Устная частьTASK
1 READING
Task 1. You are going to read the text aloud. You have
1.5 minutes to read the text silently, and then be ready to read it aloud.
Remember that you will not have more than 2 minutes for reading aloud.
I.
ECOLOGY
1
Recycling
is a technology that helps protect the environment and cut down on usage of raw
materials. The steel, paper and glass industries recycle a lot. The largest
recycler is the steel industry. It recovers more than 70 per cent of its
original materials. For example, since 1988 they have produced the majority of
new metal cans from old ones. Metal parts for cars and planes are other
examples of recycling steel. Fragments of waste glass are widely used in
construction. For producing writing paper and pens, used packing boxes are an
ideal material. They are cheap and easy to recycle. Nowadays more and more
recycling centers are appearing in our towns and cities.
2
Would
you like to take a flight on the solar plane?Global warming is a result of
human activity. In 1985 there was a big conference in Austria Arctic some places are ice-free
now and polar bears have lost the place where they lived. The sea level has
risen as well. The situation is getting more and more serious. Global warming
is a great problem which needs to be solved in the near future.
3
We
don’t realize how lucky we are to have clean water whenever we want. A lot of
people around the world do not have such an opportunity. Did you know that more
than 750 million people on the Earth do not have clean water to drink?
Meanwhile, a lot of water is wasted and polluted. In 1993 the United Nations
decided to celebrate the World Day for Water. Nowadays a lot of special events
are organized in different countries. Their aim is to make people understand
how important clean water is for their health, environment and agriculture.
Water is essential for our life. We should think about saving it, as the fresh
water supplies are limited. We need to keep it clean for ourselves and for
future generations.
4
Earth
Hour is an event that encourages people around the world to switch off
electricity at the same time for one hour. Of course, switching off the lights
for an hour makes a small difference to the amount of energy we use. But the
aim of the event is not to save energy but to get people to think about the
planet they live on. Earth Hour started in Australia Russia
I.
PHYSICS
5
Nowadays
solar energy is widely used as an alternative form of power. Solar panels
transform the energy from the sun into electricity. The first plane that does
not need fuel was constructed in France 140 miles an hour.
However, the plane is able to travel round the world. It is safe and can
successfully cross areas of bad weather. In the future, engineers hope to
construct a model that people can fly in. Our dream of environmentally friendly
transport may come true very soon. Would you like to take a flight on the solar
plane?
6
Our
planet is the only planet in the Solar System where rainbows are possible. They
are not visible in big cities, due to pollution and smog. But if you are
travelling after rain has fallen in the countryside or walking on the beach,
you have a good chance to see a rainbow. The rainbow is a multi-colored arc
which appears in the sky. When you see a rainbow, the sun is always behind you
and it is raining in front of you. It is impossible to get to the end of the
rainbow and to touch it. When you move, the rainbow moves too. We have always
learned that rainbows have 7 colours. However, until the 17th century, people
used to think there were only 5 colours in the rainbow
II.
MODERN INVENTIONS AND GADGETS
7
A
robot is a machine that does work for people. The word ‘robot’ appeared in the
1920s and it was first used in a science fiction story. In real life, the robot
was invented later, in 1954. There are different kinds of robots which are used
in different industries. Most of them are operated with the help of a computer
program. Instead of humans, robots do hard and boring work in unpleasant or
dangerous environments. They usually work faster and more accurately than
people. They never get tired and do not make mistakes. Nowadays robots are
often used for domestic needs – to clean houses or to look after sick and
elderly people. Scientists say that soon robots will become a normal part of
our life, like mobiles and computers today.
8
Nowadays
people can’t imagine their kitchen without a refrigerator. The first
refrigerators appeared at the end of the 18th century. They looked different:
they were just iceboxes. The refrigerators of the past were just wooden boxes,
sometimes lined inside with metal. People put ice into the box and then placed
the food inside to keep it cool. The refrigerator, similar to the one that we
have now, was produced by General Electric in 1911, in France
In
1642 a
French student invented the first mechanical calculator. He was only 18 and the
counting machine was a present for his father. The father worked as a tax
collector and the young man wanted to make his job easier. The talented
inventor made several machines, but nobody was interested. The young man was
ahead of his time. Many years passed before people realized how useful these
machines could be and started mass producing them. Today most mechanical
calculators have been replaced with electronic models. These small devices can
perform a lot of mathematical operations. You just need to enter the numbers by
pressing the keys and you’ll see the final result on the screen in no time.
10
One
day a young man who lived near the lake in a small American town asked himself,
“Why can’t people ski on water if they can ski on snow?” With his brother’s
help he constructed several models of skis to test his ideas. He experimented
on the local lake for a few days and created skis suitable for the water. This
happened in 1922. The young man, who was only 18 at that time, didn’t patent
his invention. However, he performed a lot of shows across the country that
made him and the sport of water skiing popular. Later, he was recognized as the
creator of a new sport – water skiing. Water skiing equipment has been greatly
improved since that time, and the number of people who enjoy this sport is
growing in many countries.
11
The
first vacuum cleaner was designed in 1869. Since then, vacuum cleaners have
changed a lot. Nowadays the robot vacuum cleaner is getting more and more
popular. This device cleans a house automatically. Following a programme, the
robot drives slowly around the house and makes it cleaner. It operates with
brushes and a tube. The robot is so flexible that it can get under a table or
sofa or reach dust in corners. Some advanced models can also wash floors of all
kinds. These functions are provided by a complicated electronic system and sensors
inside. The vacuum cleaner looks like a plate and can be kept in the corner. It
is friendly to children and animals and works on electricity.
12
The
mobile phone has become an important part of our everyday life. We can’t
imagine our lives without it now. Thanks to the mobile phone we can keep in
contact with our relatives and friends at any time. We use them to text and to
send emails, to share photos and videos. We can use the Internet and listen to
music and do lots of other things. However, according to surveys, mobile phone
users mostly spend their time on games and social networking. Around 80 percent
of the world’s population has a mobile phone. The mobile phone industry is the
fastest growing industry in the world. From 1983 to 2016, worldwide mobile
phone subscriptions grew to over 7 billion.
I.
GEORRAPHY
13
Do
you know why it is hot in the summer and cold in the winter? Most people
believe that it is because the Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and
farther from it in the winter. But it is not like this at all! In fact, the
distance between the Earth and the Sun is largest in July and smallest in
January! Scientists suggest that the reason for different summer and winter
temperatures is the angle of the Sun’s rays. In the summer, the rays reach the
Earth almost at a right angle. Due to this, the rays are not spread out and a
smaller area of the planet's surface gets the energy. In the winter, the angle
changes and the Sun’s rays are spread out over a larger area. Besides this, the
long nights and short days do not give enough time for the land to warm up.
14
Studies
of the atmosphere first received technical support in 1912. Equipment to
measure temperature and pressure was invented in Germany. But the question was
how to raise it high into the air. In 1921, Russian engineers suggested using
planes. The special equipment was put on planes that made regular flights.
Thanks to this, scientists got a lot of new information about the structure of
the atmosphere. Nowadays scientists use modern flying laboratories to study the
structure of clouds at different levels. Unlike the first planes, these
laboratories can work in any weather and are able to predict climate changes.
15
The
word ‘tsunami’ can be translated from Japanese as ‘big wave’. It describes a
natural process that can be dangerous for people and their homes. Most of the
huge waves appear after earthquakes. Most waves are born in the Indian and the
Pacific Oceans where volcanoes are active. The mass of water rises from the
bottom of the ocean and moves to the shore. It moves at a speed of a plane and
can be up to 40 meters high. The wave is very powerful and dangerous. In 2004,
a tsunami happened in the Indian Ocean. It was one of most terrible natural
disasters in history. It hit 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Thousands
of people were killed or went missing.
16
People
have always wanted to discover new things and new worlds. We have built
spaceships to go to other planets and are planning to visit other galaxies one
day. Meanwhile, we know very little about our own planet. The oceans, which
cover 70 percent of the planet, are an unknown world to us. The Pacific Ocean
is the largest one. The lowest point on the Earth is also there. It is called
Challenger Deep and it was discovered in 1875. The Pacific Ocean stretches from
the Arctic Ocean to the coast of Antarctica, but most of its water is in the
warm tropics, which makes it warm. A lot of fish and animals live in the
Pacific Ocean. The place is still waiting for researchers to discover its
secrets for us.
17
The
Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean of the world. It covers the northern polar
region of the Earth. The Arctic region is a very cold place. The lowest
recorded temperature there is minus 68 degrees. In spite of the cold, a lot of
animals live on the Arctic ice. The polar bear is one of them. Now, due to
global warming, the polar bear is in a serious trouble. The thing is that polar
bears hunt seals and they need ice to do this. The bears wait for seals on the
ice, hunt them in the water and go back to the shore. If the ice is too thin,
it breaks under the bears’ heavy bodies and they may drown. The situation is
getting worse and some researchers say the ocean may become ice-free as soon as
2050.
18
Snowdon
is the highest mountain in Wales. It is located in a national park. It stands
at 1085 metres above sea level, and it is often described as the busiest
mountain in Great Britain. Snowdon is very popular with tourists. If you are
strong and brave enough to get to the top, you can enjoy wonderful views from
there. On a clear day, you can see as far as Ireland! During the summer months
there is a café at the top. There, tourists can get a welcome cup of tea, or
soup if the weather is cold. If you feel too tired to walk back, you can always
take the train down the mountain. The mountain railway was built in 1896. It is
safe, and there have never been any accidents on this route.
19
The
Caspian Sea is one of the world’s natural wonders. It shares the
characteristics of both a sea and a lake. In the past it was called a sea
because of its great size and salty water. However, the Caspian Sea is listed
as the largest lake in the world. There are about 130 rivers which bring their
water to the Caspian Sea. But it is not a freshwater lake – its water is very
salty. The Caspian Sea is famous for its wildlife. More than 850 kinds of
animals and 500 different plants can be found in this unique sea. The Caspian
Sea region is also one of the oldest oil-producing areas in the world. It is also
rich in other natural resources.
II.
ASTRONOMY
20
Without
the energy from the Sun, the Earth would have no life at all. Nowadays everyone
knows that the Sun is a star. Like all stars, the Sun is a great burning ball
of gases. To us, it seems large and red. The other stars look white or light
blue because they are much farther from us than the Sun. In the past, many
people believed that the Earth was the centre of the universe. They thought
that the Sun and the stars went round it. Only in 1543, a great Polish
scientist published a book in which he tried to prove a different point of
view. According to him, the Earth and the other planets moved round the Sun.
Those people who supported the scientist were often imprisoned and even killed.
21
Venus
is one of the hottest planets in the Solar system. The temperature on its
surface is 482 degrees. This unfriendly place looks much the same as the Earth
4 billion years ago. Both planets were formed from the same gas cloud, but
Venus lost most of its water and atmosphere. This happened because the planet
turns very slowly. As a result, now it has no magnetic field to protect it from
the Sun's winds. The planet has turned into a lifeless desert. Most space
modules that were sent to Venus, could not work on the planet more than two
hours. The acidic clouds and high pressure quickly made them absolutely
useless.
22
Most
people enjoy watching the night sky. And the brightest object in the sky is the
Moon. Every night the Moon rises in the East and sets in the West. It takes
about 27 days to go around the Earth, and it’s an interesting fact that we
always see the same side of the Moon. The Moon is the closest object to the
Earth. It would take us only 13 hours to get to the Moon by rocket. If we were
able to travel at the speed of light, it would take a bit less than two
seconds.
There
is a very thin atmosphere on the Moon. Life is not possible there. In spite of
this, the Moon can be used as a base for space exploration and even for space
tourism. Some space companies say that they will be able to take tourists to
the Moon as soon as in 2020.
23
The
ninth planet of the solar system was discovered not long ago. It happened in
1930. Scientists had been hunting for the planet for a long time. They had
calculated its probable position, but there was no proof that the planet really
existed. It was too far away for the telescopes of that time to find it. It’s
worth mentioning that the first photos of the planet were taken by a very young
researcher. He was only twenty-four and had no formal education in astronomy.
However he was deeply involved in the search for the ninth planet. The planet
at the edge of the solar system was called Pluto, after the Roman god. The name
for the planet was suggested by an 11-year-old British girl.
24
Human
activity creates waste. The problem isn’t new and space is no exception to the
rule. Dead satellites, rocket stages and other things are littering our
planet’s orbit. They are getting dangerously close to space stations and there
is a great possibility of an accident. Space stations could be completely
destroyed by the rubbish. In 1983, a tiny piece of paint from a satellite made
a big hole in the side window of a spaceship. There is a great need to “clean
up” space and to take away 3,000 tons of space rubbish. To solve the problem,
scientists and engineers are designing special spaceships that will collect and
recycle space rubbish.
III.
BIOLOGY
25
The
carrot is a root vegetable which consists mostly of water and sugar. The
carrots that we eat today originated from the wild ones which grew in Europe
and Asia. The vegetable tasted sweet and the people began to use it as food. There
are two main types of carrots. There are eastern carrots that have dark purple
roots and western carrots with orange roots. In fact, orange carrots first
appeared in Europe in 1721. Dutch farmers selected orange carrots because
orange is the colour of the Dutch Royal Family. Now orange carrots are widely
grown all over the world. In modern households carrots are cooked and eaten in
different ways. The vegetable is boiled, fried, baked and eaten raw. People
also make juice from it.
26
Wombats
are exotic animals that only live in Australia. They have become an unofficial
symbol of the country. In 1974 a wombat appeared on an Australian stamp for the
first time. Since then it has been regularly used on different Australian
stamps and coins. Wombats look like little bears and prefer grass to meat. They
also love eating berries, plant roots and mushrooms. Like camels, wombats drink
little water because there is enough water in fresh grass. Wombats spend most
of their life in holes under the ground. With their strong arms and long nails
they are able to dig very long and complex tunnels. Fortunately, wombats have
few enemies in the animal world. Most wombats live around 15 years.
27
The
human brain is the most complex and remarkable organ of the body. It controls
everything we do – thinking, learning, and even heart rate. Though the brain
makes up only 2 percent of the body's weight, it uses around 20 percent of its
energy. It works 24 hours a day. Even when a person is sleeping, the brain is
working hard to keep other organs functioning. Most people think that our brain
is more active during the daytime because it needs to deal with a great amount
of information. In fact, that’s not true. The brain is far more active when a
person is sleeping! However, scientists don’t yet have any explanation for this
fact.
28
Though
most people believe that the tomato is a vegetable, this plant is actually a
fruit. Tomato is a fruit because it has seeds inside like apples, oranges,
lemons, and all other types of fruit. The tomato comes from Central and South
America. When tomatoes were brought to England in the 17th century, people
thought that they were poisonous and refused to eat them. Only in 1820, Robert
Johnson proved that tomatoes were absolutely safe and would not affect people’s
health. He ate a basket of tomatoes in public. Nowadays, the tomato is widely
used in all types of food. There are many different kinds of tomatoes – over
7,500! They differ in size, shape, colour and taste.
29
A
zoo, also known as a zoological park or a zoological garden, gives people the
opportunity to watch animals from different continents. There are hundreds of
zoos all over the world. However, most of them are located in major cities. The
first zoo in Russia was opened in 1864, in Moscow. It was a small zoological
garden. On the opening day, only 287 animals were on display. Nowadays, the
Moscow Zoo is one of the largest in Europe. The unique collection of the Zoo
includes over 8000 kinds of animals and birds. Scientists study the animals’
behavior and reproduction. They also breed rare animals there to stop them
dying out.
30
The
rainforest can be described as a thick and very tall jungle. The term rain
comes from the great quantity of water that these forests get throughout the
year. The rainforests are the world's greatest natural resources. They are
called the lungs of our planet. Half of all the kinds of plants and animals
that exist on the planet live in the rainforests. Unfortunately, the area with
rainforests is being reduced due to global warming. 100 years ago, the
rainforests covered 14 per cent of the earth’s surface. Now, it is only 6 per
cent. Scientists say that if the process continues at this rate, the
rainforests will have disappeared in 40 years.
IV.
TRANSPORT
31
Since
2007 high-speed trains have become a common type of transport in Europe. They
make it possible to cut travel times by hours. The trains travel at 350
kilometres an hour, and this is not the limit! The only problem for the
engineers is the loud noise the trains produce. People living in the areas the
trains travel through suffer from the noise greatly. For the passengers, the
situation is different. For their comfort, all the carriages are made
sound-proof from the inside. Travelling on high-speed trains is comfortable and
pleasant. In the future, a high-speed railroad network could cover most of
Europe. For example, a trip from Paris to Rome could take only 3 hours!
32
The
Channel Tunnel is a rail tunnel beneath the English Channel which links Great
Britain and France. It is considered to be one of the most amazing engineering
constructions in Europe. The second longest undersea tunnel in the world was
opened in 1994. It is said that 13,000 workers and engineers participated in
the construction project. The Channel Tunnel contains three tunnels. The south
tunnel is for people who are travelling from France to the UK, the north tunnel
takes passengers from the UK to France. Nowadays it takes 35 minutes to go from
Paris to London in the Channel Tunnel. The third tunnel is a service tunnel. It
is not used by passengers.
33
The
construction of the longest and the deepest railroad tunnel was finished in
Europe. The tunnel runs through the Alps and links the north and south of
Europe. The length of the tunnel is 57 kilometres. It runs straight from
beginning to end. It will allow passenger trains to travel more quickly through
the mountains. Modern technologies ensure safety and security when the trains
go through the tunnel. The great project started in 2009 and it took 17 years
to complete. It is considered to be one of the most amazing engineering
constructions in Europe.
34
Bicycles
or bikes are an important means of transportation in many parts of the world.
The first bicycles turned up in Europe in the first half of the19th century but
the word ‘bicycle’ only appeared later, in 1868. There are more bicycles in the
world than cars. About 100 million bicycles are produced worldwide each year. A
lot of people have realized that cycling is an easy way to get around and a
great way to cut down on pollution. More and more cities have special places
where people can borrow a bike and ride around the city. Over the past few
years, a bicycle infrastructure has been created in Moscow. Cycling in the
centre of Moscow in summer is one of the most pleasant and quickest ways of
seeing the city.
V.
HISTORY
35
We
are always told that we should clean our teeth regularly to keep them healthy
and to have fresh breath. It is believed that people started using a kind of
paste to clean their teeth around 5000 years ago. However, the ingredients of
these tooth powders were very different from ours. For example, the people of
ancient Egypt used salt, mint, dried flowers and pepper to create tooth powder.
Later, in the 18th century, in some countries in Europe, people brushed their
teeth with burnt bread. The first toothpaste appeared in 1890, in Great
Britain. At first it was sold in jars. Then special tubes were designed to make
the toothpaste more comfortable to use.
36
It's
hard to find a more popular Russian symbol than the traditional Russian doll,
or Matryoshka. It is well-known all over the world. The first set of dolls
appeared in Moscow in 1890. It consisted of eight dolls. All of them were
children: seven girls, one boy, and a baby. In those times, Matryoshkas were
not meant as toys for children as their price was very high. Mostly, adults
bought them as presents or home decorations. There was a belief that if you put
a note with a wish into Matryoshka, it would come true. At the beginning of the
20th century, Russia started to export their national dolls abroad.
VI.
EDUCATION
37
English
is the third most-spoken language in the world after Chinese and Spanish. Over
840 million people speak English as a first or second language. It is an
official language of 67 countries. 80 percent of information stored on all
computers in the world is in English. The vocabulary of the English language is
the biggest in the world. A new word is added into English almost every two
hours. The English language is said to be one of the happiest languages in the
world. The word happy is used more often than the word sad! That's a good
reason to learn this language, isn’t it?
38
Great
Britain is home to the world’s oldest school. The King’s School was established
in 1567 and it is still open. It has a long history. Many famous people have
been educated at this old school. Nowadays The King’s School is an independent
secondary school for boys and girls from 13 to 18. More than 800 pupils study
at the school. Though The King’s School is located in old buildings, it has
up-to-date technical equipment and provides a full modern education. The King’s
School is also famous for its festival of music, drama and arts. It is held
during the last week of the summer term and attracts a lot of people from
different parts of the country.
39
Oxford
University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is also
the second oldest university in the world. The University of Oxford is believed
to have started in 1133. It is located in Oxford City on the Thames River, not
far from London. Oxford University is one of the world’s most impressive
centres of education. There are students from different countries there. In
fact, there is no building in Oxford called Oxford University. The University
includes 38 colleges and related buildings. Over 22,000 students study English
language and literature, geography, history, law, modern languages and other
subjects there.
VII.
SPORT
40
Netball
is played by over 20 million people in more than 70 countries of the world. It
was invented in 1892 as women’s basketball. However, netball is different from
basketball in many ways. For example, the ball and the basket are smaller and
the court is bigger. The players cannot run with the ball. They are not allowed
to touch the players who they are playing with. Netball has seven players in
each team (not five as in basketball). During the 20th century, the game became
very popular in English-speaking countries. Traditionally, only girls and women
have played netball. Nowadays, netball is the number one women’s sport in the
world but boys and men are starting to play it too.
41
|
Table tennis is the third most played
sport in the world after football and cricket. It is considered to be an
indoor version of Lawn Tennis. However, they have a lot of differences. Table
tennis has a different scoring system, a smaller ball, smaller rackets, and a
smaller playing area. Modern table tennis was invented at the end of the 19th
century in England. Very soon the new sport became popular all over the
world. In 1901, competitions with over 300 participants were already being
held. According to numerous studies, table tennis has great effects on human
health. It keeps the brain sharp and improves the player’s coordination.
Since 1988, table tennis has been an Olympic sport.
|
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий