Learn English by Discussion

М. Гацкевич
Д. Уильямс
Marina Gatskevich
David Williams

УДК 372.881.111.1
ББК 81.2 Англ-2
 
Г12

ISBN 978-5-9925-1131-4

©  Гацкевич М. А., 2016
©  КАРО, 2016
Все права защищены

 
Гацкевич, Марина Анатольевна.
Г12  
Learn English by Discussion : практикум по разговорному английскому / М. А. Гацкевич, Д. Уильямс. — 
Санкт-Петербург : КАРО, 2016. — 192 с.

 
ISBN 978-5-9925-1131-4.

 
 
Материалы предлагаемого пособия направлены на развитие таких видов речевой деятельности учащегося, 
как разговор, чтение, письмо, понимание речи на слух. 
 
 
Каждый из шести разделов книги имеет определенную тематику и может быть условно разделен на блоки (всего 41), состоящие из познавательных текстов, представленных в формате заданий государственного 
экзамена, диалогов, писем и упражнений к ним.
 
 
Правильность выполнения упражнений может быть проверена учащимися путем прослушивания аудиоматериалов, записанных носителями языка.
 
 
Цель книги — мотивировать изучающих английский язык не только читать и слушать, но и высказывать 
мнение, дискутировать на предложенную тему, например, о людях, оставивших след в мировой истории — 
военачальниках, исследователях, предпринимателях, о британских традициях и т. д. По мысли авторов, содержание текста вызывает интерес и является фактором, побуждающим учащегося к самостоятельной работе.
 
 
Сборник адресован широкому кругу людей, изучающих английский язык — учащимся средней школы, 
студентам, а также людям любого возраста, желающим повысить уровень владения правильной разговорной 
речью.
УДК 372.881.111.1
ББК 81.2 Англ-2

В дополнение к книге можно приобрести тематический аудиоматериал
на диске в формате МР3, подготовленный издательством

Иллюстрации художника
О. В. Маркиной

CONTENTS

Предисловие ............................................................................................................................................................................   6

Part
Text
Dialogue
Letter

Part I

PEOPLE WHO 
CHANGED
THE COURSE
OF HISTORY

page 7

1.1.  Alexander the Great (356 BC—323 BC), Military Commander 
and King of Ancient Greece
1.3. 
1.4. 

1.5.  Leif Erikson (970 AD—1020 AD), a Viking Who Reached 
North America
1.7. 
1.8. 
1.9. 

1.10.  Genghis Khan (1162—1227), Founder of the Mongol Empire
1.13. 
1.14. 

1.15.  Henry VIII (1491—1547), King of England
1.17. 
1.18. 

1.19.  Maximilien Robespierre (1758—1794), a Leader of the 
French Revolution of 1789
1.21.
1.22.

1.23.  Mohandas Gandhi (1869—1948), Civil Rights Leader
1.26.
1.27.

1.28.  Winston Churchill (1874—1965), British Prime Minister
1.31.
1.32.

Part II

CHRISTIAN 
TRADITIONS 

page 43

2.1.  St. Patrick and the Shamrock
2.3.
2.4.

2.5.  Something Amazing Happened More Then 2000 Years 
Ago!
2.6.
2.7.
2.8.

2.9.  What Is the 25th of December?
2.10.
2.11.
2.12.

2.13.  You Believe in Santa Claus, Don’t You?
2.14.
2.15.

2.16.  The Christmas Tree. Who Invented It?
2.17.
2.18.

2.19.  What Is the Most Important Festival in the Christian 
Calendar?
2.20.
2.21.

2.22.  Do You Celebrate Shrove Tuesday?
2.23.
2.24.

Part
Text
Dialogue
Letter

Part III

BRITISH 
CULTURAL
HISTORY AND 
AMAZING 
FACTS

page 73

3.1.  The Magna Carta. What Is It?
3.2.
3.3.

3.4.  St. George Flag and the Red Rose — the Symbols of 
England
3.5.
3.6.

3.7.   What Does the Union Jack Symbolize?
3.8.
3.9.

3.10.  Why the King Ordered His People to Make Bonfi res
3.11.
3.12.

3.14.  Who Can Count Swans on the River Thames?
3.15.
3.16.
3.17.

3.18.  Origin of the Word “Boycott”
3.19.

3.20.  Origin of the Word “Hooligan”
3.21.
3.22.

3.24.  Coincidence or Prediction? The Wreck of Titanic
3.25.
3.26.
3.27.
3.28.

Part IV

ICONIC 
FIGURES 
OF THE 
MODERN 
WORLD

page 103

4.1.  Andy Warhol (1928—1987), the Father of Pop Art
4.4.
4.5.

4.6.   Sadako Sasaki (1943—1955), Child Victim of the Atomic 
Bombing of Hiroshima
4.8.
4.9.

4.10.  Levi Strauss (1829—1902), Fashion Designer
4.12.
4.13.

4.14.   John D. Rockefeller (1839—1937), One of the Richest 
Men in History
4.16.
4.17.

4.18.  Nathan Rothschild (1777—1836), British Banker
4.19.
4.20.

Part V

SCIENTISTS
AND THEIR 
DISCOVERIES

page 127

5.1.   Galileo Galilei (1564—1642), Scientist, Mathematician, 
Astronomer
5.3.
5.4.

5.5.   Isaac Newton (1643—1727), Scientist, Mathematician, 
Astronomer
5.7.
5.8.

5.9.   Benjamin Franklin (1706—1790), Statesman, Scientist, 
Inventor, Writer
5.11.
5.12.

5.13.   Joseph Priestley (1733—1804), Theologian, Natural 
Philosopher, Chemist
5.15.
5.16.

5.17.   Louis Braille (1809—1852), Inventor of the Writing 
System for the Blind
5.19.
5.20.

Part
Text
Dialogue
Letter

Part VI

CREATIVE
PEOPLE 
AND THEIR 
INVENTIONS

page 151

6.1.  John Dunlop (1840—1921), Inventor of the Pneumatic 
Tyre
6.3.
6.4.
6.5.

6.6.  Henry Ford (1863—1947), Automobile Industry Pioneer
6.9.
6.10.

6.11.  John Pemberton (1831—1888), the Inventor of Coca-Cola
6.13.
6.14.

6.15.   Hubert Booth (1871—1955), Engineer, Inventor of the 
First Powered Vacuum Cleaner
6.17.
6.18.

6.19.   Percy Spencer (1894—1969), Physicist, Inventor of the 
Microwave Oven
6.21.
6.22.

6.23.  Sylvan Goldman (1898—1984), Businessman, Inventor of 
the Shopping Cart
6.25.
6.26.

6.27.  Percy Shaw (1890—1976), Businessman, Inventor of the 
Refl ective Road Stud
6.29.
6.30.

6.31.   Steve Jobs (1955—2011), Information Technology 
Entrepreneur and Inventor
6.33.
6.34.

6.35.  Bill Gates (1955), Co-founder of Microsoft
6.38.
6.39.

Прeдисловие

Предлагаемый сборник адресован широкому кругу людей, изучающих 
английский язык — учащимся средней школы, студентам, а также людям 
любого возраста, желающим повысить уровень владения правильной 
разговорной речью и узнать много интересного о нашем мире.

Все материалы книги направлены на развитие таких видов речевой 
деятельности, как разговор, чтение, письмо, понимание речи на слух.

Каждый из шести разделов пособия имеет определенную тематику и может 
быть условно разделен на блоки, состоящие из познавательных текстов, 
диалогов, писем и упражнений к ним. Сборник включает в себя различные 
виды упражнений и заданий, а также огромное количество тем для 
обсуждения. Внутри каждого блока дан словарик сложных слов.

Познавательные тексты представлены в формате заданий государственного 
экзамена. Правильность выполнения упражнений может быть проверена 
учащимися путем прослушивания аудиозаписи.

Цель вопросов и упражнений, данных в сборнике, — усовершенствование и 
развитие монологической речи учащихся.

Аудиоблок включает в себя все материалы сборника, записанные носителями 
языка.

Высказывания, приведенные в подзаголовках на следующих страницах, 
при над лежат той персоналии, которой посвящен текст: 9, 19, 28, 32, 37, 105, 
109, 118, 123, 129, 133, 138, 158, 183, 187.

Условные знаки

   — вопросы для дискуссии

   — вопросы к тексту

   — задание на восстановление правильного порядка слов

   — вопросы для самостоятельного ответа

PEOPLE
WHO CHANGED
THE COURSE
OF HISTORY

ALEXANDER THE GREAT (356—323 BC)

LEIF ERIKSON (970—1020)

GENGHIS KHAN (1162—1227)

HENRY VIII (1491—1547)

MAXIMILIEN ROBESPIERRE (1758—1794)

MOHANDAS GANDHI (1869—1948)

WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874—1965)

Listen, discuss, and retell.

Part I

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny 
but in ourselves.

After W. Shakespeare

1.1.

 
Read the text. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the word. Check your 
answers by listening to the audio.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT (356 BC—323 BC),
MILITARY COMMANDER AND KING OF ANCIENT GREECE

There is nothing impossible to him who will try.

Alexander the Great, born on the 
20th of July in 356 BC to parents King 
Philip II and Olympias, is one of the 
most infl uential and well _____ people 
in human history. He conquered many 
empires in his short lifetime.
In his early years, Alexander _____ 
by his nurse and received a very good 
education in subjects such as maths, 
reading, _____ , and also how to play 
the lyre. 
Alexander also _____ fi ghting, horse 
riding and hunting.
One 
day 
he 
caught 
sight 
of 
a 
magnifi cent 
horse 
and 
felt 
an 
overwhelming desire to ride it. Many 
had tried before, but nobody had been _____ in taming and 
riding this incredible animal. 
Alexander was a resourceful boy, he simply turned the horse 
to face the sun so that the horse could not see his own shadow. 
Alexander was then able to ride him and named his new horse 
Bucephalus. 
Later, Bucephala, one of the cities founded by Alexander, 
_____ after this horse.
Alexander’s father could see how _____ and ambitious Alexander 
was and one day said to him, “My boy, you must fi nd a kingdom 
big enough for your ambitions. Macedon is too small for you!”
At the age of 13, Alexander _____ by the great philosopher 
and  scientist  Aristotle.  Aristotle  taught him  medicine, 
philosophy, morals, religion, logic and art. Alexander enjoyed 
_____ the works of Homer, and later, took the Iliad with him on 
his campaigns. 

to know

to raise

to write

to enjoy

success

to name

courage

to tutor

to read

Philip II wanted to thank Aristotle for his _____ to Alexander 
and, as a token of his gratitude, he restored Aristotle’s home 
town of Stagira. In the process, he also freed many of Stagira’s 
citizens from _____ .
In 336 BC Philip II was assassinated by the captain of his 
bodyguards. Alexander came to the throne and _____ control of 
Greece. He moved east to conquer new lands and expand the 
Greek Empire. 
Alexander won battle after battle. He conquered Syria, _____ 
the Persian Army and laid siege to Tyre. 
In 332 BC Alexander conquered Egypt, he _____ the “New 
Master of the Universe”. The city Alexandria was named after 
him. Alexandria is one of twenty cities, which were named after 
Alexander the Great.
Alexander always took care of his soldiers and suffered along 
with them at war. He never took more food or water than his 
soldiers. He refused to ride if they had to walk.
Alexander never lost a single battle. His empire became
the _____ in history. When he understood that his soldiers were 
ready to revolt, because they were exhausted and had been far 
away from their families for a long time, Alexander ordered 
them to return home.
Alexander married twice during his lifetime, he _____ two 
sons, but unfortunately, both were killed before they reached 
adulthood.
In Babylon, on the 10th of June 323 BC at the age of only 
33 years, Alexander lost his life to an unknown fever, although 
there are some that say he _____ . At this time his empire 
stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River. After his 
death, the _____ empire was divided up among his generals. Not 
being content with what they had, they began to fi ght each 
other. Eventually, the empire fell apart.

I’m not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep;
I’m afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

Alexander the Great

to serve
to serve

slave

to take

to defeat

to call

large

to father

to poison

great

1.2.

 
Form questions from the words and answer them using the words in 
brackets. Make up a story.

Alexander the Great (356—323 BC),
military commander and king of Ancient Greece

1) born, Alexander, When, was? (the 20th of July in 356 BC)
2) were, his parents, Who? (King Philip the II and Olympias)
3) was, in his early years, Which subjects, Alexander, taught? (maths, 
reading, writing, playing the lyre)
4) he, What, enjoy, did, doing? (fi ghting, riding a horse, hunting)
5) favourite horse’s, What, name, was, his? (Bucephalus)
6) Alexander, did, have, What character traits? (courageous, ambitious)
7) was, tutored, by the great philosopher, At what age, he, and scientist, 
Aristotle? (13 years old)
8) book, What, favourite, was, his? (Iliad by Homer)
9) Alexander, did, at the age of 20, come to the throne, Why? (Philip II 
was assassinated by the captain of his bodyguards)
10) Egypt, did, conquer, When, he? (332 BC)
11) a caring leader, was, Alexander, Why? (not to get more food and 
water than his soldiers, to suffer with them at wars)
12) was, How big, his empire? (the largest empire in history)
13) want, did, to revolt, Why, his soldiers? (to be exhausted of long wars)
14) did, How many sons, have, Alexander? (2 sons)
15) he, die, At what age, did? (33 years old)
16) the reason, was, of his death, What? (fever or to be poisoned)
17) stretch, did, How far, his empire? (from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus 
River)
18) fall apart, did, Why, his empire? (fi ght between his generals)

Word List for Help
Word List for Help

overwhelming [,AuvA`welmIN] несметный; 
огромный
token [`tAUkAn] символ, знак
gratitude [`grBtI,tju:d] признательность
adulthood [BdElthUd] совершеннолетие; 
зрелость
quote [kwAut] цитата
leadership [`li:dASIp] руководство
to designate [`dLzIg,neIt] назначать
desire [dI`zaIA] страсть
to tame приручать
incredible невероятный, удивительный

resourceful [rI`sD:sfUl] находчивый
to be exhausted [Ig`zD:stId] быть истощенным
fever [`fi:vA] жар, лихорадка
amongst [AmENst] среди
to be content [`kOntLnt] быть 
удовлетворенным
to assassinate [A`sBsI,neIt] убивать (по 
идейным мотивам или за деньги)
to conquer [`kONkA] завоевывать
to expand [Ik`spBnd] расширять
revolt [rI`vAUlt] мятеж, бунт

1.3.

 
Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? Which era would you like to 
visit? Why does this period attract you?

Make up a conversation.

Alice: Joe, have you ever wanted to travel back in time to Ancient 

Greece?

Joe: 
To tell you the truth, I’ve never thought about it, but it does 

sound rather exciting.

Alice: I’ve always wanted to see how people lived many centuries

ago.

Joe: 
Ancient Greece is a breathtaking time for me. Alexander of 

Macedonia is one of my favourite heroes of that time.

Alice: Why? Do you mean Alexander the Great?

Joe: 
Yes, I do. When I want to understand any well-known person 

I usually read his or her quotes.

Alice: Really? So do I. I enjoy it. Have you ever read quotations from 

Alexander the Great?

Joe: 
Yes, I have. My favourite is, “There is nothing impossible to him 

who will try.”

Alice: That’s wonderful! It’s the motto of an ambitious person.

Joe, you are hardworking and ambitious. Has it become your 

motto?

Joe: 
Yes, Alice, it has.

Answer the following questions.

1. What is Alice’s dream?

2. Who is Joe’s favourite historical person?

3. What does Joe read to help him understand famous people better?

4. What is Joe’s motto?

1.4.

 
Discuss the following subjects. 

What kind of person should be a leader, boss, manager, director or 
president? What are the most important character traits for leadership? Why 
do you think you could be a leader?

Read and digest Polly’s letter.

Dear Ryan,

Congratulations and best wishes! At last you’ve reached your goal 
in becoming the director of your company. It’s a great success 
but also a great responsibility. No doubt you will have a lot of 
new and more difficult duties but I’m sure you’ll do everything 
perfectly.

Since your childhood you’ve always been very responsible, 
thoughtful, hardworking and ambitious. You’ve always tried to be 
a leader. You know how to organise work and make people work 
properly.

Ryan, I know one interesting statement — “A director, who can 
direct his company and make it run efficiently, even when he is 
absent, is a perfect leader!” I hope you’ve understood my idea. 
You shouldn’t try to do everything for other people. They should 
know exactly what to do, and how. Your duty is to run your 
company by designating wisely.

Ryan, I hope that you’ll stay a kind, friendly and understanding 
person. Your new position can become a challenge for you. 
Please, try to manage it and don’t let it change your personality. 
I’m sure that you’ll always be a very respectable gentleman. 
I want to be proud of you!

Lots of love,

Aunt Polly

Reconstruct and answer the following questions.

1) reached, which goal, Ryan, has?
2) is, Ryan, what kind of person?
3) advise, does, what, Polly, Ryan, give?
4) does, Ryan, Polly, what, ask?