4. Match the sentence beginnings with the correct endings.

1. Today young people take an active part	a) Minsk, the national capital of Belarus.
2. The main aim of these organizations is to involve young people	b) are the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM), the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization.
3. The most authoritative of them	c) the formation of the basis and implementation of the state policy in respect of youth.
4. The BRSM national headquarters is located in	d) into socially useful activities.
5. Both these organizations take an active part in	e) in the social life of the country.

5. Answer the questions.

1. Why do young people take an active part in the social life of the country?

2. What is the main aim of the youth organizations and societies?

3. What are the most authoritative organizations?

4. Where is the BRSM national headquarters located?

5. What do the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM), the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization do?

6. Who manages and directs the activities of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union and the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization?

7. What are informal youth movements organized on?

6. Read the text and say how students’ life is organized at British Universities.

to be concerned – зд. заботиться

to rest in the hands – находиться в руках

decision-making – принятие решений

overseeing – зд. наблюдение

fresher – первокурсник

the abovementioned – вышеупомянутый

British Universities and colleges have Students’ Unions which are concerned with students’ life and studies. Unions have their Presidents; their role is basically to represent the interests of the students. Almost all power rests in the hands of the whole membership as expressed at General Meetings. For practical purposes the decision-making is delegated to Union Council.

Each Union Council has sub-committees each of which has the job of overseeing a small area of the Union’s work. For example the Union Council of the University of Leeds has the Cultural Affairs Committee, Executive Committee, Fresher’s Committee, General Athletics Committee, House Committee, Women’s Affairs Committee, etc. They help to settle various students’ problems in the academic year – with grants, accommodation, rents. They are also responsible for the coordination and organization of extra-curricular activities. If at any time a student needs advice, members of the Union Council will be glad to be of assistance. All these committees are open – any student may take part in the election to them.

There are numerous societies working with university and college Unions covering a wide range of interests and activities. The above mentioned Leeds University Union has 150 Societies of the following categories: political, religious, national, cultural, recreational. There is Agricultural Society, Archeology, Arts, Ballet, and Biological, Law, Music, Vegetarian and other societies among them.