III. Writing

2) You have received an email from an English friend inviting you to spend Christmas in England.

Write an email of 50-80 words to your friend in which you:

• Thank him/her for inviting you

• Apologize for having to turn down the invitation

• Explain why you cannot accept the invitation

EXAMINATION CARD № 18

I. Reading

Read the text about and decide if the following statements T "True" or F "False".

Gold Rush

In 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, about 100 miles east of San Francisco, and the first great gold rush began. When the news leaked out, farmers, trappers, lawyers, preachers, sailors, soldiers, and school teachers rushed to California by whatever means they could. Within a year 100,000 people, only 8,000 of whom were women, had reached the coast of California. More than half of them had travelled overland across the American continent.

'Gold fever' began to spread. Settlements throughout the United States were deserted. Homes, farms, and stores were abandoned as everybody raced for California. Many came by sea, and in July, 1850 more than 500 ships were anchored in San Francisco Bay, many of which had been deserted by gold-hungry sailors.

A few people became fabulously rich, but it was a risky business. Law and order broke down. Even if a miner 'struck it rich' there were always those who would try to take it away: gamblers, outlaws, thieves, and saloon keepers. Gold and silver were discovered in Nevada a few years later, and 'gold fever' was an important part of the settlement of the western United States.

1. When the news about gold leaked out, people of different jobs rushed to California by whatever means they could.

2. Other discoveries were made in Victoria and Kalgoorlie.

3. Within a year 100,000 people had reached the coast of California.

4. Settlements through the USA were deserted.

5. This led to another stampede, and many rich finds were made.'

6. Many people came to California by sea.

7. A few people became fabulously rich, but it was a risky business.

8. In some places massive nuggets of gold were found accidentally, just lying about on the ground.

9. By the turn of the century gold had been found in South Africa.

10. Gold fever is in many ways irrational.

II. Use of english

Ukrainian Embroidery

All Ukrainian embroidery is covered with (0) B signs of Water and the Sun. The Sun is (1) …… depicted by a rosette or a flower with eight petals, whilst the (2) …… of Water brings to mind a coiled grass snake.

These are two elements which (3) …… earthly life and that is why they are to be interpreted as humid (or moist) material and fiery paternal (4) ……. . Symbols for the Earth and the Sun (5) ……. with Water (6) ……. the life-giving trinity, were incorporated in the Ukrainian embroidery since ancient time. They are signs of those (7) …… without which life itself is impossible.

The rhombus signs on the shoulders are symbols of the (8) …... Mother-Earth, which are (9) ……. sown, warmed by the Sun (10) …….. our life to grow in abundance. But the Earth itself is a part of the Universe with its multitudinous star system and our young Sun which for our ancestors was the embodiment of sacred, cosmic fire.

0.	A	holy	B	sacred	C	blessed
1.	A	often	B	frequently	C	repeatedly
2.	A	hint	B	suggestion	C	sign
3.	A	invented	B	created	C	designed
4.	A	strength	B	energy	C	forever
5.	A	united	B	attached	C	joined
6.	A	contain	B	hold	C	comprise
7.	A	powers	B	forces	C	affairs
8.	A	rich	B	fruitful	C	fertile
9.	A	generously	B	nobly	C	charitably
10.	A	admitting	B	granting	C	allowing