Список вопросов базы знаний

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

than those given at Christmas.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

and a short verse composed by the sender.

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,

its popularity was immediate and lasting.

Since it saved much mental effort and careful handwork,

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

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.

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.

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.

Both types fell into disfavor together, and it was not

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

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

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

There is an extremely well-organized celebration

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

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

at Winchester, Hampshire.

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

for which prizes are awarded.

Coffee and hot-dogs are in plentiful supply,

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

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,

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

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.

Nowadays Easter eggs are usually made of chocolate,

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

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

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

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

Egg-rolling is a traditional Easter pastime which still flourishes

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

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

it provided an opportunity for divination.

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

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

In the Hebrides, formerly,

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

There are torchlight processions and pageantry, with official

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

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

Bonfire Societies to help with the various displays.

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

but in some districts there are traditional sites.

The traditional tar barrel is still a feature,

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

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.

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.

Many people spend

most of the night, greeting the New Year!

That’s because they stayed up

New Year’s Day resting.

Some went to parties at

friends’ homes or at nightclubs.

Others were out on the streets,

throwing confetti and blowing noisemakers.

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 -

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

George Washington was

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

Two other great Americans are

honored on Presidents’ Day.

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

the country’s first president.

Abraham Lincoln brought

American soldiers killed in war.

Memorial Day honors

the country through the Civil War.

Their birthdays were both

in February and are celebrated together.

There are many parades

many people go to the beach.

On Memorial Day,

is also the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season.

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

on Memorial Day.

The most important American holiday is the Fourth of July,

at night, watching fireworks.

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

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 )

spelunking

оскорбление

harassment

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

unheard

дотошно; тщательно; педантично

widespread

широко распространенный

meticulously

неслыханный

asparagus

спаржа

ritual

ритуал, церемониал, церемония, обряд

blind date

свидание с незнакомым человеком

ambience

насыщенная беспокойная жизнь

hectic life

веселье

gambol

окружение; обстановка, среда

Приятного аппетита.

Enjoy the food.

Желаю вам всяческих успехов.

I wish you every success.

Желаю хорошо отдохнуть.

Have a good rest.

Is she tall?

No, she isn’t.

Are they students?

Yes, they are.

Did she go to Kiev?

Yes, she did.

Are you crying?

Yes, she can.

Can she write?

Of course, you may.

May I go?

No, I am not.

Will he draw it?

Yes, he can.

Can he draw?

Yes, he is.

Is he drawing?

Yes, he will.

Are you busy?

Yes, I have.

Has it rained?

No, I am not.

Have you written the composition?

Yes, it has.

Is ahe crying?

No, he hasn’t.

Have you cried?

No, I haven’t.

Has he cried?

No, she isn’t.

Are you glad?

Yes, they are.

Are they sorry?

Yes, I am.

Is he short?

Yes, he is.

Is it late?

No, you are not.

Were you surprised?

Yes, it is.

Am I late?

Yes, I was.

Was he happy?

Yes, they were.

Have you seen her?

Yes, he was.

Were they late?

Yes, I have.

Has he read the story?

Yes, he is.

Is he intelligent?

Yes, he does.

Does he like to run?

No, he hasn’t.

Do you speak French?

Yes, I have.

Are you fond of reading?

No, I am not.

Have you called them?

No, I don’t.

Is your cat black?

Yes, they are.

Are your friends dancing?

No, it isn’t.

Can you drive?

No, I can’t.

Does he go to school?

With gret pleasure.

Is he sleeping?

No, he isn’t.

Will you come?

Yes, he does.

Do you like to dance?

Yes, he can.

Has she done her homework yet?

No, I don’t.

Can your child read?

Yes, she has.

hang on.

to think that something is false

go ahead.

wait

not believe a word (+ of)

help yourself; take it; do it

Never mind.

make a decision

make up your mind.

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

What's up?

what's the matter?

pull sbdy's leg

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

put your foot in it

to deliberately ignore something that you know should not be happening

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

(be) up to your neck in sth

to be very busy doing something

win hands down

to beat other people very easily

keep a straight face

frightening in a way that is exciting

let things get on top of you

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

hair-raising (experience / moment etc.)

to look serious even when you want to smile or laugh

(have) green fingers

to be good at making plants grow

give something a go

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

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

(be) all fingers and thumbs

to understand something complicated or difficult

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 feel very nervous before doing something

Martin Luther King’s birthday

January 1

New Year’s Day

third Monday in February

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

third Monday in January

Independence Day

last Monday in May

Labor Day

first Monday in September

Memorial Day

July 4

Thanksgiving Day

November 11

Columbus Day

fourth Thursday in November

Veteran’s Day

second Monday in October

Labor Day

first Monday in September

Christmas Day

December 25

Independence Day

July 4

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

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

square dancing

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.

clogging

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

a political entity

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

upland game birds

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

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

come over

to approach the place where someone is

get through

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