Read the text and answer the questions
The Superstitions in Britain
There are many superstitions in Britain. But one of the most widely-held is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house. It will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. The person who opens an umbrella in fine weather is very unpopular.
It's very unlucky to walk under a ladder. If you must pass under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your finger and keeping them crossed until you've seen a dog.
The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some. And when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, most of the people prefer to stay at home.
The worst misfortune that can befall you is breaking a mirror. That will bring you seven years of bad luck. This superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, because mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.
And at last there is a superstition of touching wood for luck. This measure is most often taken if you have said or done something wrong or stupid.
1. Are there many superstitions in Britain?
2. What is the most widely-held superstition?
3. Is number 13 unlucky for people in Britain?
4. Why is it dangerous to break a mirror?
5. Why do British people touch wood?
a) environmentally friendly cars - 8. безвредные для окружающей среды автомобили
b) global warming - 9. глобальное потепление
c) keep going up and up - 6. продолжают подниматься
d) have been put under pressure - 7. были подвергнуты давлению
e) fossil fuel - 4. ископаемое топливо
f) electric motor - 12. электродвигатель
g) drawbacks - 11. недостатки
h) the hybrid car - 5. гибридный автомобиль
i) never needs to be recharged - 3. никогда не требует перезарядки
j) carbon fibre - 2. углеродное волокно
k) hydrogen - 1. водород
l) harmless water vapour - 10. безопасный водяной пар
2) Поиск эквивалентов на английском:
1 - работать на ископаемом топливе - e) fossil fuel
2 - длительное время для перезарядки - i) never needs to be recharged
3 - традиционный автомобиль - f) electric motor
4 - при замедленном движении или торможении - m) when slowing down or braking
5 - невероятно легкий - j) carbon fibre
6 - гораздо меньше бензина - h) the hybrid car
7 - до определенной степени - n) to some extent
8 - первый шаг на пути к – - 8) the first step towards - 8. the hybrid car
3) Исправление ошибок в предложениях:
1. Car manufacturers are trying TO invent a vehicle that is better for THE environment.
2. One of THE first ideas was to use electric motors.
3. Cars can now BE efficient and economical.
4. In hybrid cars, engines are controlled from a computer.
5. Hybrid cars use FAR less petrol than traditional cars.
6. Cars with electric motors are harmless TO the environment than traditional cars.
Текст:
Многие города мира погружены в永远的雾霾之中。人们对全球变暖表示担忧，燃油价格只会不断上涨。近年来，汽车制造商面临着推出既省钱又对环境友好的车辆的压力。
汽车制造商尝试的首个想法之一是用电动发动机取代使用化石燃料的发动机。不幸的是，这些车辆存在一些缺点，销售不太好。问题主要是这些电动汽车的电池很快就会耗尽，并且充电时间很长。
汽车制造商改进了概念，使得环保汽车现在既高效又经济。这就是混合动力车所派上用场的地方。混合动力车既配备了电动发动机，也有传统的汽油发动机。电动发动机永远不需要充电，对环境的影响比传统汽车要小得多。
混合动力车的发动机由计算机控制，计算机决定车辆是以汽油、电力还是两者共同运行。例如，当车辆需要最大功率时，例如加速或爬坡时，它会同时使用所有资源，而在稳定速度下只使用汽油。减速或制动时，电动发动机会给电池充电。
混合动力车采用铝和碳纤维等材料制造，使其非常轻便。混合动力车对环境有益，因为它们使用的汽油比普通汽车少得多，因此产生的污染物也较少。
当然，混合动力车不是完美无缺的；它们仍然使用化石燃料，因此在一定程度上污染环境。然而，它们可能是向更清洁、更环保的车辆迈出的第一步。汽车制造商已经在研发以氢为燃料的车辆。这些车辆的唯一排放物是无害的水蒸汽。
然而，这些车型相对较远，设计师们还需要考虑廉价和安全生产、运输和储存氢的方法。但终于，看起来我们可能正在朝着正确的方向前进。