THE press, politics and crime

Учебно-методическая разработка по развитию лингвострановедческой и социокультурной

Компетенции аспирантов

По дисциплине «Английский язык»

Тверь 2015

Составитель: доктор филол. наук, проф. Н.А. Комина

Цель сборника учебно-методических материалов состоит в дальнейшем развитии речевой, языковой и социокультурной компетенции аспирантов продвинутого этапа обучения английскому языку. В основе курса лежит текстовый материал, оснащенный аппаратом упражнений, закрепляющих и активизирующих лексико-грамматические единицы. Сборник состоит из двух частей. В первой части предлагаются материалы для аудиторной работы, вторая часть содержит дополнительные тексты для самостоятельной работы при подготовке докладов и устных сообщений, реферативного изложения на английском языке.

Печатается по решению кафедры иностранных языков гуманитарных факультетов (протокол № 1 от 15.09. 2015 г.).

IN THE NEWS

THE PRESS, POLITICS AND CRIME

A. Work in small groups. Ask your partners these questions:

* Where do you find out about the news: local newspaper, TV or radio?

* Do you find the news depressing, interesting annoying or amusing?

B. Choose the best alternative to complete each sentence.

1. I read an interesting...... in the paper the other day.

(article, information, news, reporting)

2. I’ve only had time to read the............ in this morning’s paper.

(columns, headings, headlines, sections)

3. A newspaper’s opinions are given in its................ cartoons editorial

(reports, titles)

4. The person who reads the news on TV is called a(n).......................

(announcer, commentator, journalist, newsreader)

5. The terrorists who hijacked the plane last night are still holding ten................. (casualties, hostages, pedestrians, victims)

6. I read in the newspaper that there has just been a........................ in Transylvania.

(revelation, revolting, revolution, revolver)

7. Over a thousand people are believed to have died in the...............

(bomb, earthquake, earthwork, explode)

8. Only a small number of countries possess nuclear.................., thank goodness.

(ammunition, equipment, guns, weapons)

9. Does that newspaper...................... the government or oppose it?

(advantage, assist, encourage, support)

10. In a..................... everyone over a certain age is allowed to vote

(democracy, dictatorship, nation, state)

11. In some countries it is compulsory to vote in a(n)..........

(choice, constituency, election, selection)

12. In the USA the most important person in the......... is the President.

(bureaucracy, civil service, government, state)

13. In Britain the leader of the majority party in Parliament is the................

(Chancellor, President, Prime Minister, Sovereign)

14. The police have... the man who is suspected of committing the murder.

(arrested, captivated, imprisoned, punished)

15. Over 12 million was.......... in the robbery.

(ceased, liberated, robbed, stolen)

16. The arrested criminal admitted nothing and said that he wanted to see his.........

(accountant, advocate, lawyer, supervisor)

17. The burglar was sentenced to 20 years in.............. (dock, goal, jail, trial)

18. He was found.............. of the crime and fined Z500.

(convicted, guilty, innocent, responsible)

19. In a British law court a case is heard by a judge and a ……... of twelve people.

(cabinet, committee, jury, panel)

20. He’s a......... and so he always votes for the Labour Party.

(conservative, liberal, socialist, socialite)

C. Work in small groups. Ask your partners these questions:

* What have been the main national and international news stories during the past week? How many can you remember?

* What is the most awful thing that has happened in the last week?

* What is the most amusing thing that has happened in the last week?

THE ROBBER GENDRAME

A Work in pairs. Before you read this article, look at the headline. What do you think the story is going to be about?