Task 1. Reading. (10 points) – 2 points for each correct answer. Read the texts about famous women.

For questions 1- 5, put the correct letter (A-D).

A. Florence Nightingale was impatient with a life without meaningful purpose. By age 24, Florence rejected a marriage proposal and decided to be a nurse. For several years Florence pleaded with her parents, with God and suffered a near nervous breakdown, but never considered disobeying her parents’ wish. At last, in 1851 her parents permitted her to study nursing at an institution in Germany. Two years later, she was appointed superintendent of the institution. Her administration was very successful and so were the changes made to the institution.

B. Louisa May Alcott lived most of her life in Boston and Concord. She worked as a teacher for a short time. Next, she worked as a housekeeper and finally began writing. Her first books were written quickly. Then, Alcott volunteered to be a Civil War nurse, where she caught typhoid and was sent home. But, from this experience her book Hospital Sketches became famous. Soon, her stories were chosen for the Atlantic Monthly. Her most popular book was Little Women. It described her own childhood, as many of her other books: Aunt Joe’s Scrap Bag, Little Men, Eight Cousins and others.

C. Marie Curie was born Maria Sklodowska as the fifth and youngest child of Bronislava Boguska, a pianist, singer and teacher and Wladislaw Sklodowski, a professor of mathematics and physics. From young she was remarkable for her prodigious memory and at the age of 16 she won a gold medal on a competition of her secondary education at Russian lycee. In 1891, she went to Paris. She worked late hours and virtually lived bread and butter and tea. In 1904 she was placed the second in the license of mathematical sciences. It was then that she married Pierre Curie, a famous scientist.

D. Valentina Tereshkova was born in Yaroslavl region of the former USSR. Soon after starting work in a textile mill at the age of 18, Valentina joined an amateur parachuting club. She was a hard worker. Later, at the age of 24, she applied to become a cosmonaut. On June 16, 1963 Tereshkova was launched into space aboard Vostok 6. She became the first woman to travel in space. Her flight lasted 48 orbits totaling 70 hours 50 minutes in space. She spent more time in orbit than all the US Mercury astronauts combined. Valentina received the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union awards for her historic flight.

E. Margaret Thatcher was born in England in the family of grocer and dressmaker. Her father was involved in local politics. Early in her life she decided to be a member of the Parliament. In 1950 Margaret married Denis Thatcher, got her degree from Oxford and worked there as a research chemist. In 1959 she won a seat in Parliament. In 1970 to 1974 she served as the Minister of Education and Science. In 1979 general elections Mrs. Thatcher became the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. She resigned in 1990. She was awarded an Order of Merit award by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Who

1. was honored with the title of Hero for her historic deed?

2. waited for her parental permission to realise her dream to become a nurse?

3. succeeded as a leader and was awarded the order for her remarkable work for the country?

4. worked as a nurse at war?

5. was an outstanding scientist? ​

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