Vocabulary notes

averse to – нерасположенный, питающий отвращение к чему-л.

megalopolis ["megq'lqupqlIs] город- гигант

survey ['sq:veI] обзор

spouse [spauz] супруг, супруга

creature comforts – земные блага

frivolous ['frIvqlqs] легкомысленный, фривольный

predominantly [prI'dPmInqnt] преобладающий, доминирующий, господствующий

matriarchal ["meItrI'Q:k(q)l] матриархальный

liability ["laIq'bIlItI] ответственность, помеха

asset ['xset] ценное качество

kid – обманывать, надувать

Analyze the following words

population election conclusion achievement

typically largely probably unbearably

relationship provincial irreplaceable political

predominantly faithfulness regularly unsurprisingly

Find the English equivalents

Более половины; в отличие от больших городов; выходить из забвения; вни­мание избирателей; быть на вес золота; каждая третья семья; земные блага; прежде всего, главным образом; постоянно ссориться; глава семьи; семейные от­ношения; так или ина­че; вы шутите; в то же время; просить прощение; разрешать проблему ины­ми способами; выписывать газету

Comprehension questions

1. How many Russians live in small and medium-sized town nowadays?

2. What does the author mean by using the phrase ‘Russian province’?

3. Why does the author consider Russian province terra incognita?

4. When do political parties pay attention to the problems of Russian province?

5. In what way, in your opinion, does Russian province differ from big cities?

6. What was the general conclusion of the latest survey of life in provincial towns?

7. Where was this survey conducted?

8. In what way did the latest survey differ from the first one?

9. What, in your view, were the reasons why people refused to answer some of the questions?

10. What are the major family riches of the provincial family?

11. What makes family so important according to the people polled?

12. What are many familial relationships built on?

13. How do most family quarrels end according to the results of the survey?

14. What is the main reason to subscribe to a local newspaper?

15. Was there anything in the results of the survey that really surprised you?

16. What would you answer if asked the same questions (How much money you need to be happy? Who should be the head of the family? What are the major riches of a person’s life? What newspapers do you subscribe to? What newspapers do you read? What news do you usually look for in the newspapers? What TV channels do you prefer to watch?)

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Active vocabulary

advertising ['xdvqtaIz] реклама

amount [q'maunt] количество

approve [q'pru:v] одобрять

billboard ['bIlbO:d] рекламный щит

city dwellers – горожане

commercial [kq'mq:S(q)l] рекламное объявление

complaint [kqm'pleInt] жалоба

concern [kqn'sq:n] касаться чего-л., относиться к чему-л.

constantly ['kOnst(q)ntlI] постоянно,часто, то и дело

distract [dIs'trxkt] отвлекать

explain [Iks'pleIn] объяснять

image ['ImIG] образ

increase [In'krI(:)s] возрастать, уве­личиваться

intend [In'tend] намереваться, иметь в виду

litter – сорить

neighbouring ['neIb(q)rIN] соседний, расположенный по соседству, смежный

oblig­e [q'blaIG] обязывать

point [pOInt] пункт, момент, вопрос

promise ['prPmIs]обещать

quantity ['kwOntItI] количество

reduce [rI'dju:s] уменьшать, сокращать

representative ["reprI'zentqtIv] представитель

satisfied (with) ['sxtIsfaI] удов­лет­воренный (чем-л.)

so-called – так называемый

summa­rize ['sAmqraIz] резюмировать, подводить итог

sur­face ['sq:fIs] поверхность

turn into – превращаться

Practise aloud

image oblige sur­face chaos

service amount approve complaint

concern distract denounce increase (v)

quantity advertising neighbouring representative

summa­rize inconceivable commercial development