Vocabulary practice

Exercise 1. Choose the proper words with the following definitions:

1) the place at an airport etc., where your bags are checked for illegal goods when you go into a country; 2) an important official statement in which you officially give information about yourself/ your goods; 3) extremely unfair, immoral, or unpleasant, especially in a way that makes you angry; 4) alcohol, cigarettes etc. that you can bring into a country without having to pay tax on them; 5) 1. to make a judgment; 2. to calculate the value or cost of something; 6) to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree; 7) speech, writing, or actions intended to encourage people to disobey government; 8) an amount of money that you do not have to pay tax on;

a) obscene b) exemption c) Customs d) sedition e) declaration f) exceed g) assess h) duty-free

Exercise 2. Fill in the correct word(s) from the word list. Change the form if necessary.

1. It ________ the power of human understanding.

2. If we ________ our resources we should cut a deal with them.

3. You qualify for a tax ________ on the loan.

4. ________ were invited to the company picnic.

5. The law imposed new financial ________ on private companies.

6. I can’t bear his ________ jokes any longer.

7. Shoppers complained about poor quality ________ and high prices.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences according to the text:

1. It's illegal to carry …………… back into the United States.

2. Whether you like it or not, you'll be asked to make a ……………

3. You will have to make a written declaration if ……………

4. You will be allowed to pass through the Customs without paying any duty if ……………

5. But there are exist several exceptions, for example ……………

6. If you're traveling with your spouse ……………

7. In general, you can expect to pay …………… for items exceeding your exemption.

8. It’s absolutely prohibited to bring throw the Customs such items as: ……………

EXTRA TASK: Find the rules of passing through the Ukrainian Customs office.

8. Ukraine – Our Motherland

Boundless steppes, thick forests, serene groves, towering mountains, warm and caressing seas, wide rivers, whimsical cave labyrinth, numerous nature preserves, parks, exotically rich museum collections, historical and cultural landmarks.

This is our Ukraine, our Motherland, our native land, our only land. Ukrainians and Russians, Byelorussians and Moldavians, Bulgarians and Hungarians, Polish, Czechs, Slovaks, Greeks and others – we are more than 100 nationalities on this land. We have the only land for all of us, the only sun and the only sky.

For me there is no place more delightful than my native land. We connect many pleasant things with it – our dearest people: parents, our friends; beautiful nature, gentle flowers, the trees in the yard, the native language and music, the first book read in childhood, lively and noisy games. That’s why we miss our home badly when we are away. You always look forward to home coming and are delighted to meet your parents and friends.

There are so many songs and poems about my native land – Ukraine. They arouse much excitement, warmness and tenderness. Love of your Motherland does not come to you of its own accord. We can love only something that we know well. And we know a lot about the history of our country. Ukraine has a long and glorious history. Our history is full of dramatic events and heroic deeds. We multiply the glory and pride of our native Ukrainian history with noble deeds of our everyday life for the rebirth of Ukraine.

We have some knowledge of our culture. It is rich in beautiful songs, music, arts, and monuments of the past.

And how beautiful the Ukrainian language is! Where does one’s Motherland begin? It begins with mother’s tender word spoken over the cradle or crib, with folk tales, with a native song, with the guilder rose and the mint near the native house, with the love for the land of our fathers and forefathers.

If you love the culture of your Motherland and are able to see the beauty of the Ukrainian landscape, you certainly love your country. Its beauty is eternal for your sake. Its language is tender like the song of nightingale.

Ukraine is abundant in all tourist attractions for travelers eager to learn more about the surrounding world, people inhabiting it, their history and folkways.

Love Ukraine with all your heart, and with exultant faces let all your deeds her majesty maintain.

We have always loved our Ukraine, we shall always love it. Let there always be peace and friendship on our land, in our Ukraine! Let us always be good friends and good neighbors in a village, in a town, in Ukraine in Europe and in the whole world!

Source: http://www.kosivart.com/eng/index.cfm/do/ukraine.love–ukraine/

Word List:

Boundless – ['baundləs] – безграничный, бесконечный;

Steppe – [step] – русск. степь;

Serene – [sɪ'ri:n] – ясный; безоблачный;

Grove – [grəuv] – лесок, роща;

Caress – [kə'res] – гладить, ласкать;

Whimsical – ['(h)wɪmzɪk(ə)l] – причудливый, необычный;

Deed – [di:d] – деяние, (геройский) поступок:;

Noble – ['nəubl] – благородный, славный, доблестный;

Eternal – [ɪ'tɜːn(ə)l] – вечный;

Sake – [seɪk] – в словосочетаниях: for our sakes — ради нас;

Nightingale – ['naɪtɪŋgeɪl] – соловей;

Abundant – [ə'bʌndənt] – обильный, богатый, изобилующий;

Eager – ['i:gə]– страстно желающий, жаждущий;

Exultant – [ɪg'zʌlt(ə)nt] – ликующий, торжествующий;

Majesty – ['mæʤəstɪ] – величественность, величие, величавость;

Maintain – [meɪn'teɪn] – поддерживать, сохранять, содержать;