Do very clever children need help?

In our history, there have been some remarkable children. Mozart is a famous example. After he had heard a piece of music a couple of times, he could write it down on paper. He composed symphonies while he was still a child. Today we also hear stories of very gifted1 children.

Ruth Lawrence, from the UK, became famous at the age of 12, when she began her studies at Oxford University. She was the youngest student ever to attend a university in the UK. Before going to university, Ruth was taught at home by her father. While she was a student, her father was always by her side. He attended all her lectures with her. Ruth did very well at Oxford. She got a f irst class degree in mathematics. Now Ruth is a mathematics professor.

These young people are, however, extremely special. Because of that they naturally feel different to other children of their own age. They can become lonely. Michael Howe, a professor of psychology says, “It is good to be good at something while you are young, but if you do not have friends or other experiences you will not have a satisfying life.” Gifted children who understand quicker than their classmates can also become lazy. They can behave badly in class because they are bored.

If parents find that their child is especially talented, they have to take some important and difficult decisions. They have to help their child develop but they cannot push their child too hard. If they do, the child may have serious problems later in life. However, if a child is especially gifted, it is clear that they need a special kind of education. These children need to be motivated. This means that they have to study with people who are older than them. But at the same time they must be allowed to be children too.

Despite her great success, Ruth Lawrence does not want her own children to be brought up and educated in the same way she was. They will be sent to a normal school and she has said that she wants them to develop and grow only in a natural way.

1 gifted — талантливый

2.Ruth Lawrence was a gifted child. Read aloud the extract which says about her.

 

3. What kind of problems can wonderkids have?

 

4. What should parents and teachers do for their gifted children?

Билет № 10 (продолжение)

II. (аудирование)  Listen to three speakers talking about their favourite pastime and answer the questions below.

1. According to the first speaker what is his favourite pastime?

 

2. Why is the second speaker keen on crafts?

 

 

3. What problem does the third speaker have because of his favourite pastime?

 

 

Script:

Speaker 1: Well, my favourite leisure pastime is rather unusual. You see, I live in the country and for me there is nothing better than riding on horseback on a hot sunny day with a little breeze. There is no one around and you can enjoy freedom from almost everything and everyone. No matter what mood you are in, you can always find happiness.

Speaker 2: I am fond of crafts. I love making different items from wood and then painting them. I usually give them away just to make people smile! I also enjoy sewing, especially making doll clothes for my daughter. All these things relax me, not to mention that I get a bit of satisfaction from having made something useful. I love making gifts for my family and friends. I wish I had more time to do it.

Speaker 3: I have only one favourite pastime. Every day I come home, lie on the sofa, turn on TV and just relax. What do I watch? It doesn’t matter. Anything from soaps to football matches. My TV set is my best friend. The only problem is that I have put on a lot of weight. I can’t help eating crisps and other snacks while watching. My friends say I’m a couch potato. So what? I like it that way.

III. (тема)

Let’s talk about different types of houses.

 

Билет № 11

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

Family history

“Researching family history is a true passion rather than just a hobby for many people”, says Julie Mason. “It is wonderfully exciting when you learn more about the ancestors1.”

Julie began researching her family’s past in order to find out her roots2. She says: “When you discover your roots, it gives you understanding who you are.” John Paul Thompson has a different reason for wanting to research his family’s history. “After my father died I found myself with photo albums full of old photographs with no labels. I wanted to find out more about the others.”

Some of the things that people discover about their families can be very surprising. When Jean Sandwell researched her family history she had a very big shock. She found out that she had been adopted as a baby. After she had accepted this situation, Jean tried to find her real parents. “I discovered that my mother emigrated to Australia in 1966,” says Jean. “In 1982 I went to Australia to meet her. It was a very emotional experience for both of us.”

So what is the best way to start researching your family history? “Interview all your family members before it is too late,” says Julie Mason. “Make a basic family tree of your close family and step by step make it bigger. Of course, it is not easy to have accurate information from relatives about things that happened in the distant past. It is quite normal for different family members give different versions of the same events. It is very important to check everything.”

Public records in local libraries and in national archives3 are also important to the family historian. Old newspaper reports are often kept on in local libraries. Sometimes, researching your family history can be lonely work. Remember that you can find a lot of help on the internet.

Of course, it is not easy to trace your family history a long way back and you must be very patient. Believe me, in the future, your children, and their children may be very grateful to you for recording it.

1 an ancestor — предок                           2 roots — корни                            3 an archive — архив

2. Jean Sandwell made a shocking discovery. Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3. Why do people start tracing their family histories?

 

4. What recommendations does the author give to discover your roots?

Билет № 11 (продолжение)

II. (аудирование)  Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.

1. How many runners are going to take part in the race?

 

2. Where would they like to organize the starting line?

 

 

3. Why do they need to have first-aid points?

 

Script:

Mike: Well, Jane, we’ve only got two weeks left before the run so I really think we have to finalise the route of the race today.

Jane: Yes, Mike. Now, how many runners do you estimate1 will register for the race?

Mike: Well, it’s hard to say what the final number will be — at the moment we have 150 applicants2 but I fully expect there will be 200 by the race itself.

Jane: Fine. I’ll make a note of that.

Mike: Where will the starting line be?

Jane: I think you have to start somewhere that has a place to warm up. How about the Town hall as the car park there is big enough for the runners to do their exercises?

Mike: Actually, that’s a good point. Let’s start there and then we could have the first­aid point nearby. But look, we should have another first­aid point somewhere on the route in case the runners have problems.

Jane: You’re probably right! Em, do you think the athletes need somewhere to take a break if they are feeling tired? We could use the entrance to the library. It’s ideal as it has such a huge portico where the athletes could relax in the shade.

Mike: Good idea.

1 to estimate — полагать

2 an applicant — участник

III.(тема)

 Let’s talk about Belarusian national cuisine.

 

Билет № 12

I. 1. Read a part of the interview with Audra Mari, Miss Teen USA, taken by the magazine “Seventeen” and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

Вullying Again?

Seventeen: What was your experience with bullying1 in high school?

Audra Mari: One Sunday, I came home and there was a big picture on the door. It was basically making fun of me because I’m tall. Once the girls prepared a slogan to support a football team. The slogan wishing good luck faced the team, but the back of the slogan read “Go Home Mari”. And the whole student section saw it. One time during lunch, I was sitting with all my friends, and a girl came up to me and threw a paper lunch bag at me. She said, “You can eat this for lunch, it is for horses.”

Seventeen: What was going through your head when all of this was happening?

AM: At first, I tried to keep it in and not tell anyone except for my friends because I thought that it’d finish after the first few weeks, but this happened all year. So finally, I told my mum, I told her everything. She talked to the administration, and they brought the girls in and talked to them about it. The girls were punished. So you just have to bring it to the attention of adults.

Seventeen: In spite of all this, you still managed to make it to the Miss Teen USA competition and win it. How did you find the confidence to go for it?

AM: You just have to ignore it and have confidence2 in yourself. I was a three­sport athlete — hockey, soccer, and volleyball — and I gave them up to do my modelling career.

Seventeen: What’s your advice for girls dealing with bullies today?

AM: Stay confident and know that this is not the end of the world, that you are not going to be in high school for the rest of your life. There are mean girls wherever you go, but you don’t need to be with them when you get older. You’re not in a classroom with them, you’re not eating lunch with them, so look past it and know that it’s going to end. Looking back, I’d say you just need to focus on what you want to achieve and not let people get in your way or upset you. Also, tell a trusted adult, tell all your friends, tell anyone you can. If you keep it inside, it’s just going to eat you.

                            1 to bully — дразнить, запугивать                 2 confidence — уверенность

2. Mary was cruelly bullied. Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3. How did she react to bullying?                                                                                4. What advice does she give to other children?

Билет № 12 (продолжение)

II. (аудирование)  Listen to the talk between two friends and answer the questions below.

1. What are Maggy’s favourite places in London?

 

2. What are they going to do in the evening?

3. Why does Alex want to go to a cafe?

Script:

Maggy: Hey, Alex! I’ve got an idea. I can show you my favourite place in London.

Alex: Sure, Maggy, I’d like to see that, but where is it exactly?

Maggy: Look beyond the people. What do you see?

Alex: Well, there’s a beautiful building over there! It looks like a palace. What is it?

Maggy: It’s Buckingham Palace! And all those people are waiting for the Changing of the Guard. It’s 11 o’clock so the ceremony will start soon.

Alex: Does this ceremony take place every day?

Maggy: It’s held daily only from April to August, when there are lots of tourists. But we aren’t going to watch it right now; we’re going to the park which is opposite the palace.

Alex: Let me guess. We must be in St. James’s Park now!

Maggy: Good guess! You’re right, it’s St. James’s Park, which is a popular place to walk, feed the ducks or watch the pelicans.

Alex: Those people on the lawn seem to be having a picnic. Is it possible to have picnics in London parks?

Maggy: Sure, but you should follow certain rules.

Alex: Okay. What is the magnificent style building opposite the lake?

Maggy: This is St. James’s Palace. And behind it, there is an entertainment area of Piccadilly Circus with lots of pubs and cafes. If you like, we can go there later in the evening.

Alex: That’s a wonderful idea! But honestly, I’m starving and wouldn’t mind having a bite right now.

Maggy: Then let’s go to the cafe and have a snack.

III. (тема)  Let’s talk about national cuisine of an English­speaking country.

Билет № 13

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

Shakespeare’s portrait?

A painting has been discovered that experts say is a picture of one of the world’s best­known writers, William Shakespeare. He is thought to have written at least 36 plays, which include the world­famous Hamlet, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet. Yet surprisingly little is known about Shakespeare’s life, the way he worked, or what he looked like.

Shakespeare was born in the town of Stratford-­upon-­Avon in England in 1564. He left the town when he was about 20, leaving behind a wife and three children. After this period he worked as an actor and writer of plays in London. In 1594 he helped form a new theatre company and wrote plays for the next 20 years. After this he retired to Stratford-­upon-­Avon where he died in 1616. He is buried in a local church.

Several portraits exist that are supposed to be those of Shakespeare’s. Yet many experts think these paintings are probably pictures of someone else, or were painted at least 100 years after Shakespeare died.

The Shakespeare expert and the owner of the newly­-discovered painting say they are 90 % sure it is of William Shakespeare. Alec Cobbe owns the painting. It has been in his family’s possession since the early 1700s. They did not know who the person in the painting was. A few years ago Mr Cobbe went to a Shakespeare exhibition and saw a painting of Shakespeare called the Janssen portrait. He was amazed by how similar it was to the painting owned by his family.

He took his painting to a Shakespeare expert. Since then it has been dated and X-­rayed. They now believe it was painted in 1610, when Shakespeare was 46 years old — six years before he died. Mr Cobbe thinks he could prove the portrait was originally owned by the Earl of Southampton, who supported Shakespeare when he was writing his plays.

Other experts are not so sure whether it really is a portrait of Shakespeare. This, they say, is because there is no proof the Janssen portrait is actually a picture of Shakespeare either!

2. The author gives some facts about Shakespeare’s life. Find this extract and read it aloud.

 

3. What facts prove that the painting can be a portrait of William Shakespeare?

 

4. Why do some people doubt that this is a portrait of Shakespeare?

Билет № 13 (продолжение)

II. (аудирование) Listen to three speakers talking about travelling and answer the questions below.

 

1. Why do many people travel today according to the first speaker?

 

2. How does the second speaker describe people who never travel?

 

 

3. What can a person gain travelling to other countries according to the third speaker?

 

Script:

Speaker 1: Lots of people believe that travel broadens the mind. A friend of mine went to Cyprus and when he came back, he complained that he could not find English food and everything was so foreign! If one travels with that kind of attitude, one never learns anything about other places and people. Today many people travel not in order to learn, but to ‘have a good time’ and usually on their terms.

Speaker 2: I’ve just got back from a trip to Japan and what I learned by just being there is more than I’ve ever learned on the internet. Talking to some locals, I learned more than school, or internet could teach me. Travel lets you see other people’s lives, cultures, customs and traditions from different parts of the world. Travel educates you and makes you knowledgeable1. I think that people who never leave their countries are narrow­minded and ignorant.

Speaker 3: I feel sad for those people who have never travelled outside of their own hometown. There’s a whole world of different cultures to meet out there, nineteen per cent of which you can’t have by just sitting in the living room in front of the TV. When you travel to other countries you can see, feel and touch other ways of living. Some places will shock you, others will please you. You will then appreciate your own life and see things in a different way.

1 knowledgeable — хорошо осведомленный, знающий

III. (тема)

Let’s talk about shopping.

 

 

Билет № 14

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

SHOPPING IN LONDON

John tells us a bit more about shopping in London… “When I visit London one of my favourite things to do is shopping! I really enjoy hunting around for a bargain1 in the sales, buying something new to wear out on a Saturday night. Or alternatively, a bit of window­shopping — it doesn’t cost a penny. Sometimes I’ll spend hours just wandering around a market having a chat with my friends.

There are loads of different places to go shopping in London. You can go to Oxford Street, but be warned, it gets too busy sometimes; it can be difficult to go anywhere! Alternatively for a less crowded, more relaxing shopping experience, go to Covent Garden, you can have an expensive cappuccino, and watch some (free) street theatres at the same time.

Some people like shopping in department stores, the most famous one in London is ‘Harrods’, but for me, it’s not modern enough, and too expensive, the sort of place your parents shop. But just down the road is ‘Harvey Nics’, much more up­to­date, but not cheap. The best of all the big department stores is ‘Selfridges’ in Oxford Street, it’s a shopper’s paradise, nice clothes, and the prices. Well I can look, can’t I?

You can also try Camden, it’s busy, exciting, trendy, and there are lots of bargains! You can buy cheap jeans and cool second hand clothes in the morning and then get a tattoo and a body piercing later on! If all that shopping is too tiring, you can get some Chinese or Thai food for 2 or 3, sit by the canal and have a drink. What could be better?

If Camden is not cultured enough, you might prefer a day in Greenwich — a world heritage site. This is a much more relaxing day out. You can have a walk round the market and shops, and then take in a bit of London’s history — it was the birthplace of Henry VIII, Queen Mary and Elizabeth I. There’s also the park, the ‘Cutty Sark’ (an old tea clipper ship), the meridian line (where east meets west), and the old observatory… so much to do, but don’t forget the shopping!”

                   1 a bargain — выгодная покупка

2. The author describes some department stores that are popular with shoppers. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3. What does John like about shopping?

 

4. Why is Greenwich interesting to visit?

Билет № 14 (продолжение)

II. (аудирование) Listen to three speakers talking about losing weight and answer the questions below.

1. What does the first speaker advise to do if you want to lose weight?

 

2. What is the mistake many people make trying to lose weight?

 

 

3. Why is it necessary to exercise according to the third speaker?

 

 

Script:

Speaker 1: Throw away gas or electric cooker. Also throw away salt. Get as many fruit and vegetables as you can. Try to drink as much water as possible as it increases the rate at which you burn calories. Cut out soda and limit fruit juices, most of which are high calorie. Carry on normal work. I followed this diet continuously for six months. In the end I lost 23 kg. I did morning walks, cycling, but no other physical exercise.

Speaker 2: You should know that there is no safe way to lose weight quickly, the mistake is if you lose weight very quickly, you will be a lot less likely to keep it off. So, definitely try to lose weight gradually, but don’t plan on losing overnight. This is the most important and the first aspect of getting your perfect body shape. If you have a lot of weight to lose, try for 5 pounds, relax a bit, then go for 5 more.

Speaker 3: The first thing I would suggest is to believe in yourself, and love yourself. The key to weight loss is simple — you should burn more than you take in! Walk the dog, join a health club, take up jogging. Whatever you do, you’ve got to move your body as much as possible if you want to lose weight.

III. (тема)

Let’s talk about leisure time.

 

Билет № 15

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

University celebrates

One of the world’s leading universities has just begun to celebrate its 800th anniversary.

Cambridge University, in the UK, was founded in 1209. On 17th January it held a special outdoor celebration to launch a year of events marking its 800th birthday.

The University was founded by scholars from another English university, Oxford. Nobody is exactly sure why they moved to Cambridge. One record shows it happened when two Oxford scholars were arrested and then convicted1 of murdering a local woman. Other students protested their arrest by leaving the university and going to other towns. It was a group of these scholars that set up a university in Cambridge.

Originally only men were allowed to study at Cambridge. From 1869 women were permitted to study there, but they were not awarded degrees. Women at Cambridge were first awarded degrees in 1947.

Some of the most important discoveries in history have been made by people studying at Cambridge University. The jet engine was invented there. Scientists at Cambridge discovered the structure of human DNA. More than 80 winners of the Nobel Prize, and 15 of Britain’s prime ministers, have been graduates of Cambridge University.

Many students from Cambridge University have become famous for becoming among the best in their fields of work. Authors C. S. Lewis, who wrote the Narnia books, and A. A. Milne, who wrote Winnie-­the-­Pooh, also studied at the university.

On 17th January about 7,000 people gathered in the centre of Cambridge to watch a light show celebrating the anniversary. Images and illustrations were projected onto one of the famous university buildings, the Senate House. A piece of music containing exactly 800 notes was played from the nearby Great St Mary’s Church.

Cambridge is usually ranked among the top five universities in the world for its standard of research and teaching. Today, around 18,000 students study at Cambridge University.

          1 to convict — осудить, признать виновным

2. The author says how the university was founded. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3. What important discoveries were made at Cambridge?

 

4. Why is Cambridge University considered one of the best in the world?

Билет № 15 (продолжение)

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

1. What does Sara want to become?

 

2. How did she find out about the audition?

 

 

3. Why was this performance special for Sara?

 

 

Script:

Sara has always wanted to be famous. When she was only four years old, she said to her parents “I’m going to be a star when I grow up.” Her parents laughed. Sara’s dreams were just dreams for years, but now those dreams are coming true, thanks to the power of television.

Sara is lucky: she is an attractive young woman, and she can sing. She has taken singing and dancing lessons since she could walk. When she was seventeen, Sara’s big chance came. She saw an advertisement in a national newspaper: “Singers wanted for a new musical band. This is going to be bigger than the Spice Girls!” Sara rang the number straight away. The first audition was in London, and she was there at six o’clock in the morning, practising her song. She had been to auditions1 before but this one was different — it was on TV! People all over the country watched Sara singing. She didn’t mind the cameras — she was too excited about being on TV. Sara was the viewers’ favourite.

Some people think that the band will never be successful. “It’s not a real band,” they say. But Sara isn’t worried about her future. “I’m famous now, and it doesn’t matter how I got here. I’m here to stay!”

1 an audition — прослушивание

II. (тема)

Let’s talk about Belarusian customs and traditions.

 

 

Билет № 16

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

World Digital Library opens

A new worldwide digital library has opened on the internet. The library website has taken four years to put together. It was officially launched at the headquarters of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Paris, the capital of France, on 21st April.

The digital library lets people see rare items from around the world, including some of the earliest written works. These include ancient books and maps. For example, you can see a digital image of a 1,000­year­old Japanese novel, believed to be the oldest in the world, and the very first European map to include America. The map was drawn in 1562.

The library contains images of some of the earliest known Chinese writing, which is about 3,000 years old. Another item on display is called the Devil’s Bible. It’s the largest medieval book in the world. The book, which contains a copy of a collection of Jewish and Christian texts first put together by scholars 1,700 years ago, was handwritten in the 13th century. It gets its name because it also contains a large illustration of the Devil. It is now kept in a museum in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.

The World Digital Library was the idea of James H Billington. He is the head librarian of the USA’s Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. Mr Billington hopes the new digital library will be used by young students and teachers everywhere to discover more about the world’s cultural history. The library contains about 1,200 items from 26 libraries in 19 countries. An explanation of each item is available in seven languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

Visitors can search the library in different ways. They can enter historical dates to see what items were made in the world at that time. They can also sort their searches by similar topics or by country.

You can visit the new World Digital Library at www.wdl.org

2. The author tells us about the person who created the library and why he decided to do it. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3. What ways are used to search the library?

 

4. Why is it a good idea to create such a library?

Билет № 16 (продолжение)

II. (аудирование)  Listen to the interview with Roy Tomlinson, who invented the sign @ and email, and answer the questions below.

1. How do people call the sign @ in different countries?

 

2. How did Roy Tomlinson invent email?

 

 

3. Does it trouble him that he is not very famous?

 

Script:

Presenter: Today we talk to Roy Tomlinson, the man who invented the sign @ and email. In English this sign is called simply ‘at’ but what about other countries?

Roy: Other languages have more interesting names. In South Africa it is ‘monkey’s tail2’; in Greece ‘little duck’; in Poland ‘little trunk3’; in Russia ‘little dog’; in Sweden it is ‘elephant’s trunk’ and Turkish e­mailers call it simply ‘ear’.

Presenter: When and why did you invent email?

Roy: It was in 1971 and I am not sure there was a real reason for inventing it. It was a fun thing to try out and it took three to six hours to do. I can’t remember exactly how long it took.

Presenter: How did you feel about spam and viruses?

Roy: I get annoyed when I get spam or viruses. It is a hard problem but we are going to solve it. So far our actions are not working — they either filter too much or not enough. We must find a better way to stop spam or viruses.

Presenter: Does it bother you that you are not a household name?

Roy: No, it doesn’t bother me. Computer fans know what I have done. I get letters from people who say: “It’s great, what you did.” It is not the centre of my life.

1 @ —символ в адресе электронной почты

2 a tail — хвост

3 a trunk — хобот

III. (тема)

Let’s talk about customs and traditions of an English­speaking country.

Билет № 17

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