The profession of an engineer

My Family and Myself

I am Sergeev Anton. Anton is my first name and Sergeev is my surname. I am 24 years old. I was born on April 8, 1978 in Vladimir. In June 1996 I finished the secondary school and wanted to enter Vladimir State University but failed at the entrance exams. I had to work at the plant as a worker. Then I served in the army in Siberia.

When I came back home I decided to become an engineer. Last year I suc­cessfully passed my entrance exams and entered Vladimir State University.

I study at the correspondence department. Now I am a first-year student of the university. I combine work and study and I must say it is not easy but I try to do well at the university.

My family is rather large. There are five persons in it. I have a wife, one child, a father, a mother and a sister. Two years ago I got married. My wife's name is Nina. She is 22 years old. Last year she graduated from the pedagogical university and now she works at school. She teaches history.

My little daughter was born one year ago. She is a nice child. My father is 52. He is a teacher of physics, he works at school number 10. My mother is 2 years younger than my father. She is a chemist. She works at the laboratory of tire plant. I have a sister. She is 26. My sister graduated from Ivanovo medical academy and now she works at the regional hospital. She is single.

Our family is very united. In the evenings and on week-ends when we all are at home we talk about our work and life. We also like to watch TV or just to discuss everyday problems.

All of us like to spend our week-ends out of town. We often go to the vil­lage to see our grandparents. They are old-aged pensioners now and prefer to live in the country. It is very important to have a good family where all people are tactful and respect each other.

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Тема 2

THE UNIVERSITY I STUDY AT

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The University I Study at

I study at Vladimir State University at the correspondence department. Our university is located in Gorky Street not far from the centre of the city. The his­tory of the university is very interesting. The university was set up in 1958 as a branch of the Moscow Evening Mechanical Engineering Institute. In 1963 on the basis of that institute was established Vladimir Evening Polytechnic Institute which was transformed into Vladimir Polytechnic Institute in 1969. Later in 1993 it was renamed into Vladimir State Technical University. In 1996 our Uni­versity was given the status of a classical university namely Vladimir State Uni­versity.

At present, the university has a license for training specialists in 46 specia­lities at 9 faculties. Besides the day department for full-time students the univer­sity also has evening and correspondence departments for those who combine work and study.

The faculties of the university occupy 4 modem buildings. The students of our university have at their disposal all kinds of laboratories, good libraries, some reading halls. The teaching staff consist of highly qualified specialists, professors, lecturers, assistants. They do their best to develop the students' re­search skills and creative abilities. According to the programme at the university the theoretical study is accompanied by practical training at industrial enter­prises and research institutions.

I entered the university last year. Now I am a first-year student. I study at the correspondence department. According to the curriculum the part-time stu­dents study both general educational and specialized subjects. Among them are higher mathematics, physics, chemistry, philosophy, drawing, history, a foreign language, etc. At the end of the course of study the undergraduates submit di­ploma projects and take final exams.

The academic year is divided into 2 terms. At the end of each term the part-time students have an examination session, which usually lasts 3 weeks. The stu­dents attend lectures and seminars, do laboratory works, take tests and exams. At the end of every session the students are given different kinds of test-papers, the teaching materials for the next session.

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Тема 3

My working day

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My Working Day

On my working day I usually get up at 6 o'clock. I make my bed, open the window and do my morning exercises. Then I go to the bathroom where I clean my teeth, wash or take a shower. At half past six I am ready for breakfast. It may be a cup of tea or coffee and a sandwich. During breakfast I listen to the news over the radio. At half past seven I leave the house and go to my plant. The plant where I work is far from my house. I usually go there by bus. It takes me half an hour to get to my plant. I begin to work at 8 o'clock. At 12 o'clock I have a break for dinner. I usually have cabbage soup for the first course, some meat or fish with some vegetables for the second. Then I drink a cup of tea.

My working day lasts 8 hours. After work I go home or do some shopping. I come home at half past 4 and have a short rest. I read newspapers and make some telephone calls. I am a worker, I'd like to be an engineer. Therefore I study at the correspondence department of Vladimir State University. Inthe evening I write test-paper and read text-books. Sometimes I go to the library to write a re­port. Our family has supper at 8 o'clock p.m. At that time we all meet in the kitchen, have supper and discuss our problems. After supper I help mother to clear away the dishes and wash them up. After supper I go for a walk if the weather is fine. I go to bed at 11 o'clock.

On Sunday I don't go to bed early. I often go to see my friends and we dis­cuss problems and events we are interested in. Sometimes I go to the cinema if an interesting film is on. In the evening I play the guitar or listen to a good clas­sical music. If I have free time, I go in for sports. In spring I play football, in winter I like to ski.

Before going to bed I prefer to read an interesting novel.

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Тема 4

THE TOWN OF VLADIMIR

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The Town of Vladimir

Every city or town isproud of its own history. Vladimir is one of the an­cient Russian towns that played the major role in the emergence of the Russian state.

Founded as a fortress by Vladimir Monomakh of Kiev in 1108, the town was named Vladimir in honor of its founder.

The town of Vladimir has enjoyed times of prosperity and known periods of decline.

In the 12th century under the rule of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the town became the political and cultural centre of ancient Rus.

In those years many beautiful churches and cathedrals were built – the Ca­thedral of Assumption (1158-1160), the Cathedral of St. Demetrius (1194-1197), the Golden, the Silver, the Copper, the Volga gates and some others.

In the 13th century Vladimir suffered heavy damage during the Mongol in­vasion. The Mongols departed after looting and burning the town. In spite of this disaster Vladimir was still the main political and religious centre of Russia for the next 200 years. Then Moscow was recognized as the centre of Russia.

In 1778 Vladimir became the centre of gubernia or province. Many monu­ments of civil architecture were built in the town during the 18th and early 20th centuries.

The present-day Vladimir is the administrative, industrial, educational and cultural centre of the Vladimir region.

With a population of nearly 370 000, Vladimir is a town of rather high in­dustrial potential. Vladimir manufactures electrical motors, tractors, chemicals, consumer goods.

Today the town has two universities, the institute of Law of the Russian Interior, some colleges, children's musical and sports schools.

Vladimir can boast such cultural facilities as: the Museum of regional studies, the Museum of crystal and many other interesting expositions devoted to ancient culture, heroic history and modem life of our town. There are two theatres, a concert hall, a picture gallery, movie houses, Youth Centres, libraries, stadiums, swimming pools, parks.

Of importance to the town's history is a new monument to Andrei Rublev (1995) not tar from the Cathedral of the Assumption.

Vladimir is a tourist centre and is included into the "Golden Ring of Russia" tourist route.

Vladimir residents are proud of the town they live in.

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Тема 5

Our country

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Russia

Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. Its territory is 17 million square kilometres. The country is divided into the Western and Eastern parts by the Urals, so Russia is both a European and Asian country.

The landscape of Russia is various: from forests to deserts, from high mountains to deep valleys. Russia's territory occupies various climatic zones.

Russia is rich in natural resources. It is one of the countries that can supply itself with all the necessary mineral reserves. Such natural resources as gas, oil and timber are articles of Russian export.

The population of Russia is about 150 million people. Russia is a multina­tional country and unites people of different cultures and confessions. Today over 40 nations inhabit Russia.

Politically, Russia is a parliamentary state. The President is the head of the State and is elected once every four years. The highest legislative body is the Federal Assembly. The Federal Assembly consists of two chambers: the Council of Federation and the State Duma. The supreme executive power belongs to the Government with the Prime Minister at the head. The judicial power belongs to the system of courts. It consists of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and other courts.

Russia is a country of developed industry and agriculture. Russian cultural traditions and contribution to science, engineering, art and literature are recog­nized worldwide. Russia was the first to use atomic energy for peaceful pur­poses. The achievements of our scientists and engineers are greatest in the study of outer space, and the first space pilot was a Russian citizen Yuri Gagarin.

In spite of some negative trends that have recently taken place in economy, the Russians believe in their mother country. We are sure that our country will become a truly democratic and prosperous state of the world community.

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Тема 6

GREAT BRITAIN

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Great Britain

The official name for the country whose language we study is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists of four parts: Eng­land, Wales, Scotland and the Northern Ireland. The territory of the United Kingdom is about 244 000 square kilometers. The population of Great Britain is more than 56 million people. The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland oc­cupies one third of the Island of Ireland. It borders on the Irish Republic in the south. The surface of Great Britain varies greatly. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the rest (south, east and centre) is a vast plain which is called the Lowlands. There are no high mountains in Great Britain. The highest mountain top, Ben Nevis, is only 1,343 m high.

There are many rivers in Great Britain but they are not very long. The most important of them are the Severn and the Thames. Most of the rivers flow into the North Sea. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of Great Britain. The climate is mild and humid. Great Britain is not very rich in mineral resources, it has some deposits of coal, iron ore, oil and gas.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. Its main industries are coal-mining, machinery, textiles and clothing, shipbuilding, metal manufac­ture, electronics. Britain is a major producer of specialized alloys used by aero­space, electronic, petrochemical and other industries. Britain is the western world's largest producer of agricultural tractors, many of which are exported. It is also an important manufacturer of railway and motor vehicles. The products of the British aerospace industry include civil and military aircraft and satellites. The British clothing industry is one of the largest in Europe, and the woolen in­dustry is one of the world's largest.

The main industrial centres of Great Britain are as follows: London, the capital of Great Britain, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and oth­ers. Birmingham and Sheffield are the most ancient centres of British iron and steel industry. Manchester is the centre of cotton industry. English agriculture is also a developed industry, but because of lack of cultivated lands, it produces nearly two-thirds оf British food requirements.

The state system of the country may be defined as a constitutional monar­chy, though Britain has not any written constitution as one act and the monarchy is a mere formality. English kings reign but do not rule. The power of the Queen of Great Britain is limited by Parliament. It consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The members of the House of Commons are elected. General elections to choose MPs must be held at least every five years. Voting is by secret ballot and is from the age of 18. The peers of the House of Lords are not elected by voters. Their seats in the chamber are, as a rule, hereditary. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the Party that has a majority in Parliament. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal Democratic. Britain heads the so-called British Commonwealth of Nations, whose members, among others, are Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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Тема 7

THE PROFESSION OF AN ENGINEER

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