Getting ready for the OGE in English. English language. Preparation for the Unified State Exam and the Unified State Exam

The General State Exam is a test of students' knowledge based on the results of 9 grades. At the same time, English is not a mandatory subject for passing the OGE, but it should be chosen if the candidate wants to continue studying with in-depth study of the language, or enroll in a specialized college.

The OGE in English has its own characteristics and nuances that should be taken into account to successfully pass all exam tasks.

Structure of the OGE in English

There will be no innovations or radical changes in the structure of the English language exam this year. As before, the set of tasks on the subject will be divided into two categories - written and oral. Some nuances will arise only in the area of ​​checking the work performed. For students, everything will remain the same.

All written and oral testing tasks are aimed at testing students’ knowledge and skills in the field of communication in a foreign language. Those who demonstrate the best skills in speaking and grammar will be enrolled in classes with a linguistic focus.

Schedule and results of the OGE-2018

At the moment, there is already a schedule of exams in English for 9th graders. The main English exam will take place on May 25th. As before, in addition to the main day, additional and reserve numbers for delivery are allocated. These will be: early delivery on April 28 with a reserve day of April 30, as well as an additional delivery day - September 14, with a reserve day of September 21.

The results become known within 10-14 days after delivery. You can check the results online on the GIA website by selecting the desired region.

What parts does the OGE in English consist of?

The written work includes four blocks of tasks. You need to demonstrate knowledge and skills in listening, reading, writing, and using English grammar and vocabulary.

Listening

This type of work is based on a written presentation of heard material. In each of the listening subsections, the student will need to choose one correct answer from those proposed. The time to complete this block is 30 minutes, possible points are 15.

To cope with this part of the OGE, start regularly listening to audio materials in English. In this case, it is necessary to diversify the nature of the audio data. Let it be scientific presentations, films, entertainment programs, and even songs. Watching programs with subtitles will also be effective.

Reading

All tasks in the section, from 9 to 17, are aimed at the perception of text material. As a result, students will have to answer questions related to details, as well as match the texts with appropriate headings. The time allotted for solving is also 30 minutes with a maximum possible score of 15.

To successfully pass this part of the exam, experience in reading text materials in English is required. To do this, it is enough to read independently selected texts, books, articles, publications. Thus, the vocabulary will be replenished, which will be useful for passing the oral task.

Grammar and vocabulary

Includes 15 task questions aimed at identifying students' grammatical knowledge. This will require skills in forming correct grammatical structures and knowledge of vocabulary. This section also takes 30 minutes to solve, with a maximum possible score of 15.

Studying and repeating the rules of grammar and vocabulary is an important part of preparing for this part of the OGE. The meaning of suffixes, prefixes, parts of speech, patterns of word formation and inflection are something that you definitely need to study thoroughly. However, you should not limit your knowledge only to theoretical rules. Be sure to practice by solving problems on topics in grammar textbooks or on online resources.

Written speech

There is only one task in this section, but in it you will have to use the skills of grammar and vocabulary, spelling and punctuation, as well as the ability to build a variety of constructions. In addition, by responding to writing assignments, students can demonstrate their ability to write logical and ethically correct texts. The task is given 30 minutes, the highest number of points you can score is 10.

Oral speech

The oral test includes three types of tasks:

1. Reading aloud. The main purpose of this test is to check the oral pronunciation of the text. The material provided in this assignment is of a popular science nature. For initial familiarization, 1.5 minutes are given, and 2 minutes are allocated for subsequent reading aloud. The main evaluation criteria are easy comprehension of the text, the absence of unnecessary pauses, and the number of phonetic errors. Possible score - 2.
2. Dialogue. The student will be asked 6 general questions on a given topic. A maximum of one point will be awarded for each answer, but only if the answer is complete and comprehensive and does not contain stylistic or other errors.
3. Monologue. In 1.5 minutes, the student must prepare a short speech on a given topic. You can get the maximum score - 7 if the monologue is literate, understandable, eloquent, with an introduction and conclusion at the end. The time given for a monologue is short - only 2 minutes, during which time you need to make 10-12 sentences.

To improve your speaking skills, you first need practice. Speak, sing, communicate in English. Another effective way to improve your pronunciation is to record your speech on a voice recorder. From the outside it will be easier to hear your “problem” areas and correct them in advance.

Greetings, my dear readers.

I know that Russian-speaking schoolchildren are terribly afraid of taking oral exams. And the oral part of the OGE in English seems completely impossible (not to mention). But believe me, proper and timely preparation is all you need to ensure you get a perfect score on the test. Therefore, today we will have a complete analysis of the oral part, as well as examples of tasks with answers.

What is it and what has changed in recent years

The oral part of the test only takes 6 minutes! But in 6 minutes you must show everything you are capable of. You will be tested on everything: your pronunciation and speed of speech, your ability to understand questions and give a quick and clear answer to them, your ability to conduct an unprepared speech for 2 minutes.

Since 2016, the structure of the oral part has changed radically. You will have to cope with not two, but three tasks: you will need to read the text out loud, answer dialogue questions, and also make a monologue based on the picture (and, perhaps, without it this year!). Everything seems completely different from what it was just 3-4 years ago.

What does it consist of and how does it work?

The oral part consists, as I already said, of 3 parts, which in total take 15 minutes, of which 6 minutes go directly to the answer, and the rest to preparation.

Did you know that with regular classes 2 times a week with an experienced tutor, your level of readiness for the exam after 8 months increases by about 20-30%??? If a high score is important to you, then I highly recommend a good tutor who will help you choose EnglishDom.

Attention! When paying for lessons, use a promotional code lizasenglish2 to take advantage of a nice gift +2 bonus lessons!

Read more about the EnglishDom school in or visit its website and find out for yourself!

• Part 1 - reading a passage of text.

The task seems easy, right? Especially when you consider that you are given 1.5 minutes to read in advance. And after that - another 2 minutes to read out loud. You must read clearly, understandably, with correct pronunciation of sounds and correct intonation. And you only have 5 chances to make a mistake. After this, the points are reduced (that is, you will receive 1 or 0 points from 2 possible!).

Let's look at an example(click on the picture to enlarge).

First of all, pay attention to reading long and short sounds. I underlined the words with long and short [i] in red.

d i different, l i ved,h i dden, - here the percussive sounds are read as short

p eo ple, bel ie ved,n ee ded, - but here they read like long

I have highlighted in blue the words that have a short and a long [u]

r oo m, t oo ls - the sound here is long

c oul d, p u t - here it is short

I have highlighted in green the words where you can notice the sound [a], but again they will differ in longitude:

d ar k - long sound

h u nters - short sound

A very important point here is the correct pronunciation of interdental sounds (words in the text are underlined in yellow), which children so often like to replace with Russian [v, f] or.

sympa th etic th ey - clamp your tongue between your teeth and go!

In yellow frames I placed phrases in which I want to show differences in intonation. In the first case, we see a special question - and in these types of questions the intonation should be descending, in other words, it should fall. Listen

The second phrase is an introductory construction, which, firstly, must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a pause, and secondly, read with rising intonation. Listen.

Hope you can hear the difference! Observe, my dears, and those evaluating your answer will be very happy to give you the highest score!

• Part 2 - answers to questions.

The task of this part is a dialogue where you have to answer 6 questions. This part of the test is designed to test how quickly, correctly and competently a student can use foreign speech.

For each answer to a question you can get 1 point each. If you answer too briefly where open answers are required, or make a lot of mistakes, you will not receive your point for the answer.

What I can advise you is to learn a couple of cliches for those answers where you need to express your opinion or give advice. For example:

In my opinion … - In my opinion…

From my point of view…- Cmypointsvision…

I reckon … - I think …

I advise … - I advice…

You’ d better do ... - You better do...

You should do....You should do...

In addition, it is important to answer clearly, without going into the wilds, and to follow grammatical rules!

So, an example of a task in question-answer format:

How old are you?

— I'm 15 years old.

What's your hobby and why are you interested in it?

- My hobby is swimming. I"m interested in it because I adore swimming — it makes me cheerful and confident.

How much time a week do you spend on your hobby?

- As a rule, I spend on it about 4 hours a week.

What hobbies are the most popular with teenagers nowadays?

- From my point of view the most popular hobbies with teenagers now are computer games and some extreme sports like snowboarding.

Why do you think people take up hobbies?

- In my opinion people take up hobbies in order to find new friends, to get some new skills and just to feel happier.

What would you advise a person who wants to start a hobby?

— You should find a hobby which will give you pleasure. If I were you I would go to the nearest sports club and find out what they offer...

• Part 3 - monologue based on the picture.

You will be given 1.5 minutes to prepare this task and 2 minutes to complete it. You will have a picture before your eyes ( but it is needed only for support, and not for description! ), and the questions that need to be answered. This task is difficult, I’ll be honest, but it’s also worth a whole lot. 7 points.

Note: in 2018 it is planned to remove the picture and leave only questions.

Let's see an example:

-Why people like traveling.

-What way of traveling you prefer and why.

-Whether you prefer to be a package tourist or to be a backpacking traveler. Why.

My answer would be:

“And now I am going to talk about travelling.

People may travel for different reasons. For one group of people it may be the chance to spend their vacation at a completely different place from the one they are used to. For others it may be the way of living - their lifestyle.

Personally I prefer sight-seeing type of travelling. As I am keen on history I cannot stand the idea of ​​not visiting all the historical places in Europe or Asia. What is more, I prefer traveling by bus as it allows me to spend a lot of time on the road and think about everything I need. Besides, it is much cheaper than traveling by plane.

According to this I may conclude that I am an absolutely backpacking traveler. The idea that you can spend one day in one city and move to another part of the country the following day appeals to me very much.

In the end I would like to say, that traveling broadens our minds and gives us an amazing experience we will never forget. Besides, you will be left with unforgettable memories. What could be better?"

How to prepare

Preparing for an oral exam is difficult. But finding a trainer for it will not be so difficult. I can recommend you the following assistants:

• "English language. OGE. Oral part." Author - Radislav Milrud.
• "OGE-2016. English language". Author - Yu.A. Veselova.
• Publishing house books MacMillan, dedicated to this exam .

Recently, I have been purchasing most of the manuals and textbooks for myself and my students online. There you can always buy profitably and get it quickly. My favorite stores:

The training tasks in these textbooks are selected specifically for the level, and their number is enough for you to practice. What’s also important is that you can buy them in any bookstore (including online stores).

It’s even easier and, in my opinion, more interesting to use online simulator OGE (GIA) from LinguaLeo. There you can also find other high-quality and really effective English language courses, which I recommend to everyone!

Don’t forget, my dears, that I constantly share new tips on how to improve your English and how to better prepare for the exam. Subscribe to my blog newsletter and be the first to receive information on how to succeed on the test. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments!

In the meantime, I say goodbye.

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about keeping fit. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes. Remember to say:
· why a healthy lifestyle is more popular nowadays;
· what do you do to keep fit;
· what sports activities are popular with teenagers in your region.

Sample answer
Well, now I’m going to give a talk about keeping fit and healthy lifestyle.

Healthy lifestyle is becoming more and more popular nowadays. There is a number of reasons for that but the most important reason is that people live under the pressure of different problems, such as social, ecological, economic and others. A person should be strong and healthy in order to overcome all difficulties. Healthy lifestyle helps people do that.

As for me, I try to keep fit in different ways. First of all, I do my morning exercises every day. In addition to it, I go to the swimming pool once or sometimes twice a week. Also, I stay away from bad habits, because I’m convinced that cigarettes, alcohol and drugs destroy both body and brain.

Well, as to other teenagers of my region, I should say that they are interested in different sports activities. They often play football and other active games on sports grounds, go to gyms and swimming pools. Besides, more and more young men become interested in martial arts, such as karate, boxing, kickboxing, judo and so on.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that healthy lifestyle is a “must” for modern people.

Monologue “My school”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about your school. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes. Remember to say:
· what do you like most about your school;
· what weekday you find the most difficult, and why;
· what you would like to change in your school life.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer

I like my school very much, but it is my classmates that I like best of all. We are all good friends and get on well with each other. We spend much time together doing sports, playing active games and so on.

As for weekdays, I find Monday the most difficult one because we have six lessons on this day, including Mathematics and Physics. Frankly speaking, I’m not good at these subjects, and I don’t enjoy these lessons.

In my opinion, much can be changed and improved in my school. For example, PE lessons. I’d like them to be more diverse. As a rule, we play volleyball and basketball at the lessons, or simply run on the stadium. It would be better if we had a chance to work out with weights and play games that are more interesting.

Exercise(option 2)
You are going to give a talk about your school. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· what your typical school day is like;
· what your favorite subject is, and why;
· what do you like most about your school.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, now I’m going to give a talk about my school.

To begin with, I’d like to say that my shool is one of the biggest schools in my city, where more than one thousand pupils get their education.

As far as my typical school day is concerned, I should say it is very busy. It usually starts at 8 o’clock in the morning and comes to an end at 2 or 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Every day we have 6 and sometimes 7 lessons. We also have breaks, but they are not very long.

As I have just mentioned, my typical school day involves a number of lessons. Russian, Literature, and Mathematics are the most frequent ones. As a rule, we do a lot of work at these lessons: learn rules, do exercises and tests, write essays, make reports, and so on.

My favorite subject is English. I have been learning it since the 2nd form and I hope to relate my life to it. Chances are good that I will be an interpreter. If not, I can always go to school and be an English teacher.

I like a lot in my school but it is my classmates that I like most. We are all good friends and get on well with each other. We spend much time together doing sports, playing active games, going to the cinema.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that school education is very important for teenagers and should help them build character and develop mind.

Monologue “The place where I live”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about the place where you live. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· what your city, town or village is famous for;
· what your favorite place in your city, town or village is, and why you like it;
· whether you are going to stay in your city, town or village after leaving school or move to another place, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer(using the example of Kemerovo)
Well, I am going to give a talk about my city.

To begin with, I’d like to say that the name of my city is Kemerovo. This is the capital of Kuzbass, the main coal region of Siberia.

In the first place, Kemerovo is famous for its coal producers and chemical industry. Coal mined here is consumed in this country and exported abroad. In addition to coal, different chemicals are produced here. The products of a gigantic plant Azot are in great demand all over the country.

As to me, I like my city very much, because it has lots of beautiful places where you can rest and relax. The embankment of the river Tom is my favorite place in Kemerovo. Here you can sit quietly on the banks and admire wonderful nature. The embankment is also a good place where you can walk alone or with your friends.

Frankly speaking, I haven’t yet decided what to do after leaving school. It depends on many factors. More likely than not, I will stay in my city, because I have all the opportunities to get good education here. I just have no reason for moving to another region. But as the saying is, time will tell.

In conclusion, I’d like to invite everyone to visit Kemerovo and enjoy this city.

Monologue “Foreign languages”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about foreign languages. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· why lots of people learn foreign languages ​​nowadays;
· why you have chosen to do the English exam this year;
· what did you do to prepare for your English exam.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
To begin with, I’d like to say that more and more people learn foreign languages ​​nowadays. They do it for a number of reasons. In the first place, people want to understand citizens of other countries and to be understood by them. In addition to it, travel has become easier, and the Russians have a variety of opportunities for going abroad. If you are fluent in a foreign language, you feel more confident.

It goes without saying that English is established as the most important and popular language. As for me, I have been learning English for 5 years. And this year I have chosen to do the English exam. I regard this exam as a chance to test my language skills. I have always wanted to know my real speaking skills and find out my strengths and weaknesses.

I did much work to prepare for my English exam. First of all, I revised grammar. I learned a lot of rules and consolidated them in doing exercises. In addition to it, I read texts of various genres to enlarge my vocabulary. I also listened to a number of radio programs and podcasts to make my listening better. And I also made efforts to improve my speaking. I used every chance to speak English at the lessons and at home.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that English is in great demand these days, so I recommend everyone to start learning it as soon as possible and commit to it.

Monologue “Pets”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about pets. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· why people keep pets;
· what pets are most popular in big cities;
· whether having pets is a big responsibility, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, I am going to give a talk about pets.

To begin with, I’d like to say that nowadays more and more people keep pets in their houses: cats, dogs, parrots, hamsters, guinea pigs, and so on. They do it for a number of reasons. In the first place, people seek to make friends, and pets are a kind of friends they can make fast and easily. Besides, pets give positive emotions, that’s why people like to keep them. If you are under stress, you can just stroke your cat and feel somewhat relieved.

As to the most popular pets in big cities, I should say it depends. If you live in a big city, a cat or a small dog would be the best option. Firstly, they don’t need extensive space to live on. Secondly, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on buying pet food. If you live in the country, you can choose whatever you want. There is always plenty of room and food for any pet here.

Anyway, having pets is a big responsibility. Pets are animate objects, and if you don’t take good care of them, they may fall sick and even die.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that pets play an important part in our life and we should be aware of both pros and cons of keeping them.

Monologue “The Internet”

Exercise

Remember to say:
· why today’s teenagers use the Internet so much;
· how the Internet makes long-distance communication easier;
· what dangers teenagers can face when they use the Internet.
You have to talk continuously.

Exercise(option 2)
You are going to give a talk about the Internet. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· why using the Internet is so popular;
· how the Internet can help students in their studies;
· whether the Internet can be dangerous, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
To begin with, I’d like to say that we live in the world of modern technologies. We are surrounded by lots of sophisticated gadgets: smartphones, iPhones, notebooks, netbooks, laptops. They are very useful because they have practically unlimited functionality. But it is the connection to the Internet that makes them useful to the max.

Today the Internet is exceedingly popular and used very much, especially by teenagers. They do it for a number of reasons. Firsty, they create their profiles on different social networks such as vkontakte, odnoklassniki, facebook, instagram and others. Young people like communicating with each other, and the social networks give them this opportunity. Secondly, the Internet is a depot of innumerable information, so teenagers use the internet as a source of answers for various questions. So, the Internet helps students in their studies. Whether they need to make a report or prepare for a test, they launch a browser, type in the request and get lots of pages according to the request.

Besides, the Internet makes long-distance communication easier. There are special programs for communication of this kind. One of them is Skype, which is sure to be the most popular programm. You can see and hear the person whom you are talking to.

Frankly speaking, the Internet is not as safe as you wish it were. Firstly, the spread of information is uncontrolled on the Internet, so teenagers often run into dangerous pages containing information about selling drugs or committing a suicide. I strongly believe that this information must be banned.

In conlcusion I’d like to say that if you follow the safety rules when using the Internet you are not endangered, and you can use the Internet to your advantage as much as possible.

Monologue “Holidays”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about holidays. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· what holidays are most popular in your country;
· what your favorite holiday is and how you celebrate it;
· if you prefer to give presents or to get presents, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Exercise(option 2)
You are going to give a talk about public holidays in Russia. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· what public holidays are celebrated in Russia;
· what your favorite public holiday is, and why you like it;
· how your favorite public holiday is celebrated in your city, town or village.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, now I’m going to talk about holidays.

To begin with, holidays play an important part in our life. Holidays give us an opportunity to rest and relax, they also improve our mood and make us happier.

Our country has a number of (public) holidays. The most popular are New Year, the 8th of March (the women’s day), Spring and Labor Day, Victory Day, Russia Day, and others. All these holidays are very important for every citizen of the Russian Federation.

My favorite (public) holiday is New Year because this is a special occasion. It is not only an opportunity to relax but also to think about how you lived the past year and make plans for the next one. In addition to it, New Year is a reunion for the whole family of ours, so we always look forward to it.

My family established its own way of celebrating New Year. In the evening we visit our best friends who live next door and have some time together. Then, at midnight, we come back home and have our celebratory meal. We usually watch TV shows, listen to music, fool around, and, of course, give each other presents.

As for me, I like both giving presents and getting them. Both actions are very enjoying. But honestly speaking, I like getting presents more because now I don’t have enough money for giving them.

Staying at home with your family is not the only way to celebrate New Year. You can visit city celebrations which include fairs, contests, concerts, and fireworks. The culmination of the New Year celebration in our city is setting up fireworks. It's just awesome!

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that every holiday is a great time, and I wish there were as many holidays as possible.

Monologue “Travelling”

Exercise

Remember to say:
· why most people like traveling;
· which season is the best for traveling in your opinion;
· what means of transport is the best, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Exercise(option 2)
You are going to give a talk about travelling. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· why most people enjoy traveling;
· what people like doing while traveling;
· what place you would like to go to, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Nowadays, people have a great variety to rest and relax: going to the cinema, playing sports, and so on. But the most popular option remains travelling.

People like traveling for a number of reasons. Firstly, traveling is a good way to focus away from work and study and, so to say, to recharge batteries. I mean people can replenish their inner supplies of energy and refresh emotions. Secondly, traveling is a good way to broaden the mind and gain knowledge. If you go to a foreign country, you can learn its customs and traditions, see the sights, make friends with local citizens.

While traveling, people like to do different things. It depends upon the place and purpose of your visit. If you travel to a resort town, you usually swim in the sea and bake in the sun. If you travel on business, you’re supposed to establish contacts, carry on talks, making contracts, and so on. If you travel for educational reasons, you attend lessons, go on excursions, gain knowledge and develop your skills.

In my opinion, summer is the best season for travelling. Most adults are on leave in this period and children have holidays, that’s why summer is the optimal time when you can start on a journey.

As to means of transport, each one has its pluses and minuses. If you travel by train, you can admire beautiful landscapes and you feel safe. But it takes more time to get to the destination. Traveling by plane saves time but deprives you the chance to enjoy the nature outside, and what is more, fills you with misgivings about the flight.

As to me, I have already traveled to many places, but my dream is to visit Tokyo. This is the place I would like to go to because it is one of the world leaders in business, culture, science and technology. Besides, I plan to learn Japanese in the future, so, visiting Japan can help me to do that.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that traveling plays an important part in our life and everyone should travel as much as possible.

Monologue “Career plans”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about your career plans. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· what job you want to do in the future;
· what two subjects you think are the most important for your future job, and why;
· whether your family approves of your career choice or not.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
All people have to work in order to make a living. It is very important that a person has a job according to his or her abilities and wishes.

As for me, I’d like to be an interpreter in the future. I like foreign languages ​​very much, and, frankly speaking, I’m very good at them. Nowadays, I do my best to learn English and Spanish because they are the languages ​​that are widely spoken and popular with lots of people.

I think that English and Geography are the most important subjects for my future job. They are two subjects that help me learn much about other countries, their customs and traditions. English and Geography also help me understand native people of other countries, respect their culture and communicate with them in the most effective way.

All the members of my family approve my career choice because they strongly believe that interpreting is an exciting and well-paid job. Frankly speaking, my family just want me to be happy and they support any decision of mine.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the fact that every teenager shouldn’t procrastinate in deciding about his or her job because a successful career requires much time and effort.

Monologue “Books”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about books. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· whether reading is still popular with teenagers, and why, or why not;
· what kind of books do you like reading;
· why many people prefer e-books to paper books.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, I am going to give a talk about books.

To begin with, I’d like to say that there are a lot of ways to spend free time: doing sports, watching TV, going to the cinema, playing games, and so on. And, of course, you can just read a book.

Frankly speaking, reading books is losing its popularity with teenagers making way for more exciting activities, such as watching blockbusters in 3-D, playing computer games, social networking, arranging parties. If a teenager has to choose between reading a book and playing a brand new computer game, he or she will definitely show preference for the game. Modern games excel books in all aspects. Firstly, modern games make a tremendous visual impact. The game world looks extremely realistic. Secondly, when playing a game, you are not an outsider. You are an active insider participating in everything that happens in the game world.

As for me, I have to confess that I am not only a gamer, but also a regular reader. Yes, I like reading very much! Science fiction is my favorite kind of literature because it gives a different view of our reality. It doesn’t present our world as it is but as it could be. I think that science fiction is much deeper than, say, detective stories. The problems science fiction deals with are more global and serious.

If you take a closer look at reading people, you will notice that they usually read e-books. There is a number of reasons why many people prefer e-books to paper books. The main reason is that you can download unlimited e-books for free from the Internet. In addition to it, e-books are more comfortable to read. There is a variety of devices that can store e-books: computers, tablets, smartphones.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that the modern world is full of exciting things like sports, TV, parties and so on. Nevertheless, books shouldn’t be forgotten.

Monologue “School homework”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about your school homework. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· how long does it take you to do your homework;
· what subject you usually start with, and why;
· whether schoolchildren should be given more or less homework, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer

Well, I am going to give a talk about my school homework.

To begin with, I’d like to say that school homework is an essential part of school education. Almost everyone who goes to school is given hometasks.

As for me, the duration of doing my homework depends on many factors. For example, our teachers of Literature and History are in the habit of giving a lot of homework, which involves reading many pages of textbooks, writing synopses, making presentations, and so on. If you are not ready with all this stuff, you get a bad mark. As I don’t want to get bad marks, I have to spend long hours to prepare for the lessons. It may take me 3 or even 4 hours to finish the school homework. But to tell the truth, there are teachers who spare pupils’ time and don’t give much work. They organize their lessons so that there is little left for home.

As to sequence of subjects, I usually start with Literature because this is the most voluminous subject including many works of fiction, critique, philosophy, and the like. I prefer to get rid of the most boring subject in the first place and then start doing something that is more interesting.

I strongly believe that schoolchildren should be given less homework. I don’t understand teachers who give their pupils too much homework and are sure that they do them good. Teachers should know that our brain can effectively process a limited amount of information. The rest of information vanishes into thin air. If you keep trying to remember everything you are given by teachers, you will most likely go crazy.

In conclusion, I’d like to appeal to teachers and make them remember their own school life. Teachers should never forget that they were pupils in the past and, like today’s young people, had difficulties with the homework.

Monologue “TV”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about TV. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· whether watching TV is still a popular pastime with teenagers, and why, or why not;
· how many hours a week you watch TV;
· what do you dislike most about TV.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, I am going to give a talk about TV.

To begin with, I’d like to say that TV is one of the greatest inventions of all times. It is impossible to imagine days when people lived without TV.

In my opinion, watching TV is losing its popularity with teenagers. The reason is that teenagers prefer the Internet to TV. Not long ago, TV was used to be the main source of information and entertainment. It is no longer the case. Now, if you want to know what is happening in the world, you launch a browser, do some clicks and get innumerable quantity of information. If you want to watch something entertaining, you don’t need TV. There are lots of youtube channels providing clips, shows, interviews with celebrities, and the like. You can start watching a video, pause it for any time and then start again. You can't do the same trick with television.

As for me, I don’t watch TV very often. I usually do it when new episodes of my favorite serials appear. So, I watch TV approximately 3 of 4 hours a week. Sometimes it happens that there are no new episodes of my favorite serials, so I spend no time at all.

There are a lot of things I dislike about TV. But endless blocks of commercials drive me really crazy! It goes without saying that advertising gives money for producing new content, but there should be some limits to advertising.

In conclusion, I’d like to acknowledge the great importance of television, but at the same time, I’d like to state the fact that TV gradually abandons its absolute position making way for the Internet.

Monologue “Free time”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about your free time. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· whether you have a lot of free time, and why, or why not;
· what you enjoy doing in your free time;
· what your Sunday afternoons are like.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, I am going to give a talk about my free time.

To begin with, I’d like to say that people have to work more and more in the modern world to make a career, earn a living, and become successful. This also holds true for teenagers, because they have to study a lot. So, both adults and teenagers don’t have much free time.

As for me, I don’t have much free time either, because I am faced with a number of important exams this year. As I don’t want to fail them, I make every effort to learn the necessary material. I read a lot of textbooks and additional articles, do innumerable exercises, attend preparation courses, and so on.

In spite of the fact that I have to work a lot, I try to find some time for recreation and fun. Frankly speaking, I enjoy doing many things in my free time. I like to take walks, come to see my friends, watch TV, surf the Internet, and so on. My favorite pastime is going to a swimming pool. I am keen on having a healthy lifestyle, and swimming helps me to keep fit.

As to my Sunday afternoons, I should confess that they are just for doing nothing active. I usually take my tablet, sink into the sofa, and watch videos on youtube or communicate in social networks. Sunday afternoons are the period when I don’t overload myself with activities, because I need to collect my strength for Monday, which is my busiest weekday.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that it is very important to not only have free time but also give it to your hobbies and interests.

Monologue “Weather and seasons”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about weather and seasons. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· which of the four seasons you like most, and why;
· how the Earth’s climate has changed recently;
· whether you trust the weather forecast, and why.
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, I am going to give a talk about weather and seasons.

To begin with, I’d like to say that there are four seasons in a year: winter, spring, summer, and autumn.

As for me, I like summer most of all, because this is the period when we have vacations. And vacations mean freedom. Absolutely! We have no need to get up early and be in a hurry to leave for school. It is not necessary to spend long hours doing school homework. The only thing we have to do in summer is relaxing to the max. In addition to it, the weather is awesome in summer! As a rule, it is warm and sunny.

By the way, the Earth’s climate has changed recently. If you take a closer look at what's happening in the world, you see natural phenomena that never took place before. Melting arctic ice is one of numerous examples. It gradually fills the ocean with huge amounts of additional water that makes the water level higher and causes ecological disasters. In addition to it, mass media often gives information about disastrous hurricanes and severe droughts that occur in unexpected time and place.

As to the weather forecast, I don’t trust it if it is given for the longer period of time. I don’t believe that man can predict what is going to be in a week or fortnight. Nevertheless, I think that the weather forecast for one or two days is most likely to be correct, and you should trust it.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that weather is an interesting subject, which is worth studying and paying attention to.

Monologue “Photography”

Exercise
You are going to give a talk about photography. You will have to start in 1.5 minutes and speak for not more than 2 minutes.
Remember to say:
· why people like taking pictures
· why taking photos is more popular today than it was in the past
· what the best photo you have ever taken is
You have to talk continuously.

Sample answer
Well, I am going to give a talk about photography.

To begin with, I’d like to say that people have always wanted beautiful moments of life to last forever. Photography helps them to make it happen.

People like taking pictures for a number of reasons. As I have just mentioned, people want to save beautiful moments of life forever. For example, while visiting an exotic country, you see lots of things that don’t exist in your own area. You never see a coconut tree in Siberia and heaps of snow somewhere in the south. Why not to take a picture? In addition to it, people take pictures not only for fun but also for fixing details of an occurrence. It is often the case when pictures help to investigate a crime.

It is really a fact that taking photos is more popular today than it was in the past. The main reason is that taking photos has become much easier today. You just take a smartphone, do a click and that’s it. It has also become easier to share photos with friends. You can upload it
on your profile in a social net and let everyone see it.

As for me, I like taking photos very much. Frankly speaking, I have many good photos, but the best one was taken last year in the Altai Mountains. My friends and I effected an ascent of a mountain and took a picture on the very top of it. The picture is just awesome! When I look at it, I admire wonderful nature and remember my friends.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that taking pictures is a never-ending hobby, which will carry away more and more people.

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Yana Fizulievna

from 2,000 rub/hour

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Columbia University in New York City, intensive English language program (2009). Work experience in a branch of the famous Expand British charitable foundation, including translating articles from Russian into English for the organization’s website. Among the students are current students of leading Moscow universities, such as MGIMO, Russian State University of Oil and Gas named after. Gubkin, RUDN University, RANEPA GS, REA im. Plekhanov, etc., as well as employees of Russian Railways, Gazprom and others. Travels a lot and is constantly in contact with native speakers. She values ​​internal motivation and diligence in her students. She uses the latest techniques to overcome the language barrier (Rapid Personal Transformation).

Many thanks to Yana Fizulievna! 4 months of classes with her greatly improved my level of English. In addition, Yana is very positive Expand and a friendly person, working with whom is a real pleasure! All reviews (48)

Natalya Vladimirovna

Private teacher Experience 21 years

from 2,400 rub/hour

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Preparation for the OGE (GIA) in English

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I am the developer of the Unified State Exam in English, I have a deep knowledge of the features and specifics of the Unified State Exam for passing the exam with a high score, I can help Expand with preparation for an additional internal test. I know all the intricacies of the exam, all the “traps”. I teach you to see and hear the key words of the text. I pay special attention to the “Speaking” section and essay writing. I teach how to build arguments and counterarguments in language, develop scientific thinking starting from middle school. Registration for classes starting in September 2019 is currently underway. Hurry up to sign up! The number of places for individual lessons and lessons in pairs is limited! Extensive experience working with children, more than 20 years, with students and adults. There are students who have entered various universities in Europe and the USA, as well as leading universities in Russia, such as: Harvard University, HSE, Moscow State University, MGIMO, REU. G.V. Plekhanov, etc. Classes with schoolchildren and students are conducted only using specially developed methods that take into account the set goal, as well as the characteristics of each student. Experience in teaching language courses. I explain complex things in an accessible and understandable way. I provided language training to managers of various industries who took part in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. I regularly communicate with native speakers and philologists from the UK and the USA. I thoroughly develop all materials for teaching with native speakers. I prepare for interviews in English. I bring you to confident use of the language. A practical business English course for marketers. My colleagues, who themselves teach English at Moscow State University, trust me with their children. Among my students are school English teachers who want to improve their skills and master the real language. I trained an actress for filming in a famous TV series in English, filming in the UK in 2019. I am engaged in translation activities, preparing speakers for speaking in various countries at thematic conferences. Individual psychological and a playful approach to children, voluminous visual aids on grammar. I painstakingly set up phonetics, reading rules, with speech therapy techniques and use neuropsychological training, if necessary. Lessons on overcoming the language barrier and getting rid of fears in spoken language. I teach you to think in the language and speak right away. I teach grammar, reading rules and phonetics in an easy and playful way. Students learn to use language as a skill, as a working tool in real life. In my lessons, I teach children to work independently, to take a systematic approach, to regularly listen and read in the original from primary school. I know and use various school and foreign teaching methods in my work. Preference for applicants entering serious universities. Classes are conducted individually, in pairs, in micro-groups of 2-3 people, and in a mini-group of 4-5 people.

Very good tutor! The approach is correct, knowledge and information are at the highest level! We went for 3 months.

All reviews (30) Children 6-7 years old Schoolchildren of grades 1-11

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Maya Viktorovna

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Preparation for the OGE (GIA) in English

I lived and worked in New York (USA) for a long time, where I received my basic education. I speak English at a native level. My skills Expand teaching is accredited by the University of Cambridge, which is confirmed by the CELTA certificate (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) - a certificate giving the right to teach English as a foreign language to adults, which is internationally recognized, enjoys high prestige and is an indicator of high quality teaching. In my lessons I do not use the Russian language (with rare exceptions) in order to fully immerse students in the language environment and use the following methods: 1) Audiolingual Method, based on the postulate of behaviorism that it is possible and necessary to study and memorize various things through constant repetition. The method involves oral presentation of material and repeated repetition of various lexical and grammatical structures under the guidance of a teacher. 2) Direct Method, also called Natural Method. It is somewhat similar to the audiolingual approach, as it involves repeated repetition and practice of various structures. However, the main difference is that the language is presented inductively, that is, the teacher does not explain the rule to students, but, on the contrary, helps them themselves to understand and derive it based on language material. It is also worth noting that in both the audiolingual and direct methods, the teacher uses exclusively English. 3) The Structural Approach, the main idea of ​​which is the hypothesis that any language consists of complex grammatical rules, and they need to be studied in in a certain order. For example, before studying the Present Continuous tense, you need to study the verb to be, with which this tense is formed. 4) The Silent Way (Silent Method), where much attention is paid to the independence of students: the teacher, as the name suggests, practically does not speak (for example, does not give detailed and extensive explanations of grammar). Instead, he acts as a facilitator who guides the students. Pronunciation is of great importance - it is given a lot of time in each lesson. The vocabulary and grammar covered are also regularly reviewed. Often, students do not even write formal tests on the material they have studied; instead, the teacher evaluates their progress from lesson to lesson. 5) Total Physical Response, which is based on the principle of “doing by learning.” It works well with younger students - preschoolers and elementary school students. During the lessons, we practice following commands and instructions, for example: “Stand up!” - “Get up!”, “Close the door!” - “Close the door!” In this way, the student remembers the simplest phrases, which become more and more complex over time. 6) Task Based Learning, where language learning is based on the completion of a communicative task. For example, a teacher gives students the task of acting out a dialogue on the topic “In a restaurant.” Students in pairs or groups perform it using only those lexical and grammatical means that they have. Then an analysis is made of what language is necessary to successfully complete the task, the teacher gives the students the necessary vocabulary and grammar, after which a similar task is performed using new language tools. 7) Community Language Learning (Community Method), where the basis is the work of students in a group; they help each other and share their existing language knowledge. The teacher again acts only as an assistant, and not as a teacher in the classical sense of the word. 8) Communicative Language Teaching (Communicative methodology) which is based on communication: the teacher with students, students in pairs or groups, the whole group together. The main task of teaching is to teach students to communicate, and not to thoroughly learn all the grammar or be able to translate texts. Communication between the teacher and students is conducted entirely or almost entirely in English. Student communication is also encouraged in any form; even if there are errors or inaccuracies in the speech, they are not as important as the communication process itself. I teach children and adults of any level from spoken English to preparation for exams such as the OGE (GIA), Unified State Exam, CAE, CPE, FCE, IELTS, KET, PET, SAT, TOEFL, YLE, TOLES and BEC. I work on contract terms with prepayment.

We studied with the tutor Maya Viktorovna Chernysheva, unfortunately not for long, there was little time left before the exam. My daughter praised Maya Viktorovna and was happy to Expand went for training. All reviews (48)

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Natalia Victorovna

Private teacher Experience 14 years

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Preparation for the OGE (GIA) in English

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Current language level: advanced (C1). I'm preparing to take the TOEFL exams. She completed an internship in England in 2012 (Churchill House School Expand of English Language). I know very well the structure and criteria for evaluating the work of the OGE and the Unified State Exam (I have certificates of participation in webinars from 2015 to the present - see diplomas). In the learning process, I use only communicative teaching methods, including methods used by native speakers ( registered and regularly improve on educational portals such as English Club TV. We play a lot, and not only with children (online games, board games, cards, tables, flash cards). My students actively expand their vocabulary with the help of individually selected audio resources with native speakers (Canada, Great Britain), which I send after each lesson as homework. In this way I try to immerse the student in the everyday language environment. This is the key to success! I constantly learn the principles of working with restless children with reduced attention and memory. .But all this is not as important as my sincere love for the English language. I like the structure and sound. I love passing on my love to my students. I like to see how what seemed complex and incomprehensible turns out to be clear. I love a non-standard approach to the learning process. My task is to captivate the student with English, give them a taste for the language, and only then teach grammar (although it is, of course, necessary). It is necessary. LOVE your mistakes and don't be afraid to make them. EVERYONE ALWAYS makes mistakes, even top-class professionals! I will help you overcome barriers, fears, teach you how to learn and correct your grammar. free Contact

Preparation for the OGE (GIA) in English

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Experience working in the examination department of the British Council (representative office in Moscow), administering international qualifying tests for English proficiency Expand language (KET/PET, CAE, CPE, IELTS, professional certificates in finance, management and auditing) - 3 years. Experience of simultaneous translation from English into Russian and from Russian into English. Proficiency in English at the Advanced level. Work experience in a Spanish company since 2007. Studying Spanish at the University of Barcelona (2007). Certificates of successful work in a Spanish company (2005, 2006, 2007). Knowledge of Spanish at the Upper Intermediate level. Consultations on foreign language learning programs and living in Spain are possible.

2010 - passed the highest international Cambridge exam, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, confirming the level of English proficiency Expand language perfectly. 2011-2013 - University of Roehampton, UK. Teacher development. If you or your child needs to master or improve their spoken or written English, pass an exam, pass an interview, improve their performance or achieve another goal, I can help you.1) You have a desire to work with a teacher who speaks the language at the highest level level who received linguistic education in England? I will meet your highest requirements, since I speak English at the level of Russian.2) Do you need the teacher to be experienced and really do his job well? I have been teaching for 15 years and work with my students with maximum dedication.3) Do you need the classes to be not only effective, but also easy, lively, with a twist, and the teacher not to be boring? I am a sociable person, I love my job, and I show maximum attention to each student and take into account his unique individuality.4) Perhaps you experience discomfort due to your small and passive vocabulary or grammar, have difficulty hearing speech, speak unnaturally and uncertainly and experience other difficulties? I am able to help you in any situation at any level of language complexity, including fundamental preparation for any exams. This is not difficult if classes are organized correctly. A few words about my teaching methodology. This is a symbiosis of creativity and mathematics. We remember what interests us and forget what is difficult and boring. The more interesting the classes, the better the memory works and the more creativity and flexibility is required on the part of the teacher. On the other hand, knowledge needs structure, order and stability, and here mathematics comes to the rescue. For example, for people who don’t know what to say on a topic, I have prepared formulas that work wonders, and even the most silent person can start talking on any topic, and a student taking a state or international exam can be sure that that the formula given to him is suitable for all cases and will help him correctly and simply express his thoughts in an essay, letter, article, etc. Exam results for 2018: - Unified State Examination - 85 points; 92 points; 93 points; 95 points.- IELTS (academic) - 7.5.- First (FCE) - grade A.- KET - Pass with distinction (grade 5).- OGE - grade 5.

We suggest you take another test (test 3) to assess your level of English and understand whether you can pass the OGE in English.

LISTENING

You will hear four short dialogues (A, B, C, D). Identify where each of these conversations occurs. Use each setting from list 1-5 only once. There is one extra scene in the task.

Play Listening task 1

1. In the library
2. In a classroom
3. At the hotel
4. In a shopping center
5. At the airport

A–5
B–3
C–1
D–4

Dialogue A
A: Oh, it’s so nice to see you! How was the flight?
B: Fine, but it was a long time.
A: I bet it was. The flight from Australia can’t have been short. And you arrived almost an hour later than was scheduled.
B: Yeah. It was because of the delay in Hong Kong. The weather was awful…
A: I see. But it’s all over and you’re here at last. Let me help you with your luggage.
B: Thanks.

Dialogue B
A: Excuse me, can I have the key to room 209?
B: Yes, here it is.
A: And one more thing.
B: Yes?
A: I’m checking out tomorrow at noon. Can I leave my suitcase in the luggage room till 5 or 6 pm?
B: Yes, you can, no problem.

Dialogue C
A: I’m sorry, but food and drinks are not allowed in the reading room.
B: Sorry, I just wanted to have a sandwich… but I’m already putting it back into my bag. By the way, where can I find something on the history of aviation? I’m writing a report on it.
A: The books on that topic are displayed over there, next to the exit table. But if you need something specific, I would advise you to use our electronic catalogue. It’s there, in the corner of the room.
B: Yes, I will. Thank you.

Dialogue D
A: Excuse me, I’m looking for a Sports Goods shop…
B: Oh, there’s one on this floor - it sells sportswear of all kinds, and’ the other one is on the ground floor - it offers different sports equipment, sleeping bags, tents and so on.
A: Thank you. I need a good sports bag.
B: To the ground floor then. You can’t miss it - it’s next to the cafeteria and there is a large poster advertising sports gear.

You will hear five statements (A, B, C, D, E). Match each speaker's statements with the statements given in list 1-6. Use each statement from list 1-6 only once. There is one extra statement in the assignment.

Play Listening task 2

1. The speaker describes his / her dream job.
2. The speaker explains what jobs are most popular with students.
3. The speaker talks about difficulties in making a career choice.
4. The speaker talks about his / her personal work experience.
5. The speaker believes that teenagers should earn their pocket money themselves.
6. The speaker explains how to find a job for summer.

A–3
B–1
C–6
D – 5
E – 4

Speaker A
When I was a small child, I felt irritated when adults asked me about what I wanted to become in the future. They are still asking. It’s irritating, probably because I don’t know the answer. I have no idea what job is right for me and I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. Dad says that I should do different summer or part-time jobs in order to understand what I want. And what if I don’t understand it then? I don’t mind working in the summer but I don’t know what temporary job to apply for.

Speaker B
I’ve always known what I want to do as a career. No, I’m not making ambitious plans about becoming an ingenious scientist, or an astronaut, or a famous actor. I want to work with small children as there’s nothing better than helping the curious explore the world. Working in an infant school would be very rewarding. It wouldn’t actually be a job for me - it would be a privilege because I’d be enjoying every minute of it. If you say it would be difficult - yes, it would be, but it would never get boring.

Speaker C
Lots of teenagers want to get a summer job but not everyone gets one. The most common mistake is that they start looking for a job when the holidays are in full swing. The job search takes time and you should start it months before the holidays. First, make up a list of jobs you would like to do, then find out about the requirements and contact the employers. If you suit each other, leave your information and discuss the date when you are ready to start.

Speaker D
There are usually lots of opportunities for young people to earn money for things like snacks and drinks, outings and accessories. There are always plenty of vacancies for seasonal workers, waiters, couriers, cleaners etc. Being a full-time student is not an excuse to avoid getting a job. I really don’t think that teenagers can understand the value of money and appreciate their families’ care and support until they start working themselves.

Speaker E
I think that doing temporary and part-time jobs does young people lots of good. I had my first summer job at the age of fifteen. I worked as a pizza seller in a fast-food cafe for two months. I still remember how difficult it was - there were always lots of people, it was hot and my legs and arms hurt. Since then I’ve worked as a courier, as a seasonal worker (picking apples and cherries) and as a landscape worker.

You will hear a conversation between two classmates. In tasks 1-6, circle the number 1, 2 or 3 that corresponds to the answer option you chose.

Play Listening task 3

1. Zach didn’t sleep at night because he

1) felt unwell.
2) wrote a project paper.
3) played a computer game.

2. Sally says that

1) she walks to school.
2) she gets to school by bus.
3) her mother drives her to school.

3. According to Sally, her mother

1) works for a financial company.
2) works as a university teacher.
3) stays at home.

4. Sally says that the most difficult subject for her

1) Maths.
2) French.
3) History.

1) the guitar.
2) the drums.
3) the piano.

6. As for music styles, Sally prefers

1) jazz.
2) rock.
3) pop.

1 – 3
2 – 2
3 – 3
4 – 1
5 – 2
6 – 3

Sally: Are you OK, Zach? Hey Zach!

Zach: Oh, it's you, Sally. I was daydreaming.

Sally: You were sleeping, not daydreaming! Did you play computer games all night again?

Zach: Yes, how did you guess?

Sally: That's easy. Your eyes are red, your reactions are slow, and you look sleepy! And your homework isn’t done.

Zach: OK, you're right. Just a new game. I couldn’t quit before I reached the fifth level. You wouldn’t understand as you don’t care about computers.

Sally: Why, I do, but I’m not a geek. I have more important things to do than play games for hours.

Zach: Really? And what are you busy with all day long?

Sally: Well, I start with walking my dog. At 8 o’clock sharp I have to be at the picking up point for the school bus. Mum used to drive me to school, but now she’s very busy with my little brother, so I have to go by bus.

Zach: I see. Babies are always trouble.

Sally: No, not at all! He’s a little darling and I love him! Twice a week, when I don’t take my music lessons, I babysit for my mum so that she can read the economic news. She’s got a university degree and worked for a financial firm but she had to quit it because of my brother’s poor health. She’s planning to go back to her career and has to be well informed about everything.

Zach: Yeah, that’s important to stay in the profession. And it’s nice of you to help her so much. But how do you manage to do your own lessons then?

Sally: The main thing is not to put off the assignments until the very last moment.

Zach: I always put them off…

Sally: And it’s important to start with the most difficult subjects - I always do Maths first. Languages ​​and other humanities are easier so French goes the last.

Zach: I see. I find Maths the most difficult, too. And I’m really impressed with your ability to plan your day and stick to the plan. I never do anything on time… I even had to give up my guitar lessons… Do you play an instrument?

Sally: The drums. Mum wanted me to choose the piano, but I think drums are cooler.

Zach: They certainly are. There’re lots of people who play the piano but very few drummers. By the way, my friends are looking for a drummer for their band. Are you interested?

Sally: Well..., yes. What sort of music do they play?

Sally: I see. I prefer pop music too. We learn about other styles of music in music classes, like jazz, rock and classical, but you can’t dance to them.

Zach: True. I can introduce you to the guys. You’ll really need my recommendation as no girl’s ever played with them. It’s always been an all-boy pop band.

Sally: It won’t be any more.

Zach: We'll see.

READING

Read the texts and match texts A-G with headings 1-8. Record your answers in the table. Use each number only once. There is one extra heading in the task.

1. My accommodation in Rome
2. New friends
3. Getting the job
4. The working day
5. Plans for next summer
6.Language experience
7. The top tourist attraction
8. General impressions of the country

A) I’ve just returned from Italy, and it was the most beautiful working holiday anyone could dream of. Yes, I saw the Colosseum with my own eyes! It was built in the first century AD - the amphitheater could house as many as 50,000 people. It’s difficult to imagine the gladiators fighting there and the public watching the cruel show. There were also fights with lions. Fortunately, there are no lions in the Colosseum now - only cats. And there are a lot of them!

B) The Colosseum was the first thing I wanted to see in Rome, but not the only one that impressed me. I used my camera a lot - Italy is a country with a great cultural heritage. Apart from the views, Italy is a country of delicious food - I’ve never eaten such gorgeous pizzas! I’d have certainly put on some weight if I hadn’t had to walk such a lot - we were saving on transport because Italy is an expensive country.

C) It took us thirty-five minutes every morning to get from the hostel where we were staying to the pizzeria we were working. Our room was very small, it had a poor view, just the house opposite, but that wasn’t a problem - we didn’t spend much time there anyway. We had only the basics in our room - two beds, hangers for clothes, a little table and one chair. There was a laundry downstairs and a shared kitchen to prepare meals.

D) As for the kitchen, we didn’t use it much - we ate at work! Our working day started at 9 am and lasted till 9 pm. We had a long siesta (a break between two and five in the afternoon) which we used for sightseeing in spite of the heat. And in the evening there were usually lots of customers and we had to be quick and attentive so as not to confuse their orders. We felt absolutely exhausted when we came home.

E) Anyway we felt privileged to have got the job. It was Anna, my best friend, who suggested working holidays in Italy. She found the vacancies and sent our CVs to the manager. At first I didn’t know what to say as I wasn’t sure I wanted to work in summer. But on the other hand, the idea of ​​earning my own money and seeing Italy was very attractive.

F) I’m glad I agreed to Anna’s suggestion - we enjoyed living in a new country and meeting new people. Italians are very sociable and easy-going. Our fellow workers showed us lots of interesting places and it was fun to explore the country together. Anna and I really hope that they’ll come to Britain one day and we’ll be able to show them our country too. We are going to keep in touch.

G) We didn’t know Italian when we went there. Some people in the pizzeria spoke English and they helped us a lot. Two weeks later we were able to understand what the customers were asking us about and we spoke basic Italian to them. Italian is beautiful - I like how it sounds and it’s not at all difficult. We plan to go on learning it in case we want to work in the pizzeria again.

A–7
B–8
C–1
D–4
E – 3
F – 2
G–6

Read the text. Determine which of the given statements 1-8 correspond to the content of the text (True), which do not correspond (False) and what is not stated in the text, that is, based on the text, neither a positive nor a negative answer can be given (Not stated).

The Dolphins Team

The Dolphins is a relatively new beach service that has been in operation for three years so far, and we are growing fast. The tourist business in the region is booming. More and more people are coming to the Southern Beach every year and our services are in great demand.
We provide a variety of services to the beachgoers. We lend them beach equipment like parasols and beach chairs, we arrange boat tours, snorkelling and diving expeditions. However, first, and foremost, The Dolphins help swimmers who are in danger. We've got a highly professional rescue team. Last year we were awarded first prize in the national lifeguard competition in which the best teams of the country took part. Being a lifeguard is a job, not entertainment as some people may think. Anyone who wants to join us has to remember that the duty of a lifeguard is not only to be on watch and save careless holidaymakers but to prevent any dangerous situation for them.
Not only excellent physical condition but strong personal skills are necessary as beachgoers are not always very cooperative. Everyone knows that lifeguards fly flags of different colors: the green one indicates that the sea is calm and there’s no danger for swimmers; the yellow flag means that the weather conditions are not very good - swimmers should be very careful and not go too deep. The red flag indicates that the situation is potentially dangerous and swimming is prohibited. It doesn’t necessarily mean a storm, it could be a strong current, water pollution, the danger of marine animals attacking or something else. Unfortunately, some people ignore it and go into the water anyway. The beach patrol are not the police - we can’t arrest people for disobedience. All we can do is educate people and get them to behave in a civilized way.
This is actually the main reason why we decided to set up our Summer Lifeguard School - we want to make the beach a safer and more civilized place. The school is for children from ten to seventeen who want to spend summer on the beach and learn some lifeguard skills. Anyone who meets the age requirement is admitted. Our instructors will teach them the basic skills of water safety and basic emergency procedures, the language of semaphore (that is how to use flags to transmit a message), how to avoid sunstroke and how to swim in the waves of the sea. Our open-air classes will be useful to everyone. Reckless divers and swimmers will understand that no one, no matter how sporty they are, can be absolutely free of risk in the sea. Those who are afraid to step into the water will learn to control their fear and will learn to swim (under the very close supervision of our instructors).
On completing the summer course, the children will be awarded our Summer Lifeguard School Certificate and we hope some of them will join The Dolphins in the future. To do so, they will have to wait until they turn 18 and gain the Professional Lifeguard Certificate.

1. The Southern Beach offers tourists lots of different services.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

2. The Dolphins main responsibility is to save drowning swimmers.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

3. The Dolphins rescue team is the only professional team in the country.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

4. Due to the weather conditions The Dolphins have to fly a red flag very often.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

5. The Dolphins perform the function of the police patrol on the beach.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

6. Children who are afraid of swimming can join Summer Lifeguard School, too.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

7. On completing the course, the children take an end-of-course exam.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

8. Children who complete the Summer Lifeguard School can work as lifeguards.
1) True
2) False
3) Not stated

1 – True
2 – True
3 – False
4 – Not stated
5 – False
6 – True
7 – Not stated
8 – False

VOCABULARY-GRAMMAR

Time was running out. The game was exciting and dynamic but the score was still 0-0. Jim couldn’t take his eyes off the TV and __(NOT HEAR)__ when his father came into the room.

“Who __(PLAY)__ ?” he asked.
“The Spanish Club and the Portuguese,” Jim __(KNOW)__ that his dad was not a fan and didn’t go into details.
“Who are you supporting?”
“The Spanish. If the team __(MANAGE)__ to win this game, it’ll get to the final.”
“They will. The final score will be 2-1 to the Spanish Club.”

Jim turned to his dad: “How do you know?”
“It's not me. A colleague of __(I)__ has predicted the results of ten matches.

No mistake yet. Today’s the __(TEN)__ game.”
Jim looked at his father again. “Sounds a bit crazy. But if I were able to predict the results of the game..."
“If you were able to predict it, it __(NOT BE)__ interesting to watch football at all.

Are you hungry by the way? I __(ORDER)__ some pizza. Will you join me?”
“Yes, sure,” Jim turned to his father. “But I still __(NOT CAN)__ understand...” And at that very moment the Spanish forward scored the first goal.

did not hear
is playing
knew
manage
mine
tenth
would not be
have ordered
cannot

Transform the words so that they are grammatically and meaningfully appropriate to the context.

Lana switched off the TV. So many channels and nothing interesting on! There were several talk shows on __(DIFFER)__ channels but she liked none of them.

The talk on __(ENVIRONMENT)__ problems was boring,
and she wasn’t in the mood to listen to a __(POLITICS)__ talking about the government’s social program.
She didn’t like the film on the next channel either. The plot seemed to be weak and confusing and even the __(FAME)__ actors were not able to save it.

The women’s figure skating __(CHAMPION)__ held Lana’s attention for a few minutes.
However, it didn’t last long - she wasn’t a fan and it made her feel __(BORE)__ too. She was glad to hear the phone ringing and hurried to answer it.