style="font-size:15px;"> The idea for the first ever Moscow skyscraper had actually come before the Second World War. The building, the Palace of the Soviets, was never completed. Construction began in 1937, but the German invasion in 1941 halted work ___ (C).
Each of the Seven Sisters has a large base of several floors, with the base size varying from one building to the next. The upper floors are much less wide than the base, ___ (D). The building designs are both elegant and imposing.
The buildings served various purposes, which have not changed since their erection. Some are hotels, such as the Hotel Ukraina, ___ (E). When it opened in 1957, it was the world’s tallest hotel building. Other buildings house government ministries, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Russian Federation.
Strangely, the term «Seven Sisters’ is not used by Russians. Rather, they call the buildings «Stalinskie Vysotki’, or «Stalin’s skyscrapers’. The style was replicated in former USSR and Eastern Bloc countries ___ (F), places that were influenced by Stalinist architecture.
1. and the building materials were removed and used for military defense
2. with the focus on creating the greatest buildings known to man
3. and can be seen in Kiev, Warsaw and Bucharest
4. and it was one of his missions to make that a reality
5. yet its capital had nothing to show for it
6. with the top consisting of a tower which narrows to a point
7. which has since been renamed the Radisson Royal Hotel
***
Прочитайте текст и выполните задания 12—18. В каждом задании запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.
Network Addict
I’ve been a user of Network for years, almost since its inception. I should correct myself, actually: I’ve been a user, abuser and loser of Network since King Mark Zuckerberg bestowed his charming gift upon the world.
I call him a ’king’ because he virtually rules over my life, and not in the typical way an actual king would, but in the way I have allowed myself to get sucked into the phenomenon. Let’s face it: the man has more influence over some people, me being one of them, than some parents have over their own children.
I’ve had my ups and downs with Network. I’ve gone from having thousands of friends I’d never met in real life, to deleting my account entirely and starting again from scratch, adding only real friends, as if that would make my experience more meaningful.
But why would I need Network to add depth to my existence? I’ll tell you why.. it’s because Network makes you slightly famous. It’s like having your picture in the paper with a little news story about you, where you’ve been, what you’re doing, what you bought today. You’re surrounded by all the trappings of Western society in your status update photos and they’re right there for the whole, um, small network of your friends to see.
I know what you’re thinking.. I’m sad and hopeless, and you’ll never turn out like me. But how many of you reading this can honestly say you don’t do the same things? Maybe you do it to different degrees, and maybe you’re even worse. You just have to ask yourself.. is there anything wrong with that?
I freely admit that I take pleasure from posting amusing pictures of a night out with friends, or what my dog’s chewed up on my return from work, or the fantastic rearrangement I did of my living room. There was a time when I thought «There must be something wrong with me. Surely I can find a better way to spend my time.» Apparently, I can’t, because I haven’t, so my conclusion is that I never will and I’m better off accepting it than trying to fight it.
Allow me to present a solid case in favour of Network addiction.. isn’t it far better than watching TV for hours on end? Or what about playing video games? That’s much more harmful and pointless, in my opinion. At least with Network, the things I do are seen by my peers, for better or worse, and my actions are not completely invisible and meaningless. At least there’s a purpose, right?
I suppose we find purpose where we want to find it. One could argue that a TV addiction helps keep you up-to-date with current events. And maybe a computer game sharpens your physical reflexes. I’ve decided that I’m a Network junkie because I’m a deeply social person. I like sharing opinions, photos, videos, and links to articles I enjoyed reading. And I’m not ashamed of it!
OK, I admit, I might check my Network page 100 times a day too many. I might get just a little upset when no one clicks ’like’ on any of the random postings I make every day. But I did get 70 ’likes’ for the photo I posted of me with my cat in front of my chin, which made me look as if I had a beard. You have to admit, those sorts of pictures are hilarious, and if they make someone laugh, where’s the harm in that?
12. The author refers to Mark Zuckerberg as a man who is…
1) parental.
2) generous.
3) powerful.
4) ordinary.
Ответ:
13. What does the author think about being Network friends with people you don’t know?
1) It is rather meaningless.
2) It can give you cause to delete your account.
3) It adds meaning to your life.
4) It can stop you having friends in real life.
Ответ:
14. The expression ’trappings of Western society’ in paragraph 4 means…
1) things that hold us hostage.
2) our habits or belongings.
3) the medias effect on people.
4) a person’s lonely existence.
Ответ:
15. What does the author think about other people’s relationship with Network?
1) Everyone is far worse.
2) No one can be as bad.
3) It varies from person to person.
4) Most people aren’t honest about it.
Ответ:
16.
