Exam Preparation and Practice Material (profound level)

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about travelling and tourism. What role does travelling play in your life?

Travelling nowadays has become an important part of modem life. Millions of people
all over the world travel about their own countries and to foreign lands as well.

People travel to visit natural destinations such as seas, lakes, rivers, mountain ranges,
deserts and so on. They also visit built destinations and resorts. There are such types of
tourism as domestic tourism when people visit destinations in their country, outbound
tourism when people visit other countries and incoming tourism that involves people arriving
from other counties. People can go to some destination on holiday, which is called leisure
tourism, or on business. There is also such purpose of travelling as visiting friends and
relatives.

Personally, I enjoy travelling because it broadens the mind. It is always interesting to
discover new things and other ways of life, to meet different people, to taste different food,
examine various architectural styles, visit museums and picture galleries. Travelling is a
remarkable key to understanding other cultures, a wonderful opportunity to learn more about
the world we live in. You will appreciate your own life and see things in a different way.

Nowadays in the era of a great number of reliable types of transport, open borders and
affordable tickets one can consult numerous travel agencies which suggest a wide range of
tours. You just need to choose a destination, hop on a bus, train or plane and prepare yourself
for a life changing experience.

I am really fond of travelling and I have tried different means of transport already.
Each type of transport has its own advantages to offer. Planes are fast, buses are cheap, and
trains, my favourite means of transport, are comfortable and romantic.

Whatever type of transport and destination you choose, be sure that you will return
from your trip changed, transformed. Just travel with open eyes and heart and you will learn
a lot of precious lessons.

2. Do you like to travel by train? Why?
As for me, I prefer travelling by train because it is comfortable, there is more space

than in a car or a bus. Trains have special atmosphere. But in future I would like to try to
travel by plane because it is the fastest way of travelling and they say it is the safest one.

3. What questions would you ask a tour guide on a tour of London?
1. General: ___________________________________________________________________
2. Alternative: ________________________________________________________________
3. Subject: ____________________________________________________________________
4. Special: ____________________________________________________________________
5. Disjunctive: ________________________________________________________________

4. What can you advise a person who doesn’t know where to spend his / her holiday?
My advice will depend on a person who will ask for it. If he has a busy lifestyle, full

of stressful situations I will advise him to go to a place where he can relax and forget about
everything I mean some faraway places with blue seas and golden beaches. If he is young and
energetic he should go to less popular places where he will not find numerous tourists but the
place where very few travelers set their feet on. Only then, will your photos be rare and can
you be proud of your unusual journey.

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5. Today people are tired of exotic countries and prefer to spend holidays in the countryside in Belarus.
What can attract people to it?

Spending holidays in the countryside has a lot of advantages. First of all, you can
escape from the noise of big cities and enjoy the beauty of nature. There are many beautiful
rivers and lakes which are noted for their transparent water and delightful banks. On the
whole, our republic is known for its inexpressible beauty and picturesque landscapes, so a
holiday in the countryside of Belarus will be really enjoyable. Besides it is much cheaper than
going to some exotic country. And as we all know “East or West home is best”.

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CARD 17

VOCABULARY LIST

103

READING

1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

MOTHER TERESA
Mother Teresa was a simple nun1. She never wanted to be famous, but everyone in the
world knows who she is.
Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in what is now Macedonia2. She was the youngest of
three children. Agnes’3 father died when she was a child. Her mother made dresses to support
the family. Agnes’ mother also liked to do charity work, such as visiting the sick. Agnes often
went with her, and she enjoyed helping these people.
Even as a child, Agnes wanted to be a nun. When she was 18 years old, she joined a
group of nuns in India. There, she chose the name Teresa. Then she went to Calcutta to work
at St. Mary’s School, in a convent4. Sister Teresa worked there for 20 years and eventually
became the principal.
One day in 1946 Sister Teresa was riding on a train to Darjeeling5. She looked out of the
window and saw dirty children wearing rags and sleeping in doorways. Sick and dying people
were lying on dirty streets. At that moment, she believed God sent her a message. She decided
to go to work with the poor.
Two years later, Sister Teresa left the convent and opened a school for the kids from poor
families. Though at the very beginning the school had no roof, no walls, and no chairs, later
it became well-known all around India. In 1948, Sister Teresa started her own group of nuns.
They were called the Missionaries of Charity. The nuns lived in the slums6 with people who
were poor, dirty, and sick. It was hard work and the days were long. But many young nuns
came from around the world to join Mother Teresa.
Later, she started homes for children without families. She also started clinics. Over the
years, news of her work spread around the world. Many people sent her donations of money,
others came to work with her. By 1990 the Missionaries of Charity were working in 400
centres around the world.
Mother Teresa got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. But she always said her greatest reward
was helping people. Her message to the world was: ‘We can do no great things — only small
things with great love’.
1 a nun [nʌn] монахиня
2 Macedonia [ˌmæsəˈdəʊnɪə] Македония
3Agnes [ˈæɡnɪs] Агнес
4 a convent [ˈkɒnv(ə)nt] монастырь
5 Darjeeling [daːˈdʒiːlɪŋ] Дарджилинг (город)
6 slums трущобы

2. The author writes about Mother Teresa’s family. Read aloud the extract which says about it.

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3. Why did Mother Teresa decide to devote her life to people in need?
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

4. What did Mother Teresa do for people?
_____________________________________________________________________________
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LISTENING

Listen to the interview and answer the questions below.

1. What does Jackie want to become?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Why has she chosen this profession?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. Why is it important for students to do sport at school?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Jackie: Hello, Mrs Spence. Nice to ________ you.
Mrs Spence: Hello, Jackie. So, you've applied to do a __________ course here.
Jackie: Yes, that's right.
Mrs Spence: I'd like you __________ me why you want to be a teacher.
Jackie: Well, I've always loved ___________ things and helping people. I'm not looking for
an easy job — I like a _________! I also want to work with young people.
Mrs Spence: And why have you decided to become a ______ teacher?
Jackie: I love all sports and I really believe it's ____________ for young people to do sport at
school. Well, first of all, we all know it's important for our health to keep ____________ fit.
Secondly, physical exercise is good for our _________ well-being and self-esteem. Finally,
playing sport teaches young people important _________ lessons, like the importance of
teamwork, discipline and fairness, for ____________.
Mrs Spence: OK, thank you. And, where does your _________ for sport come from?
Jackie: Hmm, let me think. It's difficult to choose one thing in particular… I grew up around
sport. My mum was a really good athlete, _____________.
Mrs Spence: Oh, yes?

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Jackie: We used to go and see her __________ marathons, which made a big impression on
me as a child. I ________ it's in my blood.
Mrs Spence: OK, thank you very much, Jackie. Now I'm going to show you _________ the
college...

SPEAKING
1. Let’s talk about accommodation. What type do the Belаrusian like most?
2. Do you agree that living in a flat is better than living in a house? Prove your point of view.

I think living in a flat / house is better, because…
There is less space in a flat than there is in a house. For example, there is no room to store
huge things such as exercise equipment.(house)
If you live in a flat, you have to follow a lot of rules. For instance, you are allowed to have a
limited number of pets. (house)
Living in a house can be quite expensive. For instance, there are bigger bills for things such
as electricity and heating.(flat)
A house needs more looking after than a flat. For example, the roof, outside doors and extra
rooms all need mending from time to time, which results in more household repairs.(flat)
3. Ask me about the place I live in.
4. People want to make their houses cozier and more comfortable. Advise them what to start from.
5. They say, “A man's home is his castle.” What’s an ideal house for you?

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CARD 18

VOCABULARY LIST

107

READING

1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

The most mystique1 picture
Every hour about 1,500 people visit the Louvre Museum in Paris with the specific
intention of seeing one particular painting: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Most of these
visitors look at the painting for about three minutes before they walk back to the tourist buses
outside.
Leonardo loved the painting very much and people say that he took it everywhere with
him. The painting was originally ordered by a rich businessman in Florence, who wanted a
portrait of his wife, Lisa. Leonardo began the painting in 1503 and he finished it about three
or four years later. The fact that Leonardo wanted to keep the painting himself, adds to the
Mona Lisa’s mystique.
Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile has fascinated everyone who has ever seen the painting.
In his Lives of the Artists, written just a few years after Leonardo’s death, Giorgio Vasari wrote,
‘While painting Mona Lisa Leonardo employed singers and musicians to keep her happy and
so avoid the sadness that painters usually give to portraits. As a result, there was a smile that
seemed divine2 rather than human; and those who saw it were amazed to find how alive and
real it appeared.’
Modern art critics also emphasise how the portrait seems alive and real. ‘She is like a
living person,’ writes art historian E.H. Gombrich, ‘She seems to change before our eyes.
Even in photographs we can experience this strange effect. Sometimes she seems to be looking
down on us, and sometimes we can detect sadness in her smile. All this sounds rather
mysterious, and it is; that is so often the effect of a great work of art.’
The Mona Lisa is certainly a masterpiece, a magnificent work of art, but it is also a part of
modern popular culture. Her image appears on plates, T-shirts, mouse pads and in
advertisements. Perhaps for this reason, officials at the Louvre Museum placed the painting
in a specially built area in a room with other great 16th century Italian paintings. In this way,
visitors have a better chance to appreciate the painting as a work of art rather than as a tourist
attraction.

1 mystique [mɪˈstiːk] таинственный
2 divine [dɪˈvaɪn] божественный

2. Why is Mona Lisa smiling? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. What makes the Mona Lisa so special?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

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4. Why is the painting displayed in an exceptional way?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

LISTENING

Listen to the conversation between two friends and answer the questions below.

1. What does Christian want to become?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Why does Kate need to learn English?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. What piece of advice does Christian give to his friend?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Christian: Hello, Kate! I hear ________ learning English now. Why?
Kate: Hi, Christian. Oh, yes. Two years ago I learned French, but now I ____ English for my
future ________.
Christian: You're right. As for me, my ambition is to be a businessman and it's impossible to
become a _________ businessman in Norway if you don't know English. That's why I'm
learning English hard now and I ___________ special courses.
Kate: So do I. My ambition is to be a tourist ________. I'll visit different countries and talk to
different people. When you are in different countries, you can ________ a lot better if you
understand people and people understand you.
Christian: Right! English is an _____________ language nowadays.
Kate: Your English sounds perfect. How long have you been learning it?
Christian: Well, for about ______ years now.
Kate: Can you give me any advice about learning English?
Christian: ________, you say you like travelling, right?
Kate: Yes, I've already been to some _________ countries but unfortunately, not to English-
speaking ones.
Christian: That doesn't matter. When you travel, try to speak English as ________ as
possible. ________________ is very important if you want to speak English well.
Kate: I agree with you. Thanks a lot for your advice!

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SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about family traditions. Does your family have any traditions?
I believe that everything has its beginning in the family. In my opinion, a family is an

emotional center of a person’s life, transmitter of culture, traditions, moral values, and the
place where children are raised. It is a place where you feel support and understanding, where
you learn how to behave, communicate and interact with other people.

Nothing unites a family more as its traditions. In our family there is a tradition to drink
tea speaking about our working day, share impressions and good news, discuss our challenges
and make plans for the coming day. To my mind, it helps us learn more about one another
and makes our family united. We enjoy going to the cinema and cafes together. In winter we
often ski and skate. In other seasons we enjoy riding bikes, going to theme parks or visiting
famous sights of our country. We visit our extended family. It's also our family tradition to
spend summer holidays together either at the seaside or in the country, which I enjoy very
much.

Our family traditions are also connected with some holidays. Apart from national
holidays there are family holidays like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. A birthday is
always a happy event in our family. On these days we usually have a party. Friends and
relatives come with flowers and gifts and a festive dinner is served with plenty of delicious
food to eat. Afterwards the guests either dance or sing, listen to music or just chat.

But I should say that my favourite tradition is to celebrate the New Year. It’s a special
holiday with its charm and surprises. We cook a lot of delicious food for the night meal which
usually starts at 11 p.m. We sing songs, play games and give presents to one another.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that family traditions play one of the most significant
roles in family life. They can differ from family to family, from country to country, but they
have one common purpose ‒ to create an atmosphere of friendship, happiness and love.

2. Is it important to spend free time with your family? Why (not)?
Yes, of course it is. But to tell you the truth, I don’t often spend time together with my

family on weekdays. But on Sunday we try to organize something to have time for each other.
We visit our grandparents and friends, go shopping, go for a walk or just eat out. In summer
we often go somewhere together to the seaside or to the country. I like such holidays because
usually we have a lot of fun.

3. What will you ask your British friend about his/her family traditions?
1. General: ___________________________________________________________________
2. Alternative: ________________________________________________________________
3. Subject: ____________________________________________________________________
4. Special: ____________________________________________________________________
5. Disjunctive: ________________________________________________________________

4. What can you advise people who want to have a good relationship with their parents and
grandparents?

First of all, I can advise for anyone to try to understand the feelings of your parents
and grandparents and show respect to them. Even if you don’t agree with their thinking, try
to make them understand politely, don’t use harsh words with them which may hurt. It’s

110

important to remember your parents’ and grandparents’ birthdays. It will make them realize
that you care for them.
5. What is your favourite family tradition?
Family traditions are the things we do as members of a family. They are very important as
they create specific memories which form our personality when we grow up. Nowadays
people always hurry up to keep up with the others. They even don’t have enough free time
to eat in the evening just to enjoy the time they spend together. In our family we have a
tradition to eat out once a month. We go to some cafe to have fun and celebrate something.
While going to some place we usually switch off our mobile phones as nobody can disturb
us. It gives some sense of unity.

111

CARD 19

VOCABULARY LIST

112

READING

1.Read the book review and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Book Review

The Guinness Books of World Records1 have certainly changed a lot in the last 60 years. The
first Guinness Book was published in August 1955 in London, in Britain. Most editions were
small paperbacks printed in black-and-white and contained more text than photographs.
Now, there are colour pictures on every page — and the book also includes 3-D images.

This fascinating collection of records is divided into chapters on Space, The Living Planet,
Being Human, Human Achievements, Spirit of Adventure, Modern Life, Science & Engineering,
Entertainment, Sports, and the Gazetteer2.

Here you will see and read about extremes: for example, the world’s tallest, oldest,
shortest, and tiniest — people, plants, animals, buildings. Some have set records for pulling
buses, kissing, swimming, ironing clothes, running, and for having the longest legs, the
smallest waist, etc.

Some images are a bit strange to look at for too long — check out the woman with the
longest fingernails in the world. Also, one man had 14 operations to make himself look like a
cat.

There’s a wide range of amazing facts contained on these pages. What is the world’s most
expensive hamburger? — It is available in a New York restaurant for $120. Who had the most
hit singles on the US music charts? — Elvis Presley, of course, with 151 between 1956 and
2003 (and he died in 1977!). One of the most colourful sections shows records related to space,
including some fantastic photographs of Jupiter. Take a look at the top movies such as the
first summer blockbuster of all time, the first movie with Dolby sound, and the first to be more
expensive than $100 million.

As always, there’s a helpful index in the back of the book, in which you can find subjects
of interest in alphabetical order.

Please note that some stunts3 in this book would be quite dangerous — or at least terribly
painful — for you to attempt to meet or beat them. Therefore, please don’t attempt to set any
world records that would cause risk to you or to others!

1 the Guinness [ˈɡɪnɪs] Books of World Records [ˈrekɔ:dz] Книга рекордов Гиннесса
2 Gazetteer [ˌɡæzəˈtɪə] географический справочник
3 a stunt [stʌnt] опасный трюк

2. The author describes how The Guinness Books of World Records changed with time. Find this
extract and read it aloud.
3. What information will you find in this book?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

113

4. Why can this book be interesting for the reader?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

LISTENING

Listen to the young man describing where he lived and answer the questions below.

1. Why did the man’s family have to rent a flat for about a year?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. What was their flat in the capital like?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. How many people is he sharing the flat with at present?
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Young man:
When I was _____, my parents were living in a house in a small village about 20 kilometres

away from the capital. I was _______ years old when my brother was born and my parents
decided we needed a larger home. So we _______ into a rented flat and we lived there for
____ months, while the new block of flats we were going to move to was _______ completed.
I don't think my parents liked the _______ flat because it was even smaller than our old house.

We finally moved into the _______ at the beginning of ______. Our flat wasn't really large,
only ___ square metres, but there was enough _____ for two adults and two small boys. There
were __ bedrooms, a cosy living-room with a ________, a small bathroom and a kitchen,
where we used to have the family _______ as well.

We lived in the same flat all the ______ I was at school. I only moved house again when I
______ university. Rents were quite ___________ so I decided to move into a shared flat. Five
of us rented a large flat in the _____ centre. I had the time of my life! I'm still living in the
same town, but I'm ________ with just one person now. It's more comfortable, and of course,
there is more _________ but I often miss the big parties we used to have.

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about choosing a career. What kind of job do you want to have in future?
2. Do you need special qualities to become a true professional?
3. You are an employer. What questions do you expect from your applicant at a job interview?
4. Give me some advice on how to prepare for a job interview.
5. To be a professional you need to know a foreign language. What do you think about it?

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CARD 20

VOCABULARY LIST

115

READING

1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________

ARE YOU READY TO BE INDEPENDENT?

Angela Rowlands recently tested her teenage children’s ability to do basic household jobs
in the house. When Angela and her husband Ben went to Spain for a few weeks’ holiday on
the Costa Brava, their son Mark, aged 18, and daughter Frances, aged 16, stayed at home to
look after the house. The parents wanted to see how Mark and Frances would manage in the
house on their own.

So when they left the house, they did not tell the children that they had prepared a few
tests for them. “We took the plug1 off the microwave and took out some good light bulbs2 and
put in light bulbs that did not work. We also made sure that there were other problems in the
house: with an Italian coffee machine and one of the taps3 in the bathroom,” says Dr
Rowlands.

When Dr Rowlands returned from her holiday, she found, as she had expected, that her
children had failed the independence test. Mark and Frances had asked an electrician to
change the plug on the microwave and to change the light bulbs. They also paid a specialist
for repairing the bathroom tap. When they saw that the coffee maker was broken, they went
to buy a new one. They even did not think to look for the missing part in the cupboard.

Dr Rowlands was not surprised by the results of her experiment. “A lot of young people
today are not able to solve simple problems in the house,” she says. “They often throw things
away when they are broken. This is wrong because it shows that young people do not
understand how things work or are made. It can also be very expensive because you have to
pay other people to do the work for you.”

But repairing broken things is only part of the problem. A lot of young people cannot
cook at all. If there is no ready-made meal in the fridge, or if there is nothing to warm up in
the microwave, then there is no food. This can cause health problems.

The truth is that many young people do not want to learn basic household skills as they
find them boring. Though, if people want to be prepared for independent life they should
learn how to do simple jobs about the house.

1 a plug [plʌɡ] штепсельная вилка
2 a light bulb [ˈlaɪt bʌlb] лампочка
3 a tap [tæp] кран

2. Why did Dr Rowlands decide to test her children? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. What did the parents prepare for their children?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

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4. Do you think the children passed the test? Why do you think so?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

LISTENING

Listen to Tom speaking about his day off and answer the questions below.
1. How did Tom spend his day off?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. What went wrong?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. What made Tom feel frightened?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Tom: It was a beautiful ______ morning and I had the day off work. I thought it would be
a good idea to visit my ________, Paul and Bob, who had recently rented a summer _______
near the seaside. I threw a towel and a pair of swimming trunks into my bag and set off on
my _________.

The boys were pleased to see me. "We've rented a speedboat to go __________. Do you
want to come with us?" they asked. I wasn't sure because I had never been water-skiing before.
But the boys _________ to teach me how to do it. After a while I managed to stand on the
skis without _________ into the sea. We were having so much fun that we didn't _______ the
dark clouds in the sky.

It was about __ o'clock in the afternoon when Bob shouted to me: "It's getting dark and it's
time we went back." While they were pulling me _____, the engine suddenly stopped. We
tried hard to get the ________ started, but we couldn't. Then the boat ______ began to _______
out to sea.

As we were sitting there ______ what to do, there was a loud crash of thunder and a flash
of ___________ lit up the evening sky. The sea was dark and _______ and it looked as if there
was going to be a storm. Paul and Bob looked __________ and that made me feel frightened.
Just then we saw a lifeboat approaching in the ________ and we breathed a sigh of relief!

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about Belarus. What are your associations with the expression ‘blue eyed country’?
2. Are the symbols of Belarus known throughout the world?
3. You are from Britain. What would you like to ask a Belarusian teenager about Belarus?
4. What historical sights can you advice your British friend to visit to make his / her stay unforgettable?
5. They say that Belarus is at the crossroads of Europe. What do you think about it?

117

CARD 21

VOCABULARY LIST

118

READING

1.Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Technology

Technology is everywhere. We see it any place we go to and, in fact, almost all of us
carry some piece of technology with us every time we leave the house. We can’t imagine our
life without them. But what we always forget, though, is just how useful and powerful
technology can be when we want to help others.

There is not a single room in my house that does not have some gadget lying around in
it. Whenever I am at home, providing that I am not sleeping, I am almost always using at
least one electronic device. If you walked into my living room on any given day, you would
find that, first, I have the television on (along with the other related appliances, such as the
DVD player or my current favourite games console1). At the same time, even though
multi-tasking is definitely not my strong point, I usually have my laptop resting on my knee,
or I will be using my tablet or mobile phone. In the background, the technology that I am not
using will most likely be on charge somewhere in the house. Even when I’m not at home I
am constantly using my phone. At work or in cafés, I sit down and connect to the local
wireless network on my laptop. I must admit that I waste a lot of time on the computer.
Instead I could spend it doing some online volunteering.

The technology we carry about everywhere can have a great power to do good for the
world and to help others and recently I discovered just how much online volunteering there
is to do in the world. From using your language skills to do translations, to developing and
managing projects and helping with IT work, there is so much that so many people can do to
help people in their own countries and across the world. The United Nations, in fact, has a
huge page on its website designed for recruiting volunteers.

This work can support the poor and help charities who otherwise would not have the
funding to pay for staff. Many organisations only require you to work an hour a week — some
even less. And the support provided by online volunteers can really help make a difference to
those in need.

1 games console [ˈɡeɪmz ˈkɒnˈsəʊl] игровая приставка

2. The author disapproves of the way people use electronic devices. Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What electronic devices does the author often use?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

4. How can online volunteering help people?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

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LISTENING

Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.

1. What is the flat like?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. What do Anna and Carlos like and dislike about the flat?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. What have they decided to do?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Estate agent: Well, here we are. Number __ Oxford Street. After you.
Anna and Carlos: Thanks.
Estate agent: This is the hall, as you can see. There is a big ________ on the wall and a
telephone over there too.
Anna: Is the telephone _________?
Estate agent: Oh yes. You only pay for the _____ you make. Now, through here to the left…
this is the living room. There’s a television and…
Carlos: Look, Anna. What a big ________!
Anna: It’s huge! We can have a good time here in the evening after work.
Estate agent: Oh, yes. It's new, too. And if you go ________ that door in front of you, that's
the dining room... with a nice big table and __ chairs... It has two windows so it's very light
in here, _____. Now, on the left here is the bathroom with a washbasin and a shower.
Carlos: Hmm.
Anna: It's a ____ small.
Estate agent: Yes, but the shower and toilet are both new. And _______... just here, we have
the kitchen. And finally, this is the bedroom.
Anna: Oh yes! This is lovely. I like the big ________ where we can keep all our clothes and
you won't hang _________ over chairs!
Carlos: There's a desk here too, so I can study and read books.
Anna: What do you think, Carlos?
Carlos: I think it's ______. How much?
Estate agent: £_______- a month, including bills.
Carlos: Hmm. £________. So, when can we ________ in?

Let’s talk about Britain. What are your associations with the UK?
Do you plan to visit Britain one day? Why? Why not?
What questions will you ask your British friends about their national holidays? What advice will you
give to a person who wants to walk around London?
Do you think that people speaking the English language are similar with people speaking Belarusian?

120

CARD 22

VOCABULARY LIST

121

READING

1.Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

From librarian to political reporter
The Pretenders is a very successful and popular TV series. In each programme there is a
contestant who has just four weeks to learn to do a completely new job. At the end of the
month the contestant has to do a ‘test’, where he or she has to do the new job together with
three other professionals. Three judges have to identify the one who pretends.
Jessica Winters is a 26-year-old librarian. She studied English Literature at the University
of Bath before getting a job at the local library. She didn’t know that two of her friends had
sent her name to the TV company to take part in The Pretenders. ‘When someone from the
company called me, I thought it was a joke,’ said Jessica. ‘First of all, I said ‘no’, in the end
my friends and my family persuaded1 me and I agreed.’
Jessica had four weeks to turn from a quiet, shy librarian into a confident TV reporter.
At the end of the month she had to interview the Minister of Education. It was her test.
An experienced political journalist, Adam Bowles, had to transform Jessica into a
professional. He wasn’t very optimistic when he met her. ‘Jessica needs to be a lot harder,
even aggressive. She is much too sweet and shy’, said Adam. ‘Politicians will eat her alive.’
They had just 28 days to teach her how to interview people, how to be confident, how to
speak clearly.
Jessica was terrified at the beginning. She watched a lot of live interviews with politicians.
Adam made her read the political sections of all the newspapers. It was boring for her and she
felt exhausted. Later as soon as she began making progress, she felt more relaxed.
During the interview Jessica felt nervous but well-prepared as she had done much
research and had practised a lot. ‘When it was all over, came the worst part, I had to wait
while the judges decided which of us they thought wasn’t a professional’. The judges gave
their verdict: they were all professional reporters.
For Jessica it was a great experience and she was pleased how she did it, but actually she
doesn’t feel like changing her work.
1 to persuade [pəˈsweɪd] убедить

2. The Pretenders is a famous TV programme. Read aloud the extract about it.
3. How did Jessica make it into the programme?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

122

4. Why was it an exciting and useful experience for Jessica?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

LISTENING

Listen to three people talking about their favourite countries and answer the questions below.
1. What country does the first speaker like most?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. What makes Italy a favourite place for the second speaker?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. Why does the third speaker like Argentina?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Speaker 1: What's my ___________ place? Well, that's a really difficult question! So many
countries _____ fantastic in different ways. I enjoyed my visits to Spain and Germany. But I
______ China is my favourite country and it is a very interesting ________ — such a
___________!
Speaker 2: My favourite country is _______. It's got the most wonderful __________, coasts,
beaches and lakes. Its towns are fabulous — everywhere has lots of history and, of course,
there are __________ things to eat. The people are so lively and friendly, too. I love it.
____________, though, some of the towns are very big with _____ of factories, as Italy makes
things like cars, shoes and _________ food products. Those towns aren't much fun to visit.
Speaker 3: Visit Argentina if you get a ________. That's my favourite country and you'll just
love it, too. Everyone says that Argentineans are really friendly and it's _______! Of course,
there is fantastic music and dancing as well, especially the _______. The country itself is
wonderful if you love the great outdoors — huge prairies, mountain ranges, __________ and
in the south, glaciers. My favourite food was the _______. I've never eaten such good beef
before. It's just so fresh and natural. It has a different taste to beef in other countries.

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes. What can you tell me about the British people?
2. Is it the best way to describe a person according to the national character of his / her country? Why?
3. What questions will you ask your British friend to understand what kind of person he is?
4. They say, that to discover a nation you should start with its cuisine. What national dishes would you
advise a British teenager to try?
5. Do you agree that native country influences greatly on person’s character?

123

CARD 23

VOCABULARY LIST

124

READING

1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Mi Luna
Mi Luna is a restaurant in the Rice Village. The atmosphere is lively, and the food is
delicious. It is a Spanish cuisine restaurant that you will soon consider one of your favourite
restaurants.
There are many reasons why this restaurant is special. One is that they make a wonderful
dish called Pulpo con Patatas. It’s a delicious Spanish seafood dish which has the following
ingredients: octopus, potatoes, salt, olive oil, and chilepiquin. (Chilepiquin is a special kind of
chili that looks like red powder and is very hot.)
Another reason is the place itself. Once you are in the restaurant, you feel a Spanish
atmosphere; it is painted with the classical colours that are used in Spain — red, yellow, white,
and black. The way this place is decorated is really very impressive. On the walls, there are
photos of Spanish bullfighters, taken at the perfect moments of their performances.
On one of the walls, you can enjoy a photo of the famous classical Spanish dance called
Flamenco1. In it, the dancers are wearing the traditional clothes, and the lady has in her hands
the most famous Spanish musical instrument called castanets2.
The service is pleasant, caring and quick. It makes you want to come back. The waiters
just keep looking at your table to find out if you need something. If they see an empty glass,
they immediately ask you if you want something else to drink. At all time, they are friendly
and ready to clear all the used dishes from your table. They are always smiling because they
are trying to make you feel comfortable and happy. They know each dish, so they are able to
explain it to you.
On their menu, they serve a large variety of foods, and there is a section on the menu that
I like most. In Spain, these dishes are called tapas3. Tapas or appetizers are dishes that have a
small amount of food. In this way you will be able to try a lot of different Spanish dishes.
By the time you leave Mi Luna, you are sure to be entirely satisfied and have very good
memories of the visit. It is a great place for any occasion, but it is very busy, so don’t forget
to book a table first.

1 Flamenco [fləˈmeŋkəʊ] фламенко (испанский танец)
2 castanets [ˌkæstəˈnets] кастаньеты (традиционный испанский ударный муз. инструмент)
3 tapas [ˈtæpəs] тапас (закуска)

2. The service in Mi Luna is very good. Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. What makes Mi Luna look very Spanish?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why should visitors make reservations in Mi Luna in advance?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

125

LISTENING

Listen to the conversation between two friends and answer the questions below.

1. What does Margaret complain about?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Why does Peter need new clothes?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. What piece of advice does Margaret give to her friend?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Peter: Hi, Margaret. ________________ on your new job!
Margaret: Thanks, Peter. To tell you the ________, I'm not so sure I like it.
Peter: Oh, come on. Don't ___________. You're making a good ______ now. Last year you
didn't make anything.
Margaret: Right. Now, I've got __________, a nice apartment and a car. But I haven’t got
any time to enjoy it all. It's just work, work and work. I work hard all day, ________ day.
Peter: It can't be ______- that bad. You can ______ go to parties, and you can stay up late.
Margaret: Right, but _________ I'm tired at work.
Peter: I think you are _____ serious about everything.
Margaret: That's easy for you to say. _________, what are you doing here?
Peter: Oh, I'm shopping for a new suit. I want to make the best __________ possible at my
job interviews!
Margaret: Are you looking ____ a new job?
Peter: Yes, I am. And I'm not doing very well, actually. I can't ________ to find a job.
Unfortunately, I've only had two ______________ so far.
Margaret: How about going to some of those _________ groups? They’re groups of people
who are also looking for work. They help each other _____________ new opportunities.
Peter: That sounds great! ________ definitely try some of them.
Margaret: I’m glad to hear that. I’m sure things will look up for you ___________.
Peter: Yes, you’re _______________ right. I hope so!

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about youth and society. What youth organizations are there in our country?
2. Do you agree that youth organizations make teenagers’ lives full of events? Why (not)?
3. Your British friend is a member of the Scout movement. What questions can you ask him/ her?
4. Your British friend is hesitating whether to join the UK Youth Parliament or the Scout Association.
Give him advice.
5. A lot of young people think that there is nothing better than volunteering. What do you think about
it?

126

CARD 24

VOCABULARY LIST

127

READING

1.Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

WE ARE YOUNGER THAN WE EVER WERE
If you belong to the older generation, Elderhostel is a good place to live.
Elderhostel, founded in 1975, is the world’s largest educational and travel organisation for
older adults. Its aim is to excite people’s minds and enrich people’s lives promoting and
encouraging different activities among the older generation. There are no examinations or
marks. All that you need, in order to enroll on a programme, is enquiring mind1 and an
adventurous spirit. Also, of course, you need to believe that learning and discovery continue
all your life. There are expert instructors and experienced group leaders for field trips and
cultural excursions.
Elderhostel offers a large number of programmes in a huge variety of areas. Amongst other
things, it provides simple, online information on activities and services. First of all, there are
traditional programmes. Here, people study ancient history, literature, and art, and can learn
about different cultures, modern people and issues.
Also, Elderhostel believes that physical activity helps people to keep a positive self-image
and contributes to the sense of well-being both mental and physical. Many programmes have
keep-fit equipment and a large number of social and cultural events take place there, as well
as sporting activities. Regular physical activity can prevent many common illnesses, such as
high blood pressure and asthma and it helps people who already have such illnesses.
Alongside the usual sports like swimming, hockey and cricket, bowling and tennis, you will
find “Dog Clubs” and “Flying Clubs”. Then there is a group of adventure programmes
involving activities like hiking, kayaking2, biking and studying whales.
There are also programmes which give people the chance to help communities in
different ways, such as protecting endangered species, tutoring school children and building
affordable housing.
Finally, there are programmes which take place aboard a boat, anywhere from Antarctic
to the Mississippi River.
The word ‘old’ has a very different and very positive meaning in Elderhostel!
1 enquiring mind [ɪnˈkwaəɪrɪŋ maɪnd] пытливый, проницательный ум
2 a kayak [ˈkaɪæk] каяк (лодка)

2. What kind of organisation is Elderhostel? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. What activities does Elderhostel offer?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

128

4.Why does the word ‘old’ have a positive meaning in Elderhostel?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

LISTENING

Listen to three people speaking about how they met their partners and answer the questions below.
1. Why was the first speaker surprised?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. When did the second speaker ask the girl out?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. Why did the third speaker think that the girl was awful when they first met?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Speaker 1:
The first time I saw Terry was at a _______ dance when I was _______. Oh, he was so

handsome in those days! I remember I was standing with my best friend _______ Mills and
Terry walked towards us. Well, I ___________ he was going to ask Vera to dance — she was
the type that _______ would cross a dance floor for. I was so _________ when he asked me
instead. We dated for two years but Terry was quite _________ really, so I was the one who
asked him to _________ me. Thank goodness he said "Yes" or I don't know what I ________
have done.
Speaker 2:

Cathy and I grew up in the same ___________________ in Birmingham, but we didn't
actually meet until we ________ teenagers. Funny really, living so close all that time. We met
in a lift at the Town Hall. I was only going to the first floor, but I _______ with her all the
way to the sixth just to talk to her. We went out that night and I asked her to marry me a
month later.
Speaker 3:

I thought Amy was _______ the first time we met. She was introduced to me by a friend.
Tim Green was his name. Anyway, she ___________ ignored me and she spent all night
chatting and ___________ with Tim. I met up with her again a few ________ later at a charity
dinner and we got on a lot better that time. Wegot married ______ St. Valentine's Day.

129

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about education. What can you tell me about your school?

School is a very special place. It’s a temple of knowledge, a place where you grow up,
make friends and form your personality.

I go to school №39. This school is for boys and girls from 6 to 17. Our school is only
4 years old. There are 2600 pupils this year. It’s the biggest school in the Republic.

The aim of our school is to develop students’ abilities, strengths and positive thinking.
Our school offers modern facilities such as 6 language laboratories and different clubs. There
are many experienced teachers who encourage excellence in learning and success.

Our school campus isn’t large. There are only 2 buildings on it. The school building is
in the centre of the school campus. There is a sport centre behind the school building and
other facilities for doing sports. There is a football pitch, a hockey pitch, a tennis court, a
basketball court.

The school is a four-storey building. An assembly hall, a canteen and a library are
situated on the ground floor. On the first floor you can find Headmaster’s office and
classrooms of primary school. The second floor is taken by classrooms of Biology, Chemistry,
Maths, Physics and Russian. On the third floor we usually have lessons of History,
Geography, IT and Belarusian. We also have a museum here. There are 2 language
laboratories on each floor where we usually have English lessons.

In our school lessons begin at 8 o’clock and finish at 2 o’clock. Our breaks last 15
minutes. After the fourth lesson we have lunch. When lessons are over we have after-school
activities: optional classes and sports clubs. Our school is famous for interesting school
subjects’ weeks.

My favorite subject at school was certainly English. I did well in this subject without
any effort. Mathematics and physics were most difficult for me.

The teachers in our school are very skilled. They try to give us all their knowledge and
awake our interest to their subjects and to self-study. I think that school years are very
important for every person. It’s a period of becoming adult, achieving knowledge, and
choosing your way in life. Often school friends remain your friends for all your life. So I’ll
never forget my school, my teachers, and my classmates.

I like my school because here I can not only study but develop my talents and make
friends.

2. School is not just a place for learning. Do you agree?
Yes, I do. As for me school is not only the place I study at but also the place where I

meet with my friends and get useful knowledge and skills. Besides, I would like to say that
our school life is rich in various clubs we attend and outdoors activities which we enjoy
greatly. So, I am completely satisfied with the place I study at. This is really a good place.

3. Ask me what kind of pupil I was?
1. General: ___________________________________________________________________
2. Alternative: ________________________________________________________________
3. Subject: ____________________________________________________________________
4. Special: ____________________________________________________________________

130

5. Disjunctive: ________________________________________________________________
4. You are talking to a British student. What you advise him / her to do to prepare for an exam well?

First of all, if you want to do well at your exams, you should attend all your classes,
work hard at the lessons, make notes, because when you put down the key points, you
memorize them better; ask your teacher or classmates to help you if you don’t understand
something. What is more, you should do your homework properly and regularly. It would be
wise to make a revision timetable before the examination. If you organize your time properly,
you will feel more confident, and will be more likely to get good grades. Whenever you feel
under stress, you should take a break and do something relaxing for a while. And finally the
night before you sit the exam, go to bed early and get a good night sleep. If you follow this
advice, you will pass your exams with flying colours.
5. Today some young people want to study abroad because they believe that the level of education is
higher there. Would you do the same?

Yes, it’s true about some people. But they want to go abroad not because the level of
education is better there. They go there because in future they will have more opportunities.
The level of living conditions is much better in some other countries. Besides they will
improve their knowledge of foreign languages. Also there are people who are looking for
adventures and want to be independent from their parents. Going abroad is the best
opportunity to enjoy both.

131

CARD 25

VOCABULARY LIST

132

READING

1.Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION

The Internet nowadays is like a huge city full of many different kinds of places and
people. As in a real city, there are certain places which are suitable for youngsters and others
which need to be avoided.

The Internet neither belongs to nor is controlled by any one person, organisation or
government. It gives all of us the opportunity to create materials for others to see. On the
other hand, as in ordinary life, there are those who might use it for illegal purposes. The
freedom of the Net offers exciting opportunities for youngsters and, by being aware of the
possible dangers and taking steps to avoid them, they can happily explore that online world
in safety.

The Internet has enabled and advanced new forms of human interactions through instant
messaging, Internet forums, and social networking. Common sense will certainly help
children to use the Internet safely. It is preferable, for example, for parents to get to know who
their children are meeting online and make sure they never give out personal information
about themselves. Although it is an excellent tool for learning, playing and communicating
with others, youngsters should not be allowed to become so involved that they forget other
activities important to their development. How often do we hear of youngsters spending all
their free time in front of the computer, isolating themselves from other people their age?
Computers are admirable tools that improve the quality of life, but when used sensibly. Steve
Jobs said: “Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that
they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with
them”. Obviously, surfing as a family activity is the best solution, so that any problems that
are found can be discussed together.

Parents need to think about safety issues and agree on a set of rules. Just as youngsters
are given instructions on road safety, they also need to be instructed on how to travel safely
along that superhighway.

2. The author says that the Internet offers exciting opportunities for youngsters. Find this extract and
read it aloud.
3. What is surfing the Internet compared to?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is it important to use the Internet sensibly?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

133

LISTENING

Listen to three people speaking about their work-life balance and answer the questions below.
1. What does the first speaker complain about?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. How has the life style of the second speaker changed?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

3. What does the third speaker think about his way of life and the typical Japanese work-
life balance?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Speaker 1:
I am not happy with my work-life _______ at all. I work at least 50—__ _______ a week

so I don't have any time at all for _______ to enjoy hobbies to see my _______ and spend
quality time with _______. I communicate with my _____ leaving messages on the ______.
We hardly ever ______ each other because we work different _______. Also, I eat very badly
because my working _______ ‘hour’ is only ____ minutes and it is not enough to have a proper
meal. OK, I ______ a lot but I have no free time.

Speaker 2:
I didn't use to have much time for anything ______ I worked too much: __—45 hours a

week. Now I am working 30 hours a week. I feel much happier. I play _____ twice a week
and have long weekends. I think if you have time to enjoy your _________ life you work
much better and your ____________ is much higher.

Speaker 3:
Yes, I am happy because I've chosen a lifestyle that I like and that gives me a lot of

_________. But my father, on the other hand, works ___ hours a week for a car company in
Japan, which I think is _______. There's an expression in Japanese 'karoshi' which means
_______ because you work too hard. A lot of people in Japan get ___ and die because they
work too much. I don't want my life to be _____ by work. I want to have time for ________.

SPEAKING

1. Let’s talk about travelling and tourism. How do you prefer to travel?
2. Is it better to travel by train or plane? Why?
3. You are going on a trip around England. What questions will you ask British friends?
4. Your friend wants to spend his summer vacations abroad. Give him a piece of advice on how to
organize the trip.
5. Every country should encourage and promote tourism. What are the advantages of Belarusian
tourism?

134