READING

• READING
• Read and complete the sentences after the text.

“Books and friends should be few but good,” says an English proverb. “Except a living man there is nothing more

wonderful than a book! It teaches us and opens its heart to us as a brother,” wrote Charles Kingsley, an English writer of the 19^th century. The book is certainly a friend and a teacher. We learn

many things by reading books. Books teach people to live.

After reading some books it is easy to understand what should be

done and what must not be done. There are books which help

pupils with their lessons.

In general, books can be divided into two main groups: fiction

and non-fiction. Fiction books contain made-up stories, nonfiction books are books that give facts In ancient times books were written by hand and few copies were made. Sometimes several men were needed to copy a book

as the work was slow. For many years the number of books in the world was very small. Only a few people had copies of them to read and study.

The invention of printing changed a lot in history. Printing

played a very important role in the development of

culture, science and literature. Today, there are many

thousands of public libraries in Ukraine.

Librarians are always ready to help people to find a

book on any subject if those do not know the title of the book they want. Those who know how to use the catalogue

can find a book and needn’t consult the librarian.

Conferences, exhibitions and other events take place in

libraries. Thematic selections of books are prepared

Beforehand to help the visitors develop their reading preferences.

Many libraries have reading rooms and the rooms equipped with computers to give the opportunity to work with the internet.

Some libraries have a room where students learning a foreign language can have practice in speaking and listening.

• Books about

great people

• Books about

famous teach us

travellers

• Books on history
• Books about

children

to be kind and clever.

to be noble.

to be brave and honest.

to be a true friend.

to be hard-working.

to help old people and

younger ones.

to understand other people.

to love our motherland.

to be polite, to have good

manners.

• contents |ˈkɑːntent|s] the contents of a book. Have you discussed the contents of the play?
• a table of contents The table of contents shows the order in
• which the topics in the book are discussed; it gives the title of
• each chapter and the page on which it begins.
• to publish |ˈpʌblɪʃ|. to publish a book; to publish news/information.
• When was the book first published? Was the article published
• in yesterday’s newspaper?
• an atmosphe|ˈætməsfɪr|. a warm atmosphere of understanding; in the atmosphere of love.
• This atmosphere created a special feeling

• Literature is my favourite subject at school.

Ukrainian is my mother tongue, so I understand its beauty very well. That’s why I’m fond of the world of Ukrainian poetry. It’s the poetry of love for people and the native land. Every Ukrainian should read such famous authors as Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko or Lesia Ukrainka. They described the real life of Ukrainian people in the past. Their books are very truthful and interesting.

Among the modern Ukrainian poets I like

Lina Kostenko most of all.

• I study English at school. I hope that time will come and I’ll be able to read the poetry of famous English poets like William Shakespeare, Robert Burns and George Gordon Byron in the original. I’m trying to do this now, but mostly I’ve read their Ukrainian translations.

I think these poets opened their great and generous hearts to us.

Here’s my favourite poem by R. Burns, a Scottish

national poet. And I am proud to show my own

translation of this beautiful poem.

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Agatha Christie

Walter Scott

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William Shakespeare

Arthur Conan Doyle