1. .The importance of reading cannot be stressed enough. Reading is important because it enriches you in many different aspects.
   Reading helps develop creative and critical thinking skills. It develops vocabulary, sharpens language skills and leads to greater cognitive development. It leads to a better understanding of self.
   Reading keeps us occupied. Reading leads to a fruitful use of time. It helps us get rid of worries. Reading is a great stress buster. It diverts our mind from monotony. Books are excellent sources of recreation. Someone who loves to read can never get bored as reading a book is probably the best way to get rid of boredom.
   Reading informs you of what's happening around, helps you remain updated about what's changing, and not just that. It encourages you to think and imagine, think out-of-the-box and imagine the impossibles. The more you read, the more creative and imaginative you become.
   The more we read the more informed we are. It's the means to upgrade ourselves constantly. Reading helps us keep abreast of the times.
   
   
   Not long ago, reading was limited to just books. Today, we have the Internet housing so much information, hosted on thousands of websites. We have books online and e-book readers that make reading so easy. The web, our new storehouse of information, is just a click away. But this, in no way has stolen the magic of reading books, the sound of their pages fluttering, their smell... you can curl up with a book anywhere, anytime. But with an e-book reader or your laptop, some of that romanticism is lost. Be it through any medium, reading is important.
   
   
      
2. Read the article and choose the most suitable sentence from the list (A – I) for each gap. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning.

E-books – the books of the future?

       A few years ago, nobody could have imagined buying a whole dictionary or encyclopaedia on CD-Rom - but we do now, and it's a booming business. Are e-books set to take over from the printed word? Well, some multimedia companies are predicting that, in a few years' time, production of newspapers and magazines will have been halved, as we will be turning to our computers to get the latest news. But how do people feel about reading their daily newspaper, or even their favourite novels, on their computer screens?    O__E.

        It is certainly a question that we are going to have to think about soon. Technology produces new products every day and the publishing industry is already showing great interest in the future of the e-book. 1_____

        As for e-books, despite the fact that the technology has not been fully developed yet, and an e-book that you can carry about with you is still much more expensive than an ordinary book, researchers claim that soon e-books will become much cheaper than paper versions, and will be much more popular.

2______ Stephen King, the best-selling writer of horror books, posted his newest short story on the Internet and it sold more copies in its first days than many of his printed novels had. 3_______

        Well, is this really the end of the book and the newspaper? I doubt it, and it seems that even Stephen King agrees. Despite his success on the Internet, he does not seem to think anything can replace the book! This is partly because, although we like to think that technology is capable of anything, it isn't. At least, not yet! 4______ It took 25 hours for Associated Press to download Stephen King's story. This is because lack of band width makes it very slow to send material, especially pictures, over the Internet. Even though work is constantly being carried out to solve this problem, demand for the Internet is increasing too fast for scientists to keep up. What is more, it takes much longer for us to read on the net. 5_______

        There is another problem, too, which has nothing to do with technology. People simply prefer paper. It doesn't matter how many books, magazines or newspapers are produced - we never stop buying them. It seems that we like the feel of books and magazines - we like to put them in our bags or pockets and take them out on the bus or the train on the way to work. We like to sit and read in the park or on the beach.

         6______How many of us would exchange what, we have now - a row of books in a bookcase, or a pile of magazines on the coffee table - for a row of little screens? For many of us, the idea of Sunday morning without a cup of coffee and a pile of newspapers is impossible.

        Nevertheless, by the time e-books have become as widely available as printed ones, it is likely that at least some of us will have changed our minds.

         7_____Publishers will be delighted to cater for those who prefer to use a screen, but paper lovers shouldn't worry, as the printed page will undoubtedly keep its place in our lives. There is even news that MIT will have come up with a compromise soon - a system where we can tell our computers what we want to read, and then they will print our own personal newspaper for us. The difference will be that we will only have to read about things which interest us. Just think - if you hate the business section, you don't have to order it. If you dislike tennis, you can request only the football results. It sounds like this could be good news for everyone!

1. First of all, the Internet is slow.

B.  Many newspapers are already online; and you can read them on screen at home, or even on your mobile phone.

3. Even if we haven't, it doesn't matter, as there is probably plenty of room for both books and screens.
4. To publishers, this meant the arrival of the e-book!
5. Would you be happy to get your newspaper on the screen, or do you still prefer turning those pages?
6. Did you know that we can read 50% more quickly on paper than we can on a computer screen?
7. It looks as if people are already interested in the general idea.
8. We like to decorate our rooms with them, too.
9. More than half of today's newspapers now have websites.

Electronic books are becoming more and more popular. Some people say that e-books are going to replace traditional books in the future, while others are convinced that print books will never disappear.
E-books are making their way onto the world's markets. A lot of people, especially children and teenagers, who are accustomed to computer screens, have already embraced e-books. But does it mean that if the popularity of e-books grows, paper editions will soon die out?
Personally, I think that e-books are so popular with readers for several reasons. Firstly, they are easy to use because they are light, compact and can store up to thousands of pages. Secondly, e-books have a touch-sensitive screen which can be used to call up a dictionary, to increase the front size and even to add notes in the margin. Thirdly, the bright backlight gives you an opportunity to read in the dark. Finally, people can read e-books in public without having to display the covers.
However, most people still prefer traditional print books. They say that the device for reading e-books is rather expensive and one needs access to the Internet to download them. E-books may cause problems with eyesight because it is rather tiring to read from the screen. Some people say that one of the main disadvantages of e-books is that the battery must be recharged and that e-books can be easily broken. What is more, so far there is only a limited selection of e-books being published. But I think it is very convenient to put a lightweight e-book into your bag when you are leaving for holiday.
To conclude, people will always continue buying, collecting and displaying beautiful paper editions with the sole purpose of possessing them. To my mind, e-books will co-exist with traditional print books. Anyway, we'll have to wait and see.

                                                  The "Classic" Paper Book.

Paper books offer multiple advantages:

·                                                  They're easily obtainable (Bookstores are everywhere).

·                                                  They're easily portable.

·                                                  They don't normally cause significant eye-strain.

·                                                  They're cheap.

Another factor to bear in mind is that paper books don't need power to function. They can be read anywhere with sufficient light, and are perfect travelling companions for exactly this reason.

The obvious cons are:

·  Paper books are bulky and heavy. Carrying more than 2-3 around can become a chore.

·  You need a light source to read them - another thing that you'll probably carry around.

·  If you make notes in them, those notes are there to stay.

The eBook

eBooks offer the following obvious advantages (assuming you have an ebook reader):

·  They're easily readable. Most readers offer zoom functions, letter resizing, and so forth.

·  They're easily portable. You can carry multiple books on one device.

·  They're much more environmentally friendly. You don't have to kill a few trees for each book, and let's not even talk about the ink.

·  Note-taking is much more powerful, and the notes you write can be found and referenced quickly and easily. And they don't have to be permanent.

·  Lighting conditions essentially become meaningless. Many readers incorporate display lighting allowing you to read whenever and wherever you like.

eBooks are useless without a reader. 

The disadvantages of ebooks generally stem from the hardware you're reading them on. If it's a computer, you've got the normal computer problems which detract from your reading pleasure:

·  Eye strain and RSI. Long periods spent in front of a computer are healthy for nobody.

·  Power. Your average laptop has 4-6 hours of battery life.

·  Portability. Why lug a laptop around if you can simply carry a book?

·  Nasty software bugs in the reader can cause it to freeze up.

·       They're not very robust. If you spill coffee on them, chances are that's the end of your reader. Not to mention scratches, dropping them, and so on.

Card 4

You are going to give a talk about London. You will have to start in 1,5 minutes and speak for not more than 2 minutes (10-12 sentences).

Remember to say:

•          why London is a popular tourist destination
•          what sights of London are a must for every visitor
•         what place in London you would like to see/visit and why

Card 5

You are going to give a talk about St Petersburg. You will have to start in 1,5 minutes and speak for not more than 2 minutes (10-12 sentences).

Remember to say:

•         why St Petersburg is a popular tourist destination
•      what sights of St Petersburg are a must for every visitor
•      what is your favourite place/ sight of St Petersburg and why

Card 6

You are going to give a talk about books and reading. You will have to start in 1,5 minutes and speak for not more than 2 minutes (10-12 sentences).

Remember to say:

• why reading is important
• if e-books are going to replace paper books in the future
• if you prefer reading e-boks or traditional paper ones/why

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the "Window on Europe." St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia from 1712 till 1918. The city was built on the swampy land at the mouth of the River Neva. Prominent European and Russian architects worked here. The new capital grew rapidly in wealth and beauty.

When World War I began in 1914, the German-sounding name St. Petersburg was changed to Petrograd. After the October Revolution the city was renamed in honour of Lenin. In 1991 the old name of St. Petersburg was returned to the city. During the Great Patriotic War the city suffered a great deal. The German armies laid siege to it in 1941, and for the next two years and a half the city was cut off from the rest of the country. No food could be brought in, and people died of starvation. Daily shelling and air raids destroyed parts of the city. Thousands of people were killed. Rebuilding took years.

Now St. Petersburg is an industrial, cultural and scientific centre. There are over 80 museums, more than 20 theatres, a lot of exhibitions, clubs, universities, colleges, schools and parks. The Alexandrinski Drama Theatre, the Bolshoi Drama Theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet are pearls of the Russian art.

In St. Petersburg there are a lot of parks and gardens where citizens spend their free time. The Summer Garden is the oldest and most fascinating park. Rare trees, bushes and flowers grow there. Beautiful marble statues made by Italian sculptors and a famous cast iron grille decorate the Summer Garden. There is a bronze monument to the prominent Russian writer of fables Ivan Krylov (by sculptor Klodt) in the Summer Garden.

St. Petersburg is famous for its magnificent architectural ensembles of the 18th and 19th centuries. The city began with the Peter and Paul Fortress built to protect the Neva banks from Swedish invasion. Later Domeniko Trezzini, the famous Swiss architect, reconstructed the fortress. It became a prison. Now it is a museum. Trezzini erected the Peter and Paul Cathedral here, and Russian tsars were buried in it.

The most famous square in the city is the Palace Square with its magnificent ensemble. Here one can see the Winter Palace built by Rastrelli. Till the revolution it was the residence of the Russian csars. Now the Winter Palace and four other buildings are occupied by the Hermitage, one of the oldest art museums in Russia. There one can see masterpieces of outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velazquez and other unique works of art.

The Russian Museum is located in the Mikhailovsky Palace, designed by Rossi. Marvellous paintings by the famous Russian artists: Tropinin, Repin, Bryullov, Fedotov, Surikov, Serov; the works of sculptors: Rastrelli, Shubin, Antokolsky are exhibited here.

The streets and squares in St. Petersburg are very beautiful. Nevsky Prospect is the main street of the city, where there are amazing buildings, shops, hotels and the remarkable Kazan Cathedral (by Voronikhin) with a colonnade and monuments to M. Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. Here in the prospect one can see the magnificent building of the Admiralty (by Zakharov) and the ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Famous Russian writers, painters, composers and actors were buried in the Lavra.

Majestic palaces, cathedrals, churches and other buildings, built by famous architects, such as: palaces of Stroganov, Menshikov, Anichkov, and St. Isaac's Cathedral, erected by Montferrand, decorate St. Petersburg.

The city is often called the Venice of the North because there are 65 rivers and canals with artistically decorated cast iron bridges. One of the most beautiful is the Anichkov Bridge. Citizens and tourists enjoy visiting the suburbs of St Petersburg: Petergof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk with their wonderful palaces, parks and fountains. St. Petersburg inspired many of our great poets, writers, painters, sculptors, composers and actors. Much of the life and work of Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky, Repin and Kramskoi was connected with the city.

London

London is the capital and the largest city of the UK. Its population is about 8 and a half million. London is the country’s main industrial and financial centre. London is also one of the largest ports in the UK. It is linked with all parts of the country by roads and railways. Besides, London is a great educational and cultural centre.

Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. There are a lot of banks, offices and firms there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few people live here, but over a million come to the City to work.

The City is famous for its oldest part, the Tower of London, which was founded by Julius Caesar and rebuilt in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. For many centuries the Tower has been a fortress. But at various periods of history it was also used as a Royal Palace, a prison, a royal treasury, a mint, an arsenal, a Royal observatory and even a Royal Zoo. It is now a museum of arms and armour and as one of the strongest fortresses in Britain, it contains Crown Jewels. The Tower is guarded by the famous ’Beefeaters’ in the picturesque uniforms. The Ravens are also a part of its history. There is a legend that if the ravens disappear, the British monarchy will fall. That’s why their wings are cutback and they are carefully guarded.

St. Paul’s Cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century is one of the most famous churches in the world. It took Sir Christopher Wren 35 years to build this masterpiece. It is a beautiful building with many columns and towers. The magnificent classical structure is crowned by the dome. Inside the dome there are scenes from the life of St. Paul. Here too is the famous Whispering Gallery, where the words whispered into the stone wall can be heard right round the other side. There are many memorials in the Cathedral including those to heroes such as Wellington and Nelson.

Westminster is now the political centre of London. The Palace of Westminster is among the world’s most famous buildings. It houses the British Parliament and is often called the Houses of Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as’Big Ben’. Many government buildings, including 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Prime Ministers for more than 250 years, are nearby. Opposite the Houses of Parliament there is Westminster Abbey where from the Norman times British monarchs have been crowned and later buried. Many other famous people are also buried in Westminster Abbey including statesmen, musicians and writers. In the Poets’ Corner one can find the tombs of William Shakespeare, Byron, T. S. Eliot and others.

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen. London’s most popular spectacle is the Changing of the Guard. It takes place in the forecourt and lasts about 30 minutes.

The West End is the name given to the area of central London which includes the main shopping areas of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, and the entertainment centres of Soho, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square. It’s the richest and most beautiful part of London. The best hotels, shops and restaurants, clubs and theatres are situated there.
Trafalgar Square, which is also in the West End, is considered to be the geographical centre of London. It was laid out in memory of Lord Nelson’s great victory of 1805 in the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson’s Column in the middle of the square commemorates this national hero, who died during the battle.

There are a lot of museums and galleries in London. On the north side of Trafalgar Square there is the National Gallery, one of the finest art galleries in the world. The biggest museum in London is the British Museum. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures and is famous for its library.

The East End covers a wide area to the east of the City and is quite different from the other parts of London. There are many warehouses and factories producing clothes there. It is also one of those areas of London where working class people live.

The Royal Parks of London — St. James’s Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent’s Park — are London’s lungs. When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.

8 th form m3 cards2 and 3 Basic level

Card 2

I am going to talk about environmental problems.

Today our planet suffers from acid rain, global warming, and nuclear waste. Water, air and land pollution threatens our world. Natural resources such as gas, coal and oil are running out.

Deforestation is also a serious problem. Firstly, it destroys ecosystems and changes the climate. Secondly, plants and animals lose their homes when forests disappear.

I think we can help our planet. We can plant new trees and organise a clean up day to pick up rubbish. Also, we should recycle and reuse things.

To sum up, we can make our planet cleaner and better.

Card 3

I am going to talk about space exploration.

It’s a hot topic today. Space exploration is very expensive, but there are so many things to discover in space.

Some people believe that we need to explore other planets if we want to survive. Other people argue that we must first solve problems on Earth such as poverty and hunger.

I think we should explore space. Firstly, we can find natural resources on other planets. What’s more, new space technologies can help us solve many problems on Earth.

To sum up, space exploration is very important for mankind.

M3_3F dictation

M3_3F

1.    Исследование и колонизация космоса

2.    Ступить ногой на Луну

3.    Один гигантский прыжок для человечества

4.    Коммуны будущего

5.    Распространяться/перемещаться со скоростью света

6.    Солнечная система

7.    Выживание человечества

8.    Образовать колонию

9.    Вырабатывать кислород

10. Похожие проблемы

11. Последний рубеж

12. Преодолеть проблемы/трудности

13. Околоземная орбита

14. Ядерная война

           15. Самодостаточный 

**1.    Science – ученый

2.    Colony – колонизация

3.    Dark – темнота

4.    Rock – каменистый

5.    Neighbour – соседство

           6. Explore – исследование

***1.    Вымирать

2.    Подогревать

                3. Стирать с лица Земли

M3_VB_12

M3_VB_12

1.    Бедность

2.    Бездомность

3.    Дефицит воды

4.    Загрязнение

5.    Глобальное потепление

6.    Преступность

7.    Война

8.    Стареющее население

9.    Безграмотность

10. Болезни

11. Расизм

12. Рост населения

13. Истощение природных ресурсов

14. Голод

15. Бросить школу

16. Подвергаться физическому и эмоциональному насилию

17. Заработать репутацию эксперта в ч-л

18. Пережить землетрясение

19. Ощущать дефицит воды

20. Сталкиваться с расовой дискриминацией

           21. Оказывать влияние на флору и фауну океана