The Primitive Community
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At the University
Applicant: What department do you study at?
The 3rd year student: I'm a 3rd year student of the History Department. I've already passed my last exams and soon I'll have my museum practice.
A. I am going to take entrance exams this summer. I've chosen History - as my future profession. I hope to pass the еxam successfully but many applicants failed last year.
S. It depends on your knowledge. If you study well and if yоu're fond of History, you'll be enrolled in the University.
A. Is it difficult to study at the History Department?
S. If you work hard at all lectures, tutorials and seminars, if you read a lot of specialized literature and analyze it, then I hope you'll be a good historian.
A. What subjects did you study when you were a first-year student?
S. We studied Archaeology, Ancient History, Latin, Russian History (the period of feudalism), English and some other subjects. At the end of each term we took tests and exams. Each year we present an essay to our scientific adviser and make contributions in class and sometimes at the students' conferences on historical themes/topics.
A. It sounds attractive.
S. I'm sure you'll enjoy your studies at the University. I wish you good luck at your entrance exams.
A. Thanks a lot.
applicant – абитуриент
department – факультет, отделение, кафедра
to take (pass) an exam – держать (сдать) экзамен
to fail in (at) – провалиться нa экзамене
to be going to – собираться (намереваться) что-либо сделать
entrance exam – вступительный экзамен
success – успех
successfully – успешно
to depend on (upon) — зависеть от
to be fond of = to like
to be enrolled in — быть зачисленным в
hard – усердно
Archaeology – археология
to present an essay — представить курсовую работу
test – зачет
scientific — научный
adviser — руководитель
it sounds attractive — звучит привлекательно
to enjoy — получать удовольствие
luck — удача
The history of mankind begins with the primitive community. The appearance of new tools and new methods of labour led to the replacement of the human herd by the clan. Several clans, that is communities, or related individuals formed a tribe. Both the tribe and the clan were governed by elders who were chosen for their life experience and knowledge. The human herd and the clan were two consecutive stages in the development of primitive society.
The related members of the clan jointly owned their hunting grounds and the lands which they tilled. They lived and worked together, and consumed in common the products of their labour. Since they lived together in groups, they could provide themselves with food and keep fires burning.
The primitive human herd possesses the simplest tools: a hand-axe, a digging stock and a wooden club. Thousands of years passed before stone tools were replaced by those made of metal (bronze, iron). When people invented the harpoon, they took up fishing. The invention of bows and arrows helped to start cattle-breeding, and axes made it possible to go over to farming.
In primitive society there was no private property, therefore there were no classes and no exploitation — that is, appropriation by the rich of the fruits of other men's labour. Since there were no classes, there was no state system, that is no armed forces, no prisons, no courts, no overseers, and no government bodies.
7. Найдите английские эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний:
первобытная община, первобытное общество, человеческое стадо, род, племя, образовать племя, старейшины, орудия труда (металлические, бронзовые, железные, каменные), дубинка, лук, топор, стрела, мотыга, управлять, заниматься (охотой, рыбной ловлей, сельским хозяйством, разведением скота), выбирать, владеть, обеспечивать, изобретать, заменять, еда, огонь, совместно, сообща.