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Text 1
Education in Russia
Children start school at the age of six in Russia. The course of studies at school is eleven years now: four years of primary school and seven years of secondary school. Previously it was only ten years: three years of primary school and seven years of secondary school. Children under the age of six are taken to creches and nursery schools.
There is a wide choice of schools nowadays: state schools, private schools, lyceums and gymnasiums. The majority of schools is free of charge, but in some (usually private ones) parents have to pay for the education of their children. In ordinary schools parents sometimes pay for additional subjects in the curriculum, such as a foreign language or arts. Though it is generally not a demand, most children can already read and write when they start their school: this makes education much easier for them.
In primary school there are three or four lessons a day, they usually are Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. A lesson lasts forty minutes. Dur ing the first term children get used to learning and adapt to school regulations. Beginning with the second term of the first year at school, children also take Handicrafts, Drawing, Music and Physical Educa tion. The list of subjects under study is further extended during the second, third and fourth years and includes the World History of Arts, Fundamentals of Security, History, Geography, and others. At primary schools all lessons are usually conducted by one teacher.
At the age of ten children pass to the second stage of education, known as secondary school. In secondary school there is a wide variety of subjects under study, and teachers specialize. The transition from primary to secondary school is sometimes difficult for children. After finishing the ninth form and getting the Certificate of Basic Secondary
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Education, schoolchildren may either continue their education in the tenth form, or leave school and go to technical (vocational) schools and colleges.
After eleven years at school the school leavers take examinations and get the Certificate of Complete Secondary Education. Those who have only excellent marks in the Certificate get a gold medal, which gives the right to enter higher school taking only one examination.
The admission to higher school is competitive and based on the system of entrance examinations, usually three or four. During the ex aminations the school leavers must show their abilities in the chosen field. Young people also have an option to get specialized secondary education in vocational schools after leaving the eleventh form.
Among higher educational establishments are institutes (colleges), academies and universities. The term of studying in higher school is from four to six years. Students can be involved in scientific research while studying. At the end of their final year at college, university or academy they take final examinations and get a diploma. Besides, they can take postgraduate courses in the chosen field.
2) Oh, and there is someone washing his car in the background. - На переднем плане есть некоторые маленькие дети, которые играют в футбол на улице
3) It is not a very beautiful street, but the atmosphere seems very friendly and relaxed. - Это не очень красивая улица, но атмосфера, кажется, очень дружелюбны и расслаблены.
4) The houses are quite small and they haven't got front gardens. But some houses look very colorful. In the foreground there are some young kids who are playing football in the street. And there are two old men on the right who are chatting to each other in front of one of the houses. Perhaps they are gossiping about the neighborhoods. Oh, and there is someone washing his car in the background. It is not a very beautiful street, but the atmosphere seems very friendly and relaxed. - Домов довольно мало, и они не получили палисадники. Но некоторые дома выглядят очень красочными. На переднем плане есть некоторые маленькие дети, которые играют в футбол на улице. И есть два старики справа, которые, болтая друг с другом перед одним из домов. Возможно, они сплетничают о кварталах. Ох, и есть кто-то моет машину в фоновом режиме. Это не очень красивая улица, но атмосфера, кажется, очень дружелюбной и расслабленой.
Why? I think the author would show us that not only external beauty plays an important and "beautiful" role in life, but also internally. - Почему? Думаю автор хотел показать нам что не только внешняя красота играет важную и "красивую" роль в жизне, но и внутреняя.
Chapter One
The Boy Who Lived
The chapter starts with description of the Dursley family, who are proud to be "perfectly normal". We learn that Mrs Dursley has a sister, Mrs Potter, but their families haven't met for several years. Both families have sons.
Then the story begins on a "dull, grey Tuesday". Mr Dursley notices a lot of strange things hapenning - owls flying in town, people in cloaks, a strange cat sitting on the wall of his garden, unusual news on TV. The Dursleys go to bed wondering what it all could mean. At night, a tall, thin and very old man appears near their house. It's Albus Dumbledore. The cat turns out to be Professor McGonagall, and the two are professors from Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Then comes Hagrid, a giant, who brings little Harry Potter. Harry's parents were killed by Lord Voldermort, a dark wizard, but Harry survived and Voldermort's power "somehow broke" .
So little Harry is left asleep on the doorstep of the Dursley's house with a letter written by Dumbledore. The professors and Hagrid go to join the celebrations.