William Shakespeare
The last half of the XV1 and the beginning of the XV11 centuries are known as the golden age of English literature. It was the time of English Renaissance, and sometimes it is even called the age of Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare, the greatest and most famous of English writers, and probably the greatest playwright who has ever lived, was born in Stratford-on-Avon. In spite of his fame we know very little about his life. The things we that we know about Shakespeares life begin with the date he was baptized in the church of Stratford, on April 26, 1564, when he was only a few days old. So he is believed to have been born on April 23.
Though little is known about Williams childhood, there is every reason to believe that he was educated at the local Grammar School. When little over eighteen he married Anne Halthawayof Shottery.
William lived in Stratford until he was about twenty one, when he went to London. We do not know why he left Stratford-on-Avon.
There is a story that Shakespeares first job in London was holding rich mens horses at the theatre door. But nobody can be sure that this story is true.
Later, Shakespeare became an actor and a member of one of the chief acting companies. Soon he began to write plays for this company and in a few years became a well-known author.
One writer of that time said that Shakespeare liked a quiet life, he did not like drunken parties and was not fond of being invited to the court. If he was invited to the court, he was in pain.
Shakespeares experience as actor (although he usually acted only small parts, like the Ghost in Hamlet) helped him greatly in the writing of his plays. His knowledge of the stage and his poetical genius made his plays the most wonderful ones ever written.
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. Among them there are deep tragedies, such as Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, light comedies, such as The Marry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night,:Much Ado about Nothing, historical dramas, such as Henry 1V Richard 111.
Most of Shakespeares plays were not published in his lifetime, so some of them may have been lost in the fire when the Globe burned down in 1613.
Shakespeare spent the last years of his life in Stratford, where he died in 1616. He was buried in the church of Stratford. A monument was erected to the memory of the great playwright in the Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.
Text 7.Read the text and do the tasks.
Learn these words before you read the text:
tomb
mulberry tree ,
relics -
Stratford-on-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, is now one of the most popular tourist centers. But it was not so many years ago.In the 18th century only a few relics of Shakespeare were left his tomb, New Place (a large house which was built in place of Shakespeares own house), the mulberry tree that he had planted, and his birthplace.
|
|
|
People from London and other places came to see these relics. Most of them came to New Place where they wanted to see the famous mulberry tree in the garden. The owner of New Place wasnt much interested in Shakespeare. He didnt like the fact that so many visitors came to his house asking to see the mulberry tree. So in 1765 he cut down the tree and his life become quiet. But it didnt last long. The people who came to Stratford-on-Avon to see Shakespeares tree at first were surprised, then they got so angry that the owner of New Place had to leave Stratford.
After Stratford lost one of his famous relics of Shakespeare, the city fathers decided to do something to attract people there. They asked the greatest actor of the time David Garrick to organize a festival in Stratford.
Garrick planned to do it in the first week of September, 1769. He wanted the festival to be the greatest outdoor festival ever staged in England.
At six oclock in the morning of Wednesday September 6, 1769, the festival was opened. Many people came to Stratford. The first day was successful, and Garrick was happy. On the second day it rained hard. The second day evening ended as it began in the rain. On the third day all the people left Stratford.
Garrick returned to London very sad. But his festival was the beginning of a tradition. Stratford is now famous for its great Shakespeare festivals. Every year a lot of people come to Stratford for the festival season which lasts from April to September.
Task 1.List the following items in the order in which they come in the text:
1. People from London and other places came to Stratford-on-Avon in the 18th century to see the mulberry tree.
2. The owner of New place cut down the mulberry tree.
3. Stratford-on-Avon is now famous for its great Shakespeare festivals.
4. Garrick was asked to organize a festival in Stratford- on- Avon.
5. Many people visited Garricks festival.
6. In the 18thcentury only a few relics of Shakespeare were left.
Task 2. Say which of the statements below are true:
1. In the 18th century the relics of Shakespeare in Stratford-on-Avon were:
a) his tomb, New Place, the mulberry tree, his birthplace;
b) his tomb, New Place, the mulberry tree, his birthplace, his school.
2. The owner of New Place cut down the mulberry tree:
a) in 1746;
b) in 1756;
c) in 1769.
3. Many people came to New Place asking to see:
a) Shakespeares birthplace;
b) Shakespeares tomb;
c) the mulberry tree.
4. David Garrick was:
a) the greatest actor of the time;
b) the greatest writer of the time.
5. Garrick planned to organize the festival:
a) in the first week of September;
b) in the first week of October;
c) in the last week of September.
Task 3. Answer the questions below to see if you understand every word in the text:
1. What is the Russian for only a few?
2. How will you translate wasnt much interested in Shakespeare?
3. What does He didnt like the fact that so many people came mean?
4. What is the Russian for the greatest actor of the time?
5. How will you translate the greatest outdoor festival ever staged in England?
1.5.
s 1
1. She .. drink coffee after lunch.
|
|
|
a) does b) do c) did d) doesnt
2. What .. you do in the morning?
a) does b) do c) did d) doesnt
3. She ..Queen of England in 1952.
a) became b) has become c) become d) had become
4. Her friends . ready at 5 p.m.
a) was b) been c) has been d) were
5. We . tea now.
a) were drinking b) was drinking c) drink d) are drinking
6. We TV now.
a) don, t watch b) were watching c) are watching d) didnt watch
7. We chess the whole evening.
a) are playing b) were playing c) playing d) play
8. He .computer games from 5 till 6 yesterday.
a) are playing b) was playing c) were playing d) played
9. He .newspapers tomorrow.
a) reads b) will read c) read d) had read
10. What.. your brother.. tomorrow?
a) did b) done c) will do d) has done
11. When I .. home, mother already dinner.
a) come, had cooked b) comes, has cooked
c) came, had cooked d) had come, cooked
12. He . a book this week.
a) bought b) has bought c) had bought d) buys
13. Mother went . the room and sat down..the sofa.
a) in, on b) at, on c) into, on d) at, in
14. There is no tea my cup.
a) at b) on c) in d) into
15. we do the exercise at once?
a) Are to b) Are able c) Must d) Have to
16. Students borrow books from the library.
a) are able b) can c) havent d) can to
17. I have work to do today.
a) a lot of b) many c) few d) a few
18. Nick has time today.
a) much b) many c) few d) a few
19. There 2 books on the desk yesterday.
a) is b) was d) are d) were
20. There a watch on the wall now.
a) is b) was d) were d) been
s 2
1. What are you?
a) You are a teacher from.
b) You are a doctor from France.
c) You are a teacher from Great Britain.
d) You are a doctor from Japan.
2. Where are you now?
a) You are at an international meeting.
b) You are at the talks.
c) You are at the international congress.
d) You are at the exhibition.
3. What language do you speak with the doctor from Senegal?
a) Portuguese.
b) Spanish.
c) English.
d) French.
4. Why is English often used for international communication?
a) Its a scientific language.
b) Many books and papers in special fields are written in English.
c) England is a highly developed industrial country.
d) The English nation is the most widely spread nation in the world.
Test 3
A
1. Do you learn.. foreign languages?
a) any
b) some
c) much
d) no
2. .. time ago I read about it in a magazine.
a) any
b) some
c) many
d) no
3. He wants .. more pudding. You can take it away.
a) any
b) some
c) many
d) no
4. There is too sugar in my coffee.
a) many
b) few
c) some
d) much
5.There was very .. snow that winter.
a) little
b) few
c) a few
d) some
B
1. We have a nice flat the centre.
a) in
b) at
c) to
d) on
2. This letter is in French. Could you translate it Russian, please.
a) in
b) on
c) into
d) from
3. I took my English exam the day ..yesterday.
a) after
b) before
c) on
d) in
4. As soon as you arrive .London give me a call.
a) at
b) to
c) in
d) on
5. There was not a cloud .the sky.
a) in
b) on
c) at
d) out of
C
1. The hotel is /cheap/ than I expected.
a) cheaper
b) cheapest
c) more cheap
d) the cheapest
2. Health and happiness are /important/ than money.
a) important
b) more important
c) most important
d) less important
3. Nell is three years /old/ than her husband.
a) older
b) elder
c) oldest
d) eldest
|
|
|
4. Whos /good/ footballer in the team?
a) good
b) better
c) best
d) the best
5. Other students had poorer results. He isnt /bad/ student in the class.
a) worse
b) the worst
c) worst
d) the worse
D
1.I..play tennis in my youth, but I .play it any more.
a) could .cant
b) cant could
c) may. cant
d) had to cant
2. I ..write to Ann. I havent written to her for ages.
a) can
b) must
c) may
d) need
3.you help me to do this exercise?
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
4. I .understand you. Please, explain it again.
a) may
b) mustnt
c) cant
d) needn,t
5. ..I take your umbrella?
a) can
b) may
c) must
d) need
E
1. We always ..at this canteen.
a) have dinner
b) has dinner
c) had dinner
d) will have dinner
2. Ask him when he to me.
a) will come
b) comes
c) come
d) came
3. If I . this translation, I shall be able to see the film.
a) shall finish
b) will finish
c) finish
d) finishes
4. We a new TV set two days ago.
a) had bought
b) have bought
c) bought
d) will buy
6. The boys brother him to play chess now.
a) are teaching
b) is teaching
c) teaches
d) teach
Test 4
1. What time does the train leave?
I think it _____ at 2 oclock.
a) leaves
b) has been leaving
c) has left
2. Where are Tom and Pauline?
They _____ to the supermarket.
a) have just gone
b) have been going
c) go
3. What is Jill doing these days?
She _____ for a job for six months.
a) is looking
b) has been looking
c) looks
4. Is Mandy watching TV?
No. She _____ her homework right now.
a) is always doing
b) is doing
c) does
5. Have you been for a walk?
Yes. I often _____ for walks in the evenings.
a) have gone
b) am going
c) go
6. Have you seen any films lately?
Yes. Actually, I _____ two this week.
a) have seen
b) am seeing
c) see
7. What _____?
Its a piece of cherry pie. Mum made it yesterday.
a) are you eating
b) do you eat
c) have you eaten
8. Are you going on holiday this summer?
Yes. I _____ enough money.
a) am saving
b) have already saved
c) save
9. Is Todd reading the newspaper?
No. He ____ dinner at the moment.
a) has been making
b) makes
c) is making
10.Have you bought any new CDs recently?
Yes. Actually, I _____ two this week.
a) have bought
b) has been buying
c) am buying
11.What time does the play start?
I think it _____ at 8 oclock.
a) has been starting
b) starts
c) has started
12.Where is Mark?
He _____ to the library to return some books.
a) has gone
b) has been
c) is going
13.Your socks are all wet!
Don/t worry. I _____ another pair with me.
a) am bringing
b) bring
c) have brought
14. Hello, Jane. Im home.
Where have you been? I _____ for you all day?
a) have been looking
b) look
c) am looking
15. I didnt know Sarah could drive.
Oh yes, she _____ since last April.
a) has been driving
b) has driven
c) c) is driving
Test 5
1. I ____ over the phone when they brought me the letter.
a) talked
b) had talked
c) had been talking
d) was talking
2. They _____ in the room when the taxi arrived.
a) sat
b) had sat
c) had been sitting
|
|
|
d) were sitting
3. He quickly forgot everything he _____ at school.
a) learnt
b) had learnt
c) had been learning
d) was learning
4. I visited Brazil in April. I _____ at a nice hotel for a fortnight.
a) stayed
b) had stayed
c) had been staying
d) was staying
5. I _____ at the hotel for a fortnight when I received your letter.
a) stayed
b) had stayed
c) had been staying
d) was staying
6. The musician _____ the piano for a whole hour when we came in.
a) played
b) had played
c) had been playing
d) was playing
7. Alice closed the magazine and rose from the sofa on which she _____ for more than two hours.
a) lay
b) had lain
c) had been lying
d) was lying
8. A man _____ unconscious for a few minutes when an ambulance arrived.
a) was
b) had been
c) had being
d) were
9. We _____ along a forest road for two hours when we saw a house.
a) walked
b) had walked
c) had been walking
d) were walking
10. I _____ over the phone for a whole hour when the porter knocked at the door.
a) talked
b) had talked
c) had been talking
d) was talking
11. I hardly _____ speaking with a porter when the phone rang again.
a) finished
b) had finished
c) had been finishing
d) was finishing
12. First I ____ the phone, and then I read your letter.
a) answered
b) had answered
c) had been answering
d) was answering
13. And I began writing to you instead of going to the seaside, as I _____ before.
a) planned
b) had planned
c) had been planning
d) was planning
Test 6
1. Tim has broken his leg and stays at home.
- Sorry to hear that. I ______ (visit) him tomorrow.
a) will visit
b) am going to visit
2. The match ______ (finish) at half past nine, so I will be at home by ten oclock
a) will finish
b) finishes
c) is finishing
3. Its Julias birthday today. Shes bought much food. She _______ (cook) a lot.
a) will cook
b) is going to cook
4. What time the next bus (leave) for Bristol?
a) does the next bus leave
b) will the next bus leave
c) is the next bus going to leave
5. There is somebody at the door. I _____ open.
a) will
b) am going to
6. I think I _______ (do) it.
a) will do
b) do
c)am going to do
7. Tomorrow _______ (be) Friday.
a) will be
b) is
8. The phone is ringing. I ______ answer.
a) will
b) am going to
9. Im sure we _______ (enjoy) our visit to the Zoo.
a) will enjoy
b) are going to enjoy
10.- Why have you brought your guitar? ______ you (sing) at the party?
a) Will you sing
b) Are you going to sing
11. Sams plane _______ (arrive) at midnight?
a) will arrive
b) is going to arrive
c)arrives
12. Our next lesson ______ (be) on Monday.
a) is going to be
b) will be
c) is
13. Next week I _______ (go) to visit this museum.
a) am going
b) go
c) will be going
14. I _______ (phone) my brother tomorrow in the morning.
a) will have phoned
b) phone
c) will phone
15.Please, dont call me this evening, because I _______ (work) in the garden.
a) will work
b) work
c) will be working
Test 7
Choose the correct tense form in the active voice.
1. I.five sentences from 5 till 6 yesterday.
a) translates
b) was translating
c) had translated
d) were translating
2. I..for you downstairs at 7 tomorrow.
a) shall be waiting
b) shall have waited
c) shall wait
d) have been waiting
3. Whyyou here?
a) are .smoking
b) do smoke
c) does..smoke
d) did smoke
4. Nick...............from the Institute by 5 o,clock yesterday.
a) has come
b) have come
c) had come
d) came
5. By the time you come we..................
a) shall have returned
b) shall be returning
c) shall return
d) had returned
Test 8
Choose the correct passive form.
1. After her parents, death Mary..by her grandparents.
a) was brought up
b) brought up
c) had brought up
d) was bright up
2. I returned to that old town at the time it
a) was being reconstructed
b) had reconstructed
c) had been reconstructed
d) had been being reconstructed
3. You .to park your car here. Its private parking only.
a) are allowed
b) allowed
c) was allowed
d) are not allowed
4. In Russia the President ..every four years.
a) elects
b) has been elected
c) is being elected
d) is elected
5. Where is Swan now?
- She..the doctor.
a) examined
b) examined by
c) being examine
d) is being examined by
|
|
|
Test 9
Choose the correct tense form. Mind the sequence of tense.
1. I told her I .any money.
a) dont have
b) didnt have
c) wont be having
d) have not
2. She said that John his job.
a) had given up
b) gave up
c) gives up
d) has given up,
3. Betty was sure she to the party.
a) is invited
b) has been invited
c) would be invited
d) will be invited
4. Fred asked Linda ifto spend her holidays in the mountains.
a) was she going
b) has she been going
c) she was going
d) she will spend
5. Alice told me to post the letter.
a) dont forget
b) not to forget
c) not forget
d) dont to forget
Test 10
Choose the right variant. Mind the Subjunctive Mood.
1. If Susan.. on time, she.the train. But shewas late.
a) had arrived, wouldnt have missed
b) had arrived, wouldnt miss
c) arrived, wouldnt have missed
d) had arrived, wouldnt miss
2. If Caroline..sick, she would ride a horse today.
a) hasnt
b) hasnt been
c) isnt
d) werent
3. If John had left home earlier he.his train.
a) would miss
b) will miss
c) wouldnt have missed
d) would have missed
4. Jane was rude with her mother. She wishes her rude with her.
a) hasnt been
b) werent
c) hadnt
d) hadnt been
5. Jane didnt become a scientist. She wishes her a scientist.
a) would become
b) could become
c) could have become
d) could have been
Test 11
Complete the sentences using the correct form of modal verbs.
1. The child hasn,t recoreved yet. He...............stay in bed for another day.
a) can
b) will have to
c) could
d) is to
2. I................to clean my room, my Mother was very angry.
a) must
b) had
c) may
d) am
3. I.............to meet Jack at the restaurant at 5
a) must
b) can
c) have
d) am
4. He.............to go to the theatre tomorrow because he will be very busy.
a) must
b) can
c) is
d) won,t be able
5. You lock so exhausted! You.............go to bed so late at night.
a) cannot
b) mustn,t
c) needn,t
d) dont,t have to
Test 12
Chose the right article.
1. What is......................capital of England?
a) the
b) a
c) an
d)
2. I am........... vegetarian. I dont,t eat...........meat or fish.
a) a,-, -
b) a, a, a
c) a, the, the
d) the, a, -
3. Don,t drink..................coffee in........evening.
a) a, a
b) a, the
c) -, a
d) -, the
4.................Volga river is one of.............longest rivers in Russia.
a) -, -
b) the, -
c) the, the
d) -, the
5.We were invited to.............Browns yesterday.
a)
b) the
c) a
d) an
Test 13
Put the words in the right order to make up a sentence.
1) time/he/on/always/come/his/to/does/classes/?
2) Kate/for/waiting/is/who/?
3) dont/to/Sundays/go/on/we/school/.
4) name/I/remember/his/can/never/.
5) always/he/to/work/goes/car/by/.
Test 14
Choose the suitable indefinite pronoun.
1. Do you learn.. foreign languages?
a) any
b) some
c) much
d) no
2. .. time ago I read about it in a magazine.
a) any
b) some
c) many
d) no
3. He wants .. more pudding. You can take it away.
a) any
b) some
c) many
d) no
4. There is too sugar in my coffee.
a) many
b) few
c) some
d) much
5.There was very .. snow that winter.
a) little
b) few
c) a few
d) some
Test 15
Choose the suitable preposition.
1. We have a nice flat the centre.
a) in
b) at
c) to
d) on
2. This letter is in French. Could you translate it Russian, please.
a) in
b) on
c) into
d) from
3. I took my English exam the day ..yesterday.
a) after
b) before
c) on
d) in
4. As soon as you arrive .London give me a call.
a) at
b) to
c) in
d) on
5. There was not a cloud .the sky.
a) in
b) on
c) at
d) out of
Test 16
Use the correct form of adjectives in brackets.
1. The hotel is /cheap/ than I expected.
a) cheaper
b) cheapest
c) more cheap
d) the cheapest
2. Health and happiness are /important/ than money.
a) important
b) more important
c) most important
d) less important
3. Nell is three yeas /old/ than her husband.
a) older
b) elder
c) oldest
d) eldest
4. Whos /good/ footballer in the team?
a) good
b) better
c) best
d) the best
5. Other students had poorer results. He isnt /bad/ student in the class.
a) worse
b) the worst
c) worst
d) the worse
Test 17
Complete the sentences using the correct form of modal verbs.
1. I..play tennis in my youth, but I .play it any more.
a) could .cant
b) cant could
c) may. cant
d) had to cant
2. I ..write to Ann. I havent written to her for ages.
a) can
b) must
c) may
d) need
3.you help me to do this exercise?
a) may
b) must
c) can
d) should
4. I .understand you. Please, explain it again.
a) may
b) mustnt
c) cant
d) needn,t
5. ..I take your umbrella?
a) can
b) may
c) must
d) need
