Reading

Grammar Review

LESSON 9

1. Поставьте следующие предложения в вопросительную и отрицательную формы. Переведите предложения на русский язык:

1. A lot of kids can work on computers now.

2. She can sing professionally.

3. We could always get tickets to the Bolshoi Theatre when we were students.

4. He could play football very well when he was a teenager.

5. You must learn to forgive (прощать) people.

6. You mustn’t worry about it.

7. He must be Patrick, our new manager.

8. – Must I work on Saturday? – No, you needn‘t.

9. May I have a cup of tea, please? – Certainly, you may.

10. May I take a biscuit, Mother? – No, you may not, my dear. We‘ll have dinner first.

2. Выберите соответствующий модальный глагол:

1. Do you live far? (Can, must) we meet here at 7 o‘clock? – We certainly (may, can). – I’ll see you later this evening, then.

2. Bill, would you help me? Sure, I’d be glad to help you. What (may, can) I do for you?

3. (Can, may) I take your pen? I’ve broken mine.

4. Do you have a stamp? – No, I’m afraid I don’t. You (may, must) go to the post office for this.

5. Don’t give the vase to the child: he (may, must) break it.

6. I am very much interested in environment problems. I think we (must, may) learn to live in harmony with nature.

7. (May, Must) I shut the door?

8. (May, Can) I come in?

9. Do you think you (may, can) do that?

10. Be careful: you (may, can) spill the milk if you carry it like that.

3. Прочитайте и переведите следующие предложения:

1. I shall be able to go through all the materials today.

2. He won’t be able to join us for dinner because he feels bad today.

3. We had to go back home as there were no tickets at the booking-office.

4. I had to stay in London for another day.

5. He didn’t have to take a taxi to get to the airport.

6. The pupils don’t have to go to school on Sundays.

7. Are little children allowed to play with matches?

8. Why should I always wait for you?

9. I know I ought to help my sister about the house.

10. You should be friendly to people.

4. Соотнесите английские предложения с русскими:

British Customs and Traditions

Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. Englishmen are very proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. There are many traditions associated with some historical facts, parliamentary, court and state ceremonies, university life, popular holidays, everyday life, etc.

Everyday Life Customs

One of the most striking features of English life is the self-discipline and courtesy of people of all classes. There is little noisy behavior¹, no loud disputing in the streets. Nobody rushes for seats in buses or trains. The remarkable politeness² of the English people is known all over the world. They are never tired of saying “Thank you”, “I am sorry”. If you follow anyone who is entering the building or a room, he will hold the door open for you.

The Englishman prefers his own house to an apartment in a block of flats. Traditionally, it is a two-storey house with a lawn³ in front of it and a garden behind it. They say: “An Englishman's home is his castle” and it’s true.

The typically English custom is “lunch at 1 o'clock“. The time from one to two o'clock is a “sacred”⁴ hour in England. Whatever one is doing, no matter how important it is, as soon as the clock strikes one everybody breaks for lunch. All the shops, offices are closed for an hour. At two o'clock sharp they will open, the punctuality is also one of the English traditions.

Englishmen are famous for their three hobbies: gardening, collecting and animals. As a rule there is a pet in every English home. It can be a dog, a cat, a bird, a hedgehog, even a snake or a monkey.

Some Parliamentary Traditions

The opening of Parliament is the most colourful as well as the most important ceremony of the year. Her Majesty the Queen, attended by a sovereign escourt of the Cavalry drives from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster.

The sitting of the House of Commons each day is opened by the Procession of the Speaker. Wearing his wig and gown⁵, he is accompanied by the Chaplain(священник), his Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms (парламентский пристав), carrying the Mace (булава).

At the end of the House of Lords stands the Throne. In front of it is the Woolsack⁶ where the Lord Chancellor, wearing a wig, court dress and a gown, sits as Speaker of the House of Lords. For hundred of years wool had been known as one of the most important exports of the country.

Royal Ceremonies

Changing the Guard is the traditional ceremony which has taken place at Buckingham Palace since 1837. The Guards march from Wellington or Chelsea Barracks (казармы) to Buckingham Palace with a band. First the band marches through the gates of the Palace, then the “new” guard marches through the gates. The guardsmen wear traditional uniform: a red coat and a black bearskin (кивер из медвежьей шкуры).

The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower is another very interesting tradition. Every night at 9.53 p.m. the Chief Warder of the Tower carries out tradition of locking up the Tower. The Chief Warder and his escort of four approach the gates⁷. The sentry⁸ calls out: “Halt! Who comes there?” “The Keys”. “Whose Keys?” “Queen Elisabeth's Keys”. “Advance, Queen Elisabeth's Keys. All is well”. The Ceremony of the Keys dates back 700 years.

A number of ravens⁹ have their home at the Tower. There is a superstition (суеверие) that when the ravens fly away, the Tower will fall down and that will be the sign of the downfall of the British Empire. Because of this superstition the wings of the ravens are regularly clipped.

Notes:

1. behavior – поведение

2. politeness – вежливость

3. lawn – лужайка

4. sacred – священный

5. wig and gown – парик и мантия

6. Woolsack – мешок с шерстью

7. approach the gates – приближаются к воротам

8. sentry – часовой, караул

9. raven – ворон