Text №12. The working of local government

(part II)

All local councils work through committees. Each council has a committee for each of the main sections of its work; for example the general management of the schools in a county or a metropolitan district is under the control of the education committee of the county or district council. Some of the committees consist only of members of the council (with the public represented in the same proportion as in the whole council), and some of them have in addition a few co-opted members, i.e. people who do not belong to the council but have been chosen to assist the committee with their special knowledge or other qualifications. For very important matters the committee can only recommend to the council what is to be done, and the decision is made by the council in general session. Meetings are normally open to the public.

The local authorities appoint their own staffs. At the middle and higher levels of the local government service the local government officers are usually ready to move from one place to another, and it is often necessary to move in order to get promotion. The appointment of the local councils staffs is supposed to have nothing to do with politics, though inevitably politics may have something to do with some of the top appointments. If the political majority of a council changes as a result of an election, it is not to be expected that there will be changes among the professional staff as a result.

The chairman of a committee (for example, on social services or education) has to work closely with the departmental chiefs and senior officers. Individual problems and matters of detail tend to be settled by the officers, though members of the public can try to get their ward councillors to intervene. Officers' decisions, like those of civil servants, have to agree with the main policies laid down by their committees.

If a single party dominates the council, it may give the chairs — of all the committees to its own party members. A committee chairman also works closely with elected councillors who belong to the same party. Both for committee business and for general council business there may be private party meetings at which the party's position is decided, and strict discipline is imposed on party members. Party discipline is often very strong in councils with Labour majorities, and in some cases the Labour councillors meetings are the main power centers.

Most local expenditure goes on services which councils arc required by law to provide, though they provide other services too. Part of the money needed is given to them in the form of grants from the central government, fixed by complex formulae and paid for out of national tax revenues. After 1983 the Government took a new and unprecedented power to set limits also to the amounts that local councils could collect by their own local taxes, and soon began preparations to impose on them a completely new system of local taxation.

For the cost of running their services the local councils rely partly on grants from the central government, and partly on taxes which they collect from local residents and businesses which operate in their areas.

In 1990 a new law came into effect, replacing the property tax by a new tax called a 'community charge. This is a fixed amount to be paid by each person to the local authorities.

A person with a small income may pay only a proportion (a fifth or more) of the normal rate.

Each council estimates its costs for the next year, then decides how much it needs to collect from its residents after taking account of grants from the central government and other revenues. So, the amount to be paid by each person depends on the expenditures of the borough or county and district where he or she lives. But the amount no longer depends on the value of the house.

Before changing the basis of local taxes, the central government had already increased its interference with the autonomy of local councils. In particular it restricted the amounts that local councils could collect from their people. Many local councils, including some with Conservative majorities, complained that it was impossible for them to provide local services of an acceptable quality without more funds. In 1990 Mr. Major's government began a new review of the whole system. It decided that the new 'poll tax' would be replaced by a local tax based on the value of property. It also increased the proportion of local expenditure paid for out of government taxation. 

 

Теsт №1

 Из четырех предложенных вариантов выберите единственно правильный.

 

1. Rick would like to find... really good job.

A.  a

B.  the

C. an

D. -

2. They didn't... a word about their plans.

A. tell

B.  talk

C. speak

D. say

3. I wonder when she... tomorrow.

A. would come

B.  will come

C. comes

D. coming

4. The bill isn't... as I thought it would be.

A.  such expensive

B.  expensive

C. so expensive

D. more expensive

5. Nobody... Julia to arrive so late.

A. expected

B. waited for

С looked for

D. looked forward

6. If it... so late I would have called you,

A.  has not

B.  had not been

С had not

D. was not

7. The board... all my suggestions.

A.  given up

B.  turned down

C. refused

D. put down

8. We have traveled a lot... by train and by car.

A. either

B. or

C. both

D. -

9. Modern English began... the fifteenth century.

A. at

B. by

C. from

D. in

10. Peter has looked very excited....

A. lately

B.     the other day

С one of these days

D. the following week

1 l. I'm thirsty, I'd like some mineral water, but we haven't got ….

A. some

B. any

С nothing

D. anything

12. The manager told his secretary... at work.

A. don't smoke

B. not to smoke

С  not smoke

D. no smoking

13. The meeting was cancelled... heavy snowfall.

A. as a result

B. although

С  due to

D. because

14. Vicky asked Mom... while she was on the phone.

A. don't talk

B. not to talk

С  didn't talk

D. not talk

15. Ann went to England... she could improve her English.

A. in order

B. owing

C. so that

D. although

16. I'm really interested in Economics.... I.

A.  So do

B.  Neither

C. Neither am

D. So am

17. I... stamps since Christmas.

A.  have been collecting

B. was collecting

С   am collecting

D. collected

18. The committee insisted... making decision at once.

A.  at

B.  about

С   on

D.  in

19. We have our English class... Monday morning.

A.  in

B.  at

 С for

D. on

20. If you... them well in advance, they will come.

A.  informed

B. inform

С will inform

D. would inform.

 

 

Теsт №2

 Из четырех предложенных вариантов выберите единственно правильный.

 

1. Without... sleep, you won't be able to do well at the exam.

A. enough the

B. enough of

С  enough a

D. enough

2. It is not... that he has to leave.

A. the surprise

B. surprised

C. surprising

D. surprise

3. She had no... of spending the rest of her life working as a waitress.

A. intent

B. intentness

С  intention

D. intentional

4. We are going to take our vacation... the coast.

A. in

B. on

С  at

D. over

5. It is... the money but the principle that makes him angry.

A. no

B. not

С not only

D. neither

6. Customs... one country to another.

A. differ

B. differ than

C. differ from

D. different

7. The plane is expected to arrive... because of bad weather.

A.  lately

B.  lateness

С   latest

D.  late

8. We thought she... today.

A. comes

B. is coming

С was coming

D. will come

9. There is still a wide-spread... that the elderly have much to contribute.

A. accept

B. acceptable

C. accepted

D. acceptance

10. We can leave... Mike is ready.

A.  when

B.  whenever

С   ever

D. there ever

11. Iron... for weapon and tools in the Bronze Age.

A. is generally used

B. generally used

C. was generally used

D. used generally

12. The duties of the secretary are to answer the phone, to type letters, and...

A. bookkeeping

B. to bookkeep

С  to do the bookkeeping

D. to do bookkeeping

13. I entered one... and won a prize.

A.  compete

B.  competitor

С competition

D. competitiveness

14. Jean... that she would call us.

A. said

B. had said

C. told

D. had

15. Kevin and I have to compete... each other for good job opportunities.

A. with

B.  to

С  among

D. between

16. It has no... the agenda.

A.       relation with

B.  relation to

C.  relationship with

D.  relationship to

17. Vendors must have a license.

A. everyone employed in food service

B. everyone who drives a car

C. everyone engaged in selling

D. everyone who works in a hospital

18. Americans have been criticized for placing too much emphasis on being on time.

A. importance

B. activity

C. bother

D. assistance

19. In his biography, Thomas Hardy is described as a very industrious writer.

A. sensible

B. pessimistic

C. optimistic

D. diligent

20. By law, when one makes a large purchase, he must have an adequate opportunity to change his mind.

A. an informal

B. a belated

С  an ample

D.    a gracious.

Test №3

 Из четырех предложенных вариантов выберите един­ственно правильный.

 

1. There is a... teachers at the school.

A.   short

B. short of

C. shortage

D. shortage of

2. The prices here are … at a discount store.

A. high than

B. higher than

C. higher than those

D. higher of those

3. To judge people, you should … listen to what they say but observe what they do.

A.  not only

B.  not

С   no

D.  neither

4. This is a useful book … the topic

A.  for to research

B.  by research

С   for researching

D.  to researching

5. If at first you don't … try again.

A.  accomplish

 B. prosper

С   succeed

D.  triumph

6. … a student abroad, I was very homesick.

A.  While

B.  When

C.  It was when

D.  It while was

7. I will call you back as soon as my dinner....

A. will finished

B. will be finished

С  finished

D. is finished

8. Whoever phoned did not leave... name.

A  his

B.  her

С   their

D. one's

9.... a waitress, Gloria has been promoted to hostess.

A. It was once

B.  Once it was

C.  That once

D.  Once

10. Kevin... to go into business with his father.

A. he plans

B. planning

C. plans

D. that plans

11. Flying is not only faster but also... than traveling by car.

A. safe

B. safest

С  it is safer
D. safer

12. Mary... to her hometown after she graduated from university.

A. returned

B. returns

C. returned back

D. returned backward

13. The management made us... doing it for next week.

A. put away

B. put off

С  put out

D. put up

14. Professor Rogers wouldn't... us use dictionaries during the test.

A. let

B. lets

С  leave

D. left

15. You should operate with... the rules and regulations.

A. regard

B. regard of

C. regard to

D.  regard for

16. In the past, energy sources were thought to be boundless.

A. without limits

B. expensive

С inexpensive

D. natural

17. Keep two pencils handy while taking the examination.

A  extra

B. secret

C. near

D.   sharp

18. Owners should be confident that their insurance will replace all of their merchandise.

A. Tutors

B.  Proprietors

C.  Lenders

D.  Debtors

19. The report specified seven areas where the Government had a responsibility.

A. confused

B. designed

C. developed

D. separated

20. The Government rejected the Opposition's request to debate unemployment.

A.  compromise

B.  manuscript

С   petition

D.  budget.

 

 

Теsт №4

 Из четырех предложенных вариантов выберите единственно правильный.

 

1. After her famous husband's death, Eleanor Roosevelt continued... for peace.

A.  work

B.  working

С   the working

D.  to work

2. We had better... the schedule.

A. to check

B.     checking

С  check

D. checked

3. When they have enough money, Alan and... will return to school.

A she

B. her

С  herself

D. hers

4. Harvard... a school for men, but now it is coeducational.

A. was used

B. used to be

С was used to

D. was used to be

5. Jane always helps my brother and... with our home assignments.

A.  I

B.  me

С   myself

D.  mine

6. Jim is unemployed now, so he is looking for....

A. works

B. a work

C. job

D. a job

7. I would be glad to take a message for....

A.  she

B. her

С  hers

D. herself

8. It is generally known that an M.B.A. degree is a good preparation for a career in...

A.  a business

B. businesses

C.  business

D. one business

9. George had... when he first came to State University.

A. a good luck

B. good a luck

C. the good luck

D. good luck

10. This tea is... hot to drink.

A.  so

B.  such

С   much

D.  too

11. The line is busy, someone... the telephone now.

A. must use

B. must have used

С  must be using

D. must using

12. Last month we had a... high electric bill.

A. very

B. too

С  so

D.    such

13. George's values and mine are....

A.  similar

B.  like

С   same

D.  as well

 14. One of the least effective ways of storing information is learning...it.

A. how repeat

B. repeating

С  to repeat     

D. repeat

15. Many embarrassing situations occur... a misunderstanding.

A. for 

B. of

С because

D. because of

16. Tom and Peter are very successful; the former is a dentist, the... is a businessman.

A.  second

B.  last

С   latter

D.  latest

17. Television, radio, newspapers, and other kinds of mass... influence our emotional attitudes.

A.  medium

B.  media

C.  mean

D.  means

18. Judy doesn't look... her elder sister.

A.  like to

B.  like as

С   like

D. alike

19. In most American schools, sports are compulsory.

A.  free of charge

B.  required

С   excellent

D.  easy

20. Civil War in 1863 cut United States into Confederacy and Union.

A. severed

B. acknowledged

C. integrated

D. alienated.

 

 

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