ТЕКСТЫ ДЛЯ АУДИРОВАНИЯ К ТРЕНИРОВОЧНЫМ ЗАДАНИЯМ - ПРИЛОЖЕНИЯ

Задание 1

Вы услышите 6 высказываний. Установите соответствие между высказываниями каждого говорящего A—F U утверждениями, данными в списке 1—7. Используйте каждое утверждение, обозначенное соответствующей цифрой, только один раз. В задании есть одно лишнее утверждение. Вы услышите запись дважды. Занесите свои ответы в таблиц. У вас есть 20 секунд, чтобы ознакомиться с заданием.

Now we are ready to start.

Speaker A

I’ve always read books for comfort, and when I was in London, as a participant of an exchange programme, scared and lost, so far from my family and friends, I simply found a book store and bought the first two Harry Potter books there. I read them both in one night and then over and over again. It wasn’t just comfort, it was like I found a good friend in a place where I had none, and I certainly became braver.

Speaker В

Harry Potter books have influenced me greatly. They helped me to understand that honesty, friendship and love are all we need. Now I look at the future in a more positive way than I had done before reading these books which speak about friendship. Harry Potter is never alone. When he does something difficult or frightening, his friends are always around and they give him all the help he needs.

Speaker C

The best thing Harry Potter books have given me is a philosophy for life. I found it in the words of Harry himself, his friends and other people around him. When I face problems, I remember some phrases from the books and I keep on fighting. I don’t give up, because Harry never does. I’ve known before, that theoretically there is no such a thing as a hopeless situation, but now I truly believe it.

Speaker D

I’ve always liked reading. And I love the fact that Harry Potter books have given me my own private magical world. When I read Harry Potter, I feel so glad that I have a wonderful secret that no one else knows. I get the feeling that the books put everything around me into a different, magical light, and the world of Harry Potter comes into mine, making ordinary things and people look strange.

Speaker E

Before I read Harry Potter books, and became interested in them, I didn’t read too much. I just didn’t understand what books could do. But after reading Harry Potter, I felt that I was in his world, and I thought, well, maybe other books can do that too. Now I just love reading, and the pleasure that I get from reading has become possible only because of that first Harry Potter book.

Speaker F

Harry Potter books have helped me in many ways. For example, last year I had to take my final exams and I was under a lot of stress because of that. Harry Potter characters also have a lot of exams and when I felt especially stressed and worried, I read those passages from the books and felt a little better, as if I was sharing my problems with friends. And the funny moments in the books cheered me up.

You have 15 seconds to complete the task. (Pause 15 seconds.)

Now you will hear the texts again. (Repeat.)

This is the end of the task. You now have 15 seconds to check your answers.

(Pause 15 seconds.)

Задание 2

Вы услышите 6 высказываний. Установите соответствие между высказываниями каждого говорящего A—F и утверждениями, данными в списке 1—7. Используйте каждое утверждение, обозначенное соответствующей цифрой, только один раз. В задании есть одно лишнее утверждение. Вы услышите запись дважды. Занесите свои ответы в таблицу. У вас есть 20 секунд, чтобы ознакомиться с заданием.

Now we are ready to start.

Speaker A

Can you imagine it - the average American spends more than $ 100 on Valentine’s Day! And men spend almost twice as much on Valentine’s Day as women do. A survey I read shows that more than one-third of men would prefer not receiving a gift. At the same time just less than 20 percent of women feel the same way. The reason for this is partly that the holiday seems just too expensive.

Speaker В

As far as I know on Valentine’s Day no one saves money on flowers. No wonder flowers may cost up to 30 percent more that day! Some people even buy and send flowers to themselves on Valentine’s Day. The most popular flower is still the rose followed by lilies and violets. The colours of flowers are very important as they speak about your feelings and emotions, but many people just don’t pay attention to that and buy whatever they find nice and suitable.

Speaker C

I was surprised to learn that Valentine cards have a very long history. Some scientists believe that the tradition was probably started by Charles, Duke of Orleans because the oldest surviving valentine dates back to him, to the year of 1415. It was a beautiful poem written by the Duke to his wife. However, some historians trace the roots of the holiday back to the Roman times and their pagan celebrations or early medieval times.

Speaker D

Do you know, that one billion valentine cards are sent each year worldwide, making it the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas? I’ve heard Hallmark, a big card producer, even employs research staff to analyze the sales pattern of previous valentines. They analyze customer interviews and instore observations to find out which cards’ve been a sell-out this or that year and which age group chooses which type of cards and which is the best poem on the card and so on.

Speaker E

BBC reports that India has spoken out against Valentine’s Day calling it “an attack on local culture for commercial purposes”. So I guess they do take it seriously and there’re people not in favor of this holiday. The Catholic Church, for instance, struck St. Valentine’s Day from its official calendar in 1969. There even have been times when Valentine’s Day was close to being forbidden.

Speaker F

The University of Maryland has a team of academic experts educating the media about Valentine’s Day no matter what angle they wish to cover. There I’ve read that many people choose Valentine’s Day for getting married. Can you imagine? The list of celebrities who’ve done it includes Elton John and Meg Ryan. And quite a lot of famous people have been born on that day!

You have 15 seconds to complete the task. (Pause 15 seconds.)

Now you will hear the texts again. (Repeat.)

This is the end of the task. You now have 15 seconds to check your answers.

(Pause 15 seconds.)

Задание 3

Вы услышите диалог. Определите, какие из приведенных утверждений A—G соответствуют содержанию текста (1 - True), какие не соответствуют (2 - False) и о чем в тексте не сказано; то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 - Not stated). Занесите номер выбранного вами варианта ответа в таблицу. Вы услышите запись дважды. У вас есть 20 секунд, чтобы ознакомиться с заданиями.

Now we are ready to start.

John: Tini, you’re a student, aren’t you?

Tini: Yeah, I am.

John: Do you like to study? Do you like your student life?

Tini: Of course. You know, I like studying although I’m not that much of a bookworm, like some of my friends who can’t imagine their lives without reading, but yes, I like studying. I like spending time with my friends, and I just like my student life.

John: Now, soon, you’re going to graduate, correct?

Tini: Yes, fortunately or unfortunately, yes.

John: Well, why would you say fortunately?

Tini: Fortunately in the sense that, you know, it’s about time to get out into the real world and, you know, earn some money. But unfortunately in the sense that all of these precious memories, like you are putting them all behind.

John: Yeah, soon they are going to be over.

Tini: Right, and then you have more problems and responsibilities as soon as you step into the real world, which is understandable. I don’t mind this but no more spring vacation, no more summer vacation, this is tough.

John: Actually, that’s why I’m a teacher. People always ask me, why are you a teacher, John? And I say because of the time off. You get so much time off, and you don’t have to work a 9-5 schedule.

Tini: Yes, that is a very smart choice, I think.

John: Yeah, but you make no money.

Tini: Well, but you know you can be fresher and that’ll keep you young forever.

John: I don’t know about young forever but it does... you do feel energetic when you’re a teacher. I do agree. Well, you know, you can also become a teacher.

Tini: Well, actually, I’ve given it a bit of thought but right now I’m really into the banking industry.

John: Banking?

Tini: Yeah, the financial services industry, and then probably I might like to give it a go.

John: That’s going to be very stressful.

Tini: It is, but you know, I pretty much like the fast-paced lifestyle and I’m quite quick-thinking and well-organised.

John: Good luck with banking then, you keep on with it.

Tini: Thank you. It’s going to be really tough, I know.

You have 15 seconds to complete the task. (Pause 15 seconds.)

Now you’ll hear the text again. (Repeat.)

This is the end of the task. You now have 15 seconds to check your answers.

(Pause 15 seconds.)

Задание 4

Вы услышите диалог. Определите, какие из приведенных утверждений A—G соответствуют содержанию текста (1 — True), какие не соответствуют (2 - False) и о чем в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 - Not stated). Занесите номер выбранного вами варианта ответа в таблицу. Вы услышите запись дважды. У вас есть 20 секунд, чтобы ознакомиться с заданиями.

Now we are ready to start.

Receptionist: Hello, Windsor Travel Company, how may I help you?

Tourist: Hello, I was just wondering if you could offer me a tour of Windsor. This is my first visit to England and I want to make the most of it. I’ve been dreaming of visiting Windsor for quite a long time, so...

Receptionist: And may I tell you that you have phoned the very right place! We’re the oldest company in Great Britain to offer a variety of guided tours to Windsor.

Tourist: So you have several routes? I am surprised to hear that as I thought Windsor’s a really tiny town.

Receptionist: Windsor isn’t big but there’s so much to see and do there. Would you like me to list some of the opportunities?

Tourist: Yes, please.

Receptionist: Well, the most famous attraction in Windsor is certainly the magnificent Windsor Castle - the most romantic castle in the world. When the Queen is in residence, her presence is marked by the flying of her personal standard from the Round Tower. You may be lucky to see that.

Tourist: I guess Windsor Castle is a must for a tourist like me. What can I see there?

Receptionist: First you go to St George’s Chapel - one of England’s most beautiful ecclesiastic structures - and move forward to Queen Mary’s Doll’s House a perfect miniature palace with working lights and lifts, and even running water in all its 5 bathrooms!

Tourist: That must be amazing! Anything else I could see apart from Windsor Castle?

Receptionist: You may stroll to the Household Cavalry Museum. Inside is a comprehensive collection of the Regiment’s uniforms, weapons and armour as used from 1600 to the present day. One more thing absolutely worth seeing is Windsor Great Park and Smith’s Lawn.

Tourist: Is it possible to combine all these things into one day’s tour?

Receptionist: Most people feel one day isn’t enough for them but you’ll have a general impression and can come back next time you’re in England.

Tourist: And what about shopping opportunities? I’d really love to buy some souvenirs for my family and friends.

Receptionist: Windsor Royal Station will suit you. The covered shopping area combines modem store design and user-friendly facilities.

Tourist: Good. I think I’ll order a tour now.

Задание 5

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 1—7 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, или 3, соответствующую выбранному вами варианту ответа. Вы услышите запись дважды. У вас есть 50 секунд, чтобы ознакомиться с заданиями.

Now we are ready to start.

Int: So, Kara, your family moved to the United States when you were about eight, and you had already been attending an ordinary school in Mexico and started learning Spanish as your native language. As far as I know, there was nobody in the family who could speak English. So, when your parents got a resident’s permit they considered the situation thoroughly and started attending a language course at elementary level in Mexico to have a better chance of getting a job in the States. And you started learning English at school with a bilingual program only when you moved to the US, didn’t you? Was it difficult? How did you feel?

Kara: You know, like many other children, I was really scared of not being able to communicate with strangers. But coming at an early age like that can make things much easier. Children learn differently. The child’s brain is like a sponge - it absorbs everything around it. A child doesn’t even know why he or she is doing this. When it comes to learning languages children seem to be more comfortable with sounds and intonation than adults. He says a word three times and it’s his forever. He picks up words and makes sentences, and it doesn’t matter what language he uses - the first or the second... or maybe the third. He learns them using the same method.

Int: Oh, and what did you think about bilingual education in the United States?

Kara: The school I happened to go to had a great bilingual program. They actually helped us to continue our Spanish speaking education both in reading and writing, which was great. But a lot of kids who were born and raised speaking Spanish, are deprived of that because most schools in the US don’t have bilingual programs. Once these students start school and start learning English they stop speaking Spanish in the family. Partially because they want to fit into the English speaking environment as quickly as possible. In a couple of years they cannot read or write Spanish.

Int: Now, you’ve also taken classes in French in high school. Do you think it was easier to learn French through a textbook or to learn English being thrown into the United States and having to leam it?

Kara: I think learning a second language made it much easier to jump into a third language. You already sort of have a foundation for a new language environment. But it depends a lot on the teachers and the way they teach the language because I can read textbooks and try to understand what they are teaching. However, it’s a lot easier when I have a real expert in front of me who knows the language, who can answer my questions and not only that: an expert I can listen to and hear the pronunciation and make sure that I’m doing it correctly.

Int: Kara, in your family setting, when you are having family get-togethers, do you normally speak English or Spanish or is it a mix?

Kara: It’s definitely a mix; some people call it, Spanglish. I have some younger relatives who speak English; they were raised here and speak it well. So sometimes we feel more comfortable speaking in English. But there are a lot of my relatives who moved here when they were old, and never had an opportunity to learn English - therefore I speak only Spanish to them. There are also times when talking to a certain person in English in school or in shops, I suddenly forget a word or it pops up into my head faster in Spanish, so I go from English to Spanish and then back and that’s when we call it Spanglish, just because it’s a little mixture of both.

Int: And what about your nephews and nieces? I know they were born here in the United States. How is their Spanish?

Kara: Well, that was actually something we often talked about in our family because we didn’t want them to lose that part of, you know, their heritage and their culture. They have been surrounded by English since they were born and started speaking it when they were about two years old. But we wanted them to speak Spanish too, so we decided we would mostly talk to them in Spanish, especially for the first five years of their life. Because when they start school they come home and they suddenly just speak English and don’t want to speak Spanish anymore. So we try really hard to speak Spanish around them, at least at home.

Int: Kara, being bilingual you have a lot more choices than, say, I do with things like movies, music, books. When you go to the store and buy a book, do you normally buy it in English or in Spanish or does it just depend on the book?

Kara: I think it depends not only on the book; it depends on the mood. You know, there are times when I really feel that I forget certain things if I don’t speak enough Spanish, so then I go and buy a Spanish book so that I can keep up on that. I sometimes buy books by foreign authors that are translated into Spanish if they are really interesting. But, you know, there are times when I just want to read a really good book and the translation is not exact. So if the book is written by an American or English writer, I buy it in English just because I want the real thing.

You have 15 seconds to complete the task. (Pause 15 seconds.)

Now you will hear the text again. (Repeat.)

This is the end of the task. You now have 15 seconds to check your answers.

(Pause 15 seconds.)

Задание 6

Вы услышите интервью. В заданиях 1-7 запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, или 3, соответствующую выбранному вами варианту ответа. Вы услышите запись дважды. У вас есть 50 секунд, чтобы ознакомиться с заданиями.

Now we are ready to start.

Presenter: Today in our World Englishes programme we are going to discuss Indian English. Professor Barry Smith is my guest and my first question is: What is the role of English in today’s India?

Professor: In India, where more than 18 different languages coexist, English serves as the connector between people speaking different mother tongues. So the number of Indians who wish to learn and use English is not only continuing but increasing. The number of English newspapers, journals and magazines is on the increase too. In fact, Indian English is a recognized dialect of English, just like British Received Pronunciation or Australian English or Standard American. It has a lot of distinctive pronunciations, some distinctive syntax and quite a bit of lexical variation.

Presenter: What about grammar?

Professor: Linguists observe the following anomalies in the grammar of Indian English. The Indians, for instance, use the progressive tense with stative verbs, which is an influence of traditional Hindi grammar. There’re also variations in noun, number and determiners, preposition use, building tag questions, word order. Another example’s that Indians often use the indefinite article a before words starting with vowels, though it must be mentioned that usually this is just a slip of the tongue.

Presenter: Are these anomalies kind of accidental or can you explain them in some way?

Professor: For those aware of the grammar of Indian tongues, the logic behind the quirks of Indian English is quite transparent and readily explicable. In addition to what I’ve already mentioned, Indians use the past perfect tense in verbs where International English speakers would use the past simple. There are lexical points as well - like using the words but and only as intensifies or adding English affixes to local words. There are some funny cases like use of the plural ladies for a single lady or a woman of respect, use of open and close instead of switch on and off. Some idioms and popular phrases include the question “Where are you put up?” instead of “Where do you live?” or the phrase “tell me” instead of “How can I help you?” Strange as it may seem sentences like “Hello, what do you want?” as a beginning of a business conversation aren’t perceived as rough by most Indians.

Presenter: Have local Indian languages contributed to Indian English?

Professor: Internet research shows that Indians frequently inject words from Indian languages. Some of the more common examples are jungle or bungalow, others were introduced via the transmission of Indian culture, examples of which are mantra, karma, avatar and guru. There’re colloquial and slang words used in Indian English as well. Teenagers take an active part in modernizing the language. What younger generations devise may not be used or even understood by older English speakers in India. For example, youngsters use the expression hi-fi for cool or stylish.

Presenter: Thank you, Professor, for a very interesting talk. What would you like to say in conclusion? What is your - mmm - final diagnosis?

Professor: Indian English is changing and trying to be more universal and simpler. The shifts in modem Indian English are well explained by the famous local proverb “There’s nothing noble in being superior to some other person. The tme nobility is in being superior to your previous self’.

You have 15 seconds to complete the task. (Pause 15 seconds.)

Now you will hear the text again. (Repeat.)

This is the end of the task. You now have 15 seconds to check your answers.

(Pause 15 seconds.)