Экзамен по английскому языку 11 класс беларусь билеты

Билет 1.

Reading.

1. It is about beauty of our motherland Belarus, its nature and traditions. The author is proud of being Belarusian and loves our country.

2. 1 абз.

3. He is proud of its wonderful nature, rich heroic history, national holidays and traditions and its people.

4. If he were a talented painter, he would draw pictures with its beautiful landscapes, if he could compose verses, he would write lyric poems.

Listening.

1. Whithny was going to college. She was a bit shy and reserved. She had to share a room with a complete stranger, she didn’t have friends there. So she was nervous.

2. When she was asked about her goal at college, she was honest and answered, she wanted to have at least one true friend. One boy came to her, introduced himself and offered to become friends. Their friendship lasted for many years and brought them together in marriage.

3. She learned to be honest, openhearted and take actions.

Билет 2.

Reading.

1. This article is about fruitful and dynamic cooperation between Belarus and such international organizations as UNESCO. And about attractions of Belarus which have been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

2. 1 абз.

3. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, The Mir Castle Complex, The Nesvizh Palace and The Struve Arc are included on the list for protection.

4. Belarusian government wants to propose to add Independence Avenue in Minsk for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Listening.

1. Choosing the right job is very important as it influences all our life like choosing a wife or a husband, a friend you can rely on.

2. In our materialistic world young people choose well-paid jobs connected with business, modern technologies and politics and so on.

3. The speaker advises us to take into consideration our talents, interests and abilities.

Билет 3.

Reading.

1. This text is about the children’s opinions about ideal school and what they want to change in their school. Different pupils have different ideas.

2. 1 абз.

3. They want their school to be creative, valuable for their sociable and educational experience. Teachers should help them develop their individuality.

4. Everybody has the right to be free, to choose what to be or not to be. So the children want more freedom.

Listening.

1. The heating doesn’t work properly and the breakfast is very early in the morning.

2. There was another boy in this room, he was snoring on the night and Peter couldn’t sleep.

3. The man on reception promised to send an engineer to fix the heating.

Билет 4.

Reading.

1. It’s about a 13yearold girl, who decided to keep a diary. She didn’t have a true friend, who can share her thoughts with. She wants her diary to be a patient friend.

2. 2 абз.

3. There are a lot of people around her, but she has only few close ones. They love parents, aunts and her 16yeraold sister.

4. Anna started writing in a diary, because she felt alone, she didn’t have a true close friend, who she could trust her thought, dreams and ideas.

Listening.

1. Alice worked in her uncle’s shop as a shop assistant in Australia.

2. It was difficult to deal with customers, but the most difficult thing was money, as she made a lot of mistakes, but her uncle helped her to get out of trouble.

3. She learned to understand people’s behaviors better; she has become more tolerant, serious and responsible.

Билет 5.

Reading.

1. This article is about cyber bulling and the ways, who to avoid it. The author tells us bout SID which is organized every year in 74 countries.

2. 1 абз.

3. We should follow the tips given in the article, treat people online as you do in the real life, don’t ever post personal information.

4. SID is a good way to stop abuse the Internet, because it helps people to use the Internet.

Listening.

1. The conversation takes place at Abbey Health Club.

2. The man is interested in where the gum is, if they have a yoga class, if there is a car park.

3. 50 a month need to pay.

Билет 6.

Reading.

1. It tells us about friendly loving family, they were going to celebrate Christmas, but the author brother Clifton didn’t get go for Christmas, as he saved the army, during the World War 2 and asked his family to keep Christmas tree, but he arrived. They did all the best to do it.

2. 1 абз.

3. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and was responsible for maintaining the airplanes flying off to fight in the World War 2.

4. Clifton was eager to celebrate Christmas with his family, but he didn’t his manage , so he asked his family to leave the Christmas up until he made it back.

Listening.

1. Homework puts her in a bad mood. She wants to relax instead of doing homework.

2. She did very little homework in high school and didn’t get used to doing homework how at college.

3. It develops a sense of logic, makes us more disciplined, intelligent and ready for future career.

Билет 7.

Reading.

1. It is about Sam, a teenager girl; her mum didn’t let her go out anywhere, because there was a terrible mess in her room, until her room was tidy.

2. 3 абз.

3. Sam’s room was piled with a lot of things. There was a terrible mess. Her mum thought her room was condemned.

4. She is not going to clean her room, because instead of it she decided to paint her fingernails.

Listening.

1. Tina was going to Hong Kong from London.

2. Tina’s flight was delayed from one hour to nine hours.

3. There was a huge stormed the place stared bouncing. She was scared. Then the oxygen makes dropped down, she put it on and sat in absolute terror.

Билет 8.

Reading.

1. It is about a girl who had a problem with algebra. Her granddad helps her to cope with algebra. She understands that it was possible to enjoy it. She discovered granddads inner world and they became friend.

2. 1 абз.

3. Her granddad loved algebra. He explained algebra is useful. It is mental fitness for people. The girl stopped been afraid of algebra.

4. She learnt that granddads world is full of miracles. He was fascinated by riddles, by labyrinths. He was a lot of interests. So she discovered her granddad.

Listening.

1. Whales sometimes throw themselves on the beach dirty water makes them that crazy as plants and factories throw rubbish into the water.

2. People brought ropes and began to pull him into the water. It was hard and the wale began moving in the water.

3. The memory stared in his heart forever, he decided to study the ocean and protect animals, he is a member of Greenpeace.

Билет 9.

Reading.

1. It is about the importance of modern technology for communication. Now our life depends on it. We used phones, mobiles, Internet, they save our time and space. They have greatly changed all spheres of our life.

2. 1 абз.

3. For us they have changed everything. We can do time-consuming tasks in minutes; a lot of information is stored on tiny disks. Access to the Internet lets us keep up with global and current issues.

4. Many people spend hours just chatting about silly, an important things, looking through sites for no reason, play computer games in hours.

Listening.

1. The action takes place in the author’s grandmother’s big old house near London.

2. All the furniture’s in my grandmother’s bedroom was on the left side of the room, and the carpet was on the other side of the room.

3. They were scared, because the furniture was really heavy and they heard just a tiny noise. And granny said it had happened before and she didn’t maid.

Билет 10.

Reading.

1. This article is about a successful family, about time that families should spend together, traditions which unite the family and about the importance of love in families.

2. 1 абз.

3. Traditions which include different norm, customs and views make a family united.

4. That various from family to families. Families with young children spend most of their time together, families with teenager may spend less time together, but healthy families keep a good balance between «too much» and «not enough» time together.

Listening.

1. The girl can’t stop eating chocolate.

2. The girl things that her habit is harmful, because there are a lot of sugar and fat in all types of chocolate, that’s why she has many spots on her face and she is a little overweight too.

3. She can’t stop eating chocolate, because there is always chocolate for sale wherever she is. And because when she tries to stop if she doesn’t have any chocolate, she gets very bad headaches.

Билет 11.

Reading.

1. It is about a famous mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. Pythagoras and his achievements, his teaching methods and believes. But today he is still a mysterious figure.

2. 2 абз.

3. The people of Samous didn’t appreciate his teaching methods, they treated him improperly, wanted to involve him in local politics against his will, so he went to Italy.

4. There are three types of people those who love wisdom, those who love honor and those who love wealth.

Listening.

1. He is 99. He will be 100 in 2 weeks.

2. His life was hard: he had to work much, he didn’t have enough to eat and he didn’t do exercises and spent a lot of time outside.

3. He recommends to be active and to have a positive attitude.

Билет 12.

Reading.

1. This article is about the most famous female pilot Amelia Earhart and about her difficult childhood, the way of life, which land her to unusual for women. She took several records and become famous and found her future love due to her passion.

2. 2 абз.

3. One day Amelia received an invitation to be the first woman ever to make the flight across the Atlantic from Canada to Britain.

4. She became famous, because she broke several records when she flew the Atlantic solo.

Listening.

1. They worry about the pollution in her bedroom.

2. She thinks that it is not important, it is her own room.

3. Father is afraid of plague. Her parents are old-fashioned and they get used to cheating their rooms so mother asked Nancy to place them.

Билет 13.

Reading.

1. This text is about the stress of commuting. People are looking for ways to avoid stress and improve their life. The author gives us the idea how to avoid stress and reduce pollution.

2. 2 абз.

3. To reduce a pollution we can use environmentally friendly means of transport such as trains, met no system and carpooling.

4. Carpooling is convenient, because it saves a people time and money, helps avoid stress.

Listening.

1. If they have no friend, people feel lonely and unhappy. They have no friend to talk and shake sad or happy moments.

2. A good friend should be shoving, caring, listening, doing something for another person, honest.

3. It is good to be a real friend, because your life is full of meaningful, interesting, you feel the joy, and you will never be along.

Билет 14.

Reading.

1. It is about an English boy named Ch. MrDonnell who was bored and decided to make his video blog and post it on YouTube. Soon he became popular and his audience grew, he used his famous to help people less fortunate than himself.

2. 1 абз.

3. He became popular when Oprah Winfrey, the famous American TV host, showed one of Charlie’s comedy videos called «How to be English» on her program.

4. People like Charlie, because he is honest, modesty, he is a talented song writer, actor and singer, and he helps people less fortunate than himself.

Listening.

1. Young people prefer to live with their parents in Hong Kong, because it is expensive to rent a flat, they must good care of their parents and spend more time with them.

2. They supported his decision, because they thought it was a good idea to understand how good it was to live with parents.

3. He gaved his personal space and freedom, saved travelling cost and time.

Билет 15.

Reading.

1. It is devoted to ecological problems, residential building consume 27% of the total energy. It gives us an idea how to save energy and to save a builds. Everybody is responsible for reducing emissions.

2. 4 абз.

3. We can block up draughts, switch off unnecessary, light, make sure cold and hot water taps are not left running, and we also should use energy efficient light bulbs.

4. Water of drinkable quality that used to flush the toilets unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification.

Listening.

1. It is a fantastic of London by open-top bus.

2. They will see M. T. museum, Oxford Street, Westminster Abbey, The House of Parliament, The London Eye, Tower Bride and Buckingham Palace.

3. They don’t have any extra umbrellas, but the guide promised that it couldn’t rain as it is going to rain heavily he asked to return money.

Билет 16.

Reading.

1. It tells us about MR Womack’s cottage, his attitude to it. His home is the castle for him; he does everything himself there so it is so dear for him.

2. The last.

3. He is very busy at home; he looks after domestic animals, works in the garden, grow cucumbers. He is skillful and does a lot of work in his house by himself.

4. He calls himself Jack of all Trades, because he is a craftsman and he is able to do everything about his house himself.

Listening.

1. Sally loved writing. She wrote some advice to her friend who was moving and her pen-friend advised her to write a book.

2. Sally’s dad thought it was good, but he didn’t advise her to send it to publishers not to be disappointed if they didn’t like it.

3. Her life didn’t change a lot. But she became more confident and was planning to write one more book.

Билет 17.

Reading.

1. It tells us about M. T., her life was devoted to poor people, she was a simple nun, she did all the best to help the sick and the poor.

2. 2 абз.

3. One day she was on a train, she looked out of the window and saw dirty children sleeping in a doorway. Sick and dying people were lying on streets. She was shocked and decided to work with the poor. She is kind-hearted.

4. She opened a school for the kids from poor families, she stared her own group of nuns who cared about poor and dying people. She also stared homes for children without families.

Listening.

1. Jackie wants to become a PE teacher.

2. She has chosen this profession, because she likes explaining things, helping people, she likes to work with young people, also she likes challenge.

3. It is good for our mental well-being, for health, it keeps physically fit, beaches young people important life lessons: the importance of teamwork, discipline, fairness.

Билет 18.

Reading.

1. It tells us about one of the most magnificent work of art, The Mona Lisa by L. da Vinci. Every hour about 1.500 people visit the Louvre Museum in Paris. It tells us what makes the ML. so special.

2. 3 абз.

3. Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile has fascinated everyone who has ever seen the painting. People find her smile divine; the portrait seems alive and real.

4. It is a masterpiece; it is placed in a specially built area in a room with other great 16^th century Italian paintings. Visitors have a better chance to appreciate the painting as a work of art rather than as a tourist attraction.

Listening.

1. Christian wants to become a businessman.

2. Kate needs to learn English for future career. She is going to be a tourist manages.

3. He advises her to speak much as possible when she travels, because practice is important.

Билет 19.

Reading.

1. It is about the Guinness Books of Work Records. There is a wide range of amazing facts on these pages. There is a helpful index in the back of the book, where we can find subjects of interest in an alphabetical order.

2. 1 абз.

3. The collection of records is divided into chapters on Space, Human Achievement, Sports and others. We can read about extremes in these spheres.

4. This book can be interesting for the reader, because there are a lot of amazing facts in this book. It can motivate people to develop their skills and talents.

Listening.

1. When he was 3, his brother was born; his parents decided they needed a larger name so they moved into a rented flat.

2. The flat was not really large. But there were enough places for them and there were two bedrooms, a cozy-living room with a balcony and a bathroom.

3. He is sharing the flat with are person at present.

Билет 20.

Reading.

1. This text is about Dr. Rowland and her test of independent. From this text we find out that modern teenager are not ready for independent life and are not able to do the simplest things around the hour.

2. 1 абз.

3. Parents took the plug off the microwave and took out some good lights bulbs and put in light bulbs that didn’t work. They also made sure that there were other problems in the house: with an Italian coffee machine and one of the taps in the bedroom.

4. On the one hand the children manage solve all the problems, but on the other hand they did in only using money and professional help. So we can say that they are not ready to independent life.

Listening.

1. Tom visited his cousins, who rented a cottage near the seaside. They went water-skilling and had a lot of fun.

2. While the boys were pulling Tom along, the engine suddenly stopped. The boat slowly began to drift out to sea. There was going to be a storm. The sky was dark, the boys were frightened, but soon they saw a life boat.

3. There was going to be a storm, the see was dark and angry it makes him frightened.

Билет 21.

Reading.

1. This text is about using technology in our everyday. We can’t imagine our life without technology devices. We can also learn some facts about online volunteering and how it helps people around the world.

2. 1 абз.

3. The author often uses TV. DVD game his favourite console. He always used his mobile phone or laptop.

4. This work can support the poor and help charities who over wise would not have the funding to play for staff.

Билет 22.

Reading.

1. This text is about a girl Jessica Winters and how she took part in a famous TV show «The Pretenders». We can read about the work she had to cope with during the show and about the result she achieved.

2. 1 абз.

3. She didn’t know that 2 of her friends had sent her name to TV Company to take part in the Pretenders.

4. It is an exciting and useful experience for Jessica, because she gained a lot of confidence and she understood that she is capable of many thing decides her guilt job.

Listening.

1. The first speaker likes China.

2. Fabulous history, wonderful variety of nature, friendly people, and deli shies food make Italy his favourite place.

3. There is a fantastic music, dancing, unusual nature and his favourite is the beef. He has never eaten food anywhere.

Билет 23.

Reading.

1. It is about Spanish restaurant – Mi Luna. It represent us the atmosphere, the food, the service there. This place is popular with visitors; they enjoy Spanish cuisine, music, the decoration.

2. 5 абз.

3. People can feel a Spanish atmosphere it is painted with classical colors that are used in Spain – the red, yellow, white, and black, on the walk there are photos of Spanish bullfighters. You can enjoy Spanish music and dancing.

4. It is popular with visitors; it is very busy they should book a table first.

Listening.

1. She works hard all day, she is tied, and she hasn’t any time to enjoy Italy.

2. Peter wants to make the best expression at his job interviews. He is looking for a job.

3. She advices him to join networking groups, they are also looking for work and help each other.

Билет 24.

Reading.

1. It is about Elderhostel, the educational and travel organization for older adults. It offers a large member of programs to keep fit, mental and physical well-being. They prevent them from illnesses.

2. 1 абз.

3. People study history, literature, art, modern issues. They do sports. They are involved in adventure programs.

4. People keep a positive self-image; they are active take part in various activities. So the work has a very positive meaning.

Listening.

1. The girl so Terry at a local dance he was so handsome. She was surprised when Terry asked her to dance instead of her best friends.

2. They were in a lift. The boy was going to the first, but he stead with her all the way to the sixth and asked her out.

3. He thought Amy was awful, because she ignored him, spent all night chatting and laughing with Tim.

Билет 25.

Reading.

1. This text is about the Internet and its role in the modern world. It gives us many opportunities, but only when we used Internet sensibly. It is very important not to forget about other activities, important of our development.

2. 2 абз.

3. It is important to use the internet sensibly, because it gives people tools and we should use them within reasonable limits.

Listening.

1. She works a lot and doesn’t have time for her, to enjoy hobbies, to see her children. She earns a lot, but has no free time.

2. She enjoy his personal life, he plays tennis, works much better and feels happier.

3. His lifestyle gives him a lot of freedom, he is happy. A lot of people in Japan get ill and die, because they work too much and hard.

УТВЕРЖДЕНО

Приказ Министра образования

Республики Беларусь

от 29.12.2017   №  842

                                                                                         Билеты

для проведения обязательного выпускного экзамена

по завершении обучения и воспитания на III ступени

общего среднего образования учащихся при освоении содержания

образовательной программы среднего образования,

образовательной программы специального образования

на уровне общего среднего образования,

в том числе для проведения экзамена в порядке экстерната,

по учебному предмету ”Иностранный язык“

(английский)

2017/2018 учебный год

Предисловие

 

Выпускной экзамен по учебному предмету «Иностранный язык» по завершении обучения и воспитания на III ступени общего среднего образования проводится по билетам, утвержденным Министерством образования Республики Беларусь, и включает собеседование по содержанию прочитанного текста, собеседование по содержанию прослушанного текста и беседу по ситуации общения.

Вопросы для беседы по ситуации общения разрабатываются педагогическими работниками учреждения общего среднего образования и утверждаются его руководителем не позднее чем за две недели до начала выпускного экзамена. При подготовке вопросов учитывается уровень изучения учебного предмета «Иностранный язык» на III ступени общего среднего образования. Требования к уровню овладения иностранным языком учащимися, изучающими иностранный язык на базовом уровне, отличаются от требований, предъявляемых к уровню овладения иностранным языком учащимися, изучающими иностранный язык на повышенном уровне, объемом продуктивного и рецептивного лексического и грамматического материала, степенью сложности решаемых коммуникативных задач.

При организации и проведении выпускного экзамена по учебному предмету «Иностранный язык» по завершении обучения и воспитания на III ступени общего среднего образования следует руководствоваться:

•         постановлением Министерства образования Республики Беларусь от 20.06.2011 № 38 «Об утверждении Правил проведения аттестации учащихся при освоении содержания образовательных программ общего среднего образования и признании утратившими силу некоторых постановлений Министерства образования Республики Беларусь»;

•         постановлением Министерства образования Республики Беларусь от 07.07.2017 № 74 «Об установлении перечня учебных предметов, по которым проводятся выпускные экзамены, форм проведения выпускных экзаменов при проведении в 2017/2018 учебном году итоговой аттестации учащихся при освоении содержания образовательных программ общего среднего образования, образовательной программы специального образования на уровне общего среднего образования»;

•         учебными программами:

Вучэбная праграма па вучэбным прадмеце «Замежная мова (англійская, нямецкая, французская, іспанская, кітайская)» для X класа ўстаноў агульнай сярэдняй адукацыі з беларускай мовай навучання і выхавання // Вучэбныя праграмы па вучэбных прадметах для ўстаноў агульнай сярэдняй адукацыі з беларускай мовай навучання і выхавання. X клас (базавы ўзровень). — Мінск : Нацыянальны інстытут адукацыі, 2015;

Учебная программа по учебному предмету «Иностранный язык (английский, немецкий, французский, испанский, китайский)» для X класса учреждений общего среднего образования с русским языком обучения и воспитания // Учебные программы по учебным предметам для учреждений общего среднего образования с русским языком обучения и воспитания. X класс (базовый уровень). — Минск : Национальный институт образования, 2015;

Вучэбная праграма па вучэбным прадмеце «Замежная мова (англійская, нямецкая, французская, іспанская, кітайская)» для X класа ўстаноў агульнай сярэдняй адукацыі з беларускай мовай навучання і выхавання // Вучэбныя праграмы па вучэбных прадметах для ўстаноў агульнай сярэдняй адукацыі з беларускай мовай навучання і выхавання. X клас (павышаны ўзровень). — Мінск : Нацыянальны інстытут адукацыі, 2015;

Учебная программа по учебному предмету «Иностранный язык (английский, немецкий, французский, испанский, китайский)» для X класса учреждений общего среднего образования с русским языком обучения и воспитания // Учебные программы по учебным предметам для учреждений общего среднего образования с русским языком обучения и воспитания. X класс (повышенный уровень). — Минск : Национальный институт образования, 2015;

Вучэбная праграма для ўстаноў агульнай сярэдняй адукацыі з беларускай мовай навучання і выхавання «Замежная мова: англійская, нямецкая, французская, іспанская, кітайская. X–XI класы» (базавы і павышаны ўзроўні). – Мінск : Нацыянальны інстытут адукацыі, 2017;

Учебная программа для учреждений общего среднего образования с русским языком обучения и воспитания «Иностранный язык: английский, немецкий, французский, испанский, китайский. X–XI классы» (базовый и повышенный уровни). – Минск : Национальный институт образования, 2017.

При подготовке к экзамену также необходимо руководствоваться Методическими рекомендациями по организации и проведению обязательного выпускного экзамена по учебному предмету «Иностранный язык» по завершении обучения и воспитания на III ступени общего среднего образования (www.edu.gov.by).

                                                                   АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК 

№ 1

  I.  1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

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, sweet­scented 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 Polish­Lithuanian 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, warm­hearted, fun­loving, 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 deep­rooted 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!

¹the Grand Duchy of Lithuania [ˈɡrænd  ˈdʌtʃɪ əv  ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪə] Великое Княжество Литовское

² the Polish­Lithuanian 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.

3.  What makes the author be proud of his/her Motherland?

4.  What would the author do if he/she were a creative person?

II. Listen to the story about a girl and answer the questions below.

1.  Why was Whitney worried about going to college?

2.  How did she find a friend?

3.  What lesson did Whitney learn?

III. Let’s talk about accommodation.

№ 2

  I.  1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

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 Museum­Reserve 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.

3.   Which Belarusian sites are included on the list for protection?

4.   What other sites does the Belarusian government want to be on the UNESCO List?

II.   Listen to the career counsellor speaking about choosing a career and answer the questions below.

1.  Why is choosing the right job very important?

2.  Which jobs are popular among young people at present?

3.  What advice does the speaker give?

III. Let’s talk about the education.

№ 3

  I.  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?

4. Why do the children want more freedom?

II.   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?

III. Let’s talk about the environment.

№ 4

  I.  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 thirteen­year­old 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 thirteen­year­old girl is completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen­year­old 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?

4.  Why did Anna start writing in a diary?

II. 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?

III. Let’s talk about Belarus.

№ 5

  I.  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/.

¹abuse [əˈbjuːs] оскорбление

²to 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? 

4.  Why is SID a good way to stop abuse on the Internet?

II.  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? 

III. Let’s talk about Great Britain.

№ 6

  I.  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 mid­January, 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.

3.  What was Clifton’s job?

4.  Which facts show that all the family loved Clifton very much?

II.  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?

III. Let’s talk about science and modern technologies.
 

№ 7

  I.  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 teen­movie stars that Rebecca had given her. Her piano music from yesterday’s lesson. And different little things: nail polish remover, cotton balls, a tennis­ball, 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?

4.  Is Sam going to clean the room? Why do you think so?

II. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.

1.  Where was Tina going to?

2.  What happened at the airport?

3.  Why was Tina scared during the flight?

III. Let’s talk about art.

№ 8

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

Great grandad

It was a funny and surprising thing that brought Grandad back to me. It was algebra. I couldn’t cope with algebra in my first year at secondary school, and it made me mad. “I don’t see the point of it,” I screamed. “I don’t know what it’s for!”

Grandad, as it turned out, liked algebra and he sat opposite me and didn’t say anything for a while, considering my problem in that careful expressionless way of his.

Eventually he said, “Why do you do PE¹ at school?”

“What?”

“PE. Why do they make you do it?”

“Because they hate us?” I suggested.

“And the other reason?”

“To keep us fit, I suppose.”

“Physically fit, yes.”

He reached across the table and put the first two fingers of each hand on the sides of my head.

“There is also mental fitness, isn’t there? I can explain to you why algebra is useful. But that is not what algebra is really for.”

He moved his fingers gently on my head.

“It’s to keep what is in here healthy. PE is for the head. And the great thing is you can do it sitting down. Now, let us use these little puzzles here to take our brains for a jog².”

And it worked. Not that I fell in love with algebra. But I did come to see that it was possible to enjoy it. Grandad taught me that maths signs and symbols were not just marks on paper. They were not flat. There were three­dimensional, and you could approach them from different directions. You could take them apart and put them together in a variety of shapes, like Lego. I stopped being afraid of them.

I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but those homework sessions helped me to discover my Grandad. Algebra turned out to be the key that opened the invisible door he lived behind and let me in.

Now I learnt that Grandad’s world was full of miracles and mazes³, mirrors and misleading signs. He was fascinated by riddles and codes and labyrinths⁴, by the origin of place names, by grammar, by slang, by jokes — although he never laughed at them — by anything that might mean something else. I discovered My Grandad.

¹ PE [ˌpiːˈiː] физкультура

² to take our brains for a jog [əˈdʒɒɡ] шевелить мозгами

³ a maze [meɪz]  путаница

⁴ a labyrinth [ˈlæbərɪnθ] лабиринт

2.  The author says she had problems with algebra. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3.  How did  the girl’s Granddad help her understand the subject?

4.  What else did the author understand about her Granddad?

II. Listen to the member of the Greenpeace organisation telling a story about whales and answer the questions below.

1.  How did Uncle Roger explain to the boy why the whales were on the beach?

2.  How did the people help them?

3.  How did this event affect the story-teller’s life?

III. Let’s talk about your future career.
 

№ 9

  I.  1. Read the interview with a British businessman and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

AN INTERVIEW

Journalist: Do people in your country depend a lot on technology for communication?

Businessman: Yes. Everybody’s using all kinds of phones, mobiles and Internet services. I think the benefits of the computers cannot be denied. They save valuable time and space. Time­consuming tasks such as checking bank accounts can now be done in a matter of minutes and a large volume of information is economically stored on tiny disks. In addition, with immediate access to the Internet, we can always keep up with global and current issues and explore the world from the comfort of our homes.

Journalist: Do you manage to keep up with the development of technologies?

Businessman: I think the fact that methods in business have moved ahead at such speed has meant that we generally have to keep up with it all, whether we want to or not. Otherwise, we’ll be left behind. In fact this need to keep up has also entered the home, where a lot of people spend much money on computer equipment when all they do is play games.

Journalist: How different would everyday life be without technological means of communication?

Businessman: Of course, life would be very different without all these means of communication. For those working in the world of business, life would be much more difficult as it would take much longer to get in touch with other companies and to come to agreement on important matters. Basically, if we didn’t have email systems at home or mobile phones, etc., it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I mean, we survived before, didn’t we?

Journalist: How do you feel about mobile phones?

Businessman: I personally find them useful and necessary. They’re convenient if there’s an emergency on a business trip or when you’re in the middle of nowhere or need to contact the police or your family for example. Though, I do feel that they are overused in many cases. Think about how many people spend hours just chatting about silly, unimportant things or looking through sites for no special reason even at work.

2.  What are the benefits of the computers? Read aloud the extract which describes them.

3.  How do businessmen benefit from using technological means of communication at their workplace?

4.  When are technological means of communication misused?

II. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.

1.  Where does the action take place?

2.  What happened to the furniture in the grandmother’s room?

3.  Why were Martin and his friend scared?

III. Let’s talk about your family.
 

№ 10

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

What is a good family?

Building a successful family is like building a house. Both need a plan. The best way to be organised as a family is to talk about family matters. By doing this, families enjoy a special closeness and stability. Choosing to spend time with your family sends a message more powerful than words.

How much time should families spend together? That varies from family to family. Families with young children usually spend most of their time together because young children need a great deal of physical care and guidance. Families with teenagers may spend less time together because teens naturally want to spend more time with their friends. Healthy families keep a good balance between ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’ time together. They spend enough time to satisfy all family members.

Nothing unites a family more than its traditions which include different norms, ways of behavior, customs and views. In united families these traditions are deep-rooted and passed from generation to generation.

Strong families take time to be together and talk to one another. They share their hopes and dreams, feelings and concerns over common meals. Members of successful families feel they really belong to their family. They celebrate their victories and help each other learn from their mistakes. They do their household chores together and go to the theatre. At the same time, strong families adapt relationships and family rules when needs arise. Since no family knows what tomorrow will bring, being adaptive is a good trait for family members to develop.

Recent studies affirm the importance of love in families. Research shows that expressions of affection towards children reduce behaviour problems and help children’s development. Strong families notice and share positive aspects of each member. They notice the talents, skills and achievements, special qualities and characteristics that make the other person unique. They find ways to be positive even when another family member makes a mistake and make an effort to develop closeness and show love at home.

2.  The author explains what makes a successful family. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3.  What makes a family united?

4.  How much time should family members spend together?

II. Listen to the girl speaking about her eating habits and answer the questions below.

1.  What problem does the girl have?

2.  What makes the girl think that her habit is harmful?

3.  Why can’t she stop eating chocolate?

III. Let’s talk about youth and society.

№ 11

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

PYTHAGORAS¹

Pythagoras is often described as a very important mathematician, yet we know little about his achievements. What we do know is that he was the leader of a society which was half scientific and half religious. It was a secret society and today Pythagoras is still a mysterious figure.

It is believed that Pythagoras was born on the Greek island of Samos. His father was a merchant, and as a child, Pythagoras travelled with him selling their goods. Pythagoras was well educated. He learned music and poetry and had three philosophers to teach him who introduced Pythagoras to mathematics and advised him to travel to Egypt to learn more about mathematics and astronomy. So in 535 BC, Pythagoras travelled to Egypt where he visited many temples and took part in discussions with priests. Many of the customs he learnt in Egypt he came to adopt. For example, the Egyptian priests refused to eat beans and wear animal skins, as did Pythagoras later in his life.

In 525 BC the King of Persia invaded Egypt. Pythagoras was taken prisoner and was transported to Babylon. It was here, taught by the Babylonians, that he reached perfection in arithmetic and music. When Pythagoras returned to Samos he founded there a school which was called ‘The Semicircle’. It seems that the people of Samos did not appreciate the teaching methods of Pythagoras and they treated him rudely and improperly. Furthermore, they wanted to involve Pythagoras in local politics against his will. For these reasons, he went to Italy.

Pythagoras believed that numbers rule the universe and that numbers are present in all things. He also connected mathematics to music and recognized the healing power of music. He used it as a kind of therapy to help those who were ill. Another of his beliefs was that there are three types of men: those who love wisdom, those who love honour and those who love wealth.

Pythagoras was a mathematician, an astronomer, and a philosopher. Today we remember him best for his famous geometry theorem, known as Pythagoras’ theorem.²

¹ Pythagoras [paɪˈθæɡərəs] Пифагор

² Pythagoras’ theorem [paɪˈθæɡərəsɪz ˈθɪərəm] теорема Пифагора

2.  Where did Pythagoras go to learn mathematics and astronomy? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  Why did Pythagoras go to Italy?

4.  What are the three types of men according to Pythagoras?

II. Listen to the interview with Mr Ron Cansler taken by the Youth Magazine and answer the questions below.

1.  How old is Mr Cansler?

2.  What kind of life did he have when he was young?

3.  What does he recommend listeners to do?

III. Let’s talk about the mass media.

№ 12

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

AMELIA

Possibly the most famous female pilot ever, Amelia Earhart was born in 1897 in Kansas, the USA. Amelia had a difficult and unsettled childhood. Her family travelled a great deal so her father could find work. Although she often missed school, Amelia was nevertheless considered to be very bright academically. She enjoyed reading and poetry as well as sports, especially basketball and tennis.

After graduating from high school, instead of going to college, Amelia decided to study nursing. During the First World War, she worked as a military nurse in Canada. When the war ended she became a social worker back in America and taught English to immigrants. In her free time, Amelia enjoyed going to air shows and watching aerial stunts¹, which were very popular during the 1920s. Her fascination with flying began when, at one of those shows, she took a ten­minute ride, and from that moment on she knew she had to learn to fly.

Amelia took on several odd jobs to pay for the flying lessons and after a year, she had saved enough money to buy her own plane. She organised cross­country air races for women pilots and formed a now famous women pilots’ organisation, called the ‘Ninety­Nines’. One day Amelia received an invitation to be the first woman ever to make the flight across the Atlantic from Canada to Britain. Amelia made the flight in 1928 and, although she was only a passenger and two men flew the plane, it made her a celebrity. She also met there her future husband, George Putman, a publisher, who arranged the flight and organised all the publicity.

In 1932 Amelia and George decided Amelia should make the Atlantic crossing from America to Britain alone. She broke several records on this flight; she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo, the only person to have flown it twice and she established a new transatlantic crossing record of 13 hours and 30 minutes. Understandably, she became even more famous as a result earning respect for women pilots all over the world by proving that women could fly as well as men, if not better.

¹ an aerial stunt [ˈeərɪəl ˈstʌnt] фигура высшего пилотажа

2.  How did Amelia get interested in flying? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  What invitation did Amelia receive one day?

4.  Why did Amelia become famous?

II.  Listen to the conversation between Nancy and her mum and answer the questions below.

1. What do Nancy’s parents worry about?

2. Why does Nancy refuse to do household chores?

3. What arguments does Mum use to make Nancy clean the room?        

III. Let’s talk about the mass media.

№ 13

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

THE STRESS OF COMMUTING¹

In today’s modern world, people are constantly looking for ways to avoid stress and improve their lifestyle. Too much stress can lead to a variety of illnesses from headaches to high blood pressure. Simple things, such as driving to and from work on a daily basis, can be such a stressful experience that many people are left feeling totally exhausted. Cars can give normally peaceful people a feeling of power that can make them more aggressive.

Fortunately, there are various means of public transport to choose from within modern towns and cities. Sometimes, all we need to do is to change a few of our long­standing habits in order to discover a much more comfortable way of life. By simply planning journeys, not only can we save time and money, but we can also reduce stress levels dramatically. By using public transport everybody wins. Most towns and cities are well­covered by bus, tram and metro services. While making use of these services, you are also helping against increasing levels of pollution.

Public transport systems have improved considerably in recent years and there is now more focus on environmentally friendly forms. For example, old tram systems have been reintroduced into many European cities, making movement across large areas much faster and ‘cleaner’.

Another way of reducing levels of both stress and pollution is an introduction of an environmentally friendly network of cycle tracks. The aim of building cycle tracks is to motivate people to use their bicycles instead of their cars. So, next time you see your neighbor or colleague waiting at a bus stop as you drive by, don’t feel sorry for him because he will, no doubt, arrive at the office much earlier than you as you will still be fighting to find a parking space.

Or you might consider another way of getting to work. Carpooling² is a relatively new and convenient system when several people arrange to share one private car to get to work. And some companies have already introduced a plan where those who carpool get preferential parking in the company garage.

¹ commuting [kəˈmjʊːtɪŋ] ежедневные поездки на работу в город из пригорода и обратно

² to carpool [ˈkaːpuːl] ездить на одной машине, подвозить по очереди

2.  The network of public transport has improved lately. Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  How can we help reduce pollution?

4.  Why is carpooling convenient?

II. Listen to the advice how to make a good friend  and answer the questions below.

    1.   How do people feel if they have no friend?

    2.   What qualities does a good friend have?

    3.   Why is it good to be a real friend?  

III. Let’s talk about international cooperation.
№ 14

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

Video Blogger

In April 2007, a 16­year­old English boy named Charlie McDonnell was studying for his exams. But he was bored, so he turned on his computer and started surfing the web. He soon found a website called YouTube and within minutes he was watching a video of another teenager sitting in his bedroom and talking to his computer about how bored he was. ‘I could do better than that!’ thought Charlie. So, using a cheap computer and a webcam, he made his first video blog and posted it on YouTube under the name Charlieissocoollike.

A few days after the first video Charlie found that he had 150 subscribers. Encouraged by this, he went on to make more videos. A month later Charlie’s audience grew and he started to get hundreds of video messages from his fans. “It was really strange,” says Charlie. “I’d been talking to my computer for a month and suddenly my computer started talking back to me!”

His next big success came a few months later when Oprah Winfrey, the famous American TV host, showed one of Charlie’s comedy videos called How to be English on her programme, which made him popular in the USA too.

Charlie also realised he could use his fame to help people less fortunate than himself. To celebrate his 18th birthday, he raised £5,000 for cancer research. He raised four times as much when he co­presented a live show on the Internet. He stayed awake for 24 hours performing challenges from viewers. All the money went to the children’s charity UNICEF¹.

But what is the secret of his popularity? “I just make videos that I would want to watch,” he says, “and I’m not trying to sell anything. I’m just trying to talk with people and that’s it for me.” His honesty and modesty are perhaps the main reasons why Charlie is so well liked. And of course, he is a talented song writer, camera man, actor and singer.

And if you were wondering how Charlie did in his exams back in 2007…well, he passed with nine A grades and one B! He says that he wants to go on to study at university in the future but decided to try and make a career on YouTube before that.

¹UNICEF [ˈjuːnɪsef] Детский фонд ООН

2.  Charlie says how the idea of making a video crossed his mind. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3.  How did he become popular?

4.  Why do people like Charlie?

II.  Listen to Huan, a Chinese man, speaking about moving out and answer the questions below.

    1. Why do young people prefer to live with their parents in Hong Kong?

    2. How did Huan’s parents react to his decision?

    3. What are the advantages of living on your own? 

III. Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes.

№ 15

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

MAKE YOUR HOME GREENER

Residential buildings are responsible for consuming 27% of the total amount of energy consumed within Europe and are the biggest source of global warming in the world. This is a fact that has, until recently, been overlooked by lawmakers trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, who have concentrated their efforts on industry and transport. The EU has now passed a new law which intends to cut considerably carbon dioxide emissions¹ from buildings. This means that each of us can now save the planet from the comfort of our own homes.

The first things we can do are simple and easy. We can block up draughts², switch off unnecessary lights and make sure cold and hot water taps are not left running. The next step requires more planning and some expense, but as well as saving energy, we will also save on bills. Many homes have window and roof insulation³ but it is rarely enough. Full insulation can have a dramatic effect on energy consumption. We should use energy efficient light bulbs. These are usually expensive to buy but consume less than half the energy of standard bulbs. These bulbs last much longer than conventional light bulbs reducing the consumption of resources. Also, thermal solar panels are very efficient. They are capable of providing all the hot water you need.

We can install a ‘grey’ water recycling system. At present water used to flush the toilets is of the same drinkable quality that comes out of the taps⁴. This is an unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification. A grey water recycling system cleans water that has been used for washing and sends it through the toilet system reducing the use of clean drinking water.

New buildings have more energy saving features in their design. They can have a wooden structure, extensive insulation, electronic environmental controls, triple glazing⁵, a non­polluting heating system and a turf⁶ roof. However, it is how we deal with our present homes that will determine housing’s contribution to global warming. It’s down to each of us, so get insulating!

¹ carbon dioxide emissions [ˈkaːbən daɪˈɒkˈsaɪd  ɪˈmɪʃnz] выбросы углекислого газа

² а draught [draːft] сквозняк

³ insulation [ˌɪnsjʊˈleɪʃn] изоляция, утепление

⁴ a tap [tæp] кран

⁵ glazing [ˈɡleɪzɪŋ] вставка стекoл

⁶ turf [tзːf] торф

2.  What energy saving features in the design of the building are used nowadays? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  What can we do to cut carbon dioxide emissions from buildings?

4.  What is considered to be an unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification?

II. Listen to the tour guide and answer the questions below.

1.  What sort of tour is it?

2.  What will the tourists see on the tour?

3.  Why does the tourist ask to return the money?

III. Let’s talk about outstanding people.
 

№ 16

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

MR WEMMICK’S “CASTLE”

Wemmick’s house was a little wooden cottage in the middle of a large garden. The top of the house had been built and painted like a battery loaded with guns. I said I really liked it. I think Wemmick’s house was the tiniest I had ever seen. It had very few windows and the door was almost too small to get in.

‘Look,’ said Wemmick, ‘after I have crossed this bridge, I raise it so that nobody can enter the Castle.’

The ‘bridge’ was a plank¹ and it crossed a gap about four feet² wide and two feet deep. But I enjoyed seeing the smile on Wemmick’s face and the pride with which he raised his bridge. The gun on the roof of the house, he told me, was fired every night at nine o’clock. I later heard it. Immediately, it made an impressive sound.

‘At the back,’ he said, ‘there are chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits. I’ve also got my own little vegetable garden and I grow cucumbers. Wait until supper and you’ll see for yourself what kind of salad I can make. If the Castle is ever attacked, I will be able to survive for quite a while,’ he said with a smile, but at the same time seriously.

Then Wemmick showed me his collection of curiosities. They were mostly to do with being on the wrong side of the law: a pen with which a famous forgery³ had been committed, some locks of hair, several manuscript confessions written from prison.

‘I am my own engineer, my own carpenter, my own plumber and my own gardener. I am my own Jack of all Trades⁴,’ said Wemmick, receiving my compliments. Wemmick told me that it had taken many years to bring his property to this state of perfection.

 ‘Is it your own, Mr. Wemmick?’

‘Oh yes, I have got a hold of it a bit at a time. I have absolute ownership now. You know, the office is one thing, and private life is another. When I go to the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come to the Castle, I leave the office behind me. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to do the same. I don’t want to talk about my home in a professional manner’.

¹ plank [plæŋk] брус, доска

² feet [fiːt] — мн. ч. от foot — мера длины, равная 30,48 см

³ а forgery [ˈfɒdʒərɪ] подделка документа

⁴ Jack of all Trades мастер на все руки

2.  ‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’. Read aloud the extract which proves this idea.

3.  What do we understand about Wemmick’s home life?

4.  Why does Wemmick call himself Jack of all Trades?

II. Listen to a part of the interview with a thirteen-year old writer, Sally Myers, and answer the questions below.

1. What made Sally write the book?

2. What did Sally’s Dad think about the book?

3. How did Sally’s life change after publishing the book?

III. Let’s talk about tourism.
 

№ 17

  I.  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 well­known 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.

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

4.  What did Mother Teresa do for people?

II. 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?

III. Let’s talk about accommodation.

№ 18

  I.  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, T­shirts, 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?

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

II. 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?

III. Let’s talk about your family.
 

№ 19

  I.  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 black­and­white and contained more text than photographs. Now, there are colour pictures on every page — and the book also includes 3­D 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?

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

II. 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?

III. Let’s talk about your future career.

 

№ 20

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

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 ready­made 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?

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

II.  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?   

III. Let’s talk about Belarus.

№ 21

  I.  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 multi­tasking 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?

II. 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?

III. Let’s talk about any Enlglish-speaking  country.

№ 22

  I.  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 26­year­old 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 well­prepared 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?

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

II.  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?

III. Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes.
 

№ 23

  I.  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 музыкальный 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?

II. 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?

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

III. Let’s talk about youth and society.

№ 24

  I.  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 self­image and contributes to the sense of well­being both mental and physical. Many programmes have keep­fit 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?

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

II.  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?

III. Let’s talk about education.

№ 25

  I.  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?

II.  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?

III. Let’s talk about tourism.

 

Card 1. ARE YOU PROUD OF BEING BELARUSIAN?
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2-3 sentences what it is about.	It is about beauty of our motherland Belarus, its nature and traditions. The author is proud of being Belarusian and loves his/ her country.
2	When did the author understand that he/she is proud of being Belarusian? Find this extract and read it aloud.	№ 1. 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.
3	What makes the author be proud of his/her Motherland?	He is proud of its wonderful nature, rich heroic history, national holidays, traditions, and its people.
4	What would the author do if he/she were a creative person?	If he were a talented painter, he would draw pictures with its beautiful landscapes, if he could compose verses, he would write lyric poems.
II/1	Why was Whitney worried about going to college?	Whitney was going to college. She was a bit shy and reserved. She had to share a room with a complete stranger, she didn’t have friends there. That’s why she was nervous.
2	How did she find a friend?	When she was asked about her goal at college, she was honest and answered, she wanted to have at least one true friend. One boy came to her, introduced himself and offered to become friends. Their friendship lasted for many years and brought them together in marriage.
3	What lesson did Whitney learn?	She learned to be honest, openhearted and take actions.
III	ACCOMMODATION	1. What types of houses do you know? 2. Is it true that the house reflects the personality of its owner? 3. What is your idea of a dream house/ flat? 4. It’s better to live in the country and work in the city. Do you agree with the statement? 5. “A man’s house is his castle”. Do you agree with the proverb?

Card 2. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This article is about fruitful and dynamic cooperation between Belarus and such international organizations as UNESCO and about attractions of Belarus that have been included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2	Belarus is a member of UNESCO. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№ 1. 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.
3	Which Belarusian sites are included on the list for protection?	The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, The Mir Castle Complex, The Nesvizh Palace and The Struve Arc are included on the list for protection.
4	What other sites does the Belarusian government want to be on the UNESCO List?	Belarusian government wants to propose to add Independence Avenue in Minsk for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
II/1	Why is choosing the right job very important?	Choosing the right job is very important as it can influence the whole life of a person and it’s like choosing a wife or a husband, a friend you can rely on.
2	Which jobs are popular among young people at present?	In our materialistic world young people choose well-paid jobs connected with business, modern technologies and politics and so on.
3	What advice does the speaker give?	The speaker advises us to take into consideration our talents, interests and abilities.
III	EDUCATION	1. Is education today a must-have or a necessity? 2. What are the main differences between Belarusian and British educational systems? 3. “I’ve never allowed my schooling to get in the way of my education”. M. Twain. How do you understand these words of a famous writer? 4. What qualities and knowledge should a real professional possess? Does he/ she need English? 5. Reading books is the trend of the past. Do you agree?

Card 3. MY IDEAL SCHOOL
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This text is about the children’s opinions about ideal school and what they want to change in their school. Different pupils have different ideas.
2	One of the children says that school should have a soul. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№ 1. My ideal secondary school is a safe haven. 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)
3	What do the children want to change at school?	They want their school to be creative, valuable for their sociable and educational experience. Teachers should help them develop their individuality.
4	Why do the children want more freedom?	Everybody has the right to be free, to choose what to be or not to be. Therefore, the children want more freedom.
II/1	What is wrong with the accommodation?	The heating doesn’t work properly and the breakfast is very early in the morning.
2	Why did the boy oversleep?	There was another boy in this room, he was snoring at night and Peter couldn’t sleep.
3	What agreement did he reach with the person on Reception?	The person on reception promised to send an engineer to fix the heating.
III	ENVIRONMENT	1. What can ordinary people do to make the planet a safe place for themselves and the next generations? 2. Why is the Greenhouse Effect so dangerous for the people? 3. What way of pollution is more disastrous? 4. Why do rare species disappear in the forests all over the world? 5. How did the Chernobyl Atomic Power Station explosion in 1986 affect our lives?

Card 4. ANNA’S DIARY
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the part of a diary and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It’s about a 13yearold girl, who decided to keep a diary. She didn’t have a true friend, whom she could share her thoughts with. She wants her diary to be a patient friend.
2	The author writes when she decided to keep a diary. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№ 2. “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.
3	What close people did Anna have?	There are many people around her, but she has only few close ones. They love parents, aunts and her 16-yearold sister.
4	Why did Anna start writing in a diary?	Anna started writing in a diary, because she felt alone, she didn’t have a true close friend to trust her thoughts, dreams and ideas.
II/1	What job did Alice do?	Alice worked in her uncle’s shop as a shop- assistant in Australia.
2	What difficulties did she have?	It was difficult to deal with customers, and the most difficult thing was money, as she made many mistakes, but her uncle helped her to get out of trouble.
3	What kind of knowledge and skills did she get at her first job?	She learned to understand people’s behaviour better; she has become more tolerant, serious and responsible.
III	BELARUS	Why would you recommend visiting Belarus to a group of tourists? Why is Belarus called “a blue-eyed country”? How would you describe our people and their mentality? With what countries do we have economic relations? What can be called typically Belarusian?

Card 5. BE KIND AND STAY SAFE
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This article is about cyber bulling and the ways, of avoiding it. The author tells us bout SID that is organized every year in 74 countries.
2	The journalist writes how to stop bad messages on Twitter. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№ 1. Everybody knows that we should be polite and kind to people in real life and online. Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen. Where you can report online abuse or online 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.
3	What can we do to stay safe online?	We should follow the tips given in the article, treat people online as we do in the real life, we should never post personal information.
4	Why is SID a good way to stop abuse on the Internet?	SID is a good way to stop abuse on the Internet, because it helps people to use the source safely.
II/1	Where does the conversation take place?	The conversation takes place at Abbey Health Club.
2	What is the man interested in?	The man asks where the gum is, if they have a yoga class, if there is a car park.
3	How much do you need to pay monthly?	It’s £ 50 a month.
III	GREAT BRITAIN	1. What is the geographical position of the UK? 2. Who is the Prime minister of the UK today and what role does he/she play in the country? 3. What are the capitals of Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland? 4. Do the British have any written constitution? Do they have laws? 5. What place would you like to visit in the UK?

Card 6. CHRISTMAS TREE
Task	The question	The question
I /1	Read the story and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It tells us about one loving family, who were going to celebrate Christmas, but the author’s brother Clifton couldn’t get home for Christmas, as he served in the army during the World War 2 and asked his family to keep Christmas tree. They did all the best to do it.
2	The family got a message from Clifton. Find the extract that says about it and read it aloud.	№ 1. Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew whom 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.
3	What was Clifton’s job?	He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and was responsible for maintaining the airplanes flying off to fight in the World War 2.
4	Which facts show that all the family loved Clifton very much?	Clifton was eager to celebrate Christmas with his family, but he wasn’t able to come, so he asked his family to leave the Christmas up until he made it back.
II/1	Why does the first speaker dislike doing homework?	Homework puts her in a bad mood. She wants to relax instead of doing homework.
2	What does the second speaker have regrets about?	She did very little homework in high school and hasn’t got used to doing homework at college.
3	What are the benefits of doing homework according to the third speaker?	It develops a sense of logic, makes us more disciplined, intelligent and ready for our future career.
III	SCIENCE AND MODERN TECHNOLOGIES	1. What scientists do you consider to be the most prominent ones to influence the life of humanity? 2. What advantages do we have with the help of new achievements in the field of science? 3. Why are technologies changing all the time? 4. What are technologies you can’t live without today? 5. What drawbacks does technological progress bring to people?

Card 7. THE CONDEMNED ROOM
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the story and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about Sam, a teenage girl whose mum didn’t let her go out anywhere, because of a terrible mess in her room.
2	The author tells us about her brother’s room. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№ 3. 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.
3	What made Sam’s Mum write a message?	Sam’s room was piled with a lot of things. There was a terrible mess. Her mum thought her room was condemned and she wrote a message to make Sam clean the room.
4	Is Sam going to clean the room? Why do you think so?	She is not going to clean her room, because instead of it she decided to paint her fingernails.
II/1	Where was Tina going to?	Tina was going to Hong Kong from London.
2	What happened at the airport?	Tina’s flight was delayed from one hour to nine hours.
3	Why was Tina scared during the flight?	There was a huge storm and the plane started bouncing around. She was scared. Then the oxygen masks dropped down, she put a mask on and sat in absolute terror.
III	ART	1. What do people do with the help of art? 2. What outstanding artists do you know? Are there any Belarusians among them? 3. It’s impossible to live without art. Do you agree with the statement? 4. What art would you like to take up? 5. People say that artists become famous only when they’re gone? Do you think today the situation is the same?

Card 8. GREAT GRANDAD
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the story and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about a girl who had a problem with algebra. Her grandad helps her to cope with algebra. She understands that it was possible to enjoy it. She discovered grandad’s inner world and they became friends.
2	The author says she had problems with algebra. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№1. It was a funny and surprising thing that brought Grandad back to me. It was algebra. I couldn’t cope with algebra in my first year at secondary school, and it made me mad. “I don’t see the point of it,” I screamed. “I don’t know what it’s for!”
3	How did  the girl’s Grandad help her understand the subject?	Her grandad loved algebra. He explained to her that algebra was useful. It is mental fitness for people. The girl stopped being afraid of algebra.
4	What else did the author understand about her Grandad?	She learnt that grandad’s world is full of miracles. He was fascinated by riddles, by labyrinths. He had a lot of interests. The girl discovered her grandad.
II/1	How did Uncle Roger explain to the boy why the whales were on the beach?	Whales sometimes throw themselves on the beach as dirty water makes them that crazy because plants and factories throw rubbish into the water.
2	How did the people help them?	People brought ropes and began to pull the whale into the water. It was hard and the wale began move.
3	How did this event affect the story-teller’s life?	The memory stayed in his heart forever, he decided to study the ocean and protect animals, he is a member of Greenpeace now.
III	FUTURE CAREER	1. What makes a real professional? 2. What profession do you consider to be the most important? 3. Why are jobs connected with IT the best paid ones? 4. What subjects do you study in depth for the sake of your future profession? 5. Is it important to get a job satisfaction?

Card 9. AN INTERVIEW
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the interview with a British businessman and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about the importance of modern technology for communication. Now our life depends on it. We use phones, mobiles, the Internet, they save our time and space. They have greatly changed all the spheres of our lives.
2	What are the benefits of the computers? Read aloud the extract which describes them.	№1 (2). Businessman: Yes. Everybody’s using all kinds of phones, mobiles and Internet services. I think the benefits of the computers cannot be denied. They save valuable time and space. Time-consuming tasks such as checking bank accounts can now be done in a matter of minutes and a large volume of information is economically stored on tiny disks. In addition, with immediate access to the Internet, we can always keep up with global and current issues and explore the world from the comfort of our homes.
3	How do businessmen benefit from using technological means of communication at their workplace?	For us they have changed everything. We can do time-consuming tasks in minutes; a lot of information is stored on tiny disks. Access to the Internet lets us keep up with global and current issues.
4	When are technological means of communication misused?	Many people spend hours just chatting about silly, unimportant things, looking through sites for no reason, play computer games for hours.
II/1	Where does the action take place?	The action takes place in the author’s grandmother’s big old house near London.
2	What happened to the furniture in the grandmother’s room?	All the furniture’s in my grandmother’s bedroom was on the left side of the room, and the carpet was on the other side of the room.
3	Why were Martin and his friend scared?	They were scared, because the furniture was really heavy and they heard just a tiny noise. And granny said it had happened before and she didn’t seem to mind.
III	FAMILY	1. Who do you turn to for a piece of advice in your family? 2. What family traditions do you have? 3. A family without children is like a flower that cannot bloom. Do you agree with the statement? 4. Everything in a child comes from the family. Do you agree with this? 5. Why are there generation gaps in almost all the families?

Card 10. WHAT IS A GOOD FAMILY?
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This article is about a successful family, about time that families should spend together, traditions which unite the family and about the importance of love in all the families.
2	The author explains what makes a successful family. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№1. Building a successful family is like building a house. Both need a plan. The best way to be organised as a family is to talk about family matters. By doing this, families enjoy a special closeness and stability. Choosing to spend time with your family sends a message more powerful than words.
3	What makes a family united?	Traditions which include different norms, customs and views make a family united.
4	How much time should family members spend together?	That varies from family to family. Families with young children spend most of their time together, families with teenagers may spend less time together, but healthy families keep a good balance between «too much» and «not enough» time together.
II/1	What problem does the girl have?	The girl can’t stop eating chocolate.
2	What makes the girl think that her habit is harmful?	The girl thinks that her habit is harmful, because there is a lot of sugar and fat in chocolate, that’s why she has many spots on her face and she is a little overweight too.
3	Why can’t she stop eating chocolate?	She can’t stop eating chocolate, because there is always chocolate for sale wherever she is. And when she tries to stop if she doesn’t have any chocolate, she gets very bad headaches.
III	YOUTH AND SOCIETY	1. Why does the government pay attention to the development of the youth? 2. What opportunities do children have to enhance their personalities and develop their skills? 3. The new generation is the reflection of the society.Do you agree with the statement? 4. The elderly are better professionals than the young because they are experienced and wise and the employers should better take on such people instead of the young and inexperienced ones. Do you agree with this? 5. To be successful today young people don’t need to study at all. Do you agree with this statement.

Card 11. PYTHAGORAS
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about a famous mathematician, astronomer and philosopher Pythagoras and his achievements, his teaching methods and beliefs. But today he is still a mysterious figure.
2	Where did Pythagoras go to learn mathematics and astronomy? Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№2. It is believed that Pythagoras was born on the Greek island of Samos. His father was a merchant, and as a child, Pythagoras travelled with him selling their goods. Pythagoras was well educated. He learned music and poetry and had three philosophers to teach him who introduced Pythagoras to mathematics and advised him to travel to Egypt to learn more about mathematics and astronomy. So in 535 BC, Pythagoras travelled to Egypt where he visited many temples and took part in discussions with priests. Many of the customs he learnt in Egypt he came to adopt. For example, the Egyptian priests refused to eat beans and wear animal skins, as did Pythagoras later in his life.
3	Why did Pythagoras go to Italy?	The people of Samos didn’t appreciate his teaching methods, they treated him improperly, wanted to involve him in local politics against his will, so he went to Italy.
4	What are the three types of men according to Pythagoras?	There are three types of people those who love wisdom, those who love honour and those who love wealth.
II/1	How old is Mr Cansler?	He is 99. He will be 100 in 2 weeks.
2	What kind of life did he have when he was young?	His life was hard: he had to work much, he didn’t have enough to eat and he didn’t do exercises and spent a lot of time outside.
3	What does he recommend listeners to do?	He recommends to be active and to have a positive attitude.
III	MASS MEDIA	1. What media do you use to find the information you need? 2. Why are mass-media called the fourth power? 3. Will the Internet change all the media we have in the future? 4. Why do all the news programmes end with positive pieces of news? 5. Do you watch news in English? Would you like to if you don’t?

Card 12. AMELIA
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This article is about the most famous female pilot Amelia Earhart and her difficult childhood. She held several records, became famous and found her future love thanks to her passion.
2	How did Amelia get interested in flying? Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№2. After graduating from high school, instead of going to college, Amelia decided to study nursing. During the First World War, she worked as a military nurse in Canada. When the war ended she became a social worker back in America and taught English to immigrants. In her free time, Amelia enjoyed going to air shows and watching aerial stunts1, which were very popular during the 1920s. Her fascination with flying began when, at one of those shows, she took a ten­-minute ride, and from that moment on she knew she had to learn to fly.
3	What invitation did Amelia receive one day?	One day Amelia received an invitation to be the first woman ever to make the flight across the Atlantic from Canada to Britain.
4	Why did Amelia become famous?	She became famous, because she broke several records when she flew across the Atlantic solo.
II/1	What do Nancy’s parents worry about?	They worry about the pollution in her bedroom.
2	Why does Nancy refuse to do household chores?	She thinks that it is not important, it is her own room.
3	What arguments does Mum use to make Nancy clean the room?	Father is afraid of plague. Her parents got used to having clean rooms, so mother asked Nancy to please them by tiding her own room.
III	MASS MEDIA	1. What media do you use to find the information you need? 2. Why are mass-media called the fourth power? 3. Will the Internet change all the media we have in the future? 4. Why do all the news programmes end with positive pieces of news? 5. Do you watch news in English? Would you like to if you don’t?

Card 13. THE STRESS OF COMMUTING
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This text is about the stress of commuting. People are looking for ways to avoid stress and improve their lives. The author gives us the idea how to avoid stress and reduce pollution.
2	The network of public transport has improved lately. Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№2. Fortunately, there are various means of public transport to choose from within modern towns and cities. Sometimes, all we need to do is to change a few of our long-standing habits in order to discover a much more comfortable way of life. By simply planning journeys, not only can we save time and money, but we can also reduce stress levels dramatically. By using public transport everybody wins. Most towns and cities are well-covered by bus, tram and metro services. While making use of these services, you are also helping against increasing levels of pollution.
3	How can we help reduce pollution?	To reduce the pollution we can use environmentally friendly means of transport such as trains and use carpooling as an alternative.
4	Why is carpooling convenient?	Carpooling is convenient, because it saves time and money, it also helps avoid stress.
II/1	How do people feel if they have no friend?	If they have no friends, they feel lonely and unhappy. They have no friends to talk to or share sad or happy moments with.
2	What qualities does a good friend have?	A good friend should be loving, caring, listening, doing something for another person and honest.
3	Why is it good to be a real friend?	It is good to be a real friend, because your life is full of meaning, interesting, you feel the joy, and you will never be along.
III	INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION	1. What countries are our main economical partners? 2. Why is bad peace better than a good fight? 3. Is it possible for a country not to have any relations with other countries? 4. What international organizations does Belarus take part in? 5. Why does our country have an advantageous geographical position?

Card 14. VIDEO BLOGGER
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about an English boy named Ch. MrDonnell who was bored and decided to make his video blog and post it on YouTube. Soon he became popular and his audience grew, he used his fame to help people less fortunate than himself.
2	Charlie says how the idea of making a video crossed his mind. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№1. In April 2007, a 16­year­old English boy named Charlie McDonnell was studying for his exams. But he was bored, so he turned on his computer and started surfing the web. He soon found a website called YouTube and within minutes he was watching a video of another teenager sitting in his bedroom and talking to his computer about how bored he was. ‘I could do better than that!’ thought Charlie. So, using a cheap computer and a webcam, he made his first video blog and posted it on YouTube under the name Charlieissocoollike.
3	How did he become popular?	He became popular when Oprah Winfrey, the famous American TV host, showed one of Charlie’s comedy videos called «How to be English» on her programme.
4	Why do people like Charlie?	People like Charlie, because he is honest, modest, he is a talented song writer, actor and singer, and he helps people less fortunate than himself.
II/1	Why do young people prefer to live with their parents in Hong Kong?	Young people prefer to live with their parents in Hong Kong, because it is expensive to rent a flat, they must take good care of their parents and spend more time with them.
2	How did Huan’s parents react to his decision?	They supported his decision, because they thought it was a good idea to understand how good it was to live with parents.
3	What are the advantages of living on your own?	It gives you personal space and freedom, saves travelling cost and time.
III	NATIONAL CHARACTER AND STEREOTYPES	1. What are the most common features the Belarusians have? 2. «Typically American». What does it mean? 3. Do stereotypes rule the world? 4. What do most people think of the British? 5. Do all the English- speaking nations differ? What common features do they possess?

Card 15. MAKE YOUR HOME GREENER
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is devoted to ecological problems, residential buildings consume 27% of the total energy. It gives us an idea how to save energy and to save the building. Everybody is responsible for reducing emissions.
2	What energy saving features in the design of the building are used nowadays? Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№ 4. New buildings have more energy saving features in their design. They can have a wooden structure, extensive insulation, electronic environmental controls, triple glazing5, a non-polluting heating system and a turf6 roof. However, it is how we deal with our present homes that will determine housing’s contribution to global warming. It’s down to each of us, so get insulating!
3	What can we do to cut carbon dioxide emissions from buildings?	We can block up water leaks, switch off unnecessary light, make sure cold and we also should use energy efficient light bulbs.
4	What is considered to be an unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification?	Water of drinkable quality that is used to flush the toilets is an unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification.
II/1	What sort of tour is it?	It is a fantastic open-top bus tour of London.
2	What will the tourists see on the tour?	They will see M. T. museum, Oxford Street, Westminster Abbey, The House of Parliament, The London Eye, Tower Bride and Buckingham Palace.
3	Why does the tourist ask to return the money?	They don’t have any extra umbrellas and it is going to rain heavily that’s why the tourist asked to return the money.
III	OUTSTANDING PEOPLE	1. Are all the famous people really prominent in terms of history? 2. What qualities should people have to become outstanding? 3. Practice makes perfect. How do you understand the statement? 4. Famous people make the history of their country as well as of that of the world. Do you agree with this statement? 5. In what sphere would you like to become a prominent figure?

Card 16. MR WEMMICK’S “CASTLE”
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the extract and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It tells us about Mr. Wemmick’s cottage and his attitude to it. His home is the castle for him; he does everything himself there, so it is so dear to him.
2	‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’. Read aloud the extract which proves this idea.	The last one (8). ‘Oh yes, I have got a hold of it a bit at a time. I have absolute ownership now. You know, the office is one thing, and private life is another. When I go to the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come to the Castle, I leave the office behind me. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to do the same. I don’t want to talk about my home in a professional manner’.
3	3.  What do we understand about Wemmick’s home life?	He is very busy at home; he looks after domestic animals, works in the garden, grows cucumbers. He is skillful and does a lot of work in his house by himself.
4	4.  Why does Wemmick call himself Jack of all Trades?	He calls himself Jack of all Trades, because he is a craftsman and he is able to do everything about his house himself.
II/1	What made Sally write the book?	Sally loved writing. She wrote some advice to her friend who was moving to another town and that friend advised her to write a book.
2	2. What did Sally’s Dad think about the book?	Sally’s dad thought it was good, but he didn’t advise her to send it to publishers not to be disappointed if they didn’t like it.
3	3. How did Sally’s life change after publishing the book?	Her life didn’t change a lot. But she became more confident and was planning to write one more book.
III	TOURISM	1. What way of travelling is the most comfortable for you? 2. Have you ever travelled on a hot-air balloon? What are the advantages of this way of travelling? 3. What country/ countries would you like to visit in the future? 4.» When in Rome do as the Romans do». How do you understand the saying? 5. Would you like to travel round the world on foot? Why?

Card 17. MOTHER TERESA
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It tells us about Mother Teresa, whose life was devoted to poor people, who was a simple nun and did all the best to help the sick and the poor.
2	The author writes about Mother Teresa’s family. Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№2. Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in what is now Macedonia. She was the youngest of three children. Agnes’ 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.
3	Why did Mother Teresa decide to devote her life to people in need?	One day she was on a train, she looked out of the window and saw dirty children sleeping in a doorway. Sick and dying people were lying in the streets. She was shocked and decided to work with the poor. She was kind-hearted.
4	What did Mother Teresa do for people?	She opened a school for the kids from poor families, she stared her own group of nuns who cared about poor and dying people. She also started homes for children without families.
II/1	What does Jackie want to become?	Jackie wants to become a PE teacher.
2	Why has she chosen this profession?	She has chosen this profession, because she likes explaining things, helping people, she likes to work with young people, also she likes the challenge.
3	Why is it important for students to do sport at school?	It is good for our mental well-being, for health, it keeps physically fit, teaches young people important life lessons: the importance of teamwork, discipline, fairness.
III	ACCOMMO-DATION	1. What types of houses do you know? 2. Is it true that the house reflects the personality of its owner? 3. What is your idea of a dream house/ flat? 4. It’s better to live in the country and work in the city? Do you agree with the statement? 5. “A man’s house is his castle”. Do you agree with the proverb?

Card 18. THE MOST MYSTIQUE PICTURE
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It tells us about one of the most magnificent work of art, The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Every hour about 1.500 people visit the Louvre Museum in Paris. It tells us what makes the painting so special.
2	Why is Mona Lisa smiling? Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№3. 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.’
3	What makes the Mona Lisa so special?	Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile has fascinated everyone who has ever seen the painting. People find her smile divine; the portrait seems alive and real.
4	Why is the painting displayed in an exceptional way?	It is a masterpiece; it is placed in a room with other great 16th century Italian paintings. Visitors have a better chance to appreciate the painting as a work of art rather than as a tourist attraction.
II/1	What does Christian want to become?	Christian wants to become a businessman.
2	Why does Kate need to learn English?	Kate needs to learn English for future career. She is going to be a tourist manager.
3	What piece of advice does Christian give to his friend?	He advises her to speak as much as possible when she travels, because practice is important.
III	FAMILY	1. Who do you turn to for a piece of advice in your family? 2. What family traditions do you have? 3. A family without children is like a flower that cannot bloom. Do you agree with the statement? 4. Everything in a child comes from the family. Do you agree with this? 5. Why are there generation gaps in almost all the families?

Card 19. BOOK REVIEW
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the book review and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about the Guinness Books of World Records. There is a wide range of amazing facts on these pages. There is a helpful index at the back of the book, where we can find the information in an alphabetical order.
2	The author describes how The Guinness Books of  World Records changed with time. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№1. 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 3­D images.
3	What information will you find in this book?	The collection of records is divided into chapters on Space, Human Achievement, Sports and others. We can read about extremes in these spheres.
4	Why can this book be interesting for the reader?	This book can be interesting for the reader, because there are a lot of amazing facts in it. It can motivate people to develop their skills and talents.
II/1	Why did the man’s family have to rent a flat for about a year?	When he was 3, his brother was born, his parents decided they needed a larger home so they moved into a rented flat.
2	What was their flat in the capital like?	The flat was not really large. But there was enough place for them and there were two bedrooms, a cosy living room with a balcony and a bathroom.
3	How many people is he sharing the flat with at present?	He is sharing the flat with one person at present.
III	FUTURE CAREER	1. What makes a real professional? 2. What profession do you consider to be the most important? 3. Why are jobs connected with IT the best paid ones? 4. What subjects do you study in depth for the sake of your future profession? 5. Is it important to get a job satisfaction?

Card 20. ARE YOU READY TO BE INDEPENDENT?
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This text is about Dr. Rowland and her test of independence. From this text we find out that modern teenagers are not ready for independent life and are not able to do the simplest things around the house.
2	Why did Dr Rowlands decide to test her children? Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№1. 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.
3	What did the parents prepare for their children?	Parents took the plug off the microwave and took out some good lights bulbs and put in light bulbs that didn’t work. They also made sure that there were other problems in the house: with an Italian coffee machine and one of the taps in the bathroom.
4	Do you think the children passed the test? Why do you think so?	On the one hand the children managed to solve all the problems, but on the other hand they did it only with big money and professional help. So we can say that they are not ready for independent life.
II/1	How did Tom spend his day off?	Tom visited his cousins, who rented a cottage near the seaside. They went water-skiing and had a lot of fun.
2	What went wrong?	While the boys were pulling Tom along, the engine suddenly stopped. The boat slowly began to drift away to the sea. There was going to be a storm. The sky was dark, the boys were frightened, but soon they saw a life boat coming.
3	What made Tom feel frightened?	There was going to be a storm, the sea was dark and angry which made him frightened.
III	BELARUS	1. Why would you recommend to visit Belarus to a group of tourists? 2. Why is Belarus called “a blue-eyed country”? 3. How would you describe our people and their mentality? 4. With what countries do we have economical relations? 5. What can be called typically Belarusian?

Card 21. TECHNOLOGY
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This text is about using technology in our everyday life. We can’t imagine our life without technology devices. We can also learn some facts about online volunteering and how it helps people around the world.
2	The author disapproves of the way people use electronic devices. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№1. 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.
3	What electronic devices does the author often use?	The author often uses TV, DVD game, his favourite console, his mobile phone or a laptop.
4	How can online volunteering help people?	This work can support the poor and help charities who otherwise would not have had the funding to pay for the staff.
II/1	What is the flat like?	It’s at 5 Oxford Street. There is a hall, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom.
2	What do Anna and Carlos like and dislike about the flat?	They like the big sofa in the living room, the big wardrobe in the bedroom and the desk in the bedroom. They don’t like that the bathroom is small.
3	What have they decided to do?	They decided to move in.
III	ANY ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY	1. Do all the English-speaking countries speak the same language? 2. What English-speaking country would you like to visit? 3. Why are there so many countries in the world that speak English? 4. What is the flag of Canada like? 5. Why is English spoken in India even today?

Card 22. FROM LIBRARIAN TO POLITICAL REPORTER
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This text is about a girl, Jessica Winters, who took part in a famous TV show «The Pretenders». We can read about the problems she had to cope with during the show and the results she achieved.
2	The Pretenders is a famous TV programme. Read aloud the extract about it.	№1. 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.
3	How did Jessica make it into the programme?	She didn’t know that 2 of her friends had sent her name to TV Company to take part in the Pretenders.
4	Why was it an exciting and useful experience for Jessica?	It was an exciting and useful experience for Jessica, because she gained a lot of confidence and she understood that she was capable of many things, after that she decided to quit her job.
II/1	What country does the first speaker like most?	The first speaker likes China.
2	What makes Italy a favourite place for the second speaker?	The fabulous history, wonderful variety of nature, friendly people, and delicious food make Italy his favourite place.
3	Why does the third speaker like Argentina?	There is a fantastic music, dancing, unusual nature and the beef. He has never eaten such tasty food anywhere else.
III	NATIONAL CHARACTER AND STEREOTYPES	1. What are the most common features the Belarusians have? 2. «Typically American». What does it mean? 3. Do stereotypes rule the world? 4. What do most people think of the British? 5. Do all the English- speaking nations differ? What common features do they possess?

Card 23. MI LUNA
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about a Spanish restaurant – Mi Luna. It represents us the atmosphere, the food, the service there. This place is popular with visitors; they enjoy Spanish cuisine, music, the decoration.
2	The service in Mi Luna is very good. Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№5. 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.
3	What makes Mi Luna look very Spanish?	People can feel the Spanish atmosphere as it is painted with classical colours that are used in Spain – red, yellow, white, and black. On the walls there are photos of Spanish bullfighters. You can enjoy Spanish music and dancing there.
4	Why should visitors make reservations in Mi Luna in advance?	It is popular with visitors; it is very busy they should book a table first.
II/1	What does Margaret complain about?	She works hard all day, she is tired, and she hasn’t any time to enjoy Italy.
2	Why does Peter need new clothes?	Peter wants to make the best impression on his job interviewers. He is looking for a job.
3	What piece of advice does Margaret give to her friend?	She advises him to join networking groups, these are people who are also looking for a job and can help him.
III	YOUTH AND SOCIETY	1. Why does the government pay attention to the development of the youth? 2. What opportunities do children have to enhance their personalities and develop their skills? 3. The new generation is the reflection of the society. Do you agree with the statement? 4. The elderly are better professionals than the young because they are experienced and wise and the employers should better take on such people instead of the young and inexperienced ones. Do you agree with this? 5. To be successful today young people don’t need to study at all. Do you agree with this statement.

Card 24. WE ARE YOUNGER THAN WE EVER WERE
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	It is about Elderhostel, the educational and travel organization for older adults. It offers a large member of programmes to keep fit, both mental and physical well-being.
2	What kind of organisation is Elderhostel? Read aloud the extract which says about it.	№1. 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.
3	What activities does Elderhostel offer?	People study history, literature, art, modern issues. They do sports. They are involved in adventure programmes.
4	Why does the word ‘old’ have a positive meaning in Elderhostel?	People keep a positive self-image; they take part in various activities. So the word has a very positive meaning.
II/1	Why was the first speaker surprised?	The girl saw Terry at a local dance and he was so handsome. She was surprised when Terry asked her to dance instead of her best friend Vera Mills.
2	When did the second speaker ask the girl out?	They were in a lift. The boy was going to the first floor, but he stayed with her all the way to the sixth and asked her out that day.
3	Why did the third speaker think that the girl was awful when they first met?	He thought Amy was awful, because she ignored him, spent all night chatting and laughing with his friend Tim.
III	EDUCATION	1. Is education today a must-have or a necessity? 2. What are the main differences between Belarusian and British educational systems? 3. “I’ve never allowed my schooling to get in the way of my education”. M. Twain. How do you understand these words of a famous writer? 4. What qualities and knowledge should a real professional possess? Does he/ she need English? 5. Reading books is the trend of the past. Do you agree?

Card 25. QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION
Task	The question	The answer
I /1	Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.	This text is about the Internet and its role in the modern world. It gives us many opportunities, but only when we use Internet sensibly. It is very important not to forget about other activities, important for our development.
2	The author says that the Internet offers exciting opportunities for youngsters. Find this extract and read it aloud.	№2. 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.
3	What is surfing the Internet compared to?	The Internet is compared to a superhighway where the youngsters should be given instructions on road safety.
4	Why is it important to use the Internet sensibly?	It is important to use the Internet sensibly, because it gives people tools and we should use them within reasonable limits.
II/1	What does the first speaker complain about?	She works a lot and doesn’t have time to enjoy hobbies, to see her children. She earns a lot, but has no free time.
2	How has the life style of the second speaker changed?	She enjoys her personal life,s he plays tennis, works much better and feels happier.
3	What does the third speaker think about his way of life and the typical Japanese work-life balance?	His lifestyle gives him a lot of freedom, he is happy. A lot of people in Japan get ill and die, because they work too much and hard.
III	TOURISM	1. What way of travelling is the most comfortable for you? 2. Have you ever travelled on a hot-air balloon? What are the advantages of this way of travelling? 3. What country/ countries would you like to visit in the future? 4.» When in Rome do as the Romans do». How do you understand the saying? 5. Would you like to travel round the world on foot? Why?

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