Test 1 (Variant d)

1. Read the text:

CLIMATE, WEATHER AND SEASONS

Everyone knows that climate has something to do with weather and seasons but though these three phenomena indeed are akin to each other, they are not quite the same things.

According to the dictionary, (1)weather is a state of prevailing atmospheric conditions over a particular area or place at a specific time with reference to such natural conditions as temperature, sunshine, rain, fog, wind, etc. In other words, the weather at a place is the state of atmosphere there at a given time or over a short period.

The climate of a place or a region, on the other hand, represents the average, prevailing, regular weather conditions (temperature, rainfall, wind, etc) of a place, region or area through the year.

Weather is what happened in the atmosphere yesterday, or is happening today or will happen next week; climate is what has happened and can be expected to happen over the reasonably long period of time. It is the seasonal pattern of heat and cold, of sun, wind and rain, that is - or was - characteristic of a particular place or region.

* A season is one or each of the four divisions of the year associated with a type of weather and beginning astronomically with the fourth week of March, June, September and December. (2)The climate of any place results from the interaction of a number of determining factors, of which the most important are latitude, distance from the sea, relief and the direction of the prevailing winds. These factors must be distinguished from the actual features of the climate, such as temperature, wind, sunshine, fog, the humidity of the air. (3)Latitudes determine the main characteristics of the climate. (4)Temperature, the most important climatic element, depends not only on the angle at which the sun’s rays strike the earth’s surface but also on the duration of daylight. The greater the angle of the sun above the horizon is, the greater the heat received is, and accordingly the length of the period between sunrise and sunset is.

(5)The sea greatly modifies the climate; its waters have a higher specific heat than the rock of the land surface, and they warm up more slowly and also cool down more slowly than does the land. Consequently, in summer the land tends to be warmer than the sea, and in winter the converse is true.

2. Translate the marked (*) paragraph from the text above into Russian/Belarusian in writing.

3. Translate the following sentences into English using underlined words from the text:

а) Результаты выборов оказались достаточно неожиданными.

б) Показания свидетелей определили решение суда.

в) Консервативная партия получила большинство мест в Парламенте.

г) Члены нижней палаты парламента представляют интересы населения регионов.

д) Срок полномочий Британского парламента - пять лет.

е) Благополучие страны зависит от политической активности ее населения.

4. Put questions to the numbered in the text sentences using prompts:

(1) What ...? Disjunctive question.

(2) General question.

(3) Alternative question.

(4) What ... ?

(5) Why ...?

5. Use Present Indefinite, Present Continuous, Past Indefinite or Past Continuous form of the verbs in brackets:

1. They (to be) very tired yesterday night, so they (not/can) complete the task. 2. Mike (not/to work) this week, he (to be) on a sick leave. 3. The situation (not/to get) better to my regret. 4. He (to receive) a lot of letters from his readers. 5. John (not/to attend) the yesterday’s meeting, he (to be) ill. 6. The sitting usually (to begin) at 9.00 a.m. 7. When I (to buy) a newspaper, a man (to approach) me. 8. Mr Nill (to leave) for New-York next Friday. 9. While Julia (to make) coffee, her husband (to lay) the table. 10. You definitely (not/can) see me yesterday at 8.00 p.m. I (to fly) home from L. A. The plane (to land) only at 9.15 p.m.

6. Use the verbs can and must in the correct forms:

1. Tomorrow I ... visit my aunt on the way home. She’s got a problem with her TV and she thinks I ... fix it. 2. You ... never leave this machine without attendance. 3. Sorry, I ... contact Mr Hill yesterday. 4. ... you give me a piece of advice? 5. They planned the meeting for Monday, but they ... postpone it. 6. It took him plenty of time but he ... restore the vandalized painting. 7. He is flying to Boston next week, so I think he ... fetch the parcel straight to the chief editor. 8. I’m sure he ... do it, he just didn’t want to help you.

7. Insert articles where necessary:

1. They used to make ... wonderful parties at their estate. 2. ... Clown appeared first in ... English circus. 3. Last year he bought ... house he had dreamed of. 4. His cousins live in ... village. 5. Helen is looking for ... job. 6. ... apple ... day keeps ... doctor away. 7. ... Computer games are very popular with ... children. 8. He plays ... tennis, but he is not ... extra-class player. 9. Have you been dropped from ... moon?

8. Use the correct form of the adjectives:

1.This material offers (little) resistance to electric current from all tested samples. 2. In Australia winters are (hot) than summers. 3. Ann is much (tall) than her brother Jim, though he is two years (old). 4. It is (picturesque) place I’ve ever visited. 5. Let me introduce my (old) brother, Nick. 6. We’re short of time. Do you know (short) possible way to the bridge? 6. The camp turned out to be much (far) than we expected. 7. You may travel by business class, but it is (expensive) than tourist class.