- •Р.Г. Головчанская, м.Н. Горанская, э.С. Тайбакова take time to read
- •Contents
- •Improve your reading skills!
- •Table of levels and types of reading
- •Unit 1. Foreign language learning
- •The english language family tree
- •1) Read the text and draw the English language family tree.
- •2) Is Russian “a relative” of English? For whom is it easier to study English as a foreign language?
- •3) In Russia, the most popular foreign languages to study are English, German, French, and Spanish. Which of these languages would you choose to study after English?
- •The origins of english
- •1) Find the answers to these questions in the text:
- •The use of English as a global tongue
- •1) Read the text and say which problems are covered in it.
- •2) Express your opinion on the quotation “Everywhere people speak English, not just abroad.”
- •3) Would you like your children to study English at the age of seven, as in Switzerland? Talk about your own language learning experience.
- •Geographical distribution of english
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •Dialects and regional varieties of english
- •2) Say if the statements are true or false:
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •Pidgin english and creole english
- •1) Translate the first passage of the text into Russian.
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •4) Make a summary of the text.
- •1.7 Differences between american and british english
- •1) Use the examples from the text and disagree with / prove the statement: “American English and British English are mutually incomprehensible.”
- •2) Find more examples of the differences between American and British English.
- •1.8 Russian- english “false friends”
- •1) What does the title of the article mean?
- •2) Give a definition to the word combination “false friends.”
- •2) Find the definition of the word “misnomer” in the text.
- •2) Share your opinion on the simplification of a language.
- •1.11 Reasons for learning foreign languages
- •1) What are possible reasons for learning foreign languages?
- •2) Generalize the reasons for learning foreign languages based on the text examples.
- •2) Scan the names typed in bold and say who of them you would like to read about.
- •3) Support or decline the tricks suggested by the author of the text. Are they modern or out-of-date? Share your own tricks for learning foreign languages with the classmates.
- •1.14 A teaCher of engLish
- •1) Read the text aloud and answer the questions:
- •2) Answer the questions from task 1 about yourself.
- •3) Would you like to be a teacher? Why / Why not? Talk about your favourite teacher of mathematics, Russian, history, geography, pt, literature, or other subject.
- •1.15 Foreign languages in students’ lives
- •1) Find Russian equivalents to the extracurricular activities mentioned in the text.
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •2) Say what these answers refer to:
- •2.2 Tell us about your family!
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Prove that this family is supportive and united.
- •3) Name the useful words and expressions from the text to talk about your own family.
- •2.3 Where do you live?
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Draw the layout of the furniture in the living-room. Do you like it? What would you change in it?
- •2) Add more hobbies to these four categories.
- •2.5 Nea’s hobbies and interests
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Read the text and say if your hobbies are similar to Nea’s.
- •3) Choose the best answer to the questions:
- •2.6 Physical Exercise
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •2.7 Are you fond of pets?
- •1) Do you keep a pet? What pet is it? Why do you keep it? What irritates you about your pet? Have you had any funny situations that happened to your pets?
- •2) Find adjectives that describe pets in the text.
- •3) Find expressions that show your personal opinion in the text.
- •2.8 Choosing a pen pal
- •1) Read about Helga and choose a pen pal for her.
- •2) Which of these people would you choose as a pen pal?
- •3) Provide real-life examples to prove that you have (or don’t have) the qualities mentioned in the description of your zodiac sign.
- •4) Read the descriptions of other zodiac signs and find more adjectives to characterize yourself.
- •2.10 What is your typical day like?
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Agree or disagree with the statements from the text:
- •3) Later that evening Barbara and Catherine tell their husbands about the news they have learned. What do they say to their husbands?
- •2.12 An interview with a famous person
- •1) Have you ever interviewed people or been interviewed?
- •2) Choose the correct answer to the questions:
- •2.13 What’s in your office?
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Read the dialog and say if you would like to have an office similar to Maria’s.
- •3) Draw a plan of Maria’s office.
- •4) Choose the best answer (true, false or doesn’t say) to the questions:
- •2.14 A typical manager’s desk and a typical secretary’s desk
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Choose the best answer to the questions:
- •3) Say if the statements are true or false:
- •2.15 My office
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Choose the best answer to the questions:
- •2.16 Two workers in an office
- •1) Answer these personal questions:
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •2.17 The Rocks
- •1) Read the text and translate it into Russian.
- •2) Answer the following questions:
- •2.18 The Secrets of Straight-a Students
- •2) Read the text and copy out all the secrets of straight-a students. Make a comment whether you agree or disagree with them.
- •3) Add anything from your own experience that works well for your studies.
- •2.19 The history of universities
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Make a summary of the text on the history of universities in your own words.
- •2.20 The karelian branch of the north-west academy of public administration in petrozavodsk
- •2) Draw the scheme of the organizational hierarchy of the Karelian Branch of the North-West Academy of Public Administration in Petrozavodsk.
- •2) Compare the facilities provided by the Ukrainian Academy of Law and by the Karelian Branch of the North-West Academy of Public Administration in Petrozavodsk.
- •3) Use the text to talk about your studies at the Karelian Branch of the North-West Academy of Public Administration in Petrozavodsk.
- •2.22 Living in The library
- •1) Read the title of the text and predict what it will be about.
- •2) Arrange the sentences in the logical order:
- •3) Interview your neighbour:
- •2.23 Welcome to the university of arizona library
- •1) Find the words that belong to the topic “a library” in the text.
- •2) Shorten the text on the University of Arizona Library.
- •3) Compare the library facilities provided by the University of Arizona Library and by the Karelian Branch of the North-West Academy of Public Administration in Petrozavodsk.
- •2.24 A homely face
- •1) Read the text and translate the third paragraph of the text in writing.
- •2) Choose the correct answer:
- •2.25 A helpful directory
- •1) What helpful directories do you know?
- •2) Say if the following statements are correct.
- •2.26 Roses
- •1) Before reading, try to guess if the text refers to roses as things to eat; gifts for loved ones; medicine and drinks; all of the above?
- •2) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify your answer.
- •4) Which of the summaries renders the content of the article you have read the most adequately:
- •2.28 The intruder in the salad
- •1) Paraphrase the heading using substitute words.
- •2) Read the text and say whether the following questions are covered in it:
- •4) Is the text information up-to-date or out-of-date?
- •2.29 A British spy
- •1) Read the text and name the statements which are true.
- •2) Put the following events in the right order:
- •2.30 Flights and fares
- •1) Study the following words and guess what this text may be about. Read the article.
- •2) Imagine you are a participant in the situations given below. Answer the questions in each situation.
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •3) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •2.32 Three Young Men, Death and a Bag of Gold
- •1) Read the text and point out the sentences corresponding to the content of the story:
- •2) Make up an outline of the story in writing.
- •2.33 The Very Fine Clock
- •1) Read the text and point out the sentences corresponding to its content:
- •2) Is this fairy tale about the clock?
- •2.34 Dog Star
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •3) Agree or disagree with the following statements:
- •4) Learn the poem you like by heart. It will be always with you then.
- •5) If you can and would like to, translate the poem you like in verse.
- •6) Read two examples of students’ translations of the poem “Dust of Snow” (see below) by Robert Frost. Which one do you like more?
- •Unit 3. Countrystudy
- •4) Which of the following summaries renders the content of the text more adequately?
- •3.2 The queen
- •1) Who is the Queen of Great Britain? What is her role in the country? Have you seen any films or read books about the Queen?
- •2) Read the text and answer the following questions:
- •3) Agree or disagree with the following statements and justify your point of view:
- •4) Among the following headings choose the most suitable for this text:
- •3.3 London
- •1) Which of these sentences may be included into the text?
- •2) What title could you give to the third paragraph?
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •3.5 The universities of oxford and cambridge
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Make a five-line summary of the text.
- •3.6 J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •3) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •3.7 Halloween
- •1) When did the holiday “Halloween” appear in our culture? What do people celebrate during Halloween? What is your attitude towards this holiday?
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •3) Among the suggested titles choose the most suitable for this text.
- •3.8 Valentine’s day
- •1) When did the holiday Valentine’s Day appear in our culture? What is the essence of this holiday? How is it celebrated?
- •2) Read the text and make a list of legends of the origin of Valentine’s Day.
- •3) Find the following information:
- •3.9 St. Patrick’s Day
- •1) Skim the text and make a brief outline of it.
- •2) What questions does the text deal with? Is the text information up-to-date or out-of-date?
- •3.10 Why do the British drive on the left?
- •1) How does driving in Britain differ from that in Europe?
- •2) Scan the text and name the paragraphs which give the following information:
- •3) Use the Internet and find out about the history of the driving side in Russia.
- •3.11 The united states of america
- •1) What comes first to your mind when you hear “the United States of America”? Have you, your friends or relatives been to the United States? What was the most memorable impression of the country?
- •2) Look through the text and find:
- •3.12 Washington, d.C.
- •1) What is the capital of the usa? What kind of city is it? What do you know about it? What places of interest are there?
- •2) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify your answer:
- •3) Make a list of proper names and be ready to explain what is what and who is who.
- •3.14 Symbols of the usa
- •2) Name the statements which are true:
- •3.15 The system of government in the usa
- •2) Write a summary of the text.
- •3.16 The President of the usa
- •1) Do you know who the current President of the usa is? Is he a Democrat or a Republican? Do you know anything about his educational, ethnic or social background?
- •2) Read and translate the first text into Russian.
- •3) Read and translate the second text and indicate the differences between the two texts. Thomas Jefferson
- •3.17 George Washington
- •1) What do you know of George Washington? What was he (politician, farmer, military officer, inventor, president, commander-in chief)? How does the country commemorate him?
- •2) Decide which of the following sentences may be included into this text:
- •3.18 John Kennedy
- •1) Put the following paragraphs in the proper order to get a cohesive text.
- •2) What facts of the Kennedy’s family do you know? Write down a few sentences about the Kennedys.
- •3) Put the given sentences into the proper places in the text:
- •3.19 Higher education in the united states
- •3) Agree or disagree with the statements:
- •4) Name the difference in the establishment of Russian and American universities.
- •3.20 Culture of the united states
- •1) What comes to your mind first when you hear the words “American culture”? What cultures, do you think, influenced American culture most of all?
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •3.21 George Gershwin
- •2) Read the text and correct the given outline of it:
- •3) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify your answer:
- •3.22 Hollywood and the motion picture industry
- •1) What first comes to your mind when you hear the word “Hollywood”? Where is it located? What internationally famous award does Hollywood present? Who is awarded with it?
- •2) Skim the text and say what the article is about.
- •3) Point out the ideas expressed in each paragraph.
- •4) Make up a brief outline of the text.
- •3.23 American food
- •1) Read the text and answer the following questions:
- •2) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •3) Compare the food in America, Italy, Russia and Japan. What do you think the differences in cuisine, portions, and the prices are?
- •3.24 Fashion in the usa
- •1) What items of clothing do you expect to see in the streets of New York? In restaurants of America? On a rugby field?
- •2) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify your answer:
- •3.25 Sports in the us
- •1) Do you know the most popular sports in the usa? Compare them with our country’s.
- •2) Among the following headings circle the most suitable one for this text:
- •3.27Australia and new zealand
- •1) Scan the text and give answer to the questions:
- •2) Make a list of all proper names and dates from the text and explain what they refer to.
- •3.28 Russia
- •1) What do you know about your native country (situation, climate, natural resources, population, political organization, history, culture)?
- •2) Read the text and make up its outline in writing.
- •3) Copy out all the figures from the text and explain what they refer to.
- •3.29 Russian Culture
- •1) What comes to your mind first when you hear the words “Russian culture”? What aspects of world culture did Russian culture make the greatest contribution to?
- •3) Which of the summaries renders the content of the text most adequately?
- •3.30 The Republic of Karelia
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Say whether the statements below are true or false and justify your answer:
- •3.31 Petrozavodsk
- •1) Is Petrozavodsk your native city? What do you like most of all in Petrozavodsk? What places of interest would you show to a newcomer?
- •2) Point out the sentences corresponding to the text’s content:
- •3.32 We are different
- •1) Have you ever been to a foreign country? Did you experience a culture gap? Share your experience.
- •2) Answer the given questions and check yourself:
- •4) What tips would you give to a person who is going to a foreign country as a tourist?
- •2) Say whether the statements are true or false:
- •3) Which of these statements may be included into the text?
- •4.3 Business with Italy
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •3) Correct the given outline of the text:
- •4.4 “Europa Marketing”
- •1) Read the text and decide what heading, from the given below, would you use instead of “europa marketing?”
- •2) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •4.5 Mr. Brown’s Firm
- •1) Read the text and choose the most suitable heading, from the given below, instead of “Mr. Brown’s Firm”:
- •2) Which of the suggested statements may be included into the text?
- •3) Decide what heading, from the given below, would you choose instead of “the bp group”?
- •4) Translate the text into Russian in writing.
- •4.7 The Founder of ibm
- •1) Decide what heading, from the given below, would you choose instead of “the founder of ibm”:
- •2) Name the statements which are true:
- •3) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •2) Look through the text and find:
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •4) Read and translate the text into Russian in writing.
- •4.9 Business organizations
- •1) What business organizations do you know? Do you work in one of them, by any chance? What kind of business organization is it?
- •3) Which of the summaries renders the content the most adequately?
- •4.10 The target market
- •2) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •4.11 Distribution
- •1) Read the following text and say whether the following statements are true or false. Prove your opinion:
- •2) Name the items indicating functions of successful distribution:
- •4.12 Basic terms of delivery
- •1) Read the heading and the subheadings and say what the article is about.
- •2) Say whether the questions below are covered in the text:
- •4.13 Trocaire voices concerns for Far East toy makers
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •3) Write a summary of the text.
- •4.14 Ratings rising for talk show hosts on Internet
- •1) Before reading the text answer the following questions:
- •3) Read the text and put the provided statements in the proper order:
- •4.15 Someone Somewhere Has You Taped
- •1) Skim through the text and say in one sentence what the message of the text is.
- •2) Scan the text for details.
- •3) Answer the questions which follow:
- •3) Choose the proper heading for this parable out of the given ones:
- •4) Fill in the gaps in this table, contrasting the two societies described in the text. Some ideas are not formulated in the text since they are clear from the context.
- •5) Write the end of the story (one or two paragraphs).
- •4.16. 2 The plight of american industry today
- •1) Read the text and decide whether these questions are covered in it:
- •2) Read the text and correct the given outline of it:
- •4.16.3 How we can get back on course
- •1) Read the text and the statements. Put them in the order they are in the text:
- •2) What is the most adequate summary of the text?
- •4.16.4 Who is w. Edwards deming?
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify your answer:
- •4.16. 5 The extended process
- •1) Before reading the text answer the questions:
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •4.16. 6 Quality
- •1) What do you understand by the word “quality?” What role does it play in life? What place does it occupy in the processes we are engaged in?
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •4.16.7 Common and special variation
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •3) Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements:
- •4.16.8 Management’s and worker’s responsibilities
- •1) Before reading the text, answer the following questions:
- •2) Read the text and fill in the gaps in the table:
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •4.16.9 The fourteen points
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Translate “the 14 points” into Russian in writing.
- •4.16.10 How to select the right statistician
- •1) Before reading the text answer the suggested questions:
- •2) Look through the text and say what each paragraph is about.
- •3) Find the paragraph which lists professionally necessary qualities of a statistician.
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •3) Point out the sentences corresponding to its content:
- •4) Answer the following questions:
- •4.19 Job benefits
- •4.20 The american dream
- •2) Everybody knows the expression “the American dream.. Does Russia have a national dream? What is it?
- •3) Look through the text and say what ideas each paragraph is devoted to.
- •4) Answer the following questions:
- •3) Look through the text again and name the sentences which are true:
- •4.22 Sleeping at the office on Wall Street
- •2) Skim the text and name the “signal words” that help the author to introduce a new idea, to develop the idea, to provide examples, to explain the idea, to make a conclusion.
- •3) Name the paragraphs which give the answers to these questions:
- •4.23 Make the most of business trips
- •1) Look through the text and make a supposition which category of readers this text will be interesting for.
- •2) Read the text and say whether the given sentences are true or false and justify your answer:
- •4.24 How to Behaive Appropriately on a Business Trip
- •1) Before reading the text make a list of tips on how to behave on a business trip.
- •2) Scan the text and make a supposition which category of readers this text will be interesting for.
- •3) Look through the text and say which of the tips you agree or disagree with. What tips can you add?
- •4.25 Classic designs with presents in mind
- •2) Skim the text and make a list of things recommended as gifts for an executive.
- •4.26 Bulletin Board
- •1) Have you ever sent a message to a bulletin board? What kind of message was it? Do you read messages left by other people? Is it of any use to you or only a waste of time?
- •2) Look at the heading and the subheadings in the text and say what questions they are devoted to.
- •3) Read the text and put the statements from it in the proper order:
- •Unit 5. Public administration
- •5.1 The term “public administration”
- •1) What do you know about the profession of a civil servant? What adjectives can you use to describe this profession?
- •5) Answer the questions on the text:
- •5.2 History of public administration
- •1) Why is it important to study the history of public administration? What do you know about the origins of public administration?
- •4) Answer the questions on the text:
- •5) Summarize the text.
- •5.3 Development of public administration
- •In prussia
- •1) Read texts 5.3 – 5.8 and fill in the table “Development of modern public administration in different countries”:
- •3) Simplify the text in your own words.
- •5.4 Development of public administration
- •In france
- •1) Read this text and do task 1 for text 5.3.
- •2) Name the paragraphs which give information on:
- •3) Write an annotation to the text.
- •5.5 Development of public administration
- •In the british empire
- •1) Read this text and do task 1 for text 5.3.
- •4) Make a detailed plan of the text.
- •5.7 Development of public administration
- •In the east
- •1) Read this text and do task 1 for text 5.3.
- •2) What is common between the civil services in China and Japan? In what way is the Eastern civil service different from the Western one?
- •4) Make a brief plan of the text.
- •5.9 Classical principles of public administration
- •1) Name the paragraphs which give information on classical principles of public administration.
- •2) Find a definition to the term “meritocracy.”
- •2) State the main idea of the text.
- •3) Write an annotation to the texts “Classical Principles of Public Administration” and “Modern Principles of Public Administration.”
- •5.11 Importance of human relations
- •1) Read the title of the text and say whether it is connected with the previous and the following texts.
- •2) Determine which problems are discussed in the text.
- •4) Make a list of proper names and events relating to the topic “Education in the sphere of public administration.”
- •5.13 Conditions of service
- •1) Would you read the text further if you were interested in the topic “Civil service”?
- •2) Name “the signal words” which help the author of the text to introduce a new idea, to develop the idea, to provide the idea with examples, to explain the idea, and to make a conclusion.
- •3) Where and how can you use the text information? Which information from the text is redundant?
- •4) Write an annotation to the text.
- •5.14 Civil service in the united states of america
- •3) Find the peculiarities of American civil service in comparison with Russian civil service.
- •4) Make a plan of the text and talk about the development of American civil service.
- •5.15 Civil service in canada
- •1) Read the text and say what problem Canadian civil service is facing nowadays.
- •2) Draw a scheme of Canadian civil service. Compare this scheme with the one of a different country of your choice.
- •3) Answer the questions on the text:
- •5.16 Civil service in brazil
- •1) Read the text and ask five questions on its content to your neighbour.
- •2) Enlarge the text adding your opinion on Brazilian civil service.
- •5.17 Civil service in france
- •1) Read the text and make a scheme of the French Civil Service. Is it similar to the system of Russian civil service?
- •2) The text describes the duties of French civil servants. Are they applicable to Russian civil servants?
- •3) Say if the statements are true or false:
- •5.18 Civil service in germany
- •1) Read the text and compare the system of civil service in Germany with that of other countries.
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •5.19 Civil service in the european union
- •1) Read the text and draw the structure of the European civil service.
- •2) Answer the questions on the text:
- •2) Write a summary of the text in your own words.
- •3) Read text 5.22 “The Mandarins of Whitehall” and say what else you have learnt about British civil service.
- •5.21 Grades in civil service in the uk
- •1) Look through the text and make a supposition which category of readers this text will be interesting for.
- •2) Which paragraph of the text:
- •3) Find professionally-relevant terms in the text. Find Russian equivalents to them.
- •5.22 The mandarins of whitehall
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Translate the second paragraph of the text and give your opinion on the sentence “Civil servants in the uk stay in the same department for years.”
- •3) Read the text “Vivian Brown: a British Civil Servant” and prove that the main character is a typical British civil servant.
- •5.23 Vivian brown: a british civil servant
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Name the words and expressions that belong to the topic “work.”
- •3) Correct the given outline of the text:
- •5.25 Susan clarke: a girl from the town hall
- •1) Put the sentences into logical order:
- •2) Answer the questions to the text:
- •3) Are the statements true or false?
- •5.26 What is the fast stream?
- •2) List the requirements for Fast Stream candidates and the job responsibilities of Fast Streamers.
- •2) Say whether the given statements are true or false. Justify your answer:
- •3) Now that you’ve read the text, can you answer the questions in task 1?
- •6.1.2 The ancient oriental mathematics
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Read the text and find:
- •6.1.3 Mathematics in greece and rome
- •2) Does Hellenism refer to Rome or Greece?
- •4) Which of the sentences may be included into this text?
- •5) Name the paragraphs which give answers to these questions:
- •6.2 The origin of the word “money”
- •1) Read the title and the words from the text (moneta, goddess Juno, Juno Moneta, Rome, temple, the mint) and guess what this text is about.
- •2) Say if the statements are true, false or there is no evidence in the text:
- •6.3 The history of money
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •2) Read the text the second time and put the sentences into the proper order:
- •6.4 Electronic money
- •1) Can you name advantages and disadvantages of using electronic money?
- •3) The text contains the description of electronic money implementation ez-Link, and how it is used. Find this information in the text.
- •6.5 British money
- •1) Recollect what names of British money you know. Have you ever seen or held it in your hands? Could you describe the appearance of British money?
- •2) Read the text and name the paragraphs which give the answers to these questions:
- •6.6 American money
- •1) Recollect everything you know about American paper money (the name, the color, the sign, the pictures, the rate of exchange).
- •2) Have you ever seen American coins? Where?
- •3) Name the statements which are true:
- •6.7 The euro
- •1) Before reading the text answer the questions:
- •2) Find the information on these points in the text:
- •6.8 Money collecting
- •2) Read the heading, look through the text and say what the article is about.
- •3) Say if these questions are covered in the text:
- •6.9 Counterfeiting of money
- •1) Read the text and say what the most adequate summary of the text is:
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •6.10 Quiz “are you a spender or a saver?”
- •Keys to the quiz “are you a spender or a saver?”
- •6.11 Tips on saving money
- •2) Agree or disagree with the given statements and explain your attitude:
- •3) Correct the outline of the text:
- •4) Skim the text again and say whether these questions are covered in it.
- •6.14 Banks
- •2) Read and translate the text into Russian.
- •6.15 What are banks for?
- •2) Look through the text and say what two large parts it consists of. Identify them and give them subheadings. What information from the text doesn’t fit either of the two parts?
- •3) Is the text information up-to-date or out-of-date? Prove your point of view.
- •3) What other heading would you choose for this text instead of “bank role” out of the following:
- •6.17 Central banks
- •1) What is the role of the Central Bank in the Russian Federation? Where are the headquarters of the Central Bank in Moscow (Petrozavodsk)? What bank do you get your salary in?
- •6.18 Demand grows for banking from home
- •3) Say if the statements are true, false or there is no evidence in the text:
- •6.19 At the bank
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Ask questions to these answers:
- •6.20 Getting a loan
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Ask questions to the answers:
- •6.21 Credit card
- •1) Do you have a credit card? Is it convenient to have and use it?
- •2) Scan the text and find the information on:
- •3) Name the paragraphs containing information on:
- •6.22 Flexible mortgages
- •1) What are advantages and disadvantages of having a mortgage?
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •4) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •6.23 Fundraising Basics
- •1) Have you ever participated in the fundraising activities? What did you raise money for? Was it difficult to persuade people to donate money for that purpose?
- •2) The text contains a number of words to describe fundraising activities, such as donation, fundraising, etc. How many can you find?
- •5.24 A job opening at a bank
- •1) Read the text quickly and answer the questions:
- •The bank
- •Profile of the desired candidate
- •2) Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
- •6.25 The public sector in finland
- •2) What spheres of taxation in Finland would you like to compare with those in the Russian Federation?
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •6.26 Benefits better, claims welfare
- •1) Study the heading and the words and guess what this article is about.
- •2) Read the article and answer the questions:
- •3) Which sentences correspond to the content of the article?
- •6.27 There are pensions and there are eagle star pensions
- •1) Read the text and study the table.
- •6.28 Price discrimination
- •2) Look through the text and say in what spheres of life discrimination is common.
- •3) Give your own examples of price discrimination.
- •4) (Перевод текста “there are pensions, and there are eagle star pensions”)
- •6.29 Act invests in london court
- •3) Read the article paying special attention to names of the countries and figures.
- •6.31 Accountancy firms to merge
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •6.32 Accounting
- •6.32.1 History of accounting
- •1) Before reading the text answer the questions:
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •6.32.2 Accounting as a social science
- •1) Read the heading and the subheadings and say what this text is about.
- •2) Skim the text (read it quickly) and say if these questions are covered in it:
- •3) Give your own examples to the main ideas expressed in the text.
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •6.32.4 Accounting as an information system
- •2) Name the statements that are true:
- •6.32.5 Cash
- •1) Do you prefer to keep cash on hand or in a bank? Why?
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •Unit 7. Law
- •7.1 The Government and Policy of the Russian Federation
- •1) Read the text and translate it into Russian.
- •2) The text contains a number of words to describe the structure of the Russian Federation. How many can you find?
- •2) What adjectives are used to describe a judge?
- •3) Name the paragraphs which give answers to the questions below:
- •5) Where and how can you use the text information?
- •7.5 The Political System of the usa
- •1) Read the heading of the text and say whether it is connected with the previous and the following texts.
- •2) Read the text and say whether the following topics are covered in it:
- •3) What are the differences between the English and American political systems (refer to Text 7.19).
- •4) Make a brief plan of the text.
- •7.6 The Separation of Powers in the usa
- •1) Read the text and answer the question: “What is the role of the us Constitution in creating the so called “a more perfect union?”
- •2) Name the statements which are true:
- •3) Compare the Constitution of the usa and the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Is there anything in common between the two Constitutions?
- •7.7 The President of the usa
- •1) Read the text and answer the question: “Can you be the President of the usa?”
- •2) Answer the questions concerning the current President of the usa:
- •7.8 Half a Million Lawyers in the usa
- •1) What does the title of the text imply?
- •2) Find the definition of the word “attorney” in the dictionary.
- •3) Prove that it is often the justices, rather than the politicians, “who make the big decisions that will change people’s daily lives” in the usa.
- •7.9 Jury duty
- •1) Answer the questions:
- •2) Answer the questions:
- •7.10 Trial by jury
- •1) What title might be good for this selection?
- •2) Could you comment on the phrase “Trial by jury may not be a perfect system of administering criminal justice”?
- •3) Answer the questions:
- •7.11 The Federal Bureau of Investigation
- •1) Look through the text and make a supposition which category of readers this text will be interesting for. Prove your supposition.
- •2) Name the paragraphs which give answers to these questions:
- •4) Look through the texts you’ve already read and choose the facts on the topic “The fbi Agents.”
- •7.12 Fbi’s investigations
- •1) Before reading the text, exchange the information on the fbi that you have with your group mates.
- •2) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •4) Find the terms related to the types of crime in the text.
- •7.13 The September 11 Attacks
- •1) What does the title of the text imply?
- •2) Which of the following sentences may be included into this text?
- •3) Make up an outline of the text in writing.
- •4) Find information on:
- •7.15 Detectives and their work
- •1) Read and translate the sentences in italics into Russian.
- •2) In the text the writer uses the following phrase: “The most valuable evidence may be worthless if inefficiently handled.” What does it mean?
- •2) In the text the writer uses the following phrase: “a jury trial is really drama being written and produced simultaneously.” What does the writer mean?
- •7.17 Bill Napolitano - a New York City Cop
- •1) Read the text and say what has changed in crime.
- •2) What is odd in the sentences?
- •7.18 Escape plot
- •1) Say whether the problem of a prison security is covered in this text.
- •2) Find the reasons for a full-scale search of the prison near York in the text.
- •3) Find professionally-relevant terms in the text. Define them.
- •4) Put the events in the correct / logical order:
- •7.19 Outlines of constitutional law
- •1) Look through the text and make a supposition which category of readers it will be interesting for. Prove your supposition.
- •3) Say what aspects are covered as “differences” between the English and American Constitutions.
- •4) Find professionally-relevant terms in the text. Define them.
- •7.20 Employment law in england
- •1) Read the text and translate it into Russian.
- •2) The text contains a number of documents related to employment issues. How many can you find?
- •3) What are the stages for labour issues appellation in Great Britain?
- •7.21 Employment
- •1) Read the text.
- •2) Answer the questions to the text:
- •5) Write a summary of the text.
- •4) Is the text information up-to-date or out-of-date?
- •3) Name the paragraphs which give answers to the questions:
- •4) Give your own examples to the main ideas expressed in the text.
- •3) Which information from the text is redundant?
- •7.26 Common-law marriage
- •1) Say whether the text heading is connected with the previous and the following texts.
- •2) Look through the text and count how many times the keywords from the heading are used in the text.
- •3) Do jurisdictions distinguish common law spouses from married partners? In what countries?
- •4) Give illustration to the main ideas expressed in the text based on the examples of the country you live in / your neighbour country / the country you have been to.
- •7.27 A dream house
- •1) Read the text and say if you have ever had problems similar to the ones mentioned in the text.
- •2) Make a list of words which are essential for retelling the text.
- •2) Name the statements which are true:
- •3) What institutions dealing with law enforcement are mentioned in the text?
- •2) Outline the difference of giving or receiving a gift in different countries.
- •4) Read out the facts from the text on the topic “Contracts against Gambling.”
- •5) Give a logical conclusion to the text.
- •7.32 A Taste of Democracy
- •1) Read the text and answer the questions:
- •3) Express your opinion on the election campaigns in your country. Table of levels and types of reading
- •References
3) Answer the questions:
a) What positions require more than two degrees in related disciplines?
b) Is practical experience necessary for all positions?
c) How about communication and interpersonal skills? What positions require them?
4) Imagine you have a degree in Computer Science. What position would you apply for? Why?
4.18 JOB DESCRIPTION
(EXTRACT FROM “THE FIRM” BY J. GRISHAM)
1) Before reading the text answer these questions:
a) What’s your job? How long have you been at your job?
b) Do you remember the interview before you were hired?
c) What kind of organization do you work for?
2) Look through the text and name the paragraphs containing information on or a definition of:
a) why Mitchell Y. McDeere chose Harvard for studying;
b) a dossier on him from ex-CIA agents;
c) his family;
d) his wife;
e) requirements of moral qualities of those the firm hires;
f) his sudden change in the mood and a strong desire to be hired by this firm;
g) the most profitable way to operate;
h) the productive lawyers.
(1) The senior partner studied the resume for the hundredth time and again found nothing he disliked about Mitchell Y. McDeere, at least not on paper. He had the brains, the ambition, the good looks. And he was hungry; with his background, he had to be. He was married, and that was mandatory. The firm had never hired an unmarried lawyer, and it frowned heavily on divorce, as well as womanizing and drinking. Drug testing was in the contract. He had a degree in accounting, passed the CPA exam the first time he took it and wanted to be a tax lawyer, which of course was a requirement with a tax firm. He was white, and the firm had never hired a black. They managed this by being secretive and clubbish and never soliciting job applications. Other firms solicited, and hired blacks. This firm recruited and remained lily white. Plus, the firm was in Memphis, of all places, and the top blacks wanted New York or Washington or Chicago. McDeere was a male, and there were no women in the firm. That mistake had been made in the mid-seventies when they recruited the number one grad from Harvard, who happened to be a she and a wizard at taxation. She lasted four turbulent years and was killed in a car wreck.
(2) He looked good, on paper. He was their top choice. In fact, for this year there were no other prospects. The list was very short. It was McDeere or no one.
(3)The managing partner, Royce McKnight, studied a dossier labeled “Mitchell Y. McDeere - Harvard.” An inch thick with small print and a few photographs, it had been prepared by some ex-CIA agents in a private intelligence outfit in Bethesda. They were clients of the firm and each year did the investigating for no fee. It was easy work, they said, checking out unsuspecting law students. They learned, for instance, that he preferred to leave the Northeast, that he was holding three job offers, two in New York and one in Chicago, and that the highest offer was $76,000 and the lowest was $68,000. He was in demand. He had been given the opportunity to cheat on a securities exam during his second year. He declined, and made the highest grade in the class. Two months ago he had been offered cocaine at a law school party. He said no and left when everyone began snorting. He drank an occasional beer, but drinking was expensive and he had no money. He owed close to $23,000 in student loans. He was hungry. McDeere was their man.
(4) Precisely at two-thirty someone knocked on the door. Lamar looked at the partners, who slid the resume and dossier into an open briefcase. All three reached for their jackets. Lamar buttoned his top button and opened the door.
“Mitchell McDeere?” he asked with a huge smile and a hand thrust forward.
“Yes.” They shook hands violently.
“Nice to meet you, Mitchell. I’m Lamar Quin.”
“My pleasure. Please call me Mitch.” He stepped inside and quickly surveyed the spacious room.
“Sure, Mitch.”
(5) Lamar grabbed his shoulder and led him across the suite, where the partners introduced themselves. They were exceedingly warm and cordial. They offered him coffee, then water. They sat around a shiny mahogany conference table and exchanged pleasantries. McDeere unbuttoned his coat and crossed his legs. He was now a seasoned veteran in the search for employment, and he knew they wanted him. He relaxed. With three job offers from three of the most prestigious firms in the country, he did not need this interview, this firm. He could afford to be a little overconfident now. He was there out of curiosity. And he longed for warmer weather.
(6) Oliver Lambert, the senior partner, leaned forward on his elbows and took control of the preliminary chitchat. He was glib and engaging with a mellow, almost professional baritone. At sixty-one, he was the grandfather of the firm and also handled the recruiting, and it was his mission to sign Mitchell Y. McDeere.
(7) “Are you tired of interviewing?” asked Oliver Lambert.
“Not really. It’s part of it.”
Yes, yes, they all agreed.
“May I ask a question? “Mitch asked.
“Certainly.”
“Sure.”
“Anything.”
“Why are we interviewing in this hotel room? The other firms interview on campus through the placement office.”
“Good question.” They all nodded and looked at each other and agreed it was a good question.
“Fair enough. What kind of firm is it?”
“Tax. Some securities, real estate and banking, but eighty percent is tax work. That’s why we wanted to meet you, Mitch. You have an incredibly strong tax background.”
“Why’d you go to Western Kentucky?” asked Oliver Lambert.
“Simple. They offered me a full scholarship to play football. Had it not been for that, college would've been impossible.”
“Tell us about your family.”
“Why is that important?”
“It’s very important to us, Mitch,” Royce McKnight said warmly.
(8) They all say that, thought McDeere. “Okay, my father was killed in the coal mines when I was seven years old. My mother remarried and lives in Florida. I had two brothers. Rusty was killed in Vietnam. I have a brother named Ray McDeere.”
(9) “Mitch, our firm is in Memphis,” Lamar said. “Does that bother you?”
“Not at all. I'm not fond of cold weather.”
“Have you ever been to Memphis?”
“No.”
“We’ll have you down soon. You’ll love it.”
(10) Mitch smiled and nodded and played along. Were these guys serious? How could he consider such a small firm in such a small town when Wall Street was waiting?
“How are you ranked in your class?” Mr. .Lambert asked.
“Top five.” Not top five percent, but top five. That was enough of an answer for all of them. Top five out of three hundred.
“Why did you select Harvard?”
“Actually, Harvard selected me. I applied at several schools and was accepted everywhere. Harvard offered more financial assistance. I thought it was the best school. Still do.”
“You’ve done quite well here, Mitch,” Mr. Lambert said, admiring the resume. The dossier was in the briefcase, under the table.
“Thank you. I've worked hard.”
“You made extremely high grades in your tax and securities courses.” “That’s where my interest lies.”
“We’ve reviewed your writing sample, and it’s quite impressive.”
“Thank you. I enjoy research.”
(11) They nodded and acknowledged this oblivious lie. It was part of the ritual. No law student or lawyer in his right mind enjoyed research, yet, without fail, every prospective associate professed a deep love for the library.
(12) “Tell us about your wife,” Royce McKnight said, almost meekly. They braced for another reprimand. But it was a standard, no sacred area explored by every firm.
“Her name is Abby. She has a degree in elementary education from Western Kentucky. We graduated one week and got married the next. For the past three years she’s taught at a private kindergarten near Boston College.”
“And is the marriage -“
“We’re very happy. We’ve known each other since high school.”
(13) “What position did you play?” asked Lamar, in the direction of less sensitive matters.
“Quarterback. I was heavily recruited until I messed up a knee in my last high school game. Everyone disappeared except Western Kentucky. I played off and on for four years, even started some as a junior, but the knee would never hold up.”
“How’d you make straight A’s and play football?”
“I put the books first.”
(14) Oliver Lambert cleared his throat and decided to get personal again. “Mitch, our firm frowns on drinking and chasing women. We’re not a bunch of Holy Rollers, but we put business ahead of everything. We keep low profiles and we work very hard. And we make plenty of money.”
“I can live with all that.”
“We reserve the right to test any member of the firm for drug use.”
“I don’t use drugs.”
“Good. What’s your religious affiliation?”
“Methodist.”
“Good. You’ll find a wide variety in our firm. Catholics, Baptists, Episcopalians. It’s really none of our business, but we like to know. We want stable families. Happy lawyers are productive lawyers. That’s why we ask these questions.”
Mitch smiled and nodded. He’d heard this before.
(15) The three looked at each other, then at Mitch. This meant they had reached the point in the interview where the interviewee was supposed to ask one or two intelligent questions. Mitch recrossed his legs. Money, that was the big question, particularly how it compared to his other offers. If it isn’t enough, thought Mitch, then it was nice to meet you fellas. If the pay is attractive, then we can discuss families and marriages and football and churches. But, he knew, like all the other firms they had to shadowbox around the issue until things got awkward and it was apparent they had discussed everything in the world but money. So, hit them with a soft question first.
(16) “What type of work will I do initially?”
They nodded and approved of the question. Lambert and McKnight looked at Lamar. This answer was his.
“We have something similar to a two-year apprenticeship, although we don’t call it that. We’ll send you all over the country to tax seminars. Your education is far from over. You’ll spend two weeks next winter in Washington at the American Tax Institute. We take great pride in our technical expertise, and the training is continual, for all of us. If you want to pursue a master’s in taxation, we’ll pay for it. As far as practicing law, it won’t be very exciting for the first two years. You’ll do a lot of research and generally boring stuff. But you’ll be paid handsomely.”
(17) “How much?”
Lamar looked at Royce McKnight, who eyed Mitch and said, “We’ll discuss the compensation and other benefits when you come to Memphis.”
“I want a ballpark figure or I may not come to Memphis.” He smiled, arrogant but cordial. He spoke like a man with three job offers.
The partners smiled at each other, and Mr. Lambert spoke first. “Okay. A base salary of eighty thousand the first year, plus bonuses. Eighty-five the second year, plus bonuses. A low-interest mortgage so you can buy a home. Two country club memberships. And a new BMW. You pick the color, of course.”
They focused on his lips, and waited for the wrinkles to form on his cheeks and the teeth to break through. He tried to conceal a smile, but it was impossible. He chuckled.
“That’s incredible,” he mumbled. Eighty thousand in Memphis equaled a hundred and twenty thousand in New York. Did the man say BMW! His Mazda hatchback had a million miles on it and for the moment had to be jump-started while he saved for a rebuilt starter.
“Plus a few more fringes we’ll be glad to discuss in Memphis.”
Suddenly he had a strong desire to visit Memphis. Wasn’t it by the river?
(18) The smile vanished and he regained his composure. He looked sternly, importantly at Oliver Lambert and said, as if he’d forgotten about the money and the home and the BMW, “Tell me about your firm.”
“Forty-one lawyers. Last year we earned more per lawyer than any firm our size or larger. That includes every big firm in the country. We take only rich clients - corporations, banks and wealthy people who pay our healthy fees and never complain. We’ve developed a specialty in international taxation, and it's both exciting and very profitable. We deal only with people who can pay.”
(19) “How long does it take to make partner?”
“On the average, ten years, and it’s a hard ten years. It’s not unusual for our partners to earn half a million a year, and most retire before they’re fifty. You’ve got to pay your dues, put in eighty-hour weeks, but it’s worth it when you make partner.”
Lamar leaned forward. “You don’t have to be a partner to earn six figures. I’ve been with the firm seven years, and went over a hundred thousand four years ago.”
Mitch thought about this for a second and figured by the time he was thirty he could be well over a hundred thousand, maybe close to two hundred thousand. At the age of thirty!
They watched him carefully and knew exactly what he was calculating.
“How many partners in the firm?”
“Twenty, active. We try to keep a ratio of one partner for each associate. That’s high for the industry, but we like it. All of our partners are multi-millionaires by the age of forty-five,” Royce McKnight said.
“All of them?”
“Yes, sir. We don’t guarantee it, but if you join our firm, put in ten hard years, make partner and put in ten more years, and you’re not a millionaire at the age of forty-five, you’ll be the first in twenty years.”
“That’s an impressive statistic.”
(20) “It’s an impressive firm, Mitch,” Oliver Lambert said, “and we’re very proud of it. We’re a close knit fraternity. We're small and we take care of each other. We don’t have the cutthroat competition the big firms are famous for. We’re very careful whom we hire, and our goal is for each new associate to become a partner as soon as possible. Toward that end we invest an enormous amount of time and money in ourselves, especially our new people. It is a rare, extremely rare occasion when a lawyer leaves our firm. It is simply unheard of. We go the extra mile to keep careers on track. We want our people happy. We think it is the most profitable way to operate.”
They watched him carefully to make sure all of this sank in. Each term and each condition of the employment was important, but the permanence, the finality of his acceptance overshadowed all other items on the checklist. They explained as best they could, for now. Further explanation would come later.