Comprehension

Task 14. Choose the right answer to the questions:

1. Where are Burns clubs situated?

1. in Britain;

2. in Great Britain and in other countries;

3. in Scotland.

2. When was the first Burns club founded?

1. during the poet’s life;

2. in 1802.

3. What national musical instrument is played in Scotland?

1. a bagpipe;

2. a drum;

4. What famous song has R. Burns written?

1. “A red, red Rose”

2. “Auld Lang Syne”

5. When was the Edinburgh International Festival first opened?

1. in 1947;

2. in 1922.

Task 15. Complete the sentences with suitable continuations:

1. The anniversary of W. Shakespeare’s birth is marked ... .

2. Shakespeare’s birthplace is situated ... .

3. The main street in Stratford-upon-Avon is decorated with ... .

4. People walk along the streets to ... .

5. Englishmen celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday ... .

A. ... in Stratford-upon-Avon.

B. ... flags and springs of rosemary.

C. ... on April 23, 1564.

D. ... flags.

E. ... the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

F. ... half a year.

G. ... the church.

Task 16. Decide whether you think these statements are true or false:

№			True		False
1.	Burns’ night is celebrated only in Wales.
2.	The traditional dishes of the festival dinner are: chicken soup, fried herring and haggis.
3.	People dance, listen to bagpipes and to Burns’ poetry at night.
4.		At the end of the night people recite Burns’ poems.
5.		Shakespeare’s birthplace is situated in the Poets’ Corner in London.
6.		People walk along the streets to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
7.		Englishmen celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday only on April, 23.
8.		The Edinburgh International Festival is held every year in summer and in autumn.
9.		The festival gives representation of artistic production only from Great Britain.
10.		The first festival was held in the 19th century.

Task 17. Match the following titles with the corresponding passages of the text.

• The importance of the Edinburgh International Festival for the musical world.

• The celebration of R. Burns’ birth in Scotland.

• William Shakespeare, a son of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Task 18. Write out the key sentences for each paragraph, item.

Task 19. Put the sentences into the right order:

• People sing the famous Burns’ song “Auld Lang Syne” at the end of the celebration.

• The anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth is celebrated in Stratford-upon-Avon.

• People dance, listen to pipe music and to Burns’ poems.

• The Shakespeare Birthday is celebrated from spring to autumn.

• To the sounds of bagpipes the traditional dishes are tasted.

• On the 25^th of January is Robert Burns’ birthday, the greatest poet of Scotland.

• Leading musicians may take part in the Edinburgh International Festival.

• Burns clubs appeared in 1802.

• The Edinburgh International Festival is one of the important events in the world, as musicians from many countries take part in it.

Task 20. Make up the summary of the text using tasks 17 and 18.