Word building

II. Translate the following derivative words:

verb + -er (-or) → noun

to write – writer, to manage – manager, to supervise – supervisor, to work – worker, to program – programmer, to operate – operator, to examine – examiner; to compile – compiler, to accumulate – accumulator;

verb ( noun / ejective) + -ist (-yst) → noun

to type – typist, to economize – economist, to analyze – analyst.

III. Form nouns using suffixes -er (-or), -ist (-yst):

to dance, to sing, to drive, to sail, to direct, to translate, journal, piano, psychology, art, special.

IV. Suggest the Russian equivalents for the following phrases:

to speak about, to consist of, to find time, to enter university, my favourite subject, future speciality, to be busy, to take exams, a number of, a particular subject, in the field of physics, to introduce, neither …nor, to work as.

Active Vocabulary

V. Read and memorize the following words and word combinations:

a first-year student – студент-первокурсник, to do research – проводить научно-исследовательскую работу, under the guidance – под руководством, scientific – научный, to graduate from – заканчивать (высшее учебное заведение), to take a post-graduate course – обучаться в аспирантуре, to get scholarly degree: Bachelor of Science – получать ученую степень бакалавра наук, to enter – поступать, to be concerned with – быть связанным с, to receive a scholarship – получать стипендию.

VI. Read and translate the following text. About myself

It is hard to speak about myself as only people surrounding me can see me objectively. Let me introduce myself. My name is Olga, my surname is Smirnova. I am seventeen. I was born in Volgograd.

Our family is neither big nor small. It consists of my father, my mother, my brother and me. My father works as a manager in the company. He works five days a week. He likes his work and spends a lot of time there. My mother is 40, but she looks young. She is an economist and works in a bank. She is very busy, but she finds time to cook, sew. My elder brother is twenty three. He has just graduated from Volgograd Polytechnic University and now he is taking a post-graduate course. He wants to do research on a particular subject under the guidance of a scientific supervisor.

I entered Volgograd State University three months ago so I am a first-year student at the faculty of physics and telecommunications now. We study different subjects, such as mathematics, calculus, a number of humanity subjects, but my favourite ones are physics and history. The tuition is free for me and I receive a scholarship. We take exams twice a year – in winter and in summer, that’s why I must work hard at all the subjects to get good marks for exams. I hope to get my first scholarly degree: Bachelor of Science in four years. My future speciality is concerned with physics. But my ambition is to do ecological research using my knowledge in the field of physics. In my opinion, air pollution is one of the most serious problems for today. I’ll do my best to improve this situation.

I live not far from the university and it takes me ten minutes to get there by bus. I spend a lot of time in the university and have little free time for my studies at home and for rest and entertainment. But I try to do it. I’m fond of reading. My favourite writer is L. Tolstoy. I like to listen to classical music. I travel a lot and my dream is to go abroad next summer.

Twice a week I go to the swimming pool. Nowadays, good health is cited as number one factor enabling us to improve the quality of life. Our family is nice, and everyone is easy to get along with. We take care of each other, and spend much time together. We often go to the country, fresh country air is also considered to be beneficial for health. Also, the idea of working in the smoke-free environment seems attractive to us.

As to my appearance, I am slim, my hair is fair, my eyes are blue. I look like my mother. I am energetic, rather intelligent, friendly, polite. I think I am calm, never panic in a crisis. I like to associate with polite and intelligent people, I appreciate sincerity and trust. I hate when people lie and betray. Those who are unreliable irritate me.

My home city Volgograd is situated on the western bank of the Volga River. It is rich in history and culture. The city was awarded the title Hero City for its heroism in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Today Volgograd is an important industrial city. It is a very modern city, boasting many monuments honoring the history of this great city. It is known for the Panorama Museum, the Motherland Calls in Mamayev Kurgan commemorating the Battle of Stalingrad. The Central Embankment is a favourite gathering place. There are a lot of restaurants, museums, parks, and contemporary entertainments in Volgograd. I am proud of my home city.