Vocabulary

Task 1. Find these words and expressions in the text. Explain their meaning in English. Then look them up in the dictionary to check their translation if necessary. Give an example of the situation in which these words and phrases can be used.

Commensurate, fluctuating, unslaked passion, precursor, to overlap, advent, fervent admiration, radiance, abject humiliation, to aver, collation, to permeate, precept, longing, implore, shibboleth.

Task 2. Match each word from the reading with its synonym. Make up sentences with the words from the text.

a) commensurate	1) comformable
b) fluctuating	2) changing
c) unslaked	3) unquenchable
d) precursor	4) forerunner
e) to overlap	5) to intersect
f) advent	6) arrival
g) fervent	7) ardent
h) radiance	8) glory
i) abject	9) mean
j) to aver	10) assert
k) collation	11) comparison
l) to permeate	12) penetrate
m) precept	13) maxim
n) longing	14) desire
o) implore	15) beg

Task 3. Fill each gap with one word. Then re-read the text if necessary.

1. The career of Taras Shevchenko illustrates all these things, except the ______________of a reputation.

2. The modern phase is represented before Shevchenko by Ivan Kotlyarevsky whose language exclusively reproduces the contemporary_____________.

3. This man moreover was acutely aware of social and national injustice and was not afraid to ________his people's enemies.

4. Only a small part of The Minstrel (Kobzar), as it is now constituted, appeared in 1840, two years after his emancipation from __________.

5. There is a great deal in the books that come from the poet's own experience whether direct or_________.

6. Thus, for his Haydamaks, Shevchenko made use of his grandfather's eyewitness stories of the peasant revolt of 1768 (koliyivshchyna), _________them with the vitality of passionate memory.

7. Shevchenko's careful and accurate draughtsmanship, his attention to detail, and his ability to _________and reproduce a slightly stylized likeness were all the results of Bryullov's precept and example.

8. Between 1838 and 1847 Shevchenko passed through his period of __________to art, working mainly at the St. Petersburg Academy.

9. Now it is the patriotic aspect of Shevchenko's work, especially of his poetry, which first __________him to his compatriots.

WRITING

Do you have any friends abroad? Write an e-mail letter to your friend about a book you have recently read and liked or disliked. Use the tips below.

While writing to your friends and relatives we usually use informal style of writing. Characteristics of informal style include:

• short forms (e.g. I’m, it’s, we’ll, etc.)

• simple/colloquial vocabulary (e.g. really great, fun, you’d better, etc)

• use of the active, rather than passive voice

• informal beginnings and endings (e.g. Hi, how are you doing?, I’d better run, I’ll see you on Saturday, etc)

Your letter should include the following: