Методичка по английскому языку

Most people in Britain drink tea with black leaves although now herbal teas which do not contain caffeine are becoming more popular.

The taste of teas can be very different even if they are from the same farm and expert tea-tasters have to blend them to ensure that packets of tea which have the same label taste the same when you buy them in a shop.

The British are very fussy about how their tea is made. The teapot must be warmed before the tea is put in, the water must be boiling properly, the right quantity of tea — "one spoon for each person and one for the pot" — must be used and the tea must be brewed for three minutes. They see the drinking of tea as the opportunity to relax for a few minutes. It's also regarded as a great comforter. If you've just suffered a misfortune in Britain and you call on a friend, you're likely to be told, "Oh well, just sit down and I'll make you a nice cup of tea"!

 

 

Text 5. American Values and Beliefs

Vocabulary

to spot — распознавать, узнавать

toughness — твердость, несгибаемость

value and believe — ценить и верить

to rely — полагаться

self-reliance — независимость, уверенность в своих силах

trait — черта характера

obligatory — обязательный

to designate — определять

pull yourself up by the bootstraps — вытаскивать себя за волосы

to account for — объяснять

confident — уверенный

unaffected — естественный, непосредственный

equal — равный

fortune — состояние, богатство

industry — трудолюбие

overall — всеобщий  

failure — неудачник

incapable — неспособный

material wealth — материальное благополучие

reward — награда

to go along with — сопровождать

self-improvement — самосовершенствование

from rags to riches — из нищеты в роскошь, из грязи в князи

to attract — привлекать

humor — юмор

counterbalance — противовес

dash and roar — натиск и рев

whirring — шумный

snarl — затор, пробка

frayed tempers — раздражительность

 

You can easily spot Americans abroad by their toughness. It comes from their sense of individual freedom —  their first value and belief. Americans realize, however, that individuals must rely on themselves; otherwise they risk losing their freedom. They must come to both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by age of 18 or 21. So, self-reliance usually is the second trait and moral value supposed to be obligatory to a true American.

It designates the ability of succeeding on one's own. "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps" is their saying as well as " Life is what you make it" and "Actions speak louder than words".

The third national value accounts for their confident and unaffected manners. It's an old belief that everyone in America has equal opportunity to succeed and equal chance for success. This value was particularly true at the times of settlers' moving west to make a new beginning. The differences in wealth were little at that time, so their fortune depended only on their industry. But if everybody had chance to better his living conditions, then .cry body's duty was to try, which led to the overall competition with one another. And up to now people who compete successfully are honored and called "winners". Those who do not like to compete and are failures arc dishonored and called "losers".

Here we come to the fourth American value — competition. Sixty per cent of the Americans believe that competition and desire to win is healthy and desirable. So you can hardly see a person wishing to look incapable or "a loser".

The fifth national value is material wealth. Most Americans believe wealth is a reward for hard work and that is possible to have a good standard of living if a person works hard. But gaining wealth goes along with self-improvement of a person. "God helps those who help themselves," says the proverb. As for the American Dream. "from rag to riches", it is still alive! And it goes on attracting immigrants from all over the world.

The sense of humor is highly valued in America. Humor is the great reliever of tension, the counterbalance to the dash and roar of our industrialized life with its whirring machines, traffic snare and frayed tempers. American humor confirms the importance of mating and the family, the high status of women and children, the pace and tension of life.

Americans love children, animals, gadgets, mother, work, excitement, noise, nature, television, shows, comedy, installment buying, fast motion sports, the flag, Christ, jazz, shapely women and muscular men, crowds, beefsteak, coffee, ice cream, do-it yourself.

 

Answer the following questions:

1. What are the main traits of character of a true American? 2. What is the sense of individual freedom for Americans? 3. How old are usually Americans when they come to financial and emotional independence? 4. What value accounts for their confident and unaffected manners? 5. Do Americans like to compete? Why? 6. Is the American Dream "from rags to riches" still alive? 7. What is humor for Americans? 8. What does American humor confirm? 9. What do Americans love?

 

 

Text 7. US Holidays

Vocabulary

to vary from state to state – изменяться от штата к штату

Easter – Пасха

to celebrate smth – Праздновать что-либо

a Christian country – христианская страна

a specifically American holiday – типично американский праздник

Memorial Day – День поминовения погибших в войнах

to be observed – праздноваться, соблюдаться

tо be introduced for the purpose of – быть введенным с целью

decorating the graves of Civil War veterans – украшать могилы ветеранов гражданской войны

to commemorate war dead – чтить память погибших в войнах

Independence Day – День независимости

the adoption of the Declaration of Independence – принятие Декларации независимости

to emerge – возникать, появляться

to be the most important patriotic holiday - быть самым важным патриотическим праздником

the firing of guns – стрельба из ружей

a firework – фейерверк

an open air meeting – митинг под открытым небом

to prevent much of the former display of fireworks – не разрешать устраивать фейерверки в прежнем количестве

use of firearms – использование огнестрельного оружия

Veterans' Day – День ветеранов

Armistice Day – День перемирия

to comemmorate the signing of the Armisitce – отмечать подписание перемирия

to be set aside in honour of smb – устраиваться в честь кого-либо

to fight in defense of smth – сражаться за что-либо

Midsummer Day – Иванов день (24 июня) 
feast – пир

Nativity – рождение

to be associated with solar ceremonies – быть связанным с ритуалами в честь солнца

Christianity – христианство

a relic of a ceremony – остаток ритуала, церемонии

the bright bonfires and the merrymaking – яркие костры и веселье

Labour Day – День труда

to honour the labourer – чествовать рабочего человека

Columbus Day – День Колумба

Thanksgiving Day – День благодарения

to commemorate the harvest – увековечить урожай

a winter of starvation and privation – зима голода и лишений

to be proclaimed by smb – провозглашаться кем-либо

church services – службы в церкви

family reunion – встреча семьи

a customary turkey dinner – обед с традиционной индейкой

 

The list of holidays in the United States varies from state to State but generally includes the major holidays. Besides Christmas, Easter and St. Valentine's Day celebrated in Christian countries, May Day and Halloween, the celebration of which is very much the same as in Great Britain, there are some specifically American holidays.

Memorial Day is observed in late May. It was introduced in 1868 for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civil War veterans and has since become a day on which all war dead are commemorated. Independence Day, or July Fourth commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. II emerged during the American Revolution and has been the most important patriotic holiday ever since. Traditionally it has been celebrated with the firing of guns and fireworks, parades, open-air meetings, and patriotic speeches. Today local authorities prevent much of the former display of fireworks and use of firearms. Veterans' Day is celebrated on November, 11. It is the holiday formerly observed in the United States as Armistice Day and commemorates the signing of the Armistice ending World War I. The day is set aside in honour of all those who have fought in defense of the United States.

Midsummer day and Midsummer night, names given to the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24) and the preceding night (St. John's Eve, June 23), have been associated with solar ceremonies since long before Christianity. Relics of such ceremonies are the bright bonfires and the merrymaking of midsummer night. Labour Day, the holiday celebrated in Ununited States and Canada on the first Monday in September to honour the labourer. Columbus Day is a holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus's discovery of America, celebrated on the Monday nearest to October, 12.

Thanksgiving Day commemorates the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony in 1621, after a winter of great starvation and privation. The first national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by George Washington in 1789. N ow Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November. The day is observed by church services and family reunions with the customary turkey dinner remind ing of the four wild turkeys served at the Pilgrims' first thanksgiving feast.

 

Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Список праздников США различается от штата к штату, но обычно включает основные праздники, то есть Рождество, Пасху и День св. Валентина, которые отмечаются в христиан ских странах, Майский день и некоторые чисто американские праздники.

2. День поминовения погибших в войнах отмечается в конце мая; он был введен с целью украшения могил ветеранов гражданской войны и является днем, когда чествуются все погибшие в войнах.

3. День независимости увековечивает принятие Декларации независимости и отмечается стрельбой из ружей, фейерверками, парадами, митингами на открытом воздухе и патриотическими выступлениями.

4. День ветеранов ранее праздновался в Америке как День переми -рия; он установлен в честь тех, кто защищал США.

5. Иванов день ассоциируется с обрядами, посвященными солнцу с дохристианских времен, и отмечается яркими кострами и весельем.

6. День Благодарения отмечается в память об урожае 1621 года после зимы великого голода и лишений.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIT 6. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS. MODERT TECHNOLOGIES

 

Text 1. Modern technologies

Vocabulary

 

It goes without saying that life was much more difficult before technology had developed as much as it has now. When it took two weeks for a letter to reach Australia, you couldn't keep in touch with people easily. Or just travelling from your home to another town a few kilometers away could take hours. And if you didn't live in a big city, you didn't have much information because there was no television or the Internet.

We have seen major technological advances over the last twenty years and the next twenty years or so are going to be equally exciting. I believe that in the not-too-distant future, we won't have to carry our mobile phones around but will implant them somewhere in the body — maybe in our teeth or in our shoulders. I think that we won't have cash or credit cards any longer. It will mainly be digital money. And supermarkets will probably have iris recognition systems, so the money for our groceries will automatically be transferred from your bank account into the supermarket's bank account as you're standing at the checkout. Many people say it's science fiction but I think it's our future. Soon we'll all have more time for our hobbies and interests because robots will do all the work for us! I'm sure that new technology will change our lives for the better.

However, we must admit, that technological progress has its drawbacks. For example, cars pollute our atmosphere. There is a lot of radiation from TVs, computers, mobiles and other electronic devices. Moreover, technology makes us lazy! Many teenagers would rather spend their free time in front of their computer than meet their friends. As a result, they don't have enough exercise and are getting fat. That's not healthy at all.

As for me, I'm a fan of modern technology. Now, with computers and e-mail we never have to lose contact with anyone. We can travel from one place to another quickly and safely. What's more, because of television, everyone has information about the world around them. I can't imagine my life without technology. Of course, we've got things like a TV, a video player, a computer and different kitchen appliances such as a microwave oven and a dishwasher. But most of all I enjoy my new mobile because now I can always stay-in touch. I never go anywhere without it! I use it all the time and send about twenty text messages every day! To sum up, I want to say that technology has definitely made our lives easier and we couldn't live without it!

 

Answer the following questions:

1. Can you imagine your life without modern technology? 2. Does technology make our life easier? 3. Do you think we rely too much on technology? 4. Why are some people against new technology? 5. Are you a fan of modern technology? Why?

 

 

Text 2. COMPUTER REVOLUTION

Vocabulary

computer technology – компютерные  технологии

 industry – отрасль промышленности, индустрия

minibus – микроавтобус

to weigh – весить

ton – тонна

chip – чип , микросхема

pin head – булавочная головка

wrist – запястье

generation – поколение

to contain – содержать

neural network – нейронная сеть

human – человеческий

brain – мозг

step – шаг

to diagnose – ставить диагноз

to identify – опознавать

criminal – преступник

dangerous – опасный

to save – экономить

to surf the Internet – искать ,"бродить" по Интернету

on-line shopping – покупки через Интернет (интернет- магазины)

exactly  - именно то

price – цена

e-mail – электронная почта

invention – изобретение

all in all – в общем

tool – инструмент

So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage? – зд . Почему бы их не заставить работать на нас?

 

50 years ago people didn't even heard of computers, and today we cannot  imagine life without them.

Computer technology is the fastest-growing industry in the world. The first computer was the size of a minibus and weighed a ton. Today, its job can be done by a chip the size of a pin head. And the revolution is still going on. Very soon we'll have computers that we'll wear on our wrists or even in our glasses and earrings.

The next generation of computers will be able to talk and even think for themselves. They will contain electronic "neural networks". Of course, they'll be still a lot simpler than human brains, but it will be a great step forward. Such computers will help to diagnose illnesses, find minerals, identify criminals and control space travel.

Some people say that computers are dangerous, but I don't agree with them. They save a lot of time. They seldom make mistakes. It's much faster and easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library.

On-line shopping makes it possible to find exactly what you want at the best price, saving both time and money.

E-mail is a great invention, to6. It's faster than sending a letter and cheaper than sending a telegram.

All in all, I strongly believe that computers are a useful tool. They have changed our life for the better. So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage?

 

Answer the following questions:

1. Have you got a computer? 2. Do you think it's a useful tool? 3. Will computers become smaller in the future? 4. Can the Internet help you to do your homework? 5. Can computers help us to learn foreign languages? 6. Do you play computer games? 7. What are the advantages of on-line shopping? 8. What are the advantages of e-mail? 9. Do you think that computers are bad for health? 10. Some people have made friends through the Internet. What about you? 11. Some people say that computers make us less sociable. Do you agree? 12. What will the next generation of computers be able to do?

 

 

Text 3. Learning About the World

Vocabulary

 

explorer — исследователь

to discover — открывать

either ... or — или ... или

custom — обычай

the rest of the world — остальной мир

immediate — немедленный, срочный

pleasure — удовольствие

to improve — улучшать

knowledge — знания

way of life — образ жизни

to try — пробовать

in brief — короче говоря

source — источник

mass media — средства массовой информации

to include — включать

reflection — отражение

opportunity — возможность

fashion — мода

to cater for — обслуживать

level — уровень

to divide — делить

quality paper — серьезная газета

broadsheet — полноформатная газета высокого качества

popular paper — популярная газета

tabloid — малоформатная газета бульварного толка

half — половина

size — размер

article — статья

to contain — содержать

gossip — светская хроника

according to — в соответствии с

taste — вкус

preference — предпочтение

to provide — снабжать, обеспечивать

background information — «закулисная» информация

likely — вероятно

cookery — кулинария

make-up — косметика, макияж

event — событие

to switch on — включать

variety — множество

current affairs — текущие события

to educate — обучать

to broaden one's mind — расширять кругозор

the only way — единственный способ

rush hour — час пик

to approach a subject — рассматривать вопрос, тему

intelligence — ум, интеллект

advice — совет

various — различный

to tune into — настраиваться

health — здоровье

opinion — мнение

on the air — в эфире

fresh — свежий

recently — недавно

to allow — позволять

to receive — получать

to exchange — обмениваться

available — доступный

to surf the net — «бродить» по Интернету

in search of — в поисках

attractive — привлекательный

downloading — пересылка, скачивание информации

to consider — считать

majority — большинство

to rank — считать, относить к какой-л. категории

believable — правдоподобный

to depend on — зависеть от

value — значение

 

There are a lot of different ways of getting new information. In the past the only way to learn about the world was travelling. The first travellers were explorers who wanted to discover new lands. Nowadays millions of people travel around the world cither for pleasure or on business. Travelling has always been a part of people's education. It teaches people about art and culture of different countries. It teaches them to be understanding. Besides, you can improve your knowledge of foreign languages. In my opinion, travelling is the most pleasant way of learning about the world. It's always interesting to discover different ways of life, to visit different museums, to try different food and to listen to different music. In brief, when we travel, we can learn a lot of things that we can never see and learn at home.

But to travel around the world you need a lot of money. That is why the main source of information for millions of people is mass media. Mass media includes newspapers and magazines, advertising and radio and, of course, television.

Television is a reflection of the modern world. It gives you an opportunity to travel all over the world, to see different people and to learn about their customs and traditions. Television keeps you informed about the rest of the world. When you need immediate information about the latest world events, you switch the TV on. There is always a great variety of programmes on TV current affairs programmes and documentaries, plays and feature films, talk shows and TV games. A lot of people like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. Besides, TV has the power to educate and broaden our minds.