1. Where was Albert Einstein born? (Switzerland)
2. Which country is the birthplace of the cuckoo clock? (Germany)
3. What country is the largest in the world by area? (Russia)
4. What country has the second largest population in the world after China? (India)
5. Which country (except Russia) is located in Europe and Asia? (Turkey)
6. Where was the saxophone invented? (In Belgium)
7. What did the ancient Greeks call western Georgia? (Colchis)
8. Which country's flag has the most stars? (the USA's)
9. Which country's flag shows a six-pointed star? (Israel)
10. Which country does the Aleutian Islands belong to? (the USA)
11. Which country does Easter Island belong to? (Chile)
12. What country is Waterloo in? (Belgium)
13. Is Canada a member of the Group of Seven (G7)? (Yes)
14. What country is Vienna the capital of? (Austria)
15. Which countries fought in the twentieth century over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)? (the UK and Argentina)
16. What country is the Atacama Desert located in? (Chile)
17. Where was the modern pizza invented? (Italy)
18. In which country is the westernmost point of continental Europe located? (Portugal)
19. Which country does Greenland belong to? (Denmark)
20. In what modern country does the emperor rule? (Japan)
1. Где родился Альберт Эйнштейн? (В Швейцарии)
2. Какая страна — родина часов с кукушкой? (Германия)
3. Какая страна — самая большая по занимаемой площади? (Россия)
4. Какая страна вторая в мире по численности населения после Китая? (Индия)
5. Какая страна (кроме России) расположена в Европе и Азии? (Турция)
6. Где был изобретен саксофон? (В Бельгии)
7. Как древние греки называли западную Грузию? ( Колхида )
8. На флаге какой страны больше всего звезд? (США)
9. На флаге какой страны изображена шестиконечная звезда? (Израиль)
10. Какой стране принадлежат Алеутские острова? (США)
11. Какой стране принадлежит остров Пасхи? (Чили)
12. В какой стране находится Ватерлоо? (В Бельгии)
13. Входит ли в «страны большой восьмерки» Канада? (Да)
14. Столицей какой страны является Вена? (Австрии)
15. Какие страны воевали в двадцатом веке из-за Фолклендских (Мальвинских) островов? (Великобритания и Аргентина)
16. В какой стране находится пустыня Атакама? (Чили)
17. Где была изобретена современная пицца? (Италия)
18. На территории какой страны находится самая западная точка континентальной Европы? (Португалия )
19. Какой стране принадлежит Гренландия? (Дании)
20. В какой современной стране правит император?(Япония)
The word "Christmas" is derived from the words "Christ's Mass" - the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. But although Christmas is undoubtedly a Christian celebration, it is also true to say that it is an unusual combination of pagan and Christian festivities.
A Christmas tree stands in everybody's living room at Christmas, shining its good cheer around the room. Sitting on the very top of the tree is a silver star surrounded by tiny lights. All the branches are hung with silver bells, tinsel and sparkling lights. Around the base of the tree lie the gifts and toys wrapped up in bright colourful paper.
The Christmas tree has spread its influence around the world. In fact America adopted it before it found its way to England early in Queen Victoria's reign. Now every Christmas British people are sent a huge fir tree from Norway which stands in Trafalgar Square, in the centre of London, shining down on all the people who gather on Christmas Eve.
In pre-Christian times evergreens, trees that remain green throughout the year. were worshiped in Northern Europe as symbols of eternal life. Mistletoe, hung up as a Christmas decoration is a symbol of love and reconciliation.
Holly, a well-known Christmas decoration today, has Christian associations. In Norwegian, Swedish and Danish, holly is known as "Christ's thorns", the legend being that Christ wore a crown of holly thorns before his death. Some people have seen associations between the word "holly" and "holy".
Giving presents goes back to Roman Saturnalia when good luck gifts of fruit, pastry or gold were given to friends on New Year's Day. In Britain the traditional day to give presents until relatively recently was December 26th and not as it is today, Christmas Day. December 26th is now known as Boxing Day, for it was then that the priests of the Middle Ages opened alms boxes to give to the poor.
Not all Christian customs and traditions are of ancient origin. Although various people have claimed to have designed the first Christmas card. William Egley, an English artist, seems to have the best claim. In 1842 he designed his own card and sent it to one hundred of his friends. Today three billion are sent annually in the United States alone.