8382

5.Structure the received information in the form of the “cluster” (графическая организация материала, показывающая смысловые поля того или иного понятия):

6.Read the text once again and make marginal marks (пометки на полях):

√ - I knew it;

+ - New information;

- - The information contradicts my knowledge;

? - The information isn’t enough or understandable.

6. Get ready to answer the following questions after reading the text:

13.What did you know about pyramids before reading the text?

14.What information did you find new reading the text?

15.What information contradicts your knowledge?

16.What information isn’t enough or understandable for you?

The pyramids of Egypt

The pyramids are some of the most magnificent man-made structures in history. They were built during the time when Egypt was one of the richest and most powerful civilizations in the world. The massive scale of Pyramids reflects the unique role that the pharaoh played in ancient Egyptian society.

The Pyramids of Egypt, built at Giza (circa 2680-c. 2544 BC) are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World and the only ones which remain intact today.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu (circa 2600 BC) was the greatest of the Egyptian pyramids, which served as a burial place of the pharaohs, particularly during the Old Kingdom. The great pyramids of Giza were built around 2700-2500 BC as tombs for the pharaohs (rulers of ancient Egypt, who held the status of gods on earth). They were constructed of around 2.3 million stones and each of the stones weighed from 2 to 30 tons.

The pyramids of Egypt have survived in a form that resembles their original condition. The largest of the three, known as the Great Pyramid of Khufu, was made up of approximately 2.3 million blocks of stone. Each of the blocks weighed 2.5 tons on average. The granite slab that is the roof of Khufu's burial chamber weighed 50 tons. Located in Giza on the west bank of the Nile River, near Cairo, the pyramids remain one of the engineering marvels of all time.

These monumental pyramids are precisely oriented to the four cardinal points, that is, North, South, East and West. The Great Pyramids of Giza still have a strong impact on humanity. The impact is best reflected in this ancient, but popular Arab proverb: "Man fears time, but time fears the pyramids."

The Structure

The Great Pyramid was 145.75 meters (481 ft) high when it was built. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries. It is made of 2,300,000 blocks of stone, and each block weighs 2 1/2 tons.

Until the 19th century it was the tallest building in the world. It is the only one of the famous "Seven Wonders of the World" that still stands. It is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, at Giza, Egypt. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its surface. The sloping angle of its sides is 51 degrees and 51 minutes. The pyramid's smooth, angled sides symbolized the rays of the sun and were designed to help the king's soul ascend to heaven and join the gods, particularly the sun god Ra.

Each side is carefully oriented to the cardinal points. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. It is unbelievable but the maximum error between side lengths is less than 0.1%.

Reading & Writing

7. Individual work. Read the text again and fill in the “marginal chart”:

Reflection (Размышление)

8. Match the words from two columns to create a phrase and make sentences to use them in your own text entitled “My concept of Egyptian pyramids”. Share your ideas with the partner. (See appendix 1):

a)

9. Match the words from two columns to create a phrase and make sentences to use them in your own text entitled “The structure of Egyptian pyramids”. Share your ideas with the partner.

Listening & Speaking

10. Prepare a presentation about Egyptian pyramids according to the text and deliver your presentation to the class. Get ready to discuss it answering questions and persisting in your own opinion.

Writing

11. Make a “sinkwein” about Egyptian pyramids. (“Sinkwein” is a poem consisting of 5 lines).

Students’ Individual Work

Texts for supplementary reading

Text 1

Task 1. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.Where is Wales located?

2.What is the official language of this country?

3.What types of singing and dancing are popular in Wales?

4.What other pastimes are popular?

Wales – The Land of Songs

Wales is one of the most beautiful countries in the United Kingdom. Cymru, as it known in Welsh, is surrounded by sea on three sides, whereas the eastern part of the country borders with England. The country is full of little towns, castles and picturesque seaside villages. Cardiff, the capital, is a bustling university town with an impressive castle, wonderful museums, galleries and lovely buildings.

English is the official language, but Welsh, one of the oldest languages in Europe, is still spoken in some parts of the country. In fact, a special committee was established in 1988 to protect the language and today Welsh school children are taught both languages. Welsh has a beautiful song-like quality, which is perhaps one reason why singing is such a favourite pastime. Playing music, including traditional instruments such as the harp, is another popular hobby.

Wales’ breathtaking beauty attracts travellers from around the world.

Snowdonia, Britain second largest national park is located in the north of Wales. With its amazing forests, lakes, waterfalls and ancient burial sites, the park is a popular tourist attraction. In the north of the country, high above a pretty bay stands Caernarvon castle built in 1283 for the first Prince of Wales. In the west is

St David’s, a quaint village by the sea that has the largest cathedral in Wales. Wales has many wonderful traditions. The Welsh are proud of their culture.

One of the oldest cultural competitions, The Royal national Eisteddfod, takes place every year at the beginning of August. It is an eight-day festival of music and poetry to celebrate Welsh language, art and culture. It is the largest and most popular festival in Wales and attracts thousands of visitors.

Task 2. Read the text once again and tell about Wales.

Text 2

Task 1. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1. What are the most popular leisure activities and sports in New Zealand and Australia?

2. Which sport do they like best? Why?

Being a Sport – The “Ozzie and “Kiwi Way”

In Australia, the “Ozzies” (as Australians are colloquially referred to) and the “Kiwis” (the affectionate name for new Zealanders) enjoy various sports. Thanks to the mainly mild weather, beautiful beaches, spectacular mountains and tropical forests, a wide range of outdoor activities are available. You can go scuba diving off a coral reef, skiing in the mountains, backpacking through a rainforest or even white-water rafting. There are plenty of team sports, too. In Australia, the locals take their football very seriously, as do the New Zealanders who love their rugby. In both countries the summer means the beginning of the cricket season, which is another popular sport in this part of the world.

Rugby was first played in New Zealand in the 19th century. It is a game similar to football, but there some important differences. First of all, a rugby ball is large and oval-shaped and you can carry it as well as you can kick it. Secondly, you can’t throw the ball forwards, only backwards or to the side.

The New Zealand rugby team wear black and that is how it got the name the All Blacks. In 1905 they toured Britain and Europe and the world saw how powerful and skilful they were. This was also the first time anyone had seen the Haka, a

New Zealand warrior dance. It used to be performed by New Zealand’s Maoris before a battle. The warriors stood in lines opposite their enemy, shouting and moving in a very threatening way.

Today, the All Blacks and a number of other New Zealand teams perform the Haka before a game. It frightens their opponents and provides a great show for the fans.

Both Australia’s and New Zealand’s cricket teams rank as amongst the best in the world. In fact, cricket is such a popular sport in these countries that an Australian prime minister once joked that he had the second most important job in the country that of the Australian cricket team’s captain.

The game is played with a bat and ball. Each team has 11 players and scores points known as runs. Australia and New Zealand play matches against cricketplaying countries like England, South Africa, India and of course, against each other. A set of exciting matches , referred to as The Ashes, occurs as a series of five games every two years between Australia and England.

Text 3

Task 1. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.What is the population of the USA?

2.Who were the first inhabitants of this country? Where did they come from?

3.Are there any immigrants in your country? Where do they come from?

The United States of America

The original inhabitants of the US are the American Indians and the native Hawaiians. The population of these groups is small compared to that of the other US citizens who are immigrants from all over the world and include English, Irish, Polish, Asian, and Mexican descendants to name a few. Furthermore America has a large population of African Americans, as well as Hispanic Americans who are originally from Latin America. This is why the USA has been called a melting pot of cultures. The official language is English and is referred to as American English. The second most widely spoken language in the country is Spanish.

The East Coast States, New York being the most populated city are marked for their forests, mountains, beaches and picturesque lakes. The Midwestern states are referred to as the “heartland” of the nation because they lie in the middle of the country. The Midwest has vast areas of flat and fertile land. Chicago, one of the world’s busiest cities, is located there. The Southern States, such as Tennessee and

Florida are also fertile and have a moist and sub-tropical climate. Next are the Western Interior States, which include amazing natural scenery such as the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon and the Arizona Desert. The Pacific Coast States like California and Hawaii have a mild climate and fertile valleys. Last but not least is Alaska, the largest state in the US but also the least populated.

Did you know that the USA is the fourth largest country in the world, with a population of over 250 million people and covering nine million square kilometers? The United States of America is made up of 50 states and six regions.

The country’s division into regions depends on the geography, climate, economy, history and tradition of the various states. Of all the states the two that stand alone geographically are Alaska and Hawaii. They are the newest states, having both joined the US in 1959.

Text 4

Task 1. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1.What name is Ireland famous for?

2.Where is it located?

3.What is this country known for?

4.What is Irish folk music about?

5.What can you tell about the Irish language?

6.How do people celebrate St Patrick’s Day?

Ireland – The Emerald Isle

Covering the greater part of the island, Ireland, or Eire for the Irish, is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Ireland is also known as the Emerald isle because of its amazingly green countryside. The Irish often say that in no other place in the world will someone ever get to see so many different shades and tones of green. Eire is located to the west of Great Britain and it has a magnificent coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Dublin, the capital, is the country’s largest city and a major port.

This rather small and geographically isolated country is also known for its rich cultural heritage, longstanding traditions and unique spirit of its people. The Irish are a warm and friendly people who have a reputation for their hospitality and for their great skills in storytelling and music making. Irish folk music is about the sorrows and joys of life and is full of nostalgia especially from the Irish immigrants who left their homeland in search of a better life.

Even though, throughout Ireland, people speak English in their everyday lives, Irish is the first official language of the Republic of Ireland. The Irish language, which is a one-thousand-year-old Celtic language, is mostly spoken in the west of Ireland. However, things have recently started changing and the Irish language has been going through a revival. It is taught in primary school, heard on the radio and TV stations and it is used in newspapers.

, on March 17th, commemorates Ireland’s national saint and is celebrated in many countries around the world. In fact, as the popular saying goes, on St

Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. People decorate their homes with green ribbons and balloons and they traditionally wear green clothes, hats and ties. You’ll see lots of shamrocks on St Patrick’s Day. The shamrock, a small three-leaved green plant, has become Ireland’s national symbol. In Dublin, the festivities run for three days with plenty of colourful parades and street theatres for both locals and tourists to enjoy.

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