6. Make up your own sentences using the following words and word combinations:

Marital status; good-looking; to get education; medium height; handsome; to be born; to bear one’s age; to study at; to be married; to be delicately built; a steady gait; to start school; full name; a nickname; to be interested in; by profession.

II. Reading Comprehension

1. Read and translate the following texts. Use a dictionary if necessary. Text a

My name is Alla Petrova. I am Belarusian. I was born on May 5, 1982 in the village of Bakino, Slutsk district, Minsk region. Two years ago our family moved to Novopolotsk where I live now together with my parents. My father is a doctor, he works at a hospital. My mother is a housewife. She has much work to do about the house. We are five in the family. I have a younger sister and a brother. They are both pupils. Lucy is in the fifth form and Boris is a pupil of the ninth form. Our family is very united.

In May I finished school №9 in Novopolotsk. I always did well at school and studied with great interest. I also took an active part in social life, attended sport sections and subject circles.

My favorite subject at school was Literature. Maths and physics came easy to me too. I was on the top of the list in our class in these subjects. I also liked English. I'd like to learn some other European languages to communicate with people from different countries.

I'm quite sociable and easy to deal with. I have many friends with whom we spend much time together. I can also add that I'm energetic, rather intelligent, patient, calm and never lose my temper. I love animals and child­ren. My hobby is collecting badges.

I entered Polotsk State University this year. Our University trains specialists in many fields and hard working students have practically unlimited opportunities to learn a profession. As a result of thorough theoretical, practical as well as professional training the students get diplomas.

As for me, I study at the technological faculty. I hope that I will be a highly-qualified specialist in my own field.

You see, my biography isn't long. I can only add that I'm fond of reading books on history and I'm keen on sports. I've got the first category in volleyball and have many friends among sportsmen. I also like shaping; it helps me to keep fit.

TEXT B

From the very start I should say that it's not an easy thing to speak about yourself as it's hard to have a look at yourself from aside, but at the same time who knows you better than you yourself do? So to begin with I should say that my name is Nick and I am a boy of sixteen with dark hair and blue eyes. I am fairly tall, i.e. 180 centimeters tall, but not of a very powerful build. I am short­sighted and I have to wear glasses most of the time.

I was born on the 25'^h of April 1986 in Novopolotsk where I live now together with my parents and my younger sister. My early years, which 1 don't remember well, were typical of a child living in a town, but unlike most other small children I was not sent to a kindergarten because of my delicate health. So I stayed at home with my mother.

At the age of 7 I went to school. I studied at the same school for 11 years. In senior classes my favourite subjects were Mathematics, English, Biology, Art and Music. And I think I was rather good at these subjects. Besides learning school subjects I did karate, attended a sports club and did a bit of photography.

I had asked myself a lot of times what I wanted to do when I left school. A few years ago it was difficult for me to give a definite answer. As the years passed I changed my mind several times. It was only in my last year at school that I finally made up my mind as to what profession I would most like to have in future. I realized that my strongest desire was to continue specializing in sciences and study foreign languages as well. I decided to become a civil engineer. Everybody knows that it is a very useful and interesting profession nowadays. Now I am a first-year student of Polotsk State University. Many professors and highly qualified lecturers deliver lectures and hold seminars in different subjects such as: physics, mathematics, technical drawing, descriptive geometry, strength of materials, foreign languages, the history of Belarus, etc. I spend a lot of time in the reading halls of our library where I read up for my seminars. I try to visit all meetings, festivals and conferences which are held in our gala complex.

Now a few words about my character and interests. My friends say that I'm sociable, honest, helpful and cheerful. But my parents and my teachers sometimes say that I am not hard­working enough, and that sometimes I am stubborn and hard to deal with, but I don't think I am. I often lose my temper but never have a grudge against anybody. My favourite occupation is playing the guitar, reading and going to the theatre. I am fond of sport as well. That's all I can say about myself.