Тема №2

“My Everyday Life”

On week-days I get up at seven o’clock. The alarm – clock wakes me up every morning. I cannot say that I like its ringing. Then, though sleepy, I do my morning exercises and in a few minutes I feel bright and cheerful.

After that I am ready for other activities: I take a cold shower, wash and dress, and prepare my breakfast. My everyday breakfast is the same: some salad, two soft-boiled eggs and a cup of strong coffee with cheese sandwiches. It takes for an hour to have breakfast and to get ready for work.

At 7.45 I leave home and go to the office by bus which is always overcrowded. It affects my spirits badly. But when I come to my office and see my colleagues, I feel happy.

All my days in the office do not vary greatly. All the day long I am as busy as a bee. At 12 p.m. I have an hour break for lunch and go to a small café just round the corner. Then I work hard till 5.

In the evening I do my best to find time for my studies. I am a student of Moscow Institute of Humanities and Economic Sciences Kirov Branch.

Eight o’clock is supper time in our family. After super I have a short rest. As a rule I prefer to do a little reading, to watch TV or to listen to the music. Usually I go to bed at 11 o’clock.

By the end of the week I get tired and need a good rest.

Exercises

I. Find the equivalents of the following Russian expressions in the text

в будни; будильник будит меня; встаю в 7; нравиться его звон; всё ещё сонный; делать зарядку; чувствую себя свежим и бодрым; готов к другой деятельности; принимаю душ; умываюсь и одеваюсь; готовлю завтрак; два яйца всмятку; чашка крепкого кофе; бутерброд с сыром; требуется час; подготовиться к работе; ухожу из дома; еду на работу; автобус, который всегда переполнен; плохо влияет на моё настроение; чувствую себя счастливым; не очень разнообразны; тружусь как пчела; часовой перерыв на обед; маленькое кафе за углом; усердно тружусь; время ужина; иметь короткий отдых; предпочитаю немного почитать; слушаю музыку; смотрю телевизор; ложусь спать; к концу недели я устаю; мне нужен хороший отдых

II. Answer the questions

1. What time does the man get up on week-days?

2. Who wakes him up?

3. What helps him feel bright and cheerful in the morning?

4. What other activity does he deal with in the morning?

5. What does his every day breakfast consist of?

6. How much time does it take him to get ready for work?

7. What time does he leave the house for work?

8. How does he get to the office?

9. What affects his spirit badly?

10. What moment does he feel happy?

11. Is the man very busy during his day?

12. Does he have a break for lunch?

13. Till what time does he work?

14. Where does the man study?

15. What is the supper time in his family?

16. How does he spend his spare time in the evening?

17. What time does he go to bed?

6 Семестр Тема №1

GREAT BRITAIN

Great Britain has the official name — The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (or UK — for short). It is situated on the British Isles. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are the parts of Great Britain. Administratively the UK is divided into 55 counties. The total territory is over 244 thousand square kilometers (the 75^th place among other countries in the world).

The population of the UK is over 57 million. Great Britain is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The majority of the British population lives in cities and towns.

The country is washed by the North and Irish Seas, the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. North and West of the country are highlands, South and East — lowlands.

There are many rivers in the country. The longest and most important of them are the Severn, the Thames and the Clyde. The climate is mild due to the moun­tains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial pow­er. It possesses some mineral resources: coal, iron ores, oil, gas and some metals.

The country is known as one of the world largest producers and exporters of electronics and machin­ery, chemicals and textile, various aircraft and navi­gation equipment. Among the main industrial branch­es are also coal-mining, automobile, ship-building and metallurgical.

Great Britain is a country with old cultural tradi­tions and customs. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the UK is «Union Jack» - the British state flag having 3 white and red crosses on the dark blue field. The weave of crosses symbolizes power and might.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. Officially the head of the state is the Queen. But her power is not absolute, it is limited by the Parliament. The British Parliament consists of 2 chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

There are several political parties in the UK. The largest and most influential of them are the Conserv­ative (the Tory), the Liberal (the Whigs) and the La­bour Party.

• Give English equivalents:

конституционная монархия; высоко развитая промышленная держава; густонаселенная страна; общая территория страны; располагаться на Британских островах; мягкий климат; крупнейший в мире производитель и поставщик оборудования; официальный язык государства; страна богатых культурных традиций; символизировать власть и могущество; ограничивать власть королевы; состоять из Палаты общин и Палаты лордов; влиятельные политические партии.

• Answer the questions.

1. What is the official name of Britain?

2. Where is it situated?

3. What countries does the UK comprise?

4. Why is Britain considered to be a highly developed industrial country?

5. What is the official language of the state?

6. What flag does Britain have?

7. What does the weave of crosses symbolizes?

8. Who is the head of the state?

9. How many chambers are there in the British parliament?

10. What are the most powerful parties in Britain?