Walt Disney

I Read the text and do two tasks below it

The European Union

The European Union began in 1952 when Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg formed the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This agreement meant that the coal and steel companies in all six countries were controlled by the same organization.

In 1957, the same six countries formed the EEC (European Economic Community). The agreement, called the Treaty of Rome, made trade much easier and cheaper between these countries and with the USA.

By the end of the 1990s, the EEC had changed its name to the European Union and there were fifteen member countries. Trade between members is cheap and easy. They also have more power as a group when they trade with larger countries like the USA. Some people worry that the EU takes a lot of political power away from the government of each country. There is now a new kind of money in Europe – the euro. Not all EU countries have begun to use euros. Some people want their country to keep its own money and make its own economic decisions.

1 Are the statements below true (T) or false (F)?

a The abbreviation EU appeared in the 2^nd half of the 20^th century.

b Steel, coal and chemicals producers initiated a new trade agreement.

c Six European countries and the USA made an agreement in 1957.

d The European Union membership helps develop national economies.

e There are problems which the EU countries have not solved yet.

Complete the sentences 1-5 with the correct endings a-e.

1 France and Luxemburg a was signed in 1957.

2 The Treaty of Rome b by the same organization.

3 The main idea of the EU is c about their political and economic

independence.

4 People in the EU countries worry d belong to the EU oldest members.

5 In the EU countries trade is controlled e to make trade easier and cheaper.

II Read the text and choose the phrase (a, b or c) that best completes the sentences 1-5.

Walt Disney

There is no one who has never heard of Walt Disney; he is without doubt one of the most famous figures in the twentieth century and yet most people know hardly anything about him. Although he became one of the most successful men in the history, he left school at the age of sixteen and then studied art for a short time. By the early years of the 20^th century, he had already started to produce cartoons in Hollywood in partnership with his brother Roy, who, for some reason, never managed to become as famous as Walt.

Disney is perhaps most well known on account of his lovable cartoon character, Mickey Mouse, who first appeared in 1928 in a film called Steamboat Willie. One of the most popular cartoon films of all time is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which, when it was released in 1937, was the first full-length cartoon in the history of the cinema.

By the 1950s, Walt Disney had become one of the world’s major producers of films for cinema and television. As Disney Productions grew, its founder retained complete artistic control of the films and he also went on to publish books for children and cartoon strips in newspapers, featuring such characters as Donald Duck and Pluto the dog.

1 Everybody knows the most popular cartoon by W. Disney

a) Snow White and the Seventeen Dwarfs b) Snow White and the Seven Brothers

c) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

2 Walt Disney’s characters could be seen

a) in the newspapers and TV programs b) in the newspapers and books

c) in the films, newspapers, books and on TV

3 As for Walt Disney’s educational background,

a) he managed to get some professional skills b) he did not get any artistic education

c) his brother Roy taught him to make films

4 By now Mickey Mouse

a) is younger than 80 b) is older than 80 c) has celebrated his 85^th birthday

5 The cartoon Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is known in the history of the cinema

a) because of its characters b) because of its special effects

c) because it was as long as a feature film