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Файл:Academic English Theoretical and Practical Training of Graduate Students. Учебное пособие по практикуму английского языка для студентов 4 курса
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Say One Our Father, One Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed. After that, you are
good to go, and have fullfilled your obligation to the Fuggers.
By 1523, 52 houses had been built, and in the coming years the area expanded
with various streets, small squares and a church. The gates were locked at night, so
the Fuggerei is very similar to a small independent medieval town. It is still inhabited
today, affording it the status of being the oldest social housing project in the world.
The conditions to live there remain the same as they were 500 years ago: one
must have lived at least two years in Augsburg, be of the Catholic faith and have
become indigent without debt. The five gates are still locked every day at 10 PM.
Housing units in the area consist of 45 to 65 square metre (500–700 square foot)
apartments, but because each unit has its own street entrance it simulates living in a
house. There is no shared accommodation; each family has its own apartment, which
includes a kitchen, a parlour, a bedroom and a tiny spare room, altogether totalling
about 60 square metres. Ground-floor apartments all have a small garden and garden
shed, while upper-floor apartments have an attic. All apartments have modern
conveniences such as television and running water. One ground-floor apartment is
uninhabited, serving as a museum open to the public. The doorbells have elaborate
shapes, each being unique, dating back to before the installation of streetlights when
residents could identify their door by feeling the handle in the dark.
Approximately 150 needy Augsburg citizens of the Catholic faith live here
for an annual base rent and three daily prayers (https://www.wsj.com).
SECTION 4. ACADEMIC WRITING
Task 1.
Read the text. Do you think the club is silly, funny or a good idea? Think of
something you are terribly bad at. Write an application to join ‘The NOT
Terribly Good Club’.
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In 1976 Stephen Pile formed 'The Not Terribly Good Club'. To qualify for
membership, you had to be not terribly good at something and then attend meetings.
During these meetings people gave public demonstrations of things they
couldn't do, such as painting and singing, and gave awful presentations on things
they knew nothing about. Stephen Pile kept a record of these unsuccessful events,
and then published them as 'The Book of Heroic Failures' in 1979. The stories
included epic examples of incompetence, such as the World's Worst Tourist, who
spent two days in New York, believing he was in Rome; 'the slowest solution of a
crossword' (thirty-four years); and the burglar who wore metal armour to protect
himself from dogs - the armour made so much noise that he got caught, and it
was too heavy for him to run away. Included in 'The Book of Heroic Failures' was
an application form for membership to 'The Not Terribly Good Club'. Amazingly,
within two months of the book's publication, the group had received 20,000
applications to join, and the book appeared on various bestseller lists. As a result of
his sudden fame, Pile was kicked out of his own club, and the club itself soon
disbanded: it had become too successful (New Total English: Advanced, p. 32).
Task 2. Write an opinion essay on the topic “Social networking sites and
on-line communities have a damaging effect on real local сommunities and
are sure to replace them in the nearest future”.
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PART 2. DESTINATION PARADISE
SECTION 1. ACADEMIC READING
TEXT 1.
Read the following texts and make notes about the atmosphere,
landscape, things to do and see, food and other aspects that make them
unique. Which place would you prefer to go to for a holiday?
Cali
In Cali, they say, even the ghosts dance salsa. Its rhythms, born in Cuba,
nurtured in New York and carried on the winds all the way to hot Cali, can be heard
in bars, on buses, along the avenues of Juanchito and Plaza Caicedo, and here too,
in a taxi moving at the speed of light, taking me to the hear of the bustling city. The
driver slows down at a traffic light, turns to me and says, 'Las catenas' (the women
from Cali) 'are the most beautiful women in the world!' And we're off again, driving
past gangs of mulato men laughing in the street.
My hotel is a run-down old building whose blue skin is peeling in the heat. It
has a stunning view from the balcony, and I gaze down on the square. The
guidebooks tell you to visit the Gold Museum and the Museum of Colonial Art, the
churches of San Antonio and La Merced, but there's only one thing on my mind as
I leave the key at reception: salsa.
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The salsotecas don't get busy until midnight so instead I stop at a restaurant
serving typical Colombian food: sancocho – a stew made with chunks of beef,
vegetables, cassava (a tropical plant with edible roots) and plantain (a type of
banana but not so sweet) served with rice. Then I must choose from the amazingly
diverse selection of Colombian fruit. I settle for guanabana and maracuya, and I'm
not disappointed. I stroll for a while, tempted by dark smoky cafes, the fans spinning
weakly on the ceilings. This is the old, unspoilt Cali, which lives side by side with a
newer version, the Cali of junk food, Internet cafes and vast touristy discos. I walk
past the trees and sculptures that line the river, and into San Antonio park, a tranquil
spot off the beaten track.
Later, on Avenida Sexta – Sixth Avenue – I find what I'm really looking for: a
salsoteca. Some charming young Colombians teach me a few dance steps and we chat
about Cali. They say that when times are tough, they dance away their worries. And
I must never forget 'las catenas are the most beautiful women in the world!' By 2.00
a.m. the salsa is swinging, the drinks are flowing, the place is packed, and I know one
thing for sure: I've found the Cali that I was looking for - the salsa dancer's paradise
(New Total English: Advanced, p. 28).
Cape Town
The first thing I can tell you about Thabo, my South African guide, is that he is
the world's worst driver. From the airport to the heart of the city, he does 100 km per
hour, swerving around lorries, motorbikes and taxi-vans crammed with people. The
second thing is that he knows everybody and everything about Cape Town. This is
good, because I am trying to complete Mission Impossible: see Cape Town in just three
days.
On the first day, Thabo takes me to the posh areas: suburbs with
unpronounceable names Tamboerskloof and Oranjezicht from where you can watch
the sun go down on Africa. The views are stunning. This is all very pretty,' I tell him
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that evening, 'but show me a community. Show me something the tourists never see.'
So the next day we go off the beaten track to Cape Flats, the run-down township
where the buildings are made of cardboard and corrugated iron. It is the poorest
part of the city and it is truly vast – nearly a million people live here, side by side.
Skinny dogs slide out of the way as Thabo zooms along roads of mud and rotting
rubbish. Some people wave, others stare. Children run barefoot by the car.
Later that night we walk around the bustling Victoria and Alfred Waterfront,
Cape Town's most fashionable area. The contrast from the township could not be
greater. As we stroll, the smells of cooking drift up from the kitchens - Asian,
French, Italian and of course the wild animals of South Africa that end up on your
plate. The bars and restaurants are packed, and I soon find out why. Cape Town is
a paradise for gourmets, seafood-lovers and people like me, who just like eating.
We go into a charming little bistro, and Thabo tells me I can't leave Cape Town
without trying some Cape seafood, so I do. It's delicious.
On my final morning, we spend a tranquil hour sitting outside a cafe. I gaze
at Table Mountain, which forms the backdrop to the city, while Thabo shouts
greetings to everyone that passes by. Then we are driving again, experiencing the
diverse landscape – sandy beaches, mountain slopes and green valleys unspoilt by
tourism. It's a great way to say goodbye to a place I've known only too briefly. I
promise myself, and Thabo, that I'll be back (New Total English: Advanced, p. 149).
Corsica
'Day in, day out, they're always watching: the shepherd on the hillside, the
road workers resting under the shade of a tree, the old man on the bench in front of
his house, his wife airing the sheets at the window, the boules player next to the war
memorial. They hardly move their heads but they see everything. It's a survival
instinct moulded out of two thousand years of dangers coming from across the sea.'
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The stereotypical Corsican community is introverted, family- based,
dignified and shy. The truth behind the stereotype is that Corsicans love Corsica
so much that they don't want the outside world to ruin it. Tradition is important;
Corsica is one of the last McDonald's-free zones in Europe. It is also simply
stunning; the ancient Greeks called it 'Kalliste', meaning 'the most beautiful one'.
The island is famed for its diverse landscape. You can find magnificent
mountains, long stretches of Mediterranean coastline, and thick forest almost side
by side, as well as charming villages, perfect for long, slow days in the sun. The
island belongs to France but it has an atmosphere all of its own.
A good place to start is Ajaccio. In this charming town, you can sit outside
the cafes and watch fishermen mending their nets, or stroll in the bustling market
which sells delicious seafood and Corsican specialities: macchia honey and brocciu
cheese. Old run-down houses stand proud on the side of the hill, overlooking
modern yachts and wooden boats. Stroll along the streets and you will notice
something interesting as you gaze at the monuments, the street signs and restaurant
names: the town stands in the vast shadow of its greatest son, Napoleon Bonaparte.
His influence is everywhere, and in the Musee Napoleonien you can see his
baptism certificate and his death mask.
Although Napoleon is at the heart of Corsican history, it is Corsica's natural
beauty that you'll remember. Fishermen, surfers, sailors and hikers all find
everything they need here. And for the less energetic, there is always the pleasure
of a wander along some of Europe's most tranquil scenery. Despite the tourists, the
island is unspoilt. You won't find any packed nightclubs here, but there are plenty
of cosy bars off the beaten track, where you can taste the atmosphere of Europe's
own natural paradise (10, c. 153).
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SECTION 2. LISTENING
Listen to three speakers discussing their experiences and make notes in
the table.
SPEAKER 1
SPEAKER 2
SPEAKER 3
Where did he/she
live?
What was he/she
doing there?
What did he/she like
about the host
Was there anything
he/she didn't like, or
What are his/her
favourite memories of
the country?
Which of the speakers (1, 2 or 3):
a) pretended something ___
b) got a few surprises ___
c) was there at the wrong time ___
d) is from a small town ___
e) would like to return ___
f) learned about the culture by talking to the local people ___
g) says the place was multicultural ___
h) has lived in many countries ___
i) doesn't mention the scenery ___
j) describes a special type of cooking ___
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Discuss the following questions:
1. Which of the three places would you most like to live in? Why?
2. Would you like to live abroad for a while? Why/ why not?
3. Why do you think the speakers talk mainly about food, scenery and people?
Which of these is the most important in a place?
4. What problems might there be for people living in a foreign country?
SECTION 3. ACADEMIC SPEAKING
Think of a place you have been to or dream to travel to that
a) has stunning views,
b) is off the beaten track,
c) serves delicious food,
d) is in the heart of the country/town/nowhere,
e) has diverse cultural life,
f) is tranquil,
g) is bustling at the weekends/night,
h) is good to stroll around.
Is this place with a strong sense of community? Prove it. What you would or
wouldn't recommend about the place? Tell about this place using the
suggested aspects.
SECTION 4. ACADEMIC WRITING
Every month the BBC Lonely Planet Magazine runs a photo
competetition. They ask readers to send in pictures they have taken on their
travels and tell the story behind them. Here are some of their 'snapshot'
moments.
A. Sangkhlaburi, Thailand: Taking the Plunge by Alistair
McDonald.
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'We were in a long-tail boat crossing the Khao Laem reservoir in
Sangkhlaburi, close to the Burmese border in Western Thailand, when our
driver took us on a detour toThailand's longest wooden bridge. As he cut the
engine and we idled up to the bridge for a closer look, some local boys were
enjoying a bombing (diving) competition. When they saw us, they seized the
moment to showcase some of their diving and one after the other plunged into
the water. We were only there for a few minutes but this impromptu
performance remains one of the highlights of my time in Thailand.This shot
embodies the spontaneity of the country, and its people's vibrancy.'
B. Havana, Cuba: Seeing the light by Anthony McEvoy
'The Malecon is a five-mile-long. six-lane sea road, laid out by US
Marines from 1901 and fronted by nineteenth-century buildings in
variousstates ofdisrepair. It iswhere Habaneros* hang out and party at the
weekends and is the unique fingerprint ofHavana.When I got there, the sun
was starting to set. There was a warm breeze blowing and a strong sea swell,
with waves crashing against the sea wall. The sun was barely peeping through
the clouds when I noticed a 1950s Pontiac approaching in the distance. I
waited until it drew closer before pressing the shutter. For me this photo
captures the essence of Havana: a uniquely photogenic city frozen in time for
fifty years.'
*Haballeros- people born in Havana, Cuba
C. Matera, southern Italy: Time stands still by Greg Jackson
'Nothing could have prepared me for my first sight ofthe Sassi di
Matera. I wasn't sure what to expect from a cave town where the locals live in
the same houses as their ancestors did 9,000 years ago. I felt like I'd wandered
onto a film set. The jumble of stacked cave houses appeared to tumble down
a ravine. Adding to the magic of the place was the fact that I was the only
person there and it felt like a ghost town. I left feeling slightly humbled -
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maybe it was knowing that my hotel room 'Yas once a cave dwelling for a
family of ten and their livestock!' (3, c.32).
Think of a 'snapshot' moment of a special holiday and write a
descriptive essay. Think about where you were, what kind of holiday it was,
how you felt at the time and why the memory is important to you. Compare
your 'snapshot moments' with other students. Who has the best description?
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