IV. Пeрeведите тексты с русского на английский, обращая внимание на передачу реалий.

A. Этот поликультурный мир

Наша жизнь становится всё более космополитической, впитывая в себя элементы древних и современных культур народов мира. Мы с детства восхищаемся подвигами Геракла, убившего девятиглавую Гидру и расчистившего авгиевы конюшни. Мы скорбим о храме Артемиды в Эфесе, одном из семи чудес света, который сжег честолюбивый Герострат.

Если у нашего знакомого есть слабое место, мы говорим, что это его ахиллесова пята, а пессимиста, любителя апокалиптических предсказаний, называем Кассандрой. В Нью-Йорке можно попасть на постановку «Отверженных» Гюго, а в Брюсселе послушать «Севильского цирюльника» Россини или посмотреть «Петрушку» Стравинского в Вене.

Японцы, оставаясь в душе синтоистами, совершают христианский обряд бракосочетания, потому что при этом не обязательно носить вышедшее из моды кимоно.

В ресторанах нам подают венский шницель, чешские кнедлики, итальянские спагетти, венгерский гуляш и паприку, французские сыры – бри, камамбер и рокфор. Мы танцуем мазурку и польку, танго и самбо, фокстрот и ламбаду.

В перечне ежегодных праздников США, наряду с чисто американскими (День независимости, День Благодарения и др.), обязательно указываются День Святого Патрика, чтимый ирландцами, православный Великий пост, еврейская и православная пасха и еврейский Новый год.

B. Масленица

Последняя неделя перед Великим Постом называется «сырною», так как по церковному уставу в это время употребляют в пищу рыбу, масло, яйца и сыр. В народе эта неделя называется Масленицей. Масленица стала синонимом самого широкого, безбрежного веселья. Не случайно в народе говорят «Не житье, а Масленица».

Каждый день Масленицы отмечался по-особому и имел свое название.

Понедельник – «встреча». К этому дню достраивались горки, качели, балаганы. Первый блин отдавался нищим на помин усопших.

Вторник – «заигрыши». С утра молодые люди приглашали кататься с гор, поесть блинов.

Среда – «лакомка». В этот день зять приходил к теще на блины.

Четверг – «широкий разгул». С этого дня Масленица разворачивалась во всю ширь. Народ предавался всевозможным потехам: ледяные горки, балаганы, качели, катание на лошадях, карнавалы, кулачные бои, шумные пирушки.

Пятница - «тещины вечерки». Зятья приглашали в гости своих тещ, угощали их блинами.

Суббота – «золовкины посиделки». Молодые невестки приглашали в гости к себе золовок. Новобрачная невестка должна была подарить золовкам подарки.

В воскресенье, «прощеный день», провожали Масленицу: ее сжигали, ругали, провожали с шумом, криками, музыкой и приплясыванием. В прощеное воскресенье полагалось помириться со своими ближними, просить прощение за все обиды и огорчения, причиненные другим в течение года. Приходит конец великому веселью и в народе говорят: «Не все коту Масленица, будет и Великий Пост».

C. Education in the UK

Each child is different and their different needs are catered for by the sophisticated and comprehensive nature of the UK education system:

Secondary school - Ages 11-13 (School years 7-9)

From the age of 11 to 14 students in British state and private schools study a broad range of 10-15 subjects that usually follow the guidelines of the National Curriculum. No public examinations are taken during this time.

Secondary school graduation (GCSE) - Ages 14-15 (School years 10-11)

Traditionally, at the age of 14 students start a programme that lasts for 2 years and during which time they study 5-10 subjects of their choice. Intensive, one year courses are available for students of 15 plus with the appropriate academic level from their own country. Fewer subjects are studied (maximum 6). After this two year period, students take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) state examinations. These qualify students to continue onto A level or Foundation programmes for university preparation.

University preparation (AS/A level) - Ages 16-17 (School years 12-13)

Once a student reaches the age of 16 they can start a 2 year programme which leads to A (Advanced) level examinations. Students specialise in 3 or 4 subjects that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at university. At the end of year 1 students take AS level examinations. They continue with three or four of these subjects in year 2 and convert them into full A level qualifications at the end of the year. A levels are state examinations and are recognised by all UK universities and by institutions worldwide. From age 17, international students can opt to study one year foundation programmes. These courses lead to private examinations that are an alternative to A levels. Foundation courses at colleges are recognised by universities with whom they have partnerships. Some universities also offer foundation courses that lead onto their own degree programmes. A range of 1 and 2 year vocational diploma programmes are also offered at state colleges. These give students a recognised qualification and can also lead onto degree courses.

Undergraduate degree programmes (bachelors degree) - Age18+

A British bachelor’s degree normally takes three years to complete and most are awarded at honours level. Examples of first degrees are: BA (Bachelor of Arts), BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), and BSc (Bachelor of Science). State colleges offer some 2 year vocational diplomas that grant exemption from the first and sometimes second year of a degree programme. Some private tutorial colleges offer a one year diploma programme which is equivalent to year 1 of university. Students taking 1 year diplomas are awarded second year entry at some universities.

Postgraduate degree programmes (masters degree) - Ages 21+

Postgraduate courses in the UK are very intensive. This means that the courses are usually much shorter than in other countries. A master's degree typically takes 12 months to complete, for example an MA – Master of Arts and an MEng – Master of Engineering. An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a high profile Masters course which can take 2 years. Applicants will usually be high achieving with at least 2 years managerial experience. A PhD research degree in the UK can take between 2 and 7 years.

D. Is it easy to be a New Yorker?

Visiting New York is like unpacking your first computer – you find yourself surrounded by lots of expensive pieces that don’t seem to fit together. The parts make no sense. Nothing works unless it’s hooked up to something else. That, in my view, in a nutshell, is New York. The key to understanding New York is first to understand a New Yorker. A typical New Yorker is either Chinese, Jewish, African American, Italian, Greek, Dutch, Irish, German or Ukrainian, in other words, like unicorn, there’s no such creature.

New Yorkers are typical except their attitude. The New Yorker attitude hangs over the city like a London fog. The New Yorker attitude literally stops traffic. It can keep you from getting where you want to go. It can give you headaches, and make your blood pressure rise. Try to ignore it and no matter how many maps you might have, you won’t get anywhere.

Spend a few minutes understanding it, and you’re on your way to conquering the city. The key ingredient in the New York attitude is money. If New York had mills, they would be alive, I think, with the sound of money. This is the city that invented, along with “power lunches” and “street smarts”, the phrase “time is money”. In New York City everything is money. It costs money just to stand still. Can you believe $ 10 – 15 per hour to park your car in midtown?

Being a New Yorker is something that New Yorkers do better than anyone else. It’s an around-the-clock business and they work hard at. Whatever you want to say about them, New Yorkers do their homework. It doesn’t matter how much they earn or how much they’re going to spend: everyone is an expert. They all know where to get the greatest hot dog in town, find the cheapest florist, which movie theater has the best sound system, and which is worth seeing on Broadway. Not that any two lists are ever the same. No one is supposed to agree. The important thing is having an opinion. So, knowing where to go and how to get there is an integral part of the New York attitude.