kornes_p_gaiduk_n_red_getting_on_in_english_spilkuemosya_ang

Ukraine

1)they, Kyiv, the fifth time, St. Andrew’s Church, the famous writer Bulhakov, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery

2)she, London, the fourth time, the British Museum, the famous architect

3)he, Washington, the second time, the Capitol, President Roosevelt, the Lincoln Memorial

FURTHER DIALOGUES

Exercise 3.

Read and listen to the following dialogue between two people after their visit to an exhibition of Ukrainian applied arts. Practise the dialogue with another student.

Billy: You know, John, I’m amazed at the things we’ve just seen. How creative Ukrainian people are!

John: Yes, I quite agree. Those beautiful icons, the embroidered clothes and the ex­ quisite wooden and ceramic objects! They seem to be particularly characteristic of Ukrainian folk art.

Billy: And to think that they weren’t made by professionals!

John: Hm..., yes. Though the objects look different they all have something in com­ mon.

Billy. Exactly. And that ‘something’, I think, is the national Ukrainian spirit the people are so proud of.

John: Actually, they say that the roots of the modem folk art of any country are in its history and national traditions. Do you think that’s true?

Billy: Yes, I do. In my opinion, such exhibitions are really inspiring and worth seeing.

Exercise 4.

Express your opinion on the issues mentioned in the above dialogue. Start, for ex­ ample, with:

In my opinion; I think; To my mind; Personally, I think; As I see it...

Exercise 5.

Work in groups. Look through the following texts about some Ukrainian traditions. Compose short dialogues based on the texts. Practise the dialogues.

Text A

Pysanka is the Ukrainian name for an Easter egg. The word is derived from the Ukrainian verb pysaty meaning ‘to write’. Decorative writing on pysankas is a tradi­

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Ukraine

Now read and listen to the dialogue. Practise it in pairs.

IN THE LIBRARY

A : Hi, Nick. Haven’t seen you for ages! Busy revising for an exam?

N: No, I have a presentation tomorrow.

A : What’s your topic?

N: The history of the Ukrainian language.

A : That’s really interesting! They say all languages develop like living beings.

N:Of course. A language constantly changes and we can see this in literature. If you compare, say, the language of a modem writer with that of Hryhoriy Skovoroda and Ivan Kotliarevsky you’ll see a striking difference.

A:Yes. The Ukrainian language kept developing even in those grim years of our history when it was officially banned.

N:Exactly, but a lot of writers bom in Ukraine, for example, Hohol, Bulhakov and Zoshchenko, had to write their literary works in Russian.

A:But not all of them! The writers and poets whose works I am considering in my coursework wrote in Ukrainian!

N: And what’s the topic of your coursework?

A:It’s about poets and writers who lived and worked in Lviv, Among them are Ivan Franko, Vasyl Stefanyk and Iryna Vilde.

N:Well, I see our interests are very similar. Let’s meet some day and discuss things.

A : Great. I’d love that. Keep in touch.

Exercise 8.

Prepare a short presentation about a writer (or any other famous person) whose life and activity are connected with your native town or village.

Exercise 9.

Read the dialogue between two post-graduates discussing the problem of environ­ mental pollution in Ukraine. Before you listen to the recording, say what issues and problems you think they are likely to mention. Start, for example, with:

I think; I believe; I expect; Probably; Most likely...

Now listen to the dialogue. Make notes and discuss them in groups. Your notes should not include excessive detail. Read your notes to another student. Use what you have noted down to summarise the speaker's main points. Have you included the same information? If there were parts of the talk you could not follow, ask the other student to explain them, to you.

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Unit 4

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

M : Hello, Andry. Nice to meet you.

A:Hi, Mykola. Good to see you.

M:You know, I’m really busy these days. I’m supposed to write an article about en­ vironmental pollution in Ukraine for our university newspaper. I think you are the best person to help me. You are bound to have some good ideas, aren’t you?

A\ Certainly, I’ll do my best to help you. You should mention Chomobyl as the main source of environmental pollution in Ukraine. Unfortunately, it was the Chomo­ byl catastrophe that brought Ukraine to the attention of the world.

M:But I’ve read about a number of accidents at nuclear power plants in other coun­ tries, including the USA, Canada, Germany and Britain, long before 1986.

A:That’s true, but the radioactive leak wasn’t as disastrous as in Chomobyl in any

of those cases. Just think of the amount of fertile soil that was contaminated and the number of people that were subjected to massive doses of radiation!

M : Of course, I’ll pay a good deal of attention to the Chomobyl catastrophe in my article, but Chomobyl isn’t our only ecological disaster. Consider the activities of the chemical plants which are practically uncontrolled. There are also many manufacturing plants which employ harmful technologies and out-dated smokefiltering systems.

A:I see you are ready to write a whole book on the subject! Wouldn’t it be better to focus your attention on methods of environmental protection? Practical sugges­ tions will be of greater interest to future experts than a long catalogue of prob­ lems. You could also suggest running a competition for the most ecologically

sound production technology. M : That’s a good idea.

Exercise 10.

Do you agree, disagree or partially agree with the statements below concerning problems of environmental pollution? Give your reasons.

Suggestions for useful phrases:

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Ukraine

1.Abroad the word Ukraine is often associated with Chomobyl.

2.Our chemical enterprises are not properly controlled.

3.All the soil in Ukraine is contaminated with radioactive substances.

4.Thousands of people were subjected to massive doses of radiation following the Chornobyl catastrophe.

5.Special training in environmental protection is vital for engineers in any field.

6.The people of any country should influence their government’s environmental decisions.

7.There are many alternatives to nuclear power stations in Ukraine.

8.Atomic power stations should be closed down.

9.Electricity might become more expensive if atomic power stations were closed down.

10.Fuels like coal are bad for the environment.

11.We can do without chemical fertilisers and pesticides which pollute the water

supply.

12. Sewage should not be discharged into seas and rivers.

13.Acid rain is an inevitable consequence of human industrial activity.

14.People should be responsible for every environmental decision they make.

15.Nuclear energy, should it get out of control, could have a disastrous effect on people and wild-life.

Exercise 11.

Topics for Further Discussion:

1.What advice would you give to an English-speaking person visiting your coun­ try for the first time?

2.An English-speaking friend is coming to dinner at your house. You want to pre­ pare a meal which is typical of your country. What would you give him/her?

3.Give a brief outline of the history of your mother tongue: Where did it origi­ nate? Is it based on another language or other languages? How has it changed over the centuries?

Are there many dialects in your mother tongue?

If so, can you give the class a few examples of regional dialects or words? Can people from one part of your country understand people from other regions?

What dialect do you have the most difficulty in understanding? Do you change your dialect in different social situations?

Do the various dialects have different social prestige?

What do speakers of your mother tongue feel about borrowing words from other languages?

Do they see borrowing as a good or bad thing? What ‘foreign’ words are in common use?

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Unit 4

4. Is military service compulsory in your country for m,en and for women?

How long does it last?

Have you done military service?

Do you think women should do the same kind of military service as men? Why? Why not?

Exercise 12.

Give a 5-minute talk about a town or city in your country. Your talk should consist of 3 sections:

1.Introduction: getting attention, welcoming, introducing yourself.

2.Giving information: listing some interesting characteristics of the town.

3.Conclusion: summing up, offering to answer questions, thanking people for lis­ tening.

Exercise 13.

Speak about Ukraine, using the following words and expressions (if you need more information refer to Text I in the Reading Section):

1. THE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF UKRAINE

to be situated, to border on, to occupy, in the north (south, west, east), the sea.

2. OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

territory, plain, mountains, rivers, population, to constitute, city dwellers, re­ gions, capital.

3. THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE

to mention, to appear, ancient manuscripts, century, settlement, leader, to fight, enemy troops, reunification, proclamation of independence, to adopt, to take an important step, Sophia Square.

4. THE ECONOMY OF UKRAINE

economic potential, agriculture (farming), light and heavy industry, metal working industry, coal and fuel industry, to produce.

5. UKRAINIAN CULTURE.

art, masterpiece, treasure house, world culture, to play an outstanding role, fa­ mous, to be proud of, to be dear to, generation, a monument (to), to be named after.

Exercise 14.

How do you understand the proverb ‘Rome was not built in a day \ Can you think of a Ukrainian equivalent for it? Is it relevant when you are discussing the situation in Ukraine today?

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Unit 4

Ukraine was proclaimed in St. Sophia Square in Kyiv. In 1922 Ukraine became a con­ stituent republic of the Soviet Union. Nowadays our generation is witnessing the crea­ tion and the development of a sovereign Ukrainian State. The first step has been taken: the Supreme Council (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine passed the Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991. The Constitution of Ukraine was adopted by the Supreme Council in June 1996. The Ukrainian currency, the hryvnya, was introduced in September 1996,

Ukraine is a country with a rich culture. Masterpieces of Ukrainian literature and art are a contribution to the treasure-house of world culture. Many famous writers promote the universal ideals of humanism, brotherhood and freedom. Ukrainians are particularly proud of such famous writers, artists and scientists as Taras Shevchenko, Lesia Ukrainka, Ivan Franko, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, Mykola Lysenko, Oleksa Novakivsky, Arkhyp Lyulka, Ivan Puluy and many others. Our country is a member of the United Nations and its representatives are active in the work of UNESCO (United Na­ tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and other international organi­ sations.

Exercise 2.

Referring to the text entitled Ukraine, refute the following incorrect statements:

1.Ukraine is situated in the north of the European continent.

2.This country is known for its foggy climate.

3.The territory of Ukraine is rather small.

4.Ukraine is rich in oil and gold.

5.The population of Ukraine is 42 million.

6.The reunification of Eastern and Western Ukraine was proclaimed in Lviv in

1919.

7.The Sterling is the state currency of Ukraine.

8.The Constitution of Ukraine was proclaimed in June 1997.

9.Ukraine has recently joined the United Nations Organisation.

Exercise 3.

Give a short oral summary of the text.

Exercise 4.

Look at the map of Ukraine and answer thefollowing questions about the geographi­ cal position of Ukraine:

1.Where is Ukraine situated?

2.What countries is it bordered by?

3.What seas is Ukraine bordered by?

4.Are there any mountains on the territory of Ukraine? Where are they found?

5.On what river does Kyiv stand?

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Unit 4

monks and historical figures, canonised by the church, are preserved in the Antoniy and Feodosiy Caves. The monastery has always been a prominent educational and cultural centre. Here in 1631 the first higher education establishment in Ukraine was founded by the Metropolitan Petro Mohyla. The Lavra also contains a number of mu­ seums exhibiting items of decorative folk art, ancient books and other historical treasures.

Many eminent personalities lived and worked in Kyiv. Among them were the phi­ losopher and poet Hryhoriy Skovoroda (a graduate of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy), the historians and politicians Mykola Kostomarov, Mykhailo Drahomanov, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, the poet and artist Taras Shevchenko and the writer Mykhailo Bulhakov.

Kyiv played an outstanding role in the formation and development of the Ukrainian nation, taking an active part in the revolutionary liberation movement. It was here that after centuries of subjugation the independent Ukrainian state was proclaimed on January 22nd, 1918. A year later the reunification of all Ukrainian lands was an­ nounced in St. Sophia Square. But this period of independence was very short and tur­ bulent. It was followed by more than 70 years of Soviet domination, when Kharkiv was made the capital of Ukraine as a punishment for the rebellious city of Kyiv (till 1934). Not until 1991 did Kyiv witness the beginning of the revival of a truly independent Ukrainian state.

Exercise 6.

Suggest Ukrainian equivalents for the following words and phrases from the text:

named after, was founded, manuscripts, indicate, settlement, remain, prosper­ ous, wipe off, razed to the ground, numerous, is occupied, is surrounded, pil­ grims, relics, decorative folk art, an independent state, witness, revival, libera­ tion movements, was proclaimed, the Ukrainian nation.

Exercise 7.

Say whether the following statements are true or false. If a statement isfalse, give a correct alternative:

a)The powerful state which existed in the 9th - 13th centuries on the territory of the present - day Ukraine was named after its capital city.

b)Kyiv was the main settlement of the Pecheneg tribes.

c)Nowadays there are no architectural relics of the Kyivan Rus period in Kyiv.

d)The Antoniy and Feodosiy Caves were the burial places of monks and out­ standing people of the past.

e)The first university in Ukraine was the University of Lviv, founded in 1661.

f)Mykola Kostomarov never lived in Kyiv.

g)The famous writer Mykhailo Bulhakov was a native of Kyiv.

h)The Ukrainian lands were reunited in 1939.

i)Kharkiv has never been the capital of Ukraine.

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