Пособие по обучению практике устной и письменной речи (начальный этап) на английском языке Под ред. О. В. Серкиной
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Seasons and WeatherIt’s a universal truth that every season is beautiful in its own way. Isn’t it wonderful when in winter everything is white with snow and it crunches under your feet? When winter comes, we are to spend more time at home, because it is cold outside. Ponds, lakes, rivers and streams are frozen, and the roads are sometimes covered with slippery ice or deep snow. We may get fog, sleet and frost. The trees are bare, because bitter winds have stripped them of all leaves. In spring nature awakens from its long winter sleep. A warm wind blows up heavy grey clouds and the sun shines brightly in the cloudless azure sky. The trees are filled with new life. The weather gets gradually warmer. The fields and meadows are covered with fresh green grass. The sky is blue and cloudless. At night millions of stars shine in the darkness. When summer comes, the weather gets warmer, and sometimes it’s very hot. It’s the farmers’ busy season. They work in their fields from morning till night. Sometimes the sky is overcast with heavy clouds. There are storms with thunder, lightning and hail. Autumn brings with it the harvest time. The days get shorter and the nights longer. The woods turn yellow and brown, leaves begin to fall from the trees. The sky is grey and it often rains. The weather is so changeable in autumn and people have to wear raincoats and umbrellas if they don’t want to get wet through. The roads are slippery and wet, there are lots of puddles in the streets and everyone is looking forward to frosty winter days and much snow out-of-doors. O 3.16. Christoph Gluck once called nature “a universal language”, but can we all really speak this language well? What signs of nature can you read?
people. Have you ever watched any of them? bserving Nature If people carefully observe nature, it can tell them many interesting and useful things. Do you know that thanks to observing nature you can forecast weather? "How?" you may ask. By watching birds and animals, insects and flowers. It is known that some insects become more troublesome before a change in the weather. Flies and mosquitoes, for example, begin to hum and bite before the rain. Big blue-black beetles fly only in evenings before nice weather. You should know that the smell of flowers in the gardens and in the parks is very strong before it rains. Flowers have much sweet nectar before rain and the nectar is good food for insects. So if you see insects flying over flowers in large numbers, you should know that it may rain soon. Birds and animals also help forecast weather. Birds fly lower than usual before it rains. If you happen to see a bird hiding its head under its wing, it means that soon it will become colder. Even your cat can tell you what the weather will be like. The cat washing behind its ears is telling you about the coming rain. Look at the sky and it will also tell you about the weather. A red evening sky tells of good weather the next day, to say nothing about a little yellow or green sky. A grey sunrise gives promise of a good day, too. If you want to forecast weather, you must know something about winds. The South wind brings wet weather. The North wind is wet and cold together. The West wind always brings us rain. The East wind blows the rain back again. Study nature, observe it and you'll understand that it needs your love and protection. 1 b) Complete the sentences with a suitable word or words without looking back at the text. . Do you know that ____ observing nature you can forecast weather? 2. Some insects become more ______before a change in the weather. 3. Birds fly _______ than usual before it rains. 4. If you see insects flying over flowers in large numbers, it means _______. 5. A red evening sky tells you of ________. 6 c) Choose the correct answer. . If you see a bird hiding its head under its wing, it means ________ . 1. How can we forecast weather? (pick up more than one answer) a) by watching birds, animals, insects and flowers; b) by listening to the radio; c) by using meteorological tools and devices; d) by discussing it with our friends. 2. What do flies and mosquitoes begin to do before rain? a) to feel sleepy; b) to bite and hum; c) to lay eggs; d) to gather in groups. 1 d) Say whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). . ___ Big blue-black beetles fly only in mornings before nice weather. 2. ___ The smell of flowers is very strong before the rain. 3. ___ The cat washing its tail is telling you about the coming rain. T e) Describe each wind without looking back at the text. he South wind … The North wind … The West wind … The East wind … 3.17. a) Study the following metaphors relating to climate, plants and trees. First think of the best way to translate them into Russian, then think of any other Russian idioms or proverbs of this kind. Explain their meanings in English. b) Make up your sentences with some of the metaphors. 1. Climate Metaphors Climate metaphors are often used, particularly in written English. The word climate can refer to the general atmosphere or situation in society. His dishonest policies towards the workers created a climate of distrust. The government reforms have created a climate of change. The words cultural, current, economic, financial, moral, political, social and prevailing all collocate strongly with climate in this social sense. She has a very sunny disposition - she's hardly ever miserable. Job prospects are sunny. Unfortunately, our plans were met with a frosty reception. 'You lied to me, didn't you?' she said icily. I'm snowed under with work - I'll never get through it all in time. After the company accounts were examined, the manager left under a cloud of suspicion. Don't let your love for him cloud your judgment. The soldiers were hit with a hail of bullets. The Prime Minister was greeted with a hail/ storm of abuse. After the long flight I was in a haze for a day or two. I've only a hazy idea what you mean. The truth is hidden in the mists of history. She looked at him misty-eyed - clearly in love. The article sparked off a whirlwind of speculation. They had a whirlwind romance. The horses thundered down the race track. Thunderous applause followed his speech. (Note that ‘thundery’ is used to describe stormy weather while ‘thunderous’ describes a loud noise.) The winds of change/discontent/democracy are blowing across the country. 2. Trees and Plant Metaphors Seed(s) is often used to talk about the start of an idea or feeling: the seeds of success/ discontent/ revolution. Root(s) is used to suggest the origins of something. You can talk about going back to your roots, for example, meaning going back to the place where your family came from. You can also talk about the root of a problem or the roots of a tradition. Putting down roots means settling down and making your home in one place. When an idea becomes known or accepted, it can be said to take root. Deeply and firmly collocate with rooted as in, for example: Its origins are firmly/ deeply rooted in the nineteenth century. The grass roots of an organisation or society are the ordinary people in it, not the leaders. Stem is used as a verb to signify that something originates in something else. A branch is something that grows off or branches out from a main organisation. So we talk about branches of a shop or a business branching out into new directions. Bud (=flower before it opens) is used in the expression nip in the bud (= stop something before it develops into something). The adjective budding can also mean showing promise of future development. 1 3.18. Fill the gaps in these sentences. . Alec has spent most of his life in London, but he is keen to _______back to his roots when he retires. 2. The business is firmly ________in the west of England. 3. The idea took some time to_________ root, but it's very fashionable now. 4. His grandfather sowed the ___________of the business's success. 5. The US bookshop chain is opening a number of _______ in the UK. 6. It's about time she __________ down some roots. 7 3.19. Suggest three nouns that each of these adjectives could describe. . The idea for her novel _________ from her interest in mountain climbing. 8. St James's Drama College turns out a hundred ______ actors every year. budding flourishing withering fading deeply rooted A 3.20. Play the guessing game. Prepare a description of any country using the expressions below, without naming the country. Read your description to class for them to guess the name of the country. CQUIRING COMMUNICATION SKILLS lie north/ south of __ parallel of latitude temperature continental / tropical/ moderate/ subtropical/ subarctic climate be bounded by / border on/ abut administratively, _____ includes ___ states/ counties/ provinces/ cantons an area constitutes from north to south/ west to east ____ extends more than ___ encompass ___ time zones Northern/ Southern/ Western/Eastern hemisphere stretch across mark the boundary principal islands mountain chains geologic structures surface formations be divided into several broad geographic regions 3.21. a) Read the following texts (a, b) about the climate in the USA. b) Compare it with the Russian climate. c) Explain why the author compares the weather in Washington with a winning candidate. What can you compare the weather in your town with? a) The USA is a very large country, so it has several different climate zones. The coldest regions are in the north and north-east, where much snow falls in winter. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast. The region around the Great Lakes is known for its changeable weather. In general, the climate in North America is much colder than in Europe and the average annual temperature of New York, for example, is 11° C. b) The weather in Washington reminds me of a winning candidate who promises everything, but you never know just when to expect it at all. Sometimes it’s April in January, and March often behaves like December or May. Or as Mark Twain found it here: “When you arrived (at the station at night) it was snowing. When you reached the hotel it was sleeting. When you went to bed, it was raining. During the night it froze hard and the wind blew some chimneys down. When you got up in the morning, it was foggy. When you finished your breakfast at ten o’clock and went out, the sunshine was brilliant, the weather balmy and delicious, and the mud and slush deep and all-pervading. You will like the climate - when you get used to it.” If you care to follow Mark Twain’s advice, take an umbrella, and an overcoat, and a fan, and go forth. My advice on what to expect, season by season, regarding the weather is: Spring - it’s a wonderful, most attractive, liveliest time of the year. Mild weather usually arrives earlier than it does in most northern cities. (Prepare for possible 27° C in March), flowers burst into bloom starting with magnolia, and then followed by cherry blossoms, azalea and pansies. Summer - it can be hot, humid, and sticky. Men wear tropical outfits. Autumn - the best season except for spring; in some ways the best of all. The climate is dry and mild. If you are driving, the colour in the mountains is beautiful. Winter - unpredictable, some years raw, cold and soggy, others - short and mild. You don’t have to bring your umbrellas, but come prepared to buy them. M 3.22. Work with a partner and make up short dialogues using the model and the hints below. odel: A: What country are you from? B: From India (1). A: What’s the climate like there? B: I like it, but it’s often(2) very hot (3) in summer (4). (1) Russia Britain Sweden Canada Cuba France Egypt Norway (2) always occasionally sometimes often seldom frequently never (3) cold frosty sultry stormy pleasant windy rainy 3.23. Work with a partner. First, complete these phrases. Then use them in short dialogues. snowy stifling (4) spring winter autumn summer
M 3.24. First, work in a small group and discuss what types of weather are bad and good for doing these things and why. Then share your ideas with class. odel: for skiing the bad weather is: mild weather which makes the snow melt; good weather: cold, clear days
M 3.25. Work with a partner. Give a good reason for the following advice or requests. Impersonal sentences may be of help. Follow the model. odel: Put on your coat. a) Put on your coat. It’s cold outside. You may catch cold. b) Put on your coat. It’s very windy today. The coat will keep you from the wind. c) Put on your coat; it's getting cold. 1. Open the window, please. 2. Will you please switch on the light? 3. Please hurry up. 4. We’ll have to take a taxi or go by bus. 5. You needn’t put on your warm jersey. 6. Don’t make so much noise, please. 7. I think you should take your sun glasses. 8. You haven’t forgotten your umbrella, have you? 9. Let’s go for a swim. 10. I hope we’ll be able to go skiing tomorrow. 11. Very soon we’ll be skating. T 3.26. Read the weather forecast. What season is it? Make up a similar weather forecast for your region. Then discuss it with a partner in a short dialogue. he Weather Forecast Announcer : And now the weather. In Scotland it’s snowing. The temperature’s around minus one degree. In the Midlands it’s windy. Temperatures are around nine degrees. In Bristol in the West it’s raining. Temperatures are around twelve degrees. Finally, in Brighton the weather’s fine. It’ll be sunny but cold all day. Maximum temperature is about 11 degrees. 1 3.27. Work with a partner and answer the following questions. Be ready to discuss your opinions with class. . In which months is the weather fine in your town? 2. Are we always pleased to have dry weather? When are we not pleased to have it? 3. Would it be wise to go for an outing in wet weather? 4. Is it usual to have occasional rain in September in Russia? What about February? 5. Does it clear up quickly after rain? Is this a feature of any particular season? 6. Where do you get the weather forecast from? Do you always rely on what it says? 7. Would you take a raincoat with you if the forecast said about occasional rain? 8. What do you usually do if you are wet through? 9. Which do you like better: when it’s cold or hot? 10. What weather do you like best of all? 11. What is the weather like today? 12. What would you like to do on a nasty rainy day? 13. What part does the weather play in your plans for a holiday? 14. Why do most people prefer summer to any other season of the year? What is your favourite season? 15. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each season of the year? 1 3.28. Read the following weather reports published in newspapers and use them while acting out the following situations with a partner. ) April: Saturday: mainly cloudy, occasional rain with sleet or snow over hills slowly dying out, hill fog patches, wind NE fresh or strong, max temp 5° C. Outlook for Sunday: Bright weather with sunny intervals showers will spread slowly during Saturday, replacing the mainly cloudy weather with occasional rain or drizzle. On Sunday all districts will have sunny intervals and showers. March: Dull misty start with rain at times; becoming dry and brighter, wind SE light, max temp 10° C. Planning an Outing Role 1. Phone up B. Ask him/her how he/she is. Comment on the weather. Invite him/her for an outing. Ask him/her if he/she knows the weather forecast. Say that you don’t feel like getting caught in the rain and getting wet through. Appoint the date for your outing. Role 2. A phones you up. Discuss the weather with him/her. Describe the weather forecast to him/her which you’ve heard over the radio. Cheer him/her up. Express your hope that it will clear up and you will have a lot of sunshine. Agree upon the date for your outing. 2) December: Sunny intervals, snow showers, chiefly near coasts, wind N light or moderate; max temp 3°C. Outlook for next week: very cold, snow showers, wind chiefly in the N and E. Sea passages: wind NE strong to gale force, snow showers, visibility poor, sea state rough or very rough. January: Bright at first, rain spreading from W preceded by sleet or snow in elevated places, max temp 6°C. Outlook for next week: Cold, with scattered sleet or showers or sunny intervals. Sea passages: Wind NW moderate, occasionally fresh; mainly fair; visibility good; sea moderate. Discussing a future business trip to England in December Role 1. Phone up B, your colleague, who happened to have worked in England as a newspaper correspondent for three years. Ask him/her about the weather in London in December (January). Ask him/her for advice concerning clothes and things which may come in handy there. Role 2. A phones you up. He/she tells you about his/her business trip to England in December (January). You worked in England as a newspaper correspondent for three years. You describe the weather in London in December (January) and give him/her advice concerning clothes and things he/she should take with him/her. Warn him/her about the peculiarities of English winter. 3) Discussing the plans for the forthcoming holidays Role 1. Phone up B, your friend. Ask him/her how he/she is. Tell him/her you are going to Belgorod for your holidays in April. You know that your friend has been to Belgorod many times in all the seasons. Ask him/her about the weather in Belgorod in April. Role 2. A phones you up. You’re glad to help your friend. You’ve been to Belgorod many times in all the seasons. You describe the weather in April. 3.29. Work with a partner and answer these questions.
C 3.30. Comment on the following proverbs and sayings about weather. Give their Russian equivalents wherever possible. itations about the weather and climate: 1. If there were no clouds, we should not enjoy the sun. 2. Small rain lays great dust. 3. As welcome as a storm. 4. After rain comes fair weather (sunshine). 5. It never rains but it pours. 6. April weather. 7. To save/ to put by/ to lay up for a rainy day. 8. Every cloud has a silver lining. 9. [Weather is] the discourse of fools. (Thomas Fuller) 10. [Climate is] a theory. Weather is a condition. (Oliver Herford) 11. [Climate is] what lasts all the time; weather only lasts a few days. (Anonymous) WRITING D 3.31. This short info shows anyone who wants to visit the West of Ireland what weather to expect at different times of the year. Make a similar chart for your country or home region. ec - Mar Apr - Jun coldest months; generally cool, but usually quite wet; often wet and windy but improving snow on hills Jul - Aug Sep - Nov warmest months; often mild, becoming cold; bright with showers; mist and fog cool sea breezes 3.32. What kinds of weather do you think caused the following to happen? Write a sentence which could go before each of these sentences.
3.34 Watch the weather forecast on an English TV channel (BBC, CNN, etc.), listen to some English radio station or browse the Internet (e.g. www. weatherchannel.com). Write down some new words or expressions to describe weather and share them with class. З 3.35. Render the text in English. емле угрожает засуха Из нового прогноза ведущих британских климатологов явствует, что из-за глобального потепления засуха, угрожающая жизни миллионов, может распространиться на поверхности Земли уже в нынешнем веке. Крайняя засушливость, в условиях которой сельские хозяйство практически невозможно, затронет примерно треть планеты, говорится в исследовании Центра климатических прогнозов и анализа им. Хэдли при метеослужбе. Это один из самых мрачных на сегодняшний день прогнозов, касающихся возможных результатов повышения температур во всем мире, но и он может быть недооценкой, заявили ученые. Выводы, ставшие известными общественности, привлекли удивленное и испуганное внимание гуманитарных организаций и специалистов по развитию, которые опасаются, что это сильнее всего ударит по беднякам в развивающихся странах. Для таких мрачных предсказаний использовалась модель, построенная на суперкомпьютере, который работает в Центре Хэдли. Результаты считаются наиболее достоверными на глобальном уровне, но явное следствие - это то, что регионы мира, где уже бывают засухи, вроде Африки, станут местами, где предполагаемое повышение приведет к наиболее серьезным последствиям. Исследование, проведенное Элинор Берк и двумя ее коллегами по Центру Хэдли, моделирует, как коэффициент Палмера для силы засухи (Palmer Drought Severity Index - PDSI) увеличивается на всей планете на протяжении ближайшего века при прогнозируемых изменениях в выпадении дождей и жаре во всем мире из-за изменения климата. Оно показывает, что значение PDSI для умеренной засухи, в настоящее время составляющее 25% земной поверхности, увеличивается до 50% к 2100 году; значение для сильной засухи, сегодня составляющее около 8%, поднимается до 40%; а значение для чрезвычайной засухи - сегодня 3% - поднимается до 30%. Многие наблюдатели считают самой пугающей цифру увеличения территории, охваченной чрезвычайной засухи. “Мы говорим о том, что примерно 30% земной суши становятся непригодными для жизни в смысле сельскохозяйственного производства в течение нескольких десятилетий, - заявил Марк Линас, автор книги “Высокий прилив”, первого крупного отчета об очевидных последствиях глобального потепления во всем мире. - Это части мира, где сотни миллионов людей уже не смогут прокормить себя”. Пендлтон подчеркнул: “Это означает, что обо всех формах развития можно забыть. Огромное большинство бедняков в развивающихся странах - это мелкие фермеры, которые зависят от дождя”. |