Topics for the 5th form

Examination topics for the 5^th form

1.     Imagine that you are having a Geography lesson tomorrow. Get ready to speak about continents and countries. Tell the class how many oceans there are on the Earth; name all the continents and some countries. What are the biggest and the smallest countries in the world?

2.     English is taught and learned in almost all countries of the world nowadays. Prove that English has become the language of the planet. Name some of the English-speaking countries. Give some examples of British English and American English.

3.     They say the Earth is in danger. How can people protect animals, plants and water on our planet?

4.     Imagine that you are a teacher of Geography. Use the map of the United Kingdom and tell your imaginable pupils about geographical position of Great Britain. What languages are spoken on the British Isles? Speak about Union Jack.

5.     Imagine that you have a chance to visit the United Kingdom and to have a talk with the members of the Royal family. Speak about the Queen, the Parliament of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

6.     Imagine that you are invited to Great Britain. You should know English traditions. Remember in what way the British people differ from the people living on the continent. Don’t forget to speak about table manners.

7.     People say, “Health is above wealth”. Prove that this proverb is true. Say what people should do to keep fit.

8.     Imagine that you’ve received a letter from your English friend who is fond of sport. What could he write about popular British sports and games?

Sample answers 

Topic 1. Continents and Countries

   The planet we live on is the Earth. On the Earth you can see land, seas, oceans and continents.

    There are five oceans (the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean) and six continents. The continents are: Eurasia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America and Antarctic. There are usually many countries on each continent. For example there are more than 40 countries in Africa, but there is only one large country in Australia. I would like to name some countries from each continent: Russia, Great Britain, Spain and Germany are in Europe. China and India are in Asia. Canada and the United States are in America. Egypt is an African country.

   The largest country in the world is Russia. The smallest country is the Vatican. All countries have interesting people, places, animals and plants.

   People of different nationalities live in these countries. They speak different languages. Each country has its national flag, anthem and its own traditions and customs.

Topic 2. English-Speaking Countries

      I think English is the most popular language nowadays. It has become the most important international language. People all over the world speak English.

     In many countries people learn English as a foreign language. In such countries as Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand English is a native language. These are English-speaking countries.

     But though they all speak English, yet it is a little different in each of these countries. People speak American English in the USA and British English in Great Britain. Different words often name the same things. For example, people live in flats in England but they live in apartment in America. They eat cookies and candies in the USA, but biscuits and sweets in Great Britain. And I think that’s very interesting indeed.

Topic 3. The Earth is in danger

   People have lived on our planet for many years. They depend on it, on the sun, on animals and plants around them. But nowadays the Earth, a lot of wild animals and plants are in danger.

   People have hunted and killed many wild animals. The result is very sad. For example, there are few Indian tigers and African elephants left on the Earth now.

   Some people’s activities do a lot of harm to the forests. Because of that many animals and plants lose their homes.

   Water is very important for life. But very little water on the Earth is good for drinking. Even fish die in dirty water of rivers and lakes.

   So, the problem now is how to protect life on the Earth.

   There are a lot of simple things we could do to save our planet for the future. We mustn’t drop litter in public places. We must recycle glass, paper, plastic and metal. We must save electricity, gas and water. We must take care of birds and animals. We can plant trees and clean rivers and lakes. We must try and help nature.

Topic 4. Great Britain

     The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is situated in the British Isles. The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

     The UK is separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Straits of Dover. The UK is also washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the North Sea in the east.

     More than 56 million people live in Britain. Many of them live in big industrial cities like London.

     Everyone in Britain speaks English, but in some parts of Scotland and Wales people speak different languages as well.

     The flag of the United Kingdom is known as the Union Jack. It is made up of three crosses: the cross of St. George, the cross of St. Andrew and the cross of St. Patrick.

Topic 5. The Queen and the Parliament

      In Britain the Queen is the Head of State, but in fact she doesn’t rule the country. Though the royal family is still very important for the country. The Queen is the symbol of the country, its history and its traditions.

     The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament and to the British Government. The Parliament has two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is more important as it makes laws. The members of the House of Commons are elected every five years. The members of the House of Lords are not elected, they are permanent.

     At the beginning of the 20^th century many countries all over the world were part of the British Empire. Now they are independent countries. But in 1949 Britain and the former colonies founded the Commonwealth, which includes many countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others. The Queen of the UK is also the Head of the Commonwealth.

Topic 6. The British way of life

     Let’s compare the British way of life with life on the continent. On the continent people seldom speak about weather. In England people repeat the phrase “It’s a nice day today, isn’t it?” two hundred times a day.

     On the continent some people like cats, others don’t but in England cats are very special animals. Everyone loves them and takes care of them.

     You can offend people on the continent if you laugh at them or make jokes about their life and work. But the English accept everything with a sense of humour. You can offend them only if you tell them they have no sense of humour.

     On the continent people have good food. In England people have good table manners. Some of them are:

1)     You should sit up straight.

2)      You shouldn’t eat with your fingers.

3)      You shouldn’t put your elbows on the table.

4)      You should put your dirty knife, spoon and fork on your plate.

5)      You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.

6)      You shouldn’t lick your fingers.

7)      You should say “Thank you” after the meal.

Topic 7. Health is above Wealth 

     

A proverb says, ‘Health is above wealth’. I agree with it. I think that we can buy everything we want if we have money. But we can’t buy health.

   So if we want to be healthy we should take care of our health. We should eat healthy food – fruit, vegetables, lots of salad, meat, fish and dairy products. We should take regular exercises to keep fit. In summer we can play volleyball, swim or ride a bicycle. In winter we can ski or skate.

   We should take a cool or cold shower to keep fit. We should get up early and go to bed early if we want to be healthy. And we should remember not to smoke or drink alcohol.

Topic 8.  British Sports and Games

     Football is one of the most popular sports nowadays. It is spread all over the country – in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their national teams compete with each other every year. The Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London is one of the most important football matches of the year.

   Cricket is another summer sport. It is known that people played cricket in England as early as 1550. Nowadays this summer game is played in schools, colleges and universities and in most towns and villages of Britain. Cricket is a very long and slow game. International cricket matches can last for 5 days.

   Tennis, or lawn tennis, is another popular game in Britain. It was first played in England in 1872. Nowadays every summer in June, the British hold their famous International Tennis Championship at Wimbledon, in west London.

   Swimming, boating and sailing have always been popular in Britain and are enjoyed by thousands of people.

6 grade

Exam topics

 

1.       Nowadays there are a lot of environmental problems. What are the most serious ones? Speak about the problems of air pollution and water pollution. What can you do to help the world?   (Unit 2, p.25; Unit 4, p.58-60)

 2.       Imagine that you have a chance to stay in England for two weeks. Tell your classmates what you have learnt about the five regions of England. Which of the five regions would you choose to visit and why? (Unit 8, p.104-106)

3.       Imagine that your friend is going to visit London. What places in London related to the Royal family would you advise him or her to visit? Tell your friend about the most remarkable kings and queens of England.  (Unit 9, p.122-125)

4.       You are going to give a talk about William Shakespeare. Tell your classmates about his life and remember to mention some of Shakespeare’s great plays. (Unit 10, p.142-145)

         5.       Imagine that your friend would like to know something about Scotland and its capital. Tell him or her     everything you know about this part of Great Britain and its capital – Edinburgh. (Unit 13, p.179-182)

6.       You are going to give a talk about Wales at your Geography lesson. Get ready with interesting facts about this part of Britain. Remember to mention its symbols, its Saint, its location, its language and its capital. (Unit 14, p.197-200; ex.20, p.201)

 7.       Imagine that you have got a letter from your American friend who invites you to visit the USA. What does he write you about his country? What places in the USA do you find most attractive to visit? (Unit 16, p.223-226)

 8.       You are going to give a talk about the US government at your History lesson. Remember to say about the three main parts (“branches”) of the USA government. (Unit 17, p.240-242)

 9.       American people celebrate President’s Day in February. What presidents do they remember on that day? Speak about their biographies. (Unit 18, p.257-259

10.    Imagine that you are having a Geography lesson tomorrow. Get ready to speak about Australia. Prove that Australia is the land of striking differences. (Unit 20, p.286-289; Unit 21, p.305-308)

 

 

Sample answers

1.       Environmental problems

  The word environment means simply what is around us. The most serious environmental problems are:

·         water, air and nuclear pollution;

·         noise from cars, buses, planes;

·         destruction of wildlife and the beauty of the countryside;

·         shortage of natural resources;

·         the growth of population.

   Now I would like to speak about some of the problems. There is no ocean or sea which is not used as a dump. Many seas are used for dumping industrial and nuclear waste. This poisons and kills fish and sea animals.

   Many rivers and lakes are poisoned too. Fish and reptiles can’t live in them. It happens so because factories and plants produce a lot of waste and pour it into rivers. So they poison the water.

   Most of pollution in big cities comes from cars and buses.

   Nuclear power stations go wrong and cause nuclear pollution. This pollution cannot be seen but its effect can be terrible.

   To make air clean again we need good filters at nuclear power stations, at factories and plants and also in cars and buses.

   Both clean air and clean water are necessary for our health. If people want to survive, they must solve these problems quickly.

 

2. England       England is the largest part of the UK. It consists of the Southeast, the Southwest, East Anglia, the Midlands and the North of England.    The Southeast is a highly populated region of England; there is a lot of industry near the Thames and there are a lot of roads. London, the capital of the UK, and such historical cities as Windsor, Dover and Brighton are situated here. Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports is about 33 km west of central London. The County of Kent situated here is known as the garden of England. The Southeast is famous for its resorts; Brighton is, probably, the best known of them.    The Southwest is the region where the main activity is farming. The Southwest used to be known for its pirates. The two principal cities of the region are Bristol and Bath. The famous Stonehenge and the most westerly point of Great Britain “Land’s End” are also situated in the Southwest.    East Anglia is very flat and it is another farming region. It has beautiful cities, such as Cambridge, with fine historic buildings. The part of East Anglia is called the Fens.    Oliver Cromwell, an English general and politician was born in the Fens area.    The Midlands is the heart of England. The most important industrial cities are Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, which is one of Britain’s big ports, and Birmingham. The two famous Midlands cities, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford are connected with English culture: Stratford is the birthplace of the great William Shakespeare and Oxford is famous for its university.    The North of England. The main attractions of the North of England are certainly the Lake District, the cities of York and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Many tourists come over especially to look at the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall.

   As for me, I‘d like to visit … because…

 

 

 

 

 

3. Royal London

   Many places in London are closely connected with the Crown: Buckingham Palace, the Mall and Trafalgar Square are among them.  There are ten royal parks in and around London which are owned by the Crown. For example, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and St. James’s Park.

   The Royal Family plays a very important role in the country. In the history of Britain there were certain Kings and Queens whose names are specially remembered in the country and are well-known in the whole world. One of them was King Henry VIII. Under him Britain became independent of the Roman Catholic Church; it got richer and more powerful.   Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth became the Queen in 1558. During her reign England became very important in European politics, the Spanish Armada was defeated, arts and especially the theatre developed, and the country became very powerful.    Another strong queen was Queen Victoria. She ruled for the longest period in the English history. During her reign Britain became a rich industrial country with developed trade, an empire with a lot of colonies.    Queen Victoria’s great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth II, is on the British throne now. The 60^th anniversary of her reign was celebrated last year.

 

 

 

 

4      William Shakespeare

     William Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers in the world. He was born on the 23^rd of April in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His mother Mary was a farmer’s daughter. His father John was a glove-maker. John wanted his son to be an educated person and William was sent to the local grammar school. There he got a good education and learned to love reading.

     While still a teenager, William married Anne Hathaway. We don’t know how he earned his living during these early years, perhaps he helped his father in the family business. During these years his three children were born: two daughters and a son.

     In 1587 Shakespeare went to work in London. There he began to act and write plays. Soon he became an important member of a well-known acting company. Most of his plays were performed in the new Globe Theatre built on the bank of the River Thames.

     He wrote such tragedies as “Romeo and Juliet”, “Julius Caesar”, “Hamlet”, “Othello”, “King Lear”, and “Macbeth”.

     He wrote such comedies as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, ‘The Merchant of Venice”, “Twelfth Night”, and “All’s Well That Ends Well”. He wrote a lot of poetry too.

      In 1613 he stopped writing and went to live in Stratford where he died in 1616. His plays are still acted – not only in England but in the whole world.

 

 

 

5. Scotland The Beautiful

 

   Scotland is a country in the United Kingdom to the north of England. Its symbol is a thistle; its patron saint is St Andrew. The country is divided into Highlands and Lowlands. Most of the industry is concentrated in Lowlands, in the Clyde Valley. Glasgow is its largest and busiest town, Edinburgh is its capital.

   Glasgow is the heart of industry. It is a centre of business and trade.  Edinburgh is known as the Athens of the North.  The most interesting parts of the city are the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town lies between the Castle and Holyrood Palace. The Castle attracts a lot of tourists.

   A line of streets, which runs from the Castle to Holyrood House, is called the Royal Mile. Holyrood House is a big royal palace which is the residence of the Queen when she is in Edinburgh. The most picturesque part of the Royal Mile is the Cannongate, which gives a good idea of what the Old Town was like. The Old Town is a striking contrast to the New Town with its white and beautiful streets lined with trees. Princes Street is the most beautiful street of the New Town. A monument of the famous writer, Sir Walter Scott is in Princes Street. Princes Street lies between the New Town and the Old Town.

  

 

 

6. WALES

   Wales is a country with its own geography, culture, traditions and language. St. David is the patron saint of Wales. A leek and a daffodil are both symbols of Wales. The flag of Wales is called the Welsh dragon. The population of Wales is about two and a quarter million.

   The Welsh language is spoken widely, especially in the north of the country and it is still the first language for many people. English is taught side by side with Welsh in schools. Welsh is one of the Celtic languages.

  Cardiff is the capital and the main port. It is an industrial city, which also has a castle, a cathedral, a university. There are other big towns in Wales too, Swansea and Newport among them.

   The west coast, mid Wales and North Wales are wild and beautiful. Wales has high mountains, including Snowdon, the second highest mountain in Britain.

   Wales is a land of green fields, forests and farms. It is also a land of mountains and valleys, streams and waterfalls. In North Wales you can follow mountain paths for miles and miles.

   In summer, when the sun is shining, Snowdon looks very peaceful and beautiful. A little train runs to the top and the walk is not at all hard. But in winter the mountains can become very dangerous.

 

 

 

7. COUNTRY AND PEOPLE

   There are fifty states in the United States of America. Alaska and Hawaii are not connected to the other states. The US is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the west, by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. In the north are Great Lakes.

   The US is a large country with many natural wonders: rocky coasts, dry empty deserts, big rivers, wide plains and grasslands, lakes of all sizes, high mountains, great forests, sunny beaches, lands of endless winter.

   The capital of the USA is Washington D.C. More than 250 million people live in the US. There are a lot of parks, forests and wildlands where you can enjoy the beauty and power of wild America.  The Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley, and Yellowstone are among the most famous.

   There are many rivers cross the United States. But the greatest is the mighty Mississippi. Native Americans called it “the father of waters”. Among other big rivers are the Colorado and the Missouri. The Colorado River rises in the Rocky Mountains or the Rockies that stretch from Alaska down almost to the south of the country. Another big mountain chain is the Appalachians in the east also running from north to south.

   The Grand Canyon is one of American’s main tourist attractions.

   The United States is a young country. Its written history is only a few hundred years old. It is sometimes called the “New World.”

   The people of the United States are a mixture of many different nationalities. The United States is a big melting pot of countries. In the past, people from many different European countries came to the US and made one country out of many. These different people brought to their new land a wonderful mixture of customs and traditions.

 

 

 8.   WHO RULES THE COUNTRY?

    The US government is like a tree with a strong trunk and three branches. The trunk is the people. It holds up the tree.

   The first branch is the Congress. The Congress is a meeting of representatives from all states. The people elect those representatives. The Congress makes the laws that everybody must obey. The Congress meets in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. The Congress is divided into two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Constitution gives many powers to the Congress. One important power of the Congress is the power to declare war.

   The second branch of government is the President and his helpers. They carry out the laws that the Congress makes. The Vice President and members of the Cabinet help the President to make decisions. The US President is Commander in Chief of the country’s armed forces. The President’s term is four years and one can be President for one or two terms, but not longer. Americans vote for the President in November of every leap year.

   The third branch of government is the Supreme Court. It is made up of nine judges. The judges work in the Supreme Court as long as they live.

 The Constitution is the highest law in the United States. It was written more than 200 years ago. Changes in the Constitution are called amendments. There are 26 amendments to the Constitution. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They were made in 1791.  The Bill of Rights guarantees to people of the USA such important rights and freedoms as freedom of press, freedom of religion, the right to go to court, have a lawyer, and some others.

 

9. TWO AMERICAN PRESIDENTS

   The first US President known to all Americans as “The Father of the Nation” was George Washington. George was born in Virginia in a planter’s family. The boy went to a private school and later, two private teachers taught him to be a soldier and a Virginia gentleman. George learned to ride a horse, to hunt, shoot, sail, swim and measure land.

The young man worked hard every day. Everyone liked and trusted young George.

   George Washington became Commander in Chief of the Colonial Army during the Revolutionary War. He was among those who wrote the US Constitution in Philadelphia. People respected him for his courage, honesty and wisdom. In 1789 George Washington became the first President of the country and served two terms. He refused a third term. In 1797 he retired to Mount Vernon where he died two years later.

   Abraham Lincoln was the 16^th President of the USA. Abe grew up in the Middle West. He taught himself by reading the books he could get, such as the Bible, Aesop’s “Fables” and “Robinson Crusoe”. Everyone liked him and everyone said he was a born story-teller.

   When Abe Lincoln was twenty-one, the family moved to Illinois. Later on he joined the militia and fought in an Indian War.

   Abraham Lincoln became a lawyer and a politician. He was also an excellent speaker. He was elected to the House of Representatives in US Congress. In 1861 he became the 16^th   American President. In the same year the Civil War began, so Lincoln had to lead the country through the four terrible years of war. In 1863 he signed the Emancipation Proclamation- the document that made all the slaves free.  In 1865 the North won the Civil War. Five days after the war ended, President Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theatre, Washington.

 

 

 

10. THE UNKNOWN SOUTHERN LAND

 

   Europeans called Australia “the unknown southern land”.

   Australia is the world’s largest island and the smallest continent. Asia is the continent nearest to Australia in the north. The icy shores of Antarctica lie to the south. New Zealand is to the east. To the west of Australia stretches the vast Indian Ocean. In the east the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean.

   In the centre of the continent and in the west there are three deserts- the Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert and the Gibson Desert. Australia is divided into six states and two territories.

   New South Wales is Australia’s leading industrial state. Sydney the largest city in Australia is situated here.

  In Victoria most people live in the south. Melbourne is the capital of the state and the largest city. Sheep and wheat are the main products here. Citrus fruits, grapes, peaches and apricots are grown along the Murray River.

   Queensland is Australia’s second largest state. Brisbane is its capital. Queensland has long beautiful sandy beaches. Its coast is a popular place for holidaymakers.

   The state of Western Australia is dry and inhospitable except the south-western corner of the state. Nearly all of the state’s farms, sheep stations and fruit gardens are situated there.

   South Australia is the third largest state. Adelaide is the capital and the largest city. Most of South Australia is too dry for farming. Wheat and fruit are grown along the lower part of the Murray River.

   Tasmania, the island state, is sometimes called the apple isle because it produces most of Australia’s apples. Tasmania is one of the few places in Australia that have enough rain all year.

   Northern Territory is the least populated and least developed part of Australia. Crocodiles still live in some of the swamps along the coast. Darwin is its capital.

   The capital of Australia is Canberra. The city doesn’t belong to any state. It is still situated on the Australian Capital Territory.