Глотова Английский язык

by-election – an election for a single seat in parliament that happens when someone dies or retires

Choose the correct alternative:

1.In 1999 the government took away seats in parliament from a. 92 hereditary peers.

b. nearly all hereditary peers.

c. members of the House of Commons.

2.When a hereditary peer now dies

a.an election takes place.

b.their sons inherit the position in parliament.

c.their position in parliament disappears.

3. The House of Lords Act,1999, reflects

a.strong position of conservative party.

b.the necessity to increase the number of members of the House of Lords.

c.democratic tendencies in British parliament.

Look at the statistics about voter turnout in Britain.

How often do the British have elections? (The British have elections for the local council every … years.)Why do you think the statistics are like this?

British voter turnout in recent elections

turnout – the number of voters that vote in an election

Speaking

Discuss in pairs. How often do you have elections in you country? What is the attitude of young people in your country to politics?

33

Writing

Research the answers to the following questions, then write a paragraph about the way your country is governed.

Is the parliament divided into two different houses, like the UK parliament?

How many members of parliament are there? How often are they elected?

What are the main political parties?

What is the leader of the government called? How is he/she chosen?

What party does the current leader belong?

III

DYING FOR VOTE

On February, 6, 1918 the British Parliament passed an important law. This law gave women in Britain the right to vote for the first time. The right to vote is sometimes called suffrage. The women who fought

for this right were called suffragettes.

The suffragette movement started in the middle of the 19th century. Women demanded not only the right to vote, but also better education for girls. However there was strong opposition. Many men argued that women were less intelligent and more emotional than men, and therefore couldn’t make important decisions.

The first suffragettes believed in being legal and peaceful. They used to write letters to Parliament and organize petitions. Nothing happened. Nobody noticed them.

By 1903, a woman called Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia decided they needed publicity for their movement. They encouraged women to break law. Soon the newspapers were full of shocking stories about these new-style suffragettes.

They marched through the streets. They used to paint their slogans (VOTES FOR WOMEN, NO VOTE – NO TAX, etc.) on the walls and even break the shop windows. Some women chained themselves to the railings outside Parliament and 10 Downing street. They had to be very

34

courageous, because angry crowds came and threw tomatoes and eggs at them. Many women went to prison. Often they refused to eat there.

The most shocking event was on Derby Day in June 1913. a suffragette called Emily Davidson ran in front of the King’s horse and was killed.

Gradually opinion changed. Many members of parliament now wanted votes for women, but still nothing happened. During the First

World War women had to do men’s jobs, and they did them well. It was only after this that women aged thirty and over got the right to vote. Ten more years passed before in 1928, women of twenty-one could vote.

to pass a law – принять закон to vote - голосовать

to demand - требовать

to argue – возражать, спорить

to encourage – ободрять, поощрять, поддерживать, подстрекать courageous – отважный, смелый

to break law – нарушать закон

Vocabulary

1. Pay attention to the title of the article. What are the two meanings of dying for? Study the examples:

- The soldiers were ready to die for their home land.

- I’m dying for a drink/an ice-cream/ those trendy red shoes…

2. Find in the text words and word combinations to match the definitions:

1)a formal expression of a person’s will or desire on any matter, especially a matter to be decided by the will of the majority.

2)brave, fearless.

3)to give hope, confidence or help, to support.

4)to commit a crime, to do something which is against the Constitution.

5)allowed by the law.

6)a request, often with a written document signed by a number of people.

Reading

3. Choose the best answer:

35

1)The suffragettes demanded

a)other things as well as the right to vote.

b)only the right to vote.

c)a better education than men.

2)Emmeline Pankhurst encouraged women to break the law because

a)she was tired of writing letters to Parliament.

b)she wanted more publicity for suffragettes.

c)angry crowds provoked them to do that.

3)Many women went to prison because

a)they told shocking stories to the newspapers.

b)they threw tomatoes and eggs at the crowds.

c)they used to do things that were against the law.

4)After the First World War

a)Members of Parliament changed their opinions.

b)women did men’s jobs.

c)women finally got the right to vote.

Speaking

4. Discuss in groups the following questions:

-What changes have there been in the roles of men and women in your country in the last 100 years?

-How are men and women different? In your opinion, what do men do better than women? What do women do better than men?

-Are there many female politicians/scientists/top-level manages in your country? Do you think there is certain discrimination of women involved in traditionally men’s activities such as business, politics, science, etc.

THE USA

I

THE LAND OF THE FREE

The American Declaration of Independence

This is part of the original American Declaration of Independence

written by Thomas Jefferson to challenge the British government on July 4th 1776.

36

The unanimous declaration

of the thirteen United States of America

… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The American Constitution

This is the introduction to the American Constitution, written by members of the newly-independent US government in 1787.

We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, establish this constitution for the United States of America.

The Amendments

These are some of the 27 amendments added to the Constitution by different governments over the years.

Amendment I (1791)

Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of a religion, abridging the freedom of speech or of press, or the right of people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government.

Amendment II (1791)

A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be broken.

Amendment XIII (1865)

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States or any place within their jurisdiction.

Amendment XIX (1920)

The right of citizens to vote shall not be abridged by the United States on the account of sex.

37

Amendment XXV (1967)

In case of death or resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become President.

Amendment XXVI (1971)

The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be abridged on the account of age.

to challenge – бросать вызов

self-evident – очевидный, само собой разумеющийся

to be endowed – быть наделенным/одаренным чем-либо pursuit – преследование, погоня, поиск

justice - справедливость

tranquility – спокойствие, благоденствие posterity – потомство, потомки amendment – поправка (к конституции) prohibit - запрещать

abridge – сокращать, ограничивать

to petition – просить, подавать прошение on the account of – на основании

in case of – в случае

resignation – отставка, отказ от должности

Vocabulary:

1.Form as many derivatives as you can from the verbs: to depend, to create, to promote, to govern, to regulate.

2.Replace the underlined words with the synonyms from the texts above.

He was given knight’s title by the Queen

It’s so simple! It seems obvious. Smoking is not allowed on board a plane.

Freedom is one of the basic American values.

The activity of firms-monopolists must be limited by the government.

The government is to provide welfare and liberty.

Reading:

38

3. Read the extract from the Declaration of Independence. What is its main message?

a.The USA will be a more religious nation than Britain.

b.God created all people with the same rights and freedoms.

c.The USA will make all its people happy.

4.Read the introduction to the American Constitution. Which phrases from the text mean the same as the following:

1.defend the people

2.make sure that there is piece in the country

3.make sure that we and the people that come after us are free

4.make sure that the people are treated in a fair way

5.look after the people’s needs

5. Read the amendments to the Constitution. Match them to these descriptions:

a.the abolition of slavery

b.the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18

c.the right of the vice president to take command if the president is

killed

d.the right of women to vote

e.the right of people to carry guns

f.the right of the people to free speech, religion and political protest

Speaking/Writing

6. There is a lot of discussion about the Second Amendment these days. Do you think it is relevant now, 200 years after it was written? Write a letter to a newspaper explaining your opinion.

II

THE US GOVERNMENT

The part of the US government which makes and passes laws is known as the Congress of the United States of America. It was created in 1789 by Article 1 of the Constitution.

Congress is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

39

The Senate consists of two senators from each state. A senator serves a six-year term. Until 1913 senators were elected by state law makers but since that year they have been chosen by the people’s vote.

The House of Representatives consists of 435 members. The representatives are elected from congressional districts and serve twoyear term.

The two main political parties in US are the Democrats and the Republicans.

When a president is elected he or she serves in government for a period of four years. A president can serve only for two terms (eight years in total).

Answer the questions without looking in the text:

1.What is the function of the Congress?

2.What two houses is it made up of?

3.How many senators are there in the Senate?

4.What are the main parties in US politics?

5.How long can a US president remain in power?

UNIT 5

EDUCATION

GREAT BRITAIN

40

1)how much it costs to send a girl to Chalfont College for Girls per term if they don’t live at the College.

2)is a comprehensive school private or state.

3)the number of students in classes at Hanbury Comprehensive school and Chalfont College for Girls.

4)the names of four top UK universities.

5)what percentage of UK pupils government to a private school.

6)what percentage of students at Oxford and Cambridge come from private schools.

Speaking

3. Do you have state and private schools in your country? What type of parents tend to send their children to private schools? What type of school often has the best teachers and the best exam results?

II

HOTHOUSE FLOWERS

Ryde College opened in 1982 and has become famous for surprising success of its students. Most of its pupils attend regular state primary or secondary schools during the day and then have classes at Ryde in the evening and on Saturdays. Pupils come here to get ahead of the rest. A child can attend a “technology for toddlers” class before it has reached its second birthday or start studying for a GCSE at seven.

100 per cent of Ryde GCSE students pass their exams, even though they cover the courses in nine months. Most secondary schools cover the same syllabus in two years. Last year the college’s successes included a six-year-old who passed a GCSE in Information Technology, and a ten- year-old who passed an A-level in computing.

Dr Ryde, the college’s founder, says: “When a child is young his brains are like sponges, they absorb everything you give them. By the time they are in their late teens, their ability to learn weakens. They are

“the pensioners “ of the academic world.”

Dr Ryde calls his method “accelerated learning”, others call it hothousing. Call it what you like, but it is a growing trend in British education. These days parents are increasingly using private tutors to help their children reach better results in studying. Some well-off parents even employ private tutors for their three-year-olds.

42