Reading

1.    Read the text “The Ukrainian Language” and write if the following statements are true or false.

The Ukrainian Language

The Ukrainian language is one of the oldest in the world. It is the second most widely spoken language of twelve surviving members of the Slavic group of the large Indo-European language family. Geographically, it is classified with Russian and Belorussian as an East Slavic language.

First you come across Ukrainian in literature of the XII century. The evolution of the language can be traced from the early texts, such as Gospel of Kamianets-Strumilov (1411), written in Old Ukrainian, or the Peresopnytsky Gospel (1556-1561), where a more developed, Middle Ukrainian Language was used. Modern Ukrainian language was the first time used in literature by Ivan Kotliarevsky in 1700s.

Modern Ukrainian is represented by a set of dialects. Traditionally scholars divided into three main groups, Northern, South-Western an d South-Eastern. The difference between these three dialects is not very strong. The standard language is based mainly on the Poltava-Kyiv dialect of the South-Eastern group.

Because of the historical conditions it was difficult to the Ukrainian language to develop.

Now Ukraine is independent. Ukrainian language, traditions and culture are being revived. Ukrainian is the official state language; it is being studied and is the subject of academic research. Official status of Ukrainian provides its introduction in the legislation, ministry, civil organizations and enterprises, the court system, international treatments and agreement, the school system from kindergarten to higher educational institutions, scientific publications and the mass media.

1.    Choose the correct variant a, b or c to complete the sentences.

  The Ukrainian language is one of the oldest …

2. The evolution of the language can be traced from....

3.    Modern Ukrainian language was the first time used in literature …

4.    … represented by a set of dialects.

5.   Ukrainian language, … are being revived.

  6 . Ukrainian is the official … language.

7.    Ukrainian is one of the oldest languages.

8.    The Ukrainian language is the language of the Slavic group.

9.    Ukrainian is the official state language.

10.    Ukrainian is classified with Russian and Belorussian as West Slavic language.