In 1782, soon after the United States won its independence, the bald eagle was chosen as the national bird of the new country. American leaders wanted the eagle to be a symbol of their country because it is a bird of strength and courage. They chose the bald eagle because it was found all over North America.
Today, the bald eagle has almost disappeared from the country. In 1972 there were only 3,000 bald eagles in the entire United States. The reason for the bird’s decreasing population is pollution, especially pollution of the rivers by pesticides. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill insects and other animals that attack and destroy crops. Unfortunately, rain often washes pesticides into rivers. Pesticides pollute the rivers and poison the fish. Eagles have very thin shells and do not hatch. Because many of the eggs did not hatch and produce more eagles, the number of eagles quickly became smaller.
Today, the American government and the American people are trying to protect the bald eagles. The number of bald eagles is slowly increasing. It now appears that the American national bird will survive.
I. Find the meaning of words in bold type.
1. In 1972 there were only 3,000 bald eagles in the entireUnited States.
a). whole b). central c). western
2. The reason for the bird’s decreasing population was pollution.
a). other animals b). dirty air and water c). people
3. The eggs have thin shells and do not hatch.
a). open b). fly c). smash
4. Eagles lay only two or three eggs a year.
a). eat b). produce c) deserve
5. Pesticides kill animals that attack and destroy crops.
a). insects b). plants c) flowers
6. It now appears that the American national bird will survive.
a). die b). fly away c). live
II. Find correct answers to the given questions:
1. Why was the bald eagle chosen as the symbol of the United States?
a). It was the cause of the American Independence.
b). It began to disappear.
c). American leaders chose it because it is a bird of strength and courage, and it was found all over North America.
2. Why did the bald eagle almost disappear from the country?
a). Because in 1972 there were only 3,000 bald eagles in the entire United States.
b). The bald eagle has almost disappeared from the country because of pollution.
c). The eggs have very thin shells and don’t hatch
III. Find the wrong word in each sentence and replace it with right one:
1. The United States won its independence after 1782.
2. American leaders wanted the eagle to be a sample of their country.
3. They chose the bald eagle because it was found all over South America.
4. Today, a little over 200 years late, the bald eagle has almost disappeared.
5. In 1972 there were only 30,000 bald eagles.
6. Unfortunately, rain often washes crops into rivers.
7. The eagles have very thin shells and don’t hatch.
8. Today , the American government and the American people are trying to
pollute the bald eagle.
Grammar exercises.
Exercise 1.
Use “ to be “ or “ to have” in the Present Indefinite Tense:
1. You ….welcome. 2. The metro station … far from my house. 3. Mary and Nelly … friends. 4. She … out. 5. It … 5 o’clock now. 6. She … a nice flat.
7. We … a little child. She … four. 8. They … a big car. It … red. 9. How … you ? 10 . How old … Mary? 11. How many children … they? 12. What country … she from? 13. We … well. 14. They … a small cottage. It … far away. 15. She … at home. 16. She … no time. 17. He … bad habits. 18. How far … it from here? 19. It … easy to ask him about it. 20. It … not a good of her to say so. 21. She … two mistakes in the test. Her mistakes … bad. 22. They … glad to see her. 23. It … a rainy day, … he an umbrella with him?
Exercise 2.
Say if the verb “to be “ is : a) notional, b) link verb, c) modal, d) auxiliary.
1.There are a lot of things to do. 2. It’s six o’clock . He is at home at this time. 3. She is too young to understand it. 4. The whole country is going on strike. 5. The new film is to be on at our cinema next week. 6. He is taking his English exam tomorrow. 7. The football match will be shown on TV. 8. The door was open. 9. She is to return on Saturday. 10. It was a nasty day. It was raining cats and dogs. 11. I was surprised that there was so little traffic in the streets. 12. Sentence 5 is on page 15. 13. What am I to do ? 14. Sunday is my day off. 15. My mother was 40 yesterday. 16. Have you ever been in trouble?
Exercise 3.
Say if the verb “to have” is: a) notional, b) auxiliary, c) modal, d) part of a set phrase.
1.It has been a hard day. 2. Jane has got a good voice. 3. We haven’t had our dinner yet. 4. You don’t have to worry. 5. We have no time left. 6. My father has a farm in the North of Scotland. 7. She had ten minutes before she had to leave for work. 8. I hope you had a good time yesterday. 9. Does this bus go to the centre? – No, it doesn’t. You’ll have to change for No 5. 10. I’ve never been to Athens and I’ve never been to Rome. 11. I have to work tomorrow. 12. Have they a car ?- No, they haven’t bought one yet. 13. I don’t mind having a holiday for a change. 14. Let/s have a break. 15. It has been raining since morning. 16. I didn’t have enough money to buy the coat.
Exercise 4.
Use the right pronoun :
1. Kate and ( I, me) work together. 2. We spent our holiday together with (them, they). 3.My sister and (I , me ) are good friends.4. It’s (he, him). 5. (She, her) writes to (he, him) every day. 6. (We, us) enjoy playing tennis.7.Will you give (her, she) and (I, me) some help? 8. Helen and (they, them) are next- door neighbours. 9. (My, me) aunt Susan is (my, me) mother’s sister. 10. (Our, us) relatives are coming to see (our, us) today. 11. Tell (them, their) about it. 12. Is this (you, your) dog? There is something wrong with (it, its) ear. 13. He gave (me, my) (him, his) photograph in which I couldn’t recognize (him, his).
Exercise 5.
Use articles where necessary :
1. London is … capital of… Great Britain,… full name of which is … United Kingdom of … Great Britain and … Northern Ireland. 2…Volga is…fabulous river. 3. They used to spend their holidays on …Black Sea coast in… Crimea. 4. Many European adventurers crossed…Atlantic Ocean in …search of… riches on… American continent prior to… Columbus. 5….Gorki Street was renamed into… Tverskaya Street. 6. …Canada is situated in… northern part of… North America. 7. … room 25 is on… 3d floor. 8. … lecture begins at… 9 o’clock in… morning. 10. …5 o’clock tea is.. tradition in England. 11. Open … textbook on … page 20 and look at …picture at… top of… page. .12. He read … story from… beginning to …end. 13. She is in … 10th year at… school and her brother is…3d year student at … university.
Exercise 6.
Use “much”, “many”, “few”, “little”, “a few”, “a little”, “a lot of”:
1. I have … questions to ask. 2. Is there … furniture in your cottage ? 3. Is there … fruit in the vase ? 4.Is there … coffee in the pot ? 5. Has he …or…free time? 6. There were so… people in the room that we couldn’t move. 7. She is a quiet person. She doesn’t say… 8. I put … salt in my soup, perhaps, too… . 9. I don’t think Pat would be a good teacher. She’s got …patience with children. 10. There were … new books in the library. 11. James has got … work today. 12. Don’t put … milk into his coffee. 13. Is there … space in your room ?- No, not very… .14. This town isn’t very well-known and there isn’t … to see, so …tourists come here. 15. It cost me … money to furnish the room.
Exercise 7.
Make comparison using the models:
Model: teacher – doctor - important
The profession of a teacher is as important as that of a doctor.
1.book- film – interesting. 2. Brother – sister – tall. 3. July – August – warm. 4.
1. spring – summer – hot. 2. Silver – gold – expensive. 3. Candies – chocolate – sweet. 4. Meat – vegetables – useful. 5. He – she – smart . 6. The moon – the sun- bright. 7. Cats – dogs – intelligent 8. Train – car – fast.
Irregular verbs
Infinitive
Past Indefinite (Simple)
Past Participle
to be
to become
to begin
to break
to bring
to build
can
to choose
to come
to cost
to cut
to do
to drive
to eat
to fall
to feed
to feel
to fight
to find
to freeze
to get
to give
to go
to grow
to have
to hear
to hold
to keep
to know
to lead
to learn
to leave
to let
to lie
to lose
to make
may
to mean
to meet
to overcome
to pay
to put
to read
to ring
to rise
to run
to say
to see
to send
to set
to show
to sit
to speak
to split
to spread
to stand
to take
to teach
to tell
to think
to understand
to wear
to write
was, were
became
began
broke
brought
built
could
chose
came
cost
cut
did
drove
ate
fell
fed
felt
fought
found
froze
got
gave
went
grew
had
heard
held
kept
knew
led
learnt
left
let
lay
lost
made
might
meant
met
overcame
paid
put
read
rang
rose
ran
said
saw
sent
set
showed
sat
spoke
split
spread
stood
took
taught
told
thought
understood
wore
wrote
Been
Become
Begun
Broken
Brought
Built
--
chosen
come
cost
cut
done
driven
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
frozen
got
given
gone
grown
had
heard
held
kept
known
led
learnt
left
let
lain
lost
made
--
meant
met
overcome
paid
put
read
rung
risen
run
said
seen
sent
set
shown
sat
spoken
split
spread
stood
taken
taught
told
thought
understood
worn
written