Exercise 2. Study the text and choose the correct variant for the sentences below.
After inventing dynamite, Swedish-born Alfred Nobel became a very rich man. However, he foresaw its universally destructive powers too late. Nobel preferred not to be remembered as the inventor of dynamite, so in 1895, just two weeks before his death, he created a fund to be used for awarding prizes to people who had made worthwhile contributions to mankind. Originally there were five awards: literature, physics, chemistry, medicine, and peace. Economics was added in 1968, just sixty-seven years after the first awards ceremony. Nobel's original legacy of nine million dollars was invested, and the interest on the sum is used for the awards which vary from $30,000 to $125,000. Every year on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death, the awards (gold medal, illuminated diploma, and money) are presented to the winners. Sometimes politics plays an important role in the judges' decisions. Americans have won numerous science awards, but relatively few literature prizes. No awards were presented from 1940 to 1942 at the beginning of World War II. Some people have won two prizes, but this is rare; others have shared their prizes.
1. December 10 is the day when Nobel…
a) created a fund;
b) invented dynamite;
c) died.
2. The monetary value of the awards...
a) is constant;
b) varies from year to year;
c) is 9 million dollars.
3. Nobel created a fund because he...
a) was proud of being the inventor of dynamite;
b) didn't want his name to be associated with destruction;
c) wanted to make contribution to mankind.
4. Americans have received the most awards in...
a) science;
b) peace;
c) literature.
5. The first award in medicine was bestowed in...
a) 1895; b) 1901; c) 1968.
Exercise 3. Fill each of the numbered blanks in the following passage. Use only one word in each space.
Britain's most inventive police force has recently introduced a new secret weapon – a fleet of cardboard cut-out patrol cars. The imitation cars, …1… will be cunningly positioned in lay-bys or on bridges, are designed …2… frighten speeding motorists into slowing …3… . At a cost of 375 pounds, …4… to 28,000 pounds for the real thing, each car consists …5… a thin rainproof sandwich of vinyl-covered card, complete …6… all the authentic markings of a real petrol car – including the fluorescent orange stripe along each side. The Northumberland police force are well-prepared to cope …7… a barrage of sarcastic comments from the public. They plan to remind people …8… the highly successful fake police officers which have been used now for a …9… of years in the area. These …10… reduced crime and …11… money. "Initially this project may provoke a humorous response", said Chief Superintendent Bob Bensley. "But we are very optimistic that the cars …12… turn out to be a serious and low-cost resource in our campaign …13… cut speed and reduce casualties. Motorists' organizations have welcomed the police initiative, though …14…" spokesman for the RAC said, "At the …15… of the day, you can't beat a real police car with a real policeman …16… the wheel". Of course the police realize …17… and in fact the imitation cars will not be …18… harmless as they might seem. "There will always be real police officers near each fake", said Mr Bensley. "They will be equipped …19… hand-held detection devices, so that if drivers speed up again, they …20… be caught".
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Variant 3
Exercise 1. Put each of the following words or phrases in its correct place in the passage below.
1. communication; 2. to learn; 3. students; 4. helpful; 5. publications; 6. find; 7. practicing; 8. way; 9. provides; 10. use; 11. vocabulary.
Computers have become a very … teaching aid. The Internet … students with opportunities … new and interesting information. It is also useful for … foreign languages, especially English. … can see examples of real-life …, find out about the … of the grammar and … they are learning and … all sorts of online … in a quick and convenient … .
Exercise 2. Consult the article and check True or False for each of the statements below.
In April 1982 a British company, headed by Sir Clive Sinclair, launched the ZX Spectrum computer on the market and sparked an IT revolution.
The tiny black computer with its rubber keys ignited the home computer age both in the UK and elsewhere, which led to a boom in computer manufacturing and developed software programmers whose talent is still evident today.
The ZX Spectrum was the brainchild of the entrepeneur Clive Sinclair, who had previously developed one of the first cheap and slim pocket calculators. The Spectrum was Sinclair's fourth computer, but was by far the most successful.
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For many people, the ZX Spectrum was their first experience of using a computer and it soon gained a loyal following. In fact, it would not be a great exaggeration to credit Clive Sinclair and his ZX Spectrum with almost single-handedly creating the IT industry in the UK and providing the first learning tools for the programmers who shape today's video games and information technology.
Even today, there are programmes being written for the Spectrum, though it has not been made for years. The computer was so successful that there are many nostalgic users all over the world, who look back on this machine with great affection.
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