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Text G. Post-graduate Research Work and Degrees in Britain
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The undergraduate course1 of studies at English universities is completedwhen students are ready to take their degree examinations2. After graduating they obtain the first academic degree or distinction of а Васhelor of Arts, depending on satisfactory examinations results. Bachelor's degrees are at two levels, Honours and Pass3. Honours degrees are first, second or third class, and usually only about 5 per cent of the students are placed in the first class. Those that have а bent for research work may apply for an advanced course of study extending over not less than two academic years for full time post-graduates and not less than three; academic years for part-time graduate students.
The first post-graduate degree is normally that of Master, conferred for а thesis based onone or two years’ full-time work. In а few of the biggest universities there are someseminars for post-graduate students, but usually there are no regular courses for them.
Every post-graduate working on а research problem is provided with an adviser and referees for the refereeing and evaluation of his thesis.
On completing his course of study every candidate must submit а thesis. He is also required to forward а short abstract of his thesis comprising not more than 300 words.
If the thesis is satisfactory on all points, the candidate will be awarded the degree and will continue his work in the academic field.
Everywhere the degree of Doctor is given for а thesis, which is considered to be an original contribution to knowledge.
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Note:
1. the undergraduate course – последний год обучения в университете;
2 degree examination – экзамен на степень;
3. Honours degree – степень с отличием; pass degree – степень без отличия.
UNIT 2. MOSCOW
1. Pre-reading task. Answer the following questions.
1. When was Moscow founded?
2. Is there a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow?
3. Where is this monument?
4. When did Moscow become the capital?
5. Why was the capital moved to St. Peterburg in 1712?
6. When did Moscow become the capital again?
7. What is the total area of modern Moscow?
8. What is the population of Moscow?
9. What places of interest in the centre of Moscow do you know?
10. What can you say about St Basil’s Cathedral?
11. Who built this cathedral?
12. What theatres do you know?
13. What is your favourite place in Moscow?
Text A. Russia’s Ancient Capital
Moscow is the capital of Russia. It’s an ancient historical city. It was first mentioned in the records dated back to the year 1147. Now Moscow is the fifth largest city in the world.
The centre of Moscow is the Kremlin which was built on the left bank of the Moskva River Among the historical monuments inside the Kremlin there are the Tsar Cannon, the Tsar Bell, the assumption and the Annunciation Cathedrals.
Moscow is the centre of political, commercial, cultural and educational life in the country. There are a lot of theatres and concert halls in Moscow. The most popular theatres are the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre, the Maly Theatre, the Chaikovsky Concert Hall, the International Music House and others. There are also a lot of museums and art galleries in Moscow. The most famous and popular art museums are the Tretyakov Art Gallery and the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum.
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There are over 80 institutes and universities in Moscow, among them Moscow State University named after Lomonosov, one of the first higher educational institutions in Russia.
Moscow grows day after day and becomes more and more beautiful. Of course, like all big cities, Moscow is a noisy city. The traffic is heavy both in the daytime and at night. During rush hours buses, trolleybuses and trams are overcrowded. Muscovites prefer to travel by the metro, which is the fastest and the most reliable means of transportation. The Moscow metro began its work on the 15th of May, 1935. There were 13 stations at that time. Now it has about 200 stations. Our metro is a beautiful and convenient one.
There are nine railway stations in Moscow and some airports around the city.
2. Comprehension check. Answer the following questions:
1. What kind of city is Moscow now?
2. What historical monuments are there inside the Kremlin?
3. What are the most famous art museums of Moscow?
4. Why is Moscow considered to be the educational centre of Russia?
5. What places of interest would you like to see in Moscow?
3. Retell the Text
Text B. The Arbat
The Arbat is a true symbol of old Moscow, and has recently celebrated its 500th anniversary. Its name is first mentioned in the city chronicles of 1493. In that year the whole city was engulfed in a terrible fire, sparked by a candle in the Church of St. Nicholas which is situated on the Arbat. This disaster led to the well-known saying: “A penny candle razed Moscow to the ground”.
It is far from certain where the famous name Arbat comes from. It might be from the Slavonic root gorbat (humpy), which at that time meant “hilly ground”. The word is sometimes linked with the Arabic word arbad meaning “suburb”, for in the 15th century only the Kremlin itself was regarded as the city proper. In those days the Arbat was the place where caravans with goods from the East would stand, and an Arabic word could well have been assimilated into the local tongue.
Initially there were many slobodas in the Arbat. The word sloboda meant a settlement exempted from certain obligations to the State. However, from the second half of 18th century the Arbat became the most aristocratic quarter of the city; just like Prechistenka. It was often described as the St. Germain of Moscow, and the Muscovite intelligentsia settled in this area. The Arbat and Prechistenka have much in common in their history and character. There have never been any factories here, no any workers’ huts, and there were no taverns or bazaars. In 1986 the Arbat was repaved as the first pedestrian street in Moscow.
4. Comprehension check.
Are these sentences true or false? Correct the false sentences.
1. The Arbat is a new street in Moscow.
2. The word «Arbat» means a surburb.
3. From the second half of 18th century the Arbat became the place, where poor people lived.
4. There are a lot of factories there.
5. Answer the questions:
1. How old is the Arbat?
2. Where does the famous name Arbat come from?
3. When did the Arbat become the most aristocratic quarter of the city?
4. Why did the Arbat become the most aristocratic quarter of the city?
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