UNIVERSITATEA VALAHIA DIN TRGOVITE

DEPARTAMENTUL PENTRU NVMNT LA DISTAN

I FORMARE CONTINU

PRACTICAL ENGLISH
FOR DISTANCE - LEARNING STUDENTS

Carmen ANTOHE

TRGOVITE
2005

CONTENTS
CUVNT NAINTE.............................................................................................3
CHAPTER ONE BASIC ENGLISH................................................................4
Lesson one Introducing oneself (conversation)5
Lesson two- Getting around (conversation)...8
Lesson three Nationalities-Countries (conversation)12
Lesson four A students daily Programme ...16
Lesson five The family...20
Lesson six Weather ...24
Lesson seven Meals...29
Lesson eight At the library33
Lesson nine Whats your job?...........................................................................37
Lesson ten At a public meeting..41
CHAPTER TWO ENGLISH FOR GEOGRAPHERS
AND HISTORIANS.........................................................45
Lesson one Great Britain..46
Lesson two London...51
Lesson three The United States of America..60
Lesson four American Cities.66
Lesson five Australia.72
Lesson six Important People in Britain.76
Lesson seven Famous British Seamen...79
Lesson eight Europes Premodern Heritage.81
Lesson nine Bucharest...84
Lesson ten Romania...89
CHAPTER THREE ENGLISH FOR ECONOMISTS96
Lesson one Advertising..97
Lesson two How to Stage Successful Trade Fairs and Exhibitions.103
Lesson three Tourist Industry and Touristic Activity...107
Lesson four Foreign TradeComposition Development Trends.110
Lesson five The International Monetary Fund114
Lesson six Economic Co-operation.119
Lesson seven Marketing Past and Present...123
CHAPTER FOUR SUPLIMENTARY READINGS-ENGLISH AND
AMERICAN HOLIDAYS, LITERATURE AND CIVILIZATION.126
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Halloween..127
Thanksgiving Day129
Christmas131
St. Valentines Day..134
Easter..137
William Shakespeare...141
American literature.................................................................................144
Habits and ways - Tea 146
2

Cuvnt nainte
n condiiile civilizaiei actuale, cnd comunicarea larg ntre oameni i
popoare a devenit o realitate obinuit, cunoaterea unei limbi de circulaie
internaional este o necesitate. Dac n Evul Mediu limba latin a fost pentru
europeni limba comun a culturii i tiinei, astzi, n epoca ordinatoarelor, a
zborurilor cosmice, a transformrilor urbane spectaculoase i a dezvoltrii fr
precedent a schimburilor internaionale, toi cetenii lumii nva limba englez
pentru a se nelege ntre ei. Engleza este astzi limba tiinei, a tehnicii, a
comerului.
Lumea tiinific i intelectual folosete poate cel mai mult aceast
limb, puini fiind oamenii de tiin i cercettorii care s nu o cunoasc i s nu
i redacteze lucrrile direct n englez.
Ilustrrile de mai sus nu epuizeaz nici pe departe lista posibil. S ne
referim acum la oamenii simpli i mai puini simpli. Cine nu a trecut prin
momentul penibil cnd nu putem nfiripa o conversaie cu un strin, cnd suntem
redui la gesturi, mimic sau interjecii? Unele persoane sunt dispuse s
remedieze carena prin studiu, sistematic chiar. Altele, se izoleaz sub imperiul
fricii ndrtul unor pori zvorte i cred c limba englez este inaccesibil lor,
dup cum studierea ei (chiar la nivel elementar) li se pare un efort inutil sau,
oricum prea mare. Unul din scopurile acestui curs este s demonstreze c
inaccesibilitatea e o prejudecat, iar efortul merit s fie ntreprins pn i de
ctre cei din fire lenevoi.
n nvarea limbii engleze la un nivel mediu de cunotiine se ajunge fr
dificultate i sperm c acest curs conceput pentru studenii de la forma de
nvmnt la distan, va demonstra c necesitatea cunoaterii limbii engleze se
poate satisface de ctre oricine, uor i cu plcere.
Acest curs practic de limba englez este destinat studenilor de la
specializrile Geografie, Istorie-Geografie i profilul Economic anii I i II, care
doresc s aib o pregtire corespunztoare n domeniile de interes.
El a fost conceput n aa fel nct, n cei doi ani de studiu ai limbii
engleze, s ajute la consolidarea cunotiinelor acumulate pn aici, precum i la
nsuirea de noi elemente specifice specializrii studiate.

Mult Succes!

CHAPTER ONE - BASIC ENGLISH

Introducere
Chapter one Basic English (Capitolul unu Engleza de baz) se adreseaz att
studenilor de la specializarea Geografie, Istorie-Geografie ct i celor de la
profilul Economic. nsuirea unui limbaj de specialitate nu se poate face fr a
avea o baz solid, de aceea capitolul conine n principal elemente practice i
applicative la ndemna acelora care doresc s-i nsueasc, s consolideze i s
foloseasc un limbaj minim de limba englez.
Cele zece lecii care alctuiesc capitolul cuprind teme axate pe principalele
aspecte ale vieii cotidiene de munc, sociale, culturale avnd drept scop s
formeze deprinderi de limb necesare nsuirii ulterioare a limbajului legat de
problematica geografic, istorico-geografic i economic.
Fiecare lecie cuprinde un text nsoit de o tem gramatical prezentat sugestiv
i concis prin structuri, scheme i tabele. Schemele gramaticale prezint probleme
de gramatic i construcii pentru a cror nelegere i mai ales folosire, studenii
ntmpin dificulti. Expunerea gramatical este urmat de diferite tipuri de
exerciii lexicale i gramaticale menite s formeze deprinderi de limb la cei ce
studiaz limba englez.
Obiective operaionale: dup parcurgerea primului capitol studenii vor
putea s:
se prezinte i s fac cunotiin cu alte persoane vorbitoare de limba
englez;
poarte o conversaie simpl, referitoare la locul natal, meserie, i s cear
indicaii pentru a ajunge n locul dorit;
vorbeasc despre programul su zilnic, despre vreme i mesele principale;
poat s se descurce n diferite situaii cum ar fi la bibliotec i la diferite
ntlniri publice;
completeze un curriculum vitae;
recunoasc, s diferenieze i s foloseasc n aplicaii practice timpuri
verbale precum prezentul simplu i continuu, prezentul perfect simplu i
continuu, mai mult ca perfectul simplu i continuu;
capete deprinderi pentru traduceri din i n limba englez;

Capitolul unu conine urmtoarele lecii:

1. Lesson one Introducing oneself .5
2. Lesson two Getting around 8
3. Lesson three Nationalities-Countries ...12
4. Lesson four A students daily programme ...16
5. Lesson five The family .20
6. Lesson six Weather ...........24
7. Lesson seven Meals ..29
8. Lesson eight At the library ...........33
9. Lesson nine Whats your job? ..37
10. Lesson ten At a public meeting ..41

Bibliografie selectiv:
- Banta, Andrei (1991) Essential English, Ed. Teora Bucureti
- Gali, Livia & colaboratorii (1982) Limba Englez pentru nvmntul
superior economic, Ed.Didactic i Pedagogic, Bucureti
- Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana (1993) Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Ed.
Omegapress, Bucureti
-* * *
- Speak English Nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6/ 1990
4

LESSON ONE
CONVERSATION
INTRODUCING ONESELF (PREZENTARI)
FORMAL
J.D.: Excuse me. Who are you?
S.R.: Im Sandra Reynolds. Im your English teacher, and who are you?
J.D.: How do you do. My names Jane David. Im a student.
K.S.: And my name is Ken Smith. Im a student, too.
S.R.: How do you do. (Im) glad to meet you. (Its) nice to meet you.
J.D.: Its nice to meet you, too. Greetings
S.R.: Good morning. (Good afternoon; Good evening).
J.D.: Good evening. How are you?
S.R.: Im fine thank you. And how are you?
J.D.: Very well, thank you./ Rather unwell.
S.R.: Good bye. See you later.
J.D.: Good night. See you tomorrow.
Atenie! Nu se spune niciodat Good day, nici la ntlnire nici la desprire. n
engleza modern este o form de expediere a interlocutorului, ceva de felul Poi
pleca.
VERY FORMAL
J.D.: Good morning, Professor Reynolds. Let me introduce myself. My names
Jane David. Im your new student.
S.R.: How do you do. Welcome to our courses. My names Sandra Reynolds.
J.D.: How do you do. Im pleased to meet you, Professor Reynolds.
S.R.: Im your English Professor. What are you studying this term?
J.D.: Im studying English language this term and English literature next term.
S.R.: Till tomorrow then.
J.D.: Its been nice knowing you. Good bye for now.
INFORMAL
J.D.: Hi, Im Jane. Im a new student. Who are you?
K.S.: Hi, Im Ken. Im a new student, too. Glad to know you. Where are you
from?
J.D.: Im from Canada. Are you from Canada, too?
K.S.: No, Im not. Im from Scotland.
J.D.: Oh, how nice!
K.S.: See you soon.
J.D.: Bye-bye for now.

I. EXPLANATORY NOTES
1. Name = First name = Christian name = Given name: Jane, Jennifer, Robert,
Mary, Kenneth, Sandra etc.
Surname = Family name = Last name: Reynolds, David, Bush, Smith,
MacDonald, OCasey, Roberts etc.

2. How Do We Address People?

There are different ways of addressing people and of speaking:
Informal or friendly between friends, teenagers, young people (classmates),
businessmen;
Formal between acquaintances and also for older people or people in higher
jobs.
Very formal for people we want to show respect to.
How do we address unknown people? Excuse me, sir (madam, officer/constable
etc.)
Ladies and gentlemen (when addressing
an audience).
How about people we know? Hi, Ted / Hi, Betty (more used for young people).
Hello, Fred / Hello, Barney (it is slightly more
formal). We can greet acquaintances or people we know whether they are older or
in higher jobs with hello, or good morning / afternoon / evening. At a very
formal level, respect may be shown by adding their name: Hello, Mr. Smith
(for gentlemen), Hello, Mrs. Reynolds (for married ladies), Hello, Miss
David (for unmarried ladies), or Hello, Mes Green (for ladies, when their
marital status is not important). If the persons have titles, they are used in calling
them: Professor Hill, Dr. Brown, Dean Roberts (only one title - the highest
is used together with the surname). For very high ranks we can use: Your
Excellency, Your Highness, Your Sanctity.
II. GRAMMAR
1.PERSONAL PRONOUNS (Pronume personale)
Desemneaz persoanele ce pot aprea ntr-un dialog
interlocutorul) sau nlocuiete obiectul despre care se vorbete.

Singular

Plural

Person
1 person
2nd person
3rd person

Nominative
I
you
he, she, it

1st person
2nd person
3rd person

we
you
they

st

Dative
(to) me
(to) you
(to) him
(to) her
(to) it
(to) us
(to) you
(to) them

(vorbitorul,

Accusative
me
you
him, her, it

us
you
them

2. Verb TO BE present tense link verb (verb de legtur)

Affirmative
I am
You are
He, she, it is
We are
You are
They are

Interrogative

Negative

Am I?
Are you?
Is he, she, it?
Are we?
Are you?
Are they?

I am not
You are not
He, she, it is not
We are not
You are not
They are not

InterrogativeNegative
Am I not?
Are you not?
Is he,she,it not?
Are we not?
Are you not?
Are they not?

n engleza vorbit este mai folosit forma contras:

Im a teacher. / Im not a teacher.
Youre a student. / Youre not a student.
Hes a policeman. / Hes not a policeman.
Shes an air hostess. / Shes not an air hostess.
Its an animal. / Its not an animal.
Were workers./ Were not workers.
Youre engineers. / Youre not engineers.
Theyre taxi drivers. / Theyre not taxi drivers.
Verbul TO BE ca verb de legtur (link verb) se folosete: cu un substantiv (la
singular, ntotdeauna precedat de articolul nedefinit a sau an) I am a
mother; cu un adjectiv, He is tired sau cu adverb de loc, He is in the
room / He is there.
EXERCISES
I. Substitute the nouns in the following sentences by the personal pronouns
in the correct case.
Model: I like this book. I like it.
1. I am very pleased with this test paper. 2. John arrives at the faculty early. 3. I
always give George good books to read. 4. Three students are talking about the
exam. 5. The assistant-lecturer is asking Henry a question. 6. The professor is
lending the student a book. 7. Students are very attentive during seminars. 8. I see
my coleague going to the library. 9. Give mother a glass of water, please. 10.
Read the lesson, please. 11. Lets go and see grandmother. 12. I want to give my
grandparents a present. 13. Ill thank father tomorrow. 14. Look at Tom and me!
15. I cant see your friends. 16. Give the cat some milk.
II. Fill in the blanks using the personal pronouns in brackets in the correct
case:
1. This is a book for ... (he). 2. John always buys text-books for ... (they). 3. I
never speak to ... (she) during lectures. 4. I am putting ... (it) on the shelf. 5.
Every day, I see ... (you) in the classroom. 6. I pay attention to ... (it). 7. I tell ...
(she) not to be late. 8. She requests ... (they) to take part in the scientific session.

LESSON TWO
CONVERSATION GETTING AROUND
1. (British version)
Liz: Hi, Jenny, How are you?
Jenny: Rather unwell this morning. And you?
Liz: Oh, Im fine, thanks, but Im sorry for you. Why are you such in a hurry? Its
pretty hot today, isnt it? Can I help you?
Jenny: Im late for class, and I want to buy some stationery, you know, writing
paper, notebooks and a ball-(point) pen. Is there a stationers near here?
Liz: Yes, of course. Can you see that restaurant over there?
Jenny: The one on the corner?
Liz: Turn at the restaurant and keep straight on up to the next cross-roads; go
across the road and take the first turning to the left. The stationers on the left side
of the street. You cant miss it.
Jenny: Thanks a lot. But thats quite a distance.
Liz: Yes, thats right, but you can find there everything you need: there are
writing paper, pads, envelopes, refills for your pen, erasers and even a marvelous
assortment of greeting cards and diaries. There are also glue, ink, thumbtacks
a.s.o.
*
*
*
2. (American version)
Jenny: Pardon (Excuse) me, officer. Wheres the City Bank?
Policeman: Its downtown, five blocks from here, straight ahead.
Jenny: Is it on the left?
Policeman: No. Its on the right. Its across the coffee shop.
Jenny: Thanks very much.
Policeman: Youre welcome.
VOCABULARY
stationery papetrie
notebook blocnotes, carnet
ball-(point) pen pix
cross-road intersecie
writing paper pad tampon pentru hrtia de scris
envelope plic
refill mine de pix
eraser gum de ters
diary jurnal (intim)
glue lipici
ink cerneal
thumbtack pionez
Explanatory notes:
1. block (in America) = cvartal, grup de case ptrat sau dreptunghiular ntre 4
strzi. block of flats / apartment house = bloc
downtown = n sau spre centrul comercial al unui ora
2. Expressing GRATITUDE (expresii de mulumire): Thanks Thank you
Many thanks Thanks a lot Thanks again Thank you very much Thank you
very much indeed Thank you ever much for (letting me know) - Its been
really marvelous
8

3. Possible responses, depending on the occasion (posibile rspunsuri, n funcie

de ocazie):
Dont mention it (Im glad to help you) Its all right Its my pleasure Youre
welcome Im very much obliged to you
Study and remember (expressions):
It takes you only ten minutes to get there v trebuie numai zece minute
ca s ajungei acolo
Turn to the left/right! Luai-o spre stnga
Go straight on/ahead! Mergei tot nainte
The red light is on Semaforul arat rou
Trolley buses run till oclock Troleibuzele circul pn la ora
Would you mind telling me the way to ? Suntei amabil s-mi spunei
care este drumul ctre ?
Could you put me right? M-ai putea ndruma?
This way, please! Pe aici, v rog!
Take the first turning to the left/right Luai-o pe prima strad la
stnga/dreapta
At the next crossroads turn to the left/right La prima intersecie luai-o
la stnga/dreapta
Its on the right hand side Este pe partea dreapt
Can you direct me to ? mi putei arta direcia ctre ?
Is this the right way to ? Acesta este drumul ctre ?
You are still some way off Suntei nc la o oarecare distan
Its just round the corner Este chiar dup col
We happen to be going in that direction ourselves ntmpltor i noi
mergem n aceast direcie
Im trying to find my way to - ncerc s gsesc drumul ctre
You are going the wrong way Mergei ntr-o direcie greit
Is it much of a walk? Este mult de mers pe jos?
Do I take this street or that? S o iau pe aceast strad, sau pe cealalt?
Its quite a distance Este destul de departe
Which is the quickest way to ? Care este calea cea mai rapid ctre
GRAMMAR
1. Verbul TO BE exprimnd existena there is / there are (este, se afl, se
gsete / sunt, se afl, se gsesc)
Cuvntul neaccentuat thereeste urmat de o form a verbului TO BE n
propoziii care exprim noiunea de existen (este o expresie care nu exist n
limba romn. Limba francez are ceva asemntor n expresia il y a). Se
folosete ori de cte ori subiectul propoziiei este o persoan oarecare nedefinit
sau un obiect, iar predicatul este verbul TO BE.
Aceast expresie introduce noi informaii interlocutorului:
Exemple: There is (Theres) a pen on the desk.
There are (Therere) two books on the table.
There is a glass on the table.
There are lots of interesting buildings in Edinburgh.
There are writing paper pads ...
There is glue in the bottle.
Observai c: a) There se folosete n loc de subiect;
b) There is se folosete naintea unui substantiv la singular;
c) There are se folosete naintea unui substantiv la plural;
9

Interogativul se formeaz: Is there a stationery near here?

Are there many children in the room?
Negativul: There is not (isnt). / There are not (arent).
Observai c i n acest caz exist forme contrase, neaccentuate.
Atenie! S nu confundai cuvntul THERE din expresiile THERE IS i THERE
ARE cu adverbul THERE care se traduce cu ACOLO. ntr-o propoziie ele pot
aprea mpreun.
Ex. There are two chairs there. (Sunt dou scaune acolo).
2. THE PLURAL OF NOUNS (Pluralul Substantivelor)
Rules

Examples

a. Majoritatea substantivelor formeaz

pluralul adugnd -s la forma singularului:
b. Substantivele care se termin n -sh, -ch,
-tch, -ss, -s, -x primesc -es

c. Cnd substantivele se termin n -y

precedat de o consoan, -y se schimb n i
i se adaug es:
d. Substantivele care se termin n -f, -fe l
schimb pe f n v i se adaug -es:
e. Substantivele care se termin n -o
precedat de o consoan primesc -es:
f. Substantive cu pluralul neregulat:

Singular
bedroom
picture
tap
glass
bus
brush
watch
box
party
country

Plural
bedrooms
pictures
taps
glasses
buses
brushes
watches
boxes
parties
countries

leaf
life
tomato
potato
man
woman
child
tooth
foot
goose
mouse

leaves
lives
tomatoes
potatoes
men
women
children
teeth
feet
geese
mice

Terminaia pluralului se citete:

[s]
[z]
dup consoane surde:
dup vocale i consoane
[p], [t], [f], [k], [h], []
sonore: [b], [d], [v], [g],
[l], [m], [n], [], [r], []
clocks
jugs
taps
towels
baths
films

10

[iz]
dup: [s], [z], [], [t],
[d]
wages
classes
brushes
watches
buses

EXERCISES
I. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the phrase:
1. There ... a teacher in the classroom. 2. There ... two teachers in the classroom.
3. There ... many pupils in the classroom. 4. There ... a dog in the room. 5. There
... books and notebooks on the shelf. 6. There ... books on the floor. 7. There ... a
blackboard on the wall. 8. There ... many pictures on the wals. 9. There ... a map
in the classroom. 10. There ... many flowers in the garden.
II. Change these sentences according to the patterns:
a) There is a large table in the room. (small) / There isnt a small one.
b) There are two black cats in the garden. (white) / There arent two white ones.
1. There is a short pencil in the pencil-box. (long) 2. There are three glasses on
the table. (clean) 3. There are two green books in the bag. (brown) 4. There is a
young man in the room. (old) 5. There are two large armchairs in the room.
(small) 6. There is an old newspaper on the table. (new) 7. There is a white dog in
the schoolyard. (black) 8. There are two red blouses on the chair (blue). 9. There
is a tall man in the garden. (short) 10. There are two fat cats under the tree. (thin)
III. Make questions and answers.
1. There is a kitchen in the flat. (Yes) 2. There are two living-rooms in the flat.
(No) 3. There is a dog in the classroom. (No) 4. There are three cats in the
schoolyard. (Yes) 5. There are two books on the desk. (No) 6. There is a book on
the floor. (No) 7. There is a dining-room in the house. (Yes) 8. There are two
bedrooms in the house. (Yes) 9. There are three armchairs in the living-room.
(Yes) 10. There is a bookcase in the bedroom. (No)
IV. Rewrite the sentences, making the words in brackets plural:
1. Our students club often organizes (evening party). 2. She has just put ten
(tomato) on the plate. 3. All the (child) who have reached the age of six go to
school. 4. Have you already brushed your (tooth)? 5. She has bought two (loaf).
6. Have you turned off the hot and cold (tap)? 7. You go to the library after
(class), dont you? 8. She has put six (glass) on the table. 9. There are many
fallen (leaf) on the ground. 10. I have never seen such beautiful (picture). 11.
(Woman) have equal rights with (man) in our country. 12. They have put the
(watch) into (box) that do not exceed an overall length of two (foot).
V. Use the plural of the nouns in brackets making the necessary changes. In
case no change is possible, explain the reasons:
1. He was thanked for his (work) at the hospital. 2. They were fully aware of the
(spirit) of the time. 3. The poet published his new (volume) at the start of the
century. 4. The Chinese invented the (compass). 5. The (information) didnt come
in time. 6. I have a small (cactus) at home. 7. Dont fight with him. His (force) is
enormous. 8. I feel a (pain) in my leg. 9. Its a (damage) that cant be repaired.
10. I wont take anybodys (advice). 11. I dont like his (manner) of speech. 12.
Six to eight hours of practice a day gave him a great (ability) for playing the
piano in less than a year. 13. Lots of (people) come to the Romanian seaside
every summer. 14. I like the (fabric) my husband brought me as a birthday
present. 15. She has a brooch of diamonds set in (platinum).

11

LESSON THREE
NATIONALITIES COUNTRIES
Jenny: Meet my friend, Ingrid.
Pedro: Hello.
Ingrid: Hello. Pleased to meet you. What nationality are you?
Pedro: Im from Peru./ Im Peruvian. Where are you from?
Ingrid: Im from Sweden./ Im Swedish.
Pedro: Is your family in London, too?
Ingrid: No, my family is in Sweden and in Australia.
Pedro: Oh!
Ingrid: Are you in London on holiday or on business?
Pedro: Im on business. Im a physicist. Im working in a Research Centre for
three months. Its not far from London. What about you? Are you a student, or a
post graduate student? If not, whats your job?
Ingrid: No, Im not a student. Im visiting an English family for a year to brush
up my English. Are you staying in a private house, too?
Pedro: At the moment Im staying at a hotel.
Ingrid: Isnt too expensive?
Pedro: It sure is, but tomorrow morning Im registering for a special Nuclear
Physics Course, and then Im moving to a bed-sitter. Look! Here is my
registration card. Be so kind and help me to fill it in.
*
*

MOVING IN
Because the hotel is too expensive, Pedro wants to rent a nice, small apartment /
flat. So, he has two ways to find it:
1. Direct conversation
Pedro: Excuse me, are you Mrs. Scott?
Mrs. Scott: Yes, I am.
Pedro: How do you do, Mrs. Scott. Im Pedro Gonzales your new tenant. Youre
the landlady, arent you?
Mrs. Scott: Yes, I am. How do you do, Mr. Gonzales. Nice to meet you. This is
Maggie Baxter. Shes your neighbour.
Maggie: Hello, Pedro, nice to meet you.
Pedro: Hello, Maggie, glad to see you, too. Can I see the bed-sitter Mrs. Scott? Is
it upstairs?
Mrs. Scott: Of course you can. Come in, please. Its upstairs. My flat is
downstairs.
Pedro: Oh, its very nice.
2. On the phone
Five three oh, four nine seven eight. Mrs. Scott: Hello?
Pedro: Its about the flat / apartment to let in the morning paper ads. Is it still to
let?
Mrs. Scott: Oh yes, of course it is.
Pedro: Can you tell me about it?
Mrs. Scott: There are two rooms: a living-room and a bedroom, and also a
kitchen and a bathroom, of course. You can come and see it.
Pedro: Where is it?
12

Mrs. Scott: Its in the neighbourhood of the University College, near Regents
Park.
Pedro: Whats your address?
Mrs. Scott: 54 Drummond Street, near Euston Station.
Pedro: Oh, and how much is the rent?
Mrs. Scott: Two hundred pounds / 200 a month.
Pedro: I can come in twenty or thirty minutes. Is that all right?
Mrs. Scott: Yes, of course. Oh, wait. Whats your name?
Pedro: Pedro Gonzales.
Mrs. Scott: Can you spell it?
Pedro: P-E-D-R-O G-O-N-Z-A-L-E-S
Mrs. Scott: Thank you. See you in half an hour.
Pedro: Good bye. See you soon.
VOCABULARY
bed-sitter = bed-sitting-room garsonier, camer combinat
ads. (prescurtare de la advertisements) reclam, publicitate
GRAMMAR
1.

Affirmative Form

THE PRESENT TENSE (Common Aspect)

Timpul Prezent (Aspectul Comun)
Negative Form

Interrogative
NegativeForm
Interogative Form
I work
I
do Do I work?
Do I not work?
You work
not(dont)work
Do you work?
(Dont I work?)
He, she, it works You do not work
Does he, she, it Do you not work?
He,she,it does not work?
Does he, she, it
We work
(doesnt) work
Do we work?
not
You work
We do not work
Do you work?
work?(Doesnt
They work
You do not work
Do they work?
he..)
They do not work
Do we not work?
Do you not work?
Do they not work?
Rules
Examples
1. Timpul prezent, aspectul comun, se
folosete pentru a arta o aciune Students study for their exams.
obinuit sau repetat n prezent.
2. Adeseori este folosit cu adverbe de Every year, the Academy organizes
tipul: often, usually, never, always, post-graduate courses.
every year.
3. Poate arta o aciune viitoare, dac
este nsoit de un adverb de timp We sit for an exam tomorrow.
exprimnd viitorul. In acest caz,
aciunea viitoare face parte dintr-un
program stabilit.
4. Este folosit n loc de prezentul I like this book.
continuu cu acele verbe care nu sunt
ntrebuinate la forma continu (to like,
to dislike, to love, to hate, to want, to
own, to consist of/in, to belong)
13

THE PRESENT TENSE (Continuous Aspect)

Timpul Prezent (Aspectul Continuu)
Se formeaz cu verbul TO BE la prezent i participiul prezent (forma n
ing) a verbului de conjugat. Mai simplu, se poate exprima: TO BE + Ving
( V este verbul de conjugat).
Affirmative Form

Negative Form

I
am
(Im)
working
You are working
He, she, it is
working

I am not working
You are not
working
He, she, it is not
working
We
are
not
working

We are working
You are working
They are working

You are
working
They are
working

Interrogative Form

NegativeInterrogative
Form
Am I working?
Am
I
Are you working? working?
Are you
Is he, she, it working?
working?
Is he, she, it
working?
Are we working?
Are
we
working?
Are you working? Are you
working?
Are they working? Are they
working?

not
not

Rules
1. Prezentul continuu arat o aciune n
curs de desfurare n momentul
vorbirii.
Uneori, momentul aciunii este fixat
prin adverbe de timp ca: now, at the
present moment.
2. Prezentul continuu exprim uneori o
aciune ce caracterizeaz subiectul ntro anumit perioad de timp. Aceasta
rezult din context.
3. Ca i aspectul comun, poate arta o
aciune viitoare care a fost planificat
ntr-un moment prezent, dac este
nsoit de un adverb de timp exprimnd
viitorul.

not
not
not
not
not
not

Examples
They are studying for tomorrows
examination.
We are not planning our holidays at
the present moment.
What are you doing here in Bucharest?
I am studying economics.

They are coming to see us next week.

EXERCISES
I. Put the following sentences in the third person singular:
1. We listen to courses. 2. They take down notes. 3. You study for your exam. 4. I
like learning when I enjoy the subject. 5. You always lend me your text-books. 6.
I go home at 2 oclock. 7. I usually come to the faculty at 8 oclock. 8. I pay
attention to what the lecturer says. 9. You like being in time for the courses.
II. Make the following sentences a) interrogative
b) negative
1. I leave home at 7 a.m. every day. 2. This student speasks English very well. 3.
He reads very fast. 4. Students read sports magazines every day. 5. He writes his
14

homework in the afternoon. 6. I always go to the cinema with pleasure. 7. He

likes to watch television on Saturday evening. 8. He likes Latin grammar. 9. He
reads a few pages of Spanish literature every week. 10. You write many letters.
III. Use the verbs in brackets in the present tense (common or continuous
aspect):
1. Students from other countries (come) to get trained as economists at the
Academyof Economic Studies. 2. We (attend) classes regularly. 3. He (like)
English. 4. Today, we (study) commercial correspondence in our English
seminar. 5. We (rehearse) for a show this evening. 6. They (meet) at 8 oclock
tonight. 7. She just (leave) for the mountains. 8. He (not like) to borrow the
books, he (prefer) to buy them. 9. Where you (hurry)? 10. We (hurry) to the
lecture-hall as we (not want) to be late.
IV. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in parantheses using
Present Tense Simple or Continuous:
1. I ... the water for coffee in a special pot (to boil). 2. Come and make the coffee!
The water ... (to boil). 3. This shop ... at 8 a.m. and ... at 8 p.m. (to open; to
close). 4. I ... the book to read the new lesson (to open). 5. Dont shout that loud!
I ... you very well(to hear). 6. Dont interrupt them! They ... to a scientific
broadcast (to listen). 7. I ... what you ... (to see; to mean). 8. Wait aminute, will
you? I ... them off (to see). 9. A man ... with his nose (to smell). 10. Usually she
... a very quiet child, but now she ... naughty (to be; to be)
V. Put the verbs in parantheses in the Present Tense Simple. Notice the
adverbs they are associated with:
1. Mother never ... (to go out) without a shopping bag. 2. We often ... (to play)
chess in the evenings.3. They usually ... (to do) their shopping at this
supermarket. 4. She always ... (to listen to) the concerts broadcast on the radio on
Sunday mornings. 5. I occasionally ... (to read) a thriller before going to sleep. 6.
Our kids frequently ... (to break) something while playing hide-and-seek in their
room. 7. Grandmother hardly ever ... (to take) a sleeping pill. 8. They always ...
(to come) in time. 9. My husband never ... (to catch) anything when he ... (to go)
fishing. 10. Do your friends sometimes ... (to ask) you to babysit?
VI. Fill in the blanks with prepositions:
1. Except ... Romanian students, there is also a considerable number ... students
coming ... other countries. 2. There are canteens providing meals ... the students.
4. This term, we insist ... commercial correspondence. 5. Students attend
conferences ... various subjects. 6. This professor gives lectures ... political
economy. 7. All higher education institutes are endowed ... libraries. 8. The
students spend their holidays ... the mountains.

15

LESSON FOUR
A STUDENTS DAILY PROGRAMME
to get up
bedroom

The clock has just struck six. Mary is in her bedroom. She has got up,
opened the window and turned on the radio. She is doing her morning exercises
to the music.
bathroom
It is half past six. Mary has got into the bathroom. She is standing at the
wash-basin. What has she just done? She has just turned on the hot and cold taps.
What is she going to do next? She is going to pour some water into the glass and
brush her teeth. Then she is going to have a shower. She doesnt have a bath in
the morning. She takes a bath before she goes to bed.
Mary has already brushed her teeth with her tooth-brush and tooth-paste.
She has had a warm shower. She has dried herself on the towel and has got
dressed. What is she doing now? She is doing her hair in front of the lookingglass.
dining-room
It is seven oclock. Mary is in the dining-room. Has she already had her
breakfast? No, not yet. She is laying the table for breakfast. She has just put some
coffee-cups, a sugar-bowl, a milk-jug and some plates on the table. Is she going
to have breakfast by herself? No, she is not. She is waiting for her brother who
hasnt shaved yet.
to leave for
It is half past seven. Mary and her brother have just finished their
breakfast. They are in a hurry. They are leaving for the Academy of Economic
Studies.
to get to
It takes them twenty minutes to get to the Academy by bus. They arrive
there ten minutes before the bell rings. So they have a chat with their fellowstudents. Only six students of their group are from Bucharest, the others either
come from different parts of the country, or from other countries. They usually
have a lot of things to talk about.
class
The classes begin at eight oclock and are over at ten minutes to two three
times a week. Twice a week they have classes in the afternoon. They regularly
seminar
attend lectures and seminars.
After classes in the morning they have their lunch at the students canteen.
Then they go home on foot. On their way home they do some shopping. After a
rest
short rest they do their homework and read up for seminars.
Then Mary prepares something for dinner and her brother helps her. They
have their dinner at seven oclock in the evening. After dinner they usually look
through some newspapers or magazines, or read some novels or listen to music,
or watch a film on TV.
On Sundays they often go to the students club that regularly organizes
various cultural activities such as evening parties, cinema shows, lectures on
music and literature with recitals by famous musicians and actors.
office

meeting
business

MORNING AND EVENING

- What do you usually do at your office?
- In the morning I receive letters and cables which I have to answer that very
day. My secretary usually helps me to type the answers. Twice a week I have a
meeting where we discuss different business questions with our chief manager.
Almost every day I have business interviews, talks or conferences with the
representatives of the foreign firms we have done business with lately. In the
afternoon I usually make appointments on the phone with engineers of the
producing enterprises or foreign businessmen for the next day. Sometimes I make
business trips with a view to concluding sales contracts.
16

- What do you usually do in the evening?

- We generally stay at home and watch TV. Once a week we go to the pictures.
Occasionally we go to a dance.
- Have you been to the theatre this month?
- Yes, we have been to the theatre twice this month.
VOCABULARY
bedroom - dormitor
to strike (struck, struck) a bate, a suna
to get up (got, got) a se scula
to get into a intra
to get to a ajunge la
to get dressed a se mbrca
bathroom camera de baie
to stand (stood, stood) a sta n picioare
sugar-bowl zaharni
milk-jug can de lapte
to shave a se brbieri
plate farfurie
to leave for (left, left) - a pleca
lately n ultimul timp
to do ones hair a-i aranja prul, a se coafa
to turn on (the radio, the tap) a deschide (radioul, robinetul)
to pour some water a turna (ceva) ap
to dry oneself on the towel a se terge cu prosopul
to lay (laid, laid) the table a pune masa
to have breakfast / lunch / dinner a lua micul dejun / prnzul / cina
to be in a hurry a se grbi
to have a chat a sta de vorb
to read up for seminars a se pregti pentru seminarii
to do ones homework a-i face temele
to have / to take a shower a face un du
to conclude a sales contract a ncheia un contract de vnzare-cumprare
to make an appointment a fixa o ntlnire
with a view to (+gerunziu) n vederea, pentru a
GRAMMAR
THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
(Perfectul Compus)
Perfectul compus se formeaz cu ajutorul verbului to have la prezent i cu
participiul trecut al verbului de conjugat: TO HAVE + V3

Affirmative Form
I have finished
You have finished
He, she, it has finished

Common Aspect
Negative Form

Interrogative(-Negative)
Form
I have not (havent) Have I (not) finished?
finished.
(Havent I finished?)
You have not finished.
Have you (not) finished?
He, she, it has not Has he, she, it (not)
(hasnt) finished.
finished?
(Hasnt
he,she,it
17

We have finished
You have finished
They have finished

We have not finished

You have not finished
They have not finished

finished?)
Have we (not) finished?
Have you (not) finished?
Have they (not) finished?

Participiul trecut al verbelor regulate se formeaz din forma scurt a infinitivului,

prin adugarea desinenei ed, dup urmtoarele reguli ortografice:
Spelling Rules
1) Verbele terminate la infinitiv n e
mut pierd aceast vocal naintea
desinenei ed
2) Verbele terminate la infinitive n y
precedat de o consoan, schimb y n i

Examples
to live lived
to arrive arrived
to celebrate celebrated
to study studied
to dry dried
to hurry hurried
3) Verbele monosilabice terminate ntr- to stop - stopped
o consoan precedat de o vocal scurt
dubleaz consoana final
4) Verbele plurisilabice, terminate ntr- to pre`fer / preferred
o consoan precedat de o vocal i to com`pel / compelled
avnd accentual pe ultima silab, to `travel / travelled
precum i verbele terminate n l,
indiferent de accent, dubleaz consoana
final
The use of the Present Perfect Tense Common Aspect
Rules
1. Present Perfect exprim o aciune
trecut care are legtur cu prezentul.
a) Legtura poate fi temporal: aciunea
ncepe n trecut i continu n present.
Momentul nceperii aciunii se indic
prin cuvntul since (prepoziie,
conjuncie, adverb) din, de cnd.
Durata aciunii se red printr-o
locuiune adverbial introdus prin
prepoziia for de:
b) Legtura poate fi cauzal: aciunea sa terminat, dar urmrile ei continu s
existe n present:
2. Present Perfect se refer la o
perioad de timp nc n curs, ceea ce
este indicat prin adverbele sau
locuiunile adverbiale: today, this week,
this summer, this month, lately, of late,
this morning, this year, in the last few
years.
3. Present Perfect exprim o aciune
care a avut loc ntr-un trecut foarte
apropiat. El este nsoit atunci de
adverbe de timp nedefinit ca: often,

Examples
I have seen this film.
I have known him for many years.
We have not seen him since Monday.
He has not slept well since that night.

Mary has opened the window.

She has turned on the tap.

Have you been to the theatre this

month?
She has worked much this week.

The clock has just struck six.

She has already brushed her teeth.
He hasnt shaved yet.

18

seldom, ever, never, just, yet, always,

already.
EXERCISES
I. Speak about Marys working day according to the plan:
a) What she usually does in the morning (before breakfast).
b) What she generally does at the Academy of Economic Studies.
c) What she usually does after classes and in the evenings.
d) How she spends her time on Sundays.
II. Complete the dialogues using the words in brackets:
When do your classes begin? (8 oclock; generally; in the morning0
How many classes do you have every day? (not more than six; sometimes four)
Do you go straight home after classes? ( not always; the library or the readingroom; sometimes)
What do you usually do there? ( to read books and magazines; to make notes
on; to look through newspapers)
And when do you usually do your English lessons? (to have got the necessary
books; if; to do ones homework at home)
Do you work in the library till late in the evening? (not to stay; late)
And how do you spend your time in the evening when you are free? (to watch
television; to go to the pictures or to the theatre; to go to see ones friends)
Do you go to bed late? (not very; at about 11; as a rule).
III. Use since or for and translate the sentences into Romanian:
1. I havent seen her Sunday. 2. I havent seen them 1980. 3. We havent
seen them ten years. 4. She has been here morning. 5. We have been here
an hour and a half. 6. He hasnt shaved two days. 7. I have known him
five years.
IV. Insert:
a) the past participle of the regular verbs: to open, to turn, to pour, to brush, to
dry, to shave, to finish, to stay, to watch, to live:
1. He has just the window. 2. She has just on the radio. 3. She has already
her teeth. 4. She has already some water into the glass. 5. We have already
our breakfast. 6. Has she herself on the towel? 7. Has he already ? 8.
Have you at home and a film on TV? 9. They havent in Constantza.
b) the past participle of the irregular verbs: to see, to strike, to get up, to put, to
do, to go, to come, to have, to be, to lay, to stand, to leave:
1. I have this film on TV. 2. The clock has just seven. 3. George hasnt
yet. 4. Have you a sugar-bowl on the table? 5. Why havent you your hair?
6. Jane has to the students club. 7. Has your brother home? 8. She has just
a cold shower. 9. Have you to the pictures this week? 10. Who has the
table for breakfast? 11. Who has just at the wash-basin? 12. They have just
for their office.
V. Translate into English:
1. Nu v-am vzut de doi ani. Unde ai fost? 2. Cine a deschis robinetul de ap
cald? 3. N-am luat nc micul dejun. 4. Ai terminat micul dejun? Da, mi-a
plcut foarte mult. 5. Ct este ora le dvs.? Ceasul meu a stat. 6. De cnd suntei
la Bucureti? Sunt aici de duminic. 7. De cnd locuiete fratele tu n
Bucureti? Din 1974. 8. De cnd avei televizorul? Numai de dou luni.
19

LESSON FIVE
THE FAMILY
student
parents
brother
son
grandparents
daughter
uncle
cousin

family

relative
aunt

Mary is twenty years old. She is a student of the Faculty of the Agrarian
Economy and Accounting.
She lives with her parents in Bucharest. Her father is a worker. He works
as a welder at a large plant. Her mother is a weaver at a textile mill. Mary has a
brother. Marys brother, John is a doctor at the Brncovenesc Hospital. He has
been working there since 1979. He has a family of his own: a wife and three
children: two sons and one daughter. Helen, Johns wife, is an assistant-lecturer
at the Academy of Economic Studies.
Marys grand mother and grand father are pensioners. They live in
Braov. Their grand sons and grand daughter often spend their holidays at their
grand parents.
Marys uncle lives in a provincial town. He is a miner. His wife is a very
kind woman and a good housewife. Jane, their daughter, is Marys cousin.
Marys great grand mother lives with them.
*
*
*
John: Where do you live?
Peter: I live with my parents and grand parents in Bucharest.
John: Have you got any sisters and brothers?
Peter: Yes, our family is quite a big one: I have three brothers and two sisters
who are twins.
John: Are they older than you?
Peter: I have only one brother who is older than me. The others are all younger.
John: What is your elder brother?
Peter: He is a civil engineer. He lives in Constantza. He is married and has two
children. My sister-in-law is an economist. I can tell you Im very proud of being
an uncle. I love my niece and my nephew very much.
John: Oh, Im sure you do. Do they often come to Bucharest?
Peter: No, they dont. You see, most of our relatives live there my uncles,
aunts, and all my cousins.
VOCABULARY
parent printe; tat sau mam
father tat
mother mam
welder sudor
weaver estor
son fiu
daughter fiic
great grandparent strbunic sau strbunic
grand mother bunic
grand father bunic
grand daughter nepoat de bunic (bunic)
grand son nepot de bunic (bunic)
housewife gospodin
sister sor
brother frate
cousin vr sau verioar
twins gemeni
20

civil engineer inginer constructor

to marry a cstori; a se cstori
sister-in-law cumnat
brother-in-law cumnat
uncle unchi
aunt mtu
niece nepoat (de unchi sau mtu)
nephew nepot (de unchi sau mtu)
relative rud
in-laws rude prin alian
bachelor celibatar
spinster celibatar
an only child copil unic
mill uzin, fabric, filatur, moar
GRAMMAR
I. POSSESIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS
( Adjectivele i pronumele posesive)
Possessive Adjectives
Singular
my meu, mea, mei, mele

Plural
our - nostru, noastr, notri,
noastre
your vostru, voastr, votri,
voastre
their lor

your tu, ta, ti, tale

his lui
her ei
its lui, ei
Possesive Pronouns
Singular
mine al meu, a mea, ai mei, ale mele
yours al tu, a ta, ai ti, ale tale
his al lui, a lui, ai lui, ale lui
hers al ei, a ei, ai ei, ale ei
its su, a sa, ai si, ale sale

Plural
ours al nostru, a noastr, ai notri,
ale noastre
yours al vostru, a voastr, ai votri,
ale voastre
theirs al lor, a lor, ai lor, ale lor

Pronumele posesiv nlocuiete att numele obiectului posedat ct i al

posesorului. Pronumele posesive nu determin substantive ca adjectivele
posesive, ci le nlocuiesc.
Observai mai jos diferena dintre adjectivul i pronumele posesiv i pronumele
personal n cazul dativ/acuzativ:
Posesive adjective
Posesive pronoun
Personal pronoun
Its my car.
Its mine.
It belongs to me.
II. DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS
(Adjectivele i pronumele demonstrative)

Singular
Plural

de apropiere
this
these
21

de deprtare
that
those

Se traduc:
this acest, aceast; aceste, aceasta
that acel, acea; acela, aceea
these aceti, aceste; acetia, acestea
those acei, acele; aceia, acelea

1.
Possessive Adjectives
Where is my book?
She gave me his address.

Possessive Pronouns
This book is mine.
I have lost my pencil Please, give me
yours.
This is not their house, theirs is bigger
than his.
The new coat is his.
This nice dress is hers.
This house is ours.
The fault is mine.
These seats are theirs.

Our classroom is very nice

.
His coat is new.
Her dress is nice.
Our house stands in a quiet street
The room is large. Its walls are white.
.
2.
Demonstrative Adjectives
This young man is my best friend.
That house is very small.
These pencils are good.
Those flowers are roses.

Demonstrative Pronouns
This is my dictionary and that is hers.
These are his magazines, and those are
mine.

III. THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

(Prezentul perfect continuu)
Se formeaz cu ajutorul verbului TO BE la prezentul perfect i participiul
prezent (-ing) al verbului de conjugat: HAVE (HAS) BEEN + Ving
Affirmative
I have been working / Ive been
working
You have been working
He, she, it has been working/Hes
been
We have been working
You have been working
They have been working

Interrogative
Have I been working?
Have you been working?
Has he, she, it been working?
Have we been working?
Have you been working?
Have they been working?

Negative
I have not been working / I havent
been
You have not been working
He, she, it has not been working
We have not been working
You have not been working
They have not been working

Interrogative - Negative
Have I not been working?/ Havent I
been
Have you not been working?
Has he, she, it not been working?
Have we not been working?
Have you not been working?
Have they not been working?

22

Prezentul perfect la aspectul continuu se folosete:

1. pentru o aciune care a nceput n trecut i care continu i n present:
Ive been waiting for him for half an hour. (Im still waiting for him)
2. pentru o aciune care a nceput n trecut i care tocmai s-a ncheiat:
Im so sorry Im late. Have you been waiting for me for a long time?
EXERCISES
I. Enlarge upon:
a) Your own family.
b) Three relatives. Describe each one to a friend:
- What each relative looks like.
- Where he / she lives and works.
- What his / her interests are.
II. Ask questions to the following sentences, according to the model:
Model: Ive been waiting for you for half an hour. How long have you been
waiting for me?
1. He has been teaching French for two years. 2. Ive been writing the letter for
an hour. 3. The children have been playing in the park since they came from
school. 4. She has been working in the garden since 8 oclock. 5. The boys have
been fishing since early in the morning. 6. He has been staying with us for a
week. 7. He has been reading since I have been here. 8. I have been peeling
potatoes for twenty minutes now. 9. She has been teaching at this school for five
years.
III. Write the following sentences in the plural:
1. This is an interesting book. 2. That clock is slow. 3. This little boy is Marys
brother. 4. That young man is a student at the Faculty of Trade. 5. This family is a
very big one. 6. That play was very good, the acting was wonderful indeed! 7.
That is a naughty boy, isnt he? 8. This is the most beautiful crystal glass Ive
ever seen. 9. That dictionary was printed in 1903. 10. This is the ring she lost
yesterday.
IV. Replace the underlined words by possessive adjectives:
1. Johns book is on the desk. 2. The childrens toys are neatly arranged on the
shelves. 3. My sisters room is very large and clean. 4. Where are mothers
shoes? 5. Our brothers new books are extremely valuable 6. Marys old flat
looks quite shabby. 7. The students copybooks are all on the desks. 8. Your
sisters watch is very nice and keeps good time.
V. Translate into English:
a) 1. Familia lor este foarte numeroas. 2. Casa noastr este situat pe o strad
extrem de linitit. 3. Familia ei locuiete n Bucureti; unde locuiete a ta? 4.
Fratele ei mai mare lucreaz de doi ani la o uzin de tractoare. 5. Inelul lui de
logodn este aici; unde este al tu? 6. Aceast tnr este fata cumnatului vostru,
nu-i aa? 7. Acestea sunt darurile de nunt pe care le-au primit tinerii cstorii de
la bunica lor. 8. Aceste verighete sunt pentru nunta lor de argint. 9. Florile acelea
le-am cumprat pentru stbunica mea. 10. Apartamentul acela este nc neocupat.

23

LESSON SIX
WEATHER
People everywhere enjoy talking about the weather, Isnt the weather
nice today? or Hasnt the weather been awful lately? are excellent beginnings
for informal conversations.
Weather conditions across Romania are varied but generally speaking it is
climate
a temperate continental climate.
season
The year is divided into four seasons: spring which begins officially with
the equinox in mid March and then summer, autumn and winter.
temperature
Temperatures in Romania are measured according to Centigrade not like
in England and in the United States where they are measured according to the
Fahrenheit scale, on which 32 degrees is the freezing point of water and 212
degrees the boiling point. Fahrenheit temperatures can be converted to
Centigrade, and vice versa by the use of simple formulas that may be found in
any general reference book.
severe
Winter weather varies widely: with severe conditions in the northern parts
of the country and milder conditions in the southern areas. In the mountains, subzero temperatures are common and there is much snow. In the south there are
fewer days with freezing temperatures.
Spring is a delightful season. The temperatures are moderate, and the
blooming trees and flowers make the city and the countryside bright with colour.
Everyone longs to get outside and enjoy the new season. Many students
find it hard to concentrate on their work and we jokingly refer to this condition as
spring fever.
hot
Summer is longer and hotter in the southern part than in the northern one.
The mountains and the sea coast generally enjoy moderate temperatures. Summer
is the great season for all sports in the open air. Most people take their vacations
during summer, and the highways are crowded.
mild
Autumn, like spring, has many mild days and comfortable temperatures.
Nature puts on its second display of colour, with the red and yellow of the leaves
rain
and the bright fall flowers. Toward the end of autumn, there is abundant rain, as
the weather gradually gets colder and winter sets in.
weather
Scientific weather forecasting is a serious matter and the concern of the
forecasting Romanian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. The weather reports and
prediction are printed in most newspapers and are read regularly over the radio
and TV.
weather

cloud

*
*
*
A: Do you think well be able to go to the beach tomorrow?
B: Why not? Have the plans changed?
A: No, but Im worried about the weather. It might rain.
B: It certainly seems fine now. Theres not a cloud in the sky.
A: Yes, but you know how quickly the weather can change around here.
B: Not a chance. The Weather Institute has announced fine weather.
A: What time shall we be on the beach?
B: Any time after day-break. Would seven oclock do? Or perhaps you want to
make it even earlier?
A: Seven oclock is all right with me.

24

VOCABULARY
awful groaznic
climate clim
equinox echinox
solstice solstiiu
degree grad
to freeze a nghea
to convert a transforma
mild blnd
delightful ncnttor
lately n ultimul timp
informal neoficial
accuracy exactitate
flood inundaie
high wind vnt puternic
boiling point punct de fierbere
to be converted a fi transformat
reference book carte de referin
weather forecasting timpul probabil
according to n conformitate cu
to long a nzui din tot sufletul, a dori fierbinte / cu pasiune, a tnji
display expunere, expoziie, prezentare, etalare
GRAMMAR
THE PAST TENSE
( Timpul trecut)
Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

InterrogativeNegative
I visited
I did not visit
Did I visit?
Did I not visit?
You visited
You did not visit
Did you visit?
Did you not visit?
He, she, it visited He,she,it did not Did
he,she,it Did he,she,it not
visit
visit?
visit
We visited
We did not visit
Did we visit?
Did we not visit?
You visited
You did not visit
Did you visit?
Did you not visit?
They visited
They did not visit Did they visit?
Did they not visit?
The use of the Past Tense
Rules
Examples
1. Past Tense exprim o aciune trecut They asked me to come earlier.
terminat care nu are legtur cu
prezentul.
2. Exprim o aciune care are loc ntr- I met him at a concert two weeks ago.
un moment precis n trecut.
3. Exprim o aciune care are loc n
cursul unei perioade terminate, We spent our vacation at the seaside
exprimat prin adverbe de timp definit last year.
ca: yesterday, last night, last week etc.
4. Dup when se folosete When did they graduate from the
ntotdeauna Past Tense cnd aciunea institute?
are loc n trecut
5. Pentru a exprima o aciune repetat He used to come and see us every week
25

n trecut folosim used + infinitiv, would end.

+ infinitivul scurt
She would walk about the garden for
hours.
ADJECTIVES DEGREES OF COMPARISON
( Adjectivele gradele de comparaie)

pozitiv
1. Adjective monosilabice
2. Adjective bisilabice terminate
n:
-y
-ow
-er
-ble
Adjective plurisilabice
Comparativul
a) de superioritate
b) de egalitate
c) de inferioritate
Superlativul
a) absolut
b) relativ
c) de inferioritate
Cnd se compar dou lucruri sau
fiine se folosete n general
comparativul precedat de articolul
hotrt, iar cnd se compar trei
sau mai multe lucruri sau fiine se
folosete superlativul.
n
limba
englez
exist
comparative duble care denot o
intensificare ce se red prin:
a) repetare (din ce n ce mai, tot
mai)
b) cu ajutorul unor astfel de
cuvinte sau expresii ca: far, still,
ever, much, a great deal etc.
Pentru a reda cu ct mai...cu att
mai
se
folosesc
dou
comparative precedate de the
Superlativul absolut se mai poate
forma cu ajutorul urmtoarelor
adverbe: extremely, terribly,
exceedingly, quite.
Most se folosete numai n cazul
adjectivelor
cu
comparaie
analitic.

tall

Comparaia sintetic
comparativ
superlativ
taller
the tallest

pretty
narrow
clever
able

prettier
the prettiest
narrower
the narrowest
cleverer
the cleverest
abler
the ablest
Comparaia analitic
interesting
more
the most
interesting
interesting
taller than, more interesting than
as tall as, as interesting as
not so tall as, less tall than, not so interesting
as, less interesting than
very tall, very interesting
the tallest, the most interesting
the least tall, the least interesting
John is the taller of the two brothers.
John is the tallest of his classmates.

The days are getting shorter and shorter.

The problems to solve are more and more
interesting.
His exercise is far better than hers.
We attach ever greater significance to this
work.
The longer the days the shorter the nights.
The more you study the better you know
your lesson.
This is an extremely attractive book.
They lived in a terribly noisy street.

It was a most beautiful day.

26

Superlativul relativ al tuturor This homework is far more difficult than the
adjectivelor poate fi accentuat previous one.
prin far i by far.
Yesterdays trip was less enjoyable than we
expected by far.

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) The weather conditions in Romania.
b) The four seasons and their main characteristic.
c) Your favourite season.
II. Give the comparative and superlative degrees of the following adjectives:
Sad, grey, dry, lovely, heavy, simple, mild, few, bright, hard, hot, yellow,
abundant, serious, dangerous, dull, fresh, thick, cool, severe.
III. Change the following sentences into the past:
1. Weather conditions change quite often. 2. The day is rainy and we cant go on
the trip. 3. I like to watch the snowflakes fall from the grey sky. 4. The streets are
slippery and we have to be careful. 5. Towards the end of autumn the temperature
grows colder. 6. Snow begins to melt under the bright sunrays. 7. Everything
looks fresh, new and joyous. 8. We listen to the weather forecast on the radio.
IV. Use the adjectives in brackets in the proper degrees of comparison:
1. Winters are (mild) in the southern areas of our country. 2. In the south there are
(few) days with freezing temperatures. 3. Last year we had (heavy) snowfalls
than usual. 4. In September we may have some of (lovely) autumn days. 5. The
sky is cloudless and if the heat wave lasts, we might have (hot) month. 6. I feel
(good) in spring than in any other season. 7. Yesterday we had a very cold day
but today it is much (cold). 8. It isnt any (warm) today than it was yesterday, is
it? 9. Which is the part of our country with (abundant) rainfall? 10. In spring
flowers have (bright) colours. 11. In winter we have (low) temperatures with few
days above the freezing point. 12. Summer is (good) season for outdoor sports.
13. Today it is (little) windy than yesterday. 14. I am sure my exercise is as
(good) as yours.
V. Fill in the blanks with the suitable forms of the adjectives or adverbs in
brackets:
1. (soon, good) Thethe rain stops the2. (strong) The wind getsand3.
(much, good) Thehe worked theresults he obtained. 4. (early, good)
Thewe start the5. (little) He seemed to getandinterested in the subject.
6. (high, cold) Thewe climbed theit became. 7. (much, rich) Theyou read
thebecomes your vocabulary. 8. (fine, much) Thethe weather the... agreeable
our stay in the mountains. 9. (few) There areandmistakes in your exercises.
VI. Translate into English:
1. Anul trecut am avut o iarn aspr. 2. Noaptea trecut vntul a suflat foarte
puternic. 3. Cnd a nceput s plou? 4. ncercau s se concenterze asupra
subiectului. 5. Merge la munte n fiecare vacan de iarn. 6. Buletinul
meteorologic a anunat timp frumos. 7. A plecat ieri cu trenul i se ntoarce peste
dou sptmni. 8. Nu am urmrit explicaia. 9. Am hotrt s-mi schimb
27

proiectele de vacan. 10. Luna trecut am fcut o excursie foarte frumoas n

nordul rii. 11. Nu i-am recunoscut dup atia ani. 12. n fiecare an merge n
Delt pentru cteva zile. 13. Cnd ai vizitat Nordul Moldovei? 14. S-au hotrt
n legtur cu data plecrii. 15 Clima unei ri depinde de poziia sa geografic.
16. n Romnia gsim o clim temperat-continental caracterizat de existena a
patru anotimpuri. 17. Vremea se schimb odat cu schimbarea anotimpurilor. 18.
n ara noastr avem cea destul de rar dar n Marea Britanie sunt multe zile cu
cea.

28

LESSON SEVEN
MEALS
meal
breakfast
lunch

main course

dinner

supper

to lay the table

to clear the
table

As a rule we have three meals a day: breakfast in the morning, lunch in

the middle of the day, and dinner in the evening.
Breakfast is a frugal meal; nevertheless it means laying the table, boiling
eggs, preparing tea and coffee to be served with rolls, toast, butter, marmalade,
cheese, ham and some dairy products. Lunch usually begins with some appetizers
such as a glass of plum brandy, some olives, then, comes a cold or warm horsdoeuvre followed by a soup. We, Romanians, are fond of clear soups,
consomms, bouillons, meat ball soups, dumpling soups and chicken borsch.
For the main course we may usually have some grilled, roast, boiled or
fried fish or meat with plenty of vegetables or rice, some fruit, fresh or stewed, a
cake, some ice-cream, a pie and a cup of black coffee to finish with. We generally
have water or mineral water for lunch, but on special occasions we may have
wine or beer.
The Romanian dinner may be a light meal consisting of a glass of tea or
milk and some sandwiches or it may be a big meal with cold meat or roast
poultry, an omelette, a salad, and a pudding followed by some sweets.
In England, meal-times differ from ours. The English have their breakfast
between seven and nine in the morning, lunch between twelve and two in the
afternoon, tea between four and five oclock and dinner at seven in the evening.
They may also have supper, a light meal at about 10 or 11, at home or at the
restaurant.
English breakfast is generally a more substantial meal than in our country.
It consists of fruit juice, corn flakes with milk, cream and sugar or porridge,
followed by fried bacon and eggs. Some marmalade made of oranges maybe
spread on the toast. Sometimes they may have a boiled egg, cold ham and black
or white coffee.
English food is rather plain compared to ours. They are not very fond of
soups and they prefer warm consomms, beef, chicken, oxtail soups or cream
soups. Fish, meat or poultry which comes next is generally fried or roasted. The
favourite meal with the British is mutton and lamb with a mint sauce and all sorts
of sauted vegetables and mixed salads.
As for supper they may have fish, cold veal, pork or a steak and chips
with some vegetables.
Before having a meal we lay the table, we spread the table cloth and put
on glasses, napkins, the salt cellar, the pepper box, the mustard pot, the bread
basket. If it is breakfast we take the sugar-basin, cups, saucers, teaspoons, forks
and knives out of the side-board. We cut the bread, the ham, the sausages and the
cheese into slices and put them on a dish. For dinner we put soup plates and
dinner plates before each person. The soup is brought in a soup-tureen and the
other courses on dishes and plates.
When the meal is over we clear the table. We clear away the plates, dishes
and cutlery and wash them up in the kitchen.
*
*
*
Alice: What are we going to have for lunch today?
Mother: Well, we have soup, beef steak and chips and an apple-pie. But are you
already hungry? Its rather early for lunch. I was just baking the pie.
Alice: All right. Ill wash my hands and set the table until everything is ready.
Mother: Lunch is ready now. You may go and call the others.
29

John: Steak and chips! Thats my favourite meal!

Mother: Help yourself until they are still hot, but remember we have apple-pie for
dessert.
VOCABULARY
frugal frugal, cumptat
roll chifl, corn
appetizer aperitiv
hors-doeuvre gustare naintea mesei propriu-zise
consomm sup
bouillon ciorb rneasc, bulion
course fel de mncare (ca ordine)
to grill a frige la grtar
to broil a frige la grtar
to boil a fierbe
to roast a (se) frige, a (se) prji
to fry a (se) prji
pickles murturi
poultry carne de pasre, psri de curte
pudding budinc
porridge gri de ovz fiert n lapte (terci de ovz)
plain fad, fr gust
mutton carne de oaie
lamb carne de miel
steak friptur la grtar
sideboard bufet (cu vesel)
soup-tureen supier
dish 1. platou de servit, farfurie; 2. fel de mncare; pl. vase(de buctrie)
cutlery tacmuri
helping porie
dairy products produse lactate
plum brandy uic
meat ball soup ciorb de perioare
dumpling soup sup cu glute
stewed fruit compot
oxtail soup sup de coad de vit
to lay the table a pune masa
to set the table a pune masa
to spread the table cloth a ntinde faa de mas
to clear the table a strnge masa
help yourself to - servii-v cu
GRAMMAR
THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
(Trecutul Continuu)
Affirmative

Negative
I was not (wasnt) coming
You were not (werent) coming
He, she, it was not coming
We were not coming
You were not coming
They were not coming

I was coming
You were coming / Youre coming
He, she, it was coming
We were coming
You were coming
They were coming
30

Interrogative Negative
Was I not coming? / Wasnt I coming?
Were you not coming?
Was he, she, it, not coming?
Were we not coming?/Werent we
coming?
Were you not coming?
Were they not coming?

Interrogative
Was I coming?
Were you coming?
Was he, she, it coming?
Were we coming?
Were you coming?
Were they coming?

Se formeaz din verbul TO BE la timpul trecut i participiul prezent (-ing)

al verbului de conjugat: WERE / WAS + Ving
The use of the Past Continuous Tense
Rules
Examples
1. Trecutul continuu exprim o aciune
n desfurare la un moment dat n
trecut. Acest moment poate fi indicat
de:
This time yesterday I was preparing
a) o expresie adverbial: at...oclock, at lunch.
that time, this time yesterday
b) o alt aciune:
I was just having breakfast when you
came.
2. Pentru aciuni paralele n trecut, While we were having dinner we
forma continu se poate folosi att n watched TV.
propoziia principal, ct i n cea
sau
secundar. De obicei, se evit folosirea While we had dinner we were
formei continue n ambele propoziii.
watching TV.
3. n vorbirea indirect n locul Vorbire direct: She said: I am
prezentului continuu.
cooking lunch just now.
Vorbire indirect: She said she was
cooking lunch just then.
REFLEXIVE AND EMPHATIC PRONOUNS
(Pronumele reflexive i de ntrire)

myself
yourself
himself
herself
itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
oneself

Pronume de ntrire
I did it myself (eu nsumi am
fcut-o)
He enjoys himself (se He himself cooked the meal
distreaz)
(el nsui a gtit mncarea)
She came by herself (a venit We
prepared
everything
singur)
ourselves (am pregtit totul
singuri)
See
for
yourselves
(convingei-v singuri)
To be by oneself ( a fi singur)
Pronume reflexive
I cut myself (m-am tiat)

Rules
Pronumele reflexiv, se aeaz dup
31

Examples

verb i se folosete:
1. cnd aciunea verbului se rsfrnge
asupra subiectului. Tendina actual
este de eliminare a pronumelui.
2. n diateza reflexiv.
3. n expresii idiomatice precedat de
by, of, for (cu sensul de singur)

I cut myself while I was preparing

soup.
You wash (yourself) in the morning.
He enjoyed himself at the party.
I was all by myself when it happened.
The plate fell of itself.
You must see for yourself.
4. n comparaii dup like, than, He is a better cook than herself.
as n locul pronumelui personal.
Pronumele de ntrire se aeaz n He himself has made the layer cake.
general
dup
substantivul
sau He has made the layer cake himself.
pronumele pe care l ntrete sau la
sfritul propoziiei.
EXERCISES
I. Translate the following questions and answer them:
a) 1. What does your breakfast usually consist of? 2. Is there any difference
between Romanian and English breakfast? 3. Do you generally have lunch at
home or at a canteen? 4. What is your favourite sweet dish? 5. Why do the
English pour milk in their coffee? 6. What are the English meals? 7. What are
their favourite dishes? 8. How do you lay the table for two?
b) 1. Care sunt principalele mese ale zilei? 2. Obinuii s luai o mas copioas
seara? 3. Preferai ap mineral sau vin la masa de prnz? 4. Ajutai vreodat pe
prini la strnsul mesei? 5. V place cafeaua neagr sau o preferai cu lapte? 6.
V place mncarea mai gustoas sau mai fad?
II. Answer the question using the Past Tense Continuous of the underlined
verbs in your answers:
Model: Why did you put salt in your coffee? (to read at breakfast time)
I put salt in my coffee because I was reading at breakfast time.
1. Why didnt you buy anything for lunch? (to rain when I wanted to go out). 2.
When did you learn that wonderful recipe? (to live with my aunt). 3. Why did the
coffee boil over? (not to watch it). 4. When did you get the bad news? (to have
lunch). 5. Why is your cake burned? (to do several things at a time). 6. When did
you break the plate? (to try to dry it). 7. When did you cut yourself? (to sharpen
the knife). 8. Why didnt you help the guests to some cake? (just to bake it).
III. Fill in the blanks with the suitable reflexive or emphatic pronouns:
1. Dont eat too much or youll makeill. 2. I tried to cook the meal3.
Makeat home and tell me whats all about. 4. I can only speak for5. he is a
much better cook than6. Go and see for7. Helpto some more ice-cream. 8.
We enjoyedat the party last night.
IV. Link the sentences in each pair using the words in brackets; make all the
necessary changes. Model: (While) The phone rang. We had breakfast.
The phone rang while we were having breakfast.
1. (while) I prepared dinner. The children laid the table. 2. (just as) The lights
went off. The guests arrived. 3. (as) I remembered I was short of flour. I prepared
the vegetables for the pudding. 4. (while) I dropped too much salt in the salad. I
dress it. 5. (while) I dropped a plate and broke it. I cleared the table.
32

LESSON EIGHT
AT THE LIBRARY
library

novel
poem
index card
catalogue
author card
call numer
admission
card
shelf

to borrow

textbook

bibliography

A library is a building with a large collection of books where you can

borrow books free of charge. You have only to know your way around a library
and you can easily find any fact or idea you are looking for.
There are all kinds of books: novels, short stories, plays, books of
reference such as dictionaries, biographies, then scientific books, historical
books, collection of poems, periodicals, magazines, etc.
The library has a system: each book that the library owns is listed on an
index card catalogue. The card catalogue can tell you immediately whether the
library owns a copy of the book you want. The librarian, on the other hand, will
tell you whether the book is in the library or has been lent.
For each book in the library the card catalogue contains an author card, a
title card and a subject card. On the upper left hand corner of each of these card is
the call number by which you can find the book.
If you want a book or a magazine you need an admission card issued by a
member of the staff of the library. Then, you pick up an application slip, you look
up the title of the book in the alphabetic or subject catalogue, you fill in the slip
by entering the title of the book, the shelf mark and the authors name.
The book will be delivered to you by a member of the staff.
Moat public libraries have reading rooms provided with tables at which
you may sit and read.
If you want to take books for home reading you may do so by going to the
lending department which runs a loan service. You may borrow one or two books
at a time and you may keep them for a week or more. If by the end of this period
you have not finished reading the book, you may renew it.
While reading a book, make not of your thoughts and feelings as you go
along.
Reading is not only a pastime and a mean of education, it can lead you to
a richer understanding of yourself as well as of the life around you.
*
*
*
Jane: I say Allan, can you give me some advice about reading, please?
Allan: As you well know, reading is an essential part of your university life.
Since all knowledge cannot be obtained in the classroom alone much of it must
come from reading textbooks, reference books and other materials. The library of
our Academy is well provided with a large stock of books, both in Romanian and
in foreign languages.
Jane: So, do you think I could find there some specialized books recommended
in the bibliographies to our courses?
Allan: Of course you could, there are latest editions published in our country and
abroad.
Jane: And what can you recommend me for my spare time, I mean something to
improve my English?
Allan: Try things that dont make difficult reading: short-stories, novels, plays,
some modern authors who write in a simple straightforward style. So, start with
Oscar Wilde, then G. Green, S. Maugham.
Jane: Thank you very much. I shall follow your advice.

33

VOCABULARY
to borrow a lua cu mprumut
to look for a cuta
novel roman
short-story nuvel
periodical publicaie periodic
abroad n strintate
to lend, lent, lent a da cu mprumut
to issue a emite, a publica, (aici) a elibera o legitimaie
textbook manual
index card fi de cartotec
card catalogue cartotec, fiier
author card fiier pe autori
title card fiier pe titluri
subject card fiier tematic
call number cota (crii)
admission card legitimaie de intrare
shelf mark fiier pe rafturi
lending department secie de mprumut
well provided bine aprovizionat
spare time timp liber
straightforward style stil direct
book of reference ndreptar, carte de consultat
to fill in a slip a completa un formular
statistical year book anuar statistic
the book is sold out cartea este epuizat
GRAMMAR
1. THE PAST PERFECT TENSE
( Mai mult ca perfectul)
Mai mult ca perfectul se formeaz din forma de Past Tense a verbului TO
HAVE i participiul trecut (forma a treia) a verbului de conjugat: HAD + V3
Affirmative
I had stopped / Id stopped
You had stopped
He, she, it had stopped / Hed stopped
We had stopped
You had stopped / Youd stopped
They had stopped
Interrogative
Had I stopped?
Had you stopped?
Had he, she, it stopped?
Had we stopped?
Had you stopped?
Had they stopped?

Negative
I had not stopped / I hadnt stopped
You had not stopped
He, she, it had not stopped
We had not stopped
You had not stopped
They had not stopped
Interrogative-Negative
Had I not stopped? / Hadnt I stopped?
Had you not stopped?
Had he, she, it not stopped?
Had we not stopped?/ Hadnt we
stopped?
Had you not stopped?
Had they not stopped?

34

Rules
- Exprim o aciune trecut, terminat
naintea unui moment dat din trecut.
- Exprim o aciune trecut, terminat,
anterioar altei aciuni trecute.
- Se folosete n propoziii secundare
temporale pentru a exprima o aciune
anterioar unui moment viitor (sau
viitor fa de trecut).
- Exprim o aciune nceput naintea
unui moment trecut i care se continu
pn n acel moment.

Examples
By seven oclock I had translated the
article.
When she had finished the book, she
returned it to the librarian.
I shall lend you the book after I had
read it.
He promised he would lend me the
book when he had read it himself.
She told me that she had been busy
since she came back from school.

2. THE GENITIVE CASE

(Cazul Genitiv)
Rules
Genitivul prepoziional:
-se folosete cu substantivele care
denumesc lucruri sau noiuni abstracte.
Genitivul Saxon:
- se folosete cu substantivele care
denumesc fiine, persoane.

Examples
the colour of the wall.
the city of London.
the 23rd of May.
the pupils room
the students library
Peters mother
Burns(s) poems

- cu substantivele care denumesc a minutes silence

noiuni de timp, de distan sau greutate a two miles walk
(i cu substantive care denumesc zile, todays program
anotimpuri)
the nights coolness
- cu substantivele care denumesc the oceans roar
fenomene naturale, aspecte din natur.
Londons parks
- cu substantive care denumesc Romanias economy
continente,
ri,
orae
i
cu our countrys natural wealth
substantivele: city, country, town.
the cars performance
- cu anumite substantive ca: the sun, the the suns rays
moon, the earth, car, ship, boat, vessel, the ships crew
body, mind, science.
for goodness sake
- cu cteva substantive comune urmate for mercys sake
de sake.
at her hearts desire
- n expresii consecrate.
at ones fingers ends
St. Pauls (cathedral) was rebuilt by
- substantivele house, shop, store, Sir Christopher Wren.
office, cathedral sunt adesea omise We buy bread at the bakers (shop).
dup substantive aflate le genitivul
sintetic.

35

EXERCISES
I. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the library meant for? 2. What is a card catalogue? 3. What does a card
catalogue contain? 4. What do you have to do if you want to read a book in a
library? 5. Can we take books for home reading? 6. How long can you keep
them? 7. Describe a reading room in the Faculty of Economic Studies.
II. Supply the Past Perfect of the verbs in brackets:
1. Undergraduates could use the library after they (to register) as readers and (to
get) an admission card. 2. He (to finish) just the books borrowed from the library
when he went to take some new. 3. I read the book after I (to finish) my work. 4.
My friend (not to read) an English book for years. 5. There were plenty of books
that (to be rewritten) in simple language. 6. He told me he preferred to read a
more difficult book that one which (to be made) simpler. 7. I (to finish) reading
the story when he promised me an amusing novel. 8. By that time I already (to go
through) half of the play.
III. Change the following sentences so as to use a negative Past Perfect
instead of the Past Tense. Make all the necessary changes:
Model: I read a very interesting novel last year.
I had never read such an interesting novel before.
1. It was the first time I read an English book. 2. There were many people in the
reading room that day. 3. I often borrowed books from the library as a student. 4.
This was the first dictionary I consulted. 5. While reading, I looked up the
unknown words in the dictionary. 6. The book was first published in 1980. 7. I
renewed the book for another week. 8. The writer signed the book with a
pseudonym.
IV. Substitute synthetic genitive forms for prepositional genitive forms:
1. He arrived at the library with a delay of a few minutes. 2. There is nothing like
a holiday of a week in the company of a good book. 3. He promised to leave the
place within a time of six weeks. 4. What is the point of view of the author? 5.
Here is the news in the newspaper of yesterday. 6. You may find him I the office
of the editor-in-chief. 7. I had to borrow the dictionary of Jane to look up some
unknown words. 8. The book dealt with the economic development of Romania.
V. Translate into English:
a) 1. Care este programul zilei? 2. Performanele mainii lui sunt ntr-adevr
neobinuite. 3. Cumpr pine la brutrie i carne la mcelrie sau mi fac toate
cumprturile la supermarket. 4. Orice student de limb englez ar trebui s aib
dicionarul de pronunie al lui Daniel Jones. 5. L-ai cunoscut pe bunicul Anei i al
lui Paul, cel care era pasionat dup romanele tiinifico-fantastice? 6. Sala de
lectur a bibliotecii noastre este o ncpere mare i luminoas.
b) 1. nvasem deja cte ceva despre felul de via al englezilor cnd m-am dus
la Londra. 2. Sptmna trecut am mprumutat o carte de la bibliotec; nu am
mai mprumutat niciodat o carte pn atunci. 3. Cnd am ajuns n sala de lectur
toate locurile erau deja ocupate. 4. Bibliotecara mi-a spus c mprumutase cartea
cu cteva zile n urm. 5. Pn la nceputul anului universitar a fcut rezumatele
tuturor crilor citite n timpul vacanei. 6. La librrie am aflat c manualul fusese
retiprit. 7. Mi-am amintit c am mai citit aceast carte cu ani n urm. 8. Cartea
fusese deja tradus n mai multe limbi cnd am cumprat-o.
36

LESSON NINE
WHATS YOUR JOB?

nationality
job
student
fresher

Maggie: Jenny, this is my friend Liz Taylor. Shes my next door neighbour
Jenny: Is this Taylor or Gaylor?
Liz:
Taylor. T A Y L O R. Hello! Nice to meet you.
Jenny: Hello! Pleased to meet you, too. Where are you from?
Liz:
Im from Scotland. From Edinburgh. Whats your nationality? Are you
British, too?
Jenny: No, I m from Canada, from Toronto. Whats your job?
Liz:
Im an art student, a sophomore, but Im a sales-assistant in the
holidays. What about you? Are you a student in the University, too? If not,
whats your occupation?
Jenny: Im studying in London University College. Im a fresher.
Liz:
Im glad to have you as a neighbour. But isnt this flat too expensive?
Jenny: Oh, yes, it is. Im moving to a hotel.
Liz:
Im sorry. I like it here. Im used to living in a house. In Edinburgh I
live in a small house with my family, in a suburb, at 10 Cherry Tree Lane.
Jenny: Whats Edinburgh like?
Liz:
It is the capital of Scotland, which is part of Great Britain. With half a
million inhabitants, it is situated on the Firth of Forth, in the south-east of the
country, but it is not very big. You can see green hills from its centre. There are
thousands of tourists in Edinburgh every summer, especially during the
International Festival of Music, Drama and the Arts, in August and September. It
is a beautiful and historic city, with large avenues, like Paris. There are lots of
interesting buildings: the Edinburgh Castle is in the centre of the city on a high
hill. From the Castle to Holyrood House (the former residence of Scottish Kings)
theres a very old street, the Royal Mile. There are also beautiful parks and
Botanical Gardens. It is also an industrial city and a busy port.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
fresher student n primul an
sophomore student n anul doi
junior student n anul trei
senior student n anul partru (terminal)
Ei sunt numii n general undergraduates sau undergraduettes. Dup
absolvire ei sunt Bachelor of Arts (or Science) BA sau BS/BSc. Urmtorul
grad este cel de Master of Arts (or Science) MA/MSc. Cel mai nalt grad este
cel de Doctor in Philosophy PhD, or Doctor of Science DSc.
Other jobs are:
architect architect
air-hostess stuardez
barber brbier, frizer
carpenter tmplar
clerk funcionar
doctor medic, doctor
dress-maker croitoreas
electrician electrician
hairdresser coafez, frizer
journalist journalist, ziarist
mechanic mechanic
37

model model
pilot pilot
postman pota
photographer fotograf
secretary secretar
shop-keeper negustor
taxi-driver taximetrist, ofer de taxi
teacher nvtor, professor (n nvmntul preuniversitar)
vet veterinar
waitress chelnri
waiter - chelner
GRAMMAR
THE PAST PERFECT TENSE (Continuous Aspect)
Mai mult ca perfectul (Aspectul continuu)
Este alctuit din forma de Present Perfect a verbului TO BE urmat de
participiul prezent (-ing) al verbului de conjugat: HAD BEEN + Ving
Affirmative Form
I had been working / Id been working
You had been working
He, she, it had been working
We had been working
You had been working
They had been working

Negative Form
I had not been working/I hadnt been
You had not been working
He, she, it had not been working
We had not been working
You had not been working
They had not been working

Interrogative Form
Had I been working?

Interrogative-Negative Form
Had I not been working? Hadnt I
been ...?
Had you not been working?
Had he, she, it not been working?
Had we not been working?
Had you not been working?
Had they not been working?

Had you been working?

Had he, she, it been working?
Had we been working?
Had you been working?
Had they been working?
Rules
1. Timpul mai mult ca perfect-aspectul
continuu arat o aciune nceput
naintea unui moment trecut care
continu i n acel moment.
2. O aciune repetat exprimat prin
timpul mai mult ca perfect-aspect
comun, poate fi uneori exprimat i
prin timpul mai mult ca perfect-aspect
continuu.

Examples
When you came, I had been writing
letters for an hour.

He had tried five times to get her on

the phone.
He had been trying to get her on the
phone.

38

EXERCISES
I. Complete the answers to the following questions about your job:
1. Whats your job? / Im a(n) (office-worker / engineer / economist / lawyer /
doctor /secretary /nurse /worker / research worker)
2. Where do you work? / I work in a(n) (office / factory / research centre /
hospital)
3. How far is it from your house? / It is a from my house. (20-minute walk /
car drive / bus ride).
4. How long have you had this job? / Ive had this job foryears.
5. What are the working hours? / I work froma.m. top.m. every day.
6. How many weeks holiday do you have? / I have aholiday every year. (twoweek / three-week / four-week).
7. What training do you have? / I went to the (Polytechnic / University /
Vocational school).
8. What are your prospects? / I can become ainyears time. (senior clerk/
deputy manager / top executive / general foreman /(chief) supervisor)
II. Now, you formulate the questions necessary to interview someone about
his/her job. Refer to his/her: job, workplace, distance from home, working
hours, holiday, seniority in the job, training, prospects.
III. Read this passage:
My Job
My name is Sandra Vlad, Im 29, Im married and have two children.
I work in an office in a big shoe factory, as a secretary to the deputy factory
manager. It is a half-hour bus ride from my house in the suburbs to the factory
which is situated in the industrial district of the town. I have worked here for the
past five years.
My working hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., five days a week. A ten-hour day is not
unusual when there are important management meetings.
Every day I open the managers letters, take them to him, write down the answers
and then type and send them.
I also answer incoming phone calls, dial some outgoing ones to other shoe
manufacturers, to raw material suppliers or to important customers - , take
messages when the manager is away and handle routine enquiries.
I greet the visitors and take down notes in shorthand at important executive
meetings.
I earn quite a good salary and have a two-week holiday every year, as I have not
worked long enough to be entitled to a longer holiday.
I finished a secondary school ten years ago. There I learned shothand and typing
as part of the schools programme of vocational training. After graduation I
became a telephonist and did several months training with the Central PostOffice for which I worked for three years. Then I had a two-year break for
children. I returned to work five years ago, and took the job Im still having.
I enjoy my job, although it may be very tiring sometimes. I feel I play a
responsible part in the factorys life, I am the first contact anyone has with the
management. I like to be friendly and to meet lots of people.
IV. Write about: Sandra Vlads job; the ideal job.

39

V. Fill in the blanks with little, a little, few, a few, much, many:
1. I havepens; I can give you one. 2. I havepens. I need them. 3. There
aresheets of carbon paper there; you may take two or three. 4. There
aresheets of carbon paper there; you may not take any. 5. There isnttime left
before office-hours are over. 6. There areclerks in our office. 7. care should
be taken when writing a report. 8. There aremistakes in this typed letter;
please, re-type it.
VI. Use the verbs in brackets in the Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous
Tense:
1. When I met him he (work) in the enterprise for 10 years. 2. When I finished
writing the minutes, I realized I (make) some mistakes. 3. When I passed by the
office-building under construction, a man told me they (work) on it for three
months. 4. When he finally arrived at the office, his colleague (wait) for him for
an hour. 5. When you entered my office, I (prepare) my speech for 2 hours. 6.
When the head of the department came in, I (file) papers for an hour. 7. When the
office-hours were over, I (work) for 8 hours. 8. When he finished his speech, we
(listen to) him for half an hour.
VII. Translate into English:
a) 1. tiam s bat la main i s stenografiez de 10 ani cnd am venit n acest
birou. 2. Scriam un referat de 2 ore cnd a intrat directorul i mi-a cerut s adaug
o nou problem. 3. El lucra de 20 de ani n industrie cn a devenit eful seciei.
4. Am ncercat s te gsesc la telefon toat dimineaa nainte ca n sfrit s-mi
rspunzi. 5. Negocierile au durat 2 sptmni nainte s se semneze contractul. 6.
Eram obosit cnd ai venit, pentru c fcusem 4 ore de traducere simultan n
sala de conferine. 7. Scrisorile au putut fi expediate pentru c le btusem la
main n ziua aceea.
b) Cu ce te ocupi Jane?
- Sunt stenodactilograf la o intreprindere de comer exterior din Bucureti.
- i place meseria ta?
- Da, foarte mult. De aceea am urmat cursurile colii de stenodactilografie.
Acum, dup 5 ani de experien, redactez 50 de cuvinte pe minut i stenografiez
100 de cuvinte pe minut.
- Care este partea cea mai interesant a muncii tale?
- Faptul c tot ce fac mi ofer sentimentul rspunderii. Atunci cnd redactez o
scrisoare comercial, tiu c orice greeal poate face o impresie proast asupra
partenerului strin i, n consecin, fac toate eforturile ca scrisoarea s arate
ireproabil. Acest lucru este valabil i pentru celelalte activiti ale mele:
imagineaz-i ce s-ar ntmpla dac a ndosaria greit documentele!
- ntruct eti att de contiincioas, bnuiesc c eti apreciat n ntreprinderea
unde lucrezi.
- Sper c da!

40

LESSON TEN
AT A PUBLIC MEETING
meeting

convention

symposium

chairman

speech

bare
majority

speaker
to take the
floor

There are different kinds of public meetings.

Members of parliaments and other similar national assemblies are
summoned to sessions and sittings. Delegates of the political party gather for
their regular conferences or congresses. Meetings and conventions are held also
by trade unions, womens organizations, artists, journalists, businessmen, etc.
Sometimes men and women come to spontaneous rallies to protest against
armaments drive, deployment of missiles, race barriers, etc, or to express their
solidarity with the peoples fighting colonialism, for peace in the world. Scientists
are convened to national and international symposia.
The meeting can be ruled by its own standing orders, unwritten
regulations and customs. These rules of procedure have been designed to
enable any official gathering to be effective and legally correct.
Any meeting is presided over by the chair (or the chairman), whose main
duty is to conduct the meeting taking decisions on particular problems of the
proceedings. He announces what the business is, gives members permission to
speak, calls for a vote on a motion, announces the results of a vote and generally
preserves order. All speeches or remarks of those present are addressed to the
chair.
The relator (raporteur)s duty is to give the required explanation. The
secretarys duty is taking minutes.
As soon as a person takes up chairmanship he calls the meeting to order
and asks the secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting. When they have
been read, he asks Are there any omissions or errors? If the minutes are correct,
a member moves that they should be adopted. This is seconded by another
member. The chairman puts the motion to a vote. If there is an error or an
omission, a member moves that a correction be made. After the minutes have
been discussed and approved the meeting proceeds then to Business Arising
From the Minutes. Members may ask for explanations why certain steps have
not been taken or taken in the wrong way.
The purpose of any public meeting consists in exchanging opinions and
views on the matter discussed and adopting a certain decision. Most resolutions
are voted by a mere show of hands and considered adopted if a bare majority of
members are in favour of it. For more important decisions the so-called
constitutional majority is necessary, amounting to two-third of the members of
the assembly.
Speakers are to keep to the point and they must confine themselves to the
time limit established by the meeting at the beginning of its work. Some members
neglect these rules, they take the floor on every item on the agenda and speak
endlessly. In any public meeting system and order are required. The regulations
and rules must be observed. Otherwise there is more confusion than
accomplishment.
*
*
*
A: What day is the opening of the Annual Scientific Conference scheduled for?
B: I havent seen the notice yet, but I think they wont be able to convene the
participants earlier than tomorrow fortnight.
A: They say the whole conference will be held in plenary sessions.

41

discussion

topic

B: No, I dont think so. It would be impossible with so many papers put for
discussion. Besides plenary meetings there will be sittings of two or three
specialized committees.
A: I hear that the papers outlines and summaries have already been published.
B: Yes, they can be consulted next week. I hope that every participant will be
provided with a full set of paper outlines before the proceedings start.
A: Im looking forward to this scientific conference, there are so many interesting
topics to be discussed and debated.
VOCABULARY
to summon a convoca
convention convenie
trade-union sindicat
to convene a convoca, a ntruni
effective efficient
to preside a prezida
chair (aici) preedintele unei adunri (amer.); prezidiu
chairman preedinte
relator prezentator; povestitor; narator
proceedings lucrrile unei conferine
motion moiune, propunere
to move (aici) a propune
to confine a se limita
agenda ordinea de zi
outline plan, (aici) rezumat
armaments drive cursa narmrilor
deployment of missiles amplasarea de proiectile
standing order ordine permanent
standing regulations regulament n vigoare
to call for a vote a cere votarea
to take minutes a face un proces verbal
to call the meeting to order a chema la ordine; a ncepe edina
a bare majority o majoritate nensemnat, slab
to take the floor a lua cuvntul
sitting edina
committee comitet
auditing committee comisia de cenzori
item of the agenda punct la ordinea de zi
draft resolution proiect de rezoluie
to keep the minutes a pstra protocolul
GRAMMAR
THE MODAL VERBS
(Verbele modale)
Verbele modale can could; may might; must; ought to nu primesc s la
persoana III-a singular; sunt urmate de infinitivul scurt, formeaz negativul cu
not iar interogativul ca i verbele auxiliare. Formele contrase ale acestor verbe
sunt: cant, couldnt; mightnt; mustnt. May i ought se folosesc mai rar n forma
contras.

42

CAN - COULD
Exprim capacitate fizic, intelectual,
moral, etc i este echivalentul lui to be
able to:
Exprim ndoial, nesiguran (n
interogativ sau negativ), posibilitate.
MAY - MIGHT
Pentru toate celelalte timpuri se
nlocuiete cu to be allowed to, to be
permitted to
Exprim permisiunea:
La
forma
negativ
exprim
interzicerea:
Exprim posibilitatea:
Exprim admonestare, sfat, caz n care
se folosete might:
Exprim presupunere, nesiguran; se
folosete att may ct i might. Might
exprim mai mult nesiguran i este
echivalent cu perhaps sau maybe.
MUST
Pentru formarea celorlalte timpuri n
afar de prezent, se folosesc to have to,
to be obliged to, to be compelled to;
Exprim datoria, obligaia, necesitatea:
Absena necesitii se red prin
neednt:
Exprim prohibiia (la negativ):

EXAMPLES
You can read this page right now.
Until a short time ago she could read
without eyeglasses.
It cannot be true.
Can this be your paper?
EXAMPLES
She will be allowed to leave at 12:30.
He had been permitted to wear the
new coat.
You may take the floor.
You may not switch off the light.
You may catch the bus.
She might leave by 9 oclock train.
They might write the application now.
It may rain.
She might play the violin.
He might abstain from voting.
EXAMPLES
We shall have to learn this poem.
We had to finish writing our papers.
He must go to school.
Must he buy the book? No, he
neednt.
They must not smoke in the meeting
hall.
He must be at the sea-side.
The gloves must be your size.
EXAMPLES
They ought to be on time.
He ought to have brought the book he
took
He ought to be in the session by now.
EXAMPLES
He shall leave by 9 oclock train.
They shall not go to the mountains
because it was decided like that.
Shall we open the meeting?
Shall I ask the floor?

Exprim probabilitatea, fiind echivalent

cu probably, evidently:
OUGHT TO
Exprim o obligaie, o datorie moral,
un sfat (cu referire la prezent, trecut sau
viitor)
Exprim o presupunere, o probabilitate.
SHALL (ca verb modal)
Exprim o necesitate, o constrngere
sau o obligativitate; se folosete cu
persoana a II-a i a III-a:
Exprim cererea unui sfat, a unei
sugestii (n propoziii interogative la
toate persoanele):
Exprim o promisiune:
He shall get the questions written in
time.
WILL ( ca verb modal)
EXAMPLES
Exprim o dorin (voin), o I will buy the book tomorrow.
promisiune sau o hotrre (este folosit We will do whatever you say.
la toate persoanele singular i plural):
Exprim o incitaie, o rugminte (n Will you write the minutes, please?
interogativ, n general la persoana a II- Will you take the floor, please?
a):
43

Exprim ceva inevitabil:

Exprim o aciune obinuit, repetat:
Exprim o supoziie:

Parents will be parents.

I will have my coffee in the morning.
He will be about fifty.

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge upon:
1. The duties of the chair (chairman);
2. The kinds of committees elected at large conferences;
3. Kinds of public meetings;
4. Regulations of procedures adopted at meetings.
II. Change the following sentences using modal auxiliaries:
Model: Mister B has permission to leave the room.
Mister B may leave the room.
1. It is advisable for him to go to the meeting. 2. She promises to go this
afternoon to the exhibition. 3. Teachers are obliged to help their students. 4. He
told George that it was possible for him to write the minutes. 5. It is necessary for
all students to have I.D. cards. 6. He asked, Do you want me to help you with the
report? 7. I guess she will leave at 3:30. 8. The students are obliged to study
carefully their courses. 9. Perhaps they dont always know how to study. 10.
Evidently she is in the hospital.
III. Use the following statements in the past tense and past perfect tense:
1. We must speak for ourselves at the sitting. 2. They must improve the agenda.
3. She can take the floor and address the chair. 4. George can have the meeting
postponed. 5. They may be elected in the chair. 6. She may leave the chair when
the session is adjourned.
IV. Fill in the blanks with can, may, must, have to, will, shall.
1.I borrow your note-book? I am afraid you 2. Hesmoke now, the children
have left the room. 3. you wait till next week? 4. Youread this report louder.
5. Sheattend the meeting this afternoon. 6. Ito be at the station at 5 oclock
as my friend is arriving. 7. Accidentshappen. 8. he turn on the TV set? 9.
the chairman read the agenda? 10. Youhave the book tomorrow. 11. I
promise itnot happen again. 12. Participants in the meetingenter their names
in the list of the session.
V. Translate into English:
a) 1. Vei fi anunat de ndat ce vei intra. 2. S ridic problema n cadrul unei
edine? 3. S ncepem discuiile? 4. Ce s fac dup ce voi da citire propunerii? 5.
S supun propunerea la vot? 6. Vei fi acas cnd vom veni? 7. Data viitoare cnd
vom pleca la munte, o s vii cu noi. 8. E foarte ntuneric aici, o s aprind lumina.
9. Trebuie s vezi piesa, e foarte interesant. 10. Ar trebui s vorbeti englezete
la seminarul de limba englez. 11. Poate au schimbat programul, trebuia s fie
aici la aceast or. 12. Putem fuma aici? 13. S-ar fi putut s plece mai devreme.
14. Trebuie s fie cartea ei. 15. Am auzit c e bolnav. 16. Ar trebui s stea n pat.
17. De obicei m plimb smbt dup mas.
b) 1. Sunt surprins s aflu c George a fost ales membru n comisia de cenzori. 2.
Regret c am lipsit de la edina de lucru. 3. Alegerile s-au fcut prin vot secret i
s-a procedat n conformitate cu regulamentul n vigoare. 4. George putea fi
contestat pe motivul ineficienei n rezolvarea problemelor publice. 5. Am aflat c
John a fost recuzat. 6. Luarea lui de cuvnt a creat o impresie bun.
44

CHAPTER TWO ENGLISH FOR GEOGRAPHERS AND HISTORIANS

Introducere
Capitolul de fa este menit s pun la dispoziia studenilor de la specializarea
Geografie i Istorie-Geografie care studiaz limba englez, texte cu caracter
general i special pentru nsuirea termenilor de specialitate. Legarea materialului
didactic ct mai strns de studiul geografiei i istoriei este scopul principal al
acestui capitol.
Cele zece lecii care alctuiesc capitolul sunt ntocmite n aa fel nct s acopere
o diversitate de teme i mai ales s rspund tuturor problemelor de vocabular i
de structur gramatical care trebuie nsuite de studenii respectivi.
Fiecare lecie i familiarizeaz pe studeni cu un vocabular de specialitate ntr-un
context de dificultate medie, trateaz una sau dou probleme de gramatic, n
continuarea i completarea celor studiate n capitolul de baz i se ncheie prin
teme de reflecie i dialog precum i cu exerciii care pun n practic lexicul i
gramatica studiat n lecia respectiv.

Obiectivele operaionale. Dup parcurgerea integral a acestui capitol

studenii vor avea cunotiine pentru a:
recunoate i folosi termeni de specialitate;
face o prezentare succint Marii Britanii, Statelor Unite ale Americii,
Australiei, Romniei i a capitalelor lor;
vorbi despre cteva episoade din istoria Marii Britanii, despre viaa unora
din cei mai cunoscui monarhi ai Angliei;
recunoate i folosi viitorul, viitorul perfect;
formula o propoziie cu ordinea corect a cuvintelor;
transforma propoziii de la diateza activ la diateza pasiv;

Capitolul cuprinde:
1. Lesson one Great Britain............................................................................46
2. Lesson two London.....................................................................................51
3. Lesson three The United States of America................................................60
4. Lesson four American Cities.......................................................................66
5. Lesson five Australia...................................................................................72
6. Lesson six Important People in Britain.......................................................76
7. Lesson seven Famous British Seamen........................................................79
8. Lesson eight Europes Premodern Heritage................................................81
9. Lesson nine Bucharest.................................................................................84
10. Lesson ten Romania...................................................................................89

Bibliografie selectiv:
- Banta, Andrei (1991) Essential English, Ed. Teora Bucureti
- Gali, Livia & colaboratorii (1982) Limba Englez pentru nvmntul
superior economic, Ed.Didactic i Pedagogic, Bucureti
- Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana (1993) Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Ed.
Omegapress, Bucureti
- Nicolescu, Adrian & colaboratorii (1980) Culegere de texte pentru cursul
practic de limba englez pentru secia geografie-geologie, Tipografia
Universitii din Bucureti
-* * *
- Speak English Nr. 1, 4, 7/ 1991
45

LESSON ONE
GREAT BRITAIN
England
Scotland
Wales

island

English
Channel

North Sea

Grampian

Pennine
Chain

coal field

Thames
Severn

Britain consists of the three, formerly separate countries of England,

Scotland and Wales. Since Scotland and England joined in an Act of Union in
1707 (Wales had been incorporated in 1535), the island has been officially known
as Great Britain. Now it is known politically as the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland. Its total area is of 244 130 Km2. The group of
islands forming the British Isles has two main lands. Besides these there are an
infinite number of islets and rocks. Even the mainlands are penetrated by the sea
forming inlets on all the coats, so that no place in the island is more than about 65
miles from the sea, and the greater number of places is much nearer the sea.
Great Britain is separated from the continent of Europe by the North Sea
and the English Channel. At the promontory of North Foreland begins a fine line
of limestone cliffs which are quite similar to those of the French coast opposite.
The white cliffs of Dover, the gleaming whiteness of the Kentish shore which
made the Roman invaders who landed at Deal name Britain Albion these are
the striking features of the chalk Country. This part of England is filed with
English history. Here the very ancient and the very modern are side by side, in
such close proximity as perhaps nowhere else in the world. The south coast
presents many indentations, a great number of which are natural harbours,
Portsmouth and Southampton among them. The coast in these parts (Davon and
Cornwall) consists mainly of hard rocks, such as granites. It is deeply indented
and it much resembles the French coast of Britany; so that one is naturally led to
think that Britain may have been at some remote time, one and the same country
as France, from which it was cut off by the subsidence of the ground under the
sea level. There are many other facts which prove this. None of the seas round the
British Isles are very deep; in fact in some parts of the North Sea, there is a depth
of less than six meters. The rounded, flat-topped hills that give character to the
English scenery, have been worn down by slowly-moving sheet of ice that once
covered the whole of Northern Europe. The plants and animals found in Britain
lead one to the same conclusion. The wolf and the bear, neither of which is any
longer found wild in the British Isles, and the fox, all reached the country from
the continent. The forests that once covered the greater part of the country were
made up of common European trees like the oak in the South and the pine in the
North.
The highest mountains are in the central and northern parts of Scotland, in
Wales and in the north-west of England. The mountains and the hills cluster
round the Grampians Range, of which Ben Nevis is the highest peak (1 343 m).
The Cheviot hills running from sea to sea separate England from Scotland. The
Lowland Plain, to the north of the Cheviot Hills is fertile and forms a big contrast
to the barren mountains of the Scottish Highlands. The Pennine Chain, called the
Backbone of England, with its widespread coal and iron-fields is the
mountainous part in the centre of the country. Where the Pennine Chain ends
there begins the Great Midland Plain reaching from Lincoln and Leichester to the
valley of the Thames. Wales is rich in coal fields in the south and statequarries in
the north.
There are many rivers in Britain but none of them are very long. The
Thames on which London is situated, runs through rich agricultural districts in an
easterly direction into the North Sea. The Severn, which flows south-west into
the Irish Sea, is the longest British river. Many rivers have been joined one to

46

moist climate

sheep-farming

Ireland

economy

ship building
light industry

another by means of canals, so that it is quite possible to travel by water from one
part of England to the other.
The climate of the British Isles is a mild climate because it is insular.
The heat and cold are moderate. This is due to the proximity of the sea, which
makes the air cooler in summer and warmer in winter, on account of a great warm
sea current, the Gulf Stream, bathing the western coast. As Britain is so near a
large ocean surface, it follows that the climate is very moist, the moister parts
being those lying near the Ocean, that is, the west coast, which is wetter than the
east coast and also the hilly parts, which condense moisture into rain.
Great Britain was originally an agricultural and sheep-farming country.
Today, agriculture, sheep and diary-farming are spread over the southern and
south-eastern part of England, the middle and north of Scotland and the greater
part of Ireland. Large quantities of fruit are grown in the South of England,
especially berry-fruits and apples, cherries, pears and plums. The great wealth of
Britain consists in the abundance of coal often found side by side with iron. In the
north of England, the Newcastle coal field extends along the Tyne. Another large
coal-field lies between the Mersey and the Humber. The most important coal and
iron field, which is situated in Staffordshire and nearest to London, is well known
as the Black Country with the two centres of metal industry Wolverhampton
and Birmingham. Its northern part is called the Potteries. The coal fields of Wales
contain a great quantity of anthracite.
An important part in British economy is played by the iron and steel
industry, the non-ferrous metals industry, engineering and ship building. The
main metal processing centres are Birmingham and Sheffield in central England,
then Middlesborough, Glasgow, Cardiff and Swansea.
British machine building specializes in steam-engines, electric motors,
machine-tools, textile equipment, locomotives, motor-cars and airplanes,
produced in London, Birmingham and Sheffield. Glasgow, Newcastle and Belfast
are well known for their ship building yards.
Besides the heavy industry a corresponding light industry has come into
being which produces textiles, glassware, porcelain, chemicals, etc.
VOCABULARY
formerly (adv.) altdat, odinioar, cndva
to join a se uni; a lega, a uni; a altura, a anexa; a cupla
kingdom regat
isle (poetic sau in nume geografice) insul; insuli, ostrov
island insul
islet insuli, ostrov
mainland continent; insul principal (ntr-un grup de insule)
rock stnc; roc; cap, promontoriu
inlet golfule; intrnd
channel albie, matc, canal (natural)
the English Channel Canalul Mnecii
limestone piatr de var, calcar
cliff falez, rm stncos; stnca n mare
shore rm, mal, coast
to land a debarca
to gleam a licri, a stluci (slab)
striking izbitor, frapant; remarcabil, extaordinar
proximity apropiere
indentation indentaie, zimuire
47

harbour port
to resemble a semna/a aduce cu, a semna cu; a fi asemntor/similar cu
remote ndeprtat; de departe
to cluster a forma un grup; a se strnge, a se aduna
subsidence scdere, descretere; tasare, denivelare; slbire, cedare
to cut off a tia, a separa, a despri
depth adncime
flat plat, ntins, neted
top vrf, parte de sus; cretet; coam; culme, creast, pisc
to wear down a uza, a roade
sheet strat
to make up a forma, a alctui, a compune
wild slbatic, nedomesticit
barren sterp, steril; neroditor; arid
slate gresie; ist
moist umed; jilav; ud
moor, moorland mlatin; balt; inut cu mlatini de turb i iarb neagr
loch lac; bra de mare
tartan stof ecosez; pled scoian, tartan
bagpipe cimpoi
steep abrupt, rpos, prpstios
indomitable de nemblnzit, (de) nesupus, (de) nestpnit; refractar, ndrtnic
Scotsman (s) scoian
Scotch/Scottish (adj.) scoian; (s) the ~ - scoienii; dialect scoian
Irishman/Irisher irlandez, pl. Irishmen irlandezi
Irish (adj.) irlandez; (s) irlandezi; limba irlandez
Irish Sea Marea Irlandei
Irish Free State, the Statul liber irlandez
Irish green verde nchis/intens
Welshman, pl. Welshmen (s) vel, galez, om din ara Galilor
Welsh (adj.) vel, galic, galez, din ara Galilor; (s) limba vel; the ~ - velii,
galezii
seaport port maritim
bay golf
shipyard antier naval
wharf , pl. wharves i wharfs chei (paralel cu rmul), debarcader
castle castel
fortress fortrea
mansion conac
mansion house curte boiereasc/senioral
the Mansion House primaria (reedina oficial a lordului primar al Londrei)
cottage cas rneasc; cas la ar
lawn peluz
fog cea
GRAMMAR
SENTENCES WITH THE ANTICIPATORY IT
(Propoziii cu it introductiv)
Cnd subiectul unei propoziii este un infinitiv sau un gerund sau o propoziie
ntreag, acesta se aeaz dup predicat, iar propoziia ncepe cu pronumele it,
care se numete it introductiv.
48

Examples
It is good of you

to help me

It is no use

sulking

It takes an hour

to get there

It is dangerous

to drive here

It is a great joy

to meet such nice people

It is likely that

she will come by train

It was difficult

to translate that text

It was quite unexpected

her returning so soon.

Rule
Examples
O propoziie cu it introductiv poate It was she whom I met on Monday.
avea for emfatic servind la It was yesterday that I saw him.
accentuarea oricrei pri a propoziiei. It is apples that he likes best.
It was three years ago that I first met
your friend.
EXERCISES
I. Speak on:
1. Great Britains two mainlands;
2. The English Channel;
3. Britains forms of relief;
4. Britains natural resources.
II. Say it in one word, choosing from the words below:
barren, moist, remote, iron, cliff, sea, to spread, scenery, join, slate
1. Far apart; far distant in space. 2. The aggregate of features that give character
to a landscape. 3. To extend or be distributed over a considerable area of time. 4.
To bring together or in contact; connect; to bring together in a particular relation
or for a specific purpose, action etc; unite. 5. A ductile, malleable, silver-white
metallic element, used in its crude or impure carbon containing forms for making
tools, implements, machinery, etc. 6. Level or slightly rolling land, usually with a
sandy soil and few trees, and relatively infertile. 7. A fine grained rock that trends
to split along parallel cleavage planes. 8. Moderately or slightly wet; damp. 9.
The high steep face of a rocky mass overlooking a lower area. 10. The salt waters
that cover the greater part of the earths surface.
III. Ask each other questions on the following text:
The Great Fire of London
The fire began on the second of September, 1666 at ten oclock at night. The
flames first broke out at a bakers shop, near London Bridge. It spread and
spread, and burned and burned for three days. The nights were lighter than the
days; in the day time there was an immense cloud of smoke, and in night time
there was a great tower of fire mounting up into the sky, which lighted the whole
49

country ten miles round. Showers of hot ashes rose into the air and fell on distant
places; flying sparks carried the conflagration to great distances and kindled it in
twenty new spots at a time: church steeples fell down with tremendous crashes;
houses had been intensely hot and dry, the streets were very narrow, and the
houses mostly built of wood and plaster. Nothing could stop the tremendous fire
but the want of more houses to burn; nor did it stop until the whole way from the
Tower of the Temple Bar was a desert composed of the ashes of 13 000 houses
and 89 churches. (Charles Dickens)
IV. Translate into English using the anticipatory it:
1. N-are rost s plngi. 2. Este greu s urci acest munte. 3. E ciudat c el nu a
aprut nc. 4. Ne trebuie dou ore s terminm referatul. 5. Cnd vom putea (va
fi posibil) afla rezultatele examenului de admitere? 6. Se sper ca el s-i
mbunteasc metodele de studiu. 7. A fost o nesbuin (to be foolish) c te-ai
prezentat la concurs fr o pregtire tmeinic. 8. Are importan cine vorbete
mai nti? 9. Este fr nsemntate (immaterial) pentru noi dac ne vom caza ntro camer la parter sau la etaj. 10. S-au gndit (to occur to) c e prea trziu s mai
cumpere bilete.
V. Complete the following sentences:
1. It is a great joy 2. It was he whom 3. It is no use 4. It was quite
unexpected his 5. It is likely that 6. It was on Saturday that 7. It is
grapes that 8. It was difficult to 9. It was a friend of Johns who 10. It
was foolish his 11. It was necessary that 12. It occurred to me that 13. It
was good of you 14. When will it be possible for them 15. It takes her two
hours to
VI. Translate into English:
Dezvoltarea industrial din ultimul timp a schimbat att de mult Oxford-ul nct
oraul Cambridge, un ora cu o frumoas arhitectur, este acum mult mai frumos.
Armonia lui a fost puin alterat de firmele magazinelor, de cinematografe, etc. n
ceea ce privete numele de Cambridge, unii oameni de tiin consider c
originea lui este cuvntul latinesc Camborium. Se spune c aceast universitate a
fost creat dup instruciuni primite din partea mnstirilor din Paris. La nceput,
cuvntul Universitas a nsemnat un grup de persoane, o corporaie, apoi o breasl
a studenilor sau a profesorilor, nu o cldire n care se audiau cursuri. Istoricii
Oxfordului pretind c n anul 1209 a existat o rzvrtire n ora i c muli
studeni au fost nevoii s prseasc Oxford-ul; ei s-au dus la Cambridge i au
format acolo un prototip de Universitate. Fondatorul unui colegiu, n sensul de
astzi al cuvntului, a fost Walter de Merton din Oxford care n 1264 a redactat
statutul pentru activitatea de fiecare zi a nvceilor lui.

50

LESSON TWO
LONDON
London

City

Tower Bridge

Mansion House

London, the capital city of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland is the countrys largest port, its main industrial, financial,
commercial and cultural centre.
It lies in the South Eastern part of the island, in the London Basin, 51030
N latitude, while the prime meridian of 00 passes through the old observatory at
Greenwich.
The climate of the London Basin is characterized by heavy rainfalls,
irregular from year to year, (with extremes of 70 130%) that range, depending
on the relief, from 813 mm to 635 mm annually.
That is why one gets the impression that it is always raining in London.
The English themselves say that year has 365 days out of which 65 are
good days and 300 rainy.
Temperatures in the area vary little, between 11,70C and 13,10C, the
average being higher in Londons built-up area because of heat retention by
buildings, smoke cover and artificial heating.
The history of London goes back to Roman times, though finds of preRoman dates indicate that, as elsewhere along the Thames, the area was occupied
by a succession of small prehistoric communities.
Under the Romans, the stronghold of Londinium, one of the nineth
Coloniae of Britain, greatly developed, becoming a flourishing commercial and
military centre with roads radiating from the city to various parts of Britain.
From that time down to the present day, London has been continually
increasing in size and population.
Nowadays, London is about 14 miles (22 km) from East to West and 9
miles (14 km) from North to South being, as far as the number of inhabitants is
concerned, one of the worlds largest cities.
It lies on both banks of the Thames, the River as Londoners call it,
which divides London into two unequal portions and forms, roughly speaking a
capital M as it crosses the city from West to East.
No less than 19 bridges, 6 of them for railways only, cross the Thames.
The finest of them is the Tower Bridge which has two crossings, a footway and a
drawbridge that can be raised for the passage of large vessels.
London is divided into three main parts with different histories and
functions.
The City, lying to the North of the River, roughly the London of the
Middle Ages, covers only about a square mile. It is the financial and business
centre of Great Britain, the traditional home of English banking.
Here we can find the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange, the Royal
Exchange, the Mansion House as well as the headquarters of many of the
wealthiest companies and corporations in the world.
About half a million people work here and, when the workday is over,
when businessmen and clerks go home, the City becomes deserted, as only a few
thousand people actually live here.
The working class of London is concentrated in the East End, the home
of the poor, a vast area running eastward from the City.
The development of the heavy, clothing and furniture industries
concentrating mainly on the banks of the Thames and its tributaries, needed large
quantities of cheap-sweated labour.

51

East End

West End

historic
monuments
Trafalgar

Tower of
London

National
Gallery

British
Museum

Overcrowding, casual employment and subsistence wages have turned the

East End into an area of great poverty.
It includes all the main dock area, it is heavily industrialized, with miles
of factories, warehouses, dirty-looking little dwellings and slums.
The smell of the Thames and of the cargoes unloaded from the ships hang
over the East End.
The West End is the rich part of London, the fashionable residential area
of the rich.
There are very expensive shops, restaurants and clubs here, theatres,
concert halls and cinemas, public buildings, museums, monuments and parks.
The character of the West End is governmental, professional and cultural.
There are lots of places worth seeing in London, depending on your special
interests.
Those who are fond of history, for instance, will find historic monuments
and places reminding of past ages, of Londons tormented history.
Among them we can mention Trafalgar Square, so named in memory of
the great victory of Trafalgar. Right in the middle of the Square stands the
Column of Nelson, a monument 184 feet high, representing Nelsons famous
victories.
Worth visiting is also the Tower of London built in 1087 by William the
Conqueror, a royal palace, a fortress and a prison in the past, a museum at
present, sheltering the crown jewels and other treasures.
Another historic building, a fine example of the classic style is St. Pauls
Cathedral, the crowning achievement of Britains greatest architect, Sir
Christopher Wren.
Art lovers will be overwhelmed by the unrivalled collections of paintings
and other important works of art to be found in art galleries.
The most famous of them are the National Gallery housing a collection of
the chief European Schools of Painting and Tate Gallery exhibiting British
paintings of all periods, modern foreign painting as well as modern sculpture.
Londons museums are world-renowned and cover a wide variety of
interests. Thus, among the exhibits of the British Museum, visitors can admire
priceless antiquities: prints, drawings, manuscripts, coins and medals,
ethnography of Egyptian, western Asiatic, oriental, Greek and Roman as well as
of British origin.
The visitors involved in or just fond of literature may visit the British
Museum Library, the countrys largest library which shelters rare books and old,
valuable manuscripts. This is a copyright library which receives a free copy of
every book printed in the United Kingdom.
The tourists might be also interested in seeing the Poets Corner in
Westminster Abbey, where the most outstanding English poets and writers are
buried.
Those visiting London can have a walk along the streets of the city:
Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street with their busy shopping centres, along
Fleet Street with its numerous editorial offices, or along side streets whose names
remind us that this was once the shopping centre of London: Bread Street, Milk
Street, Ironmonger Street, a.s.o.
We can form an idea of the number of London streets, lanes and blind
alleys from the fact that, if laid end to end, they would form a line 5,000 km long.
Tired after having walked so much, the visitor may have a rest in one of
the large parks and gardens of London, the lungs of London as they are called,

52

that stretch in an irregular green belt for nearly three miles between Whitehall
and Kensington.
This is a different London where the noise of the town ceased, where
everything is quiet and calm.
VOCABULARY
to lie, lay, lain a sta ntins, a zace; a fi situat
find descoperire
stronghold fortrea
crossing loc de trecere, traversare pentru pietoni
footway alee pentru pietoni; trotuar
drawbridge pod mobil
headquarters sediu
actually de fapt
tributary afluent
casual ntmpltor, ocazional
subsistence existen; mijloace de trai
warehouse depozit
slum mahala
cargo ncrctur
to unload a descrca
tormented chinuit, torturat
to shelter a adposti
treasure comoar
crowning ncununare
to be overwhelmed a fi copleit
unrivalled inegalabil, inegalat
to house a adposti
drawing desen
to be involved in a fi implicat n, (aici) a se interesa de
to be buried a fi nmormntat
lane strad ngust
lung plmn
belt centur, curea
to cease a nceta
to range from to a varia ntre i ; a fi situat ntre
roughly speaking n general vorbind
Stock Exchange bursa de aciuni
Royal Exchange bursa din Londra
Mansion House reedina lordului primar al Londrei
cheap-sweated labour mn de lucru prost pltit
to turn into - a transforma n
places worth seeing locuri ce merit vzute
crown jewels bijuteriile Coroanei
crowning achievement realizarea cea mai de seam
world-renowned vestit n ntreaga lume
copyright library bibliotec cu drepturi de reproducere rezervate
side street strad lateral
blind alley fundatur
cderea Imperiului Roman the downfall of the Roman Empire
legiune legion
53

int aim
hoard barbar wild horde
inut land
a chema n ajutor to call to ones aid
a pune stpnire pe to take possession of
de aici nainte from that time on
a cunoate o dezvoltare rapid to witness a rapid development
plin de mrfuri loaded with goods
a ndrepta to straighten
crmid brick
bine poiectat well-designed
a lua locul to replace
cas pe jumtate din lemn half-timbered house
GRAMMAR
WORD BUILDING
(Formarea cuvintelor)

I. Derivarea

a) Sufixe pentru
formarea subst.
b) Sufixe pentru
A.Sufixe formarea verbelor
c) Sufixe pentru
formarea adjectivelor
1. Afixaia
a)Prefixe pentru
formarea adjectivelor
b)Prefixe pentru
B. Prefixe formarea subst.
c)Prefixe pentru
formarea verbelor
2. Reducerea
a) reducerea nceputului cuvntului
b) reducerea sfritului cuvntului
c) reducerea unei pri din
interiorul
cuvntului
d) comprimarea mai multor cuvinte
3. Alternane fonetice
4. Abrevierea

II. Schimbarea categoriei 1. fr schimbare de form

gramaticale
2. cu schimbare de form
3. cu modificarea accentului
III. Compunerea

I. Derivarea
I.1. Afixaia
A. Sufixe

a)
sufixe
substantivelor:

Rules
pentru

Examples
formarea
54

- ment
- al
-t
- ance
- ence
- (t)ure
- sion
- ssion
-y
- ery

Verb
to achieve
to withdraw
to extend
to convey
to exist
to mix
to proceed
to conclude
to permit
to deliver
to rob

Substantiv
achievement
withdrawal
extent
conveyance
existence
mixture
procedure
conclusion
permission
delivery
robbery

- tion
- ation
- ition
- ification
- er
- or
- ant
- ent

to distribute
to transport
to compete
to qualify
to produce
to edit
to assist
to reside

distribution
transportation
competition
qualification
producer
editor
assistant
resident

- ness
- ity
- ce

Adjectiv
weak
possible
evident

Substantiv
weakness
possibility
evidence

b) sufixe pentru formarea verbelor:

- ize
- ate
- ify

- en
c) sufixe pentru formarea adjectivelor:
- al
- ial
- ic
- ical
- ian
- an
- ish
- ese
-i
-y
- ary
- ed
- ly
- ar
- ful
- less

Substantiv
drama
origin
class
Adjectiv
black
Substantiv
tradition
commerce
economy
economy
Egypt
Asia
Britain
China
Iraq
mist
legend
wood
friend
circle
care
care
55

Verb
to dramatize
to originate
to classify
Verb
to blacken
Adjectiv
traditional
commercial
economic
economical
Egyptian
Asian
British
Chinese
Iraqi
misty
legendary
wooded
friendly
circular
careful
careless

- ous
- ish

glory
child

- ive
- able
- ible

Verb
to compare
to perish
to divide

glorious
childish
Adjectiv
competitive
perishable
divisible

B. Prefixe
Rules
a) prefixe pentru formarea adjectivelor:
- prefixe negative
un in
im
ir
il
- alte prefixe (n general de origine
greac i latin)
inter - (between)
intra - (within)
multi - (many)
sub (under, below)
super - (above, over)
trans - (through, across)
pre
(before)
b)
prefixe
pentru
formarea
substantivelor:
- prefixe negative
dis
in
im
mis
mal
- alte prefixe (n general de origine
greac i latin)
co (together)
ex (former)
post - (after)
pre - (before, earlier)
pro - (in favour of)
c) prefixe pentru formarea verbelor:
- prefixe negative
dis
mis
- alte prefixe
en
contra (against)
ex
(out of)
re
(again)

Examples

pleasant
definite
possible
rational
legible

national
departmental
coloured
normal
natural
continental
Roman

advantage
justice
balance
behaviour
practice

author
member
graduate
history
administration

56

unpleasant
indefinite
impossible
irrational
illegible

international
intradepartmental
multicoloured
subnormal
supernatural
transcontinental
pre-Roman

disadvantage
injustice
imbalance
misbehaviour
malpractice

co-author
ex-member
post-graduate
pre-history
pro-administration

to agree
to understand

to disagree
to misunderstand

able
to indicate
port
to fill

to enable
to contraindicate
to export
to refill

I. 2. Reducerea
a) reducerea nceputului cuvntului
b) reducerea sfritului cuvntului
c) reducerea unei pri din interiorul
cuvntului
d) comprimarea mai multor cuvinte

motorcar
photograph
bicycle

car
photo
bike

fourteen nights

fortnight

I. 3. Alternane fonetice
Verb
to lose
to sing
to breathe

Substantiv
loss
song
breath

Adjectiv
long
deep
wide

Substantiv
lenght
depth
width

I. 4. Abrevierea
TV
G.P.O.
B.A.
M.A.
M.P.
U.N.O.

- television
General Post Office
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Arts
Member of Parliament
United Nations Organization

II. Schimbarea categoriei gramaticale

Rules
1. fr schimbare de form
a) substantivizarea adjectivului
b) substantivizarea adverbului
c) substantivizarea verbului
d)
substantivizarea
adverbului,
prepoziiei, conjunciei, articolului

Examples
good the good
being a being
to rest a rest
inside the inside of an affair

2. cu schimbare de form
(adugarea semnului pluralului s) la:
a) adjectiv
b) participiu
c) numeral
d) verb
e) prepoziie, conjuncie, adverb, etc.

rich
saving
second
to dislike
in, out
up, down

3. cu modificarea accentului
(substantivele sunt accentuate pe prima
57

Substantiv
'record

Substantiv
riches
savings
seconds
dislikes
the ins and outs of a
problem
the ups and downs
of life
Verb
to re'cord

silab, iar verbele pe a doua)

'import
'export
'combine

to im'port
to ex'port
to com'bine

III. Compunerea
Rules
a) substantiv + substantiv
b) adjectiv + substantiv
c) pronume + substantiv
d) gerunziu + substantiv
e) verb + substantiv
f) adverb + substantiv
g) majuscul + substantiv
h) substantiv + verb + -er
i) substantiv + gerunziu
j) substantiv + adverb
k) verb + adverb
l) adverb + verb

Examples
football, businessman, post office
highbrow, coldcream
he-goat, she-goat
living-room, skating-rink
killjoy
overshoes, best seller
X-ray, H-bomb, D-Day
watchmaker, baby-sitter
sightseeing, housekeeping
passer-by, looker on
knowhow, go-between
income, outbreak

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge upon:
a) Londons geographical location.
b) The climate in the London Basin.
c) The development of the city since ancient times.
d) The City
e) The East End
f) The West End
g) The main places worth seeing in London:
- historic buildings and monuments;
- art galleries;
- museums;
- Londons streets;
- Londons parks and gardens.
II. Fill in prepositions and adverbs where necessary:
A. Do you live the hostel our Institute?
B. Oh, no. I am Bucharest and live Magheru Blvd. But why?
A. Well, I wanted to call a friend mine who lives the hostel, but I am not
sure I can find the way there. Is it far the Institute?
B. No, not very far. It will take you 25 minutes to get there.
A. How can I get there here?
B. Take bus 134. It will take you right there.
A. Cant I get there trolley-bus?
B. Yes, you can. But if you go trolley-bus youll have to change; thats why
the best way you to get there is bus.
A. And where do I get ?
B. You have to go as far as x street stop, there you get , turn the corner,
walk a short distance the street and less than 5 minutes you will find
yourself the hostel.
A. Its perfectly clear.

58

B. It is quite easy to get there. But case you lose your way, you may ask it a
policeman or any passer-by.
A. Thank you very much. Good-bye.
III. Add noun-forming suffixes to the following verbs:
to achieve, to attach, to equip, to establish, to govern, to fulfil, to improve, to
invest, to manage, to state; to betray, to dispose, to renew, to survive, to
withdraw; to conclude, to include, to divide, to provide, to corrode, to revise; to
deliver, to discovery, to recovery, to master; to administer, to alter, to continue, to
form, to occupy, to register; to certify, to clarify, to fortify, to identify, to justify,
to qualify.
IV. Fill in the blanks with words related to the underlined ones:
1. He defined that word for me, and his was correct. 2. I know Henry is an
acquaintance of yours. Are you with his brother as well? 3. The final date for
applications has been extended to September 15th. This will enable more
students to apply. 4. If our team wins the game, we shall celebrate and we hope
you will come to the 5. Edmund Hillary ascended Mt. Everest; he made the
first of the highest mountains of the world. 6. The log walk exhausted him.
We notice his right away. 7. He exceeded the sped limit. He was driving in
of the limit. 8. He resembles his father very strongly. The is really amazing. 9.
I have a lot of camping equipment. I can you if you want to go camping next
week. 10. Manny new countries have emerged in Africa and their has
increased the number of members in the U.N. 11. We were amazed to see them
and our showed in our faces. 12. They wish to facilitate the building of the
dam, and so they are giving the engineers every 13. Do you know the origin of
that old saying? Its a translation of a proverb that in France. 14. That matter is
of concern to the entire nation. Its of importance. 15. His father was in navy
and he has been always interested in affairs. 16. He wants to study agriculture
and so he sits for the entrance exam at the Faculty of Sciences. 17. A certain
part of the town has been set aside for industry. All buildings must be located
there.
V. Translate into English:
Dup cderea Imperiului Roman, legiunile romane s-au retras din Britania
care a devenit inta unor atacuri puternice din partea unor hoarde barbare.
Neputnd rezista atacurilor, locuitorii acestor inuturi i-au chemat n ajutor pe
saxoni, care, la rndul lor, cu ajutorul altor triburi au pus stpnire pe ntreaga
ar care a devenit capitala Regatului Saxon de rsrit.
De aici nainte, oraul va cpta o importan tot mai mare.
Comerul a cunoscut o dezvoltare rapid, portul fiind permanent plin de
mrfuri, iar oraul a nflorit n special dup marele incediu din anul 1666 cnd a
fost reconstruit n mare parte.
Cu aceast ocazie s-au fcut multe mbuntiri: strzile au fost lrgite i
ndreptate, case de crmid bine proiectate au luat locul vechilor case pe
jumtate din lemn.

59

LESSON THREE
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

United States

The
Appalachians

Rocky
Mountains

Grand Canyon

Mississippi

Gulf of Mexico

The main landmass of the United States lies in central North America
with Canada to the North, Mexico to the South, the Atlantic Ocean to the East
and the Pacific Ocean to the West. The two newest states, Alaska and Hawaii, are
separated from the continental United States; Alaska borders on north-western
Canada and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific.
The diversity of the country stems from the fact it is so large and has so
many kinds of land, climate and people. It stretches 2,575 kilometres from north
to south, 4,500 kilometres from east to west. There are pine forests dotted with
lakes and mountain peaks covered with snow. There are meadows with brooks
and trees, sea cliffs, wide grassy plains, broad spreads of grapevines and sandy
beaches.
On the Atlantic shore of the United States, much of the northern coast is
rocky and uninviting, but the middle and southern Atlantic coast rises gently from
the sea.
The Appalachians, which run roughly parallel to the east coast, are old
mountains with many coal-rich valleys between them. To the West of the
Appalachians lie plateaus built up over the centuries from bits of stone that were
washed down from the mountains and then cut into small hills by streams.
Beyond is the great Central Lowland.
North of the Central Lowland, extending for almost 1,600 kilometres are
the five Great Lakes which the United States shares with Canada.
West of the Central Lowland are the Great Plains. They are stopped by
the Rocky Mountains,the backbone of the continent. The Rockies are
considered young mountains: of the same age as the Alps in Europe, the
Himalayas in Asia and the Andes in South America. Like these ranges, they are
high, rough and irregular in shape.
One region was formed of material which was washed down from the Rockies
and pressed into rock. This now encompassed the Colorado Plateau, in which the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is cut, 1,6 km in depth.
Volcanoes built the Cascade Mountains. The Sierra Nevada range and the
ridges of the Great Basin, on the other hand, were formed when a strained portion
of the earths crust broke into high blocks of rock. At the border of the Pacific
Ocean lie the Coast Ranges, relatively low mountains in a region where
occasional earthquakes show that the process of mountain-building has not yet
stopped.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the western portions of continents are
especially favoured by the prevailing winds. This is because the western lands
gather the rains as they come off the ocean blown by storms that circle from west
to east.
Unfortunately, the Cascade Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
so close to the west coast, catch the largest share of the rain of the Pacific Ocean
before it can go further inland. As a result, there is little rain for almost the whole
western half of the United States, which lies in the rain shadow of the
mountains.
The United States is crossed by great rivers. The Mississippi is one of the
worlds great continental rivers. Its waters are gathered from two-thirds of the
United States and, together with the Missouri, the Mississippi flows some 6,400
km from its northern sources in the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico,
which makes it one of the worlds longest waterways.
60

prairie

Great Lakes

The Mississippi has been called the father of waters. Through all its
lower course, it wanders along, appearing lazy and harmless. But people who
know the river are not deceived by its appearance, for they have had many bitter
struggles with its floods.
The two great rivers of the Pacific side are the Colorado in the south and
the Columbia, which rises in Canada and drains the north. In the dry western
country, both rivers, very different in character, are vital sources of life.
The Rio Grande, about 3,200 km long, in the Southwest, forms a natural
boundary between Mexico and the U.S.
In the U.S. there are all kinds of unexpected differences in climate. For
instance, all along the western coast, the temperature changes little between
winter and summer. In some places, the average difference between July and
January is as little as 100C. But in the north central part of the country, summer
and winter are worlds apart. There, the average difference between July and
January is 360C and more violent extremes are common. In the eastern part of the
United States, the difference between summer and winter is also very distinct, but
not so extreme. Near the south western corner of the country, the climate is mild
and spring-like in winter but in summer the temperature may reach equatorial
intensity. In Alaska, almost continuous daylight in summer makes the short
growing season an intense one.
A rich and well-known part of the Unites States is the Middle West, with
the states of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. It comprises about 25% of the
area of the country, about one third of the population and nearly 60% of its
agriculture.
The climate of this region is largely of the continental type, the winters
being severe and the summers long and hot. It is in agriculture that this section
has acquired and holds first place in the United States. The level prairies offer a
fine opportunity for the use of the most improved types of farm machinery.
Because of the climate and the soil, grain is the principal crop of this section, as
are cotton and tobacco in the south.
Winter wheat grows chiefly in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and
Missouri. The principal region for corn growing is the belt from central Ohio to
central Kansas and from the Ohio River to Wisconsin.
Another commodity of this region is sugar beet. The cattle and meatpacking industries play an enormous part in the economic life of the people of
this section. The meat-packing industry has centred in Chicago because of
transportation facilities. In meat production Illinois is first and Iowa second.
The principal minerals of this region are gold, iron, cooper and coal.
The principal deposits of iron are in northern Michigan. Most of this ore
is smelted in Pennsylvania but a large number of blast-furnaces are located along
the Great Lakes. The iron industry naturally gave rise to much of the iron and
steel manufacturing of this section.
The centre of general manufactures in the United States is a little west of
central Ohio. According to value, about one third of the manufactured products of
the United States come from the central states.
VOCABULARY
desert deert
meadow pajite
brook pru
grapevine vie
rocky stncos
61

uninviting nembietor
roughly aproximativ
plateau podi
strained presat, apsat
crust scoar
tilted nclinat, n pant
earthquake cutremur
opportunity posibilitate
grain cereale
deposit zcmnt
to be separated from a fi separat de
to border on a se nvecina cu
to stem from a proveni din
dotted with presrat cu
prevailing winds vnturi regulate
lower course curs inferior
upper course curs superior
downstream n aval
upstream n amonte
to become apparent a deveni evident
natural boundary frontier natural
to be worlds apart a fi foarte deosebit
tunnel tunel
bridge pod
geographic boundary grani geografic
rainfall precipitaii
abundant vegetation vegetaie luxuriant
sparse vegetation vegetaie srccioas
mountain ridge- creasta muntelui
orchard livad
pasture paune
wilderness slbticie
stretch of land ntindere de pmnt
waterway cale navigabil
surface soil solul
subsoil subsolul
the turn of the century nceputul secolului
capped with snow acoperit de zpad
GRAMMAR
THE PASSIVE VOICE (Diateza Pasiv)
Diateza este categoria gramatical specific verbului care exprim raportul
dintre verbul predicat, pe de o parte, i subiectul i obiectul (complementul
direct) al verbului predicat, pe de alt parte.
Verbul este la diateza pasiv cnd subiectul gramatical sufer aciunea
svrit de obiect:
This letter (subiect) has been written (predicat) by Lucy (obiect).
Aceast scrisoare
a fost scris
de Lucy
Timpurile verbului la diateza pasiv se formeaz din timpul corespunztor
al auxiliarului to be i participiul trecut al verbului de conjugat.
62

I. Common Aspect
Affirmative

Negative

Present
Tense
Past Tense

I am asked
Im asked
I was asked

Present
Perfect
Tense

I have been asked

Ive been asked

I am not asked
Im not asked
I was not asked
I wasnt asked
I have not been
asked
I havent been asked
Ive not been asked
I had not been asked
Id not been asked
I hadnt been asked

Past Perfect I had been asked

Tense
Id been asked

Future
Tense

I shall be asked
Ill be asked

I shall not be asked

I shant be asked

Future
Perfect
Tense

I shall have been I shall not have been

asked
asked
Ill have been asked I shant have been
asked
Conditional I should be asked
I should not be
Present
Id be asked
asked
I shouldnt be asked
Conditional I should have been
Past
asked
Id have been asked

I should not have

been asked
I shouldnt have
been asked

Interogative
(Negative)
Am I (not) asked?
Was I (not) asked?
Wasnt I asked?
Have I(not) been
asked?
Havent
I been
asked?
Had I (not)been
asked?
Hadnt
I
been
asked?
Shall I (not) be
asked?
Shant I be asked?
Shall I (not) have
been asked?
Shant I have been
asked?
Should I (not) be
asked?
Shouldnt
I
be
asked?
Should I (not) have
been asked?
Shouldnt I have
been asked?

II. Continuous Aspect

Present
Tense
Past Tense

I am being asked
Im being asked
I was being asked

I am not being asked

Im not being asked
I was not being
asked
I wasnt being asked

Am
I(not)being
asked?
Was I (not) being
asked?
Wasnt
I
being
asked?

Singurele timpuri care se folosesc la aspectul continuu diateza pasiv sunt

Present Tense i Past Tense, n locul celorlalte timpuri folosindu-se timpurile
corespunztoare ale aspectului comun.

The Use of Passive Voice

Examples

Rules
Diateza pasiv se folosete:
a) cnd nu se cunoate subiectul logic Depositors are requested to fill in the
al propoziiei; cnd acesta este evident forms in blue ink only.
sau lipsit de importan.
63

b) cnd complementul prezint mai

mult interes dect subiectul logic.
c) cnd din anumite motive, vorbitorul
nu vrea s menioneze subiectul logic.

Mary was sent many telegrams on her

birthday.
The money has been already sent out
by Money Order

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) The location of the United States;
b) The diversity of the countrys forms of relief;
c) The climate of the United States;
d) The main mountain ranges their characteristics;
e) The main rivers their economic importance;
f) The Middle West its relief and climate characteristics;
g) Aspects of economic development in the Middle West.
II. Ask questions on the text and answer them:
The majestic Rocky Mountains stretch all the way from Mexico to the Arctic.
Like the Alps, they are high, sharp and rugged. Compared with the Appalachians
in the East, they are young and their faces of bare rock are capped with snow,
even to the south. In the high valleys, there are remains of glaciers while below
them are clear, icy lakes which the glaciers made. More than 100 million years
ago, the earth was violently folded and compressed where the Rockies now stand,
and the mountains rose and fell and rose again. The Sierras pushed upward. Lava
poured over the land in great floods to build the Columbia Plateau, and the
Colorado River began to cut the Grand Canyon. As the mountains rose for the
last time, the coast ranges near the Pacific broke into pieces, leaving great cracks
along which huge blocks of the earth still shift occasionally.
III. Make the following sentences passive:
1. They built bridges over valleys and rivers. 2. He had to accept the terms of
rebuilding the plant. 3. The variations in temperature affected crop growing. 4.
Wide expanses of forests cover the surface of the United States. 5. Volcanoes
built the Cascade Mountains. 6. Lava poured from inside the earth and created the
high Columbia table land. 7. The Sierra Nevada Mountains catch the largest share
of the rain off the Pacific Ocean. 8. They shall build a big hydro-power station on
the Rio Grande.
IV. Use the verbs in brackets in the correct tense:
1. It is in agriculture that this section (to acquire) first place. 2. Because of the
climate and the soil, grain (to be) the principal crop of this section. 3. Since the
beginning of this century heavy industry (to grow) rapidly. 4. The meat-packing
industry (to centre) in Chicago. 5. They (to decide) to build a modern network of
railways. 6. The ore deposits (to give rise) to an important automobile industry. 7.
A large number of industries (to be located) along the Great Lakes. 8. A severe
winter (to ruin) these years agricultural yield. 9. Cattle raising (to be carried on)
largely in the states farther west. 10. The ore deposits in these regions (to exceed)
those produced in other places.
V. Fill in with prepositions:
The ancient waters that brought soil these mountain valleys had no way
reaching the sea, so they spread out ... shallow lakes. As the water slowly
64

evaporated, minerals remained the lake beds. Great Salt Lake, example,
contains an estimated six thousand million tons salt. Another lake holds
millions tons soda. The lakes change size and shape the rainfall and
sometimes dry up completely arid weather.
the land little water, farming was very difficult and would have been
impossible a series irrigation canals that bring water the high mountains
streams the dry valleys below.
VI. Translate into English:
Parcul Naional ai Munilor Stncoi este un muzeu geologic ce conine
rmiele unor muni vechi, canioane, pduri i gheari.
Parcul Naional Zosemite este vestit pentru cascadele sale care au o nlime de
730 m i vile mprejmuite de nlimi de peste 900 m.
Dar poate c nici un peisaj nu este compatibil cu Marele Canion al fluviului
Colorado. Acolo, timp de un milion i jumtate de ani, marele fluviu a dltuit n
stnca muntelui. Prile cele mai impresionante ale canionului se afl n interiorul
Parcului Naional al Marelui Canion.
Mai mult dect orice alte poriuni din Statele Unite, munii i deerturile continu
s constituie cele mai mari ntinderi ale rii. Aceste inuturi, care odinioar barau
calea cltorilor obosii, au devenit n prezent locuri pentru vacane de var i de
iarn.

65

LESSON FOUR
AMERICAN CITIES

New York

Washington

capital

Capitol Building

White House

There are many big towns in the United States of America. They can be
counted easily spreading the map. Yet, it is impossible to do the same thing with
the small towns. New York is considered to be the most interesting city of the
United States. Perhaps after New York, Chicago might be called the richest city;
San Francisco the most beautiful; Cincinnati the most agreeable and civilized;
Santa Fe the most original due to the well-preserved traditions; Cleveland and
Buffalo the smokiest; Los Angeles cumbersome, disorderly, hot and smoky
and Washington the most provincial of all the big towns.
I. WASHINGTON, D.C.
The capital of the United States is situated on the Potomac River in the
District of Columbia. The District of Columbia (D.C.) was named in honour of
Columbus, the discoverer of America; it is a piece of land of one hundred square
miles, and it does not belong to any state. The terms Washington and the District
of Columbia are practically synonymous. The nations first president, George
Washington, selected the site for the District and laid the corner-stone of the
Capital Building where Congress meets.
Washington, D.C. has been the capital since 1800. At the beginning of the
19th century, the new capital was called Wilderness City and the City of
Streets without Houses.
At the time of its foundation there were few trees and houses. Now
Washington has more trees than any other city. The wide avenues are lined with
old shady trees the branches of which frequently meet in a continuous arch high
above the street.
The plan of the city in which the streets run north and south, east and
west, intersected by avenues laid out diagonally, forms spacious circles and
triangles developing into small parks.
Having combined both the rectangular plan and the wheel-shape plan,
Washington has become one of the most carefully planned cities of the United
States of America.
Broad avenues named after the states radiate like the spokes of a wheel
from centres which are placed within the rectangular pattern of the streets.
The city of Washington is divided by Capitol Street into four quarters.
The centre of the city is the Capitol Building which stands on Capitol Hill, the
highest point in the city. Home of both the Senate and the House of
Representatives, the structure itself contains 430 rooms.
From the Capitol to the Executive Mansion (home and office of the
President better known as the White House) runs broad Pennsylvania Avenue,
about a mile and a half in length and flanked with trees.
The corner-stone of the Executive Mansion, as it was originally known,
date from October 13, 1792.
The British troops that arrived in Washington in 1814, were indirectly
responsible for the name White House. Following the burning of the building,
the marks of fire on the sand stone walls concealed by painting the whole
building white. But it remained the Executive Mansion until the administration
of Theodore Roosevelt, when White House appeared on the Presidents
stationery and the term became official.
In perfect alignment with the Capitol are Union Square, the Washington
Monument, a 555-foot obelisk, and the Lincoln Memorial with its Reflecting
66

Potomac River

Lincoln
Memorial

queer

Pool. The Memorial is designed like a Greek Temple, with 36 Doric columns
representing the states in the Union at the time of Lincolns death. The dominant
feature of the building is the magnificent, realistic figure of Lincoln seated in the
centre of the open temple. The statue was carved from marble by sculptor Daniel
Chester French.
One of the most important places of interest in Washington is the
Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846 by an act of the United States
Congress with funds bequeathed by James Smithson, an English scientist who
had never visited the United States of America.
The Smithsonian Institution is an independent federal establishment
devoted to public education, basic research and national service in the arts,
science and history. It is the worlds largest museum complex and an important
centre for research. Its 13 museums and the National Zoo possess more than 70
million objects and specimens. About 1% of the total is on public display, with
the rest used for research.
Another place of interest is John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing
Arts, a theatrical complex on the Potomac River. It is the sole official memorial
to President Kennedy in the capital, opened in 1971. Financed both by the
government and private funds, the marble building hoses a 2,200-seat Opera Hall,
a 2,700-seat Concert Hall, a 1,100-seat Eisenhower Theatre, The American Film
Institute Theatre and some restaurants.
Driving around the Tidal Basin one may see the Thomas Jeffreson
Memorial designed after the Pantheon in Rome, which Jeffreson admired so
much. This tribute to the third President contains a striking 19-foot bronze statue
of Thomas Jeffreson and panels that quote from his most famous writings
including the Declaration of Independence.
In Arlington National Cemetery, the Virginia side of the Potomac
possesses the nations famous burial ground. Its Tomb of Unknowns, formely
called the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is guarded day and night by an armed
sentry. The cemetery is also the burial place for two former Presidents, William
H. Taft and John F. Kennedy.
Far from being the largest city of the United States, Washington is, in
political sense, however, the centre of the nation, the law-making city of the
country.
It is also the seat of five universities and of several independent law
colleges, art schools and private schools.
In many respects, Washington, D.C. is a perfect normal American city. Its
rivers are polluted. The air is periodically toxic from exhaust fumes. It has traffic
jams, tasteless office buildings, Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A.) meetings
and other common hazards of urban life. To 9,000,000 tourists every year, the
only abnormality is what they come to see, the home of the nation the White
House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the
Smithsonian Institution. Beyond its official buildings, the natives, rise each
morning, crowd into buses and car pools, go to work, return at night, to the naked
eye not different from the inhabitants of any other American city.
But Washington is the queerest of all the cities in America. Behind the
monuments and official buildings lies a palpitating municipality torn between its
role as home of the United States Government and home for over 800,000 human
beings.

67

financial centre

regular streets

Big Apple
Hudson River

skyscraper

Manhattan

downtown

Wall Street

Statue of
Liberty

II. NEW YORK CITY

New York, the biggest industrial, trade, financial and cultural centre of
the United States of America, is situated at the mouth of the Hudson River. It is
not an old city. It appeared approximately 300 years ago. Its territory is about 310
square miles. The five boroughs comprising the city are: the Bronx, Manhattan,
Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond. Four of them are islands. The Bronx is the
only one attached to the American mainland.
It is easy to find your way about in New York as it is laid out regularly.
All streets are regular and planned. The streets running north and south are called
Avenues and the streets have numbers instead of names.
New York is a blend of all cities the most exciting city in the world.
Thats why the Americans call it the Big Apple.
Manhattan is the name of the island which forms the heart of New York.
The island is 13 miles long, 2 miles wide and lies at the mouth of the Hudson
River. East of it runs the East River. Although fewer than 2 million of the citys
eleven million people live on the island it is in essence what the world regards as
New York City. Here is the heart of Americas business and culture; it is the
city of skyscrapers. Looking at the harbour you see the clusters of tall buildings
in the financial district.
To the visitor New York means skyscrapers, the Empire State Building,
Rockefeller Centre, tremendous traffic, dazzling neon advertisements, Central
Park, Times Square, Off-Broadway theatres, Harlem, the avenues and famous
streets and all these are to be found in Manhattan.
The skyscrapers were built in recent times but you find it hard to believe
that what you see is man-made. Iridescent in the sunlight, the smoky glass walls
of the gigantic buildings ribbed with steel or copper, reflect the neighbouring
buildings, the sky and the clouds.
Looking downtown, to where the tip of Manhattan wedges into the
Atlantic, you now likewise see the gleaming facets of new skyscrapers.
In the newer part of New York the skyscrapers do not press down upon a
man as do the massive buildings of Wall Street. Standing on the corner of Park
Avenue and one of the streets of the Fifties, you get a sense of space. The effect
is achieved by the stepped shape of the skyscrapers. From the pavement you see
only the first step of 15 to 20 stores. Higher, the building seems to recede, leaving
the sky open.
Many New Yorkers are terribly impressed with mere size; to them
bigger and better seem to mean the same thing. Within a very short stay in
New York, a tourist is told that the Cathedral in New York is the largest Gothic
Cathedral in the world; that the finger of the Statue of Liberty in New York
Harbour is 8 feet long and that forty people can stand inside its head; that the
Rockeffeler Centre cost 100 million dollars to build, has 13,000 telephones, and
its hanging gardens are four times the size of the famous hanging gardens of
Babylon that were one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
It is not necessary to take the subway or any other means of transport to
reach New Yorks anti-world. You need only walk down a few blocks off Fifth
Avenue to land in the kingdom of poverty. The wealthy sections of New York are
but small glittering islands in the dark ocean of this vast city. And it is not only
Negroes and Puerto Ricans who live in the neglected houses. They have as
neighbours many Americans of European origin, whose forefathers once crossed
the ocean in search of the Promised Land on the banks of the Hudson.

68

This glaring poverty is startling to see in the richest country of the

capitalist world. It fits ill with the widely circulated notion of America as a land
of opportunity for all and its widely vaunted high standard of living.
VOCABULARY
shady umbros
disorderly nengrijit
wheel-shape n form de roat
spoke spi
marble marmur
to bequeath a lsa prin testament
tribute omagiu
sentry santinel
hazard (aici) eveniment
queer ciudat, straniu
borough sector, comitat
cluster grup, buchet, mnunchi
dazzling orbitor
iridescent irizat
ribbed striat
to wedge into (aici) a ptrunde n
facet faet
to recede a se deprta, a se retrage
subway metrou
glittering strlucitor
forefather strmo
vaunted ludat
to lay the corner-stone a pune piatra de temelie
law-making city ora legislativ
burial place loc de veci
law college colegiu de drept
to fit ill a nu se potrivi
an array of skyscrapers un ir de zgrie-nori
in search of n cutarea
piedestal pedestal
muzeu etnografic ethnographic museum
rafinrie de petrol rubber works
a se ridica la to amount to
Notes
1. Washington, George (1765 1799) 1st president of the U.S.A.
2. Jeffreson, Thomas (1743 1826) 3rd president of the U.S.A.; statesman and
writer.
3. Roosevelt, Theodore ( 1858 1919) 26th president of the U.S.A.
4. French, Daniel Chester (1850 1931) American sculptor, best known works
are The Minute men of Concord, the bronze doors of the Boston Public Library
and many fine statues and portrait busts.
5. Smithson, James (1765 1826) British chemist and mineralogist; founded
Smithsonian Institution.
6. Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1917 1963) 35th president of the U.S.A.
69

7. Lincoln, Abraham (1809 1865) 16th president of the U.S.A.; called The
Great Emancipator: it was during his presidency that the Emancipation
Proclamation which gave freedom to Negro slaves was adopted on January 1st,
1863.
GRAMMAR
THE FUTURE TENSE
(Viitorul simplu)
Viitorul simplu desemneaz un eveniment posterior fa de momentul
vorbirii.
n structura viitorului simplu int verbul auxiliar shall la persoana I singular i
plural, will la persoana a II-a i a III-a singular i plural i infinitivul scurt al
verbului de conjugat.
Affirmative
I shall bring / Ill bring
You will bring/Youll
He, she, it will bring
We shall bring
You will bring
They will bring

Negative
I shall not bring/I shant
You will not bring
He,she,it will not bring
We shall not bring
You will not bring
They will not bring

Interrogative (-Negative)
Shall I (not) bring?
Will you (not) bring?
Will he,she,it(not) bring?
Shall we (not) bring?
Will you (not) bring?
Will they (not) bring?

The use of the Future Common Tense

Rules
Examples
Viitorul exprim o aciune sau stare I shall join your sport association next
care se va petrece dup momentul week.
vorbirii. Pentru a preciza momentul Will he soon come back?
viitor n care se va petrece aciunea se They will shortly celebrate the victory
folosesc
adverbe
sau
expresii of our sportsmen.
adverbiale de timp: tomorrow; the day Will he go to a football match
after tomorrow; next month, week, tomorrow?
year; soon; shortly; in a months time;
in two months time, etc.
EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) 1. Characteristic features of some big and small American towns.
2. Location and history of Washington, D.C.
3. Lay-out of the city.
4. Population.
5. Significance of the city nowadays.
6. Places of interest in Washington.
b) 1. Location of New York.
2. Population of New York.
3. New York boroughs.
4. Lay-out of the city.
5. Importance of New York today.
6. Position and significance of Manhattan.
7. Places of interest.
8. New Yorks anti-world.

70

II. Use the sentences given below in the interrogative form and then in the
negative form:
1. He will play for our faculty team tomorrow. 2. I shall go training every day
next winter. 3. She will go in for figure skating in a months time. 4. They will set
up new records next year. 5. We shall soon be awarded gold and silver medals. 6.
We shall go nowhere tonight as the weather is bad.
III. Fill in the blanks with prepositions or adverbs:
a) New Yorkers have always exercised great common sense naming the citys
streets. Canal Street was once, fact, a canal. Maiden Lane was the site a
freshwater stream where 17th century maidens did their laundry. When the
northern city was laid out it was done convenience a grid, numbered
streets (East even, West odd). So it comes as no surprise that the name Wall
Street means just that the earliest days this was the northern-most barrier,
separating the town the wilderness and its hostile Indians or, more likely
the British settlers the coast New England.
It was a fortified stockade rather than a wall, and now it is a canyon walls
skyscrapers that seem all the higher because the narrowness one the
most famous streets the world. The name itself, Wall Street, is known less as a
thoroughfare than as an entity the capital the financial world. However, the
street itself is rich history, and a walk it gives a capsule view early New
York an easy walking distance.
b) The American suburban houses have no hedges or fences separating them
the pavement or each other. There are none those little shut-off gardens;
generally just a strip grass trees it. The American his home does not
object being seen everyone he actually likes it. And the house, instead
the separate hall, living-room, dining-room so typical the English and
European house, the American has the open plan house, just one large room
where all the family activities go , perhaps, a dining recess or a kitchenbreakfast-room.
IV. Translate into English:
1. New York, cel mai mare ora din lume i cel mai mare centru industrial,
comercial i financiar al Statelor Unite, nu este un ora prea vechi. 2. Oraul New
York este compus din cinci sectoare: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Richmond i
Bronx. 3. Toate sunt insule cu excepia sectorului Bronx, care reprezint o parte
din continent. 4. Statuia Libertii se afl pe o mic insul n largul portului New
York. 5. Statuia a fost druit Statelor Unite de ctre guvernul francez n anul
1884. 6. Statuia mpreun cu piedestalul are o nlime de circa 100 de metri. 7.
Este uor s te deplasezi prin ora deoarece a fost construit n form de
dreptunghi. 8. Cincisprezece bulevarde lungi traverseaz oraul de la nord la sud
i circa 300 de strzi scurte de la est la vest. 9. Populaia New York-ului
reprezint un adevrat muzeu etnografic. 10. Se spune c sunt mai muli italieni
la New York dect la Roma i mai muli irlandezi dect la Dublin. 11. Populaia
New York-ului se ridic la peste 19 milioane de oameni. 12. New York este cel
mai mare port maritim al Statelor Unite. 13. Foarte dezvoltat este industria de
echipament electronic, de aparate de precizie i de instrumente. 14. La periferia
oraului se gsesc rafinriile de petrol, uzine de cauciuc, turntorii de cupru etc.

71

LESSON FIVE
AUSTRALIA

Canberra

flat

Murray River

kangaroo
Melbourne

trade

sheep

coal

It is the smallest continent, lying between the Indian and the Pacific
Oceans. It extends from east to west some 3,860 km and from north to south
3,220 km. With the island state of Tasmania to the south, the continent makes up
the Commonwealth of Australia. There are five continental states: Queensland,
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, as well as the
Northern territory and the Australian Capital Territory, containing Canberra.
Australias external territories include Norfolk Island, Christmas Island,
the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
The Australian continent is on the whole exceedingly flat and dry. Less
than 50.8 cm of precipitation falls annually over 70% of the land area.
From the narrow coastal plain in the west the land rises abruptly in a
rough plateau that occupies the western half of the continent.
In the south-west corner of the continent, there is a small moist and fertile
area, but the rest of the western Australia is arid, with a large desert area.
The northern region fronts partly on the Timor Sea, separating Australia
from Indonesia; it also belongs to the plateau, with tropical temperatures and
winter dry seasons. In Eastern Australia, there are the mountains of the Eastern
Highlands which run down the entire east and south-east coasts.
The longest of the Australian rivers, the Murray River and its tributaries,
drains the southern part of the interior basin that lies between the mountains and
the great plateau. The rivers of this area are used extensively for irrigation and
hydroelectric power.
Australia, remote from any other continent, has many distinctive forms of
plant life as for instance species of giant eucalyptus and of animal life,
including the kangaroo. It also has many unusual birds.
Most of the rich farmlands are in the east and particularly the south-east.
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide are the leading industrial and
commercial cities. Australia is highly industrialized and manufactured goods
account for about two thirds of the total value of production. The leading
manufactures are iron and steel products, transportation equipment and
machinery. Australia is one of the great trading nations, with one quarter to one
third of its export income derived from the sale of wool, meat and wheat. The
chief buyers are the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States.
Other main exports are iron ore and non-ferrous ore.
The leading imports are metal products, petroleum, machinery and
textiles. They come mainly from Great Britain, the USA and Japan, too, which
makes for a favourable trade balance.
The country is self-sufficient in food and the raising of sheep and cattle
and the production of grain have long been staple occupations. Tropical and
subtropical produce: citrus fruits, sugar cane and tropical fruits are also important
and there are numerous vineyards and diary and tobacco farms. Australia has
valuable mineral resources, including coal, iron, bauxite, uranium and gold.
The country is highly urbanized: about three fifths of the population lives
in the cities of more than 100,000 inhabitants. Since World War II, the
government has been encouraging immigration and permanent arrivals have been
averaging more than 100,000 people annually. The population has increased by
more than 60% in this period.
Canberra is the Federal Capital.

72

Sydney

Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, with 2.5 million people, is the
largest city of the country, including one-fifth of the population of the whole
continent.
Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, has 2 million people. It
is the centre of cultural life in Australia. The University of Melbourne is the
institute of higher education in the country, followed by the New Monash
University.
Other big cities are Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and Perth, the
capital of Western Australia.
VOCABULARY
rough aspru, brut; (aici) accidentat, pietros
plateau platou, podi; (pl) plateaux, plateaus
moist umed
to drain a drena, a usca, a asana; (aici) a primi apele
kangaroo cangur
to account for a justifica, a explica
staple principal
indigenous btina
aborigenes btinai, aborigeni
to average a forma o medie
slaughter mcel
ranch ferm, moie, cresctorie de vite
non-ferrous ores minereuri neferoase
trade balances balan comercial
the raising of sheep and cattle creterea oilor i vitelor
to become extinct a disprea, a se stinge
a dispune to be endowed with
for de munc labour
zone urbane urban areas
sol soil
fier iron
cupru copper
aur gold
aluminiu aluminium
rafinarea petrolului oil distillation
antier de construcii navale shipbuilding yard
petrochimie petrochemistry
industrie extractiv extractive industry
industrie prelucrtoare processing industry
Study and remember
Koala bear ursul Koala
flying opossum oposum zburtor
ant eater/bear furnicar
gorges chei
mountainside, slope versant
precipice prpastie
range of mountains lan de muni
to slaughter cattle a tia vite
reef recif
73

shark rechin
densely populated cu populaie dens
shearer muncitor care tunde oile
drover vcar, oier
to border on a se nvecina cu
shipping line linie de navigaie
coastal shipping nave de cabotaj, flot de cabotaj
subsidiary filial
overseas-controlled dirijat din stintate
gross value valoare global
EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
1. Australias geographical position.
2. Australias relief.
3. Australias trade.
4. Australias cities.
II. Fill in the blanks with articles where necessary:
1. In ... south-west corner of Australia, there is ... small moist and fertile area. 2.
In ... Eastern Australia there are ... mountains of ... Eastern Highlands which run
down ... entire east and south-east coast. 3. ... longest of ... Australian rivers, ...
Murray River and its tributaries, drains ... southern part of ... interior basin that
lies between ... mountains and ... great plateau. 4. Remote from any other
continent, Australia has many forms of ... plant life. 5. Australia is one of ...
worlds great trading nations. 6. ... main exports are iron ore and non-ferrous ore.
7. ... leading imports are metal products, petroleum, machinery and textiles. 8. ...
country is self-sufficient in ... food and ... raising of sheep and cattle.
III. Complete the following if-clauses:
1. If I had time, ... 2. If Romania had a tropical climate, ... 3. If John had a map of
Australia, ... 4. If you wanted to see a kangaroo, ... 5. If I were interested in
tropical fauna, ... 6. If the climate allowed it, ... 7. If you were here, ... 8. If I were
asked to speak about Australias population, ...
IV. Supply the correct tense of the verbs in brackets:
1. Wild animals (to do) well in Australia. 2. Rabbits brought to Australia in 1788
(to adapt) perfectly until, by the middle of the 19th century, they (to become) a
distinct menace to sheep raising. 3. In 1907, a fence, 1,610 km long , (to build)
from the north coast to the south to prevent the rabbits from invading Western
Australia. 4. After the agreement (to make) to build Canberra, ten years (to pass)
before much (to do) about it, though a superb site (to select). 5. In 1911, many
architects (to invite) to an international competition to design the city of
Canberra. 6. The first prize (to go) to an American, walter Burley Griffin. Many
of his ideas were retained.
V. Change the following sentences using the subjunctive mood:
Model: It is difficult for them to obtain good crops in a dry climate.
It is difficult that good crops should be obtained in a dry climate.
1. It is easy for the geography teacher to give a lecture on Australia. 2. It is easy
for your students to speak about trade between countries. 3. It is easy for John to
go hunting. 4. It is difficult for the European man to adapt to life in Australia. 5.
74

It is impossible for kangaroos to live in a cold climate. 6. It was impossible for

the indigenous population to live in big cities.7. It is impossible for her to climb a
rough mountain.
VI. Ask questions which can be answered by the underlined words:
1. The Australian continent is on the whole flat and dry. 2. The longest of all
Australian rivers is the Murray River and its tributaries. 3. The rivers of this area
are used extensively for irrigation and hydroelectric power. 4. There are many
unusual birds in Australia. 5. Melbourne is a highly industrial and commercial
city. 6. Japan is now Australias largest wool buyer. 7. Australia has valuable
mineral resources including coal, iron, bauxite, uranium and gold. 8. Most of the
aborigines live in reservations. 9. Canberra is the Federal Capital of Australia.
10. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, has 2.5 million inhabitants.
VII. Translate into English:
Australia dispune de mari resurse naturale, de for de munc puin numeroas n
raport cu aceste resurse i cu ntinderea rii, de un mare numr de locuitori n
zonele urbane; toate acestea fac ca ntreaga industrie (att cea extractiv ct i cea
prelucrtoare) s fie concentrat n jurul marilor orae.
De fapt, marile orae au aprut i s-au dezvoltat numai acolo unde erau condiii
favorabile de clim, de sol sau resurse naturale uor expolatabile. Sud-estul
Australiei, statele Victoria, Noua Galie i sudul Australiei dispun de imense
resurse ale subsolului cu o activ industrie extractiv: fier, cupru, aur, aluminiu.
In ceea ce privete industria prelucrtoare, se remarc trei mari centre n aceleai
regiuni: Adelaide (industria construciilor de maini, industria chimic,
prelucrarea lemnului i industria alimentar), Melbourne (antiere de construcii
navale, producia de aur, de utilaj agricol, rafinarea petrolului i petrochimia,
producia de ngrminte, industria alimentar i textil mai ales pe baz de
ln) i Sydney (siderurgie, antiere navale, prelucrarea petrolului, industria
textil i alimentar).

75

LESSON SIX
IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN BRITAIN

monarch
Henry VIII

throne

Anne Boleyn
Thomas More

ruler
Elisabeth I

Golden Age

The British look back with pride on their past and on the many famous
figures who made their contribution to British history.
Two of the most prominent monarchs in British history were Henry VIII
and his daughter Elisabeth I.
Henry VIII (1505 1547), scholar, musician, politician, a true
Renaissance ruler, was one of Englands strongest and most colourful kings. He
was 17 when he came to the throne. Although his beard was red, he was
considered the Bluebeard of British history, as he married six times and had
two of his wives executed. He divorced two, one died giving birth to his only son
Edward and the sixth outlived him. There is a rhyme helping children remember
their succession:
Divorced, beheaded, died,
Divorced, beheaded, survived.
King Henry very much wanted a male heir to follow him to the throne,
but the only living child resulting from his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of
Aragon, was a daughter. So, he wanted a divorce and the freedom to marry again.
In those days it was easier for a king to have someone executed than to get a
divorce. He had to ask permission from the Pope, the Head of the Catholic
Church in Rome. When the Pope refused to allow Henry to divorce his wife and
marry Anne Boleyn, lady-in-waiting to the queen, the king acted drastically: he
broke away from Rome and became Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Sir Thomas More, brilliant political and literary figure of the time was executed
for refusing to accept this.
Thus, Henry married Anne Boleyn, ordered the monasteries dissolved and
transferred their wealth and property to the royal coffers. In this way, the power
of the state, centralized in one figure, grew to an unprecedented extent.
Unfortunately, Anne Boleyn was unable to give birth to a son. Just as with
Catherine, her only living child was a daughter and ultimately Henry had Anne
beheaded. This daughter however, was to become one of the greatest rulers to sit
on the throne of England, Queen Elisabeth I.
Elisabeth I (1558 1603), the last and greatest of the monarchs belonging
to the Tudor House, is a symbol of national glory. She was 25 when she came to
the throne. As a person she combined a violent temper, great personal magnetism
and a brilliant art of how to lead and manage Englishmen. She said of herself: I
may have the body of a woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a
king of England too.
Although Queen Elisabeth herself never traveled outside England, she
encouraged geographical discoveries and colonial expansion. The famous Sea
Dogs, such men as Sir Francis Drake who sailed around the world and Sir
Walter Raleigh who settled colonists in Virginia named for the Virgin Queen
Elisabeth fought for Englands supremacy at sea.
After the defeat of the Invincible Armada in 1588, as the Spanish fleet
called until then, English traders, explorers and colonizers were able to travel all
over the world, bringing fame and riches to their country.
As a true representative of Renaissance ideals, Queen Elisabeth supported
not only the expansion of geographical boundaries, but also of mans thinking. A
great patron of artist, her reign has also been called the Golden Age of English
Literature. Prose, poetry and drama flourished in her time. The dominant literary
76

figure of the period, outshining all the others by his genius, was William
Shakespeare.
Thus, under Henry VIII England embarked upon a period of progress,
wealth and power, which reached its brilliant climax under Elisabeth I.
VOCABULARY
prominent 1. proeminent; 2. (despre persoane) distins, important
scholar erudit, savant, om de tiin
male brbtesc, masculin, mascul
heir motenitor
to behead a decapita
lady-in-waiting doamna de onoare
coffer - visterie
ultimately la sfrit, la urm, n fine
defeat nfrngere
fleet flot
boundary limit, grani
to embark upon (fig.) a ncepe ceva;
climax punct culminant
GRAMMAR
Compare:King Henry had two of his wives executed.- he ordered and somebody
else did it.
King Henry executed two of his wives. he did it himself
In English the verb TO HAVE + NOUN + PARTICIPLE = a face pe cineva s
fac ceva
EXERCISES
I. Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: prominent, scholar,
male, heir, to behead, lady-in-waiting, ultimately, defeat, fleet, boundary, to
embark upon, climax (facei schimbrile necesare):
1. The Danube forms a natural between our country and Bulgaria. 2. Queen
Elisabeth never married and died without an 3. The action reached its when
the killer kidnapped the little girl. 4. If you dont want to upset him, let him win;
he cant stand 5. I hope that in 1991 you a happier time of your life. 6. In
the Elisabethan theatre the parts of women were acted by 7. she agreed that
she had been wrong. 8. Thomas More was one of the greatest Humanists 9. In
the 16thcentury England had experienced seamen and a powerful 10. James
Joyce is one of the figures of modern literature.
11. What do you think is more painful, to be hanged or ? 12. The young prince
fell in love with one of his mothers
II. Answer the following questions:
1. Who was Henry VIII? 2. How many wives had Henry VIII? 3. What happened
to them? 4. Why did King Henry want a divorce from his first wife? 5. Why was
it not easy for him to get a divorce? 6. What did King Henry do? 7. What
happened to the monasteries and their wealth? 8. What was Anne Boleyns fate?
9. Who was Elisabeth I? 10. What kind of person was she? 11. What did she
encourage? 12. Who were Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh? 13. What happened
in 1588? 14. Why has the reign of Queen Elisabeth been called Golden Age of
Literature?

77

III. Correct the following sentences:

1. Henry VIII married twice. 2. He executed all his wives. 3. He divorced his first
wife because he wanted a daughter. 4. The Pope became the head of the English
Church. 5. Queen Elisabeth I was King Henry VIIIs aunt. 6. In 1588 the Spanish
fleet gained supremacy at sea. 7. The art of gardening flourished in this period.
IV. Turn the following sentences into the Passive:
1. People always admire this picture. 2. Someone has broken two of my plates. 3.
No one has ever beaten Alex at tennis. 4. People speak English all over the world.
5. Did anyone ask any questions about me? 6. They held a reception in his
honour. 7. Somebody left the dog in the garden.

78

LESSON SEVEN
FAMOUS BRITISH SEAMEN
islander

Lord Nelson
naval glory
pirate
Francis Drake

Golden Hind
Invincible
Armada

Walter Raleigh

supremacy at sea

The British are islanders. They speak of their country as our island
home and, indeed, no place in Great Britain is farther than 120 km from the
coast. The sea has always been close to the hearts and thoughts of the British. It
has been a favourite subject of their poets and musicians, and many of the famous
figures in British history, men like Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh,
James Cook or Lord Nelson were seamen.
During the reign of Queen Elisabeth I the great era of British exploration,
colonization and naval glory began. With the undeclared support of the Queen,
the British pirates plundered the gold-laden Spanish ships, filling the coffers of
the crown.
One of these pirates was Francis Drake (1540 1596), the famous sailor
who, throughout the ages, has acquired an almost legendary aura.
In 1577 Drake sailed around the world in less than three years and
brought back tremendous riches with him. After his return, Drake the pirate was
knighted by Queen Elisabeth on the deck of his ship, the Golden Hind.
In 1588 Sir Francis Drake and his seamen defeated Englands greatest
rival at sea, the Invincible Armada as the Spanish fleet was called, thus gaining
immortality and his countrys supremacy at sea.
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 1618), seaman, courtier and poet at the same
time, was one of the most brilliant figures at the court of Elisabeth I. With the
approval of the Queen he sailed to North America and settled the first English
colonists on the eastern coast, in place he called Virginia, in honour of Elisabeth,
the Virgin Queen.
Later Raleigh explored South America in the vain hope of finding the legendary
City of Gold, El Dorado.
The death of Elisabeth in 1603 meant Raleighs downfall, as King James
I, her successor, distrusted the bold and fiery-tempered courtier. After an unfair
trial Raleigh was sentenced to death for treason and imprisoned in the Tower of
London. For more than 12 years he lived there as a prisoner, studying science and
writing a lengthy History of the World. All his efforts to gain the Kings favour
failed and in 1618 Raleigh died under the executioners ax.
Thus, undaunted and experienced seamen like Drake and Raleigh opened
up horizons of a new World and secured their countrys supremacy at sea which,
in the centuries to come, enabled Britain to found a huge empire overseas.
VOCABULARY
laden (with) ncrcat, mpovrat
to aquire a dobndi, a obine, a agonisi
tremendous enorm, puternic, foarte mare
vain 1. (aici) van, fr valoare, neles sau rezultat; 2. nfumurat, ngmfat,
vanitos
bold curajos, ndrzne,
undaunted nenfricat
to secure 1.( aici) a obine, a ctiga; 2. a ntri, a consolida
EXERCISES
I. Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: laden, to acquire,
tremendous, fleet, vain, bold, undaunted, to secure:

79

1. In only one year Paul managed a fairly good knowledge of French. 2. Ian
McKellens performance of Richard III was a success. 3. All he can offer you
are promises. 4. How was the Spanish called in the 16thcentury? 5. His
brilliant speech him unanimous admiration. 6. Characters in romantic novels
are all handsome and 7. The trees in the orchard were with big, juicy
apples. 8. I like his direct and manner.
II. Choose the correct word for each sentence:
1. Sir Francis Drake was a
a) poet
b) pirate
c) general
2. Sir Francis Drake sailed
a) on Spanish ships
b) to Australia
c) around the world
3. Sir Francis Drake defeated
a) the English fleet
b) the Spanish fleet
c) the Italian fleet
4. Sir Walter Raleigh was a
a) king
b) pirate
c) seaman
5. Sir Walter Raleigh settled colonists in
a) South Africa
b) Virginia
c) New Zealand
6. Sir Walter Raleigh died because he
a) had malaria
b) was very old
c) was beheaded

80

LESSON EIGHT
EUROPES PREMODERN HERITAGE

civilization

maritime
trade

science

innovation
Greece

cultural core

Romans

regional
interaction

urban centre
culture

infrastructure

lingua franca

Modern Europe was peopled in the wake of Pleistocenes most recent

glacial retreat a gradual withdrawal that caused cold tundra to turn into
deciduous forest and ice-filled valleys into grassy vales. On Mediterranean
shores, Europe witnessed the rise of its first great civilizations on the islands
and peninsulas of Greece and later in Italy. Greece lay exposed to the influences
radiating from the advanced civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley,
and the intervening eastern Mediterranean was crisscrossed by maritime trade
routes.
ANCIENT GREECE
As the ancient Greeks forged their city-states and intercity leagues, they
also made impressive intellectual achievements (which peaked during the fourth
century BC). Their political science and philosophy have influenced politics and
government ever since, and great accomplishments were also recorded in such
fields as education, literature, architecture and the arts. The fragmentation of
Greeces habitat led to local experimentation and success, followed by active
changes of ideas and innovations. But internal discord persisted as well; in the
end this contributed to Greeces decline. By 147 BC, the Romans had defeated
the last sovereign Greek intercity league. Nevertheless, what the ancient Greeks
had accomplished was not undone: they had transformed the eastern
Mediterranean into one of the cultural cores of the world, and Greek culture
became a major component of Roman civilization.
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
The center of civilization and power now shifted to the Romans in
present-day Italy. The Greeks never achieved politico-territorial organization on
the scale that Imperial Rome would accomplish. At its greatest expansion (in the
second century AD), the Roman Empire extended from Britain to the Persian
Gulf and from the Black Sea to Egypt. The variety of cultures brought under
Roman control and the resulting exchange of ideas and innovations yielded many
opportunities for regional interaction particularly in southern and western
Europe. Areas that hitherto supported only subsistence modes of life were drawn
into the greater economic framework of the empire, and suddenly there were
distant markets for products that had never found even local markets before.
Foodstuffs and raw materials now flowed into Rome from most of the
Mediterranean Basin. With a population that at its peak reached perhaps one
million, the city itself was the greatest single marketplace of the empire and the
first metropolitan-scale urban center in Europe.
That urban tradition came to characterize Roman culture throughout the
empire, and many cities and towns founded by the Romans continue to prosper to
this day. Roman urban centers were connected by an unparalleled network of
highway and water routes, facilities that all formed part of an infrastructure
needed to support economic growth and development. (Today, a modern states
infrastructure would include railroads, airports, energy-distribution systems,
telecommunications networks, and the like). More than anything else, however,
the Roman Empire left Europe a legacy of ideas concepts that long lay dormant
but eventually played their part when Europe unified by acquiescence than it was
under the Romans, and at no time did Europe come closer to obtaining a lingua
franca (common language) than during the age of Rome.
81

Finally, Europes transformation under Roman rule heavily involved the

geographic principle of areal functional specialization. Before the Romans
brought order and connectivity to their vast domain, much of Europe was
inhabited by tribal peoples who lived at a subsistence level. Many of these groups
lived in virtual isolation, traded little, and fought over territory when outsiders
encroached on it. Peoples under Romes sway, however brought into its
economic as well as political spheres and farmlands, irrigation systems, mines
and workshops appeared. Thus Roman-dominated areas began to take on a
characteristic that has marked Europe ever since: particular peoples and
particular places concentrated on the production of particular goods. Parts of
North Africa became granaries for urbanizing (European) Rome; Elba, a
Mediterranean island, produced iron ore; the Cartagena area of southeastern
Spain mined and exported silver and lead. Many other locales in the Roman
Empire specialized in the production of particular farm commodities,
manufactured goods, or minerals. The Romans knew how to exploit their natural
resources; at the same time, they also learned to use the diversified productive
talents of their subjects.
VOCABULARY
to people a popula
withdrawal retragere
intervening (adj.) care s-a petrecut ntre timp; (subst.) intervenie, amestec
to forge (aici) a ntri; a forja; a falsifica
league lig, alian, coaliie, confederaie
core miez, parte central, nucleu
to shift a se muta, a schimba
to yield a produce, a realize
hitherto pn acum, pn n zilele noastre
framework ram, cadru, context
foodstuff aliment
raw material materie prim
legacy motenire
dormant inactiv, adormit, latent
acquiescence- consimmnt, aprobare
to encroache upon a nclca
sway dominaie, stpnire
granary grnar
lead plumb
commodity marf
subject (aici) cetean supus
GRAMMAR
THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES
(Concordana Timpurilor)
n limba englez timpul verbului din propoziia secundar depinde, n
genere, de timpul verbului din principal. Aceast dependen, se numete
concordana timpurilor(The Sequence of Tenses).

82

Propoziia principal
1. Prezent; Prezentul perfect
He thinks
He has thought

Propoziia secundar
Orice timp
she is crossing the street
she crosses the street
she crossed the street
she will cross the street
she will have crossed the street by now
Orice timp afar de viitor
(if) you allow her.
(what) we have done (did)
(if) she is crossing the street.
Timp trecut

2. Viitor
She will cross the street
I shall tell her
I shall see
3. Timp trecut
a) aciuni simultane
Past Tense
I thought
b) aciunea din secundar
Trecut
I thought
c) aciunea din secundar
Trecut
I thought

Past Tense
(that) she crossed the street.
she was crossing the street when I saw
her.
- este anterioar celei din principal
Mai mult ca perfect:
(that) she had crossed the street.
she had been crossing the street
yesterday at 2 oclock.
- este posterioar celei din principal
a) Viitorul n trecut (Future in the Past)
(that) she would cross the street
she would be crossing the
street when I saw her.
b) Viitorul Perfect n trecut (Future
Perfect in the Past):
she would have crossed the street
by the time the traffic light stopped

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge upon:
a) Greek civilization;
b) Roman civilization;
c) Europes transformation under Roman rule.
II. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in parantheses:
Model: Dont wait for her if she (to be) late.
Dont wait for her if she is late.
1. If you(to need) me, give me a ring! 2. Tell her to come if she(to want) to.
3. It is cold in here if the radiator(to be) off. 4. You can talk to her if she(to
be) in. 5. Dont read if you(not to want) to!. 6. Take the book if you(to like)
it. 7. If you(to be) lucky you can still find him at the office. 8. You cant buy
the typewriter if you(not to have) enough money. 9. She is not at home if
nobody(to answer) the door. 10. Ask him to lend me some money if he (can).
11. I shall bring you candies if you(to behave) well. 12. I will help them with
their exercises if I(to have) time. 13. Nobody will harm you if you(to keep)
quiet. 14. You will learn much more easily if you(to watch) me do it.

83

LESSON NINE
BUCHAREST
capital

Romania
Charter
city of
Bucharest

Athenaeum

administrative
capital

Bucharest is the capital of Romania, the most important political,

administrative, economic and cultural centre of the country.
Located in the middle of one of the richest and most populated regions of
Romania, Bucharest occupies an area of 228 sq. km.
The present day area of Bucharest was inhabited from very early times
but the birth certificate of the town is the Charter issued by Vlad the Impaler on
20th September 1459, mentioning the existence of the city of Bucharest.
For 200 years from that moment on, the princes of Wallachia would take
residence either in Trgovite or in Bucharest, which eventually became the
capital.
The city began to develop in the 16th century during the reign of Mircea
Ciobanul who built on the site of some 14th century fortification a new princely
court known as Curtea Veche (Old Court), the remains of which have survived
to the present day.
Old Bucharest (as it exists today) dates from the mid or late 19th
century, a rich dowry of buildings and monuments of which we mention: the
University, C.E.C. (Savings Bank), the Romanian Athenaeum and many other
such genuine pieces of architecture.
In the contemporary years, Bucharest has undergone a new stage of
development. A modern city with broad streets and theatres, concert halls,
cinemas, abundant vegetation, parks and a girdle of lakes, this is what strikes one
as the characteristic features of our capital.
As the political and administrative capital of our homeland, Bucharest is
the headquarters of all ministries and other central governmental bodies and
institutions responsible with the coordination of the political, economic, social,
scientific, educational, cultural and artistic life of the country.
The impetuous development of the city has also turned Bucharest into a
great industrial centre, as it includes in its area all that defines a modern industry,
from iron and steel, metallurgy, machine building, to textiles, food products and
other consumer goods.
In the sphere of cultural, scientific and artistic life, Bucharest has
witnessed essential transformations.
A vast educational network of primary and secondary schools, well
known high schools, as well as higher education institutes humanistic,
polytechnical, economic, medical and pharmaceutical, artistic and sports, has
been created.
The capital has a large number of houses of culture and arts, libraries,
theatres and opera houses, concert halls, well known museums as the History
Museum of Romania, the Art Museum, the Grigore Antipa Museum of Natural
Sciences, the Village Museum and of Folk Art, considered as one of the most
interesting and best organized ethnographical museums in the open air
throughout the world, and many such cultural and artistic institutions.
*
*

Parliament
Building

Peter: This weekend we are all to explore Bucharest on foot.

Emily: Thats a bright idea, indeed. What do you say, John?
John: Im all for it. Theres a lot to be seen around Bucharest and so we better
take advantage of Peters offer. Where shall we start?
Emily: Lets start with an older part of Bucharest, say, the Parliament Building.
84

Calea Victoriei

History
Museum

Cimigiu
Gardens

Peter: Good idea, Emily. We shall proceed towards Calea Victoriei, after we
have crossed the Dmbovia River, passed by Unirea Market and left behind the
Law Courts.
John: I know the itinerary. I hope Calea Victoriei will be less crowded than on
week days. We shall have the chance to admire the graceful buildings of the
History Museum of Romania and of the Savings Bank, the multi-storey
department store Unirea Shopping Center and with that we shall practically
find ourselves right in the middle of one of the busiest shopping centers of the
city.
Emily: Enough of this description. I know you are more familiar with the sites of
Bucharest than the rest of us. Rather than choose a strict itinerary, lets ramble
about the centre of Bucharest and allow our imagination to guide our steps.
Peter: Agreed. And if any one of us feels tired, especially you Emily, we shall
take refuge in the cool shade of the Cimigiu Gardens, have refreshments and rest
for as long as we please.
VOCABULARY
capital capital
area suprafa, arie
reign domnie
century secol
site loc, amplasament
fortification fortificaie, loc ntrit
court curte
remains ruine
to survive a supravieui
dowry zestre
genuine adevarat, real
girdle centur
headquarters sediu
sole singurul, unic
to exert a exercita
to witness a fi martorul
network reea
ethnographical etnografic
multi-storey building cldire cu multe etaje
to undergo development a nregistra o dezvoltare
state power putere de stat
to carry into effect a traduce n via
home policy politic intern
foreign policy politic extern
to turn into a transforma
iron and steel industry industrie siderurgic
machine-building industry industrie constructoare de maini
food products produse alimentare
consumer goods bunuri de larg consum
higher education institute institute de nvmnt superior
settlement aezare
establishment aezmnt
district district, cartier
in the neighbourhood n vecintate
to surround a nconjura
85

stately house cas impunatoare

to set the foundations of a pune bazele
unprecedent fr precedent
picturesque pitoresc
square pia
civic centre centru civic
shopping centre centru commercial
residential district cartier de locuine
Town Hall primrie
Law Courts tribunal
Ministry minister
Prosecutors Office procuratur
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Camera de Comer i Industrie
The National Bank of Romania Banca Naional a Romniei
The National Theatre Teatrul Naional
The Romanian Opera House Opera Romn
preocupare concern
silvicultur forestry
a pune accentul pe to lay emphasize on
intelectualitate intelligentsia
atelier workshop
GRAMMAR
1. FOREIGN PLURALS
(Plurale strine)
memorandum memoranda
datum data
phenomenon phenomena
crisis crises
nucleus nuclei
terminus termini
stimulus stimuli
formula formulae
index indices
index indexes
Words that are frequently used often have an English plural:
memorandum memorandums
formula formulas
terminus terminuses
2. THE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS ASPECT
(Viitorul Perfect Forma Continu)
Affirmative Form

Negative Form

I shall have been

arriving.
You will have
been arriving.
He, she, it will
have
been
arriving.

I shall have not

been arriving.
You will have
not
been
arriving.
He, she, it will
have not been

Interrogative Form NegativeInterrogative Form

Shall I have been Shall I have not
arriving?
been arriving?
Will you have Will you have not
been arriving?
been arriving?
Will he, she ,it Will he, she, it
have
been have not been
arriving?
arriving?
86

We shall have
been arriving.
You will have
been arriving.
They will have
been arriving

arriving.
We shall
not
arriving.
You will
not
arriving.
They will
not
arriving.

have Shall we have

been been arriving?
Will you have
have been arriving?
been Will they have
been arriving?
have
been

Shall we have not

been arriving?
Will you have not
been arriving?
Will they have
not been arriving?

Contracted Forms (Formele Contrase):

1. Ill have been arriving; hell have been arriving; well have been arriving,
etc.
2. I shant have been arriving; you wont have been arriving; we shant have
been arriving, etc.
3. Shant I have been arriving? Wont he have been arriving? Shant we have
been arriving? etc.
Use of the Future Perfect Continuous Aspect
Rules
Examples
Viitorul Perfect la Forma Continu I shall have been working on my paper
denot o aciune nceput naintea unui for an hour by the time you came back.
moment dat n viitor i care se continu By the 1st of October he will have been
n acel moment viitor.
finishing his project.
EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) The location of our capital city.
b) Some aspects related to the history of Bucharest.
c) Bucharest a political and administrative centre.
d) Bucharest an industrial centre.
e) The cultural, scientific and educational development of Bucharest.
II. Fill in the blanks with prepositions:
1. After World War II, the new edifices Bucharest harmoniously fit the
scenary of the town. 2. The Peoples House is one the most stately building
the capital. 3. The Television Building is a real place, meant spreading art
and culture. 4. The new National Theatre the University Square is one of the
most important edifices the country. 5. The Circus, the Exhibition Hall and the
Bucharest International Fair wholly built concrete and glass rank as the most
original architectural achievements the city.
III. Make up questions to which the following sentences could be the
answers:
1. The Palace of the Republic was built between 1930 and 1937. 2. The
Mogooaia Palace has been restored and at present it shelters a Museum of
Brncovan Art. 3. The Brncovan art is the consequence of the cultural
development of Wallachian architecture in the 18th century. 4. The National
Gallery in the Art Museum of Romania contains most valuable works by famous
painters and sculptors.

87

IV. Replace the infinitives in brackets by the required tenses:

1. They (to meet) in the library every morning. 2. They (to talk) about the citys
modern development. 3. They (to visit) the old quarters of the town now. 4.
Every day she (to come) to the Academy at 8 oclock. 5. Our friends are in the
reading room. They (to study) for the English seminar. 6. I often (to go) to see a
good exhibition. 7. How you (to feel) after your stay in the mountains? 8.
Somebody (to ask) of you. 9. They (to build) a new modern school in their
district. 10. He (to work) hard to improve his knowledge. 11. If all (to go) well, I
shall finish my diploma paper in two weeks. 12. If you (to get) to the art gallery
before us, wait till we (to come). 13. I hear that you (to give up) the idea of
joining them on their trip. 14. They not yet (to come) from the library. 15. The
rain (to stop) but a cold wind is still blowing. 16. I (to sit) here while listening in
to the radio you (to get) ready with your exercises. 17. When they (to return)
from the trip they (to relate) what they (to see) in North Moldavia. 18. (to be)
surprised what progress she (to make)considering how little English (to know).
19. By the 1st of January they (to fulfill) their production plan.
V Insert the appropriate possessive adjectives and pronouns:
1. Let each of the students take own pace. 2. I decided to take share in the
work. 3. next trip will be better planned. 4. recent visit of the museum was
very rewarding. 5. I dont think that paper was much better than 6.
previous results were highly appreciated. 7. contribution in working out the
programme was better this year. 8. knowledge of mathematics is quite
remarkable. 9. Whose project was accepted or ? 10. I realized it dad not
been fault but 11. I am asking you what speciality is. 12. They decorated
classroom beautifully for the occasion.
VI. Translate into English:
1. Bucuretiul se dezvolt ca un mare centru modern al rii. 2. nvmntul se
bucur de numeroase faciliti n vederea formrii de specialiti. 3. n fiecare zi la
acest or colegii notri studiaz n bibliotec. 4. nvm pentru a dobndi
cunotine tot mai bune de limb englez. 5. Conferina ncepe peste 10 minute.
6. El pleac n cltorie abia luna viitoare. 7. Este ideea lui nu a ta. 8. Studenii
grupei noastre se prezint bine pregtii la examene. 9. St la masa de scris i i
scrie exerciiile. 10. Ai obinut datele necsare proiectului? 11. Am aplicat o serie
de formule matematice la studiul economiei. 12. Experii au fcut o analiz
profund a efectelor negative ale crizelor financiar i monetar. 13. Se vor referi
la principalele tendine i fenomene de pe piaa materiilor prime.

88

LESSON TEN
ROMANIA
Romania

The Black Sea

Carpathian
Mountains

Danube

Danube Delta

Eastern
Europe

natural
resources

Romania lies between 433707 and 481506 latitude north and

291544 and 294124 longitude east at the crossroads of Central, Southern
and Eastern Europe. North and east Romania borders upon Ukraine and Moldova,
south upon Bulgaria, south-west upon Serbia & Montenegro, and west upon
Hungary. The Black Sea forms part of Romanias south-eastern frontier, while
the Danube, the longest part of Romanias southern boundary, flows 1,075 km on
Romanian territory.
Romania, whose total area is 238,391 sq. km ranks 12th in size among the
European countries.
The most characteristic feature of Romanias relief is its variety of land
forms. Around the central plateau of Transylvania rises the range of the
Carpathian Mountains surrounded by foothills and plateaus, which gradually
slope downwards into the plains stretching at their foot. The average altitude of
the Carpathians is approx. 1,000 m, the highest altitude seldom exceeds 2,500 m
(in the Bucegi, Fgra, Parng, Retezat, and te Rodna Mountains).
The Romanian Carpathians, with craggy but easily-accesible peaks, with
restful landscape, with century-old forests of fir, beech and oak trees as well as
of other species, with numerous karst phenomena, with hospitable chalets and
picturesque resorts, are among the most beautiful mountains in Europe.
Most of the rivers in Romania rise from the Carpathians and flow, directly
or through their main tributaries, into the broad bed of the Danube.
Before its flowing into the sea, the Danube crosses Dobrudja, describing
an immense arc of a circle whose end separates into three arms Chilia, Sulina and
Sfntu Gheorghe. The waters of the huge river and those of the sea base created
here the youngest territory of Europe a wide stretch of lands and waters (4,340
sq.km) the realm of aquatic plants, a fauna of a matchless richness the
Danube Delta.
Owing to the relief, the river network exhibits a radial pattern. The main
rivers springing from the Carpathians are longitudinal in the mountain area,
gentle slope in the hilly and piedmont area and very gentle slopes in the plain. In
Romania there are some 2,300 lakes covering an area of about 2,620 sq.km. The
largest lakes are scattered on the sea coast, and in the Danube flood-land and the
small ones dot the mountain area.
Owing to the countrys position in relation to the main atmospheric
factors (east-continental, west-oceanic, south-Mediterranean air masses) and to
the complexity of its relief, Romanias climate is a blend of the excessive
continental climate of Eastern Europe. The rate and distribution of the rainfall in
Romania has a number of peculiarities. The rainfall is unequally distributed in
time and space, the heaviest rainfall occurs in the highlands and the highest in the
lowest zones, June being the rainiest month in almost all the country, and
February the droughtiest. The high temperatures of summer are counterpoised by
the low temperature of winter.
Owing to the favourable geographic conditions Romania is a rich country
both in respect of the natural resources of the soil and of the subsoil. More than
one quarter of the countrys total area is covered by forests, with trees belonging
to different species; conifers, oaks, beeches, poplars, willows, etc. The pasture
lands take up almost 12 % of the area of Romania. They have favoured livestock
breeding for many centuries.

89

Moldavia

Transylvania

Grain crops have found favourable conditions in Romania. Wheat is

grown on the Danube and the Banat plains and on the Moldavian, Dobrudjan and
Transylvanian plains; maize on the moresheltered of the Carpathian foothills, the
Moldavian plateau and in Transylvania. Barley which occurs most extensively in
Dobrudja, is cultivated mainly as fodder for livestock. Oats do well in the west of
the country in districts with heavy rainfalls. Districts planted to rye, which
requires a colder climate and sandy soil, are to be found in Northern Moldavia
and Western Transylvania. There are also rich crops of textile plants. Flax and
hemp hold an outstanding place among the plants grown in Romania. Other
industrial plants include sunflower, soya, sugar beet, tobacco and medicinal
herbs.
Apple-, cherry-, apricot-, pear-, plum- and peach-trees cover large areas in
the hilly districts of the country. Vineyards yielding fine grapes cover
considerable areas in the hilly districts, where the slopes are terraced for the vine.
Fauna is also varied and includes apart from hares, foxes, wolves, bears,
stags, red deer, lynxes, wild boar, pheasants, quail, wild geese, pelicans, trout,
herrings, sturgeons which come up into the Danube from the Black Sea, rare
specimens living in reservations such as chamois, aurochs, or the mountain cock.
With a view to protecting and saving from destruction the treasures of
beauty and the riches of nature, certain zones and territories in Romania have
been declared natural reserves protected by law. Among them are the Retezat
National Park, certain parts of the Danube Delta, the Bucegi Reserve, the Piatra
Craiului, etc.
Sources of mineral wealth are numerous and very important. They include
gold and silver which have been mined since antiquity, natural gas, coal, oil,
ferrous ores; manganese deposits, bauxite deposits, salt and building stone, etc.
The land, the fauna, flora and climate form a harmonious whole in which
the Romanian people have lived down the ages and where they are building up a
life of plenty.
VOCABULARY
crossroad drum transversal
boundary frontier, hotar, granie
feature trstur caracteristic, particularitate
plateau, pl. plateaux platou, podi
tableland podi, platou
depression depresiune; es, cmpie
gorge trectoare, defileu, pas
glade poian
volcanic zone zon vulcanic
volcanic crater crater vulcanic
marsh inut sau pmnt mltinos
fresh water lake lac cu ap dulce
salt water lake lac cu ap srat
flow curgere, flux, curent; curs (al unui ru); debit
to flow a curge, a se scurge
to surround a nconjura; a mprejmui; a ngrdi
foothill nlime subalpin
slope pant, povrni; versant, coast
to slope a fi nclinat; a se nclina; a se povrni, a fi n pant
to exceed a depi, a ntrece
plain es, cmpie
90

to stretch a(se)ntinde, a (se)lungi, a (se)extinde, a fi (situat), a se afla

width lrgime; lime; ntindere
to spring, sprang, sprung a aprea, a rsri, a se ivi; a tni, a izvor
piedmont piemont
to scatter a (se)mprtia, a (se)risipi, a presra
flood inundaie; potop, viitur
to flood a inunda, a neca, a potopi; a revrsa, a face s se reverse
to dot a puncta
blend amestec, combinaie; mbinare
rainfall (cantitate de) precipitaii; avers, ploaie torenial
to occur a se petrece, a se ntmpla, a avea loc; a se ntlni, a exista, a fi
drought secet; uscciune
to counterpoise a contracara; a echilibra
species, pl. species specie; categorie, spe, fel, soi, neam
conifer(ous) tree conifer
oak stejar
beech fag
poplar plop
willow salcie
acacia salcm
ash (tree) frasin
birch (tree) mesteacn
elm (tree) ulm
fir (tree) brad
horn beam (tree) carpen
juniper (tree) ienupr
lime (tree) tei
maple (tree) arar
pine (tree) pin
spruce fir molid
sycamore maple paltin
tanners sumach oetar
livestock vite; eptel
breeding cretere (animalelor, etc.)
wheat gru
maize porumb, ppuoi
barley orz
oats ovz
rye secar
hemp cnep
fox vulpe sau vulpoi
wolf lup
wild boar porc slbatic
stag cerb
deer, pl. deer cprioar
bear urs
badger bursuc
beaver castor
marten jder
squirrel veveri
pheasant fazan
quail prepeli
91

trout, pl. trout pstrv

sturgeon sturion; nisetru, morun
white/great sturgeon - morun
bream pltic
carp crap
mackerel scrumbie
perch biban
pike tiuc
pikeperch alu
salmon somn
tench - lin
chamois, pl. chamois capr neagr / de munte
aurochs zimbru
coal crbune, crbuni
vineyard vie, podgorie
craggily stncos; abrupt, rpos
chalet caban; (n muni), vil (n stil elveian)
resort staiune (climateric, balnear etc.)
medicinal herbs plante medicinale
to form a harmonious whole a forma un tot armonios
to build up a life of plenty a construi o via de belug
a nlocui to replace
a depozita to store
a da dispoziii to make the necessary arrangements
a bate la main to type(write)
a reui la examenul de admitere to pass the admission examination
a aproba to approve
a ine o prelegere to deliver a lecture
vrjit bewitched / fascinated
armonie harmony
antic ancient
Carpaii Sudici (Meridionali) the Southern Carpathians
Podiul Transilvaniei the Transylvanian Tableland
plai flat mountainous region covered with lawns
venerat venerated
pulbere dust
urma descendant
GRAMMAR
THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
(Modul Subjonctiv)
Modul subjonctiv prezint aciunea ca posibil, cnd aciunea este proiectat n
viitor, sau ca virtual, nerealizat, deci ireal, cnd aciunea trebuia s aib loc n
trecut.
Subjonctivul I (forma veche a subjonctivului, sau subjonctivul prezent) este
identic n form cu infinitivul scurt al verbului:
It is necessary that he be here
come in time.

92

To be
I be
You be
He, she, it be
We be
You be
They be

The old form of the subjunctive

To have
I have
You have
He, she, it have
We have
You have
They have

Rules
1. Aceast form se folosete cu
referire la orice timp exprimnd o stare
de lucruri presupus sau inexistent,
dar realizabil.
2. Reprezint o aciune ca fiind
problematic dar nu contradictorie
realitii. Se folosete pentru a exprima
un ordin, o presupunere, o ndoial, o
temere, o sugestie, o condiie, o cerere,
un scop.

To speak
I speak
You speak
He, she, it speak
We speak
You speak
They speak

Examples
It is strange that she be late.
It was strange that she be late.
It will be strange that she be late.

I doubt if he be among the tourists

(ndoial).
They suggested that the new method be
applied (sugestie).
He will give orders that the new car be
brought (ordin).
Sprint lest the other runners overtake
you (scop, temere).
3. Se folosete n unele exclamaii Heaven help us!
pentru a exprima o dorin, o speran Curse this fog!
sau un protest vehement.
Expenses be hanged!
Damn you!
4. Se folosete n unele expresii.
if need be - dac este nevoie
be that as it may oricum ar fi
far be it from me to departe de mine
gndul de a
come what may fie ce-o fi
N.B. Anumite verbe sunt urmate de should + construcii cu infinitivul. Cnd
infinitivul este to be, should se omite uneori.
He suggested that the plan (should) be drawn up.
Forma veche a subjonctivului se menine astzi n stilul official, frazeologie
juridic, limbaj ziaristic i parlamentar, procese verbale ale edinelor, n poezie,
tiin i tehnic.
I move that an appeal be made to the parts concerned.
Propun s se fac apel la prile n cauz.
EXERCISES
I. Speak on:
1. The most characteristic features of Romanias relief;
2. Romanias climate;
3. Romanias natural resources;
4. The Danube.

93

II. Say it in one word, choosing from the following words: coal, boundary,
willow, silver, stag, trout, tributary, flow, chalet, counterpoise:
1. To move along in a stream, as water or other liquid. 2. Something that
indicates bounds or limits; a limiting or bounding line. 3. A stream contributing
its flow to a larger stream or other body of water. 4. Any of several game fishes
of the genus Salmo, related the Salmo. 5. Adult male deer. 6. A kind of farm
house, low and wide caves, common in Alpine regions; a cottage, a villa, ski
lodge, or the like built in this style. 7. A black or dark-brown combustible mineral
substance consisting of carbonized substance vegetable matter, used as fuel. 8. A
white, ductile metallic element, used for making mirrors, coins, ornaments, table
utensils, etc. 9. To balance by an opposing weight; to counteract or offset by an
opposing force. 10. Any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, many species of which
have tough, pliable twigs or branches used for wickerwork, etc.
III. Read the text and ask questions on each sentence:
A great number of archaeological discoveries dating back to the Paleolithic,
Mesolithic and Neolithic attest to the fact that present-day Romanias territory
has been inhabited since time immemorial. The great Indo-European migration
by the end of the third millennium B.C. was accompanied by the penetration and
development of the Bronze and later on by the Iron Civilization. The Thracian
tribes that had settled in the Carpathian-Danubian area formed a unitary
community and built their own fortified centres. The northern Thracian branch
known as Getae or Dacians having distinct ethnical and linguistic features,
organized themselves politically under the leadership of Dromichaites in the
Danubian Plain, in 300 B.C. The union of all Geto-Dacians into a strong,
independent and centralized state, whose boundaries stretched from the Black Sea
to the Middle Danube and the Northern Carpathians, was achieved in the first
century B.C. by Burebista (70 44 B.C.). The centralized state of the Dacians
was reconstituted by Decebalus (87 106 A.D.) and it was under his rule that it
reached the apex of its development. The close relationships with the great
civilization of the time Greek, Persian and later on Roman and their influence
contributed to the progress of the Dacians.
IV. Fill in prepositions or adverbs:
a. The Romanian Black Sea shore begins the place where the Danube flows
the sea through the Chilia arm (the frontier point between Romania and Ukraine)
and stretches south a distance of 245 km Vama Veche (the frontier point
Romania and Bulgaria). But what is commonly known as littoral is only that
part seashore, 100 km long, where owing the geographic conditions, resorts
and sightseeing centres have been set , namely the part stretching south
Cape Midia as far as south Mangalia (Vama Veche).
b. Nowadays Dobrudja, one the most highly-developed regions our
country, boasts of large-size industrial and economic constructions at Constana,
Tulcea, Medgidia, Ovidiu, of its health and climatic resorts the littoral,
Mamaia, Eforie, Mangalia with huge hotels that have sprung on the beaches
attracting, every passing year, many visitors to enjoy the sunshine, the
foaming waves and the warm sand.
Besides this, the fertilization the Dobrudjan soil has transformed the old
steppe a fertile granary. The use advanced agro-technical methods,
productive areas have led increased per hectare crops as well as the
development a powerful zoo-technical sector.

94

V. Translate into English using the subjunctive:

1. Au sugerat s se nlocuiasc dou piese. 2. Vom da dispoziii ca toate mainile
s fie bine depozitate. 3. M ndoiesc c ele vor fi mine diminea aici. 4. Dac
este nevoie putem s aducem oricnd alte unelte. 5. Ea a sugerat ca scrisoarea s
fie btut la main. 6. M ndoiesc c el s-ar afla printre primii reuii la
examenul de admitere. 7. Ei au propus ca planul s fie aprobat. 8. S triasc
muli ani! 9. Ce nscocire! 10. (Noi) am cerut s se in o prelegere despre
problemele care i intereseaz.
VI. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate verbs given
below:
to take, to damage, to see to, to break, to submit, to be, to send
1. If he the regulation, he will be fined. 2. It was necessary that he
measures immediately. 3. We suggested that she it without delay. 4. They
demanded that he the documents. 5. He ordered that the cars at once. 6. It is
desirable that he witness in this case. 7. They covered the machines lest they
by snow.
VII. Translate into English:
Dac-ar putea privi cineva de sus de tot, aa nct s cuprind dintr-o dat tot
pmntul romnesc, ar rmne vrjit de armonia i frumuseea lui. n mijloc, se
ridic podiul Transilvaniei, nu prea nalt (circa 500 m), nconjurat din toate
prile de muni care-i alctuiesc o uria cunun.
Mrginind coroana munilor, se intind nlimi mai domoale, dealurile acoperite
de vii sau livezi de pomi; aceste dealuri formeaz n unele locuri o zon mai larg
(de pild Oltenia), n altele mai strmt, ca n rsritul Munteniei sau n ara
Criurilor. Dealurile se isprvesc, la rndul lor, prin cmpii ntinse ct vezi cu
ochii, lcaul grnelor. Brganul i Burnazul par c nu se mai termin; la fel
cmpia Tisei. Ruri numeroase izvorsc din Transilvania care poate fi socotit
drept casa apelor pmntul romnesc i strbtnd brul de muni, se ndreapt
spre Dunre fluviul venerat al strmoilor notri, daco-geii,drumul fr
pulbereal urmailor acestora i spre afluenii ei cei mai mari. Variat i
armonios alctuit, pmntul romnesc cuprinde toate formele de relief: de la
rmul neted al mrii, formnd plaje ntinse ce coboar pe nesimite sub ap
exemplul tipic e Mamaia i de la Delta n continu construcie a Dunrii pn la
plaiurile i crestele munilor.

95

CHAPTER THREE ENGLISH FOR ECONOMISTS

Introducere
Acest capitol se adreseaz cu precdere studenilor de la profilul economic i
conine n principal elemente practice i applicative la ndemna celor care doresc
s-i nsueasc i s foloseasc un limbaj economic.
Capitolul conine lecii ce trateaz teme axate pe principalele aspecte ale vieii
cotidiene, avnd drept scop s formeze deprinderi de limb necesare nsuirii
limbajului legat de problematica economic propriu-zis. Temele cuprinse n
capitol se refer la activitatea de comercializare a produselor cum sunt: reclama,
organizarea de trguri i expoziii, structura comerului exterior, cooperarea
economic, ct i teme legate de industria turistic, noua ordine economic.
Fiecare text este nsoit de o tem gramatical prezentat concis prin structuri,
scheme i tabele. Schemele gramaticale prezint probleme de gramatic i
construcii mai dificil de neles i mai ales, de folosit. Problematica gramatical
este urmat de exerciii lexicale i gramaticale menite s formeze deprinderi de
limb celor care studiaz limba englez n cadrul formei de nvmnt la
distan.

Obiective operaionale: Scopul acestui capitol este s:

creeze studenilor deprinderi de exprimare n termeni economici;
asigure nelegerea termenilor economici n limba englez;
urmreasc exersarea deprinderilor necesare pentru a putea citi i vorbi n
englez despre marketingul contemporan;
rezolve probleme gramaticale ntlnite n expresiile uzuale din limba
englez;
poat intocmi o lucrare de specialitate utiliznd termenii nsuii;
poat purta coresponden economic ntr-o gam destul de larg de
domenii economice: industrie, agricultur, turism;

Capitolul cuprinde urmtoarele teme de studiu:

1. Lesson one - Advertising.97
2. Lesson two How to stage successful trade fairs and exhibitions103
3. Lesson three Tourist industry and touristic activity107
4. Lesson four Foreign trade composition-development trends..110
5. Lesson five - The International Monetary Fund.114
6. Lesson six Economic co-operation..119
7. Lesson seven Marketing Past and Present123

Bibiografie selectiv
- Banta, Andrei (1991) Essential English, Ed. Teora Bucureti
- Gali, Livia & colaboratorii (1982) Limba Englez pentru nvmntul
superior economic, Ed.Didactic i Pedagogic, Bucureti
- Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana (1993) Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Ed.
Omegapress, Bucureti
- Hulban, Horia & colab.(1983) Exerciii i teste de limba englez, Ed.
tiinific i Enciclopedic, Bucureti
- Nicolescu, Adrian & colaboratorii (1980) Culegere de texte pentru cursul
practic de limba englez pentru secia geografie-geologie, Tipografia
Universitii din Bucureti
-* * *
- Speak English Nr. 1, 2, 3 / 1990
96

LESSON ONE
ADVERTISING
advertising

to persuade
advertisment

goods
services

placard

commercials

buyer

A certain amount of advertising is of an informative kind, the aim simply

being to let consumers know what goods and services are available consumer
education as it is sometimes called. Most advertising, however, is of a
persuasive kind, the aim of which is to persuade people to buy one thing rather
than something else.
No one can seriously pretend to remain unaffected by advertisments. It is
impossible to turn a blind eye to the pressing offers to buy this or that article that
fill our streets, newspapers and magazines. Even inside our living-rooms,
advertisers are waiting to pounce on their prospective buyers as they tune in to
their favourite radio or television programmes. In time, no matter how hard we
resist, clever little tunes and catch-phrases seep into our subconscious mind and
stay there. Though they seem so varied, all the advertisments have one thing in
common: they make strong appeals to our emotions.
So, advertising is meant to give information on certain goods or services
or on enterprises offering them, so as to awaken the interest of the people at large
and determine them to buy the given commodity and make use of the services
offered.
Advertising may take many forms. All of them appeal to the prospective
buyers senses (sight and hearing, above all), to his feelings, to his understanding
and reasoning capacity. They should be original, suggestive and convincing.
The forms of the advertising may be divided into three main sections,
namely placard advertising, newspaper (or periodical) advertising and
circular advertising. The first form includes advertisments which appear on
street hoardings, in trains, on buses, etc.; street signs, neon signs, exhibitions and
window-displays; commercials (screen advertisments at cinemas and on
television); sandwich boards, and all advertisments which are displayed in
public, whether in or out of doors. The second includes advertisments in all forms
of newspaper or periodical, from ordinary daily paper to theatre programmes.
The third form includes hand-bills, circular lettres, catalogues, leaflets,
descriptive booklets, or free samples and general advertising circulars, all of
which are usually delivered without payment to the persons for whom they are
intended. Each of these forms of advertising has characteristics of its own, the
form often adopted being quite different according to the nature of the appeal.
Placard Advertising. In the case of placard advertising, the chief object of
the appeal is to attract the attention of the general public. Long descriptive or
reasonable statements do not lend themselves to this form of advertisment. The
advertisment should be such that he who runs may read. The attention may be
attracted by a phase or a picture or some piece of mechanism in motion. This type
of advertisment is usually loud.
An important means of advertising is the shop window, which not only
informs the public on the assortment and quality of wares on sale, but also
stimulates the taste and raises the the level of buyers exactingness.. The shop
window is the visiting card of a commercial unit and contributes, at the same
time, towards the achievements of the working people in the field of commodity
production as well as the steady advance of trade.
The shop window is equipped with stands and shelves, boxes and
geometrical figures, mannequins or mere outlines of human bodies. Artificial
flowers and placards enhance the decorative effect. A harmonious choice of
colours, the use of mobile elements, certain light effects catch the eye too.
97

exhibition

brand

newspaper

Goods are successsfully introduced or popularized in the framework of

exhibitions, arranged by a shop, by a store department, or in special exhibiting
places.
But visual hooks are not exclusively brought into play to make
advertising operative, to give a brand a solid build-up. Radio or TV commercials
may make a hit if they are accompanied by entertaining music and if they are not
repeated until the goods they advertise have ceased to answer buyers
requirements.
Newspaper Advertising. The methods of advertising in newspapers are
very similar to those of the placard advertisments, but there is a distinct
difference in many cases.
Usually, a reader of a newspaper has more time to spend in reading the
newspaper than he would care to give to the reading of the advertisments on a
hoarding.
While it is equally necessary to get his attention by some striking picture
or lettering, when that attention is secured there are more opportunities for
descriptive, illustrative, intelligible and literary matter.
In deciding on the form of an advertisment which is to appear in the press,
four considerations are necessary: 1. the particular class of periodical selected; 2.
the position of the advertisment; 3. the subject-matter of the advertisment; 4. the
effective display of the advertising matter.
It is generally considered that the front page or the back page of a
periodical is the best position for an advertisment, that the right-hand pages are
better than the left-hand pages, and that advertisments opposite reading matter are
better placed than those which are inserted among pages containing advertising
matter only.
The subject-matter is the most important of the advertisment, and the
matter should be so arranged that it attracts the readers attention and leaves a
lasting impression on his mind. If the advertisment is for the purpose of extolling
the virtues of a particular commodity, the impression left on the readers mind
should be such that he will remember the name and some of the advantages of
that commodity. Many advertisments fail because the wording is such that it
advertise an article generally, and does not leave a sufficiently lasting impression
on the mind of the reader to make him think of a particular brand or make of an
article. Careless wording, bad punctuation, poor display, or grammar mistakes
will lessen the value of the advertisment, and, in the estimations of the reader,
lower the standard of the advertising firm and the article advertised.
VOCABULARY
advertising activitate de reclam
to advertise a face reclam
advertisment reclam, anun
persuasive convingtor
to pounce on a izbucni, a dezlnui mpotriva
catch-phrase expresie la mod
to seep into a ptrunde n
placard placard; pancart; afi
hoarding panou pentru afie
hand-bill mic prospect
booklet brour
circular circular; reclam; prospect
sample mostr
98

lettering (manier de a scrie) literele

subject-matter obiect, tematic
display expunere
to be inserted a fi intercalat
to be worded a fi redactat, formulat
wording redactare, formulare
brand calitate
to turn a blind eye to a nchide ochii la
to tune in to a prinde (un post de radio)
street sign firm
sandwich board reclam pe dou placarde
to secure ones attention a atrage atenia cuiva
reading matter material de citit
left-hand pages pagini cu so
right-hand pages pagini fr so
to extol the virtue of a commodity a luda calitatea mrfii
people at large pturile largi ale populaiei
no matter how hard we resist orict de mult ne mpotrivim
to make strong appeals a aciona puternic asupra
to lend oneself to a se preta la
GRAMMAR
THE PUNCTUATION MARKS
(Semnele de punctuaie)
Punctuation Mark
Rules
. The full stop or the Punctul se folosete:
period
a) la sfritul unei
propoziii enuniative ;
b)
dup
prescurtri
grafice i lexicale ;
c) pentru separarea aanumitului titlu lateral,
adic a titlului care se
scrie ntr-un rnd cu
textul ;
Semnul exclamrii se
folosete la sfritul unei
propoziii
exclamative
care exprim mirare,
mhnire,
lips
de
ncredere, indignare etc.
or Semnul ntrebrii se
folosete dup ntrebri
speciale,
generale,
alternative i disjunctive:

Examples
Advertising may take
many forms.
e.g.; i.e.; Mr. X; Dr. Y;
H. Sweet; N.Y.
Placard Advertising. In
case
of
placard
advertising, the chief
object of the appeal is to
attract the attention of the
general public.

! The exclamation mark

? The question
interrogation mark

: The colon

What a fine building it is

!

Whats the aim of

advertising?
Can you speak about the
forms of advertising?
Youve read this letter,
havent you?
Dou puncte se folosesc: You
remember
his
a) dup cuvintele care words:
introduc un citat sau un I want to know how
99

text lung n vorbirea

direct;
b)
naintea
unei
enumerri sau dup unele
cuvinte ca: as, as follows,
the following, thus;
; The semi-colon

The apostrophe

- The hyphen

The dash

, The comma

long this state of things

between us is to last.
We export the following
goods: tinned meat, fish,
vegetables and fruit,
honey, foodstuffs and
flowers.
Punctul
i
virgula The moon went down ;
marcheaz o pauz mai the stars grew pale ; the
mare dect cea redat cold day broke.
prin virgul. Punctul i
virgula se folosesc n
fraza
compus
prin
coordonare.
Apostroful se folosete Hows business?
pentru a arta c o liter Weve
read
these
sau dou litere au fost classified advertisments.
omise.
Liniua de unire sau Up-to-date equipment.
cratima
se
folosete Price-cutting.
pentru a uni diferite pri Subject-matter.
ale unui cuvnt compus.
Linia de desprire se She did not replace my
folosete: a) pentru a mother no one could
separa dou propoziii do.
coordonate, legate fr Other shoe polishes just
conjuncie;
clean your shoes nicely,
b) n interiorul propoziiei cleanly, efficiently but
sau al frazei, pentru a E shoe polish lanolizes
delimita cuvintele i them.
construciile parentetice And all this long story
sau apoziiile explicative; was about what do you
c)
pentru
marcarea think?
pauzelor lungi n vorbirea Securing the problem of
oral;
commercials i.e., the
d) naintea cuvintelor spoken
and
sung
namely, i.e. dup care, de advertisments for the
obicei, se pune virgula;
moment, you find that
there are five ways of
making
people
particularly unhappy.
Virgula se folosete:
Trees, and bridges, and
a) naintea conjunciei houses were swept by the
and la o enumerare flooded stream.
care depete dou My dear friend, Dear
elemente;
Sirs, Yours faithfully,
b) dup formule de Yours truly,
introducere
i
de On the 24th of May, 1982
ncheiere n scrisori;
20 High Street, London,
c) la date, ntre lun i an, England
iar la adrese ntre strad, Nevertheless,
large
ora i stat;
numbers of consumers
100

 (Double) quotes,
quotation
mark,
or
inverted comas
Single quotes

[ ] Brackets or square
brackets

( ) Parantheses or marks
of parantheses or (round)
brackets

The dots

d) pentru a despri
conjuncii,
locuiuni
conjunciale sau adverbe
ca: however, besides,
moreover, that is, too,
nevertheless, therefore,
consequently,
indeed,
evidently,
accordingly
etc. de restul propoziiei;
e) dup interjecii;
f)
dup
propoziii
circumstaniale de loc,
timp sau condiie;
g)
ntre
propoziii
coordonate de orice fel;
Ghilimelele se pun la
nceputul i la sfritul
unui citat;
Ghilimelele simple se
folosesc de obicei atunci
cnd cuvntul separat
prin ele se afl n
interiorul
propoziiei
cuprinse ntre ghilimele
duble;
Ghilimelele simple se
folosesc uneori i n locul
celor
duble,
dac
cuvintele amintite nu fac
parte din vorbirea direct;
Parantezele drepte sau
rotunde
se
folosesc
pentru
scoaterea
n
eviden: (i) a unei pri
din text, (ii) a indicaiilor
bibliografice n literatura
tiinific,
economic,
tehnic, didactic sau de
informaie divers; (iii) n
transcrierea fonetic
Punctele de suspensie se
folosesc:
a)
pentru
indicarea
unei
idei
neterminate; b) pentru a
marca pauzele lungi pe
care le face vorbitorul,
cutnd
expresiile,
cuvintele
cele
mai
potrivite sau lipsa unor
cuvinte sau pasaje ntregi
dintr-un text citat.
101

prefer to buy goods that

are advertised.
I noticed another thing,
moreover, which struck
me greatly.
Oh, Mary, my sweet girl!
Well, there are many
things Id like to tell you.
If I meet him, I shall tell
him about it.
When the day broke, the
wind blew harder and
harder.
It was bitterly cold, so we
did not go out.
Those were his words,
she said.
Look at the lady in
grey, Gran; isnt she
pretty today?
The word: scientific has
a magic effect in the
U.S.A. You may put up a
notice. Scalp massage:
this is quite ineffective.
But if you say: Scientific
scalp massage that is a
different matter.
All forms of advertising
appeal to the prospective
buyers senses (sight and
hearing, above all), to his
feelings,
to
his
understanding
and
reasoning capacity.
I dont want to write
anybody elses articles
(J. Galsworthy)
read [`ri:d]
Youre fired
He stared at him as he
spoke
How long are you
planning to stay?
When one is young, you
understand

EXERCISES
I. Speak about:
a) The aim of advertising.
b) Forms of advertising.
c) The subject-matter of the advertisment.
II. Write some commercials for the following goods: tomato paste,
refrigerators, computers, STIREX glassware, winter wind jackets.
III. Explain the use of all the punctuation marks used in the text given below
and then render its contents:
Advertisments in America fill the newspapers and cover the walls, they are on the
menu cards and in your daily post, on match boxes and on pamphlets, they are
shouted through loud speakers and shown in the cinemas, flashed electrically and
written on the sky by aeroplanes and whispered in front of your window while
you sleep so that you should dream of tooth-paste, shoe polishes and soap flakes.
Leaving the problem of commercials i.e. the spoken and sung radio
advertisments for the moment, you find that there are five main ways of making
people particularly unhappy. ()
The other approach on the same line is to give people statistics. You state, for
instance, that AMALDA floor polish gives 42 per cent more shine to the floor with
37 per cent less effort than any other make. If anybody questions your statement
and declares that its stupidity is too obvious for any child over the age of four,
you smile in a superior way and explain to him that this has been scientifically
proved. If he is still unconvinced, tell him that the real explanation lies in the fact
that any other floor polish just cleans the floor but AMALDA platonizes it.
(Abridged from Advertisments by G. Mikes)
IV. Punctuate the following sentences:
1 Looking through the New Yorker magazine I met the following description of
cars the car with youthful beauty that surrounds you with silent strength balanced
beauty luxury reflected in every shining inch see its clean length knifing through
clear cool air jewel bright beauty sculptured in steel There s nothing like a new
car and there s never been a new car like this We proudly invite you to inspect it
2 One of the cars has a great deep breathing engine the engine of another is
leanmuscled 3 But the advertisment I like best showed a picture of the car and
underneath you read
If you know the woman who should have this car you must admire her very much
she s gentle strong and intensely feminine If you know this remarkable woman
you d well adviced to marry her quickly If you re lucky you already have
V. Translate into English:
a) 1. Reclama comercial se refer la popularizarea mrfurilor, a magazinelor, a
unor forme speciale de vnzare n scopul stimulrii vnzrilor. 2. Reclama se
folosete, de asemenea, n activitile de prestri de servicii, turism, asigurri,
transporturi i altele. 3. Mijloacele de reclam sunt variate, n funcie de locul
unde se organizeaz, de destinatarul lor. 4. Ca mijloace de reclam se folosesc:
marca de fabric si de calitate, vitrina, afiul, anunuri prin pres, radio,
televiziune, cinematograf i altele. 5. Reclama este o form a publicitii constnd
n difuziunea de informaii privind anumite mrfuri i servicii ctre eventuali
cumprtori n scopul influenrii acestora.
102

LESSON TWO
HOW TO STAGE SUCCESSFUL TRADE FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS
trade fair

market

exhibition

to stage

to promote

fair

Romanias staging and participation in international trade fairs and

exhibitions are ways of getting acquainted with the world technical progress, of
stimulating the commercial activity of the foreign trade organizations, of
extending business contracts, of gaining outlets, of getting directly aquainted with
the markets and take advantage of the condition of the market, of adjusting
Romanian-made goods to the foreign markets technical quality, display and
packaging requirements to be in a position to sell directly to the end-user.
In Romania there is a specialized enterprise ITE, The Entreprise for
Fairs and Exhibition, that stages every international and national fair and
exhibition that take place in the Exhibition Complex of Bucharest. It also
organizes Romanias official participation in fairs and exhibitions abroad,
national and jubilee exhibitions, exhibitions in big department-stores abroad.
The enterprise can also stage turn key exhibitions and fairs held
elsewhere, granting technical assistance, carrying out the design, execution,
assembling and dismantling jobs.
The enterprise renders the following services for the fairs and exhibitions
staged in Bucharest:
- hires display areas in modern and spacious halls and open air platforms;
- designs, builds and arranges panels;
- secures the electric power for illumination purposes, for machinery and
equipment on show;
- carries out plumbing and electric installations, fits telex panels and telephone
exchanges;
- provides interpreters, skilled and unskilled workers;
- hires publicity panels, organizes national days, receptions, cocktail parties and
ensures guarded car parking areas.
Any company wishing to participate in a fair or exhibition is interested in
most favourable location of its stand, customs facilities, free visas, reduction of
transport charges, decoration elements insurance, medical assistance and
publicity.
In order to make the staging or participating in a trade fair or exhibition be
a success, certain principles can be carefully followed.
A starting point is to establish realistic and precise objectives for
participating in fairs and exhibitions.
Companies go to fairs and exhibitions to launch new products, promote
the existing ones, to meet the press for advertising purposes, and finally to sell
the exibits or leave them on consignment or lease. Sometimes, firms simply
participate to maintain competitive presence. But once the reasons of exhibiting
have been defined the staff should work toward them.
After the objectives have been settled next step is to choose the most
appropriate exhibition or fair. Romanian experts in trade fairs and exhibitions
advise companies to begin by identifying a number of likely trade fairs. The
exhibitor should check which of the fairs are most suitable in terms of product
themes, location and timing. To check if the organizer can provide audited data
which give attendance records and visitor profiles. To contact companies that
have exhibited before at the same show.
Once a choise of exhibition has been made, every endeavour should be
made to secure a good location where there is likely to be a steady flow of
visitors. It is well to get the stand where is a major entrance, near a major
103

stand

exhibitor who is bound to attract a large number of visitors and not at the end of a
blind alley, well away from the main focus of attention of the exhibition.
Another principle of good exhibiting is to begin planning as far a year in
advance, to avoid too much expense. Simple designs, tastefully furnished can be
a success for sure. Not to make hasty changes to design that would work against
the main theme of the message the company wants to put across.
Another factor is to design the stand so that interviews can take place
easily. If the potential customers stood about and were jostled instead of sitting
and chatting calmly with the stand staff, they would soon got tired and no orders
could be placed with. Since the stand staff are first people the trickle of visitors
meet they must match the companys image, they should know everything about
the product and be able to answer questions concerning the commercial
agreements for its supply. Any exhibition or fair should strive for lower
exhibiting costs, for economy of message and show quickly what the benefits to
the customers are.
VOCABULARY
to stage a organiza
outlet debueu
to adjust (aici) a adapta
display prezentare, expunere
to grant a acorda
assembling asamblare
dismantling demontare
to hire a nchiria, a angaja
appropriate corespunztor, adecvat
spacious spaios
to plumb a instala ap / gaze
skilled calificat
location amplasare
to launch a lansa
to promote a promova
consignment consignaie
lease nchiriere
to jostle a mpinge de colo pn colo
insurance asigurare
to get acquainted with a se familiariza cu
to take advantage of a profita de
turn-key exhibition expoziie la cheie
to render a service a face un serviciu
customs facilities avantaje vamale
audited data date de revizie contabil
attendance records date referitoare la participarea la expoziii
to make every endeavour a face toate eforturile
to put across a prezenta
the trickle of visitors ir nentrerupt de vizitatori
to match the companys image a se armoniza cu profilul companiei
exhibitor expozant
floor space / platform floor spaiu acoperit
world fair trg internaional
leasing of premises nchiriere a localului

104

GRAMMAR
IF CLAUSES
( Propoziii condiionale)
Propoziiile condiionale se introduc prin urmtoarele cuvinte: if, if only, in case,
on condition (that), provided (that), suppose (that), unless, as long as, whether
or, etc.
Rules
I. Propoziii condiionale care exprim
o aciune real.
Cnd verbul din propoziia condiional
exprim o aciune real sau probabil,
modurile ntrebuinate sunt: indicativul
n subordonat, indicativul sau
imperativul n principal;
Cu excepia viitorului care nu se
folosete n propoziia condiional,
verbul predicativ poate fi la orice timp
cerut de neles.

Examples
- If you go to the exhibition, I can give
you a lift.
- If he isnt here, he must be ill.
- If you speak English, please translate
this title for me.

II. Propoziii condiionale care exprim

o aciune ireal.
Modurile ntrebuinate sunt
condiionalul n principal i
subjonctivul n secundar.
Condiionalul prezent (principal)
Condiionalul perfect (principal)

- I should visit the fair if I could.

- If he enjoys appreciation, he earned it

by hard work. (Present + Past)
- If he didnt answer my letter, how can
I know about him? (Past Present)
- If he comes, I shall know it. (Present Future)

subjonctiv prezent (secundar)

subjonctiv perfect (secundar)
You would accept it at once if you
knew about it.
You would have accepted it at once if
you had known about it.
ntlnim de multe ori should i would n If you would call me, I should be
propoziii secundare condiionale. n
obliged to you.
aceste cazuri should i would sunt
I should tell him the truth if I should
verbe modale, nu auxiliare folosite la
meet him
formarea condiionalului.
The tenses in IF-CLAUSES
ntrebuinarea timpurilor n propoziia
condiional este aceeai n limba
englez ca i n limba romn, cu
urmtoarele excepii:
lb. romn
lb. englez
dac voi fi
If I am
dac voi fi fost
If I have been
dac a fi
dac a fi fost

If I were
If I had been

Examples

I should go if I am invited.
I should stay if she has finished her
meal.
I should go if I were invited.
I should have gone if I had been
invited.

105

Inversiunea n propoziia condiional se poate face cnd condiionala secundar

introdus de if conine unul dintre verbele to be, to have, could sau should.
IF-CLAUSES
If he were here, he would help us.
If I had time, I should go there.
If he had come yesterday, I should have
asked him about it.
If he should come tomorrow she would
know about it.

IF OMITTED
Were he here, he would help us.
Had I time, I should go there.
Had he come yesterday, I should have
asked him about it.
Should he come tomorrow, she would
know about it.

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) The advantage of staging and participating in international fairs and
exhibitions;
b) The ITEs rendering services for the fairs and exhibitions staged in Bucharest;
c) The principles which make staging and participating in fairs and exhibitions be
a success for sure.
II. Build up sentences after the model below:
Model: If the fair (to be) a success they (to get) orders placed with them.
If the fair were a succes they would get orders placed with them.
If the fair had been a success they would have got orders placed with
them.
1. If products of several economic branches (to be) on display, the fairs and
exhibitions (to be) general. 2. If a certain branch of science, technique, agriculture
(to be represented) exclusively, the fairs and exhibitions (to be) specialized. 3. If
the exhibition (to last) longer, we (can get acquainted with) the technological
flow of these machinery. 4 If they (to carry out) proper studies in advance, we
(can leave) the exhibits on consignment or lease. 5. If the company (to reach)
previously an agreement with the acency on the range of exhibits, they (can set
up) a successful stand.
III. Change the conditional sentences omitting if:
1. If you should decide to stage a specialized exhibition with us we will
endeavour to give you full satisfaction. 2. If they had inquired about the audit
data, they wouldnt have experienced such troubles. 3. If they were to participate
in the fair, they would have to arrange with the agency for the range of exhibits.
4. If business should result, we can let you have first class references. 5. If they
had asked for information, we should have let them have it.
IV. Fill in the blanks with the required tense:
1. They (to reach) the top of the mountain before the dark if they (to start) earlier.
2. I (to come) and see you off if I (not to live) so far away. 3. If we (to have) no
luggage, we (to walk) home. 4. I (to meet) you if I (to know) of your arrival. 5.
Everything (to be) all right, if she (to be) here tomorrow. 6. If it (to stop) raining,
you (can) go for a walk. 7. We (to ship) the goods yesterday if we (to receive) the
telegram. 8. They (to reach) the town earlier if they (to walk) faster.

106

LESSON THREE
TOURIST INDUSTRY AND TOURISTIC ACTIVITY
tourism

tourist

foreign
tourism
tourist
industry

market basket

visitors

domestic
tourism
accomodation
tourist
production

tourism
services

Foreign tourism is one of the most profitable forms of economic

relations.Development of international tourism like the expansion of world trade,
as a whole, has been extremely uneven. Tourism appears to be growing at
roughly the same rate as economic activity. The developed industrial countries
are roughly divided into tourist exporting countries such as West European
countries, Great Britain, France and Germany and also the United States and
Canada and tourist importing countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland
and Austria.
Foreign tourism and domestic tourism clearly can and for many countries
have already become a substantial source of national budget revenue, an industry.
The tourist industry may, like any other industries, be measured from the
point of view of inputs and / or outputs. The key inputs to the tourist industry are
considered to be public goods characterized by external effects to their use such
as transportation and land. Anything purchased by a tourist qua tourist may be
considered as part of this industry. The market basket of such tourist purchases
(and therefore the factors of production demanded in producing the goods and
services involved) varies among countries, within countries by income level and
over time. Changes in the mix of the tourist market basket and the markedly
different composition of this basket between countries and groups of persons
compound the problem of choosing a tourist industry yardstick.
Such a yardstick can be the international tourist that has been defined as
any person visiting a country, other than that in which he usually resides for a
period of at least 24 hours. Those persons visiting a foreign country for less than
24 hours have been defined excursionists. Tourists together with excursionists
comprise visitors word that describes any person visiting a country other than
that in which he resides, for any other reason than following an occupation
remunerated from within the country visited. But the definition can be extended
to all tourists both domestic and international, by defining a tourist as anyone
who is away at least overnight from his residential place for any other reason
than that following an occupation remunerated from within the area visited.
On this basis, tourist nights spent in lodging accomodation would be a
measure of the quantity of tourist production. It would be reasonable to assume
that tourists who purchase lodging output are tourist production importers and the
countries that make available such lodging output are tourist production
exporters.
Accommodation output may be used as the best available yardstick for the
tourist industry. Accommodation output includes: a) hotels and similar
establishments(boarding, houses, inns and motels) and b) supplementary means
of tourist accommodation (youth hotels, recreation cetres for children, holiday
centres, camping sites, mountain huts and shelters, sanatoria and convalescent
homes, rented rooms and apartments).
The demand for tourism by nationals of each country can be thought of as
composed of a demand for tourism services within the country (domestic
tourism) and of tourism services provided to the nationals of the country by other
countries (international tourism).
The tourist sector is characterized by exceptionally strong mutual
relationships between formally independent enterprises. In a tourist resort or
centre there is a need for the presence in appropriate quantity and quality of
transport, hotel, catering and entertainment enterprises, tourist attractions like
107

beaches, ski slopes, historical sites, museums, auxiliary services and shopping
facilities.
Tourism is a potential economic factor influencing the development of
international trade. It is a tertiary industry which creates prosperity through the
development of communications, transportation, accommodation, catering and
other consumer services. The expansion of foreign tourist travel is of a
considerable importance for the economic development of any country and it is a
way of consolodating contacts and a better understanding among nations.
VOCABULARY
roughly n mare
revenue venit (al statului)
qua (prep)., ca
purchase cumprtur
yardstick etalon
resort staiune
shelter adpost (aici) la munte
hut colib, caban
lodging accommodation cazare n hoteluri, motele
demand for tourism cerere turistic
boarding houses pensiune
camping site loc de parcare
historical site loc istoric
amenajri arrangements, improvements
care se bazeaz looking back on
instalaii de traducere simultan language monitoring equipment
GRAMMAR
THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE OF PURPOSE
(Propoziia final sau de scop)
Propoziia final sau de scop rspunde la ntrebrile why = (what for?), for what
purpose (= n ce scop?). Verbul n general este la subjonctiv dar se prefer
constuciile cu infinitivul.
Rules
I. Se introduce prin
conjuncii:
a) that

Examples
urmtoarele
I get up early that I may be in time at
the office.
Close the window so that it will be
warm.
They travel a lot in order that they
might see the world.
They wear an umbrella lest the clothes
should be spoiled.
They wouldnt let us climb the
mountain without a guide, for fear we
should get lost.

b) so that
c) in order that
d) lest
e) for fear
II. De cele mai multe ori propoziiile se
introduc n limba englez prin:

108

a) infinitive
b) in order to
c) for+ infinitive
III. With a view to + -ing

I get up early to be in time at the office.

She left early in order to keep her
appointment.
They changed the train for the travel to
be shorter.
Our countrys new hotels have been
built with a view to extending tourist
industry.

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) Tourism in the world exporters of tourists, importers of tourists;
b) Foreign and domestic tourism as source of budget revenue;
c) Tourist industry measurement;
d) Tourist output;
e) Demand for tourism its important factors;
f) Tourism as a potential economic factor in the development of international
trade.
II. Fill in the blanks, expressing a purpose, after the model below:
Model: They called them uptheir friends not to be surprised at their arrival.
They called them up lest their friends should be surprised at their arrival.
They called them up in order that their friends might not be surprised at their
arrival.
They called them up so that their friends would not be surprised at their arrival.
1. They organized two trips in the mountainsthey (not to be dissatisfied). 2. I
didnt send you my notesyou (not to read) them. 3. The fatherrang up his son
he(not to forget) to buy theatre tickets. 4. He sent them a telegram they (not to
be away) when they arrived.
Model: Put on your coat
Put on your coat that you should not catch cold.
Put on your coat in order that you should not catch cold.
Put on your coat lest you should catch cold.
1. Let me know about the meeting... 2. Dont speak so loud... 3. Be careful while
packing this beautiful vase... 4. Hurry up... 5. Spell this word again... 6. When
setting off on a journey tourists never take much luggage... 7. I put the flowers
into a vase...
III. Translate into English:
1. S-au construit i se construiesc hotele noi i moderne pentru a asigura o baz
corespunztoare unei industrii turistice moderne. 2. n vederea redeschiderii
sezonului turistic de iarn se fac din ce n ce mai multe amenajri. 3. Noi uniti
comerciale se vor da n funciune n apropierea hotelului pentru ca turitii s-i
fac cumprturile n zona hotelului. 4. Cazarea este considerat etalonul cel mai
eficient n vederea msurrii produciei turistice. 5. A nvat suficient englez
ca s poat citi cri n original. 6. S-au urcat pe tarasa hotelului ca s vad plaja.
7. Ar fi bine s notezi aceste lucruri ca s nu le uii. 8. Filmul era att de plicticos
nct am plecat printre primii.

109

LESSON FOUR
FOREIGN TRADE COMPOSITION DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
foreign trade

world output

machinery
equipment

world market

export

import

The physical composition of foreign trade, i.e. its structure by groups of

products, is a qualitative expression of Romanias participation in the
international economic collaboration. The evolution of the physical structure of
Romanian foreign trade has been brought about by the deep changes wrought in
the national economy.
Industrialization, technological progress, modernization of the production
pattern, are factors which had their impact on the mutations characteristic of
Romanian foreign trade. These mutations bear their stamp particularly on the
growing volume and share of exports of the mechanical engineering, chemical
and light industries.
These three branches are the most dynamic both in the world output and
in the world trade, their dynamism being confirmed by the Romanian economy.
At present, the group which prevails in Romanian exports is that of
machinery, equipment and means of conveyance, as a result of the achievements
scored in the industrialization and modernization of production.
High quotas have been held by a series of machinery and equipment
whose production has been developed not only to cover domestic needs, but also
to leave availabilities for export and which have faced the competition in the
world market.
It should be noted that Romania is a famous producer of oilfield
equipment and a good exporter of tractors. Moreover, the export product
coverage includes electronic computation techniques, precision engineering
telecommunication equipment and a large range of products of high technological
performances such as: universal lathes, automated and vertical lathes, sequential
programme machine tools, specialized machine tools, aggregate lines etc.
It is likewise highlighted the very speedy dynamics of chemicals,
fertilizers and rubber which triggered off a growing share of this group within
total exports. Within this group the pride of place is taken by the export of
fertilizers, soda ash, synthetic resins, black carbon, detergents, lacquers and
paints, carbide, synthetic rubber, medical drugs etc.
As for industrial consumer goods, they held an overwhelming share within total
exports. The range covers furniture, textile, glassware, fine household ceramics,
footwear and leather goods.
Agricultural products and foodstuffs hold a lower share within Romanian
exports than that of industrial products. From among this product coverage one
can mention meat and meat preparations, oil, vegetables, fruit, wine, dairy
products, honey etc.
Last but not least, fuels, mineral raw materials and metals make up a
group which continues to hold an important place within exports. It should be
noted that as a result of the development of the processing industry and given the
limited character of natural resources, Romania has made great investments and
efforts to locate and turn to account these resources. Romania imports crude oil
but exports oil products and the second place within the exports of this group is
taken by nonferrous rolled goods and pipes.
As far as the physical composition of imports is concerned, machinery
and equipment, fuel, raw materials and metals are to be considered. Despite the
fact that the mechanical engineering industry ensures a large share of the required
machinery and equipment it cannot cover nor it would be efficient to do so
because of the technological and scientific explosion, of the high rate
110

natural
resources

industrialization drive, and of the greater participation of our country in the

international labour division.
Fuels, raw materials and metals account for a bigger share within
Romanian imports. This is a consequence of the shortage of certain natural
resources and of the necessity to develop specialization and co-operation in
production of non-ferrous rolled goods and pipes. We import crude oil, coke,
coking coal, iron ore, non-ferrous metals (cooper, nickel, tin etc.)
On the whole, reviewing the composition of Romanian exports and
imports it is obvious that Romanian foreign trade has undergone progressive
changes in its physical structure.
VOCABULARY
composition (aici) structur
wrought past i part. de la work (inv. sau poetic) a-i face loc cu greu (aici)
pattern structur
impact influen, nrurire
mutation mutaie, schimbare
share cot
to prevail a predomina
conveyance transport
availability disponibilitate
performance randament
lathe strung
sequential secvenial
to highlight a scoate n relief
lacquer lac
overwhelming copleitor
leather piele, pielrie
fuel combustibil
to devise - inventa, a descoperi
changes wrought schimbri care au avut loc
to bear the stamp on a purta amprenta
product coverage gam de produse
to trigger off a declana, a impulsiona, a activiza
the pride of place is taken by un loc de frunte este deinut de
soda ash sod calcinat
black carbon negru de fum
to account for a justifica, a reprezenta
processing industry industrie prelucratoare
to undergo changes a suferi schimbri
rolled goods produse laminate
ore minereu
GRAMMAR
THE CAUSATIVE VERBS
(Verbele cauzative)
Causative Verbs
Examples
a) HAVE se folosete cnd altcineva They had the mechanic repair the
dect subiectul propoziiei face machine.
aciunea.
b) MAKE exprim folosirea forei We made them check these optical
111

fizice sau determinarea cuiva s fac devices.

aciunea.
c) GET exprim o convingere
They got the company representative to
export the goods.
N.B. Verbul TO LET cu sens de to allow / permit (a permite) se poate folosi cu
aceeai structur ca aceea a verbelor to have i to make dei nu este verb cauzativ.
Verbul TO HELP cu sensul de to assist (ajuta) poate nlocui structurile
cauzative ale verbelor to have i to make.
THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSE OF CAUSE
(Propoziia circumstanial de cauz)
Rules
Propoziia cauzal se introduce prin:
a) because;
b) for the reason that;
c) since
d) as;

Examples
He borrowed her case because he
didnt have one of his.
He failed to ring me up for the reason
that he was really angry with me.
Since they had no trucks they had to
hire them.
As it is already late, you had better go.

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge upon:
1. The physical composition of the Romanian foreign trade. 2. The quotas held by
a series of machinery and equipment in Romanias exports. 3. The physical
composition of Romanias imports.
II. Supply with prepositions:
1. the whole, reviewing the composition Romanian exports and imports it
is obvious that Romanian foreign trade has undergone progressive changes its
physical structure. 2. the Research Programme there is a steady concern
expanding the countrys own stock raw materials; devising new
technologies reducing consumption. 3. Romania should become self-contained
terms energy and fuel.
III. Change because to because of in the following sentences. Make any other
necessary changes:
We dont feel like working at night because we are tired. 2. We dont feel like
working now because our assignments are difficult. 3. They didnt make any
efforts to process these materials because they were already reprocessed. 4. These
goods didnt hold a high quota in the exports because they were produced in a
limited range. 5. They didnt buy coking coal because the price was too high. 6.
They didnt manufacture the equipment because it wasnt efficient.
IV. Fill in the blanks with as, because, since, whereas, considering that; seeing
that; on the ground that:
1. I didnt go to the machine-tools exhibition I was tired. 2. their efforts
have not been successful yet, we shall persist. 3. he never takes part in
112

negotiations, how can be give a good answer in writing? 4. they are late we
left for the station. 5. They rejected the goods the quality was inferior to that
ordered. 6. the technological and scientific explosion the machinery designing
changes very swiftly. 7. We didnt say anything they were too tired.
V. Translate into English:
1. L-am determinat s participe la simpozionul tiinific. 2. Vznd c expoziia
s-a nchis, am vizitat muzeul de istorie. 3. M-a ajutat s-mi verific maina. 4. I-au
angajat s repare mainile. 5. I-au pus s ambaleze piesele de schimb pentru
strungurile cele noi. 6. Deoarece nevoile interne pentru crbune au fost
satisfcute, s-a putut ndeplini planul la export. 7. Deoarece sunt foarte ocupat, nu
te voi putea nsoi la expoziie. 8. Dat fiind c i-a amnat concediul, va putea
participa la edin.

113

LESSON FIVE
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
International
Monetary Fund
monetary
co-operation

economic
management
exchange rate

Fund
payment

financial
markets

economic
system

The International Monetary Fund is an organization of countries that

seeks to promote international monetary co-operation and to facilitate the
expansion of trade, and thus to contribute to increased employment and improved
economic conditions in all member countries.
To achieve its purpose the Fund has a code of economic behaviour for its
members, makes financing available to members in balance of payments
difficulties, and provides them with technical assistance to improve their
economic management. Romania adhered to the International Monetary Fund on
the 12 th of December, 1972. Member countries undertake to collaborate with the
Fund and with each other to ensure orderly exchange arrangements and a stable
system of exchange rates, together with a multilateral system of payments that is
free from restrictions and thus promotes balance in the payments among
countries. Members are free to choose the form of exchange arrangements that
they intend to apply, subject to their obligations to the Fund and to its
surveillance of their exchange rate policies.
The Fund maintains a large pool of financial resources that it makes
available to member countries temporarily and subject to conditions to enable
them to carry out programmes to remedy their payments deficits without
resorting to restrictive measures that would adversely affect national and
international prosperity. Members make repayments to the Fund so that its
resources are used on a revolving basis and are continuously available to
countries facing payments difficulties. The policy adjustments that countries
make in connection with the use of Fund resources support their creditworthiness and thus facilitate their access to credit from other official sources and
from private financial markets.
Both the regulatory and the financing features of the Funds policies
contribute to the promotion of adjustment of inbalances in members
international payments. These policies evolve in response to changing world
economic conditions and the needs of the Fund members. They apply equally to
all member countries, whether industrial or developing, whether their payments
are in deficit or surplus, and regardless of their economic system.
Membership in the Fund is a prerequisite to membership in the World
Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development), and close
working relationships exist between the two organizations as well as between the
Fund and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The Fund is a specialized
agency within the United Nations system, co-operating with the U.N. on matters
of mutual interest.
The work of the Fund is carried out through a Board of Governors, an
Executive Board, a Managing Director, and a staff. Each member country is
represented by a Governor and an Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors,
which is the Funds highest authority and which meets annually.
The Fund conducts a consultation with each member country in
principle annually to appraise the members economic and financial situation
and policies. Consultations are primary means through which the Fund fulfils its
obligations to exercise surveillance of members exchange rate policies. They
also help to keep the Fund in a position to deal promptly with members requests
to use the Funds resources and with proposed changes in exchange practices that
are subject to approval by the Fund. Members also provide the Fund with a
steady flow of information on their economies.
114

balance of
payments

economic policy

exchange

The financial resources of the Fund are available under a variety of

permanent and temporary facilities to help members meet balance of payments
needs.
Purposes of the Fund
1. To promote international monetary co-operation through a permanent
institution which provides the machinery for consultation and collaboration on
the international monetary problems.
2. To facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade, and to
contribute thereby to the promotion and maintenance of high levels of
employment are real income and to the development of the productive resources
of all members as primary objectives of economic policy.
3. To promote exchange stability, to maintain orderly exchange arrangements
among members, and to avoid competitive exchange depreciation.
4. To assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments in respect of
current transactions between members and in the elimination of foreign exchange
restrictions which hamper the growth of world trade.
5. To give confidence to members by making the general resources of the Fund
temporarily available to them under adequate safeguards, thus providing them
with opportunity to correct maladjustments in their balance of payments without
resorting to measures destructive of national or international prosperity.
6. In accordance with the above, to shorten the duration and lessen the degree of
disequilibrium in the international balances of payments of members.
VOCABULARY
to trade a face comer
employment angajare
behaviour comportament
to adhere a adera
to undertake a se angaja, a-i asuma rspunderea
payment plat
surveillance supraveghere
pool (aici) fond comun
adversely nefavorabil
adjustment adaptare, ajustare
creditworthiness solvabilitate
promotion promovare
to draft a redacta
to amend a revizui
membership caliatea de membru
to oversee a supraveghea
to appraise a evalua, a estima
subscription cotizaie
to hamper a mpiedica
safeguard garanie
balance of payments balana de pli
free from fr, scutit de
subject to n baza
to carry out a duce la ndeplinire, a traduce n via
on a revolving basis prin rotaie
to face payment difficulties a fi confruntat cu dificulti financiare
to resort to a recurge la
in response to ca urmare a
115

Board of Governors Consiliul Guvernatorilor

Managing Director _ Director Administrativ
Alternate Governor Guvernator Supleant
Executive Board Consiliul Executiv
effective operation administrare efectiv
flow of information flux de informaii
exchange depreciation deprecierea ratei de schimb
in respect of cu privire la
foreign exchange devize
share aciune
bonds obligaiuni, titluri
stocks obligaiuni, hrtii de valoare, aciuni
net proceed venit net
national income venit naional
per capita income venit pe locuitor
asset activ, bun, profit
liability - pasiv
GRAMMAR
THE AUXILIARY VERBS
(Verbele Auxiliare)
Rules
Verbul TO BE :
I. ca verb noional nseamn:
1. to exist

Examples

There are some good libraries in our

town.
2. to take place, to happen
That seminar was last week.
3. to go (to visit, to attend) numai I have been to see the exhibition.
cu timpurile perfecte
II. ca semi-auxiliar se folosete:
1. ca verb de legtur
It was already late by the time we
reached the camp.
2. ca parte a unui predicat verbal
pentru a exprima :
a) un aranjament reciproc
Do not forget that we are to meet a
few minutes before we start on the trip
b) un ordin indirect (n vorbirea The teacher says that you are to learn
indirect)
all these lessons for the written paper.
c) ceva palnificat pentru viitor

A new book on the subject is to

appear by the end of the month.
d) ceva considerat de nenlturat, posibil The rules are to be obeyed.
sau potrivit
III. ca verb auxiliar se folosete
pentru a forma :
1. aspectul continuu
The days are getting shorter and
shorter.
2. forma pasiv
They are taught two foreign
languages.
3. ca rspuns la ntrebri
Is she here? Yes, she is.
4. ntrebri disjunctive
He is not a student of this faculty, is
116

he?
Verbul TO HAVE
I. ca verb noional nseamn:
1. to posses
2. to hold
3. to eperience

She has a good knowledge of English

and French.
He had a book in his hand.
I had difficulties in solving all those
problems.

II. ca verb semi-auxiliar se folosete :

1. n expresiile : to have a look, to
have a swim, to have a smoke,
etc.
2. ca parte a unui predicat verbal
pt. a exprima datoria sau
obligaia.
III. ca auxiliar se folosete pentru a
forma :
- timpurile perfecte
Verbul TO DO
I. ca verb noional nseamn :
1. a face, a executa, a ndeplini, a
realiza
2. a conveni, a fi de ajuns
3. a termina, n timpurile perfecte sau
participiul trecut
II. ca verb auxiliar se folosete la :
1. construirea formei interogative i
interogativ-negative a verbelor
2. accentueaz ideea exprimat de
verb
Verbul TO LET
I. ca verb noional nseamn:
1. a lsa, a permite
2. a nchiria
II. ca verb auxiliar se folosete pentru
a forma :
- imperativul

Let me have a look at your exercise.

We had a long walk together.
You have to finish your work sooner.
She had to look after an old friend of
hers.
He told us he had seen the play.

She did that at a record time.

This will do for a days work.
I have done with her.

Do they often come to see you?

Does he not speak French too?
He does assist them with their work.

Let me have a look at your work.

They are looking for an apartment to
let.
Let them come with you!

EXERCISES
I. Enlarge on:
a) The purpose of establishing the International Monetary Fund;
b) The means employed by the Fund to achieve its purposes;
c) The member countries obligations to the Fund;
d) The Funds responsibility to ensure the effective operation of the international
monetary system.
II. Ask questions to which the following sentences would be the answer:
1. The Fund maintains a large pool of financial resources temporarily and subject
to conditions. 2. Members make repayments to the Fund so that its resources are
used on a revolving basis. 3. Both the regulatory and the financing features of the
Funds policies contribute to the promotion of adjustment of inbalances. 4.
Membership in the Fund is a prerequisite to membership in the World Bank.

117

5. The Fund has the responsibility to ensure the effective operation of the
international monetary system. 6. The Funds system of quotas is one of its
central features.
III. Fill in the blanks with the necessary auxiliary verb: to be, to have, to do,
to let:
1. Theyreceive a prize. 2. You translated better than she3. Whatyouif
they tell you to leave now? 4.you attend yesterdays demonstration? 5. Ito
finish my summary. 6. Weto meet either today in the afternoon or tomorrow
morning. 7. Younot careful enough. 8. I enjoyed translating the text through
Ito look up so many words in the dictionary. 9them go if they want to. 10.
The I.M.Fan organization that seeks to promote international monetary cooperation. 11. To achieve its purpose the Fund a code of economic behaviour.
12. The Fundbased on an international treaty. 13. Theyinsist on facilitating
the expansion of international trade.
IV. Translate into English:
1. Am fost s ascult prelegerea. 2. Era timpul s hotrm cumprarea
materialului. 3. Urmeaz s ne ntlnim ctre sear. 4. Vor fi colaboratorii notri
timp de mai multe luni. 5. Lucreaz la acest material de aproape o lun. 6. Este
expert n probleme economice. 7. Li s-au dat toate datele. 8. Are ntrebrile
pregtite. 9. Te rog nu te supra! 10. La nceput am avut greuti pe care am
crezut c nu le voi putea depi. 11. n curnd va trebui s-mi aleg subiectul
lucrrii de diplom. 12. Mi-a spus c a participat la adunare. 13. V convine s ne
ntlnim mine? 14. Odat lucrarea fcut voi putea s-mi iau cteva zile de
concediu. 15. Nu vin prea des pe la noi. 16. S nu permii nimnui s ne
deranjeze. 17. Las-i s plece, au terminat ce aveau de lucru.

118

LESSON SIX
ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION
co-operation

international
economic order

joint ventures

capital

market

exports

Romania is a strong advocate of international co-operation in the

economic, technical, scientific and cultural fields.
In full consensus with her foreign policy, Romania takes an active part in
the world economic flow, considering trade and the economic, technological and
scientific collaboration as factors of the development of each country and of the
progress of the whole world, as a material support for a peaceful collaboration
among countries and peoples, for the establishment of a new international
economic order.
Romania is continuously enlarging its links with the neighbouring
countries, with all the other states. Acting in the spirit of peaceful coexistence,
Romania is also enlarging its co-operation with the developed and developing
capitalist countries, with all the sates of the world, regardless of social system,
actively participating in the world exchange of values.
The diversity of these relations is exemplified by Romanias participation
in GATT, in the IMF and in the World Bank and by the signature of a great
number of agreements covering various forms of co-operation. All forms of cooperation aim at developing raw material and energy supplies, at offering access
to advanced technology and at stimulating our countrys exports of goods and
technology.
Romania has entered partnerships abroad in the construction of industrial
units, provision of Romanian equipment and know-how in geologic exploration,
provision of turn-key projects, establishment of joint ventures and also in the
field of technical assistance.
The construction of industrial plants abroad is an important instrument of
export promotion for machinery and equipment. In the last years, Romania has
taken part in the construction of industrial units connected to be chemical
industry, petroleum, wood procesing and building materials, mechanical and
electrical engineering.
Romanias participation in joint ventures abroad have various purposes.
Some of them are related to production, others to promoting the export of
Romanian products.
These forms lay a solid and steadfast basis of the foreign economic
relations, allow for technology transfers, for technical assistance, and favour
inflows of capital and credits.
Production-oriented joint ventures deal with mining, agroindustries, the
exploitation of tropical hardwood, light industry, machine buildind, construction
materials, rubber, transports. Some companies are related to servicing and
assembling activities.
Commercial joint-ventures serve mainly marketing objectives. They are
important for establishing Romanias permanent presence in foreign markets.
Participation in commercial firms abroad enables Romanian products to be sold
through the already existing distribution networks, to keep adequate stocks of
spare parts and to perform essential servicing jobs. Romania has also increased its
exports and technical and consultancy services, particularly in chemicals, power
and petroleum refinery.
International economic and technical co-operation, within Romania has
also developed. Several joint ventures have been established operating in the
production and marketing of chemical fibres, electro-medical equipment,
feedstuff, passenger cars and others. Operating in the areas of advanced
119

technological requirements, the companies will contribute to increasing

Romanias export potential by providing new production lines and by upgrading
existing ones. Training programmes in these plants are to contribute to the
dissemination of technical and organizational know-how.
Romania places its relations with all states on the firm basis of the
principles of fully equal rights, respect for national independence principles
widely acknowledged in the world as the only ones on the basis of which one can
develop fruitful collaboration among states, and a climate of international peace
and security.
VOCABULARY
advocate susintor
agreement contract, nelegere, acord
feedstuff furaje
to upgrade a mbunti, a ridica pe o treapt superioar
dissemination rspndire
to enter partnerships with a se asocia cu
turn-key project proiect predat la cheie
joint venture companie mixt
joint n comun
distribution network reea de distribuie
spare parts piese de schimb
third markets tere piee
working meeting ntlnire de lucru
GRAMMAR
THE CONJUNCTION
(Conjuncia)
Conjunciile sunt cuvinte de legtur care nu au neles independent i se
folosesc pentru a lega cuvinte, grupuri de cuvinte sau propoziii ntr-o fraz.
Conjunciile sunt invariabile.
Rules
Examples
I. Din punct de vedere al formei conjunciile pot fi:
1. simple: and, or, if, when, that, since, I know that you will do what you are
why, but, etc.
told.
I came earlier since you needed me.
2. compuse: although, otherwise, You have been there therefore you
however, therefore, notwithstanding, can give us all the details.
besides, etc.
3. complexe: as if, as though, as soon as, I shall join the party as soon as I
as long as, so that, even if, as well as, finish my work.
etc.
4. locuiuni conjunctivale: in case that, He had to study for the exams, that is
on condition that, provided that, in order why he could not go to the
that, no matter how, etc.
mountains.
5. corelative: eitheror, neithernor, The day was both cold and wet.
bothand, no soonerthan, notbut, This summer we shall go either to the
not soas, notneither, not onlybut mountains or to the seaside, we didnt
also, asas, whetheror, thoughyet, decide yet.
etc.
120

II. Din punct de vedere al funciei lor conjunciile pot fi:

1. conjuncii coordonatoare:
I had a very busy day, besides I didnt
a) copulative: and, besides, as well as, know you had bought the tickets for
bothand, no less than, neithernor, the show.
noreither, not either, not onlybut The trip was both interesting and
also,
pleasant.
b) adversative: but, but then, whereas, He tried to explain but I didnt
while, however, still, etc
understand.
c) disjunctive: eitheror, or, otherwise, The speech will be delivered in either
else, or else, etc.
French or English.
d) cauzal-consecutive: for, therefore, It was getting late so she decided to
accordingly, consequently, that is why
leave.
2. conjuncii subordonatoare:
I shall let you know as soon as I am
a) de timp: when, after, till, until, while, ready.
all the time, whenever, as soon as, so It was still daylight when we reached
long as,
the resort.
b) de loc: wherever, where, whence, Wait for the holidays and you can go
whether, as far as, etc.
wherever you like.
c) de mod: as, as if, as though, so far as, They behave as if they never heard of
etc
it.
d) de cauz: for, because, as, since, etc.
I couldnt go to the theatre because I
was too tired.
e) de scop: so that, in order that, for We didnt take that road for fear we
fear, lest, so as, etc.
could have difficulties with our car.
f) comparative: than, as if, asas, not I think the concert was not so good as
soas, etc.
he said.
g) concesive: although, in spite of, We continued our walk although we
notwithstanding that, even if, etc.
felt tired.
h) consecutive: so that, suchthat, that, She enjoyed staying there so much
etc
that she decided to go there every
winter holidays.
i)
condiionale: if, neither, Unless you stop speaking I cant
unless, on condition that, concentrate on my work.
provided, supposing, in case,
etc.
I cannot say now whether I shall
ii)
subiective: that, as, whether, accept the assignment or not.
etc.
k) predicative: that, if, whether, as if, etc. The problem is whether they shall
have the time to rehearse or not.
l) completive: that, if, whether, where,
when, why, etc.
He told me where I could fiind all the
m) atributive: that, as if, etc.
necessary material.
He nodded as if he understood what
was all about.
EXERCISES
I. Enlarge upon:
1. Romanias position as regards economic co-operation.
2. The purpose of production oriented joint ventures.
3. The purpose of commercial joint ventures.

121

II. Join the following simple statements into one sentence using the joining
words in brackets:
1. Romania was one of the founding members of the Council for Mutual
Economic Assistance. It shares intensely in the work of this organization (not
onlybut also). 2. Romania insists on fully equal rights. It insists on respect for
national independence (bothand). 3. Romania does not accept unequal rights. It
does not accept non-observance of national independence (neithernor). 4.
Romania participates in joint ventures abroad. It participates in joint ventures
inside the country (bothand).
III. Place the adverb of indefinite time in brackets in the right place:
1. Romania has entered partnerships abroad (often). 2. Romania has been an
advocate of international co-operation (always). 3. Romania has been an advocate
of war (never).
4. Co-operation on equal terms is profitable for both parties (always). 5. Noninterference in domestic affairs is spoken (often). 6. Renunciation of the use and
threat of force is not accepted by some countries (always). 7. Romania has upheld
its principles (often).
IV. Show the difference in meaning between the sentences in pairs:
1. Only the chairman objected to the last proposal. The chairman objected only to
the last proposal. 2. I dont particularly want to go there now. I particularly dont
want to go there now. 3. He said finally he hoped to bring the negotiations to a
satisfactory conclusion. He said he hoped finally to bring the negotiations to a
satisfactory conclusion. 4. As we had anticipated, the scheme didnt work out in
practice. The scheme didnt work out in practice as we had anticipated. 5. The
committee as a whole considered the situation wad good. The committee
considered the situation as a whole was good.
V. Supply suitable conjunctions:
1. We shall leaveby the 8 oclock trainin the afternoon. 2. soonshe felt
better she resumed her work. 3. Shereads Englishspeaks it well. 4. we
approached the town it grew darkerdarker. 5. You did not tell meI could find
the book. 6. I dont knowhe will be able to come or not. 7. She behavesshe
didnt know what to do. 8. I were you I should take advantage of their
knowledge of English. 9. She didnt comeshe promised. 10. Do not
promiseyou are prepared to help. 11. It is difficultI never did such a work
before. 12. She speaksshe had been there. 13. I am not interested in the
showI am very busy now. 14. Dont comeI call you. 15. I shall ring you
upsoonI arrive in town.16. I shall comethere is something else to keep me.
VI. Supply if or unless:
1. You wont reach the railway station in timeyou start now. 2. I am
mistaken he was a professor of English. 3. you decide to go you should let us
know. 4. You will not be able to finish your work in timeyou work at least one
hour every day. 5. I should not have found outyou had not told me. 6. She will
failshe asks a teacher to help her. 7. They will not comeyou insist. 8. I
were not sure I should not advise you.

122

LESSON SEVEN
MARKETING PAST AND PRESENT

marketing

Before you read (nainte de a citi):

Try to answer these questions (ncercai s rspundei la aceste ntrebri):
1. What is marketing?
2. How did it develop?
3. What is the modern concept of marketing?
Try to define these terms as they are used in marketing (ncercai s definii aceti
termeni aa cum sunt ei folosii n marketing): produce, producer, product,
production; consume, consumer, consumption; ultimate consumer; services;
distribution; transfer of ownership; medium of exchange; production oriented;
sellers market (buyers market); consumer good; industrial good; target market;
channeling strategy; promotion strategy; pricing strategy.
All of this terms are used in the following reading (toi aceti termini sunt folosii
n textul care urmeaz).
As you read (n timp ce citii)
Read as quickly and smoothly as you can.
Read the main ideas, not details.
Do not stop to translate.
Do not stop to look up new words.

market

barter

goods

production
consumer
consumption

services

The history of marketing may be nearly as long as the history of man on

earth. In its earliest form, the market may have consisted of only two people.
Each knew that the other had something that he wanted at that time: some grain,
an animal, or a tool. The two people simply exchanged their goods. In order to
have a fair exchange, they both had to agree on the value of utility of what they
were offering to trade. But barter had its problems. If one man exchanged a cow
for 200 fish, he might not be able to use all 200 fish, and so he would loose both
his cow and the value of the fish he could not use. People then began to accept
certain objects in exchange for any product. They had to agree on the value of
these objects, which became the first money. So people began to specialize in the
production of goods for others consumption, and others began to offer services.
An increasing complex marketing system was born.
As a societys total economy becomes more complex, so does the
function of marketing. Production becomes more highly specialized. Producers
and consumers become more widely separated, and so do the centres of
production and consumption. It is not very likely now that two people will meet
face to face for an exchange of goods. A huge distribution network is necessary
to move goods to consumers. Marketing, which had been defined as the
performance of business activities that direct the flow of goods and services from
producer to consumer or user, thus is crucial to all phases of business.
Marketing, even among the most highly industrialized nations, still has
characteristics that it had in the most primitive economy. It still involves having
the right goods (or services) at the right place at the right time for the right price
(right, here means according to the needs or desires of the person who wants
the goods or service). There must still be agreement on the value or utility of the
goods or services. For goods, there is still a transfer of ownership, which utilizes
a medium of exchange: money, or even a piece of paper that records the
transaction. There is, however, a major change in emphasis. In the 1920s, Henry
Ford could say about his automobiles The customers can have any colour they
123

buyer

product

customer

sales profits

producer

target market

want, as long as it is black. This was an appropriate statement in a productionoriented economy, or a sellers market. But today, the buyers or consumers
desires must be satisfied. The entire concept of marketing has changed in recent
years. The following chart contrasts the old and new concepts:
The old concepts of marketing
emphasized:
technological research
creating a market
the product
a narrow line of products
product performance
selling as the majority activity

The new concepts of marketing

emphasizes:
market research
identifying a market
the consumer
a broad range of products
customer needs and desires
selling all marketing activities as
parts of a system
customer satisfaction
goods, services, and ideas as
products

sales profits
goods as products

Marketing today is everywhere. The producer, or the consumer, may be a

person, a group, a firm, an institution, an organization, a government. The
product may be a consumer good, a head of lettuce, a pencil, a washing machine
anything bought by the ultimate consumer for his own use. It may be an
industrial good, bought by a government or institution; to be resold; or to be used
in the production of other goods. A typewriter bought by a government agency, a
bed bought by a hospital, and raw cotton bought by a factory to make clothing are
industrial goods. The product could be a service, such as cutting hair, performing
a marriage, providing insurance or a hotel room. It may be an idea: Dont drive
after drinking, Protect wild-life, Elect me president.
Because this text is brief, it concentrates upon the marketing of consumer
goods. But similar principles are used in the marketing of industrial goods,
services, and ideas. The marketing environment is the same for all. For all, it is
necessary to gather market information, choose target markets, study consumer
behaviour, and develop strategies for production channeling, promotion and
pricing. All of these activities are parts of a single process that really begins and
ends with the consumer. Successful modern marketing begins with his needs and
desires, and it ends with his satisfaction, as he buys goods, uses services, or
accepts ideas.
VOCABULARY
smoothly cursiv
fair right, just. If both people are happy in an exchange of goods, they feel that
the exchange is fair corect, cinstit
barter trade, exchange. In barter, goods change hands, but not money troc
distribution network reea de distribuire
flow of goods flux de mrfuri
pricing stabilire a preului
chart schem, diagram, tabel, grafic
to emphasize a accentua, a sublinia, a reliefa
a broad range a gam larg
target market piaa int
brief scurt

124

chanelling the action of conducting something (or somebody) in one direction

or another-canalizare
EXERCISES
I. Go back to Before you read.
Answer the questions and define the terms (revenii la Before you read.
Rspundei la ntrebri i definii termenii).
II. Which of these statements are true, according to the reading? Mark them
with X (Try to answer without looking back at the reading. Then check your
answers there). (Care dintre aceste afirmaii este corect potrivit textului?
Marcai-le cu X. ncercai s rspundei fr s v mai uitai pe text. Apoi
verificai-v rspunsurile uitndu-v pe text).
1. A market can consists of only two people.
2. A government can be a consumer.
3. Money is a medium of exchange.
4. The old idea of marketing emphasized customer satisfaction.
5. There is no marketing in an undeveloped economy.
6. A car can be a consumer good or an industrial good.
7. Ideas cannot be marketed.
8. The new concept of marketing emphasizes a broad product line.
9. Goods bought for resale are industrial goods.
10. In the 1920s, there was a buyers market.
III. Answer these questions briefly (rspundei pe scurt la aceste ntrebri):
1. How has marketing become more complex?
2. How is marketing similar in all kinds of economy?
3. Why isnt Henry Fords statement apt today?
4. What are the differences between the old and new concepts of marketing?
5. How can the same article be either a consumer good or an industrial good?
6. How can a service be a product?
IV. The words listed here are from the reading (cuvintele reprezentate n
continuare sunt din text): value, system, network, crucial, characteristics,
primitive, appropriate, concept, firm, brief, principles, behaviour.
Choose a word from the list for each space in the sentences below. A
synonym (a word that has a similar meaning) is given in parentheses before
each blank. (Alegei un cuvnt din list pentru fiecare din spaiile goale din
propoziiile de mai jos. Un sinonim apare n parantez naintea fiecrui spaiu
liber).
1. A company should offer (wide) broad range of products.
2. The (companys)s (way of acting)was contrary to (guiding ideas)of
good management.
3. Its (absolutely vital)for a marketer to have a (whole idea)of the (worth,
importance)of developing market strategy.
4. Goods follow a (complex path)orfrom producer to consumer.
5. (Qualities)of a (beginning, undeveloped)economy include the use of
barter.
6. The managers (short)statement to his salesmen was (apt, suitable); it
helped them correct their mistakes.

125

CHAPTER FOUR SUPLEMENTARY READINGS

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN HOLIDAYS, LITERATURE AND
CIVILIZATION

Introducere
Acest ultim capitol, Lecturi suplimentare,destinat tuturor studenilor anilor I i
II indiferent de specializare, vine s susin ceea ce spuneam n cuvntul de
nceput care prefaeaz aceast lucrare i anume c limba englez se poate nva
cu plcere. Este un fel de bonus pentru cei contiincioi i dornici s afle ct mai
multe despre civilizaia englez, fie c este britanic sau american.
n acest capitol se gsesc cele mai importante srbtori din lumea anglo-saxon,
unele dintre ele importate i celebrate i la noi: Halloween, Sfntul Valentin;
altele srbtorite de toi cretinii: Crciunul, Patele sau srbtorite doar de
americani Ziua Recunotiinei.
De asemenea, consider c nvarea unei limbi strine nu se poate reduce doar la
aspectul strict pragmatic al acesteia, ci c trebuie s ne preocupe i cunoaterea
celor mai importani scriitori precum W. Shakespeare, care au marcat literatura
universal.
Celui mai cunoscut i rspndit obicei britanic ceaiul de la ora cinci i s-a
acordat importana meritat. i nu n ultimul rnd i s-a acrdat spaiu uneia dintre
cele mai marcante figuri ale poporului american, preedintele Thomas Jefferson.
Am sperana c cele cteva aspecte selectate i prezentate n acest capitol, vor
deschide dorina celor care le citesc, s cunoasc i alte aspecte ale civilizaiei
britanice i americane. Dac da, atunci scopul acestui capitol a fost atins!
Obiectivele operaionale ale acestui capitol sunt:
studenii s ia cunotiin cu viaa i opera a unuia dintre cei mai de
marc reprezentani ai literaturii britanice i universale, W. Shakespeare;
s cunoasc originea unor srbtori americane binecunoscute;
s se familiarizeze cu unele obiceiuri britanice sau americane;
s afle cum celebreaz englezii i americanii cele dou mari srbtori
cretine Naterea i nvierea Domnului;
s-i nsueasc terminologia folosit;
s creeze deprinderi de comunicare;

Capitolul patru este alctuit din urmtoarele teme:

1. Halloween......................................................................................................127
2. Thanksgiving Day...........................................................................................129
3. Christmas.........................................................................................................131
4. St. Valentines Day.........................................................................................134
5. Easter...............................................................................................................137
6. William Shakespeare.......................................................................................141
7 American Literature.........................................................................................144
8. Habits and ways Tea....................................................................................146

Bibliografie selectiv:
- Banta, Andrei (1991) Essential English, Ed. Teora Bucureti
- Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana (1993) Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Ed.
Omegapress, Bucureti
- Hulban Horia & co.(1983) Competen i Performan-Exerciii i teste de
limba englez, Ed. tiinific i Enciclopedic, Bucureti
-* * *
- Speak English Nr. 4,5,6,7 / 1990; 2,3,5,6 / 1991

126

HALLOWEEN
witch, ghost

Are you afraid of witches and ghosts? If you are you had better stay
indoors on the night of October 31st. It is Halloween or the eve of All Saints
Day, supposed to be a night for witches and ghosts.
From ghouls and ghosts
And long-legged beasts
And things that go bump in the night
Good Lord, deliver me

Halloween
pumpkin
candle

Today Halloween is particularly popular among American children. They

dress up as witches and ghosts, put on frightening masks and carry pumpkin
lanterns in their hands. To make these they cut a lid, take out the inside of the
pumpkin, cut eyes, nose and mouth in one side and put a lighted candle in it.
Then they go out and knock on peoples doors. When somebody opens the door
they say: Trick or treat! This means, either you give us some sweets or we
play a trick on you. The trick might be letting the air out of the tyres of the
persons car, or putting soap on the windows of the house. People usually say
Treat of course and give them sweets or a cake.
In England Halloween is not celebrated very much nowadays, although
some people have Halloween parties. English people also make lanterns from
pumpkins. They often play Apple Bobbing at these parties. It goes like this:
you put an apple in a bucket of water and then try eating the apple without using
your hands. Its extremely funny. Try it and youll see!
VOCABULARY
hallow (usually passive-hallowed) make regard as sacred
Halloween 31st October, Eve of All Saints Day
witch vrajitoare
ghost - fantoma
ghoul vampir, vrcolac
to deliver 1. take letters, parcels etc. to houses, to the persons to whom they are
addressed, here 2. save (from)
to dress up put on special clothes for a play, a fancy dress ball
pumpkin dovleac
tyre band of rubber around a wheel
nowadays at the present time
to bob (-bb) move up and down
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: hallow, Halloween, witch,
ghost, ghoul, deliver, dress up, pumpkin, tyre, nowadays, bob.
1. .. people live much longer than they used to.
2. Do you like to eat .. pie?
3. May God .. you from all evil.
4. Little children are fond of stories with .. and dragons.
5. Do you believe in .. ?
6. Both brothers .. themselves .. as pirates.
7. After watching a movie with graveyards and .. little Tom was afraid to
sleep alone.
8. Your front .. seem very used. You should buy new ones.
127

9. .. is a most exciting evening for American children.

10. The heads of the swimmers were .. on the water.
11. Our Father which art in heaven, .. be thy name
REMEMBER: had better is used to express advice and would rather to express
preference! Here are some additional examples:
Its starting to rain. You had (youd) better take your umbrella.
Sally had better mind her own business.
She would (shed) rather go to the movies than to the theatre.
Will you join us for a drink? Thank you, but Id rather go to bed, Im awfully
tired.
GRAMMAR
In English some Conjunctions are used in pairs and called Correlative
Conjunctions: either or: Either you give us some sweets or we play a trick
on you.
neither nor: Neither Paul nor Ned has come yet.
REMEMBER that either or, neither nor take a singular verb! But if one
subject is singular and another one is plural, the verb agrees with the nearest
subject. E.g. Neither Amy nor her parents are at home.
both and : Both Brenda and her brother are fair-haired.
not only but also : She is not only beautiful but also very kind. ( not only
may be used at the beginning of the sentence followed by inversion, for
emphasis: Not only is she beautiful but also very kind.)
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with either or, neither nor, both and, not only but
also.
1. Linda her sister looked lovely at the party.
2. I was so excited that I could eat sleep.
3. was it dark outside terribly cold.
4. Bob his brother is to blame.
5. They are in the mountains at the seaside.
6. Jane can skate ski very well.
7. A fur coat is smart soft and warm.
8. your result mine is wrong.

128

THANKSGIVING DAY
religious holiday

puritan

turkey
settler
harvest

reunion

Thanksgiving Day is one of the most important national and religious

American holidays. It is celebrated every year on the last Thursday of November.
The first Thanksgiving day was in 1621.
In 1620 about one hundred Englishmen, who wanted to seek their fortune
in the New World, sailed to America in a ship called the Mayflowers, who
were English Puritans.
After a two months journey they landed on the east coast of North
America near Cape Cod, on a cold November day. There they founded the colony
of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Their life was hard, food was scarce and they
hunted wild turkeys and other animals in the woods. About fifty of the first
settlers died of hunger and illness during the first winter.
Next spring nature sprang to life again and so did the hopes of the settlers.
They started working the land, growing corn and pumpkins.
Their first harvest was a good one and the Englishmen decided to thank
God for it. That was the first Thanksgiving Day.
Nowadays Thanksgiving is a day of family reunion on which members of
a family come together from wherever they live to share a festive dinner. The
traditional Thanksgiving dish is turkey with cranberry sauce and vegetables, to
remind people of the wild turkeys the first settlers hunted. After that they often
have pumpkin pie. The table is beautiful decorated with apples, nuts, autumn
flowers and leaves.
In this merry mood of family reunion people remember the celebration of
the of the first Thanksgiving Day almost three hundred and eighty-five years ago.
Here is an English prayer said before meals: For what we are about to receive/ O
Lord make us truly thankful.
I. VOCABULARY
thanksgiving expression of gratitude, especially to God
to seek-sought-sought to look for, to try to find (often abstract things-seek a
quarrel, seek ones fortune)
to land to go, put on land (from a ship. Plane, helicopter etc.)
pilgrim person who travels to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion
puritan 1. Puritan (16th and 17thcenturies in England) member of a division of
the Protestant church which wanted simpler forms of church ceremony. 2. person
who is strict in morals, religion, way of dressing, who considers some kinds of
fun and pleasure as breaking Gods law
scarce not existing in sufficient quantity (scarcely = almost not)
settler colonist
harvest cutting and gathering of cereals, vegetables, grass and fruit
dish 1. (pl. the dishes) plates, bowls, cups, saucers used for a meal. 2. food
brought to table in or on a dish
cranberry small, black berry
EXERCISE: Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: thanksgiving,
to seek, to land, pilgrim, puritan, scarce, settler, harvest, dish, cranberry (make
the necessary changes):
1. Yesterday I red an article about the early in New Zealand.
2. During the Middle Ages traveled to Canterbury to the tomb of
Thomas A. Becket.
3. Animals have become in this region.
4. Although there was a storm the pilot the plane safely.
129

5. His favourite is steak and French fries.

6. In many Christian countries there is a church service of after the
has been gathered.
7. The reason I dont like him is because he is always a quarrel.
8. Mother prepares a delicious tart.
9. During Oliver Cromwells time the closed down the theatres.
Make the difference between to remind (somebody to do something;
somebody of something) to cause somebody to remember to do something;
cause somebody to think of something, which is a transitive verb. E.g. Remind
me to post these letters, please. Jeff reminds me of his father.
and to remember to have or keep in ones memory, which is both
transitive and intransitive; the antonym is to forget. E.g. I remembered to post
your letter.
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of to remind or to remember:
1. I always to congratulate my friends on their birthday.
2. His face me of a Greek statue.
3. I she was wearing a pink dress the first time we met.
4. He often the smallest details.
5. this song always me of our first dance.
6. Please, me to take these shirts to the cleaners.
II. GRAMMAR
Members of a family come together from wherever they live
who, what, which, when, where, how + ever are all written as single
words (whoever, whatever etc.) and have two main uses in modern
English:
1. with the meaning of it doesnt matter who, which etc. E.g.
Whoever says that is a liar.
2. parenthethically (suggesting ignorance or indifference) E.g. Ill
come at 10 or 10.30, or whenever I can.
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate ever form:
1. He comes from Uagadugu, that may be.
2. Buy dress you like best.
3. says that is wrong.
4. You are certainly right, others may say.
5. Ill tell you about it you like.
6. Hell never succeed, hard he tries.
7. Keep calm, happens.
8. Take this bag, basket or it is, and hang it up you want.
1.After a three months journey they landed
Remember that the possessive form of the Genitive (s Genitive) is used mainly
with the names of human beings and some big animals: E.g. Janes boyfriend, the
lions mane etc.
But there are some exceptions to the rule in the case of certain accepted idioms,
mostly of time or measure. E.g. He went on a three days holiday. Here is
todays broadcast. I live a stones throw from here. Im at my wits end. (not to
know what to do or say). She took the children out of harms way. One may
admire it to ones hearts content.
130

CHRISTMAS
Christians

cherish

holly

carol

Father
Christmas

togetherness

December 24th is Christmas Eve, when Christians throughout the world

celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable, in far-off Bethlehem. Long before
this date streets and shop windows are brightly decorated, people send Christmas
cards and buy Christmas presents.
In England Christmas is a dearly cherished holiday, possibly the most
important holiday of the year, an occasion for family reunion and rejoicing.
At Christmas, busy London streets like Oxford Street offer a fairy-tale
like, breathtaking show: about two miles of Christmas gifts attractively displayed
in shop windows, dazzling garlands of electric lighting, bright red holly and
cotton-wool snow. Not far from the two main streets, in Trafalgar Square, near
Admiral Nelsons statue passers-by stop to admire a huge Christmas tree ablaze
with coloured lights and decorations. It is an annual gift from the Norwegian
people and it seems that they try to make each years gift a foot higher than its
predecessor.
Christmas Eve is a busy day for all the members of the family, a day of
preparation. The Christmas tree must be trimmed with tinsel, candles, crackers,
coloured lamps and balls. The house must also be decorated with branches of
holly and mistletoe remember that you may kiss anyone standing under the
mistletoe! After helping decorate the house and the tree, children go out with
their friends to sing carols in the neighbourhood. The carol-singers receive
money and sweets and then, happy and contented, they go home. Before they go
to bed, children hang up their stockings for Father Christmas or Santa Claus as
he is also called to fill with with presents when he comes down the chimney
during the night. Some people go to church in the evening.
December 25th is Christmas Day. Although they dont have to go to
school, children wake up earlier than usual to see what Father Christmas has
brought them. Adults also exchange presents, in some families after breakfast, in
others they open their gifts round the Christmas tree later in the day. Some people
also go to church in the morning.
After the excitement caused by the presents has calmed down a little,
everybody looks forward to the next big event: the Christmas dinner. Some
English families have the traditional Christmas dinner at mid-day, others in the
evening. It usually consists of roast turkey with potatoes and vegetables, mince
pies, fruit, nuts and, most important of all, Christmas pudding. The latter contains
a lot of dried fruit, a little flour, sugar, lemon peel, spices and eggs. It is served
hot, usually alight with brandy and with a rich sauce made of butter, brandy and
sugar. It is traditional to put a few silver coins into the pudding. Those who find
one of the coins in their piece of pudding are supposed to have a lucky year.
December 26th is Boxing Day. According to custom it is the day of
presents given to people like postmen, delivery boys, servants etc., to express
thanks for service rendered throughout the year. Mainly it is another day to
celebrate and have fun with relatives and friends.
Although the days are short and cold, there is an atmosphere of
togetherness, warmth and cheerfulness in the air, so that everyone agrees to the
words of the old rhyme: Christmas comes but once a year / And when it comes
it brings good cheer.
VOCABULARY
to cherish 1. care for tenderly; 2. keep alive (hope, feelings, ambition) in ones
heart
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to display to show; place so that there is no difficulty in seeing (goods in shop

windows)
dazzling blinding (because of to much light, brilliance)
garland circle of flowers or leaves, also of light bulbs used for ornament or
decoration
holly evergreen plant with shiny, hard, dark-green leaves and, in winter, red
berries
ablaze 1. on fire, in a blaze; 2. (fig.) shining, bright
to trim-trimmed-trimmed decorate, ornament (with) a decora
tinsel shining, metallic substance made in strips and threads used for ornament beteal
mistletoe parasite evergreen plant growing on fruit and another trees, with
white, sticky berries; it is used as Christmas decoration vsc
carol song of joy or praise, especially a Christmas hymn - colind
to mince cut meat into pieces (with a knife or a special machine) a toca
mince pie pie containing minced meat plcint cu carne tocat
alight on fire; (fig.) bright; cheerful
togetherness feeling of unity, of intimacy
TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS: NO HOMEWORK; NO GRAMMAR; JUST
FUN AND MERRYMAKING! (Some jokes and carols)
Silent Night, Holy Night
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright;
Round you Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quail at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavnly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the savior is born,
Christ the savior is born.
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, loves pure light;
Radiant beams Thy holy face
With the dawn of saving grace.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
HERE ARE SOME FORMULAS TO WRITE ON CHRISTMAS CARDS:
Formal
Hearty greetings for Christmas and good wishes for the coming year!
A joyous Christmas and peaceful New Year!
With Christmas greetings and all Good Wishes for the New Year!
Greetings of the season and best wishes for the New Year!
Seasons Greetings!
132

Friendly
Merry Christmas and lots of joy in the New Year!
Hope Christmas is extra special- just like you!
Merry Christmas
To those we love and see each day,
And other loved ones far away,
To all good friends
whose friendship means so much
And those with whom
were somehow out of touch.
Christmas is that beautiful time when hearts are warmed by love and goodwill.
May your heart be touched with love and joy at this special time of year.
May your Christmas dreams come true!

133

ST. VALENTINES DAY

valentine

love

valentine
card

St. Valentines Day, the 14th of February, is lovers day. People give
presents to the persons they love and send Valentine cards to them. This is a very
romantic custom. The cards have a tender message, a short love poem, or simply
Will you be my Valentine? printed on them. Usually, a Valentine card is not
signed. So, if you are shy and do not have any courage to tell a person that you
love him or her, you can send a card and let it disclose your feelings for you.
Hopefully, the other person will know who sent it and will do something to show
you that the feeling is mutual. On the other hand, he or she may not share your
love and give you the cold shoulder to make you understand it. Although it hurts,
at least you do not go on nourishing vain hopes and you can try to find someone
who will be thrilled to receive your Valentine cards.
Apparently, no one knows for certain where the custom of celebrating St.
Valentines Day comes from, or when it actually started. It is believed that it was
brought to Britain by the Romans. Anyway, it was certainly celebrated in early
17th century England, as Shakespeares Ophelia, dazed with grief and madness
signs about it:
Tomorrow is Saint Valentines day
All in the morning betimes,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
The custom was probably taken to America by the English settlers, as St.
Valentines Day is very popular there as well.
The custom of sending Valentine cards is also mentioned by the Beatles
in one of their famous songs:
When I grow older, losing my hair
many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine,
Birthday presents, bottle of wine?
When Im 64
Why not send a Valentine card to the person you love this year? Here are
some examples of the kinds of poems usually printed on Valentines cards:
Honest to goodness,
Just betcha its true
No Valentine ever
Was nicer than you! or
Roses are red
Violets are blue,
I am so happy
Because I love you.
Of course you may select your Valentine text from any literary piece
which you find suitable. You may also use the lyrics of a song, old or new. What
can express more than this single line does Nothing compares to you
Certainly, the selection of the writer or of the song will make it easier for the
person to guess your identity, but this may be exactly what you want.
So, it is up to you!
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VOCABULARY
1. custom = generally accepted and established behaviour among members of
a social group (either small or large, e.g. a nation); compare to habit =
something that an individual does regularly; (pl) customs = taxes paid to the
government for goods imported into a country
to disclose = permit to be seen, make known
mutual = (of love, friendship, respect, etc.) shared, exchanged equally
to give somebody the cold shoulder = to be unfriendly by taking no notice of
someone
nourish = 1. keep (somebody) alive and well with food; make well and
strong; 2. have or encourage (feelings)
vain = 1. without use, value or result; 2. having too high an opinion of ones
looks, abilities.
to thrill = to make someone experience an excited feeling (to be thrilled with
joy/horror/pleasure)
dazed = unable to think clearly
grief = deep or violent sorrow
betimes = early, in good time
betcha = colloquial for I bet you
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: custom(s), disclose,
mutual, nourish, vain, thrill, dazed, grief (make the necessary changes):
1. She was driven almost mad with by the death of her father.
2. The stranger refused to his name and address.
3. You mustnt such hatred for him. Try to understand and forgive!
4. She with joy when the handsome pop singer kissed her.
5. It is a for English people to drink tea at 5 oclock.
6. Their love is and they are extremely happy together.
7. Dont believe Paul! He always makes promises.
8. The last time when we arrived at the airport the officials were very
polite.
9. For a long time after the accident she felt
2. To give somebody the cold shoulder = to be unfriendly with
Here are some additional idioms with shoulder: to lay the blame on the right
shoulders = to blame the person who deserves it; to rub shoulders with = to
mix with; to put ones shoulder on the wheel = to make a big effort; to have a
chip on ones shoulder = to be annoyed at something and to be looking for a
quarrel; shoulder to shoulder = united
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with one of the shoulder idioms:
1. Keep away from Roy; he
2. I cant stand Bob; whenever I meet him I
3. They worked and managed to finish in time.
4. Dont try to blame me; find the person responsible and
5. He likes famous people.
6. At least from time to time you could
GRAMMAR
a) It was brought to Britain by the Romans.
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b) The Romans brought it to Britain. c) The custom is also mentioned by

the Beatles. d) The Beatles also mention the custom.
Sentences a) is the PASSIVE of sentence b) and sentence c) is the PASSIVE
of sentence d).
Let us mention some general rules to turn the ACTIVE into the PASSIVE:
1. The OBJECT in the Active sentence becomes SUBJECT in the Passive
sentence
2. The SUBJECT of the Active sentence becomes OBJECT + BY in the
Passive sentence.
3. PREDICATE of the Passive sentence = verb TO BE in the tense of the
Active sentence verb + PAST PARTICIPLE (third form of the verb)
EXERCISE
Turn into the Passive:
1. An unseen hand opened the window.
2. Peter drinks coffee every day.
3. He took Betty to hospital an hour ago.
4. Daddy always watches TV in the evening.
5. He often eats bananas.

136

EASTER
Easter

lamb

I am very happy today. Tomorrow is Easter and we are having guests. My

mother is busy in the kitchen. She is preparing the food and making a cake.
I go shopping with a long shopping list. The first shop I am going into is
the bakers. I usually buy bread and pastry from him, but today I am also buying
some buns and some biscuits. The bread is not very fresh, so I dont want to buy
any. Next, I go to the butchers. We usually have lamb for Easter, so my mother
wants me to buy some. My mother doesnt have any flour and any coffee, so I get
some from the grocers. They also sell butter, milk, cocoa, tea, sugar, cheese,
honey, jam and many other things, but I do not buy any because my mother still
has some at home. At the end, I am ready to go home. But what about some eggs?
They are very important, especially for Easter. I am buying some right now.
My mother is very pleased with my shopping and she is giving me some
cake to thank me for my effort. HAPPY EASTER!
COMMENTS
1. Some i Any se traduc n romnete cu nite, ceva i nseamn un
anumit numr sau o anumit cantitate. Ele se folosesc naintea substantivelor la
plural sau a celor care nu se numr, deci nu au plural. Cnd se folosesc cu
substantive la plural, some l poate nlocui pe a, articolul nehotrt, care nu apare
niciodat la plural.
E.g. I have a biscuit. I am buying some biscuits.
2. Some se folosete, de obicei, n propoziiile affirmative, iar any n cele
interrogative i negative. Exist, desigur i excepii, pe care le vom nva n alt
lecie.
E.g. I want some butter and some jam.
Do you have any butter in your fridge?
No, I dont have any butter, but we have some margarine.
3. Ai observat c n lecie apar nite cuvinte, urmate de un apostrof i de
litera s, the bakers, the butchers, the grocers, care se traduc n romnete cu
brutrie, mcelrie, bcnie. Forma respectiv este un genitiv i arat c
prvlia i aparine brutarului, mcelarului etc.
EXERCICES
1. Put some or any as required.
I want ... milk. Have you ... butter? I dont want to buy ... sugar. Do you want
... coffee? I have ... very good friends. Are ... of them here now? No, but ... of
them are coming tomorrow.
2. Turn the following sentences a) into the negative, b) into the
interrogative:
I have some friends in England. He has some money in the bank. There are
some dogs in the street. She has some work to do. We know some very pretty
girls in town. In the morning I have some breakfast. For lunch, I have some
soup and some meat and potatoes.
3. Fill in the blanks:
We buy bread at the ... I go to the ... every day to buy some apples. You find
sugar and coffee at the ... My mother always buys good meat from the ...
When I have a cold, my brother buys me medicine from the ...

137

4. Answer the following questions:

What do you usually have for Easter? Where does your mother buy bread?
Do you like apples? Are there any in your house now? Where do you buy
apples? Where do you usually find aspirine? What do you usually have for
breakfast? Is there any tea in the teapot?
5. Translate into English:
Mine e ziua de Pati. Mama gtete n buctrie. Ea face o prjitur. Eu
merg la cumprturi. Vreau s cumpr nite unt i nite lapte. La bcnie nu
este unt i nici lapte. Ei au ceva zahr i fin. De la aprozar vreau s cumpr
nite mere i nite banane. Sunt mere dar nu sunt banane. De la brutrie
cumpr pine i nite biscuii.
6. Translate into Romanian:
A Day On The Farm
Farmer Brown and his family live on a little farm in the country. Every
morning when the sun comes up, Farmer Brown goes out to the barn. He
milks the cows. He feeds hay to the horses. He scatters grain to the hungry
chickens.
7. Answer the questions:
Where do Farmer Brown and his family live? Where is the farm? When does
Farmer Brown go to the barn? What does he milk? What does he feed the
horses? What do the hungry chickens eat? Who scatters grain to them
OUR HOLIDAY IN SPRING
On Easter, Christians throughout the world celebrate the resurrection of
resurrection of Jesus Christ. The symbolism itself inspires people with hope, confidence and the
Jesus Christ wish to be better, making of Easter one of the most important and widely
celebrated church holidays.
Some time before Easter, and connected with it, there are four religious holidays:
Ash Wednesday, Quadragesima, Palm Sunday and Good Friday. As you may
Good Friday come across them in various texts and literary works Ash Wednesday is the
title of one of the poems written by T.S. Eliot, one of the most proeminent figures
in modern British literature - , it may be useful to know their significance. In
English, the period of fourty days before Easter is called Lent. During the
Lent
weekdays of Lent, religious persons observe a period of fasting and penitence.
Lent lily is another word for daffodil, the yellow spring flower you can see
growing in all British parks and gardens. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent,
Ash Wednesday Quadragesima is the first Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday is the Sunday before
Easter and Good Friday is the Friday before Easter, the anniversary of the
crucifixion of Christ. On Good Friday people in England eat hot cross buns,
small, round cakes with spices in them and a cross marked on the top.
Easter is so very popular also because it marks the end of winter and the
beginning of spring. After the cold and dull winter days, nature springs to life
again at Easter time. Except for those who are fond of skiing and, even in April,
still look for snow on high mountain slopes, everybody is happy to be rid of
another dreary winter. Life is bright and coloured again, trees are in blossom and
flowers are in bloom. We feel more cheerful, fresher, vibrant with life and
warmth and we smile for no reason at all.
The things we usually associate the celebration of Easter with are the
Easter Bunny
Easter Bunny, Santa Clauses younger colleague, and eggs. There is a profusion
138

dyed eggs

of them at Easter: real eggs dyed brightly and sometimes with amusing stickers
on them, wooden eggs, beautifully painted or carved and, best of all, sugar or
chocolate eggs.
At Easterwe send greeting cards to people we care and think about.
We may simply write Happy Easter, A Special Wish at Easter, or
An Easter Wish For You.
HAPPY EASTER !
I. VOCABULARY
to observe
= 1. see and notice; watch carefully
2. (here) pay attention to (rules, etc.)
to fast
= go without food, or without certain kinds of food
(depending on the
religion), especially as a religious duty
fasting
= period of going without food
spice
= substance used to give a special, aromatic taste to food
dull
= 1. not clear or bright (color, sound, day, sky)
2. slow in understanding
3. uninteresting, not exciting
4. not sharp (knife)
to be/get rid of = be/become rid of
dreary
= not clear or bright, depressing
profusion
= abundance
to dye
= colour, usually by putting into a liquid
to carve
= 1. form something by cutting a piece of wood or stone
2. inscribe by cutting on a surface
EXERCISE
1. Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: to observe, to fast, spice,
dull, to get rid of, dreary, profusion, to dye, to carve (make the necessary
changes)
1. I hope this ... rain doesnt go on for days.
2. Arent you permitted to eat any meat at all while ...?
3. I want to ... my white dress red.
4. The little boy is really talented. He ... a beautiful toy horse out of
wood.
5. Traffic rules should be strictly ...
6. There was a ... of white and red roses growing in front of her
house.
7. Its such a ... day. One should just lie in bed and sleep.
8. Orientals use a lot of ... in their food.
9. How on earth can we ... of Peter? He is so terribly boring.
2. As you may come across them in various texts and literary works ...
Come across = find or meet by chance. Here are some other meanings of
COME + various prepositions : COME ABOUT = happen; COME OFF =
become detached or separated from; COME ROUND = 1. pay an informal
visit to; 2. regain consciousness; COME TROUGH = 1. recover from serious
illness, from risk of injury; 2. arrive (by telephone, radio etc.); COME TO =
recover consciousness.

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EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with COME + the correct preposition:
1. A button has ... my coat.
2. Has the patient ... yet, nurse? asked the doctor.
3. It was a terrible accident, but we ... with only minor injuries.
4. I ... this old brooch in one of mothers drawers; isnt it lovely?
5. Uncle John has left his wife and has run away with a
policewoman. How extraordinary! How did that ...?
6. Throw some cold water over her. That will soon make her...

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO HIS LIFE AND WORK

Elisabethan
literature

Stratford upon-Avon

poems
sonnets
plays

It is impossible to refer to William Shakespeare (1564 1616) without

using superlatives. He is not only the most prominent figure in Elizabethan
literature, but also the greatest playwright and poet in English, and possibly in
world literature.
Shakespeare enjoyed wide popularity in his lifetime and has been praised
ever since. Ben Jonson, his contemporary, calls him sweet swan of Avon and
considers him not of an age, but for all time. And Shakespeares literary work
has indeed defied both time and geographical boundaries. His deep understanding
of human nature, his unimpaired art of breathing life into historical and imaginary
characters, his reflections upon life and the exquisite poetry of expression have
appealed to generation after generation of readers and theatre goers throughout
the world.
Yet for all his glory and despite the effort of generations of scholars,
Shakespeares life is still shrouded in mystery.
We know beyond doubt that a man named William Shakespeare existed.
He was born in a small English town, Stratford upon Avon, on April 23rd 1564, as
the son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. His parents were prominent figures
in Stratford and in time his family was granted a coat of arms.
The house Shakespeare was born in still stands today and it is visited by
tourists from all over the world. Shakespeare attended the local grammar - school
and at the age of 18 married Anne Hathaway, then 26. After the birth of their
three children, Susanna and the twins Hamnet and Judith, he went up to London
alone, to seek his fortune. There he became a Jack-of-all-trades, working as
stage-boy, prompter, actor, play-mender and finally as dramatist in his own right.
After over twenty years he returned to Stratford, to live the quiet life of an
apparently wealthy squire. There he died in 1616, on the day of his birth, April
23rd. He is buried in the church of his native town and on his tomb there is an
epitaph supposedly written by Shakespeare himself:
Good friend, for Jesus sake forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.
The inscription seems to have had the desired effect on the generations to
come, as it has prevented the removal of his remains from this quiet place to
London, to the somewhat more crowded Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey,
where most prominent literary figures are buried.
Thus, all these evidences in Stratford make of William Shakespeare a
person in flesh and blood. In London however, where he spent most of his life
and created his work, there are so few records about him that he seems almost
like a myth.
After his death, his friends collected and published his plays in 1623, in
what is known as The First Folio
Shakespeares name is now given to five long poems, 154 sonnets and 37
plays. His literary work can be roughly divided into three periods.
1. The First Period (1589 1600) is pervaded by an air of cheerfulness and
exuberance. It includes the poems, the sonnets, romantic and light-hearted
comedies: The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Nights Dream,
Much Ado about Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night; the
romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, which begins in a lively, merry
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Romeo and Juliet

mood that only gradually darkens to tragedy: and the historical or
chronological plays: Richard III, King John, Richard II, Henry
IV, Henry V, to mention only some.
2. About the year 1601 the mood of Shakespeares dramatic work darkens
considerably. The plays of the Second Period are marked by gloom,
depression and violence, voicing the disillusionment of the Renaissance
Hamlet
humanists. Among them are the great tragedies Hamlet, Othello,
King Lear, Macbeth, and a comedy Measure for Measure, in which,
however, laughter is sarcastic and cynical, never light-hearted.
3. In the Third Period (1608 1612) the stress and turmoil of Shakespeares
inner spirit seems to have calmed down. It includes plays of warmth,
serenity and reconciliation, in which old wrongs are righted in the end:
The Tempest
The winters Tale, The Tempest. The exuberant laughter of his early
comedies has turned into an indulgent, thoughtful, almost detached smile.
Shakespeare is and will continue to be the enchanter who keeps our
imagination and our hearts under his spell.
VOCABULARY
to defy = 1. resist openly
2. refuse to obey or show respect to
exquisite = of great excellence
to appeal to = 1. (somebody for something) make a serious request
2. attract, move the feelings of
to shroud = cover, hide
to grant = consent to give (favour, permission)
coat of arms = blazon
to go up to = enter a university or travel to a town, especially the capital
Jack-of-all-trades = workman knowing something of many trades
to forbear = refrain from
to spare = 1. refrain from hurting, destroying
2. (something for somebody) be able to give (time, money)
to remove = (somebody/something from) take off or away from the place
occupied; take to another place
to pervade = spread through every part of
gloom = 1. semi-darkness, obscurity
2. feeling of sadness and hopelessness
turmoil = trouble, agitation
spell = 1. words used as a charm, supposed to have magic power
2. attraction, fascination
EXERCISE
Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: to defy, to shroud, to
appeal to, exquisite, to spare, to remove, to pervade, gloom, turmoil, spell
(make the necessary changes)
1. The news of the doctors death filled us with
2. We were all under the of Chopins music.
3. During the elections the town was in a terrible
4. Roy will get into trouble one of these days; he keeps his superiors.
5. They always serve food in this restaurant.
6. Do these modern paintings you?
7. The house was almost completely in darkness.
8. your dirty hands from my paining at once!
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9. The general decided to the lives of the prisoners.

10. The poem is by melancholy and sadness.
GRAMMAR
PASSIVE VOICE The house Shakespeare was born in ; Prepositions and
adverb particles must not be left out in the Passive.
ACTIVE: They will look after you well.
PASSIVE: You will be well looked after.
EXERCISE
Turn the following sentences into the Passive:
1. People must work for success.
2. Someone reads to the old lady every evening.
3. No one has slept in this room.
4. The manager has to look into this matter.
5. People will laugh at you if you wear that silly hat.
6. Peter has drunk out of his glass.
7. My friends speak well of Mark.
8. They will look for you everywhere.

143

AMERICAN LITERATURE
colony
Constitution

president

treaty

The
Declaration of
Independence

rights

Without ignoring the earliest literary activities of the colonies, the first
consequential works in American literature were, in a broader sense, The
Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. Minor in all the main
genres, American literature before and during the revolution excels in journalism
and essay-writing. All these (para-)literary production evince a firm clarity and
directness of expression, the ability to circumscribe truth with the utmost brevity
and austerity that betray a practical disposition of the mind and that still define
most of the greater literature America has produced up to now.
THOMAS JEFFRESON (1743 1826)
Jeffreson may be the most influential and persistent personality in the
American tradition. The governor of Virginia, an American minister, the first
American secretary of state and the third American president, Jeffreson published
eight titles (of which only one is what we usually call book), but he signed many
state papers, a few treaties, was the main contributor to The Declaration of
Independence and wrote an incredible 25,000 letters. Exploring and
experimenting in many diverse fields of knowledge, Jeffreson strained to gain an
understanding which he employed in the development of a new democracy in a
land of plenty. His words best voice the unaltered truth of his life: I have sworn
upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the
mind of man THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE In Congress, July
4, 1776 THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION of the thirteen united STATES
OF AMERICA
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people
to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to
assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the
Laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions
of mankind require that they should declare the causes that impel them to the
separation.
- We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these
are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the governed.
- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it
is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new
Government, laying its foundations on such principles and organizing its powers
in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and
Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments along established
should be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience
has shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable,
than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same
Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right,
it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for
their future security.
- Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former System of Government. The
history of the present King of Great Britain1 is a history of repeated injuries and

144

governor

United States
of America

free states

honour

usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny

over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to candid world.
- He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing
importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained
//.
- He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly
firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. //
- He has made Judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices,
and the amount and payment of their salaries.
- He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers
to harass our people and eat out their substance //.
- He has affected to render the Military independent of an superior to the Civil
power.
- He is at this Time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to
compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with
circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous
ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation //.
- A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a
Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have we been wanting in
attentions to our British brethern2. // They too have been deaf to the voice of
justice and consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which
denounces3 our Separation, and hold them, as we hold all mankind, Enemies in
War, in Peace Friends.
We, THEREFORE, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of
the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name of the good People
of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are,
and of Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are
Absolved from Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;
and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War,
conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and do all other Acts
and Things which Independent States may of right do.
- And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection
of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes
and our sacred Honour.

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HABITS AND WAYS

TEA
beverage
tea

cult

pot

tea bag

ice tea

The most popular beverage in the English speaking world has always
been and continues to be the TEA, even if the British like it very hot, while the
Americans prefer it iced.
The owner of a coffee house in the City of London started serving tea
by the cup in the year 1657 and ever since the British have been in love with it.
The origins of the tea are lost in the remote history of oriental antiquity. One
legend speaks of the first cup of tea at 2037 B.C. when several tea leaves fell off
a tree into a pot of water which a Chinese emperor was boiling for drinking
purposes.
In Britain, tea drinking spread quickly. By less than fifty years after it was
introduced, it was the drink of aristocracy, literary men and soldiers. Tea drinking
became somewhat of a cult. In Queen Victorias time, tea was part of the British
diet, the recognized beverage for church meetings as well as society parties. Since
then, the British and tea have become addicted to one another. There is a steady
rise in British tea consumption which is currently estimated at 2,000 cups per
year for everyone including little babies.
Like the Chinese and many other tea-drinking peoples, the British make a
kind of ritual of tea. The method of brewing is as rigorously hewed to as the
language of the marriage ceremony. The warmed pot is always brought to the
kettle, not vice versa. The freshly boiling water is pored on the leaves, one
spoonful for each person and one for the pot. Dissent arises over the use of milk
(not cream, not boiled). Some add milk to tea, others add tea to milk.
The British violently disagree with the Americans tea-drinking habits. At
issue, of course, is the tea bag and the drinking of iced tea. The British regard the
American custom of suspending tea bags in water as near sacrilege. No real
Englishman would think of using tea bags except for camping or picnicking.
For millions of Americans, summertime is iced-tea time. Ironically, this
typically American beverage was invented by an Englishman. He has been trying
unsuccessfully to sell hot tea at the St. Louis Worlds Fair in 1904. When he iced
it people bought.
The natural affinity for tea of the British is at the origin of many proverbs,
sayings and set phrases. Here are some of them:
- Many estates are spent in the getting, since women, for TEA, forsook spinning
and knitting; and men, for PUNCH, forsook hewing and splitting.
- To take Tea in the kitchen (to pour tea from the cup into the saucer, and drink it
from this).
Phrases:
- it is not my cup of tea = its not the sort of thing I like
- a storm in a tea-cup = a lot of fuss about something trivial
- to tell somebodys fortune from the tea-leaves in her cup
- tea-table conversation
To sum it all up, here is a quote of a Chinese mystic of the Tang Dynasty
who wrote: The first cup of tea moistens my lips and throat. The second shatters
my loneliness. The third causes the wrongs of life to fade gently from my
recollection. The fourth purifies my soul. The fifth lifts me to the realms of the
unwinking gods.

146

Bibiografie selectiv
- Banta, Andrei (1991) Essential English, Ed. Teora Bucureti
- de Blij, H.J.; Mueller, Peter O (2002) Geography-realms, regions, and
concepts, John Wiley&Sons, Inc. U.S.A.
- Clawson, David L; Fisher, James S (1998) World Regional Geography-A
development approach, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, U.S.A.
- Gali, Livia & colaboratorii (1982) Limba Englez pentru nvmntul
superior economic, Ed.Didactic i Pedagogic, Bucureti
- Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana (1993) Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Ed.
Omegapress, Bucureti
- Hulban, Horia & colab.(1983) Exerciii i teste de limba englez, Ed.
tiinific i Enciclopedic, Bucureti
- Levichi, Leon (1971) Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Ed. Didactic i
Pedagogic, Bucureti
- Nicolescu, Adrian & colaboratorii (1980) Culegere de texte pentru cursul
practic de limba englez pentru secia geografie-geologie, Tipografia
Universitii din Bucureti
- Quirk, Randolph; Greenbaum; S; Leech, G; Svartvik, J (1972) A Grammar of
Contemporary English, Longman, London
-* * *
(1970) - Dicionar polyglot economic i de comer exterior, Ed.
tiinific, Bucureti
- Institutul de Lingvistic (1974) Dicionar Englez-Romn, Ed. Academiei
Republicii Socialiste Romnia, Bucureti
-* * *
- Speak English Nr. 1- 7/1990; 1-7/1991

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