Exercise 2. In the following fragment about Cork, one of Ireland’s main towns, insert all the missing articles.

Cork city is major metropolis of south; indeed with population of about 135, 000 it is second largest city in Republic. Main business and shopping centre of town lies on island created by two channels of River Lee, with most places within walking distance of centre. (The buses tend to be overcrowded and the one-way traffic system is fiendishly complicated.) In hilly area of the city is famous Shandon Steeple, bell-tower of St Anne’s Church, built on the site of church destroyed when the city was besieged by Duke of Marlborough. Back across River Lee lies city’s cathedral, imposing 19th century building in French Gothic style. Cork has two markets. Neither caters specifically for tourists but those who enjoy atmosphere of real working market will appreciate their charm. Crawford Art Gallery is well worth visit. It regularly mounts adventurous exhibitions by contemporary artists. The fashionable residential districts of Cork city overlook harbour. There are other residential areas on outskirts.

Names of Sporting Events and Festivals

Ø Names of sporting events usually have the definite article: the Superbowl, the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the Cup Final, the Boat Race, the Grand National, the British Open, and so on.

· ... events like the World Championship and the Olympic Games.

Ø You can pick out one particular case of such an event by using the definite or indefinite article: ‘I’ve never been to a Cup Final’.

Ø Names which are taken from the place where the event occurs have a zero article: Wimbledon (for tennis), Ascot and Epsom (for horse-racing events), Henley (for rowing).

· ... Centre Court seats for Wimbledon, boxes for Ascot.

Ø Names of religious and other festivals have a zero article: Christmas, Easter, Lent, Carnival, Corpus Christi, Ramadan, Midsummer’s Day, Mother’s Day, New Year’s Day, St Valentine’s Day, and so on. (But note the 4th of July.)

· Easter is a great time in Poland.

· ...the last two weeks of Lent.

Ø But you can pick out one particular event by using the definite or indefinite article: ‘...the rare luxury of a Christmas at home’.

Exercise 1. In the sentences below, only one of the underlined alternatives is appropriate. Cross out the one that is wrong.

1. Italy won a World Cup/ the World Cup in 1982.

2. Are you staying at home for Christmas/ the Christmas?

3. Wimbledon/ the Wimbledon is the most famous tennis event in the world.

4. Don’t forget it’s Mother’s Day/ the Mother’s Day next week.

5. Oscar practically kidnapped JH, in his determination to give him family Christmas/ a family Christmas. (K. Saunders)

6. I can remember Easter/ an Easter when it snowed all the time.

7. They went to the Swiss Alps for the Christmas holidays/ Christmas holidays. (F. Sc. Fitzgerald)

8. Olympic Games/ The Olympic Games were restarted in Athens in 1986.

9. It’s going to be a lovely Christmas/ lovely Christmas. (S. Sheldon)

10. Large, naked, raw carrots are acceptable as food only to those who live in hutches eagerly awaiting Easter/ an Easter. (F. Lebowitz)

11. Merry Christmas/ A Merry Christmas to all my friends except two. (W.C. Fields)

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1701