Разговорные темы (стр. 4 )

The man who was standing behind Soviet space strategy from the 1930s was Sergei Pavlovich Korolev. An outstanding scientist, he devoted all his life to rocket research, constructing artificial satellites. The first artificial sputnik was launched on the 4th of October, in 1957. The Russians have every right to be proud of it.

Some years later the most remarkable event in the history of cosmonautics took place. On the 12th of April, in 1961 the spaceship “Vostok”, piloted by Yuri Gagarin, went up.

It is due to Korolev’s genius and some other top engineers’ talent that Russia became the world leader in conquering space.

Yuri Gagarin was the first man who made his historic flight into space. The whole world applauded to this handsome young man. He orbited the earth once, staying in space for only 108 minutes, but he was the first to fly to stars. Mankind will always remember him. In commemoration of Gagarin’s flight April 12th has been made the International Day of Cosmonautics.

Words and expressions:

discovery – открытие

field of science – область науки

through of his life – всю свою жизнь

cosmic flights – космические полёты

to remain – оставаться

to believe – верить

to dream – мечтать

outstanding – выдающийся

to devote – посвящать

research – исследование

artificial satellite – искусственный спутник

to launch – запускать

remarkable event – памятное событие

conquering space – завоевание космоса

due to – благодаря

in commemoration of – в память о

Answer the questions:

1. What people are outstanding to your opinion?

2. What outstanding people from Russia (Britain, America) do you know?

3. What made them so famous?

4. What happened on the 12th of April in 1961?

5. Do you want to be famous in your future?

Fashion in the USA and Britain.

Many British people don’t think about clothes very much. In Britain, as well as in the USA, men in offices usually wear suits and ties and women wear dresses or skirts (not trousers). Doctors, lawyers and business people wear quite formal clothes.

And in some hotels and restaurants men have to wear ties and women wear smart dresses. Jeans and open shirts are sometimes not allowed. It is difficult to say exactly what people wear in Britain and the States because everyone is different. If you are not sure what to wear watch what other people do and then do the same. Or ask the advice of a friend or your host. You’ll feel relaxed if you don’t look too different from everyone else.

British people just like to be comfortable. When they go out to enjoy themselves, they can wear almost everything. At theatres, cinemas and concerts you can put on what you like – from elegant suits and dresses to jeans and sweaters. In many ways, Americans are more relaxed than British people, but they are more careful with their clothes. But when they go out in the evening, they like to look elegant. In good hotels and restaurants men have to wear jackets and ties and women wear pretty clothes and smart hairstyles. But these days most people in Britain and the USA do not wear very formal clothes. But sometimes it is important to wear the right thing.

Words and expressions:

clothes – одежда

as well as – как и

have to – следует

to wear – носить (одежду), надевать

skirt – юбка

trousers – брюки

lawyer – юрист

are not allowed – нельзя; не позволительно

tie – галстук

it is difficult to say exactly – трудно сказать точно

advice – совет

comfortable – удобный

the right thing – нужная вещь

Answer the questions:

1. Do the British think much about clothes?

2. What do you prefer to wear?

3. What clothes make you to feel comfortable?

4. Do you wear the same clothes in a restaurant and at work?

5. Do you think it is important to wear the right thing?

Music in our life.

I think, music plays a great and important part in our life. And I’m sure, people can not live without music. We can hear music everywhere: in the streets, in the shops, on TV, over the radio, in the cars, in the parks or in the forest. But in the forest, of course, it is better to listen to birds singing and other natural sounds like the wind in the trees.

I think it’s really doesn’t matter what kind of music you prefer: rock, pop, classical, jazz. A lot of people are fond of music. Some styles of music are popular among the young people. Others are popular with grown-ups. I think we like music because music expresses some ideas which are important for us. People buy tapes, go to the concerts, visit Concert Halls and Opera Theatres.

As for me, I enjoy listening to music because it reflects my feelings and emotions. Very often when I’m in a bad mood, I listen to my favourite merry songs and I feel much better. I like either pop or classical music.

Sometimes I attend music halls and the concerts, when popular groups and singers are there. I like watching music programs on TV. I like to know more and more about popular talented groups and singers.

One of my favourite composers of classical music is Ludwig van Beethoven. He is one of the greatest composers in the world. I admire him. At the peak of his career he began to loose his hearing. But it didn’t interfere with his ability to compose. He wrote one of the most powerful compositions – “the Ninth Symphony”, after that he became completely deaf. His music is appealing, attractive, very impressive and breathtaking.

I’m always delighted with such talented people.

Words and expression:

to hear - слышать

natural sounds – естественные звуки

it doesn’t matter – не имеет значения

to be fond of – увлекаться; любить

grown-up – взрослый

to express – выражать

to enjoy – получать удовольствие

it reflects my feelings and emotions – она выражает мои чувства и эмоции

to be in a bad mood – быть в плохом настроении

merry – весёлый

to admire - восхищаться

to loose hearing – терять слух

it didn’t interfere with his ability – не помешало его способности

deaf – глухой

to be delighted – восхищаться

Answer the questions:

1. Can people live without music?

2. Where can we hear natural sounds?

3. What music do you like?

4. Do you play any musical instruments?

5. Have you ever been to a concert of classical music?

6. What do you feel when you listen to the music?

Bad habits.

Smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs are bad habits. They cause different diseases. For example, one of the worst and harmful habits is taking drugs. It causes cancer, blood, heart and brain diseases, slow reactions and loss of memory. Taking drugs makes skin unhealthy, speech unclear and brain centres sleep. I think taking drugs affects the whole family. Of course it is a big problem for the family. If there is a drug user in the family everybody in the family suffers from it. I think the Government must put into prison for selling and taking drugs.

Another bad habits are smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking causes a cough, headache, pneumonia, cancer. It makes teeth yellow, skin unhealthy, clothes and hair smell. Drinking alcohol also causes different diseases. Unfortunately many young people begin to drink alcohol.

According to the statistical data many teenagers have drug or alcohol addiction. And they almost never believe that they are dependent. If I were a president I would ban to advertise cigarettes and alcohol on TV. And in conclusion I’d like to advise everybody to go in for sport and lead a healthy way of life.

Words and expressions:

habit - привычка

taking drugs – употребление наркотиков

they cause different diseases – они вызывают разные болезни

one of the worst and harmful habits – одна из самых плохих и вредных привычек

cancer – рак

blood – кровь

heart – сердце

brain – мозг

loss of memory – потеря памяти

drug user – наркоман

cough – кашель

headache – головная боль

skin – кожа

smell – запах; пахнуть

to affect – влиять

unfortunately – к несчастью

addiction – привыкание, зависимость

to believe – верить

dependent – зависимый

if I were – если бы я был

I would ban – я бы запретил

to advertise – рекламировать

in conclusion – в заключении

to lead a healthy way of life – вести здоровый образ жизни

to give up – бросать (привычку)

Answer the questions:

1. What bad habits so you know?

2. Do you have any bad habits?

3. What do bad habits cause?

4. Does anybody smoke in your family?

5. What do you think about advertising cigarettes and alcohol on TV?

6. What would you advise people who have bad habits?

Youth problems.

There are many problems that young people have to face when they stop being children. Is it easy to be young? Are teenagers happy to be their age? Teenager years from some kind of between the childhood and the grown - up life. At this age all feelings and emotions are very strong, all problems seem very important.

There are two types of problems – personal problems and the problems the whole generation has to face.

Personal problems can look silly and unimportant to the eyes of grown – ups, who have already passed this period of learning. For the young it is different. The first and terrible thing is misunderstanding from the dearest people – from the parents. They don’t understand why I need to buy certain things, listen to certain music or spend my spare time with peers. My parents still think that I am a baby. But I’m 17, I can make decisions and understand everything concerning my life. That is why I spend much time with my friends. They understand that I’m a grown –up already.

The same misunderstanding we face sometimes from the side of the teachers. They think that youth is given for studying. But a person who only studies is dull. Adults try to keep us away from all “dangers” which make up life. But we need to be taken seriously, to meet a friendly hand. Young people need somebody to discuss different problems and relationships with. As long as adults can’t take teenagers seriously, they form their own social groups – “subcultures”. A subculture is a cultural group within a larger culture, which includes certain methods of communication and identification.

Some people consider teenagers violent. I think, young person’s violence is usually provoked by the grown –ups around, who don’t take a young person seriously. Many teenagers run away from their parents and homes because of their bad relationships. Most of them begin to smoke, drink alcohol and use drugs. I think, it is terrible. AIDS and early pregnancy is another big problem among young people. Still, I think there are many advantages of being young. When you are young, you are usually healthy, your brain works well, you can study easily what you like. That is why I think that those who are young today will solve many problems of the humankind in the 21st century.

Words and expressions:

have to face – приходиться сталкиваться

it is easy – легко

childhood – детство

strong – сильный

generation – поколение

silly – глупый

misunderstanding – непонимание

I need – мне нужно

to spend spare time with peers – проводить свободное время с равными

to make decision concerning my life – принимать решение, касающейся моей жизни

grown-up – взрослый

dull – скучный; унылый

we need to be taken seriously – нас нужно принимать серьёзно

relationship – отношение

adults – взрослые

communication – общение

to consider – считать

violent – жестокий

to provoke – вызывать; провоцировать

AIDS – СПИД

early pregnancy – ранняя беременность

to solve problems – решать проблемы

humankind – человечество

to try – пытаться; стараться

to show off – привлечь внимание

Answer the questions:

1. Is it easy to be young?

2. Do you have any problems?

3. Do your parents always understand you?

4. Why do teenagers join different subcultures?

5. What do you do to show off?

6. Do you have the problem of spending your spare rime?

7. What can you say about teenagers’ violence?

My visit card.

My name is Inna, and my last name is Romanova. I am 16 years old. I was born on the 24th of June, in 1992. I am Russian. I live in Cheboksary. My father is a businessman. He is very good at mathematics, physics and chemistry. He helps me with them, when I don’t understand the lessons. He can fix everything in the world – a radio set, a TV set, a telephone, and even our refrigerator! He is also a good sportsman. He goes in for running and swimming.

My mother is a housewife. She has much work to do about the house. When I was little, I believed that my mother was a princess. My mother knows many interesting stories, she also sings well. She is a great cook. When she has enough time, she cooks delicious dishes.

We are five in the family. I have a younger sister and a brother. They are both pupils. Ann is in the 5th form and Alex is in the 9th form. Our family is very united and hospitable.

Our grandfather and grandmother do not live with us. They live in the country. Every summer we go there to rest and help them. I love my grandparents. They are kind - hearted and understanding.

I’m a pupil of the 11th form of the Sport college of the Olympic Reserve. I go in for sport very seriously. I’m interested in track and field athletics. I’m Master of Sports and my trainer is a Merited Coach of Chuvashia.

We have two trainings every day. We train much, master technique and tactics of our sport and raise our sportsmanship. We often go to a dispensary because we are under Medical Super - Vision of our doctors. After finishing the 11th form I’d like to continue my education here because I like sport very much and I want to become a professional sportsman, then a coach.

Words and expressions:

to be good at – иметь способности

to fix – ремонтировать

refrigerator – холодильник

to cook delicious dishes – готовить вкусные блюда

hospitable – гостеприимный

kind-hearted – добрый

to rest – отдыхать

track and field athletics – лёгкая атлетика

Merited Coach – Заслуженный тренер

to master – владеть

Answer the questions:

1. Who are you? What is your name?

2. How old are you?

3. How big is your family?

4. What are you interested in?

5. What are your plans for the future?

6. Have you chosen your future profession? Explain your choice.

Russian and English holidays.

Russian people love holidays, any of which is celebrated with lots of food and presents, with real Russian hospitality. Any important moment in the life of a family is treated as a great holiday and is celebrated with relatives, friends and neighbours. But all the holidays can be divided into state, religious and family holidays.

State holidays include the New Year’s (the 1st of January), Constitution Day (the 12th of December), Defender of Motherland Day (the 23d of February), Women’s Day (the 8th of March), May Day (the 1st of May), Victory Day (the 9th of May) and Independence Day (the 12th of June).

Religious holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and other Christian holidays and other holidays such as Shrovetide are not state holidays, so children go to school, the day is a working one. Still, every year more and more people celebrate these holidays.

There are many holidays when some professions are honoured, for example, the Day of Knowledge and the Teacher’s Day.

There are also personal, or family holidays such as birthdays, anniversaries, wedding days, days of graduations and other important days.

New Year’s Day is, probably, the main holiday in our country. The Russians prepare for it for a long time – everybody buys and makes presents, families and friends discuss the menu. Most people believe it is a family holiday, but young people sometimes gather together to celebrate it. The main symbol of this holiday is a New Year Tree. It is a young fir - tree. The tree is usually decorated with toys and coloured lights. The holiday is a great fun for children because they can stay up late and also because after the holiday they have their school vacation. The most exiting is the moment of receiving presents. In Russia the presents are brought by Father Frost. In Great Britain or in the USA the presents are brought by Santa Claus and put into children’s stockings. At ten minutes to midnight the President makes his traditional speech. Everybody listens to the speech and wishes each other a “Happy New Year!” and drinks champagne. It is a fun and merry holiday.