The Course of English for University Students (Step 4). Учебное пособие

In Spain, you must wear comfortable shoes when you drive. So, forget about wearing sandals, flip-flops, or being barefoot when driving back from a relaxing beach day. You can face a £70 fine if a police officer believes the footwear you are wearing is unsafe. Sandals and flip-flops can easily slip off or get caught, making it hard to control the car. By following this law, you help keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Would you carry your pet dog tied on the roof of your car? I'm sure you would never do that. Who would, right? But for some reason, a law in Alaska says that you can't carry your furry pet this way. Apparently, Alaskan authorities don't trust their drivers. So, if you are in Alaska, it's important to remember that you mustn't drive with your animal companion surfing on the roof of your car. The police must be really busy checking car roofs for pets all the time.

In Manila, in the Philippines, you must check the last number on your number plate before taking your car. For example, if it's Monday, you cannot drive if your number plate ends in 1 or 2. There is too much traffic in Manila, so there is a law called the "number coding" or "colour coding" scheme to reduce traffic congestion. Depending on the last digit of your number plate, you can't drive on certain days of the week. So, you must remember to check your number plate and know which days you can't drive.

In Thailand, temperatures can reach up to 40°C (104°F), so it might be tempting to drive without a shirt. However, you must always wear a shirt while driving. There is a law that says you can't drive without a shirt, even on hot days or if your air conditioner is not working. This law is used to promote decency and safety on the roads. If a police officer stops you and you are not wearing a shirt, you can get fined.

1.When is running out of fuel on a German motorway allowed? A. Never.

B. Only when it's an emergency.

C. Only when you can prevent traffic congestion or an accident.

2.What must you do before taking your car in Denmark?

A.Check that the children are sitting safely.

B.Check that your children are using their seats.

C.Check that there are no kids near your car.

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3. What is true in Spain?

A.You can't wear sandals unless coming from the beach.

B.You must always wear safe footwear.

C.You can wear comfortable shoes or no shoes at all.

4.What does the video imply about the law in Alaska? A. You cannot carry a pet unless it's tied.

B. You can't let your dog climb onto the roof of your car. C. You mustn't carry your pet on the roof of your car.

5.When can you drive in Manila?

A.It depends on the number on your number plate.

B.If you can drive on Monday, you cannot drive on Tuesday.

C.It depends on the colour of your number plate.

6. In Thailand, you mustn't drive without a shirt…

A.because it's not decent.

B.unless it's very hot.

C.unless your air conditioning is not working.

Ex. 13. Read about a city in the USA, Michigan. What is special about this city?

Detroit

Now, what's interesting about it is what remains. What's so incredible about Detroit is that it is this preserved city where you can really clearly see the past because there hasn't been as much urban renewal. The past hasn't been erased.

I felt there was no real comparable city that I'd ever seen in the world to Detroit and I felt people needed to know about it.

Detroit had such incredible examples of period architecture, and these factories, they affected the course of manufacturing and the changes in manufacturing for the whole entire world.

The Packard plant which is probably the largest abandoned building in the world. They were the first people to do the air-conditioned car. In 1958, the plant was abandoned.

There's somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 people in Detroit, and so what's interesting and what I tried to capture in the book is really the space in between. What happens when a city that was essentially conceived for 3.5 million people has 700,000?

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Ex. 14. Translate from Russian into English.

1.Детройт – это крупный узел железных и автомобильных дорог, здесь находятся автомобильный мост в канадский город Виндзор, международный аэропорт.

2.Скажите американцу, что вы планируете поездку в Детройт,

ипосмотрите, как он вопросительно поднимет брови. Он спросит «Зачем?» и предостережет вас относительно убийственно высоких цен, заколоченных досками домах и мусоре, кружащем у их основания, а также о лишенных права выкупа закладных, по которым дома продаются за $1.

3.Сюда едут художники, предприниматели и молодые люди, поэтому здесь превалирует дух самостоятельности и независимости. Они превращают свободные пространства в городские фермы, а заброшенные здания в хостелы и музеи.

4.Детройт переживал свой расцвет в 1960-х, когда интенсивно развивалась американская автомобильная промышленность, но уже начиная с конца XX-века, Детройт стабильно находится в кризисе – город обветшал, а уровень преступности зашкаливает.

5.50-е годы XX века были лучшими в истории города, когда население превысило два миллиона и из радиоприемников звучала музыка группы Мотаун.

6.Примерно с середины 50-х годов намечается тенденция переселения обеспеченного, в основном белого, населения в пригороды с более удобной инфраструктурой. Причиной переселения стала неразвитая система общественного транспорта и перенасыщенность города личным транспортом.

7.Власти пытаются решить проблему сносом исторических зданий в центре города для строительства стоянок. В 80-х годах начался спад автомобильной промышленности и город постепенно стал приходить в упадок, целые небоскрёбы и деловые районы оказались заброшенными.

8.Для любителей настоящей экзотики будет интересно посетить знаменитый Восточный Рынок, на котором можно совершить недорогие покупки сувениров и далее послушать в уютных клубах фирменный джаз и блюз от еще незнаменитых групп.

9.Для любителей ночной жизни здесь имеется достаточно много вариантов – в обилии различные кафе и бары, которые работают до двух часов ночи, тогда как большая часть ночных клубов работают до самого рассвета.

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10.Детройт традиционно гордится собственным Музеем Генри Форда, в котором имеется кусок улицы, на брусчатку которой ступал сам Генри Форд.

11.На юге Детройта пока ещё сохранились деловые районы, но большая часть города выглядит крайне плачевно. Преступность находится на очень высоком уровне. Даже в центре, просто свернув не на ту улицу, вы вполне рискуете быть ограбленным. Несколько лет назад началось медленное восстановление города, однако темпы пока весьма низки.

(based on © «wikiway.com»)

Ex. 15. You are going to read two short extracts by non-British people living in Britain. Write down three positive things and three negative things you think they might mention about living in Britain.

Richard Shortmay, publishing director: I've always loved London — it's a passion of mine. I think it's one of the great cities of the world.

I love the people here. I've been invited to everything – shooting parties, polo, Wimbledon, Royal Ascot. I've met Prince Edward, and at a polo match I had a long talk with Prince Charles. He's absolutely charming. It's a super social atmosphere here. I can't believe, though, how much people eat and drink.

One thing I've learned is never to call British Gas. All they do is turn off your gas – and then send you a bill for doing it. I couldn't believe that. I think British Telecom is impossible. You call directory enquiries and you get a busy signal – that's unheard of in the States. I call America — and I get cut off. Why?

I've had dealings too with the wonderful estate agents of London You can be – what is it? – gazumped. Nowhere else in the world could you agree to buy a flat, put your money down — and then have the guy sell it to somebody else.

I like tennis, but I have hardly played here – because of the weather. Last summer seemed to last about a week and that was it. I went to the Cotswolds and to Devon, both beautiful. I've always loved the British ambience, and British clothes. I really wonder, though, how you manage to live on the salaries that are paid here. London is every bit as expensive as New York.

Chantal Güer, TV presenter: I fell in love with England because it was so quaint – all those little houses, looking terrible old-fashioned

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but nice, like dolls' houses. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I've slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it's a filthy town now.

Things have changed. For everybody, England represented gentlemen, air play, manners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good manners — people slam doors in your face and courtesy is vanishing.

I regret that there are so few comfortable meeting places. You're forced to live indoors. In Paris I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here it usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafés are not terribly nice.

As a woman, I feel more threatened here. I spend a bomb on taxis because I will not take public transport after 10 p.m. I used to use it, but now I'm afraid.

The concept of the family seems to be more or less non-existent in England. My family is very closely knit and that's typically French. In Middlesex I had a neighbour who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone.

Make notes on Richard Shortway's and Chantal Güer's opinions of:

a)the people. He loves them …

b)the public services.

c)the weather.

d)the countryside/ towns.

e)the cost of living.

Ex. 16. Idioms and Phrases

recreational opportunities, community life, job opportunities, make friends, pillar of the community

1)I decided to move to Vancouver because there are so many _____

with the mountains and oceans so close by.

2)It can be a bit more difficult to _____ the older you get.

3)An important factor in deciding where to live is _____.

4)My uncle is a _____ with all the volunteering that he does.

5)The _____ is so vibrant in my neighborhood.

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Ex. 17. Read the model below and fill in the plan. Then, look at the highlighted adjective-noun combinations, close your books and try to remember as many of them as possible.

Introduction location, population, reason

Main Body general features particular details Conclusion

Describe a large, busy city

Built around a small peninsula in the south east of China, Hong Kong, now one of the most densely populated places on earth, is a city of extreme contrasts, where East meets West, and the latest technology is equally as important as ancient customs are.

The streets of Hong Kong are a frenzy of activity and deafening noise. The roads are congested with vehicles, from sparkling limousines to dusty rickshaws, while countless hordes of people stream past on the pavements, and in the crowded narrow alleyways, the senses of the pedestrian are bombarded with a bewildering variety of exotic sights and smells. in contrast, not far from the chaotic, cramped city centre lie parks with cool streams, shrines and chirping birds. Meanwhile, tranquil mountains form a breathtaking backdrop to the towering skyscrapers of steel and concrete packed closely around the harbour, where huge modern ships float alongside little Chinese junks.

Below the bright neon lights, garishly advertising every brand name conceivable, visitors will find an endless variety of shops and restaurants competing for space on Hong Kong's manic streets. You can buy anything here, ranging from state-of-the-art computer technology to hand-made Silk suits. There are also fish and bird markets all over the city, where heaps of gleaming silver fish can be found displayed next to brilliantly-coloured squawking parrots. Tourists and locals alike

flocktotheJadeMarket,hiddenonasidestreet,withitsintricatelycarved pieces depicting Chinese icons, Buddhas and dragons made of smooth green stone. For food, Hong choice of dishes in all sorts of city's nightlife, like its shops and restaurants, caters for all tastes whether you are searching for the opportunity to serenade your loved one in a karaoke bar or are simply after a beer and a bit of dancing.

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Perhaps the strangest thing about Hong Kong is the way all of its dramatically contrasting features co-exist so harmoniously. However, unless you witness it for yourself, you will never know what a pleasant atmosphere this creates. So, for an unforgettably unique experience, try Hong Kong – you won't regret it.

Ex. 18. Fill in the gaps with words from the list below: Use the words only once.

stretch out, is set in, winds through, nestles at, is perched on, curves around, sprawl out, is located in, slopes down to

Ex. 19. Read the following description. Fill in each of the gaps with a suitable preposition or adverb and circle each of the 'location' verbs.

Standing 1) at.... the top of the old stone the houses steps, you can see the variety of architectural styles 2) ……….. the houses that

Facing you as you stand 6) …….. the bottom of the steps is a shop,

imposing building. A small balcony 13)………… the first floor hangs

a quaint two-storey building with gable windows built into the attic. The street disappears 17) … the distance as the wooded hillside rises 18) ...... the whole scene.

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Ex. 20. Link the sentences below starting each sentence with the correct form of the word(s) in bold. Use participles and relative clauses.

1The castle dominates the skyline. It is built of local stone.

2The museum was opened in 1939. It is visited by thousands of people every day.

3The temple is surrounded by trees. It is difficult to see from a distance.

4Greater London covers 610 square miles. It is the largest city in Britain.

5The monument was erected in 1919. It is a memorial to those who died in World War 1.

Ex. 21. Correct the following sentences as in the example.

e.g. Sinking behind the mountain, I watched the sun fill the sky with red. (WRONG)

Sinking behind the mountain, the sun filled the sky with red. (CORRECT)

OR As I watched the sun sinking behind the mountain, it filled the sky with red. (CORRECT)

1Stretching into the distance, we were amazed by the length of the queue.

2Squeezing your way onto the packed bus, the other passengers press even closer together to make room for you.

3Shuffling towards the supermarket's busy tills, heavy baskets hang from the shoppers' tired arms.

4Standing squashed among the screaming fans, the roar of the enormous crowd was deafening.

Ex. 22. Read the following descriptions, underline the phrases which refer to the senses and identify each sense. What tenses are used in each description? Why?

1.The market buzzes with the sound of women's voices, while the smells of fresh fish, vegetables and spices fill the hot, humid air. Crowds of shoppers jostle each other as they squeeze past the displays of goods, voices grow louder as the people haggle over prices, and the clang of metal bowls and boxes rings through the market.

2.A faint smell of crushed grass wafted up from the court as the hot sun beat down on the crowd watching the players. The silence was

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punctuated by the rhythmic sound of the tennis ball and the muted gasps of the spectators; then, suddenly, the crowd surged to their feet with a roar.

Ex. 23. Identify the sense(s) referred to in each of the phrases below. Then think of two images on a summer afternoon: a) a street café on the city square, b) a sea beach with some people and sail boats on the shore. Decide which each phrase describes. Some phrases may apply to both images.

Now read this description of image A and use the notes above with further details of your own to write a similar description of image B. You may search for photographs on the Internet and describe them, then compare.

Approaching the central square, you could hear the hum of laughter and voices, along with the clinking of glasses from the outdoor cafés and restaurants. There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere as the tourists enjoyed their midday meal. Busy waiters bustled to and fro carrying mouth-watering plates of food, against a picturesque background of bright sun shining on the white buildings.

Ex. 23. In the skeleton sentences below, the word underlined is the main verb of the sentence. Write each as a complete sentence as in the example.

e.g. Stand / top / hill / massive fortress / dominate / city

Standing at the top of the hill, the massive fortress dominates the city.

1 Palm trees / sway / gentle evening breeze / frame / sun / set / horizon.

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2 Stand / top / cliffs / you can / hear / waves / crash / rocks below.

3 Line / cobbled street / be/ row / terraced houses / design / John Wood.

4 Surround / mountains / all sides / city / look/ as if / be in / enormous bowl.

Ex. 24. You will hear part of a TV documentary describing Nelson's Column. Listen and complete the notes below. Then, looking at your

••the column stands at the centre of Trafalgar Square in the heart

Ex. 25. Look at the brief description below. What is the topic of each paragraph? Circle the location verbs used in the description and underline the words/ phrases used to express impression/ opinion.

The construction of the monument on Mount Rushmore began in 1927 and finished in 1941. The memorial, which attracts over two million tourists every year, commemorates four former presidents of the USA and consists of four heads carved out of granite, each standing sixty feet

Situated in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the memorial stands out from the mountainside which rises high above the surrounding farmland and can be clearly seen from a far distance.

To Americans, the spectacle of these massive heads is a powerful reminder of their country's historic glories and achievements, while

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