I. Copy the underlined words and word-combinations, translate them into Ukrainian and learn them.

II. Read the text and answer the following questions.

1. What does the author mean saying that learning English is like learning to swim?

2. Do you have any opportunity to speak English?

3. Which do you like better: to read English or to speak English?

4. What does it mean: “to acquire the ability lo use a language automatically”?

5. What does it mean: “the process of habit formation”?

6. What does the author mean saying that “language is not to be taught, language is to be learnt”?

2) Knowledge of foreign languages in people’s practical activity

Knowledge of foreign languages opens many doors before you, gives you many opportunities and advantages. Knowledge of foreign languages has always been a sign of high culture and erudition. It helps to promote cultural education and technical cooperation among nations. That’s why one of the characteristic features of life in our country nowadays is a great interest in studying of foreign languages, mainly English. We realize that to become a good specialist we should have deep knowledge of fundamental sciences and particularly special subjects but it’s not enough nowadays. We should constantly develop ourselves. Mastering foreign languages will greatly contribute to our general education and advance.

Economic and cultural relations of independent Ukraine with many countries of the world are expanding; hundreds of joint ventures have appeared in every city and town of Ukraine recently. These enterprises require not only good specialists but specialists with good knowledge of English. No wonder that so many people spare no efforts to acquire English for communication because having a good command of foreign languages they are able to communicate with foreigners and they will escape a lot of troubles. On the other hand, they need foreign languages to read and use professional literature in their practical activity, to consult specialized reference materials for additional details, to use computers and the Internet, cooperate with partners etc.

To know the English language today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist.

I. Copy the underlined words and word-combinations, translate them into Ukrainian and learn them.

II. Give a short summary of the text in English in a written form.

Test yourself:

1. In Ukraine, higher schools students and postgraduates are trained…

a) to have good knowledge of everyday English.

b) to read professional literature.

c) to have good knowledge of everyday English and to read professional literature.

d) to have good knowledge of technical English, to read and use professional literature in their practical activity.

2. Technical English is often said to be…

a) easy to understand.

b) difficult to understand.

c) rather difficult to understand.

d) very difficult to understand.

3. Each branch of science and technology has…

a) familiar grammatical patterns and models.

b) a difference in the frequency with which certain grammatical forms occur.

c) its own vocabulary (terminology).

d) so-called learned words.

4. Grammatical patterns and models in technical English are…

a) the same as in everyday English.

b) not the same as in everyday English.

c) very different from everyday English.

d) rather different from everyday English.

5. The style of most scientific texts is…

a) impersonal.

b) concise.

c) impersonal and very concise.

d) impersonal and rather concise.

6. In order to master technical English the learner must…

a) first acquire knowledge of literary English.

b) first acquire thorough knowledge of everyday literary English.

c) first acquire knowledge of everyday literary English.

d) first acquire knowledge of everyday English.

7. Learning English efficiently requires that…

a) you don’t put your mind on what you are doing.

b) you have not the intention and the will to learn.

c) you don’t put your mind on what you are doing and haven’t the intention and the will to learn.

d) you put your mind on what you are doing and have the intention and the will to learn.

8. Knowledge of foreign languages…

a) opens many doors before you.

b) gives you many opportunities and advantages.

c) has always been a sign of high culture and erudition.

d) helps to promote cultural education and technical cooperation among nations.

9. Many people spare no efforts to acquire English…

a) for communication.

b) to use computers and the Internet.

c) to read and use professional literature in English in their practical activity.

d) to consult specialized reference materials in English for additional details.

e) to cooperate with partners.

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