Working on the text. Customs regulations on valuables

Text 1

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS ON VALUABLES

UNIT 8

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

Under Russian law items older than fifty years are considered part of Russia’s national and cultural heritage. But an object must be more than just old to be called an antique. Antiques of all kinds are highly valued for their beauty, craftsmanship, quality of design and sometimes for their relation to a historical period or to some well-known person.

Cultural valuables include: original hand-made pictures and drawings; sculptures, icons, engravings; handicrafts; ancient books and manuscripts; photo-, audio- and video- archives; unique and rare musical instruments, furniture, rugs; post stamps; various kinds of metal ware, orders, medals, coins; etc. Modern items and items of mass production are not related to cultural valuables.

Export and import of cultural valuables are regulated and controlled by the state bodies. Exported cultural valuables are subject to special registration in the order established by the Federal Customs Service and the Culture Ministry which keep the State Protection Lists and Registers.

There is a standard procedure for individuals who want to take cultural valuables out of the country. The owner must apply to the Culture Ministry for permission and present the proof of ownership for the valuable item. It can be a receipt from the shop or an auction, an old photo, a will or some other document. When they receive the necessary documents, the Ministry issues a certificate confirming the right to export cultural valuables. The certificate allows carrying cultural valuables across the customs and state border of the country.

When passing through the customs control a person should declare the valuable item both in his exit and entry declaration forms and it is obligatory to present it for inspection. Undeclared items found during the search are detained and the person may be accused of smuggling.

Cultural valuables in search are subject to arrest for their following return to the legal proprietors.

The author has the right to take out of the Russian Federation any quantity of cultural valuables created by him, no matter whether he is leaving the country temporarily or for permanent residence abroad.

Illegal bringing in and taking out of cultural valuables is considered as smuggling and is to be punished in accordance with the Criminal Code or the legislation of the RF related to administrative violations.

Task 2. Try to guess the meaning of the words. Check with the dictionary.

bracelet, theatre, frame, medallion, piano, brooch, ornaments, album, statuette, diamond, portrait, silver, ballet, candelabrum, vase, teapot, sapphire, cross, gold, earrings, guitar, icon, figurine, tomb, ruby

Task3. a) Give the Russian equivalents of the following:

b) Explain the meaning of the underlined expressions:

- under Russian law

- national and cultural heritage

- an antique

- original hand-made pictures

- ancient books and manuscripts

- items of mass production

- State Protection Lists

- proof of ownership

- the customs and state border

- cultural valuables in search

- legal proprietor

Task 4. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

считаться частью национального наследия; (не) относиться к культурным ценностям; подлежать специальной регистрации; вести реестр; вывозить культурные ценности; обратиться в Министерство культуры; предъявить доказательство права собственности; выдать сертификат; изъять незадекларированные ценности; обвинить в контрабанде; наказать в соответствии с законодательством

Task 5. a) Match the antonyms:

old modern

ancient mass production

unique common

special permanent

original new

rare ordinary

temporary copy

hand-made standard

b) Complete the sentences with the proper words:

1. This chair is a copy of the _______ design.

2. He was wearing a pair of expensive __________ shoes.

3. Computers are an essential part of _______ life.

4. The expert said that the paintings were rather _______, not valuable at all.

5. He was excited to see such a _______ icon.

6. We have a very _______ guest with us at the meeting today.

7. She was employed on a _______ basis.

8. Searching luggage at airports is now a _______ practice.

9. Each person’s fingerprints are _______.

Task 6. Insert prepositions if necessary:

1) to regulate and control _____ import and export

2) subject _____ special registration

3) export is regulated _____ the state bodies

4) to present the proof _____ ownership _____ the valuable item

5) a receipt _____ the shop

6) when crossing _____ the border

7) to declare _____ the valuable item

8) to present _____ inspection

9) found _____ the search

10) accused _____ smuggling

11) to take _____ _____ the country

12) illegal bringing _____ is forbidden _____ law

13) to return _____ the legal proprietor

14) to apply _____ the Culture Ministry

Task 7. Complete the sentences.

1. Cultural valuables include...

2. Cultural valuables don’t include...

3. To move some cultural valuables across the border the person has to...

4. Culture Ministry officials usually...

5. When crossing the border it is obligatory to...

6. To declare an item means …

7. If customs officers find undeclared items during the search...

Task 8. Answer the questions:

1. What can be called an antique?

2. What do cultural valuables include?

3. What items are not related to cultural valuables?

4. How does Culture Ministry control the export of antiques?

5. Is it possible for individuals to take valuables out of the country?

6. How can a person obtain permission for export?

7. What can be accepted as the proof of ownership?

8. What must a person remember when passing through the customs control?

9. What can happen if the person violates the regulations?

10. What else have you learnt about the customs regulations on valuables?

Task 9. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1. Министерство культуры и таможенная служба контролируют ввоз и вывоз культурных и исторических ценностей.

2. Какие доказательства права собственности вы можете предъявить?

3. Перед тем, как выдать разрешение на вывоз, сотрудники Министерства культуры регистрируют ценности в специальном реестре.

4. Во время досмотра багажа таможенники обнаружили несколько старинных книг и рукописей.

5. Ваша коллекция современных иностранных монет не представляет ценности. Вам не нужно разрешение на вывоз, но вы должны ее задекларировать и предъявить для досмотра.

6. Этот художник регулярно вывозит свои картины на международные аукционы.

7. Ваш музыкальный инструмент находится в розыске. Мы изымаем его, и после проведения следствия он будет возвращен владельцу.

8.При подаче таможенной декларации пассажир не указал, что в его багаже имеются иконы.

9. При проведении таможенного досмотра автомобиля в багажнике среди личных вещей было обнаружено 6 икон.

10. Согласно закону, регулирующему ввоз и вывоз культурных ценностей, провоз данных предметов может осуществляться на основании разрешения Министерства культуры.

Дата добавления: 2015-03-31