Руководство по подготовке к сдаче вступительного экзамена по английскому языку. Предназначено для широкого круга лиц, осуществляющих подготовку с помощью преподавателя или

 

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288 
William Shakespeare (2)
Nowadays people seem to read newspapers mostly. Many
people are fond of reading detective stories or spy thrillers. I
myself prefer books about politics, history, travel-books and
biographies. It is my dream to become a student of the
department of foreign languages and to be able to read the
books by my favourite English and American writers in the
original.
As for the American writers, I like to read books by Mark
Twain and O'Henry.
I enjoy reading books by such English writers as Charles
Dickens, Robert Stevenson, Walter Scott. My favourite English
writer is William Shakespeare, one of the most outstanding
personalities in the world literature.
William Shakespeare was born in Stratf ord-upon-Avon not
far from London. His father, John Shakespeare, came to
Stratford from a village and opened a shop there. He never
became a rich man but at one time he was an important official
in the city. William Shakespeare lived in Stratford until he
was twenty-one. He got married and had three children. At
the age of 21 William left Stratford for London to join a
company of actors. He was a very good actor and an excellent
playwright.
William Shakespeare lived and worked in London for 25 years. 
By the end of the 16th century William Shakespeare and his 
friends had enough money to build their own theatre — the 
Globe.
In all Shakespeare wrote 37 plays, 2 long poems, a sonnet
cycle of 155 small pieces.
William Shakespeare had a natural gift for comedy. In his
comedies "Two Gentlemen of Verona", "As you Like It", "The
Twelfth Night" William Shakespeare describes the adventures
of young men and women,their love,friendship,happiness.
Shakespeare's tragedies "King Lear", "Othello", "Romeo
and Juliet" depict noblemen who opposed evil in the world.
Since they were written there has never been a time when at
least some of Shakespeare's plays were not staged.
In England and other countries it is the highest honour
for an actor to be invited to play in a comedy or a tragedy by
Shakespeare. In the last 35 years all the plays by W.
Shakespeare have been filmed. Since 1879 Shakespeare's
Festival has been held every year at Stratf ord-upon-Avon.
Questions:
1. What are many people fond of nowadays?
2. Why do you want to become a student of the department
of foreign languages?
3. Where was William Shakespeare born?
4. How long did he live and work in London?
5. What did William Shakespeare have a natural gift for?
6. What do Shakespeare's tragedies depict?
7. What is the highest honour for an actor in England?
Vocabulary:
thriller — сенсационный роман
spy — шпион
detective story — детективный рассказ
official — чиновник
to get married — жениться
to be held — проводиться
to film — снимать фильм