In 1966 he took part in his first human rights demonstration, a one-minute silent protest in Pushkin Square. A year later, he wrote a letter to Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev defending imprisoned dissidents.
His international repute as a scientist kept him out of jail, but in 1980 when he protested against Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, he was deprived of all his titles and orders and exiled to the city of Gorky. In 1986 Michail Gorbachev invited Sahkarov to return to Moscow. He was given back all his titles and orders.
Andrei Sakharov died in 1989. He is remembered by everybody as an outstanding humanist, who could teach and inspire and who foresaw the changes that are taking place now.
Names
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov [a:n'drei /JmitrievrtJ Peace Prize ['pi:s praiz]
'keroj Norway
the Academy of Sciences [8,kaedami av 'saiansiz]
Afghanistan [aefgsenista:n]
Nobel Committee [nau,bel ke'miti] Gorky ['go:ki] .
Vocabulary
outstanding [aufstaendirj]
public figure ['figa]
to defend one's thesis ['9i:sis]
degree [di'gri:] of Candidate ['kaendidit] of Science
Doctorate ['doktarit] thesis
to elect [i'lekt] ,
graduate student ['graedjuit,stu:dant]
-
nuclear weapons Lnjuiklia 'wepanz]
to suggest [safest]
totally [lauteli] ,
hydrogen bomb ['haidrad3in,130111]
design [di'zain]
consequence ['konsikwans]
responsibility [risponsi'bilati]
to possess [pa'zes]
to attack [a'tsek] ,
democratic [,dema'kraetik]
dogmatism ['dogmatizm]
champion ['tfaempian] ,
human ['hju:man] rights
to award [a'wo:d] ,
conscience ['konjans]
mankind [maen'kaind]
authorities [oi'Goratiz]
protest ['prautestj ;
to protest [pa'test]
to defend [di'fend]
to imprison [im'prizn]
dissident ['disidant]
repute [itpju:t]
jail [d3eil]
intervention [jnta'venjn]
,
to deprive [di'praiv] of -
title [taitl] . ,
order ['o:da]
to exile feksail] ,
humanist ['hju:manist]
to inspire [in'spaia] ,
to foresee [fo:'si:] (foresaw, foreseen)
Questions
1. When was Andrei Sakharov bom?
2. What were his parents?
3. What university did he graduate from? When?
4. What is Sakharov famous for as a scientist?
5. When did he defend his Doctorate thesis?
6. What conclusion did he come to while working on the bomb?
7. When did he take part in his first human rights demonstration?
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8. What prize was he awarded?
9. Why was he exiled to Gorky?
10. Who helped him to come back to Moscow?
11. Why is Sakharov known all over the world?
WILL WE LIVE TO SEE THE FIRST CLONED HUMAN?
Films and science fiction books have often played with the idea of reproducing exact copies of people. Today, science fiction has become science fact. We have our first real clones, though they are not human beings yet!
The gene revolution began in 1997, when British scientists from Edinburgh University produced the first cloned sheep, Dolly. Since then scientists have cloned mice, cows, dogs and pigs.
Cloning animals opens exciting medical possibilities:
- Many people are in need of tissues and organs for transplantation. But it isn't easy to get such organs as, for example, heart, liver or kidneys. Cloning can solve this problem.
Many animals are on the brink of extinction. Cloning can be used to preserve them.
Scientists can create animals which produce more milk, meat and wool, or animals which don't catch certain diseases. This can save the lives of starving people.
Cloning is a controversial issue. Some people are ready to eat cloned fruits and vegetables, but many people are against cloning animals. They think it is morally unacceptable. The question of human cloning is even more controversial.
Suppose we cloned a man.
Are we really sure he will be a man? Who will be responsible for him? Who will bring him up? Will he be happy? Will he have the same rights as we have?
What would happen if a dictator, someone like Hitler, cloned himself?
Would we be able to survive?
Nevertheless, the idea of human cloning seems very exciting.
Names
Edinburgh University [,edinbara ^nfvaisiti] Hitler ['hitla]
(
)
Vocabulary
to clone [klaun] , science fiction [,saians 'fikjn]
to reproduce [,ri:pra'dju:s] ,
human being [,hju:man bi:irj]
gene [d3i:n]
to produce [pra'dju:s] ,
tissue ['tiju:], [lisju:]
transplantation [,traenspla:n'teiln] ,
liver [Miva]
kidney ['kidni]
on the brink of extinction [ik'stiQkfn]
to preserve [prrzaiv]
to starve [sta:v] ,
wool [wul]
disease [di'ziiz]
controversial [,kontra'v3:JI] ,
issue [IJu:], [Isju:] ,
unacceptable [,Anak'septabl]
suppose [sa'pauz] ,
to be responsible [if sponsibl] for
to bring up ['brio '! (brought)
rights [raits]
dictator [dik'teita]
to survive [sa'vatv] ,
nevertheless [,nevafla'les] , ,
Questions
1 Is cloning a controversial issue?
2 Who produced the first cloned sheep?
3 What medical possibilities does cloning animals open?
4 Can cloning be used to preserve endangered species?
5 Scientists say that one day it will be possible to clone a dinosaur.
6 Does the idea seem exciting to you?
7 Do you think cloning can solve the problems of food shortages?
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8 Are you for or against cloning animals? Why?
9. it would be exactly like you from your hair colour to all your diseases. Would you like to have a clone?
10 What would happen if a dictator cloned himself?
11. Are you for or against cloning people?
Sports
OLYMPIC GAMES
The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began in 777 BC in Greece and took place every four years for nearly twelve centuries at Olimpia. They included many different kinds of sports: running, boxing, wrestling, etc. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to Olimpia to compete in the Games. For the period of the Games all the wars stopped. So the Olympic Games became the symbol of peace and friendship.
In 394 AD the Games were abolished and were not renewed until many centuries later.
In 1894, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, addressed all the sports governing bodies and pointed out the significance of sports and its educational value.
Two years later the first modern Olympic Games took place. Of course, the competitions were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition.
In 1896 the International Olympic Committee was set up. It is the central policy-making body of the Olympic movement. It is formed by the representatives of all countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the games, the number of the participants and the city-host for the Games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Besides, each country has its National Olympic Committee.
Summer and Winter Games are held separately. There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The most suitable is selected by the International Committee. After that the city of the Games starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels, press centres. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games, and it takes great efforts to arrange everything. There is always an interesting cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, etc., for each Games.
Russia joined the Olympic movement in 1952. Since then it has won a lot of gold, silver, and bronze medals. In 1980 Moscow hosted the Twenty- Second Olympic Games.
The latest Olympic Games were held in Sydney. Russian sportsmen got medals for their records in many sports events.
Names
Olympic Games [a,limpik 'geimz]
Baron Pierre de Coubertin f'baeran pi,ea da,ku:ba'taer)]
(
, ,
)
Olympia [alimpia]
the International [jnta'naefnl] Olympic
Committee [ka'miti]
Sydney ['sidni] (
)
Vocabulary
[,bi:'si:] (.
Before Christ [kraist])
wrestling ['resliij]
athlete f'aeSlht]
to compete [kam'pht]
AD [,ei'di:] (. . Anno Domini)
to abolish [a'bolif] ,
to renew [ri'nju:]
governing ['g/wanig] ,
body ['bodi] ,
to point out ()
significance [sig'nifikans] ,
value ['vaelju:] , ,
to be held
to symbolyze ['simbalaiz]
to set up ,
policy-making ['polisi] body ,
, ( )
representative [,repri'zentativ]
participant [partisipant]
city-host [,siti'haust] -
national ['naejnl] ,
separately ['sepratli]
to host [haust] ,
suitable ['sju:tabl]
to select [si'lekt] ,
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sports facilities [fa'silitiz]
stadium ['steidjam]
it takes great efforts ['efets]
to arrange [a'reinds] ,
gold [gauld], silver ['silva] and bronze ['bronz]
medals ['medlz] ,
record ['reko:d]
sports event [i'vent]
Questions
1. When and where did the Olympic Games begin?
2. Why did the Olympic Games become the symbol of peace and friendship?
3. When did the Games in Greece stop?
4. Who renewed the Olympic movement?
5. When and where did the first modem Games take place?
6. When was the International Olympic Committee set up? What is its function?
7. Are Summer and Winter Games held separately?
8. How does the city-host prepare for the Olympic Games?
9. When did Russia join the Olympic movement?
10. Where were the latest Olympic Games held?
SPORTS IN GREAT BRITAIN
The British are known to be great sports-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have come from Britain.
One of the most British games is cricket. It is often played in schools, colleges, universities and by club teams all over the country. Summer isn't summer without cricket. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behaviour. When they consider anything unfair, they sometimes say: "That isn't cricket."
But as almost everywhere else in the world, the game which attracts the greatest attention is Association football, or soccer. Every Saturday from late August till the beginning of May, large crowds of people support their favourite sides in football grounds. True fans will travel from one end of the country to the other to see their team play. There are plenty of professional and amateur soccer clubs all over Britain. International football matches and the Cup Finals take place at Wembley.
Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly by amateurs.
Next to football, the chief spectator sport in British life is horse-racing. A lot of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. The Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event in the whole world.
Britain is also famous for motor-car racing, dog-racing, boat-racing, and even races for donkeys. The famous boat-race between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge attracts large crowds of people.
A great number of people play and watch tennis. Tennis tournaments at Wimbledon are known all over the world. The innumerable tennis courts of Britain are occupied by people between the ages of 16 and 60 who show every degree of skill from practically helpless to the extremely able.
The British also like to play golf, baseball, hockey, grass-hockey. Various forms of athletics, such as running, jumping, swimming, boxing are also popular. You can sometimes hear that there are no winter sports in England. Of course the English weather is not always cold enough to ski, skate, or toboggan, but winter is a good season for hunting and fishing. Indeed, sport in one form or another is an essential part of daily life in Britain.
Names
Wembley [-wembli] Wimbledon ['wimbldan] (
the Derby ['da:bi] ( ,
- Epsom
Downs " ; ) )
Vocabulary
cricket f'krikit] ( rugby ['] football (
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; ;
) "Rugby", 1823.
standard ['staendad] , )
behaviour [bi'heivja] next to football
to consider [karrsida] ,
unfair [-fea] , chief [tji:f] ,
to attract [a'traekt] attention spectator [spek'tekjula] sport
crowd [kraud] racing (, .)
association [a,sausi'eijn] football ( boat-race
, tournament ['tuansmant]
innumerable [Knjuimarebl]
); . soccer ['soka] degree [di'gri:] ,
to support [sa-po:t] , skill
football ground helpless
fan extremely
professional [pra'fefanl] able ['eibl]
amateur ['aemeta] to toboggan [ta'bogan] ,
Questions
1. What do the British do when they are neither playing, nor watching games?
2. What kind of sport is especially associated with Britain?
3. What is cricket for an Englishman?
4. What is the most popular game in the world?
5. Where do the Cup Finals take place?
6. Is rugby played by professionals?
7. What kinds of racing are popular in Britain?
8. What do you know about Wimbledon?
9. What other games do the British play?
10. What winter sports are popular in Britain?
SPORTS IN RUSSIA
Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games and always win a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.
Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Certainly watching sports events and going in for sports are two different things.
In the past it was never admitted that professional sport existed in our country. The official point of view was that our sport was totally amateur. Now everybody knows that sport can be a profession and a business.
But sport can be fun as well. Besides, it helps to stay in good shape, to keep fit and to be healthy.
Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis.
For those who can afford it there are clubs where they give lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their rollerskates and skate in the streets and parks.
Vocabulary
sporting society [sa'saiati] point of view [vju:]
tournament ['tuanamant] , totally ['tautali]
record [Teko:d] amateur ['aemata]
gymnast ['d3imnast] fun
vveightlifter ['weitlifta] in good shape
figure skater ['flga,skeita] fit . ,
high jumper to do sports
to admit [ad'mit] on a more regular basis ['beisis]
professional [pra'fe/anal] gym [djim]
aerobics [ea'raubiks] to jog [41309]
yoga ['jauga] to afford [a'fo:d]
body-building ['bodibildirj] scuba diving ['sku:ba /JaMrj] ,
work-out ['wa:kaut]
treadmill [iredmil] " " roller skates ['raula,skeits]
Questions
1. Why is sport so important in our life?
2. Do Russian sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games?
3. Do they often win medals?
4. Was there a gym or a sports ground in your school?
5. What professional sporting societies or clubs do you know?
6. Are there any keep-fit centres in your neighbourhood? Do you go there?
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7. Do you go in for sports or do you prefer to watch other people playing?
8. What team are you a fan of?
9. What is your favourite kind of sport?
10. How long have you been playing it?
11. Do you take part in competitions?
12. What games are popular in Russia?
Customs and Traditions
HOLIDAYS IN GREAT BRITAIN
There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries. They are: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday and Summer Bank Holiday. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.
The most popular holiday is Christmas. Every year the people of Norway give the city of London a present. It's a big Christmas tree and it stands in Trafalgar Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated.
Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money for charity and sing carols, traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a carol service on the Sunday before Christmas.
The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and fill them with toys and sweets.
Christmas is a family holiday. Relatives usually meet for the big Christmas dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents. The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or perhaps sit at home and watch football.
New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland, Hogmanay is the biggest festival of the year.
Besides public holidays there are some special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November. On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head.
Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks.
This dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes) and children can often be seen in the streets before the 5th of November saying, "Penny for the guy." If they collect enough money they can buy some fireworks.
There are also smaller, local festivals in Britain.
Names
Christmas ['krismas] Day (25 ) New Year's Day
Boxing ['boksiQ] Day ,
(
)
Good Friday (
)
Easter [1:sta] Monday
May Day ,
( )
Spring Bank Holiday
( )
Summer Bank Holiday
( )
Trafalgar Square [tra;fselga 'skwea]
Norway ['no-.wei]
Father Christmas ,
Hogmanay ['hogmanei] ,
Guy Fawkes [,gai 'fo:ks] (
" ")
the Houses of Parliament ['pavement]
King James I [,d3eimz da "f3:st] I (
1603 no 1625.)
the Tower ['taua]
Vocabulary
Christmas tree
to decorate ['dekareit]
charity ['tfaeriti]
carol ['kaeral] (
,
)
service ['saivis] ()
to hang (hung)
stocking t'stokir)]
chimney ftjimni]
relative f'relativ]
turkey ['ta:ki]
Christmas pudding ['pudio]
( , )
festival ['festival] ,
to blow up
to succeed [sak'shd] ,
bomb [bom]
to cut off smb's head -
to celebrate ['selibreit] ,
to burn [:] ,
dummy [1] , ,
straw [stro:]
bonfire ['bonfaia]
to let off fireworks ['faiawarks]
penny ['peni] ,
local ['laukl]
Questions
1. Are there many holidays in Great Britain?
2. What is a "bank holiday"?
3. What is the most popular holiday in Britain?
4. When is Christmas celebrated?
5. What are the traditional Christmas songs called in Britain?
6. What do children leave at the end of their beds and why?
7. What do the British do on Boxing Day?
8. What is the name of New Year's Eve in Scotland?
9. When is Guy Fawkes Night celebrated?
10. What do you know about Guy Fawkes?
HOLIDAYS IN RUSSIA
There are many national holidays in Russia, when people all over the country do not work and have special celebrations.
The major holidays are: New Year's Day, Women's Day, May Day, Victory Day, and Independence Day.
The first holiday of the year is New Year's Day. People see the new year in at midnight on the 31st of December. They greet the new year with champagne and listen to the Kremlin chimes beating 12 o'clock.
There are lots of New Year traditions in Russia. In every home there is a New Year tree glittering with coloured lights and decorations. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present. Many people consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday. But the young prefer to have New Year parties of their own.
A renewed holiday in our country is Christmas. It is celebrated on the 7th of January. It's a religious holiday and a lot of people go to church services on that day.
On the 8th of March we celebrate Women's Day when men are supposed to do everything about the house, cook all the meals and give women flowers.
The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day. On the 9th of May, 1945, our army completely defeated the German fascists and the Great Patriotic War ended. We'll never forget our grandfathers and grandmothers who died to defend our Motherland. We honour their memory with a minute of silence and put flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Independence Day is a new holiday in our country. On the 12th of June, 1992, the first President of Russia was elected.
We also celebrate Day of the Defender of Motherland on the 23d of February, Easter, Day of Knowledge and lots of professional holidays which are not public holidays and banks, offices and schools do not close.
Names
Independence [Jndi'pendans] Day
Father Frost
Christmas f'krismes]
Easter ['i:sta]
Day of the Defender [di'fenda] of Motherland
Day of Knowledge [']
Vocabulary
celebration [,seli'breijn]
major ['meidja]
to see the new year in
to greet [gri:t] (,
)
champagne [Jxnrpein]
chimes [tjaimz]
to beat [bi:t] (beat, beaten) ,
a New Year tree
to glitter ['glita] ,
to consider [kan'sida]
the young ,
renewed [ri'nju:d] ,
religious [ri'lidsas]
service ['sa:vis]
men are supposed [sa'pauzd] to... -
(), ...
to defeat [di'fi-.t] ,
fascist ['fsejist]
to elect [i'lekt]
public ['] ,
