Ex 44 Fill in the blanks with the words given in brackets with an appropriate article (where necessary).

1. (і) At lunch-time you can always find him at — in the corner. (ii) I told the waiter I wanted — all -to myself. (iii) There were three of us at — that night. (table). 2. (і) — is too small for the child. (ii) I went upstairs; there was — ready for me. (iii) On Sundays, after the show, the actress seldom went to — before midnight and usually had her breakfast in — on Monday mornings, (bed). 3. (і) — for Saratov leaves in a quarter of an hour. (ii) If you don't catch this train, there is — at 5:27. (iii) Will you go to Odessa by — or plane? (train). 4. (і) Cambridge is 70 miles away from London, — is on the river Cam. (ii) I saw him in — not a week ago. (iii) His family has moved to — somewhere in the South. (town). 5. (і) After lunch the doctor was off to — again. (ii) There used to be — in this building once, now it is a museum of the History of Medicine, (iii) How long have you been in —? (hospital). 6. (і) — has a good football ground, (ii) Next year he'll be old enough to go to —. (iii) We used to learn such things at —. (school).

Ex 45 Translate into English.

1. — Он уже встал? — Нет, еще в постели. 2. Иди спать! 3. Врач подошел к кровати у двери. 4. Он болен уже с месяц: он в больнице, разве ты не знал? 5. Автобус 57 довезет вас до больницы. 6. Ваши дети учатся? 7. Этой осенью у них в деревне откроется новая школа. 8. В школе прекрасная библиотека. 9. Когда отходит поезд? 10. Есть ли какой-нибудь поезд в город около 7? 11. — Как туда добраться? — Поездом или автобусом. 12. В этом году городу исполняется 800 лет. 13. Мы все прошлое лето провели в городе. 14. Мы обычно обедаем впятером. 15. Подвинь стол к окну, там значительно светлее.

READING

Ex 46 Read the text, and do the assignments coming after it.

Television now plays such an important role in so many people's lives that it is essential for us to try to decide whether it is good or bad.

In the first place, television is not only a convenient source of entertainment, but also a comparatively cheap one. For a family of four, for example, it is more convenient as well as cheaper to sit comfortably at home than to go out. There is no transport to arrange. They do not have to find a baby-sitter. They do not have to pay for expensive seats at the theatre, the cinema, the opera or the ballet. All they have to do is turn a knob, and they can see plays, films, operas of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest exciting football match. Some people, however, say that this is just where the danger lies. The television viewer need do nothing. He does not even use his legs. He takes no initiative. He makes no choice. He is completely passive and has everything presented to him.

Television, people often say, informs one about current events, the latest developments in science and politics, and presents an endless series of programmes which are both instructive and stimulating. The most faraway countries and the strangest customs are brought into one's living-room. People can say that the radio does this just as well; but on television- everything is much more living, much more real. Yet here again there is a danger. We get to like watching TV so much that it begins to dominate our lives. A friend of mine told me the other day that his television set had broken down and that he and his family had suddenly found that they had much more time to do things, and that they could really talk to each other again. It makes one think, doesn't it?

There are many arguments for and against television. The poor quality of its programmes is often criticized. I think we must understand that television in itself is neither good nor bad. Television is as good or as bad as we make it.

(After "A New Way to Proficiency in English" by John Lennox Cook, Amorey Gethin, Keith Mitchell)

Assignments

(a) Say what the text is about in (i) one word; (ii) an extended sentence.

(b) This text can be described as (i) factual; (ii) humorous; (iii) documentary; (iiii) critical. Give your reasons.

(c) Quickly look through the list and mark the lettered phrase nearest in meaning to the word or phrase tested.

1. Essential: (i) absolutely necessary; (it) very interesting; (iii) most exciting.

2. Convenient: (i) safe; (ii) comfortable; (ii) wonderful.

3. Entertainment: (i) an exciting show, play, etc; (ii) a dull lecture; (iii) work to do.

4. Cheap: (i) low in price; (ii) high in price; (iii) free.

5. Expensive: (i) low in price; (ii) high in price; (iii) free.

6. Danger: (i) safety; (ii) excitement; (iii) risk.

7. The other day: (i) the day before yesterday; (ii) a few days ago; (iii) last night.

(d) Choose the answer that expresses most accurately what is stated in the passage. Only one answer is correct.

1. It is essential for us to try to decide whether television is good or bad because: (i) it dominates many people's lives; (ii) lots of people watch TV the whole time; (iii) TV plays an important part in the lives of many people.

2. TV is a convenient source of entertainment because: (i) there is no need to arrange for tickets, or transport; (ii) you can watch plays, shows, etc, staying at home and enjoying the comfortof your living-room; (iii) the children are with you and there is no need to find a babysitter.

3. TV is a comparatively cheap source of entertainment because: (i) you can watch TV for nothing; (ii) you pay the price of a TV set and can watch any programme you like; (iii) watching TV at home is cheaper than going to the theatre, cinema, etc.

4. The idea behind the sentence "Television is not only a convenient source of entertainment, but also a comparatively cheap one" is that: (i) TV, though convenient, is rather expensive; (ii) TV is much cheaper than other kinds of entertainment (theatre, cinema, etc) but not as convenient; (iii) TV is favourable to your comfort and at the same time not so expensive as other sources of entertainment.

5. "TV is as good or as bad as we make it" means that: (i) TV is good if it is put to good uses; (ii) TV is bad if it is put to bad uses; (iii) TV may be used for both good and bad purposes.

(e) List all the arguments for television.

(f) List all the arguments against television.

(g) Sum up what the text has to say on each of the following points.

1. The dangers of television. 2. TV as a source of information, instruction and entertainment, and how it fulfils each of these roles.

(h) State briefly what, according to the text, explains the growing popularity of TV, and express your own opinion on the subject.

(i) Describe briefly a TV programme you especially enjoy watching, and explain why you like it better than the others.

Ex 47 Read the passage carefully, without a dictionary. While reading, pay special attention to international words. Compare their meaning with the Russian words of the same root. Make a list of facts about the TV Tower in Ostankino (in note form*).

In 1967 a new Moscow "sight" rose in Ostankino, the concrete TV Tower, one of the world's tallest structures, 539 metres high, and 50 metres in diameter at the base. At the 337 level there is an observation platform to which visitors are taken by fast lifts (travelling at eight metres a second). The platform is also the foyer for the Seventh Heaven Restaurant at the levels between 328 and 334 metres. The restaurant has three dining halls. Their floors slowly rotate one full revolution in 40 minutes or so, so that the diner sees a panorama of Moscow during the meal. The view from both observation tower and restaurant on a clear evening is wonderful.

Near the TV tower is the Television Centre, with studios, a concert hall, and offices. Its programmes, sent out from the tower, cover a radius of 120 kilometres without need for relay stations. The TV Centre is linked through Intervision and Eurovision with all countries in Europe, and through communication satellites with almost all points on the Earth's surface.

Central Television broadcasts on four channels.

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