Система контроля умений аудирования на среднем этапе обучения иностранному языку

R:      Delighted to be here.

I:       DrRitcher, Who is behind the venture?

R: The International Space Station is a joined venture between America, Russia, Japan, Canada, Brazil and the fifteen nations of the European Space Agency.

I:       So that's ... 18, 19, twenty countries in all.

R: Yes, that's correct. And on the top of that, it's the largest and most expensive international project in history.

I:       And could you tell us how much it costs?

R:      Now we're looking at 150 billion.

I:       And what size is it?

R: Well ... it measures 108 metres across and 88 metres long with almost half a hectare of solar panels. And it has 6 scientific laboratories.

I:       You say laboratories. What is happening there?

R: Well, we have a team of astronaut-scientists working in the labs. Research includes studying life in low gravity, the nature of space, observations of the Earth from space to improve our maps. Also we are still trying to understand a state of gravity, how people eat, drink or sleep in a state of weightlessness. And of course we are studying the long term mental effects on the human psychology.

I:       What does the day of an astronaut look like?

R: Well, the first thing in the morning is to ensure that everything works well. Then astronauts have breakfast, which is followed by a daily conference. Then astronauts have some spare time and some of them read, some listen to CDs and so on. Each day astronauts have two hours for exercises - it's a must have! Sundays are for rest and communication, and astronauts have video conferences with their families back on Earth.

I:       Thank you for the talk, Dr Ritcher.

 

Text 23.

Another Day in the Life of the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II wakes up at 7 o'clock, has a cup of tea and reads the Times. Then she has a bath and gets dressed. At 8 o'clock she listens to BBC news and has breakfast with Prince Philip. After breakfast she reads personal letters and has an important business consultation with Private Secretary and then works at government documents. At 1 o'clock she has a quick lunch in her private apartment in Buckingham Palace and at 2 o'clock leaves the Palace to open a new hospital. There she makes speeches, shakes hands and has a cup of tea. At 4.45 she is back at the Palace and works in her office. At 5.30 she receives foreign visitors and then has the final meeting with her Private Secretary. In the evening she goes to St. James Palace where she has a reception party and talks with 70 people. Then she goes back to the Palace and at 8.30 has dinner with Philip and a group of some businessmen. At 10 o'clock she watches television news and then reads some official papers and telephones some members of the Royal Family - just to see if all is well. At about 11 o'clock she goes to bed.

 

 

Text 24.

• Good afternoon, madam. Can I help you?
• Yes. I'm looking for a pet for my son. Can you show me anything?
• What kind of pet does he like? A cat, a dog, or something exotic?
• Well, he'd like a crocodile, but he's not going to get one.
• We've got a nice big dog.
• Oh, a dog... I think it's very big. Is it expensive?
• Yes, rather. What about a cat? Cats don't eat much, and they are cheap.
• Yes, but they are not friendly.
• Perhaps your son will like a bird? A parrot, for example? The price is reasonable.
• Well, I don't know... Parrots are very noisy.
• Then take a goldfish. It isn't very noisy.
• Oh, yes! That's a good idea! It suits me perfectly.

 

 

 

 

Text 25.

• Do you know any holidays which are popular with children in Britain?
• I believe, Christmas with its Christmas tree and presents, perhaps, and Halloween are especially popular.
• When is Halloween celebrated?
• On the last night in October.
• How is it celebrated?
• The children cut holes in a pumpkin to imitate a nose, mouth and eyes and put a lighted candle inside.
• And what do they do with them then?
• Then the children put the pumpkin on the porch of their house. And after that they take a big empty bag and walk around every house and knock at the door.
• And so what?
• Then they ask a traditional question: "Trick or treat?"
• What does it mean?

- It means "Give me a treat - an apple, a sweet, some candies or I'll play a trick on you."

 

 

 

 

Приложение 26.

Text 26.

The first view of New York city from the sea is the sight that you can never forget. Hudson Bay is crowded with lots of ferry-boats with people hurrying to work in the downtown skyscrapers. Then you pass Liberty Island with the bronze Statue of Liberty. The Statue was a gift to the United States from France in 1886. The Statue is made of iron and weights about 225 tons excluding the pedestal. The statue is about 50 metres high and stands on the pedestal of almost the same height. Its torch rises about 60 metres above the harbor and can be seen at night for many miles. You can go inside it and climb up to its head. Its foot is almost 7 metres long, the ear of the statue measures almost 1 meter from top to bottom and the mouth is 1 metre across. The Statue of Liberty is often called 'the grandest lady in the world'.