a) In this chapter you will read about the Brezhnev era in Soviet history, an era also known as the era of stagnation. Specifically, consider the following questions:
How did Brezhnev come to power?
What were the biggest domestic and foreign policy challenges of the Brezhnev era?
How did Soviet citizens respond to the Brezhnev administration’s approach to the solution of domestic problems?
What was the country’s mood at the time of Brezhnev’s death?
б)История в анекдотах
Read the two jokes from the Brezhnev era and consider why they might be particularly poignant for Soviet citizens who lived through the era.
— Мяса нет, сыра нет. Кругом смотришь: и чего только у нас нет!..
Это что за Бармалей ,
Лезет там на Мавзолей?
Брови страшные он носит,
Букв совсем не произносит.
Кто на это даст ответ,
Тoт получит… десять лет!
