Every nation and every country has its own traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of the people than in other countries.
Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. It has been the law for about three hundred years that all the theatres are closed on Sundays. No letters are delivered, only a few Sunday papers are published.To this day an English family prefers a house with a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating. English people like gardens.
Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday, and in Scotland it is not kept at all, except by clerks in banks, all the shops, mills and factories are working. But six days later, on New Years Eve the Scotch begin to enjoy themselves. All the shops, mills and factories are closed on New Years Day.
People invite their friends to their houses and "sit the Old Year out and the New Year in".
When the dock begins to strike twelve, the head of the family goes to the entrance door, opens it wide and holds it until the last stroke. Then he shuts the door. He has let the Old Year out and the New Year in.
1. Gust of wind — порыв ветра
2. Cozy evening — уютный вечер
3. Lights went out — свет погас
4. I was confused — я был запутан (не мог понять)
5. Rubbing eyes — тереть глаза
6. Snoring — храпеть
7. Powerful storm — сильная гроза
8. A big yawn — широкий зевок
9. Sighed — вздохнула (was relieved — от облегчения)
10. Wad fast asleep — быстро уснул
A7 -2false
A8 -2 false
A9 - 1 true
A10- 2 false
A11 - 3 not stated
A12 - 1 true
A13 - 1 true
A14 - 3 not stated