РАБОТА НАД ТЕКСТОМ

RUSSIAN CUSTOMS

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UNIT 2

Glossary

to appoint (v) назначать
to be in charge of ; syn. to be responsible for отвечать за что-либо
to collect (v) собирать
customs business таможенное дело
customs house таможня
customs regime таможенный режим
customs service таможенная служба
customs tariff таможенный тариф
duty (n) пошлина
сustoms duty таможенная пошлина
an excise (n) акциз
аn excise officer; syn. excise collector акцизный чиновник
foreign trade внешняя торговля
free trade свободная торговля
goods (pl) товары
in shifts посменно
issue (v) выписывать, выдавать, издавать
legislation (n) законодательство
to levy (v) облагать, взимать
spirits (pl) (n) алкогольные напитки
a statute (n) syn. law, act закон
to protect (v) защищать
protection (n) защита
protectionist (adj) протекционистский
to regulate (v) регулировать
to regulate export and import регулировать экспорт и импорт
a voucher (n) ваучер

Лексическая тема: «Russian Customs».

Грамматическая тема: Система времен английского глагола. Действительный залог. Времена группы Perfect. Времена группы Perfect Continuous (Perfect Progressive).

The current Russian word for Customs, tamozhnya, appeared in the times of Mongol-Tatar yoke. The word tamga in Tatar, meant “Customs tax, the official who collected it, and the stamped seal or statement showing that it had been paid”. Each market had its tamozhnya, and the right to collect duties could be purchased from the State. The right was often given to powerful merchants.

The Russian Customs service, however, predates even the Mongol-Tatar yoke (1237-1480). Some three centuries before, in Kievan Rus, taxes were collected for the transportation of goods through the frontiers of the individual princedoms.

Thus, Russia has had a Customs service in some form during the past 1000 years. Moreover, for almost all of that history, it has been much more than a force for keeping out contraband. In fact, it has been a powerful administrative body, serving mainly protectionist interests.

The first Russian Customs statute was handed down in 1667. It was strict towards foreigners, who were allowed to trade only in frontier towns on pain of confiscation. A special tsar’s certificate was required for trading further inside the country.

Such protectionismwent on for most of the next 300 years. Every tsar, from Peter the Great to Nicolas II, approved laws limiting the import of foreign goods and defending Russian producers.

Упражнение 1. Прочтите текст, пользуясь словарем.

Упражнение 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы.

1. When did the word tamozhnya appear?

2. What did the word tamga mean?

3. Who was given the right to collect duties?

4. How long has Russia had Customs Service?

5. What were the functions of Russian Customs?

6. When was the first Russian Customs statute handed down?

7. Where were foreigners allowed to trade according to the statute?

8. What was required for trading further inside the country?

Упражнение 3. Какие из следующих предложений соответствуют/не соответствуют содержанию текста? Обоснуйте свой ответ.

 

1. The current Russian word for Customs tamozhnya appeared in the 17th century.

2. The word tamga meant a Customs tax.

3. The Russian Customs Service predates the Mongol-Tatar yoke.

4. In Kievan Rus no taxes were collected at the frontiers of princedoms.

5. Collecting duties was the only function of Russian Customs.

6. The first Russian Customs statute was handed down in 1667.

7. The first Russian Customs statute was loyal to foreigners.

 

Упражнение 4. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты для следующих слов и словосочетаний:

 

современное слово, таможенная служба, таможенный налог, служащий (сотрудник), собирать налоги, печать, право собирать пошлину, перемещение товаров через границу, пресекать провоз контрабанды, торговать, под страхом конфискации, ограничивать ввоз товаров иностранного производства, защищать российских производителей, протекционизм.

 

Упражнение 5. Изложите письменно краткое содержание текста, используя ключевые слова и словосочетания.