НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

С.В. Лазаревич О.А. Немцова

General English

First Year

Учебное пособие для 1 курса

Часть 2

Нижний Новгород 2004

Лазаревич С. В., Немцова О. А.

General English. First Year: Учебное пособие для 1 курса. Часть 2. – Н.Новгород: НИМБ, 2004.

Данное учебное пособие предназначено для студентов 1 курс˝а очного отделения, 1-2 курсов заочного отделения, слушателей курсов˝ английского языка.

Текстовый материал включает широкий спектр общеобразов˝ательных тем. Целью пособия является оказание практической помощи˝ в освоении языкового материала, необходимого для общения в англоязы˝чной среде.

©Лазаревич С.В., Немцова О.А., 2004

©Нижегородский институт менеджмента и бизнеса, 2004

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	2
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

LESSON 12

The Past Perfect Tense. Сравнение the Past Simple Tense и the Past Perfect Tense. Согласование времен. Прямая и косвенная речь. Утвердите˝льные предложения в косвенной речи.The Future Simple in the Past.

Text 1

Read the text, translate and retell it.

Seasons

There are four seasons in the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. March, April and May are spring months. When spring comes everything is full of life and joy. The sun shines brightly and the days are warmer and

longer. The snow begins to melt and there are a lot of merry streams everywhere. The first green leaves and fresh grass appear. Many trees burst into a cloud of blossom in spring time, cherry trees are especially beautiful in May. The first spring flowers appear. The white snow-drop is one of the first spring flowers. Then forget-me-nots, violets, tulips and daffodils make their appearance. Birds come back from the South, build their nests, hatch and rear their chicks. You can enjoy their twittering and singing among the trees. Everything is so fresh and beautiful, even people look younger.

In June summer sets in. June, July and August are summer months. By the end of June the weather becomes much warmer and July is the warmest month of the year. Summer is full of beauty. The sky is blue, the sun is bright and hot. When it rains in summer the rain is warm and doesn’t last long. When it’s over the flowers smell sweet, the sun shines brightly, the air is clear and there is a rainbow in the sky. There are a lot of berries and mushrooms in the forests. People enjoy summer very much, it’s time to have a vacation and spend a lot of time in the open air.

Towards the end of August we notice that autumn is slowly approaching. The days become shorter and cooler. The weather is very changeable: it is bitterly cold at times, a piercing wind blows, it sometimes drizzles and it often rains. It’s more pleasant to stay indoors. The green leaves turn yellow, golden, red and brown and fall off covering the ground with a thick carpet. Most birds go away to warmer countries.

Autumn is harvesting time, the time when grain crops, vegetables and fruit ripen. A spell of nice weather in late September and early October is called Indian Summer. The days are full of sunshine and charm, there are light clouds in the sky, the air is fresh and clear.

Little by little autumn yields to winter. There are no leaves on the trees and flowers in the fields and gardens. The snow lies thick on the ground, all rivers and lakes are frozen. On a frosty sunny day everything looks so beautiful covered with snow and ice glittering in the sun, many people enjoy winter

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	3
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

because it is a healthy season and a very good time for different sports – skating, skiing, hockey, tobogganing. But winter isn’t always very snowy and frosty like in a fairy-tale. There are some periods when the sky is grey with clouds, it hails or sleets and strong winds blow. There are severe frosts and snowstorms. Everybody looks forward to the spring to come.

All seasons are different and each of them has its own charm. We have a choice of four seasons and it depends on us which of them can become our favourite one.

Text 2

Fill the sentences with the verbs from the box.

Seasons and the Weather

put on, go shopping, comes, shone, blew off, freezes, saw, rained, listened to, stopped, went, hope.

We have a lot of rain in England. If you come to England, bring both a raincoat and an umbrella. You will find them useful.

It heavily … all morning on the 17th of March. The rain … about two o’clock and I … out for a walk. There was a cold wind blowing, so I … my heaviest and warmest coat. As I was walking around the High Street the wind … my hat.

I have just … the 9 o’clock news. It will freeze hard in most parts of the country, they say.

In April we have really spring weather. Yesterday the sun … for several hours during the early part of the day. Now the sky is cloudy and it looks like rain. The gardens are full of spring flowers and all the people in the village are busy sowing seeds.

I think, June is one of the best months of the year. The days are very warm. The people … warm weather. Children go to the river to swim. I … how one small girl was learning to swim. I used to swim in this river when I was a boy.

Summer ends and then autumn… . September is still warm but in October it’s beginning to get quite cold. It’s often foggy. It rains heavily. We’re looking forward to Christmas. We … to buy Christmas presents.

In January it sometimes snows much. Today is the 5th of January. It is snowing now. In places the snow is already three feet deep. If it … the roads will be very dangerous. There is nothing worse than frozen snow. The worst winter I remember was the winter we came to live here. The snow was so deep that for several days we were cut off from the rest of the country. We had no letters and no newspapers. I … it isn’t going to be as bad again this January.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	4
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

Text 3

Here is astory about the weather in England but different parts are in the wrong order. Put them in the right order.

like? Nice day. Fine day today. A beautiful day, isn’t it? Isn’t the weather awful? What a dreadful day! It’s pouring outside – raining cats and dogs.

rains have all gone, and the sun is warm for the first time. Of course it rains sometimes too, and it is often cloudy, but not so often as in winter. It rains quite often all the year round in England. That’s why it is such a green country, with long rich grass for the cattle and sheep, and beautiful lawns in the gardens.

The best time of the year in England is spring and early summer. Then cold winds and fog and heavy

Weather

The English are famous for their tea and their weather. And the English are always talking about their weather. But English weather is never the same two days running. So everyone notices it. Awful day, isn’t? Lovely weather for ducks. Did you have good weather? What was the weather?

But foggy weather is the worst. A thick white fog rolls in from the sea all over London and the cities, and then mixes with smoke from a million chimneys. The fog gets thicker and dirtier, and yellow and full of black soot. In London this is called smog, a mixture of smoke and fog. Then it is dark in the middle of the day and people cannot see their way, buses and cars crawl along slowly with their lights on, blowing their horns, and everyone coughs.

People go to the seaside, to the coast, to bathe in the sea and dig in the sand. But in autumn, even when the sun shines, there is the winter to follow.

Everyone in England hates to wake up in the morning and see a yellow fog through the window. They get up, eat their breakfast and put on their coats and scarves and gloves and hats.

The ice is hard enough, then everyone who has skates gets them out and skates on the rivers and pools. The east wind is cold and blows in from the North Sea. All England shivers, especially in the east. The Welsh are lucky, because Wales is in the west and is warmer than most of England.

Autumn is sometimes a time of very good weather, with clear blue skies and the sun shining every day. But spring is better because after spring comes summer, a short English summer,

Sometimes England has no snow at all in winter, but Scotland usually has some after Christmas.

England is a difficult country for people who work outdoors, people like milkmen, people like farmers, and postmen and policemen. In the morning it can be cold, in the afternoon warm and in the evening raining. One day it rains, the next day it may be sunny and the third it can be cold again.

“Terrible weather!” say twenty million Englishmen, as they go to work in such a morning.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	5
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

ORAL PRACTICE

Learn the dialogue by heart. Act it out.

The Weather Forecast

Paul and Judy live in Birmingham. It’s a large city in the Midlands. They’re planning a weekend holiday.

Paul: I say, Judy! Why don’t we go to Scotland? Judy: It’s a very long way.

Paul: Oh, it isn’t too far. Anyway, the motorway’s very good, so we can get there quickly.

Judy: But Scotland’s often cold at this time of the year. It may snow! Paul: Well, yes… it may... but I don’t think it will.

Judy: I’m not sure. It is February, and I’m frightened of driving in snow. And we may not be able to find a hotel. They may be closed.

Paul: Oh, that’s no problem. I can book a hotel by phone.

Judy: Well, perhaps it’s not a bad idea. We may have beautiful weather. Paul: Oh, we’ll enjoy ourselves anyway. Let’s watch the weather forecast on television. We may not go to Scotland, we may go to Wales or London. We can decide after the forecast.

***

Read the following dialogues and act them out. 1.

-Hello, Charles.

-Hello, Dick, lovely day, isn’t it?

-Absolutely wonderful, nice and warm. What’s the weather forecast for tomorrow? Do you know?

-Yes, it says it will be bright and sunny.

-How nice. Nice weather for outing.

-You are right.

2.

-Oh, that’s you, Tony. What is it like outdoors?

-It seems to be clearing up.

-What do you mean by clearing up?

-A big improvement of what we’ve been having. Quite different from the forecast.

-They say we are in for snow. It’s supposed to cloud over this afternoon.

-Let’s hope it keeps fine for the weekend.

3.

-It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?

-Oh, yes, most lovely. There isn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun is shining brightly. I’m afraid it may be very hot in the afternoon.

-It’s 20°C now. I’ve just heard on the radio the temperature may rise to 29°C in the afternoon.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	6
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

-It wouldn’t be very nice. I can’t stand such heat. I’m simply melting.

-Well, as for me, I like hot weather better than cold.

-I can’t stand cold weather either.

4.

-Good morning, Mrs. Williams. How are you this morning?

-I’m quite all right, thank you, Mr. Jones. And how are you?

-Fine, too, thank you. Nice day, isn’t it?

-Absolutely lovely. Much warmer than yesterday, I believe, though a bit misty. Have you heard the weather forecast for today by the way?

-Yes, I have. It says the early morning mist is to clear before noon and the rest of the day will be bright and sunny with the temperature between 15° C and 17° C.

-Good, what’s the outlook for tomorrow?

-It says there will be little change, so I believe we may have a few fine days after all.

-Splendid. A fine weekend is just what we all need, don’t we?

-Oh, yes, quite true. Good-bye, Mrs. Williams.

-Good-bye, Mr. Jones.

5.

-Well, I can’t get used to such weather. It can change several times a day. It may be hot in the morning and very cold in the evening.

-Yes, that’s just what happened yesterday.

-And weather forecasts aren’t very helpful, are they?

-No, not very often. But there’s nothing to be done, you’ll have to put up with it.

6.

Kate: What a terrible day today!

Micael: Yes, the weather is awful, isn’t it? K. I hate it when it rains.

M. So do I. It was worse yesterday, wasn’t it? It rained all day long. K. Do you know the weather forecast for tomorrow?

M. There is no change for the better. It’s cold and rainy in the morning and windy in the afternoon.

K. This is too bad. I won’t be able to go for a walk.

***

Translate the Russian replies into English and act out the following dialogues.

1.

-Чудесный день, не правда ли? Солнечно, тепло и легкий ветерок.

-I think it’s one of the loveliest days this month.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	7
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

-Интересно, будет ли тепло завтра и послезавтра. Я собираюсь на дачу на субботу и воскресенье.

-I’ve just heard the weather forecast on the radio: warm in the morning and in the evening, hot in the afternoon, clear sky and a lot of sunshine.

-Вы не хотели бы присоединиться ко мне? Позагораете, побудете на свежем воздухе, отдохнете.

-I’d love to but I’m going to my grandparents. Thank you very much for your invitation.

2.

-I think the weather will change soon.

-И я тоже. Эта зима была очень холодная, с сильными морозами и пронизывающим ветром. И снег пошел только в феврале.

-That’s true. But winter has already passed, hasn’t it?

-Да, но сейчас конец марта, а температура все еще ниже нуля, ветрено и снег повсюду. Выгляни в окно.

-Oh , it’s snowing again. I hoped to go for a walk but now I won’t go out. I’d rather stay indoors.

-Конечно, это лучше. Но мне надо встретиться с Мэри на вокзале. Она сегодня приезжает из Канады.

-Then put on your warm coat and don’t forget to take an umbrella for Mary.

-Постараюсь.

***

Translate into English:

К. В Нью-Йорке ведь ужасная погода?

М. Да, она может меняться несколько раз в течение дня. Днем м˝ожет быть жарко, а вечером очень холодно.

К. Да, это произошло вчера. Прогнозы погоды не очень полезны˝. Не правда ли?

М. Нет, конечно. Осень здесь дождливая. К. Я ненавижу дождь.

Ì. ß òîæå.

К. А как зимой? Много ли снега зимой?

М. Нет, снега здесь мало. Как жаль (That is a pity), я люблю кататься на лыжах.

***

Insert the verb “to be”:

There … four seasons in a year: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. In spring, Nature awakens from her long winter sleep. There … fresh

green grass in the fields and in the forests, in the gardens, and in the parks. The leaves in the trees … fresh and green too. It gets warmer and warmer

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	8
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

every day. The snow melts. The days become longer, and the nights become shorter. The birds come back from the South. It … a very good season.

But my favourite season … summer. There … no seminars or lectures in summer, and summer holidays … the longest. Summer … a warm season. It … usually very hot in summer. There … a lot of fruit and vegetables in summer. Forests … full of berries and mushrooms in summer. Fields … full of beautiful flowers. I like summer.

As for autumn, I think it … a “tasty” season. We usually gather harvest in autumn. It … a very beautiful season, too. Forests and gardens turn yellow, red and brown. Leaves from the trees fall down on the ground. Birds fly away to the South. The days become shorter and the nights become longer. It often rains in autumn. Children go to school in autumn. The weather gets colder in autumn.

And, of course, I like winter. The air … fresh in winter. Everything … white with snow. The rivers … frozen, and we can skate and play hockey. The forests … covered with deep snow, and we can go skiing. It is usually very cold in winter. Winter … a very hard time for birds and animals, because there … no food for them in winter and it is very cold. We must take care of birds in winter and help them to live through winter. I like winter because in winter there … a nice holiday – New Year. We usually have a lot of fun in winter.

Each season … good and it … difficult to choose the best.

Read the dialogues, learn them by heart. Enact them.

	1.
D. – Danilov	V. – Victorov

D.: It’s a lovely day today, isn’t it? I’m going for a walk.

V.:Yes. It’s a wonderful weather we’re having. I hope it’ll keep fine. D.: It seems almost too good to last.

V.: It’s a very pleasant change after all the rain we’ve had. But it’s a bit too hot for me D.: I say! I don’t like the look of those clouds over there in the west.

V.: It seems to be clouding over, doesn’t it? D.: Still, I don’t think it will rain.

V.:You never can tell... I’d better say goodbye, as I haven’t got my umbrella with me.

D.:Yes, perhaps, I’d better turn back. I was going for a walk, but I’ll have to go home instead.

V.: Well, goodbye! I hope we’ll meet again soon.

2.

D.: Hello! Isn’t it a terrible day?

V.: Yes, it’s awful. It’s raining cats and dogs! You look wet through.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	9
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

D.: Yes, I’m soaked to the skin. It’s all because I didn’t bring my raincoat this morning. The weather looked nice, so I left it at home.

V.: Do you think it’ll clear up soon?

D.: It might ... But probably not today. The weather forecast was rain, rain the whole day.

GRAMMAR EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: Past Simple, Past Continuous è Past Perfect.

1. By eight o’clock yesterday I (to do) my homework and at eight I (to play) the piano. 2. By six o’clock father (to come) home and at six he (to have) dinner. 3. By nine o’clock yesterday grandmother (to wash) the dishes and at nine she (to watch) TV. 4. When I (to meet) Tom, he (to eat) the icecream which he (to buy) at the corner of the street. 5. When I (to come) home, my sister (to read) a book which she (to bring) from the library. 6. When mother (to come) home, the children (to eat) the soup which she (to cook) in the morning. 7. When I (to ring) up Mike, he still (to learn) the poem which he (to begin) learning at school. 8. When I (to look) out of the window, the children (to play) with a ball which Pete (to bring) from home. 9. By ten o’clock the children (to settle) comfortably on the sofa and at ten they (to watch) a TV film. 10. When father (to come) home, we (to cook) the mushrooms which we (to gather) in the wood. 11. When I (to see) Ann, she (to sort) the flowers which she (to pick) in the field. 12. When I (to come) home yesterday, I (to see) that my little brother (to break) my pen and (to play) with its pieces. 13. When I (to open) the door of the classroom, I (to see) that the teacher already (to come) and the pupils (to write) a dictation.

Exercise 2. Use the Past Simple Tense, the Past Continuous Tense or the Past Perfect Tense.

1. When I called at his house, they (to tell) me that he (to leave) an hour before. 2. When I came to the station, I (not to find) my friend there as I (to be) five minutes late and the train (to leave). 3. He (to want) to visit the place where he (to live) in his childhood. 4. The telegram (to come) some minutes after he (to leave). 5. She (to look) very tired as she (to work) hard.

6.I (to return) to the hotel only late at night as I (to lose) my way in the fog. When I (to come) up to my room, I (to see) Pete who (to stand) at the door of the room. He (to wait) for me as he (to lose) his key and could not get in.

7.When I (to wake) up, it (to be) already ten o’clock. I (to call) my brother. Nobody (to answer). He already (to leave). 8. I (to go) up to the open

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	10
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

window. The rain (to stop) and the sun (to shine) brightly. The birds in the garden (to sing). The morning (to be) fine. 9. When the rain (to stop) I (to look) out of the window and (to see) John who (to stand) under a tree waiting for me.

Exercise 3. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: Past Simple or Past Perfect.

1. He (to study) French before he (to enter) the university. 2. Lanny (to say) that he (to get) his education in Cape Town. 3. The boy (to want) to act the main part in the play because he (to organize) the theatre. 4. Lanny (not to know) who (to attack) him in the darkness. 5. The girl (to be) glad that she (to find) a seat near the window. 6. Suddenly he (to remember) that he (not to ring) her up in the morning. 7. By the time the train (to reach) the city, he (to make) friends with many passengers. 8. When his uncle (to leave), he (to hurry) to the station to book a ticket. 9. She (to think) that Gert and Lanny (to quarrel). 10. By the time we (to come) to see him, he (to return) home. 11. During the holidays my friend (to visit) the village where he (to live) in his childhood. 12. When they (to enter) the hall, the performance already (to begin). 13. When I came home, my mother (to tell) me that she (to receive) a letter from grandfather. 14. Where you (to work) before you (to enter) the institute? 15. By two o’clock the teacher (to examine) all the students. 16. On my way to school I (to remember) that I (to leave) my report at home. 17. All my friends (to be) glad to hear that I (to pass) all the examinations successfully. 18. Poor Oliver (to lie) unconscious on the spot where Sikes (to leave) him. 19. He (to open) his eyes, (to look) around and (to try) to remember what (to happen) to him. 20. All the passengers (to see) at once that the old man (to travel) a great deal in his life.

Exercise 4. Fill the sentences with prepositions of location:

1. You’ll find his house ... the end of the street. .2. She prefers to sit ...

the back of the class. 3. There was a castle ... the top of the hill and a big lake

... the valley. 4. She lives ... a little house near Leeds and her daughter prefers to live ... the town itself. 5. The train arrives ... Moscow at 7 a.m. 6. Our train arrived ... Moscow Railway Station at 7 a.m. . 7. She lives ...

London. 8. He was born ... Paris and now lives ... New York. 9. He stayed ...

the hotel in the center of the city. 10. She met me ... the front door. 11. This town is ... the north of England.

Exercise 5. Insert the verbs can/could or may/might (or the negative forms).

1. Students ... bring textbooks into the examination room. 2. ... you stand on your head? – I ... when I was at school but I ... now. 3. ... I smoke

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	11
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

here? – No, you ... .	Smoking is not allowed. 4. ...		you type? – Yes, I... type
but I ... do shorthand. 5....		I come in? – Please do. 6. I... remember the

address. – ... you even remember the street? 7. He ... answer the teacher’s

questions yesterday, but he ... answer the same questions today. 8. ...		I come
and see you this evening? – Of course you ...	.9. When I first went to Spain
I ... read Spanish, but I ... speak it. 10.	He said that we... use	his flat

whenever we liked. 11. There was a lot of noise in the street last night, and I

... sleep. 12. ...	I borrow your umbrella? 13. I ... walk ten miles a day when
I was a young man, but now I ... .		14. It’s very cold. ...	I shut the windows?

Exercise 6. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past Perfect.

I (to sit) in an armchair and (to think) of my coming trip across the North Sea when the door suddenly (to open) and an old friend of mine whom I (not to see) for a very long time (to enter) the room. 2. She (to come) to see us just at the time when we (to have) dinner. It (to be) the first time I (to see) her. 3. I (to see) him just as he (to leave) the hotel. 4. I (not to see) him before we (to meet) at the concert. 5. He (to leave) the house before I (to have) time to ask him anything. 6. He (to tell) me he (to learn) it from the newspaper. 7. He (to enter) the room, (to take) something from the desk and (to go) out. 8. There (to be) two men in the room. One of them (to write) something while the other (to read) a newspaper. 9. He (not to tell) me that he (to receive) a telegram from her. 10. I (to ask) him if he (to know) where she (to live). I (to say) I (not to know) her address. 11. He (to ask) me if I (can) give him your address. 12. She (to say) that he (to give) her the wrong address. 13. I (to ask) him where he (to put) my letter. 14. He (to tell) us that they (to spend) all the money. 15. After spending several days in Paris he (to feel) lonely and (to want) to return home. 16. I (to think) he already (to go) home. 17. I (to find) the old man in the garden. He (to talk) to some children who (to stand) around listening to him. 18. He (to speak) a language we never (to hear) before.

Exercise 7. Insert speak, talk, say, tell :

1. Would it be of any use now to ... to her? 2. I believe you, but ... me one thing: did you ... anything about it at dinner yesterday? 3. People ...

sometimes about their neighbours. 4. And now, my dear fellow, I want to ...

to you seriously. 5. “You are looking tired, dear”, ... mother. 6. ... us about it, please! 7. I can’t ... you just now what the moral of the story is. 8. On the way home he stopped to ... with his friend. 9. Who ... you so? 10. ... up, my boy! Don’t be afraid. 11. ... the truth nobody saw it. But people ... much about it. 12. If .you are... a lie, I will punish you. 13. How many languages does he ...? – He ... English, German and French. 14. You don’t ... so! How can she...? She is only ten months old. 15. It goes without ... you are right.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	12
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

16. In the evening my grandmother used to … us beautiful stories. 17. What did the lecturer ... about? 18. What are you ... about? It goes without ... . 19. Listen to him! He is ... sense. 20. Sorry for the trouble I’ve done. – No trouble at all. There is nothing to ... of. 21. I can’t be silent any longer. Now I am going to ... my mind. 22. Don’t ... shop. Nobody is interested. 23. “You are

... lies!” cried she. “It can’t be true”. 24. “If you go on to ... nonsense, I’ll leave”. 25. He ... that he likes to ... politics. 26. Frankly ... , I don’t like that man, though he often ... sense. 27. “No one can join a society by himself, ...

the officer. 28. Father ... slowly: “You have not ... me all, my son”. 29. “You will do as you please”, ... he slowly. 30. And if a boy had a girl for a sweetheart and ... lies about it, he would be punished.

Exercise 8. Mix and match.

My sister		me to open the window.
He		that it was late.
They		English all the time.
My friend	Told	his friend that he would be back in a week.
She		in a low voice.
Mr. White	Spoke	her everything.
Ted		two foreign languages.
Mrs. Stone	said (to)	in turn.
The students		that nobody knew where the boy was.
Mary		Dan that she was going to have a party.
Bill		Jane that the lecture was a success.
The teacher		the students that the lecture was over.

ADDITIONAL READING

When two Englishmen meet, after greeting one another the next remark almost certainly will be about the weather.

If the weather is calm, there isn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun shines brightly, the remark will be “It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?” And the other person will reply “Yes it is, but I am afraid it may be hot in the afternoon, I heard over the radio the temperature may arise to 30°C in the afternoon”.

But perhaps the day is cloudy, it is drizzling, there is a thick fog, cars switch on their lights and can only crawl along. If one friends runs into another, he says “Hello! Isn’t it a terrible day?” “Yes”, replies the other “You can hardly see a yard in front of you. I say! You look soaked through.” It’s a winter day, but it’s not very cold. The snow sparkles under the bright sun. One friend tells another – it is fine weather. Let’s go to the park

to ski, it is only – 10.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	13
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

***

Happy New Year

At midnight on 31st December, bells ring out around the world to welcome the new year. Although certain countries calculate time by other calendars, most countries in the world now number their years according to the Gregorian calendar introduced in the 16th century by Pope Gregory XIII.

Bell ringing is one way of celebrating the arrival of a new year which is common to many countries nowadays; but it is the differences in celebrations and customs that are interesting.

In Europe traditions are considerably different, but most of them involve a meal or special food. Swiss housewives bake special bread, rich in butter, eggs and raisins. They also cook roast goose. Children go from house to house greeting the occupants and receiving invitations to come inside. There is a practical reason for meals featuring in these New Year festivities. Most people stay up all night, or at least until midnight to “see the New Year in”, so food is essential. Also there is a common belief that if the new year begins well it will continue like that. So great efforts are made to provide an atmosphere of goodwill and plenty. In Spain it is a custom to eat 12 grapes at midnight and toast the new year in champagne at family gatherings. Groups of friends visit restaurants in Turkey intending to spend the night in celebrations which include present giving. Some people in Greece play cards, hoping that a win will bring them luck for a whole year.

What Makes Life Worth Living ?

Every creature wants to live and a human being is no exception to that simple rule, regardless of the fact that people complain of life in general, they are afraid of death and they are happy to hear the doctor’s statements on prolonging human life. Life is very short, and therefore everyone should benefit from every moment.

Despite all the difficulties and problems, people find many reasons for living, for example, a man is staying in hospital suffering physical pain and loneliness, but he believes he will recover. Why? Because the fear of death and the desire to live give him much hope. People aspire after happiness which they find in love, marriage, family life, friendship, career, social work and religion.

Depending on age, sex, and social standing, people want to achieve something special in life, and this achievement makes their life worth living. The achievement is usually based on love, friendship, justice, freedom, truth and other moral values whose evaluation in terms of money or material benefits is impossible. There are men who look for happiness in doing business, developing a career, making money and getting power and authority. Òhey struggle for money and power throughout their life, only to find out very often in their old age, that these values are passing and worthless. But it is

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	14
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА

too late for them. They die with no friends and love from relatives and their business colleagues are too busy ... doing business!

Women usually live for their families and children. They devote time, care, love and everything they have to their children. When the children grow up their mothers are waiting for their gratitude and a smile. Some of them get it which makes them happy, some of them do not. If they are healthy and strong enough, they find a job and become independent, earn money, feel helpful in society, and so avoid in their old age the risk of being a burden to their children.

Elderly people usually live in the past. They remember all those past events which let them experience the sense of happiness, the feeling of being loved and needed. They wish they could live long, peacefully and in good health.

But the young – in their teens – look for their own identity, and it is up to them what aims they will choose: money, career, power or love and other moral values. They have to decide what to choose in life so that in the end, they too, can behave like those old people taking the joy of every moment they are given by Providence.

	НИЖЕГОРОДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ	15
	МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА И БИЗНЕСА