Тема «English as a mean of international communication»

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ENGLISH AS A MEANS OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

English is the national language in such countries as Britain, the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is the mother tongue of nearly three hundred million people. Many people speak English in Japan, China, India and African countries. But many more use it as an international means of communication, because English has become a truly international language.

Science, trade, sport and international relations of various kinds have given the English language the status of one of the world’s most important languages. Many scientific and technical journals are written in English although they are not necessarily published in England or other English-speaking countries. At numerous international meetings and conferences, English is the main language. The Olympic Games and other multinational sports events cannot do without it.

The role English plays today is the result of historical processes. The English language, in the course of its historical development, has met with so many influences from abroad that its lexical and grammatical structure has come to reflect in many ways its international use.

English is a language which is indeed able to cope with the most diverse tasks of international communication.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

national language – національна мова

mother tongue – рідна мова

an international means of communication – засіб міжнародного спілкування

science - наука

international relations – міжнародні відносини

English-speaking countries – англомовні країни

many influences – багато впливів

to cope – справлятися з чимось

diverse tasks – різноманітні завдання

to reflect - відображати

Викладач ______________І.С. Коковіхіна

Практичне заняття 15. Тема «We study English»

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WE STUDY FOREIGN LANGUAGES

My name is Petrov. I live in the centre of Moscow. I work at the Ministry of Foreign Trade. I am an engineer and 1 am also a student. Many engineers of our Ministry study foreign languages. I study English. In the morning I take my English text-book and my exercise-books and go to the Ministry. The teacher and the students come into the class-room and sit down at the tables. The students open their text-books and their exercise-books. I also open my text-book and my exercise-book. During the lesson we read our texts, write sentences on the blackboard and do exercises. We do not write many exercises at the lesson. We sometimes write dictations. We usually write exercises at home. We usually speak English to our teacher. We sometimes speak Russian at the lesson. After the lesson we go to the office.

My wife is an economist. She works together with me. She goes to the office every day. My wife does not study English. She already knows English very well. She reads many English books, magazines and newspapers. She also knows French. At her office she sometimes writes letters to foreign firms. She often translates telegrams from Russian into English and from English into Russian.

My wife is also a student. She studies German. She is a very good student. She usually gets good marks. She always comes to her lessons in time.My wife and I usually go home together.In the evening we prepare our home task. We learn new words, read texts and write exercises. We also repeat grammar rules. We sometimes speak English at home. We speak about our work and our lessons.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

a student - студент

an engineer - інженер

an economist - економіст

a text-book - підручник

an exercise-book - зошит

a magazine - журнал

to write sentences – писати речення

first – перший(-а,-е)

to study foreign languages – вивчати іноземні мови

to translate - перекладати

to prepare home task – виконувати домашнє завдання

to repeat grammar rules – повторювати граматичні правила

to get good marks – отримувати гарні оцінки

the Ministry of Foreign Trade – Міністерство Іноземної Торгівлі

Викладач ______________І.С. Коковіхіна

Theme “Geographical position of Great Britain”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXTS.

2. RETELL ONE OF THE THE TEXTS.

THE UNITED KINGDOM.Geographic Location

The official name of the country we usually call “England” and occasionally “Great Britain” is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is situated on the group of islands lying just off the mainland of northwestern Europe. The British Isles include Great Britain, Ireland and a number of smaller islands. The total area of the British Isles is 325,000 square km. Many ages ago the British Isles formed a part of the continent. The rocky highlands of Scotland, for example, resemble the Norwegian coast. Another evidence that the islands were the part of the continent is the shallow ness of the water between them and the mainland. Now Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel, the narrowest part of which is called the Strait of Dover. The British Isles are surrounded by the shallow waters of the Irish Sea and the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. There are wild desolate mountains in the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Pennine Range in northern England and the Cambrian Mountains in Wales are much lower. The rivers of the region are short and of no great importance as waterways. The longest of them is “the Father of London”, the Thames, which is a little over 200 miles. Britain’s principal ports are London, Liverpool,Manchester and Glasgow. They have splendid harbors, for the coast line is very indented. Owing to the shape of the country, any point in Great Britain is no more than 70 miles from the sea.

The Geographical Position of Great Britain

There are two large islands and several smaller ones, which lie in the north-west coast of Europe. Collectively they are known as the British Isles. The largest island is called Great Britain. The smaller one is called Ireland. Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel. The country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Great Britain is separated from Belgium and Holland by the North Sea, and from Ireland — by the Irish Sea. In the British Isles there are two states. One of them governs of the most of the island of Ireland. This state is usually called the Republic of Ireland. The other state has authority over the rest of the territory. The official name of this country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But it is usually known by a shorter name — “The United Kingdom”. The total area of Great Britain is 244,000 square km. They say that the British love of compromise is the result of the country’s physical geography. This may or may not be true, but it certainly true that the land and climate in Great Britain have a notable lack of extremes. The mountains in the country are not very high. It doesn’t usually get very cold in the winter or very not in the summer. It has no active volcanoes, and an earth tremos which does no more than rattle teacups in a few houses which is reported in the national news media. The insular geographical position of Great Britain promoted the development of shipbuilding, different trading contacts with other countries.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

оfficial – офіційний

situated - розташований

mainland – материк

islands - острів

coast - берег

separated – відокремлений

surround – оточувати

desolate - занедбаний, покинутий

waterways – морські шляхи

British Isles – Британські острови

to govern – управляти, керувати

to rattle – плескання, грохотання

volcano – вулкан

earth tremos - землетрус

to be separated – бути відокремленим

insular - острівний

Questions to the text 1

1. What is the official name of the country we call Great Britain?

2. Is United Kingdom situated on the mainland?

3. What are the evidences that the Islands were part of the continent?

4. What is the Strait of Dover?

5. What are the British Isles surrounded by?

6. Are there any rivers in that region?

7. What are main ports of Britain?

Questions to the text 2

1 .Where is Great Britain situated?

2.What is the total area of Great Britain?

3.What is the official name of this country?

4.Іs Great Britain a mountainous country?

5.What’s the result of the country’s physical geography?

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “London”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

London

London is the capital of Great Britain its political, economic and cultural center. It is one of the largest cities in the worlds. Its population is more than 11 million people. London is situated on the river Thames. The cty is very old and beautiful. It was founded more than two thousand years ago.

Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the oldest part of London., its financial and business center. The heart of the City is the Stock Exchange.

Westminster is the most important part of the capital. It’s the administrative centre. The Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Government, are there. It’s a very beautiful building with two towers and a very big clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is really the bell, which strikes every quarter of an hour. Opposite the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. It’s a very beautiful church built over 900 years ago. The tombs of many great statesmen, scientists and writers are there.

To the west of Westminster is West End. Here we find most of the big shops, hotels, museums, art galleries, theatres and concert halls. Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London’s West End. In the West End there are wide streets with heautifiul houses and many parks, gardens and squares.

To the east of Westminster is the East End, an industrial district of the capital. There are no parks or gardens in the East End and you can’t see many fine houses there. Most of the plants and factories are situated there.

London has many places of interest. One of them is Buckingham Palace. It’s the residence of the Queen. The English are proud of Trafalgar Square, which was named so in memory of the victory at the bathe. There in 1805 the English fleet defeated the fleet of France and Spain. The last place of interest I should like to mention, is the British Museum, the biggest museum in London. The museum is famous for its library - one of the richest in the world.

All London’s long-past history is told by its streets. There are many streets in London, which are known all over the world Among them Oxford Street, Downing Street and a lot of others can be mentioned. And tourists are usually attracted not only by the places of interest but by the streets too.

In conclusion I should say if you are lucky enough to find yourself in London some day you will have a lot to see and enjoy there

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “Climate of Great Britain”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

The Climate of Great Britain

Great Britain is situated on islands. It is vashed by sea from al1 sides. That’s why the climate and the nature of Great Britain is very specific. The popular belief that it rains all the time in Britain is simply not true. In fact, London gets no more rain in a year than most other major European cities. Generally speaking, the further west you go, the more rain you get. The mild winters mean that snow is a regular feature of the higher areas only. The winters are in general a bit colder in the east of the country than they are in the west. While in summer, the south is slightly wanner and sunnier than the north. Besides Britain is famous for its fogs. Sometimes fogs are so thick that it is impossible to see anything within 2 or 3 metres.

Why has Britain’s climate got such a bad reputation? Maybe it is for the sanie reason that British people always seem to be taiking about the weather. There is a saying that Britain doesn’t have a climate, it on1y has weather. You can never be sure of a dry day, though it may not rain very much altogether. There can be cool and even cold days in July and some guite warm days in January. The weather changes very oflen. Mark Twain said about America “If you don’t like the weather in a New Endand., just wait a few minutes” but it is more likely to have been said about England. The lack of extremes is the reason why on the few occasions when it gets genuinely hot or freezing cold, the country seems to be totally unprepared for it. A bit of snow, a few days of frost and the trains stop working and the roads are blocked. If the thermometer goes above 27```C, people behave as if they were in the Sahara and the temperature makes front-page headlines. These things happen so seldom that it is not worth organizing life to he ready for them. Everyone who comes to Great Britain says that it looks like one great beautif ul park. The British people love their country and take care of it.

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “Political system of Great Britain”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

POLITICAL SYSTEM

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is the head of state. But according to the constitution, power in the country belongs to Parliament. The monarch can only reign with the support of Parliament. The British Parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. They meet only on symbolic occasions, such as the opening of Parliament. In reality, the House of Commons has true power. New bills are introduced and debated here. If the majority of the members are in favour of a bill it goes to the House of Lords to be debated and then to the Queen for signing. Only then it becomes law. The House of Commons is made up of 650 elected members (MPs). They are elected by the people at a general election. Parliamentary elections must be held every five years. There are four political parties in Great Britain — the Conservative, the Liberal, the Labour and the Communist Parties. The political parties choose candidates in elections. The party, which wins the majority of seats, forms the Government. Its leader usually becomes the Prune Minister. The largest minority party becomes the Opposition. The majority party runs the country.The Prime Minister chooses about 20 MPs from his party and they form Cabinet of Minister. Each minister is responsible for a particular area of government. The leader of the Opposition chooses MPs too. They are responsible for opposing the government. They form the’ Shadow Cabinet ‘. The Conservative and Liberal parties are the oldest. Since 19th century they were the only parties elected to the House of Commons. The members of the House of Lords are not elected.

Parliament in London is responsible for deciding national policy, but many public are provided by local governments. They are responsible for organizing such services as education, libraries, police and others.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

head of state - голова держави

power - влада

bill – білль (законопроект )

majority - більшість

election - вибори

to vote - голосувати

to win - отримати перемогу

to depend on - залежати від

minority – меншість

to be responsible for - відповідати за що-небудь

shadow – тінь, тіньовий

agreement - угода

Answer the following questions:

1. What kind of country is the United Kingdom?

2. Who is the head of state?

3. What Houses does the British Parliament consist of?

4. Who has true power in the country?

5. When does a bill become law?

6. How many elected members are there in the Houses of Commons?

7. How many political parties are there in Great Britain?

8. Which party forms the government?

9. Who forms Cabinet of Ministers?

10. How is the” Shadow Cabinet” formed?

II.What is Parliament responsible for?

12. When are Parliamentary elections held?

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “Natioal symbols of Great Britain”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. MAKE 10 QUESTOINS TO THE TEXT.

National Emblems of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (abbreviated from “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”) is the political name of the country which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain is the name of the island which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, whereas the British Isles is the geographical name of all the islands off the north-west coast of the European continent.In everyday speech “Britain” is used to mean the United Kingdom.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Yack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross on a white background is the cross of the 1st George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross on a blue background is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross on a white background is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The Welsh flag, called the Welsh dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background.

St. George’s Day falls on 23 April and is regarded as England’s national day. On this day some patriotic Englishmen wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose is the national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (15th century).

St. Andrew’s Day (the 30th of November) is regarded as Scotland’s national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland, thistle apparently first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687, and is mainly given to Scottish noblemen (limited to 16 in number).

St. Patrick’s Day (the 17th of March) is considered as a national day in Northern Ireland and an official bank holiday there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. According to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

St. David’s Day (the 1st of March) is the church festival of St. David, a 6th- century monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. The day is regarded as the national holiday of Wales, although it is not an official bank holiday.

On this day, however, many Weishmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

In the Royal Arms three lions symbolize England, a lion rampant — Scotland, and a harp — Ireland. The whole is encircled and is supported by a lion and a unicorn. The lion has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy for many centuries. The unicorn, a mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn, has appeared on the Scottish and British royal coats of arms for many centuries, and is a symbol of purity.

Theme “Holidays in Great Britain”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

There are six public holidays in Great Britain. They are: Christmas Day; Boxing Day; Good Friday, observed before Easter Sunday, after a full moon on or after March 21; Easter Monday, observed next day after Easter Sunday;Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday of June or on the first Monday of July;Late Summer Bank Holiday on the last Monday of August or on the first Monday in September.

Besides public holidays other festivals and traditions are observed.

NEW YEAR IN ENGLAND

In England the New Year is not as widely observed as Christmas. Some people ignore it.The most common type of celebration is a New Year party. It begins at 8 pm and goes on until morning. There is a buffet supper of cold meat, pies, sandwiches, cakes and biscuit At midnight everyone can hear the chimes of Big Ben and drink a toast to the New Year. Then the par. goes on. Another way of celebrating is to go to a New Year’s dance. Dance halls are decorated there are several bands playing merry music. The most famous celebration is in London round the statue in Piccadilly Circus where crowds come the New Year. In Trafalgar Square someone usually falls into the fountain.

Some people watch others celebrating on television.Some people send New Year cards and give presents and make “New Year resolutions”.

ST. VALENTINE’S DAY

Saint Valentine’s Day is observed on February 14. The first Valentine of all was a bishop. February 14 is the date of an old pagan festival when Roman maidens put love letters into an urn to be drawn out their boy friends. It is the day when people exchange greetings of affection with a Valentine card.

MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day is observed in March on the fourth Sunday in Lent. The day known as Mothering Sunday dates from the time when many girls worked as domestic servants away from home. On Mothering Sunday, they could go home to see their mother and give her a present from the houselady. This custom remained and is called “Mother’s Day”. People visit their mothers, give them flowers and presents or send therm Mother’s Day” cards.

EASTER

In England Easter is a time for the giving and receiving of presents [Easter eggs], for the Easter Bonnet Parade and hot cross buns. Nowadays Easter eggs are made of chocolate but painting egg-shells is still popular in some country districts. Emblems of Easter are also fluffy chicks, baby rabbits, daffodils,catkins and lily. They signify the Nature’s reawakening.

London greets the spring with Easter Parade on Easter Sunday. The parade begins at 3 p.m. It consist of many decorated floats bearing the Easter Princess and her attendants. The finest bands take part in

APRIL FOOL’S DAY

April Fool’s Day is named from the custom of playing practical jokes. It is a season when all people are given an exuse to play the fool. In April comes the cuckoo, emblem of simpletons. In Scotland the victim of a joke is ckoo” or “gowk”.

MAYDAY

The1st of May was pagan spring festival. It was celebrated with garlands, flowers, dancing, and games. A Maypole wreathed with flowers was erected. The girls put on their best summer frocks, and plainted flowers in their hair awaiting the crowning of the May Queen. The most beautiful girl was crowned with a garland of flowers. After this there was dancing. The dancers dressed in fancy costume represented in the Robin Hood legend. Games were followed by refreshments in the open.

LONDON MAY QUEEN FESTIVAL

London May Queen Festival has been held since 1880. Visitors from many parts of the world gather in Kent to witness the Crowning of London’s May Queen. Over a thousand children take part. Forty May Queens from different parts of the country are present. Their dresses are beautifully made. The actual crowning takes place at 3 p.m.

WHITSUN

There are no special customs associated with Whitsun, the seventh Sunday after Easter Sunday. The Morris men can be seen at Whitsun. The Morris is a rustic merry-making introduced by Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward 1(1272-1307). The dances are performed by sets of dancers accompanied by tradi4an-Woman, Hobby Horse and the Fool. Basic dress is a white shirt and trousers tied at the knee, ribbons and handkerchiefs.

Queen’s birthday as a National holiday is celebrated in June;

Scotland observes the spring bank holiday in mid-May; the summer bank holiday in mid-August.

LATE SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY

On Bank Holiday, the town folk usually flock into the country and to the coast. They take lunch and enjoy their meal in the open. Seaside towns near London are invaded by thousands of holidays- makers. Bank holidays is also an occasion for big sports meeting. There are large fairs, a Punch show, and bingo. Many Londoners will visit Whipsnade Zoo. There is also much boat activity on the Thames and other rivers.

BONFIRE NIGHT

Guy Fawkes /1570-1606/ was one of the English conspirators who tried to destroy Parliament and King James I as a protest against anti-Papist measures. They dug a tunnel where they stored 36 barels of gunpowder. On October 26, one of the conspirators warned Lord Monteagle about conspiracy. On November 5 the gunpowder was found, together with Guy Fawkes. He revealed the names of the con spiration. Fawkes was hanged.The Plot is still commemorated by an official ceremonial search before the opening of Parliament, burning of Fawkes’ s effigy and the explosion of fireworks every November 5.Guy Fawkes Night is one of the most popular festivals in Great Britain. There is extremely organized celebration at Winchester. People prepare elaborate guys, for which prizes are awarded. The guy awarded the first prize is the first to be cast upon huge bonfire.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Remembrance Day [Poppy Day] on the Sunday before November 11 is observed in commemoration of British warriors who fell during the two World Wars. On that day special services are held in the churches. Wreaths are laid at war memorials throughout the country.At London’s Cenotaph people observe two-minute silence and perform the Remembrar ceremony. The silence begins at the first stroke of Big Ben booming 11 o’clock. The members of the Royal family and political leaders lay wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph.Then comes the march past the memorial of ex-servicemen and women, followed by ordin citizens. On that day artificial poppies, a symbol of mourning, are traditional sold in the streets everywhere. The money is later used to help the men who had been crippled during the war.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Christmas Day is observed on December 25. In Britain this day was a festival long before the conversion to Christianity. On that day people began the year and it was called “modranecht” — mother’s night. Many Christmas customs go back to pagan times. In 1644, the English puritans forbade the kepping of Christmas by Act of Parliament. At the restoration Charles II revived the feast in 1660.On Christmas Eve everything is rush. Offices close at one o’clock, but the shops stay open late. London and big cities are decorated with coloured lights. In the homes there is a great air of expectations. The children are decorating the Christmas tree with baubles and coloured lights. The house is decorated with holly and mistletoe under which the boys kiss the girls. Christmas cards are hung round the walls. The housewife is busy in the kitchen. The Christmas bird, usually a turkey, is being prepared. The pudding is inspected and the cake is iced.In villages carol-singers come and sing Christmas carols. They expect a Christmas box I musical efforts. The money collected is then donated to some deserving cause.

In Trafalgar Square stands an enormous Christmas tree. It is a gift from the people of Oslo for help during the war. The tree is over 15 feet high. It is brightly decorated. This sparkling tree seems to catch theSpirit of Christmas.

BOXING DAY

Boxing Day is observed on December 26. It is a legal holiday in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Christmas boxes traditionally given to dustmen and a few other public servants.This isw the day when one visits friends. Tradition demands a visit to the pantomime to watch the story of Cinderela, Dick Whittington or whatever it may be. There are pantomimes on ice, with well- known pop singers or pantomimes with a famous comedian. In the country there are usually Boxing Day Meets for fox-hunting.

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

OUTSTANDING PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN: MARGARET THATCHER, ENGLISH POLITICAL LEADER

Margaret Thatcher is the second daughter of a grocer and a dressmaker who became the first woman in European history to be elected Prime Minister. She become the first British prime minister in the twentieth century to win three consecutive terms and, at the time of her resignation in 1990, the nation's longest-serving prime minister since 1827. Some people have seen her as a true political revolutionary in that she broadened the base of the Conservative Party to include the middle class along with the wealthy aristocracy.

Thatcher was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October 13, 1925, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. A clever child, whose father was an ardent worker in local politics, she decided early in life to become a member of Parliament. She was educated at Sornerville College and at Oxford University, where she was the first woman president of the Oxford University Conservative Association. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Oxford in 1950 and worked briefly as a research chemist.

In 1950 she ran unsuccessfully for Parliament, although she did increase the Conservative Party vote by 50 percent in her district. The following year she married Denis Thatcher, a director of a paint firm. After her marriage she read for the Bar and specialized in tax law.

On her second attempt, in 1959, Thatcher won a seat in Parliament. Analytical, articulate and ambitious, she soon became prominent among other politicians. Because of her debating skills she was frequently called upon by fellow conservatives to respond to the policies of the Labour Party, their political opponents. She served as joint parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance from 1961 to 1964,. then as secretary of state for education and science under Prime Minister Edmund Heath from 1970 to 1974.

Thatcher's political career was not always well regarded, however. In 1972, when she was at the Ministry of Education, for instance, she was referred to in the Sun newspaper as "the most unpopular woman in Britain". Yet she continued to rise in the ranks, and after the Conservative Party lost two general elections in 1974 she succeeded as party leader.

When the conservatives won a decisive victory in the 1979 general elections Thatcher became Prime Minister. Upon entering office she advocated measures that would limit government control, such as giving individuals greater independence from the state, ending government interference in the economy, and reducing public expenditures. Although her conservative philosophy met with approval, during her first two terms unemployment nearly tripled, the number of poor people increased, and bankruptcies resulted from her efforts to curb inflation. Thatcher became known as the "Iron Lady" because of her strict control over her cabinet and the country's economic policies. Extending her firm approach into foreign relations, she helped Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) establish independence in 1980 and two years later she oversaw the successful British seizure of the Falkland Islands from Argentina. These operations led to her landslide re-election in 1983.

During her third term Thatcher continued the "Thatcher revolution" by returning education, health care, and housing to private control. She also supported the campaign to keep Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, a position that could have been fatal: in 1984 terrorist bombers nearly succeeded in killing Thatcher and several members of her administration in Brighton, Sussex. The bombing wasallegedly the work of members of the Irish Republican Army, a nationalist organisation devoted to uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland.

In 1990, when a split within the Conservative Party was costing Thatcher political support, she resigned from office. During her tenure as Prime Minister, however, she set historic precedents and, according to political observers, she brought long-needed changes to British government and society.

VOCABULARY

grocer ['grəusə] — торговець бакалійними товарами

consecutive [kən'sekjutɪv] — послідовний

resignation [,rezɪg'neɪʃ(e)n] — заява про відставку

ardent ['a:d(ə)nt] — палкий, ревний, старанний

to run [rʌn] for Parliament — висувати свою кандидатуру на

виборах до парламенту

vote [vəut] — виборчий голос

to read for the Bar — готуватися до адвокатури, вивчати право

tax law [tæks lɔ:] — податкове законодавство

attempt [ə'tempt] — спроба

articulate [a:'tɪkjulɪt]'— висловлювати (формулювати) ясно (чітко)

to call upon ['kɔ:lə'pɔn] — запрошувати висловитися, викликати на трибуну

to refer [rɪ'fə:] to — посилатися (на когось, на щось)

to rise [rаɪz] in the ranks — просуватися по службі

to advocate ['ædvəkeɪt] — відстоювати, захищати; пропагувати (погляди тощо)

interference [,ɪntə'fiər(ə)ns] — втручання

expenditure [ɪks'pendɪtʃə] — видатки

unemployment [,ʌnɪm'plɔɪmənt] — безробіття

to curb [kə:b] — стримувати, приборкувати

seizure ['si:ʒə] — захоплення

allegedly [ə'ledʒɪdlɪ] — за голослівним твердженням; як твердять; ніби, нібито

split [split] — розкол

tenure ['tenjuə] — (строк) перебування на посаді

QUESTIONS

1. What do you know about Margaret Thatcher's biography?

2. Why do we call her outstanding?

3. What at were her jobs?

4. How many attempts did she make to win a seat in Parliament?

5. What are features of her character? Why did she succeed?

6. How many terms did she serve ?

7. How did people call her?

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “Geographical position of Ukraine”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign state with its own territory and its bodies of state power and government. It also has national emblem: state flag and anthem. Ukraine proclaimed its independence on August 24, 1991, and confirmed this status on December 1st of the same year.The country is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe. It covers the area of 604,000 square kilometers. The territory of Ukraine consists of the Autonomy Republic of Crimea and 24 regions. Ukraine is inhabited by people belonging to more than 110 ethnic groups. The population of Ukraine is nearly 50 million people. It borders on Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the west and on Romania and Moldova in the southwest. Its northern neighbor is Byelarus, the eastern one is Russia.The territory of Ukraine is mostly flat, and mountains make up only 5% of its territory. There are the Carpathian Mountains in the west and the Crimean Mountains in the south. The climate of Ukraine is moderate.

The main rivers of Ukraine are the Dnipro, the Dnister, the Buh and Donets and others. The Dnipro is the main river in the country.lt’s one of the longest rivers in the world. Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the sea of Azov and has such important ports as Odesa, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Kherson.The geographical position of Ukraine is favourable, because the country lies on the crossroad of the ways from Asia to Europe.Like any other country in the world Ukraine has big cities; among them are Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine; Kharkiv, which used to be the capital of Ukraine and now its an important industrial and cultural centre; Donetsk is a coal-mining and chemical centre; Odesa is a big sea-port; Lviv is a large scientific and cultural centre and a lot of others. Due to favourable climatic conditions, Ukraine is traditionally an agricultural country. Wheat and corns, all kinds of fruit are grown here. The country is rich in national resources, such as iron ore,coal, gas. It produces planes, ships, lorries, buses, TV and radio-sets, and other goods.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

sovereign — незалежний

anthem – гімн

confirm — підтвердити

moderate — помірний

favourable — сприятливий

to lay on the crossroad – знаходитися на перетині

Ouestions:

I . What is the national emblem of Ukraine?

2. Where does the country situated?

3. By what seas is Ukraine washed?

4. What national resources is the country rich in?

5. Which countries does it border on’?

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme Kyiv the capital of Ukraine”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

Kyiv

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine.It has a long history and this makes Kyiv stand out among other cities. In 1982, its 1500th anniversary we celebrated in the country. It was called “The Mother of All Russian Cities”. Kyiv bears the name of prince Kyi.Kyiv is the seat of the Supreme Court and Cabinet of Ministers. Its population is about 3 million. Kyiv occupies an area of 790 square kilometers. The city lies on both banks of the Dnipro.

Kyiv is the largest centre of national culture. A lot of concert-halls, fifteen museums, palaces of culture,film studios,the circus make Kyiv a large cultural centre in Ukraine.The Shevchenko Opera and Ballet House, the Kyiv Franko Drama Theatre are well-known all over the world. Museum of Books and Book Printing, museums devoted to dramatic and film art, memorial museums devoted to outstanding personalities are situated in Kyv.

Kyiv is also one of the biggest scientific centers. The Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and many research institutes are famous for its discoveries. More than 10.000 students study at the Shevehenko National University There are over 20 higher educational establishments in Kyiv.Kyiv is famous for its beauty, for its wonderful broad avenues, lots of chestnut trees and flowers all over the city. A remarkable feature of our time is that people travel a lot. Those who are fond of visiting historical and cultural places usually dwell their choice on ancient cities. The older the city is the more places of interes it has. That’s why Kyiv is quite an interesting place from this view point. Tourists are attracted by numerous places of interest in Kyiv. They are Kyivo — Pecherska Lavra, St. Sophia’ s Cathedral, the Golden Gate, the monuments to T. G. Shevchenko, the great poet of Ukraine, to Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Prince Volodymyr. Kyiv has a well — developed industry. Its factories and plants produce sea and river transport vessels, air liners, computers, motorcycles, consumer goods.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

to bear the name — носити ім‘я

anniversary — річниця

to devote — присвячувати

broad — широкий

to dwell — зупиняти

numerous — числений

vessel — судно, корабелб

consumer goods – споживчі товари

Qiestions:

1. Whose name does Kyiv bear?

2. Where does the city lie?

3. Is science paid much attention to in Kyiv?

4. Is Kyiv culture or science centre?

5. Say a few words about the cultural places in Kyiv.

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme The climate of Ukraine”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

THE CLIMATE OF UKRAINE

The climate of Ukraine is moderate. Summer is hot and dry with occasionally rains and thunderstorms. Winter is rather mild without severe frosts but with snowfalls everywhere. The rivers and lakes freeze in winter. Ukraine is rather a big country, that’s why its climate is different in various regions of it. Of course, the hottest region is in the South. In the central part of the country the climate is moderate and continental. The climate of the territory along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is warmer. The Crimean and the Carpathian mountains protect the country from winds. The coldest part is that in the North and in the North-east.And now let’s characterize every season of the year in our country in general. Autumn is warm at the beginning but later It gets colder, it often rains. Winter sets in December with its cold and heavy snowfalls and winds. The average temperature is about 15-20 degrees below zero. But it often happens that winters are mild and rainy and this is the most unpleasant time. In spring the weather is changeable. It may be cold and windy, sunny and rainy on one and the same day. In summer temperature is about 25-30 degrees above zero. The warmest months are July and August. They say the climate in Ukraine like anywhere else, is getting milder with every counting year. In the last few years all the scientists agree that something very serious is happening to the climate and weather of Ukraine and the whole world. It depends on many reasons.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

moderate – помірний

occasional — рідкий (не частий)

thunderstorm - гроза

snowfall — снігопад

they say – кажуть

Questions:

1. The climate of Ukraine is moderate, isn’t it?

2. Where is the hottest region of Ukraine?

3. Is the climate of Ukraine getting milder?

4. On what reasons does it depend on ?

5. Describe the seasons of the year in general.

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “The political system of Ukraine”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT.

2. RETELL THE TEXT.

The political system of Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign state whose independence was declared on August 24, 1991. Before that it was one of the 15 republics of the former Soviet Union.The country has a democratic political system which means that its executive branch is represented by the president with strong powers, and its legislative branch is represented by national parliament. The president who is elected to a five-year term is the commander-in-chief of the military forces and can issue orders called edicts, without the approval of the parliament. The first president of Ukraine was Leonid Kravchuk, whose programme was aimed at the constitution of a new Ukraine with a strong state system, genuine democracy, material well-being of the Ukrainian people and their elevated spiritual awareness.

In 1994 people elected a new president, Leonid Kuchma, and Ukraine entered a new phase of development. In 1999 he was re-elected to a new term of presidency and stated among his main concerns the rapid implementation of crucial economic reforms. Today’s president is Victor Jushchenko.

Ukraine’s parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada (the Supreme Council), is the nation’s law-making body. It has one chamber consisting of 430 members who are elected by voters at general elections to a five-year term. Every citizen of Ukraine over 18 has the right to vote in the elections. Judicial power of Ukraine is represented by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.

The president is assisted by the Cabinet of Ministers whose responsibilities lie in the areas of foreign affairs, home policy, economy, science and technology, industry, law and humanitarian matters. The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister who is appointed by the president and approved by the majority of the Parliament.

In other words, it is possible to say that state power in Ukraine is based on the division of authority into legislative, executive and judicial branches, and Ukraine can be called a country with a parliamentary-presidential form of government.

Administratively Ukraine is divided into 24 regions, called “oblasti”. Crimea, which is also part of our country, has a special status of an autonomous, self-governing republic. Each region has its local government bodies, which are responsible to the Cabinet of Ministers and the President.

There are a variety of political parties in Ukraine; they currently number more than 60. The most influential are the Social-Democratic Party of Ukraine (united), the Rukh, the People’s Democratic Party (NDP) and the Socialist Party.

The main trend of foreign policy in Ukraine is to live in peace with the rest of the world community, to cooperate with other countries and participate in European and world structures through membership in the United Nations Organization and other International political, economic an cultural organizations.

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

Theme “Holidays in Ukraine”

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXTS.

2. RETELL ONE OF THE TEXTS.

Ukrainian Tradition

As each country in the world Ukraine is rich in its national traditions. Some of them are common in the world and some of them are uncommon. First of all we celebrate our Independence Day on the 24th of August. To my mind, this holiday is young because my country as an independent one is very young too. It’s only eighteen years old. But in future, I think it will be a big holiday. I’d like to tell you about some old traditions in my country. They are Easter and Christmas. My people began to celebrate these holidays since the baptizing of Kyivska Rus in 988 by Prince Volodyrnyr. We celebrate Easter in spring, according to the Julian calendar that’s why it doesn’t coinside with the western world. This holiday is always in April or at the beginning of May. Easter symbolizes the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everybody makes cakes so called pasha and dye eggs. Easter cakes are sold at every backery, but home-made ones are always much tastier. All the provision must be baptized in the church early in the morning. Another holiday is Christmas. We mark it on the 7th of January. In Europe and in theUSA it’s celebrated in December. On Christmas people celebrate the birth of JesusChrist. There are some dates and events in the life of our country that are memorable to every Ukrainian citizen. The most memorable date is the Victory Day which is kept on the 9th of May. On this day the anniversarv of the victory over fascism in Second World War is celebrated. There is one more holiday which is loved by children and adults. This is New Year’s Eve. People decorate New year trees with toys and lights and all people are given presents. On the New Year night people don’t sleep, they visit their friends or just stay at home and watch TV.

These are national holiday, people don’t work on these days. As for me, I like to celebrate these days

Holidays and Imported Days in Ukraine

The word “Holiday” comes from the word “holy day”. Holidays were first religious festivals. Now many holidays have nothing to do with religion. Every country has holidays honoring important events in its history. Every year starts with New Year. It’s a very great holiday, when everybody make wishes for a new year; make the new hope to the future. It’s everybody’s favorite holiday. People get a lot of presents, greetings. March the 8th is a Women’s Day. This date was introduced in 1910 by the 2nd International Conference of women-socialists. Nowadays this holiday has lost its political meaning and become just a day when we give presents, flowers, words of gratitude to our mothers, grandmothers, teachers. On March 9th we celebrate the birthday of great Ukrainian poet, writer, artist Taras Shevchenko. Finally his dreams have come true, the Ukraine has become independent. Easter Day comes to the lunar calendar. The day we celebrate Christ’s rising from death. The holidays comes on Sunday. On May the 9th we celebrate the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. On that day people express their thankfulness to veterans of the World War II.

On August, the 24th, Ukrainian independence was proclaimed and new era in Ukrainian history began.

Active Words and Word Combinations:

memorable – пам‘ятний

Easter — Великдень

Resurrection — воскресіння

adult — дорослий

baptizing – хрещення

Questions:

1. What memorable dates in the history of Ukraine are known to you?

2. Are there any holidays of religious origin?

3. Describe the New Year’s Eve celebration?

4. When did our people begin to celebrate Easter and Christmas?

5. What other national holidays do you know?

Teacher ________________I.S.Kokovihinа

1. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXTS.

2. RETELL ONE OF THE TEXTS.