Introduction

These educational materials are designed for the ESP students of economics of the 1^st year of studies to develop their knowledge and skills in English language.

This manual is based on the authentic texts from different sources concerning cross-cultural issues. It contains the tasks for reading and translation, vocabulary tasks and tasks for self-study.

Each unit contains:

• an authentic text for reading and translation;

• comprehension exercises;

• key vocabulary according to the topic. All key words are taken from the basic text;

• exercises for memorization and mastering key vocabulary;

• supplementary reading

• supplementary exercises

The manual is recommended for student’s self-study.

UNIT 1

UKRAINE

Text 1. The Symbols of the Ukrainian Nation

The Ukrainian flag consists of two horizontal fields: blue and yellow. The fields symbolize two very important things for people: the peaceful blue sky and yellow wheat, as the symbol of welfare of our nation. The combination of the blue and yellow colours dates back to pre-Christian times. They predominated on the flags of the Kyivan Rus and were prominent during the Cossack age.

The national emblem of Ukraine is a gold trident on an azure background. In ancient times it was the dynastic coat of arms of the Kyivan princes. It is derived from three spears of the sea god, Poseidon, but since Christianity it has symbolized the Holy Trinity.

In 1992 the Supreme Council of Ukraine accepted the trident as the main element of the official emblem of our state. It was proved once more by the Constitution of Ukraine, adopted in 1996. So nowadays the trident is the essential part of the Little State Emblem (the Sign of Volodymyr State), which is the main element of the Big State Emblem.

The plant symbol. The symbol of “Kalyna” is associated with rebirth, the Universe, the fiery trinity of the Sun, Moon and stars. It takes its name from the old name for the Sun-Kolo. The berries of the kalyna are red and they symbolize blood and immortality.

Other Signs of National Identity

The following are also associated by Ukrainian people with their nation. Ukrainian mentality was formed influenced by many factors: geographical location at crossroads of West and East, specific climate conditions and complex historical destiny. There is a certain stereotype of the Ukrainians which is well known both in their native land and in other countries. For instance, the Ukrainians are supposed to be great eaters and to eat large amounts of their traditional food: borsch, salo, and varenyky. People all over the world usually play jokes on their appetite.

At the same time Ukrainians are well-known for their hospitality. It became a tradition in Ukraine to meet guests with bread and salt and to offer them Ukrainian traditional meals.

Ukrainian people are also renowned for their dancing and singing ability. They really enjoy music and many of them like to perform in choruses and folk dance groups. These characteristics are, of course, not reliable descriptions of individual people. Nevertheless, they indicate some common features in the value attached to certain kinds of behavior in this country.

Clothes. White blouses and shirts with embroidery, chaplets for young girls and ornamented headscarves for women are the elements of Ukrainian national folk costume. Footwear includes red high boots for women and black high boots for men. These costumes are hardly ever worn in everyday life but they are well-known signs of Ukrainian identity.

Music instrument. A stringed instrument called the bandura is regarded as distinctively Ukrainian.

Comprehension check

Task 1. Find in the text the right word for:

1. A stringed instrument which is regarded as Ukrainian sign of national identity;

2. The element of folk costume which young girls wear on their heads;

3. A traditional Ukrainian dish made of water, meat, and vegetables;

4. People who have good appetite;

5. Singing in a large group or a large group of people singing together;

6. The feature of Ukrainian national character connected with their attitude towards guests;

7. The name of the sea God;

8. The old name for the Sun;

9. The symbol of the sea God power, which he always had in his hand.

Task 2. Complete these sentences with the appropriate words.

1. Traditional Ukrainian dishes include __________ and _____________.

2. Ukrainians enjoy folk ______________ and like to perform in ________.

3. Each nation has a certain stereotype of national character and some common features related to certain kinds of _____________ in this country.

4. Ukrainian women wear folk costumes including white _____ with embroidery, red _______, ____________ or ____________, only on special occasion.

5. The ___________ is the main element of the official emblem of our state.

Text 2. At the Map of Ukraine

Ukraine is situated in South Eastern Europe on the crossroads of the ways from Asia to Europe. This position is very favourable for establishing contacts with other countries.

In the North it borders on Belarus, in the east and North East on Russia, in the South West its neighbours are Hungary, Romania and Moldova, in the West – Poland and Slovakia. In the South Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Its territory is 603,700 square kilometers. By comparison, the areas of France and Spain are 551,600 and 507,600 square kilometers, respectively.

Ukraine occupies only 0, 45% of the planet dry land, but about 5% of the world’s mineral resources are concentrated here. There are large deposits of coal, iron ore, oil, and gas. It is also rich in a variety of precious raw materials, such as phosphorite, graphite, native sulphur, apatite, rock salt etc.

Most of the territory is flat, so flatlands constitute 95%. Basic physical-geographical zones are: mixed forest (Polissya), forest-steppe and steppe. The mountains are in the West (the Carpathian Mnts) and in the South (the Crimean Mnts). They are not high. The highest peaks are Hoverla in the Carpathians (2,061 m) and Roman Kosh in the Crimean Mountains (1,545 m). The main rivers are the Desna, the Buh, the Siversky Donets, and the Tisza. They are one of the country’s sources of hydroelectric power. The longest river, the Dnieper, flows to 2200 km into the Black Sea. It divides Ukraine into Right-bank and Left-bank territories. The climate is mostly continental, being subtropical on the South Crimean Coast.

A few more facts:

1. Ukraine’s flora number close to 30.000 higher and lower plant species.

2. Ukraine’s wildlife is represented by over 44.000 animal species.

3. Ukraine is washed by 73.000 streams of water including 131 rivers more than 100 km long.

Comprehension check

Task 1. Complete the table using information from the text.

Which piece of information is not in the text? Can you provide it?

Task 2. Find the following numbers in the text. What do they refer to?

95% 603,000 30.000

0, 45% 551,600 44.000

5% 507,600 73.000

Task 3. Find the following information in the text.

1. Two types of climate that Ukraine has ___________________________

2. Three types of physical-geographical zones _______________________

3. The names of two parts in which Ukraine is divided by the Dnieper. _____________________________________________________________

Text 3. Kyiv

Task 1. Read the text and find out:

1. The date of Kyiv foundation.

2. The names of the founders.

3. Three events that influenced the life of Kyiv inhabitants.

4. The name of the main street and its length.

5. The names of historical monuments and museums mentioned in the text.

Kyiv

Kyiv is considered one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the world. Its history goes back to the remote past. According to the historiography Kyiv was founded at the end of the 5^th or at the beginning of the 6^th century.

A well-known legend which came to us, says that the founders of the city were three brothers Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv. So the city got its name after the eldest brother Kyi.

With the foundation of Kyivan Rus Kyiv became its capital.

Centuries passed over it and left their mark here. The city saw the great Tatar invasion, came under Polish and Lithuanian rule, suffered greatly during the Great Patriotic War.

Nowadays Kyiv is not only the capital of Ukraine, its cultural, scientific, administrative and industrial centre.

Kyiv stretches on the high hills along the Dnipro River. With its abundant greenery and chestnut trees it looks like a huge park.

The main street is Kreschatik. The street is only one kilometer long but it is very impressive. Besides government offices and administrative buildings you can see large cinemas, restaurants, shops and cafeterias.

From its past the city inherited a great number of historical monuments. Among them Saint Volodymyr’s Cathedral, Sophia’s Cathedral, Saint Andrew’s Church, Kyiv-Pecherska Lavra, which remind people that Kyiv has always been the center of Slavonic culture and Orthodox Church.

Kyiv has many museums: the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Historical Treasures, the Ukrainian Art Museum, the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, and the Ukrainian Museum of Folk Architecture and Ethnography. The museums can boast of their wonderful collections. Kyiv is proud of the Shevchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Lesia Ukrainka Drama Theatre, the Theatre of Musical Comedy, the Conservatoire etc.

Kyiv is a busy industrial city. Its numerous enterprises produce excavators, aircrafts, computers, engineering machines, precision instruments, chemical goods and textiles and all kinds of consumer goods.

Not only inhabitants of Kyiv but all citizens of Ukraine are proud of their capital.

Comprehension check

Task 2. Read the summary of the text. There are a few mistakes in it. Say if the sentences are true or false.

1. Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

2. Kyiv is 2 thousand years old.

3. The founders of the city were three brothers: Kyi, Shchek and Khoriv.

4. Almost all the monuments in Kyiv are quite new.

5. Kreschatik is a very long street.

6. Kyiv stands on the banks of the Dnipro River.

7. Kyiv has abundant greenery and looks like a huge park.

8. All citizens of Ukraine are proud of their capital.

Text 4. The Main Cities of Ukraine

Kharkiv

Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine after Kyiv. It is the administrative center of Kharkiv region, the historical capital of Slobidska Ukraina.

The history of Ukrainian Kossatstvo is closely connected with the region.

Generally accepted date of Kharkiv foundation is 1654/1655. First it was a fortress but its favourable geographic location contributed to the transformation of the fortress into a trading, technological and industrial center.

For 16 years Kharkiv was Ukraine’s capital which helped it to become a large scientific, cultural and educational center. In terms of industrial enterprises, higher educational establishments, colleges and research institutes Kharkiv ranks the second place in the country after Kyiv.

Odesa

Odesa is a very special city, a true gem on the Black Sea coast. It is more than 200 years old. The founder of Odesa was Due de Richelieu (later Prime Minister of France). The city developed as a port and trading center, attracting many people from all over the world. With its beautiful harbor on the Black Sea, Odesa has become Ukraine’s “Southern Window” to Europe and an important cultural resort within a very short period of time. The port is the city’s heart. Ukraine’s independent commercial fleet is moored here and the harbor is always filled with an endless stream of tankers and cruise ships.

Zaporizhzhya

Zaporizhzhya is a busy industrial city in the south of Ukraine. It is a land of plenty, situated behind the Dnipro rapids, which were once inaccessible. This is a cradle of Zaporizke Cossatstvo, well-known all over the world. Khortytsya, the largest island on the Dnipro is a green emerald of Zaporizhzhya. Dniprohes, the most powerful electric station in Europe in the 30-s is situated here.

Lviv

Lviv, is the ancient capital of Galychyna. Lviv, “Lion city” was named by its founder the Galychian-Volynian Prince Danylo Galitsky, in honour of his son Lev. The city was first mentioned in Galychian-Volynian Cronocle in 1256.

Busy trade led to the city’s dramatic development and prosperity. As early as the 15-th century the city had its own mint, water supply system and regular international post. The streets were paved with cobbled stones and new houses were constantly being built.

Lviv is a great ciltural centre of Ukraine. Besides its 16 museums, a philharmonic society and circus several theatres perform in Lviv.

Chernihiv

Chernihiv is the second oldest city in Ukraine after Kyiv. Historical science testifies to the fact that people settled in the area one hundred thousand years ago. The history of Chernihiv is the history of the struggle of its inhabitants for freedom and social justice. The Chernihiv Cossacs proved to be brave warriors and didtinguished themselves in so many military battles.

There are a lot of historical and cultural monuments in Chernihiv. Among them are: Museum of M.Kotsyubynsky (a prominent Ukrainian writer), Antoniyev’s Caves, Spasky and Troyitsky Cathedrals and many others.

Chernihiv stands on the banks of the Desna River.

Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky

Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky is a real wonder. The town is situated not far from Kyiv, and happens to be the third oldest town in Ukraine after Kyiv and Chernigiv. Here the mighty prince Volodymyr Monomakh wrote his remarkable Exhortation and his letter to Prince Oleh Svyatoslavovych. Here the biographies of the first Martyrs of the Land of Rus’ Borys and Hlib were written. The town survived all the wars and invasions and nowadays it has no fewer than 22 museums.

Dnipropetrovsk

Dnipropetrovsk was founded in 1776. At first it was a small provincial town, named Katerynoslav. Today it is a large industrial center on banks of the Dnipro. The city is well-known for developed ferrous metallurgy, complex machine building, metalworking and chemical industries.

Dnipropetrovsk can boast of many historical and architectural monuments, among them the monument to General Yefym Pushkin, the Transfiguration Cathedral, and Shevchenko Park with its famous island and fresh-water aquarium.

Comprehension check

Task 1. Say if the sentences are true or false.

1. Kharkiv region is closely connected with Ukrainian Cossatstvo.

2. Kharkiv was the capital of Ukraine for more than 50 years.

3. Odesa is believed to be “Southern Window” to Europe.

4. Lviv is the ancient capital of Slobidska Ukraina.

5. Khortytsya is one of the oldest Ukrainian cities.

6. Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky is one of the youngest cities of Ukraine.

7. Chernihiv stands on the Desna River.

8. Dnipropetrovsk has changed its name a few times.

Text 5. A Travel to Cossack Times

Who were Cossacks? Why were they called so? What did they do for Ukraine?

The word “Cossack” is probably of Turkish origin. It meant a free and independent man. The first news about Cossacks dates back to the 15-th century.

The original Cossacks were largely adventurous serfs who had escaped from their masters and just ordinary people who were in search of a better life, freedom and military fame. They banded together in the South Ukrainian steppes in the reaches of the Dnieper.

The Cossacks were engaged in fishing, hunting, bee-keeping and building their settlements.

They had to protect themselves against attacks by Tatars and Turks, that is why in the sixteenth century the Cossacks united in a single military organization. They built the first permanent fortress, the Zaporizhian Sich: the heart of Sich was the Island of Khortytsya. It was founded in 1557 by Dmitro Vishnevetsky, who was the first Cossacks hetman.

Cossacks lived in a strict military brotherhood. They had their own laws, insignia and other symbols of rank and authority: the standard, the mace, the seal, the little-drum, etc.

They launched their raids against the Crimean Khanate and the Turkish Empire and defended the Southern Ukraine from Polish landlords and Tatars.

The Cossacks played an important role in the history of Ukraine. In 1990 Ukrainian people marked the 500-th anniversary of Zaporizhian Sich, the first democratic formation in Europe.

Comprehension check

Task 1. Find out all the numbers. What are they about?

Task 2. Find the geographical names in the text. Explain how each item is connected with Cossacks.

UNIT 2

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Who Are the British?

Great Britain is an island with three different nations: England, Scotland and Wales. Many learners of English say England or English when they mean Britain or British. This is a mistake! The United Kingdom (UK) is a political name for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland together. When people say Britain or British, they are talking about the UK too.

Task 1. Read the article quickly and decide what the main idea of the article is. Try to guess the meaning of the underlined words from the context.

1 Languages in Britain

2 Multicultural Britain

3 Britain’s crisis

Text 1. Do the British Know Who They Are?

A To the rest of the world, people from the UK are British. But it’s surprising to learn that only 31 percent of people in the UK say they are just British. In fact, nearly half the population says their nationality is something else – English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish or perhaps Vietnamese, Indian or Somali. Some people, about 16 percent, even say that they have two nationalities: they are British, but also Scottish or Chinese. There are hundreds of possibilities! Are they confused? Is it a problem?

B No, it doesn’t seem to be. Britain is changing all the time and the British are not just tolerant of differences – they are proud of them. They enjoy the diversity that multiculturalism gives them. The ethnic groups that exist in the UK bring with them at least six major religions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism. Each community contributes its own culture and language. Britain still has two official languages; English and Welsh, but they speak many more – approximately 150 in fact – from Mandarin Chinese to Urdu. Many of them are even bilingual.

C And then there is the fun stuff that cultural diversity brings, in music, food and the arts. The days of fish and chips are behind the British, as a walk around capital shows. Almost every district has Lebanese, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants. Thousands of Londoners visit the Notting Hill Carnival every year to dance to steel bands, reggae, soca, calypso and jazz. Their cinemas show films from India and South America and thousands of people fill British pubs and clubs to listen to everything from Irish dance bands to African hip-hop. Welcome to New Britain: a confident, tolerant country which is proud of its many cultures.

Task 2. Read the article again. Circle the words in each paragraph that show the main ideas.

Task 3. Use your circled words to help you match the headings with the paragraphs. There are two headings you don’t need.

1 Religion and language

2 Different generations

3 Statistics

4 Geography and population

5. Entertainment and food

Task 4. Decide which sentence is the best summary of the article.

1 A typical British person doesn’t know what his/her nationality is.

2 Many people don’t want to call themselves British.

3. Britain’s identity is changing and this makes life in Britain more exciting.

Task 5. Look at the underlined words in the text and match them with the definitions.

1 a belief in a god or gods ______________

2 to be able to speak two languages ______________

3 people who live in the same area or town ______________

4 the number of people living in a country ______________

5 having many types of people or things at the same time ______________

6 having people from many different cultures ______________

Text 2. London

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans in 43 AD, who called it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile medieval boundaries.

London became capital in the ninth century. Since at least the 17th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York, has the largest city GDP in Europe and is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. It has the most international visitors of any city in the world. London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutions in Europe. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the Summer Olympic Games three times.

London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. In July 2007 it had an official population of 7,556,900 within the boundaries of Greater London, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union. The Greater London Urban Area is the second largest in the EU with a population of 8,278,251, while London's metropolitan area is the largest in the EU with an estimated total population of between 12 million and 14 million.

London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich (in which the Royal Observatory marks the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and GMT). Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, 30 St Mary Axe ("The Gherkin"), St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions including the British Museum, National Gallery, British Library, Wimbledon and 40 theatres.

London's Chinatown is the largest in Europe.

The London Underground network is the oldest underground railway network in the world and the most extensive after the Shanghai Metro.

Task 1. Complete the table using information from the text.