everything he can lay his hands on: adventures and travel books, fairy-

tales

and fantasy, science fiction and historical novels. The last thing I saw him reading was a detective story.

B:I find detective stories stupid. I can't read any of them more than half way

through. Cheap stuff, I call them.

A:I can't say that. Some detective stories are very clever and may be called first-rate literature. Take books by Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, for instance.

B:Well, maybe you are right. Anyway, I wouldn't advise you to buy a detective story for your brother. Buy him a good historical novel. It's

instructive reading.

A:A historical novel... h-m... not a bad idea.

B:What about Walter Scott? He is a very talented, world-famous author.

A:Yes. And I know that He is considered the father of the historical novel.

B:That's right. Has your brother read "Ivanhoe?"

A:Not yet.

B:Then buy him "Ivanhoe". I am sure-he will like it.

A:Yes, certainly. Thank you for your good advice.

Ex.13. Here are some more names of well-known writers.

Do you know who is who?

Model: Pushkin is a well-known classic poet.

Ex.14. Think over these two sayings and write if you agree or disagree with them, explain why.

1.Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. (R. Steel, 1672-1729).

2.A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read. (Mark Twain, 1835-1910)

PART VI

CINEMAS AND THEATRES

Ex. 1. Mind your pronunciation.

to put on – ставить (пьесы) to shoot – снимать фильм to release – выпускать

to admit – допускать

Ex. 2. Read and translate the text.

Cinema and Theatre

We readily admit that cinemas and theatres are like buildings, books and symphonies - artifacts, made by humans for human purposes. Watching a film differs from viewing a painting a stage performance, or even a slide show.

A film presents us with images in illusory motion. On December 28, 1895 the Lumiere brothers held the first public showing of motion pictures projected on a screen, at the Grand Cafe in Paris. This is how the film history began. After 1910, Hollywood a small town of the outskirts of Los-Angeles, became the site of much of the film production. The development of the Classical Hollywood cinema with "The Warner Bros" and "Columbia Pictures" film companies has started.

In pre - revolutionary Russian film industry there were a number of private production companies, operating in Moscow and Petrograd. In 1920 Sergey Eisenstein began shooting films in Moscow. His film "The Battle-ship "Potemkin" released in 1925 was successful all over the world. Today we watch various films: animation, documentary, experimental cinema, action, thrillers, horror films, love stories, musicals, detectives with kinner attention and admiration.

Since old times the theatre has aroused respect if not rapture. Especially in Russia it has been regarded as a sort of rostrum from which the good has been preached.

This Russian attitude towards the theatre was expressed well by the celebrated critic, V. Belinsky, who wrote: "Do you love the theatre as I love it, that is with all the powers of your soul, with all the enthusiasm and the ecstasy of ardent youth, avid and yearning for impression of fine things? Which of all the arts possesses so potent a means of amazing the soul with vivid impressions and of playing with it without limit? Oh, go, do go to the theatre, live and die in it, if you possibly can!"

The plays by Anton Chekhov, Maxim Gorky, Alexander Ostrovsky are traditionally performed in Moscow Art Theatre, Maly theatre. "Sovremennic", "Taganka", "Leninsky komsomol" theatres stage modern, experimental, absurd, avant-guarde plays. The Bolshoi theatre is famous for its ballet and opera performances.

In England the Covent Garden Theatre, the National theatre are known all over the world.

The Covent Garden theatre is famous for opera and ballet performances. The National theatre shows the best in the world drama. Everybody knows the Royal Shakespeare Theatre which puts on both classical and new plays.

The extensive experimentation and heated debate steeled the forces of the new theatre, those capable of coping with highly challenging tasks. The actors of all generations and from different continents are contributing their own elements to the common prosperity of the Theatre and the cinema.

Ex. 3. Give Russian equivalents.

Human purposes, viewing a painting, a slide show, a stage performance, to present smb. with images of, the outskirts of smth., pre-revolutionary, film industry, thrillers, horror films, kinner attention, to arouse rapture.

Ex. 4. Give English equivalents.

Экспериментальное кино, частные компании, производящие фильмы, история создания фильмов, балетный спектакль, современная пьеса, театр абсурда, авангардная пьеса, мировая драма, вкладывать, процветание.

Ex. 5. Give synonyms / antonyms.

Continents, to contribute, prosperity, to be famous for, to shoot, enthusiasm, to possess, the power, to preach, the best, challenge, to perform.

Ex. 6. Make up your own sentences with the expressions, given below.

My attitude toward the theatre (cinema), live and die in the theatre, ... if you can, the plays by Anton Chekhov, the Maly Theatre, heated debate, challenging tasks, to be popular among the spectators.

Ex. 7. Give English equivalents of the Russian words in brackets.

1.The theatre in Russia has aroused (уважение, если не восторг).

2.We should (допускать) that this theatre represents its own line.

3.Vicktjuk theatre is very popular (среди зрителей).

4.Go to the theatre (живите и умирайте в нем).

5.The extensive experimentation and (горячие дебаты) steeled the forces of the new theatre.

6.The development of the (классическое голливудское кино) with "The Warner Bros" film company has started.

7.The film "The Battle-ship "Potemkin" (выпущенный) in 1925 was a success.

Ex. 8. Complete the sentences.

1.Since old times ...

2.We readily admit ...

3.After 1910 ...

4.In 1920 ...

5.Especially in Russia it has been regarded as ...

6.The plays by Anton Chekhov ...

7.The Covent Garden theatre ...

8.Every body knows ...

9.The actors of all generations ...

Ex. 9. Ask your fellow students.

1. ... if there are theatres in his / her town. 2. ... if he / she likes avant-garde plays.

3. ... if the National Theatre shows the best in the world drams. 4. ... if he / she likes theatre.

5. ... who the Lumiere brothers were.

6. ... when the first public showing of motion pictures was held. 7. ... when Sergey Eisentstein began shooting films.

8. ... where Sergey Eisentstein began shooting films.

9. ... if the plays by Anton Chekhov are performed in Maly Theatre.

Ex.10. Put in the correct preposition, where necessary.

1.The Russian attitude ... the theatre was expressed ... V. Belinsky.

2.These plays are traditionally performed ... Taganka theatre.

3.The Covent Garden theatre is famous ... opera and ballet performances.

4.The National theatre shows the best ... the world drama.

5.The actors ... all generations and ... different countries are contributing much

... the prosperity ... the Theatre.

6.Watching a film differs ... viewing a painting.

7. ... December 28, 1895 the Lumiere brothers held the first public showing...

motion pictures.

8.There were a number … private companies, operating … Moscow and

Petrograd.

9.He likes theatre ... all the enthusiasm and the ecstasy ... ardent youth.

Ex.11. Expand the statements.

1.Watching a film differs from viewing a painting, a stage performance.

2.In pre-revolutionary Russian film industry there were a number of private production companies, operating in Moscow and Petrograd.

3.Today we watch various films.

4.Especially in Russia the theatre arouses respect if not rapture.

5.The actors of all generations contribute their own elements to the prosperity of the theatre and the cinema.

Ex.12. Express your ideas on the topics.

1.Absurd theatre.

2.Modern theatre.