Exam Topics. Family

Family means a lot to everyone, because it gives you a sense of stability and tradition, a feeling of having support and understanding. You feel secure when there’s a family behind you. They are people you can trust and rely on, people who won’t let you down and who share your joys and sorrows. In happy families parents are frank and honest with their children, they treat their children with respect, as equals, without moralizing or bossing them, and children in their turn learn how to treat other people and how to form relationship with their peers.

Some of us are lucky to be born and raised in an extended family with lots of family members, close and distant relatives. Others come from nuclear families which are made up of parents and children. Basically, the size is not so important. It’s the relationship in the family that matters.

I really appreciate the relationship in my family. We are a family of four: my Dad, my Mum, my brother and I. Both of my parents are middle-aged. My father is in his late 40s. He’s tall, slim and has neither beard, nor a moustache. He works as an engineer. My mum is in her mid-40s. She’s of a medium height with long dark hair and blue eyes. She’s a teacher by profession. I have always looked up to my parents and treated them as my role-models. My dad is a very wise person and he taught me many life lessons. My Mum is the example of patience, kindness and tolerance towards other people.

I enjoy the honest and open atmosphere in my family. I like it when parents trust their children, give them enough freedom and respect them. I think these things make family relations warm and pleasant. There is no so-called “generation gap” in our family, though we may argue and disagree on certain issues. I can always bring my friend home and my parents are very positive about it, although they don’t always approve of our tastes, views and clothes.

We also share responsibilities and household chores. Everyone has their own duties which we have to fulfill and I consider it fair. Besides it makes us more disciplined and well-organized.

As I have already mentioned, I have one sibling, a brother. He’s 5 years younger than me and studies in primary school. Talking about the relationship with my brother, I won’t be honest enough if I say that it’s perfect. In general, we get on well most of the time but sometimes we don’t see eye to eye on certain things and it can lead to misunderstanding and even rows. But if my brother is in trouble, I will always support and stand for him. And he will do the same. So, all in all, our family is happy and tight-knit.

Nothing strengthens family ties and creates an atmosphere of friendship, happiness and love better than family traditions. Moreover, they set a good example of family relations for children and, of course, they leave memories for the rest of their lives. We have some family traditions. But to my mind we haven’t got anything special or original in our family. All our family traditions are connected with some holidays. Apart from national holidays there are family holidays like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. Birthdays are always a happy event in our family. On these days we usually have a party. Mum is usually responsible for cooking and dad for entertainment. I guess, when people spend more time together they are closer to each other. One more family tradition is spending summer holidays together either at the seaside or in the country, which I enjoy very much.

I’d like to become more independent from my parents in future; nevertheless we’ll always be the best friends because my parents are the most important people in the world.

 

 Let’s talk about your family.

1. What kind of holidays do you like to celebrate in your family?

2. Do you have a family album? Why or why not?

3. What will you ask your British friend about his/her family?

4. What can you advise people who want to have a good relationship with their parents and grandparents?

5. What is more important: family or work? What do you think about it?

Let’s talk about your family.

1. What does your immediate family mean to you?

2. Are there any family traditions that you follow?

3. What questions will you ask a British teenager about their extended family?

4. Give a piece of advice on how to have a close and happy family?

5. They say that parents and children have difficulties understanding each other because of the generation gap. What do you think about it?

Write the answers to the questions in comments. Answers will be graded.

Exam Topics. National Character and Stereotypes

We often see other nationalities as having a set of characteristics which set them apart from others. We may not like them, but consciously or subconsciously we absorb, use and spread stereotypes. We all return from holiday destinations with tales of what local people there are like. Having met only a few representatives of the nation, we are tempted to generalize and attribute the qualities of one person to the whole nation.

Some stereotypes about cultures or nationalities may be positive, even amusing when presented as jokes and anecdotes. But quite often they have become a source of anger, conflicts and racist behavior which creates barriers between people and even nations.

The more famous the nation is, the more swayed by stereotypes it is. And there isn’t a nation in the world which is more discussed and more stereotyped than the British are. A nation of gentlemen, tea drinkers, pub goers, animal lovers and football fans – these are the most widely spread images of this nation. The British are also famous for their tolerance and sense of humour, yet they don’t always say what they think and can be intentionally rude. The British are really conservative; they love familiar things in familiar places. Their conservatism may be illustrated by the attitude to the monarchy.

Britain is known as the land of law and order. So the best reason for the British to do something in a certain way is that it has always been done in that way. For example, their theatres are closed on Sundays. This was decided by the law in the days of Shakespeare and since that time the law has been in force.

The British have a cult of privacy. They protect their privacy. England is the land of brick fences, stone walls, hedges. They are a nation of stays-at-home. As the proverb says, “An Englishman’s home is his castle”. Gardening is still one of the most popular hobbies in the country.

However, the British are not one nationality but four, who all see each other differently. The Welsh are considered to be a much more talkative group. And indeed Wales has produced many preachers and trade union leaders, particularly in the 19^th century. In contrast, the Scots are seen as more serious.

But today Britain is a multicultural society because of the large scale immigration to Britain. These ”new British” people have brought widely differing sets of attitudes with them. In spite of different accents, cultural backgrounds and different views, they are still all part of an island race, whose culture and customs are mixed so well together that they produce a British identity.

The American nation, however, is more difficult to generalize due to the diversity and multiculturalism of its population. The United States is often called a melting pot, which means that people from many lands have come together and formed a unified culture. Americans have many things in common, for instance the vast majority of them speak English, people throughout the country dress similarly and eat many of the same kinds of foods.

American society seems to be much less formal than the British, both   in language, greetings and the manner of dress. Americans are proud of their individualism and an enormous feeling of patriotism. American society is considered to be a haven for those who long for freedom and opportunities. Right for freedom is the first one, mentioned in the US Constitution’s Bill of Rights and it is the most precious one for most Americans. Volunteerism is the soul of American community and political life. Volunteering means helping people without being paid and the willingness to participate is so widespread that six out of ten Americans are members of a volunteer or charity organization.  These values have developed historically through wars and struggles that’s why they are so appreciated.

As a nation of immigrants, Americans are always ready to move to a new place hoping to find a better job or enjoy climate. Most Americans take it for granted that they may live in four or five cities during their lifetime. Mobility in America is not a sign of aimlessness but optimism.

Belarusian traditions and features of the national character were formed in the course of complex history. The area of the country was an arena for many military conflicts, World Wars, national liberation revolts, revolutions and repressions. So our extraordinary history cultivated special character traits: the main of them tolerance and diligence. Different from anyone else, Belarusians are able to adapt to any circumstances – not to change them, but to change themselves, to accept these circumstances, to live them naturally, in harmony and even with pleasure.

 Belarusians are known to be hardworking people but at the same time very homely. That’s why life of a typical Belarusian is basically centered on work and family. They don`t lose their temper and patience. Belarusian people are tolerant; but at the same time they are reserved, not very jolly and rather pessimistic. The Belarusians are open, friendly and very hospitable. Belarusians are true potato eaters and the potato is even called “the second bread”.

In conclusion, I want to say that the 21^st century is marked by a huge free flow of information exchange on the Internet. It has brought a lot of advantages, but also wide distribution of false information. So take everything you see and read with a grain of salt. Don’t judge people by their appearance, skin colour or nationality. If you want to get a healthy outlook on the world, you should travel more. Get to know the world and people through your own experience and get rid of prejudice. Crush stereotypes, celebrate individuality, and you will learn, grow and be a happier person.

Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes.

1. What can you tell me about the Belarusian people?

2. Is there anything you want to change in your character?

3. What questions will you ask me to understand what kind of person I am?

4. Your British friend wants to discover Belarusian cuisine. What advice will you give him/her?

5. Why do you think we should be suspicious of stereotypes?

Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes

1.     How will you describe a typical Belarusian?

2.     Is it true that Belarusians eat potatoes with every meal?

3.     What questions will you ask your British friend to find out their opinion about our country?

4.     Give me a piece of advice on how to choose the right person to do a project together.

5.     We can’t believe all the stereotypes about different nationalities. What do you think about it?Write the answers to the questions in comments. Answers will be graded.

Exam Topics. International Cooperation

Martin Luther King once said, ”We may have all come on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”  In the 21th century, the world is becoming closer and more interconnected. Global cooperation means that all countries work together to  solve  such global issues  as  environmental problems, acts of terrorism, poverty, famine, wars, diseases (coronavirus, for instance), animal extinction so on and so forth. There are many organizations in the world, which work and cooperate together in dealing with international problems and our country is an active member of many of them.  

International relations have always been a significant part of the policy of the Republic of Belarus. Belarus is a member of about 100 different international and regional organizations. As a co-founder of the United Nations, Belarus cooperates with various institutions and organizations of the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, UNESCO, the European Union etc. 

UNESCO, for example, stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.  UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, decrease in poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. It promotes tolerance for cultural diversity, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and respect for the historical, cultural and natural heritage.  Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs   includes 50 clubs all over Belarus. Belarus’s programme of UNESCO activities includes numerous interesting projects in the fields of education, science, information, communications and culture.  Today 4 Belarusian sites have been included in the World Heritage List: The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, The Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill family in Neswizh, Mir Castle and the Struve Arc.

Belarus is the co-founder of the Commonwealth of Independent States which includes 11 countries of the former Soviet Union. 

Participation in these organizations gives us an opportunity to ensure national security and sovereignty to this day. In economic terms, it provides country internal development. Our contribution is also essential. In the past few years, Belarus has been involved in international peace-keeping negotiations and agreements promoting international peace and security.  In order to find peaceful instruments of de-escalating the Crisis in Ukraine, our country has been hosting the meetings of the “Minsk Group” since the crisis began.

After gaining independence in 1991, Belarus paid a lot of attention to its foreign policy. Belarus maintains diplomatic relations with 177 countries of the world and is represented today by foreign offices in 59 states. Belarus has a friendly working relationship with such countries as Germany, Denmark, France, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, the USA and many others. Foreign States are represented in our country by 45 embassies, 4 branch offices of embassies, 35 consular embassies.

Another way of international cooperation is creating twin towns and sister cities between countries to establish cultural and commercial ties. This form of social agreement encourages friendship between different cultures and increases tourism. Belarus has a great number of twin towns and sister cities in different parts of the world. For instance, Minsk and Nottingham are twin towns since 1957, Brest and Aberdeen in Scotland since 1990, Soligorsk and Holbaek in Denmark since 2008. 

Sovereign Belarus focuses on a multi-vector policy and aims at building up mutually beneficial relations with foreign states. Our country takes an active part in the development of the international community and is widely represented in all spheres on the international arena.

The Republic of Belarus organizers and takes an active part in different international cultural events.  The International Art Festival “Slavyanski Bazaar’ is a spectacular event annually held in Vitebsk. Once started as a local festival of Slavonic song folklore, it became international in 1995 and continues broadening the geography of its participants. The motto of the festival is “Through art to peace and understanding’ and its main aim is to promote art, friendship and mutual understanding within the international community. The program of “Slavyansky Bazaar’ includes concerts of music stars, concerts of young singers, folk songs concerts, fashion shows, the international contest of beauty “ Miss Slavyanka”, the days of the international culture, photo exhibitions, “ the city of Craftsmen” and many other events.

 Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad” was included in the list of the most prestigious film festivals. The main competitions of the festival focus on new films created in former socialistic countries, including the CIS countries, Central and South-East Asia, the Baltics, Eastern and Central Europe. The programme of the festival includes film shows, presentations, exhibitions, workshops, a documentary film competition, the children and youth films competition “Listapadzik’.

One more important international event held in Belarus is worth mentioning, namely Belarus Fashion Week. Its value lies in the popularization of Belarusian prêt-a-porter designer clothes. Due to this project Belarusian fashion is getting recognized abroad. 

I dare say our country receives more and more popularity on the international arena. Minsk hosted Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 which took place in the Cultural and Sport Complex Minsk Arena. And in 2014 our capital drew crowds again due to the Ice Hockey World Championship. 2019 European Games were also held in Belarus.

Undoubtedly, organizing and joining in international events is very beneficial for our country. On the one hand, it gives us an opportunity to introduce our country to the world, promote our culture and national identity. On the other hand, it improves our cooperation with other countries. We can exchange experience, get support and gain new ideas.

I’d like to sum it up with the quote from Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”

Let’s talk about international cooperation.

1. Do you know what countries have cross-cultural relationship with Belarus?

2. Is Belarus a member of some international organisations?

3. You are going to travel to Britain as an exchange student. Ask questions about the exchange programme.

4. Give advice to your friend who is hosting a foreign student.

5. Social networking is a convenient way to keep in touch with foreign friends and a good possibility to develop cooperation. What do you think about it?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.

Exam topics: Youth and Society

 

  Throughout the history young people have always been driving force for progress. They are creative, passionate and enthusiastic. Young people generate innovative and ambitious ideas. They are ready to come out of their comfort zone, take risks and that’s why it is so important to give youngsters opportunities and chances to express themselves.

 It’s quite natural that young people want to socialize with their equals so as to express their views on several political and social issues. They join youth organizations and societies. Participation in youth organisations gives numerous advantages both to the youth and to the entire community.

First of all, such organisations bring together diverse groups of young people. They explore different issues together, get involved in many aspects of young people’s lives and eventually become a close-knit peer group.

Secondly, such organisations help youngsters to gain leadership and teamwork skills, which can help them be better prepared for any job they might choose in the future.

And finally, the ability to think critically and solve problems as well as self-confidence will definitely improve thanks to participation in such organisations. The main aim of these organizations is to involve young people into socially useful activities such as sporting events, volunteering at hospitals, taking care of war veterans, assisting the old and the handicapped, carrying out some ecological projects and doing other things.      

 There are a lot of youth organizations, groups and movements in Belarus, so young people can find one that will suit their interests. The most authoritative of them are: the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM), the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization, the Association of Belarusian Scouts, the Belarusian Organizations of Falcons, the Belarusian National Scout Organization, the Association of Belarusian Guides, etc. The biggest youth organization in Belarus is the BRSM, which includes about 500,000 young people aged from 14 to 31. The  main aim of this organization is to promote patriotism, develop young people’s initiative and involve them in useful public activities.

Everybody can find something to their taste. Those who want to help people in need join “The Kind Heart Movement” and go to hospitals or orphanages, work with disabled or sick people, those who need care and love. Some young people who are full of creative ideas can take part in festivals, exhibitions and contests organized by the BRSM to show their talents. Business people may take part in one of the largest projects that is “100 Ideas for Belarus”. It is financed by the government and BRSM and offers funding to young people with the best start-up projects. BRSM also provides young people with working places in summer.

Supported by the government young people arrange numerous useful social campaigns, which are dedicated to a wide range of goals. Among them there are such campaigns as charity campaigns, an antismoking and recycling campaigns.

  At the same time there are a lot of informal youth movements that want to express themselves in different ways. Usually they are organized on the base of common interests or preferences in music styles or in arts priorities. Some try to express their political views others are searching for their own answers to universal problems: ecological, religious or philosophical. Anyway all young people want to express themselves and find their place in this world.         

 One more interesting phenomenon is sub-culture. It is generally held that sub-culture is the culture of those who are dissatisfied with their place in society. On the whole Teds, Mods, Rockers, Bikers, Skinheads and Punks are the sub-cultures of the politically or economically weak segments of the society. It is interesting to note that sub-cultures follow a cycle. At first they shock then provoke a strong response. Many adopt it for fun, and play at rebellion in their leisure time. In the end it becomes another recognized and colourful part of urban culture.            

  I have never joined any youth organizations, probably, because I haven’t found anything special or interesting for my personal development. I’m very busy with my studies, besides I’ve got a lot of interests and hobbies. By the way, I’m a very sociable person and have got some close friends and a lot of schoolmates or just mates. I’m fond of travelling and like to meet new people. I can express myself in various activities organized at school: concerts, sports competitions, class meetings and parties, and of course at my everyday classes. Thus I don’t feel intention to join any organization.

 

 Let’s talk about youth and society.

1. What social issues are important for young people nowadays?

2. Do you think your life is easier or more difficult than that of your parents?

3. Your British friend is volunteering on a Belarusian farm. What questions will you ask him/her about it?

4. What youth organisations will you recommend young people to join?

5. People say that volunteering can make a great difference to our lives and the lives of others around us. What do you think about it?

Let’s talk about youth and society.

1. What national and international youth organisations do you know?

2. Are you a member of any youth organisation?

3. What questions will you ask about a new project organised by the BRSM?

4. Some young people want to become volunteers but don’t know what to start with. What will you recommend them to do?

5. If you have a chance to start a campaign, what will you campaign for?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.

Exam Topics. Tourism

                                                                 

Our life has become very monotonous and routine. Day after day we take care of mundane matters such as school, home, homework, or if you are an adult, then work, home and household chores. And it’s an endless circle. People complain about the lack of free time and as a result very often we see crowds of gloomy, exhausted and bored by their routines people. So what is the solution? The answer is obvious, it’s travelling. Travelling is necessary to us all. It keeps us from growing stale and old; it stimulates our imagination; it gives us that movement and change which are necessary to our well-being. Some people travel in search of beauty, others to satisfy their curiosity, and many people consider traveling to be a good form of rest.

While travelling we look for different things. Some people look for natural wonders: waterfalls, mountains; others search for ancient sites and great monuments. Others want to see romantic historical cities or exciting modern cities. Coach potatoes prefer beautiful beaches and a coastline.

Some people travel light, and some take a lot of luggage on their travels, journeys, voyages or trips. They may choose various means of travelling: by air, by sea, by train, by car, by coach, on a bike, on foot or even on horseback.

In the past, a seaside vacation and a package holiday were the most popular ones. But today the tourist industry provides a wide range of options where every taste is catered for. So what kind of tourist are you?

If you are a daring type and a thrill-seeker, you would probably like to head for exotic places and try some extreme activities. This may include rafting in dangerous waters, mountain biking or rock climbing. In this way some people can feel that they really escape from their boring lives. But you will meet real challenges and push yourself beyond your usual comfort zone if you think of trying adventure tourism.

If you are a nature lover and an environmentally friendly type, try backpacking. You will definitely enjoy travelling to remote untouched and protected areas. Hiking and camping in stunningly beautiful places, sleeping under a starry night, making a wish on a shooting star and singing campfire songs – what can be more romantic?

But most people just want to get away from it all, lazy around on the beach and  enjoy specialties of foreign cuisine. Combine it with exploring historic heritage and art and immersing yourself into the atmosphere of a new culture and you will leave vacation spot full of unique and memorable experiences that will stay with you forever. What is more, you will broaden your outlook and make new friends.

Every journey has to be arranged beforehand. There is a number of things one must take care of it they want to make their journey comfortable. First of all, you should choose the most convenient way of getting at your destination. Secondly, it would be very wise of you to reserve everything in advance and save your time and trouble. Then you should find out the time of departure and the time of arrival. Think about your luggage beforehand and pack it neatly. It is strongly recommended to come to the railway station, coach station or airport well in advance so as to have enough time to settle for your traveling.

            There are some things that can spoil the impression of your journey: travel sickness, heavy luggage, talkative fellow passengers, missing your transport, bad food, delays and cancellations of transport and bad weather. You should take everything into account and take drastic measures. For example you may take a medicine for your sickness, pack a couple of sandwiches, take suitable clothes, be well-organized and try to be optimistic in any case. People who are optimistic have more control and a better handle on life, live longer, achieve more, have more friends and generally are happier.

Whatever type of tourism and destination you choose be sure that you will return from your trip being a completely different person. Just travel with open eyes and heart and you will learn a lot of valuable lessons.

Let’s talk about tourism.

1. How do you prefer to travel: alone, with your parents or with your friends?

2. Is it better to choose a guided tour or organize a trip by yourself? Why?

3. You want to leave for an exotic country. What questions will you ask the tour operator?

4. Your American friend wants to visit Belarus. Which places will you advise him/her to visit?

5. Nowadays people enjoy travelling a lot. What do you think are the reasons?

Let’s talk about tourism.

1.     What types of tourism do you know?

2.     Do you bring home souvenirs from your trips? Why or why not?

3.     You are going on a trip around England. What questions will you ask your British friends??

4.     Advise a British teenager on how to spend his/her holiday in Belarus.

5.     Today some people are tired of exotic countries and prefer to spend holidays in the countryside in Belarus. What do you think about it?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.

Exam topics: Outstanding people

Have you ever asked yourself a question what your life would be like today without the invention of the theory of relativity or without such a masterpiece as “Romeo and Juliet”? How would have the world history changed but for such influential figures as Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi? It’s hard to say but one thing is clear – it wouldn’t be the same. These famous people contributed a lot to the development of the mankind and changed our perception of the world to a great extent.

In my opinion to be an outstanding person means to possess personality, not to be like anyone else and it is someone who is not trying to emphasize it. An outstanding person is the one who wants to do something good in his or her life and who helps other people and leaves some kind of trace in the life of others. America has always been achievement-oriented nation. Americans are very proud of their in «some way national hero» Bill Gates and they consider him an outstanding person. Why? Because he was able to create something from nothing. He is not like everyone else, he is one of a kind and that makes him an outstanding person. A young man who used to work in his garage became famous all over the world and when you exchange a word with him you’ll never get a message, that he is better than you are. A true example of devotion and determination on the way to success is Henry Ford, an American captain of industry and a business magnate, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. Not many people know that he failed several times and was broke before succeeding in his start-up business. He really had an idea of what persistence means! These are examples of becoming outstanding people, respectable and strong personalities.

Each country can boast its own outstanding personalities. Great Britain has given the world many talented scientists, politicians, sportsmen, writers and poets, painters and musicians. The names of Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, John Lennon, Charlie Chaplin speak for themselves. The first British woman Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a well-known Scottish writer of Sherlock Holmes stories Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, who relieved more suffering than any other living man, a former star of the legendary Manchester United David Beckham also deserve mentioning. 

Our country has raised a lot of people who can be called outstanding and made a big contribution to the world’s heritage due to its gifted historic figures and our contemporaries.  Number one, for sure, is Francysk Skoryna, a Belarusian legend. He has been remembered and respected for his contribution to the education and the development of printing. Belarus is the motherland of such writers as Y. Kolas, Y. Kupala, A. Mitskevich, V. Bykov, K. Krapiva, I. Shamyakin, M. Tank, V. Korotkevich, M. Bagdanovich and many others who did a lot for our culture. Among the most prominent Belarusian Artists are Mark Shagall. Ossip Zadkin, Kazimir Malevich, M. Savitski. They were involved in renovation of Belarusian culture and they were not afraid to start everything from the beginning and to tell us about our roots, our identity. We can be justly proud of our sportsmen Maxim Mirny, Victoria Azarenka, Darya Domracheva, Alexei Grishin, Melitina Staniouta and many others.

The year of 2015 was marked by a significant event. The first writer from Belarus was awarded Nobel Prize in Literature. This was Svetlana Alexievich, a Belarusian investigative journalist and non-fiction prose writer. Her books have been translated into many languages. Her most distinguished  works are “War Does Not Have a Woman’s Face”, “Boys in Zinc”, “Chernobyl Prayer”.

We often wonder whether a genius is born or made. Judging by the numerous examples we can assume that naturally born talent is the key ingredient of success. But the way is very often thorny. So such qualities as hard work, determination, persistence and devotion are a must.

To learn more visit this site:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Belarus

Let’s talk about outstanding people.

1. What famous people made our life different?

2. Do you think it is important to know the history of your country?

3. You have a chance to interview a celebrity. Whom will you choose and what questions will you ask?

4. My son wants to become a successful businessman in the future. What advice will you give him?

5. Some people say that great minds think alike. What do you think about it?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.

Exam Topics: Science and Technology

We live in the age of science and technology. Science has changed the lives of people to a great extent. It has made life easy, simple and fast. Science has offered many gifts to mankind. Fire was the first discovery and wheel was the first invention. Since that time we have travelled far. To my mind electricity is a gift of science without which the modern civilization cannot survive. If we stop using it, the whole world would come to a standstill. Science creates wonders almost every day. What once was a fantasy is now a reality thanks to the recent achievements of scientists. Science affects us all every day from the moment we wake up till late at night. Your smartphone, digital hand watch, weather report, smart TV, the antibiotics to treat the flu, the clean water and the light you turn off at the end of your day. All these have been made possible thanks to science.

Technological advances have influenced every sphere of our life. First of all, science has changed our daily routine, transforming our houses into smart homes. Nowadays almost every corner of our house is equipped with modern appliances. Motion sensors, automatic lights, climate control and all kitchen appliances make our life safer, easier and more convenient.

Science has greatly improved medical services. The microscope and the X-ray have become real blessings to mankind. The latest inventions help to diagnose patients with serious diseases and start treatment at early stages. Chemists have invented wonder drugs to cure previously fatal diseases and as a result save lives of thousands of people.

Cloning, space trips and robots are the miracles of the modern times. Though we don’t come across these technologies every day, they influence our life in some ways.

 Without doubt, science has an enormous impact on modern means of communication. In the past it took people weeks and even months to deliver a message from one person to another. Since the invention of mobile phones and the Internet quality of communication has improved greatly. Moreover, modern technology helps us find long-lost relatives and childhood friends. Social networks (Facebook, Twitter, VK) and messengers (Skype, Viber, What’s Up) help us keep in touch with friends and strengthen the ties regardless the distance.

Advanced technologies also enable us to get and share knowledge. Just press the button and the biggest encyclopedia in the world is at your disposal. Google updates us on the latest news, discoveries, inventions, festivals and art events.

But science and technology also have a negative side which affects human lives. Fast and effective technology turns us into coach potatoes, unable and unwilling to go out of house and look for real communication. What is more, computers have given rise to new addictions , for instance, gaming addiction. There is a wide range of intellectual games that develop soft skills, but unfortunately they are not as popular as games featuring shooting, killing and fighting. Sociologists claim that addiction to cruel computer games is responsible for increased crime and violence rates. Furthermore, doctors link several serious health problems such as obesity, heart disease, strokes and cancer with addiction to computer and TV watching.

Science and technology also do a lot of harm to the environment. If we look around, most places are crowded and polluted due to the development of factories, plants and power stations, which are all hazardous to our health.

Thus, as we can see in our daily life science has been great help and we have benefited from it a lot. Frankly speaking, now it has become almost impossible to live without using achievements of science and technology.

Let’s talk about science and modern technologies.

1. What is the role of science in our fast moving world?

2. Do all scientific discoveries have a positive effect on our lives?

3. What questions will you ask a famous scientist about his/her career?

4. Your friend is taking part in an experiment. He must live a month without a computer or a laptop. What advice will you give him? 

5. Can you predict what kind of technologies, gadgets, and devices we will use in the future? Tell us about them.

Write the answers to the questions in comments.

Exam Topics: MASS MEDIA

The mass media plays an important part in our lives. Newspapers, radio, TV and the Internet inform us of what is going on in this world and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. They also influence the way we see the world and shape our views.
Newspapers are the oldest means of mass media. The choice of newspapers is wide. Nowadays newspapers cater for different political views, interests and levels of education. All newspapers are classified into two types: quality or broadsheets and popular or tabloids. Quality newspapers are serious national papers for educated readers. Tabloids are designed for common readers with the content focused on celebrities and fashion. Newspapers don't react to events as quickly as TV, but they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background information.
The main source of news for millions of people is television. People like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. And that's an important advantage. Seeing, as we know, is believing. Besides, it's much more difficult for politicians to lie in front of the cameras than on the pages of newspapers.

Of course, not all newspapers and TV programmes report the events objectively, but serious journalists and TV reporters try to be fair and provide us with reliable information.

It is true that the world today is full of dramatic events and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren't interested in ordinary events. That is why there are so many programmes and articles about natural disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news doesn't usually make headlines. Bad news does.

Some people say that journalists are given too much freedom. They often intrude on people's private lives. They follow celebrities and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or half-true. They take photos of them in their most intimate moments. The question is — should this be allowed? But obviously, television, especially quality documentaries from Discovery Channel, Viasat History and National Geographic possesses educational power. Television helps to broaden horizons and get acquainted with different cultures. 

Still, many people prefer the radio. It's good to listen to it in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house.

The Internet has recently become another important source of information. The Net has changed communication as we know it. From education to advertisement, this new technological advance has affected practically every aspect of our lives. Magazines, newspapers and books are "online" and can be read on the computer or on the screen of your smartphone . You can find information on any topic - the possibilities are endless. The Internet can instantly connect you to other computers, allowing you to "chat" with people all over the world. Moreover, the news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life and you don't have to wait for news time on TV. 

 Mass media (that is, the press, the radio and television) play an important role in the life of society. They inform, educate and entertain people. They also influence the way people look at the world and make them change their views. Mass media mould public opinion. 

But it is hardly fair to say that mass media do not try to raise cultural level of the people or to develop their artistic taste. Mass media brings to millions of homes not only entertainment and news but also cultural and educational programs.

No doubt, mass media is an important part of our life. We should keep in mind that almost everything can be a blessing or a curse depending on the way we use it. The effect mass media has on us largely depends on our choice of what we watch and read. So let's make intelligent choices.

Let’s talk about the mass media.

1. Which of these do people in your family prefer: TV, newspapers, radio?

2. Is there any means of communication teenagers can’t live without? Why? Why not?

3. What questions will you ask a photojournalist about his/her work?

4. I’d like to watch something entertaining on TV. What programme will you advise me to watch?

5. Can the internet replace all the other means of mass media? What is your point of view?

 Let’s talk about mass media.

1. What role does the Internet play in your life?

2. Are all means of communication really effective? Why or why not?

3. What questions will you ask a British teenager about the media they like best of all?

4. Unfortunately, I have little time to surf the Net. Which sites will you advise me to visit first of all?

5. Do you think newspapers will disappear in twenty years’ time? Why or why not?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.

Exam Topics: Life is short, art is long

Our world has become a very visual one – we have art all around us. Understanding art is understanding our world! A good first step is to try to understand what we mean by art. The arts include visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts, like music, theatre, and film, among others. If you ask people in the street what art is, paintings and statues are common answers. But actually it’s more than that. The types of visual art include architecture, animation, collage, comics, design, drawing, graffiti, illustration, installation art, photography, sculpture and so on.

The first time that the question of what art is came up in the 19th century in an essay by Leo Tolstoy. In his work he argues against numerous theories which define art in terms of the good, truth, and especially beauty. In Tolstoy’s opinion, art at the time was much more than that. According to him, art must create an emotional link between artist and audience, one that “infects” the viewer. Some researchers believe that art is actually about communicating the feelings of the artists.

But of course there are people who view the art as a commercial idea. As Frank Zappa once said, “Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.”

For someone art can be therapy. There is even a term “art therapy”. The aim of art therapy is to improve or maintain mental health and emotional well-being. In my opinion art plays a large part in making our lives infinitely rich. Art stimulates different parts of our brains to make us laugh or cry, calm down or start shouting. You could say “Art is something that makes us more thoughtful and well-balanced humans.”

Art is form and content. Form means the elements of art, the principles of design and the actual, physical materials that the artist has used. Content is idea-based and means what the artist meant to say, what the artist actually did say and how we react, as individuals, to the author’s messages.

The world of art is really fascinating. It is the world of fine artists and sculptors, art historians and critic curators, designers and photographers. We can enjoy masterpieces of both old and modern art in such world famous museums as the Louvre (Paris), the British Museum and the National Gallery (London), the State Hermitage (St. Petersburgh), the Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow), the Prado Museum (Madrid) and many others.

A lot of young people enjoy graffiti – the so called street art, though some older people consider it to be illegal and ugly. I think we have to accept it as part of our lives. A lot of companies use graffiti imagery to promote their things.

The most frequent association with the word art is painting. Painting has had a long and glorious world history as an independent art.

Belarusian artists have made an enormous contribution to the development of world culture. In the 12-18^th centuries the most popular genres of fine arts in Belarus were frescos, icon and portrait painting. The 16^th century portraits created in Belarus were influenced by the Italian and German Renaissance. Ivan Chrutsky (1810-1885) is considered to be the greatest figure in Belarusian art of the 19^th century. His sentimental portraits and luminous (светящиеся) still-life paintings had been assiduously (усердно) collected by Russian and Polish art galleries.

An important role in the formation of young artists in Belarus was played by the opening of art schools in Vitebsk (1898) and Minsk (1906). Among the various genres of Belarusian fine arts water-colour painting is of undoubting importance and interest. Here we should mention V. Tsvirko, one of the leading Belarusian artists. His water-colours Willows Have Burst into Blossom, The Melted Snow and April are superb.

The most famous Belarusian artists who painted in oils are M. Savitski, E. Zaitsev and I. Akhremchik. The war theme predominates in their pictures, though, of course, they also painted landscapes and portraits. The series Figures on the Heart by M. Savitski has become a specific phenomenon in Belarusian art.

At the beginning of the 20^th century a new trend of abstract painting developed in Vitebsk. Among the artists who belonged to that trend were the world famous M. Chagal, K. Malevich, G. Pen and others. Some of them had to leave Belarus and live abroad.

Here I would like to insert some words about abstract art. Understanding abstract art does not come naturally for everyone but it can’t leave people indifferent. To understand abstract art you have to open up your intuition and see where the painting takes you.  Abstract art allows the viewer to decide what the artwork is about, on a very personal level. It requires an open mind and a big imagination. What people don’t realize is that the best abstract artists have excellent drawing skills, a fine sense of composition, and a deep understanding of the workings of color. Instead they choose to express their emotions by creating a piece that is more free, free of the weight of objects. If you want to fully understand an artwork, it’s important to know the artist’s intention behind it. Knowing the artist’s thought process for creating a certain work of art adds to the meaning and value of a painting.

Pablo Picasso once said: “Everyone wants to understand art. Why not try to understand the song of a bird?” Picasso has a point. Art can’t be explained in words, because its influence on people is very personal.

Art echoes the natural world. Art is a means of communion as well as communication. Art creates awareness of social issues. Art may express and reflect the religious, political, and economical aspects of cultures. Art is and can be what ever a culture says it is or what ever they want it to be. Art also helps us to express our sentimental relations. It can beautify, surprise, inspire, stimulate imagination, inform, tell stories, and record history. As someone once said, “Art is life.”

Let’s talk about art.

1. Tell me what forms of art you enjoy most.

2. Is graffiti a form of art or an act of vandalism?

3. Ask me questions about the comedy I have lately seen.

4. Give me a piece of advice on what architectural monuments are worth visiting in Belarus.

5. Are you interested in videoblogs? Why or why not?

Write the answers to the questions in comments.