Список вопросов базы знаний

At one time, the presents bought and given on this anniversary were more numerous, and often more valuable,

and a great part of the fun of St. Valentine’s Eve consisted in trying to identify the unknown giver.

Nothing in or on the parcel indicated whence it had come, for secrecy was considered essential,

that one of these secret packages had arrived, but the giver, or his messenger, took care to be out of sight before the door could be opened.

A bang on the knocker and the sound of hastily retreating footsteps warned the inmates of the house

than those given at Christmas.

Such pleasant proofs of devotion are not yet quite extinct, and the hand-written

and a short verse composed by the sender.

The Valentine card that we know today came into being during the eighteenth century

and hand-painted Valentine can still be seen occasionally though its verses are now rarely original.

At first it was hand-made, with little paintings of hearts and flowers,

when the expensive gifts of earlier years had gone out of fashion.

Thousands of these cards were sent through the post every year,

and the steadily increasing flood did not fail until almost the end of Queen Victoria’s reign.

The commercial card appeared in the nineteenth century, complete ready-made sentiments and decorations, embossed,

brightly coloured and gilded, and later on, lace-edged, perfumed and packed in a neat box.

Since it saved much mental effort and careful handwork,

its popularity was immediate and lasting.

Today it is once more quite well known and used by many young people all over the country,

but partly also because of a growing dislike for the so-called humorous Valentine.

Eventually, however, a decline set in, partly, no doubt, because customs do naturally decay as ideas and fashions change,

though it has not yet recovered (and probably never will) the enormous popularity of its Victorian hey-day.

This, which had grown up under the shadow of the sentimental original, was sometimes really humorous, but usually,

it was extremely vulgar and often definitely cruel in intention.

Both types fell into disfavor together, and it was not

is believed to date back unbroken except for the war years, to the original event in 1605.

The Guy Fawkes Carnival held at Bridgewater, Somerset, on the Thursday nearest to November 5th,

until the thirties of the present century that the romantic Valentine came back into fashion.

The carnival is noted

for the many thousands of “squibs” which are used.

For many generations these were made in the homes and local shops,

for which prizes are awarded.

There is an extremely well-organized celebration

at Winchester, Hampshire.

College students and many other organizations in the city prepare elaborate guys,

but for safety reasons these were banned and only factory-made ones are permitted.

Coffee and hot-dogs are in plentiful supply,

and a grand time is had by the thousands of onlookers.

The guy awarded the first prize has the honour of being

the first to be cast upon the huge bonfire, the other prize-winners following in order of merit.

Easter is also a time when certain old traditions are observed,

whether it is celebrated as the start of spring or religious festival.

Nowadays Easter eggs are usually made of chocolate,

dangling catkins and the arum lily are also used to signify the Nature’s reawakening.

In England it is a time for the giving and receiving of presents which traditionally take the form of an Easter egg,

but the old custom of dyeing or painting egg-shells is still maintained in some country districts.

The Easter egg is by far the most popular emblem of Easter, but fluffy little chicks, baby rabbits and spring-time flowers like daffodils,

for the Easter Bonnet Parade and hot cross buns.

Egg-rolling is a traditional Easter pastime which still flourishes

in northern England, Scotland, Ulster, the Isle of Man, and Switzerland.

It takes place on Easter Sunday or Monday, and consists of rolling coloured, hard-boiled eggs down a slope

until they are cracked and broken after which they are eaten by their owners.

This is evidently the older form of the custom, since egg-rolling

does not appear to have been originally a game to be lost or won.

In the Hebrides, formerly,

it provided an opportunity for divination.

If it reached the bottom unscathed, the owner could expect good luck in the future,

and then watched to see how it fared as it sped down the slope.

Each player marked his or her egg with an identifying sign,

but if it was broken, misfortune would follow before the year was out.

Any handy bank, or hillock or slanting lawn may be used for egg-rolling

Bonfire Societies to help with the various displays.

There are torchlight processions and pageantry, with official

but in some districts there are traditional sites.

Thus, the customary ground at Preston, in Lancashire, is Avenham Park where, on Easter Monday, very large crowds of Lewes, Sussex,

is noted for its Guy Fawkes celebrations, now a highly organized event attracting thousands of visitors.

In some districts, this is a competitive game, the winner being the player whose egg remains longest undamaged,

but it now ends its fiery career safely in the river.

The traditional tar barrel is still a feature,

but more usually, the fun consists simply of the rolling and eating.

Similarly, at Connel Ferry in Argyllshire, where it was customary for young men to roll their eggs in one place,

and for young women to roll theirs in another, the man or girl whose egg went farthest and most smoothly would be the first person to marry in that particular group.

That’s because they stayed up

friends’ homes or at nightclubs.

Some went to parties at

most of the night, greeting the New Year!

Many people spend

New Year’s Day resting.

Many people make

the struggle for equal rights for black Americans.

In the 1950s and 1960s Martin Luther King, Jr., led the civil rights movement -

throwing confetti and blowing noisemakers.

Others were out on the streets,

New Year’s resolutions (to eat less, to work more, etc.).

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which falls in January, around King’s birthday,

honored on Presidents’ Day.

George Washington was

the country’s first president.

Two other great Americans are

is a time to celebrate the life and achievements of this great American.

Abraham Lincoln brought

American soldiers killed in war.

Their birthdays were both

the country through the Civil War.

Memorial Day honors

in February and are celebrated together.

On Memorial Day,

is also the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season.

Memorial Day, which comes on the last Monday in May,

many people go to the beach.

There are many parades

on Memorial Day.

Many families celebrate the Fourth of July by having picnics and,

at night, watching fireworks.

The most important American holiday is the Fourth of July,

the American colonies declared their independence from Britain.

On July 4, 1776,

or Independence Day.

bungee jumping

спелеология, исследование пещер ( как вид спорта или хобби )

harassment

прыжок (с моста, скалы и т.д.) с помощью эластичного троса

spelunking

оскорбление

meticulously

дотошно; тщательно; педантично

widespread

широко распространенный

unheard

неслыханный

asparagus

ритуал, церемониал, церемония, обряд

blind date

спаржа

ritual

свидание с незнакомым человеком

hectic life

веселье

ambience

окружение; обстановка, среда

gambol

насыщенная беспокойная жизнь

Приятного аппетита.

Enjoy the food.

Желаю вам всяческих успехов.

Have a good rest.

Желаю хорошо отдохнуть.

I wish you every success.

Is she tall?

Yes, she did.

Are they students?

Yes, they are.

Did she go to Kiev?

No, she isn’t.

Are you crying?

No, I am not.

May I go?

Of course, you may.

Can she write?

Yes, she can.

Can he draw?

Yes, he will.

Is he drawing?

Yes, he can.

Will he draw it?

Yes, he is.

Has it rained?

Yes, it has.

Are you busy?

Yes, I have.

Have you written the composition?

No, I am not.

Is ahe crying?

No, she isn’t.

Has he cried?

No, I haven’t.

Have you cried?

No, he hasn’t.

Is he short?

Yes, I am.

Are you glad?

Yes, they are.

Are they sorry?

Yes, he is.

Were you surprised?

No, you are not.

Is it late?

Yes, it is.

Am I late?

Yes, I was.

Have you seen her?

Yes, he was.

Was he happy?

Yes, I have.

Were they late?

Yes, they were.

Does he like to run?

Yes, he is.

Is he intelligent?

Yes, he does.

Has he read the story?

No, he hasn’t.

Have you called them?

No, I am not.

Are you fond of reading?

No, I don’t.

Do you speak French?

Yes, I have.

Is your cat black?

No, I can’t.

Are your friends dancing?

Yes, they are.

Can you drive?

No, it isn’t.

Does he go to school?

Yes, he does.

Is he sleeping?

With gret pleasure.

Will you come?

No, he isn’t.

Can your child read?

No, I don’t.

Has she done her homework yet?

Yes, she has.

Do you like to dance?

Yes, he can.

go ahead.

to think that something is false

hang on.

help yourself; take it; do it

not believe a word (+ of)

wait

make up your mind.

make a decision

Never mind.

it's OK, don't worry; it's not important

What's up?

what's the matter?

put your foot in it

to deliberately ignore something that you know should not be happening

pull sbdy's leg

to say something without thinking carefully, which embarrasses or upsets another person

turn a blind eye to sth

to try to make somebody believe something that isn't true, as a joke

turn your nose up at sth

to be very busy doing something

(be) up to your neck in sth

to beat other people very easily

win hands down

to refuse something because you do not believe it is good enough for you

hair-raising (experience / moment etc.)

to look serious even when you want to smile or laugh

let things get on top of you

to allow work or emotional problems to make you feel unhappy and unable to cope

keep a straight face

frightening in a way that is exciting

go out of your way to do sth

to do something that you do not have to do and that involves making a special effort

give something a go

to be good at making plants grow

(have) green fingers

to try to do something even though you think it will probably not work

get your head round

to use your hands in an awkward or careless way so that you drop or break things

(have) butterflies in your stomach

to understand something complicated or difficult

(be) all fingers and thumbs

to feel very nervous before doing something

Washington’s Birthday, sometimes called “President’s Day”

January 1

New Year’s Day

third Monday in February

Martin Luther King’s birthday

third Monday in January

Memorial Day

first Monday in September

Independence Day

July 4

Labor Day

last Monday in May

Veteran’s Day

second Monday in October

Columbus Day

November 11

Thanksgiving Day

fourth Thursday in November

Independence Day

December 25

Christmas Day

July 4

Labor Day

first Monday in September

square dancing

a dance technique, that utilizes wooden shoes, thus combining sound with dance.

clogging

a recently conceived sport that involves jumping from a hot air balloon, bridge, helicopter, etc., attached to only a long rubber cord (bungee cord) that elongates to allow the jumper to experience "free fall" without (hopefully) crashing into the ground.

bungee jumping

a country dance style adopted in the American Mid-West that combines various dance partners strolling in square-like formations. A community dance technique where partners are exchanged in rapid progression.

clogging

any formal organization, such as union, party, lobby, committee, etc. who's primary objective is to engage in political activities.

upland game birds

a dance technique, that utilizes wooden shoes, thus combining sound with dance.

a political entity

generally associated with hunting of game birds such as grouse, partridge, woodcock, pheasant, etc.

cover up

1 to survive a difficult experience or period of time: Getting through the next few months after the divorce wasn't easy.
2 (+ to sbdy) to succeed in reaching someone by telephone

get through

to put something over the top of something else in order to hide or protect it

come over

to approach the place where someone is