British Youth

M ost 18 and 19 year-olds in Britain are quite independent people. English people say that children grow up more quickly now. Relationships within the British family are different now. Children have more freedom to make their own decisions.

For example, children aged 13 may be employed part time in Great Britain. Age 15 is legally a "young person" not a "child". Age 16 is a school leaving age. They can leave home, drive a moped, marry with "parents' consent", buy beer. Age 17 can drive a car. Age 18 can vote, get married, drink in pubs.

Education is a very important part in the life of British youth. One can't become an independent person without it. When time comes to enter a college, a young Englishman chooses one far away from home. It is a necessary part of becoming adult.

During the last 30 years there were a lot of different trends in youth movements. All of them were characterized by their own philosophy, way of life, and style of dressing. Each tendency was born by the influence of economic and political changes in the society. Those trends are known as the "hippies" the "punks" the "rockers".

But certainly there are different traditional youth organizations in Great Britain. Among them are the Scout Association, the Girl Guides Association, the National Union of Students, the Youth Club. The latter offers, for example, a wide range of sporting and social activities.

The National Union of Students was founded in 1922. It operates through local branches in colleges and universities. It promotes the educational, social and general interests of students.

But certainly the most numerous is the Scout Association, founded in 1908 for boys and in 1910 for girls by Lord Baden-Powel. The Scout movement is to encourage a sense of adventure and of responsibility for others among young people. The program of training is planned to develop intelligence and practical skills, to promote health and a sense of service.

Scout training is complementary to the ordinary education. Scouts train in mapping, signaling, first aid and all the skills that arise from camping and similar outdoor activities.

British scouts take part in international scout meetings, which are held approximately every four years.

The membership in this or that youth organization is not compulsory in Great Britain. But everyone can find the activity he likes most.

Text 7

Task 1. Read and translate the text. Make the vocabulary of unknown words.

Task 2. Make a short annotation to the text.

Sports in Great Britain

Britain's national sport is football or soccer. It was played there as far back as medieval times. Nowadays it has become the most popular game all over the world. There is no national football team in Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their separate football clubs, which compete in European and World Cup matches.

English football fans are fond of most exciting games which are held between teams from the same city. For example, between Manchester United and Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea from London.

T here are plenty of amateur association football clubs. Many schools form their own football teams, offering students an opportunity of entering prestigious universities according to their sport achievements.

There is a certain type of football called rugby. The game is called so because it was originated at Rugby — a well-known English public school. As well as common football it is a game played by two teams of fifteen players each. The game takes place on a field 100 meters long and 80 meters wide. There are goal posts at both ends of the field. Rugby is played with an oval or egg-shaped ball which can be carried by hands and kicked. The ball is passed from hand to hand in order to be thrown across the goal line. It is a rather violent game; that is why the players must be big and strong. Another requirement for the players is to wear helmets, masks and chest and shoulder padding.

C ricket is a popular summer sport in Britain. There are many cricket clubs in the country. Cricket players wear a certain uniform — white boots, a white T-shirt and white trousers. One cricket game takes a terribly long time. There are two teams of 11 players each and test matches between national teams can last up to 5 days. The spectators have to be very patient. The game is played on a pitch with a wicket at each end. The rules of the game have changed over the years. It is a game which is associated with long sunny summer afternoons, the smell of new-mown grass and the sound of leather ball beating the willow cricket bat. Cricket is more popular among men, but it is also played by women and girls.

Tennis is another favorite sport of the Englishmen. People all over the world know Wimbledon, which is the centre of lawn tennis. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the world considered by many people to be the most prestigious. It takes place over two weeks in late June and early July. Wimbledon is known for its traditions — strict white dress code for competitors, the absence of sponsor advertising around the courts and some others. Every tennis player dreams of taking part at this tournament.

Golf is a game of business community. In Great Britain it is very common to establish good business relations playing golf. The equipment for this game is quite expensive as well as the entrance to a prestigious golf club, so not everyone can afford it. Golf is a ball and golf stick game played on a natural field. In this game one has to knock a ball into a hole.

There are a lot of other popular sports in Great Britain, for example, horseracing, croquet, swimming, running, cycling and rowing.

Text 8

Task 1. Read and translate the text. Make the vocabulary of unknown words.

Task 2. Make a short annotation to the text.