Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea. His initial voyage to India in 1497—1499 was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and, in this way, the West and the Orient. Traveling the ocean route allowed the Portuguese to avoid sailing across the highly disputed Mediterranean and traversing the dangerous Arabian Peninsula. Unopposed access to the Indian spice routes boosted the economy of the Portuguese Empire, which was previously based along northern and coastal West Africa. The spices obtained from Southeast Asia were primarily pepper and cinnamon at first, but soon included other products, all new to Europe. Portugal maintained a commercial monopoly of these commodities for several decades. It would be a century later before other European powers such as the Netherlands and England, followed by France and Denmark, were able to challenge Portugal’s monopoly and naval supremacy in the Cape Route.

      Task 2

      Study the advertisement.

      You are considering visiting the zoo and now you’d like to get more information. In 1.5 minutes you are to ask five direct questions to find out about the following:

      1) opening hours

      2) entrance ticket price

      3) if it is allowed to feed the animals

      4) shows or special performances

      You have 20 seconds to ask each question.

      Task 3

      Give full answers to the questions (2—3 sentences).

      Remember that you have 40 seconds to answer each question.

      Typescript for Task 3

      Interviewer: Hello everybody! It’s Educational Channel. Our guest today is a teenager from Russia and we are going to discuss his school subjects. We’d like to know our guest’s point of view on this issue. Please answer five questions. So, let’s get started.

      Interviewer: Hello everybody! It’s International English Language Association. Our guest today is a teenager from Russia and we are going to discuss sports. Please answer five questions. So, let’s get started.

      Interviewer: How old are you and what school do you attend?

      Student:____________________

      Interviewer: How often do you have English lessons a week and how do you find them?

      Student:____________________

      Interviewer: What activities do you find the most efficient?

      Student:____________________

      Interviewer: What subjects of interest do you discuss during the classes?

      Student:___________________

      Interviewer: Why do you think it is important to speak English?

      Student:_____________________

      Interviewer: Thank you very much for your interview.

      Task 4

      Imagine that you and your friend are doing a school project «The Way of Sleeping». You have found some photos to illustrate it, but for technical reasons you cannot send them now. Leave a voice message to your friend explaining your choice of the photos and sharing some ideas about the project.

      In 2.5 minutes, be ready to:

      • explain the choice of the illustrations for the project by briefly describing them and noting the differences;

      • mention the advantages (1—2) of the two types of sleeping;

      • mention the disadvantages (1—2) of the two types of sleeping;

      • express your opinion on the subject of the project – which way of sleeping you prefer and why.

      You will speak for not more than 3 minutes (12—15 sentences). You have to talk continuously.

      TEST 2

      Раздел 1. Аудирование

      1. Вы услышите 6 высказываний. Установите соответствие между высказываниями каждого говорящего A—F и утверждениями, данными в списке 1—7. Используйте каждое утверждение, обозначенное соответствующей цифрой, только один раз. В задании есть одно лишнее утверждение. Вы услышите запись дважды. Занесите свои ответы в таблицу.

      1 It’s another time to spend money.

      2 Valentines make a big

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