XI. Give the Russian equivalents to the following words and phrases:

1. to feel the real joy of life;

2. the sun turns its gaze towards spring;

3. the mysterious time of the year;

4. Work when you work, play when you play!

5. to have ancient, pagan traditions;

6. according to his character and temperament;

7. to give generous gifts to the guests;

8. to be a sacred food;

9. a symbol of immortality and the eternity of life;

10. strolling players and puppeteers;

11. to featured stories from the Bible;

12. to originate from …;

13. to get rid of …

XII. Questions for discussion:

1. When do people celebrate «Kalyady» in Belarus?

2. How do people celebrate «Kalyady»?

3. How long do «Svyatki» last?

4. What masks do amateur actors wear during the holiday?

5. What traditional dishes are cooked during «Kalyady»?

6. What is the origin of the small puppet theatres in Belarus?

7. What is the main purpose of «Kalyady»?

Unit 7 Great Britain and Its People

I. Study the vocabulary to understand the information given in the texts. Read the texts and get ready for a discussion.

glacial – ледниковый extinction – вымирание, исчезновение amorous – зд. любвеобильный boastful – хвастливый gregarious – общительный haughty – высокомерный, надменный yell – пронзительно кричать withdraw – зд. отгораживаться shortage – недостаток, нехватка inflate – надуть detach – отделять toasting fork – вилочка для тостов central heating – центральное отопление chilblain – озноб heel – каблук to stride – перешагнуть scale – масштаб typify – символизировать regiment – полк reluctant – отказывающийся inconvenience – неудобство adhering – соблюдение decimal – десятичный disinterred – эксгумировать palliative – смягчающий merge – слиться, сливаться, соединяться obstinately – упрямо racially – расово ruthless – беспощадный, безжалостный, жестокий cautious – осторожный, осмотрительный abhor – ненавидеть prodigally – расточительно dour – строгий gesture – жест tough – жесткий strain – напряжение hence – следовательно distinction – различие Gaelic – гэльский (язык) tartan – клетчатая материя bagpipes – волынка panache – щегольство contemplation – намерение debasement – опошливание implacability – непримиримость virtue – добродетель stock – зд. готовый miser – скряга garrulous – болтливый tenure – срок пребывания

Population and Nationalities

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles. With a population of about 60.0 million people in mid-2009, it is the third most populous island in the world.

There are a great number of immigrants in Britain (black and coloured from Asia and Africa). About 3.5 million people belong to ethnic minorities.

English is the official language of the United Kingdom, but it isn’t the only one. Gaelic is spoken in Scotland. Wales is bilingual.

The entire island is territory of the sovereign state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and most of the United Kingdom's territory is in Great Britain. Most of England, Scotland, and Wales are on the island of Great Britain, as are their respective capital cities: London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.

The relatively limited variety of fauna and flora on the island is due to its size and the fact that wildlife has had little time to develop since the last glacial period. The high level of urbanisation on the island has contributed to a high species extinction rate.