Popular ways to lose weight and avoid gaining it.

ü Cut out snacks and desserts. ü Eat less of everything. ü Exercise more. ü Cut down on fat. ü Don't eat at night.

ü Eat more fruit and vegetables. ü Count calories. ü Eat less red meat. ü Use low-calorie foods. ü Follow a diet.

 

Do you watch what you eat or eat what you like? Categorise the food and drink below according to whether:

	It's good for you.	It's bad for you.
You like it.
You don't like it.

 

grilled chicken a cup of tea roast beef baked ham a brandy ice-cream a vodka and ice smoked salmon a fruit juice fillet steak apple pie and cream lamb chops a glass of port duck paté and toast baked trout local seafood a whisky and soda a coke chips veal boiled vegetables a green salad  still mineral water a hot curry a glass of skimmed milk a beer a cheeseburger  a black coffee a salami sandwich a liqueur  pork sausages   fresh fruit   a slice of chocolate gateau  cheese and biscuits a glass of wine fried rice a gin and tonic curd   fresh pasta  raw fish French fries

 

 

V. Topic 'Education'

School Education in Russia

I. Before reading the text try to answer the following questions remembering your school experience.

1. Is the school education free in Russia or should parents pay fees for the tuition?

2. Is the school education compulsory or not?

3. Are schools maintained by the state or are they private?

4. Is there any pre-school education in Russia?

5. When does schooling begin?

6. Till what age do children usually stay at school?

7. From what stages does the school education consist of?

8. How long is primary school?

9. What subjects are studied there?

10. What classes can be referred to middle (intermediate) school?

11. What can you say about senior classes?

12. What can you say about the school curriculum?

13. What does an academic year consist of?

14. When do children have their vocations?

15. Are schoolchildren streamed according to their abilities?

16. What are the three ways of getting further education after finishing the ninth form?

17. What should the pupils do to get their Certificate of General Secondary Education?

 

Text I.

Russians have always shown a great concern for education. The right to education is stated in the Constitution of the country. It is ensured by compulsory secondary schools, vocational schools, specialized secondary education establishments and higher education establishments. It is also ensured by the development of extramural and evening courses and the system of state scholarships and grants.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9^th form inclusive. The stages of compulsory schooling in Russia are: primary education for ages 6-7 to 10; secondary education including intermediate school for ages 10-11 to 14-15 inclusive. At the end of this stage of education in the 9^th form the pupils take their finals to get the Certificate of Basic General Secondary Education. They usually have four exams, two of them are obligatory – the Russian language and Mathematics, and two more can be chosen by the pupils.

Usually children continue their further education. There are three ways to get general secondary education: to go on to a vocational school which offers programmes of academic subjects and a programme of training in some trade; or they can enter a specialized secondary professional college to be trained in some technical sphere or to get a profession. But if a pupil of a secondary school wishes to go on a higher education, he or she must stay at school for two more years to study in senior classes. So the whole period of getting of the secondary education takes 11 years.

Every school has a 'core curriculum' of academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Sciences, PT, a foreign language and others. Lyceums and gymnasiums offer programmes giving a profound knowledge in some field of study. Some schools specialized in languages or sciences. Now there are classes with advanced courses in different subjects in many schools.

For children gifted in music, art, sports there are schools that provide general secondary education and specialized training in different spheres of arts and sport.

Education in Russia is non-denominational. But parents if they want can give their children religious education in schools and classes opened at churches and mosques.

During the last decade there were many national schools opened in our country not only in autonomous republics and regions but also in the cities with multinational population. There the education is in some national languages.

At the end of the last school year in the 11^th form the pupils take five exams. They are the Russian literature (composition) and Mathematics. But they can choose the other three exams from the list of subjects that have been taught during the last two years. If they pass them successfully the pupils get their Certificate of General Secondary Education can go on in higher education.