Reading -2

Read the text and tick (√) all the FALSE sentences.

PIZZA

Pizza has a long history. The ancient Greeks first had the idea of putting vegetables on large flat pieces of bread and pizza ovens have been found in the ruins of Roman cities.

But for centuries one important ingredient was missing - the first tomatoes were brought to Europe only in the 16th century from South America. In the 19th century Rafaele Esposito, a baker from Naples, began to sell the first modern pizzas. He was asked to bake a special pizza for a visit by the Italian King and Queen in 1889, and so the first pizza Margarita was created, named after the Queen.

Pizza became a favourite dish in Italy, but only after the Second World War, when thousands of American soldiers went home from Europe, pizza really became an international dish. Soon there were pizzerias all over the USA, and American chains like Pizza Hut, spread the idea around the world. Today the average American eats over 10 kilograms of pizza a year and the world's largest pizza (measuring 30 metres! across) was baked not in Italy but in Havana, Cuba!

Read the text and tick (√) all the TRUE sentences.

CURLING

Curling, born in Scotland in the first half of the 16^th century, was played in frozen ponds using simple stone. It`s known since 1511. Examples of this sport can also be found in the paintings of Flemish artists. In the 17^th century players started to use suitably treated stone discs and sticks to sweep the snow. Since 1775 the game has become popular in Northern America, where it was introduces by immigrants.

The first Olympic Winter Games curling tournament was held at Chamonix in 1924. After Lake Placid in 1932, curling was absent from the Olympic programme for 50 years; it appeared again as a demonstrative at Calgary in 1988. It was reinstated as a competitive discipline at Nagano in 1998. That year the men`s event was won by the Swiss team and Canada won the gold in the women`s.

Curling is a team game that is performed on a frozen pitch, the concept of which is very similar to bocce (traditionally played balls on natural soil or asphalt courts). It consists of sliding 19.92 kg blocks of stone (called rocks) which have a handle so that they stop as close as possible to the centre of a target drawn on the ice (called the house).

Each team consists of four players. The lead is one that makes the first throw. The second is a good point maker, but also good at taking off the opponent’s stones that are in the way. The third is faced with a more tricky game. The fourth player, the skip, is the most experienced player, who devises tactics, advices his teammates on each throw and throws last.

Read the text and tick (√) all the TRUE sentences.

CURLING

Curling, born in Scotland in the first half of the 16^th century, was played in frozen ponds using simple stone. It`s known since 1511. Examples of this sport can also be found in the paintings of Flemish artists. In the 17^th century players started to use suitably treated stone discs and sticks to sweep the snow. Since 1775 the game has become popular in Northern America, where it was introduces by immigrants.

The first Olympic Winter Games curling tournament was held at Chamonix in 1924. After Lake Placid in 1932, curling was absent from the Olympic programme for 50 years; it appeared again as a demonstrative at Calgary in 1988. It was reinstated as a competitive discipline at Nagano in 1998. That year the men`s event was won by the Swiss team and Canada won the gold in the women`s.

Curling is a team game that is performed on a frozen pitch, the concept of which is very similar to bocce (traditionally played balls on natural soil or asphalt courts). It consists of sliding 19.92 kg blocks of stone (called rocks) which have a handle so that they stop as close as possible to the centre of a target drawn on the ice (called the house).

Each team consists of four players. The lead is one that makes the first throw. The second is a good point maker, but also good at taking off the opponent’s stones that are in the way. The third is faced with a more tricky game. The fourth player, the skip, is the most experienced player, who devises tactics, advices his teammates on each throw and throws last.

Read the text and choose the correct answer

At the theatre

Theatre is a place where you can see a play staged. It is also one of entertainments.

A theatre consists of two parts: the stage and the hall. They are separated by curtain and the orchestra. Actors and actresses perform on the stage and public occupies the hall, the pit, the dress-circles, the boxes and the gallery.

If we made up our mind to go to the theatre we should go to the box-office to buy tickets. Seats can be reserved beforehand.

The last performance I saw was "The Nut Cracker" by Tchaikovskyi. How great it was! The main parts were performed by Vadim Pisarev and Inna Dorofieyeva. Everyone knows that they are very talented dancers. But I also was impressed by a girl. I think she deserves respect of the audience because she did her best and looked great for her young age. I had a great time that night.

But we are to admit that theatre is not popular now as it used to be. There are many people who prefer to seat comfortably before the TV and enjoy themselves without leaving their homes.

How many parts does a theatre consist of?