Учебно-методическое пособие по работе с темой ''COUNTRY PROFILE'' (для студентов гуманитарных специальностей, изучающих английский язык)

Министерство образования и науки Российской Федерации Омский государственный университет им. Ф.М. Достоевского

УДК 20я7 ББК 81.2 У 912

Рекомендовано к изданию редакционно-издательским советом ОмГУ 2 июля 2004 г. Рецензенты: канд. филол. наук, доц. ОмА МВД России В.Г. Болотюк; доц., зав. кафедрой англ. языка ОмГУ О.С. Дворжец

У 912

УЧЕБНО-МЕТОДИЧЕСКОЕ ПОСОБИЕ ПО РАБОТЕ С ТЕМОЙ «COUNTRY PROFILE»

Учебно-методическое пособие по работе с темой «COUNTRY PROFILE» (для студентов гуманитарных специальностей, изучающих английский язык) / Сост. С.А. Дедова. – Омск: Омск. гос. ун-т, 2004. – 100 с. ISBN 5-7779-0499-8 Предназначено для использования на занятиях по курсу «Практикум по культуре речи» студентами разных уровней языковой подготовки (среднего и продвинутого). Содержит текстовые материалы страноведческого содержания и упражнения, обеспечивающие знакомство с особенностями разных стран и совершенствование навыков владения английским языком. Для студентов старших курсов гуманитарных специальностей, изучающих английский язык.

(для студентов гуманитарных специальностей, изучающих английский язык)

УДК 20я7 ББК 81.2

Изд-во ОмГУ

Омск 2004 1

© Омский госуниверситет, 2004

ISBN 5-7779-0499-8 2

CONTENTS

ВВЕДЕНИЕ

ВВЕДЕНИЕ.......................................................................................................4 I. NAMES OF COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIES ....................................5 II. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION/ CLIMATE/ WEATHER ..........................11 III. LANGUAGES............................................................................................17 IV. POPULATION...........................................................................................24 V. ETHNIC GROUPS......................................................................................27 VI. RELIGIONS...............................................................................................31 VII. BUSINESS/ INDUSTRY/ AGRICULTURE ...........................................58 VIII. GOVERNMENT TYPE/ POLITICS.......................................................72 IX. INTERESTING FACTS.............................................................................84

Учебно-методическое пособие «Country Рrofile» предназначено для использования на занятиях по курсу «Практикум по культуре речи» студентами старших курсов гуманитарных специальностей. Целью издания является развитие навыков устной формы иноязычного общения по заявленной теме. Модель пособия построена на основе определенных блоков текстов разнообразной тематики, связанной с политикой, экономикой, религией и другими сферами жизни современных стран. Использован оригинальный материал, интересный как с точки зрения языка, так и с культурологической точки зрения. Учебные тексты снабжены разнообразными тренировочными упражнениями, дотекстовыми и послетекстовыми заданиями творческого характера с выходом в монологическую и диалогическую речь, а также в практику двустороннего перевода. Каждый раздел пособия является по-своему автономным и законченным, что позволяет использовать материал книги в любой последовательности и в любом объеме.

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I. NAMES OF COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIES Quiz Below is a series of competitions for you to try in groups. Its main aim is not to test your geography, but to help you study and practise your English. Only look at the left-hand column. Cover the words on the right. Try to answer the questions. Then check your answers by looking at the words in the right-hand column. 1. Which countries have borders with the following groups of countries given below? I. Guatemala El Salvador Nicaragua II. Algeria Niger Chad Sudan Egypt III. Colombia Costa Rica

Honduras

Libya

Israeli Lebanes Syrian Turkish Afghan Pakistani Indian Nepalese Romanian Hungarian Czech (oslovakian) East German Zambian Zairean Tanzanian Ugandan

4. Which countries have the currencies listed below? And what nationality are most of the people who have that kind of money in their pockets?

Panama

2. Now the reverse; which countries border those on the left below? And what nationality are most of the people in them? Switzerland (five)

Israel The Lebanon Syria Turkey Afghanistan Pakistan 2. From Kabul to Katmandu India Nepal Romania Hungary Czechoslovakia 3. From Bucharest to Dresden East Germany Zambia Zaire 4. From Lusaka to Entebbe Tanzania Uganda 1. From Tel Aviv to Ankara

Bolivia (five)

England (two)

rand

South Africa

South African

yen

Japan

Japanese

renminbi

China

Chinese

rial

Iran

Iranian

I. Italy, Liechtenstein, France, Austria, West Germany, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Scotland, Wales. II. Swiss, Italian, Liechtensteiner, French, Austrian, German, Bolivian, Brazilian, Peruvian, Argentinian, Paraguayan, Chilean, English, Scottish, Welsh.

markka

Finland

Finnish

zloty

Poland

Polish

drachma

Greece

Greek

baht

Thailand

Thai

3. Travelling between the cities below, by the shortest possible land route, which countries would you pass through? And what nationality of people would you see most of? Name four countries for each journey.

guilder

Holland (The Netherlands)

Dutch

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rouble

Russia (The Soviet Union) (The USSR) 6

Russian

5. Don't worry if you're finding them difficult; the idea is not to get them all right. I had the advantage of an atlas and encyclopedia. Which countries have these cities as the capital? And what nationality are most of the people living in them? Caracas

Venezuela

Venezuelan

Sofia

Bulgaria

Bulgarian

Nairobi

Kenya

Kenyan

Seoul

South Korea

South Korean

Montevideo

Uruguay

Uruguayan

Lagos

Nigeria

Nigerian

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

Ethiopian

Amman

Jordan

Jordanian

Harare

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Saudi (Arabian)

Baghdad

Iraq

Iraqi

Reykjavic

Iceland

Icelandic

6. English is an easy language, so mast of the words in the third columns above, except those ending -ish or -ese can be used as an adjective or as a noun: She's Italian or She's an Italian – He's Israeli or He's an Israeli. This is always true of those words ending -an or -i. But there are some special cases, such as the form a Dutchman, an Irishman, an Englishmen, a Frenchman, a Welshman. People from Scotland can be rather complicated. We can call them Scottish or Scotsmen. If you want to make them angry, you can call them Scotch. Alternatively, we can say He's (She's) a Scot. Using He's a .., see if you can give the nationality of the following people: 1. Alan Wells, sprinter 2. Lasse Viren, long-distance runner 3. Bjorn Borg, tennis player 4. Hans Christian Andersen, story-teller 5. Lech Walesa, trade union leader 6. Kemal Ataturk, national hero 7. Pablo Picasso, artist 7

a Scot a Finn a Swede a Dane a Pole a Turk a Spaniard

8. Alexander Dubcek, one-time party leader 9. John Walker, middle-distance runner

a Czech a New Zealander

7. To Finish, a word-association game. What do you think of when you hear the word Danish? Danish bacon? Danish butter? Danish cheese? Write or say the word you think, of first to go with each of the words below. Possible answers are given on the right. See how often you think of the same word as the one printed in the book. 1. Danish 2. German 3. French 4. Irish 5. Japanese 6. American 7. Greek 8. New Zealand 9. English 10. Russian 11. Argentinian 12. Egyptian

bacon beer perfume whiskey motor bike football islands butter weather dolls beef pyramids

8. Read a joke. What other associations do you have in mind about different nationalities? Paradise is where cooks are French, Hell is where cooks are British, Mechanics are German, Policemen are British, Lovers are Italian,

and it is all organized by the Swiss. policemen are German, lovers are Swiss, mechanics are French, and it is all organized by Italians.

9. Fill in the gaps using the following adjectives: American, French, German, Greek, Russian, Japanese, English, Irish, Dutch, Chinese, Swiss: take ____leave to leave your job without permission _____ bean a bean with a long green case that is picked when it is young and soft _____ polish a clear liquid put on wooden furniture to protect it and make it shine 8

_____ windows a pair of light doors made of glass in a frame, usually opening out on to a garden or balcony go _____ (with sb) to share the cost of a meal in a restaurant talk (to sb) like a ______ uncle to tell someone severely that you disapprove of what they have done _____ auction a public sale at which the price is gradually reduced until someone will pay it _____ fry a long thin piece of potato cooked in fat _____ loaf a long thin white loaf of bread _____ dressing a mixture of oil and vinegar that is put on raw vegetables _____ breakfast BrE a large cooked breakfast consisting of bacon, eggs, toast1 _____ muffin AmE a round flat piece of bread that you toast before eating it _____ toast pieces of bread put into a mixture of egg and milk and then cooked in hot oil _____ god informal a very attractive man _____ chequers a game in which you move small balls from hole to hole on a board in the shape of a star _____ bread white bread in the shape of a thick stick _____ roulette a game in which you risk killing yourself by shooting at your head with a gun that has a bullet in only one of six chambers _____ lantern a paper decoration, usually with a light inside _____ roll BrE a long thin cake that is rolled up with jam1 (1) or cream inside _____ whispers the passing of information from one person to another, and then others, when the information gets slightly changed each time _____ football BrE a game played by two teams of eleven players, who carry, throw, or kick an oval (=egg shaped) ball _____ coffee coffee with cream and whisky added _____ Setter a type of large dog with long hair _____ steak AmE a thick flat piece of beef covered in flour and cooked in a sauce _____ leaves a type of cabbage eaten especially in East Asia _____ measles an infectious disease that causes red spots on your body, and can damage an unborn child; rubella _____ courage courage or confidence that you get when you drink alcohol _____ medicine a kind of medicine that uses herbs (=dried plants) and acupuncture

_____ shepherd a large dog rather like a wolf that is often used by the police, for guarding property etc; alsatian BrE _____ stew a dish of meat, potatoes, and onions boiled together _____ fire drill AmE informal a very confusing situation

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10. Name the countries that are most preferable for visiting: a) for economic cooperation with Russia b) to emigrate to c) to start business. Prove your choice.

II. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION/ CLIMATE/ WEATHER 1. There follows a selection of words describing a range of geographical features. Read each set of notes and see if you can guess which country is being described. The answers are given below. 1) a peninsula bounded by a large mountain range in the North – a wide plateau extending to the ocean in the South – unpredictable monsoon climate – population (approximately 720,000,000) concentrated in the northern plains; 2) enormous forest areas in the interior – coastal mountains in the West – numerous islands off the north coast – lowlands in the North – continental climate, severe inland, more moderate by the sea – total area: 3,851309 square miles; 3) a wide variety of land and climate – a huge river basin in the North – thickly forested – a vast plateau in the South – densely populated in coastal belt to the East – relatively underdeveloped in central areas beyond the highlands in the South-East – lies on the Equator; 4) consists of four main islands – mountainous and hilly – many active volcanoes – subject to earthquakes, typhoons and tidal waves – extends through many degrees of latitude – the climate, therefore, is very diverse; 5) located round the mouth of the Rhine and opposite the Thames estuary – a long coastline – most of the country flat and low-lying – large areas in the West and North below sea level – subject to floods – complex network of canals; 6) mountainous with numerous lakes – varied climate according to altitude, ranging from tropical to temperate to cold – highest point over 18,000 feet (nearly 6,000 metres) – desert in the West – half of the country lies inside the Tropic of Cancer; 7) to the North the southern slopes of a gigantic mountain chaintropical forests and jungle – highest peak 8,845 metres – fertile valleys for agriculture in central zone; 8) most highly developed country in its continent – rich in mineral deposits and other natural resources – large industrialised urban areas round coasts – rural in the interior – rich vegetation, good irrigation;

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Answers: 1. India, 2. Canada, 3. Brazil, 4. Japan, 5. Holland, 6. Mexico, 7. Nepal, 8. South Africa. Note the following rather tricky uses of the words north, south, east, west and the more general terms northern, southern, eastern, and western. The South of France South Africa (a country) The North Pole West Berlin East Germany South-East Asia South America South / North Korea the south bank of the river

southern France southern Africa (a region) the southern hemisphere western Europe eastern culture southern Europe the southern States of America Northern Ireland Eastern block countries

2. Make or find an outline map of your country or a country you know well and describe its physical geography, drawing in the key features. 3. Write or discuss the answers to the following questions. a) Which country or countries might you choose to live in if you had to emigrate? Give the reasons for your choice. b) What influence can a country’s physical geography have on the lifestyle? Standard of living and quality of life of the population? c) Write out a page or two from the diary you kept during your traveling. 4. Study the picture (p. 12). What kind of weather is usual in the region you live in? Is there any type of weather you have never experienced? What are abnormal weather conditions that usually happen on different continents?

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of mid-Wales’ lakes and the south’s lush valleys. With three stunning National Parks and over 750 miles of coast, Wales is an exhilarating choice for activities. Walk long distance paths like Offa's Dyke, the centuries-old border with England; scale the heights of Cader Idris (home of a mythical giant!); cycle along country lanes, golf, and fish or indulge in watersports along some of the best beaches in Europe. Or simply get away from it all on Pembrokeshire’s wide golden sands and finish off with a traditional tea of Welsh cakes in picture-postcard Tenby. The history and myths of one of the world's oldest civilisations have created an unforgettable range of sights to explore: ancient burial chambers, Roman forts and more than 400 castles, including World Heritage sites at Conwy and Harlech. Follow legendary King Arthur to Caerleon Amphitheatre, Merlin the magician to Carmarthen and relish Wales' rich culture in museums and galleries everywhere. Charming market towns and quaint villages pepper the countryside, while cities like Swansea and the capital, Cardiff, are vibrantly cosmopolitan and forward-looking, with a fabulous collection of Impressionist paintings at the National Museum and Gallery of Wales. Visit the official website of the Wales Tourist Board at www.visitwales.com. Using this text as a model write down a similar one about the place you know well. 6. Render the text into English.

Wales captivates visitors with its rich character and landscapes. The Welsh speak their own Celtic language as well as English and have their own culture, poetry and song, which they celebrate in concerts and unique summer festivals known as 'eisteddfodau'. Renowned as Britain's 'Great Outdoors', breathe the fresh air of Snowdonia’s magnificent mountains in the north or discover the tranquility

В Перу и сегодня можно сделать столько поразительных открытий, что невольно проникаешься магией неповторимости этого удивительного края, который в старину так манил к себе авантюристов всех мастей. Эта страна – одна из самых экзотических на земле. За сотни лет местные жители внешне практически не изменились. По количеству исторических памятников, разнообразию природы Перу занимает чуть ли не первое место в мире. Неудивительно, что многие богатые американцы и европейцы платят большие деньги, чтобы окунуться в атмосферу тайны, коей окутана вся стране. И, безусловно, делают это не зря. Но, как говорится, не только они лыком шиты... Знаете, с чего начинается Перу для перуанца? Оказывается, тоже с картинки в букваре. Но это был не мой случай. Свое знакомство с Перу я начал с восемнадцати миллионного латиноамериканского мегаполиса – Лимы – столицы Перу. Основана Лима в 1535 г. испанским конкистадором Франциско Писарро.

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5. Read the text and say where you can come across with a text of this kind?

Неприветливой поначалу показались мне Лима: дожди редки, оттого, наверное, и чувствуешь себя словно кузнечик на сковороде. Зато землетрясения, если и прекращаются, то только потому, что и вулканам нужен отдых. Зимой солнца не разглядеть из-за смога и вечно серых облаков, затягивающих небо сплошной мрачной пеленой. А еще туманы, туманы… Но завоевателям, в отличие от меня, это место пришлось по нраву. И не случайно – при нападении индейцев отсюда легко можно было выйти к морю и спрятаться на корабле. Мало кто из тогдашних сорвиголов мог предположить, что открытая равнина станет местом рождения политического и военного центра Нового Света. Затем переживет правление аж сорока вице-королей, прежде чем в 1821 г. Лима будет объявлена столицей независимого Перу. Приблизительный маршрут путешествия (включая сплав по притокам реки Амазонки) готовился заранее – в Москве. А дальше, как только я сошел с трапа и ступил на землю инков, начался экспромт. Лима явилась передо мной во всей красе и многообразии. Европейского вида деловые костюмы перемежались с вычурными народными перуанскими нарядами – в общем, настоящий винегрет стилей. Перед глазами, словно в калейдоскопе, чередовались то трухлявые и побитые временем сараи, то ультрасовременные деловые центры, то поражающие своим изяществом памятники архитектуры колониального периода. И вокруг – настоящее пальмовое безумие.

lar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea – 28 m, highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m Natural resources: wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber Natural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula Environment – current issues: air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and sea coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; ground water contamination from toxic waste Geography – note: largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture Speak about advantages and disadvantages of Russia’s geographic position.

7. Look through the chart concerning Russia’s geography and prepare an overview of Russia’s geographical position using the map.

8. Read a short text about international disputes of Russia. What are their reasons and what solutions can you suggest?

Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean Area: total: 17,075,200 sq km, land: 16,995,800 sq km, water: 79,400 sq km Land boundaries: total: 19,961 km; border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485 km, Norway 167 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576 km Coastline: 37,653 km Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the po-

Dispute over at least two small sections of the boundary with China remains to be settled, despite 1997 boundary agreement; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996, which has not been signed or ratified by Russia as of February 2001; draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Latvia has not been signed; 1997 border agreement with Lithuania not yet ratified; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia.

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III. LANGUAGES 1. Before reading the text try to explain the meaning of the title. ENGLISH AS AN ASIAN LANGUAGE It is impossible to identify and isolate an «English» culture that is common to all speakers of English. The cultures represented by Nigerian, Singaporean, Indian, Scottish, Filipino or Australian Aboriginal English are all very different. So, while a language must be linked to a culture, a language is not inextricably tied to one specific culture. Specific cultural identities can be represented by new varieties of English. In East and Southeast Asia English plays a major role in the region as a lingua franca of the political elite and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is also used as a lingua franca between professionals and the business community. But what variety of English will serve as the region's lingua franca? I suggest that a variety which reflects local cultural conventions and pragmatic norms is developing to serve this role. I further suggest that it is this regional variety that will be taught in schools, rather than an external «native speaker» variety. The vast majority of people who are learning English are doing so to be able to use this lingua franca. They are not learning English with the express purpose of communicating with native speakers of English. English is being used by non-native speakers with other non-native speakers. The English that they use need not therefore reflect any «Anglo» cultural values. This emerging role of English was identified by Gordon Wu of Hong Kong's Hopewell Holdings, who told the Far Eastern Economic Review: «English is no longer some colonial language. It is the means [by which] we in Asia communicate with the world and one another». So regional users of English who are learning English in order to speak to Thais, Koreans, Vietnamese or Japanese do not need teaching materials that promote or discuss «Anglo» cultures. What they need are materials that provide some knowledge of the culture of the people they are dealing with. They also need to be aware of their own cultural norms. The cultural values and daily lives of the people in the region who are using English as a regional lingua franca become more important than the cultural values associated with native speakers. This has important implications for English language teaching in the region's schools. It is a regional variety of English, not an external model 17

that needs to be promoted, because it is a regional variety of English that people in the region will want to use. People will be able to maintain their identity while speaking their variety of English. As Tommy Koh, a senior minister in the Singapore government, put it recently, «When I speak English I want the world to know I'm a Singaporean». The curriculum of a new variety of English should reflect the lives, cultures and values of the learners. Speakers of this new variety will want to preserve their identity by reflecting that identity in the local variety of English they use. English language teaching materials are needed that promote the local or regional variety and represent the cultures of the speakers of these newly developing varieties. These materials also need to contrast regional cultures, so making the English language curriculum more a curriculum of regional cultures. This will not only liberate generations of Asian children who have had to learn how to ask what time the next train to Liverpool Street leaves, but will also alter the nature of what represents an authentic text. Japan's current English teaching goals are that learners should become American English speakers. This is unrealistic and damaging to the cause of ELT. Students are fearful of speaking, because they falsely consider themselves to be poor speakers unless they sound like Americans. However, if students were given a regional variety of English to learn, educated speakers of the regional variety could provide the models. Suitably qualified and trained speakers of the regional variety could be the teachers. External models could, of course, be introduced into the classroom, but as examples of external models, not as the model that the learners are expected to acquire. More research into the development of varieties of English is urgently needed. In particular we need to know what cultural and discourse conventions are being reflected in these new varieties. For example, are compliments being given and received, or requests made, following local cultural values, or following «Anglo» values? Are topics in conversation being broached directly or indirectly? The worldwide domination of an «Anglo» variety of English is not inevitable. A regional variety of English can reflect local or regional cultures. Governments need not fear that the learning of English will necessarily imbue the learners with inappropriate cultural values or ways of thinking. The best option for regional governments is to promote local varieties of English. Instead of spending large sums of money on importing nativespeaking teachers and externally developed materials, funding should be 18

set aside for the professional development of local teachers and for the development of developing regionally appropriate ELT curricula. I. Make a list of items discussed in the text. II. Do you agree that specific cultural identities can be represented by new varieties of English? III. What is a lingua franca? IV. What is your opinion concerning the matter that various regional varieties of English might be taught in schools, rather than an external «native speaker» variety? V. What is the aim of learning foreign language in the author’s and your viewpoint? VI. Should a non-native English speaker stick to «Anglo» values when speaking English? Why / why not? VII. Render the text. 2. Read the article and formulate what a Canadian’s language problems are. A CANADIAN'S LANGUAGE PROBLEMS «Perplexed» is the word which best describes the scale of the Canadian in Britain. As a Canadian staying in London, I'm only too aware of this state of perplexity. A Canadian is neither one thing nor the other. The English, for instance, think he is an American, while the Americans think he is English. He himself is confused and uncertain, and nowhere is this more evident than in his speech. He has been brought up to speak English with an American accent, but at the same time, he has been taught to admire the way English is spoken in England. In other words, he's torn between the way be speaks English and the way he thinks English should be spoken. And this conflict makes him wonder who and what he is. Is there anything more galling for a Canadian than to be introduced as «from America» at an English party, or to be asked «What part of the States do you come from?» So Canadians abroad festoon themselves with flags and maple leaves in the hope of preventing the inevitable misinterpretation of their accent. The problem is more acute for the Canadian living in Britain. Daily he is faced with decisions which call his speech and his identity into question. 19

Do I buy my groceries in a store as I would at home or in a shop as the English do? Do I ask for a package of cookies like the Americans or a packet of biscuits like the English? Do I eat candies or sweets when I am hungry? It's like trying to speak another language. Of course the English often help him out, so that when he asks for a can of corn, they reply, «Oh, you mean a tin of sweet-corn». And what does he say if he steps on someone's toe? Now if an Englishman steps on your toe, he says «Sorry», I'd say «Excuse me». If he doesn't understand you and wants you to repeat what you've said (which often happens when he's speaking to North Americans), he still says «Sorry». I'd say «I beg your pardon». The English, in fact, say «Sorry» at every opportunity. Yet, they say absolutely nothing in reply to «Thank you» whereas North Americans always reply «You arc welcome». What does it matter which word you use as long as your meaning is clear? I reply that it does matter, if you are in London. Such decisions have far-reaching consequences. You have to decide whether to maintain your own accent and vocabulary in the face of the way the English speak, or to abandon your own language, the very words you learned at your mother's knee. Some Canadians completely collapse under the strain. One Canadian friend who become fed up with being mistaken for an American, feeling inferior to the English, and weighing up every word he spoke, decided to opt wholeheartedly for an English accent. He hoped that this would put an end to his perplexity. He learned to say «Sorry» for everything and to call a cookie a biscuit. But even he was defeated in the end. Once, when an old lady asked him to help her across the street, he uttered the single word «Sure». «Oh», said the Englishwoman, «surely you’re from America». I. Why do you think Canadians are so worried being wrongly identified? II. Match the following words to the definitions: uncertain, confused, strain, perplexed. a. unable to understand clearly what someone is saying or what is happening b. confused and worried by something that you do not understand c. showing the effects of worry or too much work d. not sure or feeling doubt III. What language peculiarities can show a Canadian up?

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3. Read the article and put the passages into the correct order.

4. Read and render the text. Can you give examples that can prove other languages you know being «crazy» as well?

FUTURE OF AFRIKANERS' LANGUAGE IN DOUBT By Pant Taylor «The Washington post»

OUR CRAZY LANGUAGE Bу Richard Lederer

1) After the election South Africa became a country with 11 official languages, spoken by the nine different groups of South Africa's 30 million blacks. The language bargain struck by the drafted of South Africa's new constitution, approved by the white-minority parliament assures that no language will suffer a diminution of status in the post-apartheid era. 2) The answer is almost certainly yes. But the question is more interesting for it illustrates how touchy Afrikaners are these days about their language – an Africanized derivative from Dutch as it was spoken in the 17th century, when South Africa's earliest – and mostly Dutch – white settlers arrived. 3) CAPE TOWN – The Afrikaans language survived British colonization. It seems likely to survive black liberation. Question is can it survive de-Coca-Colaization? 4) That means that Afrikaans and English are supposed to remain the languages of record in high functions of the new national government, such as courts and legislative records. The worry among Afrikaners is that over time, these agreements won't he fully honored. 5) They fear that the 11-language policy will turn out to be a backhanded ploy to reduce Afrikaans to just another regional tongue. Although many Afrikaners fear their language will wither away if it becomes one among 11 equals, some think that is the way to guarantee it thrives – by depoliticizing the issue. 6) Afrikaans-speakers comprise about 3 million whites and 3 million mixed-race Coloreds in a nation of 38 million. South Africa's other 2 million whites, of British descent, speak English, South Africa's other official language. I. What is the main idea of the article? II. Why do the governments in every country try to protect their language? Why is it important? III. Is the language problem connected with the issue of the world as «a global village»?

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English is the most widely used language in the history of our planet. One in every seven human beings can speak it. More than half of the world's books and three quarters of international mail are in English. Of all languages, English has the largest vocabulary – perhaps as many as two million words – and one of the noblest bodies of literature. Nonetheless, let's face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, neither pine nor apple in pineapple and no ham in a hamburger. English muffins weren't invented in England, or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candy, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But when exploring its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, public bathrooms have no baths and a guinea pig is not a pig or from Guinea. And why is it that a writer writes, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, humdingers don't hum and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of booth be beeth? One goose, two geese – so one mооsе, two meese? One index, two indices – one Kleenex, two Kleenices? Doesn't it seem loopy that you can make amends but not just one amend, that we comb through the annals of history, but not just one annal? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and you get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If the teacher taught, why isn't it true that the preacher praught? If a horsehair mat is made from the hair of horses and a camel’s-hair coat from the hair of camels, from what is a mohair coal made? If you wrote a letter, perhaps you also bote your tongue? Sometimes I wonder if all English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what other language can we ask: Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Or recite at a play and play at a recital? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feel that smell? How can it slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be oppo22

sites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next? Did yon ever notice that we can talk about certain things only when they are absent? Have you ever seen a horseful carriage or a strapful gown, met a sung hero or experienced requited love? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled, ruly or peccable? And where are the people who are spring chickens or who who would fly? I meet individuals who can cut the mustard, and whom I would touch with a ten-foot pole, but I cannot talk about them in English. You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can simultaneously burn up and burn down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which your alarm clock goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity and fearful asymmetry of the human race (which, of course, isn't really a race at all). That's why when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it. 5. Choose one quotation and give two-minutes speech based on it. o Language is the dress of thought. (Samuel Johnson) o The true use of speech is not so much to ехрress our wants as to conceal them. (Goldsmith) o A thing well said will be wit in all languages. (Dryden) o A word to the wise is enough. (Franklin) o Speaking much is a sign of vanity, for he that is lavish with words is niggard indeed. (Raleigh) o Think as a wise man but communicate in the language of the people. (Yeats) o There is a great power in words, if you don't hitch too many of them together. (Billings) o Fair words, never hurt the tongue. (Anonymous)

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IV. POPULATION 1. Read the text showing the statistics, study and translate the underlined word combinations. SNAPSHOT OF THE UK’S POPULATION The population of the United Kingdom on Census Day 2001 was 58,789,194 it has been revealed by the Registrars General for England and Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland. The populations of individual countries were: England 49,138,831 (83.6 per cent of the total population); Scotland 5,062,011 (8.6 per cent); Wales 2,903,085 (4.9 per cent); Northern Ireland 1,685,267 (2.9 per cent). The UK population has grown by 17 per cent overall since 1951, but compared with many other developed countries over the same period, the UK population is growing more slowly. It is smaller than the average growth for EU Europe (23 per cent) and considerably smaller than some countries – for example USA 80 per cent; and Australia 133 per cent. For the first time, people 60 and over form a larger part of the population than children under 16–21 per cent compared to 20 per cent. There has also been a big increase in the number of people aged 85 and over – now over 1.1 million, or 1.9 per cent of the population. Overall, the population of England has grown by 2,318,000 (5 per cent) in the past 20 years but there have been big variations in the English regions with the North East and North West regions experiencing a decline in population while the South West, East and South East have seen population growth of 10 per cent or more. In Wales the population has grown by 89,600 (3 per cent) in the past 20 years with Ceredigion (23.2 per cent) seeing the greatest population growth while Merthyr Tydfil lost 7.5 per cent of its population. The results in Scotland show a 2 per cent decline over 20 years but that Scotland's overall share of the UK population has not fallen below that shown in the most recent population estimates. In Northern Ireland, compared with the UK, the population has shown the greatest increase of 9 per cent over 20 years and has increased by 82,000 (5 per cent) in the past ten years. Northern Ireland has the youngest population in the UK with children under-16 representing 24 per cent of the population compared with 20 per cent in the UK as a whole.

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1) When was the last census in Russia? What figures does it show? 2) What is the current tendency in terms of the population in Russia? (Use the following words: a dramatic increase/ a steady decrease/ a constant rise/ a sharp fall/ a growth/ a decline/ a cut in/ a drop in/ an upward trend in terms of/ a downward trend in terms of). 3) What are the root causes of the situation, to your mind? What policy would you carry out to improve the situation, if you were an MP? 2. Read the text and compare the situation in the UK to that of other multinational countries. Try to explain the wish for of each nation for selfidentity. Being English used to be so easy. They were one of the most easily identified peoples on earth, recognized by their language, their manners, their clothes and the fact that they drank tea by the bucketload. It is so much complicated now. When, occasionally, we come across someone whose stiff upper lip, sensible shoes or tweedy manner identifies them as English, we react in amusement: the conventions that defined the English are dead and the country’s ambassadors are more likely to be singers or writers than diplomats or politicians. The imperial English may have carried British passports – as did the Scots, Welsh, and some of the Irish – but they really didn’t need to think too hard about whether being ‘English’ was the same as being ‘British’: the terms were virtually interchangeable. Nowadays, nothing will so infuriate a Scot as to confuse the terms English and British, for England’s Celtic neighbours are increasingly striking out on their own. The language has begun to reflect this changed relationship. Where several years ago events in Scotland were talked of as regional, they are increasingly spoken about as ‘national’. The BBC has even issued instructions to its staff on the unacceptability of any longer talking of Wales as a «Principality».

15–64 years: 69.78 % (male 49,183,000; female 52,320,962) 65 years and over: 12.81 % (male 5,941,944; female 12,703,924) (2001 est.) Population growth rate: –0.35 % (2001) Birth rate: 9.35 births/1,000 population (2001) Death rate: 13.85 deaths/1,000 population (2001) Net migration rate: 0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2001) Life expectancy: total population: 67.34 years male: 62.12 years female: 72.83 years (2001) HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 130,000 (1999) HIV/AIDS – deaths: 850 (1999) Ethnic groups: Russian 81.5 %, Tatar 3.8 %, Ukrainian 3 %, Chuvash 1.2 %, Bashkir 0.9 %, Byelorussian 0.8 %, Moldavian 0.7 %, other 8.1 % Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other

3. Look through the chart concerning Russia’s population. Why is it important to know these figures for the country? Do you think this data is still valid? How do you evaluate the population issue? If negatively, what initiative would you suggest to improve the situation? Population: 145,470,197 (July 2001) Age structure: 0–14 years: 17.41 % (male 12,915,026; female 12,405,341) 25

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V. ETHNIC GROUPS 1. Before reading the text discuss the things you know about Canada, Canadians, their culture and style of living. Then read the text and say if there is anything you haven’t heard of. Explain the meaning of the underlined word combinations. CANADIAN CULTURE

of government will be Inuitituk with secondary services available in English as required. 2. Have a look at the census data provided by Office for National Statistics in 2001. What is ethnicity and religious identity? How do you identify yourself? Does it influence your life somehow? ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

I was recently asked about Canadian Culture – things people would want to know before visiting Canada. Simple enough question if you come from a country with a cultural history, but what about Canada? Italy, Germany, Japan, India and many other countries all have well defined cultures steeped in hundreds if not thousands of years of traditions, customs and language. For most adults, just mentioning Chinese culture brings to mind any number of mental images, which clearly define for the person what Chinese culture means to them. But what about Canadian Culture? Our original settlers still maintain their culture as they have known it for over 5,000 years, but the Inuit culture didn’t really catch on in the southern regions of the country. We have French-Canadians, the only identifiable ethno-hyphenated Canadians who mark their culture with their language and traditions based largely in Quebec and New Brunswick. Traditions and language are based on the 19th century French and form an integral part of the entire Canadian culture experience. All together the French-Canadian population represents about 20 % of the population of Canada. So what about the other 80 %? Does Canada Have an identifiable culture? In search of a Canadian identity, I called a sociology professor at our local University. He advised me that Canadians do indeed have a culture, but it is the combination of most other cultures from around the world. To draw a parallel, the United States has been characterized as ‘the great melting pot of humanity’, where people of all nations are invited to join the nation to form ‘a more perfect nation’. Everybody is expected to comply with common community standards to make the nation strong. Canada, on the other hand, has been compared to a mosaic, where each individual people are invited to join the nation and still retain their cultural identities, complete with traditions, language and customs. In British Columbia for instance, a person may write their driving license in English, French, Chinese, and Punjabi, and in Nunavut, the primary language

The 2001 Census collected information about ethnicity and religious identity. Combining these results shows that while the population is more culturally diverse than ever before, White Christians remain the largest single group by far. In England and Wales, 36 million people (nearly 7 out of 10) described their ethnicity as White and their religion as Christian. Majorities of Black people and those from Mixed ethnic backgrounds also identified as Christian (71 and 52 per cent respectively). In total there were 810 thousand Black Christians and 347 thousand Christians from Mixed ethnic backgrounds. Among other faiths the largest groups were Pakistani Muslims (658 thousand) and Indian Hindus (467 thousand) followed by Indian Sikhs (301 thousand), Bangladeshi Muslims (260 thousand) and White Jews (252 thousand). The Indian group was religiously diverse. 45 per cent of Indians were Hindu, 29 per cent Sikh and a further 13 per cent Muslim. By contrast the Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups were more homogenous, Muslims accounting for 92 per cent of each ethnic group. Some faith communities were concentrated in particular ethnic groups. For example, 91 per cent of Sikhs were Indian and 97 per cent of Jews described their ethnicity as White. Others faiths were more widely dispersed; significant proportions of Buddhists were found in the White, Chinese, other Asian and other Ethnic groups. Overall, 15 per cent of the English and Welsh population reported having no religion although variation by ethnicity was marked. Just over half of all Chinese people, and one quarter of people from Mixed ethnic backgrounds, stated they had no religion. Asian, Black African and Irish people were least likely to have no religious affiliation. Fewer than 1 in 200 Pakistanis and Bangladeshis reported having no religion.

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14 per cent of people in the other Black group chose not to answer the religion question, almost twice the average for England and Wales as a whole. Similar proportions of people in the Black Caribbean and Mixed ethnic groups also gave no answer. 1) What is the current state of population in England and Wales? 2) What are the main ethnic groups? 3) What religious groups you can come across in England and Wales? 4) Tell about ethnic and religious groups in Russia and Omsk region. Mind the underlined word combinations. 3. Read the text and formulate its main idea. CHANGING PATTERNS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY The face of America is constantly and very rapidly changing. These changing patterns do affect, and have affected, what America is today and how Americans view the rest of the world. Between 1861 and 1960, the majority of immigrants came from Europe. But during the past 25 years the share of immigrants has come from Latin America and Asia. What is very clear is that the so-called European heritage of America is undergoing a major change as more and more people from Latin America and from Asian countries enter U.S. society. Growing number of Americans will be able to say that they, or their parents or grandparents, came from these regions. As a consequence, the American view of the world is more likely to be towards the south and west. Major changes in the pattern of immigration have been caused by wars, revolutions, periods of starvation, persecution, religious intolerance, and, in short, by any number of disasters which led people to believe that America was a better place to be in. More than a million Irish, for instance, emigrated to America between 1846 and 1851 in order to escape starvation and disease in Ireland. During the same period, large numbers of other Europeans fled political persecution. And in the 1870s another wave of refugees left the political turmoil of eastern and southern Europe to seek freedom and a future in America. The largest streams of European immigrants came between 1900 and 1920, that is, before, after, and during World War I. At other times, for example, during the Depression and during World War II, smaller numbers of immigrants came to the U.S. Since 29

the 1960s, more and more people have fled the poverty and wars in Asia and Latin America in the hope of finding a better life in the United States. All in all, the heritage of immigrants and immigration has brought enormous benefits to America. German intellectuals who fled Germany after the failed revolutions: of 1830 and 1848, for example, brought with them a liberal tradition that did much to change their newly adopted land. Again, a hundred years later, America was enriched by Jewish immigrants who, seen by many as the «refuse» of the world at the time, have added their brilliance to American culture, education, and science. Many other ethnic groups have, of course, also added their contributions to America's well-being. 1) The United States was often described as a nation of immigrants and American society likened to «melting pot», a «salad bowl» and a «pizza». What do all the descriptions have in common and why, do you think, there exists more than one metaphor for American society? 2) How would you describe the stages and phases of assimilation or integration into a society? 3) What are the possible ways of preserving one's national identity in a foreign culture environment? 4) How has the pattern of immigration into the U.S. been changing since the U.S. became an independent slate and why? 5) Many people were and still are thinking of the U.S. as the Promised Land. Do you think such attitude is justified? 6) What strains does mass immigration bring about on a nation and what may the benefits resulting from it be?

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VI. RELIGIONS Study the words you need to discuss religious matters. to believe in God religious faith religious convictions atheistic views secular to perceive perception misperception theology

верить в Бога религиозная вера религиозные убеждения атеистические взгляды светский воспринимать, понимать понимание ошибочное понимание теология

Christianity Catholicism (Roman Catholicism) a catholic Protestantism a protestant Orthodox Church Islam a Muslim (a Moslem) Hinduism a Hindu Buddhism a Buddhist Judaism a Jew Shinto, Shintoism Mormonism a Mormon

христианство католицизм католик протестантизм протестант православная церковь ислам мусульманин индуизм индус буддизм буддист иудаизм иудей, еврей синто, синтоизм мормонизм мормон

Holy books the scriptures / the Holy Scripture Genesis the Bible / the Book the Veda(s) the Koran Sharia Torah Talmud Ten Commandments

Священные книги Священное Писание Книга Бытия Библия Веды (книга индусов) Коран Шариат Тора, Пятикнижие Талмуд 10 заповедей 31

Eightfold Path of Buddha Five Pillars of Islam to practice religion to realize righteousness Parish Parishioner Service / liturgy Ritual / rite to pray Prayer Sermon Confession To worship Taboo To fast Lent, fast Fasting Christmas Easter Holy Week Ramadan Pilgrim pilgrimage God (Almighty) Allah Messiah Prophet Deity Virtue Mortal sin Heaven / Paradise / Eden Hell Afterlife Better world Reincarnation Crucifix to be crucified Eternal life The Holy Trinity (God Father, Son of God, holy Spirit) 32

Великий путь Будды Пять столпов ислама соблюдать религиозные обряды жить согласно заповедям приход прихожанин церковная служба обряд молиться молитва проповедь исповедь поклоняться, почитать запрет соблюдать пост Великий пост, пост соблюдение поста Рождество Пасха Страстная неделя перед Пасхой Рамадан паломник паломничество Бог (всемогущий) Аллах Мессия пророк божество добродетель смертный грех рай ад загробная жизнь лучший мир Новое воплощение Распятие быть распятым вечная жизнь Святая Троица (Отец, Сын, Святой Дух)

1. Match up the word and the definition. I. communion

II. fundamentalism III. scripture

a) a collection of writings that is regarded as sacred in a particular religion

XII. minister

k) a clergyman Protestant church

XIII. Messiah

l) the belief that after death the soul of a person passes into the body of another living creature

XIV. reincarnation

m) in Christianity the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit in one God

XV. prophet

n) in Hindu and Buddhist religious the ultimate state of spiritual enlightenment

XVI. the Trinity

o) a person who is believed to be chosen by God to say what God wants to say to people

XVII. nirvana

p) a person who promises to rescue and succeeds in rescuing people from very difficult situations

b) Catholics who regularly attend a church c) restraining from eating all or certain food for a religious reason

IV. the Vedas

d) Speaking to the God that one believes ill

V. the Koran

e) the belief in an old and literal, sometimes extreme form of a religion as set out in holy books

VI. congregation

f) the ancient sacred literature of Hinduism

VII. parish

g) an area which has its own church including the priest and people who live there and attend the church

2. Now look at various positions you can have in the following places. There are several gaps. Read items 1–4 and write the appropriate number in each.

VIII. lent

h) a particular form of religious service

IX. liturgy

i) a church rite or ceremony during a Christian church service at which people eat bread and drink wine

X. prayer

j) the sacred book of the Muslims, containing revelations made to Muhammad by Allah 33

1. Vicar. 2. Friar. 3. Cardinal. 4. Novice. Priory: Abbot, Prior, ______, Canon, Monk Convent: Mother Superior, Abbess, Sister, _______ Catholic Church: Pope, _______, Bishop, Deacon, Priest Protestant Church: Archbishop, Dean, Canon, ______, Parson, Curate

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3. Read a brief review of religions worldwide. ROLE OF RELIGION

whelmingly in India and Nepal today. It represents beliefs in the importance of karma, reincarnation, and many gods. Temples are a vision of the world in miniature. Hindus numbered 747 million in 1997 (12.8 % of the world). Judaism. It originated with Semitic seminomads in the Middle East about 33 000 BCE. About 1300 BCE the earliest texts of the Old Testament appeared. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. Persecuted by the Romans, they departed creating a Jewish Diaspora. Jews are widely scattered, with almost six million in North America, four million in Israel and three million in Russia. They are monotheistic and strongly ethnic. Judaism is based on beliefs in Torah consisting of five books plus commentary. Zionist movement led to the establishment of Israel in 1948. Jews numbered 15 million in 1997 (0.25 % of the world). In the US there are almost 6 million Jews (2 million live in New York City), compared with under 5 million in Israel. Buddhism. Founded about 525 BCE by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) near the Ganges River, it is a reformation of Hinduism. It was spread by missionaries and trade caravans. It is found overwhelmingly in Asia, especially in Sri Lanka, Tibet, and Indochina, with relatively few in India. Buddhism is combined with traditional Chinese beliefs in China and Shintoism in Japan. Suffering is caused by the desire for material goods. Buddhists believe in the sanctity of all life and importance of meditation to end the cycle of reincarnation. They numbered 353 million in 1997 (6.0 % of the world). Christianity.

Our world view originates in our culture. And one of the predominant elements of culture that gives us our world view is religion. Al religions imply in one way or another that human beings do not and cannot stand alone. For well over four thousands years, people have concluded that they depend on powers in nature or elsewhere that are external to themselves. Religion has helped people explain things that they could not otherwise understand or explain. Whether it be conceptions of a first cause of all things or natural occurrences such as comets, floods, lighting, thunder, drought, disease, or abundance, people have relied on religious explanations for understanding. Religion has also helped people recognize where they from, why they die, and what happens when they die. The diversity of human behaviour in these circumstances depends upon the religious view that has developed and prevailed in a culture. According to the Koran, death is like entering the original Garden of Eden, with abundant fruits and many maidens. Religion teaches values, in part, through taboos. The eating of pork, for instance, is a Jewish social taboo; the Jain of India prohibits the eating of all meat. And among the taboos of Islam is a prohibition against the consumption of alcohol. The teaching of taboos serves a useful social function in giving direction for socially acceptable behaviour. Knowing about religions can provide insight into values and behaviour or at least offer explanations for perceived behaviour. People in Ireland, the United States and Spain have strong beliefs in the devil, but people in France, Denmark, and Sweden do not. People in the United States tend to believe in heaven; Hindus in India believe in reincarnation. These belief differences have some impact on the behaviour of the people. Although there are literally thousands of religions, they can he set into a few major categories, each of which has a view of God, a founder, sacred writings, holy places, holy days, sacred symbols, and the like. Hinduism. Founded in Indus Valley about 3 500 BCE within Dravidian Civilization, it later incorporated the religion brought by Aryan invaders from 1500 BCE onwards. The Aryans came with oral histories in Sanskrit, including Vedas with over a thousand hymns. Hinduism is located over-

Founded in the Middle East by Jesus Christ (4 BCE – 29 A.D.), it developed as an European religious system. Its beliefs include eternal life. It was spread by Roman Empire after Emperor’s conversion (313), by later colonial empires, and migration. Its major divisions are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox (split in 1066 A.D.), Protestant and Anglican (Luther 1519, etc). New denominations in America include Mormon (1830) with 4.4 million. Christians numbered 1,930 million in 1997 (33.0 % of the world).

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‘Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise’. Sam Pascoe, American Scholar.

Christianity in North America is a severely divided faith consisting of over 1,000 denominations, which are often categorized into conservative, mainline and liberal wings: Many Fundamentalists and other Evangelical Christians regard saved individuals as the only true Christians. They maintain separate religious denominations, radio stations, publishing houses, local ministerial associations, etc. – even exercise videos. They tend to look upon Christianity as a living relationship with their Savior. Mainline Christians tend to be much more inclusive. They accept as a Christian anyone who follows the teachings of and about Jesus Christ. Liberal Christians agree with mainline Christians and are even more inclusive. Some theologians, particularly those who are members of the Jesus Seminar, have abandoned or completely reinterpreted most traditional Christian beliefs. Islam. Founded on the Arabian Peninsula by Mohammed (570 – 632 A.D.), it extends Judeo-Christian theology and may be thought of as a major reformation. Islam is monotheistic and represents the beliefs in the Koran. Its practices include five prayers a day facing Mecca, a pilgrimage, almsgiving, and fasting during Ramadan. It was spread by jihad and Arab traders. It numbered 1,147 million in 1997. Major divisions of Islam are Sunni and Shia. 1) Why do people need religion? What does religion teach us? 2) Make a list of concepts unique for each particular faith. Do you know their meanings? Discuss it in pairs. 3) What are the main books in each religion? Have you read the book of your faith? What does it teach? 4) What are the common features of all religions? What shows their uniqueness? 5) Comment on the quotation about Christianity. Do you share Sam Pascoe’s opinion? Why? / Why not? Do you think the similar statements concerning other religions are possible? 6) Tell a story from your religion or a religion you know about. 4. You are writing a book about religions of the world. Interview a representative of a religious faith. Ask the following questions: a) whether there is an after-life, b) what happens if you behave well / badly, 37

c) what kind of holy people there are, d) how strong the religion is today. 5. Read the texts about religions in Britain. How do they correspond to each other? What conclusions can you make having read the texts? RELIGIONS IN BRITAIN (I) In 2001 the Census collected information about religious identity. The topic was new to the Census in England, Wales and Scotland although the subject had been included in previous Censuses in Northern Ireland. Just over three-quarters of the UK population reported having a religion. More than seven out of ten people said that their religion was Christian (72 per cent). After Christianity, Islam was the most common faith with nearly 3 per cent describing their religion as Muslim (1.6 million). The next largest religious groups were Hindus (559 thousand), followed by Sikhs (336 thousand), Jews (267 thousand), Buddhists (152 thousand), and people from other religions (179 thousand). These groups each accounted for less than 1 per cent and together accounted for a further 3 per cent of the UK population. People in Northern Ireland were most likely to say that they identified with a religion (86 %) compared with those in England and Wales (77 %) and Scotland (67 %). About sixteen per cent of the UK population stated that they had no religion. This category included agnostics, atheists, heathens and those who wrote Jedi Knight. The Census religion question was a voluntary question. Nevertheless, over 92 per cent of people chose to answer it. Census Religion Questions: Different versions of the religious identity question were asked in England and Wales, in Scotland and in Northern Ireland, to reflect local differences in the requirement for information. However, results are comparable across the UK as a whole. The information provided will be used to supplement ethnicity data, identify areas of disadvantage and monitor policies on equality. It will also support resource allocation and the provision of services. As with all Census data, information about an individual’s religion is safeguarded and protected by law. RELIGIONS IN BRITAIN (II) Ask most foreigners – and, indeed, many British people – about religion in Britain and you’ll get a simple answer: «The British belong to the 38

Church of England». There is some truth in this statement, but it is by no means the whole story. Let us start by looking at some of the numerous groups practicing their faith in Britain. The Church of England. The Church of England is a Protestant church and the official state religion of England (although membership is not, of course, compulsory). The Queen is the Head of the Church of England and she, with the advice of the Prime Minister and others, appoints the senior members of the clergy – the archbishops, bishops and deans. The Church is divided into two provinces – Canterbury and York – each with its own archbishop and the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior official in the Church of England. The two provinces are divided into a number of dioceses, each with its won bishop; and the dioceses are further split into parishes. There are 13,250 parishes in England alone, and every parish has its won church, all except for the very smallest with its won priest or vicar. The Church of England does not yet allow women to become vicars. This is the cause of a major argument raging in the Church at the moment, but it is possible that the situation will change within the next few years. The Church of Scotland. The Church of Scotland is recognized as the official religion of Scotland. It is a Protestant church and is a Presbyterian organization. This means that there is no hierarchy of archbishops and bishops. The Church of Scotland is governed by its ministers (parish priests) and elders (elected representatives), all of whom are considered to hold equal rank. Women are allowed to become ministers in the Presbyterian Church. The Roman Catholic Church. About 10 per cent of the population of Britain are Roman Catholics including more than one third of the population of Northern Ireland. Recent years have seen attempts to create some form of unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, but there are many problems, not least of which is that whereas the Church of England appears to be gradually accepting the idea of admitting woman to the priesthood, this is totally unacceptable to the Roman Catholic Church. The Free Churches. There are several Protestant churches in Britain which, unlike the churches of England and Scotland, are not officially recognized as state religions. There are called the Free Churches, the most important of which are the Methodists, Baptists, and the United Reform Church. These

churches are particularly strong in the old Celtic areas of Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and south-west England. Most of them allow women to become ministers. As well as these churches there are various other Christian communities such as Orthodox and Armenian Christians, but the picture is further complicated by meny eastern religions. Non-Christian Religions. There are large numbers of Commonwealth citizens in Britain whose ancestors came from such countries as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many of these people are Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. There are 100 Muslim mosques and centres, 300 Sikh and Hindu temples and 200 Buddhist groups. There are also about 400,000 Jews living in Britain. So can Britain really be called a ‘Christian society’?

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1) Parish – province – diocese. Which is the largest and which is the smallest? 2) Roman Catholic – Church of England – Church of Scotland. In which of these churches can women become priest? 3) Wales – Scotland – Northern Ireland. In which of these countries are you least likely to meet a Roman Catholic? 4) Using these texts as an example tell about religions in Russia. 6. Read the text and compare the relationship between state and church in the U.S. and in your country. Ask your group mates to tell you what they know of such relationship in other countries. U.S.: STATE AND CHURCH Looking at religion in the U.S., we are faced with a typically American contradiction. From its vary beginnings as a nation, Americans have been extremely careful to separate church and state, religion and government. The Constitution, specifically the First Amendment, forbids the government to give special favors to any religion or to hinder me free practice of any religion. As a result, there are no church taxes in the United States, nor is there an official state church or a state-supported religion. There are no legal or official religions holidays. Christmas, for example, is an important religious holiday for Christians. However, Congress cannot proclaim it, or any other religious observance, to be an official or legal holiday. To do so would violate the Constitution.

There are no political parties in the United States that have «Christian» in their names. There is no longer even the assumption that America is, or should be, «a white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant» (WASP) nation. Yet, surveys show that religion continues to be quite important to many Americans, especially when compared with people in other countries. 7. Read the text and answer the following questions: 9 Comment on the title of the text. 9 What are «fundamentalist» denominations? 9 What is the recent trend concerning «mainline» churches? 9 Why is the membership in «fundamentalist» Christian groups increased? 9 Render the text. RETURN TO RELIGION? While 58 percent of Americans feel that religion is «very important» in their own lives, it is hard to say to what extend religious beliefs affect their daily lives. However, a study done by Gallup International in 1986 seems to show that attention to religion is increasing in the United States. Some 48 percent of those surveyed felt that the influence of religion on American life was greater than it was five years before (but, of course, 52 percent did not think it was greater). Also, about half said they were more interested in «spiritual and religious matters» than they were five years earlier. Throughout American history, there have been periods of religious revivals which have come and gone. If there is in fact «return to religion» at present, then it is associated with the more «fundamentalists» denominations. These church groups are usually more conservative and orthodox in their religious beliefs and practices. Membership in the less conservative, so-called «mainline» Protestant churches in the U.S. has actually fallen in the last ten years by about 8 percent. Furthermore, church attendance by (Roman) Catholics has dropped by about a third during the same period. By contrast, membership in the fundamentalist Christian churches has gone up by 35 percent, and orthodox Jewish congregations have increased by as much as 100 percent. The increase in the fundamentalist Christian groups has attracted much public attention. One reason is that many of these groups actively publicize their beliefs and try to influence public life and political processes. Many 41

have their own radio or television stations, which they and their members finance. Yet overall fundamentalist churches still represent a minority, even if a very active one, of all American church groups and members. 8. Discuss with your group mates: 9 predominant religions in the world; 9 religions, denominations, and churches existing in their countries; 9 whether for most people of their countries religion is a part of their world view, or pattern of behaviour, or both. 9. Read the text and do the following exercises. BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY In May each year, Buddha’s birthday is celebrated with candlelit processions, the hanging of lanterns in temples and the day-long chanting of prayers. It is a day when Buddhists take time to think of and pray for the less fortunate in the world. 1) What do you know about Buddhism? Can you answer the questions? a. How old is Buddhism? b. In which countries is Buddhism practised? c. How many Buddhists are there in the world today? d. Do you know any celebrities who are Buddhists? e. Why is Buddhism not considered a religion? f. How did Buddhism originate? g. What is the Middle Way? h. What does the word ‘Buddha’ mean? i. What is karma? j. What is nirvana? k. What is every Buddhist’s aim? l. What is the eight-fold path? 2) Read the information below to find the answers to the questions in 1. Introduction The many forms of Buddhism have helped to shape the lives and outlooks of its followers for over two-and-a-half thousand years. Most of today’s 500 million Buddhists live in eastern Asian countries such as Thailand, Tibet, India, Japan and Korea, but in recent years, Buddhism has be42

come fashionable in the west, where it is seen as a spiritual contrast to the materialistic lifestyle. Celebrities such as the singer Tina Turner, the actor Richard Gere and the golfer Tiger Woods are all advocates of Buddhism. Buddhism is not technically a religion as it is not centred on a god, but a system of philosophy and a code of morality. How it began Buddhism was originated in northern India when Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian prince born around 560 BC, achieved enlightenment. When, as a young man, Siddhartha went outside the palace walls for the first time, he was shocked by four things that he saw: an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a holy man. He started to ponder the meaning of life and, renouncing his riches, he set out to find an answer to why people suffer. Believing that most human suffering was caused by people’s attachment to their desires, he developed a way of life in which he looked after the basic needs of his body, but did not seek any extra comforts or luxuries. He called this the Middle Way. Siddhartha became a Buddha, or ‘Enlightened One’. For the rest of his life he travelled around India on foot, teaching and helping others to free themselves from the suffering. Siddhartha died around 480 BC when he was 80 years old. Karma and nirvana There are three fundamental beliefs at the heart of Buddhism: 9 When people die, they are reborn into another life time after time. 9 People cause their own suffering through their attachment to their desires, resulting in greed, jealousy, anger, hatred and other negative feelings. This creates a force called karma. 9 If individuals can reduce these feelings, the force of karma becomes less strong and eventually disappears completely. When this happens, the individual is freed from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. This freedom is called nirvana. It is every Buddhist’s aim to reach nirvana, even if it takes a thousand lifetimes.

NIRVANA Right views – have a positive mind and focus on the good in yourself and in others.

Right thoughts – care for others and be understanding and sympathetic.

Right speech – never lie or say hurtful things.

Right livelihood – do work which does not cheat or harm anyone.

Right effort – work hard to follow the eightfold path.

Right mindfulness – be aware at all times of how your thoughts and actions will affect others.

Right concentration – have a peaceful state of mind as you follow the eightfold path.

Right action – never kill, cause injury or steal.

3) In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions. a. Which of the ideas of Buddhism are similar to those of your religion, or the religions of your country? If you are Buddhist, can you explain more about it? b. Which ideas of the eight-fold path do you feel are the most important? c. How did your religion, or the religions of your country, originate? For more information about Buddhism, visit the following websites: home.earthlink.net/~srama/ www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm www.buddhanet.net/budnetp.htm 10. Work in pairs. Student A: You know that Student B is interested in Buddhism. Which questions would you ask him/her about this religion? Student B: Read some additional information about Buddhism. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH OF BUDDHISM

Buddha taught that there was a path that anybody could follow which would help them overcome suffering and be freed from endless reincarnation. This forms the basis of Buddhism today.

Buddhism – a religion and philosophic system of central and eastern Asia, founded in India in the 6th century B.C by Buddha, a religious philosopher and teacher who supposedly lived in India in 563–483 B.C. Buddhism teaches that right living, right thinking and self-denial will enable one to reach Nirvana, a divine state of release from earthly and bodily pain,

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The eight-fold path

suffering, sorrow and desire. The name, Buddha, is title, applied by Buddhists to someone regarded as embodying divine wisdom and virtue. It bas been given to other religious leaders in Asia. To help overcome desire and to achieve enlightenment, Buddha taught an Eightfold Path. 1) Right view is understanding and accepting the reality and origins of suffering, and the ways leading to the cessation of suffering 2) Right thought is being free from ill-will, cruelty, and untruthfulness towards self and others. 3) Right speech is abstaining from lying, tale-bearing, and harsh language. 4) Right conduct is abstaining from the taking of life, from stealing, and from sexual misconduct. 5) Right livelihood is not harming any living thing, and being free from luxury at the expense of others. 6) Right effort is avoiding and overcoming evil, and promoting und maintaining good. 7) Right mindfulness is the contemplation of transitoriness of the body, of one’s own and others' feeling, of the mind, and of phenomena. 8) Right meditation is complete concentration on a single object and the achievement of purity of thought, free from all hindrances and distractions and eventually beyond sensation. 11. RAMADAN AND THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM 1) During November and December, Muslims around the world observe the Fast of Ramadan. What do you know about this and other aspects of Islam? Work in small groups and discuss the questions below. a. What happens during Ramadan? b. How did Islam begin? c. What does the word Islam mean? d. Who was Mohammed? e. What is the significance of Mecca? f. What is the Koran? g. What are the Five Pillars of Islam? h. What do Muslims not eat or drink? i. When and how do Muslims pray? j. What do Muslims traditionally wear? 45

2) Check your answers and match the questions to the passages. The first one has been done for you. What are the Five Pillars of Islam? The Five Pillars of Islam are the fundamental principles or duties of the religion. They must be performed by all Muslims. _________________________________? Mohammed was born in Mecca, in what is now Saudi Arabia, in 570AD. Muslims believe he was the final prophet sent to the earth by God. When Mohammed was 40 years old, he heard the voice of God while meditating in a cave. He had been called upon to become God’s messenger and to spread the word of Islam. _________________________________? Before Islam, the Arabic peoples had many different beliefs and gods. Mohammed taught them that there was only one god, Allah in Arabic. This was not well-received and Mohammed and his fellow-believers were forced to flee from Mecca to Medina, where they founded the first Muslim community in the year 622 A.D. After a few years, Mohammed returned to Mecca, having defeated its army, and from there Islam quickly spread to many countries. After Mohammed’s death, people disagreed about who should be their new leader and which path they should follow. Consequently, they split into two main groups, each developing slightly different traditions and interpretations of the religion. The largest group became known as the Sunnis and the smaller group became the Shi’as. Today, about ninety percent of the world’s one-and-a-half billion Muslims are Sunnis. There are over fifty independent Muslim countries in the world today, the largest, in terms of population, being Indonesia. The Five Pillars of Islam To try to visit the holy Ka’ba in Mecca at least once in your lifetime.

To pray five times a day.

To fast in the Hours of daylight during the month of Ramadan.

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To give Zakat, part of one’s personal wealth, to a charity once a year.

To believe in only one God and that Mohammed was his prophet.

_________________________________? The Koran is the Islamic holy book. Throughout his life, Mohammed received messages from God. Unable to read or write, Mohammed learned them by heart before passing them on to other Muslims so they could be written down. After his death in 632A.D, all these written passages were gathered together in one book. The fundamental message of the Koran is that God is the creator of the world and that he controls everything in it. The Koran forbids the use of images of living things, hence there is no physical representation of God. Images representing the religion are based on geometric shapes and calligraphy. _________________________________? The Arabic word Islam means ‘submission’ reflecting the Koran’s instruction that Muslims are required to surrender to the will of God. _________________________________? The city of Mecca is important as the birthplace of Mohammed and because it is where he first preached God’s message. In the centre of Mecca is the Ka’ba, a large square building, which is kept covered in black cloth richly embroidered in gold. In one wall is a black stone believed to be a meteorite placed there by Ibrahim when he first built the Ka’ba. All Muslims try to visit the holy Ka’ba in Mecca, and walk round it seven times, at least once in their lifetime. _________________________________? Muslims pray five times a day from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. Wherever they are in the world, they face towards the Ka’ba in Mecca as they pray. The original movements of prayer, which were taught by Mohammed, are still practised today: stand, bow, kneel and then kneel with one’s face towards the floor. On Fridays, the most holy day, Muslim men meet in the mosque to pray together. _________________________________? The Koran gives guidance to all aspects of life, including eating and drinking. It forbids the drinking of alcohol as it encourages aggressive behaviour and distracts people from the principles of the religion. All meats must be halal, which means the animals are slaughtered in a way that gives the least pain, and ‘In the name of God’ is recited as each animal is killed. It is forbidden to eat anything from a pig, which is considered an unclean animal. _________________________________? Traditional Muslim clothing covers as much of the body as possible, particularly for women. This is done to varying degrees, but in some Muslim societies, women cover their entire bodies, including their faces, when they are in public. 47

_________________________________? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is a time of fasting for Muslims and eating, drinking and smoking during the hours of daylight is strictly forbidden. The fast is broken at the end of each day with a prayer and a meal called the iftar. Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan as they believe it allows them to concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It also enables them to develop their powers of self-control and through the hunger it causes to have sympathy for the less fortunate in the world. During Ramadan, some Muslims may spend several hours at the mosque praying and studying the Koran. Some will spend the entire night in prayer. On the evening of the 27th day of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night the prophet Mohammed received the first messages from God. According to the Koran, it is on this day that God determines the course of the world for the following year. When the Fast of Ramadan ends, on the first day of the month of Shawwal, there is a three-day holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Friends and family eat, exchange gifts and pray together. 3) Write six questions about the text for a classmate to answer. For example, How many times a day do Muslims pray? To find out more about Ramadan and Islam, visit the following sites: www.islaam.com www.submission.org/ramadan.html www.holidays.net/ramadan/ www.al-muslim.org 12. Exchange views with your group mates on global challenges caused by Muslim fundamentalists. Recall the World Trade Center bombing by militant Muslim fanatics, acts of terrorism in Israel, etc. What are the root causes of religious intolerance and fanaticism? For additional information read the following text. BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS FANATICS The leading Islamic historian, Bernard Lewis, has pointed out that the Muslim has suffered successive stages of defeat: first, his loss of domination of others. A Muslim world dominant for a thousand years was surpassed by the West, whose systems proved more powerful; in organization, 48

science, industry and military technology. Then, the undermining of his authority in his own country through an invasion of foreign ideas, laws and ways of life, sometimes even been stressful enough if Muslim governments had been wise and just; but many were corrupt. Repression and poverty became the lot of their subjects. On top of all this, the traditional Muslim has had to contend with the challenge to the mastery in his own home from the emancipation of women and a rebellion of children. For many it has been too much. One can understand why Muslim fundamentalists should want to purify Islamic society by returning to its origins in the hope that Muhammad', message, unchanged by time and thought, dress and education, would provide the answers today as it did in the golden era. One can understand why this might appeal to people frustrated by the failure of their own systems and their leaders. But in the Muslim world, this nostalgia has smoothed the way for something no Western society has endured – the radicalism of «God's fanatics» whose doctrines guarantee backwardness and self-destruction and war between the «good» Muslim world and the «evil» West.

2) Which of the following words from the text do you associate with the Muslim religion, which with the Christian religion and which with the Jewish religion? 1. headscarves 2. Yom Kippur 3. crosses 4. skullcaps 5. Eid Now read the text. FRANCE TO BAN PUPILS’ RELIGIOUS DRESS

Secular, neutrality, conspicuous, ombudsman, commission, outlaw (vb), headscarf, absurd 1. If something is ____________________, it is very noticeable or easy to see. 2. France is a ____________________ country. In other words, there is no official state religion. 3. If you ____________________ something, you prohibit it or make it illegal. 4. A ____________________ is a piece of cloth that a woman or girl wears on her head and ties under her chin. 5. ____________________ is behaviour that does not show strong feelings or opinions and, for example, does not support either side in a war or a disagreement. 6. If something is ____________________, it is completely stupid. 7. A ____________________ is a group of people who are officially asked to investigate something. 8. An ____________________ is a person whose job is to deal with complaints made by people about official organizations.

Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols are almost certain to be banned from French schools and public buildings after a special commission told the government recently that legislation was needed to defend the secular nature of the state. The 20-member group, appointed by President Jacques Chirac and headed by the national ombudsman, Bernard Stasi, recommended that all «conspicuous» signs of religious belief – including Jewish skullcaps, oversized Christian crosses and Islamic headscarves – be outlawed in state-approved schools. The report, compiled after six months of study, also recommended that the laws should include a clause requiring «the strict neutrality of all public service employees». Some Muslim women had reportedly been insisting that their husbands accompany them at all times in hospital and would accept only female doctors. The report said the legislation must remind all health service users that «it is forbidden to reject a healthcare worker, and that the rules of hygiene must be respected». In a gesture of respect to «all spiritual options», the report said the Jewish and Muslim holy days of Yom Kippur and Eid should be made official school holidays, and companies should consider ways of allowing their employees to take off the religious holiday of their choice. Mr Chirac said that he favoured a law protecting France's secular republic, «I will be guided by republican principles and the demands of national unity and the solidarity of the French people», he said. The question of whether a «secularism law» is desirable or necessary – particularly to deal with the increasing number of Muslim girls wanting to wear headscarves at school – may seem abstract, or even absurd, to those used to British or U.S. notions of multiculturalism. In France, where secularism is a constitutional guarantee and everyone, in the eyes of the republic, is supposed to be equally French

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13. Before reading the text France to ban pupils’ religious dress do the following tasks. 1) Key Vocabulary. Fill the gaps using these key words from the text:

regardless of ethnic or religious differences, the issue has dominated media and political debate for several months. Mr Stasi said the proposed law aimed to preserve constitutional secularism and counter «forces trying to destabilise the republic, a clear reference to Islamic fundamentalism». But he stressed that the law was not directed at the mainly moderate Muslim community of 5 million. «Muslims must understand that secularism is a chance for Islam», Mr Stasi said. «Secularism is the separation of church and state, but it is also the respect of differences». The main teachers' union, the SNES, said that the proposals did not go far enough to promote secularism in schools. 3) Comprehension Check. Choose the best answer: 1. The Stasi commission has recommended that the wearing of headscarves in French schools be banned because ... a. they are conspicuous b. they represent forces trying to destabilise the republic c. the commission wants to defend the secular nature of the French state 2. The commission recommended a clause requiring the strict neutrality of all public service employees because ... a. they wanted to remind people that it is forbidden to reject a healthcare worker b. some people only accept female doctors c. it took six months to compile the report 3. The commission recommended the introduction of new public holidays... a. in order to allow workers to choose their holidays b. as a gesture of respect to all religions c. in order to ensure the strict neutrality of all public service employees 4. The constitutional guarantee of secularism under French law means... a. that people cannot wear headscarves to school b. that everyone is regarded as equally French whatever their religion or ethnic background c. that the issue has dominated media and political debate for several months 5. The main teachers’ union criticised the proposals because... a. they were too radical b. they were not radical enough c. they promoted secularism in schools 51

4) Find the following from the text. 1. A verb which means ‘to prepare by bringing together information from different sources’. 2. An adverb which is used to suggest that something may have happened. Possible synonyms are ‘apparently’ and ‘allegedly’. 3. A verb which is the opposite of ‘to accept’. 4. An adjective which means ‘very large’. 5. A noun which means ‘an idea or understanding of something’. 6. A noun which means ‘the belief and practice of giving equal importance to each of the different cultures in a society’. 7. A verb which means ‘to emphasise’. 8. A noun which means ‘the belief that original religious laws should be followed very strictly’. 5) Discussion: What are the arguments for and against the wearing of religious symbols in public? Do you think that girls should be free to wear headscarves to school? 14. Before reading the text do the following tasks: 1) The article which follows contains the words «racial profiling is one of the hottest hot-button issues in contemporary America». What do you understand by «racial profiling»? What is a «hotbutton issue»? 2) The article is about the case of Walied Shater, an Arab-American who was refused permission to board a flight from Baltimore to Dallas-Fort Worth on Christmas Day. Which of the following reasons do you think may have been responsible for this refusal: a. b. c. d. e.

Mr Shater had a gun He was carrying a book on Arab history He was nervous and agitated agent He was of Middle-Eastern appearance He behaved in a confrontational manner

f. g.

He had an Arabic name He was sweating profusely

h.

He pretended to be a secret service He had weapons in his luggage He filled in a form incorrectly

i. j.

3) Now read the article and check your answers. 52

AIRLINE SECURITY: DISHONEST WORDS ON RACIAL PROFILING MUDDY DEBATE ON AIRLINE SECURITY It was a scene that a Hollywood scriptwriter might have dreamt up for one of those earnest television dramas that explore contemporary issues. But in this real-life scenario there has been no sex or romance. It is Christmas Day, three months after the trauma of September 11, and a planeload of exhausted, slightly nervous passengers are heading home at the last minute for the holidays, on American Airlines flight 363 from Baltimore Washington International airport to Dallas-Fort Worth. As has happened on many commercial flights since the terrorist attacks, an Arab-American undergoes scrutiny. He objects, but is ultimately left at the gate. Such situations have become a fact of life on domestic flights in the United States, but this time it is different. It turns out that the Arab-American, Walied Shater, is a secret serviceman on his way to guard President George Bush at the «Western White House» in Crawford, Texas. Big trouble ensues. The Christmas incident was doomed to degenerate into a rhetoricladen mess as soon as the first lawyer or television pundit used the two words «racial profiling» – one of the hottest of hot-button issues in contemporary America. The President himself threatened he would be «madder than heck» if it turned out that Shater was a victim of such a practice, in which citizens are picked out for special attention because of skin colour, name or religion. American Airlines denied Shater had been kicked off the flight because of his Arab-American identity. Instead, the troubled airline (which lost two planes on September 11) published critical accounts of his behaviour, describing him as irate and confrontational. He had filled in a form allowing government security officers to carry guns on planes, but had filled it in wrongly twice. His identity was eventually confirmed by the Secret Service, but he had become so truculent by then it was judged best to leave him behind. Shater has hired lawyers to demand an apology and force a change in the airline's security measures. The lawyers have gone on television to deny the claims that the presidential bodyguard had behaved unprofessionally. It was the pilot, the lawyers insist, who was confrontational. They say that there had been no problem with the gun-carrying forms until the pilot became aware of the passenger's Arab-American identity and a flight attendant discovered a book on Arab history among his possessions. It looks like one of those simmering affairs that will run and run on the radio talk-

shows. Furthermore the whole discussion is handicapped, from the President down, by a fundamental dishonesty about the issues in play. It is a fact that Arab-Americans and people with Muslim names have been subjected to much more scrutiny than fellow passengers on flights since September 11. There have been multiple cases of people being left off planes because the flight crew and the passengers felt queasy about their Middle Eastern appearance. A commercial airline pilot I know told me in blunt terms that one of the key items on the «new security» checklist is scanning the passenger manifest for Islamic names. American Airlines' claim that Shater's Arab-American identity and his book on Arab history had nothing to do with the pilot's decision looks dubious, to say the least. It is hard to imagine the same situation arising with a blond secret serviceman possessing a book about the American civil war, but the airline insists it would have acted in an identical manner. So, because ethnicity is supposed to have nothing to do with the incident, the airline has resorted to pushing out damaging accounts of the secret serviceman's behaviour, possibly endangering his career prospects. It is a recipe for anger. The refusal to acknowledge the issue of ethnicity has just driven it underground, with the result that neither the effectiveness of ethnic screening nor its civil rights implications can be properly addressed. The fact that all 19 of the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks were Muslim Arabs has inevitably had an effect on the perceptions of airline pilots and crews. It would be extraordinary if it had not. The overwhelming majority of trainees who went through al-Qaida's Afghan camps were Muslims from the Middle East or South Asia. It is possible to argue, then, that there might be a significant security benefit in giving particular attention to passengers who fit that profile. On the other hand, the role of a Briton, Richard Reid, a Muslim with a non-Muslim name, in the shoebomb attempt on an American Airlines flight before Christmas was a clear reminder that the assailants in the next attack may not conform to the stereotype. AlQaida has shown itself adept at varying its line of attack. This is a debate worth having. If it was decided that there was a significant benefit to using elements of ethnic profiling in security screening, there could be further discussion of how to minimise the trade-off between security and the civil rights of those targeted. For example, confirming that a passenger was a secret serviceman with one of the highest security levels in the land should have been more than sufficient to outweigh the fact that he was of Arab descent. These issues are currently being ducked because the phrase «racial

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profiling», associated with redneck cops arbitrarily stopping black motorists for questioning, is politically radioactive. But the consequences of this national queasiness are bad for both air safety and civil rights. 4) Find words in paragraphs 1-3 of the text that mean the following: a.

very tired

f.

b. c. d. e.

happens afterwards careful investigation in the end/finally follows

g. h. i. j.

certain to happen (with a negative outcome) expert extremely angry (2 expressions) ejected bad-tempered and aggressive (2 expressions)

5) Look at the paragraph. Find phrasal verbs which mean the following: a. b.

to complete to select

c. d.

to eject to prove to be the case

The Christmas incident was doomed to degenerate into a rhetoricladen mess as soon as the first lawyer or television pundit used the two words «racial profiling» – one of the hottest of hot-button issues in contemporary America. The President himself threatened he would be «madder than heck» if it turned out that Shater was a victim of such a practice, in which citizens are picked out for special attention because of skin colour, name or religion. American Airlines denied Shater had been kicked off the flight because of his Arab-American identity. Instead, the troubled airline (which lost two planes on September 11) published critical accounts of his behaviour, describing him as irate and confrontational. He had filled in a form allowing government security officers to carry guns on planes, but had filled it in wrongly twice. His identity was eventually confirmed by the Secret Service, but he had become so truculent by then it was judged best to leave him behind. 6) Complete these sentences using vocabulary (in an appropriate form) from the text: a. The claim that Mr Shater behaved unprofessionally has been ________________ by his lawyers. b. A fundamental dishonesty about the issues in play is ________________ the whole discussion. 55

c. Since September 11th there has been much more _____________ of passengers with Muslim names. d. Passenger manifests are routinely ________________ for Islamic names. e. Mr Shater’s career prospects may have been ________________ by the incident. f. The line of attack may be ________________ next time. g. Further discussion may mean that the trade-off between security and the civil rights of those targeted may be ________________ h. For many people the phrase «racial profiling» has ________________ with redneck cops. 7) Discussion: Do you think that racial profiling is justified in the case of airline security? Which is more important: passenger security or the civil rights of passengers? What is the best way for airlines to maintain security? 15. Work in pairs. You were churchless but now you feel the necessity of appealing to God, so you want to be converted. As there are many religions, you are at a loss. That’s why you ask a theologian to tell you the main characteristic features of the biggest religious groups (the structure of the church, holy temples, rules, etc.). 16. Render the text into English. МИР БУДДЫ Шри-Ланка – страна удивительно терпимая к любым религиозным взглядам и обычаям: здесь мирно соседствуют буддийские и индуистские храмы, христианские церкви и мусульманские мечети. Но все же дух Будды словно витает в воздухе. Его образы, высеченные из серого камня или воплощенные в покрытых золотом металлических изваяниях, повсюду. Недалеко от скалы Сигирии находится сокровищница храмовой живописи – пещерный храм Дамбулла. Здесь же – самая большая коллекция статуй Будды. Некоторым уже более 2000 лет. Храм выстроен в скале, на головокружительной высоте – 350 метров. В наскальной живописи древнего монастыря – история Цейлона. Когда в XII веке 56

храм реставрировали, то 73 статуи покрыли золотом. С тех пор его и стали называть «Золотым Пещерным Храмом». Храмов на Ланке пруд пруди. Неподалеку от Золотого Пещерного Храма – Храм Далада Малигава, где хранится Священный Зуб Будды. Увидеть Зуб простые смертные могут только раз в году – в лунный месяц Азала (10 дней и ночей на стыке июля и августа). В это время происходит великое таинство – драгоценность выносят из храма. Несметные полчища зевак благоговеют. В обычные дни посмотреть святыню могут только монахи. 17. Write an essay on one of the following topics. 9 What should be the role of religion for an individual and for a nation? 9 Describe some religious ritual or ceremony that you find impressive. 9 Are religious wars inevitable?

VII. BUSINESS/ INDUSTRY/ AGRICULTURE 1. See how many of the words and expressions highlighted below you can have ready for your future economic or financial discussions. Find the Russian equivalents of the words printed in bold type. An A to Z of Economics: A Layman's Guide • A is for automation bringing widespread, full-scale unemployment as the need for manual labour decreases. • B is for balance of payments: the discrepancy between the amount of money paid for imports and the amount of money received for exports. • C is for cost of living index: the system of measuring the annual rate of inflation. An index-linked pension scheme is not a bad thing to have on your side. • D is for devaluation: (The last resort? A panic measure?) an attempt, by reducing the value of one's currency, to increase the volume of exports compared to imports. • E is for expansionist policy: reflationary, pumping money into the economy, boosting investment and employment. • F is for fiscal matters: anything to do with the Treasury, particularly its revenue, especially through taxation. • G is for GNP or gross national product: the sum total of the money earned through a nation's goods and services. • H is for health, hospitals, housing: three outlets for government expenditure on public services. Other large items of public expenditure include defence, roads and communications, industry and trade, environmental services and social security benefits. • I is for interest rates: a weapon in the Government's armoury, used to deflate, stimulate or stabilise the economy. • J is for jobs: a key ball in the economist's juggling act. Are full employment and a low inflation rate mutually exclusive? The labour force in Britain can be divided into three categories: o primary industries (agriculture, fishing, mining, quarrying, forestry) o production industries (construction, gas, electricity, water, transport and manufacturing, etc)

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o services (distributive trades, financial, business, professional and scientific, catering and tourism, national and local government). • K is for key industries: those essential to the economic welfare of a nation, such as oil in OPEC countries, precision engineering in Germany, grain in Canada, textiles in South East Asia, electronic goods in Japan. • L is for liquidity: gold and foreign exchange reserves are known as international liquidity, supervised to some extent by the IMF (International Monetary Fund). • M is for monetarism: Professor Milton Friedman's brainchild, concentrating on the control of money supply to conquer inflation. • N is for nationalised industries: state-owned corporations, struggling in Britain to break even and cover their costs, often having to be propped up by the Exchequer. Though often natural monopolies, they sometimes face competition from the private sector. During the eighties, several nationalised industries in Britain were privatised. • O is for output: the output per employee multiplied by the number of employees gives a company or a nation’s productivity. Britain’s low rate of increase in this respect (often hardly any growth) used to be blamed on many things: poor industrial relations, the Common Market (EEC), world recession, and, most of all, on old capital equipment that the too slowly expanding workforce had to use. There was some improvement in the eighties, however. • P is for protectionism: a policy restricting free trade, encouraging the purchase of domestic products by imposing some form of import control or duty (tariffs). • Q is for import quotas: import restrictions. This is one way to reduce the deficit on current account, and regulating the volume of imports allowed in. • R is for pay restrain: some kind of incomes policy attempting to limit the size of wage increases or, in a wage freeze, to stop them completely. Which is fairer: a percentage increase across the board or a fixed sum for everyone? • S is for Stock Exchange: the source of most long-term credit in Britain, as it is the centre for the buying and selling of stocks and 59

• • • •

shares. Some of these are fixed interest loans with dividends, some are gilt-edged securities. This can be a risky way to save if there is a stock market crash. T is for taxation: the Government’s main means of regulating its budget. Direct taxation concerns people’s income; indirect taxes are levied on goods and services. U is for underemployment: the overmanning of a plant, the result of restrictive labour practices still common today. Higher efficiency means fewer jobs. V is for visible trade, as opposed to invisible trade. Visible exports are goods: invisible exports are services which are the basis of an international transaction. W is for: Why bother about X,Y and Z?

2. Read short passages about economic difficulties and negative practices and trade and cooperation. Pay close attention to the bold-typed words. I. If an economy if badly affected by war, we may refer to it as a war-torn economy. Economies in a bad state are often referred to as ailing economies. Devaluation / revaluation of the currency may be necessary (reduction / increase in value against other currencies). Economies may go into recession and not come out of / emerge from recession for several years. A country may suffer from a slump in prices for its goods (serious fall/collapse in prices). Fiscal measures (measures concerning taxes, etc.) may be used to boost the economy (give the economy a lift) when it is in recession. II. Free trade agreement often cause disputes between countries, especially when one country thinks the other is engaged in restrictive practices. Occasionally, trade wars erupt, and sanctions or embargoes are imposed on countries, and may not be lifted for long periods. On the other hand European countries closely related economically and enjoying good relations have entered into monetary union and have a single currency. Now try to do this vocabulary quiz. 1) What kind of war can break out between countries concerning imports and exports? 2) Which two verbs are used with sanctions and embargoes to mean (a) ‘placing’ and (b) ‘removing’? 60

3) What is the name for activities which make free trade difficult or impossible between countries? 4) What kind of union is it when two or more countries decide to share a single currency? 5) What do we call sums of money given to poor regions to assist development? 6) What can we call an economy that is devastated by war? 7) What adjective beginning with the letter ‘a’ can be used to describe an economy in a bad state? 3. Study word collocations concerning international aid, debt and development in the following passage. Question: Are the UK and Europe trued of trying to encourage real and lasting development projects in Africa? Answer: It may surprise you to learn that are many encouraging signs in Africa. Over the last three years, 31 African countries achieved economic growth of more than 3% per year. Foreign direct investment, although still too small, has been rising. Africa’s share in world trade has shown signs of recovering from its long decline. Some countries, such as Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda and Mauritius, have done much better than this. But some 250 million people in Africa still live in deep poverty and we must do better. With other development agencies we are committed to supporting those African governments which are following policies to reduce poverty and improve access to better health, education and clean water. Useful collocations for debt: to repay to cancel

burden

DEBT

to case debtor countries

to alleviate to incur

Development grants are often given to poor regions. Sustainable development is the most important goal for most countries.

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4. Try to recall from memory the collocations highlighted in ex. 3. Fill the gaps in these sentences. 1) Development is important, but it should be _______ development, not the kind that destroys the environment and social structure. 2) The government is _________ a policy of giving aid only where it is used to ________ poverty. 3) There have been some _________ signs that development aid is working in many countries. 4) Millions of people still live in _________ poverty. (give two answers) 5) The economy has ______ from its decline and is now doing well. 6) The struggle to _______ economic growth in developing countries is a constant one. 7) It is important to encourage ________ development projects, not just short-term ones. 8) The goal should be to improve _________ to better health and education for the poor. 5. Rewrite these sentences about international debt using more appropriate language from the opposite page to replace the underlined words. 1. Over a period of five years, the country got huge debts which it could not pay back. 2. Countries in debt are so great in some countries that their economies are collapsing. 3. The weight of debt is so great in some countries that their economies are collapsing. 4. Richer countries could do a lot to make the debt of poor countries less heavy (give two answers), and indeed, in some cases, could forget the debt altogether. 6. Discuss these issues. – What are the key industries in your country? – Are they declining or growing? – An expert economist is giving a talk this evening. What are the five questions you will want to ask him: five things you have never really understood about economics? – What would you write in a letter to your MP, attacking the government’s handling of either the current or a recent economic crisis. 62

7. Read the text. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of German economic model. EUROPEAN LOCOMOTIVE Today’s Germany is one of the poles of the world economy, the world’s third largest after the United States and Japan and the No. 2 exporter of industrial products. In many senses, Germans owe these achievements to the German economic model and to the key principles of socioeconomic development that began in the late 1940s an attempt to restore a country ravaged by war. This model has allowed Germany not only to provide a high standard of living to its citizens, but also to become one of the world leaders by the end on the 20th century. Contemporary Germany rests on the principles of a social market economy, elaborated by Ludwig Erhardt, a professor at Frairburg University. In 1945, American and British occupation authorities offered him a position in the economy office of the occupied territory. This nomination was the impetus for a process that later called «the German economic miracle». Erhard suggested building an economic system that would marry the free market with state control. From classical liberalism, the social market economy borrowed the idea that market mechanisms are the most efficient method to organize business activities. The role of the state, it held, was to provide conditions for the market’s development. Therefore, the short-term fiscal measures to stimulate economic growth were completely out of the question. Priority was given to price stability and investment. At the same time, Erhard pinned great importance on state control over market competition, which was introduced to undermine monopolies, until that time, a German tradition. Another important aspect of a social market economy was focusing on the formation and numeral growth of the middle class, viewed as the pillar of the economy. Thus, all citizens received equal access to old-age pension schemes, health care and education regardless of wealth or origin. The realization of Erhard’s program as well as help from overseas under the U.S. Marshall’s Plan made the German economic miracle possible. West Germany was gaining momentum at an inconceivable rate – 8.5 percent growth of GDP per annum, while prices stayed stable. Unemployment dropped from 8.2 percent in the 50s to 1 percent in the early 60s. It 63

was the first time that notions such as «German quality», «German working capacity», and «German responsibility» appeared. In the same period, the modern structure of the German economy took shape. The major emphasis was put on industry, especially production of goods with a substantial share of added value. Cars, machines, airplanes, chemical and pharmaceutical products all secured the growth of exports, which became the driving force of the West German economy. In the late 60s, economic growth began to slow. As a means of further development, West Germany opened its borders and invited thousands of economic migrants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Yugoslavia and Turkey to come work for decent wages. The low and stable cost labour maintained against the new technological background ensured the high efficiency of the economy. Thus, the government could afford to increase spending on social programs. As a result, the philosophy of a social market economy remained popular not only in Germany, but also outside the country. It is this economic model to which political stability, sustained development, a low inflation rate and high living standards are attributed. 1) Translate the underlined word combinations. Use them in the sentences of your own. 2) Match the words to their definitions. a) ravaged b) impetus c) short-term d) pillar e) driving force f) sustained

1. very important part of a system of beliefs 2. someone or something that produces a strong effect on people or situations 3. to destroy, ruin, or damage something very badly; devastate 4. something that for a long time 5. continuing for only a short time, or concerned only with the period that is not very far into the future 6. feeling an influence that makes people or helps something to develop or continue doing something

3) Answer the questions. 1. What is «the German economic miracle»? 2. What are the basic features of German economic model? 3. What do you know about current situation in German economy? 64

4) Read the translation of the text «European Locomotive» and prepare its reverse translation. ЕВРОПЕЙСКИЙ ЛОКОМОТИВ Сегодня Германия – это один из полюсов мирового хозяйства, страна, занимающая третье место в мире по уровню развития экономика (после США и Японии), второй крупнейший экспортер промышленной продукции. Этими достижениями немцы во многом обязаны «германской экономической модели», ключевым принципам социально-экономического развития, взятым на вооружение в конце 40-х гг. для того, чтобы восстановить полностью разрушенную Второй мировой войной страну. «Германская модель» позволила ФРГ не только создать высочайший уровень жизни для своего населения, но и стать в конце ХХ столетия одним из мировых лидеров. Современная экономика Германии базируется на принципах социального рыночного хозяйства, разработанных профессором Фрайбургского университета Людвигом Эрхардом. В 1945 г. американские и британские оккупационные власти предложили ему занять должность в экономической администрации подконтрольных им оккупационных зон. Это удачное кадровое решение стало толчком для многолетнего процесса, названного позже «немецким экономическим чудом». Эрхард предложил построить систему, которая стала бы компромиссом между свободным рынком и государственным вмешательством. Из классического либерализма социальное рыночное хозяйство позаимствовало представления о том, что рыночный механизм – наиболее эффективное средство для организации экономической активности; роль государства заключается в обеспечении условий для развития рынка. Таким образом, краткосрочные меры по фискальному и эмиссионному стимулированию роста полностью исключались. Приоритет был отдан стабильности цен и стимулированию инвестиций. В то же время Эрхард отводил важную роль контролю со стороны государства за конкуренцией на рынке, что должно было разрушить традиционную для Германии систему монополий. Еще одним важным аспектом социального рыночного хозяйства оказалась ставка на формирование и рост среднего класса как основы экономики. Так, все жители страны вне зависимости от благосостояния и происхождения получили равный доступ к пенсионным схемам, здравоохранению и образованию. 65

Благодаря реализации программы Людвига Эрхарда, а также широкомасштабной помощи из-за океана по плану Маршалла в 1950-е гг. стало возможным «немецкое экономическое чудо». Экономика Западной Германии росла невероятными темпами – 8,5 % прироста ВВП в год, в то время как цены оставались стабильными. Безработица упала с 8,2 % в 1950 г. до 1 % в начале 1960-х гг. Именно в те далекие 50– 60-е гг. сформировались такие понятия, как «немецкое качество», «немецкая работоспособность» и «немецкая ответственность». В тот период сложилась современная структура германской экономики, в которой приоритетную роль играет промышленность, особенно производство товаров с высокой долей добавленной стоимости. Производство автомобилей, станков, самолетов, химическая и фармацевтическая промышленность обеспечили рост экспорта, который стал движущей силой западногерманской экономики. По мере того как в 60-е гг. была достигнута полная занятость, экономический рост в ФРГ замедлился. Для обеспечения дальнейшего развития была открыта массовая трудовая миграция – «гастарбайтеры» из Испании, Италии, Португалии, Югославии и Турции десятками тысяч отправлялись в Западную Германию на заработки. Сохраняющаяся дешевизна рабочей силы на фоне применения новых технологий обеспечивала высокую эффективность экономики, благодаря чему правительство могло увеличить расходы на социальные программы. В результате философия социального рыночного хозяйства осталась популярной не только в Германии, но и за ее пределами. Это та экономическая модель, которая предполагает политическую стабильность, непрерывное развитие, низкий уровень инфляции и высокий уровень жизни населения. 8. Read the article. SWEDEN: SHAKY POLITICS BUT ECONOMIC SUCCESS In recent weeks, politics have dominated the scene in Sweden. The market has been subjected to all sorts of arguments about EMU risks, the unpopularity of the present SDP government, high unemployment and policy risks. Invariably, both the bond market and the krona have been in a state of free fall, and the consensus is increasingly pointing in the direction of worse things to come. We disagree. While we note that important risks lie ahead, we believe that the main objective of fiscal policy, namely 66

balancing the budget in 1998, will not be compromised and that the excellent fundamentals will eventually re-assert themselves. Let's start with a bit of history. The currency and bond relative weakness since the beginning of the year began when PM Persson announced that new calculations by the ministry of finance suggest that there will be a budget surplus of around SKr 10 billion in 1998. The PM then stated that it is his government's intention to spend this surplus on education, health-care and welfare. These comments came as a shock to the market. Until then, Mr. Persson's name had been associated with fiscal rectitude. As a prime minister, however, he left fiscal rectitude in the hands of his finance minister, Mr. Åsbrink. Mr. Persson's efforts are now focused on improving the fortunes of the SDP. Hence, when taken against the backdrop of an election in September 1998, these comments should not have come as a surprise. The SDP is lagging in the opinion polls, with traditional SDP voters deserting the party in favour of the far left, and the autumn has been marked by popular demonstrations. Looking ahead, a key risk on the horizon is the upcoming spring bill on 15 April. Under the new budget regime, the April budget statement should contain all the key guidelines and expenditure ceilings for 1998. The September budget will only serve to fill in the gaps. Given the political calendar over the next 18 months, the 15 April presentation is likely to be an election budget. Hence, market participants should not have high expectations. At the end of the day, the SDP's commitment to welfare should never be put in doubt. In our view, as long as the finance minister does not compromise the objective of budget balance in 1998, there should be little damage to confidence in policy-making. In relative terms, Sweden's public finances remain far better than most of Europe's, including all EMU firstround aspirants. Looking beyond the spring bill, we believe that the economic fundamentals will eventually reassert themselves. As we highlighted before, in our view Sweden's economic prospects are among the best in Europe: Growth: The latest GDP report showed fourth-quarter GDP growth of 1.1 % QoQ. For the year as a whole, GDP expanded 1.1 % in 1996. Although this final result was well below our forecast of 2.0 %, the shortfall is accounted for by a big inventory drawdown to the tune of 1.0 % of GDP. Hence, it may be useful to point out that 1996 final sales, defined as GDP less inventory changes, were up 2.1 %. The GDP data were consistent with our expectations of acceleration in growth to 3.3 % in 1997. We are looking for strong growth in exports and investment to continue. Furthermore,

we believe that the inventory cycle came to an end in the fourth quarter and that inventories are likely to lend support to growth in 1997. Our strongest dissension with the consensus remains in the area of private consumption, where we are looking for an expansion of 2.5 %, led by a strong gains in real disposable income and stronger household balance sheets. Inflation: The outlook is the best in Europe. Following the January and February results, we are revising down the 1997 CPI average to 0.5 % from 1.3 %. Although inflation will be drifting higher in the course of this year and next, CPI inflation is unlikely to pose a threat to the Riksbank's inflation target of 2.0 %. More importantly, the upcoming wage negotiations should be marked by a considerable downward shift in inflationary expectations. In fact, the 2.6 % agreement in the forestry sector was a step in the right direction and, more importantly, a good benchmark for future wage negotiations. Although some participants are already warning about the inflationary consequences of the weak krona, we believe that risks so far are likely to be limited to 0.3 % in the long-run if the krona remains at current levels. Given our expectation of a krona recovery, this is not our base case scenario. Current Account: The rise is accounted for by a favourable trade performance. The trade surplus reached SKr 120 billion in 1996 led by a continued favourable competitiveness and a relatively strong growth in the global economy. With Europe witnessing a cyclical snapback, we believe that Swedish external balances will continue to rise this year. We estimate the current account to reach SKr 55 billion this year (3.2 % of GDP) and SKr 65 billion in 1998 (3.6 % of GDP). In summary, public finances are important for the credibility of overall economic policies. Ideally, a stringent budget bill on 15 April would restore the lost credibility. Realistically, given the political calendar, we would settle for a budget that respects the original objective of budget balance in 1998. We believe that the fundamentals always win in the end. Hence, once the spring bill is out of the way, we believe that the krona will stabilise and retrace its lost territory. A stronger krona could open the way for further rate cuts.

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1) Look up in the dictionary the Russian equivalents of the word written in a bold type. 2) Answer the following questions: a) What is the general idea of Sweden economy? Does it differ from the author’s understanding?

b) How is the budget surplus going to be spent? c) Why is the 1998 budget called an election one? d) What is the economic forecast for exports and investment? e) What does the inflation outlook say? f) What is meant by a favourable trade performance? g) What does the author expect in terms of Sweden economic development? 3) Comment on the title. 4) Find the synonyms to the underlined word combinations in the article. Continue the list of words with the meaning of ‘rise’ and ‘decrease’. 9. Read the text «China in the World» and compare economic situation and growth in your country with that in China. Among other aspects compare the state of and the prospects for your nation’s economy and that of China along the following lines: o The program of economic reforms; o GNP growth rate; current rate of economic development; o Purchasing power of the nation and its currency’s purchasing power; o Competitiveness of national products; o Per capita income; o Telecommunications and information development. CHINA IN THE WORLD

KEY TO CHINA'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS Key to China's current economic success is the country's gradual lowering of barriers to entry. Overseas Chinese, especially the Hong Kong Chinese, have been the first to take advantage of this. There is a natural synergy between China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The combination of Hong Kong and southern China offers enormous global competitive advantage in terms of quality, price, volume, and delivery. It is estimated that Hong Kong entrepreneurs alone have opened as many as forty thousand factories in southern China. The border village of Shenzhen has emerged as a thriving city of two million with China's highest per capita income. Not to be outdone, Shanghai has launched itself on a massive revitalization effort aimed at reclaiming the role it had before the Second World War – that of Asia's leading business center China is rushing at a phenomenal rate, not merely in growth terms, but conceptually as well. «China is leapfrogging into both the industrial and information ages», explained Mei-Wei Cheng, president of AT&T China, which signed a wide-ranging memorandum of understanding with the Chinese authorities on telecommunications development. «China is telescoping the development of its economic infrastructure and telecommunications / information highways into a single process. This has profound implications for the country's current rate of economic development and will shape China's potential for economic expansion into the next century». 10. Look through an overview of Russia’s economy. Translate the words printed in bold type. Prepare a short presentation of the current situation in any sector of Russia’s economy.

The most significant economic development of the last quarter of the 20th century is the opening of China. Effectively walled out of western economic consciousness for almost 40 years, the return of China is rapidly being recognized as the most crucial defining factor of future world economic growth. Since 1979 when China launched its program of economic reform, its GNP has more than doubled. Exports have boomed as China grabbed world market share from Asia's more developed economics. For example, China now commands 25 % of the world footwear market, compared to 10 % in 1980; and 10 % of the audiovisual equipment market, compared to virtually none in the early '80s. In 1993 China's real growth rate was around 13,4 %. By comparison, U.S. growth did not to exceed 3,0 %. The World Bank already calls China the world's third largest economy in terms of purchasing power.

A decade after the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia is still struggling to establish a modern market economy and achieve strong economic growth. In contrast to its trading partners in Central Europe – which were able to overcome the initial production declines that accompanied the launch of market reforms within three to five years – Russia saw its economy contract for five years, as the executive and legislature dithered over the implementation of many of the basic foundations of a market economy. Russia achieved a slight recovery in 1997, but the government's stubborn budget deficits and the country's poor business climate made it vulnerable when the global financial crisis swept through in 1998. The crisis culminated in the August depreciation of the ruble, a debt default by the government, and a sharp deterioration in living stan-

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dards for most of the population. The economy rebounded in 1999 and 2000, buoyed by the competitive boost from the weak ruble and a surging trade surplus fueled by rising world oil prices. This recovery, along with a renewed government effort in 2000 to advance lagging structural reforms, have raised business and investor confidence over Russia's prospects in its second decade of transition. Yet serious problems persist. Russia remains heavily dependent on exports of commodities, particularly oil, natural gas, metals, and timber, which account for over 80 % of exports, leaving the country vulnerable to swings in world prices. Russia's agricultural sector remains beset by uncertainty over land ownership rights, which has discouraged needed investment and restructuring. Another threat is negative demographic trends, fueled by low birth rates and a deteriorating health situation – including an alarming rise in AIDS cases – that have contributed to a nearly 2 % drop in the population since 1992. Russia's industrial base is increasingly dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized if the country is to achieve sustainable economic growth. Other problems include widespread corruption, capital flight, and brain drain. GDP – composition by sector: agriculture: 7 %, industry: 34 %, services: 59 %. Labor force – by occupation: agriculture 15 %, industry 30 %, services 55 % (1999). Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts. Exports – commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures. Exports – partners: U.S. 8.8 %, Germany 8.5 %, Ukraine 6.5 %, Belarus 5.1 %, Italy 5 %, Netherlands 4.8 % (1999). Imports – commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products. Imports – partners: Germany 13.8 %, Belarus 10.7 %, Ukraine 8.3 %, US 7.9 %, Kazakhstan 4.6 %, Italy 3.8 % (1999). Currency: Russian ruble (RUR). Currency code: RUR. Fiscal year: calendar year. 71

VIII. GOVERNMENT TYPE/ POLITICS 1. 1) Read the text and choose the most suitable heading from the list 1– 13 for each part (I–XIII) of the text. GOVERNMENT IN CANADA I. Canada is a federation. The federal system of government means that powers and responsibilities are divided between the federal government and the 10 Canadian provincial governments. Canada also has territorial jurisdictions in the far north of the country. The federal government includes the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Government members are members of parliament. The Parliament buildings are located in Ottawa. The laws passed in parliament are implemented by different federal departments. II. Queen Elizabeth II is Canada's official head of state. She is represented in this country by the Governor General at the federal level and the Lieutenant Governors at the provincial level. All federal legislation must receive the assent of the Governor General, within the parameters of the Canadian constitution. This is what makes Canada a constitutional monarchy. III. Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the Senate and the Governor General. The House of Commons is the national legislature elected by Canadian citizens. It is made up of 301 members. Members of parliament are usually associated with a political party, although some members do sit independently. The Senate is the Upper House of Parliament. Members of the Senate are appointed by the Governor General upon recommendation by the Prime Minister. In addition to its consideration of parliamentary legislation, the Senate is also asked to investigate important economic and social issues. With specific exceptions, all parliamentary legislation must be approved by the House of Commons, the Senate and the Governor General before it can become law. Most parliamentary legislation is introduced by the government. 72

IV. By convention, the political party with the most elected members in the House of Commons will take the leading role in forming the government. If it has a majority of seats (151), then it automatically forms a majority government. If it has fewer than 151 seats, the leading party will seek the cooperation of other parties. The leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister. The party with the second highest number of seats usually becomes the Official Opposition. Its leader becomes the Leader of the Opposition. Since the federal election of 2 June 1997, there are five official parties in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister chooses a Cabinet from members of the leading party in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and Cabinet must maintain the confidence of the House of Commons, a practice known as 'responsible government'. Each member of Cabinet is responsible for the management of certain aspects of the federal government. To this end, most Cabinet members oversee the operations of one or more federal departments or agencies. The most senior officials in departments are called Deputy Ministers. They are not elected, and are, generally career public servants, directly responsible to the Cabinet Minister. V. According to the practice of their federal counterparts, each provincial government is drawn from the elected members of the provincial assembly. The provincial leader, however, is called the Premier. The provincial legislatures do not have a Senate. In order for provincial legislation to become law, it needs approval of the provincial assembly and the Queen's provincial representative, the Lieutenant Governor. VI. The territories are not sovereign units. Their powers are delegated by Parliament, and thus they are subordinate bodies. The territories also have elected assemblies that follow many of the same practices as the provincial and federal governments. VII. Local governments are elected regularly to manage municipalities, cities, towns and regions. Local governments do not have constitutional powers, but rather have functions delegated to them by other levels of government. Mayors, councillors and school board officials, for example, are 73

elected to their positions directly. Usually, they do not formally represent political parties. VIII. In accordance largely with the Constitution Act of 1867, the federal government handles such matters as: defence, criminal law, banking, postal system, foreign relations. The federal government is also involved in many other areas including transportation, communication, immigration, health, and environmental matters. Provincial governments are constitutionally responsible for such matters as: civil justice, property, municipal institutions. In practice, the provinces share responsibility with the federal government for such matters as: health services, agriculture, immigration, social assistance, transportation. Local governments are responsible for services within a city or region including: schools, police and fire protection, water and sewage services, recreation, local public transportation. IX. By law, federal and provincial elections must be held at least every five years, although they can be called earlier. If a minority government has a bill defeated in the House of Commons, an election must take place. In all cases, the decision to call an election is taken by the Prime Minister. All voting is by secret ballot. At the local levels of government, elections are usually held every two or three years. X. To vote in a federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old. For provincial or municipal elections, the age and citizenship requirements may vary. XI. All individuals and organizations in Canada, including Parliament, are bound by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All individuals and organizations are also bound by the laws of Parliament. Law enforcement agencies throughout the country, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, have the responsibility of ensuring universal compliance with the laws of Parliament.

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XII. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Constitution Act, 1982, and enshrines the basic principles and values by which Canadians live and govern themselves. It also defines and guarantees personal rights and fundamental freedoms including freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association. XIII. Canadians are proud of their democracy, and see government as a body responsible to them. Canadians value principles of fair and equal access and the open exchange of ideas. Bribery and corruption at any level of government are not tolerated. The majority of Canadians votes regularly in government elections, and, indeed, sees voting as a responsibility in a democratic society. 1. What role does the Queen play? 2. How is law enforced? 3. What are the responsibilities of the levels of government in Canada? 4. How are the provincial and territorial governments formed? 5. Who can vote? 6. Local Governments. 7. How is Parliament chosen? 8. What is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? 9. Territorial Governments. 10. How do Canadians view government? 11. How is the federal government formed? 12. How and when are elections held? 13. How is Canada governed? 2) Fill in the gaps in the chart below. Government Federal government Prime Minister

_________

Parliament

___________

(chosen by PM)

The house of The Senate The Governor General ___________ appointed by______ 75

3) Answer the following questions: 1. What does the federal system of government mean? 2. Who is Canada’s official head of state? 3. Who are Queen Elizabeth’s representatives at the provincial level? 4. Who takes the leading role in forming the Parliament? 5. Who are Deputy Ministers? 6. What is the procedure for provincial legislation to become law? 7. What does the federal government handle and what is left to provincial and local governments? 8. What is the procedure of elections in Canada? 9. What is the role of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? 10. What do Canadians think about their government? What is your opinion? 4) Compare the government in Canada with that of another country. 2. Have a look at the government structure in Germany and fill in the gaps. Официальное название: Федеративная Республика Германия

Official name: __________

________: федеративная республика

Government type: ________

Административное деление:_____

_______________: 16 states

________________: глава государства – ___________ _______________ – канцлер кабинет министров: президент назначает ________ , кандидатуры которых предлагает ___________; президент избирается сроком ________бундестагом и ________, выбранными земельными парламентами; ________ избирается абсолютным большинством депутатов _______ сроком на четыре года

Executive branch: _____ – president head of government – _________: Cabinet or Federal Ministers appointed by the ____ on the recommendation of the chancellor; ________elected for a fiveyear term by the _____ and an equal number of delegates elected by the___________; chancellor elected by an ___ of the Bundestag for _______

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Законодательная власть:_______ Депутаты бундестага избираются ______ и косвенным голосованием сроком на четыре года; для того чтобы получить представительство в бундестаге, партиям необходимо получить 5% _________ или три прямых мандата. Состав ______ зависит от результатов голосования в землях; каждая ____ в зависимости от населения имеет от 3 до 6 голосов.

______: bicameral Parliament The Bundestag is elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; members serve_______; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three _______to gain representation. ____ governments are directly represented in the Bundesrat by votes; each state has 3 to 6 votes depending on________.

__________________: федеральный конституционный суд; _______ избирается бундестагом, _____________ – бундесратом.

Judicial branch:__________; Half the judges are elected by _________ and ________ by the Bundesrat.

3. Have a look at some facts concerning Sweden and compare them to the similar ones concerning any other country. Do you know organizations that stand by the abbreviations? If no, find them in a dictionary. Is Russia a member of any of them? Administrative divisions: 21 counties Capital city: Stockholm Constitution: 1 January 1975 Executive branch (cabinet): Cabinet appointed by the prime minister Executive branch (chief of state): King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977) Executive branch (elections): the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by the Parliament Executive branch (head of government): Prime Minister Sweden is a member of the European Union. Female ministers: 17.6 % [45th of 132] Female parliamentarians: 42.7 [1st of 161] First female parliamentarian: 1921 (elected) Flag description: blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) 77

Government type: constitutional monarchy Independence: 6 June 1523 International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet) Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) National holiday: Flag Day, 6 June Political parties: Center Party, Christian Democratic Party, Green Party, Left Party or VP (formerly Communist), Liberal People's Party, Moderate Party (conservative), Social Democratic Party Status: democracy Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal UN membership date: 19 Nov. 1946 4. The relationship between any country and the rest of the world can reveal a great deal about that country. Read the text about the UK relations with the rest of the world and say what facts concerning the UK you find interesting. THE END OF EMPIRE The map below shows the British Empire in 1519, at the time of us greatest extent by this time, however, it was already becoming less of an empire and more of a confederation. At the same international conference at which Britain acquired new possessions (Formerly German) under the Treaty of Versailles, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa were all represented separately from Britain. 78

The real dismantling of the empire took place in the twenty-five years following the Second World War and with the loss of empire went a loss of power and status. These days, Britain's armed Forces can no longer act unilaterally, without reference to the international community. Two events illustrate this. First, Suez. In 1956, Egypt, without prior agreement, took over the Suez canal from the international company owned by Britain and France. British and French military action lo stop this was a diplomatic disaster. The USA did not support them and their troops were forced to withdraw. Second, Cyprus. When this country left the British empire, Britain became one of the guarantors of its independence from any other country. However, when Turkey invaded the island in 1974, British military activity was restricted to airlifting the personnel of its military base there to safety. After the Second World War and throughout the 1950s, it was understood that a conference of the world's great powers involved the USA, the Soviet Union and Britain. However, in 1962, the Cuban missile crisis, one of the greatest threats to global peace since the war, was resolved without reference to Britain. By the 1970s it was generally accepted that a 'superpower' conference involved only the USA and the Soviet Union. Despite Britain's loss of power and status on the world stage, some small remnants of the empire remain. Whatever their racial origins, some inhabitants of Gibraltar, St Helena, the Ascension Islands, the Falklands/ Malvinas and Belize have all wished to continue with the imperial arrangement (they are afraid of being swallowed up by their nearest neighbours). For British governments, on the one hand this is a source of pride, but on the other hand it causes embarrassment and irritation: pride, because it suggests how beneficial the British imperial administration must have been; embarrassment, because the possession of colonial territories does not fit with the image of a modern democratic state; and irritation because it costs the British taxpayer money.

The old imperial spirit is not quite dead. In 1982 the British government spent hundreds of millions of pounds to recapture the Falklands/Malvinas Islands from the invading Argentinians. We cannot know if it would have done so if the inhabitants had not been in favour of remaining British and if Argentina had not had a military dictatorship at the time. But what we do know is that the government’s action received enormous popular support at home. Before the 'Falkland's War', opinion polls showed that the government was extremely unpopular; afterwards, it suddenly became extremely popular and easily won the general election early in the following year.

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TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS Since the Second World War, British governments have often referred to the 'special relationship' which exists between Britain and the USA. There have been occasional low points, such as Suez and when the USA invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada (a member of the British Commonwealth). But generally speaking it has persisted. It survived the Falklands War, when the USA offered Britain important material help, but little public support, and regained its strength in 1991 during the Gulf War against Iraq, when Britain gave more active material support to the Americans than any other European country. Public feeling about the relationship is ambiguous. On the one hand, it is reassuring to be so diplomatically close to the most powerful nation in the world, and the shared language gives people some sense of brotherhood with Americans. On the other hand, there is mild bitterness about the sheer power of the USA. There is no distrust, but remarks are often made about Britain being nothing more than the fifty-first state of the USA. Similarly, while some older people remember with gratitude the Americans who came to their aid in two world wars, others resent the fact that it took them so long to get involved! In any case, the special relationship has inevitably declined in significance since Britain joined the European Community. In the world trade negotiations of the early 1990s, there was nothing special about Britain's position with regard to the USA – it was just part of the European trading bloc. The opening of the Channel tunnel in 1994 has emphasized that Britain's links are now mainly with Europe. Tourist statistics also point this way. In 1993, for the first time, it was not American visitors who arrived in the greatest numbers, it was the French, and there were almost as many German visitors as Americans. The majority of visitors to Britain are now from Europe.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE UNION: EUROPE When the European Coal and Steel Community was formed in 1951, Britain thought it was an excellent idea, but nothing to do with Britain! Long years of an empire based on sea power meant that the traditional attitude to Europe had been to encourage stability there, to discourage any expansionist powers there, but otherwise to leave it well alone. As the empire disappeared, and the role of 'the world's policeman' was taken over by the USA, the British government decided to ask for membership of the newly-formed European Communities. It took more than ten years for this to be achieved (in 1973). From the very start, the British attitude to membership has been ambiguous. On the one hand, it is seen as an economic necessity and a political advantage (increasing Britain's status as a regional power). The referendum on continued membership in 1975 (the first in British history) produced a two-to-one majority in favour. On the other hand, acceptance does not mean enthusiasm. The underlying attitude – that Britain is somehow special – has not really changed and there are fears that Britain is gradually giving up its autonomy. Answer thee following questions: 1) What caused the dismantling of the British empire? 2) What do Suez and Cyprus illustrate? 3) Why is the desire of some ex-British islands a source of pride, embarrassment and irritation for Britain? 4) What caused the ‘Falklands War’? 5) Why is public feeling about British-American relationship ambiguous? 6) What is to your mind the role of Britain on the global political stage? 5. Look through the chart about Russia. Give the Russian equivalents of the terms printed in bold type.

place name with an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy,' the word Oblast' or Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name. Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Russia Day, 12 June (1990) Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: Chief of state: President Head of government: Premier First Deputy Premier, Deputy Premiers Cabinet: Ministries of the Government or «Government» composed of the premier and his deputies, ministers, and other agency heads; all are appointed by the president Note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president Elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note – no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (178 seats) and the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats) Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Superior Court of Arbitration; judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president

Conventional long country name: Russian Federation Conventional short form: Russia Former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Government type: federation Capital: Moscow Administrative divisions: 49 oblasts, 21 republics, 10 autonomous okrugs, 6 krays, 2 federal cities and 1 autonomous oblast; note – when using a

Political parties: Agrarian Party; Communist Party of the Russian Federation or KPRF; Fatherland-All Russia or OVR; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR; Union of Right Forces; Unity; Yabloko Bloc

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International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, G- 8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer), ZC Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

IX. INTERESTING FACTS 1. Read the texts and do the exercises. 1) What is Stan? Read the article and say what else you know about the countries that are called Stans? What are their roles in the world arena currently and in the future? Discuss these issues in pairs and then compare your viewpoints. -stan suffix \stan, stän\ [Per.] 1: place, place of; 2: land. Adopted into several languages fromi Parsian, the court language employed in antique kingdoms of Central Asia. Thus the place or land of the Afghans is Afghanistan, the place of the Tajiks, Tajikistan. Toothy borders carve up a region shaped by centuries of sociopolitical upheaval. Covering an area more than two-thirds larger than the European Union, the «Stans» weave an Asian carpet of many colors: blue of the Caspian Sea, gold of desert sands, and red of blood spilled in conflict. Their collective population of almost 230 million people exceeds Russia's by more than half. Yet prior to 1991 the map showed only Afghanistan and Pakistan. Then came the Soviet breakup and the birth of five independent nations. A decade later they're all struggling with drought, poverty, and internal strife. With Afghanistan in turmoil, the world has turned a curious eye on these enigmatic countries. Who are the Stans? They are a diverse lot, these seven Stans. Only Kazakhstan, one of the five Stan born ten years ago in the breakup of the Soviet Union, seems likely to enjoy a prosperous future, thanks to enormous oil reserves. Someday Turkmenistan may also be rich – it has abundant natural gas – but for now it stagnates in one-man rule. Pakistan must be reckoned the most formidable Stan, possessing a large army and nuclear weapons to boot. It is also volatile and violent. Two of the ex-Soviet slates, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, seem likely to become welfare nations, depending on the largesse of international lenders. After 23 years of conflict Afghanistan is the neediest of all, a gutted shell of a state with millions of land mines embedded in its earth. The Stans' common denominator is the harshness of their shared landscape, sweeps of desert and near desert riven by soaring mountain chains: the Hindu Kush, the Pamirs, the Safed Koh. Mountains mean life. Snowmelt feeds the rivers that support cities and farms; in Pakistan the In-

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dus nourishes one of the most intensely irrigated regions on Earth. Engineers in the Soviet Stans harnessed the Amu Darya and Syr Darya to grow cotton on huge farms. The new nations still grapple with the aftereffects, land poisoned by agricultural chemicals and transformed into barren salt marshes. In ancient times, the British historian Arnold Toynbee has written, Afghanistan was a «roundabout», a traffic circle, with routes converging «from all quarters of the compass and from which routes radiate out to all quarters of the compass again». Those routes – silk roads and spice roads arcing across mountain passes, leaping from spring to well to river valley – knitted Afghanistan and the other Stans into a single skein. Mighty conquerors strode these routs: Cyrus and Darius of Persia, Alexander, Attila, Mahmud, Tamerlane, Babur. The number of dynasties domestic and foreign grew to more than a score. From India in the third century B.C. came Buddhism with Asoka, bloody conqueror who became an evangelist of peace, renouncing the killing of any living thing. Buddhism endured for hundreds of years, time enough and more for artisans to carve soaring Buddhas in the rock of Bamian – statues gone forever, the last two destroyed by Taliban dynamite in March of last year. In turn, the Buddhists were engulfed by Islam, first brought eastward to Iran by Arabs, then to the Stans beginning about A.D. 700. Through still mainly Islamic, the Stans practice markedly different versions of faith. In Pakistan conservative mullahs exhort street crowds with strident anti-U.S. rhetoric. Islam in the ex-Soviet Stans is mostly moderate, even lax. Uzbekistan, applying harsh Soviet-era rules, has jailed thousands of Muslims out of fear of an Islamic uprising aimed at supplanting the secular government. The Stans are shot through with such issues of human rights and governance. Pakistan is again under military rule. Rigid Soviet ways (oneparty rule, a smothered press) have not vanished from the former Soviet regions. For most of the Stans the road to democracy looks long and uphill. Security may be no closer. Nor peace. 2) Pair work. Student A is to read the text Strong Roots, student B – Wild Card. Then exchange your ideas about two Stans, covering the following points: politics, economy, social life, prospects. STRONG ROOTS

Under the Soviets the epic was banned in schools, except for parts rewritten to conform to Soviel ideology; in Kyrgyzslan as elsewhere Moscow suppressed ethnic tradition and pride. But Soviet authority did not easily penetrate the soaring Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges, and the Kyrgyz who lived there clung to their roots. Shepherds sang of Manas around their campfires and parents handed down verses to their children. Annexed to Russia in 1876 as part of Russian Turkistan, the territory of the Kyrgyz became a Soviet republic in 1936. The Soviets renamed the capital Frunze, for a general of the Russian Revolution. After 1991 the Kyrgyz took back the city's original name Bishkek, which is said to mean «five knights». Legend holds that the knights fought one another to possess the enticing site, a valley beneath shimmering mountains. Today it’s hard to imagine knights squabbling over a raffish city of Soviet-style apartment blocks, the home of many of the 603,000 Russians who remain in Kyrgyzstan. All told, Russians are 13 percent of the population. Another 300,000 have departed, often complaining that jobs were being «Kyrgyz-fied». To encourage skilled technitians to remain, the post-Soviet government in 1996 recognized Russian as an official language alongside Kyrgyz, which, like Uzbek and Turkmen, is a Turkic tongue. Kyrgyzstan’s mountains haven’t insulated the nation from the turmoil afflicting its neighbors. Bands of guerrillas, part of a radical movement that aspires to create Islamic states, have infiltrated from neighboring Tajikistan, taking hostages and battling Kyrgyz troops. President Akayev has sometimes used Soviet methods, muzzling critical newspapers and harassing and arresting political opponents or disqualifying them from seeking office. Akayev’s own reelection in 2000 was tarnished by stuffed ballot boxes and voter intimidation. Despite state restrictions, an independent press and opposition parties survive. Trying to shift to a market economy, Akayev government Soviet-era factories and other enterprises into share-holder companies. But few have been able to find markets, and the government needs cash as it grapples with high unemployment, inflation, and potholed roads. Central Asian experts say that Kyrgyzstan, already a debtor nation, will need continual shoring up by international lending agences. The Manas legend may indeed be the country’s spiritual foundation; unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the bills.

Under Soviet rule religion was suppressed. But Muslims displayed crude sickles that also evoke the crescent moon – symbol of Islam. 85

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What information can you get from the following chart? Kyrgyzstan: Population: 4.8 million Capital: Bishkek Languages: Kyrgyz and Russian (no breakdown available) Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz – 65 %, Uzbek – 14 %, Russian – 13 %, other – 8 % Religions: Muslim – 75 %, Russian Orthodox – 20 %, other – 5 % Life expectancy: 63.5 years Infant mortality: 77 per 1,000 births Total area: 76,641 square miles In brief: The Epic of Manas recounts the tale of a medieval tribal leader’s adventures conquering land for the Turkic people and of feasts where guests «ate mountains of meat and drank lakes of kumiss», still a favored beverage of fermented mare’s milk. Says one expert, «The Kyrgyz think of themselves as the poets and artists of Central Asia». WILD CARD Power broker – or powder keg for a region in chaos? Set up by the British in 1347, Pakistan blends East and West. It's been called a powder keg and a failing state – «a cat that has used up several of its lives», in the words of one U.S. expert. The economy is flagging, education is a shambles. For the fourth time since Pakistan came into existence 54 years ago, the army in 1999 ousted the elected government and took control. Afghanistan's wars have flooded Pakistan with weapons, spawning a «Kalashnikov culture», a propensity to settle disputes with modern weaponry, even grenade launchers. Shoot-outs between political parties, or between civilians and police or soldiers, are common in the port city of Karachi, now swollen to 12 million people. In 1947 Pakistan was created as a Muslim homeland in the partition of British India. The name is an acronym, coined from some of the new land's regions: Punjab, Afghania (the North-West Frontier), Kashmir, and Indus-Sind. Pak happens to mean «pure» in Urdu, the official language. Thus Pakistan is «land of the pure». Punjab Province, with 59 percent of the population, is so dominant in politics that Baluchi and Pashtun, the peoples of the North-West Frontier, bristle at the «Punjabization» of the nation and demand autonomy. The Pashtun intensify the difficulties, for their homeland is divided by an artificial boundary drawn by the British in 1893. About 11 million live in Paki87

stan and perhaps the same number in Afghanistan, where they are the major population group. Over the years Pashtun on both sides have raised the «Pashtunistan» issue, as it's called, demanding a merger of all Pashtun or at least a plebiscite to decide what nation they will be part of. As Afghanistan stirred this issue in the 1960s, Pakistani officials concluded their nation was boxed in by enemies – on the east by India (with whom Pakistan has fought two wars over Kashmir) and on the west by Afghanistan. Whatever the future regime in Kabul, Pakistan probably will try to dominate it. Pakistan has the means to dominate; its military, 620,000 strong, is by far the largest in the Stans. And it has the bomb, as it proved in test explosions in 1998, answering India's nuclear tests. Defense gets about 30 percent of the government budget. Education receives less than a tenth as much – even though almost half the nation’s 145 million citizens are under the age of 15. Few rural girls receive any education at all. More and more, families send their sons to thousands of schools called madrasahs that may dispense an ultraconservative version of Islam and little else. Many madrasahs also foment hatred of the U.S., calling the attack on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden one of a long list of U.S. offenses against Islam. The U.S. was once Pakistan’s closest ally and many Pakistanis probably still respect their old friend. But the relationship could become problematic as Pakistan stumbles toward its uncertain future, carrying its nuclear baggage. Read the following brief information to get additional facts about Pakistan. Population: 144.6 million Capital: Islamabad Languages: Punjabi, variants – 58 %, Sindhi – 12 %, Pashtu – 8 %, Urdu – 8 %, other – 14 % Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Baluchi, Muhajir Religions: Sunni Muslim – 77 %, Shiite Muslim – 20 %, other – 3 % Life expectancy: 61.5 years Infant mortality: 81 per 1,000 births Total area: 307,374 square miles In brief: Nearly two-thirds of the population of all the Stans lives in Pakistan, the world’s second most populous Muslim country, after Indonesia. 3) Using the previous texts as the sample, make up a profile of any country. 88

2. Render the text into English. ТУР ПО ИОРДАНИИ: ПЯТЬ В ОДНОМ

течение дня. Дорога к древнему городу по дну гигантской теснины бесконечна, как путь в мир из утробы матери. И заканчивается она сходным с рождением потрясением и восторгом, когда высеченный в горах город вдруг открывает свое каменное лицо.

Иордания пока лежит в стороне от наезженных российскими туристами дорог. Мало кто из них рассматривает эту страну как «туристическую державу». Однако если способность потрясать воображение – одно из главных условий для этого, то Иордания имеет все шансы выйти в лидеры. Дело не только в новизне маршрута и пресыщенности россиян привычными местами зарубежного отдыха. Иордании предлагает на выбор ни много ни мало пять видов туризма при бесконечном многообразии сочетаний. Для любителей просто полежать на пляже есть бесподобное Красное море. Причем уже готов проект увеличения береговой линии в Акабе за счет создании искусственного залива. В распоряжении путешественников и уникальное Мертвое море, благотворную соль которого мечтает ощутить на своей коже любая женщина. Лечебный туризм в Иордании имеет самые благоприятные перспективы. Иордания притягивает паломников со всего мира. Христианам, отправляющимся в Иорданию по святым местам, надо знать, что в этой мусульманской стране есть целые христианские города. Православная община насчитывает 200 тысяч человек. Люди любой веры здесь мирно уживаются друг с другом, а к россиянам отношение не просто дружеское – сердечное, в этом мы убеждались повсюду. Для любителей исторического туризма Иордания являет собой рай на земле, ибо трудно где-либо еще найти место столь большой концентрации бесценных памятников важнейший исторических эпох. Среди них прекрасно сохранившийся город Римской эпохи Джераш, который называют «Помпеями Востока», город фресок Мадаба, древности Пеллы, Керака, Шобака... Перечислять можно бесконечно. Немало здесь и неповторимых памятников природы. Лунная долина пустыни Вади Рам, наверное, одно из красивейших мест на земле. Уникальная жемчужина Петра – драгоценность среди древних скал. Старинная столица царства набатеев вправе называться «восьмым чудом света». Только ради одной Петры стоит приехать в Иорданию, а не повидав Петры, нельзя уезжать из страны. Реальность здесь фантастична, как сон Сальвадора Дали. Рассматривая окружающие горные панорамы, без конца ловишь себя на желании прикоснуться к холсту, на котором они написаны. Горы-хамелеоны меняют окраску в

Если вы представляете далекую Индию сказкой, то это совсем не так. Неужели вы всерьез думаете, что будете разъезжать по Индии на слонах, а местная красавица осыпет вас бриллиантами, брошеенными с балкона магараджи? Ошибаетесь. Ни слонов, ни бриллиантов, ни магараджей вы, скорее всего, не увидите – за этим отправляйтесь в кино. Зато есть другие, более интересные вещи, ради которых тысячи европейцев и американцев путешествуют по Индии на поездах, джипах, верблюдах и крышах автобусов. «Матрасный» отпуск на КанароСейшело-Мальдивах они называют уделом престарелых зануд, а все пляжи мира считают однообразно-глянцевыми картинками настенного календаря. Эти люди понимают: дорожные приключения – единственное, что не покупается ни за какие деньги. Я попал в Индию вместе с небольшой группой российских туристов. Программа включала только пребывание в Гималаях, но мне было обидно оказаться здесь и не увидеть хотя бы Тадж-Махала. Хочу напомнить, что общая площадь Индии – 3,3 млн кв. километров. Мне предстояло преодолеть около тысячи километров через штаты Химачал-Прадеш, Пенджаб и Харьяна. Дороги в Гималаях узки и извилисты, но машины несутся так, что их разделяют всего несколько сантиметров. На каждом повороте светящейся краской нарисован клаксон. Он напоминает, что водитель обязан подать предупреждающий сигнал: за выступом скалы встречные машины друг друга не видят. С языком общения в Индии проблем не существует, на ломаном английском можно объясниться всегда. «Ломаном» – это с моей стороны. Для индийцев же он – второй государственный. Здесь перемешано более 800 языков и наречий, принадлежащих к трем разным семьям. Так что без хорошего английского не может обойтись ни чиновник, ни рикша, ни продавец – надо же им как-то понимать друг друга.

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3. Render the text into English. СКАЗ О ЗЕМЛЕ ИНДИЙСКОЙ

4. I. Work in groups of three. You are expecting foreign guests. Discuss their preferences in eating and reach the consensus in planning the menu. II. Render one of the texts. ФРАНЦИЯ Главное отличие французской кулинарии от всех остальных – ее многообразие, тонкие вкусовые и ароматические качества блюд. Французские повара-кудесники применяют бесчисленное количество пряностей, приправ, хороших вин, коньяков и ликеров для приготовления соусов, тушения мяса, жарки рыбы и дичи. Они утверждают, что сахар (его добавляют в мясные блюда) придает мясу особенно тонкий аромат и вкус. Наличие сока в готовом мясе обязательно. Принимая гостей из Франции, необходимо учитывать, что у них на стол обязательно подается белое или красное столовые вина. Многие французы после второго блюда привыкли лакомиться сыром, а десерт запивать черным кофе. Ко второму горячему блюду принято подавать отдельно столовый салат, салат из белокочанной капусты, помидоров, редиса, огурцов и других овощей. ИТАЛИЯ Для этой кухни характерно обилие острых закусок, которые принято подавать как к обеду, так и к довольно плотному ужину. Особенно в почете – соленые и маринованные овощи, заправленные, как правило, оливковым маслом, перцем, уксусом и горчицей. Кроме овощей, итальянцы употребляют в качестве закуски различную морскую рыбу под красным маринадом, сельдь, крабы, сардины, а также холодные блюда из птицы. Многие мясные и рыбные блюда этой кухни обязательно сдабриваются вином и заливаются острыми соусами. Для обжаривания в дело идет оливковое масло. Мясо подают с кабачками, баклажанами, зеленым горошком, помидорами и тертым сыром. Любимые блюда – спагетти и ризотто – блюдо из риса со всевозможными добавками. На десерт – свежие или консервированные фрукты, фруктовые салаты, сыры. Обед обычно заканчивается небольшой чашечкой крепкого кофе по-восточному или милым сердцу итальянцев кофе «капуччино» – натуральным кофе с горячим молоком или не менее горячими сливками. 91

ЮЖНАЯ АМЕРИКА И КУБА Национальные кухни Аргентины, Чили, Бразилии, Перу и других южноамериканский стран на редкость схожи. А что вы хотите? Одинаковые климатические и природные условия тому причина. Значительное влияние на формирование кухни оказало и трехвековое испано-португальское владычество. Этнический состав в этом регионе был соответствующий – итальянцы, испанцы, португальцы. Неудивительно, что многие местные блюда имеют заморское происхождение. Однако особую любовь в этих странах снискали блюда коренного населения: креольские, негритянские, индейские. В южноамериканской кухне преобладают блюда из натурального, жаренного на решетках-грилях или тушенного в керамических горшках мяса. Далее – овощи, без которых не бывает ни обеда, ни плотного ужина. И, само собой, рыба – естественно, океанических пород, жаренная на углях, а также изделия из теста. Отварная лапша с сыром или тушеным мясом с помидорами — одно из самых распространенных блюд. К обеду у многих народов Южной Америки принято подавать столовое вино. Кофе можно подавать без заказа – его южноамериканцы потребляют в неограниченных количествах. Принимая гостей из Южной Америки, следует учесть и такие особенности: в основном они едят белый хлеб, для заправки салатов лучше использовать только растительное, желательно оливковое, масло и масляно-уксусные заправки. И еще: южноамериканская пища острая, со всевозможными приправами и соусами, поэтому ее лучше недосолить, чем пересолить. 5. Render the text. And then prepare the reverse translation of it. UKRAINE: ADOPTED CHILDREN OF EUROPE Ukraine resembles a piece of overly fat sausage. Ukraine – windswept fields of corn. Ukraine – a female old beggar with gold teeth. Ukraine – a beautiful blonde in a tight miniskirt, a nuclear power plant explosion, a closed coal mine, a steel mill, a horse driven carriage in the Carpathians, a piece of the Black Sea coast and a dacha on an endless plain. In August 1991 Ukraine became a free, independent and democratic state that ceded from the defunct USSR. To Ukraine, the end of the Soviet 92

Union meant not only the collapse of a totalitarian regime but also the emergence of countless new problems typical of capitalism at the stage of initial accumulation – blatant corruption, organized crime and the like. The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is a heavy burden on Ukraine. A large part of the national treasury is used up annually to remove the disaster’s effects. For those who had to be evacuated from the radioactive zone, new villages and towns were built elsewhere in Ukraine. Ukraine means the forest-clad Carpathians, mountains in a Godforsaken corner between the East and the West. A brown bear stands by the roadside in the scorching sun. It is 47 degrees 58 minutes north of the equator and 24 degrees 12 minutes east of the meridian of Greenwich. «This is the geographic center of Europe» reads a plaque on its back. Ukraine can be regarded as a border country between East and West, between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Here, in the southwest of the country, the population is particularly diverse in cultural, ethnic and religious terms. Here, among the Carpathian Mountains, in an area flanked by Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, there are some one million «adopted children of Europe» representing thirty different ethnic groups. УКРАИНА. ПРИЕМНЫЕ ДЕТИ ЕВРОПЫ

Украина – это лесные Карпаты. Они расположены в глухом уголке между Востоком и Западом. На обочине под палящем солнцем стоит бурый медведь. 47 градусов 58 минут к северу от экватора, 24 градуса 12 минут к востоку от Гринвича. «Здесь находится географический центр Европы», – гласит надпись на табличке, висящей у него на спине. Украину можно считать пограничной страной, расположенной между Западом и Востоком, между католичеством и православием. Здесь, на юго-западе страны, проживает самое разнообразное в культурном, национальном и религиозном отношении население. Здесь, между карпатскими горными вершинами, между Румынией, Венгрией, Словакией и Польшей, проживает примерно миллион «приемных детей Европы» тридцати разных национальностей. 6. Read and render the text. Speak about other interesting religious or ethnic traditions. EPYPHANY RUSSIAN-STYLE. THE COLDER THE BETTER On January 19 all Orthodox believers in Russia mark the Baptism of Christ.

Украина похожа на слишком жирную колбасу. Украина – это колышущееся под ветром кукурузное поле. Украина – это нищая бабушка с золотыми зубами. Украина – это красивая блондинка в обтягивающей мини-юбке, это взорвавшаяся атомная электростанция, это закрытая угольная шахта, это сталеплавильный завод, это конная повозка в Карпатах, это побережье Черного моря, это дача на безбрежной равнине. С августа 1991 года Украина стала свободным, независимым, демократическим государством, которое отделилось от рухнувшего Советского Союза. Конец СССР означал для нее не только крах тоталитарного режима, но и появление множества новых проблем, характерных для капитализма в период первоначального накопления: открытой коррупции, организованной преступности и так далее… Взрыв на Чернобыльской АЭС – тяжелое бремя для Украины. Большая часть государственного бюджета ежегодно уходит на устранение последствий катастрофы. Для людей, которых пришлось выселить из радиоактивной зоны, построили новые деревни в других районах Украины.

On this day the faithful recall that at the age of 30 Jesus came to the Jordan River from the province of Galilee and was baptized by John in the river. Church scripture says that when Jesus came up out of the water? Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit coming down on him in the image of a dove. «And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you’», says the Gospel according to Mark. Thus the holy Trinity appeared in the world: God the Son, who had not been known before, God the Spirit who came down on Jesus in the image of a dove, and God the Father who announced from heaven the appearance of Christ. Therefore, the Baptism of Jesus is also called the epiphany. According to time-honoured Russian tradition, on this day many people bathe in ice holes, braving severe frosts. It is believed that by submerging three times into the icy water you wash off all your sins. According to strict church rules, you must dip into the water so that it covers your head. Among the bathers were both grownups and children. Many said they do not feel the cold because the bathing took place on such a very special night. On the eve of the Epiphany thousands of people form long lines near churches where they are given holy water. The faithful keep this water for the rest of the year, drinking it in tiny portions for the health of soul and body. Believers also sprinkle their homes with it, asking for God’s blessing.

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7. Try the Canadian quiz. 1) A good many Canadians own the house in which they live. What was the proportion in 1997? a) about a quarter b) about a half c) about two-thirds 2) The services sector is employing more and more people. What percentage of Canadians are now working in this sector? a) 45 % b) 55 % c) 60 % d) 70 % 3) Self-employment is becoming increasingly common in Canada. In 1997, how many people worked for themselves? a) 1 000 000 b) 1 800 000 c) 2 500 000 d) 5 000 000 4) Each year, many workers die while at work, or because of their work. Which are the three most dangerous industries or activities? a) trapping and fishing, logging and mining b) firefighting, policing and mining c) policing, construction and the chemical industry d) policing, hydro line installation and repair, and lab technician 5) What proportion of Canada’s territory is used for agriculture? a) 7 % b) 27 % c) 47 % d) 67 % 6) Which of the following is not a primary industry? a) farming b) steel-making c) mining d) logging 7) Which of the following is not a city in Canada? a) Kamloops 95

b) Thunder Bay c) Seattle d) Moncton 8) English is the only official language in Canada. French continues to be spoken, however, especially in Quebec. a) True b) False 9) What is the capital of Canada? a) Montréal b) Toronto c) Ottawa d) Edmonton 10) The oldest evidence of Europeans in North America is a thousand year old settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and Labrador. Who built the settlement? a) the Vikings b) the Romans c) the Spanish d) the English 11) What was the first city in North America to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site? a) St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador b) Halifax, Nova Scotia c) Quebec, Quebec d) Dawson, Yukon Territory 12) Canada’s two official languages are a) English and Spanish b) English and French c) English and Chinese d) None 13) What Is Canada’s only officially-bilingual province? a) Ontario b) Quebec c) Manitoba d) New Brunswick

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14) There are over 100 ethnic groups in Canada. At the time of Confederation, about 90 % of the population were of British or French origin. In 1991, what percentage were of British or French origin? a) 55 % b) 60 % c) 75 % d) 80 % 15) In 1996, immigrants made up 17.4 % of Canada’s population. In which province were a majority of them located? a) British Columbia b) Alberta c) Ontario d) Quebec 16) Among the 48 First Nations languages of Canada, which is the most numerous? a) Cree b) Haida c) Inuit d) Huron 17) How many deaths are thought to be caused by cigarettes in Canada? a) one death in 20 b) one death in 15 c) one death in 10 d) one death in 5 18) These days, there are more divorces than marriages. a) True b) False 19) The Yukon Territory is the only province or territory in Canada that borders on Alaska. a) True b) False 20) What is the largest land animal native to Canada? a) polar bear b) moose c) grizzly bear d) bison 97

21) Now that the Soviet Union has broken up, Canada is the largest country (in area) in the world. a) True b) False 22) Niagara Falls is the highest waterfall in Canada. a) True b) False 23) How many time zones are there in Canada? a) 2 b) 4 c) 6 d) 8 24) Which of the following is Canada’s largest province? a) Quebec b) Ontario c) British Columbia d) Newfoundland and Labrador Answers: 1. c) about two-thirds; 2. d) 70 %; 3. c) 2 500 000; 4. a) trapping and fishing, logging and mining; 5. a) Farming is practised on 68 million hectares, which is 7 % of Canada’s territory; 80 % of the farmland is in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; 6. b) steel-making; 7. c) Seattle is not in Canada. It is in the American state of Washington; 8. b) False. English and French are both official languages in Canada; 9. c) Ottawa is the capital of Canada; 10. a) The Vikings, led by Leif Erikkson, landed in Vinland (Newfoundland) around the year 1000 AD; 11. c) Quebec, founded in 1608 and the only walled city in North America, was granted World Heritage Site status in July 1986; 12. b) English and French; 13. d) New Brunswick; 14. a) In 1991, 55 % of Canadians claimed British, French or both British and French origin; 98

15. c) In 1996, over half of all immigrants were in Ontario, while 21 % were in British Columbia and 15 % in Quebec; 16. a) Cree; 17. d) One death in five, which is more than the total deaths caused by suicide, car accidents, AIDS and murder taken together; 18 b) False. In 1996, the year of the last census, there were 157 000 marriages and 71 000 divorces in Canada; 19. b) False. Although the Yukon Territory does border on Alaska, it is not alone. British Columbia has a substantial border with Alaska; 20. d) The bison, or North American buffalo, is the largest land animal native to Canada. A mature male can be 3.8 metres long, 1.8 metres tall at the shoulder, and weigh up to 720 kg; 21. b) False. Canada is still the second largest country in the world, with almost 10 million square kilometres. Russia is the largest country with about 17 million square kilometers; 22. b) False. The Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, are 57 metres high. There are many waterfalls in Canada that, though less impressive than Niagara, are much higher. The highest is Della Falls in British Columbia at 440 metres; 23. c) 6; 24. a) Quebec.

Учебное издание Светлана Александровна Дедова

УЧЕБНО-МЕТОДИЧЕСКОЕ ПОСОБИЕ ПО РАБОТЕ С ТЕМОЙ «COUNTRY PROFILE» (для студентов гуманитарных специальностей, изучающих английский язык)

Now it is your turn to make up a quiz about the country you know or like best and test the knowledge of your group mates.

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