1) Установите соответствие между заголовками 1 — 8 и текстами A — G. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний. 1. A big problem for a small country
2. At a cultural crossroads
3. Architectural landmark
4. Attractive to learners of English
5. The influence of Britain
6. Unpredictable weather
7. Blended cuisine
8. Making movies
A. Malta is one of only a few truly bilingual countries. English language newspapers, books and magazines are sold everywhere, many TV and radio channels broadcast in English, movies are in English, and much of the islands’ cultural programme is in English too. This, together with an excellent climate and the option to combine learning and holidays, makes Malta a popular place for studying English.
B. To learn the history of a country, visit its libraries! But if you want to truly understand its people — try their food! Lots of Maltese dishes are the result of the long relationship between the inhabitants of the Malta’s and the many conquerors who occupied the Maltese Islands over the centuries. The island’s food is an interesting combination of Italian, African and English ingredients.
C. The British ruled Malta for 150 years and independence came only in 1964. Naturally, the Maltese adopted the British system of administration, education and legislation. Signs of British lifestyle are everywhere: there are English-style pubs, telephone booths and post boxes. There is even a British-style Labour Party office on Republic Street — visitors are welcome! The British feel at home in Malta, as cars drive on the left.
D. In recent years, Malta has become one of Europe’s most popular film and television locations. The Maltese Islands, their beautiful, unspoiled coastlines and breathtaking architecture have been home to several blockbusters such as Gladiator, The Count of Monte Cristo, Troy and Munich as well as prestigious dramas and sitcoms such as the BBC’s Byron and ITV’s Coronation Street, and more recently the TV series Game of Thrones.
E. Malta is not one island, as most people think, but five. English, which is the official language, is spoken by almost all Maltese people. Another official language is Maltese, a dialect of Arabic, which is written in the Latin alphabet. Today, Malta fully understands the importance of its position between Europe and the Middle East. Besides speaking European languages such as English and Italian, many Maltese also speak Arabic.
F. Malta has no rivers or lakes. Many rely on rain, which does not come every summer, and causes floods in winter. If you’re in Malta during the summer months, there’s no need for an umbrella. But come in October and the islands are flooded with rain. Shortage of water has stimulated the building of special factories that remove salt from the sea water. Nowadays they provide more than half of the country’s freshwater needs. Officially, the tap water is safe to drink in Malta, but it tastes awful.
G. The Maltese capital, Valletta, is often called a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen. It was created by the Knights of Malta and is perhaps Malta’s greatest treasure. Impressive fortifications surround the city to this day. Valletta is famous for its narrow streets, churches, palaces, museums and baroque buildings. According to UNESCO, this magnificent city is one of the most concentrated historical areas in the world.