Великобритания — это государство «Британия» или «Великобритания» означает определенное место на земном шаре (скорее несколько таких мест), но не государство. Словом «Британия» обозначаются Уэльс, Шотландия и Англия, а кроме этого есть Британские острова, где находится Северная Ирландия и Республика Ирландия (не знал, что их две!). Чаще всего Англией называют именно всю эту группу «субгосударств» без Ирландии. Англичане обычно добавляют к этому слову «Британская», то есть «Британская Англия» (British England). Северная Ирландия является частью образования под названием «United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland», которое устанавливает различие между частью Ирландии под управлением Англии (с 1972 года) и Республикой Ирландия, имеющей собственное правительство.
Америка – это страна, которая дает такую почву для создания ее стереотипного восприятия, какую вряд ли дают все страны мира вместе взятые. Отобрав десяток из них, я решил попытаться их деконструировать.
Стереотип 1. «В Америке нет вкусной еды – вся еда синтетическая. Все американцы питаются фаст-фудом и постоянно посещают закусочные Макдональдс».
Абсолютная неправда. Америка – страна процветающего ресторанного бизнеса, и практически в каждом американском городе вы найдете весь географический спектр ресторанов – от украинской кухни до тайской. Равно, как и найдете рестораны разной ценовой политики. Но, если в большинстве стран разбежка в ценах ресторанных меню может достигать коэффициента 3.0, а то и 7.0 (в дешевом ресторане бифштекс стоит 5 условных единиц, а в соседнем, дорогом, 5х3=15 у.е.), то в Америке этот коэффициент в абсолютном большинстве ресторанов вряд ли превысит 1.5.
Dates
1) In spoken Britain English we use ordinal numbers for dates. We usually say and write the day, then the month, then year. We also usually say the before the days and of before the month.
e.g.
We say: the eleventh of February, two thousand and seven
We write: 11 ( or 11th ) February 2007 or 11/02/07
We say: the thirtieth of August, two thousand and five
We write: 30 ( or 30th ) August 2005 or 30/08/05
2) In American English, we usually say and write the month, then the day, then the year. We don't use of and the.
e.g.
We say: January tenth, nineteen nineteen ninety-seven
We write: January 10 ( or 10th ) 1997 or 01/10/97
we say: October twenty-first, two thousand three
We write: October 21 ( or 21st ) 2003 or 10/21/03
Women are often misunderstood by men. That’s why men should know the words used by women to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminologies...
Here are the top 9 words women often use to hide their feelings:
#1. “Fine”
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
#2. “Five Minutes”
If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
#3. “Nothing”
This is the calm before the storm. This means something,and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
There are three different ways of saying the time: 1) In conversation, we use past ( or in American English after ) and to ( or in American English of ).
7.05 – five past seven
7.15 – quarter past seven
7.20 – twenty past seven
7.30 – half past seven
5.40 – twenty to six
5.45 – quarter to six
5.50 – ten to six
6.00 – six o’clock
2) Sometimes we use the figures only. Say the figures in the oder you see them.
5.05 – five oh five
5.15 – five fifteen
5.20 – five twenty
5.35 – five thirty-five
5.45 – five forty-five
5.50 – five fifty
5.30 – five thirty
5.55 – five fifty-five
With this form, we often say a.m. for the morning and p.m. for the afternoon and evening.
The office closes at 5.30 p.m.
Breakfast is served between 7.00 and 9.00 a.m.
3) In Britain and USA, we usually use the 24-hour clock only to talk about travel time tables.
An accountant - a person who keeps or checks the financial records of a business to acquire - to buy another company, e.g. Vodafone acquired Mannesmann in 2007. advertising – information used to sell a product or service to afford – to be able to do something because you have enough money, e.g. I can’t afford to go on holiday this year. age group – people of the same age, e.g. the 18-25 age group an agenda – a list of points to be discussed at a meeting to agree – to have the same opinion, e.g. I agree with you. Do you agree? I don’t agree. an analyst – a person who examines something in detail to learn something about it, e.g. a systems / market analyst to apologize – to say sorry, e.g. to make an apology to application – a computer program, e.g. a word-processing to apply for – to ask formally in writing, e.g. to apply for a job to appoint – to choose a person for a job, e.g. Congratulations on your new appointment. an appointment – a meeting at an agree time and place, e.g. I have an appointment with my bank manager. an arrangement – an agreed plan, e.g. We arranged to meet at 6 p.m. to attend – to be present at, e.g. to attend a meeting / conference, etc. attraction – the places of interest in a city, region or country, e.g. tourist attractions
*I want to live forever, or die in the attempt.
*Siberia is a winter wonderland.
*An investment is anything that costs more than you can possibly afford.
*The tower in Pisa is straight - the rest of the world is crooked.
*I am only visiting this planet.
*Never talk to strange men.