Vocabulary

1. enjoy unprecedented prosperity

2. withstand the strain

3. in tatters

4. be allied with

5. inherit

6. an heir

7. annihilate

8. stalemate

9. be expelled from

10. oil fields

11. form an alliance

12. amiable

13. basket case

14. common sense

15. stunning rapidity

16. conventional

17. preeminence

Do the following tasks in writing.

1. Translate and transcribe the words.

2. Find the words in the context. What other context can each word be used in? Build examples.

3. Find cognate words.

4. Divide single words into several groups according to the part of speech.

Verbs:

Nouns:

Adjectives:

Participles:

Which words have a prefix? What do they mean without the prefix? Which have a suffix? What part of speech are they?

5. Look at the collocations. Which of them are set expressions? Which can be used with a different word (build examples)?

6. Complete with words and phrases from Vocabulary.

1) In the WWI Russia was _________ with Great Britain and France as a part of the Entente. 2) The _________ of Paul I, Alexander I ___________ the throne after his father’s death. Except defeating Napoleon, he was famous in Europe for the Holy ____________, which he formed with Austria and Prussia. 3) The company enjoyed _______________ _________________ after a successful takeover; but now it seems to be unable to ________________ competition. If nothing changes, we may find the business completely __ ___________ in a few months. 4) Military bases of the enemy were _______________ with stunning _______________, and soon adversary troops will be ______________ from the country. 5) The controversy over oil __________ seems to end with a _____________, which means that neither part is going to gain ______________. 6) Adversaries tried to sound ____________ and peaceful, emphasizing their common ____________. 7) For an ordinary, _____________ observer, the situation is a ____________ __________; but I’m sure that our talented specialists will be able to help.

Comprehension

1. Gist

Tick the ideas, which are expressed in the text:

1. Trade and investment promoted peace in Europe in the early XX century.

2. WWI was put an end to by the USA.

3. Germany never had a chance to dominate Europe.

4. The USSR was the strongest country in the world in the middle of the XX century.

5. China weakened the position of the USA.

6. The year 2000 was peaceful.

7. Political analysis often ignores profound and long-term changes.

8. The main events of the XX century had been predicted in the beginning of the XX century.

9. There is a repeating pattern of historic events, that helps to predict the future.

10. Geopolitical analysis can help to forecast changes in international relations.

2. Detail.

Match countries/cities and events.

a.The Austro-Hungarian, the Russian, the Ottoman, the German empires… b. London… c. Great Britain… d. The USSR… e. The USA… f. Iran… g. North Vietnam…

a. stood against the Nazi Germany alone in 1940. b. allied with Maoist China. c. invaded Germany. d. defeated the USA. e. was the centre of political life in Europe in the early XX century. f. had collapsed by 1920 g. attracted the USA with its oil fields.