4. Read and translate the following text. How We Kept Mother's Day

(after S. Leacock)

We decided to have a special celebration of Mother's Day. We thought it a fine idea. It made us realize how much Mother had done for us for years, and all the efforts and sacrifices that she had made for our sake.

So we decided that we'd do everything we could to make Mother happy. Fa­ther decided to take a holiday from his office and my sister and I stayed home from college and Mary and my brother stayed home from High School.

Our plan was to make the day a big holiday. So we decided to decorate the house with flowers. We asked Mother to arrange the decoration because she always does it on holidays.

Well, after breakfast we had it arranged as a surprise for Mother that we would hire a motor car and take her for a beautiful drive away into the country. Mother is never able to go to the country, because she is busy in the house all the time.

We asked mother to cut some sandwiches and make up a sort of lunch in case we get hungry. Mother picked it all up in a basket for us ready to go to the car.

When the car came to the door, it turned out that there was no room in it for us all. Father said he could stay at home, he said that there was a lot of work in the garden that he could do. He wanted us to go right ahead and be happy. Of course, we didn't want to let Father stay at home.

So in the end it was decided that Mother would stay home and have a lovely restful day round the house and make the dinner. Mother doesn't like fishing, and also it was a little cold and fresh out of doors and Father was rather afraid that Mother might take cold if she came. We said good-bye to Mother and drove away. Mother stood and watched us as long as she could see us.

We had a very happy day up among the hills. It was quite late when we came back, but Mother had guessed that we would be late, so she kept the din­ner so as to have it just nicely ready and hot for us. She had to get up and down a good bit during the meal fetching things back and forward. The dinner lasted a long while, and when it was over all of us wanted to help to clear away and wash the dishes. But Mother said that she would do it herself and so we let her.

It was quite late when it was all over, and when we all kissed Mother before going to bed she said it had been the most wonderful day in her life and I think there were tears in her eyes.

5. Speak about the following questions in a form of a dialogue or pre­ pare a 2-3 minutes' talk about them.

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How are holidays celebrated in your family? Do you have any special tradi­tions?

Do you remember any funny episodes, connected with a holiday celebra­tion?

6. Translate the sentences from Russian into English

1. У меня много близких и дальних родственников. Мои бабушка и де­душка умерли, но у меня есть четыре тети и множество двоюродных братьев и сестер.

2. У Джона не очень большая семья: он сам, его жена Линда и трое очаровательных детишек - двух, пяти и семи лет. Кроме того, вместе с ними живет мать его жены - его теща. Она прекрасная бабушка для своих внуков и всегда присматривает за ними, когда родителей нет дома.

3. Ты читал "Сагу о Форсайтах" Джона Голсуорси, - Нет, я только слы­шал об этом романе. - А я его сейчас читаю, и мне он нравится, хотя ино­гда я путаюсь (to get confused, to fail to understand) в родственных отноше­ниях между героями. У некоторых из них одинаковые имена, поэтому ино­гда трудно сразу сказать, кто из них прадед, кто дед, внук или правнук. Ведь в романе описаны несколько поколений семейства Форсайтов.

4. Семья моего друга - пример того, как разные поколения могут не­плохо ужиться (to get along fine with smb). В их 4-комнатной квартире жи­вут и дети, и их родители, и дедушка с бабушкой, да еще и кошка с соба­кой. - А мне все-таки кажется, что жить так очень трудно. Нужно жить от­дельно. Но встречаться чаще и помогать друг другу.

5. Я не знала, что твой брат женат. - Да, Виктор и Лена женаты уже два года. У них даже есть годовалая дочка - моя маленькая племянница.

6. По традиции наша семья собирается в полном составе первого ян­варя. Мы накрываем стол, дарим подарки, обмениваемся новостями. Та­кие семейные встречи особенно нравятся нашим детям.

7. Prepare а 2-3 minutes' talk on the following topics or discuss these topics in a group of 2-3 students

1. How do you understand "a typical family"?

2. Advantages and disadvantages of being an only child.

3. Problems of young families.

4. Problems of large families.

5. Advantages and disadvantages of living with parents or living separately.

6. Are there any special traditions in your family?

7. Do you keep in touch with your aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, grandpa­rents?

8. Would you like your own family to be like your parents'?

9. Do you know any interesting stories about your family's history?

10. Do you know anything about your ancestors?

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UNIT3 I. Text. Our University

Hello again! Now let me tell you about my university - Far Eastern State Transportation University. I am really glad to study here. It is one of the best country's higher educational institutions.

Our University is quite large and old. It was founded in 1939 as Khabarovsk Railway Engineering Institute. In those days the institute had only 3 faculties: the Mechanical, the Railway Engineering and the Operational faculties. Since that time the institute has undergone many structural changes and grown into a large modern institution of higher learning. In 1977 it received a university sta­tus.

The university is well known for its high standards of education and re­search. It trains competent and creative specialists for different branches of en­gineering, transportation and economy of our country.

Our university is a large school where about 15 thousand students study currently. Most of them are full-time students, like me; there are also many part-time and extra-mural students. Besides, there are many post-graduate students, who carry out independent research work and conduct classes or deliver lec­tures as well.

Every year about 2 thousand people are enrolled in the university. Young people who are interested in science and technology may enter the Institute of Traction and Rolling Stock, the Institute of Operation, Automation and Telecom­munication, the Institute of Transport and Civil Engineering, the Power Engineer­ing Institute, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Aeronautical Engineering Facul­ty. The Institute of Economics trains economists, accountants and other special­ists in finance, management and commerce. The Humanitarian Faculty prepares specialists in social service, psychology, tourism management.

The course of training at the university lasts 5-6 years. The academic year is 9 months or 2 semesters of 4 and a half months each. Studies usually be­gin in September and end in June. Students take exams at the end of each semester. Twice a year students have vacations.

During the first two years the students study general engineering subjects, such as higher mathematics, physics, chemistry, basics of computer engineer­ing, social sciences and the humanities. In the third year the students begin to take specialized courses. Great importance is given to practical training. Stu­dents work in well-equipped laboratories and shops, computer centres of the university and in the fourth and fifth years they work at railway and industrial en­terprises of the Khabarovsk Territory.

More than 600 highly-qualified professors and instructors work at 50 de­partments of the university. Teaching is only part of their activity; they are in-

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volved in scientific work. Gifted students also take part in research activities un­der their tutors' guidance.

Our university covers a large territory. On the campus there are three build­ings for classes, six hostels, sport facilities, residential houses for teachers, a cafeteria and a polyclinic for teachers and students, a club house.

Higher education is not free now. Most of the students have to pay for their tuition. Those students, who pass their entrance examinations well, study free of charge.

It's very interesting to study at the university. You have a chance not only to get a higher education but also to make a lot of friends and develop your special talents.

Active vocabulary

1. education - образование

secondary education - среднее образование higher education - высшее образование vocational training - профессионально-техническое образование

2. higher educational institution, institution of higher learning - высшее учебное заведение

3. found (establish, set up ) a university - основать университет

4. research - исследование, научно-исследовательская работа research activities - научная деятельность

5. train - учить, обучать, готовить (специалистов)

6. teach somebody - учить, обучать кого-либо

teach something - учить чему-либо, преподавать что-либо

7. learn - учиться, учить что-либо, узнавать (= to find out) learn by heart - учить наизусть

learn by rote - зубрить

8. study - изучать, заниматься, учиться

study for an examination - готовиться к экзамену syn.: sit for an examination,

read for an examination

revise for an examination

9. study hard -упорно, напряженно учиться

study by fits and starts - учиться урывками, нерегулярно

10. full-time student - студент, занимающийся на дневном отделении part-time student - студент, занимающийся без отрыва от производ­ ства

11. apply for admission - подавать заявление о приеме

12. applicant-абитуриент

13. get enrolled (in) = to be enrolled (in) - быть зачисленным (в)

14. be admitted = be accepted (at) - быть принятым

15. be expelled from = be dismissed from - быть отчисленным (из)

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16. enter the university - поступить в университет

17. entrance exams - вступительные экзамены, entrance requirements-требования при поступлении

18. academic year-учебный год

19. semester = term - семестр

20. take (have) an exam - сдавать экзамен

21. pass an exam = get through, do well in - сдать экзамен

22. fail in an exam - не сдать экзамен

21. attend classes - посещать занятия miss classes - пропускать занятия

21. fall behind - отставать от (в учебе)

catch up with - догонять кого-либо в учебе

25. vacation- каникулы

26. subject- предмет, (учебная) дисциплина

general engineering subjects - общетехнические предметы social subjects (sciences) - обществоведение (экономика, социоло­гия, психология, политическая география)

(the) humanities - гуманитарные науки natural sciences - естественные науки

27. gifted (talented, capable) student-талантливый (способный) студент

28. campus - территория университета

on the campus - на территории университета

29. hostel = hall of residence ( Br.E.) - общежитие dormitory = dorm (Am.E.) - общежитие

30. tuition = teaching - обучение, плата за обучение tuition fee - плата за обучение

29. free (of charge) - бесплатно

30. first (second, third )- year student - первокурсник (второкурсник, )

29. graduate from university - заканчивать университет graduate - выпускник высшего учебного заведения

29. time-table = schedule - расписание

30. credit-зачет

31. methods of teaching - методы преподавания

32. classroom - аудитория

33. lecture hall - лекционный зал

34. well-equipped laboratory - хорошо оборудованная лаборатория

35. course of studies - курс обучения

36. department, chair- кафедра

37. head (chief) of a department - зав. кафедрой

38. dean - декан (факультета)

39. Rector- ректор (университета)

40. teaching staff- штат преподавателей

41. undergraduate student - студент 1 - 5 курсов

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47. (post)-graduate student- магистрант, аспирант

48. correspondence student = extra-mural student - студент-заочник

49. freshman (Am.E.) - первокурсник sophomore (Am.E.) - второкурсник

junior (Am.E.) - студент предпоследнего курса senior (Am.E.) - студент последнего курса

50. curriculum -учебный план

Comprehension questions

1. What university do you study at?

2. When was it founded?

3. What are the oldest faculties of our university?

4. How many students study at the university?

5. Do only full-time students study here?

6. What institute or faculty do you study at?

7. How long does training last?

8. How many semesters are there in the academic year?

9. How often do students take exams?

10. Do they have any vacation?

11. What subjects do the first and second-year students study?

12. When do students begin to take specialized lectures and practical courses?

13. Where do students get practical training?

14. Can students take part in research activities?

15. What facilities are located on the campus?

16. Do all students pay for their education?