Файл: тексты 1 курс.docx

Part 4. Christmas.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

Christmas.

Christmas is marked on December the 25^th. The word Christmas comes from “Christ’s Mass” held to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. For many centuries it was a church holiday but little by little it became a public holiday when people had a feast and made merry.

There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas, some of them are old and some are new. The Christmas tree came from Germany where in the Middle Ages an evergreen plant decorated with apples was worshipped as a symbol of eternal life.

On Christmas all children wait for Santa Claus to give them presents. The name of Santa Claus comes from the name of a Christian saint – St. Nicholas who was famous for his kindness to children and the poor. But the tradition of giving presents goes back to Roman times.

The custom of giving Christmas cards isn’t old. In England they appeared in the middle of the 19^th century. Usually they show the pictures of Christ’s birth, Santa Claus, Christmas tree, etc.

There is a special Christmas music, Christmas carols. In England they were first sung in the 14-15^th centuries. Now before Christmas groups of people sing carols to collect money for charity.

Christmas is the most popular and colourful holiday, but above all it’s a family holiday. On Christmas Eve stations, trains and buses are full of people going home to join their families for the holiday. Streets and shops are wonderfully decorated in red and green, the traditional Christmas colours.

After Christmas Day comes Boxing Day, also a public holiday. It’s called so because until recently servants were given “boxes” with money as a Christmas present on that day.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ; the most popular and colourful holiday; all children wait for Santa Claus; an evergreen plant; a church holiday; little by little; the custom of giving Christmas cards; to sing carols to collect money for charity; sing carols to collect money for charity; a family holiday; to be full of people; as a Christmas present.

Exercise 2. Translate into English: быть связанным с чем-либо; день рождественских подарков; символ вечной жизни; отмечать праздник; общественный праздник; средние века; времена древнего Рима; уходить корнями; рождественская ёлка; в канун Рождества; переполненный людьми; прекрасно украшенный; до недавнего времени; традиция дарить подарки; многие столетия; веселиться; быть знаменитым; доброта к детям; в середине 19 века.

Exercise 3. Make up the questions covering the content of one of the texts for your fellow-students to answer them.

Exercise 4. True or false?

1. The word Christmas comes from “Christ’s Mass” held to celebrate the rebirth of Jesus Christ.

2. The tradition of giving presents goes back to the 14-15^th centuries.

3. The custom of giving Christmas cards is very old.

4. Red and green are the traditional Christmas colours.

5. Christmas was always a public holiday.

6. The Christmas tree came from Germany.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences in a logical way.

1. The word Christmas …

2. The Christmas tree came from …

3. The name of Santa Claus comes from …

4. Christmas cards appeared …

5. Streets and shops are …

6. Boxing Day is called so because …

Part 5. Holidays in russia.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

Holidays in Russia.

There are dates and events in the life of our country that are memorable to every Russian citizen. The dates of this kind are: Victory Day, Constitution Day, Women’s Day, the Day of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation. These are national holidays, people do not work on these days. The most memorable date is Victory Day which is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the Victory of the Soviet troops over the Nazi invaders. Love for freedom has been a national character of the Russian people. No enemy has been able to conquer our country. When Russia was attacked by the enemy, the Russian people rose up in defence of their Motherland.

May Day is regarded as the day of solidarity of the workers of the world. It commemorates the tragic events of the years 1884-88 in Chicago when the workers were fighting for their rights.

Recently new national holidays have been introduced. They are Christmas and Easter. They are of religious origin.

In Russia Christmas is celebrated on January 7. In Europe and in the USA it is observed on December 25. On Christmas Day people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Easter symbolizes the Revival of Jesus Christ. For the greater part of people of our country these holidays have lost their religious significance and are the days of family reunion, relax and happiness.

There is one more holiday which is loved both by adults and children – this is New Year’s Day, with a New Year Tree, bells, presents, and Grandpa Frost, European Santa Claus. People believe that a miracle is a must on this day. New Year’s celebrations receive widespread coverage by mass media.

On the New Year night people go to a dance, visit their friends or stay at home and watch TV. Party-goers enjoy a hearty meal.

Now January 1 is a national holiday, fortunately for those who like to celebrate most of the night.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: dates and events in the life of our country; is a national holiday; religious significance; a national character of the Russian people; the Day of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation; to commemorate the Victory of the Soviet troops over the Nazi invaders; in defence of their Motherland; both by adults and children; Grandpa Frost; to receive widespread coverage by mass media; to enjoy a hearty meal; love for freedom; the most memorable date; the day of solidarity of the workers of the world; the tragic events.

Exercise 2. Translate into English:дни семейного воссоединения, отдыха; смотреть телевизор; навещать друзей; ходить на танцы; оставаться дома; большая часть ночи; к счастью; завоевать страну; бороться за свои права; на Рождество; символизировать воскрешение Иисуса Христа; и взрослыми, и детьми.

Exercise 3. Make up the questions covering the content of one of the texts for your fellow-students to answer them.

Exercise 4. True or false?

1. People do not work on national holidays.

2. The Day of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation is loved both by adults and children.

3. In Russia and Europe Christmas is celebrated on January 7.

4. May Day is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the Victory of the Soviet troops over the Nazi invaders.

5. Now December 31 is a national holiday.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences in a logical way.

1. There are dates and events in the life of our country that are memorable to every Russian citizen: …

2. The most memorable date is …

3. May Day is regarded as …

4. In Russia Christmas …

5. Easter symbolizes …

6. On the New Year night …

Unit IX. Sports. Part 1. Sports in russia.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

Sports in Russia.

Millions of people all over the world are fond of sports and games. Sport helps people to stay in good shape, keeps them fit, healthy and makes them more organized and better disciplined in their daily activities.

We have always paid great attention to sport in our schools, colleges and universities. You can hardly find a school without a gym or a sports ground. Every city and town has a few stadiums or swimming pools where local competitions are usually held.

It’s been a tradition in this country to divide sport into professional and amateur. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen also participate in the Olympic Games and always win a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally – swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter – but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis.

For those who can afford it there are clubs where they are given lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their roller-skates and skate in the streets and parks.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: all over the world; a few stadiums or swimming pools; a tradition in this country; to participate in the Olympic Games; more and more popular; at least once a week; to go in for sports on a more regular basis; lessons of scuba diving or riding; better disciplined in their daily activities; great attention to sport in our schools, colleges and universities; professional and amateur sport; a great number of world records.

Exercise 2. Translate into English:установить рекорд; тяжелоатлет; оздоровительный центр; тренажёр «беговая дорожка»; прыгун в высоту; бег трусцой; ходить в бассейн или спортзал; играть в теннис; каждое утро; молодые люди; надевать роликовые коньки; кататься на скейте в парке и на улице; миллионы людей по всему миру; держать в хорошей форме; местные соревнования; различные спортивные общества; известны по всему миру; принимать участие в международных соревнованиях; выигрывать золотые, серебряные и бронзовые медали.