continued from № 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17
ЭКЗАМЕНАЦИОННЫЕ ТЕМЫ ПО АНГЛИЙСКОМУ
ЯЗЫКУ
9-ый класс
11. People have various reading preferences. What do you like to read?
What is your favourite writer?
I think that we can’t live without books. There are a lot of
different kinds of books in the world, for example, thrillers, historical novels, science
fiction, adventure books and others. Most of them are with us during all our life. Boys
all over the world like reading adventure, thrillers and horror stories, whereas girls
prefer romances, historical novels and poetry. Encyclopaedias, reference books and
dictionaries help pupils to do well at school.
All the members of my family like reading very much. My father often
reads newspapers and magazines. He thinks that it is the only way to be in the know of
everything. And my mother is keen on reading romances and modern novels. For her they are
more interesting than boring historical novels. She agrees with Anatole France that
“history books which contain no lies are extremely dull”. But she wouldn’t mind
reading about the life of well-known people.
I enjoy reading very much. Most of all I like reading detective
stories, because they have interesting story lines and unusual endings. I am particularly
captivated by characters who conduct investigations.
 I never believed there really were books that you
couldn’t put down. I changed my opinion when I started to read The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins, an English writer. The book was written in the 19th century. It’s a
very good detective story, with a bit of romance thrown in it. The book is basically about
mistaken identity. The main character in the story is a young artist who goes up to the
north of England to instruct two young ladies. And he falls in love with Miss Fairlie, who
looks very like the woman in white. Finally they turn out to be identical twins. The
author brilliantly describes the adventures, love and fears of his heroes. He really
brings the characters to life. A good writer knows how to keep you reading the book. In The
Woman in White the reader’s interest is caught from the very first page and there is
suspense till the very end! This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.
But my favourite writer is Agatha Christie. She is possibly the
world’s most famous detective story writer. She wrote 79 novels and several plays. Her
books are translated into 103 foreign languages. Many of her novels and short stories have
been filmed. Her sales outnumber those of Shakespeare, but her life was often lonely and
unhappy.
She was born in 1890 in Devon. She didn’t go to school, but was
educated at home by her mother. During World War I, while she was working in a hospital
dispensary, she learned about chemicals and poisons, which proved very useful to her in
her later career. She wrote her first detective novel, “The Mysterious Affair at
Styles”, in 1920. In it she introduced Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, who
appeared in many subsequent novels. Her other main detective was an elderly spinster
called Miss Marple. Miss Marple doesn’t look like a detective at all. This old lady
always uses her instinct and knowledge of human nature to investigate crimes.
 In 1914 she married Archibald Christie, but the
marriage was unhappy. It didn’t last long, and they divorced in 1926. Agatha desperately
wanted solitude and developed very bitter feelings towards the media because the
newspapers had given her a hard time over her breakdown. She was determined never to let
them enter her private life again and she buried herself in her work. On November 25, 1952
her play “The Mousetrap” opened in London. Today, over 50 years later, it is still
running. It is the longest running show in the whole world. Agatha Christie died
peacefully in 1976. People all over the world value this talented writer and consider her
to be the Queen of Crime.
I don’t mind reading adventure stories. I especially like to read
about characters who go through dangers to complete their mission. I think it’s more
interesting than reading dull historical novels. But I dislike poetry, especially modern
poetry. I find it too complicated. Sometimes I fail to understand what poets mean.
I am sure that reading is an essential part of our life. Only in books
can you find answers to all your questions. Books can tell us a lot about the modern world
and ancient times. Besides, they can help us to explore new ideas and expand our outlook.
I completely agree that “reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” What is
more, books teach us to be kind and honest. While reading we learn how to solve our
problems and to make people happy. And I think that reading is a perfect way to spend free
time and not to feel bored. Books must be our friends during all our life.
Questions:
1. Is reading important to you? Why?
2. What kind of books do you like to read? Why?
3. What were your favourite childhood books?
4. Have your childhood reading interests changed?
5. What is your favourite book? Why is it worth reading?
6. What book are you reading now?
7. What famous British writers and poets do you know? Have you read any of their
books/poems?
8. What Russian authors do you like?
9. Who is your favourite writer? Why?
10. What books can help you to learn better at school?
11. Do you read books in English?
12. Television is much spoken about nowadays. It has both good and bad
points. What are your arguments for and against watching TV?
It goes without saying that television plays a very important part in
people’s lives. It’s a wonderful source of information and one of the best ways to
spend free time and not to feel bored. Television viewing is by far the most popular
leisure pastime. For example, in Britain over 99 per cent of British homes have a TV, and
the average person watches “the box” 26 hours a week. It’s not surprising, because
TV channels show a great variety of programmes: documentaries and current affairs
programmes, feature films and comedies, soaps and police series, concerts and talk shows.
There are four TV channels in Britain: BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV and Channel 4.
BBC 1 and BBC 2, the two state channels, do not show adverts. ITV and Channel 4, the two
independent channels, do show adverts. BBC 1 and ITV tend to broadcast popular programmes:
sports programmes, recent films, news, game shows, children’s programmes and soaps. BBC
2 and Channel 4 show programmes which usually attract much smaller audiences: TV plays,
classical concerts, foreign films and programmes for minority groups.
Russian television has between 10 and 15 channels, which show all kinds
of programmes: news and sports programmes, talk shows and quizzes, documentaries and
feature films, soaps and police series, comedies and concerts.
Thanks to satellites, TV viewers can increase their options and watch
TV from different countries. Conventional television has to struggle to retain its
audience, as people switch over to cable viewing, satellite TV, or renting video
cassettes.
Television is a reflection of the modern world. It gives you an
opportunity to travel all over the world, to see different people and learn about their
customs and traditions. Television keeps you informed about the rest of the world. And of
course, it helps you to escape from everyday problems.
A lot of people usually relax watching soaps – TV serials which
dramatise their characters’ daily life. Their story lines are entertaining, but often
unbelievable. I don’t think that they show life realistically; but to many people, the
characters in the weekly TV serial shows have become more important than real people.
As for me, I prefer watching different quizz shows. That’s why my
favourite TV programme is “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” It is shown twice a week,
and lasts about an hour. The programme is now hosted by Maxim Galkin. It is a game show
where the player is asked different questions. If the answers are correct, the participant
gets a lot of money. But if he is wrong, he loses everything. I particularly enjoy
watching this programme, because the questions are always very interesting and they help
me to expand my outlook. Besides, it’s a perfect way to be in the know about everything.
I find this programme clever and informative and try not to miss it.
Of course, not everything shown on TV is made in good taste. There are
badly-written programmes which contain unnecessary bad language and violence. The strange
thing is that neither politicians nor producers like to admit that watching violence on TV
leads to greater violence on the streets.
Many people admit that the quality of television could be better. They
would prefer to see fewer soap operas and crime series, and more history, drama, and
science. One reason for the poor quality of programmes is advertising. Not all people like
watching commercials. They find ads silly and boring. As for me, I don’t take
advertising seriously. On the one hand, advertisements help people choose the best
products and get the best value for their money. But on the other hand, they show life
unrealistically and give false information. Besides, in adverts all people seem to be
happy consumers, all kids seem to be healthy and well off. But this is not true at all.
What is more, I find it very annoying when a film stops at the most interesting moment.
Nevertheless, I am not against commercials on TV, because television companies earn their
money from advertising.
Another thing I would like to complain about is the amount of smoking
in the films that are shown on TV. Smoking is often shown as a very “cool” thing to do
– making young people much more likely to copy what they see, and take up smoking
themselves.
Some people say that television is a terrible waste of time. Of course,
there are TV addicts who can’t drag themselves away from the box. They watch TV for
hours without choosing programmes, and spend time in front of television which they could
spend talking to their friends and family. In this case, television makes them really
waste time. But on the contrary, if we watch TV for an hour a day, to find out what is
happening in the world or to relax, then television is really useful.
In short, television does have its good points. Many of the broadcast
programmes are educational and can help with schoolwork. A good soap-opera or a comedy is
a source of relaxation for many people. Television also provides jobs for thousands of
people. So I think it is not the TV itself which is to blame for the bad effects it has,
but the fact that people do not know how to make the best use of it.
Questions:
1. Why is watching TV one of the most popular leisure activities?
2. Do you like watching TV?
3. How often do you watch TV?
4. What are your favourite channels (programmes)?
5. What are the channels (programmes) your family likes to watch?
6. Do you agree that television has the power to educate? Why?
7. What do you think of advertising on TV?
8. Do you think watching TV is one of the best ways to spend free time?
9. What do British/Russian TV channels offer their viewers?
10. Which British TV channels (programmes) would you like to watch?
11. What TV programmes do you like best? Why?
12. What is your attitude towards soap operas?
13. Which programmes on Russian television would you recommend to your foreign friends?
13. What are the most popular free time activities for British and
Russian teenagers? What activities do you like? Why?
Britain has recent by been described as a “leisure society.” This
is because there are a great variety of leisure pursuits. Young people generally go out on
Friday or Saturday nights to a disco, to a concert or to a pub. In recent years going out
for a meal or getting a take-away meal have become popular too. During the past years
there is a great increase in keeping fit and staying healthy. A lot of teens started
running, jogging and going to different fitness clubs in their spare time. Aerobics
classes and fitness clubs opened in every town, and the number of recreation centres
greatly increased. Indoor pools, with their wave-making machines, water slides and
tropical vegetation, have became very popular.
And the same is true in Russia. A lot of teens go in for different
kinds of sport. Sport helps them to feel as fit as a fiddle. In both countries there are
special programmes for problem teenagers, such as a high-risk activities, for example they
are taught to jump out of aeroplanes. But despite the increase in the number of teens
participating in sport, the majority of young people still prefer to be spectators. They
prefer to be couch potatoes. Watching sports on TV is a popular leisure activity, as is
going to football matches on Saturday. Cinemas have been redesigned with four or more
screens, each showing a different film at the same time, and a lot of teens like going to
the cinemas too.
The young generation is fond of communication. There are many available
methods of communication nowadays, and the most popular one is computers. A lot of
teenagers spend plenty of time working on computers. The Internet seems really good fun.
You may send e-mails to friends from different countries and get their answers instantly.
You even may talk to them. It is easy and quick. A lot of teenagers have mobile
telephones, so they can always be contacted, if they keep their telephone switched on, at
any time of the day or night, or tend text messages.
A lot of teenagers in both countries are crazy about animals. They race
them, train them and breed them. They like to hear stories about them on television
programmes and they like reading books about them. Many teens have a pet animal. It could
be a dog, a cat, a goldfish, a bird or a small furry animal like a hamster. Looking after
and being kind to their pets is very important for teens. Why are teens so interested in
animals? Perhaps it’s because they are rather shy in their heart of hearts. One of my
friends says: “I can say anything I like to my dog, but she never thinks I’m silly.”
There are plenty of other kinds of activities, such as travelling,
visiting historical places, babysitting, delivering newspapers, putting together jigsaw
puzzles, reading, going to different museums, skateboarding, going fishing, hitchhiking,
shopping, helping people in need, joining a computer club and others. We can say “So
many teens; so many kinds of activities.”
Now some words about me. I am fifteen and I am a computer addict. I am
fond of communication with other teens. That’s why I have a lot of friends in my and
other countries. We send messages from one computer to another one using e-mail; we have
on-line conversations. I am a member of the computing club and I spend much time there. Of
course, it’s rather expensive, but my parents understand me and give me enough money to
pay for my computer club. And I think that my hobby will be useful in my future
profession. Besides, I spend my free time in the sport club. I go in for kung fu. Recently
films about kung fu have become very popular in Russia. This fighting itself is a great
art, the result of many years of hard work and self-discipline. The man who made kung fu
films famous was Bruce Lee. He used fists, elbows, feet (never weapons) and moved as fast
as lightning. I am rather good at kung fu now, but I never use my skills to hurt anybody,
unless it is absolutely necessary. Now people know what Kung Fu is, and I think it may
become a sport of the future, because it develops up your personality, will and nobility.
Questions:
1. Why is there a great increase in fitness clubs?
2. Why do teens go in for sport?
3. What special programmes for problem teenagers do you know?
4. Are you a couch potato? Why?
5. Why is the young generation fond of communication?
6. What methods of communication do you know?
7. What method of communication do you prefer? Why?
8. Why can people say: ”So many teens; so many kinds of activities.”
9. What kind of activity do you prefer? Why?
10. What do you know about Kung Fu?
14. Young people are fond of different styles of music. What kinds are
popular now? What kind of music do you like? Why?
Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in
the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People
all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they
learn to play musical instruments.
But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn’t only a
combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art which reflects life. There are a lot of
different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For
example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local
performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia; but perhaps the most famous singer is
Nadezhda Babkina. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music
is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music
being written now, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical
style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat.
Such groups as Public Enemy or House of Pain are leaders in this style.
Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other
country. Over the last 30 years rock and pop music have been very popular in Britain. The
Beatles, with their style of singing, eloquent and exciting, is still one of the most
popular groups. British groups often set new trends in music. New styles, groups and
singers continue to appear. Some of the more recent pop groups are Dire Straits,
Eurhythmics and Spice Girls. Many of the new bands have been able to use the changes in
technology to develop their music. Computerised drum machines, synthesisers and other
electronic instruments are now just as popular as the piano and electric guitars.
Tastes differ. So people’s musical interests range from pop and rock
music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical
music and opera.
My favourite style of music is pop music, because it is breathtaking
and full of energy. When I listen to pop music it makes me remember happy times and forget
the problems of everyday life. It helps me to relax when I’m tired, and entertains me
when I’d like to have fun. My favourite group is Abba. It was formed in 1973 in Sweden.
Abba’s cheerful tunes made them international pop stars and one of the most successful
groups of the seventies. Their most famous songs (“Waterloo”, “Money, Money,
Money”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, etc.) often topped European charts. Though the
group doesn’t exist any more, it is still popular with people of all ages. I can’t but
admire their style of singing. I find it fascinating and overwhelming. When I have free
time I listen to their records. I also like having background music while I am working.
I don’t mind listening to dance music, especially when I go to disco
clubs. This style of music is catchy and firey and I like catchy tunes. It makes me more
energetic.
It’s a pity that many young people like to listen only to modern
music. As for me, I also enjoy listening to classical music. I find it tuneful and
appealing. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It gives me delight, pleasure
and a sense of happiness. Some pieces of classical music are really wonderful. Not long
ago I listened to the First Piano Concerto, composed by Tchaikovsky. The power of his
music captivated me. The impression was overwhelming.
The music I hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and dreadful. When I
listen to this style of music it presents to my mind pictures of dark days. Though some
young people are fond of this style of music, it is not to everyone’s taste. To my mind,
music too loud can destroy our ears. I am indifferent to other styles of music. For
example, I don’t mind listening to jazz. Improvisation is an important part of this
style, that’s why a jazz song may sound a little different each time it is played. I
think that jazz is a mixture of many different kinds of music, but I consider it a bit
complicated.
My mother and father approve of my tastes in music. Though they prefer
to listen to classical and “bard music”, they think that, on the whole, modern music
is not too bad. My parents agree that each generation has its own tastes.
It goes without saying that music plays a very important role in
people’s lives. It reflects our moods and emotions. Music appeals to our hearts and
transforms our feelings. It conquers our souls and enriches our minds. Besides, listening
to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. You can hardly find
a person who doesn’t like or need music, who never sings or dances. Music is beauty in
sounds, it is our magic source of inspiration.
Questions:
1. What is your attitude to music?
2. How can music influence people?
3. What do you think about classical/rock/pop music?
4. What sort of music do you like?
5. What does music make you think of?
6. What music irritates you?
7. What famous British musicians/composers/singers/groups do you know?
8. What is your favourite musician/singer/group?
9. What is your parents’ attitude towards your favourite music?
10. Where and when do you listen to music?
11. Do you like to go to concerts? Why?
15. What are traditional British kinds of sports? Are they popular in
Russia? What kinds of sport, is your family interested in?
Englishmen are known to be great sports-lovers. One of the most popular
British games is cricket, which foreigners can hardly understand. There are two teams of
11 players. Matches last from one to five days. It is played all over the country in the
summer. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behavior. When they
consider something unfair they say “That isn’t cricket.” Almost all Englishmen
become fans when they watch a traditional cricket match between the teams of Great Britain
and Australia, or New Zealand. England without cricket would be like bacon without eggs.
Another game which attracts great attention is soccer (European
football). There are plenty of amateur and professional soccer clubs in every town.
Professional soccer is big business. The Cup Final played in London is the culminating
event of the football season. Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly
by amateurs. It’s a kind of English football in which the players use their hands for
carrying the ball. This game is played by teams of 15 men with an oval ball and it’s
often considered to be a violent game.
A great number of people play and watch tennis. Among many tennis
tournaments the most famous is the one in Wimbledon. Horse racing is also extremely
popular in Great Britain. The racing season includes five races. The annual race for
“Derby” is perhaps the most famous sporting event in the whole world. Englishmen also
go in for golf, baseball, hockey, basketball, bowling, and badminton. Athletic sports,
such as running, jumping, rowing, swimming, boxing and gymnastics, are practiced at
schools and colleges. The annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race on the river Thames attracts
lots of people and is very popular. In Scotland, where there are good conditions for
winter sports, skiing is very popular.
Great Britain and America are the birthplaces of many sports. That’s
why many of them have English names. It is easy to understand how these games were named.
For example, baseball is played with a ball and bases. Basketball is played with a ball
and two baskets. The names for other sports come from the name of the place where they
were first played. Badminton comes from the name of a piece of land owned by an English
Duke. The game was first played on the Duke’s land in 1873. Golf was first played in
Scotland, but its name comes from the Dutch word for a hockey club “colf.”
Almost all these games are popular in Russia. Russian people even began
to play cricket. And plenty of bowling clubs appeared in our country. This is because we
can hardly overestimate the meaning of sport in our life and day-to-day activities. The
main purpose of going in for sports is to develop a generation of strong and healthy
people. Sports prevent us from getting too fat, and brings up a harmoniously developed
generation. Sometimes playing a sport is connected with great risks. Besides, there are
violent kinds of sports and sportsmen and fans discuss whether these kinds of sports are
necessary.
In my family we prefer swimming. I began swimming at the age of six. I
think that swimming is something like music or languages, and that’s why it’s very
good to start as early as possible if you want to be good at it. There is no question that
you can speak; there is no question that you can walk; and there is no question that you
can swim if you start at a very early age. My parents also go to the swimming pool, but
they began going in for swimming when they were grown-ups. There are some sports which
I’ve not had a chance to experience but would really like to. They’re mostly
non-competitive sports. I love the water very much and I’d really like to try some more
water sports. For instance, being pulled by a boat whilst wearing water-skis would, I’m
sure, be a fantastic experience. And I’d also like to try surfing. I think there’s no
greater feeling on earth than riding the top of a wave on a surfboard. I’d like to try
it just to see. My parents and I are great fans. We subscribe to a sports newspaper and
like watching nothing but football matches. We read the newspaper from cover to cover and
lie on the sofa watching sport competitions on television on Sunday.
Questions:
1. What popular British sports do you know?
2. What do you know about cricket?
3. Why do many sport games have English names?
4. What famous tournaments in Britain do you know?
5. What sports are popular in Russia?
6. What sports do you go in for? Why?
7. Why do you prefer non-competitive sports?
8. Why do you prefer swimming?
9. What sports would you like to try?
10. Why is activity for many people too much trouble?
16. Some people go in for sports, while others like to watch sports
competitions? Which is better: to watch or to participate?
The modern way of life, when people have little physical activity, use
cars instead of walking, watch television for many hours, and work on computers is turning
them into legless creatures. Although a lot of people are interested in staying healthy,
not many people do very much about it. Only 10 per cent of adults take part in sport more
than twice a week.
The majority of people live in towns and cities, where space for team
sports is limited. To keep fit, most people take part in individual sports. They usually
go walking, swimming, cycling, or do aerobics. Taking part in all of these sports is
informal and casual. Most people just want to relax. If they do aerobics or go swimming,
they usually go to the sports centre; but not many people join a sport club.
Some people argue that sports are not very useful. It takes a lot of
energy and time. As a result of going in for sports, people have broken legs and arms and
other injuries. Besides, it makes you unhappy when you lose. A lot of people prefer to
watch sports competitions rather than take part in sports. Thousands of people go to the
stadiums to support their favourite teams and sportsmen. The most popular spectator sports
are football, hockey and figure skating. Most of the important competitions are televised,
and people enjoy watching sports programmes on TV. They needn’t buy tickets and go to a
stadium, especially in cold and rainy weather. But certainly watching sports events and
going in for sports are two different things.
In my opinion, people can’t do without sports. Sports play an
important part in our lives. I think sports help us in different ways. First of all, it
helps us to stay in good shape, to keep fit and to be healthy. It makes people strong,
fast and agile. What is more, sport builds character; it teaches us to compete and
practice sportsmanship. It makes us more organised and better disciplined in our daily
activities. Besides, it is a good way to meet people and to make new friends.
Sports are an essential part of our everyday life. To have a healthy
mind, you must have a healthy body. But to be healthy, it is not necessary to become a
professional sportsman. You may go in for sports just for pleasure, when you have free
time. Some people jog every morning; some follow fitness classes shown on TV. Young people
usually put on their roller-skates and skate in the streets and parks. A lot of young
people spend their holidays hiking; it doesn’t cost much, and it is a really good way of
getting away from crowds.
Physical education is an important subject at school. It helps pupils
to relax and to keep fit after a hard working day. Each school has sports facilities. A
lot of different competitions are usually held at school and a great number of pupils take
part in them. That’s why I think sports are so popular in our country.
The most popular sports in Russia are football and hockey, skating and
skiing, track and field and swimming, tennis and basketball. It is not always easy to
decide which sport to take up. The aim of all sports training is to improve fitness and
skills, and to develop training programmes that are both safe and effective. The important
thing, however, is that anyone who is not used to exercising should not do too much at the
beginning. Moreover, it is better to do a little regularly than a lot once every two
months. Among the be-nefits of regular exercise are a healthier heart, stronger bones,
quicker reaction times, and less susceptibility to various illnesses. Scientists believe
that if you go in for sport on a regular basis, it could even help you to live longer.
I enjoy many sports; but best of all I love swimming. I started to
learn when I was about seven years old. When I was younger I used to go swimming three or
four times a week. Now I have less free time, but a week never goes by without my visiting
the pool at least once. Sports help me to work off my extra energy.
Swimming is an inexpensive and simple sport. You do not need any
complicated equipment. You just need a swimming costume or trunks and perhaps a cap. You
can swim in the sea or a river, or you can go to a special swimming pool. I love swimming
because it is a very good exercise for the whole body. I would recommend it because it is
so convenient to do: you can do it when you like and for as long as you like.
Questions:
1. What kinds of sports are popular in Russia?
2. Are you for or against sports?
3. What are the advantages of going in for sports?
4. What are the disadvantages of going in for sports?
5. Are sports important to you? Why?
6. Do you go in for sports? Why?
7. What is your favourite kind of sport?
8. Do you like to watch sports competitions? What competitions do you like to watch?
9. What outstanding sportsmen/women do you know?
10. What do you prefer: to take part in sports or to watch them on TV? Why?
11. Why do some people prefer to watch sports competitions and not to go in for sports?
to be continued
By Elena Kisunko, Moscow, School No. 651,
Elena Muzlanova, Moscow, School No. 1537
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