Список вопросов базы знаний

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Since it saved much mental effort and careful handwork,

its popularity was immediate and lasting.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

The carnival is noted

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.

Both types fell into disfavor together, and it was not

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

There is an extremely well-organized celebration

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

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

at Winchester, Hampshire.

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,

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.

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

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

Nowadays Easter eggs are usually made of chocolate,

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

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

for the Easter Bonnet Parade and hot cross buns.

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.

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

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

Egg-rolling is a traditional Easter pastime which still flourishes

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

In the Hebrides, formerly,

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

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

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

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

it provided an opportunity for divination.

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

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.

There are torchlight processions and pageantry, with official

Bonfire Societies to help with the various displays.

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

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

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

That’s because they stayed up

New Year’s Day resting.

Some went to parties at

friends’ homes or at nightclubs.

Many people spend

most of the night, greeting the New Year!

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

throwing confetti and blowing noisemakers.

Many people make

the struggle for equal rights for black Americans.

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.

Two other great Americans are

the country’s first president.

George Washington was

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

Abraham Lincoln brought

in February and are celebrated together.

Memorial Day honors

the country through the Civil War.

Their birthdays were both

American soldiers killed in war.

There are many parades

many people go to the beach.

On Memorial Day,

on Memorial Day.

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

is also the unofficial beginning of the summer vacation season.

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

or Independence Day.

On July 4, 1776,

at night, watching fireworks.

The most important American holiday is the Fourth of July,

the American colonies declared their independence from Britain.

bungee jumping

спелеология, исследование пещер ( как вид спорта или хобби )

spelunking

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

harassment

оскорбление

meticulously

неслыханный

unheard

дотошно; тщательно; педантично

widespread

широко распространенный

ritual

спаржа

blind date

ритуал, церемониал, церемония, обряд

asparagus

свидание с незнакомым человеком

gambol

веселье

hectic life

насыщенная беспокойная жизнь

ambience

окружение; обстановка, среда

Желаю хорошо отдохнуть.

Have a good rest.

Приятного аппетита.

I wish you every success.

Желаю вам всяческих успехов.

Enjoy the food.

Did she go to Kiev?

Yes, she did.

Are they students?

Yes, they are.

Is she tall?

No, she isn’t.

Can she write?

Yes, she can.

Are you crying?

Of course, you may.

May I go?

No, I am not.

Is he drawing?

Yes, he is.

Will he draw it?

Yes, he can.

Can he draw?

Yes, he will.

Have you written the composition?

Yes, I have.

Are you busy?

No, I am not.

Has it rained?

Yes, it has.

Has he cried?

No, I haven’t.

Have you cried?

No, she isn’t.

Is ahe crying?

No, he hasn’t.

Is he short?

Yes, they are.

Are you glad?

Yes, he is.

Are they sorry?

Yes, I am.

Is it late?

Yes, it is.

Were you surprised?

No, you are not.

Am I late?

Yes, I was.

Were they late?

Yes, I have.

Was he happy?

Yes, he was.

Have you seen her?

Yes, they were.

Has he read the story?

Yes, he is.

Does he like to run?

No, he hasn’t.

Is he intelligent?

Yes, he does.

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.

Are your friends dancing?

Yes, they are.

Can you drive?

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.

Has she done her homework yet?

Yes, he can.

Can your child read?

Yes, she has.

Do you like to dance?

No, I don’t.

go ahead.

help yourself; take it; do it

hang on.

wait

not believe a word (+ of)

to think that something is false

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

turn a blind eye to sth

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

pull sbdy's leg

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

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 beat other people very easily

win hands down

to be very busy doing something

keep a straight face

to look serious even when you want to smile or laugh

hair-raising (experience / moment etc.)

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

let things get on top of you

frightening in a way that is exciting

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 be good at making plants grow

(have) green fingers

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

(have) butterflies in your stomach

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

get your head round

to feel very nervous before doing something

(be) all fingers and thumbs

to understand something complicated or difficult

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

third Monday in January

Martin Luther King’s birthday

third Monday in February

New Year’s Day

January 1

Memorial Day

last Monday in May

Labor Day

first Monday in September

Independence Day

July 4

Columbus Day

second Monday in October

Thanksgiving Day

fourth Thursday in November

Veteran’s Day

November 11

Independence Day

December 25

Labor Day

first Monday in September

Christmas Day

July 4

bungee jumping

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.

square dancing

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.

upland game birds

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

a political entity

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

clogging

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

cover up

to approach the place where someone is

come over

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

get through

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