Контроль читання 10 клас І семестр

Text I. Cambridge University at a Glance

In 1209, several hundred students and scholars moved some 60 miles from Oxford. Due to some troubles with life and studies, they had to get away from Oxford and settle down in a small place where they established a new university. There were no colleges at those days and student life was absolutely different from what it is now. Students were of all ages and came from everywhere. They made a community, but not all was quiet and peaceful in their lives. Gradually the idea of the College developed and in 1284 Peterhouse, the oldest college in Cambridge, was founded.

Life in College was strict; students were forbidden to play games, to sing merry songs, to hunt or fish, and to dance. Books were rare and all the lessons were in Latin which students were supposed to speak even among themselves. In 1440, King Henry VI founded King's College, and then other colleges followed. Many great personalities studied at Cambridge, among them Erasmus, Bacon, Milton, Cromwell, Newton, Wordsworth, Byron and Tennyson. With the course of time, Cambridge and its colleges gained worldwide popularity and became Oxford's rival in terms of education, research, development and sports. Both Oxford and Cambridge became a standard for any educational establishment that has been created since then throughout the world.

TEXT I. Read the text and mark the sentences below T(true) or F (false)

1. In 1460, King Henry VII founded King's College.

2. Life in College was strict.

3. There were no colleges at those days and student life was absolutely different from what it is now.

4. Due to some troubles with life and studies, students and scholars had to get away from Oxford.

5. Many great personalities studied at Cambridge, among them Erasmus, Queen Elizabeth II, Bacon, Milton, and Cromwell.

6. Students were forbidden to play games, to sing merry songs, to hunt or fish, and to dance.

7. Books were rare and all lessons were in Old English.

8. They made a community, but not all was quiet and peaceful in their lives.

Text II. The Status of a Man and a Woman in the Society

The Women's Liberation Movement began in the 1960s. It was started by women who were worried about their identity, their role in society and their work. A lot of women want full equality with man in every sphere of life. They want husbands to share all the work and responsibilities of home and family. They want women and men to have the same jobs and the same chance to make a career. They also want to be paid just as much as men for the same work. It is important to remember that the Women's Liberation Movement is not concerned only with concrete issues; it is also concerned with attitudes and beliefs. For example, the issue of women's identity. Some women don't think they are capable of doing anything important. This Movement helps these women improve their views on themselves.

The second important issue of Women's Liberation Movement is the question of women's role in society. Should a woman work s outside the home, should she work if she is married and has children? Many people feel that women ought to be considered equal to men in every way. But there are some men who don't share this view. To their mind, the most important women's role is to be a good wife, a careful mother and to keep all households. Our modern world, fortunately, gives more opportunities for women to be on one social ladder with men. We can find a lot of companies, banks and offices where the managers are women. They have made a bright career. It shows that women are clever, hard-working and ambitious enough to feel absolutely equal with men in the society.

TEXT II. Read the text and mark the sentences below T(true) or F (false)

1. The Women's Liberation Movement began in the 1950s.

2. All women want to be equal with men in every sphere of life.

3. This movement is concerned with different issues.

4. The movement helps women to believe in themselves.

5. All men believe that the main role of a woman is to be a nice housewife and mother.

6. Nowadays women are given a good chance to feel equal with men.

7. There are very few women-managers and directors in the modern society.

Text III. American English

 American English spelling differs from British English spelling largely because of one man, American lexicographer Noah Webster. In addition to his well-known American Dictionary of the English Language, Webster published The American Spelling Book (1783, with many subsequent editions), which became one of the most widely used schoolbooks in American history. Webster’s books sought to standardize spelling in the United States by promoting the use of an American language that intentionally differed from British English. The development of a specifically American variety of English mirrored the new country’s separate political development. Webster’s most successful changes were spellings with or instead of our (honor, labor for the British honour, labour); with er instead of re (center, theater for the British centre, theatre); with an s instead of a c (defense, license for the British defence, licence); with a final ck instead of que (check, mask for the British cheque, masque); and without a final k (traffic, public, now also used in British English, for the older traffick, publick). Later spelling reform created a few other differences, such as program for British programme. Canadian spelling varies between the British and American forms, more British in eastern Canada and more American in western Canada.

TEXT III. Read the text and choose the right variant

1. The passage mainly discusses:

a) Noah Webster’s literary heritage;   b)the varieties of spelling;

c)Webster’s political preferences; d) popular schoolbooks in America.

2. The passage implies that written British and American words:

a) look absolutely different; b) are absolutely the same;

c) may differ; d) come from Canada.

3. It may be inferred from the passage that Webster’s scientific interest was in:

a) standards; b) vocabulary;  c) editing books; d) political reforms.

4. The changes between American and British English were generated:

a) on purpose; b) by accident; c) in Canada; d) by politicians.

5. The word “subsequent” in line 4 may most probably mean the following::

a) different;  b) expensive; c) following; d) literary.

6. One can make a conclusion that Webster’s changes:

a) simplified the language;  b) were of no importance;

c) made the language more difficult for understanding;

d) developed the language used in Great Britain.

7. The word “mirrored” in line 8 is closest in meaning to:

a) portrayed; b) reflected; c) generated; d) prevented.

8. It can be seen from the passage that the changes brought into American English must have:

a) developed a completely new language; b) stopped using dictionaries;

c) required spelling books; d) influenced the original British English.

9. The passage states that in Canada:

a) people use the only variety of the English language;

b) people live only in the east and the west of the country;

c) there may be language misunderstanding between people from different regions of the country;

d) people use different grammar rules compared to the US.