You have received an email message from your English-speaking pen-friend Peter: From: Peter@mail.uk To: Russian_friend@oge.ru Subject: Weather … Today is Sunday, but I feel bored and unhappy. It’s already been raining hard for two days and there’s nothing to do at home. … What is your favourite season and why? What do you do when the weather is rainy? How do you usually spend your weekends? … Write a message to Peter and answer his 3 questions. Write 100–120 words. Remember the rules of email writing.

Вы проводите информационный поиск в ходе выполнения проектной работы. Определите, в каком из текстов A–F содержатся ответы на интересующие Вас вопросы 1–7. Один из вопросов останется без ответа. Занесите Ваши ответы в таблицу. 1. What nature-friendly ideas started a new branch in the tourism business? 2. What means of transport is the most popular with tourists? 3. Why can tourism be dangerous to nature? 4. What are the reasons that make people go on a trip? 5. What kind of tourism is getting popular with elderly people? 6. Why does travelling make people smarter? 7. What are the ways to save money while travelling? A. Tourism has become a popular activity. Indeed, nowadays people travel more, and further, than they used to. The main reasons for tourism are: recreation, leisure and business. When travelling for recreation, people want to escape their stressful daily routine and to relax. Beach holidays are an example of such tourism. Business trips involve going to a distant place in order to settle business issues. B. Whether on a business trip or on a honeymoon, people want to explore the place they are in. They go on excursions, try new activities like diving or mountain climbing and learn about the historical background of the place and its cultural peculiarities. Sometimes they find out amazing facts about people and places and about themselves too! In fact, when people travel, they broaden their horizons. C. A new branch of tourism is ecotourism. It involves visiting relatively untouched places in remote areas. Ecotourism is often misinterpreted as any form of tourism involving wildlife – but it’s completely different from jungle tourism or safari. Eco-tourists are against disturbing the environment; even taking photos is not recommended. Take only memories and leave only footprints is a very popular slogan for them. D. By educational tourism, most people mean different versions of Learn and Travel Programmes for students. But it’s not only for the young and brave. Lots of training and educational programmes for adults are offered in different corners of the world. Retired people participate in these programmes too. They gladly enroll on overseas courses ranging from gardening and design to computer skills and programming. E. If possible, consider means of transport other than the plane. Rapidly increasing numbers of flights have put the environment in danger. Planes pollute the air, which results in global warming. In fact, tourism is not harmless fun as many may think: new airports and tourist infrastructure, pollution and crowds of noisy tourists make wild animals migrate, which may decrease their population or even make them extinct. F. With all its benefits, travelling is still a very expensive activity and may not fit every budget. To reduce the costs, avoid travelling in high season when flight tickets and hotels are overpriced. Remember that, along with expensive destinations, there are less prestigious but even more interesting places. When planning a trip, find out about low-cost airlines, discounts and special offers. Запишите в таблицу выбранные цифры под соответствующими буквами.

Вы проводите информационный поиск в ходе выполнения проектной работы. Определите, в каком из текстов A–F содержатся ответы на интересующие Вас вопросы 1–7. Один из вопросов останется без ответа. Занесите Ваши ответы в таблицу. 1. Where does the name Lena come from? 2. What role does the Lena River play in the economy? 3. When is the Lena River navigable? 4. What is the most serious ecological problem for the Lena River basin? 5. What is the fauna of the Lena River region like? 6. Why does the Lena River attract tourists? 7. Are there any events that celebrate the great river? A. The beauty of Siberia, the Lena River, is frozen for almost eight months of the year. Ice usually appears in late October and remains until May. The water is ice-free only during the summer months, which allows ships to travel, and makes the Lena a busy waterway for transporting timber, gold, and industrial products. The traffic is heavy, which sometimes raises ecological issues. In summer, the river also becomes a popular tourist route for steamship excursions. B. The Lena River is more than just a natural wonder – it is also an economic resource and a cultural symbol of the free spirit of Siberia. In 2013, July 2 was officially declared Lena River Day – a holiday dedicated to protecting the river and its unique ecosystem. On this day, the local communities arrange clean-up campaigns and cultural and educational events. Cruise tourists are also happy to take part in those festivals. C. The Lena River may be covered with ice for most of the year, but it is a paradise for nature lovers, who enjoy cruises from Yakutsk down the river in summer. The river goes through taiga forests, spectacular mountain ranges, and valleys. Many tourists go there to see the Lena Pillars, massive natural stone towers along the river. Together with Lake Baikal, the Lena boasts crystal-clear water and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. D. Due to long distances and short navigation periods, the Lena is not as well-known to tourists, fishermen, and bird and animal watchers as European rivers. Meanwhile, it supports a rich variety of fishes, including salmon, sturgeon, and lenok. Its wetlands and delta serve as nesting grounds for unique bird species, such as the Siberian crane. The area is also home to bears, wolves, reindeer, arctic foxes, and even polar bears. E. The Lena River is about 4,400 km long, which makes it one of the longest rivers in the world. It flows entirely through Siberia, starting near Lake Baikal and travelling northeast for thousands of kilometers, until it reaches the Laptev Sea in the Arctic Ocean. Its name is believed to come from a word in the language of northern peoples, meaning great river. This name reflects both its impressive size and its importance for life in the region. F. For centuries, the cold waters of the Lena River have been important for transportation. For a few navigable months, the river connects distant Siberian cities and villages. Due to the enormous volume of water, several hydro-power plants generate electricity there, which means renewable energy without much pollution. In addition, the region is rich in minerals, gold, and diamonds that are highly important for Russia’s economy. Запишите в таблицу выбранные цифры под соответствующими буквами.

Task 3. You are going to give a talk about your school. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and speak for not more than 2 minutes (10–12 sentences). Remember to say: what your typical school day is like; what your favourite subject is, and why; what you like most about your school; what your attitude to your school life is. You have to talk continuously.

Вы проводите информационный поиск в ходе выполнения проектной работы. Определите, в каком из текстов A–F содержатся ответы на интересующие Вас вопросы 1–7. Один из вопросов останется без ответа. Занесите Ваши ответы в таблицу. 1. What is the capital of the Falkland Islands? 2. Where can you learn about the islands’ history? 3. What is the emblem of the Falkland Islands? 4. What do the local people do for a living? 5. What energy resources are used on the islands? 6. What is the educational policy of the Falkland Islands? 7. What was the result of the conflict between Argentina and the UK? A. The Falkland Islands are located about 250 miles off the coast of South America. They are a British overseas territory. About 3,000 people live on the islands. Like most isolated communities around the world, they are always pleased to welcome tourists. The people of the Falkland Islands mostly work in sheep farming and fishing. B. Everything outside Stanley, known locally as Camp, is home to numerous farms and settlements spread across the islands. In fact,over three quarters of the population live in Stanley. Although one of the smallest capitals in the world, Stanley provides a variety of supermarkets, excellent restaurants and hotels, a swimming pool, gym and golf course. C. Open whenever tour ships are in the port, the Falkland Islands Museum contains artifacts from everyday life, natural history samples and a fine collection relating to the islands’ shipwrecks. Outdoor exhibition sites include the Reclus Hut, originally made in Stanley, then shipped to Antarctica and set up there in 1956. Forty years later the famous house was brought back. D. There are only about 380 children of school age living on the islands. For them, there is a primary and a secondary school in Stanley and three small settlement schools on large farms. Other rural pupils are taught by ‘travelling’ teachers. Schooling is free and compulsory for children between five and sixteen years of age. The government pays for older students to attend colleges, usually in the UK. E. The Falkland Islands government is taking advantage of cheap wind power. Since 1996, the government has been investing in the development of alternative sources of energy and can already enjoy the results. The Islands have experimented with other forms of energy, including hydro-electric and solar power. However, these forms cannot match the effectiveness of wind power yet. F. The Falklands War was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom. It started with the Argentine invasion and occupation of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. The war lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine defeat. However, Argentina still has not fully given up its claim to the territory of the islands. Запишите в таблицу выбранные цифры под соответствующими буквами.

Вы проводите информационный поиск в ходе выполнения проектной работы. Определите, в каком из текстов A–F содержатся ответы на интересующие Вас вопросы 1–7. Один из вопросов останется без ответа. Занесите Ваши ответы в таблицу. 1. Young people of which country are the fastest at texting? 2. Who made the first mobile call and why? 3. Are the rules of using phones in school always followed by students? 4. Which mobile phone has no other advantages but glamour? 5. Why can a mobile phone be dangerous for children? 6. What are the safety tips for using mobile phones? 7. How can a mobile phone message save your life? A. The first call from a mobile phone was made in 1973. Motorola engineer Martin Cooper made the call from the pavement of Sixth Avenue in New York to show off to his competitor – engineer Joel Angel. He said, “I’m ringing you just to see if my call sounds good at your end.” With the first mobile phones, only voice calls were available and there was no texting facility. B. Recently the most expensive phone in the world was presented. It is the iPhone 5 with a case made of 24 carat gold with 600 diamonds! The home button of the smartphone is made of a rare black diamond and the company logo is covered with small diamonds. The cost of this device is about $15 million. The technical characteristics of the iPhone 5 are no different from the regular models. C. Mobile phones are permitted at school in the UK, but students are not allowed to use them in class. Teachers can take away phones if these rules are broken. School students can use their phones at breaktime and at lunchtime. However, some teachers in British schools complain that students don’t always follow the rules and that lessons are disrupted by people texting, receiving calls, looking at social networking sites, watching videos and even making videos in class. D. The mobile phone is a way to warn people about disasters. Some countries have worked out the following system: phone companies automatically notify their population in advance about emergencies and disasters. Such warnings are very efficient and free of charge. Japan and Finland were among the first countries that understood the necessity of this system. E. Parents want their kids to be safe. Are children safer with a mobile phone or without? Many parents want their children to have a phone so that they can be in contact at any time or in any place. On the other hand, for lots of parents a phone is a source of possible danger. Parents worry that their child may meet the wrong kind of ‘friends’ on social networking sites or that they might receive cruel messages from school bullies. F. The idea of sending short text messages originated in 1984. It was later brought to life by a group of engineers from different companies. Writing text messages became extremely popular in Asian countries, especially in Korea. Korean teenagers are certainly text message fans. They send over 200,000 text messages a year – that’s more than sixty texts per day. This hobby must have made their fingers really fast. Запишите в таблицу выбранные цифры под соответствующими буквами.