Read the text below. Use your dictionary to help.
Hello. My name is Paul Simon. I am British. I am from Bristol, which is situated on the river Avon, in the South-West of England. I'm a language student at Christ Church College in Oxford. Christ Church College is quite famous and I'm proud to be a student of it. I'm twenty. I'm not married yet, I'm single. My new friends are from various countries — Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Holland and Japan, too. We are very friendly but it isn't quite easy to understand each other. You see, our accents are so different! Sabine is French. Her home town is Bordeaux. She is in her late teens. Sabine is very smart and her English is rather good. She is keen on classical music and art. Mr Lewis, our language teacher is from Manchester. He is intelligent, experienced and always ready to help. My favourite subjects are Literature and History. I'm also interested in Natural Sciences and I'm good at sports. My hobbies are table tennis and computer games.
Am I happy here? Yes, sure. The only trouble is my parents are far away and I feel a bit lonely sometimes.
Comprehension check
Are the following sentences true or false? If false, say why.
1. Paul is British.
2. He is a History student.
3. His friends are from Britain and Holland.
4. Mr Lewis is a language student.
5. He is not very clever.
6. Sabine is from France.
7. It's not easy to understand Sabine because of her French accent.
8. Paul is keen on music and tennis.
9. His hobbies are computer games and art.
10. Paul is proud to be a student at Christ Church College.
2. Read and translate the text. Choose true (+) or false (-).
Vicky’s family.
Hello, my name’s Vicky. I’m from England. This is my family. I’ve got mother, father, an older sister and a younger brother. My mum’s name is Erin. She’s from Scotland. She’s a housewife. My dad’s name is Kevin. He’ s from London. He’s forty – one. His hobby is fishing. My sister’s name is Kim. She’s a student. Her favourite subject ‘s Science. Benny’s my brother. He’s only three. He’s very nice. Besides, we’ve got a cat. The cat’s name’s Fluffy. He’s white. He likes fish.
1. There are five people in Vicky’s family.
2. Vicky’s got an older brother.
3. Vicky’s father is from England.
4. Erin’s a housewife.
5. Fluffy ’a pet.
6. Erin’s mother is from England.
7. Kim is Vicky’s older sister.
8. Kevin’s favourite subject is Science.
9. Benny is nice.
3.Hello! I am Jane. I am 21. I am a student. I consider it to be a special time in my life. Student life is always full of fun, new impressions and knowledge. I like being a student. Each day I learn something new and communicate with my friends. We meet almost every day. Sometimes we stay at the university after classes to prepare our homework for the next day or just to talk about our student life.I like spending time with my friends. We often visit each other. I can talk with them for hours. They can help me and support me in any situation. I can say the same about my parents, with whom I live. My mother is a very wise woman. She understands me. We are not only close relatives, but also close friends. We have the same favourite colours — green and blue. These are the colours of nature and the sky. Our family hobby is travelling. We like seeing new places, meeting new people, exchanging our impressions. We often travel in summer and in winter. I adore Turkey, Egypt, and France. These countries have their own traditions, unique nature and culture.My other hobbies are music and theatre. I often visit the theatre. I sympathize with the characters on the stage. I try to understand them and, finally, I find it easier to solve my own problems watching the play. I understand my family and friends better. I am grateful to them for being so close to me, for their understanding and support.
Словарь
to consider — считать
an mpression (s) — впечатление
to exchange — обмениваться
unique — уникальный
to sympathize with — сочувствовать
to be grateful to smb — быть благодарным кому-либо
4. My name is Alexander. I am a student of Kostroma Technology University. I am 17 years old. I am rather tall, thin. I am well-built, to my mind. I have an oval face with a straight nose. My eyes are rather big and brown. I have long eyelashes. My lips are neither thin nor full. My hair is dark and I have a shortcut.Nowadays it’s expensive to be smart and fashionable but I try to be well-dressed and neatly. I have no beard and mustache. I usually wear a pullover and dark trousers. I was born in January. I am a Capricorn. So I am serious but I couldn’t say for sure, that I am quite.First of all I enjoy listening to loud music. I like merry company and parties. As for my character I am cheerful, honest, sociable. I have a sense of humor. I like jokes. I am brought up and have good manners. I don’t respect rude, selfish and foolish people. I hate it when people lie and can’t keep their promise. I also hate it when people interrupt others because it’s impossible to have a talk with them. I try to deal with people who are honest, polite, disciplined they never lie and help in a difficult situation. I am a sportsman. I go in for track and field. So I also go in for sport only sport makes people healthy, active, forms a character.
5.Let me introduce myself. My full name is Andrei Andreevich Ivanov. I have been named after my father and I am very happy about it.I was born on April, 7, 1981 in Moscow. I descend from the family of the office-workers. I am an only child in the family. I am a pupil of the eleventh form of a secondary school. I finish school this year. I want to enter the University of Moscow. That is why I have to study twice as hard as an ordinary pupil. I do not only do my best at school, I take a preparatory course at the University. The course lasts for six months.We have lectures and seminars three times a week: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I come to the University at 5 p.m. and leave it at 8 p.m. The lectures on literature, social sciences and history are given in the lecture-rooms. The seminars are held in small groups in the class-rooms. We have classes of English too. During our English classes we read and translate texts, discuss books, listen to the tape-recorder. At the University we learn a lot of useful and interesting things. But most of all I like the subject of my future speciality. I am always very busy, but when I am free I like to read books. My favourite writer is Ernest Hemingway. I like to go to the museums and art galleries. My favourite painter is Rembrandt van Rijn. I have a lot of friends. But my best friend is Nick. I like to travel. My parents and I have visited many ancient Russian towns. I am on friendly terms with my parents. I am very happy...
2.“Higher education”(высшее образование)
audience [ 'ɔ:diəns ] – аудитория, слушающие
auditorium [ ˌɔ:di'tɔ:riəm ] – аудитория, зал
admission / enrollment – поступление
cafeteria [ ˌkæfə'tiəriə ] – столовая
class – занятия
course – курс
dean – декан
dean's office - деканат
degree – ученая степень
department – отделение
diploma [ di'pləumə ] - диплом
exam [ ig'zæm ] / examination [ igzæmi'neiʃn ] - экзамен
faculty – факультет
finals – выпускные экзамены, государственные экзамены
freshman – первокурсник
graduation [ ˌgræʤu'eiʃn ] – окончание учебного заведения, выпуск
group / class - группа
higher education / higher learning – высшее образование
institute – институт
lecture [ 'lektʃə ] – лекция
lecturer [ 'lektʃərə ] - лектор
lodgings (BrE) / dormitory (AmE) – общежитие
mark / grade – отметка, оценка
notes – конспект
professor - профессор
sophomore (AmE) – студент-второкурсник
student - студент
teacher – преподаватель
test – тест, контрольная
term (BrE) / semester (AmE) - семестр
university / college (AmE) – университет