I love reading English classical literature. But I am especially fond of English detective and adventure stories. I like Agatha Christie's books but my favourite author is Arthur Conan Doyle. I like him because his fiction is very realistic and helps to develop one's thinking and knowledge.
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Scotland in the family of Irish. He was a doctor. In 1882 he moved from Scotland to England to set up a practice. His medical knowledge was a great help to him in his detective stories.
Conan Doyle was one of the first writers who started the fashion of detective story. Today the fashion goes on with the stories of other writers.
Conan Doyle created his famous character, Sherlock Holmes, in 1885. Six years later, when Conan Doyle wrote some stories about this detective, the name of Sherlock Holmes became the name that everybody knew. Sherlock Holmes first appeared in a book called «Study in Scarlet» (Этюд в багровых тонах). «The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes» made him famous all over the world.
Conan Doyle was a famous writer. He became popular because of his love for people.
Words
classical literature — классическая литература
specially — особенно
detective story — детективный рассказ
adventure story — приключенческий рассказ
to move — переезжать
Irish — ирландец
to set up — основать
fashion — мода
to go on — продолжаться
to create — создавать
character — персонвж
to appear — появляться
Questions
1. Where was Arthur Conan Doyle born?
2. What did he go to England for?
3. What helped him in writing detective stories?
4. What fashion did he start?
5. Who were Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson?
6. Why are detective stories so popular today?
Mark Twain
I like to read very much. Best of all I like to read detective stories, historical novels and books about adventures. That's why I prefer books by Fenimore Cooper, Jack London, Agatha Christie and others. My favourite writer is Mark Twain. He was the founder of the realistic American novel of the present day. Mark Twain wrote such famous novels as «The Adventures of Tom Sawyer», «The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn», «The Prince and the Pauper» and many others. He was also a great short story writer.
Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Clemens. He was born in 1835 in a small village on the Mississippi River. His father died when Sam was twelve years old, and the 'boy had to work to support the family. All his life Twain liked to read. He spent all his free time in libraries and read the works of such famous authors as Shakespeare, Dickens, Servantes, Voltaire and others. Later he became a pilot of a steamship on the Mississippi. There he learned much about men. His pen-name — Mark Twain — comes from that period of his life. It means «mark two». Much later he became a journalist, and then a famous writer known all over the world. There is much humour in most of Mark Twain's works. But there is also social criticism and satire.
Words
founder — основатель novel —роман pilot — лоцман steamship — пароход learned — узнал pen-name — псевдоним to mean — означать mark — отметка
Questions
1. What books by M. Twain have you read?
2. Did you like these books?
3. What was Mark Twain's real name?
4. Why did you like Mark Twain's the books?
5. What other English writers do you know?
EDUCATION IN RUSSIA
People in our country have the right for education. It is our Constitutional right. But it is not only a right, it is a duty, too. Every boy and every girl in Russia must go to school, that is, they must get a full secondary education. So, when they are 6 or 7 years old they begin to go to school. There are thousands of schools in Russia. There are schools of general education, where the pupils study Russian (or a native language), Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, Music, Arts, Foreign Languages. There is also a number of specialised schools, where the pupils get deep knowledge of foreign languages, or Maths, or Physics.
After finishing 9 classes of secondary school young people can continue their education at different kinds of vocational or technical schools or colleges. They not only learn general subjects, but receive a speciality there. Having finished a secondary school, a technical school or a college young people can start working, or they may,.'•] enter an Institute or a University. Professional training makes it easier to get higher education. As for high schools, there are a lot of them in our country. Some of them train teachers, others — doctors, engineers, architects, actors and so on. Many institutes have evening and extra-mural departments. That gives the students an opportunity to study at an institute without leaving their jobs.
Words
right — право
duty — обязанность
secondary — зд. среднее
deep — глубокий
vocational school — профтехучилище
general — общий
to receive — получать
training — обучение
higher — высшее
extra-mural — заочный
opportunity — возможность
Questions
1. Is education in our country free?
2. Is education in Russia right or duty?
3. What kind of schools are there in Russia?
4. What are the possible ways to continue educationafter the finishing of the secondary school?
5. What are the main types of educational institutionsin our country?
6. What are the types of higher education institutionsi Russia?
