Программа по формированию навыков безопасного поведения на дорогах и улицах «Добрая дорога детства» 2

X. Prove that the author was right/not right to say that the climate of New England is unlikely to celebrate Thanksgiving late in autumn (in writing).


TEST 2

NATIONAL CHARACTER

I. Read and translate the texts.

Text 1. English Character.

One of most striking features of English life is the self discipline and courtesy of people of all classes. There is little noisy behaviour, and practically no long disputing in the street. People do not rush excitedly for seat on buses or trains, but take their seat in queues at bus stops in a quiet and orderly manner.

Englishmen are naturally polite and are never tired of saying “Thank you”, “I’m sorry”, ”Beg your pardon”. If you follow anyone who is entering a building or a room, he will hold a door open for you. Many foreigners have commented on a remarkable politeness of the English people.

English people don’t like displaying their emotions even in dangerous and tragic situations, and ordinary people seem to remain good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties.

The Englishman does not like any boasting or showing off in manner, dress or speech. Sometimes he conceals his knowledge: a linguist, for example, may not mention his understanding of a foreigner’s language.

The Englishman prefers his own house to an apartment in a block of flats, because he does not wish his doings to be overlooked by his neighbours. An Englishman’s house is his Castle.

Many Englishmen help their wives at home in many ways. They clean the windows on Saturday afternoon, they often wash up the dishes after supper in the evening.

Sunday is a very quiet day in London. All the shops are closed, and so are the theaters and most of the cinemas. Londoners like to get out of town on Sundays. The sea is not far – only fifty or sixty miles away. People like to go down to the sea in summer or somewhere to the country for skiing in winter.

Text 2. American Character.

American society seems to be mush more informal than the British and, in some ways, is characterized by less social distinction. Students do not rise when the teacher enters the room. One does not always address a person by his title, such as “Major” or “General” or “Doctor” in the case of a holder of a Doctor or Philosophy degree. The respectful “Sir” is not always used in the Northern and Western parts of the country.

However, it is best to use a person’s title when first meeting them, and then allow the person to tell you how they wish to be called.

They use first names when calling each other, slap on the back, joke and much free in their speech, which is more slangy than the Conventional British English. You will often hear the word “Hi” (a form of greeting among friends) used instead of the usual “Hello”, and “Howdy” instead of “How do you do?”

Those who don’t show their signs of friendship are called “snooty” or “snobbish” In contrast, who show such simple signs of friendship, particularly to their own economic and social inferiors, are praised as “regular guys”, or as “truly democratic”. As a description of character, democratic is generally used to signify that a person of high economic or social status acts in such a way that his or her inferiors are not reminded of their inferiority.

Yet, in spite of all the informality, Americans, even in the way they address each other, show consciousness of social distinction. For example, one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors. While the informal “Hello” is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say “Hello, Mr. Ferguson”, while the employer may reply “Hello, Jim”. Southerners make a point of saying “Yes, sir”, or “Yes, Ma’am”, or “No, sir”, or “No, Ma’am”, when talking to an older person or a person in a position of authority. While this is good form all over the United States, “Yes, Mr. Weston” or “No, Mrs. Baker” is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West.

Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions. Woman may wear hats in church, in restaurants, and often when attending luncheons in public places and other public social functions except those that take place in the evening. Men who wear hats ordinarily remove them in elevators, Churches, restaurants, private homes, business offices- in fact, in most public situations when they wish to show respect

(From The USA by G.D Tomaikhin, abridged).

Text 3. American Meals

Americans usually have three meals a day. Breakfast usually comes before eight o’clock in the morning, since most people have to be getting off to work and children have to leave for school. Lunch is served between twelve and one o’clock, and dinner, the main meal, is generally between six and eight in the evening.

Breakfast in America may be orange juice, toast and coffee, or juice and cold dry cereal with milk. Lunch in America is usually a small meal – a sandwich, salad or soup.

People who work must either take brown-bag or get it near their work place. School children take sandwiches, fruit, and cookies along with them or eat in the school’s cafeteria.

Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch that many Americans enjoy on Sunday. Scrambled eggs or omelets are served along with other, regular luncheon dishes. It is usually served about eleven in the morning.

Dinner is ordinarily planned around meat course, pork, or variations of fowl such as chicken or turkey. Ground beef is called hamburger and ground pork is sausage. In addition to meat, an American dinner often includes potatoes or rice, and a green or yellow vegetable.

Text 4. Character and Behavior.

From “Art for Heart’s Sake” by Rube Goldberg (adapted)

Koppel heard the front-door bell and was glad to leave the room. He found Doctor Caswell in the hall downstairs.

“I can’t do a thing with him,” he told the doctor. “I can’t persuade him to take his medicine. He doesn’t want me to read to him. He hates television. He doesn’t like anything.”

Doctor Caswell took the information with his usual professional calm. This was not an ordinary case. The old gentleman, Collis P. Ellsworth by name, was in pretty good health for a man of seventy. But it was necessary to keep him from buying things. His financial transactions always ended in failure, which was bad for his health.

But the old man hated it when anybody interfered in his affairs and ordered him to do things.

The doctor would like to make a suggestion. He didn’t want to argue with the old man.

“As a matter of fact I’d like to suggest that you should take up painting,” he said.

Much to his surprise the old man agreed. He only asked who was going to teach him drawing.

“I’ve thought of that too,” said the doctor. “I know a student from an art school who can come round once a week If you don’t like it, after a little while you can throw him out.”

The person he had in mind and promised to bring round was a certain Frank Swain, eighteen years old and a capable student. Like most students he needed money. Doctor Caswell kept his promise. He got in touch with Frank Swain and the lessons began. The old man liked it so much that when at the end of the first lesson Koppel, Mr. Ellsworth’s servant and nurse, came in and apologized to him for interrupting the lesson, as the old man needed a rest, Ellsworth looked disappointed. When the art student came the following week, he saw a drawing on the table. It was a vase. But something was definitely wrong with it. In fact it was lop-sided.

“I see that the halves don’t match,” said the old man. “I can’t say I am good at drawing.” He added a few lines with a shaky hand and painted the vase blue like a child playing with a picture book.

“Listen, young man,” he whispered. “I’ve been thinking… Could you afford the time to come twice a week or perhaps three times?”

“Sure, Mr. Ellsworth,” the student said respectively. “When shall I come?”

They arranged to meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The weeks went by. When spring came, Ellsworth painted a picture which he called ‘Trees Dressed in White.’ The picture was awful. The trees in the picture looked like salad thrown against the wall. Then he announced that he was going to display it at Summer Show at the Lathrop Gallery – the biggest exhibition of the year. All outstanding artists in the United States dreamt of winning a Lathrop prize.

To the astonishment of all ‘Trees Dressed in White’ was accepted for the Show.

Young Swain went to he exhibition one afternoon and blushed when he saw ‘Trees Dressed in White’ hanging on the wall. As two visitors stopped in front of the strange picture, Swain rushed out. He was ashamed that a picture like that had been accepted for the Show. He didn’t want to hear what they might say.

However Swain did not give up teaching the old man. Every time Koppel entered the room he found the old man painting something. Koppel even thought of hiding the brush from him.

The old man seldom mentioned his picture and was unusually cheerful.

Two days before the close of the exhibition Ellsworth received a letter. Koppel brought it when Swain and the Doctor were in the room. “Read it to me,” asked the old man, putting aside the brush he was holding in his hand. “My eyes are tired from painting.”

The letter said: “It gives the Lathrop Gallery pleasure to announce that Collis P. Ellsworth has been awarded the First Prize of $10 000 for his painting ‘Trees Dressed in White.’”

Swain became dumb with astonishment. Koppel dropped the glass with juice and did not bend to pick up the fragments. Doctor Caswell managed to keep calm. “Congratulations, Mr. Ellsworth,” said the doctor. “Fine… Frankly, I didn’t expect your picture would win the prize…well…anyway I’ve proved to you that art is more satisfying business.”

“Art is nothing, I bought the Lathrop Gallery,” said the old man very pleased with the effect of his deception.

II. Transcribe and translate the following phrases and combinations.