35 Reed and translate the topic. Choosing a tour route

Students of your group are the winners of the institute competition for the best group. You are awarded a 10-day tour of Belarus. You can choose any five cities to visit. Each of you should propose one city. Give your reasons, present information on:

1) where the city/town is situated;

2. what important historic events took place in it;

3. when it was founded;

4. places of interest in it;

5. cultural centres;

6. sport facilities;

7. what places you are going to visit;

8. what means of transport you are going to take to get there;

An atlas or slides would be helpful to work at the problem.

All members of the group are supposed to vote for five cities only. The results of voting will help you to make the route of your tour.

36 Discussion. In the 21^st century cities grow very quickly. People from villages move to towns and cities. But still some people living in cities dream of having a house in the country. Is it better to live in a big city or in the country? Discuss the problem in groups of 3-5 students in order to make a decision.

Reading practice

37 Read and translate the text.

TEXT 6A

A town

A town is a large number of houses, schools, hospitals, theatres, factoies, works and other buildings built near each other. All these buildings are divided into blocks by streets. Short narrow streets that join larger ones together are called lanes. On one side of the street the buildings have even numbers, on the other – odd numbers. The main streets are usually paved with stones or asphalt. Along the streets run cars, buses and trolley-buses. In large towms tramways are laid down the wider streets, along which tramcars rattle with great noise. On both sides of the streets are raised pavements on which people walk.

In very large towns, which are generally called cities, countless pedestrians walk along the foot-pavement, forming two smoothly-flowing ceasless currents. In England walkers keep to the right, while vehicles on the road keep to the left.

People usually cross the streets at special places, called crossings. When the traffic is very heavy, the policeman, who regulates the movement of the cars and buses, has to stop the near-ending stream by raising one hand, thus affording the pedestrians a chance of crossing the street. On the foot-paths, close to the gutter, stand dust-bins, into which refuse is put.

In large towns the ground floor and the first stories of the houses that line the principle streets, consist of shops. The shops present the most attractive features. The windows are very large an he plates of glass often reach almost to the pavements. It is interesting to look at the shop-windows where the articles on sale are displayed.

In the centre and in important parts of a large town, there are squares, gardens and market places.

A town is generally situated near or on a river across whir bridges are built. In almost all towns there are places of interest, which a stranger would be invited to see – monuments, cathedrals, museums, etc.

A town is governed by a council, the head of which is styled the mayor;

b) complete the sentences.

1 On one side of the street the buildings have even numbers, ... .

2 Along the streets run ... .

3 In England walkers keep ....

4 On the foot-paths, close to the gutter, stand ... .

5 In large towns the ground floor and the first stories of the houses ...

6 It is interesting to look at the shop-windows where ... .

7 A town is governed by ... ;

c) fill in the gaps.

1 Short narrow streets that ... larger ones together are called lanes.

2 The main streets are usually ... with stones or asphalt.

3 On both sides of the streets are raised ... on which people walk.

4 In very large towns , which are generally called cities, countless ... walk along the foot-pavement.

5 When the ... is very heavy, the policeman, who regulates the ... of the cars and buses, has to stop the never-ending stream by raising one hand.