Focus on Grammar. Medieval kings faced the same problems that trouble governments of today - how to raise enough (1) __ to pay for such things as administration and

Talking Points

The Revenue Problem

Text 3

Medieval kings faced the same problems that trouble governments of today - how to raise enough (1) ______ to pay for such things as administration and defence. Despite a bewildering range of taxes, (2) _______ were nearly always short of money.

Most (3) ______ were difficult to collect, and people were not keen on paying unpopular taxes. Resentment over taxes also played a major role in pushing the American colonists to declare (4) ________ in 1776. The British insisted that the colonists pay taxes for their own defence, but would not grant them a political (5) _______ in London. This caused (6) _______ that led to the War of Independence and British defeat.

It was clear that a successful tax had to be easy to assess, easy to collect and difficult to avoid. Customs (7) ______ – taxes on certain goods imported and exported by sea – proved the most convenient solution.

Though they were never popular, they did not lead to some of the (8) ________ associated with other taxes. Customs duties were one of the most reliable (9) _______ of public revenue for many centuries.

Customs duties still generate revenue, but the modern Customs Service has far wider (10) ______. Its roles include the (11) ________ of international trade in drugs, illegal (12) _______ and other socially harmful _______ (13).

Exercise 20. Translate into Russian.

1. The Russian Customs Service predates the Mongol Yoke (1237-1480).

2. In Kievan Rus taxes were collected for transportation of goods through the frontiers of individual princedoms.

3. The first Russian Customs statute was handed down in 1667. It was strict towards foreigners, who were allowed to trade only in frontier towns on pain of confiscation.

4. Later Russian tsars approved laws limiting the import of foreign goods and defending Russian producers.

Exercise 21. Discuss with your partner the problems affecting the performance of Customs officers throughout the history. Use the tips:

1. The history of smuggling is long and deserves studying.

2. Smugglers were always aware that the Customs were keeping a close watch on their movement.

3. There were various classes of Customs officials.

Exercise 22. In pairs, discuss the conditions of Customs work in old days.

Exercise 23. Open the brackets using the correct Passive Voice.

1. Dutiable goods (smuggle) into the country.

2. Custom officers (instruct) by “Searchers”.

3. He (catch) by the authorities and later (imprison) for ninety-nine casks of brandy hidden in his warehouse.

4. The coal (load) ballast for the voyage home.

5. These officials (treat) with much contempt by the poor people.

6. A large number of brandy casks (hide) under the boxes with apples from Jersey.

7. The Welsh coast (survey) by Greenville Captain Collins.

Exercise 24. Give three forms of the following verbs:

hide, arise, arouse, awaken, find, make, catch, keep, know, meet, send, spread.

Exercise 25. Open the brackets using Present Simple or Present Continuous.

1. Where is Ivanov? – He (examine) passengers’ baggage.

2. I (not like) the picture you (look) at now.

3. He (read) books in three languages, and now he (read) a French novel.

4. She usually (do) her homework at home, but now she (do) in at the library.

5. Where you (go) now? – I (go) to the library to prepare for my examination.

6. What that tourist (do) there? – He (go) through the Customs control.

7. What you (buy) here? – I (buy) an English text-book.

8. She (fly) to New York once a month.

9. He (start) a new job next week.

10. The woman who (speak) with my sister in the yard is our neighbour who (live) across the street.

11. She (be) at the English lesson now.

12. You (wait) for me in the departure lounge?

Exercise 26. Insert the article if necessary.

1. There were not many lifeboats on _______ board of _______Titanic, that’s why ________lot of people sank. – What _______ sad story!

2. In ______fact I can’t catch _______main idea.

3. It’s_______ high time we were off. Take _______ care of yourself.

4. Do you prefer to travel by _______ train or by ________car?

5. Christopher Columbus set ______sail in 1492 to find _______shortest way to _______India.

6. My mother and I are leaving for _______Moscow in _______ week; _______rest of _______family will stay at _______home.

7. By _______end of the academic year there is always _______great deal of work to be done.

8. Moscow is situated on ________ Moskva River.

9. France is to the north of ________Italy.

10. Have you ever been to _________ Canary Islands?

11. Chicago is on ________Lake Michigan.

12. _______Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.

13. The Red Sea is between ______Africa and _____Asia.

14. Was O’Henry from ______USA or ______UK?

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