3 Топика по иностранному языку \english\
Native Americans
Native
Americans came from Asia. Over 20 000 years ago they traveled across
the land between Siberia and Alaska. When English colonists came to
the New World on board the "Mayflower" the native Americans
met them and were very friendly and helped them a lot.
In those days people lived in small earth houses and grew their own
food. Some Indians ate only grass, nuts, and what fruit they could
find. Other people were fishermen and lived in wooden houses. Most
native Americans were very peaceful. They wanted to live happily with
nature and each other. They believed in many gods and thought that
the gods live in trees, stones, water and fire. They believed their
gods could bring success in hunting, farming and fishing. They often
had special ceremonies with dances and music before they went hunting
or fishing or when they began farming.
Native Americans songs and poems are a very important part of their
traditions as they help them to keep their history and culture alive.
Another famous tradition was smoking of a peace pipe. When they
smoked this pipe together with people they did not know it meant
friendship and peace. Many years ago Native American tribes lived in
all parts of the USA, and hunted and fished wherever they choose. Now
most of them live in poor lands to the west of Mississippi River.
Many live in "reservations".
Pets in Great Britain
Lots
of families in Great Britain have got one or more pets.
Dogs are the favourite pets and there are about 6 million of them in
Great Britain. The second favourite are cats (about 5 millions) and
the third favourite is a bird - budgie*. Some families do not keep
cats or dogs. They keep other animals as pets in their homes. There
are more than 12 million pets in Britain. The English take good care
of their pets. They give them nice names: Rover, Rax, Cindy, Misty
(for dogs); Albert, Snowy, Fluffy, Tom (for cats); Polly, Chatterbox
(for parrots);Guy, Scamper, Shipley, Shirley (for monkeys).When they
speak of their pets, they say, "he" or "she", not
"it". The English give their pets nice food to eat. They
buy food for their pets in pet shops. The English are pet lovers.
Schools in England
English
educational system is quite different from what we have in Russia. It
is class-divided. There some state schools and some private ones.
State schools are infant, junior or secondary. British boys and girls
begin to go to school at the age of 5. They draw pictures, sing
songs, listen to the stories and tales. British children begin to
read and write when they enter the infant schools.
Young children are divided into two groups, according to their mental
abilities. Children leave infant schools when they are 7. Then they
go to study at junior schools where they learn to write, read and do
mathematics. Their school sub>jects are History, English, Geography,
Arithmetics, Arts, Music, Swimming and some others. When the pupils
enter the junior schools they pass abilities test. According to the
results of the test and thus their intellectual potential they are
divided into three groups. Boys and girls spend four years studying
at junior schools. Then they pass examinations again and enter the
secondary schools. There different types of secondary schools in
Britain. They are: grammar schools, modern schools and comprehensive
schools. English boys and girls attend secondary schools from 11 till
16. They don't go to schools on Saturdays and Sundays. In the modern
schools pupils do not learn foreign languages. In grammar schools
pupils receive better theoretical education. And the other school
type is comprehensive schools. Almot all secondary pupils ( around 90
per cent ) go there.
There are also private schools in England. Boys and girls do not
study together there. It is common that aristocracy sons go to these
schools and parents pay a lot of money for their education. These
schools are called public.
Independent and preparatory schools are private ones too. They
prepare children for public schools and take money for the training.
The teachers of the private schools can pay more attention to each of
the pupils personally. It is possible to enter the best English
universities after leaving public schools. After finishing grammar
schools pupils have good knowledge and may continue studying in
colleges and universities. English pupils wear school uniform. It is
one of the oldest country's traditions. A boy's uniform includes a
school cap, a tie and a blazer. A girl's uniform consists of a hat, a
coat, a skirt and a blouse. The uniforms vary from school to school.
Usually, they are dark.