II. Reading

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text A:

Text a The History of Linen

1. Flax seems to be the oldest of textile fibres. We know linen cloth to have been discovered in the late dwellings of the unknown inhabitants of Europe, where no traces of wool can be found. It is certainly the most lasting of fibers for considerable quantities of it are actually preserved for us in Egyptian tombs, some of which are acknowledged to be fifty centuries old.

2. All things considered, we may suppose linen to be the oldest textile fibre. At any rate, flax is known to have been cultivated in Egypt 5000 years ago, and for centuries it was the only textile fibre in the land.

3. The cultivation of the flax and spinning and weaving of the linen were illustrated on the walls of Egyptian palaces, temples and tombs. The Egyptians are known to have been dressed almost entirely in linen. For many hundreds of years Egypt was the greatest linen producing country in the world.

4. In later years the use of linen spread to Greece, and to Rome, where it is supposed to have been used not only for women s clothing and handkerchiefs, but also for ship sails, though not for outer garments. The Romans thought linen to be a great luxury.

5. Then every country in Europe began to cultivate flax, and until the second part of the eighteenth century when a number of inventions made cotton fabrics cheap, linen was the most generally used textile. Though only a little over a hundred years ago flax was the most important textile fibre, today it is supposed to rank fourth. Cotton, wool and chemical fibres are used by larger amounts.

III. Language.

Exercise 6. Choose the appropriate ending of the sentences.

1. We know linen cloth to have been discovered in the late dwellings of

-ancient people of England,

-unknown inhabitants of Europe.

2. Considerable quantities of linen cloth is preserved for us in

-Egyptian tombs,

-in dwellings of ancient people.

3. For many hundreds of years Egypt was the greatest

- linen producing country in the world,

- cotton growing country.

4. The Egyptians are known

-to have been dressed almost in linen,

- to have been dressed almost in cotton.

5. In the second part of the 18-th century a number of inventions

- made cotton fabric cheap,

- made flax more popular.

Exercise 7. Match the synonyms.

1. dwelling 1. Amount

2. inhabitants 2. House

3. lasting 3. Ancient

4. old 4. Durable

5. garment 5. People

6. quantity 6. Richness

7. to discover 7.to wear

8. to illustrate 8. To be placed

9. to dress 9.to find

10. the use 10. Clothing

11. luxury 11. Application

12. to rank 12. To show

IV. Comprehension.

Exercise 8. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is flax considered to be the oldest of the textile fibres?

2. When was flax cultivated in Egypt?

3. What country was the greatest linen-producing country in the world for many hundreds of years?

4. Where did the use of linen spread in later years?

5. What did the Romans use linen for?

6. Was flax cultivated in Europe?

7. How long was linen the most generally used textile?

8. Why did cotton become more widely used than flax after the second part of the 18-th century?

9. What textile fibres are used by larger amounts now?

Exercise 9. Say whether it is false or true. If false, say why:

1. Flax is the oldest of textile fibres because considerable amounts of it are actually preserved for us in Egyptian tombs.

2.Flax was cultivated in China 5000 years ago and for centuries it was the only textile fibre in that country.

3. The Egyptians liked to dress almost entirely in cotton.

4. For many hundreds of years Egypt was the greatest linen-producing country in the world.

5. In Greece and Rome linen was used for women ’s clothing and for outer garments.

6. Later every country in Europe began to cultivate flax.

7. Now chemical fibres are used by much larger amounts then linen.

Exercise 10. Retell the text according to the plan:

1. The oldest textile fibre.

2. The cultivation of flax in Egypt.

3. Linen in Greece and Rome.

4. The cultivation of flax in Europe.

5. The most widely used textile fibres today.