Task 2.1. Read the texts and match the paragraphs to the headings. Headings: 1. Four-legged friends; 2. Religion and belief; 3. Food and farming; 4. Home on the water’s edge; 5. The importance of trees. A. In medieval Russia or Rus (980–1584) people were very close to nature. They settled on plains near rivers and lakes. These places contained a lot of fish, so that, not surprisingly, many Russians were skilful fishermen. B. Rus was rich in forests in medieval times and almost everything was made of wood. People lived in wooden houses, used wooden cutlery and made wooden furniture. There was even a wooden Russian tsar’s palace in the village of Kolomenskoye that was known as the eighth wonder of the world. Russian craftsmen built houses and churches using only axes and no nails. C. The diet of the people at this time was healthy but not very rich: Russians grew wheat and rye. Grain was very important as the basic ingredient for black rye bread, buckwheat kasha and kvas—a drink that was also used as a stock for vegetable soup. Black bread and buckwheat kasha remain popular; in fact, black rye bread is enjoyed in many other countries today. D. Animals were very important to Medieval Russians. Horses were used to plough and pull sokhas, cows gave milk and furs were high-value animal products obtained from the forest. Fur was a significant Russian export. E. Medieval Russians were pagan before 988 AD. They believed in many gods instead of one and were nature worshippers whose gods were associated with the sun, the thunder, the wind, animals and birds. Russian fairy tales are rich in supernatural characters like Baba Yaga, Kashchey, the firebird, etc. Goodness and kindness were regarded as very important features of human beings. Although the old Russia was not a perfect world, it was a very human one.

Перевод задания: Прочитайте тексты и сопоставьте абзацы с заголовками.

Answers:

1. A — 4. Home on the water’s edge (Дом у воды).
2. B — 5. The importance of trees (Значение деревьев).
3. C — 3. Food and farming (Еда и земледелие).
4. D — 1. Four-legged friends (Четвероногие друзья).
5. E — 2. Religion and belief (Религия и верования).

Ответы по-русски:

1. A — 4. Дом у воды.
2. B — 5. Значение деревьев.
3. C — 3. Еда и земледелие.
4. D — 1. Четвероногие друзья.
5. E — 2. Религия и верования.