II term - reading Comprehension - 8 Form

5. Read the text and choose true or false.

THE ELECTRIC GUITAR

The very first

The first electric guitar was made by Adolph Rickenbacker in the USA in 1931. It was called a “Frying Pan” because it was made of aluminium. The “Frying Pan” was played horizontally, on a person's lap ( much like today's steel guitar). Experts say it that it sounded quite modern and aggressive.

Like most new things the electric guitar had its critics who said that the instrument had no future. But the electric guitar quickly won people over because it allowed musicians to play much more creatively and expressively.

A Symbol of Rebellion

In the 1950's, the electric guitas became rock'n'rolls main instrument. Musicians like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley introduced a new style and attitude, and young people wanted to look like them. For the first time teenagers started wearing jeans, T-shirts and leather jackets. The electric guitar became the symbol of freedom, independence and rebellion.

Guitar stars

In the 1960'sm electric guitarists in British groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones became the superstars of rock.Teenagers imitated them. They stood in front of mirrors and used tennis racquets as guitars. With mass production of guitars people could finally buy them.

New sounds

Live perfomances in large halls and open-air concerts demanded volume and spectacular effects, and musicians started experimenting with their guitars.

George Harrison of the Beatles and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds started playing playing 12-string guitars.

Jimi Hendrix , considered by many to be the greatest ever rock guitarist, experimented with the Fender electric guitar to make strange and original sounds. Handrix was famous for throwing his guitars, smashing them and setting them on fire. He said, " Sometimes I jump on my guitar, and sometimes I play the guitar with teeth. "

In 1969 , Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin introduced a way of playing the guitar with a violin bow. he also started playing the double - neck guitar( instead of using two instruments).

In the 1970's and 1980's, musicians continued experimenting. They made louder and faster music , with long guitar solos.Their new musical vocabulary became known as "heavy metal". At the same time, punk bands in Britain thought it was cool to play the guitar badly. It was part of theie rebel image.

1. Electric guitars appeared in the first half of the twentieth century.

5. 2) People enjoyed them because of their design.

5. 3) Jimmy Hendrix was very carefull with his instruments.

5. 4) The electric guitar changed the whole music world.

6. Read the text and choose correct variant.

London is a famous and historic city. It is the capital of England in the United Kingdom. The city is quite popular for international tourism because London is home to one of the oldest-standing monarchies in the western hemisphere. Rita and Joanne recently traveled to London. They were very excited for their trip because this was their first journey overseas from the United States.

Among the popular sights that Rita and Joanne visited are Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. Big Ben is one of London’s most famous monuments. It is a large clock tower located at the northern end of Westminster Palace. The clock tower is 96 meters tall. Unfortunately, Rita and Joanne were only able to view the tower from the outside. The women learned that the tower’s interior is undergoing renovations until 2021.

Fortunately, the London Eye, the city’s famous Ferris wheel, was open to the public. The London Eye is situated along the southern shores of the Thames River. This attraction stands 135 meters high. It is one of London’s most well-known spots for gaining aerial views of the city. Each capsule of the Ferris wheel can hold up to 25 passengers. When their capsule stopped at the top of the Ferris wheel, the women took spectacular panoramic photographs of the beautiful cityscape below.

The last place that Rita and Joanne visited was Buckingham Palace, the home of the Queen of England. The women were impressed by the palace’s incredible architecture and historical value. Both Rita and Joanne enjoyed watching the Queen’s guards outside the palace. These guards wore red tunic uniforms, shiny black boots, and bearskin hats. Despite the women’s attempts to catch the attention of the guards, the guards are specifically trained to avoid distractions. Because of this, the guards ignored the women completely.

Joanne and Rita had an amazing time visiting the city of London, and they are inspired to seek more international travel destinations in the future.

1) All of the following are true about London except:

6. 2) Why were Rita and Joanne excited for their trip?

6. 3) Which is not a characteristic of the Queen’s guards?

6. 4) From where did the women receive great overhead views of the city?

7. Read the text and choose the best answer.

Ukraine is a rich agricultural, industrial and mining region in south-eastern Europe. It is an independent democratic state. Its population is about 42 mln people. The capital of Ukraine is Kiev. Ukraine has its own armed forces, and maintains its own diplomatic relations with foreign countries. Ukraine covers about 603.700 sq. km being larger than any country in Western Europe. From east to west Ukraine stretches for more than 1300 km and from north to south for almost 900 km. It borders with Belarus and Russia on the north and on the east. In the south it is bounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In the west Ukraine is bounded by Moldova, Rumania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. Ukraine is located in ideal geographical position for the development of its resources, lying between 440 and 520 latitude north, on the same latitude as the USA or Britain. The climate is mild and warm, with a long summer and a short winter. Together with its fertile black soil, this makes it ideal for the development of intensive agriculture. The main part of Ukraine is located in the watershed of the Dnieper-River, which divides Ukraine into two parts: Right-Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine. Ukraine's proximity to the Black Sea and the presence of large navigable rivers running through its territory has promoted the development of trade and culture. The Black Sea is not only a means of communication with Transcaucasia and Turkey but also with the rest of the world through the Mediterranean Sea. Ukraine also lies on the Danube, and this gives it access to European countries. Through the SiverskyDonets it has access to the Don. The territory of Ukraine is criss-crossed by railroads and highways, oil and gas pipelines and high-voltage transmission lines - all of which ensure close economic ties with Eastern and Western Europe. Ukraine is a highly industrialised country, whose economic potential is great.

1) The territory of Ukraine is…

7. 2) Our country is good for……development.

7. 3) The waterways of Ukraine are great for….

7. 4) Ukraine is border on…