1. Grammar. Fill in the gaps with the correct forms of the verbs and pronouns in brackets. Robert Burns (1) ... (to bear) on January 25, 1759. Nowadays he (2) ... (to know) as a Scottish national poet who (3) ... (to make) his birthplace famous due to his poems. His father, a poor farmer, knew the value of a good education, that’s why Robert (4) ... (to send) to school at the age of six. By the time he (5) ... (to complete) his education, Burns (6) ... (to gain) knowledge of reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, history, literature, French, and Latin. The poet (7) ... (to begin) writing at 15. He composed verses to the melodies of old songs his mother (8) ... (to sing) (9) ... (to him) before, in his early childhood. His first poetic work (10) ... (to publish) in 1786 and became a great success. Beethoven, Schumann, and other composers (11) ... (to inspire) by them to write music. Even now Burns’s poems and verses (12) ... (to go on) encouraging people’s writing creation.

Перевод задания: Вставьте в пропуски правильные формы глаголов и местоимений в скобках.

(1) was born; (2) is known; (3) made; (4) was sent; (5) completed; (6) had gained; (7) began; (8) used to sing; (9) him; (10) was published; (11) were inspired; (12) go on.

В предложении о песнях используется конструкция used to для привычного действия в прошлом. Форма had gained показывает, что знания были получены к моменту завершения образования. Пассивный залог нужен в предложениях о рождении, отправке в школу, публикации и вдохновении композиторов.

Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759. Nowadays he is known as a Scottish national poet who made his birthplace famous due to his poems. His father, a poor farmer, knew the value of a good education, that’s why Robert was sent to school at the age of six. By the time he completed his education, Burns had gained knowledge of reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, history, literature, French, and Latin.

The poet began writing at 15. He composed verses to the melodies of old songs his mother used to sing to him before, in his early childhood. His first poetic work was published in 1786 and became a great success. Beethoven, Schumann, and other composers were inspired by them to write music. Even now Burns’s poems and verses go on encouraging people’s writing creation.

Перевод: Роберт Бёрнс родился 25 января 1759 года. В наши дни он известен как шотландский национальный поэт, который прославил свою родину благодаря своим стихам. Его отец, бедный фермер, понимал ценность хорошего образования, поэтому Роберта отправили в школу в возрасте шести лет. К тому времени, когда он завершил образование, Бёрнс приобрёл знания в чтении, письме, арифметике, английской грамматике, истории, литературе, французском и латинском языках.

Поэт начал писать в 15 лет. Он сочинял стихи на мелодии старых песен, которые мать пела ему в раннем детстве. Его первое поэтическое произведение было опубликовано в 1786 году и имело большой успех. Бетховен, Шуман и другие композиторы были вдохновлены ими на создание музыки. И сейчас стихи и поэмы Бёрнса продолжают вдохновлять людей на литературное творчество.