The average Englishman

1. All nationalities have their own specific features. The British are very reserved. They don't like to show their true emotions and feelings and boast of their knowledge, possessions or status. There is a saying "Don't complain, don't explain". They believe that open expression of feelings is a sign of bad manners. Since early childhood they are taught to control their emotions. Some foreigners find it difficult to communicate with English people because topics of communication are limited to weather, pets, ecology and royal family. It is not common to discuss private matters.

2. Politeness of English people became proverbial. People at bus stops stand in a line and don't rush to their seats. If you ask for a direction in the street, you'll get detailed explanations.

3. Even the French have preferred not to translate the word "home", but to recognize it as English in origin and spirit. How do the English treat "the home", which is theoretically and traditionally regarded as the backbone of their country? The English are a nation of stay-at-home. “There is no place like home”, they say. Meanwhile they often remove their children from it by sending them to a boarding school almost as soon as they begin to walk.

4. They are fond of French cuisine but they will never imitate it. English food in the restaurants is often boring, but in private homes cooking can be excellent.

5. The English are very ambitious. They are sure that England is the best country in the world. They work hard but they like to relax too. The average Englishman has a hobby. It can be gardening or keeping a pet. Englishmen believe that only they are true pet lovers. A tradition that is rooted not only in their own soul, but in the minds of the rest of the world is the devotion of the English to animals. Animals are protected by law. If, for instance, anyone leaves a cat to starve in an empty house while he goes for his holiday, he can be sent to prison.

6. They like to travel and try to learn a lot of facts about the country they are visiting but they usually don't make friends with people from these countries.

7. They value independence, ability to reach a goal, good education, honesty, tact, persistence, politeness and good manners.

2. Переведите слова из первой колонки (1 – 10) и подберите их определения (a – j).

1. reserved	a) a school where students live as well as study
2. boast	b) to move very quickly
3. possessions	c) unwilling to express emotions
4. complain	d) to say that you are annoyed or unhappy
5. value	e) to talk too proudly about your abilities, achievements or possessions
6.goal	f) something that someone owns
7. rush	g) the most important part of something
8. boarding school	h) a particular style of cooking
9. cuisine	i) something that you hope to achieve in the future
10. backbone	j) to think that something is important to you

Переведите предложения и определите функцию инфинитива в них (выполняет инфинитив функцию подлежащего, дополнения, определения, обстоятельства или является частью составного сказуемого).

1. We knew him to be a good doctor.

2. The article to be published was written by his brother.

3. To master English we must work regularly.

4. To master English is our duty.

5. This question is too complicated to be answered at once.

6. The conference discussed some new methods to be used in teaching English.

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