Alena Nikita
Exam Preparation and
Practice Material
(profound level)
Content
USEFUL VOCABULARY ............................................................ 3
CARD 1 ................................................................................... 5
CARD 2 ..................................................................................12
CARD 3 ..................................................................................19
CARD 4 ..................................................................................26
CARD 5 ..................................................................................32
CARD 6 ..................................................................................40
CARD 7 ..................................................................................47
CARD 8 ..................................................................................53
CARD 9 ..................................................................................59
CARD 10 .................................................................................65
CARD 11 .................................................................................70
CARD 12 .................................................................................76
CARD 13 .................................................................................79
CARD 14 .................................................................................86
CARD 15 .................................................................................92
CARD 16 .................................................................................96
CARD 17 ............................................................................... 103
CARD 18 ............................................................................... 107
CARD 19 ............................................................................... 112
CARD 20 ............................................................................... 115
CARD 21 ............................................................................... 118
CARD 22 ............................................................................... 121
CARD 23 ............................................................................... 124
CARD 24 ............................................................................... 127
CARD 25 ............................................................................... 132
2
USEFUL VOCABULARY
PHRASE TRANSLATION
Let's clear it up.
As for...
And now about...
First, we need to talk about...
I will tell you about...
The plot centers round…
The scene is laid in…
The text highlights one of the vital issues…
The problem of… is the concern of the text.
The central conflict…
Аs far as I remember/ know…
If I'm not mistaken…
In fact…
By the way…
I would like to add that…
Wait a moment / just a moment /minute…
Let me think…
Well…
You see…
That’s an interesting question, thanks a lot.
3
Could you repeat, please?
Excuse me?
I got it.
I see...
I can’t say it's great.
It’s a pity, that...
It’s really interesting.
It is great! I like it!
I can’t say I agree.
To tell you the truth I have a different opinion.
I think so too.
I completely agree.
Quite so.
Аs for me…
I believe that …
In my opinion…
I'd like to point out that…
In my experience…
In conclusion I’d like to say that…
To sum up...
So the main idea is that...
In general...
4
CARD 1 VOCABULARY LIST
5
READING
1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
Are you proud of being Belarusian?
I am Belarusian because my parents who gave me life and brought me up are Belarusian.
And what if I were born in a different country on a different continent? In my opinion, a sense
of pride in your country, a sense of belonging to a particular nation develops in a person with
time. Therefore at my age, by the way I am 18, I can say quite positively, that I am proud to
live in Belarus.
The real treasure of Belarus is its wonderful nature. The country has hundreds of wild
forests, rolling hills, green valleys, sweet-scented meadows and golden fields. Beloveshzkaya
Pushcha is the only place where you can meet mighty European bison in the wild. Belarus is
also famous for its clear lakes and ribbonlike rivers, that’s why it’s called a blueeyed one.
The resorts of lakes Naroch and Braslav are open all year round and let tourists experience
the unforgettable peaceful atmosphere.
I am proud of the rich heroic history of my country and its people. Although for many
centuries we were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania1, the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwelth2 and then the Russian Empire3 we have managed to stay united and haven’t
lost our uniqueness. Many foreigners admit that our people are extremely sociable,
hospitable, and generous and we are welcoming with visitors. We are also described as
resourceful and peaceful. When socializing, Belarusians are open, warm-hearted, fun-loving,
humorous and outgoing in spite of all the difficulties they face in their life.
Of course I’m proud of our national holidays and traditions, especially those which are
deep-rooted and typical of our nation such as Kalyady, Maslenitsa, Dazhynki. They are
unique and make us stand out. Besides, they are of particular interest for tourists because they
reflect our culture.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that I’m proud of my country and its people. Each time I go
abroad I tell foreigners about our great past and achievements. Each time I leave the country
I want to come back again, because I miss it. If I were a talented painter, I would start drawing
pictures with its beautiful landscapes; if I could compose verses, I would write lyric poems
about it. Belarus is the place where my heart will always belong to!
1 the Grand Duchy of Lithuania [ˈɡrænd ˈdʌtʃɪ əv ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪə] Великое Княжество Литовское
2 the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwelth [ˈpəʊlɪʃ ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪən ˈkɒmənwelθ] Речь Посполитая –
федерация Королевства Польского и Великого Княжества Литовского
3 the Russian Empire [ˈrʌʃn ˈempaɪə] Российская империя
2. When did the author understand that he/she is proud of being Belarusian? Find this extract and read
it aloud.
6
3. What makes the author be proud of his/her Motherland?
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
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4. What would the author do if he/she were a creative person?
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EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Someone asks you what these statements mean. Choose the correct explanation.
1. A sense of pride in your country develops in a person with time.
a) You are taking pride in native land while growing up.
b) It takes much time to develop a sense of pride in your country.
2. When socializing, Belarusians are open, humorous and outgoing in spite of all the
difficulties they face in their life.
a) Belarusians have a lot of difficulties in socializing that’s why they are open, humorous
and outgoing.
b) Despite all the difficulties Belarusians are open, humorous and outgoing to have a deal
with.
3. Our national holidays and traditions are unique and make us stand out.
a) Belarusians are outstanding because of the national holidays and traditions.
b) People are delighted with our unique national holidays and traditions.
Exercise 2. What do you see in these pictures? What would you tell a foreigner about them?
7
LISTENING
Listen to the story about a girl and answer the questions below.
1. Why was Whitney worried about going to college?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
2. How did she find a friend?
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3. What lesson did Whitney learn?
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There was a time when Whitney didn't have a lot of friends. She was a bit shy and reserved
and kept herself to herself.
When it came time to go to college, Whitney was quite nervous. She was going to share a
room with someone she didn't know, with a complete stranger, and live far from her parents.
And she had no idea how she was going to make friends in this situation.
The first week of classes changed Whitney's life forever. In her English class, she was asked
to say some words about herself. So she told everyone some facts about her life and her
studies. The final question for each student was always the same: "What is your goal for this
class?" Whitney said that her goal was to make just one good friend.
While most of the students sat in silence, one student came to Whitney and held out his
hand and introduced himself. He asked if she would be his friend. The whole room was
silent — all eyes focused on Whitney. She smiled and gave her hand to the boy. A friendship
was formed. It was a friendship that lasted all through college. It was a friendship that brought
two people together in marriage. Whitney learned the power of asking for what she wanted,
being honest and taking action.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Make a plan of the story using key words.
No friends_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 2. Retell the story as if you are Whitney or her husband.
8
SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about accommodation. Tell about the house/flat you live in.
My home is my castle ‒ the proverb goes. It means that home plays a great role in our
life. It gives us a sense of stability, security and unity.
It goes without saying that types of living differ from country to country. There are
many types of housing: detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses and flats.
The most common type in Britain is a semi-detached house. It is a pair of houses that share
one common wall. The two houses are built to mirror each other. I believe that such houses
attract people because there is still some privacy even if one wall is shared by the two houses.
There is just one disadvantage that you cannot plan repairs or renovations as you have to
consider your twin house.
Speaking about our country, I can say that nowadays people prefer living in a block of
flats.
My family is not an exception. We have a nice flat in a ____-storey block of flats. Our
flat is on the _ floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and
hot running water, a lift. There are ___ rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a WC in our flat.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
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But the warmest place in our flat is the kitchen, I think ‒ the place where the whole
family gathers every evening not only to have dinner together, but also to speak and rest.
To sum up, I’d like to say that everyone is free to choose where to live. But it’s
important to say that it’s not the type of building but people who create a special atmosphere.
A cottage or a terraced house, a semi-detached house or a flat can be a heaven if people treat
it with care and love.
2. Are you good at housekeeping?
Frankly speaking, I'm not keen on tidying up either my room or our flat. But it's a
necessity for me. I can't say that I am a messy person, but I am very busy during the week at
school and with after-school activities. Every Saturday I do the room: I vacuum it, mop the
floor and arrange books and CDs in their usual order. Although all that makes me a bit
nervous, my room looks clean and attractive. My friends often come to my place and we like
to get together in my room. They say it's a cozy place for a teenager to live in.
3. Imagine you are buying a flat/house. What questions would you ask?
General: ______________________________________________________________________
Alternative: ___________________________________________________________________
Subject: ______________________________________________________________________
9
Special: ______________________________________________________________________
Disjunctive: ___________________________________________________________________
4. Your friend wants to decorate his / her new flat. Give him / her some advice how to furnish it.
In my view, a man's home is the reflection of his personality, as the clothes he wears,
the food he eats, the friends he spends time with. Flats reflect the ways of life and habits of
their owners. So, every person should furnish and do up his flat according to his taste. In case
of difficulties, I think it will be reasonable to surf the Internet in search of some examples of
a design. If you choose a certain style, then it will be easy to decide about the furniture. I
wouldn’t recommend overcrowding the room with the furniture. There should be everything
that is necessary. In this case you’ll have enough space and air in your room. Besides it’s
easier to clean such rooms. But the most important thing about the design of any room is to
make it cozy.
5. How do you see an ideal flat/house?
Many people like different things and I’ll tell you how I see an ideal apartment. Living
in a big house has some advantages but I am afraid that disadvantages can easily outweigh
the good things about it. Cleaning a big house takes quite a lot of time. Your place of living
should be spacious enough but the bigger house you have the more housework you will have
to do. A tiny cave is not an option and we all need modern conveniences but I firmly believe
that the simpler the better. Central heating, electricity and running hot and cold water are the
things we really need. Some say that access to the Internet is one the basic needs of a human
being but I suppose it is not of vital importance.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Find synonyms to the words and complete the table. Find antonyms in the dictionary.
WORD SYNONYM ANTONYM
vary
usual
significant
unique
restless
concerned
logical
cancel out
Exercise 2. Match the words to make up the word combinations. Use them to make true sentences
about you.
1 detached a conveniences
2 each b the better
3 modern c the floor
4 running d together
5 special e house
6 mop f other
7 get g water
8 the simpler h atmosphere
10
Exercise 3. Unscramble the questions and answer them.
1. types / you / what / of / know / houses / do?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. in / you / semi-detached / like / live / would / a / to / house?
___________________________________________________________________________
3. can / modern / you / conveniences / without / what / live?
___________________________________________________________________________
4. a / you / household / lot / you / of / don’t / have / chores / , ?
___________________________________________________________________________
5. cozy / makes / your / what / room?
___________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 4. Make a Mind Map to structure your speech.
11
CARD 2 VOCABULARY LIST
12
READING
1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2-3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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UNESCO World Heritage1 List
Belarus joined UNESCO in 1954. For many years, Belarus has been building up fruitful
and dynamic relations with international organizations. Belarus programme of UNESCO
activities includes numerous interesting projects in the fields of education, science,
information, communications, and, of course, culture. In October 1988, Belarus joined the
Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Today four Belarusian
sites have already been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In 1992, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a natural heritage object and a unique
European forest reserve which has been protected since the 14th century, was the first one to
become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 2000, the Mir Castle Complex, which was built at the beginning of the 16th century, was
also added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The successful combination of Gothic, Baroque
and Renaissance architecture2 makes Mir Castle one of Europe’s most impressive castles. In
2005, two more sites were included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are the
Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwills in Nesvizh and the Struve Geodetic
Arc points3.
For centuries the Nesvizh Palace used to be the residence of the Radziwills, one of the
richest families in Europe. Today the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve Nesvizh is
a wonderfully restored castle, which is visited by hundreds of tourists from all parts of the
world. No wonder, it has become a landmark of Belarus.
The Struve Arc is a world famous construction. The same sorts of points are in ten
countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine
and Moldova, all together 265 points. According to the historical data, there were 31 geodesic
points in Belarus, and only 19 survived.
Belarus is going to propose to add Independence Avenue in Minsk for inclusion into the
UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Socialist Postwar Architecture in Central and Eastern
Europe.
1 heritage [ˈheritidʒ] культурное наследие
2 Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture [ˈɡɒθɪk, bəˈrɒk, rɪˈneɪsəns ˈaːkɪtektʃə]
архитектура готики, барокко и ренессанса
3 the Struve Geodetic Arc points [ˈstruːv ˌdʒiːəʊˈdetɪk ˈaːk ˈpɔɪnts] Геодезическая дуга
Струве, представляющая собой цепь опорных пунктов наблюдения
2. Belarus is a member of UNESCO. Find this extract and read it aloud.
13
3. Which Belarusian sites are included on the list for protection?
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4. What other sites does the Belarusian government want to be on the UNESCO List?
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EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Complete the table. WHAT HAPPENED?
DATE
1954
October 1988
1992
2000
2005
Exercise 2. Make advertisements for tourists to visit the landmarks below.
14
LISTENING
Listen to the career counsellor speaking about choosing a career and answer the questions below.
1. Why is choosing the right job very important?
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Which jobs are popular among young people at present?
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3. What advice does the speaker give?
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Choosing a profession is one of the most important decisions that influences all our lives.
It is like choosing a wife or a husband to have children with, choosing friends to rely on.
There are many reasons for choosing this or that profession. Nowadays everybody's top
priority is money. In our materialistic world young usually try to get jobs that are paid well —
jobs connected with business, information technologies, politics, and so on. Jobs connected
with education and science are not so well paid, that is why they are not so popular among
young people.
Let me give you one piece of advice. Take into consideration such things as talent and
personal interest! Usually a person has talent in this or that sphere - science, art, music, etc. If
you haven't got abilities for the profession you have chosen, later you will face a lot of
difficulties. You will definitely have to study harder and spend more time training.
Interests are also very important. Isn't it great, when your job brings you moments of great
pride, joy and satisfaction? If you are not interested in what you are doing, you will never
achieve good results, and very soon you will feel that you are not in the right place.
EXTRA EXERCISE
Complete the Mind Map according to the text. Speak about any profession with the help of it.
15
SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about the education. What can you tell me about the system of education in Belarus?
Knowledge is power ‒ the famous saying suggests. One with knowledge can make a
better way in the world. That’s why the role and the importance of education can’t be
overestimated.
The system of education in Belarus is based on national traditions and global trends in
education area. Today Belarusian educational system includes pre-school education, general
secondary education, vocational education, secondary special education and higher
education.
The system of education includes different types of educational establishments:
kindergartens, nurseries, primary, basic and secondary schools, gymnasiums, lyceums,
vocational schools, colleges, universities, academies, institutes and higher colleges.
There are two official languages within the education system in Belarus, Russian and
Belarusian.
Pre-school education is not compulsory but around 70% of children attend nursery or
kindergarten before they start school. These institutions are for children under six years.
Children are taught pre-reading and pre-writing as well as basic mathematics.
Most children in Belarus start school at the age of 6. The school year begins on the first
of September for all forms and lasts thirty-four weeks. School education consists of primary,
basic and secondary school. The primary school and five-year basic secondary school are
compulsory.
During the first four years of school children learn such basic skills as writing, reading,
counting, get some information about nature and society, get acquainted with healthy way of
life.
At secondary school students study such subjects as the Belarusian and Russian
languages and literatures, a Foreign Language, History, Mathematics, Information
Technologies, Geography, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and so on. Students can also attend
optional classes if they want to study some subjects at a profound level.
The 10-grade assessment system of knowledge is used. Upon completion of the 9th
form students have to pass the examinations to receive the certificate of basic education.
Students can continue their education at secondary schools, gymnasiums, lyceums and
colleges. At the end of the 11th form students sit the final examination and if successful receive
the certificate of general secondary education.
After the 11th form students can enter a university to get a higher education.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that education is no doubt very important to everyone.
Besides, it helps a person to understand himself and to choose the right way in this world.
2. Do you agree that Belarusian secondary school provides a person with good knowledge? Why?
Belarusian secondary school gives a chance to get a good knowledge of the basics of
any science. The amount of knowledge you will have got by the age of 18 is incomparable to
that of my peers around the world. Teachers know a lot about the subjects they teach. They
are always ready to help a pupil to cope with a problem he /she has. Textbooks are well
written and you can find a lot of information by reading them. If you want to learn something
new and useful, you can do it at school if you try to follow teachers’ instructions.
16
3. Imagine you are talking to your peer from England about schooling. What questions would you ask
him/her about British educational system?
General: ______________________________________________________________________
Alternative: ___________________________________________________________________
Subject: ______________________________________________________________________
Special: ______________________________________________________________________
Disjunctive: ___________________________________________________________________
4. What can you advise a student who is not very good at languages to do to achieve better results?
Well, at first I need to find out the reasons why this student lags behind. If he’s
unmotivated, I’ll try to raise his motivation by saying that English is an international language
spoken in the whole world. Besides, it’s a must in every job nowadays. So the basic advice is
to take aside time for English every day: learn new words, read books and watch films in the
original, communicate with native speakers on special web-sites. Practice makes perfect!
5. If you were to write an article about school problems, what would you write about?
Educational process is not an easy one and is full of ups and downs. Talking about
downs, there are several problems students can face. Some may have difficulties in certain
subjects and start lagging behind other pupils. Some students lose their motivation to study
due to the lack of interest in different subjects, laziness or for other reason. It’s common
knowledge that environment has a big influence on a child. So if he or she doesn’t get along
with his / her classmates or teachers it can have a negative effect on the academic
performance. Bullying in schools is another problem. It can lead not only to problems with
studies but also to psychological traumas. To my mind, these are the widest spread problems.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Do the crossword.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Across
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX1 X 5. A business organization or public
institution. 7. These institution is for
XXX2 XXXXXXXXXX X children under six years. 8. The community
of people living in a particular country or
XXX XXX3 XXXXXX X region and having shared customs, laws,
and organizations.
XXX XXX XXXX4 X X
Down
XXX XXX XXXX X X
1. The action or process of finishing
XXX XXX XXXX X X something. 2. The evaluation or estimation
of the nature, quality, or ability of someone
XX5 X or something. 3. Facts, information, and
skills acquired by a person through
XXX XXX XXXX X X experience or education. 4. English,
French, Chinese are ... languages. 6. A
XXX X6 X XXXX X X cause, explanation, or justification for an
action or event.
X7 X X
XXX X X XXXXXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
XXXX8 XXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
17
Exercise 2. Match the words to make up the word combinations. Use them to make true sentences
about you.
1 face a behind
2 cope b acquainted with
3 educational c completion
4 take d problems
5 get e skills
6 lag f system
7 upon g aside
8 basic h with
Exercise 3. Make up questions to the following answers.
1. – __________________________________________________________________________
– It consists of primary, basic and secondary school.
2. – __________________________________________________________________________
– What takes me, I’ll choose Russian.
3. – __________________________________________________________________________
– Mike had difficulties with History because he had missed six lessons!
4. – __________________________________________________________________________
– Students don’t follow teachers’ instructions.
5. – __________________________________________________________________________
– You should attend optional classes.
Exercise 4. Complete the scale and speak about Ben’s lifelong education.
Exercise 5. Make your own lifelong education scale and speak about yourself.
18
CARD 3
VOCABULARY LIST
19
READING
1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
My ideal school
My ideal secondary school is a safe haven1. It shouldn’t be a place you hate going to, but
a place you enjoy attending. I believe it should be social, as well as educational experience.
A school should always have a soul… there should always be laughter ringing through the
corridors. (Angela, 15, Moscow)
My ideal school is a school quite unlike any school we’ve heard of. This school consists
of a large library and basic recreational facilities. There are no classrooms. The school is built
on the idea of active learning. No student is forced to learn. (Tanya, 14, Rome)
School is the mould2, which shapes our future. It’s where we spend most of our valuable
time – childhood. Yet I know from firsthand experience that many aspects should be changed:
the impersonal attitude of some teachers who do everything only for results, instead of
creating happy moments and valuable life experience for young people. These young people
are far from being an ‘empty pot’ who are ready to be filled with knowledge. They are simply
locked boxes full of potential which should be discovered by caring and encouraging teachers.
(Anna, 15, Riga)
Schools may be getting good results but they are not helping the students as individuals.
It seems to me that it’s the learner who should ask questions. Give us the freedom to ask
questions and do help us to find answers. Don’t you see we learn more from our experience
and when people trust and respect us? We learn from our mistakes as well. (Hero Joy, 14, Kent)
I think differences make the world go around. Good teachers know it more than Maths
rules. I think school must teach differences. And at the moment some schools are doing the
opposite, trying to make everyone normal. (Kate, 13, London)
Schools should develop creativity and dreams. When schools teach people not to seek
knowledge on their own, people become passive. Everybody has the right to be free and
choose what to be and what not to be, schools do not give that option, they have a ‘well
organised’ systematic life for you, in which you have to fit. (Luis, 15, Boston)
1 a safe haven [ˈheɪvn] надёжное, безопасное место
2 a mould [məʊld] матрица, шаблон
2. One of the children says that school should have a soul. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What do the children want to change at school?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
20
4. Why do the children want more freedom?
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EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Complete the table. Whose idea do you find topical?
CHILD MAIN IDEA
Angela At school we should not only study but communicate.
Tanya
Anna
Hero Joy
Kate
Luis
Exercise 2. Write your own opinion using the words below.
hate experience classroom learning valuable
results develop
mistakes teachers far from
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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21
LISTENING
Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.
1. What is wrong with the accommodation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Why did the boy oversleep?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What agreement did he reach with the person on Reception?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Jane: Hi! My name's Jane.
Peter: Hi, I'm Peter.
Jane: Have you been in London long?
Peter: I got here last week. I guess I've been in the hotel for a week now.
Jane: I've just arrived. What's the hotel like?
Peter: It's OK. Not perfect, but for this price, it's not bad.
Jane: Why? What's the matter with it?
Peter: Well, the heating doesn't always work, it was freezing in here yesterday, and the
breakfast is very early in the morning, today I overslept and missed it completely!
Jane: You overslept? Why was that?
Peter: You see, there's another boy in this room and he snores like really badly! And I couldn't
sleep at all!
Jane: Oh no! Well, I don't know what we can do about the breakfast, or the roommate, but
why don't we ask the hotel to fix the heating?
Peter: Hmmm, yes, what a good idea! Why didn't I think of that?
Peter calls reception.
Reception: Hello, reception.
Peter: Hello, I wonder if you can help me, the heating in our room doesn't seem to be
working, could you send someone to fix it?
Reception: What seems to be the problem with it?
Peter: I don't know, sometimes it doesn't work.
Reception: (sigh) I'll send someone along tomorrow.
Peter: Do you think you could send someone today? It's really quite cold.
Reception: OK, I'll see if the engineer is here today.
Peter: Thank you very much.
22
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Arrange the events in the correct chronological order.
Peter meets Jane.
1 Peter checks into the hotel.
The person on Reception promises to send engineer.
Another boy in Peter’s room snores at night.
Peter oversleeps and misses breakfast.
The heating doesn't work, that’s why it is freezing.
Jane advises Peter to ask the hotel to fix the heating.
Exercise 2. Retell the story as if you are Peter.
SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about the environment. What can you tell me about environmental problems?
Pursuing comfort people moved to cities, developed them, invented cars and
electricity. We benefited greatly from technological advances. But has nature benefited from
these changes? The answer is obvious – NO. In this pursuit of comfort, we completely
changed the face of the Earth. Recently people have become more and more aware of the
damage we caused. The humankind has hit on the idea that we should save our planet in
order to save ourselves.
Sadly, there are many problems which threaten our natural environment. Water and
soil pollution, the destruction of the ozone layer, acid rains, global warming, deforestation,
littering are among the most serious ones.
I’m not an ecologist to discuss all these things in details, but let me speak about global
warming. They say that our climate is getting warmer and warmer and call it global warming.
Environmentalists say that global warming is caused by emission of certain gasses such as
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which causes green-house effect. These changes in
climate can be dangerous because it can lead to the melting of the Arctic ice and the rise in
the level of the World Ocean. So, water will cover some land, plants and animals won’t be
able to survive.
One more thing that worries me very much is that many species of animals are
endangered because they are losing their natural habitat or their food is contaminated with
pesticides which slowly kill them. Many animals suffer from illegal hunting.
Now, some words about Belarus. The nature of Belarus has suffered much from the
Chernobyl disaster. It was caused by a nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986. The
radiation has spoiled our soil and air, rivers and lakes, it has poisoned our flora and fauna.
Besides it has badly affected the health of people.
To conclude I’d like to stress that we must do our best to save our planet. Fortunately,
it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology
to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place.
23
2. What do you think people should do to protect the environment?
I think that in the 21st century we feel responsible for the future of the planet like in no
other century. Not only should governments take measures to save our planet, but also
individuals. We should recycle paper and plastic bottles. It will help to save many trees and a
lot of electricity. What is more, in our everyday life we should sparingly consume gas and
water.
3. Ask your British friend about the measures that are taken to protect the environment in Britain.
General: ______________________________________________________________________
Alternative: ___________________________________________________________________
Subject: ______________________________________________________________________
Special: ______________________________________________________________________
Disjunctive: ________________________________________________________________
4. A friend of yours wants to develop a programme to protect the city where he lives. Give him a piece of
advice.
I would advise to carry out a survey identifying the main environmental problem in
the area. My friend may start cooperating with schools and universities to organize meetings
with pupils and students to inform them about the problem. These talks should inspire them
to participate in tackling this problem. I think it will be a good start of the programme.
5. Green School of the Year contest is held in the country and you want your school to enter it. Give ideas
for some green events.
If I were to participate I would avoid moralizing. Telling off is good when you deal
with little kids. To attract publicity, we should engage students in an ecological webquest. This
way, they can learn how to use eco-friendly things and reuse the leftovers. Practice what you
preach is my golden rule. To my mind the best green event I can think of is to plant some
trees. It will take them a few decades to grow and they will last 20 years to say the least.
EXTRA EXERCISES SYNONYM
Exercise 1. Find synonyms and complete the table
WORD
take part
gain
lately
mankind
influence
spoil
Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with prepositions.
1. To start this project you need to engage ___ conversation with local communities.
2. People everywhere are becoming aware ___ ecological problems.
3. We all have certain duties and jobs to carry ___.
4. Then we hit ___ the idea of asking people to donate money over the Net.
5. Underground waters and soil were usually contaminated ___ crude oil, chlorinated
carbohydrates, heavy metals and other toxic substances.
6. The hunter was relentless in pursuit ___ his prey.
24
Exercise 3. Decide whether the statements are true or false. Correct the false ones
1. Technological advances changed the face of planet a lot to say the least.
2. Melting of the Arctic ice can tackle the problem of global warming.
3. Animals are in danger because flora is contaminated with pesticides.
4. The Chernobyl disaster was caused by a nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1984.
5. To save our planet we should take such measures as using eco-friendly things and reusing
the leftovers.
Exercise 4. Create a Mind Map to structure your speech on environmental problems.
25
CARD 4
VOCABULARY LIST
26
READING
1. Read the part of a diary and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Anna’s diary
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1942
Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because
I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor
anyone else will be interested in the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Oh well, it
doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater need to get all kinds of things off
my chest1.
“Paper has more patience than people.” I thought of this saying on one of those days
when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands. I was
bored and wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was and decided
to start a diary. Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone
else read this notebook, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of
difference.
Now I’m back to the point that prompted me to keep a diary in the first place: I don’t
have a friend. Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl
is completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old
sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a bunch of admirers who
can’t keep their adoring eyes off me and who constantly try to catch a glimpse2 of me in the
classroom. I have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have
everything, except my one true friend.
All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk
about anything but ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get closer, and
that’s a problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t trust each other. In any case, that’s just
how things are. That’s why I started the diary.
To enhance3 the image of this longawaited friend in my imagination, I don’t want to
write only about facts, but I want the diary to be my friend, and I am going to call this friend
Kitty.
1 to get off one’s chest чистосердечно признаться в чем-либо, облегчить душу
2 to catch a glimpse [ɡlɪmps] увидеть (на мгновение)
3 to enhance [ɪnˈhaːns] усилить
2. The author writes when she decided to keep a diary. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What close people did Anna have?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
27
4. Why did Anna start writing in a diary?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Decide whether the statements are true or false. Correct the false ones
1. Anna had nothing to do, that was the main reason for her to keep a diary .
2. Anna could discuss only ordinary everyday things with her friends.
3. Anna needs a bunch of admirers to get all kinds of things off her chest.
4. Anna’ s real friend is Kitty.
Exercise 2. Have you ever kept a diary? What are the pros and cons of keeping it?
PROS CONS
LISTENING
Listen to Alice speaking about her first job and answer the questions below.
1. What job did Alice do?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What difficulties did she have?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What kind of knowledge and skills did she get at her first job?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
28
My name is Alice and I'd like to talk with you about my first job. After leaving school last
year, I decided it would be a good idea to visit my relatives in Australia and improve my
English. My uncle invited me to work in his shop, and thus I became a shop assistant. Of
course I hadn't had any previous experience in this kind of job and I was a bit worried. Those
days were the best training you can imagine. I really learnt a lot. If you are a shop assistant,
dealing with customers is one of the most difficult things to do. I discovered that some people
came to our shop not only to buy things but to talk with us. Now I think I can understand
people's behaviour much better than before, and especially that of the elderly. The most
difficult thing is money. When you work for the first time you feel really strange about it. For
about a month I kept making mistakes. But I was very lucky my uncle always helped me to
get out of the trouble. I learnt from him.
All in all, my first job was a very positive experience. I think I've become more tolerant
and open, more serious and responsible. Even though I had a lot of work to do, I have also
managed to become somehow relaxed and easy-going.
EXTRA EXERCISE
Role play the conversation between Alice and her best friend. Discuss the role of the following people,
things, etc. in her first job experience? What does she think about them?
29
SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about Belarus. What can you tell me about your Motherland?
Belarus is my Homeland. It is a country with unique history and rich cultural heritage.
Officially it is called the Republic of Belarus, a sovereign independent state with its own
government, constitution, state emblem, flag and anthem. It came into existence at the end
of 1991.
Belarus is situated in the centre of Europe. It borders on Latvia, Lithuania, Russia,
Ukraine and Poland. The population is about 10 million people. The territory of Belarus is
divided into 6 regions: Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno, Gomel, Minsk and Mogilev. Minsk is the
capital of Belarus.
Our native land is very beautiful with its blue lakes and ribbons of rivers edged with
thick forests, with its endless fields, meadows and swamps, with its varied and plentiful
animal and plant kingdom. The longest rivers are the Dnieper, the Nieman, the Western Bug
and the Western Dvina. The largest lake is Naroch which is located in a picturesque pine-
covered area. By the way, Belarus is often referred to as the blue eyed country.
More than a quarter of the country is covered with forests. The most famous is the
Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the home of European bison. This animal is one of the symbols of
Belarus.
My country is a developing industrial state. It’s known for its production of tractors,
bicycles, TV-sets, refrigerators, watches and many other goods. The country’s major crops are
potatoes, flax, barley, rye and sugar beet.
Throughout the history Belarus has suffered a lot. It was involved in many wars and
conflicts, because it’s situated at the crossroads of Europe. The greatest and the most
notorious event is the Great Patriotic War. But it’s necessary to admit that despite all the
hardships our country managed to preserve its unity and strong spirit.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that I’m proud of my country and its people. Belarus is
the place my heart will always belong to.
2. Do you know any symbols of our country?
As every sovereign state Belarus has its own national symbols. They include our
national flag which is a horizontal bicolour of red over green, with a red and white vertical
ornament on the left. The other national symbols are the national emblem and anthem.
I can also name some unofficial symbols of our country. They are the Cross of St.
Yefrossinia, a spiritual symbol of Belarus, the bison, which inhabits in Belovezhskaya
Pushcha, the stork and the cornflower.
3. What questions about Belarus do you expect to hear from a British teenager?
General: ______________________________________________________________________
Alternative: ___________________________________________________________________
Subject: ______________________________________________________________________
Special: ______________________________________________________________________
Disjunctive: ___________________________________________________________________
4. What Belarusian sights would you advise a foreigner to visit?
There are a lot of places in Belarus which are worth visiting, such as ancient towns,
monuments, museums. The best starting point for travelling, I think, is Grodno. The history
30
of Grodno is in its architecture, in the names of its streets and squares, in its monuments. On
the right bank of the River Neman you can see imposing buildings of the New and Old
Castles, Kolozha church, which are the architectural monuments, the relics of the past.
Then I will advise to visit the castles of Novogrudok, Mir, Nesvizh. Brest fortress is a
must for those who are interested in our history
5. They say that Belarus is at the crossroads of Europe. Explain why.
Some say that our motherland is somewhere in the heart of Europe. Many roads go
through Belarus and they naturally form the crossroad, that’s why it is often said to be situated
at the crossroads of Europe. Though it is correct geographically, spiritually we are more
diverse. Since we inherited a lot from the people we interacted with. In fact, due to its
geographical position Belarus was engaged in many international conflicts and wars.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Find synonyms for the following words in the text. Consult the dictionary to add more
examples.
WORD SYNONYMS
mother country
unparalleled
infamous
rich
difficulty
Exercise 2. Find the odd one out. Explain your choice.
1. Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Russia.
2. The Dnieper, Naroch, the Nieman, the Western Bug, the Western Dvina.
3. Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno, Pinsk, Minsk, Mogilev.
4. The bison, the national flag, the Slutsk belts, the cross of St. Yefrossinia of Polotsk.
5. TV-sets, bicycles, refrigerators, planes, watches.
Exercise 3. Make a plan of your speech. Designate all the sights and geographical objects on the
map.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
31
CARD 5
VOCABULARY LIST
32
READING
1.Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Be kind and stay safe
Everybody knows that we should be polite and kind to people in real life and online.
Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen. Where can you report online abuse1 or unkind
messages to yourself or your friends? Do you know how to report and complain about harmful
information online? For example, if you see an inappropriate tweet on Twitter you can click
on ‘more’ and then choose ‘Report tweet’. You can then block all further tweets from that
user.
Even celebrities can be cyberbullied2. Tom Daley, the British Olympic diver, was abused
online. His father died during the 2012 Olympic Games and Tom received some very cruel
tweets about his indifference towards his father’s health.
Here are our top tips for staying safe online:
1. Be nice! Treat people online as you do in real life.
2. Don’t post anything online that you wouldn’t want people in real life to see.
3. Check your privacy and security settings on social media sites and keep them as private
as possible. Make sure you know exactly who can see your posts.
4. Don’t ever post personal information like your home address, your email or your
phone number.
5. If you see something online that worries or upsets you, tell an adult about it straight
away.
6. Take part in Safer Internet Day.
Safer Internet Day, or SID for short, tries to help people to use the Internet correctly. SID
started in 2004 and is organised in February every year in 74 countries around the world to
promote safe and responsible use of online technology and mobile phones. Each year there is
a different topic such as cyberbullying or social networking. The focus for SID’s next
campaign is “Let’s create a better internet together”. SID organisers want children and young
people, parents and teachers, as well as businessmen and politicians to work together to build
a better internet for all of us, but particularly for children.
There are special lessons prepared for schoolchildren on Safer Internet Day in Britain.
You can find out about SID on this website: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/.
1 abuse [əˈbjuːs] оскорбление
2 to be cyberbullied [ˈsaɪbəbʊlɪd] быть преследуемым в киберпространстве
2. The journalist writes how to stop bad messages on Twitter. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What can we do to stay safe online?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
33
4. Why is SID a good way to stop abuse on the Internet?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
EXTRA EXERCISE
You are invited to speak about online safety. Prepare to give reasons for following these tips.
Go to the website http://www.saferinternet.org.uk to add more information.
TIP REASON
Be nice! Treat people online as you do in real
life.
Don’t post anything online that you wouldn’t
want people in real life to see.
Check your privacy and security settings on
social media sites and keep them as private as
possible. Make sure you know exactly who can
see your posts.
Don’t ever post personal information like your
home address, your email or your phone
number.
If you see something online that worries or
upsets you, tell an adult about it straight away.
Take part in Safer Internet Day.
34
LISTENING
Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.
1. Where does the conversation take place?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the man interested in?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. How much do you need to pay monthly?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Jackie: Hi! I'm Jackie. Welcome to Abbey Health Club!
Man: Thanks.
Jackie: If you follow me I'll give you a quick tour. Through there is the swimming pool. It's
open all the time except for Thursday afternoons, when it's closed for cleaning.
Man: I see.
Jackie: You can take classes in the pool if you like. We have 'Swim for fitness' classes and
'Water aerobics'. All classes are an hour.
Man: OK. And where is the gym?
Jackie: It's just up here. You can come here and exercise any time. There are lots of fitness
classes. We've got aerobics, cycling, running... lots of things. We have very experienced
coaches who will give you all necessary instructions how to keep fit and have fun. You will
build good muscles and look slim.
Man: How about yoga? Is there a yoga class?
Jackie: Sure. We have 'Yoga for beginners' and 'Intermediate yoga'.
Man: Great. Oh... and is there a car park?
Jackie: Yes, but you have to pay... about one pound for an hour, I think. We’re open from
six in the morning to ten at night Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday from 8
a.m. to 9 p.m. So... do you want to join?
Man: Er... how much is it?
Jackie: Well, it'll be £50 a month.
Man: I see. Well, thank you for your time.
Jackie: Thank you! See you soon, maybe!
Man: Yes... maybe.
35
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Complete the Mind map with information about Abbey Health Club. Would you like to
join it?
Exercise 2. Write an Instagram post to advertise Abbey Health Club.
36
SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about Britain. What do you know about this country?
What do we imagine when we think of Great Britain? The country is well known for
its changeable weather, extremely polite people, their love for animals and sport and, of
course the red post and letter boxes and double-decker buses.
The full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland. The United Kingdom is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two
large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and a great number of small islands. Their total area
is over 314 000 sq. km.
The UK is situated off to the northwest coast of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean
on the north and the North Sea on the east and is separated from the European continent by
the English Channel (or La Manche) and the Straits of Dover (or Pas de Calais). The two
main islands are: Great Britain to the east and Ireland to the west. They are separated by the
Irish Sea.
Geographically the island of Great Britain is subdivided into 2 main regions: Lowland
Britain and Highland Britain. Lowland Britain comprises southern and eastern England. The
main areas of high land are in Scotland and Wales. The highest mountains are Ben Nevis
(1,343m.), and Snowdon (1,085 m.) Of course, these are very small compared with other
mountains in the world - Everest. In fact, everything in the United Kingdom is rather small -
the longest rivers are the Severn, 354 km and the River Thames, 346 km. Despite its size,
there is a great deal of variety within the islands of the United Kingdom.
The population of the United Kingdom is over 58 million people. The main
nationalities are: English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish. In Great Britain there are a lot of
immigrants from former British Asian and African colonies.
Great Britain is a highly industrialized country. New industries have been developed
in the last three decades. The main industrial centres are London, Birmingham, Manchester,
Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Bristol.
The capital of the country is London. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is the Head of State, but in fact
she doesn’t rule the country. The most important function of the Queen is ceremonial. The
Queen is a symbol of the country history and its traditions. The real power belongs to the
British Government and to the British Parliament made up by the House of Commons and
the House of Lords. The Prime Minister is supposed to simply be the executive of a ruling
political party.
To conclude, I’d like to say that Great Britain is a unique place and is world famous
for its natural beauty and its historical landmarks.
2. Would you like to visit Britain? Why? Why not?
I’d like to visit Great Britain one day to see all the sights I have read about, to look at
Buckingham Palace, at Big Ben, to stay at Nelson’s monument at Trafalgar Square and to go
on double-decker bus. English is spoken everywhere, but as you know it is different in various
parts of the world. To taste British English is my main reason for going there. Books can tell us
what English was 10-15 years ago, but I want to know what today’s English is. The Internet is not
37
an option since there nobody knows that you are a dog. I’d like to have a word with real people in
real life situations.
3. What would you ask a British teenager about national holidays in Britain?
General: ______________________________________________________________________
Alternative: ___________________________________________________________________
Subject: ______________________________________________________________________
Special: ______________________________________________________________________
Disjunctive: ___________________________________________________________________
4. Give me a piece of advice on what sights to see in London.
London is worth visiting. Put on comfortable shoes, take a map and set off. You should
see Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London.
Don’t miss a chance to enjoy the architecture of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and
St. Paul’s Cathedral. If you’re a nature lover you’d better go to Hyde Park or St. James Park.
If I were in your shoes, I would walk and walk along London’s streets. Piccadilly Circus is
not a circus at all. It’s a square, where a lot of young people meet to go to the cinema or
theatre. In Trafalgar Square there are the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London.
5. Do you think the British differ greatly from Belarusian people in character? Why?
Between Belarusian and British I found some common characteristics, many
Belarusian people as well as many British people think of their land as great and strong and
the best on the whole world. But the British can be particularly and stubbornly conservative
about anything British. They are rather proud of being different. It is, for example, difficult to
imagine that they will ever agree to change from driving on the left-hand side of the road to
driving on the right. It doesn’t matter that nobody can think of any advantage in driving on
the left. British people are obliged by society stereotyping to be polite. British do not as a rule
express their real feeling. And Belarusian people are free to express their attitude, they are
sincerer. But anyway, there are plenty of things that I like about British: their humour
whatever it hides, I like the British breakfast, English tea, gardens, romantism and English
language.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Find the odd one out. Explain your choice.
1. London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow.
2. The Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Black Sea, the English Channel, the Straits of
Dover .
3. English, Welsh, Scottish, Portuguese, Irish.
4. Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London,
The Statue of Liberty.
5. Bath, attraction, sight, landmark, a place of interest.
Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps (one is extra). What else do you know about these sights?
Piccadilly Circus the Houses of Parliament Westminster Abbey Big Ben
Trafalgar Square the Tower of London Buckingham Palace Hyde Park
38
1. ____________ is surrounded by souvenir shops and places to eat. The square is actually
round.
2. __________ is most famous square with a column named after Admiral Nelson.
3. Now a museum, ___________ used to be a prison, the Royal residence and a treasure
house.
4. ____________ are officially known stands beside Westminster Abbey, by the Thames.
5. The clock tower, 98 m high, is known throughout the world as ___________. It is in fact
the tower bell, which weighs 14 tonnes.
6. _____________ is a large church where the coronations of many kings and queens took
place.
7. _____________ is the official London residence and principal workplace of the British
monarch.
Exercise 3. Write five statements about the UK. Work in pairs. Your partner should decide whether
each fact is true or false.
1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 4. Make a plan of your speech. Designate all the geographical objects on the map.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
39
CARD 6
VOCABULARY LIST
40
READING
1. Read the story and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Christmas Tree
Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark
was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew who it was from. We excitedly gathered around
mother as she opened it.
My Dear Mother,
I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas. I will miss all of you. Please leave the Christmas tree
up until I make it back. I hope to be home by March.
Love from your son,
Clifton.
I was 17 years old at the time. My heart sank. I felt a deep sadness that my favourite
brother would not be home for Christmas. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen1 and was
responsible for maintaining2 the airplanes flying off to fight in World War II. My mother,
being the optimist, said, “Well, it looks like we’ll get to have two Christmases this year!” After
Christmas, my sister and I worked together to make sure we kept that Christmas tree looking
as pretty as possible. This was no easy feat.
By mid-January, the branches dropped so low to the ground that they became a sliding
board for the decorations. Each day, ornaments would come crashing to the ground and there
were new pine needles3 all over the wooden floor. My sister and I took turns sweeping them
up. We moved the ornaments to the stronger branches on the tree, hoping they would stay
on.
Each time we freshened that tree up, my sister and I were full of thoughts about Clifton
and how happy we would be to see him again. It made us feel that he was close by, even
though he was hundreds of miles away. On March 5, the doorbell rang. We ran to the door
and gave Clifton a big hug. As he hugged Mother, I could see him looking over her head at
the Christmas tree.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Thank you.” Clifton opened his presents and told us all sorts
of stories about his work in Tuskegee. That night as we slept, we heard a crash in the living
room. We all ran to see what had happened. The tree had toppled4 onto the sofa and there
were needles and broken ornaments everywhere.
We all had a good laugh. It was fortunate that Clifton got home!
1 Tuskegee Airmen [tʌsˈkiːɡiː ˈeəmən] пилоты из Таскиги
2 to maintain [meɪnˈteɪn] обслуживать, готовить
3 a pine needle [ˈpaɪnˌ niːdl] сосновая иголка
4 to topple [ˈtɒpl] опрокинуться, свалиться
2. The family got a message from Clifton. Find the extract which says about it and read it aloud.
41
3. What was Clifton’s job?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Which facts show that all the family loved Clifton very much?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Explain what the author means by the phrases/ sentences given below.
1. My heart sank.
2. This was no easy feat.
3. … they became a sliding board for the decorations.
4. I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas.
5. My sister and I took turns sweeping them up.
Exercise 2. Arrange the key words and phrases to make a plan of the story. Retell it.
no easy feat
a crash
a letter
mid-January
March 5
LISTENING
Listen to three teenagers talking about homework and answer the questions below.
1. Why does the first speaker dislike doing homework?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What does the second speaker have regrets about?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the benefits of doing homework according to the third speaker?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
42
Speaker 1
Homework ________ my family. Whenever we want to _________ as a family, we can't
because I have my homework to do. And it just puts us in a bad ______. Nobody likes to help
me _____ my homework. When I get home I want to relax _________ having to work in my
spare time. I wish I could see the day when there is no homework. I hope to see _____ a day.
Speaker 2
In high school I did very _______ homework, except right before tests. I usually copied
homework. I ___________ and got into a really good college: now I’m ________. I can't do
my homework properly just because I have huge amounts of it. I practically have no time to
_________ it all even though I have no job, not to mention that I never party or go out. It's a
pity that I haven't got ______ to doing homework.
Speaker 3
Everybody hates homework at some _______ just because we get too much of it. I used to
hate the idea of homework, but within the last years I _________ that any school wants what's
best for your own future. You may be young, and you don't understand what homework does,
but it _________ a sense of logic. Not only does it make you more intelligent, but it also
enhances your personality. It makes us more disciplined and ________ for future working
obligations.
EXTRA EXERCISE
What are the pros and cons of homework? Have a class debate.
PROS CONS
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
43
SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about science and modern technologies. Tell me about the latest scientific achievements and
discoveries.
Our century has seen great changes in the life and living conditions of people. Less
than a hundred years ago, many of the things that we do now seemed impossible. No one
could imagine that people could fly or that we could listen to music thousands of miles away.
Science is creating wonders almost every day. Technological advances have influenced
every sphere of our life. When you wake up with your alarm clock, open the refrigerator for
a glass of milk or write down your homework you're using technology! Someone thought of
the idea, did something about it, and now we all benefit from it.
First of all, science changed our daily routine, transforming our houses into smart
homes. Nowadays almost every corner of our houses is occupied with modern appliances,
which make our life safer, easier, and more convenient.
Science has greatly improved medical services. The microscope and the X-ray have
become real blessings to humanity. Latest inventions help to diagnose patients with serious
diseases at early stages and start treatment early. Chemists have invented the wonder drugs
which cure previously fatal diseases and as a result save lives of thousands of people.
Cloning, space trips and robots are the miracles of the modern times.
And of course science has affected modern means of communication. In the past it
took people weeks and even months to deliver a message from one person to another. Since
the invention of mobile phones and the Internet quality of communication has improved
greatly. Modern technology helps us to find long-lost relatives and childhood friends. Social
networks and applications like Zoom help us to keep in touch with friends and strengthen the
ties regardless the distance.
Advanced technologies also enable us to communicate knowledge nowadays. Just
press the button and the biggest encyclopedia in the world is at your disposal. Google updates
us on the latest news, discoveries, inventions and events. It saves our time and makes our life
more and more convenient.
As you can see in our daily life science has been great help and we benefited from it a
lot.
2. Do all scientific discoveries have a positive effect on our lives?
In my opinion, not all scientific discoveries have a positive effect on our lives. For
example, there are several disadvantages in using modern means of communication. Fast and
effective technology turns us into couch potatoes. What is more, computers make people
addicted. Doctors link several serious health problems such as obesity, heart disease, strokes
and cancer with addiction to computer and TV watching. So we should be very careful with
modern means of communication.
3. What questions will you ask an outstanding scientist?
General: ______________________________________________________________________
Alternative: ___________________________________________________________________
Subject: ______________________________________________________________________
Special: ______________________________________________________________________
Disjunctive: ___________________________________________________________________
44
4. Give me a piece of advice on how to make my house more secure and comfortable for living. What
modern gadgets can I use?
Smart homes obviously make life easier and more convenient. To secure your house,
you'd better install an alarm system. Fire alarm may also be useful. A video door phone
provides more than a doorbell - you get a picture of who's at the door. Motion sensors will
inform you when there's movement around your house. Door handles can open with scanned
fingerprints.
5. Adults think that the Internet influences negatively the development of teenagers' thinking skills.
Children, on the contrary, believe that it's impossible to imagine our modern world without the Internet.
What do you think about it?
The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many people.
Personally, I can’t imagine my life without the Internet. Thanks to it I have an access to news,
documents, images, sounds, video and games, I can stay in touch with friends worldwide,
book tickets and buy things online. However, spending much time in front of the screen is a
problem nowadays, especially for children. They forget about the real world, about their real
friends, stop studying well. Besides, it does much harm to their health. For example, if people
spend much time in front of the screen, they have problems with their eyesight and sleep.
They don't go out or exercise, they feel exhausted and depressed. Computer games can cause
addiction and make people aggressive. As for mobile phones, they use electromagnetic
radiation which can influence our health in a negative way.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Do the crossword
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ACROSS
4. to be helped by something or to help
XXXX1 XXXXXXXXXXXXXX someone 8. a program that is designed
for a particular purpose 9. despite;
XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX not being affected by something
XX2 X XXXXXXXXXXXXXX DOWN
1. a piece of kitchen equipment that
XX X XXXXXXXXXXXXXX uses electricity to preserve food at a
cold temperature 2. an object that
XX X XX3 XXXXXXXXXXX causes a feeling of great surprise and
admiration 3. very serious and having
XX X XX XXXXXXXXXXX an important bad effect in the future 5.
the careful study of the structure and
X4 XXXXXXXXXXX behaviour of the physical world 6. a
device that uses lenses to make very
XX X XX X5 XX6 X7 XXXX small objects look larger, so that they
can be scientifically examined and
XXXX8 XXXX studied 7. to affect or change how
someone or something develops,
XXXX XXXX XX X XXXX behaves, or thinks
XXXX XXX9 X
XXXX XXXX XX X XXXX
XXXXXXXXX XX X XXXX
XXXXXXXXX XX X XXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX X XXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX X XXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
45
Exercise 2. Arrange the words to make questions. Answer them.
1. technological / what / you / do / use / home / advances / at?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. what / do / use / communication / you / prefer / to / of / means?
___________________________________________________________________________
3. coach / turn / can / a / Internet / you / into / the / potato?
___________________________________________________________________________
4. diseases / people / cure / fatal / can?
___________________________________________________________________________
5. person / are / the / from / ways / of / a / what / message / one / to / delivering /
another?
___________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 3. What’s the impact of science and modern technologies on our lives? Complete the table
below.
DAILY ROUTINE MEDICAL SERVICES MEANS OF
______________________ _______________________ COMMUNICATION
______________________ _______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________ _______________________ ______________________
______________________
________________ ______________________
46
CARD 7
VOCABULARY LIST
47
READING
1. Read the story and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Condemned Room1
Dear Mom,
I am working very hard on cleaning my room. But I want to go to Katy’s this afternoon to work on
our Halloween costumes. Can I finish tomorrow? I would get up early and do it before breakfast and I’ll
do a good job. Please, write back.
Love, The Prisoner in Tower № 3
Dear Prisoner,
No.
Love, Mom.
For days Sam’s mother never came up to her room. And then one day Sam came home
from school and found the Condemned sign on her door. Her mother had made the sign. It
said: “The room is condemned. Its owner may not go anywhere or do anything until the area
is restored”. In other words, Sam was to stay in until she cleaned her room.
It wasn’t fair. She was always getting the Condemned sign. Her brother hardly ever did.
And his room was really disgusting, with posters of rock stars and basketball stars and movie
stars wearing tiny bikinis covering every inch of his walls. But, her mother pointed out, his
floor was clean and his desk as well. That was all she cared about.
Sam had been in her room for three hours now. She sat on the floor, looking at everything
she was supposed to be putting away. It was possible she might be there all day. There were
her clothes, lying high on her chair and overflowing onto the floor. Dirty shoes. An umbrella
from when it rained on Tuesday. Library books. Magazines with pictures of cool teen movie
stars that Rebecca had given her. Her piano music from yesterday’s lesson. And different little
things: nail polish remover, cotton balls, a tennis-ball, a note pad from Katy, rocks from rock
collection they were making for science, pencils, chewing gum. And about twelve dirty
handkerchiefs.
The thing to do, Sam decided, was sort everything into piles. A pile of dirty laundry, a
pile of her dresser drawers, a pile to throw away. That was how her father, the organization
man, would do it. She sighed. It was impossible to imagine she couldn’t leave her room all
weekend. She decided to paint her finger nails instead.
1 a condemned room [kənˈdemd ˈruːm] комната, признанная небезопасной для
проживания
2.The author tells us about her brother’s room. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What made Sam’s Mum write a message?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
48
4. Is Sam going to clean the room? Why do you think so?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. How are the given words spelled correctly? Write them into the gaps.
[saɪn] ['prɪz(ə)nə]
[rɪ'stɔːd] ['dɜːtɪ]
[wud] ['taɪnɪ]
['hæŋkəʧɪf] [ɪnʧ]
[dɪs'gʌstɪŋ] ['ʧuːɪŋ]
['lɔːndrɪ] [saɪ]
Exercise 2. Are these statements true or false? Correct the false ones.
1. Sam was working hard on the essay.
2. Sam wanted to go to Katy’s that afternoon.
3. One day Sam came from school and saw flowers at her door.
4. Sam’s mother never came up to her room.
5. The floor in her brother’s room was clean and his desk as well.
6. Sam was allowed to go anywhere or do anything until the area restored.
7. Sam had been in the room for two hours.
8. There were about twenty dirty handkerchiefs on the floor.
9. She sorted everything into piles.
10. Sam decided to read an interesting book instead of cleaning the room.
LISTENING
Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.
1. Where was Tina going to?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What happened at the airport?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
49
3. Why was Tina scared during the flight?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Man: And what about you, Tina? Have you got a _______ about a journey you remember?
Tina: Yes, I have actually. There's one journey I'll never forget. I was going to Hong Kong,
from London. The flight was _______ in the morning, so I made up my _______ to spend the
night before the flight in a hotel near the airport. When I woke up it was after five o'clock.
You know you have to get there early to _______ in, right? So I panicked, took my bags and
rushed outside, looking for a taxi. Luckily, after a few minutes an _______ bus came along.
When I got there, it was actually nearly six so I thought, you know, I've missed my plane.
The whole terminal was empty except for a huge crowd of people at one _______ and luckily,
that was the _______ for my flight. It was delayed! Yeah. I was really pleased... but the delay
went from one hour to nine hours! Finally, at around three o'clock, the plane took off. But
the worst part was yet to come! After a few hours there was a _______ storm and the plane
started bouncing around all over the place. I was really scared. And then! The worst thing of
all — the oxygen _______ dropped down. I put my mask on and just sat there in absolute
terror. Anyway, the plane didn't crash, thank God, and we got to Hong Kong OK in the end,
but what a _______! I'll never forget it.
EXTRA EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Choose the right answer. 4. Tina got to the airport by ____.
a) bus
1. Tina was going to ____ from ____. b) bike
a) London, Hong Kong c) taxi
b) Paris, Moscow
c) Hong Kong, London 5. The plane took off at ____.
a) three o’clock
2. The flight was ____. b) five o’clock
a) early in the morning c) twelve o’clock
b) late at night
c) at midday 5. Tina will never forget ____.
a) the crash
3. When Tina woke up it was ____. b) a storm
a) 8 o’clock c) a huge crowd
b) 5 o’clock
c) 11 o’clock
Exercise 2. Are these statements true or false? Correct the false ones.
1. Tina was going to Hong Kong by train.
2. She decided to spend the night before the flight in a hotel near the airport.
3. Tina has missed the plane.
4. There was a huge storm and the plane started bouncing around all over the place.
5. The plane didn’t crash but they didn’t get to Hong Kong.
50
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