You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember that you will not have more than 2 minutes for reading aloud.
The first English grammar, Pamphlet for Grammar by William Bullokar, written with the seeming goal of demonstrating that English was quite as rule-bound as Latin, was published in 1586. Bullokar’s grammar was faithfully modeled on William Lily’s Latin grammar, Rudimenta Grammatices in 1534. Lily’s grammar was being used in schools in England at that time, having been «prescribed» for them in 1542 by Henry VIII. Although Bullokar wrote his grammar in English and used a «reformed spelling system» of his own invention, many English grammars, for much of the century after Bullokar’s effort, were to be written in Latin; this was especially so for books whose authors were aiming to be scholarly. Christopher Cooper’s Grammatica (1685) was the last English grammar written in Latin.
You are going to take part in a telephone survey. You have to answer six questions. Give full answers to the questions. Remember that you have 40 seconds to answer each question.
Electronic assistant: Hello! It’s the electronic assistant of the City Library. We kindly ask you to take part in our survey. We need to find out how students feel about books and libraries. Please answer six questions. The survey is anonymous – you don’t have to give your name. So, let’s get started.
Electronic assistant: What kind of books and magazines do you prefer to read?
Student:____________________________________________________________
Electronic assistant: Who is your favourite writer and why?
Student:____________________________________________________________
Electronic assistant: How often do you go to the library and borrow books?
Student:____________________________________________________________
Electronic assistant: Why do you think people are reading fewer paper books now?
Student:____________________________________________________________
Electronic assistant: Can reading English books help students improve their English?
Student:____________________________________________________________
Electronic assistant: What kind of books and magazines would you recommend your friends read at leisure at the weekend and why?
Student:____________________________________________________________
Electronic assistant: This is the end of the survey. Thank you very much for your help.
You are going to give a talk about national holidays in Russia. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and speak for not more than 2 minutes (10—12 sentences).
Remember to say:
• what the most popular national holidays in Russia are;
• how you and your family celebrate them;
• what other people usually do during the national holidays;
• what your attitude to national holidays is.
You have to talk continuously.