- •The very headline of the article poses a problem.
- •Active vocabulary
- •Tales of st. Pete
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Active vocabulary
- •Russian province: family oriented, averse to politics
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Active vocabulary
- •Ads have no limits
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Russia confronts aids crisis
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Active vocabulary
- •Sherlock holmes revealed at last
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Boiling pleasure
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Tea or coffee?
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Active vocabulary
- •Men in the kitchen
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Orphans thrive at a new concept home
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Kids and aids
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Searching for a smile in moscow
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Ghost in the shell
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Elves and hobbits in russian woods
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Active vocabulary
- •British quality
- •Vocabulary notes
- •A school for vip kids
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Experience: teenager from moscow in u.S. High school
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Alma mater abroad
- •Vocabulary notes
- •The wild side of a russian education
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Russian studies: a risky business?
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Stay at home fathers
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Marriage made in hell
- •Vocabulary notes
- •An unprotected look at western-russian relations
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Hello. Can u meet 4 coffee asap
- •2 Discuss english lingo, cheers!
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Lost in translation?
- •Vocabulary notes
- •It’s clean air month
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Environmentally friendly moscow
- •Vocabulary notes
- •10 Things that will do you good
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Foods that americans like
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Walking for better health
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Architecture may be unhealthy
- •Videoecology explains why megapolis dwellers prefer looking at the ground
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Bad, bad thing
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Tourism chiefs to tout russia’s regions
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Ecotourism
- •Vocabulary notes
- •The baikal
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Dig at stonehenge
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Dna identifies the child victim of titanic
- •Visit was emotional
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Astronomers find earth-like planet
- •Vocabulary notes
- •Contents
Vocabulary notes
announcement [q'naunsmqnt] объявление
folk [fquk] люди
butch [buC] зд. мужеподобный
promptly ['prPm(p)tlI] сразу, быстро
duly – в должное время, своевременно
feminine ['femInIn] женственный
to ‘Roger’– ухаживать
ticket to greener pastures ['pQ:sCqz] перен. билет в лучшую жизнь
nimble ['nImbl] проворный, ловкий, шустрый
on the way – на подходе
shotgun wedding – вынужденный брак
overseas ['quvq'sI(:)z] за морем, за океаном
incompatible ["Inkqm'pxtqbl] несовместимый
versus ['vq:sqs] против
raising kids – воспитание детей
hygiene rules ['haIGI(:)n] правила гигиены
involvement [In'vPlvmqnt] участие (в чем-либо)
recipe ['resIpI] рецепт
iron out – сглаживать, улаживать
boatload – перен. огромное количество
bullshit ['bul"SIt] враки, бред собачий
date – назначать свидание
expat [eks'pxt] иностранец, проживающий в чужой стране
weary ['wIqrI] утомленный
take this on the chin – не падать духом, держаться бодро
fondle ['fPndl] ласкать
greasy, thinning hair – сальные редеющие волосы
Old Bill – полицейский
nappy – подгузник
moisturizer ['mOIsCqraIzq] увлажняющий лосьон или крем
gel [Gel] гель
spokesman ['spquksmqn] представитель
Analyze the following words
-
exchange invariably beautiful
stylish
finally marriage greasy incompatible
announcement western involvement spokesman
logical
awful hairdresser playfully
Find the English equivalents
В любой день недели; достоинства русских женщин; воспитание детей; говорить на хорошем английском; быть/выглядеть не к месту; встретить единомышленника; вынужденный брак; брак распадается; быть в равной степени виноватыми; не всегда так; дело в том, что; в довершение; правила гигиены; рецепт бедствия; беда в том, что; выглядеть одинаково; различия между; столкнуться с проблемами; выглядеть совместимыми; сглаживать различия; не только; любовь побеждает все; слегка устать; ужасно трудный; говорить от имени кого-л.; менять подгузники ребенку.
Comprehension questions
What are the best advertised virtues of Russian women?
What western men usually apply for Russian brides?
Why do, according to the author of the article, some Russian women look for western men?
How long do these ‘transnational’ marriages usually last?
What is the main reason of divorce?
Who is to blame for the breakdown of the marriage?
How does the author explain the incompatibility of the partners in these marriages?
Do different traditions and values really play such an important role in our life? Give your reasons.
Why do people sometimes think that westerners and Russians are really the same?
Why is so difficult sometimes to iron out the differences?
What is his idea of most of the expats living in Russia?
What does he want to encourage them to do?
What, in the author’s view, will the knowledge of the Russian language enable the expats to do?
What is the Russian women’s idea of a ‘Real Man’ according to the author? Whose side does the author of the article take when speaking on the topic?
Putting aside the author’s humour, what of his ideas can you agree with?
What is your opinion on transnational marriages? Are they always doomed?
***
ACTIVE VOCABULARY
affair [q'fFq] любовная связь; дело
attract [q'trxkt] привлекать, притягивать
betray [bI'treI] предавать, изменять
citizen ['sItIzn] гражданин
curiosity ["kjuqrI'Os(I)tI] любопытство; любознательность
event [I'vent] событие; случай, происшествие
eventually [I'venCqlI] в конечном счете, в конце концов; со временем
failure ['feIljq] неуспех, неудача, провал
fight – спорить, ссориться
improve [Im'pru:v] улучшать, улучшаться
participate [pQ:'tIsIpeIt] участвовать
poisonous ['pOIznqs] ядовитый
refer (to) – ссылаться (на), относить (к)
relationship [rI'leIS(q)nSIp] отношение, взаимоотношение
require [rI'kwaIq] требовать
reveal [rI'vi:l] открывать, разоблачать, обнаруживать
set up – создавать, основывать
settle down – обосноваться
steal (stole, stolen) – воровать, красть
stupid ['stju:pId] глупый, тупой, бестолковый
ugly ['AglI] безобразный; неприятный; скверный
victim ['vIktIm] жертва
otherwise ['ADqwaIz] или же, в противном случае
Practise aloud
-
failure
plight
syndrome
suburb
affair betray
improve
event
require
bearing
psychologist
success
citizen curiosity
civilization
opposite
poisonous impressionable
treacherous
succession