Unit I. The United Kingdom of Great Britain

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

ВОЛГОГРАДСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

 

Н.И. Кохташвили, Т.С. Лихачева,

Н.А. Пром, О.С. Фоменко, Е.В. Янкина

ENGLISH - SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Учебное пособие

 

 

ИУНЛ ВолгГТУ

Волгоград 2015

ББК Ш143. 21-92

 

Р е ц е н з е н т ы:

кафедра английской филологии ВГСПУ, зав. кафедрой, доктор филологических наук, профессор В.И. Карасик;

доцент кафедры общеобразовательных дисциплин Волгоградского кооперативного

института (РУК), кандидат педагогических наук, Т.Г. Йованович

Печатается по решению редакционно-издательского совета

Волгоградского государственного технического университета

 

English-speaking countries: учебное пособие по страноведению. / Н.И. Кохташвили, Т.С. Лихачева, Н.А. Пром, О.С. Фоменко, Е.В. Янкина; ВолгГТУ. – Волгоград, 2015. – 48 с.

 

Цель пособия – формирование речевой и социокультурной компетенций в сфере бытовой коммуникации и развитие умений самостоятельного чтения оригинальной литературы по страноведению. В пособии представлены аутентичные тексты, отобран соответствующий языковой и речевой материал, разработана система продуктивных упражнений для закрепления лексики и грамматики и развития навыков чтения и устной речи по темам, связанным с вопросами страноведения англоязычных стран (Великобритании, США, Австралии и Канады).

Учебное пособие «English-speaking countries» предназначено для студентов всех специальностей, совершенствующих знания английского языка в межкультурной коммуникации.

Библиография: 10 назв.

 

 

Ó Н.И. Кохташвили, Т.С. Лихачева, Н.А. Пром,

О.С. Фоменко, Е.В. Янкина, 2015

ã Волгоградский государственный технический университет, 2015

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ

Данное учебное пособие предназначено для развития навыков устной речи и чтения у студентов всех специальностей. Обучение данным аспектам языка осуществляется в рамках коммуникативного подхода, учитывая современные достижения методики обучения иностранным языкам.

Пособие построено по тематическому принципу и состоит из 4 разделов, посвященных следующим странам: Великобритания, США, Канада и Австралия. Каждый урок содержит разделы, непосредственно связанные с базовыми текстами по теме (Text A, Text B, иногда Text C и D) и предполагающих развитие навыков просмотрового, поискового и аналитического чтения, а также умений устного и письменного иноязычного общения.

Цель обучения различным видам чтения достигается за счет использования оригинальных текстов страноведческой направленности. Тексты и упражнения насыщены интересной и полезной для студентов информацией об основных англоязычных странах, которая может пригодиться при личном общении с зарубежными коллегами.

Цель развития навыков общения на английском языке реализуется через применение условно-речевых и речевых упражнений: вопросно-ответные задания, интервью, проведение опросов мнений, неформальные дискуссии. Упражнения подразделяются на задания с целью понимания текстового материала, лексические упражнения, упражнения на перевод с русского языка на английский. Разнообразные формы работы – в парах, в малых группах, ситуации ролевого общения, игровые формы – стимулируют творческую активность и поддерживают интерес к общению на английском языке.

Данное пособие полностью соответствует Государственному образовательному стандарту программы по дисциплине «Иностранный язык (английский)».

UNIT I. THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND NORTHERN IRELAND

1. In groups of three find the answer to the following question: What is the difference between the UK, Great Britain (GB) and the British Isles?

Read the quote and find out what other names sometimes refer to the UK.

“When people say England, they sometimes mean Great Britain, sometimes the United Kingdom, sometimes the British Isles – but never England”  

“How to be an Alien” by George Mikes

3. Read Text A and check your answers in Act. 1. Why is England or the UK sometimes called Britain?

Text A.

“England” is sometimes, wrongly, used in reference to the whole United Kingdom, the entire island of Great Britain (or simply Britain), or indeed the British Isles. This is not only incorrect but can cause offence to people from other parts of the UK. The diverse history of England, Scotland and Wales has led to very different cultural traditions; the Scots and Welsh have right to feel aggrieved whenever the term “English” is used wrongly, to mean all three.

Text C.

1__________________________________________

London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. Covering an area of 607 square miles, it is the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. It is located on the River Thames.

London is the largest financial center along with New York. It has the fifth-largest GDP compared to the other cities in the world. Fashion, cuisine, tourist places, and art and architecture of the city attract a million visitors; it is the most-visited city in the world. The Tower of London, Kew Gardens, Palace of Westminster, St Margaret's Church, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square are the major attractions.

2____________________________________________

The United Kingdom covers a total area of 94,060 square miles. The country has a coastline of 11,073 miles. As estimated in 2013, the country had a population of 64,100,000. The largest cities in the UK are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Glasgow.

3______________________________________________

The United Kingdom comprises four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; and fourteen overseas territories. Each country has its own system of administration.

4_______________________________________________

The United Kingdom is a unitary parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The Prime Minister is the head of the government.

Monarch - Elizabeth II; Prime Minister - David Cameron

5______________________________________________

The pound sterling denoted by the ISO 4217 code GBP is the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is commonly called the pound and is the currency of the Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is subdivided into 100 pence.

6______________________________________________

The United Kingdom is the sixth-largest economy in the world with a high per capita. In 2011, the gross domestic product (nominal) was estimated at a total $2.480 trillion, while the per capita was $39,604. The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and issues the national currency, the pound sterling; it is the world's third-largest reserve currency.

Services sector is the largest sector, accounting for around seventy-three percent of the GDP. Tourism is a significant part of the economy; the United Kingdom is the sixth-most visited country in the world. London draws the maximum number of international visitors than any city.

The country also has a large automotive and aerospace industry. The pharmaceutical industry is also a significant part of the economy. The United States, Germany, Netherlands, France, and China are the major trading partners.

Text E.

The UK is a parliamentary democracy based on a constitutional and (1)… monarchy. Elizabeth II is the (2)… of the UK and is the head of (3) …. Even though she is the head of state, she does not actually (4) … the country. The government, led by the (5)…, governs the country and decides policy.

Parliament is where (6)… and decisions are made. It has three parts: (7)…, the House of Lords and the Queen. The House of Commons is the most (8)… part. It is where Members of Parliament sit. The Commons is the most (9)… place for discussing policies and making laws. The House of Commons has 650 members (MPs) who have been elected by local (10)… to represent an area (constituency ) of the country in Parliament. The people who sit in the House of Lords are called peers: they are not (11)… by the people. Most peers are now (12)… by the government. There are some who are hereditary peers (their fathers were peers); and a few others, such as certain bishops in the established (13)…, and the Judiciary (Law Lords). The main (14)… of the House of Lords is to 'double check' new laws to make sure they are fair and will work.

16. Read the text below and decide if the following sentences are True or False, according to the information given in the text.

A. General Elections to Parliament are held annually.

B. The Government is different from Parliament.

C. The leader of the party in power becomes the Prime Minister.

D. The Cabinet is appointed by Parliament.

E. There are 100 Secretaries of State in the UK government.

Parliamentary elections are held once every five years, or less.The leader of the political party with the most MPs in the House of Commons is asked by the Queen to become Prime Minister and to form a government that will manage the country.

The new Prime Minister chooses a team of people from Parliament who will run the country with him. There are normally about 100 people in a UK government. The Prime Minister heads the Government and appoints Ministers, who head individual Government departments. The most important ministers are called Secretaries of State and they form the Cabinet.

The Secretaries of State are in charge of a Government Department (a ministry). Each minister is responsible for his/her department, and makes sure that the department applies the policy of the government.

The most important Secretaries of State are: The Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance); The Foreign Secretary (international affairs); The Home Secretary (internal affairs); The Lord Chancellor (the legal system); The Secretary of State for Education; The Secretary of State for Transport and the Environment.

Every week the Prime Minister appears before the House of Commons and must answer questions put to him or her by the members of Parliament. Traditionally, the official residence of the Prime Minister is at Number 10 Downing Street.

Text F.

The British monarch has all authority, but no power. The Sovereign appoints the Prime Minister, and every year opens the sessions of parliament, in a historical and ritual ceremony called the State Opening of Parliament. This is the only regular time when the members of both Houses come together. During the ceremony the Sovereign (the current Queen Elizabeth II) reads out the government intended programme, which is to be implemented in the next twelve months. But the speech is prepared and written by the Prime minister’s office, not by the Queen.

The second major function of the sovereign is to sign new laws passed by Parliament. A bill does not become a law. Or an Act of Parliament, until it has “received royal assent”, meaning that it has been approved by the Queen.

The last major function of the sovereign – in the parliamentary context – is his or her weekly meeting with the Prime Minister. By tradition, the latter informs the Monarch, is Head of State, about important affairs of state and government business, and asks the sovereign for his or her opinion. Within over 60 years of experience, the current Queen Elizabeth II, has acquired great experience in managing affairs of state, and now acts as an experienced adviser, well liked by her Prime Ministers, of all political persuasions.

What’s on in London

General. Tour around London on a Big Red Bus. Enjoy the view from the top of this famous London bus, as you learn about the sights from one of out friendly guides. Half-day tour, 25 £ per person.

London walks – Experience London on foot with one of our specialized walking tours, 5 £ for two-hour walk.

Camden market – the perfect place to walk around and visit shops, eat in local café, buy some art and crafts and just sit with a coffee and watch London go by. Colourful, fun and cheap – this is real London.

Buckingham Palace – Entrance ticket: 12 £ per person. Watch the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace at 2p.m. every afternoon.

The London Eye – the Giant Observation Wheel, became operational in January 2000. The Wheel is the largest of its kind ever to be built and visitors to London from abroad are delighted by this new way of seeing the city. Tickets 25 £, duration 30 minutes.

Theatre. Les Miserables – Palace Theatre 02-7494 5555. ‘This musical has been playing for 18 years, and it is still like going to for a first night’. Eves 7.30, Mon, Thu and Sat 6.30. Tickets from 40 £.

People past and present

The BBC recently asked the British Public to nominate their favourite famous Britons. Some people are celebrities alive today. Some of the nominees were historical figures who contributed to Britain’s past.

Tick the names that you recognize: William Shakespeare, Queen Victoria, Captain James Cook, Princess Diana, Daniel Radcliffe, John Lennon, Isaac Newton, Winston Churchill, David Beckham, Charles Darwin, Horatio Nelson, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, George Orwell, Sean Connery.

UNIT III. CANADA

Text A. CANADA PROFILE

Canada is a country in North America consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. At 9.98 million sq. km in total, Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area and the fourth-largest country by land area. Its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border shared by the same two countries.

The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonies were established on the region's Atlantic coast. As a consequence of various conflicts, the United Kingdom gained and lost North American territories until left, in the late 18th century, with what mostly comprises Canada today. Pursuant to the British North America Act, on July 1, 1867 three colonies joined to form the autonomous federal dominion of Canada. This began an accretion of provinces and territories to the new self-governing dominion. In 1931, Britain granted Canada full independence in most matters with the Statute of Westminster 1931. The Canada Act 1982 severed the vestiges of legal dependence on the British parliament.

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The country is officially bilingual at the federal level. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries, with a population of approximately 34 million as of 2013. Its advanced economy is one of the largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed trade networks. Canada's long and complex relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its economy and culture.

Canada is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the eighth highest per capita income globally. It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education, and stands among the world's most educated countries ranking first worldwide in the number of adults having tertiary education with 51% of adults having attained at least an undergraduate college or university degree (according to the 2012 survey).

UNIT IV. AUSTRALIA

Text A. AUSTRALIA IN BRIEF

Australia officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. The world's smallest continent and sixth largest country by total area Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 sq. km. is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast, and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand.

Due to its size Australia has a wide variety of landscapes, with tropical rainforests in the north-east, mountain ranges in the south-east, south-west and east, and dry desert in the centre. Because of the continent's great age, Australia's biota is unique and diverse: about 85% of flowering plants, 84% of mammals, more than 45% of birds, and 89% of in-shore, temperate-zone fish.

For at least 40,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages grouped into roughly 250 language groups. After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a federal division of powers. It uses a parliamentary system of government with Queen Elizabeth II at its apex as the Queen of Australia, a role that is distinct from her position as monarch of the other Commonwealth realms. Australia has six states: New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and two major mainland territories (the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory).

The Australian flag contains the stars of the Southern Cross, which represent Australia's geographic position in the Southern Hemisphere. The large Commonwealth star symbolizes the federation of the states and territories, and the Union Jack reflects Australia's early ties to Great Britain. The Australian coat of arms consists of a shield containing the badges of the six Australian states, symbolizing federation, and the national symbols of the golden wattle, the kangaroo and the emu. By popular tradition, the kangaroo is accepted as the national animal emblem and the golden wattle was proclaimed the national floral emblem.

Australia is one of the wealthiest countries with the world's 12th-largest economy, and the total population of 23 million as of 2013. It generates its income from mining-related exports, telecommunications, banking and manufacturing. The country is ranked highly in quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights.

Match English words in the left column (highlighted in text A) with their Russian equivalents on the right.

1. mainland	a. земля, суша
2. numerous	b. богатый
3. land mass	c. континент, материк
4. rainforest	d.вершина
5. biota	e. флора и фауна данного района
6. diverse	f. аборигенный, местный
7. settlement	g. государство, королевство
8. indigenous	h. многочисленный
9. apex	i. тропический лес
10. realm	j. щит
11. coat of arms	k. австралийская акация или мимоза
12. shield	l. эмблема, символ
13. badge	m. герб
14. wattle	n. колония, поселение
15. wealthy	o. многообразный

READING COMPREHENSION

Text 1

WINDSOR CASTLE

To its citizens this is a town of some 30,000 inhabitants pleasantly sited on the south bank of the Thames twenty-odd miles up-river from London. Parts of their Guildhall are attributed to Sir Christopher Wren. There are many charming eighteenth-century houses, gracious and serene. The High Street dips steeply to the bridge that carries the road across the river to Eton College. The vast Windsor Great Park, more than 2,000 acres in extent, part-circles this royal town to the east and south; it is a much-visited Nature Reserve. The town is a popular tourist destination; the Danish toymaker Lego opened a Legoland amusement park there in 1996. In Elizabethan times about 70 inns enlivened Windsor.

To the visitor, whether from overseas or not, Windsor is, quite simply: The Castle. Smaller than Sandringham, Balmoral or Buckingham Palace it is by far the most spectacular of all monarchs’ residences; it has served as such for the nine hundred years of its existence. It not only dominates the town of Windsor and the wide river flowing at its feet (from the north bank of which it presentsits most impressive aspect), but is the largest inhabited castle in the world.

William the Conqueror picked this strategic site and built the first timber fortress on it. Thereafter, a long succession of monarchs set their architects, engineers to work on it. Timber was replaced by stonework; Henry II built its most imposing feature, the great keep commonly known as the Round Tower, the hub of the whole massive complex; from its turret the Royal Standard flies to indicate that the reigning monarch is in residence. Edward IV began the construction of St. George's Chapel, one of the most splendid churches in England, where the Knights of the Garter are installed with medieval ceremony. In the chapel are buried several of England's kings. Some vaults are used to store art treasures, national archives, and museum collections. On the castle grounds is a large lake named Virginia Water.

Text 2

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The slightly irreverent name, ‘Buck House’, derives from the fact that the original building belonged to the Duke of Buckingham, from whom George III bought it in 1762. On ascending the throne, his son, George IV, called in the famous architect, John Nash, to remodel it in 1825. Nash’s Marble Arch was originally designed as the main entrance to it. George IV named it his palace but, strangely, never occupied it. The first monarch to do so was Victoria, and during and since her day it has been the reigning sovereign’s London residence. Edward VII was born and also died there. 

The East Wing, facing St James’s Park, was added in1847; in 1913 the whole east facade was redesigned in the more dignified style which confronts us today. The interior is not open to the public and it is only from photographs that we glean some notion of the splendor of, for example, the 66-foot long Throne Room. The royal apartments are situated generally in the North Wing. The Queen’s Private Chapel, in the South Wing, was badly damaged during World War Two and had largely to be rebuilt. The opportunity was taken, in 1961, to adapt part of this in such a way as to form the Queen’s Gallery. This is open to the public, and in it may be seen one of the most outstanding private collections of art treasures existing anywhere in the world.

The main façade is the work of the architect Sir Aston Webb, and it is from the balcony midway along its great length that the sovereign permits herself to be seen on occasions of public rejoicing. But this is not the true ‘front’ of the palace at all. The true front overlooks the forty acres of garden not accessible to the public, the setting for the occasional Royal Garden Parties to which the elect in various walks of life are specially invited – the invitations being highly prized.

The Royal Mews in the south of the Palace are open on certain days to the general public. Here may be seen the sovereign’s horses and carriages, and most notably the State Coach, designed in 1762 – the year in which the Duke of Buckingham sold out to George III.

Text 3

WHAT DO BRITISH PEOPLE LIKE DOING AT THE WEEKENDS?

Sundays used to be a very special day of the week in Britain. It was the one day of the week for 'worship and rest'. The shops were closed and most people were at home or at church. Popular leisure activities on Sunday used to be going to church and doing some jobs around the home such as gardening and DIY. Until a few years ago shops were not permitted to open on Sunday. Sundays today are becoming like any other day of the week with shops open. Some families will now spend their time shopping rather than going to church or they will combine the two activities.

Britain is becoming a far less Christian country with fewer people regularly attending Church. People enjoy various indoor and outdoor activities in Britain. The EU's statistical office discovered that people in Britain spend about 45% of their free time watching television, 24% of their free time socializing, 22-23% on sport and hobbies, and 10% on other activities. Other popular leisure activities are listening to recorded music, reading, DIY, gardening, eating out and going to the cinema.

The most common leisure activity in the UK is watching television. The average viewing time is 25 hours per person per week. Almost all households have at least one television set. The proportion of households using satellite, cable or digital television was 44 per cent in 2002. Many television programs are about wildlife, animals, holidays, cooking and gardening. All these things are much cherished by British people.

The British are known as a nation of gardeners. Most people have a garden on their property. Gardening has been a popular pastime since Roman times. Many people in Britain are proud of their houses and gardens. They want their houses and gardens to look nice. Every town in Britain has one or more DIY (Do it Yourself) centres and garden centres. These are like supermarkets for the home and garden. These places are very popular with British home-owners at the weekends. “We don't have a big garden like some people. Dad likes to mow the lawn. Sometimes I help him. Mum looks after the flowers. She weeds the garden so that the garden looks good. I am growing some vegetables in my garden”.

Text 4

HOW TO KEEP THE ENGLISH HAPPY

All countries have unwritten but powerful rules of social behaviour, which can only be interpreted by other natives. The efforts of foreigners to explain to other foreigners become ridiculous: ‘Englishmen upon being introduced, shake hands and say, «How do you do?» Do they? Sometimes they do. It’s like being told, “In Russia at the beginning of the meal, the host pours out some vodka and everybody has to drink it in one gulp.’ Life is not as rigid as ceremonious or as repetitious as that.

So, no rules! Remember that we know that foreigners are going to be unfamiliar with our ways, and so long as they are obviously friendly and polite from the heart, it does not matter if they seem to us to behave slightly strangely. You will be miserable if you keep asking yourself, ‘Have I done this right or that right?’ And don’t feel that you have to apologize in case you have done something wrong. Apologies will distress your English friends and acquaintances. But don’t forget to thank them. And they will always appreciate a card or note from your home when you return.

In the last thirty years we have become much more informal than your textbooks suggest. Many of the rituals they describe no longer exist. But our informality conceals a pattern, an expectation of behaviour that can suddenly rise up strongly within us. For example, a group of English people, casual, friendly and easy-going, is making arrangements for the next day. They will have a much stronger expectation of punctuality than you may realize. Asked to arrive at ten o’clock, the English will arrive at ten o’clock, unless they are invited to a party or dinner, when they will carefully arrive a few minutes – but not twenty minutes – later. (Chronically unpunctual Englishmen exist, but try not to imitate them.)

Then, life in the country is more organized, people are much more tired by work than you may realize. Busy people have complex timetables. If you are invited for a meeting from half past ten to eleven, expect to leave at eleven – unless your host presses you to stay. It’s wiser not to launch into another long story as the Englishman opposite shuffles his papers or begins to wriggle in his chair.

Most English people get up and go to bed earlier than you do. So, expect to be up and around and working by about nine and nobody will be surprised if you are washing yourself around seven a.m. On the other hand, don’t try to telephone acquaintances after 10 p.m. unless you know them well. Some people don’t mind being phoned at midnight, but they are very rare.

The English, though you will find them friendly, do not rush to invite people to their homes – a great pity, but a fact. However, a minority is extremely hospitable and you may find yourself invited to someone’s home for an evening or at midday – or indeed for afternoon tea. With such people there should be no problems. They will want to make you feel comfortable, they will enjoy showing you all sorts of things with which you may be perfectly well acquainted, and they will display astonishing ignorance about your own home life. My advice is: ‘Ask, if you don’t know what to do next, whenever you don’t understand something which seems important.’ People enjoy explaining. And if you are asked questions, try to explain in answer. People enjoy trying to understand. But don’t feel that a simple question needs a ten-minute answer. Stop before you have completed your story, so that your friend can ask further questions. First, you may find that they have completely misunderstood you, and you need to start again. Secondly, English culture unlike Russian culture, doesn’t normally include monologues.

Homes and individuals differ so much that it is impossible to generalize about what you will find. But there is an underlying ‘pattern’ to English hospitality, which differs from the Russian ‘pattern’. Let us suppose you have been invited out for the evening. You will be given a meal but it will not be waiting for you as soon as you arrive. First, there is a period of anticipation, when people sit around, talking, getting to know each other, and sipping a preparatory drink. Don’t expect much to drink at this stage: you may be offered a second drink but very rarely more. This is a period when the English often seem to talk about nothing. Call people by the names by which they are introduced to you. And you will have already discovered that since we do not use patronymics you will have to reconcile yourself to the use of your first name only.

Meals will certainly have two courses and if the occasion is fairly formal, quite probably three courses: a ‘first course’/’starter’ which will be light and probably cold, or a soup; a ‘main course’ which will have meat or fish and vegetables, and a sweet course – a pudding or cheese or fruit. There will probably be bread around, but it is not eaten at such meals as often as with you, so by all means ask for a slice, but don’t expect to eat half the loaf.

Our pattern of drinking is very different. You will already have some alcohol inside you. At a meal you will be offered either wine or beer. Whereas Russian vodka drinkers get the vodka into them at the beginning of the meal so that its delightful effects will last throughout the evening, English drinking is for the pleasure of tasting wine or beer with the food over a long period. Do not help yourself to wine or beer unless asked to do so. After the meal (and by all means offer to help clear up, but accept your hosts’ word if they say, ‘No, thank you’) you may move to another room, to drink coffee or tea and continue talking. People may play music, get out books or photos, and show you round the house or just talk.

Don’t feel that you have to leave immediately. This is a leisurely part of the evening when the English become most relaxed. You can more easily ask them about the things, which have really puzzled you. If you don’t know when to leave, take your cue from other guests - though if they have to leave early, you may be asked to stay a bit longer. Otherwise, go by the atmosphere. If conversation is animated, stay. If your host shuffle, grow silent or fall asleep, take the hint! The English will never tell you to leave, but if these are people you don’t know well, normally you will have to leave around 11 p.m.

Text 5

ECONOMY OF THE USA

The United States has been the world’s leading industrial nation since early in the 20th century. Until the second half of the 19th century, agriculture remained the dominant US economic activity. After the Civil War (1861-1865), great advances were made in the production of basic industrial goods. By World War I, exports of manufactured goods had become more important than the export of raw materials; as manufacturing grew, agriculture became increasingly mechanized and efficient, employing fewer and fewer workers. The most important development in the economy since World War П has been the tremendous growth of service industries, such as government services, professional services, trade, and financial activities. Today, service industries are the most important sector of the economy, employing almost three-quarters of the workforce. Manufacturing employs approximately 17 per cent of the labour force and agriculture less than 3 per cent of the workers. Beginning in the 1930s, the government of the United States played an increasingly active role in the economy. Even though the US economy in the 1990s was based on free enterprise, the government regulated business in various ways. Some government regulations were drawn up to protect consumers from unsafe products and workers from unsafe working conditions; others were designed to reduce environmental pollution.

National Output. The US economy consists of three main sectors - the primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary economic activities are those directly involving the natural environment, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining, and usually contribute about 4 per cent of the yearly GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Secondary economic activities involve processing or combining materials into new products, and include manufacturing and construction, this sector accounts for approximately an 23 per cent of the GDP. Tertiary economic activities involve the output of services rather than goods. Examples of tertiary activities include wholesale and retail trade, banking, government, and transport. The tertiary is the most important sector by far and accounts for almost 73 per cent of the annual GDP.

Manufacturing. The United States leads all nations in the value of its yearly manufacturing output. About 19 per cent of the annual GNP (Gross National Product) are accounted for by manufacturing, which employs more than one-sixth of the nation’s workers. Although manufacturing remains a key component of the US economy, it has declined in relative importance since the late 1960s. Ranked by value of manufacturer’s shipments, the leading categories of US manufactured goods are chemicals, transport equipment, processed foods, industrial machinery, and electronic equipment. Industrial machinery includes engines, farm equipment, various kinds of construction machinery, office machines, and refrigeration equipment. Transport equipment includes passenger cars, trucks, airplanes, space vehicles, ships and boats, and railway equipment. Michigan, with its huge car industry, is a leading producer of transport equipment. California is a leader in the aerospace industry. Texas and Louisiana are leaders in chemical manufacturing. The petroleum and natural gas produced and refined in both states are basic raw materials used in manufacturing many chemical products. Food processing is an important industry in several states noted for the production of food crops and livestock. California has a large fruit-and vegetable-processing industry. Meat packing in Illinois and dairy processing in Wisconsin make both states leaders in food manufacturing. The electronic equipment industry includes the manufacture of electric industrial apparatus, household appliances, radio and television equipment, electronic components, and communications devices. Ohio, which has a large concentration of tyre-manufacturing plants, has long been a leader in the rubber and plastics industry. Printing and publishing is a widespread industry, with newspapers published throughout the country. New York, with its book-publishing industry, is the leading state, but California, Illinois and Pennsylvania are also important. Other major US manufactures include textiles, clothing, precision instruments, timber, furniture, tobacco products, leather goods, and stone, clay, and glass items.

Currency and Banking. The US decimal currency consists of coins and paper money. According to federal law, only the US Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System may issue all coins and a kind of paper currency known as United States notes. The Federal Reserve issues paper money called Federal Reserve notes. Banks in the United States are chartered under the laws of either a state or the federal government. State-chartered banks are regulated by officials of the state in which they are located. National banks are under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Federal Reserve System is the central banking organization of the United States. All national banks are required by law to belong to the Federal Reserve System. State banks may voluntarily become members if they meet certain requirements. Each member bank operates within the district of 1 of the 12 Federal Reserve banks. About 60 per cent of all commercial banking offices belong to banks affiliated with the Federal Reserve System.

Text 6

AMERICAN CULTURE

American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States, including language, religion, food and the arts. Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, as it is a country of immigrants, most notably the English who colonized the country beginning in the early 1600s. U.S. culture has also been shaped by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians.

The United States is sometimes described as a "melting pot" in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture. Just as cultures from around the world have influenced American culture, today American culture influences the world. The term Western culture often refers broadly to the cultures of the United States and Europe.

As the third largest country in the word with a population of more than 315 million, the United States is the most culturally diverse country in the world. The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have distinct traditions and customs. Here is a brief overview of the culture of the United States.

There is no official language of the United States, although 31 of 50 states have made English their official language or given it exceptional status. More than 90 percent of the U.S. population speaks and understands at least some English, and most official business is conducted in English.

While almost every language in the world is spoken in the United States, Spanish, Chinese, French and German are among the most frequently spoken non-English languages. Each region of the United States, in particular the South, has its own spin on the language with unique pronunciations and phrases.

Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded on the basis of religious freedom. More than 75 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. About half are Protestant, about one-quarter are Catholic, and a small percentage are Mormon. After Christianity, Judaism is the second most-identified religious affiliation, at about 1.4 percent of the population. About 20 percent of the population has no religious affiliation.

Clothing styles vary by region and climate, but the American style of dressing is predominantly casual. Denim, sneakers and cowboy hats and boots are some items of clothing that are closely associated with Americans. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Victoria Secret are some well-known American brands. American fashion is widely influenced by celebrities.

American cuisine has been influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early history. Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese and meat loaf. "As American as apple pie" has come to mean something that is authentically American.

The United States is widely known around the world as a leader in mass media production, including television and movies. The television broadcasting industry took hold in the United States in the early 1950s and American television programs are shown around the world. The United States also has a vibrant movie industry, centered in Hollywood, and American movies are popular worldwide.

New York is home to Broadway and Americans have a rich theatrical history. American folk art is an artistic style and is identified with quilts and other hand-crafted items. American music is very diverse with many, many styles, including rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country and western, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and hip hop.

Americans celebrate their independence from Britain on July 4. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, honors those who have died in military service. Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September, celebrates country’s workforce. Thanksgiving, another distinctive American holiday, falls on the fourth Thursday in November and dates back to colonial times to celebrate the harvest. Presidents’ Day, marking the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, is a federal holiday that occurs on the third Monday in February. The contributions of veterans are honored on Veterans’ Day, observed on Nov. 11. The contributions of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are remembered on the third Monday in January.

Text 7

SOME STRANGE AMERICAN TRADITIONS

Traditions vary widely around the world, and the ways of one society often seem downright wacky to others. American culture and traditions, thanks to the hard work of Hollywood and other arms of the nation's media multiplex, have become well-known in most corners of the map. But that doesn't always mean people in other countries find some of these customs less bizarre than Americans consider theirs. Here are some traditions Americans take for granted, but people in other countries often consider them strange at best.

Inches, Teaspoons and a Ton of Bricks. It's perfectly acceptable to use the metric system in the United States - Congress originally authorized it in 1866 and has repeated those sentiments in the years since - but tradition tells a whole other tale. Although the government now requires metric use in some public sectors and strongly encourages it in many private industries, the American public never really took to the system and largely dismissed it, making the United States the only industrialized nation where that's the case.

In an effort to move the matter along, Congress even passed a Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and set up a U.S. Metric Board to take care of all the planning for the desired transition, but they apparently didn't empower the board with enough authority, and the American people essentially said, "meh" to adopting metric and continued on with their miles, pounds, ounces and all the rest. Similarly lackluster efforts since then have done little to get Americans to change their ways.

Black Friday Shopping Sprees. Just hours after millions of unpardoned turkeys are devoured in the United States on Thanksgiving each year, armies of shoppers head out to get a start on their annual Christmas gift list. Black Friday sales traditionally launch this national weekend shopping bonanza, which wraps up on Cyber Monday, a more recently minted tradition that's grown in popularity with the rise of online shopping.

In 2010, the National Retail Federation conducted a survey, and estimated that more than 200 million shoppers went online and to stores around the nation during the weekend after Thanksgiving, with 106 million Americans planning to make purchases online come the following Monday. Most of those shopping on Black Friday arrive at a civilized time, but many diehards take the tradition a step further and start the day at a gruelingly early hour. In rare cases, riots or deadly stampedes have even broken out among shoppers slavering to get a certain deal or a particular product.

Celebrating the American Dream. Although the definition of the American Dream isn't set in stone and has been recalibrated over the years, there's little denying that Americans in general still teach their kids that this dream is one they, too, can enjoy. Whether or not that's a reality is another matter, but that's a question for different day.

At an emotional level, the American Dream evokes feelings of freedom to avenues of opportunity and equal access to paths of prosperity for anyone willing to work hard to achieve it. At a more practical level, many argue that achieving the American Dream has become equated with consumerism and ownership instead of the more purist notions at its core. Regardless of where the truth lies, it's still a national tradition to pass down the idea that the American Dream is achievable in each generation.

Text 8

THE SYMBOL OF NEW ZEALAND

Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Auckland Zoo on this sunny Sunday afternoon and to our special kiwi fund raising event. My job is to tell you all about the amazing little kiwi and your job hopefully is to dig deeply in your pockets. I should explain first of all that the kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand – and sometimes New Zealanders themselves are known as ’Kiwis’.

Now, while kiwis in the wild are a rare sight, the kiwi as a symbol is far more visible. Apart from being in toy stores and airport shops all over the world, you’ll find them on our stamps and coins. The kiwi is the smallest member of the genus Apterux which also includes ostriches and emu. It gets its name from the shrill call which sounds very much like this - kee-wee kee-wee. Kiwis live in forests or swamps and feed on insects, worms, snails and berries. It is a nocturnal bird with limited sight and therefore it has to rely on its very keen sense of smell to find food and to sense danger. Now here’s an interesting fact. Although kiwis have wings, they serve little purpose because the kiwi is a flightless bird.

Since white settlement of the islands, kiwi numbers have dropped from 12 million to less than 70, 000 and our national bird is rapidly becoming an endangered species. This is because they’re being threatened by what we call introduced animals, animals which were brought to New Zealand such as cats and ferrets which eat kiwi eggs and their chicks.

And so we have launched the Kiwi Recovery Programme; in an all-out effort to save our national bird from extinction. There are three stages to this program. Firstly, we have the scientific research stage – this involves research to find out more about what kiwis need to survive in the wild. Then secondly, we have the action stage. This is where we go into the field and actually put our knowledge to work – we call that putting science into practice. And then we come to the third stage – the global education stage. By working with schools as well as through our award winning kiwi website we are hoping to educate people about the plight of the kiwi.

Since we started the programme some 34 chicks have been successfully raised this year and their chances of survival have increased from 5 to 85%. However, it’s not time to celebrate kiwi survival just yet. About 95 % of kiwi chicks still don’t make it to six months of age without protection. That is why our Programme is so important and we ask you to give generously today.

Библиография

1. Total English Intermediate. Antonia Clare JJ Wilson. Pearson Longman. 2006.

2. http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Canada_Vacations/

3. http://www.en.m.wikipedia.org

4. http://www.mapsofworld.com/pages/fast-facts/infographic-of-uk-facts/

5. http://www.about-britain.com

6. http://www.confessedtravelholic.com

7. http://www.projectbritain.com

8. http://www.learnenglish.org.uk

9. http://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-australia/

10. http://www.dfat.gov.au/aib/overview.html

Содержание

Предисловие                                                                                                   3

Unit I. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland              4

Unit II. The United States of America                                                                    17

Unit III. Canada                                                                                              25

Unit IV. Australia                                                                                                 31

Reading comprehension                                                                                   37

Библиография                                                                                                 47

 

У ч е б н о е   и з д а н и е

 

Наталья Ивановна Кохташвили

Татьяна Сергеевна Лихачева

Наталья Александровна Пром

Ольга Сергеевна Фоменко

Елена Владимировна Янкина

 

ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Учебное пособие по страноведению для студентов всех специальностей

Английский язык

Редактор Е.В. Кравцова

Темплан 2015 г., поз. №

Лицензия ИД № 04790 от 18.05.2001г.

Подписано в печать          г.  Формат 60 84/16. Бумага офсетная.

Гарнитура Times Печать офсетная Усл. п. л. 3. Уч.-изд.л. л. .

Тираж 100 экз. Заказ .

 

Волгоградский государственный технический университет

400005, г. Волгоград, пр. Ленина, 28, корп. 1

 

 

Отпечатано в типографии ВолгГТУ

400005, г. Волгоград, пр. Ленина, 28, корп. 7.

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

ВОЛГОГРАДСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

 

Н.И. Кохташвили, Т.С. Лихачева,

Н.А. Пром, О.С. Фоменко, Е.В. Янкина

ENGLISH - SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Учебное пособие

 

 

ИУНЛ ВолгГТУ

Волгоград 2015

ББК Ш143. 21-92

 

Р е ц е н з е н т ы:

кафедра английской филологии ВГСПУ, зав. кафедрой, доктор филологических наук, профессор В.И. Карасик;

доцент кафедры общеобразовательных дисциплин Волгоградского кооперативного

института (РУК), кандидат педагогических наук, Т.Г. Йованович

Печатается по решению редакционно-издательского совета

Волгоградского государственного технического университета

 

English-speaking countries: учебное пособие по страноведению. / Н.И. Кохташвили, Т.С. Лихачева, Н.А. Пром, О.С. Фоменко, Е.В. Янкина; ВолгГТУ. – Волгоград, 2015. – 48 с.

 

Цель пособия – формирование речевой и социокультурной компетенций в сфере бытовой коммуникации и развитие умений самостоятельного чтения оригинальной литературы по страноведению. В пособии представлены аутентичные тексты, отобран соответствующий языковой и речевой материал, разработана система продуктивных упражнений для закрепления лексики и грамматики и развития навыков чтения и устной речи по темам, связанным с вопросами страноведения англоязычных стран (Великобритании, США, Австралии и Канады).

Учебное пособие «English-speaking countries» предназначено для студентов всех специальностей, совершенствующих знания английского языка в межкультурной коммуникации.

Библиография: 10 назв.

 

 

Ó Н.И. Кохташвили, Т.С. Лихачева, Н.А. Пром,

О.С. Фоменко, Е.В. Янкина, 2015

ã Волгоградский государственный технический университет, 2015

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ

Данное учебное пособие предназначено для развития навыков устной речи и чтения у студентов всех специальностей. Обучение данным аспектам языка осуществляется в рамках коммуникативного подхода, учитывая современные достижения методики обучения иностранным языкам.

Пособие построено по тематическому принципу и состоит из 4 разделов, посвященных следующим странам: Великобритания, США, Канада и Австралия. Каждый урок содержит разделы, непосредственно связанные с базовыми текстами по теме (Text A, Text B, иногда Text C и D) и предполагающих развитие навыков просмотрового, поискового и аналитического чтения, а также умений устного и письменного иноязычного общения.

Цель обучения различным видам чтения достигается за счет использования оригинальных текстов страноведческой направленности. Тексты и упражнения насыщены интересной и полезной для студентов информацией об основных англоязычных странах, которая может пригодиться при личном общении с зарубежными коллегами.

Цель развития навыков общения на английском языке реализуется через применение условно-речевых и речевых упражнений: вопросно-ответные задания, интервью, проведение опросов мнений, неформальные дискуссии. Упражнения подразделяются на задания с целью понимания текстового материала, лексические упражнения, упражнения на перевод с русского языка на английский. Разнообразные формы работы – в парах, в малых группах, ситуации ролевого общения, игровые формы – стимулируют творческую активность и поддерживают интерес к общению на английском языке.

Данное пособие полностью соответствует Государственному образовательному стандарту программы по дисциплине «Иностранный язык (английский)».

UNIT I. THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND NORTHERN IRELAND

1. In groups of three find the answer to the following question: What is the difference between the UK, Great Britain (GB) and the British Isles?