TEXT A Great Britain. London

The British Isles are a group of islands, the largest being Britain, which includes the countries of England, Wales and Scotland. The island of Ireland is divided between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland.

Being an island has affected Britain’s history and the British people’s attitude to the rest of Europe. The sea is a barrier which has deterred invaders and kept Britain apart from the rest of Europe. British people still have an island mentality: they are used to being independent, separate and on the edge of things, and in general they like this.

The British Isles are separated from European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

The area of the United Kingdom is 244,100 square kilometres. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the rest are a vast plain, which is called the Lowlands. There are a lot of rivers, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The United Kingdom consists of four nations, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, each with its own special character. Welsh and Scottish people feel their national identity very strongly, and value their cultural heritage. In Wales The Welsh language is used alongside English, and in Scotland over 75 000 people speak Gaelik.

The United Kingdom is one of six constitutional monarchies within the European Community and this institution dates back in Britain to the Saxon king Egbert. Since the age of absolute monarchy there has been a gradual decline in the Sovereign’s power and, while formally still the head of the executive and the judiciary, commander-in chief of all the armed forces, and the temporal governor of the Church of England, nowadays monarchs reign but they do not rule.

In the UK it is the Parliament that is responsible for making laws and discussing major issues affecting the country. The three parts of Parliament, the sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons, meet together only on special occasions. Although the agreement of all the three is required for laws to be passed, that of the king or the queen is now given without question, and the House of Commons has gained supremacy over the House of Lords.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red is the cross of St.George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonel cross (with the arms going into the coners) is the cross of St.Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The diagonal cross is the cross of St.Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The Union Jack is most often seen flying from public buildings or at sports events.

The largest cities of the UK are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff.

London is the capital of the United Kingdom and one of the biggest cities of the world. It’s economic, political and cultural center of the country with the population of about 9 million people. It was founded by the Romans as Londinium in the 1^st century AD.

There are different areas in London. They are like different cities. The oldest part of London is called the City. It’s London’s commercial and business centre. It contains the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the main offices of numerous companies and corporations. The City has also many historic buildings: one of them is the Tower of London. It was founded by Julius Caesar and rebuilt by William the Conqueror. The Tower was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it’s a museum with a collection of medieval armor. The other is St. Paul’s cathedral, the greatest of English churches. In one of its towers hangs one of the largest bells of the world, Great Paul.

Another important area of London, where most of the government buildings are located, is Westminster. Among its places of interest are Westminster Abbey, where monarchs, statesmen, poets, writers, scientists have been buried; Houses of Parliament with its famous Big Ben. This is where the House of Lords and the House of Commons meet.

To the west of the City are the fine shops and theatres of the area knows as the West End. Oxford Street with its great department stores is the favorite street for shopping. The theatre land is stretched (extended or concentrated) around Piccadilly Circus. Not far from it one can see the British Museum with antiquities from India, Greece, China, Egypt, Rome, etc. The British Library is a part of the museum. In the West End there are beautiful parks too. The largest and most famous of all London’s parks is the Hyde Park. The National Gallery located on Trafalgar Square contains an enormous collection of European paintings including works by Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Van Gogh. Around the corner is the National Portrait Galler.

The last of London’s functional zones is the East End, where mostly working people live. A lot of docks, workshops, plants are concentrated here. London’s port is the third biggest port in the world. 4294

Task 4. Answer the questions to the texts: 1)Where is the UK situated? 2)What and how has affected British history and national character? 3)What are the geographical features of this country? 4)How is GB ruled? 5) What do you know about the flag of the United Kingdom? 5)When was London founded? 6)What are the areas of London? How can you characterize each of them? 7)What historic buildings of the City can you name? 8)How was the Tower of London used? 9)Where are the great department stores concentrated? 10)Where can you find the theatre land? 11)What is the most famous park of London? 12)What can you say about the National Gallery and the National portrait Gallery? 13)Is the East End an important area of London? Why?

Task 5. Match the words and their definitions

1)collection	a) extremely large
2)patron saint	b) to divide something into different parts
3) antiquity	c) a piece of land completely surrounded by water
4) capital	d) an area of land beside a sea
5)to separate	e) a building that Christians go to in order to worship
6) vast	f) works of art that are kept together, for example in a museum
7)medieval	g) a large flat area of land
8) island	h) the protecting or guiding saint of a person or place
9) church	i) the city where a country has its government
10) coast	j) an object or building that existed in ancient times and still exists
11) plain	k) relating to the period of European history between about the year 1000 AD and the year 1500

Task 6. Read the text.

TEXT B Buckingham Palace

Buckingham House was built for John, first Duke of Buckingham, between 1702 and 1705. It has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. The Palace is very much a working building and the centrepiece of Britain's constitutional monarchy. It houses the offices of those who support the day-to-day activities and duties of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and their immediate family. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every year.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high. Buckingham Palace is furnished and decorated with priceless works of art that form part of the Royal Collection, one of the major art collections in the world today. But it is not an art gallery and nor is it a museum. More than 50,000 people visit the Palace each year as guests to banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and the Royal Garden Parties.

At 36.6m long, 18m wide and 13.5m high, the Ballroom is the largest multi-purpose room in Buckingham Palace. It was opened in 1856 with a ball to celebrate the end of the Crimean War. Today, it is used by The Queen for State banquets and other formal occasions such as the annual Diplomatic Reception attended by 1,500 guests.

The State Dining Room is one of the principal State Rooms on the West side of the Palace. Many distinguished people have dined in this room including the 24 holders of the Order of Merit as well as presidents and prime ministers.

The ceremony of the Changing of the Guard that takes place daily at eleven o’clock in the morning provokes most interest among tourists. Every day a large crowd of people gather to see this famous and traditional ceremony. 1639

UNIT 5

MY SPECIALITY

Task 1. Revise the information about your faculty. Say, what you know about the department you are studying at and read the text about it.

KEY VOCABULARY

to carry out research – проводить исследование

expertise - человеческий опыт, знание дела; квалификация

implementation – выполнение, реализация

to take for granted - считать само собой разумеющимся

to make contribution – внести вклад

precise measurements – точные измерения

to put emphasis on – придавать особе значение чему-либо

state-of-the-art technologies – современные технологии

profound knowledge – глубокие знания

global issues – проблемы мирового значения

“Applied Mathematics”

The Applied Mathematics Department provides students with mathematical background and trains engineers-mathematicians. Applied mathematics equips a future engineer with the most state-of-the-art tool: an ability to learn and improve the world by means of mathematical modeling and calculating.

Students get profound knowledge of higher mathematics, modern methods of implementing the most important calculating algorithms, learn general engineering subjects and applied aerospace engineering. Specialized subjects include calculating methods, optimization methods, operations research, equations of mathematical physics, fundamentals of mathematical modeling, theory of relativity and mathematical statistics, mathematical theory of physical-mechanical processes, mathematical modeling of aerospace systems, etc.

Senior students can take a course in financial mathematics. They have their practical training, where they carry out research using personal computers and mastering programming language when solving certain engineering problems.

Graduates possess universal knowledge and can easily apply it to any area of science and technology. 1000

 

“ Physics”

Physics is the study of the fundamental laws of nature. Applied physics uses these laws to understand phenomena that have practical applications. Engineering in turn makes use of these phenomena forming a link between the fundamental laws of nature and their applications. Students majoring in this department take courses in both physics and engineering.

Undergraduates of all faculties at BMSTU have a general course of physics in the 2-4 terms, which includes physical mechanics, oscillations and waves, molecular physics and thermodynamics, electromagnetism and optics, quantum and nuclear physics. The department actively encourages undergraduates to participate in faculty research or in their own independent projects. The research in the department deals with such global issues as space, time, matter and energy in all its forms, from the subatomic to the cosmological and from the elementary to the complex.

High level of scientific and methodological research carried out within the department under the guidance of distinguished scientists will definitely encourage the increasing number of young researchers, postgraduates and undergraduates to participate in developing the scientific base of the department. 1046

“Radioelectronic Systems and Devices”

This is one of the leading departments of BMSTU. It carries out high quality research activities over a broad range of topics covering radioelectronic systems and devices. The graduates of the department are creative persons, well-equipped for the twenty-first century.

The department boasts expertise in the field of radio electronics. Radioelectronics as a branch of science and technology has become widespread and its achievements are used in different spheres of human activity. They are advanced digital transmission techniques, error correction coding, adaptive transmission systems, 3G mobile systems, smart antennas, multimedia applications for mobile systems, positioning systems, wireless mobile communication.

The curriculum of the department is being constantly improved. It involves different aspects at various levels from theoretical studies, design, modeling, to development and implementation of advanced digital hardware and software systems.

The department provides high quality training which prepares students for further study and research in radio-electronic engineering and for a wide range of career opportunities in industry and commerce. It plays a vital role in scientific research both in Russia and abroad. 1065

“Lasers and Optoelectronic Systems”

As you know engineers develop new approaches, combine them with existing ones, and turn them into products and services to meet the needs of the world and improve it. Many things that are taken for granted nowadays have been created by engineers. The department makes significant contributions to the advancement of engineering science while teaching the next generation who will go on to influence the way our world will develop. The department focuses on two majors: “Optoelectronic devices and systems” and “Laser devices and technology”.

The department uses innovative teaching and learning methods. The students are involved in all aspects of research and design of modern optoelectronic and laser systems, and in understanding and applying the fundamental principles of new electronic, laser and optical devices.

The curriculum includes both general and specialized subjects, such as maths, informatics, applied optics, applied mechanics, laser physics, theory of optical systems, nonlinear optics, optical measurement, quantum electronics, etc. Students start their major in the third year according to an individual degree program.

The department provides graduates with the skills and confidence and makes them prepared to carrying out research in optoelectronic and laser systems. 1101

“Research Optoelectronic devices”

The Department of “Research Optoelectronic devices” offers courses in the field of optoelectronic devices and systems. Being a magnificent generator of new knowledge it helps to find answers to global questions about the structure of the Universe and the place of a human being in it. Optics has made an inestimable contribution in solving these problems owing to various optical instruments such as telescopes, which have widened the abilities of a human eye and helped investigate the space.

The devices in which optical signals are converted into electrical ones are referred to as optoelectronic devices. At present it is almost impossible to imagine scientific and technological advance without them, as they are widely used in precise measurements, in examining the structure of substances, investigating various processes, in night-vision systems, navigation, in astronomical, astrophysical, environmental research.

Within the curriculum students carry out research in various fields, such as: methods of design of multipurpose sophisticated optical systems (lenses, mirrors, photo objectives, visual and photometric medical optical devices, etc); technologies of fabricating aspheric and gradient elements; methods of quality control of optical elements and surfaces. 1094

“Design and Technologies of Radioelectronic Devices”

The department focuses on two majors – “Nanotechnologies of radioelectronic devices” and “Quality assurance and certification of radioelectronic devices”.

Creation and successful implementation of competitive radioelectronic devices and radiotechnical systems result from interrelated work at all stages of the product lifecycle from marketing, scientific research, circuit analyses and design to production and operation. One of the essential features of scientific and technical progress nowadays is an emphasis on engineering nanotechnology, as the priority in this field of knowledge ensures advanced position in the world market, determining the best achievements in the field of radio engineering.

There is a range of challenges a student of the department is supposed to face. They are: designing, producing and operating systems of radio communication, detection and ranging, navigation and control of mobile devices of the land, naval, aviation and space bases; developing new technologies of radio-electronic devices production in combination with achievements in nanotechnologies; information technologies and automation of designing radio-electronic devices.

The department trains specialists who will be able to work in the field of developing radio-electronic devices, systems using nanomaterials, methods of nanodiagnostics for navigation, energetics, medicine, research, examination of technological systems, ecological control of natural resources and other fields of engineering. Another emphasis is put on training the specialists who will be able to work in the field of quality assurance when designing and producing radio-electronic devices, and also in organizations included into the system of certification of the Russian Federation; graduates will be able to deal with marketing and management problems.

The curriculum includes both general and specialized subjects, such as: electrical engineering, electronics and microelectronics, fundamentals of designing radio-electronic devices, instrument making techniques, integral devices of radio-engineering, antennas and microwave devices and others. 1840

“Biotechnical and Medical Devices and Systems”

The department was founded after a long period of work in the field of education and medical research and has two related goals: first, the use of the tools and methods of engineering to better understand human physiology and disease; second, the development of new technologies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human disease.

The scientific base of the department comprises: biophysics, which determines fundamental principles of functioning live organisms; theory of bioengineering systems, which describes technical and biological sub-systems; methods of bio-signals measurement and analyses.

The main feature of studying is its interdisciplinary nature; along with general fundamental subjects undergraduates study a number of subjects such as biology, biochemistry, anatomy, pathology, physiology and clinical medicine – which are necessary for profound knowledge of medico-biological processes. Seminars are conducted on the basis of Moscow Medical Academy named after I.M. Sechenov.

Students of the department address a lot of complicated problems by examining state-of-the-art technologies, modern laser, ultrasound, electronic and other medical devices and systems and applying up-to-date methods of design.

Practical training is carried out in leading medico-engineering centres and institutes of Moscow. Graduates are employed in big organizations and institutes, where they develop and research new types of medical devices.

The curriculum also includes individual programs, according to which students can be trained in the field of management in healthcare and biomedical engineering and along with BMSTU diploma they can get a diploma confirming their secondary medical education. 1468

“Medical-technical Information Technologies”

Biomedical Engineering draws on collaboration among engineers, physicians, and scientists to provide new interdisciplinary insights into medical and biological problems. The programs offered in the department seek to emphasize the confluence of basic engineering with the physical and biological sciences.

The department covers various aspects of biomedical engineering. They are medical biotechnical processes and systems, creation of medical-diagnostic technologies using new mathematical, physical and physiological approaches, wide application of computer and communication systems.

The curriculum is based on the main physico-mathematical and engineering subjects and the whole range of medico-biological and medico-technical disciplines. The curriculum is designed to provide broad knowledge of the physical and engineering sciences and their application to the solution of biological and medical problems. As a rule students undertake a research project in their final year. Graduates work in the leading medical centers, hospitals and scientific research institutes, commercial medical services.

The department provides students not only with the academic knowledge related to the chosen qualification. 1051

Task 2. Summarize the information and talk about your speciality.

 

 

ЛИТЕРАТУРА

1. James O’Driscoll Britain. - Oxford University Press, 2009. – 374 с.

2. Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners. -Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2007. – 786 с.

3. Oxford Guide to British and American Culture for Learners of English. -Oxford University Press, 2003. – 599 с.

4. University of Oxford. – Режим доступа: http://www.ox.ac.uk.

5. Russia today. – Режим доступа: http://rt.com

6. British Royals. – Режим доступа: http://www/britroyals.com

7. Свободная энциклопедия. – Режим доступа: http://www.wikipedia.org

 

 

CONTENTS

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ ………………………………………………………….3

UNIT 1 ……………………………………………………………………...5

UNIT 2 ……………………………………………………………………...12

UNIT 3 …………………………………………………………………..….17

UNIT 4 ………………………………………………………………..…….24

UNIT 5 ……………………………………………………………………...30

ЛИТЕРАТУРА…………………………………………………………………………...….39

 

 

[1] a public school is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term.