Homework for Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Unit 12: THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
THIS IS YOUR HOMEWORK RELATED TO TEXT 3 ON PAGE 35 (!!!)
Orally:
1. Listen to the speaker as many times as you need to read decently, at the speaker's spead. Please work with the dictionary to make sure you know the pronunciation of all new words, as well as their translation. BE READY FOR THE CONTROL READING OF THE TEXT!
2.Be ready for the round-table discussion of the topic. For that you will need to cover the following questions:
a) what was the stumbling block for the nuclear disarmament negotiations in mid-80s? (Strategic Defense
Initiative).
b) why did Russia decide to reduce the number of warheads 20 years ago? (Cost, ability to inflict unacceptable
damage).
c) why is the stationing of the US anti-missile defense systems in Europe so problematic? (anti-missile chasing a
launched missile increases probability of intercepting, also: anti-missile systems can be armed with regular missiles
etc).
d) why is Russia reluctant to start discussions with the United States about strategic stability and nuclear
disarmamemt? Do you read the press on that?
e) how many countries are in possession of nuclear arms nowadays?
f) why is Russia unwilling to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine?
g) what is the difference between strategic and tactical nuclear missiles?
DO NOT FORGET THAT FOR THE FREE SPEECH PART OF OUR LESSONS IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU COME UP WITH A MINUTE AND A HALF - TWO MINUTE MONOLOGUE. No matter how hot you think you are, making your free speech smooth and logical requires that you guys train it at home rather than rely on your ability (quite low for many of you) to come up with a monologue on the fly. Also, this is a serious and interesting topic, pivotal for the contemporary world politics and geopolitical configurations. You should be able to talk about it very intelligently. It is a testimony of your maturity, in a way...
