2. Read the text and complete it with the correct answer a-c. I objected to the sea trip strongly. A sea trip does you good when you are going to have (8) couple of months of it, but, for a week, it is wicked. You start on Monday with the idea implanted in your bosom that you are going to enjoy yourself. You wave an airy adieu to the boys on shore, light your biggest pipe, and swagger about the deck as if you were Captain Cook, Sir Francis Drake, and Christopher Columbus all rolled into one. On Tuesday, you wish you (9)___.On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, you wish you (10) dead. On Saturday, you (11) to swallow a little beef tea, and to sit up on deck, and answer with a wan, sweet smile when kind-hearted people ask you (12)___ now. On Sunday, you begin to walk about again, and take solid food. And on Monday morning, as, with your bag and umbrella in your hand, you stand by the gunwale, waiting to step ashore; you begin to thoroughly like it.
I remember my brother-in-law going for a short sea trip once, for the benefit of his health. He took a return berth from London to Liverpool; and when he got to Liverpool, the only thing he was anxious about was to sell that return ticket. It (13) round the town at a tremendous reduction, so I am told; and was eventually sold for eighteen pence to a bilious-looking youth who by his medical men (15) to the sea-side, and take exercise.
"Sea-side!" said my brother-in-law, pressing the ticket affectionately into his hand; "why, you'll have enough to last you a lifetime; and as for exercise! why, you'll get more exercise, sitting down on that ship, than you would turning somersaults on dry land." He himself - my brother-in-law - came back by (16)___
train. He said the North-Western Railway (17) healthy enough for him. (From Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome)
8. a) a b) - c) the
9. a) didn`t come b) came c) hadn`t come
10. a) are b) were c) have been
11. a) can b) might c) are able
12. a) how do you feel b) how you feel c) are able
13. a) is offered b) was offered c) offered
14. a) had just been advised b) was just advised c) just advised
15. a) go b) going c) to go
16. a) a b) the c) -
17. a) is b) was c) will be
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are 64 million people in Great Britain whose first language is English (97% of population). London, the capital of Great Britain, is one of the leading global cities. It is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. Great Britain has always been a Great Power and contributed a lot to the development of new territories.
The USAThe history of the USA started with 13 British colonies set along the Atlantic coast. On July, 4, 1776 they proclaimed their independence from Great Britain. Today the country consists of 50 states and the federal District of Columbia, where Washington, the capital of the USA, is located. It is one of the most developed countries in the world, with English being the first language for about 80% of its population.
CanadaThe first European colonists came to this country from France. But after that for many years Canada was under British rule until the country gained its independence in the XX century. There are two official languages in Canada. English is the first language for nearly 70% of Canadians. Canada is the second largest country in the world with rich oil, coal and natural gas fields.
AustraliaAustralia is the only country in the world which occupies the whole continent. The exploration of the continent began in the late XVIII century when the first British colonies were formed. Australia was a place where prisoners were serving their sentences in exile. Today the country is among the most developed countries in the world, with 80% of the population speaking Australian English.
New ZealandNew Zealand occupies two large islands and many small ones in the south-western part of the Pacific Ocean. First Europeans started visiting New Zealand in the late XVIII century with the territory being announced as a British colony in 1788. The country gained its independence in the middle of the XX century. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with unique flora and fauna. English is spoken by more than 96% of the population.