TEA-2009

ENGLISH language & culture 23 – 2009 1

ENGLISH language & culture 23 (455) – 2009

LANGUAGE WORKSHOP

TESTING READING CONTENTS

TEST 1 BINGO, THE STORY OF MY DOG

TEST 2 ART FOR HEART'S SAKE

TEST 3 WHAT DO THE STARS EAT?

TEST 4 SWALLOW'S NEST

TEST 5 ALL THINGS, FOR ALL PEOPLE, EVERYWHERE

TEST 6 BILL GATES

TEST 7 THE INTERNET

TEST 8 THE GIRL IN THE LAVENDER DRESS

TEST 9 WEAPON

TEST 10 THE GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN

TEST 11 LOVE YOUR PARENTS

TEST 12 DOGS

TEST 13 TOO WELL

TEST 14 LONDON BRIDGE

TEST 15 NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE

TEST 16 ANDRIYIVS'KYI UZVIZ

TEST 17 MIDDLE AGES

TEST 18 THE NORMANS

TEST 19 HARRIET

TEST 20 DELICIOUS TREAT

TEST 21 THE MAGICAL PICTURE-BOX

TEST 22 MARCO POLO

TEST 23 A CHEROKEE ALPHABET

TEST 24 ISLANDS FOR SALE

TEST 25 MYSTERIOUS EGYPT

ANSWER KEYS


TEST 1 BINGO, THE STORY OF MY DOG

B1 INTERMEDIATE

BINGO, THE STORY OF MY DOG by Ernest Seton-Thompson

During the winter I caught many wolves, but I thought I could catch still

more. So I went out to Kennedy's Plain again to set new traps. But I was not

careful enough while I was setting them. I was firmly caught across the hand

by a trap which I myself had set earlier. I had covered it so well with sand

that I did not see it. My friends had told me many times that I had to be

careful with those traps because I myself might fall into one of them, but I

never believed that it could ever happen.

I was not much frightened at what happened and tried to find the trap-

wrench, which I had thrown somewhere about. As I lay with my face down,

I could not see the key, and all my efforts to get it were in vain. While I was

trying to find the key with my right toot, I quite forgot about the other, and

the next moment trap No. 3 closed tightly on my left foot.

At first I did not think of the terrible situation I had got into, and

continued to struggle. But I soon found that all my efforts to get free from

the two traps were without success. And there I lay, quite alone and helpless.

What would become of me now? There was not much danger of freezing

because the cold weather was over, but Kennedy's Plain was almost never

visited by anyone at that time of the year. No one knew where I had gone, so

no one could come to my help. And the wolves were a serious danger. One

couldn't fight them in a situation like this.

As I lay there, the red sun went down. I began thinking about my warm

room, the comfortable supper-table and my friends who were sitting at it. I

dreamed that I was back with them again.

My little horse still stood as I had left him, not far from where I lay. I

called him and he looked at me. "What's the matter? Why aren't we going

home?" I could read in his eyes. I knew the animal would never go home

alone without me. It would be much better if he did, because this would help

my friends to understand what had happened to me.


But I knew that my little horse would not go, but would wait for me hour

after hour while I was getting more and more cold, hungry and weak.

Night came on. My horse had walked nearer to me and stood with his

head down. He felt that somewhere not far from us wolves were gathering.

And there I lay quite helpless.

The horse saw the wolves first. Though his terrified snort drove them

back, they came nearer next time and sat around me.

I shouted, shook my free hand at them, yet the wolves came nearer and

nearer as I grew weaker and weaker.

But suddenly they jumped back. One of the wolves fell on the snow dead.

I thought I was dreaming. I couldn't believe my eyes. Bingo! Bingo! It was

my dog Bingo who had killed that terrible wolf. He, a clever dog, felt that I

was in danger, and had come from the camp to save me.

Later my friends told me that Bingo had looked for me everywhere, but

could not find me. Then suddenly he had run out of the house and all their

efforts to stop him had been in vain.

"Bingo, old boy, bring me the trap-wrench, quick!" Away he went and

came back with my rifle, for he knew only that I wanted something.

"No, Bingo, — the trap-wrench!" This time he came back with my sash,

but at last he brought the wrench.

I worked hard with my free hand and a few minutes later I was free.

Bingo brought the horse up. It had got frightened when the wolves had come

nearer, and had run away. Now we were rеаdу to start for home.

Bingo was running in front of me. "You are a strange dog, Bingo," I

thought to myself.

"Though your heart is with me, you pass me sometimes without even a

look at me, and you leave me so often. You live the wolfish life that you

love so much".

Once I was away for some days and when I came home, I found Bingo

dead in the snow near the door. Perhaps, he had got poisoned and had come

to me for help. My dog to the last in his heart of hearts - now it was my help

he looked for, and looked for in vain.

He saved my life, but I was not in time to save his.


TASKS

1. Multiple Choice Questions

1. During the winter the man caught....

a) elks

b) wild boars

c) wolves

d) foxes

2. Kennedy's Plain....

a) was a very popular place for hunting

b) was not far from the village

c) was almost never visited by anyone at that time of the year

d) was an alluring place for children

3. What was the man doing in the Kennedy's Plain?

a) Hanging out bird-houses.

b) Setting new traps.

c) Making the wooden house.

d) Setting feeding-racks.

4. What happened to the man?

a) He was buried by an avalanche.

b) He fell into the fox's hole.

c) He fell into one of his traps.

d) He broke his leg.

5. All his efforts to get free from the traps were....

a) hopeless

b) without success

c) promising

d) successful

6. Everybody....

a) knew where the man had gone

b) was not interested where the man had gone

c) was eager to know where the man had gone

d) knew nothing where the man had gone


7. The man was thinking about....

a) his plans for future

b) a warm room, the supper-table and his friends

c) his children

d) his new job

8. Who came to save the man?

a) His friends.

b) Hunters.

c) His dog.

d) A rescue team.

9. How did Bingo help the man to get out of the trap?

a) He brought the sash.

b) He brought the rifle.

c) He called people for help.

d) He brought the wrench.

10. One day when the man came home he found ....

a) that his horse had run away

b) his dog dead in the snow near the door

c) his friends waiting for him

d) nobody in the house

2. True /False Statements

1. The man went to the mountains in winter.

2. The man was very careful while he was setting new traps.

3. Suddenly the man fell into some of his traps.

4. He easily got free from the traps.

5. Kennedy's Plain was often visited by people at that time of the year.

6. The wolves were a serious danger.

7. The horse went home alone without the man.

8. The dog felt that his master was in danger.

9. Bingo was a strange dog.

10. When the dog got poisoned, the man saved his life.

Submitted and designed by Alla DYMUNS'KA, a teacher of English, school # 1, Khmel'nyts'kyi

SELF CHECK


TEST 2 ART FOR HEART'S SAKE

by Rube Goldberg

Mr. Smith was sitting in his drawing-room reading the newspaper.

There was a knock at the door and his servant Koppel came in.

"Will you take your orange juice, sir?" the servant said gently to his master.

"No," answered Mr. Smith. "But it is good for you, sir."

"No."

"It's the doctor's order."

"No."

Koppel heard the front door bell and was glad to leave the room.

He found the doctor in the hall downstairs.

"I can't do anything with the old man," he said to the doctor. "He doesn't

want to take his juice. He does not want me to read to him. He hates the

radio. He does not like anything."

Doctor Jones received the information with his usual professional calm.

He had thought a lot about his patient since his last visit. This was not an

ordinary case.

The old gentleman was in rather good shape for a man of seventy-six.

But something had to be done with him. He had to be kept from buying

things. The fact is that the old man suffered greatly from his purchases.

He had had his last heart attack after his disastrous purchase of a railroad

in one of the Western States. Another attack was the result of the bankruptcy

of some grocery shops, which he had bought at a very high price. All of his

purchases of recent years had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice both to his

health and his pocket-book. The doctor had considered all this when he

entered his patient's room that day. He approached Mr. Smith smiling.

"Well, how's the young man today?"

"Umph," came from the figure in the arm-chair.

"I hear you don't obey orders," went on the doctor.

"Who can give me orders at my time of life?"

The doctor drew up a chair and sat down close to the old man.

"I've got a proposition for you," he said quietly.

The old man looked suspiciously over his spectacles.

"What is it? More medicine, more automobile rides, more nonsense to

keep me away from business?"


"How would you like to study art?"

"Nonsense."

"I don't mean seriously, just for fun."

"Nonsense."

"All right," the doctor stood up. "I just suggested it, that's all."

"Where did you get this crazy idea?"

"Well, it's only a suggestion."

"But, Jones, how can I start this if I am foolish enough to do it?"

"I've thought of that too. I can get a student from one of the art schools.

He will come here once a week and give you lessons. If you don't like it after

a little while, you can throw him out."

Doctor Jones went to his friend, the head of an Art Institute, and

explained the situation. The head found a suitable person. There was a

young man of eighteen named Frank Swain, who was a promising student.

He needed the money badly. He was working as an elevator-boy at night to

pay for his studies at the Institute.

The young man was introduced to the doctor. You may imagine how

delighted he was when he heard the doctor's offer.

Five dollars a lesson! Fine!

The next afternoon Frank was shown into Mr. Smith's study. The old

man looked at him appraisingly.

"Sir, I am not an artist yet," said the young man.

The old man murmured something.

Swain arranged some paper and pencils on the table. "Let's try and draw

that vase over there," he suggested.

"Umph." The old man took a pencil and made a scrawl. He made another

scrawl and connected the two with a couple of lines. Then he looked at the

result with satisfaction.

Frank was patient. He needed the five dollars.

"If you want to draw, you'll have to look at what you are drawing, sir.

Will you look at the vase again?" Frank said gently.

The old man obeyed.

Then he said: "The vase is really quite pretty. I never noticed it before."

At that moment the servant came in bringing a glass of juice for his

master.

"Oh, it's orange juice again," said Mr. Smith.

Frank left.


TASKS 1. Multiple Choice Questions 1. Mr. Smith was....

a) a close-fisted man

b) a boor

c) a kind-hearted man

d) a stubborn man

2. The old man suffered from....

a) cancer

b) buying up

c) heart disease

d) leukemia

3. Mr. Smith was....

a) a man of middle age

b) a retired man

c) an elderly man

d) at his forty

4. His last heart attack happened....

a) when he couldn't buy some grocery shops

b) after buying useless things

c) when his wife died

d) after hopeless purchase of a railroad

5. Mr. Smith....

a) ignored the doctor's orders

b) followed the doctor's advice

c) refused the orders

d) obeyed the orders without hesitation

6. The doctor suggested ....

a) more automobile rides

b) going in for sport

c) studying art

d) travelling around the world


7. A suitable person was....

a) a prominent artist

b) the head of an Art Institute

c) Doctor Jones

d) a young man of eighteen

8. When Frank heard the doctor's offer he was....

a) frustrated

b) delighted

c) confused

d) astonished

9. Frank needed money, that's why he was....

a) submissive

b) flattering

c) careful

d) indulgent

10. Mr. Smith....

a) liked his work

b) tore the picture

c) gave Frank the sack

d) rewarded his tutor

2. True / False Statements 1. Mr. Smith was a businessman.

2. Mr. Smith was seriously ill.

3. It was an ordinary case.

4. Mr. Smith looked quite well for his age.

5. His passion was old cars.

6. His business was flourishing.

7. Mr. Smith had to be kept from buying things.

8. Doctor Jones prescribed him more medicine.

9. Mr. Smith's love to animals cured him.

10. Mr. Smith became a prominent artist.

SELF CHECK


SOME IDEAS FOR CHECKING READING

TEST 3 WHAT DO THE STARS EAT? B1 intermediate

Read the article and choose the best answer (a-d) for questions (1-5).

WHAT DO THE STARS EAT? Film stars are everyone's favourite subject. People love to talk about

what they're wearing, who they're dating, and how much money they make.

But have you ever wondered about what they eat?

Chefs and caterers on film sets have the answers. "Every actor has

different eating habits," says Chef John Sharp. "Some stars love meat, while

others are strict vegetarians who don't eat meat, eggs, or fish. Some stars

love junk food, while others are constantly on a diet and eat only healthy

foods."

Ninety-nine per cent of the time, actresses are on a diet and insist on

eating only low-fat foods. During the filming of Now and Then, Demi

Moore ate nothing but Basmati rice, steamed baby spinach, green beans with

lemon, and turkey sandwiches on wholemeal bread. During the filming of

Twister, Helen Hunt only ate low-calorie foods, including poached eggs, dry

toast, and steamed brown rice with vegetables.

Other stars love to eat junk food, and never count calories during their

meals. Eddie Murphy's favourite food is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Whoopi

Goldberg doesn't worry about how healthy her diet is, and loves fatty bacon

sandwiches with lettuce, mayonnaise and lots of butter.

One thing for sure is that cooking for the stars is never easy, because

they are often fussy eaters. "They want food fixed exactly the way they like

it and always have something to complain about," says caterer Susan Tate.

Bill Murray won't eat watermelon with seeds in it, and Mickey Rourke

insists on freshly-squeezed carrot juice twice a day, but he won't drink it if it

sits for more than six minutes.

Cooking for the stars is hard work, but few of these caterers ever think

about changing jobs. "I love my work," says Susan Tate. "Where else can I

see what Michelle Pfeiffer eats for breakfast or what Al Pacino has for a

snack?"


TASK

1. Vegetarians don't eat....

a) apples

b) vegetables

c) meat

d) tomatoes

2. Most actresses eat....

a) low-fat foods

b) sandwiches

c) fatty foods

d) steamed vegetables

3. Who likes junk food?

a) Eddie Murphy.

b) Demi Moore.

c) Susan Tate.

d) Bill Murray.

4. Cooking for the stars is....

a) boring

b) difficult

c) easy

d) scary

5. Caterers on film sets should....

a) be fussy eaters

b) prepare only healthy food

c) change their jobs often

d) fix food the way each star likes it

From "Enterprise", Express Publishing Designed by Oksana IVANYUK, a teacher of English, school # 18, Khmel'nyts'kyi

SELF CHECK


TEST 4 SWALLOW'S NEST Read the article, choose the right answer.

SWALLOW'S NEST Once the famous Russian general brought a beautiful captive from war. In honour

of his last the most romantic love he built the unusual castle over the sea abyss for the

girl. It is unknown, if the girl loved the general, but once, when the famous warrior

returned from the battle bleeding, wounded, but alive, he did not find his beloved

there. Maybe she escaped with Turkish smugglers or jumped to the sea abyss, having

not awaited her general, who knows?

This legend is told to the curious tourists by Crimean old-timers. We do not

know, if it is true. However, in the oldest Crimean guide it is said that at the end of the

19th

century the house for the general seriously wounded during Russian-Turkish

campaign was really built on the edge of Avrorianska rock. It was a wooden building

with a veranda over the sea. Local residents called it ‘Generalif’ or ‘Castle of Love’.

A romantic castle ‘Generalif ’ was immortalised in the pictures of the marine

painter Aivazovs'kyi, artists Lagorio and Bogoliubov. At the beginning of the 20th

century picturesque places near Yalta were chosen for rest by the royal family, and the

house nearby Livadia Palace was bought by the court doctor Adalbert Tobin. The next

owner, Russian actress Rakhmanova, got only the half-ruined building. It is not

strange that soon, in 1911, she sold the house to Baku oil baron Steigel. Baron had an

artistic taste, appreciated the attractions of the landscape from the first view and

decided to build on site of a half-ruined wooden house something unusual,

harmonious to the romantic nasty sea and sharp rocks of Ai-Todor. Architect Shervud,

the son of the famous author of the project of Historic Museum in Moscow, satisfied

the baron's desire and built a slim small copy of a medieval castle on the rock. Baron

familiarised himself with legends of the region and gave the new building the old

romantic name "Castle of Love". But people called the building "Swallow's Nest".

Steigel turned out to be a German spy, sold his property during the First World War

and left the country.

Before the revolution the building belonged to the merchant Shelaputin, the

owner of "Pearl" cottage located nearby. During the civil war the castle on the rock

remained empty, and in soviet times it revived. At the time of the New Economic

Policy in 1927 the wonderful restaurant was opened here. It is strange, but in 1927

during the horrific 7-ball storm the last visitor left "Swallow's Nest" restaurant ten

minutes before the giant wave swept away the unusual tops of a medieval castle and

the huge fragment of the balcony.

However, the beautiful house was restored quickly and transferred to a

sanatorium for KGB servicemen built on site of "Pearl" dacha of the merchant

Shelaputin. During the Second World War "Swallow's Nest" was desolated. It was

restored again and opened for visitors only in 1968.

Since then every visitor of Crimea comes here in order to feel like a flying

swallow, watch the morning sun having bent over the balcony.


TASKS

1. Seriously wounded Russian general did not find his beautiful captive

because....

a) she turned into a bird and flew to the blue height

b) she escaped with Turkish smugglers

c) she jumped to the sea abyss

d) nobody knows exactly as it is a legend

2. In the oldest Crimean guide it is said that the house with a veranda over

the sea was....

a) wooden

b)rocky

c) stony

d) sandy

3. The owner who rebuilt the half-ruined house was....

a) the painter Aivazovskyi

b) the court doctor Adalbert Tobin

c) Baku oil baron Steigel

d) the architect Shervud

4. "Swallow's Nest" was devastated....

a) during the First World War

b) before the revolution

c) at the time of the New Economic Policy

d) during the Second World War

5. Previously the building on the edge of the abyss had the name....

a) "Swallow's Nest"

b) "Castle of Love"

c) "Pearl"

d) "Ai-Todor"

From the magazine "Meridian"

SELF CHECK


TEST 5 ALL THINGS, FOR ALL PEOPLE, EVERYWHERE

Read the article and fill in the headings. There is one which you don't need to use.

1. History of the Store

2. The Sales

3. Location & Management

4. Opening hours

5. Recommendation

6. Departments & Services

A. "Enter a Different World", it says on the doormat, and this is what you

do when you visit Harrods in Knights-bridge, London. Harrods is "the

world's most celebrated store," says Chairman Mr Mohamed Al Fayed.

B. In the beginning, though, Harrods was just a small grocer's shop. It was

opened in 1849 and run by Charles Henry Harrod. His son took over and

added medicines and perfumes, as well as fruit, flowers, sweets and a van

delivery service.

Over the years, Harrods has survived a fire, two World Wars and even two

bombings. In 1983, Harrods moved abroad and opened a branch in Japan

and later others in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, as well as airport

shops in most major European cities.

C. Today, around 35,000 people visit Harrods every day. It has got 300

departments spread over seven floors and employs over 4,000 staff. It also

has eight doormen, known as 'Green Men', as well as its own fire brigade,

security personnel, doctors and nurses.

Harrods is the official supplier of certain goods to the Royal Family, and

sells everything from clothes to caviar. The Food Halls are still the heart and

soul of Harrods. In addition to the nineteen bars and restaurants in the store,

there is a bank, a travel agent's, a dry cleaner's and the biggest hair and

beauty salon in Europe.

D. January and July are very busy months for Harrods because they are

sale times. Over 300,000 customers visit the store on the first day alone.

Many people sleep outside the store all night to be first in when the doors

open on the first day.

E. "All things, for all people, everywhere" is the store's motto. The

Harrods name means the best of British quality, service and style. All in all,

Harrods is a fascinating place to visit. From "Enterprise 2", Express Publishing

SELF CHECK


TEST 6 BILL GATES You are going to read a magazine article. Five sentences have been removed from

the article. Choose from the sentences (A-F) the one which fits best each gap (1-5).

There is one extra sentence which you don't need to use.

A. After finishing school in 1973, Bill went to Harvard, America's most famous

university.

B. One reason for his success is that Gates has always been very ambitious and

hard-working.

C. If you click on one of these words the web automatically connects your

computer to a new document or web site.

D. Everyone has heard of Bill Gates, one of the richest . and most successful people

in the world.

E. At school, Bill soon showed that he was very intelligent, and especially good at

Maths and Science.

F. When he does find time to relax, he likes puzzles, golf and reading about

science.

(1) .................. . Microsoft, the business he started with a friend in 1975, has become

the world's largest computer software company, and Gates was the world's youngest

billionaire at the age of 31.

His full name is William Henry Gates III and he was born on 28th

October, 1955,

in Seattle, USA. (2) .................. . His parents decided to send him to Lakeside, the

private school where he first began to use computers. 13-year-old Bill Gates and his

schoolfriend Paul Allen were soon spending all their time writing programs and

learning about computers instead of doing their schoolwork!

(3) .................. . The next year, he and Paul Allen wrote an operating program for the

Altair, one of the world's first microcomputers. The two friends started Microsoft in

1975, and Gates left Harvard. Before long, Microsoft was a major business success.

Since then, the company has continued to grow, producing most of the world's leading

PC software. (4) .................. . This has not left him much time for a normal personal

life, but in 1994 he married Melinda French, a Microsoft employee, and in 1995 he

wrote a best-selling book, The Road Ahead,

Bill has mixed feelings about spending so much time

running "Microsoft". "There are a lot of experiences I haven't

had, but I do like my job," he says. (5) .................. . For such a

rich person, his life is simple, and he spends little on himself and

his family. When it comes to helping others, though, Gates is

very generous. He has already given huge amounts of money to

charity, and says that he plans to give away almost all of his

wealth when he retires.

From "Enterprise", Express Publishing

SELF CHECK


TEST 7 THE INTERNET: FAQS (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) Read the information leaflet about the Internet, and match the questions (A-F) to the numbered

spaces (1-6), as in the example.

The Internet is without doubt one of the most important inventions in history. It was

started in 1968 by the US government, but at first it was used mainly by scientists.

Since 1990, when the World Wide Web was created, it has changed the world, and its

uses are growing every day.

1. A. What exactly is the Internet?

The Internet is a network (several networks, in fact) of millions of computers around

the world, connected by phone lines, satellite or cable, so that all the computers on the

net can exchange information with each other.

2. ..................

Not quite. The Internet links computers, and the World Wide Web is a system which

links the information stored inside these computers.

3. ..................

A company or organisation stores its information in electronic documents on one of the

Internet computers, somewhere in the world. This computer space - the company's web

site - has an address, in the same way that every telephone has a number. To visit a web

site, you simply enter the address. Your computer is connected to the web site, a

document is downloaded, and a page appears on your computer screen.

4. ..................

When you visit a web site looking for information, some words on the page may be

underlined, showing that there is more information about the subject in another

document. If you click on one of these words, the Web automatically connects your

computer to a new document or web site, even if this is stored thousands of kilometres

away. You're surfing the net!

5. ..................

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. You can also use the

Internet to read newspapers and magazines, play games, plan your holiday or buy

things from your favourite shop. E-mail makes it possible to send electronic messages

anywhere in the world in seconds, and you can use the Internet to 'chat' with people

and make new friends.

6. ..................

If you don't already use the Internet, all you need to get started is a computer, a modem

and a phone line. Using the Internet is getting cheaper and easier all the time. Are you

ready to surf the net? There's a whole exciting Internet world out there waiting for you!

A. What exactly is the Internet?

B. What do I need in order to use the Internet?

С. How do I "surf the net"?

D. That's the same thing as the Web, isn't it?

E. What can I use the Internet for?

F. What is a web site, and how do I visit one? SELF CHECK


READ WITH YOUR STUDENTS

TEST 8 THE GIRL IN THE LAVENDER DRESS

Suggested level ~ B1 intermediate

My grandmother was, I always believed, a truthful woman. She paid her taxes.

She went to church. When her children told lies, they had to go to bed without any

supper.

That's why the story that follows bothers me so much. It just can't be true. Of

course, Grandma was ninety-two when she told it to me. Her mind might have started

to fail. Who knows?

Anyway, I'll try to tell the story just the way she did. It was late at night. The two

of us were alone in her TV room. Grandma's eyelids hung low over her eyes. She

began:

It all happened about 1942 or 1943 (Grandma said). W e lived in Vermont in those

days. This time I'm thinking of, Herbert had some business in Claremont and I went

along with him. Claremont is in New Hampshire, just across the river.

We were approaching the town. It was a misty, cold night. It was after dusk when

we first saw her. Neither Herbert nor I spoke. He slowed down, and the girl stopped

walking. She just stood there on our side of the road. Not hitchhiking exactly. But she

sure looked like she wanted a ride. It was a lonely road, and there weren't many cars.

We stopped and I rolled down my window. She was a pretty little thing, about

eighteen or twenty. A round face and big eyes. Brown hair, cut straight. But the funny

thing was that she was wearing. Only a thin lavender party dress. In that weather!

Nobody said anything. I just opened the door. She climbed into the back seat. Herbert

started up again. Finally I asked her where she was going. "Claremont". That was all

she said at first. She had a light, breathless voice. Like it took a whole lung full of air

to say that one word.

"You are lucky," Herbert said. "We're going all the way". The girl didn't reply.

We rode on for a while. I turned around once or twice, but the girl just smiled.

Sort of sadly. Anyhow, I didn't want to stare at her. But who was she? Why was

she walking on a lonely road at night? I've never been the kind to pry into other

people's business. But I did offer my sweater to her, and she put it on. The mist turned

to light rain. Just before we got to the river, Herbert broke the silence. "Where are you

going in Claremont, Miss?" There was no reply. "It's starting to rain," Herbert said.

"And we've got time to deliver you".

"Oh," the girl breathed. "Could you really? That would be... That would be nice.

To my parents' house. Corner of Bond and Mason". "Claremont must be a nice place

to grow up," I said. But again, there was no sound from the back of the car. We

crossed the bridge and headed into town. Then Herbert turned right onto Bond Street.

We rode along, looking at the street signs. Mason was way out. There was only one

house on the corner, on the opposite side. Herbert made a U-turn and stopped the car.

There was no one in the rear seat!

I looked at Herbert. He looked at me, his eyes popping. I hunched up so I could

see the back floor. Nothing. Just a little wetness where her feet had been.


"Where did she get out?" Herbert asked.

"At a stoplight?" I wondered. But we both knew it couldn't be. It was a two door

car. We'd know it if a door opened. Both of us looked at the rear windows. They were

closed, as they had been. Neither of us had felt a draft.

Yet there had to be some explanation. "Come," Herbert said. We hurried toward

the house. Lights were on in nearly every room. The door had a name on it: J. R. Bul-

lard. It was opened by a long-faced man about fifty.

"Excuse me," Herbert said, "But there seems to be some mystery. You see, your

daughter..."

"Daughter?" said the man. "Why, we don't have any daughter." A small woman,

some years younger, now stood at his side.

"Well..." Herbert began.

"We did have a daughter," the woman said. "But Carol is dead, you see. She was

buried in Calhoun Cemetery four months ago."

Herbert gripped my arm. We both knew Calhoun Cemetery. It was on the

Vermont side of the river.

"Then who...?" Herbert wondered aloud. Suddenly he looked embarrassed.

"Excuse us," he muttered. "It's all a mistake."

"Just a minute," I said. "Would you mind telling us what Carol looked like?"

The couple exchanged glances. If they were worried, it was about us.

"A little on the short side," the woman said, almost to herself. "A round face. Big

round eyes. Dark straight hair cut in bangs." Herbert's hand had a very tight grip on

my elbow. We excused ourselves in a hurry.

Back in the car, we rode through the night. Then we drove around for hours,

looking. Across the bridge. Down every little road. Back into Claremont. Near every

stoplight. Along Bond Street.

But we both knew the search was futile. There was only one answer. What we'd

had in our car, sitting on the back seat and even talking, was the ghost of Carol

Bullard. And the amazing thing was that we had proof. A ghost, you see, cannot cross

water. That was why, when we came to the river, the ghost had only one choice: to

disappear!

Grandma stopped talking. I thought that was the end of her incredible story.

But no. There was more:

‘And that isn't all (Grandma went on). The next morning we came to think of my

sweater. It had disappeared with the ghost. It was a really good sweater. Almost new.

Now listen: it's like this. On the way home, we thought we'd pass by Calhoun

Cemetery. We wanted to find a certain gravestone. It would say "Carol Bullard" on it.

So we did just that. It took a long time. But finally we found the new graves. And

there, at last, was the stone. A small flat stone. Just "Carol Bullard" on it. No dates;

nothing more. But next to the stone, neatly folded up was my sweater!’

True — or not?

You decide.

/fermont


TASKS 1. Match the synonyms (all words are taken from the text).

1) truthful; a) respond;

2) fail; b) traffic lights;

3) approach; c) frank;

4) dusk; d) bend;

5) hitchhike; e) bring;

6) breathless; f) be unsuccessful;

7) reply; g) squeeze;

8) deliver; h) thumb;

9) hunch up; i) sunset;

10) stoplight; j) light wind;

11) draft; k) useless;

12) grip; 1) draw near;

13) amazing; m) fade away;

14) disappear; n) gasping;

15) futile; o) remarkable.

2. Fill in the gaps with the following words.

ourselves, seat, her taxes, dress, the silence, glances, road, story, of the car

1) paid ..............

2) lonely ..............

3) party ..............

4) back ..............

5) break ..............

6) back ..............

7) exchange ..............

8) excuse ..............

9) incredible ..............

10) grave .............. .

3. What do the following phrases mean?

- Her mind might have started to fail.

(Was she old enough to have the senile dementia?)

- But she sure looked like she wanted a ride.

(Did she ask to lift her up, why did the couple decide to help her?)

- Neither of us had felt a draft.

(Were the windows open?)

- Herbert's hand had a very tight grip on my elbow.

(What did Herbert feel and what did he decide to do?)

- We excused ourselves in a hurry.

(Were they afraid that the girl's parents would think they're nutty?)


4. Fill in the gaps with the words from exercises 1-2.

1. Everybody was looking for the wedding ring, but we didn't manage to find it, it ..........

2. Don't sit in the .............. , or you may catch a cold!

3. I just can't believe what you're saying, it's .............. !

4. She has been running for half an hour, and when she finally reached her destination,

she was .............. .

5. When we understood his mind left him, we didn't say anything, just exchanged …….. .

6. Little children must sit only in the .............. , not in the front places.

7. The letter was .............. in time, and we obtained the documents.

8. A real friend is a friend who would never .............. . .

5. Answer the questions.

1. Is this a real story?

Do you believe in such kind of stories?

2. Why did Grandma and Herbert drive that night?

3. Describe the weather of that night.

4. Who did they see on the road?

Why do you think they decided to pick her up?

5. Was the girl talkative?

Was the way she behave herself ordinary?

6. Why did Grandma give the girl her sweater?

7. Where did the girl ask the couple to deliver her?

What happened when they reached their destination?

8. Were the girl's parents anxious to hear from the couple?

9. How did the couple behave and why?

10. What did they find in the cemetery?

6. Say if the statements are true ( t) or false (F).

Correct the false statements.

1. You definitely can't trust the grandmother.

2. Herbert had some kind of business in Vermont, that's why they drove there.

3. A girl was hitchhiking on the road.

4. The girl asked them to drive her to the corner of Bond and Mason.

5. The girl's parents were happy to hear from their daughter.

6. Carol was buried ten years ago.

7. The couple found the sweater folded next to the gravestone.

Prepared by Lesia LYMAR, a teacher of English, Medical University named after Bohomolets, Kyiv

SELF CHECK


TEST 9 WEAPON The room was quiet in the dimness of early evening. Dr. James Graham, key

scientist of a very important project, sat in his favourite chair thinking. It was so still

that he could hear the turning of pages in the next room as his son leafed through a

picture book.

Often Graham did his best work, his most creative thinking, under these

circumstances, sitting alone in an unlighted room in his own apartment after the day's

regular work. But tonight his mind would not work constructively. Mostly he thought

about his mentally arrested son — his only son — in the next room. The thoughts

were loving thoughts, not the bitter anguish he had felt years ago when he had first

learned of the boy's condition. The boy was happy; wasn't that the main thing? And to

how many men is given a child who will always be a child, who will not grow up to

leave him? Certainly that was rationalisation, but what is wrong with rationalisation.

When the doorbell rang Graham rose and turned up lights in the almost-dark room

before he went through the hallway to the door. He was not annoyed, tonight, at this

moment, almost any interruption to his thoughts was welcome.

He opened the door. A stranger stood there; he said, "Dr. Graham? My name is

Niemand; I'd like to talk to you. May I come in for a moment?"

Graham looked at him. He was a small man, nondescript, obviously harmless —

possibly a reporter or an insurance agent.

But it didn't matter what he was. Graham found himself saying, "Of course. Come

in, Mr. Niemand." A few minutes of conversation, he thought to himself, might divert

his thoughts and clear his mind.

"Sit down," he said, in the living-room. "Care for a drink?"

Niemand said, "No, thank you." He sat in the chair; Graham sat on the sofa.

The small man interlocked his fingers; he leaned forward. He said, "Dr. Graham,

you are the man whose scientific work is likely, than that of any other man to end the

human race's chance for survival."

A crackpot, Graham thought. Too late now he realised that he should have asked

the man's business before admitting him. It would be an embarrassing interview — he

disliked being rude, yet only rudeness was effective.

"Dr. Graham, the weapon on which you are working..." The visitor stopped and

turned his head as the door that led to a bedroom opened and a boy didn't notice

Niemand; he ran to Graham.

"Daddy, will you read to me now?" The boy of fifteen laughed the sweet laughter

of a child of four. Graham put an arm around the boy. He looked at his visitor,

wondering whether he had known about the boy. From the lack of surprise on

Niemand's face, Graham felt sure he had known.

"Harry" — Graham's voice was warm with affection — "Daddy's busy. Just for a

little while. Go back to your room. I'll come and read to you soon."

"Chicken Little?"

"If you wish. Now run along. Wait, Harry, this is Mr. Niemand."


The boy smiled bashfully at the visitor. Niemand said, "Hi, Harry," and smiled

back at him, holding out his hand. Graham, watching, was sure now that Niemand had

known: the smile and the gesture were for the boy's mental age, not his physical one.

The boy took Niemand's hand. For a moment it seemed that he was going to

climb into Niemand's lap, and Graham pulled him back gently, saying, "Go to your

room now, Harry. I won't be long."

The boy skipped back into his bedroom, not closing the door. Niemand's eyes met

Graham's and he said, "I like him," with obvious sincerity. He added, "I hope that

what you're going to read to him will always be true."

Graham didn't understand. Niemand said, "Chicken Little, I mean. It's a fine story

- but may Chicken Little always be wrong about the sky falling down."

Graham had suddenly liked Niemand when Niemand showed an interest in the

boy. Now he remembered that he must close the interview quickly. He rose, in

dismissal.

He said, "I fear you're wasting your time and mine, Mr. Niemand. I know all the

arguments; everything you can say I've heard a thousand times. Possibly there is truth

in what you believe, but it does not concern me. I'm a scientist, and only a scientist.

Yes, it is public knowledge that I am working on a weapon, a rather extreme one.

But, for me personally, that is only a byproduct of the fact that I am advancing

science. I have thought it through, and I have found that that is my only concern."

"But, Dr. Graham, is humanity READY for such a weapon?"

Graham frowned. "I have told you my point of view, Mr. Niemand."

Niemand rose slowly from the chair. He said, "Very well, if you do not choose to

discuss it, I'll say no more." He passed his hand across his forehead. "I will leave, Dr.

Graham, but I wonder.... may I change my mind about the drink you offered me?"

Graham's irritation faded. He said, "Certainly. Will whisky and water do?"

"Admirably."

Graham excused himself and went into the kitchen. He got the decanter of whisky, a jug

of water, ice cubes, glasses. When he returned to the living-room, Niemand was just leaving

the boy's bedroom. He heard Niemand's "Good night, Harry" and Harry's happy "Night, Mr.

Niemand."

Graham made drinks.

A little later, Niemand declined a second one and started to leave. He said, "I took the

liberty of bringing a small gift for your son, doctor. I gave it to him while you were getting

the drinks for us. I hope you'll forgive me."

"Oh, of course. Thank you. Good night." Graham closed the door. He walked through

the living-room into Harry's room and said, "All right, Harry. Now I'll read to ..."

There was sudden sweat on his forehead, but he forced his face and his voice to be calm

as he stepped to the side of the bed. "May I see that, Harry?"

When he had it safely, his hands shook as he examined it, thinking, "Only a madman

would give a loaded revolver to an idiot."


TASKS

1. Match the synonyms (all words are taken from the text).

1) apartment; a) suffering;

2) mind; b) consciousness;

3) divert; c) uncomfortable;

4) crackpot; d) dwelling;

5) by-product; e) knee;

6) anguish; f) make;

7) embarrassing; g) distract;

8) lap; h) madman;

9) force; i) suggest;

10) offer; j) evidently;

11) obviously; k) derivative;

12) wonder; 1) doubt.

2. Match the words with opposite meanings. 1) dimness; a) boldly; 2) annoyed; b) brightness; 3) bashfully; c) smile; 4) frown; d) pleased; 5) harmless; e) empty; 6) affection; f) unsafe; 7) loaded; g) hatred; 8) advance; h) politeness; 9) rudeness; i) obscure;

10) obvious; j) regress.

3. What do the following phrases mean?

1. Key scientist —

a) a scientific worker who has the keys to some problem;

b) a leading scientific worker;

c) a scientist who has the keys to the laboratory.

2. It was so still.

a) Nothing in the room moved. b) Dr. was in a quiet mood. c) It was calm and quiet.

3. Mentally arrested son —

a) a boy that was put to prison for some mental disorder;

b) slight mental retardation of the boy;

c) mental development of the boy being in stop phase.

4. Turned up lights —

a) moved the lamps up; b) turned lights upside down; c) switched on the light.

5. Clear his mind —

a) get his thoughts in order; b) change his way of thinking; c) wash his head.

6. Lack of surprise —

a) full of surprise; b) small expression of emotions; c) absolute absence of astonishment.


7. Irritation faded —

a) anger became more prominent; b) annoyance got less expressive; c) he was furious.

8. Excused himself—

a) said he was sorry to do that;

b) he was excused by another person;

c) said sorry to leave his guest for a few moments.

9. My point of view —

a) my ideas; b) my eyesight; c) my spectacles.

10. I change my mind.

a) I change my haircut. b) I keep to the opposite thinking. c) I decide in a different way.

11. Under these circumstances —

a) under these conditions; b) under the emotional load; c) under the exhaustion of the day.

12. Took the liberty —

a) was free in his actions; b) kept to the liberal ideas; c) was bold enough to.

4. Explain the following phrases. 1. Any interruption to his thoughts was welcome. (Did he like being interrupted?)

2. It didn't matter what he was. (Did he care who came?)

3. You are the man whose scientific work is likely to end the human race's chance for survival.

(What might the research have led to?)

4. He should have asked the man's business before admitting him. (Ought he to ask the visitor

why he came?)

5. In dismissal. (Did he let him understand he was eager to continue their discussion?)

6. Wasting your time. (Was time spending in that way productive?)

7. It does not concern me. (Did it trouble the speaker?)

5. Fill in the gaps with the words from exercises 1-4.

1. When she saw a .............. gun, she .............. herself not to cry. This saved her life.

2. The children knew about new schoolmaster. He could understand that from the

.............. on the faces of the children when he told them about it.

3. It was extremely hard to concentrate because everything was aimed to ..............

my thoughts from the main idea.

4. Everything I need now to .............. is to sleep after the exhausting day. Then I'll be

able to produce the reasonable decision.

5. A child made his sister flush by different .............. questions.

6. A manager .............. us many different possibilities, but we haven't accepted any.

7. I disapprove this way of behaviour and this is my .............. .

8. Nobody would act in a different way .............. .

9. His ways of dealing with the problems were so .............. , that nobody could dare

to challenge him.

10. I .............. what we all could do to cope with the problem, to try to manage it.

SELF CHECK


TEST 10 THE GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN by Ray Bradbury

He turned back on a side street, strolling towards his own home. He was

within a block of his destination when the car turned a corner quite suddenly

and a fierce light flashed upon him. He stood entranced, stunned by the

illumination... A metallic voice called to him:

"Stand still! Stay where you are! Don't move!"

He halted.

"Put up your hands! Or we will shoot!"

The police, of course, but what a rare, incredible thing, there was only

one police car in the city! Since 2052, the election year, the police had been

cut down from three cars to one. Crime didn't exist, there was no need now

for police, and this lone car was wandering the empty streets.

"Your name?" said the police car in a metallic whisper. He couldn't see

the men in it for the bright light.

"Leonard Mead," he said.

"Business or profession?"

"I guess a writer."

"No profession," said the police car as if talking to himself.

"You may say so," said he. He hadn't written in years. Books weren't sold

anymore. People sat in their houses like in tombs lit by TV light, the tombs,

ill-lit by TV light, where people sat like the dead, the gray or multi-coloured

lights touching their faces, but never really touching them.

"What are you doing here?" asked the voice.

"Walking," said Leonard Mead. "Walking??"

"Walking, just walking," he said dimply, but his face went cold.

"Walking for what?"

"Walking for air, walking to see."

"Have you an air conditioner in your house, Mr. Mead?"

"Yes."

"Have you a viewing screen in your house to see with?"

"No."

"No? Are you married?" asked the voice.

"No, nobody wanted me."

"But you haven't explained why you walked."

"I explained: for air, to see and just to walk."

"And have you done this often?"

"Every night for years."

/telking


Then the back door of the police car opened: "Sit in!"

"Wait a minute, I haven't done anything!"

"Get in!"

He walked like a man suddenly drunk. As he passed the front door of the

car he looked in. As he expected, there was no one in the front seat, no one in

the car at all. - "Get in!"

He sat on a sterile seat, smelling antiseptic, feeling like metal. The car

hesitated, and the electric voice said: "The Psychiatric centre for research on

regressive tendencies."

The car started moving, they passed house by house, dark and lightless in

the city until they came across one particular house, with electric lights and

yellow illumination.

"That's my house," said Leonard Mead, but no one answered him.

The car moved down the empty streets, leaving the empty streets with

empty sidewalks, no sound and no motion in this chill November night.

TASKS 1. Match the English words to their Ukrainian equivalents. 1) destination; а) спалахувати;

2) expect; b) місце призначення;

3) hesitate; с) розраховувати, сподіватися;

4) sidewalk; d) неймовірний;

5)fierce; е) вагатися;

6) research; f) пояснювати;

7) flash; g) дослідження;

8) explain; h) могила;

9) tomb; і) сильний;

10) incredible; j) тротуар.

2. Match the synonyms (all words are taken from the text). 1) cut down; a) travel;

2) exist; b) movement;

3) rare; c) cold;

4) wander; d) reduce;

5) empty; e) live;

6) chill; f) uncommon;

7) stunned; g) unfilled;

8) bright; h) facade;

9) front; i) astonished;

10) motion; j) intense


3. Fill in the gaps with the words that are opposite to the given.

dirty, expectedly, ordinary, lightless, regressive 1. We couldn't work in such conditions that were far from .............. : they

even didn't have cold running water to wash hands!

2. Nobody waited for this event, so we can say it happened .............. .

3. Is there a .............. type of car that you are looking for?

4. Suddenly we found ourselves in a brilliantly .............. hall.

5. The success of this monkey is definitely a .............. peculiarity of her

mental development.

4. Fill in the gaps with the words from exercises 1-3. 1. If you don't .............. on your everyday consumption of sugar, you may

have problems with your health.

2. A boy couldn't .............. what he was doing at midnight in the Zoo.

3. The cars are prohibited to drive on the .............. .

4. A man was .............. by the intense light coming from some unknown

device.

5. An optimist says a glass is half full, a pessimist says it is half .............. .

6. Next time I notice any .............. in my yard, I will shoot!

7. It is .............. that the police still haven't caught him.

8. It was very difficult to make up my mind, so I .............. .

9. He was found .............. the streets of New York.

10. What do you .............. me to do after I know all the truth, to fire you or

let you work? — the Boss angrily asked his worker.

5. Explain the following phrases. 1. He was within a block of his destination.

2 .............. . a fierce light flashed upon him.

3 .............. . in a metallic whisper.

4. People sat in their houses like in tombs lit by TV light.

5. The Psychiatric centre for research on regressive tendencies.

6. Correct the wrong statements. 1. The action of the narration takes place in the remote past.

2. Leonard Mead is a psychically ill person.

3. In future people like communicating, visiting each other and walking.

4. Leonard Mead is an actor.

5. Leonard can't accept the things as they are.


7. Imagine what the citizens of the city expect or do not expect the police to

do, using the pattern.

They expect the police to arrest dangerous people.

They don't expect the police to help them.

8. Answer the questions. 1. What kind of story is it?

When does it take place?

Who are the main characters?

2. What may have happened after the election?

3. Why nobody goes walking?

Do people of that time read books?

4. What kind of man Leonard is?

What are his likes and dislikes?

Explain why he was walking that night.

5. Where is Leonard taken to?

Has he encountered such situations?

6. List the images which are associated with Leonard when arrested, then list

the images associated with the police car.

Now, list the impressions, associated with the city.

Would you like to live in such a city?

7. What might happen to him in his future?

Imagine the рurposе of the psychiatric centre.

Who do they probably keep there and what for?

How do they treat them there?

8. Why did Ray Bradbury write such story?

What is his message?

9. Discuss the following situation. The door of the police cell was not properly locked and Leonard

managed to get out and escape from the city He knew that a gang of runaway

men and women had also broken away from the city and had tried to organise

a new life in the abandoned area.

Leonard manages to get in touch with them and hopes that they will

accept him. But the two leaders of the group want to check that Leonard is not

a plant. Imagine their investigation, thinking of all the questions which could

embarrass Leonard and all the answers which would prove his innocence.

SELF CHECK


TEST 11 LOVE YOUR PARENTS A2 pre-intermediate

Complete the story with the appropriate part of the sentence.

LOVE YOUR PARENTS

A long time ago, (1) .............. . A little boy loved to come and play

around it every day. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a nap

under the shadow .... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.

Time went by, (2) .............. , and he no longer played around the tree

every day. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.

"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees anymore," the boy

replied.

"I want toys. (3) .................. ."

"Sorry, but I do not have money."

"But you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have

money."

The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left

happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. (4) ................ .

One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was

excited. "Come and play with me," the tree said. "I do not have time to play.

(5) .................. .We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"

"Sorry, I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to

build your house."

So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was

glad to see him happy, but the man never came back since then. The tree was

again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day the man returned and the tree was delighted.

"Come and play with me!" the tree said.

"I am getting old. (6) .............. . Can you give me a boat?" said the man".

"Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy."

So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never

showed up for a long time.


Finally, the man returned after many years.

"Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more

apples for you..." the tree said.

"No problem, (7) .................. ," the man replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on."

"I am too old for that now," the man said.

"I really cannot give you anything... The only thing left is my dying

root," the tree said with tears.

"I do not need much now, (8) .................. . I am tired after all these

years," the man replied.

"Good! Old tree roots are (9) .................. , come and sit down with me

and rest."

The man sat down and the tree was glad (10) .................. .

This is you and the tree is your parents!!!

Please enlighten all your friends and your families by telling them this

story. Love your Parents.

From the Internet resources

A. I do not have any teeth to bite

B. the best place to lean on and rest

C. I have to work for my family

D. I need money to buy them

E. just a place to rest

F. there was a huge apple tree.

G. and smiled with tears

H. The tree was sad

I. I want to go sailing to relax myself

J. the little boy had grown up

Oksana MASLOYS'KA, a teacher of English, secondary school # 18, Khmel'nyts'kyi

SELF CHECK


TEST 12 DOGS

Try to decide which lines are correct and which have mistakes.

Mark them OK(O) or WRONG (W). Correct the wrong lines.

............ 1. Imagine not being able to reach a light switch, pick up keys when

............ 2. you drop they, or open a table drawer. Then imagine having a

............ 3. dog that could do all of that and more for you.

............ 4. As well as being great fun for everyone, dogs can help people

............ 5. with physical disabilities. Dogs can trained to pick up fallen

............ 6. objects, open doors, and turn on and of lights.

............ 7. Dogs can also help people who are deaf or have difficulties with

............ 8. hearing. Hearing dogs can alert their owners by touch when they

............ 9. hear different sounds. They can be trained recognise sounds

............ 10. such as the telephone, a baby cries, knock at the door,

............ 11. an alarm clock, or a name. Dogs can even indicate which

............ 12. direction the sound comes from.

............ 13. Guide dogs can help owners who is blind or have difficulties

............ 14. with seeing. Dogs cannot actually read traffic lights, the owner

............ 15. decide when to cross the street by listening to the sounds of

............ 16. lights or cars. However, the guide dog will not cross the street if

............ 17. it sees danger.


SELF CHECK


TEST 13 TOO WELL after О’Henry

Miss Carington was a famous actress. She began her life in a small village named

Cranberry. But that was long ago. Now she was to perform the leading part in a new

comedy.

A capable young actor Highsmith by name dreamt of being Miss Carington's

partner in the new play. He told the manager about it. The manager explained to the

young actor that if he wanted to play the part he had to persuade Miss Carington to

take him as a partner.

The young actor knew very well that it was the part of a young farmer. The next

day he went to Cranberry where he stayed for three days and gathered much

information about the life and the people of that small village. Then he returned from

the village and went to one of the restaurants where actors usually gathered after the

performance.

He saw a small party sitting at the table. The star of that party was Miss

Carington.

She noticed a poorly dressed man entered the restaurant. He came to the famous

actress, greeted her and told her much interesting news about her relatives and friends

from Cranberry. The way he spoke made her believe every word he said. She was sure

he was a farmer.

In the end he told the famous actress that her mother wanted to see her again

before she died. Then he gave her a rose he picked up from a bush in front of her

house in Cranberry.

Miss Carington was so touched that she couldn't help crying. She thanked the

young man and invited him to see her again at the hotel before he left the city. The

next morning the young actor dressed in the latest fashion went to the hotel. He was

sure Miss Carington would agree to take him as a partner in the play if he told her

everything. To his surprise he was told that Miss Carington had left for her native

village forever. Highsmith realised that he had acted too well.

True, False or Not Given.

1. Miss Carington was born in a small town.

2. Miss Carington liked to wear fashionable clothes.

3. The young actor wanted to perform in a new play with her.

4. Actors usually gathered in the restaurant before the performance.

5. When Highsmith came up to the table, he told a funny story.

6. Her mother was a famous actress too.

7. There was a rose bush in front of her house in Cranberry

8. When Miss Carington saw the man for the first time, he was not wearing nice clothes.

9. Miss Carington didn't cry when she heard the young man's story.

10. Miss Carington left for her native village for the weekend.

SELF CHECK


TEST 14 LONDON BRIDGE

London Bridge is more than two thousand years old. The first bridge was built of

wood. Then people built the bridge of stone and called it Thames Bridge. There were

houses and shops on it and people paid money when they crossed the Bridge.

In 1831, a new bridge rose on the place of the first one. But the city grew very

quickly and in 1960 the people of London decided to put a large new bridge at that

place. So a very rich American bought the old London Bridge like people buy old

things. He wanted to show the old bridge to American people for money. Londoners

liked their old London Bridge, but the city needed money for the new bridge.

The American brought the parts of the bridge on a ship to the State of Arizona in

the USA. Workers joined the parts of the old bridge again and put it in the park. But

there was no river under it now, only the grass of the lawn. No ships pass under it

now, only people walk along the street and look at the old bridge.

In 1973, the New London Bridge was opened on the place of the old bridge over

the Thames.

True or False.

1. It is not known when London Bridge was built.

2. To cross the bridge was free of charge.

3. Firstly wood was used to build the bridge.

4. The main reason for the appearance of the new large bridge in 1960 was that the

city became bigger.

5. London Bridge and other old things were bought by a very rich American.

6. Londoners sold the bridge because they didn't have money.

7. The parts of the bridge were carried to the USA by ship.

8. The Americans can look at the bridge in the park.

9. People can also cross the bridge and look down at the river.

10. The place for the New London Bridge has not been chosen yet.

SELF CHECK


TEST 15 NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE WORD FORMATION

National Opera House is situated at the crossing of

Khmelnyts'koho and Volodymyrs'ka streets in the Theatre

Square. November 8, 1867 became a holiday for Kyivites

and a (1) .................. (history) date for the Ukrainian culture.

On this day the Kyiv Opera Theatre raised its curtains!

During the first years the repertoire included operas of

Russian and European composers. In 1874, for the first time

in the history of Ukrainian music the national opera "The Christmas Night" by Mykola

Lysenko was presented. That was a very brave step as at that time it was not allowed to

speak the Ukrainian language. For the second time, the theatre showed Lysenko's "The

Christmas Night" only in 1903.

On February4, 1896, after the morning (2) .................. (to perform) of the opera

"Eugene Onegin" by P. Tchaikovsky, the fire started in the (3) .................. (to build) by a

candle. Flame was spreading so quickly, that within several hours the whole house was

destroyed by it. One of the best in Europe musical libraries, costumes and (4) ..................

(to decorate) were lost in flames.

In September 1901 the solemn opening of the new premises of the Opera House took

place. The (5) .................. (architecture) was Victor Shreter, but (6) .................. (fortune) he

died several months before the event. The exterior of the Opera House was designed in Neo-

Renaissance style and the interior was redesigned in a classical style. However, the greatest

(7) ………….. (to achieve) was the stage — one of the largest in Europe designed to the

latest engineering standards.

For many years the Kyiv Opera House was considered to be the most (8) ..................

(prestige), and the prices for tickets here were the highest.

In 1911, Tsar Nikolai II decided to attend the Opera House during his stay in Kyiv. He

was present at the performance "The Fairy Tale about the Tsar Saltan" by N. Rimsky-

Korsakov.

In 1919, the new page in the history of the Theatre was opened. The Kyiv Opera House

was nationalised.

One after (9) .................. (other) operas of Ukrainian authors began to appear in the

repertoire of the Kyiv Opera House, such as "Taras Bulba", "The Christmas Night" by M.

Lysenko, "Zaporozhian Cossack beyond the Danube" by S. Hulak-Artemovsky, "Carmeluk"

by V. Kostenko and others.

On March 5,1939 the Kyiv Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet was named after the

great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko on the occasion of 125th anniversary of his birthday.

In 1992, the Theatre had received the status of the National.

While in Kyiv, the Opera and Ballet House is a must to see. You will be impressed by

great performances of the Ukrainian (10) .................. (art). The opera "The Fair in

Sorotchyntsi" with about 100 singers and 40 musicians, the ballet "Spartacus" with more

than 80 ballet-dancers and others leave great memories.

The Ukrainian "Scheherazade" ballet is considered to be one of the best in Europe.


SELF CHECK


TEST 16 ANDRIYIVS'KYI UZVIZ Andriyivs'kyi Uzviz got its name in the 1840's. It was known as the shortest route

from the upper city to the lower lying Podil district.

In 1753, St. Andrew's Church was designed and built by Bartolomeo F. Rastrelli.

This church became a Ukrainian architectural treasure.

According to the legend, there was a sea where the Dnipro River now flows.

When St. Andrew came to Kyiv and erected the cross on the hill where St. Andrew's

Church now stands, the sea drained down in size. Only a part of it remained hidden

under the Andrew's Hill. Later on after the Church was built there, a stream opened up

under the altar. This explains why there are no bells at St. Andrew's Church. People

think that with the first bell stroke water would awaken and flood not only Kyiv but

also the whole territory of the left bank of the Dnipro.

The street was developed and constructed at the turn of the century, from the

1890's till the 1900's.

Nowadays Andriyivs'kyi Uzviz is one of the most visited streets in the capital.

Some people call it Kyiv's Montmartre.

It is a favourite place to buy traditional presents and holiday souvenirs. Here you

can discover deeper Kyiv's culture and find historical roots. At different exhibitions

you will see paintings of unknown artists, decorative art, rings, necklaces made of

wood and glass, embroidered shirts and skirts, towels and sheets.

There's an interesting building that Kyivites consider to be the Castle of Richard

the Lion-Hearted built in 1902.

You can see artists and singers performing on Andriyivs'kyi Uzviz as well as

enjoy many comfortable and cozy little cafes and small shops.

At # 13 was the home of Mikhail Bulgakov, a famous author of the novel "Master

and Margaret". The house is now the Bulgakov Museum. Another well-known

museum of the Uzviz is the unique Museum of One Street. It shows Uzviz history in

pictures, photographs and other things from the earliest times up to the present day.

Just at the beginning of Andriyivs'kyi Uzviz you'll find the monument to Pronya

Prokopivna Sirkova and Svyryd Petrovych Golokhvastov, characters of the cinema

version of Mykhailo Staryts'kyi play "After Two Hares". Many tourists take pictures

with Pronya and Svirid, even if it means standing in line.

You cannot be bored walking down Andriyivs'kyi Uz-vis. Explore all the houses

and corners, because in them you'll find the true masters, who've brought real mas-

terpieces of art, coming from cities and towns all over Ukraine.

Finally, Andriyivs'kyi Uzvis is a street of contrasts. You'll see here the rich and

poor, high fashion and village costumes, good masterpieces and cheap imitations.

Dive in and enjoy!


Glossary:

Flow — текти;

drain down in size — висохнути і зменшитись у розмірі;

remain hidden — залишатись схованим;

flood — затопити;

at the turn — на рубежі;

roots — корені;

embroider — вишивати.

True or False.

1. This text is about one of the most famous

streets in the capital of Ukraine.

2. The history of its name was mentioned in the story.

3. In the text Andriyivs'kyi Uzviz was called the place where you can buy

everything except souvenirs.

4. It is explained in the story why there are no bells at St. Andrew's Church.

5. There are some museums in the street.

6. It is not allowed to take pictures with the characters of the cinema version

of the play "After Two Hares".

7. There are no historical sights in this street.

8. The artists and singers are not allowed to perform in the street.

9. There is a monument to the Richard the Lion-Hearted in Andriyivs'kyi

Uzviz.

10. Mikhail Bulgakov didn't live in Kyiv, he only worked there.

11. The history of the street can be seen in the Museum of One Street.

12. It is not interesting to walk down the street.


SELF CHECK


THE USE OF ENGLISH

TEST 17 MIDDLE AGES Level B1+ / B2

Task type: word formation Read an article about Middle Ages from the book on history of Great Britain. Some words are

missing from the text. Use the words in brackets to form the words that fit in the gaps (1-9) in the text.

Write your answers on the lines below the text.

MIDDLE AGES The Middle Ages in Britain cover a period from the Norman 1.... (conquer),

which began in 1066, to the devastating Black 2.... (die) of 1348, the Hundred Years'

War with France and the Wars of the Roses, which 3.... (final) ended in 1485.

England became the 4.... (dominate) country in medieval Britain. Her monarchs

conquered Wales, though their repeated attempts to take control of Scotland and

Ireland met with 5. ... (fail). They also launched a long and 6.... (cost)war to capture

the throne of France.

For the vast 7.... (major) of Britons, life changed very little. Over 90 percent of

people lived and worked in the countryside, struggling to grow enough food to eat.

Towns were very small and travel between them slow and difficult. Trade only began

to grow in the 1330s, when the wool industry developed.

Kings and noblemen built 8.... (mass) stone castles as centres of power. The 9....

(Christ) Church grew stronger, too, and the landscape was dotted with splendid

cathedrals, abbeys and churches. Many of these buildings can still be seen today.

SELF CHECK

TEST 18 THE NORMANS Read an article about the Norman Conquest from the book on history of Great Britain. Some words

are missing from the text. Use the words in brackets to form the words that fit in the gaps (1-8) in the

text. Write your answers on the lines below the text.

THE NORMANS When King Edward 'the Confessor' died in January 1066, he didn't leave any heirs

as he was 1.... (child). There were two candidates - Duke William of Normandy, and

Harold, the son of the Earl of Wessex. The Witan, or royal 2.... (counselor), did not

want a foreign 3.... (rule) and recognised Harold as the new king.

Harold defeated the 4.... (Norway) army which had landed and seized York. Soon

he got bad news: Duke William's army had landed on the south coast. Harold hurried

to face the Normans at Hastings. But his troops were tired and the Normans 5.... (easy)

defeated the English. Harold was killed.

After his victory William captured the main ports and advanced towards London.

Not far from London he was met by the last 6.... (remain) English leaders, who

surrendered and promised 7.... (loyal) to him. William the 8.... (conquer) was crowned

on Christmas Day 1066 as king of England, in Westminster Abbey.

SELF CHECK


TEST 19 HARRIET Read an article about Harriet. Complete statements (1-6) below the text by choosing the

best answer (А, В, C, D). Write your answers in the boxes below the task.

Ross was born on a large farm in Maryland in 1820. She was a slave. Her owner

sent her to different places to work. She was treated badly. When she couldn't stand it

anymore, she ran away. She spent five days in a pigpen. She had to fight the pigs for

bits of food to eat. Harriet was tough. She knew how to stay alive.

Someone found Harriet, and she was beaten and sent home. From that time on,

she worked outdoors. She learned to split rails and chop wood. She learned much

about the outdoors from her father. He taught her how to walk quietly in the woods.

He taught her which plants were good for food and which ones could help to ease pain

or cure illness. Harriet learned to find the North Star in the sky. All the things Harriet

learned were helpful in her later life.

Years later, Harriet Ross, using the name Harriet Tubman, led many people north

to be free. They hid in the woods. What Harriet knew about plants helped to keep

them alive. They followed the North Star. They found freedom.

1. This story is mainly about …

A Harriet as a young girl. В seeing the North Star.

С hiding in the woods. D learning about nature.

2. Harriet ran away because …

A she was a naughty girl. В running away was fun.

С she had nothing to eat. D people were cruel to her.

3. A tough person is …

A always nasty. В rather strong.

С very bright D too weak.

4. This story tells that …

A plants never make good food.

В working outdoors is good for health.

С some plants can save your life.

D plants can cause illnesses.

5. First …

A Harriet hid in the pigpen.

В Harriet ran away.

С Harriet was found.

D Harriet ate pig food.

6. Harriet and her people followed the North Star …

A because they got lost.

В because it was very bright.

С to hid in the woods.

D to find their way north.

SELF CHECK


TEST 20 DELICIOUS TREAT Level A2

Read an article about ice-cream. Complete statements.

DELICIOUS TREAT Everybody knows that people invented ice-cream many years ago. The

Louisiana Purchase Exposition was a huge fair that opened in St. Louis,

Missouri, in 1904. One of the big sellers at the fair was ice-cream. People

lined up to buy dishes of ice-cream. So many people wanted to buy the

frozen treat that the salesperson ran out of dishes in which to serve it. He

could not expect people to hold the ice-cream in their hands, so he had to

stop selling it.

Next to the ice-cream stand there was a man selling waffles. The waffle

seller noticed that the ice-cream seller had a problem.

The waffle seller had an idea that he thought could make money for both

the ice-cream seller and himself. He bent a waffle into the shape of a cone.

He gave it to the ice-cream seller to fill the cone with ice-cream. Now there

was a tasty container for the frozen treat.

People just could not get enough of the new ice-cream cones. Two years

later the waffle maker began to sell cones at New York City's Coney Island,

an area with an amusement park for rides and fun. He invented a special

machine that made waffles that were shaped like cones. The business at

Coney Island was so successful that it is still selling ice-cream cones today.

1. The main subject discussed in the article is …

A the Louisiana Exposition.

В the most popular treat.

С knowledge about ice-cream.

D selling things at exhibitions.

2. Ice-cream was invented …

A nobody knows when

В at the Louisiana Exposition.

С in the USA.

D last century.

3. The problem that appeared during the sale was …

A how to arrange ice-cream buyers in line.

В how to make enough ice-cream for all the people.

С where to put the ice-cream so that people could hold it.

D how to keep ice-cream frozen so that it didn't drip.


4. If salespeople ran out of dishes …

A they ran for some dishes to serve ice-cream.

В there weren't enough dishes to serve ice-cream.

С ice-cream dripped from the dishes.

D they needed more ice-cream to sell.

5. First to serve ice-cream the salesperson used …

A scones. В the story doesn't say.

С special dishes. D waffles.

6. The word treat here means …

A waffles made into cones.

В a dish to serve ice cream.

С fun and entertainment.

D very tasty food.

7. People were likely to buy ice-cream because …

A nobody had ever seen it.

В most of them liked it very much.

С they were rather hungry.

D there was nothing else to eat.

8. The person who had an idea of how to sell ice-cream was …

A the waffle seller. В the ice-cream seller.

С a person from the line. D the story doesn't say.

9. The waffle seller wanted …

A to earn more money selling waffles.

В simply to help the ice-cream seller.

С to taste ice-cream with waffles.

D to try selling ice-cream himself.

10. To solve the problem with dishes for ice-cream during the Exhibition

people

A sold waffles instead of ice-cream.

В started making a waffle into a container.

С decided to freeze the waffles.

D invented special machines.

11. At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition

A sellers always ran out of dishes.

В ice-cream wasn't very popular.

С only children liked ice-cream.

D a new business appeared.

SELF CHECK


TEST 21 THE MAGICAL PICTURE-BOX Level A1+ / A2

Task type: true-false statements

Read the story about the first TV-sets in America. Mark statements (1-8) below the text

as T (true) or F (false). Write your answers in the boxes below the task.

THE MAGICAL PICTURE-BOX The first time I heard of the magical picture-box called 'television' was

back in 1950. At that time I was only nine years old. Billy Dodd was the

only kid in our block who had a television set. When he first told us about it,

we didn't believe him. Everyone thought he was making it up. When we

learned that he had told us the truth, we thought that Billy's family must be

very rich. We all kept hoping that Billy would invite us over to watch the

cartoons.

Then came that special day in 1951. I can still remember it as if it were

yesterday. Two men delivered a television set to our house. My mother was

sure they had made a big mistake.

She kept telling the men to take the set back to the store. The men kept

insisting that it had been ordered by someone at our address.

The deliverymen were right. My father had ordered the set for the family

as a surprise. We were all so happy! I thought it was the most wonderful

thing that had ever happened to our family.

1. In 1950 the writer of the story was nine years old.

2. There were a few people in the block who had a TV-set at that time.

3. Billy lied that he had a TV set.

4. Billy didn't invite his friends to watch cartoons.

5. The author will never forget the year 1951.

6. The deliverymen brought a TV set at the wrong address.

7. It was the writer's uncle who decided to surprise the family.

8. A TV set at the beginning of the 1950s was a usual thing.

SELF CHECK


TEST 22 MARCO POLO Level A1+ / A2

Read the story about a famous traveller Marco Polo. Mark statements (1-14) below the text as T (true) or F (false). Write your answers in the boxes below the task.

MARCO POLO Marco Polo was born in 1254. He grew up in the city of Venice, Italy. His father,

Nicolo, and his uncle, Maffeo, were traders in jewels and silks. Once, on a trading

mission, the older Polos had travelled as far away as China. That kingdom in the Far

East was ruled by Kublai Khan.

In 1271, when Marco was seventeen, the Polos decided to return to China. This

time Marco went with them. The difficult journey across the seas, mountains, and

deserts took more than three years. In China the young traveller met the great Kublai

Khan. Marco was impressed by the richness of the Chinese court.

The Polos remained in China for many years. During that time Marco travelled all

over the Far East. He took notes on the marvelous things he saw. The older Polos

continued to trade successfully. Kublai Khan trusted Marco so much that he made him

governor of an important district of China.

In 1295 the Polo family returned to Venice. They had been away for twenty-four

years. They were so changed in appearance that their own relatives didn't recognise

them. Marco and his father and uncle invited the relatives to a large feast. During the

feast the three travellers wore fine robes and many beautiful jewels. Their guests were

impressed by all the treasures they had brought back from their journey.

Marco later wrote a book about his travels. Most people in Italy did not believe all

the wonderful things he described. But many years later a young man in Genoa named

Christopher Columbus would read Marco's book and believe. He would decide to

reach China, too — by going a new way.

TRUE-FALSE STATEMENTS

1. Marco is Maffeo's nephew.

2. Marco grew up in the Far East.

3. Nicolo Polo traded in spices.

4. The Polos had already been to China before 1271.

5. When the Polos set off to China Marco was still under age.

6. The Polos took efforts to get to China.

7. In 1271, after a long and difficult journey the Polos got to China.

8. Marco Polo and Kublai Khan were in good relations.

9. The Polos family became much wealthier after China.

10. The Polos' relatives and friends were not happy at the feast.

11. The Polos impressed everybody by their clothes and jewels.

12. Marco Polo wrote a book about Columbus's travels.

13. People thought the book was a make-believe.

14. Christopher Columbus was Marco's great friend.

SELF CHECK

/fenice


TEST 23 A CHEROKEE ALPHABET

Read a story about the invention of Cherokee alphabet. Mark statements (1-12) below

the text as T (true) or F (false). Write your answers in the boxes below the task.

A CHEROKEE ALPHABET Sequoya was one of the great native American chiefs. He was a Cherokee. He is

also famous because he invented an alphabet for the Cherokee language.

Sequoya was born at a time when the American colonies still belonged to England.

As a young man, he learned to hunt and fish and to do the other things Cherokee boys

learned. He was also a skilled worker in silver, but he was not taught how to read and

write. At that time, the Cherokee had no alphabet of their own.

After Sequoya got married, a hunting accident left him a cripple. He spent much of

his time sitting around or walking slowly. More important, he had time to think. He

knew about the colonists' "talking leaf, a piece of paper with writing on it. He believed

that native Americans, too could learn to write their languages.

Sequoya spent many hours making marks on pieces of wood and stones. His wife

and friends began to think he was strange. More than that, they thought he might be

crazy.

Sequoya worked on his ideas for years. At last he had solved

the problem. Each mark he wrote stood for a syllable in their

Cherokee language. Furthermore, the alphabet was so simple and

exact that it could be learned in a few days. Even more

important, Sequoya had each person who learned his alphabet

teach another person. Soon, almost all the people of the

Cherokee Nation could read and write their language.

Sequoya's name will also be remembered forever in another

way. The giant redwood trees in California, the tallest trees in

the world, have been named for this Native American.

The trees are called Sequoyas.

1. "Cherokee" is the name of an Indian tribe.

2. The problem of Cherokee Indians was they didn't have their own language.

3. Sequoya had many talents and skills.

4. Sequoya was taught to read and write in an American school.

5. When Sequoya was a boy he was badly hurt in an accident.

6. After the accident Sequoya remained blind.

7. "Talking leaf is more likely the name the Indians gave to a book.

8. Sequoya's relatives supported him in his job.

9. It took Sequoya quite a long time to create the alphabet.

10. Cherokee language could be learned in a couple of days.

11. Thanks to Sequoya's alphabet the Indians could easily learn English.

12. Both the Native American and the tallest tree have the same name.

SELF CHECK


TEST 24 ISLANDS FOR SALE Level B1+/B2

Read the article about selling and buying islands. Mark the statements (1-12) below the

text as T (true) or F (false). Write your answers in the boxes below the task.

ISLANDS FOR SALE Almost anyone can buy an island. "If you can buy a car, you can buy an

island", says Mr Vladi. He estimates that if the place is uninhabited and

there is no infrastructure in place, you need around £ 70,000 to buy an

island. All I can say is that my clients have a connection with nature, they

have high intelligence, they have to be able to improvise, and above all, they

are individualists.

Desert islands have changed, solar energy is not difficult to get, the

laptop computer and mobile phone era has arrived.

Many of Mr Vladi's islands are priced around £150,000. For that you can

buy Flatholmen, a 5,000 square-metre island in a Norwegian fjord.

In the same price range there is Ilhote Grande, 42,000 square-metres,

south of Rio de Janeiro. It has a rocky coastline, a four-room house, bananas

and coconuts.

Mr Vladi's biggest sale was an island for $ 12 million. There are a lot of

Japanese customers around. Because of the financial crisis in the Far East,

there are plenty of people wanting to move their capital into islands. Mr

Vladi himself now owns a Canadian isle and shares one in New Zealand.

1. Any person who's got a car can buy an inhabited island.

2. If an island has infrastructure, it is likely to cost more.

3. Those people who are ready to buy islands tend to like nature.

4. Mr Vladi successfully buys islands from different people.

5. An island not far from Rio de Janeiro costs about the same as the one in Norway.

6. Ilhote Grande is almost 42,000 metres above the sea level.

7. Ilhote Grande is a completely flat island with banana and coconut plants.

8. There is already a house on Ilhote Grande for people to live.

9. The most expensive island Mr Vladi has sold costs much less than a million

dollars.

10. The Japanese are likely to be the most frequent buyers of the property Mr

Vladi sells.

11. Because of the crisis people started buying islands very rarely.

12. Mr Vladi is the only owner of two islands in Canada and New Zealand.

SELF CHECK


TEST 25 MYSTERIOUS EGYPT

You are going to read a magazine article. Five sentences have been removed from

the article. Choose from the sentences (A-F) the one which fits best each gap (1-5).

There is one extra sentence which you don't need to use.

A. They were built by hired workers to whom pharaohs paid a salary and gave the

honourable title "Friends of Pharaoh"?, guaranteeing them an eternal, posthumous

residence in paradise.

B. At certain times it extends 200 metres out from shore, leaving behind small

ponds full of fish and strange sea creatures.

C. Egyptians enjoy comfort, but because of high taxes on real estate, it's better to

live in an "unfinished" house — for example, a house without a roof.

D. However, it's almost impossible to say enough about Egypt.

E. Herodotus described the construction process the following way: at first the

Great Pyramid was built in the form of stairs with many steps.

F. Only the minarets of mosques tower over them.

MYSTERIOUS EGYPT Is it possible to find epithets worthy of the

Valley of Kings, of the mosques of Cairo, of the

Nile, of the sky over Egypt and the Red Sea?

No, to truly experience Egypt, you need to return to

this country again and again.

Cairo is the Pearl of the East, the biggest city on the African continent, the

intersection of all routes connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. Deviate from the usual

tourist route and look around. Buildings shamelessly sport unpainted walls while

unglazed windows blink sunlight into the streets and buildings stand completely

exposed without roofs. Don't be shocked, (1) .................. .Why not?

It almost never rains - at least not rain like we have it in our country. Even

luxurious hotels or shopping malls retain "uncompleted" but nonetheless elegant

features. They don't endanger visitors, but since the building is not officially finished,

the owners can't be charged taxes. Also note the following fact: far from the centre of

Cairo, almost all buildings are two stories tall. (2) .................. . It's a mystery how 12

million residents find shelter in this city. Many tourists also come to Cairo, but there's

space enough for all. Another mystery.

It's hard to visit Egypt and not to see the pyramids. Almost all tourist routes pass

by these wonders of the world. They're not just architectural monuments from ancient


times but true masterpieces built contrary to all natural laws. Who can describe how

ancient Egyptians managed to move such massive stones, to install them so accurately

and to fit them so precisely? For instance, the famous

Khufu's Pyramid once towered 146 metres high.

How did the builders lift stone blocks to that height

when each block weighed many tons and was over nine

metres high?

(3) .................. . With the help of a special machine

made from short beams of wood, the blocks were lifted

up to the first step where they were put into another

similar machine, and so on until the top. However, no contemporary builders have

been able to invent such a machine. There is the mystery of the great pyramids and the

reality. In spite of the development of science and technology, modern man has still

not managed to restore a destroyed 40-metre stele (an upright slab or pillar) to its

previous place. We can only admire the skillfulness of ancient stonecutters and

builders and regret that their experience was lost in the swirl of centuries.

And who built these pyramids? It is now known that slaves did not build them.

(4) .................. . It was a wonderful stimulus for honest, persistent work, because the

Egyptians believed in the divinity of their pharaohs and the existence of another

world.'

The Red Sea seems rather ordinary by comparison. After all, the underwater

world, corals, unusual fish and sea creatures can be seen in any aquarium. You can,

however, wait for low tide and walk along the bottom of the sea.

(5) .................. . To get better acquainted with them, you can dive in with an

aqualung, but you will agree that walking along the sea bottom is more exotic. You

can touch shells and corals, inspect sea urchins, look at sea cucumbers, enjoy the sight

of starfish and wonder what happens to the exposed jellyfish. And what incredible

power pushes the salty waves away from the shore? Nobody knows this. It's a natural

phenomenon and a mystery.

The waves of the Red Sea are very salty. Only the waters of the Dead Sea can

compete with them in taste. But the Dead Sea isn't even connected to the ocean. This

is another fact not explained by science.

If somebody tells you that he or she has visited Egypt and explored every facet of

it, don't believe it. Egypt is a mystery, or rather, a mosaic of big and small mysteries.

It's possible to explain each of them separately, but in combination it's possible only to

enjoy them with delight.

From the magazine "Meridian"

SELF CHECK


ANSWER KEYS

KEY 01: 1. 1-c; 2-c; 3-b; 4-c; 5-b; 6-d; 7-b; 8-c; 9-d; 10-b.

2. 1-T; 2-F; 3-T; 4-F; 5-F; 6-T; 7-F; 8-T; 9-T; 10-F.

KEY 02: 1.1-d; 2-b; 3-c; 4-d; 5-c; 6-c; 7-d; 8-b; 9-d; 10-a.

2.1-T; 2-F; 3-F; 4-T; 5-F; 6-F; 7-T; 8-F; 9-F; 10-F.

KEY 03: 1-c; 2-а; 3-a; 4-b; 5-d.

KEY 04: 1-d; 2-а; 3-c; 4-d; 5-b.

KEY 05: 1-B; 2-D; 3-A; 4-; 5-Е; 6-C.

KEY 06: 1-D; 2-Е; 3-A; 4-B; 5-F; C- extra.

KEY 07: 1-А; 2-D; 3-F; 4-C; 5-Е; 6-B.

KEY 08: 1. 1-c; 2-f; 3-1; 4-і; 5-h; 6-n; 7-а; 8-е; 9-d; 10-b; 11-j; 12-g; 13-o; 14-m; 15-k.

2. 1) paid her taxes; 2) lonely road; 3) party dress; 4) back seat; 5) break the silence;

6) back of the car; 7) exchange glances; 8) excuse ourselves; 9) incredible story;

10) grave stone.

4. 1) disappeared; 2) draft; 3) amazing; 4) breathless; 5) exchanged glances;

6) back seats; 7) delivered; 8) fails.

6. 1-F; 2-F; 3-F; 4-T; 5-F; 6-F; 7-T.

KEY 09: 1.1-d; 2-b; 3-g; 4-h; 5-k; 6-а; 7-c; 8-е; 9-f; 10-i; 11-j; 12-1.

2.1-b; 2-d; 3-a; 4-c; 5-f; 6-g; 7-е; 8-j; 9-h; 10-i.

3. 1-b; 2-c; 3-b; 4-c; 5-а; 6-c; 7-b; 8-c; 9-а; 10-c; 11-a; 12-c.

5.1) loaded, forced; 2) expression; 3) divert; 4) clear my mind; 5) embarrassing;

6) offered; 7) point of view; 8) under these circumstances; 9) obvious; 10) wonder.

KEY 10: 1. 1-b; 2-c; 3-е; 4-j; 5-і; 6-g; 7-а; 8-f; 9-h; 10-d.

2. 1-d; 2-е; 3-f; 4-а; 5-g; 6-c; 7-і; 8-j; 9-h; 10-b.

3. 1) sterile; 2) suddenly; 3) particular; 4) illuminated; 5) progressive.

4. 1) cut down; 2) explain; 3) sidewalk; 4) stunned; 5) empty;

6) motion; 7) incredible; 8) hesitated; 9) wandering; 10) expect.

6. 1-F; 2-F; 3-F; 4-F; 5-T.


KEY 11: 1-F; 2-J; 3-D;4-H; 5-C; 6-І; 7-А; 8-Е; 9-B; 10-G.

KEY 12: Wrong lines are: 2) them; 5) be trained; 6) off; 9) to recognise;

10) baby's; 13) are; 15) decides.

KEY 13: 1-F; 2-NG; 3-T; 4-F; 5-F; 6-NG; 7-T; 8-T; 9-F; 10-F

KEY 14: 1-F; 2-F; 3-t; 4-T; 5-F; 6-T; 7-T; 8-T; 9-F; 10-F.

KEY 15: 1) historical; 2) performance; 3) building; 4) decorations; 5) architect;

6) unfortunately; 7) achievement; 8) prestigious; 9) another; 10) artists

KEY 16: 1-T; 2-T; 3-F; 4-T; 5-T; 6-F; 7-F; 8-F; 9-T; 10-F; 11-T; 12-F.

KEY 17 1. Conquest; 2. Death; 3. finally; 4. dominant; 5. failure;

6. costly; 7. majority; 8. massive; 9. Christian. KEY 18 1. childless; 2. council; 3. ruler; 4. Norwegian;

5. easily; 6. remaining; 7. loyalty; 8. Conqueror.

KEY 19

1 2 3 4 5 6 A D В С В D

KEY 20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

В A С В С D В А А В D

KEY 21

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

T F F T T F F F

KEY 22

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

T F F T T T F T T F T F F F

KEY 23

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

T F T F F F T F T F F T

KEY 24

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

F F T F T F F T F T F F

KEY 25: 1-C; 2-F; 3-Е; 4-А; 5-B.

Documents

TEA-2009