В мае погода бывает прекрасная. В январе погода была отвратительная. Какая сейчас погода? Какая была погода на прошлой неделе? Зимой часто идет снег? Посмотри – снег так и валит! В ваших краях часто бывают такие снегопады? Наступают погожие дни.
Make up a monologue using the following questions as a plan.:
Did we have a long and cold autumn? Was the weather good during your winter vacation? Was it very sunny? Did you expect it to be better? Did you spend a lot of time in the open or did you stay ‘indoors most of the time? What did you do during the weekends? Now that the winter is coming to an end, do you think it was a good one? February is the last winter month. Is it a real winter month or is it more like autumn? Does it snow a lot? Are you looking forward to spring? Do you feel you worked hard enough in February to deserve a few days off at the end of it?
There is much to say in favour of each season and against it. Try to balance the arguments and to be objective. Complete these statements:
Ø On the one hand, it’s often too cold in winter, but on the other hand, …….
Ø On the one hand, rainy weather can ruin your summer, because you can’t go swimming. But on the other hand,….
Ø On one hand, autumn is a very sad time of the year, because the days are short and the nights are dark and long. But on the other hand, ………….
Comment on the following statements:
¨ It’s silly (natural) to feel sad when the day is dark and gloomy.
¨ They say the climate is changing. (But) I remember myself as a child. It was (not very) different then.
¨ My knowledge of (geography, history, art) leaves much to be desired. I’d like to know…. (who, when, where, why…)
Read the text “Water” and do the multiple choice items below.
Water is the ‘life blood’ of our earth. It is in every living thing. It is in the air. It runs through mountains and valleys. It forms lakes and oceans. Water is everywhere.
Nature has a great water system. Rain water finds its way to streams (=ручьи) and rivers. Rivers lead to the ocean. At the mouths of the rivers, fresh water joins the salt water of the ocean. Here at the mouth of a river there is much important plant (=растение, растительный) and animal life. Pollution (загрязнение) destroys this life, however. We have to clean our streams and rivers. Man has to work with nature – not against it.
Choose the correct word for each sentence:
(1) According to the reading, water is like _______ (clouds, blood, rain).
(2) _________is in every little thing. (blood, water, heat)
(3) Streams become ______ (valleys, rivers, fresh).
(4) The mouth of a river is near _______ (the ocean, a stream, the mountains).
(5) Pollution ___________ plant and animal life (helps, destroys, forms).
(6) The river brings __________ water to the ocean (salt, clean, fresh).
(7) There is much plant and animal life at the _________ of a river (head, bottom, mouth).
(8) The water in streams and rivers comes from ____ (rain, nature, valleys).
(9) We have to _______our rivers (find, use, clean).
(10) Rivers are part of a great natural ______________ (plan, system, problem).
(11) Fresh water does not have _________ in it (salt, life, pollution).
13. Explain why water is important in the life of a human being.
English-Speaking Countries
Language is a dress of thought.
Language is fossil poetry.
A new language – a new world.
So many languages you know, so times you are a man.
TOPICAL VOCABULARY
1. General
native language (mother tongue) / foreign language / international language
English-speaking country
to study(ied) / to learn(ed / t) / to teach (taught; taught) / to learn by heart
native speaker
knowledge / thorough knowledge (good command) of English
to speak poor English / to speak fluently
to have a good command of / to master(ed) the language
vocabulary
foreign accent
means of communication
to read (read; read) in the original / in translation
language peculiarity
to translate(d) / to interpret(ed) / to translate with a dictionary / translator (interpreter)
meaning / to mean (meant; meant)
to do (did; done) one’s best
to be of great importance
as quick as possible
INTRODUCTORY TEXT
English-speaking Countries
Except the United Kingdom there are some other countries in the world where people speak English and this language is one of the official ones. The largest and most important of them are the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The USA has 50 states. The flag of the USA has 13 red and white stripes, which symbolize the original 13 states. The national symbol of America is the bald eagle; another one is Uncle Sam. 50 stars on the blue field in the left upper corner are for each of the 50 states of the country in our days. The capital of the USA is Washington, D.C. (the District of Columbia). This city was named in honour of the first US president. People of various nationalities live in the USA: the English, the German, the Chinese, the Hindu, the Greek and so on.
The world’s second-largest country is Canada. Though Canada is one of largest countries in the world, its population isn’t dense. Canada has two official languages – English and French, both spoken by its citizens. The leading cities of Canada are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. The official head of Canada is the Queen of the United Kingdom. But practically there is a Prime Minister of the Canadian government to rule the country. Emblems of Canada are the beaver and the maple leaf. The colours of Canada are white and red.
Australia – a continent and a state – is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, in the southern part of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is about 8 million square kilometres. Australia occupies the Tasmania Island and a number of smaller islands too. It is divided into 8 administrative areas. People of about 200 nationalities live there. The aborigines, the Australian natives, represent about 1.5 percent of the population. The Australian flag is blue. There is the flag of the UK on the Australian banner, a large seven-pointed star beneath it and the Southern Cross constellation.
Another country in the Pacific Ocean where people speak English as an official language is New Zealand. It is located not far from Australia – only the Tasman Sea separates them by a distance of about 1,600 km. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government.
New Zealand stays in close association with the United Kingdom as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. And the formal head of the state is the Queen of the United Kingdom. The New Zealand flag represents the Southern Cross, the stars of it are red with white edgings. The flag of the United Kingdom in the left upper corner shows the recognition to the historical foundations and the fact that New Zealand was once a British colony and dominion. The national emblem of New Zealand is a flightless bird kiwi. And silver fern is a sporting emblem.
Comprehension questions.
1. Where is English spoken as an official language?
2. What English-speaking country has 2 official languages? What are they?
3. What are emblems of Canada?
4. What is depicted on Australian flag?
5. What country is situated between the Pacific and Indian oceans?
6. How can you prove that New Zealand was once a British colony and dominion?
7. What is the national emblem of New Zealand?
Find in the text English equivalents to the following.