Чтение в формате ЕГЭ – вариант 5

1. Flower shop
2. Part-time job
3. Caring for animals
4. Gardening jobs
5. Animal visit
6. Daily spotlight
7. Indoor chores
8. Daily wake-up

A. Some people might think working round the house is an easy thing, but these people obviously don’t do very much of it. When you have to tidy up a living room full of kids’ toys, clean bookshelves covered in dust and prepare a meal for suppertime, it can be exhausting. You can’t do it alone, so you’ve got to employ your family to help. Still, they don’t always do their jobs!

B. Being a florist is a rewarding job. It’s almost like being a decorator of plants. You make all sort of arrangements in a variety of colours for special occasions like weddings and Mother’s Day, and naturally, you have to be a lover of all things green. You’ve got to make sure all the plants stay healthy otherwise it’s hard to make a sale.

C. Working as a TV newsreader has its ups and downs. The up side is if you love communicating and think you do it well, it’s the perfect job for you. On the other hand, it can be quite stressful being on camera often, especially when you don’t feel like it. Additionally, the news is often not pleasant to report on, so you’ve got to keep a stiff upper lip.

D. If you’re looking for some extra money, you might want to consider working for a few hours after school. Lots of places are keen on employing young people, and the work schedule can be quite flexible. A student has a busy life, so you probably couldn’t do more than ten or twelve hours a week, but it’s a great way to earn some cash and learn responsibility.

E. For many adults, the first thing to do every morning is to grab a cup of coffee and sit down with the news. Whether it be reading a paper or the internet, it seems to be a habit for lots of people. The news has a way of kicking your mind into gear, along with the coffee, of course, and then once you’ve had your fill, it’s off to get ready for work.

F. Whereas some people don’t mind doing housework, for others, it’s a real bother. They prefer being outside, and if they’ve got a big garden to tend to, there’ll be many tasks to keep them entertained, such as planting seeds, pruning trees and doing the watering. There’s something they can do outside every day, and they never get bored with it.

G. There are lots of different class trips a teacher can take students on, like visiting a newspaper or a bank to see how things are run. An interesting way to learn about nature is a trip to the zoo. The kids see lots of different kinds of animals, and they can learn about where they’re from. It’s just one of many class trip ideas.

A – 7
B – 1
C – 6
D – 2
E – 8
F – 4
G – 5

Petrushka is a character from Russian folk puppetry. Traditionally dressed in red, with a red kolpak, or pointed hat, Petrushka was a humorous fellow A _______.

Petrushka first came to life, so to speak, sometime in the 18th century during Empress Anna Ioannovna’s reign. In the Empress’s court was a man named Pietro-Mira Pedrillo, of Italian descent, В ________. It was this man’s character and style that became the basis for Petrushka. In fact, the name Petrushka is a diminutive form of the name Pyotr (Peter, or Pietro in Italian).

In the beginning, Petrushka was intended for an adult audience. The plots of the puppet’s theatrical plays were about a variety of common, meaningful occurrences in a Russian’s life: a visit to a medical practitioner, learning military service, or a marriage ceremony, to name a few. The plots employed the use of interactive humour С ________.

Over time, puppet theatre moved away from adult-themed entertainment and towards children’s fare. Because of this, some of the long-running and less savoury characters had to be retired. Still, the humour of the shows was considered sharp-witted enough D ________.

An interesting aspect of Petrushka, as with other puppet shows, is his unusual voice, made to sound like a funny whistle, or kazoo. This would add a buzzing sound to the character’s speech, E ________. Mr Punch of Punch and Judy shows in the UK is one character with a similar voice.

Petrushka was famously made into a ballet in 1911 by Russian ballet composer Igor Stravinsky. The ballet tells a coming-to-life story of the puppet F ________.

1. to provide entertainment for both children and their parents
2. and follows his journeys as he discovers his thoughts and emotions
3. to force many puppeteers to seek alternative sources of income
4. who entertained the empress during leisurely afternoons
5. which could also be heard in famous puppet shows of other countries
6. whose persona was based on the personality of a court jester
7. which allowed the audience to participate in the various shows

A – 6
B – 4
C – 7
D – 1
E – 5
F – 2

The job of a 21st century butler was underappreciated in society, but in carrying out the role Mr Wainwright found a type of magnificence which contradicted that lack of respect. His ability to be a silent yet highly perceptive presence amongst the upper classes, whilst performing his duties immaculately, was his proof.

He understood why he might be looked down upon by others; servitude wasn’t equated with prestige, unlike other jobs such as surgeon or architect. And society’s general disdain for the very privileged meant those who served them were like slaves to the enemy. He could leave his job at any time, however, and his salary rivalled his prestigious counterparts in the outside world’.

What he wasn’t allowed to do was be less than perfect. A butler was the boss of all the other service staff and he hadn’t arrived at the position overnight. The others around him – the valet, the footman, the hall boy – could make small mistakes and seemingly get away with it, that is until the earl took notice and had a word with Mr Wainwright, which he would pass on to them. The admonishment was more like a slap on the wrist, thanks to his kindly nature, however.

The butler had to know what was going to happen before it happened. Anticipation was the top job skill – not something you’re taught at school. It was a life lesson, one most people rarely learn. Even at butler training, this skill would be one you would just have to ‘pick up’. They’d tell you that you need to do this, but it was up to the individual to work out how they’d achieve it. Sacrificing your own needs to attend to the needs of others was a large part of it.

Besides being well paid for his service, there were certain other rewards for being a butler. The workspace was an elegant turn-of-the-century mansion, which Mr Wainwright admired deeply but had grown so accustomed to he took for granted, aside from its upkeep. The endless array of dignitaries that passed through the halls meant experiencing – if only from the sidelines – a slice of society most people would never come across. The butler’s living quarters were well furnished, if meagre in space. But the butler – in fact, all the staff – dined much like the nobility. They partook of the same fine meals that went upstairs, even if they consumed them downstairs. That was what Mr Wainwright savoured the most.

Every bit as delicate as the household procedures was Mr Wainwright’s relationship with the earl. Their exchanges were often friendly, but it was understood that they were not ‘friends’, nor could Mr Wainwright ever wish for that. The lady of the house was technically the person he reported to. Lady Channing was the one who’d elevated him to his exalted position, and who would defend him against any of the earl’s misgivings about his service, of which there were few.

Mr Wainwright had settled on a life of service, disregarding other opportunities, not only because of his rare ability to serve others while remaining largely unseen, but also because of his deep-seated need to be needed himself. Praise, however, was rare in Channing Manor – the perfunctory ‘Thank you, Wainwright’ was as commonplace as afternoon tea. The very promotion from footman to butler had only included the words ‘I’d like you to be our butler’ followed by ‘This is what you will do’. It was years later, when Lady Channing, in a moment of humility, said, ‘I don’t know what I would do without you,’ that Mr Wainwright was reminded of his wise choice.

1. What does Mr Wainwright consider to be magnificent?
1) His position.
2) His duties.
3) People’s opinions.
4) His abilities.

2. In what way is Mr Wainwright’s job like a surgeon’s?
1) It is well paid.
2) People appreciate both jobs.
3) The duties are similar.
4) People look down on both jobs.

3. The phrase ‘slap on the wrist’ in the third paragraph means …
1) a severe punishment.
2) a light warning.
3) tapping someone’s hand with wood.
4) light praise.

4. How does a butler learn how to foresee his boss’s needs?
1) Through training.
2) From higher staff.
3) From the boss himself.
4) Through personal devotion.

5. ‘That’ in ‘That was what Mr Wainwright savoured the most’ in the fifth paragraph refers to …
1) the surroundings he dined in.
2) the food he dined on.
3) the people he dined with.
4) the manner in which he dined.

6. What is true about Mr Wainwright’s relationships with the Channings?
1) The earl defended him from Lady Channing.
2) Lady Channing deeply respected him.
3) He wished he was closer to the earl.
4) He and the earl often had problems.

7. Mr Wainwright was satisfied with being a butler because …
1) the lady had said many kind things to him over the years.
2) he enjoyed serving others without wanting anything in return.
3) a few small things were said to him on a daily basis.
4) he realised he was a valued and necessary part of something.

1 – 4
2 – 1
3 – 2
4 – 4
5 – 2
6 – 2
7 – 4