Text 14 New Year's Day, or Hogmanay

People all over Britain celebrate the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. In Scotland, Hogmanay- as it is called there - is almost as important as Christmas. The Scots take New Year's Eve very seriously, and anyone unwise enough to try to sleep at midnight is likely to be woken up by a band of "first footers". First footers go from house to house after midnight carrying lumps of coal (seen as-symbols of good luck) and they expect a glass of whisky in each house they visit!

lumps of coal – куски угля

The famous people of America Text 1 Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is the most famous example of the "American dream". Many Americans think that in their country a man may rise from the lowest to the highest position in their land. That was exactly what Lincoln did.

He was born in 1809 in a small farm in Kentucky. He hardly had any education; he only learned to read and write and do simple arithmetic. In 1830 he became a clerk in a store and worked hard to improve his education. In 1836 he became a lawyer.

He entered politics, too, and in 1834 became a candidate to the Parliament of Illinois. He soon became a force in the political life.

Slavery was then becoming a burning question in American politics. Many people in the northern states wanted to abolish it; the Southern states opposed the abolition.

In 1860 Lincoln was elected President of the USA. In 1861 seven states left the Union and elected their own President, Jefferson Davis.

Lincoln was strongly against slavery and even more strongly against the break-up of the Union. In 1862 the American Civil War between the North and the South began.

People admire Lincoln for political moderation. They admire him because he tried to preserve the nation. He is a symbol of American democracy.

Vocabulary

to rise from the lowest to the highest position – подняться из низов до высшего положения в обществе

to enter politics – начать политическую карьеру

a burning question – больной вопрос

to abolish – отменить, запретить

the break-up of the Union – развал Союза

to admire smth. for political moderation – восхищаться чьей-либо умеренной политикой

to preserve the nation – стараться сохранить нацию

Text 2 Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. At the age of seven he entered school but left it very soon. His mother then became his teacher. He had wonderful memory.

Edison began to work when he was twelve. His first job was a newspaper boy on "a train. He had a small laboratory in the baggage car of this train. There he carried out experiments. Edison kept records of all his experiments. Then the next five years he worked as a telegraphist.

In 1877 Edison invented a phonograph. This talking machine both recorded and played back. 11 resembled the present day tape recorder more than a record player.

Thomas Edison invented' the first working light bulb in 1879, but no one knew how to use electricity outside of a laboratory before Edison. He and his workers had to create a safe electric system.

Edison carried out experiments from morning till night. All his inventions were the results of his endless work. He sometimes made thousands of experiments. For months he slept no more man one or two hours a day.

Edison continued to work all through his long life. He attributed his success not so much to genius as to hard work.

Edison's inventions include the phonograph, or gramophone, the megaphone, the cinematograph, the improved lamp of incandescent light, many greatly improved systems of telegraphic transmission and numerous other things.

Thomas Edison was a true genius, he became one of America's most famous and most honored man.