Практикум 1

Task 1

2
1

3
4

Which of the advertisements_____?

Task 2 A. might interest someone who likes performing on
stage
B. is aimed at people who want to do an activity on
Sundays
C. is aimed at people who want to buy things
5 D. offers lessons in Latin dance
E. promotes an activity which is good for body and
mind
F. promotes an activity for which you don't have to
pay
G. mentions that it's compulsory to buy equipment
H. is aimed at people who usually don't enjoy
exercising
 Task 2
Why the Dutch are so good at English?
They're incredibly tall. They ride their bikes everywhere (without helmets).
They're winning the battle against rising sea levels. And now, they're ranked Number
1 in English. In the most recent EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) ranking, the
Netherlands came in 1st out of 72 countries in English skills. 90 percent of
respondents in the Netherlands claim to know English. These results beg the
question: Why are the Dutch so unbelievably good at English?
This tiny country of 17 million people punches well above its weight with the 17th
largest Gross Domestic Product in the world, and the 5th largest in the EU, according
to the IMF, While South America or the Middle East can rely on a sizable Spanish-
speaking or Arabic-speaking market to drive growth, there are only 27 million Dutch
speakers-and 2 billion English speakers. And so the Dutch have needed to learn
English to enter the global market.
Perhaps as a consequence of this, the Netherlands don't dub foreign language TV
and movies. As a result, Dutch children grow up hearing English in popular culture
from a very early age. Countries with a large enough audience for dubbed TV shows
and movies, like France or Germany, dub everything, and as a result, have much less
success in integrating English into their cultural life. Dubbing seems to make people
less linguistically receptive to foreign languages, a condition the Dutch have
successfully avoided.
The Dutch love to travel. Since EF's Amsterdam office opened in 1970, EF
Education First has witnessed steady growth in the number of students from the
Netherlands who are travelling abroad and taking gap years. English opens doors
not just economically, but also for the average Dutch tourist, and so it's no wonder
there's interest in this global language.
And finally, before any English test, the Dutch can thank their linguistic ancestors.
Dutch is a Germanic language, just like English, and so they share many roots and
characteristics. De? The. Bier? Beer. Wafel? Waffle. While many language families
don't talk at the dinner table, cross-language similarities give the Dutch something
to say when it comes to learning English.
The Dutch have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to English skills and
benefit from it enormously. Anyone who remembers that New York was once New
Amsterdam will know that the adventurous Dutch have always been a country with
global ambitions. The Netherlands is a great example of how a country's English
proficiency can make it globally competitive and future-friendly. Adds a whole new
meaning to the phrase "going Dutch", doesn't it?
 6. According to survey, how many people in the Netherlands do NOT know
English?
A every tenth citizen
B 90 percent
C 72 percent
D half of the population

7. What market does the Dutch economy rely on?

A South American and Middle East
B Spanish- and Arab-speaking
C Dutch-speaking
D English-speaking

8. Why do Dutch children have more opportunities to integrate into an English-

speaking environment, than children from France or Germany?

A they hear only English at home and school

B they watch English films and programmes in the original format
C in the Netherlands there are only English programs on TV
D all shows and movies on TV are translated into English

9. Why is English helpful for the Dutch?

A there are a lot of tourists in the Netherlands

B they often visit other countries
C they need the language to study in Amsterdam
D after 1970 it became impossible to enter university, unless you spoke English

10. Why is it rather easy for the Dutch to learn English?

A learning English is easier after having learnt German
B their language has a lot in common with English
C the Dutch practice English when having family meals
D the Dutch have a lot of English tests at school
 Task 3
Reading Signs That Speak Volumes

Humans have used hand gestures to communicate for thousands of years. From
ancient times, different cultures have developed a variety of hand signals and
symbols to convey different meanings.

11. One of the most widely recognized hand gestures is the thumb up. The origins
of the thumb up gesture can be traced back to ancient Rome. During gladiatorial
combat, the thumb up gesture was used by spectators to signal that the defeated
gladiator should be spared, while a thumb down signaled the gladiator's death.
Today, the thumb up gesture has evolved to become a symbol of approval or
agreement, however, in some cultures, the thumbs up gesture can be seen as
offensive or disrespectful. In the Middle East, for example, the thumbs up gesture is
equivalent to showing someone the middle finger.

12. The namaste gesture is a traditional Indian greeting and is often used in yoga
practices. The gesture is made by placing both hands together in front of the chest,
with fingers pointing upwards, and bowing the head slightly. Namaste is a Sanskrit
word that means "I bow to you". It is a sign of respect and acknowledgment of the
divine in the other person. Today, namaste is often used as a symbol of mindfulness,
spirituality, and unity.

13. Another famous hand gesture is the peace sign. It was popularized during the
1960s by the American anti-war movement. The peace sign, which is made by
forming a "V" with the index and middle fingers, has its origins in the United
Kingdom. During World War II, Winston Churchill adopted the "V for Victory"
sign, which was later adapted by the peace movement to symbolize their opposition
to war. Today, the peace sign continues to be used as a symbol of peaceful strike and
solidarity.

14. The middle finger is a hand gesture that involves raising the middle digit while
keeping the other fingers closed, and is widely recognized as incredibly offensive.
The history of the gesture is somewhat uncertain, but there is one plausible theory.
It suggests that the gesture was used by archers in medieval times in England to taunt
their enemies, as it indicated the archer still had all their fingers and could still shoot
arrows and kill enemies even with their middle fingers. In modern times, the middle
finger gesture is typically used to express anger, frustration, or disrespect. The
meaning of the gesture can vary depending on the context and the culture, but it is
generally a gesture that is socially unacceptable.
 15. The OK gesture has its roots in 19th century America, where it was first used
as a symbol of approval or agreement. By the way, it originated from a humorous
misspelling of the phrase "all correct" as "oll korrect," which was then shortened to
"OK." Over time, the gesture became a widely recognized way of indicating
agreement or satisfaction, and it eventually spread beyond America to become a
global phenomenon, Despite its innocent origins and widespread usage, the OK
gesture has recently become embroiled in controversy due to its association with far-
right and white supremacist groups. Some have claimed that the gesture is being
used as a covert way of expressing white nationalist beliefs.

16. The fig sign is a hand gesture that involves forming a fist with the thumb
pressed between the index and middle fingers. In medieval Europe, the fig sign was
associated with witchcraft and was believed to be a symbol of the devil. As a result,
the gesture was often used to accuse someone of being a witch or to ward off witches
and other evil spirits. In modern times, the fig sign has taken on a more benign
meaning, often used as a playful or humorous gesture. In many countries, including
the United States and the United Kingdom, the gesture is often used to indicate
skepticism or disbelief. In Italy, the gesture is used to mean good luck, while in
Slavic countries it means 'not a chance', 'no way', 'this is what you get.

Which sign:

A requires both palms to touch?

B was invented by a famous politician?

C used to decide someone's fate?

D was used to end a warrior's life?

E shows a non-violent protest?

F means different things in different countries?

G was used to mock foes?

H is believed to have hidden meanings?

 Task 4

When panda has twins

When a mother panda gives birth to twins at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant
Panda Breeding, the team uses a little trick (17) _______.

Shortly after birth, keepers remove one of the cubs, making the the mother think
(18) _______.The twins are then switched up to 10 times a day to maintain the single
baby panda illusion. One of the cubs is with the mother almost all the time while the
other is kept in an incubator and fed on formula milk.

Half of all panda births result in twins, however, it is very rare for both cubs to
survive in the wild as giant pandas almost always abandon a cub (19) _______. The
reason is that they don't have sufficient milk or energy to care for two, so focus their
attention on the strongest cub.

This method opens up the possibility (20) _______ in captive panda cubs. It's a
problem that the Chengdu Research Base has been tackling for decades. Prior to
1990, the survival rate among twins was only 30%.
Giant pandas are as popular (21) _______.It is estimated the worldwide
population of pandas is approximately 2.060. While this is an increase compared to
previous years, it could all be under threat. Predicted environmental damage from
climate change (22) _______ is estimated to destroy more than 35% of the panda's
bamboo habitats.

A as they are at risk

B she only has one baby

C like home pets

D over the next 80 years

E if they give birth to more than one

F to keep both cubs alive

G with all babies surviving

H of a 100% survival rate

 Task 5

Use of English

A lucky encounter

Kristian Topeg started his career by writing material for washing powder
(23) _______ . Then, one day, when he was in the departure lounge at Berlin airport,
he got talking to film (24) _______ Liam Swanson, who was on his way to an
underground film festival in Berlin. By the time the plane arrived, the two had
exchanged many stories. On board the plane, the in-flight entertainment was terrible.
Kristian and Liam laughed at how (25) _______ the film was and how unconvincing
the performances and the plot were. By the end of the flight, Kristian and Liam had
decided to make a film together. They both loved a (26) _______ book they had
read, called Because we found each other and decided it was the perfect story for a
film (27) _______. The rest, as they say, is history. After the pair's success with
Because we found each other, they then became famous for their romantic black
comedy, 30 years later...

23 A advertisements B. banners C. promotion D. publicity

24 A. playwright B. cartoonist C. director D. spectator

25 A. catchy B. mixed C. dubbed D. predictable

26 A. regional B. controversial C. weekly D. musical

27 A. scene B. premiere C. award D. adapt

 Task 6

Grammar

The history of football

More than 240 million people around the world play football regularly according
to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Records trace the history of football back more (28) _______ years to ancient
China, but it was England that transitioned football into the game we know today.
The English are credited with recording the first uniform rules for the sport,
(29) _______ forbidding tripping opponents and touching the ball with one's hands.
As the sport developed, more rules were implemented and more historical landmarks
were set. For example, the penalty kick (30) _______ in 1891.

Some of the top players throughout history include Pele from Brazil, who
(31) _______ six goals in the 1958 World Cup and helped Brazil claim its first title
and Marco Van Basten from Holland, (32) _______ won several very prestigious
football awards during one year alone.

28 A then B. with C. than D. from

29 A. including B. have included C. being D. included

included

30 A. introduced B. had C. has been D. was

introduced introduced introduced

31 A. scored B. score C. has scored D. will score

32 A. which B. who C. what D. where

 Keys

1E 2C 3F 4A 5H

6A 7D 8B 9B 10B

11C 12A 13E 14G 15H 16F

17F 18B 19E 20H 21A 22D

23A 24C 25D 26B 27D

28C 29A 30D 31A 32B