Кафедра «Белорусский, русский и иностранные языки»

ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ

ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ

«БЕЛОРУССКО-РОССИЙСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ»

Кафедра «Белорусский, русский и иностранные языки»

АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК

Задания по развитию навыков устной речи

На английском языке

для студентов 1 курса

Технических специальностей

 

 

А

 

 

Могилев 2009

 

УДК 804.0

ББК 812. АНГ

А 64

Рекомендовано к опубликованию

учебно-методическим управлением

ГУ ВПО «Белорусско-Российский университет»

 

Одобрено кафедрой «Белорусский, русский и иностранные языки»

«9» июня 2009 года, протокол № 12

 

Составители: ст. преподаватель Свидинская Г.И.

ст. преподаватель Вербицкая Е.С.

 

Рецензент ст. преподаватель Притыченко Н.Г.

кафедры «Английское, общее и славянское языкознание» УО МГУ им. А.А. Кулешова

 

 

Данные задания предназначены для студентов технических специальностей, продолжающих изучение английского языка в вузе.

Цель методических указаний – научить студентов понимать устную речь носителей языка и вести беседу на общественно-политические и профессиональные темы.

 

 

Учебное издание

 

АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК

 

Ответственный за выпуск Г.И. Свидинская

Технический редактор Е.А. Галковская

Компьютерная верстка Н.П. Полевничая

 

Подписано в печать Формат 60´84/16. Бумага офсетная. Гарнитура Times.

Печать трафаретная. Усл. печ. л. Уч.-изд. л. Тираж Заказ №

 

Издатель и полиграфическое исполнение

Государственное учреждение высшего профессионального образования

«Белорусско-Российский университет»

ЛИ № 02330/375 от 29. 06.2004 г.

212000, г. Могилев, пр. Мира, 43

 

Ó ГУ ВПО «Белорусско-Российский

университет», 2009

MEETING PEOPLE. YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS.

I. Read/listen to some people describing their friends. Describe yourself, your family and your friends.

My best friend is called John. He's about 45, and he's quite tall. He's bald and he's got brown eyes. In the past we played football together every week, but we're both a bit old for that now. But we still meet about once or twice a month and go out for a meal.

OK, let me tell you about my friend, Lucy. She studies with me at university. She's very pretty and slim and she's got.... erm.... fair hair and blue eyes - yes, that's right. She wears glasses. What else? Well, she's my best friend so of course I think she's nice. She's quite shy. But when you get to know her she's very friendly.

My friend David is 28 years old. Actually, it's his birthday next week. I met him at school. Now he works as a manager in a supermarket. He's got dark hair and he's tall. He's a bit fat, and he's got a big black beard. I think he's very handsome. He's a really nice man too, and he's always ready to help you when you have a problem.

My friend Lisa is 26 years old and she's a doctor. Erm... she is very slim. She's not very tall, and she's got long dark hair and beautiful green eyes. The last time I saw her was about three months ago, because she lives in Turkey. I really miss her.

II. The quiz: What kind of person are you?

1. It is your birthday. Do you …? a) go clubbing with your friends? b) have dinner in a restaurant with friends? c) get a DVD and a take-away pizza?

2. It is a sunny weekend. Do you …? a) have a picnic with family and friends?

b) visit another city? c) read a magazine at home?

3. It is a lunch break at work. Do you.? a) meet some friends and go to the gym?

b) go to an art gallery? c) have a sandwich at your desk?

4. It is your summer holiday. Do you …? a) go clubbing in the evenings?

b) visit old buildings? c) lie on the beach?

5. You go shopping on holiday. Do you buy …? a) some clothes for the evening?

b) a book about the place you are in? c) an ice cream?

Count your “A”, “B”, and “C”. You have mostly “A” – You are a real party animal and fun to be with. Don’t forget and stop sometimes!

DAILY ROUTINE

II. Danny’s day.

Interviewer: – Danny, tell us about your routine.

Danny: – OK. Well, I get up at about half past 7. I wash at quarter to 8 and then I have breakfast with the family.

Int.: – When do you start work?

Danny: -I start work at 9.

Int. – What do you do in the morning?

Danny: I talk to my secretary and then I read my e-mails and faxes.

Int. – Do you meet people?

Danny: Yes, I meet holiday reps at about half past 10. We have coffee at 11 o’clock in the office and talk about the guests. Then I check the hotel rooms and the swimming pool.

Int. – Do you eat in the hotel?

Danny: - Yes, I do. In the hotel restaurant.

Int. – What do you do after lunch?

Danny: -I go to the bank. Then I meet the hotel clients.

Int. – Do you work in the office?

Danny: -Yes, I write e-mails and letters and I meet the accountant at 5 o’clock.

Int. – When do you go home?

Danny: -I leave work at half past 6.

Int. – What do you do in the evening?

Danny: -Well, I have dinner with my wife and children and at 10 o’clock I watch the news on TV.

Choose the right sentence:

a) When do you start work? b) When you start work?

a) What do you do in the morning? b) What are you doing in the morning?

a) Do you have coffee at 11 o’clock in the office?

b) Have you coffee at 11 o’clock in the office?

a) I go to the bank and I meet the hotel clients.

c) I go to the bank. Then I meet the hotel clients.

a) Do you work in the office? b) Do you work in office?

a) At 10 o’clock I watch news on TV. b) At 10 o’clock I watch movies on TV.

FREE TIME

II. Isabel’s weekend.

My name is Isabel. I do lots of things at the weekend.

I often meet my friends at the shops on Saturday morning and we go shopping, then we have lunch in a café. Sometimes I have a game of tennis in the park on Saturday afternoon or I swim and sunbathe at the swimming pool. In the evening I go to the cinema. On Sunday I like to relax, and I usually stay at home.

Correct the sentences below:

Isabel has lunch at home on Saturdays

She doesn’t have lunch at home on Saturdays – She has lunch in a cafe.

1. She plays tennis at the sport center. 2. She meets her friends at the gym. 3. She watches films at home in the evening. 4. She swims at the beach. 5. She relaxes at a club on Saturdays.

IV. A Busy Saturday.

I'm a very busy person. This Saturday is a good example. I have a lot to do, so I'm getting up early, at 6 o'clock. I'm having breakfast and then I'm going to the supermarket. I like getting there early, because it's much quieter than it is later in the day. At nine o'clock I'm meeting my friend Jo at the sports centre, and we're playing tennis. We always do this on Saturday. After that, I'm taking the bus home and making some sandwiches and a salad, because at twelve o'clock I'm having a picnic lunch with my boyfriend Rob in the park. Then we're doing some shopping in town because I want a new dress and Rob needs a new jacket. After that we're seeing a new film at the cinema. In the evening we're having a drink in a local bar with my brother Mick and his wife, and then we're all eating at a new Italian restaurant near my house.

HOME

IV. Student’s Accommodation

Moving away from home to study in higher education is an exciting time in life. There are new friends to be made, new places to discover, and the chance to develop many new interests. An important part of the process is finding somewhere to live. Opportunities for students to live in University accommodation are better at Belarusian – Russian University than most other Universities in Belarus have. All undergraduates are guaranteed a place at University Halls of Residence. There are three Halls of Residence located not far from the center of Mogilev.

The accommodation is of a good standard, well-equipped and heated, and above all it is provided at a reasonable cost. It consists of shared study-bedrooms with shared bathrooms and there are shared kitchen facilities, where meals can be cooked.

Furniture includes beds, chairs, desks, built-in wardrobes, and book shelves. A catering service is available in dining-rooms, or snack-bars in the Halls. Each room has beds, a desk, a wardrobe and chairs. Bed linen is provided by the Hall. The Halls also have common rooms, a launderette, telephone facilities, gyms and a 24-hour portering service.

Halls are mixed gender and are close to libraries, shops and bus and railway station. Hall may differ in character, but the real attraction lies in the friendliness and stimulus of a congenial community.

V. Key vocabulary to help you speak about your home:

Types of home: house, apartment, condominium, cottage

Rooms and parts of house: bathroom, bedroom, dining room, garden, garage, hall, living room, terrace

Equipment: answering machine, CD player, coffee machine, cooker, dishwasher, DVD player, fridge, MP3 player, shower, vacuum cleaner, washing machine.

FOOD. EATING OUT.

I. The cuisine in Belarus

Delicious and warming, modern-day Belarusian cuisine is a mix of two key factors: the people’s relationship with the land and local produce and influences from neighboring countries and migrant settlers. For these reasons, food in Belarus is quite similar to the cuisines of Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland. Belarus dishes are typically based on local vegetables and cereals, especially: potatoes, beetroot, mushrooms, berries, barley. Potatoes deserve a special mention as they have formed the basis of many of the Belarusian dishes for hundreds of years. Traditional Belarusian potato dishes are potato dumplings, thick potato pancakes (draniki), baked grated potato pie (babka). Potato dishes are often stuffed or accompanied with vegetables, mushrooms or meat.

The following products are popular in Belarus: pork, pork sausages, salted pork fat, beef, chicken, milk and dairy products, such as fresh white cheese, sour cream, fermented cheese. Salads are also popular in Belarus, in particular: cabbage salad, beetroot salad, tomatoes, cucumbers and garden radish salad. Onions, garlic and greens (parsley, a coriander and basil) are widely used. Soups are a firm favorite in Belarus too.

II. Read/listen the story and correct the sentences given below:

There are so many places to eat in my town nowadays. For example, there is a new café which is very near to my house. It is in front of the old cinema in Gibson Street. I wanted to try it. So last Saturday evening I went there with three of my friends. It is probably one of the best cafes I have ever been to. The quality of food, the service and the interior design were great. It was more like a restaurant than a simple café.

There was a lot of variety. It was possible to order Italian and Indian dishes as well as more traditional English food. I ordered a steak which was absolutely delicious. They served it with chips, onions and tomatoes. My friends Paula has lamb with boiled potatoes and so did Nick. There were some vegetarian options on the menu so Anne selected a Quiche Lorraine. I was the only one who had dessert – a chocolate-flavored ice-cream which I liked a lot. Everybody had a cup of coffee and we stayed and chatted for a while before we paid the bill. The price was very reasonable. The waiter who served our table was Portuguese and he was very friendly. He told us some interesting things about his country. We had a great time and I am certainly going to recommend this place to everyone in the future.

(Total English, Teacher’s resource, Pre-Intermediate)

Dear Laurence,

I am always hungry. I eat three good meals a day but then I want crisps and biscuits too. Of course, now I am quite fat. Can you help me? Lois

Dear Laurence,

I know I have an unhealthy diet. I work about 10 hours a day and get home late, so I don’t have time to cook and I eat convenience food. What can I do? James

Dear Laurence,

I try to eat a good diet – I eat pasta and vegetable, and I don’t eat any meat, fish or cheese – but I’m always tired. What is wrong with my diet? Karin

Dear _______

It is horrible when you feel tired all the time. You need some meat, fish or cheese on your diet. They give you energy. Also, why don’t you take some exercise? That gives you energy too. How about a walk every evening after work? I hope that helps. Laurence (Total English, St’s Book, 39)

YI. People’s rubbish tells us about their lives. Here Laurence looks at the diet of two families. Do you agree with him about the diets of these families? Speak about your diet.

Hello and welcome to In the rubbish bin, the show where we look at people’s lives by looking at their rubbish. I am Laurence Redburn. Today we look at the diets of two very different families. I have their rubbish bins in the studio, with a typical day’s rubbish, so, let us start with the rubbish bin A. What does thus family eat and drink? We have some cans… cola cans – not very healthy. Mmm, instant coffee. Some boxes … cheese and tomato pizza, burgers. Some biscuits, and crisp packets – all fast food, and not very healthy. Do they eat any vegetables or fruit? I don’t think so. Oh dear, not a healthy diet. A lot of this food is bad for you, so this family is probably not very healthy.

Now let’s look at the rubbish bin B. This is very different – it’s good. The family eats a lot of fruit and vegetables … some potatoes, carrots, … bananas and apples. What do they drink? We have some juice cartons, some milk bottles ands we have a water bottle … two water bottles – very good, all very healthy so far. Tea bags … well OK. They eat some pasta, and fish – that is good. I can’t see any fast food here. I think it’s a very healthy family. (Total English, St’s Book, Typescripts, 152)

Key vocabulary:

Dishes: burger, fries, pizza salad sandwich

Meat and fish: (minced) beef, chicken, lamb, trout, tuna

Dairy: butter, cheese, cream, ice cream, milk

Fruit and vegetable: apple, banana, carrot, pineapple, potato, (water) melon, onion

Drinks: coffee, cola, fruit/orange juice

Other: biscuits, (white/brown) bread, cereal, crisps, mayonnaise, rice

Money: cheque, credit card, note, receipt

Adjectives: delicious, tasteless, tasty, disgusting, mouth-watering

Adjectives for physical ands emotional states: fit, happy/unhappy, healthy/unhealthy, hungry, thirsty, tired

Cooking and eating: cook for yourself, give (something) up, eat out, diet

SHOPPING

I. Read/listen to the dialogue between a buyer and a shop assistant:

Customer: Excuse me. Can you help me?

Shop assistant: Yes, madam.

Customer: I bought this jacket yesterday and it doesn’t fit.

Shop assistant: Do you want to try a different size?

Customer: No, I’d like a refund.

Shop assistant: Have you got your receipt?

Customer: Yes, here it is.

Shop assistant: Ok. So that’s 150 euros. Here you are.

Shop assistant: Can I help you?

Customer: Yes, I bought this DVD player last week and it doesn’t work.

Shop assistant: I see. Have you got your receipt?

Customer: Yes, I have. Can I exchange for another one?

Shop assistant: Of course. Just a moment. Here it is.

( Total English, Elementary, Student’s Book)

TRAVELLING

I. Read/listen to the dialogue between a travel agent and a customer:

Agent: Good morning. Distant Dreams Travel.

Billy: Oh, hello. Do you sell airline tickets for New Zealand?

Agent: Yes.

Billy: Right. I'd like four tickets from London Heathrow to New Zealand.

Agent: What's your exact destination?

Billy: Auckland.

Agent: And when do you want to go?

Billy: I'd like to go on Friday the fifth of next month.

Agent: Return or one-way?

Billy: I'd like return tickets, please. We want to come back one month later.

Agent: OK. I'll just check on the computer. OK, do you want economy or business class?

Billy: Oh, business class is expensive. I prefer economy. How much is that?

Agent: Let me see. Four return tickets in economy, and your departure date is the fifth. OK. We've got Air New Zealand and Qantas for those dates. On Air New Zealand it's six thousand New Zealand dollars, about two thousand pounds. Qantas is more expensive - about two thousand, three hundred pounds, but it's a shorter flight. Which do you prefer?

Billy: The cheaper one, Air New Zealand, I think. What time does the flight leave London?

Agent: At ten thirty in the morning.

Billy: Is it a direct flight?

Agent: No, there's a short stop in Bangkok.

Billy: Fine. I'd like four tickets then, please.

( Total English, Elementary, Student’s Book)

II. Read the text giving the things important for air travelers:

If you are flying with Go Faster Airlines, read this notice before you go to the airport.

Documents - Go Faster Airlines uses an electronic check-in system. You don’t have to bring your tickets to the check-in desk, but you have to bring proof of your identity (including your photo): for example a passport, driving license or identity card. If you are flying to another country, you have to show your passport. Be at check-in two hours before your departure time.

Luggage – With Go Faster Airlines you can check in a maximum of 20 kg of luggage to put in the hold(checked-in luggage). You can take a maximum 5 kg of hand luggage (carry-on luggage) You can’t put sharp objects in your hand luggage. You have to put then in your checked luggage. Your suitcase has to have a label with your name and address. The label does not have to have your flight number because that is on the electronic label.

Electronic devices – You have to switch off all electronic devices before boarding the plane. You can’t use your mobile phone inside the plane. Also, don’t take drinks and food on the plane and wear your seat best during the flight.

Match 1 - 5 to their meanings a - e:

1. proof a) The bags you give in at the check-in desk

2. the hold b) Entering the plane

3. hand luggage c)This is the place on the plane where they put bags.

4. checked luggage d) This shows that something is true

5. boarding e) Small bags you take on the plane.

Say what is necessary/unnecessary and what is possible/not possible:

	necessary	unnecessary	Possible	notpossible
Bring tickets to the check-in desk
Bring proof of your identity
Show your passport when you fly to another country
Check in 20kg of luggage
Take more than 5 kg of hand luggage
Put sharp objects in hand luggage
Put a label on your bag with your name & address
Put your flight number on your suitcase label
Switch off electronic units before you board the plane
Use a mobile phone inside the plane

 

III. Getting information while travelling in Great Britain:

Welcome to the free Tourist Information Line for visitors to Great Britain. For information on visas and immigration, please press one. For information on driving in Britain, please press two. For information on hotels, please press three. For information on public transport in Britain, please press four. To return to this menu at any time press the star key. You have chosen option two: driving in Britain.

If you have a valid driving license from your own country, you can drive in Britain without a British license for six months. After six months, you have to get a British driving license. To get a British license you have to take a driving test. You can find information about the British driving test on our website. To rent a car in Britain you have to have a valid driving license from your country and a credit card. Drivers under the age of 18 can't rent cars in Britain. When you are driving in Britain, you don't have to keep your documents with you. The British drive on the left side of the road and, unlike the United States, you can't turn right at a red traffic light. For more information on British driving regulations, please look at our website. That is the end of the driving section. To return to the main menu press the start key.

IV. Steve speaks about things that may be useful for those travelling in the USA:

We don't have a lot of rules in the United States really. I mean we don't have to do military service and we don't have to have identity cards. You can drive when you're 16 and you can even buy a gun when you're 21! But some things aren't so easy. You have to be 21 to go into a bar or a nightclub, and smoking is difficult - you can't smoke in offices, shops or restaurants. And of course we have to pay when we see a doctor or go to hospital.

V. Useful vocabulary: go by car/bus/train/plane/taxi/bicycle get on/off a bus/train/plane/taxi/bicycle

get into/out of car/taxi

catch, take or miss a bus/train/plane/taxi

beach or sightseeing holidays, camping or skiing holidays

rent a car, use local transport, go abroad, stay in hotels

go self-catering, sunbathe on the beach, pack/unpack

SPORTS AND GAMES.

Sport has played an important part in our lives for many centuries. For some people it is as necessary and natural as eating and sleeping. For others it is just entertainment on TV. Some people do amateur sports and some are professionals.

Sport at an amateur level should be for enjoyment and fitness.Fitness comes not only from exercises done but from the way you live all the time. Good eating and sleeping habits, also plenty of fresh air are important parts of the way to keep fit.

Professional sport is an exciting sphere of hard work and competition. But professional sport seems less to do with enjoyment and more to do with making money. Sport is not just for participants, it is for spectators too. Millions of people all over the world spend hours watching sports events on TV, or at stadium. People enjoy being “fans” or supporters of one team or one particular sport personality.

The government policy in Belarus is to make sports accessible to all. The country has excellent sporting facilities in schools and higher education facilities. Belarusian sports facilities for the general public include: stadiums (243), swimming pools (250), gymnasiums (about 5,000), athletics centers (46), ice rinks (20), sports grounds. Many sports are played in Belarus. Amongst the most popular are: track and field athletics, football, gymnastics, skiing, hockey, tennis, fencing, wrestling, volleyball, handball, swimming, chess and checkers. The Raubichi Centre in Belarus is considered to be one of the best biathlon centers in the world. It has a ski track, freestyle slopes, ski jumps, shooting grounds with mechanical targets, indoor sports centre with gymnasiums, artificial pitches and swimming pools.

Belarus has already produced 280 world and European championsin different sporting disciplines. In theBeijing 2008 games,Belarus won 19 medals, including 4 gold and 5 silver. The team was most successful in athletics, canoeing and weightlifting, and finished 16th in the medals table overall. Belarus also fields a strongParalympics team. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics Belarus won a total of 13 medals including 5 golds.

As for me, I like sports, though I am not active at it now. When I was at school I did sports more. I liked swimming and I went to the swimming pool regularly. But now I hardly do sports regularly, though I understand that it makes people strong, healthy and optimistic.

LEARNING.

I. Read/listen to the following interview about Martina’s education:

Interviewer: So, Martina, first of all, tell me something about your education.

Martina: Well, of course I went to primary school and secondary school. I really loved primary school. The teachers were fantastic and we all played a lot but at the same time we learnt a lot. When I went to secondary school it was completely different. My secondary school was very traditional. We had to wear a uniform, a blue skirt and jacket, and there were lots of rules. I didn't like it at all.

Int.: What were your favorite subjects at school?

M: Well, I always liked science, so I suppose my favorite subjects were Biology and Chemistry.

Int.: When you left school, what did you do?

M: I went to Manchester University to study Chemistry but I didn't enjoy it. Luckily I had a very nice lecturer called David and he helped me a lot. He suggested a different course, so after the end of the first year I started to study Information Technology. That was basically all about computers. And I enjoyed that a lot more.

I: Have you studied any courses since university?

M: Yes, well a couple of years ago I did a part-time course in new technologies. That was for work really. And I love languages so in the last few years I have studied Italian, German and I've just started a distance-learning course in Russian. It's difficult because you don't have normal classes. It's all on the Internet and it's hard to practise speaking. I don't really enjoy it but there are no places to study Russian in my town.

II. Answer these questions about learning English in your country:

1. When do children start learning English? 2. Is English the first or second foreign language? 3. Is it a compulsory or optional subject? 4. How many years do they learn English at school? 5. Which parts of the language are most important at school (grammar, reading, speaking…)? 6. Can people study English when they leave school? Where? 7. Why do people usually study English after they finish school?

III. Jackie Snow is talking about her Student’s life in London:

I came to London two months ago because I want to be a professional dancer, and the best schools of dance are here in London. I'm doing a course at the National Dance School, which is very hard work, but I'm really enjoying it. The course is expensive, but I work with a theatre group at the weekend. We teach dance to groups of children. I'm living with another girl in a flat in north London. It's small, but it's comfortable. My boyfriend, Tony, lives in the same street with his parents. They're very kind, and often cook meals for me.

I know my parents are worried about me living in London, but it isn't dangerous at all if you're careful. It's so exciting here, there's so much to do and see. It was difficult in the beginning, especially getting to know the Underground, and I didn't know many people, but it's fine now. I have a lot of good friends. I love my Mum and Dad very much, but I don't want to live at home for the rest of my life. I phone home every Sunday, and when I go to a museum or art gallery, I always send them a postcard. Mum reads them, but I don't know if Dad does. (Headway Intermediate, 2 b)

STUDYING TECHNOLOGY.

I. A Carrier in Engineering.

Who makes a good engineer? Well, if you're innovative and like a challenge, then engineering may just be the right career field for you. The best engineers really like to solve complex problems. They are also typically true inventors. Math and science is an engineer's playground. So if you struggled through your algebra, this career may not be the right fit for you.

Most engineers work as a team, therefore you should be a team player and possess great skills communicating with others. This will be highly important when planning and creating new projects. Engineers are also practical, innovative, creative and curious about how things work. So many innovative technologies created by engineers help make the world safer and healthier. They help people and improve the environment.

The Belarusian-Russian University may be the ideal University for those young people who want to follow a carrier in Engineering.

II. My University.

“Which University to enter?” is one of the biggest decisions you have to make after leaving school. It determines your entire future life.

This year I entered the Belarusian-Russian University in Mogilev. And now I am a first year student of this University and I am going to become an engineer. It is a dynamic modern university with a long history of providing higher education to meet the needs of society and industry. The University is subordinate to the Ministries of Education of the Republic of Belarus and of the Russian Federation.

The Belarusian-Russian University was founded in 1961 as the Mogilev Mechanical-Engineering Institute and later was reorganized into a university. It is located in the centre of Mogilev. Now it comprises a system of a continuous educational process: Lyceum - College of Architecture and Construction – University – Professional Development and Retraining Institute. The number of undergraduates at the University is 7500. The University has 8 faculties. It trains engineers and economists in compliance with the Belarusian and Russian educational standards.

Entrance to the University is by centralised testing. Those who pass tests successfully are enrolled in the first course. The basic subjects of this year are Higher Mathematics, Physics, History of Belarus, Belarusian, Russian and a Foreign Language, PT classes, etc. These subjects lay the foundation for specialized subsequent years. The University has a good computer network and our library exemplifies a real investment in supporting our students’ learning.

The duration of the University course is five years full-time, starting in September. On successful completion of the course, one may progress to a number of degree-level courses - Master and Post- Graduate (PhD) courses. The University has a specialized Board for defending theses and awarding the Candidates of Engineering Sciences degrees. Students from foreign countries are an important part of the Belarusian-Russian University. The University highly values its many international contacts.

According to the master plan of the BRU, the university is to receive another building which is under construction now. The University has three Halls of Residence situated within a walking distance from it. There are several sports clubs, providing a wide range of sporting opportunities.

THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Geographical Position. Belarus is situated in the centre of Europe, and has international borders with five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia.

The location has made Belarus an important trade and transport route between Europe and the CIS. The total land area of Belarus is more than 207,000 square kilometers. The population of the republic is about 10 million people. The country of Belarus is divided into six administrative districts, each centered around a major city.

Belarus has unique natural environment. There are many lakes in the northern part of Belarus, and the Polesye marshland around the Pripyat River in the south which are often called the lungs of Europe. Several areas in Belarus have the status of National Parks (there are five of them) and are protected by the State. They contain unique landscape, rare plants and huge animal and bird populations. Elks, deer, wild boar, beavers, wolves, and also, the rare European bisons, live comfortably there. Belavezhskaya Pushcha (the Brest region) is the most famous of them. UNESCO granted the park World Heritage Site status in 1992, and Biosphere Reserve status in 1993. Belavezhskaya Pushcha is home to many ancient oak trees dating back more than 500 years. Braslavskiye Ozera National Park (the Vitebsk region) was established in 1995 among the beautiful lakes in the north-west of Belarus. The ancient town of Braslav, which was founded in the 11th century, is scenically sited in the middle of the park. The climate of the republic is moderate continental with mild and humid winter, a warm summer, and a wet autumn.

The territory of Belarus includes deposits of peat, fire and refractory clay, molding sand and sand for glass production, different construction materials. There are deposits of oil, coal and lignite, iron ores, nonferrous metal ores, dolomites, potassium and rock salt, phosphorites as well.

The people of Belarus are a kind and friendly nation. The patience and peacefulness of the Belarusian people has been determined by the nation’s history that has been darkened by endless wars. The Belarusians did not start these wars, but fell victim to. Ethnic Belarusians make up more than 80% of the population. Many other nationalities have also settled in the country. Belarusian and Russian are the official languages of Belarus. Other languages such as Polish, and Ukrainian are spoken within local communities.

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is located in the centre of the country. Today it is a modern international city. The first recorded mention of Minsk goes back to 1067. Over the course of its history, Minsk has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times, most recently after World War II, when it was almost completely destroyed. More than 1.8 million people live in Minsk today. It has excellent transport links including Minsk airport, several major train stations, the Minsk metro underground network, and a well-developed road system.

Historical Outline. The history of Belarus dates back to the Stone Age.Stone Age settlements existed approximately 26 000 years ago and they were around the basins of the Dnieper, Dvina, and Pripyat rivers. Belarus colonization by the Slavs began in the early centuries AD. Over the next few centuries they had settled over the entire region, replacing the earlier Baltic culture. In the 6th to 9th centuries East Slavs formed the first political associations – the unions of tribes. The first Belarusian national state was the Polotsk Duchy and it remained the dominating force in the region until the 13th century.

From the 13^th till 16^th centuries the territory of present-day Belarus was the core of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus and Samogotia which was a powerful state spanning Belarus, Lithuania, Kiev and a few more areas of the Ukraine and western Russia from the Baltics to the Black Sea. The Grand Duchy began to lose its authority after a number of wars in the 16th century. In 1569 the Grand Duchy and the Kingdom of Poland signed theUnion of Lublin. The Duchy and the Crown united in a federative state – Rzecz Pospolita on equal terms. It signified the start of a new chapter in Belarusian history. This was a very turbulent time in Belarusian history. The state was drawn into wars in Europe and with Russia, including the war with Russia (1654-1667) and the North War between Sweden and Russia (1700-1721). Wars weakened the state. In 1772the western provinces of Belarus were annexed to the Russian Empire and in 1795 Rcecz Pospolitsa was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. As a result of this division, Belarus land became part of the Russian Empire. The Russian Government started to pursue a policy of russification in the new territories. Since then and up to the First World War Belarus had gone through a number of conflicts, including: Revolt under Tadeusz Kostushko’s leadership (1794), Napoleonic invasion of Russia (1812), Polish Revolt (1830 – 1831), Great Rebellion, headed by Kastus Kalinovski (1863-1864). During World War One Belarusian territory was the scene of bloody battles between German and Russian forces.

On the 1st of January 1919 the Declaration on the formation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted. In 1922Belarusian SSR became a part of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

In 1939 the Western territories joined Belarus after the outbreak of World War Two. Belarus suffered greatly during WWII. Belarus lost about a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources. In September 1941Belarus was fully occupied by the German army. Invaders started to establish so-called “new order” based on terror. Partisan movement began in Belarus by the end of 1941 and became the biggest movement in Europe.

After the USSR collapse Belarus proclaimedits independence on July 27, 1990. In 1994 the independent republic had its First Presidential election. Alexander Lukashenko became the first President of the Republic of Belarus.

State System. On March 15, 1994 the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus adopted a new Constitution in which Belarus is proclaimed a unitary democratic state with the rule of law. The new version of the 1994 Constitution with amendments and additions was adopted pursuant to the referendum of November 24, 1996. According to the existing constitution the head of the state is the President. The Constitution establishes the principle of separation of power: state power in the Republic of Belarus is founded on the basis of its separation into legislative, executive and judiciary.

The National Assembly is a bicameral parliament comprising the 110-member House of Representatives (the lower house) and the 64-member Council of the Republic (the upper house). The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the prime minister, make constitutional amendments, call for a vote of confidence on the prime minister, and make suggestions on foreign and domestic policy. The Council of the Republic has the power to select various government officials, accept or reject the bills passed by the House of Representatives. The government includes a Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister. The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and specialized courts.

Belarus is a member of the United Nations and a number of other interna­tional organizations.

Economy of Belarus. The Republic of Belarus has a developed industry, agriculture, an advanced culture, science and technology. Industry holds an important position in the republic's economy. The leading industries are machine-building and metal-working, motor industry, agricultural machinery, chemical industry, electronics and electrical engineering, radio-engineering, pharmaceutical industry, production of construction materials, consumer goods and food, etc.

Belarus specializes in the production of different kinds of trucks, in­cluding coaches and special-purpose vehicles. The enterprises of the republic produce agricultural machinery, television equipment, elevators, home electric appliances, household refrigerators and freezers, automatic washing machines, chemical yarn and fiber, potash fertilizers. The range of products includes furniture, electric motors, paper, varnishes and paints. Different new sophisticated products, such as integrated microcircuits, liquid-crystal indicators and displays and special technological equipment are produced as well. The major products of consumer goods industry are textile, knitwear and clothes, as well as footwear.

The main directions of the farming industry of the republic are meat and milk production and potatoes and flax cultivation. Cereals, vegetables, sugar beet and fodder crops are grown as well.

Belarus possesses a developed transport infrastructure, including main railways and motor-ways, oil and gas pipelines. The national airport "Minsk-2" operates regular flights to different cities and towns of Europe and Asia.

Education in Belarus. Scientific and intellectual potential is the main strategic resource of Belarus. The republic guarantees its citizens the right to universal secondary education and creates means for further professional education. It tries to preserve the democratic character of education paying much attention to common human values, developing independent critical thinking instead of simple perception of information.

The current structure of the national educational system includes pre-school education, general secondary education, off-school forms of education, vocational education, secondary special education, higher education, training of scientific staff, retraining, qualification upgrading and self-education of adults.

Most children in Belarus start school at the age of 6. All pupils must follow the basic education curriculum up to the age of 15, and the vast majority of pupils stay at school until they finish their high school education at 17. At the age of 15, they can go to college or professional institutions to complete their high school education and work toward a professional certificate. Completion of a high school or professional certificate allows students to continue their education at the university level.

At present, the general secondary education system includes the following levels: primary (4 years of education), the 2nd level school (5-9 classes) and the 3rd level school (10 - 11 classes. Education in schools of the 2nd and the 3rd levels is finished by final examinations after which graduates of basic schools obtain certificates of basic education and those of secondary schools - certificates of secondary education.

Higher education in Belarus is prestigious due to its high quality and affordability. Belarus has one of the highest student-to-population ratios in Europe. There are four main types of higher education establishments to choose from, which can be either private or state operated: classical university, profile university or academy, institute, higher college. Most courses run for 5 years and students can choose to study full time, at evening classes or by correspondence.

Admission to specialized secondary and higher schools in Belarus is by centralized testing and undergraduates pass state exams or defend a Diploma project. Persons who have successfully completed their studies receive diplomas. The academic year is usually 9 months or 2 terms of four and a half months each. Classes usually begin in September and end in June. Students study different general and special subjects. The work is organized in the form of lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, practical training and individual project work. Grants are available for full-time students and scholarships are awarded to very gifted students. Most non-resident students live in student hostels. More than 6000 foreign students study at higher education institutions and universities in Belarus every year.

MOGILEV

Mogilev is a more than 700-year-old city. According to the Mogilev chronicles, the Mogilev castle was built in 1267. There are several legends explaining the origin of the city's name. One of them is connected with Duke Lev Danilovich Mogiy (the Mighty Lion) over whose grave a burial mound was made later nicknamed Mogilev (or the Lion's tomb). In the course of its history the city was repeatedly attacked and besieged, even burnt to the ground not once. Invaders ruined and robbed it. Mogilev survived a number of conquests - the Swedish during the Northern War in 1700-1721, the Napoleon ones during the Patriotic War of 1812 and the last one - the fascist Ger­many occupation of 1941-1944. The city remembers the heroic defense of 1941 and the courageous struggle of the partisan movement during the Great Patriotic War. In June 1944 the city was liberated from German invaders.

Mogilev became the center of the province after the reunification with Russia in 1772. During the First World War the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters were based in Mogilev. Soviet power was established here in November 1917. Mogilev has been the center of the region since 1938.

Mogilev is one of the largest industrial centers of Belarus and the region. It produces more than 50 % of the total industrial output of the whole region. There are industrial enterprises producing chemical fibers, passenger elevators, wheeled prime movers, electric engines, fabrics, shoes and other consumer goods. Mogilev is a large transport center. Railway, automobile, river and pipeline transportation are well developed here.

Mogilev is the scientific and cultural center of the region. It has 3 state Universities, the Mogilev branch of Belarusian Academy of Music, the branch of Belarusian Institute of Law, some colleges and vocational training schools. There are also some museums and theatres.

AMERICA AS SEEN BY BRITONS

Bob and Sheila spent two years living in New York because of Bob's work as a banker. Neither of them had lived in a big city before. They now live back in England in a small village outside London.

Interviewer -How long did you live in the States?

Bob -We were there for two and half years, in New York.

Int. -And did you enjoy it?

Sheila -Oh, tremendously. We had a wonderful time.

Bob -Yes, what I liked best was that I could work and still lead a normal life. I mean, the shops are open till 10 o'clock.

Int. -All shops?

Sheila - Yes, everything, food shops, chemists...

Bob -There's a huge department store called Gimbles on 86th Street that was open till 9.00.

Sheila - And some supermarkets are open twenty-four hours a day. Most shops don't open as early as in England, well they don't open until about uhm... 10 or 11 in the morning.

Bob -Yes, that's right.

Sheila - Because they all work much later. And everything's open on Sundays.

Bob -And the holidays, the public holidays are much shorter than here, and in the States only the banks are shut. Everything else stays open, so it makes life much easier. You could do what you liked when you liked.

Sheila - And it was easier with the children, because I could wait till you got back and we did the shopping together, didn't we?

Bob -Yes.

Int. -I see, um... do you think New York is as cosmopolitan as London?

Sheila - Oh yes, but it's not as mixed. Nationalities stay in their own areas; like there's the Ukrainian section, the Russian section...

Bob -... the German section. We were in German Town, York Town, which is called German Town. And there was a row of German shops, all German-speaking. But you didn't find that anywhere else. And the Ukrainians were down on 14th and 2nd, and the Spanish kept to Spanish Harlem.

Sheila - I think the major difference was the height of the place. Everything was up. We lived on the twenty-ninth floor.

Bob -And I worked on the sixty-third floor.

Sheila - But I like heights. And of course everything is faster. And the people are much ruder.

Bob -Which means of course that we're much ruder ourselves now we're back in Britain.

Int. -Oh, in what ways?

Bob -Well, pushing in the street.

Sheila - Oh. I don't!

Bob -Fights about getting on the bus. No good old British queues.

Int. -But, are all Americans like that?

Sheila - Oh yes. Well, all New Yorkers anyway. Not so much in other places. When we went to California it was very different. There weren't the same pressures at all, were there?

Bob -I think we were aware that New York is quite a dangerous place. We never had any problems at all, but when there was a crime, it was horrendous.

Sheila - Oh yes, the subways are unusable. They're dirty, uncomfortable.

Int. -Did you make many friends?

Sheila - Well, that's what's interesting really. We made more friends there than we have after two years of living here. I think Americans are more open, they, you know, they speak their minds, so if they don't like something, they actually tell you directly. Not like the British, who might think one thing and say another. So I suppose you could say that the English are ruder than the Americans.

Bob -Or that they're less honest. (Headway Intermediate, 17 a)

ENGLAND AS SEEN BY AMERICANS:

Terry Tomsha talks about her experience of living and working in England, where she has been for the past eleven years.

Interviewer – So, Terry. You've been in this country for quite a long time now. What differences do you notice between the two countries?

Terry - Obviously, the biggest difference is the people. The average Englishman is … mm cold and not very open. In the States it's very different. We start conversations with people in the street, in the subway; we're a lot more enthusiastic and spontaneous than people here. You know, when I first came, I couldn't understand why I was getting so little reaction from people, but now I see that they thought I was overpowering and that I was trying to be too friendly too soon.

Int. - But, tell me; does the Englishman improve as you get to know him?

Terry - Oh yes. Once you have made a friend, it's a friend for life, but it takes a very long time. I'll tell you something that I think is very important. An Englishman in America is respected. Everyone wants to talk to him. We're inquisitive; we love his accent and his country. An American though in England is thought to be a little inferior because of his behavior and his language. One thing I've learned - it's funny now, but it wasn't at the time I couldn't understand why when I was talking to someone he would move away, you know, move backwards, and I thought 'Do I smell? Am I boring him?' The reason was, you see, Americans stand closer when they're talking. Again, English people like a certain distance.

Int. -That's true. What about your impressions of living here? How does that compare with the States?

Terry - Well, mmm... I think life's a lot easier in the States. It's easier to make money and it's easier to spend it. Shops are open all the time over there. Here you've got to race to reach the supermarket by 5.30. Generally, though I find life more inefficient here. If you need an electrician, it takes days to get one, he doesn't do the job very well, the system is so old that he can't get the parts to repair it, and he doesn't care. This leads to another very important point. Americans work a lot harder than you do. To the English their private lives are important, their holidays are important, their gardens are important, their animals are important, but an American wouldn't admit that. For us, our work is the most important thing in our lives. You know, holidays seem to be longer here, people make the most ridiculous excuses not to go to work - 'My dog's got a cold', I heard the other day.

Int. - Oh, come on.

Terry - You have tea breaks that get longer and longer. In that respect we're quite like the Japanese. Our jobs come first, but there are all sorts of services to make life easier around our jobs.

Int. -Well. I take it you have a pretty negative opinion of England.

Terry - You would think so from this interview, wouldn't you? No, in fact I really love it here. I go home once a year and really look forward to coming back here. This is my home now. (Headway Intermediate, 17 b)

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD

It is only in the course of the last hundred years that English has become a world language. In Shakespeare's time it was a "provincial" language of secondary importance with only 6 million native speakers. Nowadays English has become the world's most important language in politics, science, trade and cultural relations. It is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire­land, of the United States of America, of Australia and New Zealand. English is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the Republic of South Africa and the Irish Republic. It is also spoken as a second language by many people in India, Pakistan, numerous countries in Africa. Around 375 mln people speak English as their first language and another 375 mln speak it as a second language.

Even more widely English is studied and used as a foreign language - around 750 mln people. In this respect it acquired an international status. It is used for communication across fron­tiers, listening to broadcasts, reading books and newspapers, in commerce and travel. Half of the world's scientific literature is in English. English is associated with technological and economic development of the great manufacturing coun­tries. It is the language of automation and computer technology, international avia­tion, shipping and sport. It is the major language of diplomacy.

CAREERS IN TECHNOLOGY.

Five people are talking about their work in the engineering field. Here are some questions each of them may be asked. Answer these questions after reading/listening to each story and also the questions given after it. Describe each job briefly to others or discuss it with your partner in the form of a dialogue:

1. What does this particular person like most about his job? 2. What does his work involve? 3. What are bad points about his job if mentions them? 4. Does he say how long he has worked there? 5. What is the biggest challenge of his job? 6. Imagine what advice he would give students entering his profession. 7. Why did he choose this job? 8. Is it a well-paid job?

1. Read/listen to Ian Bronec, a Mechanical Engineer, speaking about his job.

I work for a Polish company which converts diesel engines to run on natural gas. They're used in forklifts and tractors, but mostly in buses. Diesel-engine buses can produce a lot of pollution. The air quality in city centers is often quite poor. Natural gas-fuelled engines are much cleaner than diesel. The work that we do is helping to improve the air quality in our cities.

In the past few years, we've started to build gas-powered generators. They produce up to 100 kilowatts. They run on bio-gas from sewage treatment plants. They produce all the power the plant needs, and more. When there's a power cut, people find it a bit strange that the sewage plant has all its lights on.

I travel quite a lot in my job. I help to install new generators all over the country and to provide support for bus companies who use our engines. We're planning to export to other EU countries so I might have more opportunity to travel outside Poland and maybe use my English. (Technology, Unit 8, Listening scripts)

Some more questions to be answered: What kind of transport is he concerned with? 2. How does his work improve life in cities? 3. What other product does his company make? 4. What kind of fuel does this product use? Why might he have more opportunities to use English?

II. Listen to Leon Peters, a Construction Worker, speaking about his job, and answer the questions below:

I'm self-employed but I work with three other guys as a gang - that's like a team. We get contracts from construction companies, maybe a few weeks, maybe a year. It depends on the size of the building. You have to be prepared to travel wherever the work is but the money is good. There are bonuses too, for finishing ahead of schedule.

What we do is we build the steel frames of all sorts of buildings. I've worked on supermarkets, warehouses, and multistorey buildings, including one that was 30 storeys high. Everything is pre-fabricated. The steel is cut to the right size and drilled before it comes to the site. We have to bolt or weld the pieces together. It sounds easy but try lining up a one-tonne girder swinging from a crane on a winter's day when you're a hundred meters up! We like to work fast, and to do that you need ground people who make sure everything reaches you in the right order, and a crane operator who can deliver on the spot - right where you need it.

On a typical day, I could be working a twelve-hour shift. If you're high up, you don't come down for tea-breaks. Everything you need is up there - canteen, toilets.

Is it dangerous? Well, yes, but there are a lot of safety precautions. We have to wear a safety harness with a lifeline. There are safety cables slung round whichever floor you're working on, and you clip onto one as soon as you start. There's a safety net underneath the floor until the deck is down. For me, the most dangerous time is moving the girders into the right position. You could be crushed.

I'd like to set up my own construction company eventually, and employ others to do this kind of work. (Technology, Unit 9, Listening scripts)

Questions: 1.How big is Leon’s gang? 2 How long is the contract? 3 What kind of buildings has he worked on? 4 How long is a typical shift?

Find reasons why: 1) contracts vary in length: 2) bonuses are paid; 3) you need good ground people; 4) you don’t come down for tea-breaks; 5) moving girders is dangerous.

III. Listen to Phillipe Rugeri, a Mechatronics Engineer, speaking about his job, and answer the questions below:

My special area is electronic assistive technology, or EAT for short. I work for a company which makes equipment to help severely disabled people. I mean people who can't walk, people who have very limited movement - perhaps they can move only their head.

In this kind of work, you need knowledge of mechatronics. That's where mechanics, electronics, and software engineering meet. Take a page-turner, for example. It's a device which turns the pages of a book or magazine. The input can be a pneumatic switch - that's a switch worked by air pressure. You operate it by sucking or blowing down a tube. These signals are interpreted by a microprocessor which controls the mechanism which turns the pages. That mechanism uses electrical and mechanical devices. All three branches of engineering combine to make it work.

It's an exciting job. Each development in technology means new possibilities for disabled people. (Technology, Unit 10, Listening scripts)

Questions: 1. What is EAT? 2. Name three ways in which severely disabled people can operate equipment. 3. What are three branches of engineering which make u