2. Словниковий диктант.

Урок 12

The four seasons

season – пора року

month – місяць

degree – градус

temperature – температура

snow/rain – сніг/дощ

fog – туман

wet – вологий

wind – вітер

warm – тепло

hot – гарячий, жаркий

cool – прохолодний

cold – холодний

thunderstorm – гроза

lightning – блискавка

frost – мороз

to freeze – морозити

to melt/thaw – танути

to bud – розквітати

to blossom – цвісти

to drizzle – моросити

There are four seasons of a year. They are: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each season has three months.

Spring begins in March and ends in May. The spring months are March, April and May. In spring the air is fresh, but it often rains. The grass is soft and green. The days become longer and the nights shorter. Many people try to spend more time out-of-doors. Nature awaken from her long winter sleep.

The summer months are June, July and August. When summer comes the weather gets warmer and sometimes it’s hot. The sky is clear and cloud­less. The days are long and the nights are short and warm. Summer is a good season for swimming in a river or sea. Besides, summer is a good time for holidays.

September is the first month of autumn. October and November are the next. When autumn comes the days get colder. The trees turn yellow. The leaves begin to turn yellow and fall to the ground. It is rather warm in the day time, but it is already cool at night. Autumn is harvest time. There are plenty of fruits in our orchards. The farmers gather crops and pick fruit. It often rains in autumn.

Autumn is a rainy season. The days become shorter and the nights longer.

Winter is the coldest season. The winter months are: December, Janu­ary and February. In winter we have often hard frost. It is a cold season. It often snows. In winter the sun shines rarely. It rises late and sets early. The temperature is low. The sky is often covered with gray heavy clouds. The rivers and lakes are covered with ice. The nights are long and the days are short. Winter is the season for winter sports and games.

Note

«It is raining cats and dogs!»

When it pours with rain we often say: «It’s raining cats and dogs!» But we don’t know why, and what this saying’s original meaning was.

In distant times, people thought that witches could turn themselves into cats and ride across the stormy skies on their broomsticks, cats were thought to be a big influence on the weather.

The dog was the servant of the Norse storm god, Odin, and represented the wind. Cats and dogs from that time have meant the wind and the rain.

Exercises

1. Read and translate the text.

2. Answer the questions:

1. How many seasons are there in a year?

2. What season is it now? Do you like it?

3. What is the weather like today?

4. Is it raining today? Is it snowing today?

5. Do you know the weather forecast for today?

6. What weather do you like?

7. What is your favourite season? Why?

Learn the following proverbs and give their Ukrainian equivalents:

• Many men — many minds.

• April showers bring May flowers.

• A land flowing with milk and honey.

• As mad as March have.

• As old as the hills.

• As the tree falls, so shall it lie.

• As wide as the poles apart.

• Birds of a feather flock together.