IV. Fill in the blanks with the proper words given below.

1. People feel themselves safer alongside with somebody who … their ideas, traditions, way of life.

2. The decline of solidarity and trust create the society which is more … .

3. The process of urban renewal has destroyed … communities and networks.

4. Declining … participation has made government less responsive.

5. There has been a marked … in the numbers willing to work for a party.

6. Civic engagement, civil society and the mutual trust have long served as a … to the individualism.

Civic, counterweight, fearful, shares, decline, long-established.

V. Give the appropriate translation to the Russian words.

1. Today, thousands of children are members of домашних хозяйств where only one of their pirth parents live.

2. Ни один индивидуум can ever be totally independent of other people.

3. Nowadays, we usually think of обществах as national, and even international сообществах.

4. In a direct democracy, all citizens, without посредников can participate in making public decisions.

5. Around the country законодатель can be chosen from districts that each elect a single representative.

6. The разнообразие of institutions, political parties, organizations and associations is called плюрализм.

Unit II freedom of the individual

If society fits you comfortably enough,

you call it freedom.

Robert Frost

Freedom is the main asset in a new civilization. It is not a cure-all, but it gives people a chance, without it there is no chance. Without it, a “power” can be established that may huff and puff but will have neither real might nor dignity. Perhaps no issue is discussed more often, than the rights and freedoms of the individual – how far should the state, decide what is best for us, and how far should we have the right to control our own lives?

Even in the countries where social and political values are very similar, the laws about some of the world’s most controversial issues can be very different.

Let’s discuss what freedom actually is: a reality or a mirage?

To encourage you to speak, start with one-minute talk, choosing any of the points below:

• What I know about freedom.

• The level of freedom in the country.

• Complete freedom implies...

Basic vocabulary terms

amendment (n)	a minor change or addition to a document etc.;
censorship (n)	the action or policy of examining books, films, plays, letters etc. and removing parts which are considered offensive, politically unacceptable or (esp. in war) a threat to security;
euthanasia (n)	painless killing of people who are very old or terminally ill;
freedom (n)	the power or right to act, speak, think etc. as one wants (chooses) without anyone stopping one;
hospice (n)	a hospital for people who are dying;
interference (n)	trying to change what somebody else is doing;
redrafting (n)	writing something in a better form;
reservation (n)	a reason for not agreeing to (a plan), accepting (an idea)
right (n)	a just, proper or legal claim; a thing that one is entitled to do or have by law;
violation (n)	breaking a rule, principle, law; rights