Подготовка письменной части ОГЭ. Чтение

Группа уровень А2-В1 (начальный)

Project 3 А2 – В1 third edition промаркирован как А2-В1 (начальный) по общеевропейской шкале компетенций
Количество часов	раздел		грамматика	Лексика	Виды речевой деятельности и коммуникативная компетенция	Лингвострановедение и межпредметные связи
Неделя 1 2-3 дня	Introduction		Present simple и Present Continuous в сравнении	Работа в классе	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Как подростки знакомятся
	My life Unit 1 A,B		Past simple Present simple 3t лицо ед. число -s	Этапы биографии (глаголы)	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Рассказ об истории семьи и о себе за последние несколько лет	Литература : «Беатрис Поттер»
	Unit 1 C,D		Степени сравнения в контексте семейных отношений	Моя семья	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо. Рассказ о родственниках и их жизни. Приглашения
	Unit 1 Culture English across the curiculum		Who…?	Семьи	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо «Семья в Великобритании»	Биология: Миграции животных, семьи животных
Проект А	Unit 1 Revision Your project		Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками	Письмо слова-связки so и because Проект : «напиши о своей семье или придумай семью для мыльной оперы»
Неделя 1 2-3 дня1	Unit 2 A,B		Will для предсказаний и решений	Космос	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо Предсказания и размышления о будущем	Астрономия
	Unit 2 C,D		Активизация и отработка нового материала Will для предсказаний и решений	Моё будущее	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо Опрос в классе в парах и микрогруппах «Твоё будущее» Записать результаты опроса для своей микрогруппы и прикрепить на фланелеграф Повседневный английский (Are you kidding?!)	Социология и психология: опросы и статистика
	Unit 2 Culture English across the curriculum		Активизация и отработка нового материала Will для предсказаний и решений	Транспорт	Чтение и говорение «Транспорт: дороги, железная дорога, аэропорты»	Астрономия: солнечная система Аудирование, чтение и говорение
Проект В	Unit 2 Revision Your project				Письмо : структура текста, правила разделения текстов на абзацы. Сочинение : «Что ждёт меня в будущем»	Футурология, стили жизни
Неделя 2 2-3 дня	Times and Places Unit 3 A,B		Past continuous в сопоставлении с Past simple	Устойчивые словосочетания (send an e-mail, …) Природные и антропогенные катастрофы.	Описание событий повседневной жизни и чрезвычайных происшествий.
	Unit 3C,D		Активизация и отработка Past continuous в сопоставлении с Past simple	Детективная история Дедукция и догадки That sounds.. That looks…	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо :детективная история
	Unit 3 Culture		Активизация и отработка Past continuous в сопоставлении с Past simple Тест на самопроверку.	География Великобритании , время, временные зоны	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо	География: временные зоны
	Unit 3 English across the curriculum
Проект А	Unit 3 Revision Your project				Место обитания
Неделя 2 2-3 дня	Лондон Unit 4 A, B	Определённые и неопределённые артикли		Лондон Город	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо	География и история
	Unit 4 C,D	Определённые и неопределённые артикли отработка		Everybody, anybody, everything, something, Everything, nothing Полезные выражения Guess what! There she is….	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо	Литература : сказка «Портной из Свовхэма»
	Unit 4 Culture English across the curriculum			Достопримечательности	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо	История : эпидемия чумы в Англии 14 века
Проект В	Unit 4 Revision Your project			Проект: создание путеводителя по своему городу.	История
Неделя 3 2-3 дня	Unit 5 A,B	Present Perfect ever never		Повседневные события	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо. Как рассказать о своих жизненных планах
	Unit 5 C,D	Present Perfect ever never отработка		Полезные выражения Oh,dear…	Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо
	Unit 5 Culture English across the curriculum				Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо Выдающиеся люди Великобритании.	Музыка : ритм и мелодия
Проект А	Unit 5 Revision Your Project	Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками		Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо Вопросы, включённые в текст в качестве подзаголовков. Проект: Рассказ о знаменитом человекею	История : выдающиеся личности
Неделя 3 2-3 дня	Problems Unit 6 A,B	Should must		Проблемы Словосочетания, распространённые для формулировки советов (stay up late, eat too much…)	Формулировка советов Интерпретация разрешающих и запрещающих знаков на дороге
	Unit 6 C,D	Should / Must Отработка, закрепление изученного Вопросы с вопросительными словами.			Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо Сочинение истории
	Unit 6 Culture			Полезные выражения (Yes, that’s true…).
	Unit 6 English across the curriculum				Аудирование, говорение, чтение, письмо Служба спасения в Великобритании	Биология : как устроен наш глаз? Почему мы видим? Основы безопасности жизнедеятельности: как сберечь своё зрение
Проект В	Unit 6 Revision Your Project.			Проект : служба спасения в России.	Основы безопасности жизнедеятельности: службы спасения в Великобритании и в России.
Финальное тестирование

Группа уровень А2-В1 (продвинутый)

Project 4 third edition промаркирован как А2 (повторение) – B1 по общеевропейской шкале компетенций
Кол-во часов	раздел	грамматика	лексика	Виды речевой деятельности и коммуникативная компетенция	Лингвострановедение и межпредметные связи
Неделя 1 2-3 дня	Introduction A,B	Present simple в сопоставлении с Present Continuous Going to / Have to / Will Активизация изученного на предыдущем уровне грамматического материала	Хобби, распорядок дня, волонтерская деятельность, Работа для подростков	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Фотокомикс Аудирование и письмо: работа для полростков	Жизнь молодёжи в России и за рубежом
	Unit 1A,B	Past simple в сопоставлении с Past Continuous Used to	Too /enough	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Чтение: человек из каменного века	История : периоды каменного века (строится на Past simple, Past Continuous и used to –грамматика данного раздела
	Unit 1C,D	Past simple в сопоставлении с Past Continuous Used to отработка и активизация употребления	одежда	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Покупка одежды Диалог по опоре	История джинсов
	Unit 1 Culture English across the curriculum		История, география, завоевания новых земель	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	История: история Великобритании Материалы для орудий и строительства в разные исторические эпохи
Проект А	Unit 1Revision Your project		Проект: значимое историческое событие.	История
Неделя 1 2-3 дня	Fame and fortune Unit 2 A,B	Present Perfect Been/ done Present Perfect в сопоставлении с Past simple	Кино, трюки	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо
	Unit 2 C,D	Present Perfect Been/ done Present Perfect в сопоставлении с Past simple Повторение и активизация have to	Однокоренные существительные и прилагательные	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Моё любимое телешоу
	Unit 2 Culute English across the curriculum	Present Perfect Been / done Present Perfect в сопоставлении с Past simple	компьютеры	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Информатика : компьютеры
Проект В	Unit 2 Revision Your project	Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Проект: биография знаменитости
Неделя 2 2-3 дня	You and your body Unit 3 A,B	Subject and object relative sentences who which that Should might	Части тела	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Биология и медицина
	Unit 3C,D	Subject and object relative sentences who which that Should might отработка и закрепление изученного материала	Медицинские проблемы	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Опрос в классе: насколько здоровая у тебя диета?	Биология и медицина
	Unit 3 Culture English across the currculum		Спортивные события	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо
Проект А	Unit 3 Revision your project		Составить проспект на тему «Здоровье подростков»
Неделя 2 2-3 дня	Heroes Unit 4 A,B	Gerund versus infinitive There's someone/something ….ing отработка	средневековье	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Описание картин, событий и переживаний. Письмо: история	История : средневековые рыцари
	Unit 4 C,D	Gerund versus infinitive There's someone/something ….ing отработка	Прилагательные -ed/ -ing	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Анкета : “Find the real you” Просьбы
	Unit 4 Culture English across the curriculum	Консолидация изученной грамматики		Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Чтение : Робин Гуд	Искусство : живопись
Проект В	Unit 4 Revision Your project		Написать проект про героя из легенд своей страны.	Литература : легенды и герои
Неделя 3 2-3 дня	Our environment Unit 5A,B	Passive voice: Present Past Perfect	Окружающая среда (существительные и словосочетания)	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Биология : охрана окружающей среды
	Unit 5 C,D		Дефиниции (техника построения определений)	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Проблемы окружающей среды Идиоматические выражения, описывающие беспокойство (butterflies in my stomach…)	Биология : охрана окружающей среды
	Unit 5 Culture English across the curriculum		География, климат, окружающая среда	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Описание стран ,континентов и природных явлений.	География и естествознание : ураганы Австралия
Проект А	Unit 5 Revision Your project	Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками	Проект: Актуальная экологическая проблема	Экология
Неделя 3 2-3 дня	Friends Unit 6 A,B	First conditional	Фразовые глаголы sit down, run away	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо.
	Unit 6 C,D		Конфликт поколений	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Принятие решений Обсуждение чужих решений.	Психология : взаимоотношения детей и родителей
	Unit 6 Culture	Консолидация грамматики.изученной в течение всего учебного курса	Волонтерство	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Волонтерство
	Unit 6 English across the curriculum	Консолидация изученной в УМК грамматики	Глаголы и существительные	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Международные отношения: гражданство, Евросоюз
	Unit 6 Revision	Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками		Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Описание проблемы, формулировка мнения Комментарии. Советы.
Проект В	Unit 6 Revision Your project	Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками	Проект: Акетуальные проблемы нашей группы.	Психология
Финальное тестирование

Группа уровень А2-В1 плюс

Project 5 third edition промаркирован как А2 (повторение)-В1+ по общеевропейской шкале компетенций
Кол-во часов	раздел	грамматика		лексика	Виды речевой деятельности и коммуникативная компетенция	Лингвострановедение и межпредметные связи
Неделя 1 2-3 дня	Introduction A,B	Present simple and Present Continuous Активизация усвоенной грамматики		Спорт : спортивное оборудование Свободное время	Уточнение информации Комментарии фотографий Предпочтения
	Unit 1A,B	Прошедшие времена. Present Perfect		Описание людей: внешность и черты	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Хулиганы в школе Хулиганы и их жертвы	Психология
	Unit 1C,D	Артикли		Повседневные проблемы	Обсуждение проблем Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Литература : «Рождественская песнь»
	Unit 1 Culture English across the curriculum				Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	История : Шелковый путь
Проект А	Unit 1 Revision Your Project	Тест на самопроверку и его обсуждение в классе с рекомендациями для повторения и работы над ошибками		Проект: современная поп музыка
Неделя 1 2-3 дня	Place and time Unit 2 A,B	Talking about the future 1 Conditional		Части города Город будущего Биологические часы нашего организма	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Планы и проекты	Футурология
	Unit 2 C,D	Грамматика для переговоров		Время	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Как назначить встречу Согласие/ несогласие/ предложение альтернативных вариантов	Деловой английский язык : встречи и расписания
	Unit 2 Culture English across the curriculum	Консолидация изученного материала		Образование в США	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Биология: насекомые
Проект В	Unit 2 Revision Your Project			All, almost all,most,a lot of, some, a few,not many	Проект: Образовательная система в Вашей стране.
Неделя 2 2-3 дня	Risks Unit A,B	Would 2 Conditional		So…that… Рискованные действия (have a tattoo…)	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо «Можешь ли ты справиться с трудными ситуациями?»	Геология : вулканы
	Unit 3 C,D	Would Should The imperative		Предупреждающие знаки Опасность и угроза Однокоренные существительные, прилагательные, глаголы	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Предупреждения и советы
	Unit 3 Culture English across the curriculum	Консолидация изученного материала		География Геология карты	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	География. геология: тектоника
Проект А	Unit 3 Revision Your project			Повседневный английский Don't fuss Don’t worry Why not? Мнения	Проект: Рассказ о нескольких регионах в своей стране
Неделя 2 2-3 дня	Can I ask? Unit 4 A,B	Question forms Gerunds		Средства массовой информации	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо
	Unit 4 C, D	Question forms Gerunds		Просьбы Детективные истории	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Phrasal verbs.
	Unit 4 Culture English across the curriculum	Gerunds в контексте			Подростки и деньги Опрос в классе : сравните жизнь подростков в России и за рубежом.	Телевидение
Проект В	Unit 4 Revision Your Project			Проект: жизнь подростков в вашей стране
Неделя 3 2-3 дня	Buying and selling Unit 5 A,B	The Passive Modal verbs in the passive		деньги	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо История денег.	Экономика
	Unit 5 C,D	The Passive Modal verbs in the passive		Билеты и указатели на вокзале Расписания	Покупка билета Выяснение расписания
	Unit 5 Culture English across the curriculum	The Passive Modal verbs in the passive.		Английский язык	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо	Лингвистика: английский язык Геология и окружающая среда : нефть
Проект А	Unit 5 Revision Your Project	Relative clauses		Деньги	Товарно-денежные отношения.	Экономика
Неделя 3 2-3 дня	Unit 6 A,B	Reported speech Indirect questions		Say/tell	Как сказать «Нет»	Права человека
	Unit 6 C,D	Reported questions Активизация грамматики, изученной в течение года		Фразовые глаголы stand for Look for Get on with Run out of Stand up	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо Смс сообщения Язык смс сообщений	Литература «Ромео и Джульетта»
	Unit 6 Culture				Аудирование, чтение, говорение	Политика: равительство США
	Unit 6 English across the curriculum	Консолидация изученного материала		Оксфорд и Кембридж История города	Аудирование, чтение, говорение, письмо
	Unit 6. Revision	Тест на самопроверку.			Чтение, письмо
Проект В	Unit 6 Your Project		While later as a result finally however then when		Проект : как обычный человек изменил историю нашей страны	История
Финальное тестирование

Начало формы

Конец формы

Начало формы

1. Like the others do 2. Unclear origin 3. Eco-friendly people 4. Keeping traditions 5. A warm welcome 6.

Dishonest business 7. A long-lasting name mistake 8. A deadly misfortune

A. The Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the Americas. They were the first environmentalists. To them, every part of the natural world, whether it was an animal, vegetable or mineral, had a spirit. American Indians viewed nature as a gift from the Gods, which should be treated with great respect at all times. They gratefully took food and clothes from nature, but they never exceeded the limits.

B. The Native Americans inhabited different regions of the country and there is no reliable evidence of where they come from. The Native Americans claim that they have lived there since the beginning of time. There is also an opinion that they migrated there in prehistoric times via the Bering Strait Land Bridge. Some researchers believe that they came from Siberia or Asia. All these are still only hypotheses.

C. When Christopher Columbus landed, he thought he had reached India and called all the native people Indians. The name, though it was wrong, stuck to the local people and has been used to the present day. In fact, there were lots of different independent tribes with their own distinct cultures and languages. But they all became known to common public as Indians.

D. The Pilgrims, who sought religious freedom and crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower in 1620, were treated kindly by the Indian tribe in Massachusetts. The native inhabitants generously shared their knowledge with the newcomers. They showed the Pilgrims how to plant corn, beans, and pumpkins, and where to hunt and fish. In fact, the Indians were excellent fishermen and even invented a special canoe. A widely celebrated holiday of Thanksgiving still reminds us of this gesture of goodwill.

E. However, this harmonious relationship was short-lived. Native Americans had lived in isolation for centuries and they had no protection against such European diseases as smallpox, typhus and measles. Unfortunately, the newcomers introduced these diseases to them. For those in regular contact with European settlers, the effects were destructive: it is estimated that in some tribes up to 90% of Native Americans died during the first century of contact with the Europeans.

F. Then things moved from bad to worse. European settlers drove the Indians away from their lands as settlers moved westward. Treaties were often signed after Indian leaders were given alcohol. Whether through war or lies, the Native Americans' lands were systematically taken. Indians were forced to move to separate areas, known as Indian Reservations. Most of the lands were unsuitable for cultivation and didn't have any valuable resources.

G. Many visitors to the USA ask about how they can visit an Indian Reservation.They could hardly do it! Nowadays very few natives live in reservations or in the traditional dwellings of their ancestors. Most Indian families live in homes that are not very different from any other houses in the USA, and their lifestyle does not differ much from contemporary American lifestyle.

The Сrown Jewels

Every year, millions of visitors come to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels*.The Crown Jewels have been kept at the Tower since 1303 after they were stolen from Westminster Abbey. Luckily, that time most of the Crown Jewels were found shortly afterwards and put in the Tower.

Although there have been a few attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower, none of them have succeeded. But the name of one of the thieves has remained in the British history. He was Thomas Blood.

On the 9^th May, 1660, Thomas Blood, dressed as a priest, came to the Tower. He came with three well-dressed young men.

Thomas Blood had already been to the Tower a few days earlier. He was with a woman whom he introduced as his ‘wife’. When they were walking round the Tower, the ‘wife’ pretended to feel unwell and fainted. Talbert Edwards, who was Master of the Jewel House and lived in the Jewel House with his family, took the woman upstairs to his family’s rooms. He also asked his wife to help the fainted lady. In an hour or so the lady felt better and left the Tower with her ‘husband’.

On the second visit, Thomas Blood, again dressed as a priest, brought a present for Edwards' wife for her help and attention to his ‘wife’. He gained the confidence of the Master of the Jewel House, Talbot Edwards, and asked him to show the Crown Jewels to his friends. Talbot Edwards agreed and took them to the room where the Crown Jewels were kept. Suddenly Blood took out a hammer from under his priest’s dress and struck the Master on the head. Talbert Edwards fell down and fainted. Thomas Blood took the king's crown and made it flat with the hammer in order to put the crown into a large pocket of his priest dress. The other three men took other royal jewels and hid them in their pockets.

By chance, Talbert Edwards’ son, Wythe, arrived at the Tower earlier than expected. He found his father lying unconscious and bleeding. Wythe raised the alarm. Though Thomas Blood and his gang had left the jewel room, they were caught when they were getting out of the Tower. The broken crown and the jewels were found with them.

A report was immediately sent to the king, and Charles II sent for Thomas Blood. The king wanted to talk to the thief who had done such a wicked crime. The end of the story is unbelievable. Thomas Blood was not punished. Moreover, Blood was awarded a pension of £500 a year. At the same time the Master of the Jewel House Talbot Edwards was dismissed for his carelessness. Later, he died in misery.

Since Thomas Blood's attempt in 1600 up to the present date, there have been no attempts to steal the jewels. Nowadays the priceless collection is open for the public to view and the Crown Jewels are considered to be the most well-guarded treasures in the world. They are kept at the Tower and are guarded by the Yeomen Warders, commonly known as the Beefeaters.

British kings and queens use the Crown Jewels for ceremonial events.

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Thomas Blood’s crime was well-planned.

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Talbert Edwards allowed Thomas Blood and his friends to have a look at the Crown Jewels.

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Thomas Blood damaged the crown to take it out.

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The criminals were found the next day after the robbery.

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King Charles II punished Thomas Blood severely.

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Thomas Blood promised King Charles II to stop stealing forever.

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After Thomas Blood, other criminals tried to steal the Crown Jewels.

1. A landmark for the new millennium 2. Extra entertainment 3. An international project 4. Safety rules on the wheel

5. A family project 6. Lighting up the night 7. A favourable location 8. Appropriate for all ages

A. The Merlin Entertainments London Eye is usually called the London Eye. It is the tallest observation wheel in Europe and it was opened on 31^stDecember, 1999. The designers originally planned it to be a part of the great celebration for the coming of the year 2000. Since then it has been a great tourist attraction - more than three million people visit it every year.

B. It took more than a year and a half to complete the wheel. Over 1700 tonnes of metal were used in the structure. Several countries contributed to the project. The egg-shaped capsules, which can take up to 25 passengers, were transported from France by train across the English Channel. The central part of the wheel was made in the Czech Republic.

C. The London Eye is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It lies between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge, in the very heart of the city. The passengers have a fantastic view over London. They can clearly see many famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament.

D. The London Eye was designed by two architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield, husband and wife. They took part in a competition for the best millennium landmark and suggested the idea of a large observation wheel. Actually, none of the participants won the competition, but the couple managed to get the financial support of British Airways, that sponsored the construction.

E. The observation wheel turns rather slowly. The London Eye is perfect for families with children.Parents can even bring babies on board as the capsule is completely enclosed. The wheel does not usually stop to take on new passengers - the slow motion allows passengers to walk on and off the capsules at ground level. Even elderly tourists find the wheel comfortable.

F. Since 2005, the London Eye has been the main location for New Year celebrations and impressive firework displays. Every coming year is marked by a 10-minute firework show, welcomed by Londoners. Fireworks can also be fired from the wheel itself. Additionally, since 2006, the London Eye has been lit by thousands of lamps, which have made night trips on the wheel extremely popular.

G. The growing popularity of the London Eye makes tourists line up for tickets. In 2009, the owners of the attraction suggested new features, which were included in the price of the tickets. They introduced a new ticket hall where people can watch a 4D film before they get on the wheel.

Robert Falcon Scott

Robert Falcon Scott, known as Captain Scott or Scott of the Antarctic, was a British polar explorer. He joined the Royal Navy in 1882. Although he had no previous experience of polar research, in 1900 he became the leader of the British Antarctic Expedition. This expedition, known as the Discovery Expeditionlasted from 1901 to 1904. Among other important things it determined the nature and size of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.

The aim of Scott’s second expedition in 1910-12 was to reach the South Pole. Departing from Cardiff, Wales, on the ship Terra Nova, the expedition reached the Antarctic coast in 1911. There Scott learned that the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, had already left for the Pole. So Scott’s chance to reach the South Pole before R. Amundsen was poor.

Equipped with motor tractors, ponies and dogs, Scott and 11 members of his team set off for the Pole on 24 October 1911. Unfortunately, the motor tractors rapidly broke down and their ponies were unsuitable for Antarctic conditions. Very soon, six members of the team were sent back. The five explorers continued their dangerous journey across the snowy desert.On 16 January, they saw a black marker flag left by the Norwegian expedition, and two days later the party reached the South Pole itself, where the Norwegians had built a snow marker. Amundsen had reached the South Pole more than a month earlier, on 14 December 1911. Scott was greatly disappointed after the exhausting 81-day journey and recorded in his diary, "This is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have reached it without the reward of priority."

However, the 800 mile return journey was even more terrible.Two members fell ill and died, and the remaining explorers were frozen inside their tent in a terrible nine-day snowstorm. The last entry in Scott's diary was made on 29 March.

Eight months later a search party, led by Dr Atkinson, discovered the tent and the bodies of the explorers, along with the diaries and last letters of Scott. Scott had written a message explaining the reasons for the failure. The search party buried the brave explorers and built a snow memorial on their grave.Later, another memorial was put up at Observation Hill, at Hut Point (Antarctica) with the words ‘to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’

The news about the death of the Polar team reached Britain in February 1913. Within days, Scott became a national icon. A memorial service was held in St Paul’s Cathedral. A campaign was launched to raise a memorial fund to continue the scientific work Scott had carried out. The Scott Polar Research Institute was founded. In the several years following the disaster, more than 30 monuments and memorials were set up in Britain alone.

Captain Scott became the head of the British Antarctic Expedition because of his great experience.

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Captain Scott and Roald Amundsen knew each other quite well.

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Captain Scott’s team reached the South Pole later than the Norwegian team.

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Captain Scott put the British flag on the South Pole.

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No members of Scott’s team who reached the pole survived.

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Scott’s diaries were found only in the 21st century.

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Scott’s body was transported to Britain to be buried.

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The Britishdid a lot to keep the memory of Captain Scott alive.

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1. The dark bird of evil 2. A prominent literary character3. Fun lovers4. Alike but different5. The guardians of the country6. Smart and cunning 7. Born to be free 8. Favourite diet

A. For intelligence, ravens rate up with chimpanzees and dolphins. These birds have the largest brain of any bird species. Ravens can push rocks on people to keep them from climbing to their nests and play dead to scare other ravens away from a delicious meal. If a raven knows another raven is watching, it hides its food. It pretends to put the food in one place but hides it in another.

B.It’s amazing to watch ravens sliding on snow-covered roofs. For entertainment, they also roll down snowy hills. Ravens often play keep-away with other animals like wolves, foxes and dogs. They even make toys—a rare animal behaviour—from sticks, pine cones, golf balls, or rocks to play with each other or by themselves. When they feel bored, they mock other creatures and find it very amusing.

C.According to surveys, the ravens are one of the main reasons why tourists come to see the Tower of London. Nobody knows when the ravens first appeared there but there is a belief that at least six ravens must always remain on the territory of the Tower.Otherwise, the British Monarchy may fall. To prevent the birds from flying away their wings are clipped every three weeks.

D.In the past, in some cultures, people were truly afraid of these dark birds. In Germany, ravens were considered to be the incarnation of criminals’ souls or sometimes Satan himself. In Sweden, ravens were thought to be the souls of murdered people. And in Denmark, people believed that it was dangerous to look at ravens because you could turn into a raven yourself.

E.Sometimes people find injured ravens and take them home but keeping a raven as a pet is really difficult. These birds require a lot of care, a lot of freedom, and a lot of time. Ravens are wild creatures, and are not pets in the same way as cats and dogs are. If the bird is strong and healthy, it is unfair and cruel to keep it in captivity. In some countries it’s even illegal. So if you really love and admire these birds, enjoy them from a distance!

F.Crows and ravens are often confused with each other because they are both black birds. Even people who are well aware of the differences between the two birds can get confused. You can tell them apart by their voice and differences in their behaviour. Ravens are larger than crows, with thicker beaks, and longer tails. Ravens have a deeper voice than crows.

G.Many poets and writers wrote about ravens in their works. Shakespeare refers to the raven more often than to any other bird. The raven Grip plays an important part in Charles Dickens' book Barnaby Rudge. Edgar Allan Poe presents the raven as a mystical messenger in his poem The Raven. The wise and sensible raven is also a popular figure in fairy tales.

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The Open Window

Mr. Nuttel, a young gentleman, came to live in the country. The doctors said a quiet place like that and complete rest could help cure his nerves. He didn’t know anyone round there and was too shy to make new acquaintances. That’s why his sister gave him letters of introduction to some nice people she knew.

One of the letters was to Mrs. Sappleton. When Mr. Nuttel visited her, Mrs Sappleton was busy and he was asked to wait for several minutes. The servant invited Mr. Nuttel into a room. There Mr. Nuttel met Mrs. Sappleton’s niece, a very self-confident young lady of fifteen. The young gentleman was very shy and he didn’t know how to start the conversation. The young lady broke the silence and asked him what he knew about her aunt. Mr. Nuttel knew nothing except Mrs. Sappleton’s name and address.

Mr. Nuttel looked around. There was something about the room that told him there were other people living in the house. So he was wondering if Mrs. Sappleton was married. Suddenly the girl got sad and told a story of Mrs. Sappleton’s tragedy. Mr. Nuttel was greatly surprised because his sister hadn’t told him anything about it. The tragedy was very unusual for that peaceful place.

The girl pointed at the French window, which opened on to the lawn and said that Mrs. Sappleton always kept it open.Mr. Nuttel stated that it was natural to keep the window open because the weather was quite warm. But the girl sighed and explained that her poor aunt always kept the window open in the evenings because she was waiting for her husband and sons to return. Three years ago they had gone hunting and never came back. The story caught Mr. Nuttel’s imagination deeply. He felt very upset.

He felt a little better only when Mrs. Sappleton finally appeared in the room. She apologized for being late and asked if he minded the open window. She said her husband and sons would soon be home from hunting. They always came in that way. Then, she continued talking cheerfully about hunting ducks. But Mr. Nuttel felt terrible.

He made an attempt to change the topic and told her about the reasons why he had come to the country. But Mrs. Sappleton didn’t seem to notice. She was constantly looking at the open window. Mr. Nuttel felt uncomfortable. He understood that he had chosen the wrong moment to visit her. Suddenly Mrs. Sappleton cried happily pointing at the window, “Here they are at last, just in time for tea!” Three male figures were walking across the lawn towards the window. They carried guns and a dog followed them.

Shocked and afraid, Mr. Nuttel grabbed his stick and hat and rushed out of the house. Mrs. Sappleton was extremely surprised at the extraordinary man who had left the house so quickly without a word. Her niece suggested that it was because of the dog. She said that Mr. Nuttel had been afraid of them since childhood – once, a dog had seriously bitten him. This was enough to make the young man lose his nerve. The young lady was so good at making up stories!

Mr. Nuttel came to the village to improve his health.

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Mr. Nuttel was an old friend of Mrs. Sappleton.

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According to the girl, a great tragedy had happened in her aunt’s family three years before.

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Mrs. Sappleton’s niece could speak French fluently.

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That afternoon Mrs. Sappleton was waiting for her husband and sons to return from hunting.

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Mr. Nuttel had never hunted ducks.

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Mr. Nuttel cheerfully greeted Mr.Sappleton and his sons.

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Mr. Nuttel ran out of the house because he was afraid of the dog.

1. Seasons and weather2. The most convenient transport 3. Local food4. Multicultural community5. World business centre

6. Links with Russian culture7. Diverse architecture8. A paradise for shopaholics

A. For tourists coming to China, visiting Shanghai is a must. Shanghai is the largest city not only in China but in the world, too. About twenty-three million people live there! The city has always attracted people looking for a new life and business opportunities. Lots of Americans, Japanese, Koreans, French, Russians, and Germans live there permanently. Like most multinational cities, Shanghai accepts all cultures to produce a new type of a global culture.

B. To keep up with the city’s rhythm, tourists may use the metro system, which is cheap and very efficient. The Shanghai metro is fast and modern. It covers the whole city and is known as the biggest metro in the world. Stations and trains are perfectly clean and well-equipped. Monitors show arrival and departure time and business adverts, and give information about Shanghai sights and events in many languages.

C. If you love shopping, you will be glad to get lost in Shanghai for a couple of days, especially in Nanjing Road. This street houses a great number of prestigious shops, restaurants, and night clubs. There is no traffic here, which is very convenient for people. The shop assistants are very helpful and tourists are very welcome. In the evening the street looks absolutely magical with colourful lights.

D. Another iconic landmark of the city is the embankment of the River Huangpu, the Bund. It is famous for its classical European buildings. There are more than fifty large buildings on the Bund. They are built in different styles such as Gothic, Romanesque or Baroque and others. In spite of this great variety, the buildings stand together in perfect harmony.The constructions in this part of the city remind people of those in New York, Chicago, London, Moscow and ten thousand other cities.

E. Among the many monuments in Shanghai, the monument to Alexander Pushkin is special. First built in 1937, the monument was ruined and restored twice throughout its history. Now it stands at a road intersection. Specialists from both China and Russia took part in its construction. It is devoted to the greatest poet of all time and also highlights the friendly relationship between the two countries.

F. The Shanghai climate is generally mild and humid, with four distinct seasons - a pleasant, warm spring, a hot, rainy summer, a comfortable, cool autumn and an overcast, cold winter. The location makes the city really wet - it rains for about one third of the year. From late August to mid-September, typhoons may happen. The hottest time comes in July and August, the coldest - from late January to early February. The spring is recommended as the best time to visit Shanghai.

G. Naturally, if you visit the city, you have a chance to try authentic Shanghai cuisine, which is very diverse. It offers dishes made of fresh meat, chicken, vegetables and various, seafood such as fish, shrimps and crabs. The dishes may taste hot and spicy, sweet and bitter. It really differs from European cuisine but Europeans usually enjoy it very much, as well as the atmosphere of the authentic national restaurants.

The Owl

Joan Harrison was walking along the street. She was shy and always felt lonely and upset. Joan worked as a secretary in an office in the city centre. It was lunch time and she went out to get some air. She was looking absently at the shop-windows when she saw a brown wooden owl in one of them. Suddenly Joan stopped. Joan was totally indifferent to birds and she had never understood people who collected useless statues. But for some reason she could not take her eyes off the owl. The wooden owl drew Joan to itself.

Joan decided to buy the owl.She earned a little, just to pay for her room and food. She couldn’t afford new clothes. Even a ticket to the cinema was a heavy expense for her.But this time Joan was sure that she had to buy the wooden owl.

Joan opened the door of the shop. She asked the shop assistant about the price of the wooden owl. It was fifty pounds. Joan understood that it was sheer madness to buy such an expensive wooden bird. But she did it without any hesitation.

Joan left ten pounds in advance and promised to bring the rest of the money in the evening. After work she ran home, took all her savings and rushed back to the shop in excitement. Joan brought the wooden owl home and put it onto the table. Joan smiled and touched the owl’s head. Suddenly, she felt happy and self-confident.

The next morning she left her house in a very good mood. Now, having the owl at home, Joan made it a habit to say good-bye and touch the owl’s head before leaving. Amazingly, after this simple gesture she was cheerful and energetic the whole day. One morning, when patting the owl on the head, Joan remembered her wish to join the evening pottery class at college. She had often thought about it but always changed her mind at the last moment. Now she decided to fulfill her wish.

At the pottery class Joan achieved considerable results. Her teacher said she had a unique style. Nobody knew that she worked hard at home. Under the owl’s observation Joan experimented with forms and colours. Once she took part in the students’ show at the college, and the Art Museum asked her to sell her works for two thousand pounds. The sum covered all her debts and she could afford to buy a new dress and shoes and even more.

The next step was the annual National Art Festival, at which a secretary, Joan Harrison, presented her personal exhibition. Her fame and income were growing. Joan left her office and became a potter. A year later she and the art director of the museum were happily married. They moved to a large country house and now Joan had her own pottery.

Joan took the lucky owl with her. It took its honorary place in the large living room. In her last years she often remembered the shop where she had bought the owl, her evening classes and her first steps in pottery. Joan was so proud of the owl that each piece of her pottery had a picture of the owl on it. Lots of famous artists and important people visited Joan and her husband but Joan never gave her owl to anybody until her dying day.

Joan collected small statues of birds.

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Joan had a well-paid job.

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The shop assistant showed Joan several wooden owls.

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The wooden owl improved Joan’s mood.

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Joan joined the pottery class because of her friends’ advice.

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Joan successfully participated in Art exhibitions.

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There was an image of the owl on every Joan’s works.

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The wooden owl disappeared after Joan’s death.

1. Different houses - different responsibilities2. Historic names3. Don’t cross the line4. Parliamentary holidays

5. No entry6. Criminal roots of the special day7. Royal security tradition8. A show worth seeing

A. The Houses of Parliament are actually divided into two parts. The House of Commons is where the elected Members of Parliament meet to debate issues and agree on changes to the law. The House of Lords is the second debating chamber. Its members are mostly people who have been awarded a title in recognition of their work for the country. Their role is to examine proposals raised by the Commons.

B. Many people think that Big Ben is the Clock Tower on the side of the Houses of Parliament. This is wrong! Big Ben is actually the nickname of the big bell inside the Tower. It was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, First Commissioner for Works, whose name is written on the bell. Recently the official name of the Clock Tower was changed to the Elizabeth Tower. The Tower was renamed in June 2012 in honour of the Queen's Jubilee.

C. Each year, the Queen opens a new parliament session in a ceremony known as the State Opening of Parliament. The ceremony takes place in the House of Lords, where Members of the House of Commons are invited too. According to the rules, neither kings nor queens can enter the House of Commons. This rule has been strictly observed since 1642 when King Charles I tried to arrest five of the House of Commons members.

D. In England, Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated with fireworks and huge bonfires. It reminds us about the date of November 5th, 1605, when a group of conspirators tried to blow up the king during the State Opening of Parliament. They were out of luck and one of the conspirators, Guy Fawkes, was caught with barrels of gunpowder. Strangely enough, the tragic incident started the long-lasting fireworks tradition.

E. Both UK residents and tourists can enter the Houses of Parliament for free and watch Members of Parliament debating. The best time to watch a debate in the House of Commons is on a Wednesday lunchtime. This is when the Prime Minister meets with the Members of Parliament. The atmosphere is usually nervous, especially when the Leader of the Opposition starts asking his six tricky questions. And this is what the tourists enjoy most.

F. The State Opening of Parliament is the most important ceremony of the year. The Queen comes to Parliament to open the new session. Before her arrival, a special ritual is held - the Queen's Body Guard searches the basement beneath the Houses of Parliament with an old candle-lantern. This has been done every year since 1605 when a group of conspirators wanted to blow up the King.

G. In the House of Commons there are two opposite rows of benches: for the government and for the opposition. In front of the benches, there is a stripe on the carpet. When a member speaking in the House puts his foot beyond that stripe, there is a shout “Order!” This dates from the time when the members had swords and the discussions often grew into fights.

Sir Christopher Wren

Sir Christopher Wren was a designer, astronomer, geometer, and one of the greatest English architects of his time.

Christopher Wren was born into a rich family in 1632 . He was a weak and sickly child and was taught at home by private tutors and his father.Wren’s schooling is a mystery: there are no documents about whether he attended school or not. However, there is a written evidence that he entered Oxford University in 1650 to study science and mathematics.

On graduating from university, Wren was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London. He was required to give weekly lectures in both Latin and English to all who wished to attend; admission was free. His lectures and the following discussions led to establishing the Royal Society, England’s first scientific organization.

Later, Christopher Wren taught at Oxford University. His scientific work included astronomy, optics, mechanics, medicine and meteorology. He invented and improved lots of things. He experimented with submarine design, road paving, and design of telescopes. It was also around these times that his attention turned to architecture.

In Wren's time, the profession of an architect did not exist. In the past, buildings had been constructed to the requirements of the patron and the suggestions of building professionals, such as master carpenters or master bricklayers. Since the early years of the 17^th century, it was not unusual for the well-educated gentleman to take up architecture as a hobby. Wren designed 51 London churches, including St Paul's Cathedral, and several buildings after the Great Fire in 1666. Each church was different, though all were classical in style. He insisted on the finest materials and only skillful workers were hired for the job. Christopher Wren became a knight in 1673.

Actually, St. Paul’s Cathedral is still Wren's masterpiece. The architectural style of St. Paul's Cathedral is a beautiful mix of the Medieval, Classical, and Baroque. The inside of St. Paul's Cathedral is gorgeous. The foundation stone of the Cathedral was laid in 1675 when Wren was 43 years old, and the last stone was put in place by his son, 35 years later.

Nowadays, St. Paul’s Cathedral is the largest working Protestant church in England. Services are held regularly.Important events at the Cathedral have included the funerals of Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill, Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria, peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars and, most recently, the thanksgiving services for both the Golden Jubilee and 80th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

Wren died on 25^th February 1723. His gravestone in St Paul's Cathedral features a Latin inscription which translates as: 'If you seek his memorial, look about you.'

Christopher Wren was named after his father.

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There is no proof that Christopher Wren studied at Oxford University.

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Christopher Wren’s lectures were popular with students.

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Christopher Wren’s scientific interests were in different spheres.

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The profession of an architect was very popular in the 17^th century.

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Christopher Wren was demanding when choosing materials and builders.

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At present, St. Paul’s Cathedral works only as a historical museum.

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Sir Christopher Wren is buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

1. Eco-friendly business2. A good place for holidays 3. A silent hero of American literature 4. In search of luck and happiness 5. To those who went west 6. An unexpected environmental problem7. Great sights and dangerous creatures

8 Dangerous sport

A. Geographically, the Wild West refers to the states west of the Mississippi River. The American West is both a place and an idea. In people’s minds, it was a place that promised excitement because it was new and unknown. From the middle of the 18^th century to the beginning of the 20^th century, lots of people pushed their way westward trying to find land, better lives, gold and silver, and, sometimes, to escape the law.

B.

Due to books and films, the first thing that comes to mind about the American West is cowboys, rodeos and riding broncos. Bronco is the nickname for a wild horse. When a bronco jumps, it kicks its back legs trying to throw the rider off. Nowadays, there are popular rodeo competitions where cowboys try to remain on aggressive broncos as long as possible. To entertain the public they also lasso cows and bulls.

C.

Yellowstone Park, the first American national park, is situated in the western states. The park has a great variety of natural features – waterfalls, plateaus, canyons, hot springs and geysers. It is also famous for its diverse wildlife and harsh beauty. Camping and backpacking are encouraged at Yellowstone, but visitors must be careful. A few careless or unlucky people have already been killed by angry bears.

D.

In the 1970s and 1980s, people from all over the United States moved to Colorado to work in the mining industry. New citizens of the state capital, Denver, were attracted to the city by its location in the Rocky Mountains and its clean air. However, due to the rapid development of Denver, they got into serious trouble –growing air pollution. Car engines did not burn fuel efficiently at a high altitude and thick smog hung over the city.

E.

In 1935, the federal government selected St. Louis, Missouri, as the site for a new national monument – The Gateway Arch.The memorial, also known as the Gateway to the West, was to honor the pioneers exploring the American West.Eero Saarinen, an architect, won the nationwide competition with his project for a giant steel arch. Since the Gateway Arch was opened in 1965, millions of people visit it every year.

F.

The Mississippi River is often mentioned in Mark Twain’s books. In his novel, Life on the Mississippi, the famous writer describes the history of the river and his own experiences related to it.There is also a collection of tales that either take place on the river or are associated with it. Another of Mark Twain’s famous works, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells us about a journey down the river.

G.

Hawaii is the USA's 50th state. It’s a popular holiday destination for the citizens, as well as for foreign tourists. Along with Florida, it's one of a few states where it's usually sunny and hot all the year round. Hawaii is made up of 132 tropical islands, though people live only on seven of them. Tourism is Hawaii’s biggest industry. People are attracted to the islands because of their beautiful scenery and beaches. Surfers come to experience the high waves.

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Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений 10–17 соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – ) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – ). В поле ответа запишите одну цифру, которая соответствует номеру правильного ответа.

Potatoes

The potato comes from the high and cool areas of the Andes of Peru. It began to be grown as food more than 7,000 years ago. When Europeans came to South America, they took the potato back to Europe.

In 1589, Sir Walter Raleigh, an English explorer and historian known for his expeditions to the Americas, first brought the potato to Ireland and planted the new vegetable there. In spite of the fact that the potatoes grew very well in the poor soil of Ireland, it took nearly 200 years for them to become a widely grown crop in Ireland and Great Britain. People didn’t like its unusual appearance and originally bitter taste. Besides, the potato was not mentioned in the Bible and it was often associated with the devil.

According to legend, Sir Walter Raleigh presented potato plants to Queen Elizabeth I.A special royal potato dinner was made and the noble men were invited to taste the new American vegetable. But the royal cooks didn’t know how to cook potatoes: they cut off and threw away the ugly-looking tubers and brought to the royal table a dish of boiled leaves (which are very poisonous). Most of the guests died after that royal dinner and potatoes were forbidden for many years.

Only two hundred years later farmers in Great Britain and Ireland began growing potatoes. Soon the rest of Europe started to follow Britain. The only country which did not accept potatoes was France. To overcome the negative attitude of the French people towards the new vegetable, King Louis XVI started to wear a potato flower as a decoration. He tried to make the people understand the benefit of potatoes as food. Even after the French king had given an order to his citizens to grow potatoes, they still were against the unfamiliar vegetable. The farmers refused to eat potatoes because of its unusual smell and taste. Then King Louis XVI decided to trick his people. In order to show the value of the potato, the king ordered to have it planted in a royal field and put guards to watch over the field. When the local farmers saw the guards at the royal field, they decided that the thing so carefully guarded must be valuable. One day, the guards were allowed to go off duty.The local farmers went into the field, dug out some potatoes and planted them in their fields. The king’s plan was a success. From this small start, the habit of growing and eating potatoes spread all over the country.

As Europeans began to grow potatoes, they realized the advantages of the new vegetable. The potato harvest was enough to feed their own families and to sell some to the citizens of towns and cities. The new food stimulated the development of cities and industries.Besides, the health of the people improved as they included potatoes in their diets. Now the potato is grown and enjoyed everywhere.

Potatoes were the basic food for the people of Peru.

1)

True

2)

3)

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The British people liked potatoes at once.

1)

True

2)

3)

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The potato dish for the royal dinner was prepared in a wrong way.

1)

True

2)

3)

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King Louis XVI supported the idea of growing potatoes for food.

1)

True

2)

3)

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It was necessary to wear potato flowers for royal ceremonies in France.

1)

True

2)

3)

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French farmers stole some potatoes from the King’s field.

1)

True

2)

3)

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The potato helped the development of the European countries.

1)

True

2)

3)

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Nowadays the potato is the most popular vegetable in Europe.

1)

True

2)

3)

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1. А small but important country 2. Sights for the brave 3. Mind your driving 4. You’ll never get bored

5. Difficult to predict 6. Traditional industries 7. Keeping the balance in nature 8. Helpful assistants

A.

The history of Scotland is rich and varied but most people would also describe it as violent and bloody. Scotland's history appears to be just an endless list of battles between the Scottish clans and their close neighbours, the English. But if you look carefully at the history of Scotland, you will be surprised by the great influence that this small nation has had upon the development of Western civilization.

B.

Of all the scary places in Scotland, the castles provide us with the most terrifying stories. You need courage to visit them. The castles are known for numerous murders and cases of violent death. Edinburgh castle is at the top of the list. According to legend, there is the ghost of a headless drummer and the ghost of a piper, whose music can be heard even above the noise of Edinburgh's traffic.

C.

To decide on what to wear for a walk can be a challenge in Scotland! This tiny country is surrounded by so much water that Scottish weather can change at any moment. In fact, sometimes you feel as though you've experienced three (or even all four) seasons in just one day! This may explain why Scots are fascinated by the weather, and follow daily weather reports very closely.

D.

Scotland has 30,000 miles of roads. Travelling around Scotland by car can be challenging for foreign visitors. When travelling by car, tourists should be very careful. When they see something they wish to look at, they mustn't slow down as they could be hit by the car behind. Tourists should also remember that Scottish motorways have a speed limit of 70 miles per hour.

E.

There are many breeds of Scottish dogs. One of the most famous is the Collie or Scotch collie that comes from the Scottish highlands. It has been bred for many years to help shepherds. Some people say the name Collie comes from the Gaelic word for useful.The Collie is a dog that can do many jobs. The Collie can guard property as well as search for a missing chicken or drive sheep. The dogs can be taught how to open doors and gates.

F.

Scotland is a country where tourism offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy nature at its best. As you explore the Scottish countryside, be sure to look out for Daubenton's bats. These tiny creatures with funny short ears weigh from 7 to 11 grams but they are vital for the ecosystem as they keep insect populations in check, eating lots of small insects every day.

G.

For active and curious people there is a lot to do in the Scottish Highlands! You can explore castles and visit museums. The famous Loch Ness is situated here and you'll find ancient castles, which can be visited. If you like something more adventurous, you might try horse riding, mountain biking, kayaking and sailing. There is no end of things to do in the Highlands so you can be sure you'll enjoy yourself there.

The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London in September 1666 was one of the most famous incidents in the history of Great Britain. It was the second tragedy to hit London during one year. Just as London was recovering from the Great Plague, the citizens had to run away again – but now not because of a new disease, but because of a terrible fire.

The fire started on the night of September 2, 1666, in Pudding Lane, in a baker’s shop. The shop was owned by Thomas Farriner, the king’s baker.His maid didn’t put out the ovens at the end of the night. Soon the wooden home of Farriner was on fire. Farriner’s family left the house in panic and ran away. Thomas Farriner didn’t raise the alarm, though at that time it was possible to stop the fire.

The maid tried to climb out of the building too but failed. She was one of the few victims of the fire. Once it started, the fire spread quickly. London was basically made out of wood and after the hot summer, the city was very dry. Strong winds fanned the flames.

Besides, in the 17^th century the city buildings were built close to each other and the fire spread with terrifying speed. Londoners tried to stop the fire but their buckets of water could do nothing against such a terrible disaster. Unfortunately the Lord Mayor did not take any measures to stop the fire and the fire spread further.

After four days while helpless citizens were watching the destruction of their homes, the wind died and the fire was stopped. Then the accounting took place. Fully 80% of the city was destroyed including the spiritual centre of the city, Old St. Paul's Cathedral. Surprisingly, very few people were killed.

Well, one person's disaster is another person's opportunity. Within days of the fire's end, an architect, Christopher Wren, proposed his plan to Charles II: it was a plan for the complete rebuilding of the city. Wren suggested making wide streets in the centre of London to open the city to light and air.

Charles II realized that Wren’s plan was very expensive and it would be difficult to put it into practice.Instead, Charles II offered that Wren rebuild the city's churches, including London’s main church - St. Paul's Cathedral. Christopher Wren was completing this task for the next fifty years.

Christopher Wren also was responsible for building the London Monument, a memorial commemorating the fire. The Monument is a column with a height of202 feet, which is the exact distance from the monument to the place where the fire began.
The original plans for the Monument provided a statue of Charles II on top, but Charles objected to the honour. He was afraid that the people of London would then associate him with the disaster. Wren replaced the statue with a simple bowl with flames. Nowadays the Monument is open for visitors all year round. Anyone can climb the 311 steps to the top of the Monument and enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

There were several fires in London’s history.

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The king’s baker immediately warned the neighbours about the fire.

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The Lord Mayor ordered to destroy lots of building to stop the fire.

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Wren’s plan of London’s rebuilding was approved by the king.

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Christopher Wren agreed to create a monument to remind people about the Great Fire.

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There is a statue of King Charles II on top of the monument.

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Tourists can go up to the top of the London Monument.

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The London Monument is the only one in the capital dedicated to the Great Fire.

1. Alaska in the past 2. Hopes seldom come true 3. Close neighbours 4. A mistaken opinion 5. Winter sporting activities

6. The deal of the century 7. Back to nature 8. Popular tourist routes

A. Alaska and Russia are less than 3 miles apart at their closest point in the Bering Strait. In winter, it is possible to walk across the ice from one country to the other. Alaskan and Russian natives on either side of the Bering Strait carry on active border trade and visit each other. Nowadays the University of Alaska has more Russian students than any other university in the United States.

B.The name of the largest American state comes from the Aleut language for ‘great land’. Native American people - Inuits, Yupik Inuits and Aleuts - have lived in Alaska for thousands of years. Life in Alaska has always been difficult, but they learned to adapt to the harsh climate. They lived by hunting seals, whales and bears and by fishing. They used sledge pulled by dogs to travel over the snow-covered land, and lived in igloos - houses made of snow.

C.The territory of Alaska was purchased from the Russians for $7.2 million (very cheaply). Alaska was considered to be a frozen wasteland and nobody could imagine that it would turn out to be one of the United States' richest resources for gold and oil. For many years the Americans called the buying of Alaska ‘Seward's Folly’, after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who arranged the purchase in 1867.

D.Most tourists expect to find the Alaskans still living in igloos and leading an isolated life on the snowy plain. To their surprise, the Alaskans’ daily life does not differ much from life in the central parts of the country. Most Alaskans live in modern homes, drive cars, watch TV, and shop in modern stores. Alaska’s communities have restaurants, theatres, museums, and modern health care facilities. The real life in Alaska is much less exotic than it is described in books and films.

E.The discovery of gold in 1896 started a huge Gold Rush that brought thousands of people to Alaska. All the adventurers wanted to make a fortune, but many died of cold and hunger on their way to the gold-field. And very few of those who survived managed to find the gold. The famous writer Jack London tried his chance in Alaska too, and many of his books were influenced by his personal experience.

F.The small Alaskan town of Gustavus is an interesting community. The town's 400 citizens are a mix of professional people - doctors, lawyers, former government workers and artists. For various reasons they decided to drop out of the stressful city life and live on their own in the middle of the woods. Electricity only arrived in the early 1980s and in some homes they still get water from a pump and make a fire to heat water to wash in.

G.Iditarod, one of Alaska’s most famous events, takes place in early March. It is the 1,100-mile sled dog race from Anchorage, the capital of Alaska, to Nome, a city on the coast of the Bering Sea.The race is very popular and the winners and their teams of dogs become local celebrities. Downhill and cross-country skiing as well as skijoring (when skiers are pulled by one or two dogs) are very popular in Alaska too.

Christmas Fire

Dan had sweet memories of his childhood years, especially Christmas. In those days, he had lived in Wales, in a small town. He remembered the white snow in the garden and a cold moon in the sky at night. December was always cold and frosty. Dan spent lots of time outdoors because he liked playing in the snow. While Dan was growing up, each Christmas was much like the last: Christmas tree, Christmas wishes, Christmas presents under the tree, Christmas dinner with relatives. But one of his Christmases he would remember forever.

It was many years ago, and he was 6 or 7 years old. It was the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Dan was playing in Mrs. Prothero’s garden with her son Jim. Dan was afraid of Mrs. Prothero because she always looked strict and harsh. She never invited him to the house. But her son Jim was different. The boys were playing cat hunters: they made lots of snowballs and prepared to attack the cats. Dan and Jim felt cold waiting for the cats to come over the garden wall. But none of them had appeared yet.

Suddenly the boys heard a loud cry from the house. At first they thought it was Mrs. Prothero’s white cat, that was their main enemy. Soon the cry repeated and grew louder.Now the boys understood that it was Mrs. Prothero herself, and she was shouting ’Fire!’

The boys ran down towards the house. The door was wide open with grey smoke coming from inside. Something was burning. Mrs. Prothero desperately called for help and for Mr. Prothero, who was obviously sleeping in another room. He always slept after lunch with a newspaper over his face. Finally, Mr. Prothero appeared in the clouds of smoke in the doorway. “What a fine Christmas!” he said waving his hand like an orchestra conductor. Mrs. Prothero asked him to call the fire brigade but he doubted that they would be available because of the holiday. But he sent the boys to the telephone box.

Dan and Jim rushed out of the house. The adventure seemed to be better than cat hunting. Jim suggested also calling the police and the ambulance. But they called only the fire brigade. The fire truck and three tall men in helmets arrived just as the boys returned to Mrs. Prothero’s house. It was the noisiest and most unusual Christmas Eve they had ever had.

The firemen started the pump and the water ran into the house. When it was all over, Mr. and Mrs. Prothero were standing in their wet and smoky room with a grey Christmas tree in the middle. The room looked a complete mess. Mrs. Prothero opened the oven and took out a burnt cake. She was in tears – it had been a horrible Christmas.

Just as the firemen were going to leave, Jim’s aunt, Miss Prothero, came back home. She looked surprised at the crowd of neighbours but did not give way to panic. She opened a colourful paper bag and produced a nice Christmas cake from the nearest shop. Then she smiled and said, “Merry Christmas! Everything will be all right!”

Dan enjoyed playing outdoors in cold weather.

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That day, Dan and Jim hit Mrs. Prothero’s white cat with snowballs.

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Mr. Prothero was a local musician.

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The boys called the police and the ambulance.

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The fire brigade failed to come because it was a holiday.

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It was the Christmas cake in the oven that had caused the fire.

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Miss Prothero returned home when the fire was over.

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The neighbours invited the Protheros to celebrate Christmas with them.

1. Some time without noise 2. Harmful background noise 3.Special effects for better results 4. A way to reduce noise pollution 5. Colours for the classroom 6.Music in the classroom 7. Music for relaxation 8.Different effects of music

A.

Everybody remembers what school smells and sounds like. It may seem unimportant but research results suggest that smells and sounds can influence learning ability and creativity. Some schools are now introducing noises, music and even smell into the classroom. The aim is to see which of these factors can improve students’ grades.

B.

It’s obvious that the constant sounds of traffic, airports and police sirens are a part of a busy city. Numerous studies have focused on the combined effect of aircraft and road traffic sounds on reading ability and memory.It was found out that children from schools near big airports reported annoyance and showed less success at exams, which proves that the aircraft noise is the most harmful type of machinery noise.

C.

The International Noise Awareness Day was started by the American Centre for Hearing and Communication in 1995. The aim of this day, which takes place every year in April, is to raise awareness among the people of the noise problem and the risks it makes. On that day people are asked to turn off noise sources such as TV sets and auto engines for a few hours and to enjoy the silence.

D.

There is no one best colour, some are just better than others in different situations. The design of the classroom is very important, too. It should be nice and pleasant and help students to focus on learning – remember about it when you paint the walls! Generally, light blue and purple have a calming effect on learners. Warm tones like peach and light yellow provide a relaxing atmosphere that is good for learning too. However, most physiologists say that red, white, black and brown should be avoided in the classroom.

E.

However, when students do tasks in groups or discuss something, noise is unavoidable. Sometimes the noise distracts other students. To prevent this, a traffic light system has been introduced. A large set of traffic lights, made of coloured paper, is placed in the classroom. When the noise is acceptable, the green light is on. When it gets too loud, the yellow light is put on. Changing to the red light means the end of activities or complete silence.

F.

On the other hand, some noises stimulate creativity, but the sound should be neither too high nor too low.There was a special experiment held in an office. While working, the people were listening to different melodies, played at different levels. It was observed that the most original projects were created when the songs and compositions were played at a medium level. Low and high levels, on the other hand, damaged creativity.

G.

According to Professor Shields, listening to classical or calm music helps creative learning.This conclusion is not really new. For a long time, teachers and coaches have been using quiet melodies to inspire their students and stimulate their imagination. This is particularly useful in art classes, where students learn to create pieces of art like pictures, sculptures and hand-made articles.

A Desperate Adventure

Captain Cowgill had always wanted to arrange a hot-air balloon expedition. One day, he placed an announcement in all the morning papers. He wrote that he needed three people who wanted to take a risky adventure. Ten people came to his office and Captain Cowgill selected three of them: two men and a young lady.

The first volunteer was Mr. Crutter, a well-dressed man of about sixty. He looked depressed and unhappy. The second one was a doctor, Dr. Hagan, a sad thin gentleman. The third adventurer, Miss Dermott, looked slim and miserable. They were ready to fly in the balloon in spite of the risks. Though Captain Cowgill hoped for success, there was a great chance that the participants wouldn’t come back.

The next day, the balloon was ready for the journey. They had some food and the gas equipment. It was supposed that the travellers would fly during the day and then land for the night. Right before the take-off, a young man ran up to Captain Cowgill and begged to let him join the expedition.Captain Cowgill listened to his arguments and let the young man, Mr. Winden, fly too.

With the last farewell to Captain Cowgill, the balloon went sailing towards the clouds. At first the travellers said nothing. An hour later they found the journey exciting. Two hours later they revealed their reasons for coming on the dangerous flight.

Mr. Crutter said that he had been cheated by his partners and had lost a large part of his business. Though he had enough money left, he felt extremely depressed. Dr. Hagan told the travellers that he had lost his job in a hospital. He felt lonely and unwanted. Miss Dermott said that she suffered from a serious disease and had no money for treatment.Mr. Winden had just split up with his girlfriend and was ready to die.

In the evening, the travellers decided to take a rest. They landed in a deserted place and tied the balloon to a tree. After supper they continued talking about their unhappy fates. Suddenly, Mr. Crutter offered to share his money with his new friends. Dr. Hagan smiled and looked at Miss Dermont.“I think I can cure you, Miss Dermott,” he said. “I have already had patients with the same diagnosis.” Miss Diamont smiled. But it wasn’t the last surprise. Mr. Winden proposed to Miss Diamont saying that he had fallen in love at first sight. She shyly promised to think it over.

The talk raised their spirits and, in the morning, everybody decided to go back home. Now when all their problems were happily solved, they didn’t want to go anywhere. Suddenly Miss Dermott cried out pointing to a distant object in the sky. It was their balloon that had broken loose while they were having breakfast. Nobody felt upset!

The group decided to walk to the nearest railway station.Mr. Crutter bought tickets for his new friends and they sent Captain Cowgill a telegram. It said that the balloon had flown away accidentally, their expedition had failed and they would arrive in town the next day.

Captain Cowgill tried to find the participants for his project using an advert.

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Captain Cowgill couldn’t take part in the expedition for health reasons.

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The balloon took off with four travellers on board.

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During the flight, the travellers kept their reasons for going on the expedition in secret.

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All the travellers had the similar troubles in life.

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After the first day of the flight, the travellers decided to stop the expedition.

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In the morning the travellers sold the balloon to buy their tickets home.

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Captain Cowgill got angry when he got the telegram.

1. Useful in many ways 2. An unusual material 3. A real enthusiast 4. Ambitious sales plans 5. А road test

6. A cycling competition 7. Excellent qualities 8. The right kind of bamboo

а.

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on the Earth. Some people think bamboo is a tree, but it is not – bamboo is grass though some species can grow over 30 meters! People use bamboo for different purposes: to build and decorate houses, to produce textiles and paper, to make food and drinks. Recently, a new practical application for bamboo has been suggested: in the bicycle industry.

B.

More and more Londoners prefer to use bicycles to get to their offices in the city centre. The latest model of this popular form of transport was presented at the motor show in Birmingham. It was made from bamboo. The designers, from Oxford Brooks University, say they have invented a bamboo bike not only for ecological reasons. According to them, bamboo is as safe as metal.

C.

The new bikes will be produced in Yorkshire. At the beginning the price of a bike might be rather high - about 1700 pounds. Nevertheless, the designers expect that the model will be successful on the market. Its growing popularity will finally bring down the price. By the year 2014, the company is planning to produce five hundred thousand bamboo bikes for the British.

D.

One of the inventors of the new technology, James Bruton, teaches at the University. During one of his seminars, students were testing different materials and chose bamboo. They discovered that its characteristics were ideal for long journeys because it stopped vibration. The whole journey becomes more pleasant than on a metal bike and the cyclist will be less tired.

E.

Not everyone, however, believed in the safety of bamboo. Skeptics doubted if it could stand long distances. They argued that a metal frame helped the wheels turn faster. As a result, engineers decided to test the bamboo in a real situation. They rode twenty kilometers in the hills. The experiment was successful in spite of the difficult conditions.

F.

During the project, designers had to solve another problem: what sort of bamboo to use, as not all of them were suitable for making a bike. Finally, from more than a thousand varieties, the scientists chose only one. Another important detail is that the bamboo should be cut at a definite stage of growth.

G.

The director of the Raw Bikes Company, Rachel Hammond, says she would support the idea of a bamboo farm. She has been interested in bamboo bikes for a long time. Once she rode the bike, she felt comfortable and happy. Now Rachel has an idea to make bamboo bikes for import. Although production takes several days, she is sure the model is attractive and will have a long life.

A Missing Street

Mark had worked in the Сity Hall for more than twenty years. He registered the files with the names of all the streets in Montreal. Mark lived near the City Hall and rarely walked round the city but he knew the location of the streets very well. He knew Montreal better than the policemen or taxi drivers.

His job was pretty dull and monotonous, but Mark preferred the office to his flat in Oven Street anyway. His neighbours were noisy and unpleasant. Every time he tried to explain the importance of his work, they looked down on him as a low-level clerk. They failed to understand that they got their mail only because Oven Street had its postal index in one of the files in the City Hall.

Once Mark’s peaceful life was disturbed. He opened one of the drawers in his study and found an index card stuck at the back. He drew it out carefully. Green Bottle Street it said. Mark stared at it in wonder. He could not remember any street with that name. He searched all the files but could not find anything. It was not on the list.

Mark examined the card once more. There was no mistake. The paper was old and yellow. The last inspection date marked on the card was more than fifteen years before. Mark was frozen with horror. It was a lost, forgotten street! For so many years it had existed a mile away from the Hall, and nobody knew about it.

Deep in his heart, Mark sometimes had thought of such a possibility. There were so many winding streets in the city that it looked like a labyrinth. But with all these files it simply could not happen. Vaguely he remembered that at the beginning of his career his office had moved to another floor and all the cards were made afresh. Maybe at that time one of the cards had got stuck in the drawer.

Mark slept badly that night. In the morning he put the card in his pocket and went looking for Green Bottle Street. Though he knew its location, he passed it twice. Finally, he came up to a wooden door, behind which a narrow street started. He opened the door and stepped inside. Green Bottle Street lay before him.

It was named after its shape. On either side of the street there were three well-kept houses with nice, small gardens in front. At the end of the street there was a brick wall, which separated it from the rest of the world. Everything there was quiet and safe. An old woman was watering roses in one of the gardens.

She told Mark that they used to pay taxes and get the mail until they were forgotten. Then they built a wooden door with a lock to protect their tiny peaceful area from passers-by and officials. They helped people who got tired of the busy city and wanted to take a break for a while. Some rooms in the houses were for rent.

Mark understood that the yellow card he had found in the drawer, could break people’s peaceful but fragile world. He sighed and tore the card to pieces. For all he cared, Green Bottle Street could remain lost forever.

Mark’s responsibility was to invent names for the city’s streets.

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Mark’s neighbours ignored the significance of his work.

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Over the past 15 years, Green Bottle Street had been without any postal index code.

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The card Green Bottle Street was delivered by post.

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It was not easy for Mark to find Green Bottle Street.

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All the houses in Green Bottle Street were painted green.

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The old woman suggested that Mark could rent a room in Green Bottle Street.

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Mark registered Green Bottle Street and gave it an index code.

1. Beware of thieves 2. The best way to get there and get around 3. A beautiful but dangerous land 4. Weather watching 5. National sports 6. The first inhabitants 7. Attractions for fantasy book fans 8. Once safe, now endangered

A.

New Zealand is an island country. Cruises to New Zealand are a perfect way to explore over 15,000 km of coastline and to enjoy the spectacular landscapes this diverse country has to offer. Cruising to New Zealand is a well-established tradition. Until the 1960s, it was the only way to arrive in the country.

B.

The climate is pleasant in all seasons, though it's rather windy.Wellington, the country's capital, is known as the Windy City. The strongest winds blow from the south. The wind speed and direction can be seen from the flag flown from the Parliament. A large flag is flown only on calm days and a small flag is flown when windy days are expected.

C.

More than a century before Columbus crossed the Atlantic to discover America, the Maoris sailed over thousands of kilometers of ocean to settle in New Zealand. They made their great journey in double canoes. Today, Maoris make up 14% of the country's population and their history, language and traditions are central to New Zealand’s identity.

D.

Before humans settled in New Zealand, it had an incredible variety of birds. As they had no natural enemies to fly away from, wings became unnecessary for some birds. When Maori and, later, Europeans came to New Zealand, they started to hunt birds. They also brought predators, including rats. The new enemies and loss of territory led to the reduction in the birds’ populations and to the complete extinction of some species.

E.

Ever since the first 'Lord of the Rings' film was released in 2001, New Zealand has been known as the 'Home of Middle-earth'. New Zealand’s dramatic scenery plays the mythical world of Middle-earth on the big screen in both 'The Lord of the Rings' and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogies. More than 250 places throughout the country were used as locations for the films, which made New Zealand the greatest destination for Tolkien enthusiasts.

F.

Auckland is the largest city, and is sometimes called the ‘crime capital’ of the country. Violent crime is not common in New Zealand but minor crimes are committed there quite often. A major problem is theft, primarily from cars -travellers should avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, no matter where they are parked. Actually, according to criminal statistics, tourist parking areas and car parks are the worst places.

G.

Auckland’s diverse landscapes provide countless opportunities to be impressed: rainforests and black sand beaches, picturesque country gardens and calm bays. However, this region is spotted with 48 volcanic cones. Rangitoto Island, just a 25-minute ferry ride from Auckland, is the region's most iconic volcano and a favourite day trip destination for visitors. But who knows when the trip might be interrupted?

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The Great Plague* of London

The Black Death arrived in Europe by sea in October 1347 when 12 trading ships came to an Italian port after a long voyage across the Black Sea. A crowd of people gathered on the docks to greet the ships. Soon the smiles changed into a horrifying surprise.Most of the sailors aboard the ships were dead, and those who were still alive were fatally ill. They had a high temperature, couldn’t eat and suffered from pain.The sailors were covered in black swellings which gave their illness its name: the Black Death. The Italian authorities made the ‘death ships’ and their sailors leave the port, but it was too late.Over the next five years, the mysterious Black Death (or the plague) would kill almost one-third of the European population.

The Black Death first appeared in Britain in 1348. Since that time the British islands were never totally free of plague.

In the year 1665 the Black Death came to the city of London,even though King Charles II had tried to prevent the epidemic of plague and had forbidden any trade with Holland, where there was a great plague epidemic. Despite the safety measures, in the early spring of 1665 thousands of people died in the poor parts of London. At first the government didn’t pay much attention to this fact. But as the spring turned into a hot summer, the number of deaths rose and panic set in.

The rich aristocracy and royal family left the capital for their houses in the country. They were followed by the merchants, and the lawyers. By June the roads were full with people who wanted to escape London. The Lord Mayor ordered to close the city gates to anyone who did not have a certificate of health. By mid July over 1,000 deaths per week were reported in the city. It was said that dogs and cats spread the disease. By the Lord Mayor’s order, more than 40,000 dogs and 200,000 cats were killed in London. The real effect of this was that the population of the rats, who were the plague carriers, increased. The Black Death began to spread more rapidly.
Anyone who was in constant contact with plague victims, such as doctors, nurses and inspectors, had to carry colouredsticks outdoors so that they could be easily seen and avoided. When one person in a house caught the plague, the house was closed until 40 days after the victim had either recovered or died (usually the latter). The members of the family were not allowed to leave the house either. Special guards were put at the door to see that no one got out.

Throughout the summer the death rate grew till it reached 6,000 people per week in August. From there the disease very slowly went down until the winter. However, King Charles II decided that it was safe to return to the capital only in February of 1666. How many died? It is hard to say. It was said that 100,000 people had died in and around London, though the figure may have been much higher.The Black Death was the worst and the last of the epidemics in Great Britain.

*a plague - чума

The Italian authorities allowed the sick sailors to stay in the town.

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Each of the ‘death ships’ had a doctor on board.

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King Charles II made attempts to stop the plague.

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To get health certificates, people had to pay a lot of money.

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The plague epidemic began to slow down when the city got rid of the cats and dogs.

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True

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The members of the family with a sick person had to leave London as soon as possible.

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True

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August was the peak of the plague epidemic.

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There is no documentary evidence about the exact number of people who were killed by the plague.

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True

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овок.

1.

Capital experts

2.

A place to see history

3.

Popular tourist routes

4.

Named after its form

5.

An easy way to pay for the trip

6.

A healthy form of transport

7.

A contrast to the dark city

8.

Why driving on the other side

A.

The London Underground is the quickest and easiest way of getting around the city.Today it is as important a landmark of the capital as Big Ben or the London Eye. The underground is often called the Tube because of its shape: tube shaped tunnels, stations and trains. The Tube became an official name for the first time in the early 1900s, after the Central London Railway (now the Central Line) was named the Twopenny Tube.

B.

In 1956 the red London double-decker bus appeared on the London streets for the first time. At that time, the London buildings had gone black because of smoke from the coal used for heating. What’s more, due to the local climate and lack of wind, there was always fog in the city. Under such gloomy circumstances, the bright-red London double-decker bus became a sensation! In the past 50 years, the red double-decker has become an iconof London.

C.

Oyster is an electronic smart card ticket. Regardless of whether you live in London, or you are a tourist, a day trip visitor, or a regular visitor to the capital, the Oyster Card is definitely the easiest way to travel around the London Transport system. Simply touch the card on the yellow reader to get through the Tube gates or board other London public transport. The card doesn't even need to be removed from your purse or wallet to work.

D.

The London Transport Museum is worth visiting. Entrance is not free but the price of £15 for a year pass is more than reasonable.The exhibitions displayed in the museum present London transport in its historical context. There are more than 80 vehicles, including a red London bus and the world's first Underground train. The galleries are full of interactive exhibits for young people to play on – including real buses and trains!

E.

In London there are around 23 000 taxis. The taxi drivers know every corner of London because all of them have to take an exam, called the Knowledge. This exam supposes that the candidate driver can recognize most of the 20 000 London streets and knows how to choose the shortest route between two points. Each taxi driver should also know all the parks, cinemas, theaters and museums in the city.

F.

Over the last few years, cycling around London has been getting more and more popular. The reasons are obvious - there is no ‘carbon waste’ and it prevents obesity and heart disease. For tourists, it is often also the quickest and the easiest way to see London, with the bonus of getting some exercise. The casual user hires a bike at one of the numerous bike stations, rides it where he or she wants and then returns it to any of the docking stations.

G.

If you’ve ever been to Britain, one of the first things you will have noticed is that the British drive on the wrong side of the road. They drive on the left! The reason for this goes back to the days when people travelled on horses. Most people are right-handed and the left is the natural side to ride on if you are on horseback - you need your right hand to hold a sword in case of any trouble.

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David Livingstone

David Livingstone was an explorer, missionary, and anti-slavery fighter. He became a great hero of the 19^th century for his discoveries in Africa.

David Livingstone was born in 1813 in Scotland, and grew up with several brothers and sisters in a single room in a gloomy building for the workers of a cotton factory. To support his family, he started working at the cotton mill as a child. The work was dull and monotonous but it taught him patience and sympathy with those who worked hard. Though he had twelve-hour working days, David studied at school during the evenings and weekends. Later, he started studying medicine in Glasgow and completed his medical studies in 1840 in London.

In the official role of a ‘medical missionary’, he set off for Africa, arriving in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1841.

Exploring Africa, Livingstone went north and walked across the Kalahari Desert. He came upon Lake Ngami and, later, the Zambezi River. Livingstone was the first European to see the famous Zambezi falls, which he renamed Victoria Falls, after Queen Victoria.

Livingstone was the first medical missionary to enter southern and central Africa, and he was the first European to meet local tribes. He won their trust as a friendly person and an experienced doctor. He had so many patients among the native people that he had to limit his treatment only to those with serious illnesses.

David Livingstone made two more expeditions to Africa. By 1856, he was one of the first Europeans to cross the African continent from west to east. His motto, which was later written on the base of the statue to him at Victoria Falls, was ‘Christianity, Commerce and Civilization.’ He deeply believed that the navigation of the Zambezi River, as a commercial route into the centre of the continent, would help people achieve these goals.Livingstone also tried to find the source of the Nile River. He never did, but discovered lots of facts about the four great African lakes.

Livingstone’s African expeditions brought him fame as one of the leading explorers of the 19^th century. However, according to historians, one of Livingstone's greatest achievements was also promoting antislavery ideas.His books told people about the cruelties and horrors slaves had to suffer.

For several years there were no letters from Livingstone and it was decided in London that the explorer was lost. The two main British newspapers sent the journalist, Henry Stanley, to Africa to find David Livingstone. Stanley found the explorer in late 1871, and upon seeing him, said the now well-known words, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

Livingstone refused to leave his beloved Africa and spent the last years of his life almost cut off from the outside world. He died in 1873. Later, his body was transported to London and buried in Westminster Abbey.

All David Livingstone’s sisters and brothers started working in their childhood.

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In his childhood David Livingstone never attended school.

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David Livingstone named one of the natural wonders after the British Queen.

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During his expeditions, David Livingstone treated the local people.

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David Livingstone went to Africa several times.

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David Livingstone bought slaves and made them free.

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Henry Stanley made David Livingstone return to England.

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True

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David Livingstone’s grave is in Africa.

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овок.

1.

King of the wild

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Different from the others

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Early years

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Hunting habits

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A big family

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Team work

7.

The lion’s responsibilities

8.

Their essential diet

A.

Lions have caught people’s imagination for centuries. They are stars in documentary movies and books; their images can be found on emblems, coats of arms and shields.Lions live in the jungle, open woodlands or thick grasslands where they hunt. In their environment, lions are at the top of the food chain - adult lions have no natural enemies. If we call a person ‘a lion’ it means he is strong, aggressive and important.

B.

Lions do not look the same as other members of the large group of cats: tigers, leopards, and jaguars. Adult male lions are much larger and have thick brown hair around their neck, which is called a mane. No other cats have manes. The mane makes the lion look more impressive and protects the animal in fights with other lions for territory.

C.

Lions live in large social groups called ‘prides’. A pride can have up to thirty female lions and their children. Inside the pride there are mothers, sisters, and cousins. The pride has a close relationship and never accepts a stranger. They mark their territory by scent.There are very strict rules in the pride and everyone has to observe them.

D.

Lions and lionesses have different roles in the pride. Females do most of the hunting. Together, lionesses guard and look after their cubs. The little ones feel safer and more confident with so many ‘nannies’ around. It also reduces the chance that they are left hungry. The females usually exchange their hunting and home duties during the day.

E.

Male lions spend most of their day sleeping or relaxing. While it may look like the lionesses do all the work in the pride, lions play an important role too. Though they bring less food and hunt less, they mark their territory and protect it from strangers. A lion from outside the pride is very dangerous for cubs. If he gets into the pride, he may kill all the little ones there.

F.

When new lions are born, they are not shown to the rest of the pride for a month, until the cubs become strong enough. Later they start playing together and have a lot of playmates. If needed, any lioness becomes their nurse and teacher. Small lions have to learn hunting and survival skills. When they are two years old, male lions leave the pride to live on their own. The females may stay with their mothers for the rest of their lives.

G.

In the wild, lions eat mainly meat. That’s why they greatly depend on hunting. Their favourite dishes are zebras, deer, and even young elephants and rhinos. When hungry, they chase mice, birds and reptiles. Very rarely they may eat fruit and vegetables, but it is never their first choice. In zoos and national parks, where the lions cannot hunt, they are offered special meals made of beef and chicken.

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A Christmas Story

It happened a few days before Christmas. John and Alice were on their way home from visiting their daughter at college. The drive was long and exhausting. Alice was thinking about the money they had given for their daughter’s last semester. It was a big sum for their family. Alice realized that they had no money for the next semester fee. She was in despair.

On their way home they stopped at a small town market. Alice got out of the car to walk a little. Suddenly an old woman approached her. She asked Alice to buy an old brass teapot*. Alice took the heavy teapot and gave the woman the money that she had asked for.

Alice, got into the car and placed the teapot on the back seat. She didn’t need the teapot but she could not refuse the old woman. The car set off and the rest of the way John and Alice argued about the money. John was angry with Alice because of her last purchase.

John’s arguments were powerful. The family’s budget was not at all promising. They had a lot of electric and gas bills to pay. What’s more, they had recently bought a new refrigerator. And the college fee ate up a good part of their budget.Alice kept silent.

When they arrived home, Alice decided to make tea. She found out that their electric tea kettle was broken and put the new brass teapot on the stove.When the tea was getting ready, they heard a door bell. It was Mr. Ramson, their neighbour. The old man lived alone and there were no relatives and friends to support him in town.

Alice invited Mr. Ramson in for some tea. At the table Mr. Ramson asked Alice and John if they could lend him some money. His only granddaughter, whom he loved dearly, lived far away and he wanted to visit her for the coming Christmas. Alice sighed but John, suddenly, nodded his head in agreement. Mr. Ransom thanked John and went home happy.

Alice was alone in the kitchen washing up after tea. She was thinking how to cut down their expenses if they gave the money to the old man. Suddenly she heard a sound of something dropping into the teapot.Alice took the teapot and, to her great surprise, she found two £50 notes inside. She called John to ask if he had by mistake dropped them into the teapot. John looked at her in surprise but answered that he had not.

At that moment Alice knew what to do. She removed the banknotes from the teapot and ran to Mr. Ramson.

When she came home, John smiled and gave her a warm kiss. The same dropping sound repeated. It came from the teapot. When Alice opened the top, she found a banknote inside. Christmas Magic! They could not understand how it worked, but the teapot produced some banknotes every time they were kind to each other and helped people around.

They put the brass teapot on the shelf in the kitchen and never used it for making tea. When their daughter came for Christmas, she could hardly recognize the house. The furniture was the same but the house looked warmer and cozier than before. Her parents did not argue about money any more.

When she asked where the money for her education had come from, they said it was a Christmas present from old Mr. Ramson.

*A brass teapot – медный чайник

Alice was upset because they had failed to pay for her daughter’s studies.

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True

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The old woman gave the brass teapot to Alice as a present.

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In the car Alice and John had a quarrel over the brass teapot.

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True

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At home Alice made tea in her new brass teapot.

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True

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Mr. Rampson’s granddaughter visited him last Christmas.

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Alice found some money in the teapot.

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True

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The brass teapot worked wonders only during Christmas.

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True

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Alice and John gave the brass teapot to Old Mr. Ramson.

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True

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овок.

1.

Local legends

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Special in many ways

3.

Tourist аttraction

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Diverse wildlife

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Protection of the ecosystem

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Extinct species

7.

Scientific expeditions

8.

Harsh climate

A.

The world’s deepest lake, the Baikal, is in Siberia. It is also the largest freshwater lake in Eurasia and the oldest lake on the Earth. At least 1,500 unique species live there - they cannot be found anywhere else on the planet!The water in the lake is so clear that if you drop a coin, it can be clearly seen a hundred feet below the water.

B.

People who live in the Baikal region believe that it’s a unique and mysterious place. According to them, the water from Lake Baikal can cure different illnesses, gives you strength and clears your mind. They also say that the lake was formed millions of years ago when a huge, hot rock fell to earth. It melted the ice around and that was how Lake Baikal appeared. The story about the meteorite has, however, never been proved by scientists.

C.

The lake has also become famous for its unique fish and birds that are not found in other waters. The lake is home to more than 1000 animal species. Among them there are the world’s only freshwater seals. There’s no evidence of how the seals got to the lake but they obviously enjoy their life there. Huge brown bears often come to the lake out of the forest to hunt and fish.

D.

Though Lake Baikal is located in a very remote place, and is difficult to reach in autumn and winter, it attracts thousands of visitors every year. A chance to see this unique place is worth the long journey! On the banks of Lake Baikal you can stay in a modern, comfortable hotel, take part in hiking tours and enjoy the untouched natural beauty. People who have visited Lake Baikal once want to return to the place again and again.

E.

However, the growing popularity of the lake and the industrial development of the region have caused ecological problems. The safety of this unique natural ecosystem has been discussed at an international level. Now Lake Baikal is on the list of heritage sites protected by UNESCO. A federal state law about the conservation of the lake was also supported in Russia.

F.

The lake attracts not only tourists but also many wildlife researchers, biologists and even archaeologists.The world famous explorer and scientist, Jacques Cousteau, and his team spent lots of time studying the deep waters of Lake Baikal. They also shot a film about their research that was broadcast by major TV channels all over the world.

G.

Everyone considers the Siberian climate very severe, which is perfectly true for the Baikal region. The winters there are really freezing - the average temperature is as low as -25 degrees Celsius. Due to its location in the middle of the continent, the place is characterised by a sharp contrast between winter and summer temperatures. The summers are generally cool, with a few hot days. The sun shines brightly above the lake till late autumn.

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A Model Millionaire

Hugh Erskine was a charming young man, with brown hair and a clear-cut profile. After his father’s death, he inherited only an old cavalry sword and fifteen war books. To earn his living, Hugh had tried selling tea, then working at the stock exchange, but hadn’t succeeded.He had to live on the little money he managed to earn. It was no more than a few hundred pounds.

To make matters worse he fell in love with Laura Merton. Hugh won Laura’s affection and they were the nicest couple in London. Laura’s father was very fond of Hugh, however, he said he could only let his daughter marry Hugh when the young man got ten thousand pounds. It was an enormous sum for Hugh.

One morning, on his way to Laura’s house, Hugh dropped in to see a great friend of his, Alan Trevor. Alan was a brilliant artist: a real master. His paintings were wonderful and sold very successfully.

When Hugh came in, he found Trevor finishing a life-size picture of a beggar-man. The beggar himself was standing on a platform in the corner of the studio. He was an elderly person, with a miserable expression on his face and poor, torn clothes over his body. He was an amazing model, absolutely different from Alan’s other models!

Trevor told Hugh that he paid the model a shilling an hour.Hugh said that the pay was unfair because the painter would get at least a thousand pounds for the picture. Hugh was sure that the model should be paid more for standing all day long in the studio. But Alan only smiled back.When Trevor went out for a moment, Hugh gave the beggar the only sovereign he had in his pocket. The old man smiled mysteriously and thanked Hugh.

The next day Hugh met Alan Trevor in the club. Trevor confessed that the beggar was Baron Hausberg, the richest man in London, and Trevor’s great friend. He bought many of his pictures and that day he had asked to paint him in beggar’s clothes. Trevor also said that he had told Baron about Hugh’s love and money problems.

“And I gave him a sovereign!” Hugh cried out, red with shame. Trevor continued laughing loudly. He added that Baron Hausberg was in high spirits after Hugh had left and was rubbing his hands together. Nevertheless, Hugh was so unhappy that he asked Trevor not to tell the story to anyone else and left the club.

The next morning the servant brought Hugh a visiting card. The visitor, an old man in golden spectacles, was from Baron Hausberg. As he came into the room, Hugh expressed sincere apologies to the Baron. Instead the man handed Hugh an envelope. On the outside it was written, ‘A wedding present to Hugh Erskine and Laura Merton, from an old beggar’.

Hugh opened the envelope. Inside, there was a cheque for ten thousand pounds.

Hugh inherited a few hundred pounds from his father.

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True

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Money was a necessary condition for Hugh’s marriage.

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True

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Alan Trevor was a world famous painter.

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True

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During Hugh’s visit, Trevor was painting an old man.

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True

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In Hugh’s opinion, Alan Trevor paid his model enough money for his work.

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True

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Baron Hausberg was a talented artist himself.

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True

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Hugh told Baron Hausberg his love story.

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True

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Baron Hausberg sent the money to Hugh by post.

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True

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