How can you explain an English proverb ’Books and friends should be few but good’?

‘Reading is to mind what exercise is to body’. A book is one of the greatest wonders of the world. It gives us a unique chance to link up with authors who lived hundreds and thousands years ago.

Thanks to books we can talk to people who lived in different ages and countries. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings. It gives us an insight not only into the past, but also into the future. The book is faithful and undemanding friend: it can be put aside and by taken again at any moment.

As for me, I became very keen on literature early in life. We have a very good library at home, and I think that books stir my imagination, expand the boundaries of the familiar world and fill my life with great expectations of joy and happiness.

My grandparents taught me a love of reading. When I was a child they read books to me. I was pleased to listen to the stories and tales. I was fond of reading about animals, nature and children. Then I prefer books about travels. And now I can say that I’m crazy about books. I am rather choosy about what I read and it is rather hard for me to choose books to my taste. As English proverb says: ’Books and friends should be few but good’. Sometimes I like to relax with a good book. Luckily our country is rich in remarkable authors.

First of all I’d like to mention the names of our outstanding national writers Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, the classics of Belorussian literature. These names are followed by a number of other well-known writers and poets, such as K.Krapiva, K.Chorny, P.Brovka, I. Shamyakin, I.Melezh, M.Tank, V. Bykov, V.Korotkevitch, N.Gilevitch, A.Loyka, A.Adamovitch who known both in our country and abroad. Their works are translated into many European languages. Among foreign writers I would single out O’Henry, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens)

1. Is a book one of the greatest wonders of the world?

How important is reading for you?

(They give us a unique chance to link up with authors who lived hundreds and thousands years ago. Thanks to books we can talk to people who lived in different ages and countries. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings)

Is the book considered to be faithful and undemanding friend?

When did you become keen on reading?

(As for me, I became very keen on literature early in life. We have a very good library at home, and I think that books stir my imagination, expand the boundaries of the familiar world and fill my life with great expectations of joy and happiness)

Are books part of your family’s life? (My grandparents taught me a love of reading. When I was a child they read books to me. I was pleased to listen to the stories and tales)

What are your favourite writers?

(First of all I’d like to mention the names of our outstanding national writers Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, the classics of Belorussian literature. These names are followed by a number of other well-known writers and poets, such as K.Krapiva, K.Chorny, P.Brovka, I. Shamyakin, I.Melezh, M.Tank, V. Bykov, V.Korotkevitch, N.Gilevitch, A.Loyka, A.Adamovitch who known both in our country and abroad. Their works are translated into many European languages. Among foreign writers I would single out O’Henry, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens)

You know, talking about my favourite writer isn’t easy thing for me. The thing is that I’ve got quite a few authors that I would call my favourite ones. First of all I’d like to mention the names of our outstanding national writers Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, the classics of Belorussian literature. Among the Russian authors I would name Chekhov, Bulgakov and Platonov; and among foreign writers I would single out O’Henry, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie.

I’d like to speak about Agatha Christie.

Agatha Miller (Christie) was born in a small English town of Torquay in 1890. She had a very good singing voice and could be a good singer. But she was a very shy young girl to become a singer.

Agatha Christie wrote 83 books, 17 plays, nine volumes of short stories. Her characters were: doctors, lawyers, army offices and others. All crime described by Christie usually take place in common English homes. It is very difficult to guess the murderer and solve the crime in her stories. You feel interested and puzzled to the end of the story. That's why people love her stories.

In 1914 she married a British airman. When the war broke out she became a nurse during World War I. Agatha practiced pharmacy. At this time she wrote her first detective story. Later people liked Heroule Poirot and friend Hastings who were introduced in her first stories. She continued to publish one or two stories a year. Poison was a preferred method of her criminals. People like and enjoyed 'The A. B. C Murders', 'The Thirteen Problems', 'The Boby in the Library' and many others. There are many films based on her novels. The films are really trilling: 'The Witness for the Prosecution', 'The Mousetrap', 'Ten Negroes', ' The Murder on the Orient Express'.

Another favourite detective was Miss Marple. This old lady was clever, wise and her psychological insight never failed her. All three detectives used 'grey cells' and always solved the crimes.

What authors do you prefer?

(The thing is that I’ve got quite a few authors that I would call my favourite ones. First of all I’d like to mention the names of our outstanding national writers Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, the classics of Belorussian literature. Among the Russian authors I would name Chekhov, Bulgakov and Platonov; and among foreign writers I would single out O’Henry, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie)

What is your favourite author? (I’d like to speak about Agatha Christie)

When and where was the author burn?

(Agatha Miller (Christie) was born in a small English town of Torquay in 1890)

How many books \plays did the author write?

(Agatha Christie wrote 83 books, 17 plays, nine volumes of short stories)

Why are those books in demand?

(It is very difficult to guess the murderer and solve the crime in her stories. You feel interested and puzzled to the end of the story. That's why people love her stories)

What books by this author do people like best?

(People like and enjoyed 'The A. B. C Murders', 'The Thirteen Problems', 'The Body in the Library')

Are there any films based on the author’s novels?

(There are many films based on her novels. The films are really trilling: 'The Witness for the Prosecution', 'The Mousetrap', 'Ten Negroes', ' The Murder on the Orient Express')

Imagine your class was asked to take part in the TV show called “Save our planet”. You have several minutes to speak on the most prominent ecological problems.

 

Ecological Situation

In the conditions of science and technological revolution, the protection of the environment is one of the most vitally topical problems.

People dirty the air with gases and smoke, poison the water with chemicals and other substances, and damage the soil with too many fertilizers and pesticides. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity today. It causes global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, and other potentially disastrous processes. Air, water, and soil—all harmed by pollution—are necessary to the survival of all living things.

One serious result of air pollution is its harmful effect on human health. Air pollutants can also damage the earth's upper atmosphere and affect the climate. Some gases, including carbon dioxide, allow sunlight to reach the ground, but prevent the sunlight's heat from rising out of the atmosphere and flowing back into space. That results the warming of the earth's surface and is called the greenhouse effect.

Global warming is one of the most serious environmental problem. Increasing global temperature is expected to cause sea level rising, an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events.

Water pollution reduces the amount of pure, fresh water that is available for such necessities as drinking and cleaning, and for such activities as swimming and fishing. Industries dump huge amounts of wastes into bodies of water each year. These wastes include chemicals, wastes from animal and plant matter, and hundreds of other substances.

Solid wastes are probably the most visible forms of pollution. People throw away billions of tons of solid material each year. Some things that pollute the environment cannot be classified as air, water, or soil pollutants, or as solid wastes. They travel through and affect various parts of the environment. These pollutants include noise, radiation, acid rain, pesticides, and such metals as mercury and lead.

The solution of ecological problems involves the efforts of all people inhabiting the planet. It is a necessary and noble task, because we must preserve the civilization, and leave for the generations fresh air, pure water, national parks and preserves.

Questions

1. What is environmental pollution?

2. What are the potential effects of rising temperatures?

3. What causes most air pollution?

4. What does water pollution reduce?

5. What is the ecological situation in your city?

6. How do air pollutants affect the climate?

7. Why should every person be environment-educated.

Answers

1. Environmental pollution includes pollution of the air, water, soil.

2. Increasing global temperature is expected to cause sea level rising, an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events.

3. Every year the world’s industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances.

4. Water pollution reduces the amount of pure, fresh water that is available for such necessities as drinking and cleaning.

5. Borisov is one of the biggest industrial centers of Minsk region. A lot of plants and factories are situated in the centre of the town. That’s why we should say that it faces a number of ecological problems.

6. Some gases, including carbon dioxide, allow sunlight to reach the ground, but prevent the sunlight's heat from rising out of the atmosphere and flowing back into space. That results the warming of the earth's surface and is called the greenhouse effect.

7. The solution of ecological problems involves the efforts of all people inhabiting the planet. We should realize that we all are responsible for what’s happening around us.

 

TRAVELLING/HOLIDAYS

Modern life is impossible without travelling. Thousands of people travel every day either on business or for plea­sure. They can travel by air, by rail, by sea or by road.

Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too. Travel­ling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advan­tages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoy­able. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.

Travelling by sea is popular mostly for pleasure trips. On board large ships and small river boats people can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own country. Trips on the Volga, the Dnieper, the Yenisei, the Black Sea are very popular today. As for me I prefer travelling by car. I think it's very convenient. You needn't reserve your tickets. You needn't carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish and spend at any place as much time as you like. Every year my friend and I go somewhere to the South for holidays.

The Black Sea is one of the most wonderful places which attracts holiday-makers all over the world. There are many rest-homes, sanatoriums and tourist camps there. But it is also possible to rent a room or a furnished house for a couple of weeks there. Sometimes we place ourselves in a tent on the sea shore enjoying fresh air and the sun all day long. As a rule I make new friends there. In the daytime we play volleyball, tennis, swim in the warm water of the sea and sunbathe. In the evening I like to sit on the beach watching the sea and enjoying the sun­set. I'm fond of mountaineering. So I do a lot of climbing together with my friends.

Time passes quickly and soon we have to make our way back. We return home sunburnt and full of impressions.

THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The Republic of Belarus is a small, beautiful country with the heroic past and difficult present. It is situated in Eastern Europe. The Republic borders on Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It has an area of 207,600 square kilometres and a population of more than 10 million. Belarusians constitute 77 per cent of the population, 64 per cent live in cities, the largest of which are Minsk (the capital), Gomel, Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno and Mogilev.

Belarus is a broad plain. One third of the republic's territory is covered with forests. The largest of them are called pushchas. The most beautiful are the Belo-vezhskaya, the Nalibokskaya which have rich flora and fauna. There are 3,000 rivers in the republic. They flow into the Baltic Sea or into the Black Sea. The longest riv­ers are the Dnieper, the Nieman, the Western Dvina, the Pripyat and the Bug. There are 4,000 lakes in Belarus. The largest of the lakes is the Naroch, the pride of the republic.

The climate in the republic is moderately continental, the breathing of the Baltic sea is constantly felt here.

At the beginning of the 20th century Belarus was a backward province of the Russian Empire — called the North-Western region. About 80 per cent of its population were illiterate. The Belarusians were not even regarded as a nation at that time. In 1919 Belarus was proclaimed the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic and in 1922 became a member of the USSR.

During World War II Belarus suffered greatly. It lost more than half of its national wealth. The fascists killed every fourth person living there. But despite all this, Be­larus has restored its cities, rebuilt its economy. Today Belarusian industry produces tractors, big lorries, auto­matic lines, computers, refrigerators, television sets, bicy­cles, watches, fertilizers and textiles.

Agriculture specializes in milk and meat production. The main crops cultivated here are grain, potatoes, flax, herbs and vegetables.

Belarus is a republic of well developed science and cul­ture. There are 37 state higher educational establish­ments, the Academy of Sciences, about 400 professional schools there. Secondary education is compulsory and free of charge.

Nowadays the Republic of Belarus has become a sover­eign independent state. The Declaration of State Sover­eignty was adopted by its Supreme Soviet on July 27, 1990.

There are three branches of state power in the Republic of Belarus — Legislative (Supreme Soviet), Executive (Council of Ministers) and Judicial (Supreme Court). Ac­cording to the existing constitution (1996) the head of the state is the President. Belarus is a member of the United Nations and a num­ber of other international organizations.