The Great Romantic
Lord Byron (1788-1824) didn’t live a long life. He was an aristocrat and a fashionable man. But he loved freedom (свободу) and a simple country life. His personality attracted Britain and all Europe. He brought to his poetry romanticism of his times. He was talented and handsome, noble and brave. London admired him.
George Gordon Byron was born on January 22nd, 1788. He was the son of John Byron and his wife, Catherine, whose ancestors (предки) were of the royal house of Stuart. He spent his early years outside the capital. He lived in the north. Later his mother took him to Aberdeen. There they lived for several years. George went to Aberdeen Grammar School and there is a monument to him outside the school. Now it is a museum and art gallery. Later he studied at Harrow School and the University of Cambridge.
When Byron was 19, he came to London. One day the poet wrote, “I woke up (проснулся) and found myself (обнаружил, что я) famous.” It happened after the publication of his autobiographic poem “Childe Harold” in 1812.
The fact is that from 1809 to 1811 he had traveled in different parts of Europe and in the poem he described everything that had happened to him.
In the summer of 1816 Byron left Britain forever (навсегда). He traveled around Europe and soon he became a member of the Greek liberation movement (освободительное движение), for which he died. But he did not lead the Greeks in battle as he wished. He died of fever (лихорадка).
I. Переведите на английский язык.
1) Он любил свободу и простую сельскую жизнь.
2) Он принес в свою поэзию романтизм того времени.
3) Сейчас это музей и галерея искусства.
II. Ответьте на следующие вопросы.
1) When and where was G. Byron born?
2) Where did he study?
3) What did he describe in the poem?
4) When did he die?
CHRISTMAS
The 25th of December is Christmas Day. It’s a happy holiday for many people in different countries.
Some week before Christmas English people are busy. They send greeting cards to all their relatives and friends. You can buy Christmas cards or you can make them. Many children make their cards at school.
People buy a Christmas tree and decorate it with toys, colored balls and little colored lights.
On Christmas Eve people put their presents under the tree. When children go to bed, they put their stockings near their beds.
At night Father Christmas comes. He has got a big bag of presents for children. He puts the presents in the children’s stockings.
Every year there is a very big Christmas tree in the centre of London, in Trafalgar Square. This is a present from the people of Norway to the people of Great Britain. They send it to Londoners every year and Londoners decorate the Christmas tree.
In the evening before Christmas people like to come to Trafalgar Square to look at the tree. On Christmas Eve streets in London are decorated, too.
The shops are very busy at Christmas. People want to buy presents for their family and friends (for their nearest and dearest). And they buy a lot of food and drink for all the Christmas parties.
People open their presents on Christmas morning and they all are happy with what they get.
For Christmas lunch people eat turkey, potatoes and green vegetables. Then they have the Christmas pudding. At five o’clock it’s time for tea and Christmas cake.
On Christmas people wish their nearest and dearest a merry Christmas.
The day after Christmas is Boxing Day. People usually visit their relatives and friends. They do not work on that day.
Answer the questions.
1) Why are people busy some weeks before Christmas?
2) Where can people get Christmas cards?
3) Where is a Christmas tree from?
4) What are the traditional Christmas dishes?
5) What is Boxing Day?
6) Do English people like Christmas?
Complete the sentences.
1. Many children make their cards at …….
2. Father Christmas puts the presents in the children’s ………..
3. There is a very big Christmas tree in the centre of ………
4. On Christmas people wish their nearest and dearest a ……….
5. They do not………. on that day.
Monsters of the sea?
People have always been afraid of sharks. Films like “ Jaws” have shown them as monsters. But now these animals are in danger, like many others.
In recent years, shark meat has become a popular food in America. Too much fishing has begun to reduce the numbers of some kinds of shark. Some people say this is a good thing. Sharks kill about twenty-five people a year near the world’s beaches. Are we going to help sharks, or are they going to become extinct?
It’s hard to solve the sharks’ “ image” problem and change people’s minds about them. Sharks are hunters and so they naturally kill. But actually elephants kill more people than sharks every year – and every–one likes elephants.
Sharks are very important for the world’s oceans. They eat unhealthy fish and keep the numbers of different kinds of sea animals in balance. Now scientists are trying to find way to protect these animals. They have been in the oceans for 350 million years. Perhaps they can survive a little longer.
Выберите соответствующие содержанию текста предложения.
1. Films have shown sharks as monsters.
2. Sharks are in danger like others.
3. Shark meat has become a popular food only in Canada.
4. The number of some kinds of shark has reduced because of much fishing.
5. All people say this is good that a number of some kinds of sharks has reduced.
6. Sharks are not monsters because they don’t kill anybody.
7. It’s not hard to solve sharks ‘image’ problem.
8. Sharks are hunters so they naturally kill.
9. Elephants kill less people than sharks, so people like them.
10.Sharks are very important for the world’s oceans because they kill unhealthy fish.
11.Sharks have been in the oceans for 200 years.