Customs regulations on valuables

Text 1

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

Under Russian law items older than fifty years are considered part of Russia’s national and cultural heritage. But an object must be more than just old to be called an antique. Antiques of all kinds are highly valued for their beauty, craftsmanship, quality of design and sometimes for their relation to a historical period or to some well-known person.

Cultural valuables include: original hand-made pictures and drawings; sculptures, icons, engravings; handicrafts; ancient books and manuscripts; photo-, audio- and video- archives; unique and rare musical instruments, furniture, rugs; post stamps; various kinds of metal ware, orders, medals, coins; etc. Modern items and items of mass production are not related to cultural valuables.

Export and import of cultural valuables are regulated and controlled by the state bodies. Exported cultural valuables are subject to special registration in the order established by the Federal Customs Service and the Culture Ministry which keep the State Protection Lists and Registers.

There is a standard procedure for individuals who want to take cultural valuables out of the country. The owner must apply to the Culture Ministry for permission and present the proof of ownership for the valuable item. It can be a receipt from the shop or an auction, an old photo, a will or some other document. When they receive the necessary documents, the Ministry issues a certificate confirming the right to export cultural valuables. The certificate allows carrying cultural valuables across the customs and state border of the country.

When passing through the customs control a person should declare the valuable item both in his exit and entry declaration forms and it is obligatory to present it for inspection. Undeclared items found during the search are detained and the person may be accused of smuggling.

Cultural valuables in search are subject to arrest for their following return to the legal proprietors.

The author has the right to take out of the Russian Federation any quantity of cultural valuables created by him, no matter whether he is leaving the country temporarily or for permanent residence abroad.

Illegal bringing in and taking out of cultural valuables is considered as smuggling and is to be punished in accordance with the Criminal Code or the legislation of the RF related to administrative violations.

 

Working on the text

Task 2. Try to guess the meaning of the words. Check with the dictionary.

bracelet, theatre, frame, medallion, piano, brooch, ornaments, album, statuette, diamond, portrait, silver, ballet, candelabrum, vase, teapot, sapphire, cross, gold, earrings, guitar, icon, figurine, tomb, ruby

Task3. a) Give the Russian equivalents of the following:

b) Explain the meaning of the underlined expressions:

- under Russian law

- national and cultural heritage

- an antique

- original hand-made pictures

- ancient books and manuscripts

- items of mass production

- State Protection Lists

- proof of ownership

- the customs and state border

- cultural valuables in search

- legal proprietor

 

 

Task 4. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

считаться частью национального наследия; (не) относиться к культурным ценностям; подлежать специальной регистрации; вести реестр; вывозить культурные ценности; обратиться в Министерство культуры; предъявить доказательство права собственности; выдать сертификат; изъять незадекларированные ценности; обвинить в контрабанде; наказать в соответствии с законодательством

 

Task 5. a) Match the antonyms:

old modern

ancient mass production

unique common

special permanent

original new

rare ordinary

temporary copy

hand-made standard

 

b) Complete the sentences with the proper words:

1. This chair is a copy of the _______ design.

2. He was wearing a pair of expensive __________ shoes.

3. Computers are an essential part of _______ life.

4. The expert said that the paintings were rather _______, not valuable at all.

5. He was excited to see such a _______ icon.

6. We have a very _______ guest with us at the meeting today.

7. She was employed on a _______ basis.

8. Searching luggage at airports is now a _______ practice.

9. Each person’s fingerprints are _______.

 

Task 6. Insert prepositions if necessary:

1) to regulate and control _____ import and export

2) subject _____ special registration

3) export is regulated _____ the state bodies

4) to present the proof _____ ownership _____ the valuable item

5) a receipt _____ the shop

6) when crossing _____ the border

7) to declare _____ the valuable item

8) to present _____ inspection

9) found _____ the search

10) accused _____ smuggling

11) to take _____ _____ the country

12) illegal bringing _____ is forbidden _____ law

13) to return _____ the legal proprietor

14) to apply _____ the Culture Ministry

 

Task 7. Complete the sentences.

1. Cultural valuables include...

2. Cultural valuables don’t include...

3. To move some cultural valuables across the border the person has to...

4. Culture Ministry officials usually...

5. When crossing the border it is obligatory to...

6. To declare an item means …

7. If customs officers find undeclared items during the search...

 

Task 8. Answer the questions:

1. What can be called an antique?

2. What do cultural valuables include?

3. What items are not related to cultural valuables?

4. How does Culture Ministry control the export of antiques?

5. Is it possible for individuals to take valuables out of the country?

6. How can a person obtain permission for export?

7. What can be accepted as the proof of ownership?

8. What must a person remember when passing through the customs control?

9. What can happen if the person violates the regulations?

10. What else have you learnt about the customs regulations on valuables?

Task 9. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1. Министерство культуры и таможенная служба контролируют ввоз и вывоз культурных и исторических ценностей.

2. Какие доказательства права собственности вы можете предъявить?

3. Перед тем, как выдать разрешение на вывоз, сотрудники Министерства культуры регистрируют ценности в специальном реестре.

4. Во время досмотра багажа таможенники обнаружили несколько старинных книг и рукописей.

5. Ваша коллекция современных иностранных монет не представляет ценности. Вам не нужно разрешение на вывоз, но вы должны ее задекларировать и предъявить для досмотра.

6. Этот художник регулярно вывозит свои картины на международные аукционы.

7. Ваш музыкальный инструмент находится в розыске. Мы изымаем его, и после проведения следствия он будет возвращен владельцу.

8.При подаче таможенной декларации пассажир не указал, что в его багаже имеются иконы.

9. При проведении таможенного досмотра автомобиля в багажнике среди личных вещей было обнаружено 6 икон.

10. Согласно закону, регулирующему ввоз и вывоз культурных ценностей, провоз данных предметов может осуществляться на основании разрешения Министерства культуры.

 

Text 2

Task 10. a) Read and translate the text.

United States customs law defines an antique as an object that is more than 100 years old.

Most antiques are things that were originally used as household furnishings. These include furniture, silver, glass, ceramics, rugs, embroideries, metal ware, and other objects of decorative art. Such objects are studied, collected, and bought and sold by cultural and social historians. They are studied and exhibited in ways that are different from the ways in which the fine arts (paintings, prints, and sculpture) are studied and presented.

Antiques are usually classified according to their countries of origin and the dates when they were made. The predominant classifications derive from styles that originated in London or Paris. The names of various periods into which antiques are classified may be derived from the reigning monarch of the time and place where they were made. A piece of art may be termed Georgian, Regency, or Victorian if it is English or Louis XIV, XV, or XVI, Napoleon, or Empire if it is French. Unfortunately, it is not always as simple as that. Antiques, especially pieces of furniture, are sometimes called by the name of the leading craftsman or designer of their period – Chippendale, Sheraton, Phyfe or Faberge.

Antiques are bought and sold in a variety of ways. Some are sold at auctions. In the biggest auction houses, similar things are grouped together in sales for which catalogues are published. These sales receive international advertising and publicity. Bidding can be done in person, by agent, or by telephone. Auctioneers cover their expenses and make a profit by charging the seller a percentage of the sale price. Many antiques are sold by dealers – merchants who buy objects from private owners, auction houses, and from other dealers. Most antique dealers display their wares in their own shops. The antiques show is another popular way to buy and sell such goods. Often a show is run for the benefit of a charity.

 

b) Make a glossary. Choose seven words to remember.

c) Speak about 1) the things that are termed antiques;

2) the way antiques are classified;

3) the way objects of art can be sold or bought.

Vocabulary and Grammar

Task 11. Put these adjectives into the correct category.

ancient bright dark disgusting fascinating portable modern woolen huge round Italian long digital yellow new brilliant triangular plastic cotton racing running Spanish square tiny pink wooden

 

1 - OPINION
2 – SIZE (and most other qualities)
3 - AGE	ancient
4 - SHAPE
5 - COLOUR
6 - ORIGIN / NATIONALITY
7 - MATERIAL
8 - PURPOSE

 

Task 12. a) Put the adjectives in the correct order.

1. a / black and white / landscape / photograph

_______________________________________________

2. a / silk / Japanese / delicate / kimono

_______________________________________________

3. an / dining / oval / oak / table

_______________________________________________

4. an / wildlife / African / TV / documentary

_______________________________________________

5. a / canvas / striped / green and white / umbrella

_______________________________________________

6. leather / expensive / hand-made / Italian / tennis /shoes

_______________________________________________

7. a / portable / digital / tiny / camera

_______________________________________________

8. fair / straight / long / beautiful / hair

_______________________________________________

9. a / polo-necked / nylon / blue / sweater

_______________________________________________

10. a / brown / disgusting / huge / coffee / stain

_______________________________________________

11. a / university / young / good-looking / student

_______________________________________________

Task 13. Write a sentence describing each of the objects below. Put three adjectives before the noun.

1) a piece of furniture that you have in your house

2) your favourite piece of clothing

3) something you were given as a present once

4) an electronic device that you use most often

5) a decorative item (e.g. a vase, a painting)

6) a person that you know very well

7) something that you have bought recently

8) something that you don’t like

 

Task 14. a) Complete the text with the prepositions, if necessary.

On a plane bound _____ New York the flight attendant approached _____ a blonde sitting _____ the first class section and requested that she should move _____ the coach since she did not have a first class ticket. The blond replied, “I’m blonde; I’m beautiful; I’m going to New York; and I’m not moving.” Not wanting to argue _____ a customer, the flight attendant asked _____ the co-pilot to speak _____ her. He went to talk _____ the woman, asking her to move _____ _____ the first class section. Again, the blonde replied, “I’m blonde; I’m beautiful; I’m going to New York; and I’m not moving.” The co-pilot returned _____ the cockpit and asked the captain what he should do. The captain said, “I’m married _____ a blonde, and I know how to handle this.” He went _____ the first class section and whispered _____ the blonde’s ear. She immediately jumped up and ran _____ the coach section mumbling _____ herself, “Why didn’t someone just say so?” Surprised, the flight attendant and the co-pilot asked what he said _____ her that finally convinced her to move _____ her seat. He said, “I told _____ her that the first class section wasn’t going _____ New York.”

 

Task 15. a) Study the information in the table:

adjective	meaning	opposite	possible combinations
NATURAL	existing in nature, not made by man	artificial, man-made
PURE	not mixed with anything	impure
GENUINE	real; what it seems to be	false
REAL	not made up or artificial	false
ARTIFICIAL	not natural or real, made by the art of man	natural

 

b) Put the words into the categories:

flowers, gas, light, pearl, water, minerals, milk, painting, fertilizer,

wool, cotton, teeth, leather, wood, fur, silk

Task 16. a)Fill in the following dialogue with the right form of the modal verb from the box:

have to

should

must

 

C. o.: Have you got only one suitcase?

P.: Yes, but I have got also hand luggage.

C.o.: Put your baggage on the belt, please. You’ll _____ open your

traveling bag. What’s this?

P.: It’s a picture. I bought it in a shop in the centre of Moscow.

C.o.: Do you know the Customs regulations on valuables?

P.: I’m not quite sure if I do. What _____ I do?

C.o.: First, you _____ have declared this picture in the declaration form.

P.: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t do that.

C.o.: Second, you _____ have the receipt with the statement “Allowed for

taking out of the Russian Federation” or a permission from the

Ministry of Culture. Do you have any?

P.: I’ve got only the receipt from the shop but there is no statement on it.

C.o.: In this case I’ll _____ detain this picture, I’m sorry.

 

b) Put the dialogue into Reported speech.

 

Task 17. a) Fill in the “False Friends” table. Use the dictionary, if necessary.

Russian	English	“False Friend”	Russian
консервы	tinned food	conserve
магазин	shop	magazine
рецепт	prescription recipe	receipt
фабрика	factory	fabric
техника	engineering technology equipment machinery	technique
спекулировать	profiteer gamble misuse	speculate
конкурс	competition	concourse

b) Make five sentences in Russian using the words from the table. Ask your partners to translate the sentences.

 

Task 18. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct Active or Passive form.

CBP officers (to screen) travelers when they (to observe) two 15-year-old boys approaching the vehicle lanes. Each boy (to ride) a bicycle. Both boys (to identify) as Mexican nationals and residents of Sonora, Mexico. The officers (to search) the bicycles and (to find) that the tires of both bicycles (to load) with marijuana. The total weight of marijuana (to be) about 7 pounds with an estimated street value of more than $11,000. CBP officers (to seize) the marijuana and bicycles. The boys (to question) by Immigration officials and then (to release) to the custody of their parents.

 

Task 19. a) Unscramble these words.

ITREAEGH - _______________

YGOOALTIBR - _______________

IERPRPROOT- _______________

b) Use all three words to make a sentence of your own.

 

Task 20. a)Make a written translation of the text and think about the title for it.

Most of the antiques on sale in Britain are either stolen or fakes and international legislation has so far “proved toothless” at fighting the problem.

Art and auction houses in London have spent several years tightening security and the Cultural Objects Offences Act made it illegal to trade in goods thought to be tainted. Auction houses are as liable as banks for making sure that they are not being used to launder suspect money and the Art Loss Register, the company with a database of 160,000 stolen items, suggest the number of stolen works being sold at auction has fallen.

One of the most famous fakes acquired by the British Museum was the Crystal Skull, supposedly an Aztec symbol of death, bought in 1897. Recent analysis showed it was cut and polished with a type of rotating wheel used in 19^th century Europe.

 

*“SOTHEBY’S Holding, Inc.” – an art auction firm formed in London in 1744 and America-owned since 1983. Sotheby’s also sponsors art courses and exhibitions, publishes “Preview”, newsletters and catalogues and has art reference books published under its insignia.

**“CHRISTIE’S, Manson & Woods Ltd.” – an art auction house founded in London in 1766 and now represented by offices and sales centers world-wide.

 

b) Speak about: - the problem the text touches upon;

- the changes in the legislation;

- the measures that should be taken to deal with the problem of

fake antiques.

Task 21. Make a written translation of the text into English.