Составлены преподавателями английского языка СШ №32.
Тексты набирали: Павлович Андрей,
Саранцев Тимур,
Головнев Дмитрий.
Главный редактор: Кацубо Дмитрий.
The Fine Arts.
It's common knowledge that art belongs to the people. It is international, it has no barriers. It brings people of different nationalities together and helps them to understand one another better.
The history of art from the Renaissance to our days confirms this. An artist is a worthy son of his time if his art is addressed to the people, when it deals with life. True art elevates the mind and soul of people. Great art is always linked with the life of the people, their interests and ideals. It is the duty of art to help the public to perceive the beauty of life and the power of human spirit. There are two kinds of art, or rather there is art and a pretence of art. Real art appeals to the heart and mind of a man, to his feelings and ideals, and it proclaims life. Art is dead if it is severed from the national soil, if it has lost its connecting links with the progressive traditions of the national culture. Art, founded on hopeless pessimism, can't live or prosper. Art is truthful only when it serves life, only when the artist hopes to arouse a warm response in the heart of man. An artist should be the first to notice things that other people usually fail to see. But it does not mean that these things did not exist before the artist transmitted them on canvas. Art helps us to understand the outside world, it leads us into the realm of beauty. In other words, art helps to educate people aesthetically and to develop a fine artistic taste and cultural habits. We must absorb and develop all the best that has been created by world culture.
In addition works of art are constant subjects for discussion. There are plenty of museums both in this country and abroad. Here are only some of them: the Hermitage, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Louvre, the Pushkin museum of Fine Arts, the Russian museum, the British museum, the Tate Gallery, the National Gallery, the Prado, the greatest Spanish Art museum.
The Hermitage is well-known all over the world. It was started by Katherine the Great with her private collection. Nowadays it belongs to the culture of the world. It contains rich art collections of all ages. They represent the culture and art of the peoples of the Near East and Far East. There are splendid collections from China and India, ancient Greece and Rome. The West European painting is widely represented in the Hermitage too. It includes world famous works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphall, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens and others. The collection represents the art of Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and some other countries.
The West-European Department of the Museums includes a fine collection of European sculpture, containing monuments by Michelangelo, Falkonet, Roden and many other eminent sculptors.
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Our State Belarusian Art museum was founded on the 24th of January 1939. The museum contains a lot of precious pieces of art, sculptures applied and decorative art. The museum became the centre of Belarusian culture. During the G.P.W. it was destroyed by the fascists and the best pictures and sculptures were taken to Germany. After the war the lost pieces of art were replaced by new ones. We can see there a lot of pictures by Russian and foreign masters.
Among them we can find the works by such Belarusian masters as M.Savitski, E.Tikhanovich; sculptures by Z.Azgur, Bembel, Selikhanow and others.
Addition:
Speaking about art we can't but mention the names of some prominent English painters. William Hogarth was born in the family of a school master. A rebel and innovator, Hogarth was a curious observer of people and life. In his famous set of pictures called "Mariage a la Mode" and others he vividly portrayed the national character.
Thomas Gainsborough was the creator of the English school of landscape, though he had to paint a lot of portraits too.
John Constable was one of the greatest landscapist in history. At that time there were few people in England who appreciated landscapes. So he had to show his pictures in France where he was awarded the gold medal for one of his paintings.
As for Joseph Turner he painted mostly marine subjects. He tried to portray the mood of the sea through the experience of man.
Some of the greatest foreign masters were attracted to Britain by honours and of titles nobility. Among them was Van Dyke, the famous Flemish painter. He married the daughter of a lord and lived in England for a long time. He was the father of the English portrait school.
The Famous People of Belarus.
There are many famous people in our republic. Among them you cam find the names of politicians and public figures, intellectuals and scientists, heroes of war and labour, sportsmen and artists.
First of all I'd like to mention the names of our outstanding national writers Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas. They created a new Belarusian literature and a Belarusian literary language, both are considered to be the classics of Belarusian literature. They spoke for the nation, whose future depended on the struggle for the right "to be called people", to use Kupala's words. Kupala represents one of the peaks of Belarusian poetry. Kupala's comrade, Yakub Kolas, created many remarkable poems about the destiny of Belarus, and later two large epics - "The New Land" and "Simon the Musician". His 275 books have been translated into 18 foreign languages.
One of the wonderful Belarusian lyricists was Maxim Bogdanovich. He lived only 25 years, but raised Belarusian literature to world level. His poems, presenting their profoundly national spirit, expressed real pain for his people.
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Speaking of the most outstanding people of Belarus, we can't but mention the name of Dr. Fransisak Skaryna, a prominent scholar and humanist. Belarusian printing owes its beginning to him. The most important of his achievements was the translation and publication of the Bible into the Belarusian language. He wanted "to make knowledge available to the people in their own language".
These names are followed by a number of other well-known writers and poets, such as K.Krapiva, K.Chorny, P.Brovka, I.Shamyakin, M.Tank, A.Adamovich, V.Bykov, V.Korotkevich, N.Gilevich, A.Loyka known both in our country and abroad. Their works are translated into many European languages. Many of Minsk streets are named after the Belarusian writers.
The cultural life of Belarus has always been very interesting and varied. Among the leading composers of the present century were N.Churkin, A.Tikotsky, Aladov, A.Bogatykov, Smolsky. Other well-known composers of the older generation include N.Pukst, D.Lukas, Luchenok, V.Alovnikov.
Many prominent names in the history of Belarus of the 20th century are connected with two main events: the 2nd World War and space exploration. The Belarusians fought heroically defending their motherland. But we are especially proud of the heroes of the last war: K.Zaslonov, N.Gastello, M.Osipova, the defenders of Brest Fortress and many others. In the family of cosmonauts there are also two Belarusians: A.Kovalynok and P.Klimuk.
At the present day time, the time of revaluation of value, it's difficult to find heroes, especially among politicians. Time will put every thing in its place and give everybody his due. But one thing in obvious: great times are created by great men. There names are sure to become history whatever it may be.
Books in Our Life.
Books play an important role in the life of people. It is impossible to imagine our life without books. Reading is associated with intelligence, because reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. A book is one of the greatest wonders in the world. It gives us a unique chance to link up with authors who lived hundreds and thousands of years ago. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings. Besides, the book is the surest way to bring nations together. It gives us an insight not only into the past, but also into the future. The book is a faithful and undemanding friend: it can be put aside and taken up again at any moment. Books stir our imagination and expand the boundaries of the familiar world. Books may or may not be for some of us a refuge from all the distressions especially for those, who have developed the most delightful habit in the world.
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There are different people and different books and because of that there are different approaches to reading. For some books can serve as a collected wisdom of experience of many generations. Some books can be regarded as source of information. Many people consider books as means of education themselves. There are books which we regard as entertainment, a way to while away the time.
Some books are to be tasted, other to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested.
I became king on literature very early in my life. This probably happened because we have very good and widely-read library at home. Since childhood I have been enchanted by Chechov. Tolstoy was one of the highest authorities to me. Later my heart was won by Yesenin's poetry. There are some names in Russian and foreign literature that are very dear to me. In Russian literature I value Turgenev highly. For me he is a man of culture devoted to life, nature, music and painting. Though he lived abroad for a long time he didn't stop to be a Russian writer for a moment. Turgenev's descriptions of nature are very delightful. Turgenev's prose is very poetic. His style is perfect, his dialogs are easy to read and interesting. Of the present day writers and poets I'd like to mention the name of V.Pikul, V.Rasputin, I.Brodsky. Their works are very humane and realistic.
My favourite foreign writer is Margaret Mitchell. I'm deeply impressed by her novel "Gone with the wind". Since then I bear in my heart the image of the main character Scarlet. The author penetrates deeply into a person's soul and reveals its best qualities.
Books mould a person's soul, form his moral values. They teach the reader to be truthful, honest, friendly, decisive, conscientious, frank, firm, fair and serious. Besides, books bring people pleasure and delight. Reading is a very wonderful pastime. Thanks to books we learn to express our thoughts and feelings more exactly.
Great Britain.
The U.K. is situated on the British Isles. It consist of four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales occupy the territory of Great Britain (G.B.). Northern Ireland is situated in the Northern part of Ireland. The territory of the U.K. is about 244.000 square kilometres, the population is over 56.5 million people. About 80 percent of the population is urban. The capital of the country is London.
The surface of G.B. varies greatly. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the west, south, east and centre is a vast plain and is called the Lowlands. The mountains are not very high (the highest mountain is Ben Nevis) and the rivers are not very long. The most important of them are the Severn and the Thames. There are many beautiful lakes in the mountainous parts of the country.
G.B. has a very good geographical position as it lies on the cross-ways of the sea routes from Europe to the parts of the world. The mountains, the Atlantic ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of G.B. It is mild all the year round.
G.B. is a highly developed capitalist country. It is known as one of the world producers and exporters of iron and steel products, machinery and electronic, chemical and textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the main industries of the country is shipbuilding.
G.B. is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The most famous educational centres are Oxford and Cambridge Universities. They are considered to be the intellectual centres of Europe. The education is not free, it is very expensive.
The U.K. is a constitutional monarchy and the Queen is the head of the State. But in practice it is ruled by elected government with a Prime Minister at the head. The British Government consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in G.B.: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal Parties. The Labour Party is the ruling party nowadays.
Choosing a Career.
The end of school is the beginning of independent life for thousands of school leavers in our republic. Many roads are opened before them. Our state offers the young people a wide choice of vocational and technical schools, institutes, universities and academies, where they can develop their knowledge and talents. If you want to combine study and work, for example, you can go to the evening or correspondence department.
But it is not an easy thing to choose a profession out of more than 2000 existing in the world. Choosing a career is, probably, the most important decision in the life of young people.
Choosing an occupation, you must take into consideration that you'll become a good specialist if you acquire a profession according to your liking and inclinations.
There are a lot of noble and important trades and professions such as agronomics, electricians, economists, cameramen, shop assistant, physicists, fitters, turners, accountants and others.
In my view, the professions of a teacher and a doctor are the most noble and necessary, as they are connected with the life of people, their health and happiness. Pupils' characters and views are formed at school, so the teacher's duty is not only to give them profound knowledge in various subjects, but also to bring up the young generation it the spirit of high moral ideals.
I believe, that the profession of a journalist is one of the most interesting and important. Press and journalists play a very important role in the process of democratisation in our society. The duty of the journalist is to tell the people the truth about success and shortcomings in different fields of activities. In their publications they should truthfully depict the life and aspirations of the people. The main role of the journalist is to serve the interests of the people.
As for me, I made my choice long ago. I am going to enter the law faculty of the Belarusian state University as I want to be a lawyer. I think that the profession of a lawyer as one of the most important in the law-governed state which we are creating now.
Lawyers have to solve many problems that still exist in our society. The duty of the lawyers is not only to punish people for various crimes such as hooliganism, stealing, traffic violation and so on, but they must do their best to prevent crimes, to fight against evil in our society. The lawyers protect the rights and legal interests of the citizens, institutions and organizations. What concerns me I'd like to become a defence council and work at the People's Court.
Of course, it's only my dream, and in order to realize it I must work hard at school.
Our country is undergoing deep changes which have embraced all spheres of social life. There is also an acute demand for the renewal of our national economy. A lot of being done by our government to strengthen our ties with Russia and other republics of the former UUSR, to struggle together against organized crime, bribery, corruption and other evils which have penetrated into our life. It is also necessary to strengthen law and order. Urgent measures must be taken to streamline the economy. All these problems must be solved. That's why I'd like to acquire deep knowledge on economy and to contribute to the development of our economy. I feel it my duty.
For a log time our country had the command-and-administrative methods of management. Economics and science has not been developing. Now our country is undergoing deep changes which are very painful. These changes have embraced all spheres of social and economic life. There is also an acute demand for the renewal of our national economy. The reconstructing of the economic system abolished many ministries and other departments. As the result of the reconstructing, the connections between different areas were broken. On the other hand, the reconstructing opened up wide opportunities for business and marketing economics. I would like to acquire deep knowledge of economy, as I'd like to contribute to the development of economy of this country. Therefore I made up my mind to apply to the...
Holidays, Customs, Traditions of Belarusian People.
Our republic has deep historical roots in the past. Some of the traditions like Kupallye can trace their origin to pagan times. Others, like Eastern holidays, are rooted in early Christian tradition. There have been times (during the wars, the years of the Soviet Power) when the Christian holidays seemed to have been forbidden. However, Belarusian people have always remembered their national holidays, customs and traditions. Nowadays they have acquired their second life. They are classified according to the four seasons: spring, summer, winter and spring holidays.
There is a remarkable range of spring-time celebrations for example Gukanne Yyasny (Calling of Spring), the first work in the field and some others. These holidays date back to the pagan times: young people and children walk around the village, singing special songs, dancing, wishing good crops and luck. They are given honey, sausages, pies by the peasants. The housewives bake special pies shaped like birds.
One of the greatest Christian holidays in Belarus has always been Easter Sunday. Although it is Christian holidays of the resurrection, there is much in it from pagan times and first of all the practice of eating painted eggs and special pies. Nowadays it is a big event in every church and cathedral. We observe two Easter holidays: the Roman Catholic and the Russian Orthodox ones. They both are considered national holidays.
The summer festivities start in July beginning with the greatest holiday "Kupallye". It's difficult to find a more picturesque holiday. The essential part of it is the fire, which according to believe has a purifying power. Young couples hand in hand must jump it over. Sometimes young people purify themselves in water of rivers or lake.
Autumn has its own holidays the are traditionally connected with the end of the harvesting time. In ancient times it was wedding season. That's why so many traditions connected with marriage that is match making bride show, wedding itself with special song etc.
Winter holiday "Kolyady" became an integral part of the Christian holiday Christmas. Along side with spiritual contemplation people satisfy natural desire for entertainment. So, on the one hand they go to church on the other hand is Christmas shopping, theatrical entertainment and much eating, drinking and merry making. Other holidays are Dzyady, Independence Day, Victory Day, May Day, Women's Day, Army Day, New Year, Radunitsa.
English Customs and Traditions.
English life is full of traditions and the English are said to be steeped in traditions. English people are traditional in many ways: they enjoy doing things that have been done for generations. Traditions can be divided into different classes: those connected with particular holidays and occasions and those with no particular connections. Generally speaking English people are known to be conservative. They accept things which are familiar and they are suspicious of anything that is strange and foreign. Many English people are very reserved. Englishmen do not like displaying their emotions even in dangerous and tragic circumstances. They pride themselves on being good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.
Another English characteristic is the desire to belong to some private club or society to which other people are not admitted. Such groups have customs of their own which are not changed and which are supposed to make the members of the group different from the rest of the world.
Much leisure time is devoted to gardening. Most English people like gardens and this is probably one reason why so many people prefer to live in the country. In connection with this one can mention flower shows and vegetable shows with prizes for their best exhibits which are extremely popular.
The discussion of leisure can't be complete without mentioning sport. The Englishmen are great lovers of sport. Such sports and games as football, volley-ball, basketball, tennis and horsing are quite popular in England just as all over the world. But there are games which the Englishmen are especially fond of: they are cricket, golf. Racing is popular with the English people too. There are all kinds of racing in England - horse-racing and even races for donkeys. Usually those who run a race go as fast as they can but there some races in which people have to go very carefully if they don't want to fall. There is a three legged race in which the right leg of one runner is tied to the left leg of the other. If the two runners try to go fast they will certainly fall. And there is an egg-and-spoon race in which runner must carry an egg in a spoon without letting it drop. If the egg falls the runner must pick it up with a spoon, not fingers.
Boat-racing is also very popular in England. People started to use boat for racing in the 19th century. Boat races took place only in London on the Thames and also in the Universities. The first boat races between Oxford and Cambridge took place in 1829.
The most important and spectacular traditions are those connected with Parliament and Government, as Parliament is known as a very old Institution and throughout it's long history acquired traditions and habits of its own. One of them is the state opening of Parliament when, as tradition dictates, the queen reads the speech prepared by the Prime minister to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The queen drives in a state coach pulled by horses from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. Then she goes through the Sovereign entrance where she is received by the state officers all wearing traditional clothes. Then she puts on her robs and the Imperial Crown. The ceremony takes place in the House of Lords with a few leading members of the House of Commons standing close to the end of the chamber opposite to the throne technically "outside" the House of Lords itself.
The procession with Parliament is known as "Guy Fawkes Day". Guy Fawkes Night is very popular among children. It is also known as Bonfire Night. This tradition goes back to 1605 when the gunpowder plot was discovered. At that time there were political and religious difficulties in the country and there was a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament that evening and kill the king who was to open it. Guy was one of the men who took part in the plot and was executed. On this night children make a guy (a sort of a doll), paint its face, then they put it on the top of a burnfire (all unnecessary things, wood, rubbish). There are usually fireworks display. Standing round the fire children dance, sign, have traditional toffees (sweet made of sugar and butter at home), toffee apples, baked potatoes, roasted sweet chestnuts. It's one of the most enjoyable traditions and what is interesting the children of St.Peter's school, in which he studied, don't make a guy as it is against their school policy to burn any of there old pupils.
St. Valentine Day.
St. Valentine Day falls on February 14. The custom of sending cards called valentines to members of the opposite sex on February 14, has, in fact, little connection with St. Valentine. There seems to be no limit to the variety of cards on sale for this celebration. They are happy or sad, romantic or humorous, serious or ridiculous. You can pay anything from 10p. to 10 pounds, depending of the depth of your love and the depth of your pocket. If you really want to get rid of same money you can always use the St. Valentine Day Greetings Telegram - a service put on specially for February 14 by the post office.
Anonymity is part of the thrill of sending Valentine card - you must not say who you are. The person receiving it must be left to wonder. There are cards specially printed to My Wife, My Husband, Mother, Father, Sweet Heart, and Grandfather, and Grandmother.
Valentines, as we know them, first appeared in the 18th century and were cards with drawings and verses made by the sender. In the 19th century, shop-made valentines appeared, and became laboratory adorned with lace, real flowers and feathers. There was in early days a strong belief that on February 14 birds choose their mates. There used to be a custom in England (and probably in other countries) on St. Valentine Day: the names of young unmarried men and girls were mixed up and drawn out by chance. The person of the opposite sex whose name came after yours was your Valentine for the year.
Halloween Night.
October 31 is a very special holiday for children called Halloween. This word is a shortened from two words meaning "Blessed Eye". In the old Celtic calendar the equivalent of October 31 was the last day of the year, when all witches and warlocks were out. Now Halloween is a holiday for children.
Children make faces on pumpkins by removing the pulp and seed and cutting holes in the shell for eyes, nose and mouth. These pumpkins are called jack-or-lanterns. A lighted candle is placed inside the pumpkin to shine through the holes. Dressed in costumes of witches, ghosts, clowns children go from door to door saying "Trick or treat". This means that if people don't give them candies or apples or other tasty things, the children may play a trick on them.
Most people enter in to the spirit of the fun and give the children tasty things. A favourite game at Halloween parties is ducking for apples. Apples are placed in a metal tub filled with water. Each child holds a fork in his mouth a tries to stub an apple. The children get very wet, but enjoy themselves greatly.
Christmas.
On Christmas everything is rush and bustle. Offices and public buildings close at 1 o'clock, but the shops stay open late. Most big cities are especially decorated with colored lights across the streets and enormous Christmas trees.
In the home there is a great air of expectation. The children are decorating the tree tinsel, various bubble and often colored lights as well Christmas cards with words "Merry Christmas to You" or "Wishing you a merry Christmas" and "Prosperous New Year" or "With the complements of the season" etc.- are arranged to ribbon and hung round the walls. Meanwhile housewife is probably busy in the kitchen getting things ready for next days dinner. The Christmas bird, nowards usually a turkey, is being prepared and stuffed, the pudding is inspected and the cake is got out of its tin and iced.
In small towns and villages one may still see carol-singers who come and stand in front of the house and sing or play Christmas carols. They expect a Christmas box with a few pennies or coppies or presents in return for their musical efforts. In Trafalgar Squire in front of the National Gallery stands an enormous Christmas tree. It is a gift from the people of Oslo. Every winter they cut down a tree for London. Then houses pull it through the snowy forest to the docks. When the tree arrives police on motor cycles escort it to Trafalgar Squire. It is over 50 feet high. It is brightly decorated. Right at the top there is a large shining star. Bright, shining balls of different colors and different sizes cover the tree from top to bottom.
New Year.
In England the New Year is not so widely or as enthusiastically observed as Christmas. Some people ignore it completely and go to big at the same time as usual on the New Year's Eve. The most common type of celebration is a New Year Party or one arranged by a group of young people. This usually begins at about 8 o'clock and goes on until the early hour the morning.
At the Doctors.
The profession of the doctor is one of the most noble, respected and humane in the world and so needed, as we turn to doctors for advice at the hardest moment in life, when we fall ill or suffer from pain or some disorder in our body or soul. We got used to complaining of low level of medical treatment, poor equipment of our hospitals and policlinics, difficulties in getting this or that medicine.
Taking medicine is an unpleasant thing, of course, and if you want to avoid it, it's necessary to go in for sports. Physically inactive people catch cold much more frequently than those who do plenty of exercises. Besides, physical exercises are a good pastime. That's true that the good health is better than the best medicine. I recollect one of my most serious illnesses. It was 10 years ago. The illness started quite unexpectedly. Early in the morning I woke up and felt dizzy and feverish. I had a splitting headache and a terrible cough. My nose was running. I was sneezing all the time. I could hardly recognize my own voice. In addition to all I was running a high temperature. My mother had to call a doctor. The doctor asked me to strip to the waist then he sounded my lungs, felt my pulse, examined my throat. Then the doctor made out a prescription and told me to stay in bed. I had to stay in bad for a fortnight and was obliged to get a lot of injections. In the long run I recovered of course.
Of all things people probably hate most are diseases. It's well known that to avoid catching an infection you must keep your body, especially hands, clean, take long walks in the open air, have plenty of fruits and vegetables all year round, especially in winter and early in spring. No wonder the Englishmen say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But most of all I hate visiting a dentist. Toothache cannot be compared with anything else. Pulling out a tooth or having a tooth filled in are quite common things, but how painful. If you want to avoid visiting a dentist clean you teeth twice a day.
My Friend.
Friends play an important part in our lives and though we may take the fact of friendship for granted, we often don't clearly understand how we make friends.
I am in friendly relations with plenty of my classmates, but I'd like to tell you about..., whom I consider to be my best friend. We have been friends for a long time (since childhood). We made friend with... when his(her) family moved to our house.... is particulary known for his(her) warm and friendly character. Wherever a friend is in trouble, he(she) never fails to helm him(her). He(she) is always open-minded and kind-hearted. There is hardly any person who can't help admiring this tall, well-built(slim, slender) boy(girl) with intelligent eyes. Now let me give a touch on his character. He(she) is a straightforward person of strong character. He(she) seldom shows his(her) feelings or opinion. They say he(she) is a reserved boy(girl). His(her) persistent in studying is amazing and he(she) is persistent in everything he(she) does. You can fully rely on him(her) and he(she) is the sort of person to be trusted. He(she) has never let me down. He(she) is industrious and hardworking and these qualities of his(her) character I would like to develop in myself. He(she) is easy to get along with. In general my friend is an interesting person. He(she) is well-read. He(she) is fond of modern pop and rock music. His(her) famous singers are:.... He(she) goes in for sport with great enthusiasm. He(she) plays... well. His(her) hobby is body-building (body-shaping). For me it is very important that... is an honest person. He(she) has a sense of humour and I like to spend my free time with him(her) around.
My friend is tall(small, slim). I'd say she has very good figure. Her long hair is fair, and I like when she wears it plaited. Her eyes are blue(grey, hazel). She has a little snub nose and full lips. She has a good complexion and a very pleasant smile.
... is a nice guy. Everybody would say he is a handsome boy. He is of middle height neither slim nor stout, broad-shouldered. He is dark-haired with an full(with an oval face) lips. I like very much his good manners.
Heroism of Belarusian People
During the Great Patriotic War.
On June 22, 1941 Belarus was among the first Union republic to be attacked by Nazi Germany. From the very first day to the last Belarusian people fought heroically against enemies. They all rose up to defend their freedom and independence.
Over a million of Belarusians were in the Army. They took part in the battles of Moscow and Leningrad, at Stalingrad, in the liberation of Caucasus, the Ukraine, the Crimea and the Baltic republics. Over 300.000 soldiers and officers, natives of Belarus were awarded the orders and medals, nearly 400 of them were conferred the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
A massive movement was launched in the occupied territories. It amounted to 374.000 people. It is not by chance that Belarus came to be called a partisan republic. Belarusian partisans opened one more front and helped the Army to win the victory over the invaders.
Heroism and selflessness became ordinary standards of behaviour for millions of people in the field of battle and in the rear. All our heroes cannot be mentioned, but here are a few: Konstantin Zaslonov, who organized acts of the Sabotage at the Orsha railway station; Nicolai Gastello, who rammed his burning plane into a column of German tanks near Radoshkovichi; Anna Mazanik and Mariya Osipova, who killed Gauleiter of Belarus, the governor Wilhelm Kubbe.
Among our heroes are F.Smolyackov, who killed 125 hitlerites; general Davator, who was in command of a cavalry raid in the Nazi rear; the pilot A.Gorovets, who in a single air battle brought down enemy planes at the cost of his life; the defenders of the Brest Fortress, who kept rebuffing in a besieged fortress for a month.
In the summer of 1944 Belarus was completely cleared of the enemy troops. But the victory over fascist invaders was not an easy one. We lost nearly every fourth citizen of the republic and more than half of national wealth.
The contribution of the Belarusian people to the defeat of Nazism was enormous. Taking into account this fact the Republic of Belarus was invited in 1945 to became a founder member of a new international organization - the UNO (United Nations Organization).
A Few Words About the History of Belarus.
Our country is associated with a very gentle name: "White stork land". This bird lives here and many people believe it brings happiness.
The Republic of Belarus is a small, beautiful country with the heroic past and difficult present. It is situated in Eastern Europe. The republic borders on Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It has an area of 207,600 square kilometres and population of more than 10 million. 77% of the population constitute Belarusians, 64% live in cities, the largest of which are Minsk, the capital of Belarus, Gomel, Brest, Vitebsk, Grodno and Mogilev.
The climate in the republic is moderately continental, the breathing of the Baltic sea is constantly felt here.
At the beginning of the 20th century Belarus was a backward province of the Russian Empire, called the North-Western region. About 80% of it's population were illiterate. The Belarusians were not even regarded as a nation at that time. After the Revolution in 1917 Belarus was proclaimed the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic and soon became a member of the USSR.
During World War II Belarus suffered greatly. It lost more than half of it's national wealth. The fascists killed every fourth person living there. But despite all this Belarus has restored it's cities, rebuilt it's economy. Today Belarusian industry produces tractors, big lorries, automatic lines, computers, refrigerators, television sets, bicycles, watches, fertilisers and textiles.
Agriculture specialises in milk and meat production. The main crops cultivated here are potatoes, flax, grain, herbs and vegetables.
Belarus is a republic of well developed science and culture. There is an Academy of Science, 37 higher education establishments, about 400 professional schools. Secondary education is compulsory here.
Nowadays the Republic of Belarus has became a sovereign independent state. The Declaration of State Sovereignty was adopted by its Supreme Soviet on July 27, 1990.
A Few Words About the History of Belarus.
The first inhabitants are believed to have come to what is now the territory of Belarus about 100'000 years ago. The next-of-kin ancestors of Belarusians were eastern slavonic tribes of Kriviches, Dregoviches and Radimiches. In the early ninth century A.D. on their lands there emerged the principalities of Turov and Polotsk. By the end of that century they joined Kiev Russ, a powerful early feudal state.
During the next two centuries the eastern slavonic tribes merged together to form a single ancient Russian nationality. After Kiev Russ disintegrated, that nationality gave life in the 14-15th centuries to the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian nationalities.
The name of "Belarus" first appeared in official manuscripts in the 14th century. There are different hypotheses as to the origin of the name. One of them is that the name comes from the fact that in ancient times "to be white" meant to be free. In the 13th century white east-slavonic lands were under the Tartar-Mongol yoke while the North-Western part of ancient Russ was free and that part was called "Belaya Russ" that the people of this part of land were dressed in white. Their clothes were made of flax and wool. They had fair hair and blue or grey eyes.
Belarus is situated on the cross-roads of many European major routes, that is why its fate is hard and stern. The much-suffered land of Belarus saw all kinds of ruthless enemies and merciless plunderers.
Historians estimated that from the 11th century up to the present time the towns in Belarus were burnt down at least three times every hundred years as a result of invasions.
In the 13-14th centuries Belarusian lands fell under the authority of the great Principality of Lithuania and the Belarusian language was the official language of this great state.
At the end of the 18th century there came unification with Russia. After the disintegration of the USSR on the 27th of July, 1991 Belarus declared itself an independent state.
Inspite of wars and oppression the development of Belarusian culture went on. At the dawn of its formation the Belarusian nation produced such outstanding people as the writer, orator and preacher Kirila Turovsky (12th century); the founder of Belarusian book-printing and preacher of humanism Fransisk Skarina; the enlightener Simon Budni. There are many Belarusian writers and poets, painters and sculptors, composers and actors well-known all over the world.
Our land is known for its inexpressible beauty, picturesque landscapes, gifted, tolerant and hospitable people, for national customs and traditions.
Hobbies.
The problem of leisure or how to use it is the problem of many people. Leisure implies freedom from work. Recreation is an agreeable occupation for the sake of relaxation, refreshment of body and mind. Labour is doing what we must, leisure is doing what we enjoy. In a way, recreation is an active way of rest.
They say there are 1019 personal interests and ways to spend one's free time. It's impossible to describe all the hobbies known in the world. The main thing is that they increase your knowledge in some particular field and broaden your outlook. The most popular hobbies are philately, collecting different things (from cards to shells). Some people are interested in modern architecture and they collect pictures, showing the most interesting architectural designs of our time. It's necessary to note that collecting is not a useless pastime, as it may seem to some people, but a very useful occupation. A true collector is, first of all, a very curious person. Collection preserves things, which fell out of use, but are of great material and spiritual value.
Some people are keen on music, sightseeing, reading and sports.
Lots of people show interest in photography. They like taking photos of relics of ancient culture. They always carry their cameras with them when they are on holidays. They are never tired of printing and developing photos.
There are a lot of people who keep tape recordings of light music, jazz, folk music, concerts and operas. A great number of people are fond of sports, chess, etc. There are people who like to solve cross-world puzzles or something else.
Almost every Englishman as we know has a hobby. It may be stamp collecting or carpentry, gardening or growing flowers, especially roses.
My hobby is tropical fish. I have quite a large aquarium in my room. I enjoy taking care of little fishes. It gives me a great pleasure to feed them and watch them move gracefully, trying to catch the food.
I became interested in tropical fish when my parents took me to the petshop and my granny presented me with a large aquarium.
Sometimes hobbies become a second profession. There are many such examples in the history. Physician Anton Chechov became the world famous writer. Tsiolkovsky, a modest school teacher, became the founder of the theory of interplanetary flight owing to his hobby.
There are many examples of passionate occupations of well-known people, which provided them with necessary experience and knowledge in their professions.
Speaking about hobbies I can't but mention such interesting and useful occupation as books. It is impossible to imagine our life without books. Reading is associated with intelligence because reading is for mind what exercise is for the body. A book is one of the greatest wonders in the world. It gives us a unique chance to link up with authors who lived hundreds and thousands of years ago. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings. Books stir our imagination, expand our boundaries of the familiar world, give us an insight not only in the past but also into the future. Reading in my opinion, is one of the best hobbies in the world.
Addition:
Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things and learning things. The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to travelling and from chess to volley-ball.
Both grown ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it is becoming more and more popular.
Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments. President Bill Clinton, for example, plays the saxophone. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President Eisenhower and sir Winston Churchill.
No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has an opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exiting aspect of a hobby.
The Role of Foreign Languages.
A foreign language is not just a subject learnt in the classroom. It is something which is used for communication by real people in real situations.
In prerevolutionary time a lot of people learned and had a good command of numerous foreign languages. Moreover, it was a shame to communicate with foreigners with the help of translators and interpreters. Gymnasium taught Greek, Latin, English, French, German and other languages. Such people as Leo Tolstoi, Bucharin, Chechetin, Vavilov, to name a few, knew several foreign languages well. All these people were distinguished by their high culture. Nowadays we are witnessing a revival of interest to foreign languages. There are many reasons why we begin to study foreign languages. First of all it's an effective medium of international communication. I am convinced, if we are working in any branch of science, we naturally wish to read scientific books and magazines in other languages.
Learning foreign languages opens up opportunities and careers that didn't even exist some years ago. Knowing foreign languages can help us to find a job in such fields as science and technology, foreign trade and banking, international transportation, communications, teaching, librarian sciences and other fields. A more general aim is to make our intellectual and cultural horizons wider through contacts with people and other cultures. Needless to say that English has become very popular nowadays. Approximately 350 million people speak English as their first language. About the same number use it as a second language. It is an official language in 44 countries. It is the dominant language of medicine, electronics and space technology, of international business and advertising; of radio, television and filming. It has replaced French in the world of diplomacy and German in the field of science.
Of course, speaking and writing in a foreign language is a difficult art and it has to be learnt. Learning a foreign language involves learning also the culture, traditions and mode of thought of different peoples. But once you have learnt to understand them, you'll be a step closer to the understanding of other people.
A foreign language is very important for the development of international contacts as more and more direct contacts are established with the countries of Europe, the United States and other English speaking countries. Besides, hundreds of joint ventures spring up in every city, every industrial and cultural centre and even in the countryside. They need specialists who have a good command of one or two foreign languages. The thing is that foreign businessmen and delegations keep coming to our country and they all need interpreters. And our experts, businessmen and tourists go abroad as well.
It's the best that every visitor should be able to find his way about an English speaking community without any interpreters. No wonder, that so many people study foreign languages in every possible way. Foreign language study groups are organized at industrial enterprises, at managerial offices of big firms, at research institutes, in a word, everywhere. Teachers of foreign language are in great demand. If you are a good specialist and besides you know a foreign language you needn't fear you may remain unemployed.
So, I'm completely convinced that to know a foreign language is absolutely necessary for all educated people and modern specialists. Everything depends on our own efforts. That's why I do my best to master the English language.
London.
The capital of Great Britain is London. London is one of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world. Its population is more than 8 million people.
London became the largest city of Britain during the Roman occupation. When the Romans came to Britain in the first century A.D.(our era) London was a small village. Many roads and buildings were built by the Romans, and even now parts of the Roman wall, built in the second century, can be seen. London is situated on the banks of the Thames. It is of the three largest ports in the world. Today about 50000 ships come to London every year. London today stretches for nearly 30 miles from north to south and for 30 miles from east to west. When you look through any guide of London you'll learn that most of the places of interest are situated in the City and the West End. The London City is the business part of London and the heart of the business life of the whole country.
The Tower of London, that comes first among the historic buildings of London, is situated in the City. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 was rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. It was built to defend London from invaders and kept London under the control of the Government. Now it is a museum of armour and also the place where Crown Jewels are kept.
A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. St. Paul's Cathedral is a wonderful example of Renaissance architecture. The history of the building dates back to the l7th century. In 1666 it was completely destroyed by fire (the Great Fire) because it was made of wood. In 1675 Sir Christopher Wren designed the Cathedral and started the construction. It look him 35 years to complete it. He was so old and weak at that time that his friends had to carry him on their hands when he wanted to see St. Paul's. Now it is the symbol and Landmark of London. It stretches for 157 meters. Its width is 75 meters and its height is 110 meters. The bell of St. Paul's Cathedral weighs 17 tons. But St. Paul's Cathedral is famous not only for its architecture. Here a lot of famous people are buried, Lord Admiral Nelson among them. Visitors are invited to the Whispering Gallery. A word, whispered at one end of this Gallery is heard at the other. Christopher Wren designed a great number of other buildings in London, among which there are 52 churches. The epitaph on his grave reads: "Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you". Not far away, in Westminster, another important part of London, where most of the Government buildings are situated, is Westminster Abbey. Many English kings and queens, outstanding statesmen, painters and poets are buried there.
Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the Britain Parliament. Its two graceful towers stand high above the city. The higher of the two - the Clock Tower - contains the largest clock in the country and the famous bell - Big Ben that strikes every quarter of the hour. The four clock faces are more than 22 feet in diameter. The hour-hands are 9 feet long, the minute - hands are 14 feet. The bell weighs more than 30 tons, the hammer, which strikes, weighs over 440 pounds. Big Ben chines the hours to notes from Hendel's music.
The other tower of Westminster Palace is the Victoria tower with the British flag flying from it. They call the flag Union Jack. It shows that the House is sitting. At night a light on top of the Clock Tower shows that Parliament is in session.
Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named so in the memory of Admiral Nelson's Victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The bell Nelson Column stands in the middle of the square. Trafalgar Square is the place where all kinds of meetings and demonstrations take place.
Opposite the Nelson monument is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. They contain the finest art collections of the world. Not far from the National Gallery is the British Museum famous for its rich library, which contains about 7 million books.
The West End is the richest and the most beautiful part of London. It is a symbol of wealth and luxury. English aristocracy lives in this region. The best hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs, park and houses can be found here.
The East End is an industrial district of London. There are many factories and the Port of London there. The region is densely populated by working class families. Old residents of the East End are proud to be called cockneys which means true Londons.
Reading Newspapers.
The newspaper is one of the most important mass media of communications in modern society. The aim of mass media is not only to inform the people of what is going on in the world, but to help them to understand and correctly interpret the events. It has also a great educational role to play. Broadly speaking it's a means of creating moral and political climate in the society.
"..." is the leading national daily in Belarus. It gives full attention to home and world events. This paper has become the source of my parents reading. This year we have subscribed to the weekly newspaper "...", which is very popular with all the members of our family. We are in the habit of reading this paper from cover to cover. My elder brother is fond of reading interviews given by famous people. My mother considers that the most interesting are publications dealing with the international life and the latest development in the world, economic development, education and science. I share her point of view and would like to add that public life, rich and interesting and important events, receive full coverage on the pages of "...".
The newspaper "Moscow News" which is especially useful for those who learn foreign languages, touches upon all urgent problems. Reading this informative newspaper we receive an objective information and feel well-informed in all fields of our life: economic, political, cultural and scientific. This edition is worth reading and helpful to us in learning English. Besides, it gives good coverage of youth problems. "Moscow News" has letters to the Editor column which gives its readers a chance to voice their opinions. It also helps to improve my English and keeps me informed on current events both at home and abroad.
Through their journalists and public correspondents the press keeps its finger on pulse of the country and the world.
Mass Media.
Radio came into being in the 20th in the USA and in the 30th in our country. And watching TV as well as listening to radio have become a social ritual. In fact, in the average family TV is watched 7 days a week. TV has proved the most effective in covering dramatic events, as TV viewers become direst witnesses of events. Technology continues to change the mass media. Computers are radically changing the printing process. Cables and satellites are expanding TV.
As for mass media in Belarus they are becoming more and more popular, but still leave much to be desired, as many of the TV programs are still very dull and even announcers don't have a good command of the Belarusian language. I admit that the revival of the national language and culture are of vital importance as mass media can play an important role here.
As far as it concerns me, I watch TV and listen to radio and subscribe to the newspaper... My favourite TV programme is... I look forward to Monday when... is on. I think that... is a very talented talk-show hostess and her(his) authority is very high. Among my favourite talk-show hosts I should name Vladimir Pozner... and some others.
What a pity I can't name any Belarusian talk-show hosts or announcers. I think there are many talented people in our country as well. In my opinion a contest should be held to find them. With their coming our TV will win thousands thankful viewers.
Addition:
Television came into our life about forty years ago. Since then it became an integral part of our lives. Nowadays television programs gather a big audience: a lot of average families gather before TV sets. It goes without saying that TV plays an important role in our lives. It gives us a lot of irreplaceable things. First of all I'd like to say that TV brings us the whole world. Just in a moment we can find ourselves in some country or land and see the customs, traditions, problems of people living there or travel around the world visiting various places of historical and cultural interest or some monuments of the history. We become better informed by watching scientific programs, we can learn the latest news, watching economic, social and political issues of the day. We can listen to some discussions and see the great events which will pass into history. Besides, TV plays a great educational role. Watching different educational programs, clubs enriches our intellect, we become more cultured people. And what about feature films? Surely they help us to relax after a hard day, watching the real play of actors.
Of course television is one of the greatest discoveries of our century. Telebridges and satellites expand TV.
Nature Protection.
The creature, who considers himself the most reasonable of all, above all animals, birds and plants has gained absolute power over nature and intoxicated with this power he has forgotten that he is only a part of nature as a whole and has no home other than the Earth. He forgot and ignored the conditions of coexistence in this common home, destroying everything around him providing him with food, water and opportunity to breath and enjoy life. Our activities in the forest, in the sea or even the skies rarely express a desire to take care of our smaller relatives.
Today the contradictions between man and nature are acquiring a dramatic character.
Pollution of air and water is one of the problems millions of people are concerned about today. Gone are the days when it seemed to man that there will always be bright blue sky, wild flowers, picturesque views to admire, fresh air to breathe, crystal clear water, etc. But now we feel at a loss, desperate, facing lots of ecological problems. Thousands of factories and plants release poisonous fume of millions of chimneys into atmosphere. Besides, the air is polluted by the exhausts of automobiles. All these upsets the oxygen balance, leads to the destruction of the ozone layer, can lead the whole planet to the global catastrophe. Because of the air pollution thousands of people suffer from lung diseases, become victims of smog. No less vital are problems of water pollution.
Most big cities pour their water into seas and rivers. For a long time people didn't realize their danger. The first alarm came from Japan. Some city people died as they had eaten polluted fish. Once we pollute the sea, it's very difficult to clean it. We know many places on the territory of the former USSR and on the Earth which were turned into deserts. There life was killed as a result of man's interference. There are large radio-active territories in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, contaminated with radio-active particles as a result of Chernobul nuclear disaster (explosion), the slow death of the Aral Sea and adjoining territories, the Kaspain Sea and the Baltic Sea problems. What can be done to save the life on our planet?
It seems urgent to build purifying systems to avoid the pollution of rivers. It's necessary to conserve our soil, water and forests. Another important factor which undermines people's health is noise in big cities. Something must be done to reduce it. Much can be achieved if factories and plants are removed from big cities especially very harmful ones. A very good example to follow is Sheffild. As a matter of fact Sheffild is one of England's largest cities. It's an industrial city, a steel-making centre of the country with lots of plants and factories in it. For more than a century it was a smoky and dirty city, and the view of chimneys releasing smoke and dirt was very characteristic of it. The city made great efforts to overcome the problem of pollution when it began the clean air campaign. Smoke Control Orders were introduced into various parts of the city. The factories and plants were redesigned and modified. Modern technology enabled the city to reduce the amount of the waste in the air, to trap harmful substances released into the air with smoke and to purify them by special filters. Massive redevelopment, wide scale tree planting and rigid smoke control have changed the whole environment. Gone are the smoke and the dirt that once blackened the atmosphere and a quarter of a million tulips are imported from Holland each year. Until recently only coloured tulips were ordered - the darker, the better. Today white tulips are also included and remain white during three or four weeks in which their lovely blooms bring an additional charm to the centre of the town. This example proves that much can be done if people start doing something and pass from words to deeds.
We all must treat environment protection as a matter of vital importance and fight against all kinds of pollution. As for scientists they have to carry out research work to develop new technologies, to find new ways to use waste as a raw material. As far as it concerns each of us we must do our best to change our mentality and realize that nature is our second home and we must do our best to keep it clean.
Addition:
Now, in the period of most intensive development of industry and agriculture, the problem of nature conservation should be considered by a special service. The countries - members of the United Nation Organisation have set up environmental protection agencies. Numerous conferences have been held by these agencies to discuss questions of ecologically poor regions including Chernobyl, the Arial Sea and others.
In 1987 a "Green Peace" public commission has been set up. It's main goal is to combine the people's efforts for peace with movement for nature conservation.
The Earth is our home. Environment protection is a universal concern. That is why serious measures to create a system of ecological security should be taken.
Plants play a very important part in conservation and protection of soil, water and animals. They protect soil from the wind and keep water in the soil. Trees give off a lot of oxygen into the air.
Protection of the Environment.
About 200 years ago man lived in a greater harmony with his environment because industry was not so much developed. Today the situation is quite different. People all over the world are worried about what is happening to the environment because of modern industry and the need of more and more energy. Newspapers and magazines write about water pollution. Every year the world of industry pollutes the million tons of dust and other harmful substances. People of many cities suffer from smog. Forests are disappearing and this upsets oxygen balance. The pollution of the air, the world's oceans, seas, rivers and lakes and the destruction of the ozone layer could lead our planet to a global catastrophe.
If we think of the harm that the Chernobyl nuclear power station explosion has done and will do to people it may well be considered the biggest disaster of the 20th century, a national affliction that has changed the destinies of thousands upon thousands of people living on a vast territory. As a result of the accident over 50 million curie of various radionuclides were thrown into the atmosphere. More than 18% of its territory (1623 thousand hectares) were subjected to radioactive contamination. 27 towns and 2697 villages in 5 out of 6 regions with up to 2 million population (one fifth of the republic's population) have been hit. An enormous damage has been done to the republic's agriculture.