About my relatives and myself

My brother is 22 years old. He is of a medium height and build, a bit stocky, but strong with it. He has long, curly fair hair. It is fashionable at the moment for men to grow their hair. His hair nearly reaches his shoulders. My mother is always telling him to get it cut. He doesn't take much care over his appearance so he often looks quite scruffy. He hates having to wear a tie for work. When he's at home he wears comfortable clothes such as T-shirts and jeans. He doesn't care very much what he looks like.

My other brother is much taller - he towers above me, even though he is only 15. He does quite a lot of sport so he's quite strong and has well developed muscles. He has straight brown hair which refuses to lie flat and is always stroking up. He has bluish grey eyes and a little nose.

He is clever and quiet and spends a lot of time at his computer. People sometimes think that he is morose and sullen but I don't think that's the case - he just prefers to think rather than to talk. When he does talk he has a deep voice. He doesn't pronounce his words very clearly, but just mutters them - he can't be bothered to speak clearly. This is typical of 'boys of his age I think.

My mother turned 50 this year, although she doesn't look it. She has aged quite well I think. Only now she is beginning to show signs of old age ~ her hair has started to go grey and her skin is drier. She is also thinner - she used to have a tendency to put on weight. She is quite tall - it's a cha­racteristic of her side of 'the family. She is usually well dres­sed. She is the sort of person who always looks quite smart - I'm the exact opposite - it doesn't matter how much time, money and energy I devote to my appearance, I usually look scruffy. Even if I leave home looking good by the time I reach my destination I look a mess - my tights are splashed, my hem has come down and I generally look untidy as if I'd never bothered.

My father is quite short and a bit plump. I take after my father's side of the family. My father is nearly bald and the hair that remains is grey. He wears sensible, practical clothes most of the time, but for work he has to look smarter so he wears a suit and a tie. He has a grey and a blue suits which I think look good on him. When he puts his glasses on and he wears these suits, he looks every inch a teacher. My father is not a pleasant man. He gets angry and loses his temper quite often.

Ex. 5. Read the following passage. Speak about the relations in your family using the active vocabulary.

About my family

I enjoy the honest and open relations in my family – but I think discipline must be used when necessary. There’s never been a division between us, the children, and them, parents. Freedom has made us close.

I knew a girl whose parents were very strict and it made her a liar. I wouldn’t like to do anything to upset my parents.

(from “Incentive English” by w.s. Fowler, J. Pidceck)

Section III Pastime and Leisure

Ex. 1.

ambition		стремление
be fond of smth		любить что-либо
be interested in smth		интересоваться чем-либо
be keen on smth		увлекаться чем-либо
choose a profession		выбирать профессию
desire		желание, желать
dislike smth (to do smth)		не нравится что-либо (делать что-либо)
do sports		заниматься спортом
dream		мечта
dream of smth		мечтать о чем-либо
competitin / contest		соревнование
team
compete		соревноваться
to lose / win		проигрывать / выигрывать
go on for		заниматься (спортом)
to be in good / bad sport shape		быть в хорошей / плохой спортивной форме
root for / support		болеть за
be a … fan		быть … болельщиком
ground		спортивная площадка
gym (gymnasium)		спортивный зал
track suit		спортивный костюм
theatre		театр
What’s on at the theatre tonight?		Что идет сегодня в театре?
drama theatre		драматический театр
audience		зрители, публика
spectator		зритель
theatre-goer		театрал
to be popular / a success with the public		пользоваться популярностью / успехом публики
film / movie		фильм
screen version		экранизация
feature film		художественный фильм
cinema-goer		любитель кино
plot		сюжет
see a film on TV		смотреть фильм на ТВ

Ex. 2 Read the following text.

Try to understand it, answer the questions after it.

Use the information given in it while speaking about hobbies or pastime.