A glimpse into Egyptian riches

During some five thousand years, or perhaps even longer, Egypt, protected by the natural barriers of desert from barbarian hordes, had developed probably the most remarkable and wealthy civilization the world has ever known. Its two greatest cities, Memphis and Thebes, each had over five million inhabitants which make them greater than any city, with the one exception of London, in pre-war Europe. In Thebes particularly, the accumulated wealth in gold and jewels in the temples passes imagination, because it was the Sacred city of the great XVIIIth, XlXth and XXth Dynasties which conquered the whole of Palestine right down to Mesopotamia and added wealth of many other long-civilized people to their own.

Long before 525 B.C. the peak of conquest had passed, and in that year came the Persian invasion. Having deposed the reigning Pharaoh, the Persian king Cambyses became the new monarch in Thebes. Yet he was not content with having taken the London of the ancient world and, like Alexander who came after him, he looked for the fresh worlds to conquer.

Questions for discussion:

1. Ancient Egypt was protected from barbarian hordes by:

a) the strong army;

b) mountains;

c) the desert;

d) the sea.

2. Which statement is not true? Memphis and Thebes were greater
than any city in:

a) Egypt;

b) Persia;

c) Palestine;

d) pre-war Europe.

3. When did the Dynasties of Pharaohs accumulate their wealth?

a) in 525 B.C;

b) after 525 B.C;

c) during some five hundred years B.C;

d) during some 5000 years before 525 B.C.

4. What treasures were not accumulated in the temples of Thebes?

a) gold images;

b) silver utensils;

c) sand dust;

d) jewels.

5. Which statement is wrong? Thebes was:

a) the sacred city of the XIX Dynasty;

b) the capital of Cambyses;

c) the city with many temples;

d) greater than London of our time.

6. Who ruled in Egypt after 525 B.C?

a) Alexander;

b) Cambyses;

c) Pharaoh;

d) Palestinian king.

Christmas

Most people in Britain see Christmas as the major festival of the year - an occasion for parties, giving and receiving gifts, eating and drinking, and generally having fun.

The many non-religious traditions associated with Christmas are in fact not very old, dating back only to the 19th century. These are mostly for children. On Christmas Eve, children hang stockings at the end of their beds or over the fireplace. They are told that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, arrives at night from the North Pole on his flying sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, climbs down the chimney and fills each stocking with presents. The children open their presents on Christmas morning.

At Christmas people decorate their houses with holly, ivy and mistletoe and children hang paper streamers (ribbons of colored paper). Decorating a house with mistletoe is a very old custom which may have something to do with the Druidical belief in its powers of fertility. The custom is to hang mistletoe from the ceiling, for people to kiss under.

A traditional feature of Christmas is the Christmas tree. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized this German tradition in Britain. The first Christmas trees were introduced there about 160 years ago.

Lunch is the most important point of Christmas Day. The traditional lunch consists of roast turkey with vegetables, followed by Christmas (plum) pudding made with dried fruit and brandy. Sometimes a coin is put in the pudding as a surprise.

Later, in the afternoon you may be visited by carol singers, who go around towns and villages singing Christmas songs, such as Good KingWenceslas or The First Noel, and collecting money for charity.

Questions for discussion:

1. The first Christmas tree was introduced to Britain about:

a) 920s1;

b) 1830s;

c) 1950s;

d) 1870s.

2. Where does the tradition of decorating a house with mistletoe at Christmas come from?

a) Germany;

b) the Druids;

c) Turkey;

d) France.

3. Who made the Christmas tree popular in Britain?

a) father Christmas;

b) queen Elizabeth II;

c) queen Victoria;

d) good King Wenceslas.

4. Which of the following would you not use to decorate your house at Christmas time?

a) mistletoe;

b) holly;

c) stockings

d) streamers.

5. What would you expect to find in a Christmas stocking?

a) carols;

b) money;

c) old clothes;

d) small presents.

6. Which of those things would you not find on your plate at Christmas?

a) turkey;

b) ivy;

c) plum pudding;

d) snow.

A way to success

In the United States young actors usually go to Hollywood because most of the movies are made there. I didn't go to Hollywood – it was my home, my family moved from New York to California before I was born. There are beautiful houses in Hollywood, but it isn't all beautiful. My mother and I lived in a bad street where drugs and criminals were no surprise. My father moved away from home shortly after my birth but he often visited us and I was happy. I was not always a good boy, school didn't interest me much – I liked playing and having fun. My first time on TV was at five but since I always wanted to play the show's producers got angry with me and I had to wait for about nine years before my next chance. But TV wasn't the only interesting thing, there remained books and movies, animals and the ocean.

Of course, I wanted to act, but many other people also did. In Hollywood actors usually audition for a part and directors watch and choose the right people. I went to a lot of auditions to get a job. First I got only small parts in TV commercials, more important parts weren't easy to get. Once a producer didn't like my name, I tried a new one but it wasn't a success either so I went back to the old. Then fortune smiled at me and I got a big part in Santa Bambamawhich was on TV five times every week with a new script for every show.

Questions for discussion:

1. The boy was born in:

a) New York;

c) Santa Barbara;

b) Hollywood;

d) California.

2. The boy got his first big part when he was:

a) five;

b) ten;

c) nine;

d) fourteen.

3. The producers didn't think he was the right child for the TV show because:

a) his father moved away from home;

b) TV wasn't the only interesting thing;

c) he lived in a bad street;

d) he always wanted to play.

4. The boy got only small parts because:

a) he auditioned but wasn't a success;

b) a producer didn't like his name;

c) there were lots of other actors to compete with;

d) more important parts were not easy for him.

5. Which statement is true?

a) the boy didn't go to Hollywood because his family moved from California;

b) apart fromtheir job on TV actors usually audition in Hollywood;

c) the boy liked watching movies and reading;

d) the boy played his first big part five times.

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