The oxford and cambridge boat race.

Task 1: Skim the text, trying to understand what it is about. Time your reading. It is good if you can read it for five minutes (70 words per minute).

Useful vocabulary.

varied [′vìərûd] (adj ) – разнообразный

row [rəu] (v) – грести

compete [kəm′pi:t] (v) – соревноваться

the river Thames [ðə ′rûvə′temz] (n) – река Темза

Easter [′i:stə] (n) –Пасха

Putney [′pštnû] (n) – Патни (южный пригород Лондона; известен своими многочисленными гребными спортивными клубами на Темзе)

Mortlake [′mé:t′leûk] (n) – Мортлэйк (часть Лондонского округа Ричмонд на Темзе)

coxswain [′kéksweûn], [′kéks(ə)n] (n) – рулевой

ribbon [′rûbən] (n) – лента

turn [tə:n] (n) – поворот

Sporting activities at Oxford and Cambridge are varied and numerous. There are different competitions between the colleges. One of the most popular sports is rowing. At the end of the term long, narrow, light boats, rowed by eight men, compete in the races. Boats start at short intervals one after another and try to knock the boat in front. Those who are able to do it move one place in a table and the college at the top of the table is known as the "Head of the River".

Rowing has a long history in England. Rowing a boat with eight oars (весло) or with four oars was first started in England in the 18 ^th century. At that time the boats took part in festivals and processions on the River Thames.

In the 19^th century people started to use the boats for racing, not only in London on the Thames but also in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The first Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge was held in 1829.

Nearly every year since then there has been a Boat Race between these two Universities. It is held in London on the Thames, during the Easter vacation, at the end of March or the beginning of April.

The course, from Putney to Mortlake, is 4 1/4 miles long. It has many turns, and the crews usually row the 4 1/4 miles in 20 minutes.

The crews of the boats, chosen from the members of the college Boat Clubs, train together for twelve weeks before the race, first in Oxford or Cambridge and finally in London. In each boat there are eight oarsmen and a coxswain, usually called a "cox". The cox, who is much lighter than the others, sets the speed and the rhythm, and steers.

On Boat Race Saturday the banks and bridges of the Thames are thick with people who have come to watch. Some wear dark blue ribbons for Oxford, and some wear pale blue ones for Cambridge.

Task 2: Choose the statements which correspond to the contents of the text:

1. Students of Oxford and Cambridge compete only in rowing and swimming.

2. Boats rowed by eight and four men take part in the competition between the Universities now.

3. Two centuries ago people could see boats with eight and four men taking part in festivals.

4. The first boat competition was organized in the 19th century.

5. The weather is usually very hot at the period of Boat Race.

6. The sportsmen prepare for the competition together in Oxford, Cambridge and London.

7. On the day of the competition people who come to see the race have ribbons of a special colour to show what University they support.

Task 3. Give English equivalents of the following:

спортивные мероприятия; гребля; длинные, узкие и легкие лодки; соревноваться в гонках; с короткими интервалами; 4 или 8 вёсел; участвовать в фестивалях и шествиях; первая гонка была проведена; маршрут имеет много поворотов; экипаж/команда; гребец; рулевой; ритм; лента.

Task 4. Give synonyms to the following:

rower, to begin, almost, to participate, route, to be full of people, holidays, different.

Task 5. Give antonyms to the following:

short, same, at the end of, these, heavy, wide, before, the last.

Task 6. Complete the sentences choosing the right variant:

1. Oxford and Cambridge sporting activities are … .

a) few b) not popular c) numerous and different

2. Rowing is one of the … sports.

a) least popular b) more popular c) most popular

3. Racing boats are usually … .

a) short, wide and heavy b) tall and large c) long, narrow and light

4. The Boat Race is held in … on the River … .

a) Oxford, Severn b) Cambridge, Cam c) London, Thames

5. The course from Putney to Mortlake … .

a) is straight b) is winding (извилистый) с) has few turns

6. The direction, speed and the rhythm are set by … .

a) people who have come to watch b) oarsmen c) a coxswain

Part 2.

Reading comprehension.

Text 1.

From the History of Cambridge University.

Task 1. Fill in the gaps in the text choosing the correct answers given below.

Example: He …1… a lovely holiday in the country last year.

a) bought b) had c) passed d)gave

Answer: 1. b

Cambridge is famous …1… the world as one of the two oldest university cities in Britain — Oxford, of course, is the other. Its streets are packed with students going about their business on bicycles.

The story of the University began in 1209 when students and scholars ...2... the little town of Cambridge after they had walked 60 miles from Oxford. These students had been stu­dents in Oxford where was constant trouble between the people living in the town and the students. Then one day a student accidentally killed a man of the town. The Mayor arrested three ...3... students who were innocent and they ...4... death. In protest all the students moved ...5..., some coming to Cambridge, and so the new University began.

1. a) through b)on c) throughout d) out of

2. a) arrived in b) reached in c) arrived to d) was arrived at

3. a) another b) the other c) others d) other

4. a) put it b) were put to c) put to d) were put at

5. a) anywhere b) to somewhere c) in nowhere d) elsewhere

Task 2. Choose the best answer to each question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.

1. Which of the following is not true?

a) Cambridge and Oxford are the oldest universities in Britain.

b) You can see a few students going about their business on bicycles in Cambridge.

c) The first students and scholars came to Cambridge in 1209.

d) The first students of Cambridge were the former stu­dents of Oxford.

2. How did the story of Cambridge University begin?

a) It began as soon as the first settlers of the little town of Cambridge arrived.

b) The story dates back to 1209 when students from London University had to leave it and move to Cam­bridge.

c) The story of Cambridge University was connected with the events in Oxford in 1209 when the students there decided to leave the city. .

d) The story of Cambridge University began when the Mayor of Oxford asked the students from Oxford University to move to Cambridge.

3. What do you think about the relations that were among the citizens of Oxford and the students of Oxford University? Which of these words describes it best?

a) peaceful b) warlike c) good-neighbourly d) diplomatic

4. What happened in Oxford one day in 1209?

a) One day a student decided to kill a citizen of Oxford and killed him.

b) Once a citizen of Oxford killed a student.

c) It so happened that a student from Oxford Univer­sity killed a citizen of Oxford — he didn't do it on purpose.

d) The Mayor of Oxford killed a student.

5. What made the students of Oxford University leave Ox­ford?

a) The accident that took place in Oxford in 1209 — the arrest and death of innocent students.

b) The fact that the Mayor arrested the guilty students.

c) Cambridge University was better than Oxford Uni­versity.

d) The Mayor of Oxford asked them to do it.