CARD №1

1. I. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

Can cheating be stopped?

More and more students at school and university are using the internet to cheat* in their coursework. In Britain, about 25% of students copy material from the internet when they write their homework. In the USA there is a similar problem. One report showed that about 54% of students copy from the internet when they prepare for the lessons.

Of course, students rightly use the internet to help them research a topic when they are doing coursework or writing an essay. But some of them also copy and include material from the internet into their own essays without indicating that they are using someone else’s work. For example, a student who has to write an essay on Shakespeare can find lots of different essays on particular plays and themes in Shakespeare and copy one of them. So they no longer have to read books in libraries, take notes and plan their own essay.

The internet has certainly helped students to avoid the hard work of writing an original essay, but it is not the only reason why cheating is increasing. In recent years, students’ attitudes to school and university have changed. In the past, students had a more idealistic attitude towards a university education. University broadened their minds. Nowadays, a lot of students are more practical in their attitude. They are only interested in passing the exams. They want a degree only to help them get a good job.

Teachers and examiners want to stop cheating in schools and university, but they do not agree about how to solve the problem. Some teachers think a student’s final grade shouldn’t depend on his/her coursework. They think that it is better to have traditional (time-limited) written exams that are held in an examination room.

Another way to stop cheating is to have an oral exam at the end of the course. If students cannot answer questions about their coursework, this could indicate that they have cheated. At the same time, the oral exam would give the examiner a better idea of students’ real knowledge of the subject.

*cheat {tʃi:t} обманывать, списывать

2 Is cheating becoming a problem in the USA and Britain? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3 How do students cheat using the internet?

4 Why do students cheat?

1. Listen to the radio programme and answer the questions below.

The Lost Dream « Утраченная мечта»

1. What books did Laura Reddington write trying to make a living?
2. What kind of story did she find one day?
3. Why did Laura think about all the details before writing a book?

III. Let’s talk about family.

 

 

 

 

CARD №2

1. I. 1. Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

 

Books in never-ending motion

Librarians are saddened by the fact that young people tend only to borrow reference books rather than reading fiction for pleasure. Perhaps it’s unfashionable to read these days. However, a new trend is developing, with literary lovers leaving their books in public places, to be picked up and ‘borrowed’ by others.

The Belarusian National Technical University was the first to support the idea in our country. Several years ago, the Director of its scientific library, Alexey Skalaban, passed an internship* in Sweden. At the airport, he saw a huge glass case of books, which he learnt were available for anyone to read. It was a great idea. The question was only where such books might be kept in Minsk.

«Initially, we created a shelf in the reading hall of the University’s scientific library. Later, we installed a case in the main building. It’s available to everyone,» explains Mr. Skalaban. «We want to encourage young people to read. Book-crossing is an easy way to do this.» Alexey is looking at a website devoted to book-crossing. «Look, we’ve set free almost 700 books,» he admits with pride. On the day I visited, I saw only two books in the case. The inside cover has a plate stating that it is part of the book-crossing programme, alongside a registration number showing who donated the book and when.

Library staff, students and even residents of neighbouring houses bring books. Additionally, publishing houses have donated some editions. Every year, more such ‘safe’ places are found. Not long ago, a Minsk night club installed a shelf of books. While some people dance, others gather by the shelves of books, magazines and discs. «We’ve subscribed to several magazines, while books are brought in by our guests, staff and musicians. This is how our collection grows,» says Yan Busel, who co-owns the club.

Book-crossing is gaining popularity, with safe shelves found in many libraries, as well as cafes and educational establishments. No doubt, it’s a great way to attract visitors.

*internship [ʹɪntɜ:nʃɪp]

2 The author ays what makes librarians unhappy. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3 Who was the first to introduce book-crossing in our country?

4 Why is book-crossing becoming more and more popular in Belarus?

1. Listen to the woman talking about her schooldays and answer the questions below.

to be relieved [rɪʹlɪ:vd] почувствовать себя спокойнее

1. What is the speaker talking about?
2. When did the speaker feel relieved?
3. Why did the speaker start crying?

III. Let’s talk about family traditions.

 

 

 

 

CARD №3

1. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

Friendship in the modern world

People often say that our modern way of live, which its individualism and fast speed has made the world a lonely place. So many of us live and work surrounded by people, but it is hard to find true friendship. The faces we see each day are like pictures in a gallery; the talk that we hear is just sound. Perhaps this is why the websites like ‘Facebook’, ‘Contacts’ are so popular these days. They allow people to communicate and even become close without meeting up. It seems that many people’s idea of friendship has changed nowadays. But what is friendship?

Aristotle was the first western philosopher to discuss friendship in a detailed way. He said that people who chose to live alone were either like animals or gods. He probably meant that it is natural to want friends. Certainly, people who choose to live without friends are frequently regarded as having problems. We either pity them or else we view them as strange.

Aristotle also said that there are three different categories of friends. In the first category, we are friends with people because of some advantage that the friendship gives us. In other words, the friendship has a practical value. Friends in this category would include bosses at work or some of our colleagues.

Aristotle’s second category of friendship is based on the idea of pleasure. Friends in this category enjoy doing things together and they have a lot of interests in common.

The third category of friendship is the highest form of friendship. In this category, people are friends on a deeper level. The friendship does not depend on anything other than the friends themselves. The relationship is so close that it seems that one soul belongs to two bodies, Aristotle said.

Aristotle also said that close friends must have eaten salt together. In other words, they must have shared some of life’s good and bad experiences. Most people today would probably agree that these are a fundamental part of true friendship.

2 Read aloud the extract which says about the changes in the modern society.

3 What do people think about people who have no friends?

4 What does Aristotle say about the three types of friendship?

1. Listen to the radio programme and answer the questions below.
2. What are the three main ingredients of the great British breakfast?
3. What is the new trend or fashion in London’s top restaurants?
4. What are the key ingredients of a breakfast in a London cafe?

III. Let’s talk about family relationship.

 

 

 

CARD 4

1. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

According to law of hospitality

Braslav is among the most popular destinations for Belarusians and foreigners. Now, a state programme is being developed to raise the attractiveness of the region to tourists, turning the district centre (home to 10,000) into a modern European city.

The local tourist industry is to enter a whole new level. At present, there are five tourist bases and two hotels — situated in Braslav and near the town. New facilities are going to be very comfortable. Drivyaty tourist base within the Braslav Lakes National Park, which occupies 70,000 hectares, is among the most modern and popular destinations. It’s soon to be expanded, with new hotels, a spa centre, a cafe and an indoor aqua park.

In the early 16^th century, Duchess Yelena, who was married to Grand Duke Alexander (who ruled over Lithuania and Russia) and actually owned Braslav, founded a monastery on the site. Fragments of this ancient settlement will be restored as part of the Braslav district’s tourism development programme.

The ancient Belarusian town has many interesting sporting traditions, including an international fishing contest, which has been gathering hundreds of fishermen from Belarus, Russia and Latvia for the past few years. Sports lovers and those who enjoy the outdoor life are sure to be delighted by the town’s new rowing channel, ski-roller track and ski slope, in addition to a sports complex with an ice rink.

The local cinema is to be fully modernised, with new halls opened, while an entertainment complex will be built, offering billiards and bowling. A new shopping centre, with a cafe for children, is also planned, alongside a lake-river museum, with an aquarium.

This wonderful resort town should please tourists with its modernised infrastructure and Braslav district could soon become an international tourist destination. One potential investor is to start construction of a new sanatorium very soon.

State programmes for regional development are already working in the Polesie and Naroch Lake areas.

2 The author tells us about sporting traditions that exist in Braslav. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3 What new things will tourists see in Braslav?

4 Why will it be interesting to visit this Belarusian town?

1. Listen to the radio programme and answer the questions below.
2. How long has Brian lived on the boat?
3. Why did he decide to leave London?
4. What can he do with his boat that he couldn’t with a house?

III. Let’s talk about friendship and relationship with friends.

 

 

 

CARD №5

III. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

UNKNOWN ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Like the great detective Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle also had many wonderful talents. Many people do not know that he wrote many other kinds of books: science fiction, historical adventures, horror stories and stories of the supernatural. He also wrote factual books on history and politics. In everything he did, he showed his incredible creative energy.

Conan Doyle came from an artistic family and he was a natural writer. His father was a talented artist and his mother was a very good story-teller. In his autobiography, Conan Doyle wrote: «The stories that my mother told me when I was a child stand out more powerfully than the real facts of my life.»

Conan Doyle went to boarding school when he was nine years old. At school, he entertained his school friends with stories that he had invented. After graduation from Edinburgh University he had his own medical practice in London, but he did not have many patients, so he was not earning a lot of money as a doctor. That’s why Conan Doyle made good use of his free time by writing stories. Soon, Conan Doyle began to have his stories published. He now began to understand that writing could provide a better income than medicine.

Conan Doyle was not satisfied with being just a writer of original and entertaining stories. He was also a great man of action. When he was a young man, he sailed as a ship’s doctor on voyages to the Arctic and to West Africa. When the Boer War in Africa started, Conan Doyle volunteered to fight. He was not accepted because lie was too old (he was 40). However, he still went to South Africa as a doctor to treat the wounded* and the sick. He later wrote a history of the Boer War*.

Conan Doyle was determined to do some good in society. He tried to enter Parliament, but he wasn’t successful. Conan Doyle was more successful in his work to improve the law system. He worked very hard to help people who had been wrongfully sent to prison.

Conan Doyle did many things in his life, but he will naturally be remembered most as a writer, a creator of Sherlock Holmes.

*the Boer War [ˏbəʊəʹwɔ:] англо-бурская война, *the wounded [ʹwu:ndɪd] раненые

2. 2. Conan Doyle had many talents. Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. How did his writing talent develop?
4. Which facts prove that Conan Doyle took an active part in social life?
5. Listen to the programme and answer the questions below.

captive [ʹkæptɪv] находящийся в неволе

1. How did the dolphins help a 10-year-old boy?
2. How does swimming with dolphins help the children?
3. Why are some people not very enthusiastic about dolphin therapy?

III. Let’s talk about education.

 

 

CARD №6

1. I. Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

HAND MADE CHOCOLATES

Jane Turner began her chocolate making business in a village near the seaside resort, of Torquay about three years ago, before that she had worked for a large food processing company in south-west England. We talked to her about her experiences.

Why did you decide to make such a big change of lifestyle?

«First of all, I was not happy in my job. Though it was a well-paid job, the work was very stressful and I had to work long hours. I just wanted to improve the quality of my life. I also wanted to live by the sea again. I knew that it would be difficult to find a good job in this area, so I decided to set up my own business.»

How did the chocolate making begin?

«It had always been my dream. I found a suitable building in a village and installed all the equipment. My sister and a couple of her friends came to work with me and about six months later we were ready to start making cakes. After the cake business had begun to do well and we were supplying hotels and restaurants on a regular basis, I began trying to make my own chocolates. It is not easy to make good chocolate as there are so many factors involved: creativity, the quality of ingredients, even the temperature of the room. When I had developed a good enough range of chocolates, I sent some to the hotels and restaurants. They liked them and ordered more. That is how the chocolate making grew.»

Have you made any mistakes?

«Oh, yes, a lot. Perhaps the biggest mistake was trying to sell our cakes and chocolates over the internet. It was a disaster. First of all, it was expensive to get a professionally designed website set up. Then it was difficult and expensive to deliver cakes and chocolates to places that were far away. We had to use special packaging to protect the cakes and chocolates, which was also expensive. Sometimes, the chocolates arrived late, or despite everything they were damaged. Then we had to deal with some very angry customers!»

What are your plans for the future?

«We are thinking of setting up our own shop in Torquay with cake and chocolate making facilities inside.»

2 Why did Jane Turner start her business? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3 How did her chocolate business develop?

4 What mistakes did she make?

1. Listen to the radio programme and answer the questions below.
2. Why did Arthur Conan Doyle stop writing stories about Sherlock Holmes?
3. What worried Mr. Horowitz before starting a book?
4. Why was writing the book about Sherlock Holmes easier than Mr. Horowitz thought?

III. Let’s talk about studying at school.

 

 

CARD № 7

1. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

MYSTERIOUS* DISAPPEARANCE

Agatha Christie wrote some of the best detective stories in English. Her own life also contains a mystery that has only recently been solved.

The story began like this. At 9.45 pm on December 3rd 1926, Agatha Christie left her home in the south of England, saying that she was going out for a drive in her car. The next morning, her car was found quite far away crashed. The front end of the car was in some bushes, the headlights* were still on. Inside, there were only some women’s clothes and Agatha Christie’s driving license.

The detective in charge of the case, William Kenward immediately organized a big search of the area. Policemen came from different parts of the country to help in the search, even some famous detective writers were asked to help.

Archie Christie, Agatha’s husband, told everyone that his wife was suffering from amnesia*. However, soon the police discovered that the marriage between Archie and Agatha Christie was not a happy one, and that Archie and Agatha were having problems. But he could not admit that his marriage was in trouble because people might have thought that he had had something to do with her disappearance.

At this point, the police received a letter. In the letter, Agatha told Archie’s brother that she was going away to rest in Yorkshire, Harrogate. The police now went there and looked for her at all the hotels. But they did not find Agatha Christie as she had not checked in using her real name. Instead, she had introduced herself as Neele, a visitor from South Africa.

The situation was very upsetting for the police as they didn’t find her. Instead, the musicians in the dance band at the hotel recognized her.

It was not an easy story to believe and most people did not in fact believe it. But all what we know now is that she did not do it for publicity. She did it as she was going through an unhappy time with her husband. Later, in fact, their marriage broke up and they got divorced. However, her disappearance did make Agatha Christie the most popular crime writer in the country.

mysterious [mɪsʹtɪərɪəs], *headlights [ʹhedlaɪts] фары, amnesia [æmʹni:zɪə]

2. How did the story begin? Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. What are the details of the police investigation?
4. Why did Archie Christie disappear according to the article?
5. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.
6. What does the boy want to do?
7. What does his mother want to do?
8. Why can’t they make a decision?

III. Let’s talk about school traditions?

 

 

 

 

CARD № 8

1. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

PABLO PICASSO

Pablo Picasso* was one of the greatest artists of the 20^th century. He experimented in many different styles and changed the world of art during his time. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain in 1881. His father was a drawing teacher. At 10 Pablo became his father’s pupil and at the age of 13 he held his first exhibition. His family moved to Barcelona in 1895 where Pablo joined an art academy. In his early period the young artist painted life as he saw it around him — in cafes and on the streets. Then they moved to Paris, the centre of art and literature.

In 1901 a close friend of Picasso shot himself. This had a great influence on Pablo. He was very sad and began painting his pictures in grey and blue tones instead of bright, vivid colours. This part of his career is called his Blue Period (1901-1904).

Later on, he changed his painting style and started using more earth colours — rose, pink or brown. He liked to paint pictures of circus life with dancers and acrobats. This Rose Period lasted until 1907.

When Picasso started working with his friend and fellow painter Georges Braque in Paris they started experimenting with a new style that was called cubism. Picasso and Braque didn’t want to show nature as it really was. They thought that all objects in nature had geometric* forms. In cubism, objects were cut into many flat shapes, which looked like a puzzle. All the sides of a person’s face, for example, were shown at once, maybe even with three eyes instead of two.

In 1936 Civil War broke out in Spain. During this period he painted his masterpiece Guernica*. It shows the terrified people of the ancient Spanish town which was bombed during the Civil War. Picasso was shocked by this inhuman act and in his painting he shows people running in the streets and screaming with their mouths wide open. To display his sadness and anger he used only black and white as well as shades of grey.

He continued his work up to his death in 1973. For his great imagination and skill he is called ‘El Maestro’ of modern art.

*Pablo Picasso [pɪʹkæsəʊ], *geometric [ˏdʒi:əʊʹmetrɪk], *Guernica [ɡɜ:ʹnɪ:kə]

2. The most famous painting of Picasso is Guernica. Read aloud the extract about it.
3. Where did Picasso learn to paint?
4. Picasso worked in different styles. Which styles are mentioned in the article? What are their typical characteristics?
5. Listen to the interview and answer the questions below.
6. What is Kerry’s typical day?
7. Why doesn’t Kerry follow a diet or go to the gym?

III. Let’s talk about choosing a career?

 

 

 

CARD № 9

1. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

GOOD NEWS FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS!

It would be difficult to find someone who does not like chocolate. In the United States, chocolate is bought more often than any other kind of sweet. In Britain, each person eats an average of 11 kg of chocolate per year. That is a lot of chocolate! In the US people eat about 200 chocolate bars per second as a matter of fact. People love chocolate so much that they often think it is a bad habit. But there is good news for all chocoholics: eating chocolate does less harm to you than you might think.

People often believe that chocolate causes a number of health problems including bad teeth, obesity* and skin problems such as acne*. Studies carried out in the United States, however, give no support to this idea.

Specific tests were carried out. One group of people who suffer from acne was given regular amounts of chocolate, while another group of similar sufferers had no chocolate at all. At the end of the test period the two groups were compared. No difference in the condition of the acne sufferers was noticed.

Chocolate contains fat and sugar, so if you ate a lot of chocolate you would probably put on weight. But reasonable amounts of chocolate in your diet will not make you fat. People usually get fat because they eat too much food in general, especially if they are not very active.

What about the effect on your teeth? Chocolate can damage your teeth, but the danger is less than many people believe. It is good to know that eating a certain amount of chocolate may even be good for you. Chocolate contains protein, vitamins and minerals. Scientists believe chocolate may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Perhaps the most amazing thing of all is that it can help you fight off illness. The important thing is not the chocolate in itself, but the pleasure that it gives you. Even the smell of chocolate can have a positive effect on your immune system. It is nice to smell chocolate of course, but it is much better to eat it. And the great thing is that you can eat it without fear.

*obesity [əʊʹbi:sɪtɪ] ожирение, *acne [ʹæknɪ] угревая сыпь

2. People eat a lot of chocolate. Read aloud the extract which says about it.
3. What health problems do people traditionally connect with eating chocolate?
4. What facts prove that chocolate can be good for our health?
5. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.
6. What is Alex thinking about?
7. Why does he want to bring soldiers as a gift for his parents?
8. What will Alex buy for his brother?

III. Let’s talk about life in the city and in the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CARD № 10

1. 1 Read the article and say in 2 – 3 sentences what it is about.

DO VERY CLEVER CHILDREN NEED HELP?

In our history, there have been some remarkable children. Mozart is a famous example. After he had heard a piece of music a couple of times, he could write it down on paper. He composed symphonies while he was still a child. Today we also hear stories of very gifted* children.

Ruth Lawrence, from the UK, became famous at the age of 12, when she began her studies at Oxford University. She was the youngest student ever to attend a university in the UK. Before going to university, Ruth was taught at home by her father. While she was a student, her father was always by her side. He attended all her lectures with her. Ruth did very well at Oxford. She got a first class degree in mathematics. Now Ruth is a mathematics professor.

These young people are, however, extremely special. Because of that they naturally feel different to other children of their own age. They can become lonely. Michael Howe, a professor of psychology says, «It is good to be good at something while you are young, but if you do not have friends or other experiences you will not have a satisfying life.» Gifted children who understand quicker than their classmates can also become lazy. They can behave badly in class because they are bored.

If parents find that their child is especially talented, they have to take some important and difficult decisions. They have to help their child develop but they cannot push their child too hard. If they do, the child may have serious problems later in life. However, if a child is especially gifted, it is clear that they need a special kind of education. These children need to be motivated. This means that they have to study with people who are older than them. But at the same time they must be allowed to be children too.

Despite her great success, Ruth Lawrence does not want her own children to be brought up and educated in the same way she was. They will be sent to a normal school and she has said that she wants them to develop and grow only in a natural way.

*gifted [ʹɡɪftɪd] талантливый

2 Ruth Lawrence was a gifted child. Read aloud the extract which says about her.

3 What kind of problems can wonderkids have?

4 What should parents and teachers do for their gifted children?

1. Listen to three speakers talking about their favourite pastime and answer the questions below.
2. According to the first speaker what is his favourite pastime?
3. Why is the second speaker keen on crafts?
4. What problems does the third speaker have because of his favourite pastime?

III. Let’s talk about different types of houses?