Speech practice

Ex. 73. Be ready to discuss the topic by doing the following tasks.

Task 1. Answer the questions to the text.

1. Why is cadets’ life a busy time?

2. What do cadets obtain during the BCT?

3. What occupies every day at the Academy?

4. When do cadets get up?

5. When do cadets have their morning inspection?

6. Do cadets have a definite schedule?

7. When do the lessons begin?

8. Why is the curriculum the foundation of the academic program?

9. What do cadets learn to do at the Academy?

10. What are cadets’ barracks?

11. Who regularly inspects cadets’ barracks?

12. Do cadets have time for sports, fun and relaxation?

13. What does the Sport Center consist of?

14. How many leaves do cadets normally have?

15. Where do cadets have breakfast, dinner and supper?

Task 2. Point out the false statements and correct them.

1. Cadets have medical examinations before their Basic Cadet Training.

2. To achieve high standards, cadets must learn how to make beds and clean rooms.

3. The transition from civilian to a military life is difficult but interesting.

4. Cadets participate in a unique sport program at the Academy for fun and relaxation.

5. Officers’ barracks are modern and comfortable.

6. The Academy schedule is busy, so the food is of high quality.

7. The academic program helps to develop professional and personal skills necessary for a future career.

8. All cadets dine together in the barracks.

Task 3. Fill in the blanks.

1. During first weeks at the Academy cadets have … and begin their Basic Cadet Training. 2. During this period cadets obtain the basic … essential for their future challenging careers. 3. Cadets learn how … their time, polish boots and shoes, make beds and clean rooms. 4. Life at the military Academy is very… . 5. Classes and study, physical education, …, and recreation fill many hours of the day. 6. The daily … begins early. 7. Cadets learn how to properly wear the various… . 8. Cadets practice drill and learn how to prepare for … . 9. Cadet barracks are modern and … . 10. Officers … inspect cadet accommodation. 11. All cadets … two periods of leaves. 12. All cadets … together in the mess.

Task 4. Enlarge on the following.

1. The first weeks at the military Academy are a busy time for cadets.

2. Cadets are perhaps the busiest students in the country.

3. The daily routine begins early.

4. The curriculum is the foundation of the academic program.

5. Cadet barracks are modern and comfortable.

6. The expression that "every cadet is an athlete" is quite accurate.

7. The food is of high quality.

Task 5. Ask and answer questions to get more information on cadets’ life at the military Academy.

Model: When … cadets (to get up)? – When do cadets usually (always, normally) get up at the military Academy?

1. When … cadets (to have breakfast)? 2. When … the classes (to begin)? 3. How long … the classes (to last)? 4. When … cadets (to have lunch)? 5. When … cadets (to have) Commandant Time? 6. When … the classes (to start) in the afternoon? 7. When … cadets (to take part in) athletics or other activities? 8. When … cadets (to have) free time?

9. When … cadets (to have supper)? 10. When … cadets (to prepare) for the next day? 11. When … cadets (to go) to bed?

Typical Daily Schedule

MORNING 6:00 – Reveille 6:55 – 7:30 Breakfast 7:35 – 11:45 Class or study	EVENING 6:30 – 7:15 Supper 7:15 – 7: 30 Cadet Duties 7:30 – 8:30 Study Conditions/ Extracurricular activities 8:30 – 11:30 Study Time 12:00 – Lights Out
AFTERNOON 12:05 – 12:40 Lunch 12:45 – 1:40 Commandant Time 1:50 – 3:50 Class or study 4:10 – 5:45 Club or intercollegiate athletics; parades; extracurricular activities; or free time

Task 6. Match the two columns and give your opinion to the sentences made up using the following expressions.

No doubt, that … ; To my mind…; That`s why … ; Moreover … ; As far as I know … ; As far as I remember …; That`s probably why … ; In my opinion…; I really think that … .

Model: No doubt, that the cadets of the Academy are the busiest college students in the country.

1. The cadets of the Academy are … 2. At the Academy classes and study, physical or military training and … 3. Cadets are busy, but … 4. The collegiate sport program … 5. All cadets receive two … 6. The transition from civilian to … 7. Cadets practice drill, learn how to prepare for inspections and… 8. Cadets live in modern and comfortable barracks, which are … 9. Officers regularly … 10. Cadets have … 11. The food is of high quality …

1. … is unique at the Academy. 2. … both recreational and study rooms. 3. … the busiest college students in the country. 4. … periods of winter and summer leave. 5. … inspect cadet barracks. 6. … recreation fill many hours of the day. 7. … a military life is challenging. 8. … to meet the needs of busy daily schedule. 9. … they still have time for fun and relaxation. 10. … how to wear various cadet uniforms properly. 11. …breakfast, dinner and supper in the mess.

Ex. 74. Fill in the scheme with the typical schedule of the military Academy you study at.

00 – Reveille	00 – Drill or Activity period
00 – Morning Inspection	00 – Preparation hours
00 – Breakfast	00 – Supper
00 – Classes	00 – Preparation hours or personal activities
00 – Dinner	00 – Evening Inspection
00 – Free time or practice	00 – Lights out signal

Ex. 75*. Compare cadets’ life described in Text A with that of yours. What is the difference between them, if any?

Ex. 76.*! It is interesting to know. Translate the Academy Honor Code Oath into Russian.

The end of BCT and transition into the academic year are marked by the Acceptance Parade. There cadets receive the fourth-class shoulder boards to recognize completing BCT and to signify their acceptance into the cadets’ corps. In a ceremony associated with the parade, new fourth-class cadets culminate the intensive BCT by taking the Academy Honor Code Oath and pledging to live by its principles. It is the end of one test but beginning of another – meeting the new and different challenges that each succeeding year at the Academy will bring.

"I, (name), have been appointed an Army cadet in the United States Armed Forces, do solemnly swear* that I will support* and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith* and allegiance* to the same; that I take this obligation* freely, without any mental reservation* or purpose of evasion*; and I will well and faithfully* discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God".

Notes:

solemnly swear	– торжественно клянусь
support	– поддерживать
faith	– верность
allegiance	– преданность
obligation	– обязательство
without reservation	– безоговорочно
without purpose of evasion	– без цели уклонения
faithfully	– преданно, честно

Scanning/skimming reading

Ex. 77. Look Text B through and do the tasks given below.

Task 1. Guess the meaning of the following word combinations.

1. the leading police institution; 2. historic reputation; 3. sleeping quarters / barracks; 4. recruit training; 5. water safety; 6. to specify; 7. an advanced technological base; 8. to select the relevant program; 9. a various range of activities; 10. to promote competitiveness and teamwork.

Task 2. Point out phrases or sentences from the text, which you think are the most informative or the most interesting ones.