To border, typhoons, to generalize, to vary, the seat, to occupy, Canada, to emerge from

1) The USA … a large area in the central part of the North American Continent.

2) The USA … on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south.

3) It’s impossible … about the weather and the landscape of the USA.

4) The Great Lakes on the border with … are the largest and the deepest in the USA.

5) The climate of the USA … greatly.

6) Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring ….

7) The USA… 13 British colonies located along the East Coast.

8) … of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC.

 

2. Answer the questions:

1) Can you describe the geographical position of the USA?

2) What are the total area and the population of the USA?

3) What is the climate of the USA like?

4) How can you characterize the natural resources of the country?

5) What nations are the Americans made up of?

6) What are the major cities of the USA?

7) What is the political system of the USA?

8) What are the branches of the US government?

 

3. Translate into English:

1) США находится в центральной части материка Северная Америка и омывается Тихим и Атлантическим океанами.

2) США граничит с Канадой, Мексикой и Россией.

3) Климат в стране разнообразный – от арктического до континентального и субтропического.

4) США – высокоразвитая промышленная и аграрная страна с обширными природными ресурсами.

5) США состоит из 50 штатов и округа Колумбия.

6) Законодательная власть США, или Конгресс, состоит из Палаты представителей и Сената.

 

4. Do you know any famous American historical figures? Choose a personality and be ready to tell the class about him/her.

 

5. In pairs or small groups, plan your sightseeing tour of the United States.

ADDITIONAL READING ACTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL READING 1

Read the following text and be ready to retell it according to your own plan:

The British, Their Customs and Traditions

It’s a well-known fact that the English, the Welsh, the Scottish and the Irish live in the United Kingdom. But these four nations have their own character and way of life. They say that the Irish are great talkers and very religious, the Scots are serious, cautious and thrifty people, and the Welsh are great singers and dancers. The English are often thought to be cold, aristocratic, suspicious of changes and slow to accept new ideas. But the British also have some common values and beliefs. They are conservative, they love animals and nature, they value privacy and they are always talking about the weather.

One of the most widespread values among British people is their love for animals. There is a pet in every second house in the country. There are special hospitals which treat injured wild animals. Cruelty to animals is a criminal offence. Moreover there are thousands of graveyards for animals of any kind in Britain.

The British value their right to privacy both in their own house and in everyday life. It is rude to ask other people about their salary and their family or sex life unless you know them very well. That is why the British often talk about the weather as it is a very convenient topic to “fill the gap” in any conversation.

Everybody knows that Britain is a “land of tradition” and British people carefully follow their old customs and traditions. The best examples are their queen, money system, their weights and measures. The British didn’t change their system of currency and they use non-metric system of measurement (for example, mile (=1.609 km), yard (=91.44 cm), foot (=30.48 cm) and inch (=2.54 cm); pint (=568 ml), pound (=453.59237 gram).

They also drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Some ceremonies are traditional, such as the ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London (this ceremony is 700 years old and it takes place every night), the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Trooping the Colour (this spectacular ceremony takes place on the Queen’s ‘official’ birthday on the second Saturday in June) or the annual ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament (is one of the most fascinating ceremonies that takes place every year in November).

More than that, there are many traditions that have become part of British everyday life. British mail boxes, telephone boxes and double-decked buses are traditionally red. On Sundays letters are not delivered, all theatres are closed and only a few Sunday papers are published. There are also some traditions concerning food. English cooking is heavy and substantial. The traditional English breakfast consists of porridge or cornflakes with milk or cream, bacon and eggs, jam or marmalade with buttered toast, tea or coffee. But nowadays more and more people prefer a continental breakfast consisting of rolls and butter and a cup of coffee to start a day.

Tea drinking is a special page in English life. The British are the world’s greatest tea drinkers. They drink a quarter of all the tea grown in the world each year. They say “If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are hot, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you up. If you are excited, it will calm you”.

Today the British are becoming more adventurous in their cooking and eating habits thanks to numerous immigrants from all over the world. Chinese, Indian and Pakistani restaurants are very popular in the country.

Great Britain is full of customs and traditions which enrich the lives of the British and make them feel proud of their country, its history and culture.

 

1. Make a list of new words and study them.

 

2. Can you give any interesting information about Belarusian customs and traditions?

 

ADDITIONAL READING 2

Read the text and be ready to discuss the English character:

The English

What is characteristic of the English way of life? First, the English, and the British on the whole, are very faithful to their traditions. The Briton likes to go through his ancient ceremonies as he has always performed them feeling that he is keeping faith with his ancestors.

As to the English character, one often hears of the Englishman’s ‘reserve’, how he likes to keep himself; and how on a long railway journey with four Englishmen in the carriage, often there won’t be a word spoken during the whole journey. The Englishman thinks it is a bad manner to ask personal questions. English people love privacy.

The English like their home. There’s no place like home, they say, “The Englishman’s home is his castle”, is a saying known all over the world; and it’s true that English people prefer small houses built to house one family, perhaps with a small garden. The fire is the focus of the English home. What do other nations sit around? The answer is they don’t. They go out to cafes or cocktail bars. For the English it is the open fire and the ceremony of English tea. Traditionally tea is served with milk, and the tea hour (the famous “five o’clock”) in England has become a ritual. This ritual is of greatest importance, oh yes! Tea, hot and strong, on all occasions and from morning till night. Tea for breakfast to stimulate you for the day’s work, tea for lunch to keep out the cold, tea – several cups– in the afternoon to cheer you up, and tea at night to send you to sleep.

Another thing – they like the Nature, the fields, the forest, the parks, the animals, the birds. The everyday outdoor exercise – a constitutional –is a must, too. They go out for a walk in all weather, and they are fond of picnicking.

The English are a funny lot, a very peculiar lot of people. They have fixed ideas about clothes and other things. They prefer in everything not the new but the good quality. They don’t like the brand-new, in fact everything that looks bought yesterday. The British hate too much order in their streets, and they hate too much order in their thoughts. They don’t like theories and systems. You may criticize everything and everybody in England, they accept criticism easily, and they do not take it seriously. Snobbery is not so common in England today as it was at the beginning of the century. It still exists, however. The popular English newspapers know that their readers are snobs and that’s why papers give a lot of unimportant and useless information.

The English are disciplined. They sit out with angelic patience, sometimes under heavy rain or the whole night long till morning, forming large queues for theatres and cinemas, or even at a bus stop. Why sit though? Why not stand? Because for long queuing they bring their camp-stools, a bag of sandwiches, or some fruit. Some like reading books or writing letters while queuing.

Then, the English like punctuality. If an Englishman invites you for dinner at eight, he does not mean half past nine, he means eight. Do not bow and never shake hands with anyone. When a lady comes into a room where there are a number of gentlemen, these will have to get up and will not sit down again until she has sat down herself. The habit of helping each other into overcoats is not compulsory in England, especially not with men who very often do not wear a coat at all, even in winter.

All invitations to parties, dinners, weddings, etc. have to be directed to the wives, or wives and husbands together, never to the husband alone. They are usually written by the hostess. The guests don’t take flowers to the hostess, and this is one of the reasons why there are not many flower shops in English towns. Whenever you have spent a night or a weekend in somebody else’s house in England, you have to write a letter, if possible at once when you get back. It would be considered very bad manners not to observe this custom – even if you haven’t enjoyed yourself at all!

Then, the English people, both young and old, love sports, all kinds of sports, they are born sportsmen. They say they have it in the blood. So whenever you start a conversation in England you inevitably get around to two subjects – the weather and sport, which are as much part of English life as roast beef and the Houses of Parliament. Most of the popular games have originated from this country: football, tennis, badminton and others. The most popular games in England today are football, that is soccer or rugby, and cricket.

And last, the English are conservative, first of all on a large scale which their attitude to the monarchy typifies. But England is full of small-scale and local conservatisms. Regiments, schools, clubs and societies, which the English especially like, have their own traditions, and such groups don’t like to change their traditions which, as they think, differentiate them, as groups, from the rest of the world.

 

Answer the questions:

1. Why are the English so faithful to their traditions?

2. Do the English like to ask personal questions?

3. What houses do English people prefer and why?

4. What is the chief thing in the English home?

5. What ritual is of greatest importance for the English?

6. Which do the English like in everything – the new or the good quality?

7. Are the English snobs?

8. What proves that the English are disciplined?

9. Do they observe the habit of helping each other into overcoats in England?

10. If an English family is going to give a party, who of the family usually writes the invitations and to whom are the letters of invitation directed?

11. What is one of the reasons that there are not many flower shops in British towns?

12. Why is it important to write a letter after a stay in somebody else’s house in England?

13. What are the most popular subjects of conversation in Britain?

14. What are the most popular games in England?

15. What facts prove that England is full of small-scale and local conservatisms?

ADDITIONAL READING 3

Translate the text in written form:

The English Way

When we arrived in London the day was fine and warm. After a short rest we went to see the city.

The traffic regulations in Great Britain differ from those in Belarus and other countries; we are to keep to the right, but in the streets of London you are to keep to the left. The streets of London are very interesting. In some parts of it they look very much alike, as the houses are the same in style. And sometimes the same street may have different names. For example – Grosvenor Street at Hyde Park is no longer Grosvenor Street a little farther, but Grosvenor Road. In the oldest part of London many streets are quite narrow and have strange names, as White Horse Street, Milk Street, and Honey Lane.

The houses are not very big; they are mostly two-storied buildings with as many doors and as many little gardens as there are lodgers in the house. On the first, or ground floor there are usually two rooms, and on the second, or upper floor, also two. In the bigger of the lower rooms the family cooks meals, eats and lives. It’s a kitchen, or a living-room. On the upper floor they usually have bedrooms. Imagine how surprised we were to see the windows of one and the same house painted in different colours. And not only the windows. Whole parts of houses are in different colours, that is, doors, steps and walls.

“What is the idea of painting houses in this way?” I asked.

“We don’t notice such things. We are used to them. Everybody paints his own part of the house in the colour he likes best”, was the answer.

In many houses windows are different from ours. To open such windows, you have to raise or to lower them. One may ask why they have such kinds of windows. The thing is that the winds in England often become very strong and may easily break windows of the kind we have.

Though central heating is found in many houses of London you may often see a fireplace in English houses. I asked my English friend, “Why must you have open fires in the houses?” He laughed and said, “What shall we do without them in the evenings?” This was, of course, a joke but it helped me to understand the whole thing. The fireplace is a symbol of a happy family life in this country. Englishmen like to sit in the evening round the fire. It’s a tradition.

The next day was Sunday. Sunday is a very quiet day in London. Most shops are closed and so are the theatres and most of cinemas. Londoners like to get out of town on Sundays. There are thousands of cars on the roads into the country. The south coast is only 50 or 60 miles away and people like to go down to the sea for the day. Our English friends took us to Brighton. We enjoyed the journey but not the swimming because the water was very cold.

The English certainly have many traditions, manners and customs of which they can be proud, and English humour is one of them. It is ironical, often directed against oneself in a self-critical way.

Obraztsov, the Russian actor, observed the English type of humour very carefully, telling the following little story as an illustration: “While I was in England, I always took my camera with me and I tried to take shots of everything I saw, particularly everyday life. One day I went to Petticoat Lane. One of the passengers in the bus was gaily telling us about this market as a place known for a long time for its thieves. Once when a woman came out of the market she had been offered her own petticoat at a low price, the very same petticoat that she had been wearing when she came into the market. They say that the word ‘Petticoat’ in the name of the market is explained by this fact. Well, the conductor appeared to be paying no attention to our conversation and was whistling some tune. The bus came to a stop at the market. The gay passenger shouted: ‘Good luck! You’ll have something to photograph, in the market alright!’ And the conductor added, ‘If you’ve still got your camera’.

 

Answer the questions:

1. In which way are the traffic regulations in the United Kingdom different from those in Belarus?

2. Can you remember any streets of London which have strange names? Are there any in Minsk or in your native town?

3. What does a British house look like?

4. Why do you see a fireplace in almost every British house?

5. What do Londoners usually do on Sundays?

 

ADDITIONAL READING 4

Read the text and give your comments on the peculiar features of the British, the Americans and the Belarusians:

British and American Character

One often hears of the Englishman’s reserve; how he likes to “keep himself”. That is not the case in America. The Englishman thinks it is ill-mannered to ask personal questions. The American prefers sociability.

The Englishman’s suburban house has its little garden with a hedge or a fence all round it to separate him from his neighbours. – “The Englishman’s home is his castle”. The American houses have no hedges or fences. There is generally just a strip of grass with trees on it. The American in his home doesn’t object to being seen by everyone – he actually likes it. And inside the house, instead of the separate hall, living-room so typical of the English house, the American has the “open plan” house, just one large room where all the family activities (usually noisy) go on, with, perhaps, a “dining corner” or a “kitchen-breakfast-room”.

With this sociability goes overwhelming hospitality. You get taken to parties at the houses of your friends and of your friends’ friends; you are invited to theatres, dinners, sports meetings, motor trips; from the first minute you are on “first name” terms with the people you meet; they all show the keenest interest in your affairs and ask you to let them know if they can help you. And no one strikes up acquaintance sooner than the Americans do, but it’s really hard to make a real friendship.

Americans like new things. In general they love change; they call it “the spirit of adventure”. They like to change homes and jobs, those who have them and can afford a change of course. America is a nation on wheels, and you have a feeling that the American man thinks longer and more earnestly about choosing his car than choosing his wife.

 

Make up your own questions to the text.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 5

Read the following text and think about some more interesting information concerning the United Kingdom:

Some Interesting Facts about Britain

- London was born hundreds of years ago. Here, on the banks of the Thames, was a small settlement named Llyn-din, which means a lonely port. To this place, in the year 55 B.C., Julius Caesar came from Rome.

- The ancient stones of the House of Commons, if they could speak, would tell us many interesting things about the first Norman parliament. They would tell us about Oliver Cromwell who was installed here as Lord Protector.

- This is Whitehall. Once there used to be a palace here, the White Hall, where from the 12^th to the 16^th century, English kings and queens lived. Now it is just a street of government offices.

- The first section of the London Underground – and the first underground railway in the world – was opened by the Metropolitan railway on January 10, 1863. What kind of trains were operated on it? Of course, you are right – the trains were stream-hauled.

- Tea is the most important of English drinks. But it is a relative late-comer to the British shores. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium B.C. in China, it was not until the mid 17^th century that the drink first appeared in Britain. Curiously, it was the London coffee houses that were responsible for introducing tea to England.

 

Find the necessary information to complete the sentences:

1. Once there used to be a palace here, the White Hall, where from the … century, English kings and queens lived.

2. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the … millennium B.C. in China, it was not until the mid … century that the drink first appeared in Britain.

3. To this place, in the year … B.C., Julius Caesar came from Rome.

4. The ancient stones of the …, if they could speak, would tell us many interesting things about the first Norman Parliament.

5. The first section of the London Underground – and the first underground railway in the world – was opened by the Metropolitan railway on ….

 

ADDITIONAL READING 6

Read the text about well-known British castles and prepare the presentations describing the famous castles in Belarus:

Castles in Britain

Castles have always played an important military, economic and social role in Great Britain and Ireland. The word “castle” comes from a Latin word meaning “fortress”. There are thousands of castles in the UK and millions of tourists visit them every year. Spectacularly situated, packed with history and scattered throughout the land, Britain’s castles can interest anybody. Look at some of the most famous castles on the territory of the UK.

The Tower of London is one of the world’s major tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting over two million visitors a year from all over the world. In the early 1080s, William the Conqueror began to build a massive stone tower in the centre of his London fortress. As a royal palace, fortress, prison, place of torture and execution, armoury, Royal Mint, royal zoo and jewel house, the Tower of London has witnessed many great events in British history. The Tower is perhaps most well known today for keeping the greatest working collection of the Crown Jewels in the world. What’s more, with amazing architecture, world-famous Beefeaters, the ravens, spectacular royal armour and plenty of exhibitions and activities, it provides an unforgettable day out for everyone.

Situated on the outskirts of London, Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest castle in the world that is still lived in. William the Conqueror built the castle in 1080 and it has remained a royal palace and fortress for over 900 years. The castle includes the 15^th-century St. George’s Chapel, one of the most beautiful examples of medieval church architecture in England. The chapel is the official home of the Order of the Garter.

Warwick Castle is situated on a rocky cliff above the River Avon. It is a magnificent 14^th-century fortress and the finest medieval castle in England which is surrounded by gardens, lawns, and woodland where peacocks walk freely. Centuries ago the castle was the home of the powerful Earls of Warwick. Now it belongs to the company that also owns Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London.

Edinburgh Castle is in the heart of the Scottish capital. It is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. It is visited by over one million people every year. Tourists visit the Castle not only because of the historical interest of this amazing fortress but because it offers splendid panoramic views of the city. It was the seat of the Scottish kings, and the historical apartments include the Great Hall, where an interesting collection of weapons and armour is kept now. Edinburgh Castle is also the home of the One O’Clock Gun. It is fired every day except Sunday at 1.00 pm for everyone to check their clocks and watches. Every August the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an international festival of military bands, takes place at the walls of the Castle.

Balmoral Castle is the private residence of The Queen in Scotland. It is a favourite residence for The Queen and her family during the summer holiday period in August and September. 85,000 people visit Balmoral Castle each year.

Caernarfon Castle is possibly the most famous castle in Wales. It was built in 1283 not only as a military fortress but also as a seat of the government and a royal palace. In 1969 the castle became known all over the world as the place where a magnificent ceremony of the coronation of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales took place.

VOCABULARY

to scatter рассыпать, разбрасывать

heritage наследие

witness свидетель

to provide обеспечивать, давать

the Order of Garter Орден Подвязки

band оркестр

mint монетный двор

 

1. In which paragraph of the article is the following information mentioned?

· the biggest inhabited castle in the world

· a former home of a nobleman

· a home of a great festival

· a very important event occurred there

· the origin of a word

· great treasure is kept there

· the royal family like to spend their holiday there

 

2. True or false? If the sentence is false, put it right.

1. The word “castle” comes from a Greek word meaning “palace”.

2. Warwick Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting over two million visitors a year from all over the world.

3. The ceremony of the coronation of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales took place in the Tower of London.

4. Every August the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place at the walls of Balmoral Castle.

5. The Great Hall with an interesting collection of weapons and armour is in Edinburgh Castle.

6. St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle is the official home of the Crown Jewels.

7. Nobody lives in Windsor Castle anymore.

8. The One O’Clock Gun in Edinburgh Castle is fired every day at 1.00 pm for everyone to check their clocks and watches.

 

3. Answer the following questions:

1. How many castles are there in Great Britain?

2. What major event takes place at the walls of Edinburgh Castle every August?

3. Why is Caernarfon Castle famous all over the world?

4. How many people visit Balmoral Castle every year?

5. Where are the Crown Jewels kept?

6. What is St. George’s Chapel famous for?

7. Which castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

 

ADDITIONAL READING 7

Read the text and say what interesting information you have learnt:

Cultural Background of the USA

American culture is a Western culture, with influences from Europe, the native American people, African Americans and groups of immigrants. The United States is traditionally known as a melting pot, with the trend toward cultural diversity. Due to the extent of American culture there are many integrated subcultures within the United States.

The citizens and many other residents of the United States refer to themselves and each other as Americans, and their country as the United States or as America. Non-Hispanic Americans understand, and may say, the Americas with the meaning of the two major continents of the Western hemisphere, but generally will resist using America in that sense. While to many foreigners Yankee is synonymous with the American people, the Americans almost always use the term for the sports teams, or with reference to those living in the northeastern US in contrast to Southerners. The major exception to that is Americans’ occasional ironic usage of Yankee, or especially Yank construed by the Americans as the British usage.

Where did the word Yankee come from? Although there are many different theories, nobody really knows. Whatever its origin, the term was used in colonial times by New Yorkers and by British soldiers to refer jokingly to the people of New England (now the six states between New York State and the Canadian border). During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the New Englanders adopted the term; they have used it ever since, with great pride, to refer to themselves.

About half of the Americans live in what is known as the suburbs, or belts around major cities. The suburban nuclear family is identified as part of the ‘American dream’: a married couple with children owning a house in the suburbs. One of the biggest differences in suburban living is the housing occupied by the families. The suburbs are filled with single-family houses, which are usually one or two stories tall, separated from retail districts, industrial areas, and sometimes even public schools.

Variations in the traditions occur due to class, racial, ethnic, religious, regional and other groups of people.

 

Find the additional information about the American culture and produce your own projects on the topic.

UNIT 6 Festivals and Celebrations in Great Britain and                                      the United States of America

Vocabulary

bank holidays

public holidays

international

national

local

religious

to observe

to celebrate

to commemorate

to honour

to decorate

occasion

to preserve a tradition

parade

to give presents

the Christmas pudding

carol services

roast turkey

wrapped in

crackers

dessert

to be broadcast

to be named after

employers

fireworks

Hogmanay

household

fairs

to enrich

to perform

performer

performance

to showcase

Military Tattoo

carnival

inspiration

to have bonfires

trooping the colour

Listening Activities

Listen to the text and be ready to answer the questions:

1. How many public holidays are there in Great Britain?

2. Which holiday is celebrated by most people in the UK?

3. Why is the day after Christmas called Boxing Day?

4. When is it traditional to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’?

5. What do people give each other on Easter?

6. When are there many sports meetings, horse races and large fairs in Britain?

7. What other events do people in Britain celebrate?

 

Pre-reading Exercises:

1. Practice saying the following words:

Religious, mistletoe, wrapped, dessert, Hogmanay, resurrection, fair, referred to, Auld Lang Syne, Norwegian, throughout.

 

2. Match the English words with their Russian equivalents:

1. mistletoe                                 a. фарш, начинка

2. holly                                       b. брюссельская капуста

3. ivy                                          c. инсценировка евангельской легенды

4. а nativity play                        d. омела белая

5. parsnip                                   e. плющ

6. stuffing                                   f. остролист

7. Brussels sprouts                              g. остатки еды

8. leftovers                                  h. пастернак

9. New Year’s resolutions          i. воскрешение

10. to chime                                         j. принимать гостей

11. to host                                  k. звонить, отбивать

12. resurrection                           l. новогодние обещания

 

3. Read these expressions and find their English equivalents in the text:

обычно называют (обычно относят к), представил концепцию, действует и сегодня, подаётся обед, густой десерт, транслируется обращение, обещая избавиться от плохой привычки, первый след (первый гость), проводят время на свежем воздухе.

Reading Activities

Read the text and get ready to speak on the topic “Public holidays in the United Kingdom”:

 

Public holidays in the UK are commonly referred to as bank holidays. As the UK is a country made of four regions, official holidays in the UK depend on if you are in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. In 1871, Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act, it indicated the concept of holidays with pay. The move was such a popular one that there were even suggestions that August Bank Holiday should be called St Lubbock’s day.

The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, is in force today and there are eight bank holidays in England and Wales: New Year’s Day (January, 1), Good Friday (March or April), Easter Monday (March or April), Early May bank holiday – May Day (not necessarily May, 1), Spring bank holiday (at the end of May), Late Summer bank holiday (at the end of August), Christmas Day (December, 25) and Boxing Day (December, 26); nine – in Scotland (St Andrew’s Day – November, 30); ten – in Northern Ireland. When the usual date of a bank or public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a ‘substitute day’ is given, normally, the following Monday. Once upon a time everything shut on a bank holiday: offices, banks, shops, but nowadays many offices and shops remain open, only banks are not allowed to operate on bank holidays. The only day when most shops close in the UK is Christmas Day.

Christmas: December, 25. Most people in the UK celebrate Christmas, even if they are not religious. Christmas is a family holiday and everyone decorates their houses with mistletoe, holly, ivy and colorful lights. Christmas trees can be found in many city centres, with the most famous being the Norwegian tree in Trafalgar Square, London. Christmas carol services and nativity plays are popular. On Christmas Day, a special Christmas dinner or lunch is served during the middle of the day. The menu usually stays pretty traditional – roast turkey; potatoes and other vegetables such as carrots and parsnips; stuffing; puddings; gravy; mini sausages wrapped in bacon; and Brussels sprouts. Before the food is served, the breaking of the Christmas crackers is the usual tradition. Inside these wrapped tubes are paper crowns, small gift items and usually a joke. Following the meal is the Christmas pudding. A hot, dense dessert similar to a fruitcake, Christmas pudding often contains a variety of dried fruits and a sticky texture. Brandy is sometimes poured over it.

Later in the day, the Queen’s Christmas message is broadcast on television and radio throughout England, the UK and the Commonwealth.

Boxing Day: December, 26. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. It’s believed to have been named after the ‘Christmas box’ of money or gifts which employers used to give to servants and tradesmen. Today people give each other presents in boxes on this day. Most people spend the day with their families, going for a walk, watching sports or eating the Christmas leftovers.

On New Year’s Eve (December, 31), it is traditional to celebrate midnight with friends or family and to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, a folk song with words by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The party can last well into New Year’s Day (January, 1). In England, the largest celebrations take place in London, with fireworks exploding over the London Eye at midnight. Big Ben chimes at this time to literally ring in the New Year. Most of the crowds in London are gathered at Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square. Many people make ‘New Year’s resolutions’, promising to achieve a goal or break a bad habit in the coming year. But not all people celebrate the New Year in England; some ignore it completely and go to bed at the same time as usual.

In Scotland, the celebration of the New Year is called Hogmanay. There are big parties across the country with lots of music, dancing, food and fireworks – but Edinburgh hosts some of the biggest. “First footing” is considered very important. The first person to enter the house when New Year has begun must be a man, never a woman, and he must be dark-haired or with eyebrows which meet in the middle. Ideally he should be carrying a piece of coal, bread, and money or salt; these ensure that the household will enjoy warmth, food and wealth in the coming year.

Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is always on a Sunday in March or April (called Easter Sunday), the previous Friday (Good Friday) and following Monday (Easter Monday) are bank holidays. People celebrate Easter in different ways, but many give each other chocolate eggs and eat ‘hot cross buns’ (sweet buns with a cross design), while children decorate eggs or take part in Easter egg hunts. On the afternoon of Easter Sunday the famous Easter Parade can be seen in Battersea Park in London.

There are two Mondays in May and one Monday at the end of August when people have the day off work or school and spend some time outdoors enjoying sunshine. In spite of the terrible British weather, many people use bank holidays to go away for a long weekend. This means that the museums and other public attractions: historic houses, zoos, sports centres, etc. remain open. Many families have picnics. There are many sports meetings, horse races and large fairs with swings, roundabouts, a Punch and Judy show.

There are many more events across the UK, throughout the year. Though they are not days off, many people celebrate them. Halloween (October, 31), Bonfire Night (November, 5), St. Valentine’s Day (February, 14), St. Patrons’ Days, Notting Hill Carnival, etc. are popular with the public.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. Official holidays in the UK don’t depend on if you are in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. 2. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971, is not in force any more. 3. There are ten bank holidays in England and Wales. 4. There are eight public holidays in England: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day (not necessarily May, 1), Kalyady, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. 5. Nowadays everything is shut on a bank holiday: offices, banks, shops. 6. Christmas is celebrated only by religious families in the UK. 7. Normally the British don’t expect guests for Christmas, but celebrate it with their family. 8. The menu of a special Christmas dinner or lunch usually stays pretty traditional. 9. The day after Christmas is called “Eating leftovers day”. 10. Not all people celebrate the New Year in England; some ignore it completely and go to bed at the same time as usual. 11. Most of the crowds in London are gathered at Victory Circus or Times Square. 12. In Scotland, the celebration of the New Year is called Hogmanay. 13. Ideally the first person to enter the house when New Year has begun should be carrying a bottle of whisky, bread, and a postcard. 14. Easter is celebrated for four days in Britain. 15. Many people decorate eggs or take part in Easter bunnies hunts. 16. There are two Mondays in May and one Monday at the end of August when people have the day off work or school and spend some time indoors enjoying computer games and local TV shows. 17. The British celebrate many more cultural events though they are not days off.

 

2. Put the right prepositions where necessary:

1. Official holidays in the UK depend … if you are in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. 2. Everyone decorates their houses … mistletoe, holly, ivy and colorful lights. 3. … Christmas Day, a special Christmas dinner or lunch is served during the middle … the day. 4. The Queen’s Christmas message is broadcast … television and radio … England, the UK and the Commonwealth. 5. It’s believed to have been named … the ‘Christmas box’ of money or gifts. 6. … England, the largest celebrations take place in London, with fireworks exploding … the London Eye … midnight. 7. People celebrate Easter … different ways. 8. There are two Mondays … May and one Monday … the end … August when people have the day off work or school. 9. There are many more events … the UK, … the year. 10. Halloween, Bonfire Night, St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrons’ Days, Notting Hill Carnival, etc. are popular … the public.

 

3. Prove that:

- No new permanent public holidays have been introduced in the UK since the 1970s.

- Christmas Day is the most popular public holiday in the UK.

- There are some unique features in the holiday celebrations in the UK, which you can’t see anywhere else.

- There are many festivals and celebrations across the UK throughout the year.

 

4. Work with a partner. Compare the ways of celebrating public holidays in Belarus and Britain.

 

ADDITIONAL READING AСTIVITIES

ADDITIONAL READING 1

Read the text about the West Indian Carnival, complete the exercise which follows, then translate it in written form:

Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival is a street carnival in the Notting Hill district of London. The carnival has been in existence since 1966 and takes place on the last weekend in August. It was the inspiration of black immigrants from the Caribbean particularly from Trinidad, where a great pre-Lenten carnival has been held for many decades. From simple beginnings, it has developed into a huge multicultural arts festival attended by up to two million people. Following the tradition of the Trinidadian carnival, great emphasis is placed on fantastic costume displays and steel drum music. Calypso songs and soca (a mixture of soul and calypso) are also essential elements in the festivities. In addition to the lively procession of costume, soca, and steel bands which winds its way over a route of some 7.5 km of the area, the festival also plays host to other musicians playing reggae and hip hop, as well as hundreds of street stalls selling exotic foods and crafts from all parts of the world.

 

Choose the correct alternative according to the text:

1. In 1966:

a. The first festival was held.

b. The festival became popular.

c. The Notting Hill district in London appeared.

2. The carnival:

a. Is over on the last weekend of August.

b. Lasts for a week in August.

c. Is held on the last weekend of August.

3. The most important part of this festival is:

a. Selling souvenirs.

b. Costume display and music.

c. Selling exotic foods.

4. Besides food, one can buy:

a. A small boat.

b. Some hand-made things created in different countries

c. Exotic flowers.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 2

Read the following texts to learn about Henry Wood Promenade Concerts and the Eisteddfod, complete the exercises:

Henry Wood Promenade Concerts

Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, or popularly known as The Proms, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts. It is held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London and it presents solo recitals, operas, symphonies, chamber music, and popular music to enormous audiences.

The idea for the series came from France, where “promenade concerts” – in other words, concerts with strolling around and socializing – were very popular. The series is named after Henry Wood, a pianist and singing teacher who served as a conductor at the Proms for 46 years and who is credited with establishing its first permanent orchestra, introducing young and aspiring musicians to the public, and attracting the primarily youthful crowd that attends the Proms every year.

The first Proms concert took place on August 10, 1895 and was the brainchild of the impresario Robert Newman, manager of the newly built Queen’s Hall in London. Newman arranged to meet Henry Wood at Queen’s Hall one spring morning in 1894 to talk about the project. “I am going to run nightly concerts to train the public in easy stages”, he explained. “Popular at first, gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music”. In February 1895 Newman offered Wood conductorship of a permanent orchestra at Queen’s Hall, and of the first Proms season.

Wood and Newman were keen to introduce audiences to an ever wider range of music. In the first seasons, a tradition was established of a Wagner Night on Mondays and a Beethoven Night on Fridays. Henry Wood continued to present an enterprising mixture of the familiar and the adventurous, programming new works each season (referred to as ‘novelties’). He also promoted young, talented performers. By 1920 Wood had introduced to the Proms many of the leading composers of the day, including Richard Strauss, Debussy, Rakhmaninov, Ravel and Vaughan Williams.

Although the scope of the Proms has increased enormously since 1895, Henry Wood’s concept for the season remains largely unaltered: to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences. The BBC Proms continues to welcome leading international performers whilst showcasing the best of the British music scene, including the BBC’s own orchestras and choirs. And promenading in the Royal Albert Hall’s arena continues to be a central feature, lending the Proms its unique, informal atmosphere.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Select the correct answer (multiple choice):

1. Henry Wood Promenade Concerts is an eight-week summer season of …

a. modern pop music.

b. daily orchestral classical music concerts.

c. theatrical performances.

2. The series is named after Henry Wood, who was …

a. a pianist and singing teacher.

b. an outstanding British composer.

c. an owner of the BBC orchestra

3. The first Proms concert took place on August 10 in

a. 1920.

b. 1894.

c. 1895.

 

4. The Proms are held annually predominantly …

a. in Queen’s Hall in London.

b. in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

c. on Channel BBC1.

5. Henry Wood had introduced to the Proms many of the leading composers of the day, including

a. Bach, Mozart and Debussy

b. Glinka, Beethoven, Wagner and Ravel

c. Richard Strauss, Debussy, Rakhmaninov, Ravel and Vaughan Williams.

 

2. Speak on one of the following points:

1. Explain what a “promenade concert” is.

2. Henry Wood, a father of the Proms.

3. The history of the Proms in Britain.

4. The Proms concert programmes.

Wales’ Great Bardic Festival

Perhaps no country in the world has a greater love of music and poetry than the people of Wales. This country is often referred to as “the land of song”, and is notable for its harpists, male choirs, and solo artists. You could hardly find a town in Wales, however small, that hasn’t a choir. The choir will gather almost every night for practice, for they are preparing for the Eisteddfod – the principal Welsh festival of music and poetry.

The National Eisteddfod is traditionally held in the first week of August and the competitions are in the Welsh language. This ancient festival of music, singing and the spoken word has a virtually continuous heritage, dating all the way back to 1176. That was when Lord Rhys of Cardigan Castle invited poets and musicians from all over the country to compete for a chair at his high table. But the Eisteddfod held in 1176 wasn’t the grand, public, national event that the Royal National Eisteddfod is today.

The festival has a quasi-druidic flavour, with the main literary prizes for poetry and prose being awarded in colourful and dramatic ceremonies under the auspices of the Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain. However, the Gorsedd is not an ancient institution or a pagan ceremony but rather a romantic creation by Iolo Morganwg in the 1790s. He also invented a whole range of symbolic pageantry, including the use of a mini stonehenge, a sword and a horn, and a graded hierarchy of bards. Nevertheless, the ceremony is taken very seriously, and an award of a crown or a chair for poetry is a great honour. The Chairing and Crowning ceremonies are the highlights of the week, and are presided over by the Archdruid.

If no stone circle is there already, one is created out of Gorsedd stones, usually taken from the local area. These stone circles are icons all across Wales and signify the Eisteddfod having visited a community. The fact that the Eisteddfod moves from North to South Wales from town to town each year gives people from over the country the opportunity at some time in their lives to attend the event. The venue for each National Eisteddfod is officially proclaimed a year in advance, at which time the themes and texts for the competitions are published. The organization for the location will have begun a year or more earlier, and locations are generally known two or three years ahead.

One of the most dramatic events in Eisteddfod history was the award of the 1917 chair to the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans, bardic name Hedd Wyn, for the poem YrArwr (The Hero). The winner was announced, and the crowd waited for the winner to stand up to accept the traditional congratulations before the chairing ceremony, but no winner appeared. It was then announced that Hedd Wyn had been killed the previous month on the battlefield in Belgium. These events were portrayed in the Academy Award nominated film Hedd Wyn. The 1940 Eisteddfod was not held in the traditional sense, due to fears that it would become the target of bombing during the Second World War. Instead, an Eisteddfod Radio programme was aired on the BBC and the Chair, Crown and a Literature Medal (as opposed to the usual Prose Medal) were awarded.

There is little doubt that events like the National Eisteddfod and the myriad of smaller eisteddfods throughout Wales play an important part in maintaining the traditions of Welsh culture and in promoting their further development. After all, when the English talk of “the National” they mean a horserace, but when the Welsh talk of “the National” they mean a festival of arts.

 

Post-reading Activities

1. Do you think the following statements are true or false? Discuss your answers in pairs:

1. Wales is often referred to as “the land of song”.

2. You can’t find a town in Wales, however small, that hasn’t a choir.

3. The Eisteddfod is the principal Welsh festival of music, and it is traditionally held in the first week of September each year.

4. This is a modern festival of music, which has a virtually continuous cultural heritage.

5. The festival has a quasi-druidic flavour, with the main literary prizes being awarded in colourful and dramatic ceremonies.

6. The ceremony isn’t taken very seriously, and an award of a crown or a chair for poetry is a great disappointment.

7. The venue for each National Eisteddfod is officially proclaimed a week in advance.

8. The 1940 Eisteddfod was not held in the traditional sense, because of bombing during the Second World War.

9. The National Eisteddfod plays an important part in maintaining the traditions of Welsh culture and in promoting their further development.

 

2. Make a plan of the text “Wales’ Great Bardic Festival”. Give a summary of the text, using the plan.

 

3. What musical festivals are held in Belarus? Speak about one of the Belarusian festivals; don’t forget to mention its date, venue, history, customs and traditions, and famous people who participated in its development.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 3

Read the following texts about two cultural events in Britain and fill in the table with key words and word combinations. Then skim the texts again and be ready to speak about one of the events using the vocabulary:

The Edinburgh Festival	a collective term for, take place in Edinburgh, international festival, festival Fringe, was established …
Guy Fawkes Day	bonfire, commemorating, gunpowder plot, conspirators, religious tolerance, to blow up…

The Edinburgh Festival

The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August.

The original and the largest component festivals are the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Edinburgh International Festival was established in 1947 in a post-war effort to “provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit” and enrich the cultural life of Scotland, Britain and Europe. The first Festival concentrated mainly on classical music. Nowadays the Edinburgh International Festival invites top performers of classical music, theatre, opera and dance from around the world.

The British Army’s desire to showcase itself at the Festival led to the first Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1950. This annual event has become an integral part of the official festival. Each August people can watch the magnificent Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which is performed by the British Armed Forces and international military bands.

The same year with the first Edinburgh International Festival, eight theatrical companies organized their own event, outside the official auspices of the Edinburgh International Festival; this movement grew into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Edinburgh Fringe is an alternative to the Edinburgh Festival. It showcases comedy and theatre; music and dance performances are also present. Nowadays the Fringe has grown to the world’s largest arts festival.

The other festivals which take place in collective festival celebrations are the Edinburgh International Festival for Books, Edinburgh Internet International Festival, Edinburgh Television International Festival, Edinburgh Blues and Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Festival for Interactive Entertainment, Edinburgh People’s Festival and the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Thousands of people come to Edinburgh every year and take part or witness these amazing festivals. There is something for everyone – art lovers, music lovers, bookworms.

Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes Day, also called Bonfire Night, is celebrated on November 5, commemorating the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The Gunpowder Plot conspirators were Roman Catholics enraged at King James I for refusing to grant greater religious tolerance to Catholics. They planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) during the state opening of Parliament, intending to kill the king and members of Parliament in order to clear the way to reestablishing Catholic rule in England. The plan failed when the conspirators were betrayed. One of them, Guy Fawkes, was taken into custody the evening before the attack, in the cellar where the explosives to be used were stashed. The other conspirators were all either killed resisting capture or – like Fawkes – tried, convicted, and executed. In the aftermath, Parliament declared November, 5 a national day of thanksgiving, and the first celebration of it took place in 1606.

Today Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom, and in a number of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, with parades, fireworks, bonfires, and food. Straw effigies of Fawkes are tossed on the bonfire, as are – in more recent years in some places – those of contemporary political figures. Traditionally, children carried these effigies, called “Guys,” through the streets in the days leading up to Guy Fawkes Day and asked passersby for “a penny for the guy”, often reciting rhymes associated with the occasion, the best known of which dates from the 18th century:

“Remember, remember, the fifth of November

Gunpowder treason and plot

We see no reason

Why Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot….”

Fireworks, a major component of most Guy Fawkes Day celebrations, represent the explosives that were never used by the plotters. Guards perform an annual search of the Parliament building to check for potential arsonists, although it is more ceremonial than serious. Lewes, in southeastern England, is the site of a celebration of Guy Fawkes Day that has a distinctly local flavour, involving six bonfire societies whose memberships are grounded in family history stretching back for generations.

 

ADDITIONAL READING 4

Pre-reading Exercises:

1. Make sure you know the Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions:

Colony / colonist, homeland, assimilate, blessing, harvest, settler / settlement, inhabit / inhabitant, declare, turkey, pumpkin, squash, cranberry sauce, fireplace mantel, stocking, cherub, bow and arrow, priest, prison, neighbor / neighbourhood, outrageous.

 

2. What’s the English for the following words and word combinations:

Праздник / праздновать, обычай / традиция, символ, праздничные украшения, поздравительные открытки, официальный праздник, парад, пикник, фейерверк, подарок / обмениваться подарками, предпочитать, праздничный обед, подготовка к празднику, праздничные представления (мероприятия), карнавальный костюм, вечеринка / проводить вечеринку.

 

3. Answer the questions with a partner before you read the texts below:

1. Do the American holidays have a long history and ancient tradition of celebrating?

2. What are the most important holidays in America?

3. What is the most popular dish for almost all American celebrations?

4. Do you know the American traditions of celebrating Christmas / Halloween / Thanksgiving Day?

 

Read the text and get ready to speak about the most popular American Holidays:

Popular American Holidays

American holidays are different in origin. The early colonists brought with them from England, Holland, France, Germany and many other countries the holiday customs of their homelands. These old-world traditions, transplanted to the new-world soil, gradually assimilated a character more or less unique to the various regions of the USA. Most of the American holidays represent native developments. Some holidays are of religious origin, some are connected with American history.

Thanksgiving Day. Almost every culture in the world has held celebrations of thanks for a plentiful harvest. In the United States, Thanksgiving is a time for tradition and sharing. People gather with family and friends on the fourth Thursday in November to enjoy a traditional meal and to give thanks for life’s many blessings.

The American Thanksgiving holiday began as a feast of thanks in the early days of the British colonies in America, almost four hundred years ago. In 1620 a ship named the “Mayflower”, filled with more than one hundred people, left England and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. Their first year in the new settlement was very difficult. Perhaps the entire colony would have perished if they had not received help and training from the native inhabitants, the Indians. After the Civil War, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving day. Now it is a federal legal holiday, giving most people a four-day vacation from work and school.

Turkey, corn, pumpkins, squash, nuts, and cranberry sauce are symbols that represent the first Thanksgiving. These symbols, as well as depictions of Pilgrims and the Mayflower, are found on holiday decorations and greeting cards.

 

Answer the questions to the text “Thanksgiving Day”:

1. When do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

2. Is Thanksgiving Day celebrated in a family circle or as a big social event?

3. Speak on the history of Thanksgiving.

4. What are the traditional symbols of Thanksgiving?

 

Independence Day. During the Revolutionary War the American settlers wanted to declare their independence from British rule. At that time the Second Continental Congress was acting as the central government of the first thirteen colonies. The Congress asked Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence.

This historic document contains several important principles of American government. It says that “all men are created equal”, all people have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. The Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and signed the document on July 4, 1776.

Now Americans celebrate the Fourth of July as the birthday of the United States. Independence Day is an official national holiday. People have picnics, and there are often parades, speeches, and fireworks. American flags are everywhere.

 

Say whether the following statements are true to the text:

1. The American settlers wanted to declare their independence from British rule during the Civil War.

2. The Congress asked Abraham Lincoln to write the Declaration of Independence.

3. The Declaration says that “all men are created equal”, all people have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

4. The Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and signed the document on June 4, 1776.

5. Independence Day is a quiet holiday and people prefer to s