reading english 1126 (russian)

239 - © PART PART 57 PART 84 242 , : : : - - : 5 : ; ; ; ; ; ; ; : , - - PART 1 As you read through this, some 2,000 thunderstorms are tearing apart the skies across the world And every second a hundred lightning bolts are striking the ground with their terrifying roar fingers of electricity up to 32 kilometres long that burn all they touch Britain only has about ten days of thunderstorms a year By contrast, countries close to the equator suffer most from thunderstorms Countries like Nigeria, for example, tend to have a thunderstorm every two days that lightning was feared by earlier cultures as a sign of anger from their gods Lightning has the power to thrill and fascinate It is now an active area of research for scientists, who are still struggling to uncover its secrets and are looking for ways to protect against the potentially disastrous effects of lightning strikes For centuries, however, there was little anyone could to protect themselves or their property from lightning And up until the 18th century, people were often given dramatic proof that lightning can strike in the same place several times The tower of San Franco in Venice has been severely damaged or destroyed nine tines Predicting when and where it is likely to strike is one of the ways we have made lightning less threatening Forecasting lightning is taken very seriously in America, for example, where scientists keep a constant eye on weather patters that could lead to violent storms New methods enable scientists to warn people in threatened areas before a storm reaches them A good indication of the fact that a lightning strike is directly overhead is when your hair stands on end If von get caught in a storm never shelter under an isolated tree, which can act as a lightning conductor, and stay away from anything made of metal Although the number of fatalities has decreased, lightning is no less common than it was in the past The reason for the decrease in deaths is that fewer people work out in the open Lightning protection is more important today than ever For example, if lightning were to strike one of the complex electronic systems we use, the consequences would be disastrous Choose from the list (A G) the sentence which best summarizes each part (1 6) of the text There is one extra sentence which you not need to use A Predicting lightning is a way of making it less dangerous In the world of today the need for protection is greater than ever Scientists are actively investigating the nature of lightning D You should know what to E Thunderstorms are continually sweeping around the world F In the past people could little to protect themselves against lightning strikes G Lightning causes less harm than it is generally believed » Text for Reading These days, eyesight is under more strain than ever Computer work, watching television, driving at night and even sunshine can affect your eyes As the ozone layer is becoming thinner, more ultraviolet rays are reaching people's eyes, and they can only be protected by anti-UV sunglasses The only problem is that many sunglasses not provide enough protection It was traditionally believed that being long-sighted or short-sighted was a condition that was inherited But new studies are showing that this is not always the case Recent research in America suggests that up to 80 per cent of American and European schoolchildren may be short-sighted Years of focusing on books causes most children to become slightly shortsighted by the age of ten New problems, such as the increase in the number of people using computers, has added to eye strain Using computers means that the eye works in a different way, and also works harder and infrared from the computer adds to the strain Experts have estimated that 25 to 30 per cent of people have eye problems as a result of working in front of a screen Office workers also suffer from additional problems because of central heating and air conditioning The trouble here is that the eye becomes dry Dry eyes can also make you feel tired To remedy this, doctors have tried to produce artificial tears, but this has proved to be impossible Juan Duran recommends closing eyes for one minute every hour This will help to rest them and keep them moist Many people go to him with what they call tired eyes, eyestrain and a variety of allergies He says, though, that most people simply suffer from a dryness of the eyes Dry eyes also make people more likely to get eye infections There are two simple remedies for keeping the eye moist: drink more and blink more Other researchers say that the increase in eye problems can be because of a bad diet During the Second World War fighter pilots were told to eat carrots to help their vision at night The eye, like any other part of the body, needs certain nutrients to keep it healthy so it can carry out its various functions In the case of night vision, what is needed is plenty of vitamin A Research carried out in France recently found that people over 60 years old who live in cities are more likely to be short-sighted than people of the same age who live in the country The reason for this, they say, is that people who live in the country generally eat healthier food Choose from the list (A G) the sentence which best summarises each part (1 6) of the text There is one extra sentence which you not need to use A These days eye dryness has become a common problem Life in cities leads to more eye problems than life in the countryside Research proves that poor eyesight is not always inherited D The more balanced your diet is, the less likely you are to have eye problems E Modern lifestyle puts more strain on eyesight than ever before F Dry eyes make people more likely to have poor eyesight G The spread of computers has caused an increase in eye problems 10 The Russian theatre stages contemporary plays, Russian classics, and many foreign authors from Shakespeare to Shaw, from Schiller to Hauptmann, from Brecht to Kruczkowski Their repertoires include Boll, Wilder, T Williams, Cocteau, Eduardo De Filippo, Federico Garcia Lorca, Pablo Neruda and many other prominent authors from various countries The achievements of the Russian theatre are significant and extremely typical, as they fully correspond to the mission of the theatre and its role in strengthening world peace Is there any international co-operation in the field of theatrical art? : 1) The theatre is the best means of international communication 2) The best Russian theatrical productions have a great impact abroad 3) International co-operation is fruitful and often reveals new artistic potentialities 4) Foreign playwrights work successfully with Russian actors 29 WORLD THEATRE DAY When Ostrovsky's Forest is staged in London, Cheknov's The Sea Gull in Paris, Arbuzov's plays in Helsinki and plays by Tennessee Williams, Brecht or Anouilh are staged in Moscow, Tbilisi or Vilnius this is the realization of one of the theatre's chief functions to promote understanding and friendship among nations, and it is the motto under which the World Theatre Day is observed on March 27 every year The Charter of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) adopted at the time of its foundation in 1948 says that theatre is a universal means to assert humaneness and serve the cause of peace Konstantin Stanislavsky, an outstanding personality in Russian and world theatre, expressed his firm conviction many years ago that " theatre must be a most important instrument in the struggle against war, and jm international means to pre- 230 serve world peace." He described the theatre as the best means of international communication Every year the number of countries in which they celebrate the World Theatre Day grows It is a day that reminds people of the chief task facing humanity the task of saving peace Russia has cultural contacts with more than 120 countries In the course of the past few years companies from many countries of the world have given seasons in Russia During these seasons Russian people see many famous artists Foreign playwrights, stage directors and designers work successfully here with Russian actors Such co-operation is extremely fruitful and often reveals new artistic potentialities An important role in cultural exchange is that of the Russian stage directors who stage plays by Russian and Soviet authors abroad In the past few years, 57 Russian stage directors have staged 70 plays for "foreign drama companies and plays at foreign puppet theatres The best Russian theatrical productions have a great impact abroad The Russian theatre stages contemporary plays, Russian classics, and many foreign authors from Shakespeare to Shaw, from Schiller to Hauptmann, from Brecht to Kruczkowski Their repertoires include Boll, Wilder, T Williams, Cocteau, Eduardo De Filippo, Federico Garcia Lorca, Pablo Neruda and many other prominent authors from various countries The achievements of the Russian theatre are significant and extremely typical, as they fully correspond to the mission of the theatre and its role in strengthening world peace : 1) 2) 3) theatre 4) : The World Theatre Day is observed on March 27 The achievements of the Russian theatre are significant Konstantin Stanislavsky was an outstanding personality in Russian The theatre is an international means of preserving world peace 30 CONTINENTAL EQUIPMENT 231 JOHN G SMITH Financial Director North Road, Brighton, BNI 5JF, England Phone (0273) 54321 Fax: (0273) 559465 : Whose card is this? What is he? What company is he from? What city is he from? What is his telephone number? What is the address of this company 232 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 E mail fee meal technology more and more her by last could is reading to inform on having won Certainly, sir How would you like your coffee, Mr Ivanov? England three Stratford-on-Avon War of Independence 233 28 The Internet is a global computer network embracing millions of users all over the world 29 The Internet is the shortest way to get information 2 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 culture entertainment hobby knowledge later a your by may by will be working having seen was reorganized to have been smoking th then Nice to meet you anov Cromwell 50 English and French There is a mixture of plays at London theatres London is famous for its places of entertainment theatre 234 playwright party Internet faster theirs in is 10 11 would read 12 on 13 surprised 14 - was announced 15 Good evening Can I help you? 16 Of course Here it is 17 The meal was absolutely delicious 18 Beatles 19 Ottawa 20 the Senate and the House of Representatives 21 federation 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 In the first half of the 19th century 29 English musical life flourished according to its traditions popularity spare look advance and tall the in 235 at 10 were 11 have had 12 of 13 having 14 having passed 15 16 Tank you for your lesson 17 18 Robert Burns 19 Isaac Newton 20 Martin Luther King 21 Oxford and Cambridge 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Music influences us variously because we all have different physical, mental and emotional tendencies 29 Music influences us variously because we all have different physical and mental tendencies 10 11 12 13 travel ticket visa round worse slowly any before with ought may being playing 236 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 city 29 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 to Is there anything I can for you? Charles Chaplin Times Titanic bronze It is the biggest complex of theatres and concerts halls in the New York is the biggest entertainment centre in the world Romans lounge message service ours his a the to of if listening met have written Windsor Castle 237 20 Trafalgar Square 21 North America 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 It has over 30 active theaters and shows more plays than any other city 29 London today is one of the biggest theatrical centers of the world by any criterion - folklore - celebrate gallery to enter more difficult shortest which am leaving have received 10 on 11 have 12 to have been killed 13 laughing 14 if 15 With pleasure 16 made 17 18 economy 19 English 20 Parliament 21 Labour Party 22 23 238 24 25 26 27 28 The Royal Shakespeare Company is in Stratford-on-Avon 29 The British theatres are of two types: subsidizes and commercial history museum musical announced later best on 10 ours 11 12 had done 13 is allowed to 14 to trouble 15 Can I arrange car rental here? 16 Sorry, here it is 17 Yes, but I am not sure I quite agree 18 Cardiff 19 dollars 20 21 the USA 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - The teachers consider it their task to train not just actors but also honest citizens 239 29 To train not just actors but also honest citizens was a thesis of Stanislavsky cultures reax resorts enjoy of to must - 10 if 11 are able 12 theirs 13 whose 14 being 15 Not at all Did you have a good trip? 16 Hello, Star Hotel Can I help you? 17 Good ev 18 Margaret Thatcher 19 Elizabeth II 20 Thames 21 Missouri 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 The primitive tribes have an oral type of literature 29 America has rich folk heritage language arranged 240 tourism markets the best sooner on the 10 or 11 had read 12 could 13 having read 14 acting 15 entered 16 Can you help me? 17 - It was very kind of you to ask me 18 19 Vivien Leigh 20 Nixon 21 Lincoln Center 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 International co-operation is fruitful and often reveals new artistic potentialities 29 The theatre is an international means of preserving world peace 241 , / : 2008 , : 1974 , / , 1977 , / , 1975 Arbeckova, T I English for all occasions / T I Arbeckova., N N Vlasova M : Higher School,1978 Axtell, N Gestures / N Axtell N.Y : John Wiley, 1991 Britain An Official Handbook London, 1989 British Cultural Identities L., 1997 Claes, M Presentation Skills in an International Setting / M Claes Bath : LTS and SIETAR, 2000 10 Conversational Formulas L : Prosvezhenie, 1974 11 Cypres, / L Cypres London : 2001 12 Gibson, R Intercultural Business Communication / R Gibson Oxford : University Press, 2004 245 c 13 Mascull, B Business Vocabulary in Use / B Mascull Cambridge : University Press, 2002 167 c 14 Mead, R International Management / R Mead Oxford : Blackwell, 1998 230 c 15 Mole, J Mind your Manners / J Mole London : The Industrial Society, 1990 16 lish / By A S Hornby London : OUP, 1974 17 Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners London : Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2002 242 243 _ 14 47