Unit Eight Seasons and Weather

Every season is good in its own way. The weather depends on the season and the climate of the country, and the latter depends on the geographical position of the country.

The weather, as you know, changes with the changing of the seasons. Let’s take an autumn, for example. In autumn the sky is often cloudy; the sky hides behind the clouds and then appears again. Its rays have already lost their strength, and the sun is not so bright as it was in summer. The air can be moist. Days get shorter and nights longer. In late autumn the frost covers the ground at night. As autumn is a rainy season, the weather is mostly dull. And of course, we don't like rain of any kind even if it just drizzles. But there is a spell of sunny weather in late September, which we call Indian summer, when the sky is cloudless and there is a carpet of multicolored leaves on the ground. But in any case nature fades away and nothing can be done about it. I must confess, I don't like autumn, but a lot of people try to look at the reverse side of the medal. As they say, it is the time of harvesting tasty fruit and vegetables, the time of the beautiful golden leaves, the time when nature is very attractive.

In winter the sun shines rarely. Its rays are pale. It sets early and rises late. The air is frosty; large snowflakes slowly fall to the ground; the streets are slippery with a thick sheet of ice, they are frozen. The icicles glitter in the sun: the temperature falls, and snow may fall thick. Going outdoors in such a weather is not pleasant, but children enjoy throwing snowballs and making a snowman. Their cheeks are burning.

By the end of winter the snow begins to melt. Thaw sets in. The sun grows warmer, and soon there won’t be any ice but plenty of water.

Nature awakens from its long winter sleep. The trees begin to bud and soon tiny green leaves will appear. Thin new blades of grass come up, the fruit trees begin to blossom. "April showers bring May flowers", as the saying goes. Trees, bushes and fields look magic covered with green carpet. The farmers till the soil and sow the seed. Nature looks full of promise!

After spring comes summer. As a Great Russian poet Pushkin said, «Oh, summer fine! I'd love you but for the heat the mosquitoes and flies!» In fact sometimes the heat is oppressive. But people usually like summer because they have their holidays and enjoy resting after their hard work.

In my opinion every season is beautiful and attractive. And as one of the famous poets said, «I see no reason to speak in prize of any season».

Reading Text Worrying About the Weather

There’s an old English saying which goes:

Whether the weather is cold

Or whether the weather is hot

We’ll weather the weather

Whatever the weather

Whether we like it or not.

Roughly translated, that means that whatever the weather is like, good or bad, we’ll accept it. But, as everyone knows, that’s not quite true. It’s a well-known fact that the English spend more time complaining about the weather than anything else.

Why are we so worried about our weather? The answer is that we cannot accept the fact that, unlike the rest of Europe, we have a terrible climate. It may be colder in Scandinavia, but at least they have the excitement of snow. We hardly ever have snow, just rain, sleet and fog. But when we say to each other, «Isn’t it dreadful weather today? It’s pouring with rain», we sound surprised, as though it is very unexpected, when, in fact, it has been raining every day, for two weeks.

Surprisingly, few people take much notice of the weather reports in the newspapers, on radio and television. For a start, no one really understands what they mean when the forecasters use words like «depression» and «anti-cyclone». And anyway, we never believe what they say will happen. Also, we like to be surprised.

As soon as we wake in the morning, we go to the window and open the curtains to «see what the weather is doing» as if we expect at least a hurricane, or a snowstorm. As for the weather-forecaster, his job is simple. Whenever there is a major sporting event like Ascot, Wimbledon or an important cricket match, he knows that it is sure to rain!

No conversation ever starts in England without a comment on the weather. It is almost a formality, like shaking hands. «How do you do? Nice day today», or «How do you do? A bit parky, isn’t it?» Parky means cold, and it is only used when talking about the weather. Other typical comments on the weather are, «What’s the weather like down your way? » or «What time the rain get to your part of the world?»

Then there are people who pretend they know exactly what the weather will do next. That sort of person is always convinced that it will get worse. While sunbathing in 80 degrees of heat, they will say, «There’s a nasty nip in the air. We’ll have frost tomorrow morning».

The only time that we do want cold weather is at Christmas, when everyone is dreaming of a white Christmas. But sadly, it hasn’t snowed in many places in Britain on Christmas Day since 1963. These days, it always seems to snow in April instead of December, and then not very much. Snowmen are becoming almost extinct.

As we refuse to accept that it rains most of the time, we always dress in the wrong clothes. The only people who are always prepared for rain are businessmen who carry umbrellas, even during the hottest months.

Because it rains so much in this country, everyone cheers up when it is sunny. Girls have only one idea — to get brown before the good weather comes to an end. But even when the weather is marvelous, we can’t help complaining after a whole. For the first week everyone is happy. Then gradually the complaints start. «Too hot», «unbearable», people say. We actually want it to rain again! We deserve all the bad weather we get!

Answer the questions on the text.

1. What does the old English saying given at the beginning of the text mean?

2. What do Englishmen mostly complain of?

3. Do they often have snow in winter?

4. Why is bad weather never unexpected in England?

5. Why do few people take much notice of the weather reports in England?

6. Is the job of the weather-forecaster simple or complicated? Why?

7. What typical comments on the weather do you know in English?

8. What kind of weather are Englishmen dreaming about at Christmas?

9. Does it often snow in Britain on Christmas?

10. Why do Englishmen often dress in the wrong clothes?

11. Who are the only people in England who are always prepared for rain?

12. What do girls try to do when it is sunny?

Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and phrases:

Скаржитися (на щось), помічати, ураган, хвилювання, пожимати один одному руки, зникаючий синоптик, неочікуваний, нестерпний, йти до завершення, мріяти про щось.

Fill in the gaps in the following text.

In many parts of the world there are four seasons every year — spring, summer, autumn and winter. Summer, of course, is the time of ______ (1) weather and winter of cold weather. And autumn and spring are in-between seasons. Many parts of the _______ (2) have these 4 seasons. Lands near the equator, however, have pretty much the same temperature all the ______ (3) round. Those lands that do

have 4 seasons do not all have them at the same time. When lands north of the equator are having winter, lands south of the ______ (4) are having summer. The change of seasons is caused by the earth's travelling around the ______ (5).

Think and say what kinds of weather are good or bad for doing these things.

Planting flowers in the garden. Having a garden party. Doing sightseeing in a big city. Camping out in a tent. Revising for an exam.

Being ill with a high temperature. Skiing in the mountains. Fishing in the river. Weeding potatoes. Driving long distances.