Список вопросов базы знаний

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

than those given at Christmas.

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

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

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

and a short verse composed by the sender.

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.

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.

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.

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

it was extremely vulgar and often definitely cruel in intention.

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,

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

The carnival is noted

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

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

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

Both types fell into disfavor together, and it was not

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

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

at Winchester, Hampshire.

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,

for which prizes are awarded.

Coffee and hot-dogs are in plentiful supply,

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.

The guy awarded the first prize has the honour of being

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

Nowadays Easter eggs are usually made of chocolate,

for the Easter Bonnet Parade and hot cross buns.

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

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

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

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

Egg-rolling is a traditional Easter pastime which still flourishes

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

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.

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.

In the Hebrides, formerly,

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.

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

but in some districts there are traditional sites.

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

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

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

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,

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.

The traditional tar barrel is still a feature,

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

Many people spend

New Year’s Day resting.

That’s because they stayed up

most of the night, greeting the New Year!

Some went to parties at

friends’ homes or at nightclubs.

Others were out on the streets,

throwing confetti and blowing noisemakers.

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.).

Many people make

the struggle for equal rights for black Americans.

Two other great Americans are

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

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

the country’s first president.

George Washington was

honored on Presidents’ Day.

Abraham Lincoln brought

the country through the Civil War.

Their birthdays were both

American soldiers killed in war.

Memorial Day honors

in February and are celebrated together.

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

is also the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season.

There are many parades

on Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day,

many people go to the beach.

On July 4, 1776,

at night, watching fireworks.

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

the American colonies declared their independence from Britain.

The most important American holiday is the Fourth of July,

or Independence Day.

spelunking

спелеология, исследование пещер ( как вид спорта или хобби )

harassment

оскорбление

bungee jumping

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

meticulously

неслыханный

unheard

широко распространенный

widespread

дотошно; тщательно; педантично

asparagus

свидание с незнакомым человеком

blind date

ритуал, церемониал, церемония, обряд

ritual

спаржа

gambol

окружение; обстановка, среда

hectic life

веселье

ambience

насыщенная беспокойная жизнь

Приятного аппетита.

Enjoy the food.

Желаю вам всяческих успехов.

Have a good rest.

Желаю хорошо отдохнуть.

I wish you every success.

Did she go to Kiev?

Yes, she did.

Are they students?

No, she isn’t.

Is she tall?

Yes, they are.

Are you crying?

Of course, you may.

Can she write?

Yes, she can.

May I go?

No, I am not.

Will he draw it?

Yes, he will.

Is he drawing?

Yes, he is.

Can he draw?

Yes, he can.

Has it rained?

Yes, I have.

Are you busy?

No, I am not.

Have you written the composition?

Yes, it has.

Have you cried?

No, I haven’t.

Is ahe crying?

No, she isn’t.

Has he cried?

No, he hasn’t.

Is he short?

Yes, I am.

Are you glad?

Yes, he is.

Are they sorry?

Yes, they are.

Is it late?

Yes, it is.

Were you surprised?

No, you are not.

Am I late?

Yes, I was.

Was he happy?

Yes, he was.

Were they late?

Yes, I have.

Have you seen her?

Yes, they were.

Does he like to run?

No, he hasn’t.

Has he read the story?

Yes, he does.

Is he intelligent?

Yes, he is.

Have you called them?

Yes, I have.

Are you fond of reading?

No, I am not.

Do you speak French?

No, I don’t.

Is your cat black?

No, I can’t.

Can you drive?

Yes, they are.

Are your friends dancing?

No, it isn’t.

Is he sleeping?

No, he isn’t.

Does he go to school?

Yes, he does.

Will you come?

With gret pleasure.

Can your child read?

Yes, he can.

Has she done her homework yet?

Yes, she has.

Do you like to dance?

No, I don’t.

go ahead.

wait

not believe a word (+ of)

help yourself; take it; do it

hang on.

to think that something is false

make up your mind.

make a decision

What's up?

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

Never mind.

what's the matter?

put your foot in it

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

turn a blind eye to sth

to deliberately ignore something that you know should not be happening

pull sbdy's leg

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

win hands down

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

turn your nose up at sth

to beat other people very easily

(be) up to your neck in sth

to be very busy doing something

keep a straight face

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

hair-raising (experience / moment etc.)

frightening in a way that is exciting

let things get on top of you

to look serious even when you want to smile or laugh

go out of your way to do sth

to be good at making plants grow

give something a go

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

(have) green fingers

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

(have) butterflies in your stomach

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

(be) all fingers and thumbs

to feel very nervous before doing something

Martin Luther King’s birthday

January 1

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

third Monday in January

New Year’s Day

third Monday in February

Independence Day

July 4

Memorial Day

first Monday in September

Labor Day

last Monday in May

Veteran’s Day

second Monday in October

Thanksgiving Day

November 11

Columbus Day

fourth Thursday in November

Independence Day

first Monday in September

Labor Day

July 4

Christmas Day

December 25

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.

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.

clogging

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

a political entity

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

upland game birds

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

come over

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 approach the place where someone is

cover up

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