1. Read the text and answer the questions.

“TOYS”

Toys have formed part of human culture since the earliest times. Every society has provided its children with imitation of human beings or animals, and dolls are probably the oldest form of a toy. No dolls have been found in prehistoric graves, but this may be because they were made of materials like wood or cloth that have perished. Nevertheless, there were certainly dolls in Egypt over six thousand years ago.

Other ancient toys include balls and sticks, and it is clear that most games requiring physical action were originally introduced to train boys in the art of warfare. Sometimes the result went beyond the inventors' intention. Football was banned in England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I because it became too violent.

Modern technology has made possible the production of sophisticated moving toys like model railways, aircraft controlled by radio, and dolls that can walk.

Children need toys because many adult skills are developed from playing with them. Children who learn to construct model aircraft are using their hands to a purpose; children who solve jigsaw puzzles are using their minds. Above all, children's imagination is stimulated by playing with objects.

Many parents are upset to find that two or three days after Christmas or a child's birthday, the expensive presents they bought have been broken or are lying in a corner of the room, and the child is once again happily building an imaginary castle with a few pieces of wood or playing with an old teddy bear the parents think is ugly and should be thrown away.

Questions:

1. What is the text about?

2. What was the purpose of ancient toys like balls or sticks?

3. Why do children need to play with toys?

4. Why are many parents upset after Christmas or a child's birthday?

5. Why do you think children prefer to play with their old toys and don’t play with new expensive toys?

6. What do you think are the two main functions of toys according to the text?

2. Read the text and say what helped Amy and her parents to keep their relations so close. Say if your relations with your parents are as good as Amy’s. Speak about your family relations.

“FAMILY TIES”

My wife and I had the only child. We called her Amy. I see her as my best friend. I think she'd always come to me first if she had a problem. We have the same sense of humor, and share interests. I don't mind animals, but she's completely obsessed with them.

We were closest when she was about four. She must have grown up suddenly when she went to school, because I remember her growing away from her family slightly. There seemed to be an endless stream of strange young men coming through our house. By the time I'd learned their names they'd gone away and I had to start learning a new lot. I remember I told her off once in front of her friends and she didn't talk to me for days afterwards.

I wanted more than anything else for her to be happy in what she was doing. She went to a good school. When she left she took up social work, and finally went to work for a designer and he became her husband. And that's really the story of her life. She must be happy with him—they're always together.

We're very grateful for Amy. She's a good daughter as daughters go.

Билет № 5