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Examination Topics

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Examination Topics

Examination Topics

1. Some people think that school years are the happiest days in people’s

lives. Can you say that you have been happy at school? Why?

School is the traditional place for acculturating children into our

national life. In the modern age, the role assigned to our schools is to

prepare children for the literate public culture. Some students like

school, others don’t; but they all study for eleven years and gain

knowledge by doing different tasks. For students who are doing well in most

subjects and who want to get higher education, school is an attractive

place. But those who are not successful at school, and who are always

pressed by teachers and their parents, school is boring and uninteresting.

I think that the most important role of school is giving knowledge. I can

say that my school gives such knowledge, and that’s why I’m happy at

school. Most of my teachers have a lot of teaching experience; they

understand very well the difficulties of the learning process. They help us

to learn all subjects well. They also guide us and advise us on all aspects

of our study and life. They share their knowledge and experience with us,

and we respond with love.

If you want to study well, you must feel relaxed and happy with your

family, school and your social life. Your parents should understand you and

help you when you need their help. My parents usually help and support me

when I need it. We have our school psychologist who also helps us to

overcome difficulties and cope with our problems. The main purpose of our

school is to create a supportive and caring atmosphere for students.

The standard of education in our school is very high. I’m a rather good

student really. I don’t have many problems with the work; but I usually get

into trouble for talking, especially when I speak at the same time as the

teacher.

However I think that sometimes we have too much homework. Teachers and

parents insist that doing homework develops the student’s ability to work

without assistance, or that additional work could help us complete our

education successfully. But I believe, in many subjects, homework is

totally unnecessary, because it doesn’t do me any good. I think it’s really

stupid to copy from a textbook, and there is no point in duplicating the

textbook. And if we could get rid of unnecessary homework, we would have

more time to take up hobbies and interests.

School is not only a place of education; it is a place where we develop our

relationships, increasing tolerance and respect to each other. At school we

can enjoy different activities and demonstrate our individual talents.

Everyone has an opportunity to take part in different performances at a

school or class party, or to take part in different sport competitions.

These activities help us with our education and relationships among our

classmates. We want to have harmony in our class and among our classmates,

but it is rather difficult to achieve. Of course, we try our best to do it,

and in many cases we overcome our problems and solve them. And only

sensitive teachers can help us, because boys and girls are not passive

lumps of clay; they are living, pulsating, developing, mysterious beings

who must be studied and understood before they can be taught in the true

sense.

So a teacher plays an important role in our education, and when we remember

our school years we usually remember our teachers, if they were fair and

intelligent or not. I think that I’m a lucky person – almost all my

teachers are very interesting and intelligent. When our teachers criticize

us, they follow such rules: they try to correct a student’s action, not

him; they do not impress upon him that he has no abilities; they try to

contribute to the minds and souls of their students; they try to be a path

for their students to go through a dark forest of school rules. But I can’t

judge all teachers, because there are as many opinions how to treat a child

as there are people. Teachers must choose their methods themselves, but

they should remember that they influence and shape the student’s opinion

about their school. As for me, I think that in our school almost all

teachers understand the students and become like parents to us. They

support us and care for us. I’m happy at my school and so are my

classmates.

2. If you want to continue your education, what kinds of institution will

you attends? Explain your choice.

At the age of fifteen, students in Russia have to make some important

decisions. Will they continue on at school? Or will they enter a lyceum or

a gymnasium? Of course, it’s not easy to make the right choice. In our

country a nine-year education is compulsory and after the ninth form

students have an opportunity to choose. To enter a university or a college

it is necessary to study two more years, and take five examinations on

finishing the eleventh form. To get a professional education, students have

to enter a technical college or a vocational school and study for three

years. Finally, they may finish their education, leave school, and get a

job. The choice depends on their likes and dislikes.

When choosing a place for future studies, it’s a good idea to consider a

number of factors. First of all, we should take into account our own

preferences and find out what our talents are. We can do this through

aptitude tests, interviews with specialities, and consulting reference

books on the subjects that interest us. Different types of schools, for

example lyceums and gymnasiums, often specialise in various fields. They

can offer a good choice of subjects that will be useful in a future

profession. Most of them are affiliated with universities and colleges and

help pupils to prepare for their entrance examinations.

I am not sure what I am going to do when I leave school. By the time I

finish school I will have already formed a much better idea of what I’d

like to do. But the problem is we have to decide which subjects to study

for university or college two years before we finish school.

It’s not easy to make the right choice. There are a number of things we

could do. For some of the most interesting professions, like medicine, you

have to be very good at chemistry, and I am not much of a chemist. Although

my parents are doctors, I don’t seem to be very interested in caring for

others and helping them with their problems. I don’t think it’s the best

decision to follow in the footsteps of a parent or a relative if you are

not interested in this profession.

I have always wanted to be something like a computer programmer, because I

like computers and I am interested in knowing how computer programmes work.

Besides, I have an aptitude for working with figures and solving

mathematical problems. Maths is my favourite subject, and I am really good

at it. So I think I can work in a scientific or computational field. As far

as my personal qualities are concerned, I can say that I’m creative and

hard-working; I have good logical-reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Besides, I’m rather communicative and like to work in a team. So I feel I

can become a good specialist in programming.

To my mind the profession of a programmer has a lot of advantages. It is a

highly paid job, and it can offer many opportunities. I will be able to

work on the full range of development activities, such as analysis, design,

coding, testing and implementation. Computers are the most rapidly changing

sphere of modern technology. The next generation of computers will be able

to talk and even to think. We are living in the age of information. And I

think that the future will be just filled with computers. Today, in the USA

people work, go shopping, or even go on dates, sitting at their computers.

But to become a good specialist in computing, you should know a lot of

programming languages and application programmes. So after finishing school

it is necessary for me to enter a university or a college and to study

computer science. I’ll have to take three entrance examinations: in Maths,

Physics and Literary composition. If I am lucky, I’ll have the chance to

study interesting sciences, and to listen to the lectures of famous

professors.

However, it’s very difficult to pass entrance examinations. The school I am

now studying in is a comprehensive school with a standard curriculum.

Though the teachers here are very knowledgeable and experienced, my school

only offers general education. So after finishing the ninth form, I would

like to leave it and to enter a lyceum of information technologies. It

gives its pupils profound knowledge in Maths, Physics and other academic

subjects. Besides, pupils are offered a wide choice of elective subjects

connected with computers. They study different programming languages and

learn how to write programmes. The teachers there are friendly and well-

qualified. The lyceum is known for its academic excellence.

I hope my education at the lyceum will form a basis for my future

occupation. But it goes without saying that I’ll need some extra knowledge

to pass my entrance exams at the university or college. That is why I’ll

have to take preparatory courses in Maths and Physics. Anyway, I have to

get down to some hard work now, if I want to achieve my aims.

3. Choosing a profession is not an easy matter. What do you think can help

you to make the right choice?

What do you want to be when you grow up? We have heard this question many

times during our school years. Perhaps, it was difficult for us to give a

definite answer earlier. But now we understand that the time to choose our

future profession has come. Finishing school is the beginning of an

independent life for millions of school-leavers. Many roads are open before

us: technical schools, colleges and universities.

Centuries ago there were only a few jobs: people were farmers, bakers,

butchers or carpenters. Today there are thousands of different kinds of

jobs, and new ones are constantly appearing. No wonder that it is not an

easy thing to make the right choice.

When choosing a future career, we should consider different factors. In my

opinion, money is one of the most important factors when you make a choice.

There are highly paid jobs and low-paid jobs. For example, a businessman, a

president or a film star, are highly paid jobs. A worker, a doctor or an

engineer, are low-paid jobs. I think everybody wants to earn as much money

as possible. Training, promotional prospects and conditions should be also

taken into account.

On the other hand, it’s good when you get satisfaction from your job. It is

very important to choose a profession that suits your interests. In my

opinion, a job should be interesting and socially important. Some jobs are

considered to be more suitable for men and others for women. For example,

the professions of secretary or nurse are more suitable for women. A

lifeguard or a pilot are more likely the jobs for men. You should also

decide whether you want to work indoors or outdoors.

To make the right choice, you should take into account your traits of

character. It goes without saying that to become a good doctor you must be

patient, caring and kind. Teacher’s work requires love for children,

profound knowledge of subjects, and the ability to explain. A secretary has

to be efficient and careful in order to do her work quickly and accurately.

Salespeople need to be friendly and persuasive, to get people buy their

products.

There are so many people who influence us in choosing our occupation.

Parents and friends play a very important role in our choices.

My father works is a bisnessman. It is a highly paid job and it offers a

lot of opportunities. You can travel abroad and meet different people. My

father is a friendly person and he is easy to talk to. He thinks that I

must choose my future profession according to my taste and preferences. I

respect him but I want to become a programmer.

I have always been interested in computers. I’m rather communicative and

have good social skills. I have good analytical abilities and I am good at

problem-solving. Besides, I am good at English. English has become the

standard language for all kinds of international programs. To know English

today is absolutely necessary for every programmer.

But to become a good specialist in computing, you should know a lot of

programming languages and application programmes. So after finishing school

it is necessary for me to enter a university or a college and to study

computer science. I’ll have to take three entrance examinations: in Maths,

Physics and Literary composition. If I am lucky, I’ll have the chance to

study interesting sciences, and to listen to the lectures of famous

professors.

4. There are different ways of learning about the world: through the mass

media, books, travelling, visiting museums, meeting other people, etc.

Which ways do you prefer to learn about the world?

There are a lot of different ways of getting new information. In the past

the only way to learn about the world was traveling. The first travelers

were explorers who wanted to discover new lands. Nowadays, millions of

people travel around the world either for pleasure or on business.

Traveling has always been a part of people’s education. It teaches people

about the art and culture of different countries. It teaches them to be

understanding. Besides, you can improve your knowledge of foreign

languages. In my opinion, traveling is the most pleasant way of learning

about the world. It’s always interesting to discover different ways of

life, to visit different museums, to try different foods, and to listen to

different kinds of music. In brief, when we travel, we can learn a lot of

things that we can never see and learn at home.

But to travel around the world you need a lot of money. That is why the

main source of information for millions of people is mass media. Mass media

includes newspapers and magazines, advertising and radio, and, of course,

television.

Television is a reflection of the modern world. It gives you an opportunity

to travel all over the world, to see different peoples, and learn about

their customs and traditions. Television keeps you informed about the rest

of the world. When you need immediate information about the latest world

events, you switch the TV on. There are always a great variety of

programmes on TV: current affairs programmes and documentaries, plays and

feature films, talk shows and TV games. A lot of people like TV news

because they can see everything with their own eyes. Besides, TV has the

power to educate and broaden our minds.

Some people think that the only way to be in the know of everything is to

read newspapers and magazines. If you get on a bus or catch a train during

the morning and evening “rush hours”, when most people travel to and from

work, you will see a lot of people with their heads in a newspaper or a

magazine.

Newspapers are packed with the latest news, information, fashion and facts.

They cater to a variety of political views, interests and levels of

education. Papers are generally divided into “quality papers”, or

broadsheets, and “popular papers” that are half the size of broadsheets.

But the size is not the only thing that makes them different. “Quality

papers” are serious, with long, informative articles; while “popular

papers”, known as “tabloids”, have a more sensational reporting style and

contain more human interest stories than news. The two most popular British

daily newspapers, The Sun and The Daily Mirror, are both tabloids. Tabloids

sell many more copies than broadsheets.

In Russia we also have these two types of newspapers. For example,

Izvestiya or Kommersant are broadsheets. They contain political, business

and cultural information. Such tabloids as Megapolis-Express and Express

Gazeta contain the latest gossip, sensations and crossword puzzles. People

choose a paper according to their tastes and preferences. Though newspapers

don’t react to events as quickly as TV, they usually provide us with extra

details, commentaries and background information.

There are also a lot of magazines and other periodicals. Whatever your

interest, there is likely to be a magazine about it – from sport, cookery,

and farming, to religion, computers, cinema and more. Young people below

the age of 18 do not buy newspapers; but they do buy magazines. Girls enjoy

magazines about pop music, clothes, fashion and make-up; whereas boys

prefer to read about sport, cars and computers. As far as I am interested

in fashions I enjoy reading Yes. It is a monthly magazine for girls

containing the latest information about our favourite pop, film and soap

stars, brilliant fashions and beauty, sports and romance. It approaches

interesting subjects with intelligence and good humour. Besides, there is a

lot of useful advice on various areas of life.

Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good to listen to the radio in a

car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house.

Listeners can tune into all kinds of stations: pop or classical music,

news, sport or foreign radio stations. People can often call in and ask

questions about everything from cooking or car repair to politics or

health. Callers often get a chance to give their opinions on the air.

Besides, radio has fresher news than newspapers. They inform every half

hour.

The Internet has recently become another important source of information.

It is a computer system that allows millions of people around the world to

receive and exchange information about almost everything. The main use of

the Internet is to find information – for your schoolwork or job, or just

to find out more about your hobbies, sports or current events. All the

latest information is available to you in your home, at any hour of the day

and night. It’s much faster and easier to surf the net in search of

information from all over the world than to travel to libraries in dozens

of countries.

However, the real world of the Internet may not be as perfect as it seems.

With so much information available, finding what you want can take you

hours. Multimedia web pages with photographs are attractive, but they make

downloading slow and boring. Besides, there is too much advertising instead

of real information.

With so many modern forms of finding information, such as radio, TV and the

Internet, people read fewer books, newspapers and magazines. Nowadays, most

people consider television their most important source of information, and

a majority ranks television as the most believable news source. In my

opinion, we can’t say exactly which source of information is the best. It

depends on what kind of information you need. However, I don’t think we

should forget the educational value of reading a good book.

5. Travelling is one of the ways of discovering new countries. What

attracts tourists to Russia? What would you show your foreign friends in

your home town?

Millions of people all over the world are fond of travelling. They travel

to see other countries and continents, to discover different ways of life,

to meet different people and to practise foreign languages. It goes without

saying that travelling broadens the mind. While travelling we can see and

learn a lot of things that we can never learn staying at home and watching

TV or reading books. That’s why a lot of foreign people come to Russia to

get acquainted with Russian culture, with Russian customs and traditions.

Russia has always been a country of mystery attractive for foreigners.

There are lots of villages and towns in Russia famous for their specific

crafts: painted boxes in Palekh, wooden tableware in Khokhloma and toys in

Dymkovo. Thousands of foreigners visit Russia to enjoy the typical Russian

log houses, decorated with wood carvings.

Tourists like to visit old Russian towns and cities famous for their

ancient architecture. They are especially attracted by Russian orthodox

cathedrals, churches and monasteries. One of the most interesting old

cities in Russia is Novgorod, or Novgorod the Great, as it was called in

the old times. It is a treasury of architecture, painting and applied art

created over the 11th to 17th centuries. The first records of the city on

the Volkhov River date back to the year of 859. Now Novgorod has expanded

far beyond its former limits. It is an important industrial and cultural

centre, located on the busy highway linking Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The focal point of the city is the Detinets, or the Kremlin. The present-

day Kremlin stems largely from the 15th century. Several alterations made

in the 16th and 17th centuries were minor and did not affect its

appearance. Novgorod’s contribution to the development of Russian culture

is outstanding. No other city excels Novgorod in the number of ancient

monuments of architecture. The Novgorod Museum of History, Architecture and

Art shows visitors the history of the medieval Novgorod. Its artistic value

lies primarily in its collection of medieval icon painting.

There is a lot to see in Russia, but first of all foreign tourists visit

the capital of our country, Moscow, its political, economic, commercial and

cultural centre. They dream of visiting Red Square, which is called the

heart of Moscow. Perhaps, the most ancient monument of Red Square is St.

Basil’s Cathedral. With its nine beautifully painted cupolas, it is a real

masterpiece of ancient Russian architecture.

If you come to Moscow for the first time, you should by all means visit the

Kremlin, which is very impressive. On the territory of the Kremlin you can

see old cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the State Kremlin

Palace, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in

the world. The tallest Kremlin tower, the Spasskaya Tower, has become the

symbol of the country.

If you leave the Kremlin by the Trinity Gate you will come to the

Alexandrovsky Gardens. The first thing to do in the Gardens is to stand by

the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, still and silent. Not far from the

Alexandrovsky Gardens, behind the Bolshoi Kamenny Bridge, you will see

Christ the Saviour Cathedral, with its huge beautiful gilded dome.

Foreigners are usually surprised by the number of churches and cathedrals

in and around the city. There are also a lot of beautiful palaces, old

mansions and monuments in Moscow.

There are more than 80 museums in our capital. The largest museums are the

Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, whose collections include works of art of the

ancient Orient and ancient Egypt, and the State Tretyakov Gallery, which

houses a rich collection of Russian painting and Russian icons. Other

unique museums in Moscow are the State History Museum, the All-Russia

Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art, the Polytechnical Museum and

many others. Moscow is famous for its theatres, too. The best-known of them

is the Bolshoi Opera House. Drama theatres and studios are also very

popular.

Another interesting place to visit in Moscow is the All-Russia Exhibition

Centre which occupies an area of 530 acres. The Exhibition Centre is

situated in a beautiful park. The most admired feature of the Exhibition

Centre is its fountains. The “Friendship of the Nations” and the “Stone

Flower” fountains are the most beautiful. The Exhibition Centre is a large

cultural and commercial complex where different international exhibitions

and fairs are held.

One of the most famous sights of the city is the Moscow Metro and a journey

by Metro will be unforgettable. In the Metro you do not feel as if you’re

underground. This is due to the unique architecture and the artistic design

of the stations, which are more like palaces. No two stations are alike;

most of them have their own appearance.

Of course, every foreigner should visit St. Petersburg, the second largest

city in Russia and one of the most splendid cities in the world. It was

founded in 1703 by Peter the Great at the mouth of the Neva River. Now it

is an important industrial, cultural and educational centre.

St. Petersburg is indeed a wonderful city: at every turn there is something

to catch your eye. The Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Peter-and-

Paul Fortress, and the Admiralty Building attract thousands of tourists

from every corner of the world. Petersburg’s many museums house some of the

world’s most famous art collections. The Hermitage and the Russian Museum,

for example, contain the richest collections of pictures in the world.

The city is called the Northern Venice, because there are 65 rivers,

branches and canals there with artistically decorated bridges. It’s also

famous for its beautiful white nights.

There are a lot of Hero-cities in our country. And I would recommend that

my foreign friends visit one of them. Volgograd is a legendary city,

because here in 1943 the Soviet Army won the great and glorious victory

over the fascists. The city was completely ruined during the war, but now

it is a beautiful city again. It stands on the banks of the great Russian

river Volga. The symbol of Volgograd is the Mamaev Hill. It was the centre

of fighting during the heroic defence of Stalingrad. Now there is a great

memorial there. Besides, you can visit the Stalingrad Battle Panorama

Museum, which is situated on the bank of the Volga River. The centre of

Volgograd is the Square of the Fallen Heroes. In the middle of it there is

a granite obelisk and the common graves of the heroes of the Civil War and

the Great Patriotic War. At the foot of the memorial you can see the

Eternal Flame. Now Volgograd is a big industrial and cultural centre.

There are a lot of other interesting towns and cities in Russia, which are

all worth visiting.

6. Every country is special. What comes to your mind, when you think of the

UK and its people?

The British Isles is the name for a collection of about 4000 islands,

including Great Britain and Ireland. Great Britain, known as Britain or GB,

is the name for the largest of the Islands in the British Isles. It

includes England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom or UK is a

political term which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern

Ireland. All of these countries are represented in Parliament in London,

and the abbreviation UK is used on most official documents produced by

Parliament. Everybody from the UK is British, but be careful: only people

from England are English. People from Wales think of themselves as Welsh;

people from Scotland as Scottish; people from Northern Ireland as either

British or Irish.

Britain is split into counties. The word county describes an area with its

own local government. County councils are elected to run things, such as

education, housing, town planning, and rubbish disposal. They look after

things like roads, libraries and swimming pools.

The British flag, known as the Union Jack, is a combination of three flags:

the Saint Andrew’s cross, the Saint Patrick’s cross and the Saint George’s

cross.

The Saint Patrick’s cross is the former flag of Ireland. Saint Patrick is

the patron saint of Ireland. He was born about AD 390. He converted the

Irish to Christianity. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17 March. The

symbol of Northern Ireland is a shamrock and a red hand.

The Saint George’s cross is the English flag. Saint George is the patron

saint of England. He was a soldier famous for saving the Princess Cleolinda

from being eaten by a dragon. Saint George’s Day is celebrated on 23 April.

The symbol of England is a red rose.

The Saint Andrew’s cross is the Scottish flag. Saint Andrew, a fisherman,

was one of the 12 apostles who followed Jesus Christ. Paintings of Saint

Andrew often show him being crucified on an X-shaped cross. Saint Andrew’s

Day is celebrated on 30 November. He is the patron saint of both Scotland

and Russia. The symbol of Scotland is a thistle.

The Welsh flag shows a dragon. Saint David, the patron saint of Wales,

converted Wales to Christianity and established the Welsh church. Paintings

of Saint David show him with a dove on his shoulder. Saint David’s Day is

celebrated on 1 March. The symbol of Wales is a daffodil or leek.

London is the capital city of England and the UK. It is a place where the

invading Romans first crossed the River Thames. They built a city and

called it Londinium. This original site of London is now called the City of

London. London manages in a unique way to reflect the past and, at the same

time, to live a life of a modern city. The saying “When a man is tired of

London, he is tired of life” means that you can’t be bored in London. There

are hundreds of historic buildings, galleries and museums in London.

As for me, I’m fond of history and I’ve read a lot about English kings and

queens. I’d like to visit all places in London which are connected with

Royal London, such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall and

Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. And I’d

like to visit places which are not in London, such as Windsor Castle, the

Queen’s house in Greenwich, the Palace of Holyrood house in Edinburgh and

other places in the UK which are connected with the Crown. The UK is famous

for its castles such as Edinburgh Castle and Leeds Castle and others, and

I’d like to see them with my own eyes. Another place which is worth seeing

is Madam Tussaud’s Museum of Waxworks. This museum consists of several

halls with wax images of outstanding political characters, poets and

writers, world-famous film stars and musicians. Then I’d like to see one of

the wonders of the world – the famous Stonehenge. Every year thousands of

young people go to Stonehenge to take part in the midsummer Druid festival.

I wish I were there.

Palace of Holyrrodhouse in Edinburgh

In the House of Lords, the Chancellor sits on a sack of wool. This

tradition comes from old times when sheep wool made England rich and

powerful. In the House of Commons there are two rows of benches: one row is

for the government and the other one is for opposition. There is a red line

in the carpet in front of each “front bench”. The person who is speaking is

not allowed to step across it. It is also a tradition from old days, when

that division prevented the two parties from fighting during the debates.

Even the Legislation of the country is traditional. It includes many laws

that haven’t been changed for centuries. Other traditional features of

Great Britain are the numerous clubs that unite people of various

interests; and the pubs, the local beer halls, where Englishmen like to

spend their time talking, discussing traditional matters: politics, sports,

and weather, over a glass of beer. The British have a reputation of being

conservative, for having established values without questioning their

validity. They drive on the left side of the road and use double-decker

buses. They stick to their own measurement system and continue to measure

distances in miles and yards (not in kilometres and metres). They buy

cheese in pounds and ounces, milk in pints, petrol in gallons.

Fire-place

English people are famous for their habit of politeness. It is considered

polite to give up one’s seat to a woman who is standing, to open a door for

her, carry things for her, and so on. Most British people expect the person

in front of them to hold the door open for them. People think you are rude,

if you don’t do this. English people are very reserved. This means that

they don’t talk much to strangers, and don’t show much emotion. A reserved

person never tells you anything about himself. But the people of the North

and West of Britain are much less reserved than those of the South and

East. Most British people queue when they are waiting for a bus or waiting

to be served in a shop. But during the rush hour, when a bus or train

arrives, people often push forward to make sure they get on. This is called

jumping the queue. British people keep their old traditions and are very

proud of them. They are famous for their sense of humour. English people

show great love for animals. And, of course, English people are fond of

sports. Many continentals think life is a game; the English think cricket

is a game. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of

behaviour. When they consider something unfair, they say “That isn’t

cricket”.

Cricket

The traditional love of English people for tea is well known. They like to

drink tea with milk. They have their five-o’clock tea not only at home or

in offices, but also in tea-rooms and tea-shops, which can be found in

every town.

A nation is born from its land, its history, its art, its traditions and

its institutions. These things work together to make people what they are.

But above all, a nation is made up of people, and although there are things

they all share, all of those people are different. We can say there is

still a “British nation,” and one of the most characteristic features of

Englishmen is their traditions, which they respect, and which they have

kept for centuries. The traditions don’t only accumulate the experience and

wisdom of many generations, but they bring some stability into the rapidly

changing world.

7. Each country takes pride in its own achievements and success. What makes

you feel proud of your country?

Our country is great, and I’m very proud of it. Russia is famous for its

outstanding people – scientists, writers, poets, travellers and explorers.

Russia is a stable and democratic society. Its citizens have many freedoms,

among them the freedom of speech, religion and the press. Russia is a

member of the United Nations. Russia is one of the largest trading

countries. It has a lot of energy resources and exports oil and natural

gas. Russia has for centuries encouraged research and innovation and it has

a lot of achievements throughout the twentieth century. Nobel prizes for

science, literature and peace have been won by Russian citizens. In the

fields of art, media and sports, Russia enjoys an international reputation.

Russia has nuclear weapons, a strong army and remains a widely-respected

country.

For ages mankind was dreaming of travelling in the space. The science

itself came later. K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the great Russian scientist, is the

father of the theory of interplanetary travels. His words that “mankind

will not remain on the Earth forever” came true. On 4 October 1957 the

Soviet Union launched the world’s first satellite “Sputnik”. This word,

“sputnik”, immediately began to be used in all languages. The first

cosmonaut on the Earth to fly into space, Yuri Gagarin, was from Russia,

and he made his flight around the Earth on 12 April 1961 that lasted 1 hour

48 minutes. Years will pass, people will conquer the Universe and make

landings on other planets, but mankind will always remember Yury Gagarin as

the first to pave the way to the stars.

Russia is also famous for its ancient churches, cathedrals, and towns.

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is famous for its monuments to outstanding

people, churches, galleries, theatres, squares and streets.

The heart of Moscow is Red Square. It’s my favourite place in my native

city. I show it to all my guests from different countries. It is our

history, and I’d like to tell you some facts about the buildings on it. St

Basil’s Cathedral was built in 1551–1561 after the victory over the Kazan

Kingdom. It’s a magnificent Cathedral, with eight churches placed around

the tallest ninth one. There is a monument to Minin and Pozharsky in front

of the Cathedral. It was built in 1818 and it was the first statue put up

in Moscow. Minin and Pozharsky were heroes of the people’s struggle in the

war against Poland in 1612. You can see Lobnoye Mesto near the Cathedral.

It was erected in the 16 century; the tsar’s orders were read from it, also

it was used as a place for execution. The tallest tower of the Kremlin is

the Spasskaya Tower. It’s also on Red Square. It’s one of the symbols of

Moscow, because the Kremlin clock, made in the 16th century, is on it. The

clock strikes on the hour, half hour and quarter of an hour. The Lenin

Mausoleum is in the centre of the square. It was at first made of wood; and

in 1930 it was rebuilt, and made of stone, brick, marble and granite. The

State History Museum was opened in 1883. It has a rich collection of

documents, drawings, pictures, and materials about the country’s past and

Russia’s great people. The State Department Store (GUM) is one of the

largest department stores in the country. It is an impressive building with

a glass roof.

Of course the most ancient part of Moscow is the Kremlin. Nowadays the

Kremlin centre looks truly magnificent, with its many-domed cathedrals in

Cathedral Square and with its Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon.

A very interesting place in Moscow is the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

The original cathedral was erected by order of Emperor Alexander as a token

of the Russian people’s gratitude to God for the deliverance of Russia from

Napoleon’s invasion in 1812. In 1931 it was demolished by order of Josef

Stalin. In 1995, Moscow’s Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and the world-famous musician

Mstislav Rostropovich laid the first stone in the foundation of the new

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Today you can admire this Cathedral in the

centre of Moscow.

People in Russia keep their old traditions and are very proud of them. They

celebrate religious holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and Maslenitsa.

They eat traditional food for Maslenitsa such as pancakes with honey,

caviar or sour cream; they colour eggs; bake kulich cakes; make a paskha

out of cottage cheese for Easter. Many Russians are religious people. The

main church in Russia is the Orthodox Church, but there are other religions

too. The Orthodox Church has survived during hard times, and now we speak

about a rebirth of religion in our country.

Russian people are open-hearted, hospitable, and friendly. They like to

invite guests to their homes and cities; they like to give traditional

souvenirs to their foreign friends such as matryoshka dolls, beautifully

painted mugs, plate and spoons from the village of Khokhloma, Palekh boxes,

art books, badges and etc.

We are proud of our famous and talented poets and writers such as Alexander

Pushkin, Michael Lermontov and many others. We are proud of our famous

composer Peter Tchaikovsky and one of our famous artists, Isaak Levitan. We

can see his paintings and the paintings of other outstanding Russian

artists, such as Repin, Vasnetsov, Shishkin, Surikov, Benua, Korovin, etc.,

in the Tretyakov Gallery. It is one of the most famous and well-known

picture galleries in our country and in the world. It is situated in the

centre of Moscow and is named after its founder Pavel Tretyakov. He began

to collect Russian paintings in 1856. He was a famous patron of arts. In

1892 Tretyakov donated his collection to Moscow.

Russia is proud of its famous sportsmen who win a lot of gold, silver and

bronze medals in different international sports competitions.

So, I’m very proud of my country, my native city and the people who brought

a lot of fame to my country. And I invite everyone, who has never been to

my country, to visit it, and to see its achievements with their own eyes.

8. What famous people from Russia would you tell your foreign friends

about? Which famous British and American people do you admire? What

made/makes them famous?Each country is proud of its famous people, and

Russia is among them. I’d like to tell you about Russian famous writers,

poets and musicians, because I’m fond of literature and music. A. Pushkin

is the most important Russian writer and poet of all time. He is like

Shakespeare in England. He provided the standards for Russian arts and

literature in the 19th century. In 1823 Pushkin began writing his

masterpiece “Eugene Onegin”. It became his linguistic and literary

standard. It is a commentary on the life of early 19th century Russia.

Pushkin also wrote a lot of other poems and created masterpieces in drama

and prose. All Russian people know Pushkin. Galleries and museums were

named after him. In the centre of Moscow there is a monument to Pushkin

built by the famous Russian architect Opekunshin in 1880. Pushkin’s

memorial museums in different cities attract many visitors. One of the

other famous poets and writers in Russia was M. Lermontov. He won fame as a

poet after his poem on Pushkin’s death had been published. Lermontov’s

poems “Demon”, “Mtsyri”, his great novel A Hero of Our Time and his play

“Masquerade” are masterpieces of Russian literature.As for me I like

reading F. Dostoevsky and L. Tolstoy. They are famous Russian writers. I

like M. Bulgakov; Master and Margarita is one of the world’s masterpieces.

I often go to Patriarch’s Pond where the book begins. It has a special

atmosphere even now. I go there to be inspired. I like reading poetry, and

Anna Ahmatova is my favourite. Russian’s famous musicians and composers

such as Sergei Rachmaninov and Peter Tchaikovsky are recognized all over

the world. Tchaikovsky composed a lot of symphonies and created beautiful

music for operas and ballets. His famous operas “Eugene Onegin”, and

“Iolanta” and his famous ballets “The Swan Lake”, “The Sleeping Beauty” are

masterpieces. His memorial museum was opened in 1894 in Klin not far from

Moscow. And the international Tchaikovsky Music Competition started in 1958

in Moscow. S. Rachmaninov was an outstanding Russian composer and pianist.

He became famous with audiences around the world for his piano

performances.Great Britain is also proud of its famous people. And I’d like

to tell you about one of its famous writers A. Conan Doyle. He invented

Sherlock Holmes, one of the most famous characters and detectives. Arthur

Conan Doyle was born in Scotland. He was a doctor. In 1882 he moved to

England to set up a practice. One of the doctors he worked for, was the

model for Dr. Watson. Conan Doyle’s medical knowledge was a great help in

his detective stories. He started the fashion of the detective stories.

Nowadays I don’t know a person who doesn’t like detective stories. We know

a lot about Sherlock Holmes. We even know his address – 221 “B” Baker

Street in London. If you go to London, you won’t find 221 “B” Baker Street.

But instead, you can go to a pub called “The Sherlock Holmes” in

Northumberland Street (near Trafalgar Square). In that pub there is a room

like his room at 221 “B” Baker Street, as described in Conan Doyle’s

stories. There is also the stuffed head of a hound. It is said to be the

original “hound of the Baskervilles”. A lot of tourists visit this pub.

When Conan Doyle began to get tired of writing detective stories, he

“killed” Holmes in one of his stories. But the public didn’t like it. Conan

Doyle had to write another story in which Holmes came back. So we can say

that Conan Doyle was a famous British writer. He became popular because of

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