Задания для дифференцированного зачета по английскому языку

Министерство образования и науки Челябинской области

государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение среднего профессионального

образования «Челябинский техникум промышленности и городского хозяйства

им. Я.П. Осадчего»

УТВЕРЖДАЮ

зам. директора по УР

____________ Е.В. Рыбакова

«_______» ___________20___ г.

ЗАДАНИЯ

ДЛЯ ПРОМЕЖУТОЧНОЙ АТТЕСТАЦИИ

В ФОРМЕ ДИФФЕРЕНЦИРОВАННОГО ЗАЧЕТА

по учебной дисциплине

иностранный язык (английский)

курс

2

группа

для профессии

230103.02 Мастер по обработке цифровой информации

составитель

Дорофеева Л. С.

РАССМОТРЕНО

На заседании ПЦК

Протокол № __

От «____» _________ 20__ г

Председатель ПЦК_________ Фурасова Е. А.

2014 г.

Test 1

How Different the World Is!

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните задания.

1. Определите, являются ли данные утверждения прав­дивыми или ложными:

1. Lewis and Clark found in the Rocky Mountains primeval forests full of wolves and grizzlies.

2. Two centuries later only wolves remained there.

3. National parks can't ensure the survival of wolves because of food shortage.

4. The main aim of the Sierra Club is to restore natural ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains.

5. It is very difficult to preserve wildlife in this region because of many industrial plants located in this region.

2. Выберите правильный ответ:

1. The Rocky Mountains are situated in ...

1. the Lower 48;

2. the Lower 68;

2. the Lower 78.A wolf roams a territory of ...

1. 14 to 44 square miles;

2. 14 to 100 square miles;

3. 40 to 400 square miles.

3. The Sierra Club hopes to add ... to the 9 million acres of national-forest land.

1. over 60 million acres;

2. over 16 million acres;

3. over 26 million acres.

4. These additional acres would shield the ... largest areas from development.

1. three;

2. thirty-three;

3. thirteen.

5. Rocky Mountain National Park (in Colorado) and the San Juan Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico have ... of wild animals that Lewis and Clark noted.

1. less species;

2. more species.

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова на русский язык

   Optimism, risk-takers, vast, community, landscape, time zones, stability, mild, plains, politeness, patient, self-confidence, extremes, severe, hospitality, balanced, mountains.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу словами из рамки:

I have never realized that a (1) can influence personality traits. For example, there are no (2)­­____in the landscape of Great Britain. The most of the island consists of flat (3) ____ and hills. (4)____can be found only in the northern and western areas of the country. Great Britain has a (5) ____climate so it is never very hot or very cold. Because of this steady climate the Englishmen are very (6) ____, that means they don't get out of control easily. The other world-famous trait of the Englishmen is (7) ____. As for the American national character its roots lay in the history of America conquering. The first settlers had to overcome many difficulties and it resulted in such traits as (8) ____and (9) ____. America is a (10) ____country and you can find four (11) ____there. The landscape is also varied. A lot of people came to this new continent in search of a new life. So we can say that the whole nation is the nation of (12) ____. The most famous Russian trait is (13) ____. Russian people have a very strong sense of (14) ____, because it is easy to perform difficult tasks together. The climate in the

3. Разделите текст на 6 абзацев, а затем подберите к каждому абзацу соответствующий заголовок. Один за­головок - лишний.

Each Englishman walks, eats, drinks, shaves, dresses, gesticulates, and, in every manner, acts and suffers without reference to the bystanders, in his own fashion, only careful not to interfere with them, or annoy them; not that he is trained to neglect the eyes of his neighbors, - he is really occupied with his own affair, and does not think of them. Every man in this polished country consults only his convenience. Born in a harsh and wet climate, which keeps him in doors whenever he is at rest, and being of an affectionate and loyal temper, he dearly loves his house II" he is rich, he buys an estate and builds a hall; if he is in middle condition, he spares no expense on his house. Without, it is all planted: within, it is wainscoted, carved, curtained, hung with pictures, and filled with good furniture. An English family consists of a few persons, who from youth to age are found revolving within a few feet of each other, as if tied by some invisible binding. They keep their old customs, costumes, their wig and mace, sceptre and crown. The Middle Ages still lurk in the streets of London. They repeated the ceremonies of the eleventh century in the coronation of the present Queen. In an aristocratical country like England, not the Trial by Jury, but the dinner is the capital institution. It is the mode of doing honor to a stranger, to invite him to eat, - and has been for many hundred years. The English dinner is a peculiar ceremony. The company sits one or two hours before the ladies leave the table. The gentlemen remain over their wine an hour longer and rejoin the ladies in the drawing-room, and take coffee. The dress-dinner generates a talent of table- talk which reaches great perfection: the stories are so good, that one is sure they must have been often told before, to have got such happy turns. Hither come all manner of clever projects, bits of popular science, of practical invention, of miscellaneous humor; political, literary and personal news; railroads, horses, diamonds, agriculture and wine.

wainscot - обшивать стены деревянными панелями

1. Typical English dinner.

В: Family is the biggest treasure.

3. Great honour to strangers.

4. Tastes differ.

5. An Englishman home is his castle.

6. Live and let live.

7. Old customs are in their blood.

4. Переведите предложения на английский язык:

1. Вы случайно не знаете, в какой части США находятся Скалистые Горы?

2. Первопроходцам приходилось преодолевать многие труд­ности, поэтому друзья и соседи помогали им безвозмез­дно.

3. Он хочет знать, какой в Англии климат.

4. Из-за суровой истории и непредсказуемой погоды рус­ские ценят стабильность, безопасность и социальный порядок.

5. Извините, вы не знаете, сколько в США часовых поя­сов?

6. Не могли бы вы сказать мне, как пройти к Музею Янта­ря?

7. Благодаря тому, что на юге России есть моря, пляжи и горы, миллионы туристов приезжают сюда каждое лето.

5. Определите, верно или неверно высказывание (True/False):

1. Great Britain is the world's largest island.

2. In the USA people live within four time zones.

3. In Australia much of the land is a useless desert.

4. The British started the fashion for seaside holidays.

5. Australia is the world's largest island.

6. Many people live far away from towns in the outback in Australia.

7. Three-quarters (3/4) of the USA are washed by ocean.

8. On the Australia's coat of arms there are the kangaroo and the emu.

9. It is never very hot or very cold in the UK.

10. Australia is sometimes called the Land Down Under.

Говорение

Составьте диалог на заданную ситуацию:

Your plane landed at Heathrow airport. You came to England to take a summer course in English. Somebody was to meet you at the airport, but you saw nobody waiting for you. Find out:

• how you can get to your school;

• what means of transport you can use;

• where you should get on/in;

• where you should get off/out;

• be polite.

Письмо

Your class is doing a project «American Life» about the geography, climate, people, traditions and customs in different American states. Write a letter to your American friend asking to supply you with the necessary information.

Test 2

Western Democracies. Are They Democratic?

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните задания. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Who worried about the complications in the relations between Spain and the US?

2. How did the President look at this matter?

3. What did this situation remind of to President Lincoln?

4. What did the preacher want to tell his black brother about?

5. What was his reply?

6. What was the President's decision in this situation?

7. How does this story characterize President Lincoln?

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова на русский язык

federal republic, the House of Lords, legislative, Prime Minister, makes laws, approval, assent, Federal Council, appoints, elected, presidential republic, the House of Commons, representative, judicial, Duma, decisions, Chairman of the Government, Parliament, checks and balances, Federal Assembly, people, constitutional monarchy, unconstitutional, President.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу сло­вами из рамки:

Let's compare the political systems of three different countries: Great Britain, the USA and Russia. Great Britain is a (1) that means that the Queen is the official head of state but she has mostly (2) functions. That is although she gives the royal (3) _____ to the bills passed by the Parliament, she doesn't have any real power, so she can't make her own political (4) ____. The head of Government in GB is the (5) ____. The legislative branch of power is represented in GB by the (6) ____which consists of two chambers: (7) ____and (8) ____. The USA is a 9) ____. That means that the (10) ____ is the head of state there. The President is elected by (11) ____of the USA every 4 years. Then there is Congress which represents the (12) ____branch of power. Members of Congress are also (13) ____ by the USA citizens. In the USA there is a strong system of (14) ____. That means that the President can't make any important political decisions without the Congress (15) ____. The Supreme Court, the judicial branch of power, can declare the presidential acts and the laws made by Congress (16) ____. As for Russia political system it is a (17) ____. The head of state is the President elected by the people. The President

(18) ____the (19) ____, whose appointment must be approved by the Duma and the Federal Council, the two parts of the (20) ____. The (21)____ is the lower chamber of the Federal Assembly. Its members are elected every 4 years. The (22) ____is the upper chamber of the Federal Assembly, and it consists of two representatives from each federal subject. The Federal Assembly (23) ____so it represents the legislative branch of power. The (24) ____branch of power is represented by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.

3. Прочитайте текст и пропущенные в нем предложе­ния А-Е. Выберите из этих предложений то, которое лучше всего подходит в пропуски. Одно из предложений лишнее.

Like the United States and unlike Britain, Australia has a written constitution. The Australian Constitution defines the responsibilities of the federal government, which include foreign relations and trade, defence and immigration. (1) ____. State parliaments and Territory assemblies follow the principles of responsible government. In the States the Queen is represented by Governors.

Australia's system of government is based on representative or parliamentary democracy. This means that the Australian people elect representatives to make important decisions for them and govern on their behalf. (2) ____.

Australia's federal parliament has two chambers, the House of Representatives (or lower house) and the Senate (or upper house). Under the system of responsible government, the party (or parties in a coalition) which usually has a majority of seats in the lower house, becomes the executive government. (3) ____.

The legislature or parliament makes the laws; the executive put the laws into operation; and the judiciary or courts interprets the laws. The powers and functions of each of these 'arms' are separate and carried out separately. (4) ____. This prevents powers from being concentrated in one arm of government. The independence of each helps keep the others from exceeding their power, thus ensuring the rule of law and protecting individual rights.

1. No single arm is able to exercise complete authority and each is dependent on the other.

2. Voting is compulsory in Australia and all Australian citizens who are 18 years and older are required to vote.

3. These representatives form a parliament to make or change laws or require its residents to pay taxes.

4. Governments of States and Territories are responsible for all matters not assigned to the Commonwealth.

5. The leader of the party (or parties in a coalition) with the same majority of seats in the lower house also becomes the prime minister.

4. Переведите на английский язык:

1. Все люди должны принимать участие в выборах.

2. Ученики должны посещать занятия.

3. Политик должен принимать трудные решения.

4. Каждому политику следует обладать здравым смыслом.

5. Все люди должны знать законы.

6. Ни один политик не может знать все, поэтому ему или ей следует нанять умных советников.

7. Каждый человек должен отвечать за свои поступки.

8. Вам не следует так много говорить о политике, это вредно для здоровья.

5. Выберите правильный ответ:

1. In America, the ____is the Head of State.

a) President

b) Congress

c) Queen

2. The President of the United States is _______ every four years.

a) examined

b) elected

c) challenged

3. The President makes the most important decisions and chooses the members of his _____.

a) council

b) court

c) cabinet

4. In other words, the President ______the heads of the most important departments in the Administration.

a) appoints

b) delays

c) opposes

5. They help the Head of State govern the _____.

a) assembly

d) country

c) parliament

6. The President _____ the United States on official occasions.

a) assembly

b) country

c) parliament

7. The President cannot act without the Senate's ______.

a) approval

b) appointment

c) opposition

8. Congress is the _____ branch of the federal government.

a) democratic

b) political

c) legislative

9. Congress is made up of the two chambers:

The House of Representatives

The House of Lords

The Senate

The House of Commons

10. The President is the Head of the _____branch in the USA.

Legislative

Executive

judicial

Говорение

Составьте диалог на тему «What famous politician you admire».

In your dialogue pay attention to the following points:

Try to convince your friend that this politician is worth your admiration.

What qualities should any good politician possess/not possess?

If these qualities have changed through time

Письмо

Your English friend sent you letter where he asks you to tell him about a famous Russian politician Vladimir Putin. He is making a report on him and he wants to know how people in Russia rate him.

Test 3

What Is Hot with the Young Generation?

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните задания.

Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How old is Robby Williams?

2. Where is his song Angels mostly performed at?

3. Where did Robbie Williams start his singing career?

4. After how many years did the group Take That split up?

5. When did Robbie Williams release his first single?

6. Was this single successful?

7. What is the name of his second song?

8. How many albums did Robbie Williams and his partner sell?

9. What is a not-so-secret ambition of Robbie Williams?

10. What role does Robbie Williams have in mind for himself?

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова из рамки:

   different, life, belong, to fight, wizards, hippie, subcultures, skinheads, soul, Goths, fashionable, jewellery, rock-and-roll, patriotic, warehouses, mod, hackers, ravers.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу сло­вами из рамки:

I have never supposed that there are so many music styles and so many (1) around us. I have only known something about (2) ____, they are the people who like to wear the blackest black and lots of silver (3)____ . It seems to me, that I begin to understand why this subculture is so popular among teenagers and young people. They start to analyze their (4) and become dissatisfied with it. With appearing of the Internet the subculture of (5)____appeared. I think that every teenager would be proud to belong to this community, because these people are considered

the (6)____of the computer world. But (7) ____subculture was a complete novelty for me. I haven't even supposed that young people who study mostly at different colleges and prefer to wear the (8) clothes can refer to any subculture. Sometimes it is very difficult to define to

what subculture a person belongs. As for (9) it is easy to do because they cut their hair shorter than others. Some people think that they are (10) ___ but others say that the only thing they want to do is (11)____. A (12) ____subculture isn't popular any more, now their community is becoming a place for really hopeless characters. I think also that the truth is that every subculture has its own music style. For example, modes listen to (13)____music, hackers prefer (14)____ types of music, (15) ____prefer computer-made, synthesized music and drugs to create massive all-night dance parties in empty (16)____. Hippies are fans of (17) ____. My friends and I don't (18)____to any subculture, we just have no time for it.

3. Подберите к каждому тексту один наиболее подхо­дящий по смыслу заголовок. Один из заголовков - лиш­ний.

1. Wearing black clothing, white face-paint and black lipstick is mere play-acting for most members of the subculture called Gothdom. «Every day is Halloween for a Goth,» said Diana, a Gothic-Punk follower drawn to the movement by the dress, music and «the romance of death.» Local cult expert Rand Johnson, a West Jordan police captain, said every high school in Salt Lake Valley boasts a few Goths. Most are harmless but a few can become a danger to themselves and others. «The Goths are fascinated with the darker side of life - with the grotesque, the mysterious, and the desolate» Johnson said. «There is a fascination with graveyards, death and moody music»

2. Johnson said that only a small percentage of Goths participate in ritual bloodletting, animal sacrifices and the worship of Satan. «Gothdom is primarily a form of rebellion, escapism - a hobby. And if it is not taken to the point of obsession, it's not a problem,» Johnson said. Explains a female Goth on an Internet homepage: «Gothic for me is a release from the stress of having to be the perfect student, the perfect daughter, etc. I have always been rebellious ... and was drawn to Gothic music, clothing and a way of looking at life. »

3. Are Goths a threat for society? Salt Lake Police Sgt. Chuck Gilbert said: «We haven't had any trouble with the Goths. They're mostly kids preoccupied with death who wear a lot of white, black and purple makeup. They really don't focus on committing crimes, and for the most part they aren't 18what we would classify as a gang. They're just real bizarre and for the most part they've been harmless. »

1. That's why I am a Goth.

2. They are not a threat.

3. Attraction of Gothdom subculture.

4. Goths wear silver chains because ...

Прочитайте текст и выберите подходящий вариант ответа.

In what paragraph there is information about:

1. a person that expresses her personal attitude to this subculture.

2. what attracts teenagers in this subculture.

3. the social behaviour of the Goths.

4. the Goth attitude to sacrifices and other rituals.

4. Переведите на английский язык:

1. Некоторые люди считают, что скинхэды - это самая агрессивная субкультура.

2. Хиппи, как и скинхэды, протестуют против социальных норм.

3. - Не хочешь мороженое? - Нет, я лучше не буду. Я сижу на диете.

4. Говорят, что ситуация в мире становится все хуже и хуже.

5. Я хотела бы пойти с вами в кино, но боюсь, что мне придется остаться дома.

6. В целом, я не думаю, что субкультуры - это плохо.

7. Подростки иногда так же, как и взрослые, не знают, как поступить в трудных ситуациях.

8. Мой друг любит слушать громкую музыку так же, как и я люблю это делать.

5. Выберите правильный ответ:

1. My sister celebrates coming of age next Friday.

A. She is 16 next Friday.

B. She is 18 next Friday.

C. She is 21 next Friday.

2. My friend is a hacker.

A, His friend knows computer well.

B. His friend has got a new brand jacket.

C. His friend left home.

3. Let's go Dutch.

A. Your friend invites you to travel with him to Holland.

B. Your friend invites you to the disco.

C, Your friend wants you to share expenses.

4. My father used to be a hippie.

A. His father was very unhappy at school.

B. His father used to have long hair.

C. Hippos are his father's favourite animals.

5. I'm fond of techno.

A. Your friend wants to be an engineer.

B. Your friend likes driving his car.

C. Your friend writes computer music.

6. One of my classmates is a punk.

A. His classmate gets bad marks in all the subjects at school.

B. His classmate has got many different hobbies.

C. His classmate dresses in a shocking way, has brightly coloured hair and wears metal chains.

7. Your best friend is a goth.

A. They dress in black.

B. They have their hair long.

C. They have brightly colored hair.

8. My sister is fond of emo.

A. She is associated with a stereotype that includes being particularly emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted.

B. She prefers to speak about death or vampires.

C. Her clothes are untidy; she has brightly colored hair and wear metal chains.

9. His brothers are skinheads.

A. They are wizards of computer community.

B. They are often called themselves as "children-flowers".

C. They are aggressive, dress in military and army boots.

10. My uncle was a biker.

A. His style is leather jacket and cowboy hats.

B. He is aggressive, dress in military and army boots.

C. He lives for all-night dancing.

Говорение

Составьте диалог

Your friend belongs to a particular subculture. He invites you to join him and his friends.

Try to explain him that this subculture isn't for you.

Try not to offend his/her feelings.

Письмо

In a letter written to you by your American friend was the information about different subcultures that are popular in America nowadays. You tell him about Russian popular subcultures.

Test 4

Is It Easy to Be Young?

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните задания.

Определите, являются ли данные утверждение прав­дивыми или ложными:

1. People date because it is «enjoyable, pleasant and valuable».

2. Double dates are used to help shy people «to break the ice».

3. Nowadays if a couple «goes steady» that means the young people are going to marry.

4. Earlier to get a date was much easier than nowadays.

5. «Blind dates» were very popular among teenagers.

6. A «blind date» means that the people come for the date with the closed eyes.

7. The most popular places for dating were the same as they today are.

8. The most popular and economical activity for teenagers in the 50s was walking.

9. In the 50s Dutch dating was very popular. The rules of dating in the 50s were changed by the teenagers' parents.

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова на русский язык:

   Politics, part-time, problems, spots, boring, money, chore, appearance, guy, drugs, grades.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу сло­вами из рамки:

I am a teenager so my life isn't easy. I have many (1)____. My parents want me to get good (2)____at school. But I have so many subjects at school and some of them are extremely (3)____. I have to do much homework and to read many foolish books, while some teachers don't understand that their subjects are not the most important things in my life. Some of my friends worry a lot about their (4)____and these teenage (5)____! They spoil all our life! I must confess that (6)____, alcohol and AIDS don't really bother my friends or me. The same I should say about (7)____. What we really care about is how to impress a cute (8) ____or an attractive girl. Of course, I like many other teenagers have problems with (9)____. Some of my friends found a (10)____job in order to have an opportunity to earn some money. But despite all these problems life of today's teenager isn't a (11)____it is still fun.

3. Подберите к каждому тексту подходящий по смыс­лу заголовок. Один из заголовков - лишний.

1. Why Do Bullies Act So Bad?

2. What Happens to Bullies?

3. Who is a bully?

4. Who Gets Bullied?

5. What to do About Bullying

6. Bullying is a Big Deal.

1. Have you ever met a bully? A bully is a boy or girl who acts mean or hurtful to others. Bullies pick on someone else as a way to get power, or to get their way, or to feel important. Bullies sometimes hit, kick or push to hurt people, and they sometimes use words to call names, tease or scare them. A bully might say mean things about someone, grab a kid's stuff, make fun of someone or leave a kid out of the group on purpose.

2. Bullying is a big problem that affects lots of kids. Being bullied can make kids feel scared, sad, worried or embarrassed. The stress of dealing with bullies can even give kids a stomachache! Having bullies around can take the fun out of school. Some kids feel afraid to go to the lunchroom, the bathroom or the playground because of bullies. It's hard to keep your mind on schoolwork or enjoy your friends when you're worried about how you're going to get around the bully near your locker.

3. Some are just looking for attention. They might think .bullying is a way to be popular or a way to get what they want. Most bullies are trying to make themselves feel more important. Some bullies come from families where everyone is angry and shouting all the time. They may think that being angry, calling names and pushing people around is a normal way to act. Some bullies are copying what they've seen someone else do. Some have been bullied themselves.

4. Bullies often pick on someone they think they can have power over. They might pick on kids who get upset easily or who have trouble sticking up for themselves. Getting a big reaction out of someone can make bullies feel like they have the power they want. Sometimes bullies pick on someone who is smarter than they are or different from them in some way. Sometimes bullies just pick on a kid for no reason at all.

5. Bullying can be a big pain, but you don't have to let bullying get the best of you and your buddies. Here are some things to try if you're bothered by a bully:

• Act brave;

• Ignore a bully;

• Stand up for yourself;

• Tell an adult.

4. Переведите на английский язык, используя Complex Object и активную лексику урока:

1. Мои родители запрещают мне курить.

2. Мама не разрешает Павлу заводить домашнее живот­ное.

3. Закон разрешает продавать алкоголь только лицам стар­ше 16 лет.

4. Его родители не хотят, чтобы он служил в армии.

5. Твои родители разрешают тебе работать полдня после школы?

6. Закон разрешает подросткам получить водительские права в 16 лет.

7. В школе учителя заставляют школьников выполнять много заданий и упражнений.

5. Сопоставьте названия субкультур с их определениями:

1. Punk

2. Hippie

3. Hacker

4. Goth

5. Biker

6. Skinhead

7. Hipster

8. Raver

9. Mod

10. Emo

1. Their clothes - untidy, they have brightly colored hair and wear metal chains. Their music is aggressive and they are not interested in policy.

2. They have their hair long. This subculture is often associated with drugs and rock-n-roll. And they are often called themselves as "children-flowers".

3. They are wizards of computer community. Some of them are connected with computer crimes in Internet.

4. They dress in black, have long black hair. They prefer to speak about death or vampires.

5. Their style is leather jacket and cowboy hats. They are mad of their motorized vehicles. Their favorite trend is Harley Davidson.

6. They are aggressive, dress in military and army boots. .. Many of them dislike people of other races or nationalities. Some of them are football fans.

7. This is a young person from middle class mainly who wear t-shirts silk-screened with quotes from movies you've never heard, mop-top haircuts, swinging retro pocketbooks, talking on cell phones, in gym shoes and narrow jeans with their iPads.

8. He or she prefers neon colored clothes, Ibiza, drum n bass, trance, water bottles, and illegal raves in the middle of a field, free love, and just general love for… ecstasy. This person lives for all-night dancing.

9. He or she was old teen or young adult from working class but who could earn money. They adored Italian fashion (both clothes and motorized vehicles).

10. Today he or she is stereotyped with wearing slim-fit jeans, sometimes in bright colors, and tight t-shirts (usually black and pink). Their popular hairstyle looks like long side-swept bangs, sometimes covering one or both eyes. They associated with a stereotype that includes being particularly emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted.

Говорение

Составьте диалог с продавцом.

You have bought a new model of a CD-player in a shop. Coming home you have noticed that the shop assistant had sold you a cheaper and an older model. You return to the shop to exchange the CD-player or to become your money back.

Письмо

Your pen pal from the USA asked you to describe a daily life of a typical Russian teenager. What would you write to him?

Test 5

Is the System of Social Welfare Fair?

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните упражнения.

Вы услышите пятерых молодых людей, которые рас­сказывают о проблемах, связанных с работниками соци­альной службы, и о том, как им нелегко ухаживать за больными родителями.

Напишите имена подростков, которым подходят при­веденные ниже предложения:

1. She has to earn her pocket money.

2. She enjoyed helping her mum but wishes it could be a bit easier.

3. This girl craves for her mother's attention.

4. Social workers took him away from his parents.

5. She has to perform many tasks around the house.

6. He says that the school workers hardly visited him.

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова на русский язык:

   Health Service, emergency doctor, National Insurance, retirement, maternity allowance, claim, child benefit, mobility allowance, state, maternity pay, contributions.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу сло­вами из рамки:

Our family is an ordinary one. My father works as a programmer. Of course, he receives money for his work but some of his money he pays as (1)____to the (2)____fund. Then when he becomes a pensioner he will have a (3)____or (4)____pension according to his payments. My mother doesn't work now because she is pregnant, so she receives a (5)____that is money that

a pregnant woman gets from an employer and a (6) ____the money she receives from the state. As a child I am entitled to a (7)_____. My grandfather is now a pensioner, so he can (8)____a (9)____, and maybe we will have a new car soon. Last week I was ill so my mother had to send for an (10) ____. He examined me and said that I must be taken to a hospital. Some people say that our (11)____doesn't work well but in my case I can't complain.

3. Прочитайте текст, а затем выберите правильный ответ.

Health-care spending is currently rising at a rate of around eight percent a year, and a large proportion of the health care that is delivered in this country simply drives up costs without improving health or increasing longevity.

Previous efforts to address these problems have neglected an element so basic that its wisdom has largely been ignored-namely, reliable information, the lack of which hampers the efficiency of the health-care market and prevents doctors and hospitals from learning what constitutes high-quality care. It has been more than a decade since the manifesto of «evidence-based medicine» was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, yet much medical care is still based more on intuition than on science. Doctors don't know, for example, whether regular mammograms for women in their forties save lives, and they ignore evidence that Celebrex, a widely prescribed and much ballyhooed prescription painkiller, is no more effective than Ibuprofen, which costs one tenth as much. When common medical practices are put to the test, as only a small fraction have been, many turn out to be either ineffective or excessively risky - at least for some patients. In one well-known example a clinical trial that ended in 2002 showed that hormone-replacement medication, which generated $1.2 billion in sales in 2000 and which postmenopausal women have been taking for more than thirty years, does not lower the risk of heart attack, as previously believed; in fact, it appears to raise it.

As a result of such uncertainty health-care consumers- patients, employers and insurers - cannot choose the best care at the most reasonable price. As health-care buyers, insurers - whose costs keep rising - have little data with which to judge the effectiveness of all the hospitalizations, tests, office visits and procedures they are paying for, and thus no rational basis for adjusting reimbursement according to the quality of care.

1. People will pay 8% more for a health treatment and the quality of the healthcare:

1. will improve;

2. will remain on the same level;

3. will become even worse.

2. There is a lack of good healthcare because of ...

1. reliable information;

2. skillful doctors;

3. high-quality is.

3. Celebrex is ...

1. better than Ibuprofen but costs more;

2. worse than Ibuprofen but costs less;

3. as effective as Ibuprofen and costs much less.

4. If we checked common medical practices we would see that they were:

1. ineffective or excessively risky;

2. very effective and well organized;

3. dealing with only rich patients.

5. The women were taking drugs in order to ...

1. feel better;

2. sleep well;

3. lower the risk of heart attack.

4. Переведите на английский язык, используя прида­точные предложения с союзами и предлогами и актив­ную лексику урока:

1. Хотя в России есть система общественного здравоохра­нения, существует ташке и частный сектор.

2. Из-за нехватки денег система общественного здравоох­ранения работает не очень' хорошо.

3. Несмотря на то, что скорая помощь приехала быстро, бабушка Адриана хотела пожаловаться в Медицинский Совет.

4. Из-за финансовых проблем в Системе Национального здравоохранения людям приходится годами ждать опе­рации.

5. Хотя доктор Тейлор поставил правильный диагноз, Адриан был недоволен. Он не может прийти из-за нее.

6. Несмотря на плохую погоду, мы все-таки поехали за город.

5. Сопоставьте английские сокращения с их значениями на русском языке

1. AIDS

1. Валовой национальный доход

2. BUPA

2. Терапевт, семейный доктор

3. GDP

3. СПИД

4. GP

4. Организация Объединенных Наций

5. MPAA

5. Национальная система страхования (в Британии)

6. NHS

6. Система национального здравоохранения (в Британии)

7. NI

7. Кинематографическая ассоциация Америки

8. NSPCC

8. Национальное общество защиты детей (в Британии)

9. RSPCA

9. Королевское общество защиты животных (в Британии)

10. UN

10. Объединенная Британская ассоциация частного медицинского страхования

Говорение

Составьте диалог

You came to England after a serious illness and your English friend asks you about your visit to a doctor.

Письмо

You are taking an English course in England. The teacher gave you a task to compare the system of National Health Care in two countries: in Russia and in Great Britain.

Test 6

What Helps You to Enjoy Yourselves?

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните задания.

1. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. When did the idea to turn the book about cats into a musical come to Lloyd Webber?

2. Whose lines tired the whole show together?

3. For how long had been Lloyd Webber been writing the most famous song in the musical?

4. How many lyricists tried to write the lyric to the song «Memory»?

5. How many Tony Awards did Cats win?

2. Выберите правильный ответ.

1. Cats was shown....

1. less than two hundred times;

2. more than six thousand times;

2. about six thousand times. The musical is based on the book written by ...

1. T.S. Elliot;

2. Charles Dickens;

3. Jane Austen.

3. As the opening night came closer Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn were still worried because ...

1. they always worried before the premiere;

2. they were afraid that they won't get money;

3. they wanted the show to be memorable.

4. The most famous song in the musical is called ...

1. «Unfortunate Love»;

2. «Memory»;

3. «You will never forget».

5. Grizabella left the tribe because ...

1. she wanted to experience the outside world;

2. she didn't like her tribe;

3. she decided to find a new owner.

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова на русский язык:

   Broaden, Charlie Chaplin, indifferent, silent, role, informative, comic, black-and-white, costumes, plot, historical, entertaining, acting, colour, cast, documentaries, sound, genres, destroys, science-fiction.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу сло­вами из рамки:

I don't know how it is about you, but I think that films are the most interesting part in a TV programme. As you definitely know the first films were (1)____and (2)____then came (3)____and (4)____films. But many of my friends still like to watch those old silent films. They even consider (5)____the main male star of those films, the best (6)____star, the world has ever seen! So many people so many film (7)____to satisfy their taste. I am convinced that every genre has something valuable in itself. Up to recent time I have always thought that (8)____films are dull, because they tell about the events that happened in the past. But when I saw «Shakespeare in Love» I changed my mind. Superb (9)____of the (10)____, beautiful (11)____ and sets give a real feeling of 1590. For those who like (12)____films I can recommend to watch «The Matrix» trilogy. I guarantee that this film that tells about a possible future of our planet will leave nobody (13)____. The (14)____of the film is very exciting. Nowadays many people say that TV (15)____our health and our mind. But I think that they aren't right. TV helps us to get more information about the world around us and to (16)____our outlook. As for me, with the help of the TV I get acquainted with the traditions and customs in different countries. Of course you can watch (17)____to know foreign countries better but even from feature films you can get many additional information: how people great each other, how they behave in different situations and what language they use. So I think that films on TV play a very important (18)____. They aren't only (19)____, they are also very (20)____, although many would disagree with this statement.

3. Прочитайте краткие описания фильмов и устано­вите соответствия между утверждениями, приведенны­ми ниже, и сюжетом фильмов. На каждое утверждение можно дать более одного ответа. (Чтение на поиск опре­деленной информации в тексте):

Troy

In 1193 B.C., Prince Paris of Troy stole the beautiful Greek woman, Helen, away from her husband, Menelaus, the king of Sparta, setting the two nations at war with each other, as the Greeks began a bloody siege of Troy using their entire armada, led by Achilles, that lasted over a decade.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Set in the Caribbean Sea in the 17th century, this is the story of a gentleman rogue of a pirate, Jack Sparrow (Depp), who teams up with the daughter (Knightley) of a governor (Pryce) to stop the evil plan of a ship of dangerous pirates (led by Rush) who are trying to reverse an ancient curse that leaves them stuck between life and death, with the light of the moon revealing their skeletons, like some kind of undead monsters.

Stuck on You

Bob and Walt Tenor are small-town legends who excel at sports, and who are the proud owners of a fast-food restaurant where their four hands work the grill at lightning speed. When the acting bug bites Walt, he convinces Bob to honor their childhood pact to never hold back the other, and the brother's head west for the bright lights of Hollywood. There the boys encounter legendary diva - and Academy Award winning actress - Cher. Cher casts Walt as her co-star in her new television series. Suddenly the brothers became instant celebrities. But their real adventure is only beginning, as Bob finds romance with a longtime cyber-pal, and the brothers make a decision that will forever change their lives.

The Last Samurai

Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Woodrow Algren (Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor Meiji as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor's new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors.

Statements:

1. In this film the heroes fight with many supernatural things, for example, the undead monsters.

2. There are two main war heroes in this story and it is difficult to say which is a good one.

3. The only advantage and disadvantage for the main characters of this film is that they can't get rid of one another.

4. This story happens in an ancient time but people remember it still.

5. The film deals with the problems that the modern developing world can bring into a country with old traditions.

6. The events in that film turned that way because the people took what they didn't earn.

7. The main events of the film happen in the 19th century and in the far away country.

8. You can see a very famous singer in that film.

4. Переведите предложения на английский язык, ис­пользуя активную грамматику и лексику урока:

1. Смотри, это тот режиссер, чей фильм выиграл 11 Оска­ров!

2. Какой скучный фильм. Мне он совсем не понравился.

3. Такая ужасная неприятность! Я забыл дома билеты на сегодняшнее представление.

4. Эта та актриса, которая играла в фильме.

5. Да, ты был прав. Эта книга действительно легко чита­ется.

6. Мультфильмы чрезвычайно популярны как у детей, так и у взрослых.

7. Какой замечательный фильм мы вчера смотрели!

8. Где та кассета, которую я тебе дал на прошлой неделе?

9. Такие странные слухи! Я действительно не могу в это поверить!

10. Костюмы, которые были разработаны для нового филь­ма, пропали.

5. Дополните логическую цепочку словом из правой колонки (одно слово лишнее)

   1. a documentary, a musical, a science-fiction film, a comedy…
   2. act, create, shoot, dub,…
   3. a producer, a designer, a director, an editor,…
   4. a screen, a box - office, stalls, rows of seats,…
   5. exciting, realistic, clever, amusing,…

   a) wonderful
   b) talent
   c) a thriller
   d) a foyer
   e) a cameraman
   f) perform

6. Сопоставьте слово с его определением (одно определение лишнее):

1. Producer
2. Comedy
3. Musical
4. Studio
5. Film star
6. Role
7. Cinema

a) a place where cinema films are made;
b) a funny film with a happy ending;
c) a film about cowboys and life in the Wild West;
d) a well-known actor or actress in cinema pictures;
e) a film with songs and often dances;
f) a theatre where moving pictures are shown;
g) a person who has general control, especially of money for a film;
h) the part of an actor or an actress in a film.

Говорение

Составьте диалог

You went for а film starring your favourite actor tonight. You liked the film but your friend didn't. Try to convince him that the film was very good and your favourite actor in it was marvelous. Ask your friend why he didn't like the film.

Письмо

You are a theatre-goer like your English pen pal. You have recently received a letter from your friend, where he describes English musicals. He/she asks you to write him/her something about Russian musicals in return.

Test 7

Inventions That Shook the World

Аудирование

Прослушайте текст и выполните задания.

1. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How old is Microsoft?

2. Who are the founders of Microsoft?

3. What languages did Bill Gates and Paul Allen invent?

4. What was the most successful product of Microsoft?

5. What did Microsoft celebrate in 1985?

6. What do people say about Microsoft products?

2. Выберите правильный ответ.

1. What was the name of the computer Bill Gates and Paul Allen ordered in 1975?

1. IBM 475;

2. MITS ALTAIR 600;

3. Pentium IV.

2. Windows appeared in ...

1. 1993;

2. 1995;

3. 1983.

3. The early version of Windows didn't work well ...

1. but computer users were happy with MS-DOS;

2. and computer users were dissatisfied with MS-DOS.

4. By 1985 the annual sales of Microsoft were ...

1. $ 1 million;

2. $ 140 million;

3. 354 million.

5) Some people say that the best Microsoft products have been developed ...

1. very quickly and therefore had many drawbacks;

2. for a long time but were very complicated and user- unfriendly;

3. from ideas created by others.

1. Прочитайте и переведите слова на русский язык:

   Mobile phone, dishwasher, video recorder, gas stove, remote control, sites, cordless telephone, on-line, microwave oven, inventions, e-mail, vacuum cleaner, Internet, mower, computer, electrical.

2. Заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу сло­вами из рамки:

Yesterday was my father's birthday. My mother asked me to help her with the preparations. When I returned home from school, first of all I decided to watch TV. I jumped onto the coach, took a (1)____(this device helps me to change channels without standing up) and prepared to watch something. But the horrible thing happened - the electricity went off. So all (2)____units didn't work. In the house we have a (3)____because it is very convenient, you can speak from any place in your flat. But it doesn't work when there is no electricity. So my mother had to call on my (4)____. She wanted to make sure that everything would be ready for the party. I didn't want to disappoint her and started to work. I couldn't use a (5)____ to clean the carpet, so I had to take a brush and to do it with hands. Mum said me to put what she prepared into a (6) ____to make the dish ready. Fortunately we had our good old (7)____in other way everybody could remain hungry! After the party I washed all the dishes not with the help of the (8)____ but again with my own hands! In the morning I woke up early because of the terrible noise. At first I couldn't make out what it was but when I looked out of the window I saw our neighbour cutting the grass with his (9)____. So today everything was in order with the electricity. I rushed to my (10)___to check (11)____messages and surf the (12)____I would like to visit some (13)____ there and play an (14)____game. After that I looked through the TV program and saw that there were 2 films on different channels I wanted to see, so I had to set my (15)____in order to have the possibility to watch one of the films later. All of a sudden I understood that these (16)____have changed our lives and now we can't do without them.

3. Прочитайте текст и пропущенные в нем предложе­ния А-Е. Выберите из этих предложений то, которое лучше всего подходит в пропуски.

Remote Control

It was in June of 1956, that the practical television remote controller first entered the American home. Remote control technology was developed for military use (the Germans used remote control motorboats during W.W.I.) and in the late 1940s the first non-military uses for remote controls appeared (i.e. automatic garage door openers.)

Zenith Radio Corporation created the very first television remote control in 1950, called «Lazy Bone». (1)____. The Lazy Bone remote control was attached to the television by a bulky cable, which the consumer did not like. (2)____. The Flash-matic operated by means of four photocells, one in each corner of the TV screen. The viewer used a directional flashlight to activate the four control functions, which turned the picture and sound on and off and turned the channel tuner dial clockwise and counter­clockwise. However, the Flash-matic had problems working well on sunny days, when the sunlight could change channels randomly. The improved «Zenith Space Command» remote control went into commercial production in 1956. Zenith engineer, Dr. Robert Adler who based his invention on ultrasonics, designed the Space Command. (3)____.

(4)____. In the early 1960s, after the invention of the transistor, remote controls came down in price and size, as did all electronics. Zenith modified the Space Command remote control creating small hand-held and battery-operated remote controls. (5) ____. Infrared devices replaced ultrasonic remote controls in the early 1980s.

photocell - фотоэлемент

ultrasonics - ультразвуковая техника

infrared - ультракрасный, инфракрасный

1. Ultrasonic remote controls remained the dominant design for the next twenty-five years, and as the name suggests they worked using ultrasound waves.

2. Zenith engineer, Eugene Polley created the «Flash-matic», the first wireless TV remote invented in 1955.

3. Over nine million ultrasonic remote controls were sold.

4. Lazy Bone could turn a television on and off and change channels; however, it was not a wireless remote control.

5. The first Space Command units were expensive due to the necessary use of six vacuum tubes in the receiver units that raised the price of a television by thirty percent.

4. Переведите предложения на английский язык, ис­пользуя активную грамматику и лексику урока:

1. Ты уже вымыл посуду?

Как раз перед твоим приходом я положил ее в посу­домоечную машину.

2. Многие люди полагают, что самые важные для челове­чества открытия были совершены в 20-м веке.

3. К началу первой мировой войны телефон уже был изоб­ретен.

4. Телевизор был изобретен, когда моя бабушка была еще молодой.

5. Какое изобретение, по-твоему, самое важное?

5. Вставьте в предложение подходящее слово:

1. We can use … for cooking.

1. a vacuum cleaner b)a microwave c) a dishwasher

2. People often use … for grass cutting.

1. a mover b) roller blades c) a fax machine

3. … help build one's strength.

1. A body building machine b) A talking alarm clock c) A solar powered calculator

4. I think … is a necessity than luxury.

1. a TV set b) a mobile phone c) a car

5. I need … to get in touch with my friend or to call the police or an ambulance.

a) an alarm clock b) a mobile phone c) a car

6. I think that the … is the most important thing in the home.

1. fax machine b) vacuum cleaner c) body building machine

7. Do not operate the toaster lying on its side - this could cause …

a) a fire b) a driver c) a burn

8. … is like a typewriter and address book for me. I can play and learn on it. It's a brilliant source of information.

a) a mobile phone b) a computer c) a fax machine

9. If you do not use the production in short time, you must take out the …

a) batteries b) mowers c) dishes

10. … have toothed wheels, called cogs.

a) Levers b) Simple machine c) Gears

Говорение

Составьте диалог

Your parents decided to buy a new vacuum cleaner. But you think that the buying of a video recorder is more urgent. Try to convince them.

Письмо

You would like to send a present to your English friend. He/she was liked this device when he/she was here. Unfortunately the instruction is in Russian.

• decide what unit/device/garget you are sending

• write an instruction how to use it

• express hope that he/she will like it.

Тексты для аудирования

Test 1

Rocky Mountains

As Lewis and Clark made their way westward across the Rocky Mountains, they encountered primeval forests alive with wolves and grizzlies. Nearly two centuries later, these symbols of the frontier West still survive in the Rockies, along with lynx, wolverines, bison, pronghorn and elk. No other region in the Lower 48 has retained so many of its wildlife species - and no other contains such large expanses of wildlands.

National parks lie at the core of two of the Rockie's largest preserves: Yellowstone (mostly in Wyoming) and the Glacier/ Waterton complex (on the border between Montana and Alberta). A third vast wilderness lies in central Idaho, with the Salmon River and the Selway/Bitterroot Wilderness at its heart. Even these preserves cannot ensure the survival of wide-ranging predators such as the wolf, however, which roams a territory of 40 to 400 square miles.

«The problem in the Rockies is twofold, » says Larry Mehlhaff of the Sierra Club's Northern Plains office. «The core areas are not as wild as they used to be.»

The .Sierra Club hopes to defend the Rocky Mountains Ecoregion by adding OVER 16 million acres to the 9 million acres of national-forest land already protected as wilderness. These additions would shield the -three largest areas form development, as well as two smaller ones: Rocky Mountain National Park (in Colorado) and the San Juan Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. The latter two lack some of the species that Lewis and Clark noted, but are still expansive and pristine enough to offer hope for restoration.

«The native home of hope, » author Wallace Stegner once called the Rocky Mountains. Fittingly, the Sierra Club's goal here is ambitious. Over the next few years and decades its activists hope to preserve and restore no less than fully functioning natural ecosystems in this still-magnificent land.

Test 2

Would «Take to the Woods»

Secretary of State Seward was bothered considerably regarding the complication into which Spain had involved the United States government in connection with San Domingo, and related his troubles to the President. Negotiations were not proceeding satisfactorily, and things were mixed generally. We wished to conciliate Spain, while the Negroes had appealed against Spanish oppression.

The President did not to all appearances look at the matter seriously, but instead of treating the situation as a grave one, remarked that Seward's dilemma reminded him of an interview between two Negroes in Tennessee.

One was a preacher, who, with the crude and strange notions of his ignorant race, was endeavoring to admonish and enlighten his brother African of the importance of religion and the danger of the future.

«There are, » said Josh, the preacher, «two roads before you, Joe; be careful which of these you take. Narrow is the way that leads straight to destruction; but broad is the way that leads right to damnation. »

Joe opened his eyes with affright, and under the spell of the awful danger before him, exclaimed, «Josh, take which road you please; I shall go to the woods.»

«I am not willing, » concluded the President, «to assume any new troubles or responsibilities at this time, and shall therefore avoid going to the one place with Spain or with the Negro to the other, but shall 'take to the woods.' We will maintain honest and strict neutrality. »

destruction - разрушение; уничтожение; лишение жизни

damnation - проклятие; вечные муки, адовы муки

Test 3

Robbie Williams

Born in the Midlands town of Stoke on February 13, 1974, Robert Peter Williams is the biggest male singer to come out of Britain in a long, long time. He's shifted millions of records the world over, and the single that launched him on the road to solo megastardom, Angels, is one of the most requested songs at British funerals.

His first appearance on the pop scene was over a decade ago, in 1990, but in a remarkably different guise. Nigel Martin-Smith had created a boyband called Take That, and, the role of the «cheeky one» fell to 16-year-old Robbie.

Six years later, with songs like Back For Good, Relight My Fire and Could It Be Magic, and earnings of £80 million the group split up. But Robbie was long gone. He had left the band in July 1995.

When in 1996 Robbie released his first single, a cover version of George Michael's Freedom, the prognosis was not good. But when he returned a year later with the song Old Before I Die, it looked as though the handsome entertainer was back at his best. Since then, his popularity has grown and grown, as has his stature as a songwriter. He and his musical partner Guy Chambers picked up two gongs, for Angels, at the UK's Ivor Novello awards and, thanks to three million selling albums, have become the most sought- after musicians in London.

Although it may seem as though Robbie was born to fill the upper echelons of the music charts, he also harbours a not-so-secret ambition to make it as an actor. And there's one role in particular that he seems to have in mind - that of British secret agent 007.

Test 4

Teenage Dating in the 1950s

Dating is definitely an «American phenomenon». People date because it is «enjoyable, pleasant and valuable», and they think that they can gain rewarding experiences from it. Besides, dating allows young people to be with each other without their parents interfering.

Double-dates are used to initiate the whole dating process because it creates a more open environment conducive to easy conversation. So they initial shyness of young couple can be eased away by the presence of other company, especially if the double date is a «set-ир» or a blind date for one couple. After double dating, you would naturally move onto single dating. And should the relationship move on, as they often do, it would move into the ubiquitous «going steady» stage.

This concept of «going steady» took on a new meaning in the fifties. Before the war, «going steady» was a stage young people took only if they were seriously on the path to marriage; however, after the war the phrase was used more loosely. If a couple was said to be «going steady,» they would date one another exclusively and feel as if the other «belongs» to him or her but this occurred without any serious thoughts of marriage.

Getting a date has always been complicated. In the 1950s it was unheard of for a young lady to ask for a date or to initiate the dating process. The men were supposed to do the asking.

One way of getting a date is to be set up on a «blind» one where each end of the relationship has never met the other before. This method is especially useful and practical if a guy is shy about asking a girl out on a date. It might help him feel more adequate in the dating scene by blind dating especially if it is his first dating experience. The same could be said about girls.

In the fifties there were many options for a young couple looking for a good time. The most popular places to go were those that were cheap yet fun, much like dates of today. Such popular places were ice cream parlors, pizza parlors, drive-ins, bowling alleys, coffee houses and record shops. The most popular and economical activity available for teenagers was watching movies.

Back in the fifties, it was pretty much understood that boys pay for the expenses of the date. The concept of Dutch dating was not acceptable back in the fifties. Both boys and girls were embarrassed by the idea.

Teenagers in the fifties changed the rules of dating and consequently formed the basis of what today's teenagers consider normal dating. After the Second World War teenagers grew a voice and became more publically visible. They were a new source of power, independent from their parents and ready for a change.

Test 5

«I think social workers are stupid. I had my first one when I was about seven. They didn't come round to see me. I never saw them. The next thing I knew I was in a strange house with total strangers, » said Rah, aged 13. Rah, who lives with his ill mother and younger brother, went to stay with a succession of neighbours and friends when his mother went in and out of hospital because of a long-standing illness. «I never saw the social workers. I lost trust in them and felt alone, » he said.

Lucie, 15, lives with her mother who has a bad back and has battled against cancer on three separate occasions. Her father often has to work away from home. «When my dad is away I have to look after my mum and younger brother. I have to cook, clean the house and help my mum. I have to fetch my mum's pills and help her to get out of bed. It's hard work and sometimes I feel really tired. This is made worse because I have to go out to work to earn my pocket money. »

Lucylee, 13, has to care for her mother who suffers from manic depression and a curved spine. Her stepfather is a police officer «and works long shifts which can be hard for us when mum is really ill». While she enjoys helping her mum she only wishes that, it could be a bit easier.

Some of the children, such as 10-year-old Jasmine, show maturity beyond their years. Jasmine's mother is often in and out of hospital. On the last occasion Jasmine found her mother smoking in the garden. «I was so upset. When I was telling her off I sounded like the mother. I was saying things like, 'Get back to bed. Do you want to kill yourself smoking? Give me your cigarette or put it out.'»

Some of the children's accounts make harrowing reading, especially where parents have a mental illness or misuse alcohol or drugs. Then there are those children who are crying out for attention, like Katie, 12, who says in an open letter to her mother: «I wish that you and I could spend some more time together sometimes. I feel really sad and left out. You make me feel like a pair of hands, just there to help, instead of a daughter ... please spend some time with me. »

Test 6

History of Cats

Cats is the longest running musical in London with more than six thousand shows and has been played all over the world.

The idea to turn the book 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' (by T.S. Eliot) into a musical came to Lloyd Webber in 1972 when he picked up the book at an airport. As he read it, he remembered that his mother used to read this to him.

Ten years later he got his friend Trevor Nunn to help him turn the poetry book into a musical. When Nunn and Lloyd Webber went into a rehearsal, all they had were parts of songs, and they didn't have a story to support it.

However, Valerie Eliot (T. S. Eliot's widow) found an old sheet of paper with of eight lines about Grizabella. It was the very thing that could tie the whole show together.

As the opening night came closer, they were still worried. They wanted the show to have something that was very memorable.

That night Lloyd Webber went home and - overnight - one of the theatre's most famous songs was made.

The song was «Memory» but at the time it hadn't any lyrics or anything. It was just a melody. They had a searchfor a lyricist who could make the song work and fit well with Eliot's lyrics that made up the rest of the show. Three lyricists tried and failed.

With just days to go, Nunn headed for his home to write the lyrics himself. He spent the entire weekend reading over and over Eliot's poems, but still had trouble. At last Grizabella had an emotional outlet. She had left the tribe of Jellicle Cats to experience the outside world, remembers the hard times she had, the past forever lost and her desire to return to the tribe.

Cats won seven Tony Awards, including the Best Musical. «Memory» has become a classic song and has been recorded more than six hundred times!

Test 7

Microsoft

It is strange to think that one of the richest and most powerful businesses in the world is only 29 years old.

Early in 1975 Bill Gates and his friend Paul Allen, both undergraduates at Harvard University, ordered a «personal computer» called the MITS Altair 600 from Popular Electronics magazine. When it arrived they had to assemble the different parts and try to make it work.

In less than one month, Bill and Paul had written their first computer language, BASIC, and sold it to the manufacturer MITS. One month later Paul Allen was appointed Director of Software at MITS.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed a partnership under the name Microsoft.

By July 1975 they had already developed version 2.0 of their BASIC software. Two years later Microsoft published its second computer language, which was called FORTRAN-8O.

For the next few years, Microsoft produced further computer languages including COBOL and Pascal, but their big breakthrough came in 1981 with Microsoft MS-DOS. In 1983 we saw the first Microsoft word processing program, Microsoft Word. In the same year Microsoft announced Windows, an extension of MS-DOS which provided a graphical «point and click» operating environment.

Even though the early version of Windows did not work very well, most computer users were happy with MS-DOS. By 1985 Microsoft was celebrating its tenth anniversary and annual sales of $140 million.

The following year Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet package for Windows was published.

Over the following years, Microsoft continued to grow. By 1993 10 million people around the world were using Microsoft Word in its various versions.

Many people in the computer world have pointed out that Microsoft have never been great innovators in software. Most of their best products have been developed from ideas created by others. The success of the company, they say, has been based on the public's need to use common software and Microsoft has frequently had to defend its business practices in the US courts.