ЧТЕНИЕ - ТРЕНИРОВОЧНЫЕ ЗАДАНИЯ

Задания на понимание основного содержания прочитанного текста

Задание 1

Установите соответствие между текстами A—G и заголовками 1-8. Занесите свои ответы в таблицу. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний.

1. Weather considerations

2. Joys of biking

3. On bike from train

4. Severe adventures

5. Preparations

6. Meeting the locals

7. Beware of thieves

8. Follow the rules

A. If you want to see Europe on $30 a day you might prefer to stay at hostels and shop at farmers’ markets, but you definitely will not be able to do it without the help of a bike as it is one of the most economical ways to see Europe. But most bikers choose to pedal for the sheer joy of it. Just imagine riding up a beautiful mountain road, going to the very top, hearing birds singing in the treetops, and enjoying a well-earned and glorious downhill run.

B. The most important thing to do before you go for a long ride is to learn which tools to bring for basic repair work, such as patching a flat. If possible, first take a weekend camping trip with everything you’ll need with you. If you don’t already know how to fix your bike, you can ask about classes at your local bike shop. Although you can buy a good touring bike in Europe, you’re better off bringing a bike that you’re sure is the right fit for you as well as your own racks and panniers.

C. Expect rain and bring good bikers’ rain equipment. You’ll also be exposed to the sun, so plan on using plenty of sunscreen. Even if you never ride at night, you should bring a back light for long and unavoidable tunnels. Always wear a helmet as well as biking gloves to guard against unsightly road rash. Beware of the silent biker who might be right behind you, and use hand signals before stopping or turning. Stay off the freeways; smaller roads are nicer for biking, anyway.

D. Use a bike lock to secure your bike and never leave your pump, bag or laptop on your bike if you’re going to step away, even for a moment. Keep your bike inside whenever possible. At hostels, ask if there is a locked bike room, and, if not, ask for a place to put your bike inside overnight. Remember that hotels and many pensions don’t really have rules against taking a bike up to your room. Just do it quietly so the owners and other guests aren’t disturbed.

E. The most rewarding aspect of bicycling in Europe is having the chance to get to know and communicate with new people. Europeans love bicycles, and they are often genuinely impressed when they see a tourist who rejects the view from a tour-bus window in favor of riding through their country on two wheels. Your bike provides an instant topic for conversation, the perfect bridge over cultural and language barriers.

F. A bell is generally required by law in Europe, so you should have one on your bike for giving a multilingual “Hi!” to other bikers as well as for saying “Look out, here I come!” Some countries, such as the Netherlands, have directions and signs just for bikers. For example, a bike in a blue circle indicates a bike route and this sign will get you through even some of the most complicated highway interchanges. A bike in a red circle indicates that bikes are not allowed.

G. Not all tourists use their bikes for long-distance European trips. For example, you can take the train from Paris to Amsterdam, and then use your bike for a few days to get around the city and out to the tulip fields and windmills. In many countries, especially France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands, train stations offer bikes with very easy rental plans making it possible to pick them up in one place and drop them off somewhere else.

Ответ:

A	В	C	D	E	F	G

Задание 2

Установите соответствие между текстами А-G и заголовками 1-8. Занесите свои ответы в таблиц. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний.

1. Money string changes source

2. What in a colour

3. Weight of money

4. From a million pounds to thousands of dollars

5. Size matters

6. How we got that mark

7. Before money comes in

8. Free to choose from

A. In early societies people developed barter as a form of proto-money, when they used the things that everyone agreed to accept in trade. Various items have been used by different societies at different times. Thus, for example, Aztecs used cacao beans, Norwegians used butter, the early U.S. colonists used tobacco leaves, and Roman soldiers were paid a salary of salt. On the island of Nauru, the islanders even used rats for this purpose.

B. The first coins were made in the Kingdom of Lydia, located on the territory of Turkey in the 7th century B.C. The Lydians used weighed lumps of metal and stamped them with pictures to confirm their weight (the shape of the coins was unimportant). The process of stamping was called “minting”. In fact, the stamp on the coin was a seal that identified the person who had guaranteed the weight of that coin.

C. The well-known dollar sign has various explanations. Perhaps one of the most widely accepted is that it was the result of the evolution of the Mexican or Spanish “Ps” which was used for pesos. This theory explains that the “S” gradually came to be written over the “P”, developing a close equivalent to the American dollar “$” mark. It was widely used even before the adoption of the United States dollar in 1785.

D. The largest banknote ever issued by the Bank of England was the £1,000,000 note. Designed for use by the UK government only, the notes were canceled after just a few months, allowing very few to escape into private hands. However, just because the notes are out of service nowadays doesn’t mean that they are valueless. In 2008, one of two known surviving notes was sold at auction for almost $120,000.

E. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest banknote is the 100,000-peso note, which is of the size of a standard sheet of paper. It was created by the government of the Philippines in 1998 to celebrate a century of independence from Spanish rule. The note was offered only to collectors, who could purchase one of the limited-edition notes for 180,000 pesos, or about $3,700.

F. American Indians used to have strings of clamshells, which they called wampum and used as money. The process to make wampum was very labor intensive, which increased their value among the European traders. However, the Dutch colonists began to manufacture wampum themselves and eventually became the primary source of wampum, thereby destroying the system which had functioned for centuries.

G. Why are U.S. notes green? No one is really sure. However, in 1929, when the Bureau of Printing and Engraving began making smaller size currency, green continued to be used because its pigment was readily available in large quantities. Green is also relatively high in its resistance to chemical and physical changes, and it has been psychologically identified with the strong and stable credit of the government.

Ответ:

A	В	C	D	E	F	G

Задания на установление структурно-смысловых связей в прочитанном тексте

Задание 3

Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A—F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1—7. Одна из частей в списке 1—7 лишняя. Занесите цифры, обозначающие соответствующие части предложений, в таблицу.

The languages of integration

Every year the European Day of Languages is marked on 26 September. The idea behind the event is to raise public awareness of all the languages spoken in Europe and the importance of language learning in A _______________. The European Day of Languages celebrates linguistic diversity as one of Europe’s strengths, В _______________ of school.

The European Union is convinced C _______________ compared with the professional and personal opportunities lost due to inadequate language skills. That is why many national governments encourage people to learn languages at all educational levels and at all ages during their working life.

Many local authorities provide immigrants with language training, familiarization courses on local society and culture, D _______________. The latter elements are often provided in the immigrants’ own languages.

One example is from the Flemish city of Ghent in Belgium, E _______________ including 1200 hours of Dutch, plus 75 hours of civic orientation courses. Hungary developed its national

integration policy on the basis of a six-month pilot project called Matra F _______________, 700 hours of cultural and legal orientation, and financial assistance with living expenses. The Finnish education system supports the maintenance and development of the mother tongues of immigrants to ensure what it calls functional bilingualism.

1. and encourages lifelong language learning in and out

2. upbringing healthier and more athletic children

3. that the cost of promoting language learning is modest

4. where immigrants are offered an introductory programme

5. spreading tolerance and mutual understanding

6. and assistance in finding jobs in a new country

7. that included 1200 hours of language teaching for immigrants

Ответ:

A	В	C	D	E	F

Задание 4

Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A—F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1—7. Одна из частей в списке 1—7 лишняя. Занесите цифры, обозначающие соответствующие части предложений, в таблицу.

The importance of language

The language we speak helps to define who we are. The many languages A _______________ are spread across the continent in a vast mosaic pattern. The European Union (EU) recognizes this right to identity and promotes our freedom to speak and write our own language, while it continues to pursue its goal of closer integration among its member countries. These aims are complementary, В_______________.

There are 23 official EU languages. When a new country becomes a member of the EU, the national language of that country normally becomes an official EU language. The decision on this is taken by the EU Council of Ministers. This ensures .that individual EU citizens are able to use the same language in their communication with the EU as they do when C _______________.

All new legislation adopted by the EU is translated into all official languages so D _______________ what a new law is about and how it affects them. All language versions of an EU law have the same legal value.

In this way, the EU ensures E _______________ whose languages are spoken by a large number of people and those using less widely spoken languages. In the European Parliament members are free to address the assembly in the language of the people they represent, Slovenian members are just as entitled as German ones to speak the language of those F _______________. Translation and interpretation are therefore major EU responsibilities.

1. embodying the EU’s motto of “United in diversity”

2. who voted for them in their elections

3. who debates political issues in the mother tongue

4. dealing with their national authorities at home

5. that are spoken by 500 million citizens of the European Union

6. that there is no discrimination between citizens

7. that any interested citizens across the Union know immediately

Ответ:

A	В	C	D	E	F

Задания на полное понимание прочитанного текста

Задание 5

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 1-7. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

The definitive guide to Scotland

During the London Olympics, when excited sports fanatics (and their unfortunate relatives) flooded through the arrival gates of nearly all British airports and engaged in such thrilling activities as taking pictures of red phone boxes and riding the bus, it came to my attention (and the attention of many other British citizens, I dare say), that many tourists arrive to the U.K. with certain erroneous expectations of what awaits them.

The disappointment is evident on tourists’ faces as they travel through the country, discovering that the Queen does not walk her Corgis up The Mall, our policemen will very rarely (if ever) say “Alio, alio,” and that most of us will not ask a stranger in for a cup of tea and a biscuit when you arrive on our doorstep. That said, however, nothing really disappoints a tourist more than a visit to the mysterious land of Scotland.

Having lived in Scotland for all of my 16 years, I have come to believe that I am an expert in all things Scottish, and therefore I think it is only right that I help the youth of America (and elsewhere) obtain a more realistic view of what to expect when visiting “up North.”

A good starting place in Scottish culture, I believe, is haggis. Haggis is a ghastly concoction of oatmeal, onions, pepper, suet, and, oh yes, sheep organs. That’s right, haggis includes sheep’s stomach, heart, liver, lungs, and windpipe. This delightful dish is normally served on Robert Bum’s Night, when we all stand around in kilts and sing to it.

This brings me to the subject of kilts. Michael McIntyre once joked that the Scottish invented the kilt in order to look the complete opposite of the English, who wore trousers. This may be true; I don’t know. What I can tell you is that I am not currently wearing a kilt, nor is anyone in my family. Perhaps if I were to drive into a big town, I would find a man playing bagpipes in a kilt, or maybe see some guests in kilts at a wedding, but the average Scottish person does not wear a kilt on a daily basis.

Next, we have the aforementioned bagpipes. Pretty much everyone believes that all Scottish people love bagpipes. I do not. When played in a large field during, say, the Highland Games, I don’t mind them. That’s fine. It’s quite jolly, everyone feels patriotic, and all is well. However, when they are played in a small room while someone is carrying a haggis to the table and my ears feel like they are about to bleed, I must say that I’m not very fond of them. The average tourist will see and hear bagpipes during their visit, but you probably won’t see any young Scottish teenagers involved.

Finally, we have the Scottish citizen in general. Most people imagine Scots to be ginger (meaning having red hair, which I don’t), freckly (I am), bearded (I am not), and grumpy (I dare say that this is true - after all, it’s always raining here). Sure, you may find some people during your visit who fit that description, but you may be surprised to find that most Scottish people look like your average non-Scottish person. Are you shocked? I thought so.

There you go, a definitive guide to Scotland, as written by a very sarcastic teenager. I do hope it helps; please share it with your friends as I really don’t want to have to hear another tourist say, “It’s just like England, isn’t it?”

1. What inspired the author to write the text?

1) Love for Olympics.

2) Visitors’ views on Britain.

3) London’s attractions.

4) Conversations with sports fans.

Ответ: [ ]

2. According to the author, why were the tourists disappointed in Britain?

1) The police officers were not friendly.

2) Their anticipations were not met.

3) They failed to meet the Queen.

4) The famous English tea was not tasty.

Ответ: [ ]

3. The purpose of the text is to ...

1) reveal the mysteries of the Scottish land.

2) encourage tourists to visit Scotland.

3) give a true account of Scottish culture.

4) share a 16-year experience of living in Scotland.

Ответ: [ ]

4. The phrase “up North’’ in “... what to expect when visiting “up North.” (paragraph 3) refers to

1) northern islands.

2) North America.

3) Scotland.

4) north of England.

Ответ: [ ]

5. Which of the following statements about bagpipes is NOT true, according to the text?

1) They may raise spirits during big sports events.

2) They can make you feel proud of your country.

3) Visitors are likely to hear them played.

4) They are popular among young Scottish people.

Ответ: [ ]

6. In what way is the author similar to a typical image of a Scottish person?

1) He has freckles.

2) He has red hair.

3) He has a beard.

4) He is cheerful.

Ответ: [ ]

7. Why does the author quote a tourist at the end of the text?

1) To encourage people to read and share the article.

2) To underline the annoyance at tourists’ disappointments.

3) To express a sarcastic attitude to Scottish sights.

4) To stress the differences between Scotland and England.

Ответ: [ ]

Задание 6

Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 1—7. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Imperial treasures from Vienna

It is small - it’s just a ring, after all. It is also surprising and breathtaking. The colour and purity of the stone and the shield-like shape that forms the front of the object give the sapphire ring the kind of cool elegance that can, however, be reproduced in photographs. But its amazing hot halo of shooting blue, purple and pink lights is visible only in person. The entire ring is masterfully carved from a single, unbroken hunk of the precious gem. It’s unique - there is nothing quite like it anywhere else. Made in 1400, the ring is the earliest of the 60 treasures on view in “Splendour and Power”, which just opened at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. It is a perfect example of the exhibition’s purpose, which is to delight visitors while also explaining why rulers collected these very expensive, ornate and masterfully crafted objects. In this case the collectors were the dynasty of the Habsburgs, who ruled the Holy Roman Empire from their Austrian base for centuries.

Surprisingly, these pieces may occasionally mimic the shapes of useful objects, like drinking cups, but they were never meant to be utilitarian. That is not to say they lacked purpose. Indeed, they were designed to “enchant the senses, delight the eye and inspire the intellect,” writes Sabine Haag, the curator of this show, which was loaned from Vienna’s Kunsthistoriches Museum (KHM), in the excellent catalogue.

Some of the precious objects were prized as exotic messengers from far-off lands. These include a carved, pale jade Ming bowl, mounted with rubies from the Ottoman court (possibly as a diplomatic gift). When it made its way to the Habsburgs it joined other spectacular objects in the Kunstkammer (art chamber), collected to further legitimise and enhance the power of the ambitious owner.

It was only in the 19th century that art was split into “high” and “low”. Anything decorative fit into the latter category, regardless of beauty or technical expertise. As a result, some may find it difficult to look at these rock-crystal vessels, jewels and perfume flasks as works of art. The single piece in this exhibition that should succeed in repairing this ill-judged high/low divide is the ivory cup made by Bernhard Strauss in Augsburg around 1660. It is so deeply carved with classical gods and goddesses - Apollo with his lyre, Diana with her alert dog - that the piece has become translucent. It seems Strauss brought Olympus to life.

Elsewhere in the Fitzwilliam paintings and sculpture are exhibited in rooms decorated with fine Oriental rugs, warm wood furniture and tick-tocking Thomas-Tompion clocks. But never mind. Benefactions from the Monument Trust have allowed the Fitzwilliam to commission new display cases of non-reflective glass. The welcome illusion is that nothing separates the ogler from the ogled.

The Kunstkammer at the KHM can boast of the greatest surviving princely treasure in the*Western world. It has been closed for refurbishment since 2002, making this loan - the largest for half a century - possible. The Kunstkammer is expected to reopen at the end of next year, after which decades will surely pass before its objects leave home again. For those within striking distance of Cambridge, enough said.

1. According to the author, the beauty of the exhibited sapphire ring can be fully appreciated ...

1) where it was carved.

2) in a photograph.

3) in special light.

4) at the exhibition.

Ответ: [ ]

2. “It” in “It is a perfect example of the exhibition’s purpose” (paragraph 1) refers to the ...

1) exhibition’s origin.

2) ring.

3) exhibition’s catalogue.

4) exhibition’s collection.

Ответ: [ ]

3. Saying “they were never meant to be utilitarian” the author means that the exhibits were supposed to be ...

1) decorative.

2) unusual.

3) expensive.

4) useful.

Ответ: [ ]

4. According to the author (paragraph 4), some objects may be seen as ...

1) poorly manufactured.

2) collected ill-advisedly.

3) common things.

4) spoilt in repairs.

Ответ: [ ]

5. “Some” in “some may find it difficult to look at these rock-crystal vessels, jewels and perfume flasks as works of art” (paragraph 4) refers to the ...

1) visitors.

2) owners.

3) exhibits.

4) artists.

Ответ: [ ]

6. The Monument Trust helped to provide ...

1) furniture for the exhibition rooms.

2) better attendance of the exhibition.

3) better conditions for viewing the exhibits.

4) better decorated rooms.

Ответ: [ ]

7. The article was written to ...

1) attract more visitors to the exhibition.

2) prove that the exhibits are works of art.

3) advertise Vienna’s Kunsthistoriche Museum.

4) describe the treasures of the Hapsburgs.

Ответ: [ ]