were encouraged not to tell about the horror in the trenches to the families and friends left at home. 5. The British still remember those who gave their lives for their country on Poppy Day. 6. All over the country people attend services to remember those who have laid down their lives.

Ex.4 Read the text and give answers to the following questions:

1. What was a great tragedy got the British?

2. What was said about the war?

3. Were there many early volunteers dead?

4. Which risk did any man run who didn’t go to war?

5. How old was the youngest known recruit?

6. When was the Armistice signed bringing an end to the war?