2. Translate the following phrases:

1.​ Это нелегко говорить о себе

2.​ Для начала, следует сказать

3.​ Я близорук

4.​ Слабое здоровье

5.​ Хорошо успевать по ....

6.​ заниматься каратэ

7.​ немного фотографировать

8.​ получать специальность

9.​ смешанное чувство

10.​ упрямый и не простой в общении

11.​ выходить из себя

Text 3. The family is one of the nature's Masterpieces

Vocabulary

twin	близнец
sibling	родной брат / сестра
fabulous phenomenon	удивительное явление
masterpiece	шедевр
genius creation	гениальное творение
immortal	бессмертный
root	корень
prehistoric	доисторический
adorable	восхитительный
offspring	отпрыск
perfection	совершенствование
search for ways	искать пути
family ties	семейные узы
stir	двигать, возбуждать
cope with	справляться с
manly hug	мужская поддержка
loving embrace	любящее объятие
restore from ashes	восставать из пепла
nuclear family	родители и дети
extended family	родственники
single-parent family	семья с одним родителем
encourage	способствовать, ободрять
intact family	полная семья, в состав которой входят оба супруга

A vocabulary defines a family as "people who are closely related". A family consisting of mother, father and their children, who are either twins or siblings is a nuclear family. Some of them are one-parent or single parent families. The family including aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins, nieces, grandparents, daughters- and sons- in law is an extended family.

To my mind there is no exact definition, what a family is. It is definitely a fabulous phenomenon, cemented by blood. It is really a masterpiece and as every genius creation of humanity it is immortal. Its roots date back to prehistoric times. Prehistoric mothers used to be as caring, over-protective and ambitious about their adorable offsprings, as all today's mothers are.

As it often happens to a masterpiece too much perfection can spoil it Sometimes the parents believe that their critical comments would encourage their children to greater efforts. Sadly they have exactly the opposite effect. After a number of criticism the child looses not only his interest in creating, but a great deal of his confidence. So being an ideal parent is a very delicate task demanding tact, patience and diligence.

Every masterpiece is born in pain, so it would be a mistake to think that a happy family doesn't face any problems. However, clever and understanding parents axe always ready to experiment and find the way out. For example, the teenagers are very radical in their opinions.

A clever parent will show how excited he is by his child's originality and search for ways to take it further.

The fantastic thing about family ties is that it always stirs the best feelings in people. Children return to support their helpless parents, bound to bed. A husband or a wife becomes the best nurses, when their spouse gets seriously ill.

To finish with, I'd like to say that there are times in our lives, when everything seems to be going badly. We all have problems we can't cope with. We feel depressed and dispirited. A father's manly hug or a mother's loving embrace can really restore you from ashes. And as every great masterpiece the family will remain in your soul forever.

Questions

1.​ What is a family?

2.​ Why is the family one of the nature's masterpieces?

3.​ What things can spoil the nature's masterpiece?

4.​ What problem does a happy family face?

5.​ Why will the family remain in one's heart forever?

Text 4. About my family.

I believe that everything has its beginning in the family. Family is very important for every person, because it gives you a sense of stability and tradition, a feeling of having support and understanding. In happy families parents are frank and honest with their children. They treat their children with respect without moralizing or bossing them all the time and children in their turn learn how to treat other people, how to form relationship among their equals. In a friendly family people are gentle, respectful and loving. They always share joys and sorrows as well as domestic chores. And that is how my family of three is build.

My family consists of my father, my mother and me, their son. So 1 am only a child in the family and don't very much mind it. We are an average family by modern standards.

I think I'd better start my story with my father, the head and the main supporter of our family. His name is Ivan Petrovich. He is in his late forties, but he looks powerful and impressive. He is tall with dark hair and brown eyes and he is of a strong build. At present, he is a director of a large plant. To goes without saying that he is very busy, always concentrated on his work and having very little time for private life. I like it very much when he finds time to talk with me about school and my interests. There is a lot of likeness between me and dad both in appearance and in character.

My mother's name is Larisa Ivanovna. She is an economist by education. She is very interested in her work, she is a good professional and she enjoys respect from her colleagues. Mum's life is not easy, of course, because she has to keep the house in addition to her work. My mother is a quiet and charming person. She is very kind and she does a good job of being a mother. I know I can be a real pain sometimes. Mum understands me in the way no other person would, and she always finds proper words to comfort me.

At present my Granny lives with us as well, so there are four of us sharing a three-room flat. But I must say we hardly have any serious problems with three generations under one roof. There is no 6 'father s-and-sons" problem in our family, though we often argue and disagree on certain issues. I can always bring my friends home and my parents are very positive about my friends although they don't always approve of our tastes, views and clothes.

I think we are a united family. I am really attached to my parents, I admire my Mum, Dad and Granny.