Обучения английскому языку на 2 курсе

Пилявец, Г. В.

П32 Английский язык: для студентов 2 курса специальности «Международное право» заочной формы обучения. Г. В. Пилявец. – Минск, БИП.– 2012. – 120 с.

ISBN 978-985-7014-29-3.

 

Данные учебно-методические рекомендации по английскому языку представляют собой сборник тематических текстов и контрольных работ для студентов 2 курса специальности «Международное право» заочной формы обучения. Предназначаются для самостоятельной и аудиторной работы студентов.

УДК 802.0(075.8)

ББК 88.2 Англ-9

ISBN 978-985-7014-29-3 ã Пилявец, Г.В. 2012.

ã Оформление «БИП – Институт правоведения», 2012

PREFACE (Предисловие)

Предлагаемые учебно-методические рекомендации предназначены для студентов 2 курса заочного отделения специальности «Международное право».

Целями рекомендаций являются формирование у студентов навыков и развитие умений самостоятельного чтения оригинальной литературы и ведения беседы на английском языке в пределах проработанной тематики, а также осуществление контроля знаний лексико-грамматического материала, предусмот-ренного действующей программой вуза.

Структурно учебно-методические рекомендации состоят из двух частей и краткого грамматического справочника, представленного в таблицах (GRAMMAR REFERENCE).

Первая часть (CONVERSATIONAL TOPICS) включает семь разделов (UNITS), в основе которых лежат базовые тематические тексты с системой взаимосвязанных заданий и упражнений по данному разделу, активизирующих различные виды речевой деятельности. Каждый текст имеет познавательный интерес и может служить иллюстрацией к теме, а также материалом для беседы и закрепления тематической лексики. Тематическое содержание первой части соответствует требованиям учебной программы для неязыковых вузов.

Содержание второй части составляют контрольные работы (TESTS), предназначенные для осуществления контроля уровня усвоения лексико-грамматического материала студентами-заочниками. Каждая контрольная работа представлена в двух вариантах и содержит определенное количество заданий, направленных на закрепление и проверку понимания пройденного лексико-грамматического материала.

Для выполнения контрольной работы необходимо самостоятельно изучить лексико-грамматический материал соответствующего семестра. Последующая аудиторная работа с лексико-грамматическим материалом направлена на совершенствование у студентов навыков ведения беседы на английском языке и использования грамматических явлений в пределах проработанной тематики.

Основной целью пособия является дальнейшее расширение и углубление знаний английского языка, а не полное освещение затрагиваемых вопросов. Поэтому, хотя пособие и содержит определенную информацию по названным темам, она носит лишь вспомогательный характер, как материал для введения и закрепления соответствующей лексики, формирования высказываний и ведения беседы по определенным темам.

 

 

ТЕМАТИЧЕСКОЕ СОДЕРЖАНИЕ

ОБУЧЕНИЯ АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ НА 2 КУРСЕ

СПЕЦИАЛЬНОСТИ «МЕЖДУНАРОДНОЕ ПРАВО»

ЗАОЧНОЙ ФОРМЫ ОБУЧЕНИЯ

Наименование темы
	Лексическая	Грамматическая
2 курс 3 семестр Форма контроля – дифференцированный зачет
1. Республика Беларусь. 2. Минск – столица Беларуси. 3. Соединенное Королевство Велико-британии и Северной Ирландии. 4. Лондон – столица Великобритании.	1. Неопределенные местоимения both, either, neither, all, every, each, (the) other, (the) others, another. 2. Прилагательные и наречия (степени сравнения). 3. Предлоги после существительных и прилагательных. 4. Сравнительная характеристика времен Past Perfect и Past Perfect Progressive. 5. Способы выражения будущего времени в английском языке.
2 курс 4 семестр Форма контроля – экзамен
1. Профессия юриста в Велико-британии и США. 2. Профессия юриста в Республике Беларусь. 3. Современный взгляд на трудо-устройство.	1. Предлоги после глаголов. 2. Времена английского глагола в страдательном залоге. 3. Модальные глаголы.

 

 

МЕТОДИЧЕСКИЕ РЕКОМЕНДАЦИИ

ПО ВЫПОЛНЕНИЮ И ОФОРМЛЕНИЮ КОНТРОЛЬНЫХ РАБОТ

При выполнении контрольных работ следует соблюдать следующие требования:

1. Письменные контрольные работы выполняются в отдельной тетради или в виде распечатки с компьютерного носителя. На обложке тетради (или на титульном листе распечатки) указывается фамилия, имя и отчество студента, название факультета, номер группы, адрес, номер и вариант контрольной работы, а также фамилия преподавателя.

2. Все задания контрольной работы выполняются письменно и в указанной последовательности.

3. При выполнении контрольной работы следует списывать условие выполняемого задания и оставлять поля.

4. Контрольная работа должна быть зарегистрирована в деканате в указанные сроки (не позднее двух недель до начала сессии), после чего она передается на кафедру иностранных языков для проверки.

Если контрольная работа выполнена без соблюдения указанных требований или не выполнена полностью, она возвращается студенту без проверки.

 

CONVERSATIONAL TOPICS

2^nd Year 3^rd Term

UNIT 1

THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

1. BRAIN STORMING. Choose the correct answers!

Quiz on Belarus

1. What does the prefix ‘Bela’ mean?

a) old

b) beautiful

c) white

2. What colors are on the flag of Belarus?

a) red orange black

b) red white green

c) yellow green red

3. How long is the coastline of Belarus?

a) 200 miles

b) 320 miles

c) no coastline

4. How many countries border on Belarus?

a) 4

b) 5

c) 6

5. What is a major natural resource?

a) limestone

b) forests

c) oil

d) coal

6. Which of the following rivers does not flow through Belarus?

a) Pripjet

b) Dnjepr

c) Tobol

7. What is the name of the highest point in Belarus?

a) Belаvezhskaya Pushcha

b) Dzyarzhynskaya Hara

c) Hara Vysokaya

8. How high is the highest mountain of Belarus?

a) 346m

b) 852m

c) 1043m

9. What is the main religion in Belarus?

a) Russian Orthodox

b) Roman Catholicism

c) Judaism

d) Protestantism

10. When did Chernobyl disaster take place?

a) 1985

b) 1986

c) 1989

11. When did Belarus declare its independence from the Soviet Union?

a) 1989

b) 1991

c) 1993

12. Which of the following is the world Heritage Site located in Belarus?

a) Kalwaria Cemetery

b) Trinity Suburb

c) Mir Castle Complex

13. Which of the following artists was born in Belarus?

a) Wassily Kandinsky

b) Kasimir Malevitsch

c) Marc Chagall

14. What is Kupalle?

a) a Belarusian food speciality

b) a Belarusian national costume

c) a Belarusian holiday

15. Which of the following international communities is Belarus not a member?

a) Commonwealth of Independent States

b) Eurasian Economic Community

c) European Union

d) United Nations Organization

 

FIRST READING OF THE TEXT.

2.1 Skim (read quickly) the text to get a general idea of the contents.

Home, Sweet Home

During my long flight back to Minsk I tried to sort out my impressions of America. Some things seemed unusual to me, others were a big surprise or even struck me. One thing was definite – I was greatly impressed by this ‘ambitious’ country. But while we were approaching Minsk, I was getting more and more excited. When the plane landed at Minsk International Airport and I got off the plane and went into the terminal, I couldn’t but remember the words “There is no place like home”.

My home is Belarus or the Republic of Belarus, to be exact. It is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It borders on Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest.

The name ‘Belarus’ comes from the term ‘White Russia’ or ‘White-Rus’. There are several suggestions to where the origins of the name ‘White Rus’ came from. But the most popular one is that it came from the southern lands of Polotsk, Vitebsk and Mogilev that were not conquered by the Tatars and thus, remained ‘clean’ or ‘white’.

Forty percent of its 207,600 square kilometers is forested, which makes it beautiful in any season, especially when you travel by car. It is often called blue-eyed in poetry because of a lot of lakes. Most of Belarus's population of 9.85 million reside in the urban areas. More than 80% of the population are native Belarusians, with sizable minorities of Russians, Poles and Ukrainians. Since a referendum in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian.

Administratively Belarus is divided into six regions, which are named after the major cities that serve as their administrative centers: Minsk, Brest, Grodno, Gomel, Mogilev and Vitebsk. At least one of these cities is worth special mention. It’s Brest, famous for its Brest Fortress. The Brest Fortress’s defense in 1941 is remembered as an act of heroism in fighting the German aggression. It should be noted that statistically, Belarus (BSSR at that time) was the hardest hit Soviet Republic in the war. During the war, Germany destroyed 209 out of 290 cities in the republic, 85% of the republic's industry, and more than one million buildings. Casualties were estimated about a quarter to one-third of the total population, while the Jewish population of Belarus was devastated during the Holocaust and never recovered.

There is no official religion, although the primary religion in the country is Russian Orthodox Christianity. The second most popular, Roman Catholicism, has a much smaller following by comparison, but both Orthodox and Catholic Christmas and Easter are officially celebrated as national holidays.

Politically, Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a president and the National Assembly – a bicameral parliament comprising the 110-member House of Representatives (the lower House) and the 64-member Council of the Republic (the upper House). The parliament of the republic declared the sovereignty of Belarus on 27 July 1990, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus declared independence on 25 August 1991.

Economically, the country relies on imports such as oil and gas from Russia. The biggest exports from Belarus are heavy machinery (especially tractors), agricultural products, and energy products. Important agricultural products include potatoes and cattle byproducts, including meat. Historically important branches of industry include textiles and wood processing.

Internationally, Belarus is involved in the Commonwealth of Independent States, has membership in the Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. It has been a member of the international Non-Aligned Movement since 1998 and a member of the United Nations Organization since its foundation in 1945. Belarus is also a member of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Culturally, Belarus has four World Heritage Sites: the Mir Castle Complex, the Nesvizh Castle, the Belavezhskaya Pushcha (shared with Poland), and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with nine other countries). Several state holidays, such as Independence Day and Victory Day, draw big crowds and often include fireworks and military parades. The government's Ministry of Culture sponsors events promoting Belarusian arts and culture both inside and outside the country. One of the examples is the annual cultural festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, which showcases Belarusian performers, artists, writers, musicians, and actors.

These are but a few facts about my home land.

 

Notes:

The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of 265 triangulation points stretching through 10 countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldavia, and the Ukraine) and over 2,820 km. These are points of a survey, carried out between 1816 and 1855 by the German-born Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, which represented the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian. This helped to establish the exact size and shape of the earth. The original arc consisted of 265 main station points. Nowadays, the listed site includes 34 of the original station points, with different markings, i.e. a drilled hole in rock, iron cross, or built obelisks.

In 2005, the chain was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a memorable ensemble made up of 34 out of the original 265 station points.

2.2 C hoose the best variant to complete the sentences below.

1. Geographically, Belarus is entirely surrounded by …

a) sea

b) land

c) range of mountains

2. Forty percent of its territory is covered with …

a) woods

b) river valleys

c) hills and mountains

3. Most of Belarus's population live in …

a) villages

b) cities and towns

4. The majority of the population are …

a) Russians

b) Jews

c) Belarusians

5. Every … citizen of the Republic was killed during the War.

a) fourth

b) second

c) fifth

6. The most popular religion in a country is …

a) Roman Catholicism

b) Orthodox Christianity

c) Islam

7. Belarusian Parliament consists of … chambers.

a) 1

b) 2

c) 3

8. Internationally, Belarus is a member of …

a) EU

b) CIS

c) Council of Europe

9. Slaviansky Bazaar is a …

a) street of shops and workshops

b) big market in Vitebsk

c) series of performances given once a year

 

SPEAKING.

5.1 Without looking at the text fill in the blanks with the information from the text.

1) The Republic of Belarus is a …

2) It borders on …

3) The name ‘Belarus’ comes from the term ….

4) The name ‘White Rus’, in its turn, comes from the southern lands of …

5) The territory of the republic is …

6) The population is …

7) More than 80% of the population are …

8) The sizable minorities are …

9) The official languages are …

10) Administratively Belarus is divided into …

11) The primary religion in the country is …

12) The second most popular religion is …

13) Politically, Belarus is a …

14) It declared its sovereignty in …, and independence in …

15) Economically, the country relies on …

16) The biggest exports from Belarus are …

17) Important agricultural products include …

18) Historically important branches of industry include …

19) Internationally, Belarus is involved in …, has membership in …, has been a member of …, and is also a member of...

20) Culturally, Belarus has four …

21) The government's Ministry of Culture sponsors events …

 

5.2 In turn, describe the following, using the information from the text:

Geographical situation of Belarus; origins of the name; territory and population; administrative division; religion; political system; economy; international participation; culture.

 

6. PRESENTATION. Speak on the topic ‘Тhe Republic of Belarus’

UNIT 2

BRAIN STORMING.

1.1 Read the following facts about the continent of Europe where Belarus is situated.

Europe is the landmass, which is bordered by the Arctic Ocean and the other water bodies in the North, Atlantic Ocean in the west, Mediterranean Sea in the South. The surface area of this continent is 10,180,000 square kilometers, which is about 2% of the Earth’s surface and about 6,8% of the total landmass on Earth. The biggest country in Europe in area as well as by population is Russia. It is the Vatican City, which is the smallest country in Europe. Although, it is second smallest continent by surface, it is third most populous continent after Asia and Africa.

1.2 Now take a look at the list of European capitals and countries and match each country to its capital.

Country	Capital	Country	Capital
Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia	Astana Budapest Zagreb Tirana Helsinki Andorra la Vella Yerevan Vienna Baku Minsk Brussels Sarajevo Nicosia Prague Copenhagen Tallinn Reykjavík Dublin Rome Paris Tbilisi Berlin Athens Riga Sofia	Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Republic of Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City	Stockholm San Marino Podgorica Vatican City Kiev London Vaduz Vilnius Valletta Warsaw Ankara Bern Luxembourg Skopje Chişinău Monaco Amsterdam Oslo Lisbon Bucharest Moscow Belgrade Bratislava Ljubljana Madrid

FIRST READING OF THE TEXT.

2.1 Skim the text to get a general idea of the contents.

Some Glimpses of Minsk

Minsk is the capital and biggest city of Belarus on the Svisloch and Niamiha Rivers. It is also the capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). But I don’t want to be too formal speaking about Minsk as the capital and so on. It is my native and best loved city and I just want to tell you what I feel about it.

The contemporary Minsk is situated at the crossroads from the West to the East and from the North to the South, and occupies an ideal central position for visitors who can come to various places of the country.

For those who actually want to see it for themselves, Minsk is a surprisingly charming, calm, clean and safe city. Most locals take a genuine pride in their city which, it must be remembered, was built out of the total devastation of World War II. The city was 80% destroyed during the War and as such was rebuilt in the 1950s. Therefore, Soviet-Bloc style buildings make up a large part of the city centre. There is not a great dealof sightseeing compared with most European capitals. A few days, or a week at most, will be enough to get the best out of the city. Minsk is more a place to stroll around and breathe in the unique atmosphere. It is full of park and green area and is surrounded by a countryside of great natural beauty. Its parks as well as the Botanic Garden are set for the public recreation and free for those who love to walk there.

You may get around by bus, tram, or subway or rent a car. First three are cheap and reliable. The subway is known for being clean and safe. Additionally, each subway station is decorated uniquely.

Not far from the bridge across the Svisloch River is one of the chief glories of Minsk – Trinity Suburb, a delight of every visitor. It is a tangle of narrow streets with little craft and curio shops. Delightful small houses seem to whisper their secrets to each other across the cobbled way. All this and the greenery of the Svisloch riverside make Trinity Suburb one of the most impressive sights in the city.

There are several churches and cathedrals in Minsk which have received expert restoration and become places of worship. Every visitor should see the Holy Spirit Cathedral built in the 17^th century, one of the main orthodox churches of the country with a number of relics. The most sacred is the St Mary Icon, the object of worship for more than 500 years.

Among the recent constructions three are worth mentioning: the Minsk-Arena Complex, the National Library and the Church of All Saints.

The Minsk-Arena Complex is a multi-use indoor arena in Minsk. It is unique in its complexity and functionality not only in Belarus but also in Europe. It includes a multi-sports and entertainment arena for 15,000 spectators, a skating stadium for up to 3,000 spectators and a velodrome at 2,000 spectators.

One of the primary uses of the facility is ice hockey. However, Minsk-Arena is also used for arranging concerts and other mass performances. A lot of world stars have already performed on its scene. It was also the place where the Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in November 2010.

The National Library of Belarus was founded on 15 September 1922. It is now located in a new 72-metre (236 feet) high building in Minsk. The building has 22 floors, can seat about 2,000 readers and has a 500-seat conference hall. Its main architectural component has the shape of a diamond and is popularly referred to as the “diamond of knowledge”.

The National Library of Belarus is the main information and cultural centre of the country. It has the largest collection of Belarusian printed materials and a collection of bibliographic, graphic, sound and language databases that comprise more than 2 million records. In 1993 the National Library of Belarus started to create its own electronic information resources. Its users also have access to databases of other libraries and academic institutions, including foreign ones.

In addition to serving as a functional library, the National Library is a city attraction. It is the only structure in Minsk with a public observation deck looking over the city. The area in front of the library is used for many public concerts and shows.

Not far from the library is another city attraction – the Church of All Saints. A unique monument of white-stone architecture, the Church has become a symbol of memory of the Belarusians for all those innocently killed. Nearly 50,000 Minsk residents and guests of the capital attended the ceremony of burying the remains of unknown soldiers in the crypt (vault) of the All Saints. The soldiers have become a symbol of all the patriots who, in the different times of the history, fought bravely for the freedom, independence and prosperity of their country.

So Minsk is a city rich in varied memories. It is indeed the city where the past and the present coexist side by side, the former dignified and proud of its history and the latter up to date and confident for its future. Welcome to Minsk!

2.2 C hoose a), b), or c) to complete the sentences.

1. Minsk is situated in the … of the country.

a) North

b) centre

c) South

2. Local people are … of their city.

a) proud

b) sorry

c) ashamed

3. Minsk is interesting to visitors because of its …

a) numerous sights

b) architecture

c) special aura

4. Trinity Suburb is a …

a) central street in Minsk

b) district out of the city

c) district of the old city

5. Holy Spirit Cathedral is …

a) one of the oldest orthodox churches in Minsk

b) a recent construction

c) the main place of worship for Catholics

6. Minsk-Arena is a …

a) stadium

b) concert hall

c) facility of various uses

7. Architecturally the National Library of Belarus is shaped like a …

a) pearl

b) adamant

c) sapphire

8. The Church of All Saints was built to commemorate the glory of …

a) those killed in World War II

b) the Belarusians killed in Bulgaria in the Russian-Turkish War

a) all those innocently killed in different times of the history

SPEAKING.

5.1 Without looking at the text add information to the following statements.

1) Minsk is the capital of … situated on …

2) It is situated at …

3) Minsk is a surprisingly …

4) Most locals take a genuine pride in their city because …

5)Soviet-Bloc style buildings make up a large part of the city centre because …

6) There is not a great dealofsightseeing compared with …

7) Minsk is more a place to …

8) It is full of parks which are set for …

9) You may get around by …

10) One of the most impressive sights of the city is …

11) Trinity Suburb is a tangle of …

12) There are several churches and cathedrals in Minsk which …

13) One of the main orthodox churches of the country is …

14) Its most sacred relic is …

15) But the most impressive church is ….

16) The Church has become a symbol of …

17) Another city attraction which is unique in its complexity and use is …

18) It includes …

19) Although its primary use is ice hockey, Minsk-Arena is also used for …

20) The National Library of Belarus was founded in …

21) It is now located in a new building which …

22) The Library is the main information and cultural centre of the country because of its collection of …

23) In addition to serving as a functional library, the National Library is a …

24) So Minsk is a city where …

5.2 In turn, describe the main attractions of Minsk, using the information and the vocabulary from the text.

6. PRESENTATION. Speak on the topic ‘Minsk – the Capital of the Republic of Belarus’

UNIT 3

FIRST READING OF THE TEXT.

2.1 Skim the text to find out what it is about in general.

The United Kingdom

Hi! It’s me again. At last my dream has come true. I’m on my way to the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom is an abbreviation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is often abbreviated to UK and is the political name of the country, which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (sometimes known as Ulster).

Strictly speaking, “ Great Britain ” is a geographical expression; the “ UK ” is a political expression. Great Britain in fact is the biggest of the group of about 5,000 islands which lie between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately two and a half times size of Ireland, the second largest. Together they are called the British Isles.

The British Isles today are shared by two separate and independent states. The smaller of these is the Republic of Ireland with its capital in Dublin. The larger, with London as its capital, is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is very small compared with many other countries in the world. Its territory is 244,820 square kilometers. However, there are only nine other countries with more people (61,634,783) and London is the world’s seventh biggest city.

English is not the only language which people use in the UK. English is the official language. But some people speak Gaelic in western Scotland, Welsh – in parts of southern and central Wales.

Britain and British have two meanings. Britain sometimes refers to Great Britain alone, and sometimes to the UK including Northern Ireland. “British” refers to people from the UK, Great Britain or the British Isles in general. England and English are often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Great Britain.

Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind. The French are supposed to be amorous, fond of champagne; the Germans formal, efficient, fond of military uniforms, and parades. The English have the reputation of being reserved, rather haughty people who do not yell in the street and kiss in public. They are steady and fond of sports.

In the United States it’s very different. Americans start conversations with people in the street, in the subway; they are a lot more enthusiastic and spontaneous than people in Britain. I couldn’t understand at first why I was getting so little reaction from people here, but now I see that I was trying to be too friendly too soon.

I think Americans are more open, they speak their mind, so if they don’t like something, they tell you directly. Unlike the British, who might think one thing and say another. So you could say that the English are ruder than the Americans, or that they are less honest.

Another very important point is that Americans work harder than the English do. To the English their private lives are important, their holidays are important, their gardens are important, their animals are important. You know, holidays are longer here, people make the most ridiculous excuses not to go to work – ‘My dog has got a cold’, I heard the other day.

For Americans, their work is the most important. Their jobs come first and the public holidays are much shorter than here. But there are all sorts of services to make life easier around their jobs. I mean, the shops are open till 10 o’clock, some supermarkets are open 24 hours a day and everything is open on Sundays. In the States only the banks are closed. It makes life much easier. You can do what you like when you like. You can work and still lead a normal life.

And more. An Englishman in America is respected. Everyone wants to talk to him. Americans love his accent and his country. An American in England is a little inferior because of his behavior and his language.

Everybody seemed to understand me when I spoke American English, but I was unable to understand everything at first. That was because of the differences in intonation and pronunciation. Of course, some words are different too. But I got used to it very quickly. But all the same I was sorry that I didn’t have more time to study British English and to see more of Britain. May be some other day?

 

2.2 C hoose the best variant to complete the sentences below. Use the text to make the right choice.

1. Ulster is …

a) the capital city of the Republic of Ireland

b) the capital city of Northern Ireland

c) one of the provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island

2. There are … countries in Great Britain.

a) 2

b) 3

c) 4

3. Ireland is …

a) a separate and independent state

b) one of the countries of the UK

c) the second largest of the British Isles

4. The territory of the United Kingdom is almost … that of Belarus.

a) half as large as

b) twice as large as

c) the same size as

5. The population of the UK is … times bigger than that of Belarus.

a) two

b) three

c) six

6. The English have the reputation of being …

a) rather cold

b) too friendly to strangers

c) easy-going and free-wheeling

7. The English are fond of …

a) parades

b) sports

c) champagne

8. To the English their … are the most important.

a) jobs

b) social activities

c) households

9. Americans are …

a) alcoholics

b) shopaholics

c) workaholics

10. What makes Americans’ lives easier around their jobs?

a) Shorter holidays.

b) All sorts of services.

c) Banks closed on Saturdays.

 

WORD STUDY.

3.1 Study the different meanings of the following words. Then choose the most suitable meaning of each to translate the sentences below.

nation state excuse subway slight

1) народ, нация 2) страна, государство 1) государство 2) штат 3) состояние (в котором кто-либо или что-либо находится) 1) оправдание, повод, предлог, освобождение 2) извинение 1) тоннель, подземный переход 2) метро (US) 1) стройный, изящный, хрупкий 2) слабый, незначительный

 

1) There are 193 member states in the United Nations Organization.

2) The US is a federal nation with 50 states.

3) Almost every nation has a reputation of some kind.

4) The house was in a dirty state.

5) How many states are there in the USA?

6) The British Isles today are shared by two separate and independent states.

7) She’s in a poor state of health.

8) There are 27 member- states in the European Union.

9) Please, give them my excuses.

10) Those who are absent without good excuse will be dismissed.

11) People make the most ridiculous excuses not to go to work – ‘My dog has got a cold’, I heard the other day.

12) Cross the street by the subway.

13) Take the subway if you want to get there as soon as possible.

14) Americans start conversations with people in the street or in the subway.

15) The American subway is the British underground or just the tube.

16) The girl looked slight and slender.

17) There are only a few slight mistakes in his composition.

18) The really surprising thing about the English of England and that of the United States is not that they differ slightly, but that their difference is as slight as it is.

 

3.2 Fill in the synonyms from the list. Use the context of the text if necessary.

Fair; small (not important); conduct; to shout (to cry); a little; underground;

to yell behavior

subway slight

honest slightly

 

3.3 Study the following adjectives from the text.

1 amorous 2efficient 3 formal 4 haughty 5 steady 6 reserved 7 enthusiastic 8 spontaneous 9 rude 10 ridiculous 11 respected 12 inferior

1 влюбчивый 2 эффективный, рациональный 3 формальный, официальный 4 надменный, высокомерный 5 уравновешенный 6 сдержанный 7 увлеченный, полный энтузиазма 8 зд.непосредственный, непринужденный 9 грубый 10 смешной, нелепый 11 уважаемый 12 зд. низший, худший

3.4 Now match the adjectives to their definitions.

1 amorous 2efficient 3 formal 4 haughty 5 steady 6 reserved 7 enthusiastic 8 spontaneous 9 rude 10 ridiculous 11 respected 12 inferior

a) easy-going, informal b) of good social position and reputation c) full of enthusiasm d) easily moved to love; showing love e) deserving to be laughed at; absurd f) impolite g) capable; able to perform duties well h) slow to reveal feelings or opinions; uncommunicative i) lower in rank, social position, importance, quality, etc. j) in accordance with rules or customs k) having or showing a high opinion of oneself l) regular in behavior, habits, etc.

 

3.5 Suggest your Russian equivalents for the following word-combinations from the text. Use a dictionary if necessary.

1 approximately two and a half times size of Ireland

2 are shared by two separate and independent states

3 “British” refers to people from the UK

4 the French are supposed to be amorous

5 they speak their mind

6 they tell you directly

7 Unlike the British

8 ridiculous excuses not to go to work

And more

10 because of his behavior and his language

11 the great writer was definitely exaggerating

12 is not that they differ slightly, but that their difference is as slight as it is

 

READING FOR DETAIL.

4.1 Read the text carefully to answer the following questions.

1) What does the abbreviation “United Kingdom” or “UK” mean?

2) What countries is the UK made up of?

3) Why is “Great Britain” a geographical, not a political expression?

4) What is the second largest of the British Isles?

5) What states share the British Isles today?

6) What are the capitals of the states?

7) What is the territory (population) of the UK?

8) What do “Britain” and “British” refer to?

9) Why are “England” and “English” often incorrectly used?

4.2 Guess WHO (the French, English, Americans or Germans)?

People of this nationality

1) communicate easily and informally at work, in the street, etc.;

2) easily fall in love and like to have fun;

3) have or show a high opinion of themselves;

4) are able to perform duties well and always act according to rules or customs;

5)regular in behavior, habits, etc.;

6) have aggressive attitude to work and expect everyone to work hard;

7) slow to reveal feelings or opinions to strangers;

8) sincere and honest in communicating with other people;

9) consider professional and technical skills to be very important;

10) do not tell you directly what they think.

 

5. SPEAKING. Without looking at the text add information to the following statements.

1) The United Kingdom is an abbreviation of …

2) It is a political name of the country, which is made up of …

3) The country is situated on the …

4) The largest island is …

5) It is made up of …

6) Ireland is the second largest of …

7) The British isles are shared by …

8) The United Kingdom is small compared with …

9) However, there are only nine other countries with …

10) And London is the world’s …

11) People from the UK, Great Britain or the British Isles in general are collectively called …

12) And Britain sometimes refers to …

13) However, England and English are often incorrectly used to refer to …

14) The English have the reputation of being …

15) To the English their …, …, …, … are important.

16) Americans are different. They are a lot more …

17) Unlike the British, who might think one thing and say another, Americans are …

18) For Americans their … is the most important.

19) It should be mentioned, however, that there are all sorts of services to …

20) And one last thing. An Englishman in America is … An American in England is …

 

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.

6.1 Read the following extract about the flag of the United Kingdom and translate it into Russian in writing. Use a dictionary if necessary.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, reflects the history of the state. This term can be explained as follows: ‘Union’ refers to the union of England and Scotland in 1606, and ‘Jack’ means the flag flown on the jack staff (a small flagstaff) of ships to show their nationality.

The flag of the United Kingdom is made up of three crosses on a blue ground. They are the crosses of the patron saints of England, Scotland and Ireland. (The upright red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross (with the arms going into the corners) is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. David is the patron saint of Wales. However, the symbol of Wales is not reflected in the Union Jack, because when the flag first appeared Wales was already firmly united with England. The Welsh flag is a red dragon on a white and green ground.

 

6.2 British English versus American English.

People in Britain and America understand each other perfectly most of the time. However, there are differences in grammar, vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation. With vocabulary, the same word may have a different meaning. Sometimes there are completely different words for the same thing.

British ‘government’, for example, is American ‘administration’, ‘shops’ are ‘stores’ or ‘outlets’, ‘shop-assistants’ are ‘clerks’, ‘tins’ are ‘cans’. Where the English say ‘All Right’, Americans say ‘O.K.’ Where the British will say ‘I think’ or ‘I suppose’, the American will say ‘I guess’ or ‘I recon’.

Here are some important differences. The British word comes first.

 

Roads and Transport taxi/ cab return (ticket)/ round trip single (ticket)/ one way railway carriage/ railway car petrol/ gas filling station/ gas station main road/ highway motorway/ interstate underground/ subway subway/ underpass pavement/ sidewalk lorry/ truck car park/ parking lot Education secondary school/ high school term/ semester

Time and Dates day/ month/ year/ (month/ day/ year) autumn/ fall holiday/ vacation fortnight/ two weeks   Homes and Households surname/ family name flat/ apartment ground floor/ first floor lift/ elevator toilet (gents/ladies)/ restroom (men’s/ladies’) wardrobe/ closet rubbish/ garbage (trash) dustbin/ trashcan Other film/ movie biscuit / cookie trousers / pants trainers / sneakers waistcoat/ vest sweets / candy fill in / fill out queue /line

Note: One special problem is that ‘guys’ in American English can refer to men and to women, but in British English it is only used to refer to men.

Exercise 1 Decide if the speaker is using British or American English, and cross out the incorrect answer.

1) We decided to take our vacation in the autumn/ fall this year.

2) At my son’s high school the new term/ semester starts next week.

3) I never eat biscuits or sweets/ candy.

4) Put that garbage in the dustbin/ trashcan.

5) The trousers look nice with the waistcoat/ vest.

6) The lorry/ truck came past us on the highway.

7) His apartment is on the sixth floor but I’m afraid there’s no lift/elevator.

8) The people next door are on holiday/ vacation. They’ll be away for a fortnight.

9) We left the car in the car park/ parking lot and took the subway to the centre.

10) My trainers are in the wardrobe/ closet.

 

Exercise 2 The extract below has some words used in American English. Underline them and write the British English words on the right hand side.

It was getting near lunchtime and I needed some gas, So I left the interstate and drove towards the nearest town. There was a gas station just outside the town and I decided to stop and have a look round. I put the car in a parking lot and took a cab to the centre. It was midday and very hot, so I stopped at a little café with tables on the sidewalk. I started talking to a truck driver, who gave me a history of the town, and afterwards he took me on a guided tour. It made a very nice break.

1 …….. 2 …….. 3 …….. 4 …….. 5 …….. 6 …….. 7 ……...

 

Exercise 3 In the extract below replace the British English words in italics with their American equivalents.

I had to fill in some forms in which I was asked to write my surname. I had to write my date of birth like this: 22 May 1986. There was a queue in front of the immigration desk. I took a taxi to a hotel in a small square in Central London. On the way we stopped at a filling station to get some petrol. The receptionistgave me the key of my room. I didn’t have to use the lift as it was on the ground floor.

 

7. PRESENTATION. Use the information from the text and the exercises to present the topic ‘The United Kingdom’.

UNIT 4

FIRST READING OF THE TEXT.

2.1 Read the text to find out what it is about in general.

London

Thousands of visitors come to London every year. Some come on business, others simply as tourists. We, too, are travelling to London. It is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European Union.

Modern London is not one city. It is a number of cities, towns and villages that have grown together in one enormous agglomeration also referred to as Greater London. Greater London is nearly 30 miles long (about 48 kms) and nearly 30 miles wide. It is governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. In July 2010 Greater London had an official population of 7,825,200, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union.

London consists of so many parts and they are all very different from each other. There is the West End and the East End; the City and Westminster. Kensington and Soho are parts of London. There is the Tower of London and the Docks; Historic London and Modern London; the Museums of London and the Art Galleries; the underground and the parks; the different traditions and the different people. What a lot to see! A great number of people have been to London. But they know nothing about it. It is so big that nobody knows much about it. I don’t think there is a man living in London who is well acquainted with all the parts and districts of this vast city.

The heart of London is the City. It is often referred to as the Square Mile, as it is just over one square mile (1.12 sq mi/2.90 km²) in area. The City is the historic core of London around which the modern metropolis grew. Here is situated the Tower of London which comes first among the historic buildings of London. If you want to have some glimpses of London it’s just from here that you had better start sightseeing. The Tower gives its name to Tower Bridge which has become an iconic symbol of London. A twenty minutes’ walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building – St. Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of English churches with its huge dome and one of the largest bells in the world, Great Paul (17,5 tons).

Not far away, in Westminster, another important part of London where most of the Government buildings are situated, is Westminster Abbey. Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the British Parliament. The higher of its two graceful towers has the largest clock in the country and the famous bell Big Ben that strikes every quarter of the hour.

If now you walk along Whitehall, which is not at all a hall, but a street where the chief government offices are found, you will soon see Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square. The fine building facing the square is the National Gallery and adjoining it is the Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum – the biggest museum in London – with its priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc.

Besides Whitehall the best known streets here are Fleet Street used as a synonym for the British national press ( even though the last major British news office, Reuters, left in 2005); Harley Street, where the highest-paid doctors live; Oxford and Regent Streets which are the two busiest shopping streets in London.

And now, even if you have almost no time left for further sightseeing you cannot leave the city without visiting the Hyde Park (or ‘the Park’ as Londoners call it) with its Speaker’s Corner. When you are walking along its shady avenues, sitting on the grass, admiring its beautiful flower beds or watching swans and ducks floating on the ponds, it seems almost unbelievable that all around there is a large city with its heavy traffic and smoke. The open spaces of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St. James's Park together form an almost continuous ‘green lung ’ in the heart of London.

There are a lot of other sights worth seeing in London: Piccadilly Circus with its underground station, Buckingham Palace, Madam Tussaud’s, Tate Gallery, the Royal Albert Hall and more. We have read about all that.

Well, London is much too big to be seen in a couple of days.

2.2 C hoose a), b), or c) to complete the sentences.

1. The term ‘London’ is normally used in reference to …

a) Greater London

b) the ancient, tiny City of London (often referred to simply as "the City")

c) the County of London

2. Nobody knows much about London because it …

a) covers the territory of 1572 km2 (607 square miles)

b) has a population of 7,753,600

c) has a lot to see

3. The City is considered the heart of London because it is …

a) a small area within Greater London

b) a historic and financial centre of London

c) part of central London

4. Westminster, another important part of London is …

a) the main shopping area

b) famous for theatres, luxurious restaurants and cinemas

c) the home of the British Government

5. Whitehall is …

a) one of London’s main concert halls

b) the road lined with government departments and ministries

c) a building and officially a royal palace

6. When Londoners say “The Park” they mean …

a) Hyde Park

b) Green Park

c) St. James's Park

 

SPEAKING.

5.1 Use the information from the text and the exercises to say what you know about these sights:

1) The Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

2) Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

3) Westminster Palace and Buckingham Palace.

4) The “green lung” of London.

5) The British Museum and Madam Tussaud’s.

6) The National, Portrait and Tate Galleries.

7) Fleet, Harley, Oxford, Regent and Downing Streets.

8) Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

9) Albert Hall and Whitehall.

10) Soho and the Docks.

 

5.2 Without looking at the text add information to the following statements.

1) London is the capital city of …

2) Modern London is referred to as Greater London because …

3) It is governed by …

4) London has a population of …

5) The different parts of London are: …

6) The heart of London is … because …

7) The Tower of London comes first among …

8) Now it is a …

9) The Tower gives its name to …

10) A twenty minutes’ walk from the Tower will take you to …

11) Westminster is another important part of London where …

12) The main attractions here are …

13. If you walk along Whitehall, you will soon see …

14) The fine building facing the square is … and next to it is …

15) Not far away is the British Museum with its …

16) Besides Whitehall the best known streets in London are …

17) The open spaces of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St. James's Park together form a …

18) Among other sights worth seeing in London are:

 

6. PRESENTATION. Use the information from the texts and the vocabulary of this Unit to present the topic ‘London’

2^nd Year 4^th Term

UNIT 5

LEGAL PROFESSION IN

BEFORE READING.

1.1 Study the words relating to legal profession in the US and GB before reading the text.

People in Legal Profession

1 lawyer 2 barrister (GB) 3 solicitor (GB) but: Solicitor General 4 attorney (US) but: Attorney General district attorney 5 Counsel for the Prosecution 6Counsel for the Defense 7 judge 8 Justice 9 Justice of the Peace (JP) 10 magistrate

- юрист, адвокат - барристер, адвокат - солиситор, адвокат, поверенный, юрисконсульт - заместитель генерального прокурора - 1) юрист, адвокат; 2) поверенный - генеральный прокурор - окружной прокурор - обвинитель - защитник - судья - судья Верховного cуда - мировой судья - магистрат

FIRST READING.

2.1 Read the text ‘Types of Legal Profession in Great Britain and the USA’ to find out what it is about in general.

UNIT 6

LAW CAREERS IN BELARUS

FIRST READING.

1.1 Read the text ‘Law Careers in Belarus ’ and put the following headings into the correct numbered positions (1-3).

a) Other Opportunities

b) Types of Legal Practice

c) Practice Areas (Specializations)

Law Careers in Belarus