The Definite Article The Zero Article

The Definite Article

The oil they export is of high quality.

e. Read the following table and write down a few proper names paying attention to the use of articles:

Proper names

b. Add a few nouns into both columns using the text and dictionaries:

Nouns

Uncountable nouns

Countable nouns

lesson

word

expression

The Zero Article

1. Names of most countries:

Russia Britain Greece France

The Definite Article

1. The official names of some coun­tries:

the Russian Federation the United Kingdom the United States of America

с Read the following words paying attention to the sound [6]:

2. Names of continents: Asia

2. Name of only one city: the Hague (Гаага)

The Indefinite Article the lesson(s)
The Definite Article the word(s)
The Zero Article the expression(s)

d. To refresh the use of articles write down a few sentences similar to the examples:

3. Names of most cities:

Moscow

London

3. Names of the whole families: the Browns

Countable Nouns

The Indefinite Article

(when the noun is used in the singular)

It is an interview. It is a short interview.

The Definite Article The Zero Article

(when the noun is used (when the noun is used in the
either in the singular or plural)

in the plural)

The interview is short. I like interviews.

The interviews of this (when the noun is used with

textbook are short. the word No)

_________ / don 'I like Interview No 5.

4. Names of persons:

Peter

Mr. Brown

4. Names of some kings and tsars: Peter the Great Elizabeth the Second

5. Names of hotels, restaurants, air­ports, theatres, cinemas, and other public places: the Russia Hotel the Prado

6. Names of rivers, seas, oceans: the (River) Volga the Pacific Ocean

h. Say if you agree or disagree with the following statements and substantiate your point of view:

■ Political and economic situation usually means stability, trends and outlook.

■ Infrastructure usually covers telecommunication, transport, educa­tion, public health.

■ When we speak of culture we mean people, their language, the way they live, arts, architecture, etc.

i. Write out the names of the seven areas that Peter mentioned.

j. Write what you learned about Peter and his views on contacts across culture.

f. Translate into English paying attention to articles:

1 Я думаю, что он очень хороший журналист.

2 Мне кажется, Питер любит журналистику.

3 Он побывал во многих странах, в том числе в Англии, Франции, Италии.

4 Он старается побольше узнать о стране, в которую собирается по­ехать. Он знакомится с географией, историей, религией, обычаями этой страны.

g. Read the text and mark the following statements as true or false:

1 The interviewer's name is Peter.

2 Peter is only starting his career.

3 He knows a lot about cross-cultural con­tacts.

4 By cross-cultural understanding he means knowing political, economic and social, and cultural life of a country.

5 By culture he means the language, religion, history, geography, customs and traditions in various spheres of life.

strange very special quite specific familiar

e.g. This young people tradition seems strange to me. I. Translate into English:

1 Этот молодой человек кажется мне очень опытным переводчиком.

2 Он часто встречается с французами и хорошо знает их обычаи.

3 Она побывала во многих странах мира и считает, что понима­ние культур других стран очень важно для каждого.

4 Несколько студентов из нашей группы летом ездили в Ирлан­дию. Перед поездкой они прочитали несколько книг о ее исто­рии, географии, обычаях, традициях, литературе, музеях.

5 Они часто обсуждают вопросы понимания других культур.

Р 17

2. Cultural diversity in the world

Exercises

Greetings. People's nationalities can often be recognized by the way they greet each other. Many Europeans shake hands, wave or nod when they meet someone. The French usually kiss on the cheeks. But the Japanese and Chinese normally bow when they greet each other.

Talking. Discussion on family is unwelcome between some cul­tures. For example, it is unacceptable to Saudi. But Americans or Europeans rather often speak about various aspects of family life. Many nationalities do not like discussing politics and religion.

Business. In some countries, such as the USA, Latin American coun­tries, Britain, France, Italy businessmen like joking. It helps to relieve tension. In others countries, such as Germany, China, Japan, Arab countries, joking is usually regarded as flippant or unprofessional.

In cultures where alcohol is taboo, no alcoholic drinks are served at busi­ness receptions. However, it is quite usual to have a glass of wine or a beer with lunch in Europe, but it is very bad form to drink too much. In Italy, a nation of wine drinkers, it is very unusual to drink outside meal times. In Sweden it is quite usual to have a beer with col­leagues after work.

In many countries, coffee and business seem closely linked. Coffee seems to be what cements relationships, everywhere from Saudi Arabia to Argentina, via North America and Norway. Though in China and Japan, tea is more popular than coffee.

Holidays and leisure. Different cultures have different percep­
tions of leisure. A drink with friends and associates in a bar is
popular in many countries. But it can be anathema to some cul­
tures where alcohol is taboo. Likewise, regular physical exercise is
not everyone's idea. Leisure activities and holidays in particular
may be totally different for different people.__________________

a. Make short sentences with the following words paying attention to the use of articles:
e.g. He is French. And the French often kiss each other when they meet.

a personpeople's nationality

French/ a Frenchman the French

Russian/ a Russian the Russians

English/ an Englishman the English

German/ a German the Germans

American/ an American the Americans

b. Explain the use of articles in the following sentences and translate them into Russian:

1 They can be recognized by the way they greet each other.

2 The French usually kiss on the cheeks.

3 _Discussion on_family is often unwelcome.

4 They often speak about various aspects of family life.

5 ln_Germany joking is usually regarded as flippant.

6 In_China_tea is certainly more popular than coffee.

с Translate into English paying attention to articles:

1 Японцы обычно кланяются при встрече друг с другом.

2 Я думаю, они не любят говорить о политике и религии.

3 Шутки обычно помогают снять напряжение.

4 Я не знал, что в Швеции принято выпить пива после работы со своими коллегами.

5 Италию называют страной любителей вина.

d. Answer the following questions on the text: *

1 Do many nationalities like dis- _________________________

cussing family affairs, religion_________________________

and politics? _______:________________

2 Is joking very popular among__________________________

businessmen in many countries? ______________________

3 What drinks are popular among businessmen in different countries?

4 How do people spend their lei­sure time and holidays in various countries?

5 How do people greet each other in different countries of the world?

shaking hands... waving... nodding... curtseying... hugging...

Can you add any more to this list?

kissing on the cheeks saluting... clicking the heels... bowing... taking a hat off...

e. Look at these pictures. Match them to the descriptions:

9 10

f. Say which ways of greeting people are popular in Russia and under what
circumstances each way is preferable.

e.g. To my mind handshaking is very popular in Russia, especially between men. For example, men usually shake hands with their colleagues every morning they meet in their offices and other places of work.

g. Add a few other ing-forms and make a few short sentences using these
word combinations:

greeting their colleagues ________________

saying hallo __________________________

saying good bye _______________________

speaking ____________________________

asking too many questions
interrupting people

e.g. / wouldn't say I like his manner of interrupting people when they express their own opinion.

h. Transcribe and pronounce the following words paying attention to the sound [rj]:

saluting [ morning [ things [

everything [ interrupting [

i. Read the following sentences paying attention to the falling tone (V):

1 'How^V are you? 4 'How are you 'getting» on?

2 'How are^ things with you? 5 'How are you ♦ doing?

3 'How are you 'feeling 'these ₆ 'h_ow j_s^ j_om?

^ days?

j. Mark the intonation in all the sentences. Then read and act out these everyday dialogues with your group-mates:

1 — 'Good 'morning,» Mary.

— 'Good 'morning, V David. I'm 'glad to t see you.

— 'So am * I.

2 — Good afternoon, Ann. How are things with you?

— Hi, Jane. Not bad. And what about you?

— Likewise, thank you, everything is all right.

3 — Hi, Peter. I haven't seen you for ages. How are you?

— Oh, John, I am so glad to see you. I am fine, and what about you?

— I am fine too.

— Glad to hear that.

k. Complete the following table and add as many other formulas of greetings and responses as you know:

I. Act out a few short dialogues with your group-mate using the above table. Imagine that your group-mate is:

■ a British student of your group

■ a British student whom you do not know very well

3. Britain

Many people think that Britain is a strange island.

■ Strangers usually don't talk to each other on train.

■ It is polite to queue for everything: buses, theatre tickets, in shops, etc.

People get annoyed with queue-jumpers — those who don't wait their turn in the queue.

i People say 'thank you' when they give money to a shop assistant.

■ People open presents in front of people
from whom they receive the presents.

i People don't take their shoes off when they enter a house.

■ People wash in their own bath water.

These are national habits and sometimes these become customs. These habits and customs can appear very strange to other people and it is usually foreigners who notice them.

Speaking about good manners of Englishmen an example can be given. An English gentleman walks on the outside of the pavement when he is with a woman, since in the past men walked on the out­side of the pavement to protect the woman from the splashing mud of passing carts, and rubbish thrown out of windows. But times change. Today very few men automatically walk on the outside.

Exercises

a. Write down the words which are pronounced in the following way:

['ailand] _ [(to) kju:] ['пафп1]. ['haebit] _ [tu э'рю]

[,o:t3'maetiloli]

b. Translate into English paying attention to articles:

1 Многие считают, что Англия — странный остров.

2 Например, англичане говорят "Спасибо", когда дают деньги продавцу или кассиру за покупку.

3 Они сразу открывают подарки в присутствии тех, кто им их вручил.

4 Они, конечно, не снимают обувь, когда входят в дом.

5 Здесь приводится пример хороших манер англичан.

6 Сейчас эта манера практически не существует.

c. Write down the words from which the following ones are formed. Make a few
sentences with some of these words.

- strange — He is a stranger here.

e.g. stranger -

foreigner___

queue-jumper.
assistant____

gentleman

d. Add a few words and expressions:

culture cultural

Greek culture cultural background

Make a few short sentences with the above words.

e.g. Culture covers arts, beliefs, social institutions, etc.

e. Add a few other words and expressions associated with queues:

queue/ line to form a queue queue-jumper

a long queue/line to stand in queue/line

_____________ to jump the queue

_____________ _ to get ahead of the line

_____________ _ to queue/to line up for smth

_____________ _ to queue up to buy tickets

Complete the following sentence in your own way:

/ hate queuing up but once I had to _________________

f. Write what you think about the customs and habits of Englishmen mentioned
in the text. You may start your sentences like this:

It seems very strange to me that

or There is nothing strange/unusual in their habit to......

/ never thought that

g. Have a look and say what custom each picture illustrates:

history

to study history

historical historical places

historic historic speech

Answer the following questions:

1 Do you share any of these habits?

2 Do you automatically queue?

3 Do you often talk to strangers?

4 Under what circumstances do you sometimes do so?

h. Discuss in pairs:

In Russia, do men

walk on the outside?

open doors for women?

give women their seats in public places?

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