to express [ik'spres]
opinion [a'pinian] ,
according [a'ko:dio] to ,
political beliefs [bi'lhfs]
in short
to suit [s(j)u:t]
free
local [laukl]
post-box ['paustboks]
advertisement [ad'vartismant]
to subscribe [sab'skraib]
weekly ['wi:kli] ,
issue [IJii:], [Isju:] ,
detailed ['dhteild]
well-balanced [ wel'baelanst] ,
analysis [a'naelisis] (. . analyses)
current events [Jwant rvents]
trend [trend]
social issues
review [ri'vju:] ,
column ['kolam]
quotation [,kwau'teijn]
politician [poli'tijn]
comment ['komant]
fascinating ['faesineitig]
to uncover [Aivk/wa] ,
completely [kam'plhtli]
daily ['deili]
to consider [kan'sida]
advantage [ad'va:ntid3]
substitute ['sAbstitjiKt]
Questions
1. Do you read newspapers regularly?
2. How many newspapers does your family subscribe to?
3. Do you like to read articles on politics and finance?
4. Do you read reviews of new films and books?
5. Do you follow sports news in newspapers?
6. Some newspapers run gossip columns ( ). Do you read them?
7. Many newspapers print readers' letters, in which people write about their problems. Often there are answers written by psychologists, doctors, educators, etc. Do you read these letters and answers?
8. Have you ever written to a newspaper?
9. Do you read any newspapers in English?
10. What kind of newspapers do you prefer?
11. Do you like Sovershenno Secretno?
12. What do you think ofMoskovsky Komsomoletsl
THE BRITISH PRESS
Probably in no other country are there such great differences between the various national daily newspapers in the type of news they report and the way they report it.
On the one hand, there are the "quality" newspapers: The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, the Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph. These concern themselves, as far as possible, with factual reports of major national and international events, with the world of politics and business and with the arts and sport.
On the other hand, there are the "populars" and "tabloids," so-called because of their smaller size. The tabloids the most widely read of which are The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, the Daily Mirror, The Sun and The Daily Star concentrate on more emotive reporting of stories often featuring sex, violence, the Royal Family, film and pop stars, and sport. It's often said that the popular press aims to entertain its readers rather than inform them.
The tabloid press is much more popular than the quality press.
In some countries, newspapers are owned by government or by political parties. This is not the case in Britain. Newspapers here are mostly owned by individuals or by publishing companies, and the editors of the papers are usually allowed considerate freedom of expression. This is not to say that newspapers are without political bias. Papers like The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Express and
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The Sun, for example, usually reflect Conservative opinions in their comment and reporting, while the Daily Mirror and The Guardian have a more left-wing bias.
In addition to the 12 national daily newspapers there are nine national papers which are published on Sundays. Most of the "Sundays" contain more reading matter than daily papers, and several of them also include "colour supplements" separate colour magazines which contain photographicallyillustrated feature articles. Reading a Sunday paper, like having a big Sunday
lunch, is an important tradition in many British households.
Besides, nearly every area in Britain has one or more local newspapers.
The British are one of the biggest newspaper-reading nations in the world.
Names
The Times [taimz] the Financial Times [fai,naenfl 'taimz]
The Independent [indi'pendant] The Daily Telegraph [,deili 'teligraif]
The Gardian ['ga:djan] The Daily Mail ['deili 'meil]
The Daily Express [,deili iks'pres]
the Daily Mirror [,deili 'mira]
The Daily Star [,deili 'sta:]
The Sun []
Vocabulary
various ['vearias] ,
national ['naejnl] ,
daily ['deili]
to report [ri'port] , ,
on the one hand
"quality" ['kwoliti] newspapers "
" ( , .),
to concern [kan'satn] oneself with ,
factual ['faektjual] ,
major ['meidja] ,
international [jnta'naejnl]
politics ['politiks] , ,
on the other hand
"popular" [popjula]
"tabloid" ['taebloid] -
-
;
to concentrate ['konsantreit] on
emotive [i'mautiv] reporting
to feature ['fi:tja] (
)
violence [vaialans]
royal ['roial] family
it's often said
to aim
to entertain [.enta'tein] rather than inform
,
to own [aim]
This is not the case in Britain. He
.
individual [jndi'vidjual] , ,
publishing company ['!]
editor ['edita]
to allow [a'lau] ,
considerate [kan'sidarit] freedom
bias f'baias] , ,
to reflect [ri'flekt]
conservative [kan'saivativ]
comment f'koment]
left-wing
in addition to ,
"Sundays" ,
matter ['maeta]
supplement ['SAplimant]
feature article ['fi:tjer 'a.-tikl]
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( - ),
household ['haushauld] ; ,
local f'laukl]
Questions
1. What "quality" newspapers do you know?
2. What do they concern themselves with?
3. What does a "tabloid" mean?
4. What "popular" newspapers do you know?
5. It's often said that the aim of the popular press is to entertain its readers rather than inform them. What kind of materials do these newspapers concentrate on?
6. Are "quality" papers more popular than "tabloids"?
7. In some countries, newspapers are owned by government or by political parties. What about Britain?
8. What's the difference between daily newspapers and "Sundays"?
9. What does a "colour supplement" mean?
10. Are the British one of the biggest newspaper-reading nations in the world?
About Myself
MY FAMILY
I am Alex Sidorov. Alex is my first name and Sidorov is my surname. I am seventeen years old. I want to tell you a few words about my family. My family is large. I've got a mother, a father, a sister, a brother and a grandmother.
There are six of us in the family.
My mother is a teacher of biology. She works in a college. She likes her profession. She is a good-looking woman with brown hair and green eyes. She is forty-four but she looks much younger. She is tall and slim.
My father is a computer programmer. He is very experienced. He is a broad-shouldered, tall man with fair hair and grey eyes. He is forty-six. My father often sings and when we are at home and have some free time, I play the guitar and we sing together. My father knows all about new radio sets and likes to repair old ones. He is also handy with many things. When he was small, he liked to take everything to pieces. My grandmother told me a story that once my father tried to "repair" their kitchen clock. He managed to put all the wheels and screws back again but the clock did not work. They had to give it to a repairman. But that happened a long time ago. Now he can fix almost everything: a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, a fridge and what not. He's got a few shelves where he keeps everything he needs. On the table there's always a radio in pieces.
My parents have been married for twenty-six years. They have much in common, but they have different views on music, books and films. For example, my father likes horror films and my mother likes "soap operas". My father is fond of tennis. My mother isn't interested in sports. But my parents have the same opinion about my education and upbringing.
My parents are hard-working people. My mother keeps house and takes care of me and my father. She is very good at cooking and she is clever with her hands. She is very practical. My father and I try to help her with the housework. I wash the dishes, go shopping and tidy our flat.
My grandmother is a pensioner. She lives with us and helps to run the house. She is fond of knitting.
My sister Helen is twenty-five. She is married and has a family of her own. She works as an accountant for a small business company. Her husband is a scientist. They've got twins: a daughter and a son. They go to a nursery school.My brother Boris is eleven. He is a schoolboy. He wants to become a doctor but he is not sure yet. Three months ago he dreamed of being a cosmonaut.
I want to become a student. I'd like to learn foreign languages. I think I take after my father. I'm tall, fair-haired and even-tempered. I always try to be in a good mood.
We've got a lot of relatives. We are deeply attached to each other and we get on very well.
Vocabulary
good-looking , to go in for smth -
slim opinion [ a'pinjan]
experienced [ik'spiarianst] , - upbringing ['Ap,briniQ]
, to take care f kea] of smb -
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broad-shouldered Lbroid'Jaulded] she is good at cooking
to play the guitar [gi'ta:] she is clever with her hands
to repair [itpea] , to tidy [laidi] ,
to be handy with smth -, pensioner ['penfana]
- to run the house
to take to pieces ['pirsiz] to knit [nit]
to manage ['] , , accountant [a'kauntant]
wheels [wi:lz] and screws [skru:z] scientist ['saiantist]
to fix , twins
vacuum cleaner [vaekjuam,kli:na] nursery [':] school
washing machine ['wojio ma'Jm] cosmonaut ['kozmanoit]
fridge [frid3] to take after , ( -
and what not , )
in pieces fair-haired [fea'head]
to have much in common even-tempered [,i:vn'tempad]
views [vju:z] on smth ... to be in a good mood
horror ['hora ] film to be deeply attached [a'taetjt] to smb
"soap opera" " ", -
to get on well ,
to be fond of smth -
Questions
1. What is your first name? What is your surname?
2. How old are you?
3. When is your birthday?
4. Is your family large? How many are you in the family?
5. Have you got any brothers or sisters?
6. What are your parents? Where do they work?
7. How long have your parents been married?
8. Do they have much in common?
9. Do you spend a lot of time with your family?
10. What sort of things do you do together?
11. Do you go out with your parents?
12. Who runs the house in your family?
13. What are your household duties?
14. What is your father's hobby?
15. Can you describe your mother?
MY FLAT
W live in a new 16-storeyed block of flats in Strogino. It's situated in a very picturesque place not far from the Moskva River. There's a big supermarket on the ground floor and it's very convenient to do everyday shopping.
Our flat is on the fifth floor. It's very comfortable and well-planned. We have all modern conveniences, such as central heating, electricity, gas, cold and hot running water and a telephone. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. There's also a balcony and we can enjoy a lovely view of the river.
The largest room in our flat is the living room and we use it as a dining room and as a sitting room. In the middle of the room there's a big table and six chairs round it. Opposite the window there's a wall unit with lots of books, a TV-set and a video cassette recorder. There are two comfortable armchairs and a small coffee table in the right-hand corner. There is also a sofa and an electric fire in our living room. We like the living room best of all, because in the evenings we gather there to have tea, watch TV, talk and rest.
My room is the smallest room in our flat, but it's very cosy and light.
There's a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, an armchair and several bookshelves in my room. There's a thick carpet on the floor. The walls in my room are lightbrown and there are some big posters on them. I like my room very much, but from time to time I change it round. I quite often move the bed and change the posters on the wall.
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Our kitchen is large and light. It's very well-equipped. We've got a refrigerator, a freezer, a microwave oven, a coffeemaker and a toaster. We haven't got a dishwasher yet, because it's very expensive. But I'm sure we'll buy it in the near future.
Vocabulary
16-storeyed ['sto:rid] 16- convenient [kairvhnjant] ,
block of flats comfortable ['k/vmfatabl] , -
to be situated ['sitjueitid] ,
picturesque [,piktja'resk] well-planned
supermarket ['su:pa,ma:kit] modern conveniences ['modn kan'vi:njansiz] -
ground floor ['graund 'flo:]
central heating ['hhtirj]
electricity [tlek'tristtl]
gas [gaes]
running water
balcony ['bselkani]
to enjoy [in'djoi]
lovely ['l/wli] ,
view [vju:] of
living room
dining ['dainio] room
sitting room
wall unit [-ju:nit]
video cassette recorder ['vidieu ke'set ri'ko:de]
armchair ['a:mtjea]
left-hand corner
coffee table
electric fire [i'lektrik 'faia]
cosy ['keuzi]
light [lalt]
wardrobe [-wo:draub]
desk
bookshelf (. . bookshelves)
carpet [-ka:pit]
poster ['peuste]
to change round ( ..)
well-equipped [i'kwipt]
refrigerator [rifridsareita]
(. fridge)
freezer [1ri:za]
microwave oven ['maikraweiv ']
coffemaker
toaster ['tauste]
dishwasher ['dij,wojaj
expensive [iks'pensiv]
Questions
1. Do you live in a house or in a block of flats?
2. Which floor is your flat on?
3. Is your flat well-planned? Is it comfortable?
4. How many rooms are there in your flat?
5. Have you got a dining room (a sitting room, a study)?
6. Where do you usually have your meals?
7. Is there much furniture in your flat? Do you change it round from time to time?
8. What is there in your room?
9. Are there any pictures on the walls of your flat?
10. What colour are the walls in your room?
11. What is your kitchen like?
12. How often do you redecorate the rooms?
MY WORKING DAY
On weekdays the alarm-clock wakes me up at 6.30 and my working day begins. I'm not an early riser, that's why it's very difficult for me to get out of bed, especially in winter. I switch on my tape-recorder and do my morning exercises. Then I go to the bathroom, take a warm shower, clean my teeth and shave. After that I go to my bedroom to get dressed.
Usually my mother makes breakfast for me. But when she is away on business or just doesn't have to get up early, I make breakfast myself. While having breakfast, I listen to the latest news on the radio.
I leave the house at 7.30 and go to the nearest underground station. Last year I tried to enter Moscow University, but unfortunately I failed my entrance examinations. So I thought I should work somewhere. It wasn't easy to find a job, but I managed to get a position of a secretary in a small business company.
They agreed to take me because I had studied typewriting, computing and business organisation at school. And besides, I passed my English schoolleaving exam with an excellent mark.
It takes me an hour and a half to get to work. But I don't want to waste my time on the train. I've got a small cassette-player and I listen to different texts and dialogues. Sometimes I read a book and retell it silently. If I come across an interesting expression I try to memorise it. I also write some English words on flashcards and learn them.
I usually arrive at work at ten minutes to nine though my working day begins at 9 sharp. There are always some fax messages to translate from English into Russian. Sometimes my boss wants me to write a letter to our business partners abroad. There are also a lot of phone calls which I have to answer.
At 1 o'clock in the afternoon we have lunch. We usually have lunch in a small cafe just round the corner. At 2 o'clock we come back to work. And we work hard till 5 o'clock.
During the working day we also have several short coffee breaks. But sometimes we have no time for them.
I come home at about 7 o'clock in the evening. My parents are usually at home, waiting for me. We have dinner together. Then we sit in the living room, drink tea, watch TV or just talk.
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Occasionally I have to stay at work till 6 or even 7 o'clock in the evening. When we have a lot of things to do we go to work on Saturdays. So by the end of the week I get very tired. All I can do on Sundays is to sleep till eleven o'clock, watch television, listen to music and read something in English.
And still I always look forward to my next working day because I like my job. I think I get a lot of useful experience.
Vocabulary
to be an early riser excellent ['eksalant]
especially [i'spejali] to waste [weist] time
to do morning exercises to reten [rjle|] (retold)
to get dressed to come across ,
unfortunately [Arvfo:tJ(a)natli]
to memorize [-memaraiz]
to fail [fell] , ( )
flashcard [1taejle.d] K a
entrance T'entrans] examinations , I i * 1 a fax message ['mesidjj
a^SkTof a secretary ["sekratri] Partner ^'^
a company ['] abroad C9'bro:dl
typewriting ['taipraitio] to answer a Phone 11
computing [kam'pju:tig]
besides [bi-saidz] , a break [breik]
business organization ['biznis piganai'zeifn] occasionally [a'kei3nali]
experience [iks'piarians]
Questions
1. Do you get up early? Is it easy for you to get up early?
2. Do you wake up yourself or does an alarm-clock wake you up?
3. Do you do morning exercises? Do you do your morning exercises to music?
4. Which do you prefer: a hot or a cold shower in the morning?
5. How long does it take you to get dressed?
6. What do you usually have for breakfast?
7. Some people look through newspapers or listen to the latest news on the radio while having breakfast. What about you?
8. When do you usually leave the house?
9. Do you work? Where do you work?
10. What do you usually do on your way to work (school, etc.)?
11. Where do you usually have lunch (dinner)?
12. What time do you come home?
13. How do you spend your evenings?
14. What time do you usually go to bed?
MY FRIEND
My best friend's name's Nick. We made friends a few years ago. We are of the same age. We live in the same block of flats, so we see each other almost every day.
Nick is a tall slender boy. He has got dark hair, large dark eyes, a straight nose and thin lips. He wears spectacles. He is a nice guy. He is very honest and just, understanding and kind. I trust him a lot and I'm sure that I can rely on him in any situation. He never lets people down. Nick is only 19 but he is very responsible he finishes whatever he starts. He's got only one shortcoming - he is a bit stubborn. Nevertheless he is pleasant to deal with.
Nick's an only child and his parents love him very much. His father is a lawyer. He is the most brilliant man I've ever met. He knows everything there's to know about the law. His mother is a music teacher. No wonder Nick is so talented. He's got a very good ear for music. He likes jazz and plays the piano very well.
We spend a lot of time together. We often watch video or listen to music.
Sometimes we go to the cinema or to the theatre, or walk around the centre of Moscow, visiting small cafes, museums, art galleries, shops. We talk for hours about all sorts of things (politics, love, teachers, girls). We discuss films, television programmes, books.
I never quarrel with Nick. But if there's some misunderstanding between us we try to make peace as soon as possible. What I like best about him is that he is always willing to help and share his knowledge, thoughts and feelings. I respect him for his fairness, strong will, intellect and modesty.
I miss Nick when we don't see each other for a long time. Without him I would feel lonely and uncomfortable. Our friendship helps me to feel strong and sure of myself.
Vocabulary
to make friends
of the same age
block of flats
slender ['slenda]
straight [streit]
spectacles ['spektaklz]
guy [gai]
honest ['onist]
just [d3/\st]
understanding ,
to trust ,
to rely [n'lai] on smb -,
to let smb down
responsible [ris'ponsibl]
whatever [wofeve]
shortcoming ['fo:t,k/\mirj]
stubborn ['sUban]
nevertheless [,nevada'les]
he is pleasant ['pleznt] to deal with
an only child
lawyer [1o:ja] ,
brilliant ['briljant] ,
no wonder ['w/vnda]
talented ['taelantid]
a good ear for music
jazz [djaez]
video ['vidiau]
cafe f'kaefei]
art gallery f'gaelari]
politics ['politiks] , ,
quarrel ['kworal]
misunderstanding [,misAnda'staendir)] -
to make peace
as soon as possible
share [Jea] ,
to respect [ri'spekt]
fairness ['feanis]
strong will
intellect [Intilekt]
modesty ['modisti]
to miss smb -
Questions
1. Have you got a lot of friends?
2. What is your best friend's name?
3. How long have you been friends?
4. Where does he (she) live?
5. Do you often see each other?
6. Where did you meet for the first time?
7. What do you do in your free time?
8. What do you usually talk about?
9. Do you quarrel?
10. What do you like best about your friend?
11. Has he (she) got any shortcomings?
12. Do you think friendship depends on shared interests hobbies and leisure activities?
13. Does it mean that if two people don't have common hobbies they can't be real friends?
14. What features do you like (dislike) in people?
MY SCHOOL
I've just left school and I'd like to tell you a few words about it. My school is one of the oldest specialized schools in Moscow. It's famous for its highquality education and strict discipline. The school is very well-equipped. On the ground floor there's a gym, a canteen, a library and two workshops. On the first floor there's a large assembly hall, a home economics room, a computer class and a language laboratory. On the second floor there are physics, chemistry and biology labs.
I went to school five days a week. Classes began at nine o'clock in the morning. But I usually came to school ten minutes earlier. Each lesson lasted forty minutes. After three or four lessons we had a thirty-minute break. During this break we went to the canteen to have lunch. Every day we had 7 or 8 lessons. The lessons were over at four o'clock in the afternoon.
We usually had a lot of homework and it took me several hours to do it. I sometimes had to sit up to write a composition, to prepare a report, to translate a newspaper article from English into Russian or to learn a poem by heart.
After classes I didn't usually go home right away. We had some out-ofclass activities. Our social and cultural life was well-organized. For example, we had an orchestra, a choir, an arts club, an International Friendship Club. I took part in the drama club.
At school we had classes in Russian, Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, English, History, Computer Programming. We also had Music, Physical Education, and Information Technology.
My favourite subject was English. I liked to learn new words, to dramatize texts and dialogues. I liked it when we discussed something interesting to us, when we were taught to debate, when we had small-group discussions or set up a role play.
But I wasn't very good at chemistry. I always failed to learn formulas and terms properly. Maybe our chemistry teacher was too serious, too academic.
She was not imaginative enough and her lessons were a little bit dull.
I liked my class. I always felt at home there. Everybody was so friendly and easy to get along with. I was on good terms with my classmates and we often spent our free time together.
