1. Translate the text into Russian.

2. Answer the following questions:

1. Are there many public holidays in Britain?

2. What is a “bank holiday”?

3. What is the most popular holiday in GB?

4. Every year Swedish people give London a present, don’t they?

5. What do children leave at the end of their beds? Explain why.

6. Is New Year’s Day more or less popular in Britain than Christmas?

7. Who was Guy Fowkes?

8. Why do people present each other coloured eggs on Easter?

9. When do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

10. Where do people celebrate New Year’s Day?

3. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Каждый год норвежцы дарят Лондону подарок.

2. Веселье начинается накануне, 24 декабря.

3. Санта Клаус приезжает с северного полюса на санях. Он одет в красный колпак и красную куртку.

4. Дети одеваются в маскарадные костюмы и выходят на улицу.

5. В этот день в 1605 году Гай Фокс пытался взорвать здание Парламента и убить короля Джеймса I.

6. Валентинка - это поздравительная открытка красного цвета с изображением сердец.

7. 14 февраля – День Святого Валентина – не является национальным праздником в США, но его отмечают люди всех возрастов.

8. Люди верят, что если надеть три новые вещи на Пасху, то это принесет удачу на весь год.

4. Insert the necessary words.

1. …is not a national holiday in the USA, but it is widely celebrated among people of all ages by the exchange of ‘valentines’.

2. …is celebrated on the first Monday in September.

3. …is the day when all members of the family gather at home to celebrate it.

4. …is the day when the cemeteries are decorated with flags.

5. …marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

5. Match the columns:

30^th of May Thanksgiving Day

4^th of July Christmas

the fourth Thursday of

November Memorial Day

14^th of February Independence Day

25^th of December Labour Day

the first Monday of

September St. Valentine’s Day

TEXT II

1. Pay attention to the following proper names:

Europe, William Byrd, Elgar, Machael Tippett, Benjamin Britten, William Walton, John McCloughlin, Django Bates, Geoff Simkins, Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Queen, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Herman’s Hermits.

2. Read after the speaker:

Musician, originality, harpsichord, contemporary, guitar, saxophone, popularity, successfully.

. Read after the speaker:

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000Music in Britain

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries English musicians had a great reputation in Europe, both for their talent and for their originality. It was their experiments in keyboard music which helped to form the base from which grew most of the great harpsichord and piano music. William Byrd was the most distinguished English composer of this time, and his name is still widely known.

In the centuries which followed, England produced no composers of the world rank except for Henry Purcell in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and Elgar in the twentieth century. Today, however, many people believe that there has been too much of English music, and that the compositions of some contemporary composers will live on after their deaths. The music of Michael Tippett, Benjamin Britten and William Walton is performed all over the world.

In 1950s, American popular music spread all over the world.

Besides classical music there is pop, folk, rock and all that jazz. Jazz came from America, but today it is international music and British has a small but powerful jazz scene. Jazz can be heard in pubs and clubs all over the country, and the brilliance of the musicianship is more exciting since you can get up close to it. Some great English jazz names are John McCloughlin (guitar), Django Bates (keyboards) and Geoff Simkins (saxophone). The future for jazz looks good as there is a generation of new talents such as some excellent young black players like Courtney Pine and Steve Williamson.

In the 1950s American popular music spread all over the world. Because of the common language, it was more popular in Britain than in other countries. People listened with pleasure to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day; then with shock, horror and delight to Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whatever Americans produced, Britain enjoyed.

Rock’n’roll got very big popularity in Britain and in fact some American rockers had more fans here then at home. There were a great many of groups and vocal singers who imitated American groups and singers, sometimes quite successfully. The Beatles appeared in such a way, but their luck was great, they became very popular all over the world. They were the first British artists to break into the US market. Soon there was international success for the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Queen, the Herman’s Hermits and others.

Words:

musician originality keyboard music harpsichord to distinguish contemporary composers brilliance of the musicianship excellent players common language popularity international success

музыкант оригинальность клавишная музыка клавесин отличать, выделять современные композиторы великолепие содружества музыкантов великолепные музыканты общий язык популярность международный уcпех

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