Exam Card 1

 Reading 

 1. Read the newspaper opinion column and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

    Are you proud of being Belarusian?

             I am Belarusian because my parents who gave me life and brought me up are Belarusian. And what if I were born in a different country on a different continent? In my opinion, a sense of pride in your country, a sense of belonging to a particular nation develops in a person with time. Therefore at my age, by the way I am 18, I can say quite positively, that I am proud to live in Belarus.

              The real treasure of Belarus is its wonderful nature. The country has hundreds of wild forests, rolling hills, green valleys, sweet­scented meadows and golden fields. Beloveshzkaya Pushcha is the only place where you can meet mighty European bison in the wild. Belarus is also famous for its clear lakes and ribbon­like rivers, that’s why it’s called a blue­eyed one. The resorts of lakes Naroch and Braslav are open all year round and let tourists experience the unforgettable peaceful atmosphere.

               I am proud of the rich heroic history of my country and its people. Although for many centuries we were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-­Lithuanian Commonwelth and then the Russian Empire, we have managed to stay united and haven’t lost our uniqueness. Many foreigners admit that our people are extremely sociable, hospitable, and generous and we are welcoming with visitors. We are also described as resourceful and peaceful. When socializing, Belarusians are open, warm­hearted, fun­loving, humorous and outgoing in spite of all the difficulties they face in their life.

               Of course I’m proud of our national holidays and traditions, especially those which are deep­rooted and typical of our nation such as Kalyady, Maslenitsa, Dazhynki. They are unique and make us stand out. Besides, they are of particular interest for tourists because they reflect our culture.

               In conclusion, I’d like to say that I’m proud of my country and its people. Each time I go abroad I tell foreigners about our great past and achievements. Each time I leave the country I want to come back again, because I miss it. If I could draw I would start drawing pictures with its beautiful landscapes; if I could write I would write lyric poems about it. Belarus is the place my heart will always belong to!

____________________
although - хотя; несмотря на то, что
therefore - по этой причине; поэтому
besides - кроме того
in spite of - несмотря на 

the Grand Duchy of Lithuania [ˈɡrænd ˈdʌtʃɪ əv ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪə] Великое Княжество Литовское

the Polish-­Lithuanian Commonwelth [ˈpəʊlɪʃ ˌlɪθjʊˈeɪnɪən ˈkɒmənwelθ] Речь Посполитая – федерация Королевства Польского и Великого Княжества Литовского
the Russian Empire [ˈrʌʃn ˈempaɪə] Российская империя

2. When did the author understand that he/she is proud of being Belarusian? Find this extract and read it aloud.
3. What makes the author be proud of his/her Motherland?
4. What would the author do if he/she were a creative person?

Flash Card Deck created by Veronika Bebekh with GoConqr

Listening

II. Listen to the story about a girl and answer the questions below.

1. Why was Whitney worried about going to college?
2. How did she find a friend?
3. What lesson did Whitney learn?

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about the accomodation.