2015-08-21
907
(part 1)
Long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. Small states suffered and lost much even if they did not take any side and stayed out of wars. The ruler of such a small state, Elis, wanted to live in peace with all neighbours. He was a good diplomat because his negotiations were successful and Elis was recognized a neutral state. To celebrate this achievement, he organized athletic games.
In the beginning this feast lasted one day, but later a whole month was devoted to it. All wars and feuds were stopped by special heralds who rode in all directions of Greece.
The games were held every four years in Olympia on the territory of Elis. The first games which later were called the Olympic Games were held about a thousand years before our era.
Usually the Olympic Games began before the middle of the summer. Best athletes arrived from many Greek states to Olympia to compete in running, long jumps, throwing of discus and javelin and wrestling. In the course of time first fighting (boxing) and chariot races were also included in the Games.
All athletes took an oath that they had been preparing well for the Games and promised to compete honestly and keep the rules of the sacred Olympics. The athletes took part in all kinds of competitions. Winners were called "olympionics", they were awarded olive wreaths and cups of olive oil. This tradition has survived. In our time sportsmen often get cups and wreaths for winning the first place in sports competitions.
The olympionics of ancient Greece became very popular. Best craftsmen were chosen to make honourary cups; many poets wrote and recited in public poems about the best athletes. Sculptors made their statues which were put up at the birthplace of the winners.
Vocabulary:
ancient – давній, стародавній
to wage a war – вести війну
to suffer and lose – страждати і губити
a ruler – правитель
a neighbour – сусід
negotiations – переговори
achievement – досягнення
feast – свято
to devote – присвячувати
wars and feuds – війни і розбрат
a herald – вісті вник, гонець
to compete - змагатися
long jumping – стрибки в довжину
throwing of discuss and javelin - метання диску і списа
to take an oath – давати клятву
to promise – обіцяти
sacred – священний
to award – нагороджувати
olive wreath – вінок з оливкового дерева
to survive – виживати, зберігати
craftsman – майстер, ремісник
honourary cups – почесні кубки
to recite in public – декламувати вірші публічно
I. Answer the following questions:
1. What did many ancient states suffer of?
2. The ruler of what state wanted to live in peace with all his neighbours?
3. Why were his negotiations successful?
4. What did he organize to celebrate this achievement?
5. How long did the feast last in the beginning?
6. What was stopped during the Games?
7. What territory were the games held on?
8. What season did the Olympic Games usually begin?
9. What did the best athletes compete in?
10. What oath did the athletes take?
11. How were the winners called?
12. What tradition survived till our days?
13. Who was chosen to make honourary cups for the best winners?
14. What was put at the birthplace of the winners?
II. Insert prepositions where necessary:
1. Where is the book? It is ___ the sofa.
2. Mother is cooking dinner ___ the kitchen.
3. She went __ the room and sat ___ the sofa.
4. The rulers ___ many states wanted to live ___ peace.
5. There is no tea ___ my cup. 6.
6. Later ancient Greece began to devote a month ___ the feast.
7. The Games were held ___ Olympia.
8. Usually all athletes were well prepared ___ the Games.
9. Many kinds of sport were included ___ the Games.
10. Put those flowers ___ the window-sill, please.
III. Insert articles where neсessary:
1. Is there ___ post office near ___ house you live in? 2. Turn to ___ left and walk-short distance down ___ street. 3. In ___ fifteenth century ___ people knew only three continents: ___ Europe, ___ Asia and ___ Africa. 4. I have ___ letter to give you. 5. Are ___ students at ___ stadium? 6. ___ newspapers are on ___ table. 7. 19-th Olympic Games were held in Mexico. 8. Sports equipment is made at ___ number of Kyiv plants. 9. These workers built ___ splendid houses in ___ Kreshchatik Street. 10. ___ game has just begun.
IV. Change the following sentences into plurals:
1.This is a new computer. 2. This is a interesting book. 3. That is my house. 4. That is our new student. 5. This is my friend’s car. 6. That is Ben’s pencil. 7. This slim girl is my sister. 8. That is a letter from my mother. 9. This lesson is difficult. 10 This is a glass of orange juice.
V. Translate the following into English:
1.Це його годинник. 2. Ці книги цікаві. 3. Ці юнаки і дівчата наші студенти. 4. Це його найкраща картина. 5. То був найкращій футбольний матч. 6. Ці коричневі машини нові. 7. Це наш новий стадіон 9. Цей високий чоловік у сірому светрі – мій тренер. 10. Цей комп’ютер нового зразка.
VI. Give the four forms of the following verbs:
to understand, to promise, to save, to sledge, to dance, to put, to resemble, to find.
VII. Put all possible questions to the following sentences:
1. There are many historical buildings and monuments in Kyiv.
2. The traffic in our city is very heavy.
3. We had two seminars last week.
VIII. Translate the following into English:
Мій друг має гарну квартиру в центрі міста. Вона на п’ятому поверсі багатоквартирного будинку. Вітальня – це найбільша кімната. Їдальня трохи менша. Меблі у квартирі сучасні і зручні. У мого друга є і своя кімната. Вона праворуч від входу.
IX. Read and translate the following dialogue:
A: Is your family large?
B: No, it is not. We are four in the family: my father, my mother, my sister and me.
A: How old are your parents?
B: My father is forty two and my mother is forty. They are rather young.
A: Do they work?
B: Yes, they work at the same office.
A: And what about your sister? Is she older or younger than you?
B: She is two years my younger. She goes to school and is fond of lawn – tennis.
A: Oh, I see. She is going to be a great sportsman isn’t she?
