Illustrative Situations

/. Study these example situations:

a) Tom is a football fan and there is a football match on tele­vision this evening. The match begins at 7.30 and ends at 9.15. Ann wants to come and see Tom this evening and wants to know what time to come.

Ann: Is it all right if I come at about 8.30? Tom: No, don't come then. I'll be watching the match on televi­sion.

In this situation Future Continuous is used to denote an action which will be going on at a definite moment in the future.

b) You can also use Future Continuous to talk about things which are already planned or decided.

— I'll be going to the city centre later. Can I get you anything?

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With this meaning "will be doing" is similar to "am doing".

— I'm going to the city centre later.

We often use Will (you) be — ing? to ask about people's plans, especially when we want something or want someone to do so­mething.

— Will you be using your bicycle this evening?

— No, you can take it.

//. Listen to the dialogues, analyse the use of the Future Con­tinuous tense. Learn the dialogues.

1. — What's the time?

— It's five past three.

— Then I must go to the butcher's.

— Will you be passing the grocer's on your way?

— Yes, I will. Do you need anything?

— Yes, just a pound of sugar, if you don't mind.

2. — I'll be seeing you on Tuesday then?

— I'm afraid not. I shan't be coming here on Tuesday.

— But I must give you back your book.

— That's all right. You'll be rehearsing your play with Bill on Tuesday, won't you? Give it to him then.

3. — We've got visitors coming to tea today.

— What visitors?

— The Browns and the Greens.

— I expect they'll be bringing their children along.

Practice

/. Say what you or other people will be doing at a definite mo­ment in the future.

e.g. I'm going to watch TV from 9 till 10 o'clock in the evening. So at 9.30 I'll be watching TV.

1. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4.30. So at 4 o'clock tomorrow I ...' 2. Jim is going to study from 8 o'clock until 10 o'clock this evening. So at 8.30 this evening he ... 3. We are going to clean the flat tomorrow. It will take from 9 till 11 o'clock. So at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning ... 4. Susan has a lot of typing to do. She's going to type today from 8 a. m. until 5 p. m. So at 4.30 this afternoon ... 5. We are going to pack our things from 6 to 9 this evening. So at 7 o'clock this evening we ... 6. We are going to have our classes from 3 to 6 o'clock. So at 5 o'clock we ... 7. I'm going to write letters from 10 until 11. So at 10.30 I ... 8. From 11 till 6 I'm going to prepare for my exam. So at 2 o'clock I...

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II. Make up short dialogues using the prompts.

e.g. — Paul's on holiday; he's having a marvellous time.

— This time next week I'll be having a marvellous time, too. Paul's on holiday; he's ...

sunbathing boating

swimming drinking fresh grapefruit

water-skiing camping

fishing climbing the mountains

///. Answer the questions:

e.g. — Are you going to watch the match tomorrow? (work)

— No, I'm not going to watch it because I'll be working.

1. Are you going to phone him now? (sleep) 2. Are you going to ask them now? (have their lunch) 3. Are you going to bed early? (go to a party) 4. Are you coming to the pictures tonight? (do my homework) 5. Is he playing tennis with us tomorrow? (safari exam) 6. Are they going to visit us next week? (go to Scotland) 7. Is he going to Rome immediately? (have a holiday first)

IV. Respond to the following statements:

e.g. Look, it's getting dark, (it, rain, in a few minutes) It'll be raining in a few minutes.

1. I don't think they will come, (move to a new flat) 2. What are your plans tor tonight? (take a friend to a concert) 3. My vacation is coming to an end. (return to the University, in two days) 4. Stay a little longer, (we, have supper, in a few minutes) 5. You are looking tired. (I, get a holiday soon) 6. I'm going to speak to Mr. Smith about it. (see him tonight) 7. My mother is coming by the 6 o'clock train, (meet her at the station) 8. Jane is packing her things, (leave tonight) e.g. — The Wests are moving to London.

— What a pity! We shan't be seeing them soon.

1. Mary is busy, (go on a picnic) 2. The TV set is out of order, (we, watch TV) 3. Victor is having his classes tonight, (see us at the station) 4. Alice has got a cold, (sing at the concert) 5. John is going away on business, (come to the party) 6. Peter has to get ready for his exam, (play football with us)

V. Paraphrase using the Future Continuous:

e.g. We are going to London tomorrow. We'll be going to London tomorrow.

1. We're catching the 8 o'clock train. 2. My brother is meeting me at the station. 3. Our wives aren't coming with us. 4. They are staying at home. 5. We're arriving at Paddington Station at ten o'clock. 6. My brother's staying overnight in London, but I'm not.

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7. I'm returning on the 9 o'clock express. 8. My wife's picking me up at the station.

VI. You have already planned your evening. A friend has just told you he wants to see you at 8. He asks what you will be doing then. Make the answers with these words.

\. some homework 5. a party with some friends

2. the radio 6. a play on television

3. a letter home 7. dinner at the new Chinese res

4. a new book I got today taurant

8. my suitcases before I go away

VII. Ask questions.

e.g. You want to borrow your friend's car. (you/use/your car/this

evening)

Will you be using your car this evening?

1. You want your friend to give Tom a message this afternoon. (you/see/Tom/this afternoon) 2. You want to borrow your friend's typewriter tomorrow evening, (you/use/your typewriter/tomor­row evening) 3. Your friend is going shopping. You want him/her to buy some stamps for you at the post office, (you/pass/the post offi­ce) 4. Your friend is leaving for Moscow tonight. You want him to take some things to your parents who live in Moscow, (you/leave for Moscow/tonight) 5. Your friend often goes to the country on Sa­turday, but you want to invite him to the theatre, (you/go/to the country/on Saturday) e.g. — I usually see Ann on Monday.

— Will you be seeing her next Monday? I usually ...

1. leave early on Friday, 2. lunch with Bill on Monday; 3. go camping in summer; 4. play golf on Sunday; 5. take out Mary on Monday; 6. watch TV on Sunday evening; 7. listen to the radio on Saturday morning; 8. write to my father on Thursday; 9. meet Arthur on Tuesday; 10. dine out on Saturday; 11. visit my mother-in-law on Wednesday

VIII. Ask your friend questions. Ask him (her):

what he (she) will be doing at 6 o'clock today; what he (she) will be doing on Sunday; when he (she) will be leaving for Mos­cow; how long he (she) will be staying there; when he (she) will be having his (her) holidays; where he (she) will be resting; what he (she) will be wearing at the party; when he (she) will be taking his (her) exams

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Fluency Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is this week and several of our relatives from out of town will be staying with us during the long holiday weekend.

Uncle Frank will be staying for a few days. He'll be sleeping on the couch in the living-room.

My wife's parents will be staying until next Monday. They'll be sleeping in the guest room over the garage.

And Cousin Bertha will be staying for a week or more. She'll be sleeping on a cot in the children's bedroom.

My wife and I will be busy for the next few days. She'll be pre­paring Thanksgiving dinner and I'll be cleaning the house from top to bottom.

We're looking forward to the holiday but we know we'll be happy when it's over. Happy Thanksgiving.

/. Listen to the text "Happy Thanksgiving", ask and answer questions on the text.

II. Retell the text.

Food and Talk

Last week at a dinner-party, the hostess asked me to sit next to Mrs Rumbold. Mrs Rumbold was a large, unsmiling lady in a tight black dress. She did not even look up when I took my seat beside her. Her eyes were fixed on her plate and in a short time she was busy eating. I tried to make conversation.

"A new play is coming to "The Globe" soon", I said. "Will you be seeing it?" "No", she answered.

"Will you be spending your holidays abroad this year?" I asked.

"No", she answered.

In despair, I asked her whether she was enjoying her dinner.

"Young man", she answered, "if you ate more and talked less we would both enjoy our dinner".

/. Listen to the text "Food and Drink" and answer the questions:

Where did the writer sit at the dinner-party? How did the writer try to make conversation? What questions did he ask Mrs Rum-bold? What did she answer?

//. Retell the text.

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The Greenwood Boys

The Greenwood Boys are a group of popular singers. At present they are visiting all parts of the country. They will be arriving here tomorrow They will be coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station. Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers' Club. The Greenwood boys will be staying for five days. During this time they will give live performances. As usual, the police will have a difficult time. They will be trying to keep order. It is always the same on those occasions.

/. Listen to the text "The Greenwood Boys". Ask and answer questions on the text.

II. Retell the text.

III. Situation: You are going to the South for your summer ho­lidays. Say what you will be doing there.

IV. What are some of the things you will be doing at these times:

1. 7.30 tomorrow morning

2. 7.15 tomorrow evening

3. 10.30 next Sunday morning

4. 8.00 this evening

5. this time next week

Across the Channel

Erna Hart is going to swim across the English Channel to­morrow. She is going to set out from the French Coast at five o'clock in the morning. Erna is only fourteen years old and hopes to set up a new world record. She is a strong swimmer and many-people think that she will succeed. Erna's father will set out with her in a small boat. Mr Hart has trained his daughter for years. Tomorrow he will be watching her anxiously as she swims the long distance to England. Erna intends to take short rests every two hours. She will have something to drink but she will not eat any solid food. Most of Erna's school triends will be waiting for her on the English coast. Among them will be Erna's mother, who swam the Channel herself when she was a girl.

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions: What is Erna Hart going to do? Who will be watching her anxiously?

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//. Read the text.

III. Ask and answer questions on the text.

IV. Retell the text.

V. What are your plans for the future holidays?

Self check

/. Use the proper tense forms:

Terry: I hear you're off to Italy, Steve.

Steve: Yes, I (work) in Rome for a few months.

Terry: When you (set) off?

Steve: On Monday morning. But I (take) two weeks' holiday befo­re starting work. I (spend) a few days in Germany and a week in the Alps with a friend. We (do) some skiing to­gether.

Terry: You (travel) by air?

Steve: No, I (take) the car. I (stay) Sunday night in London and I (leave) Monday morning on the Dover-Ostend ferry.

Terry: And at that time on Monday I (sit) here in Birmingham sorting out the correspondence — and it probably (pour) with rain, too.

Steve: Never mind, Terry, your turn will come!

Terry: I hope so. Anyway, I must be off It's five o'clock and my girl-friend (wait) for me outside — and she (wait, not) long.

Steve: Now it's my turn to envy you. I (do) overtime until 8 o'clock tonight.

Terry: Don't work too hard! Have a good trip and don't drive too fast!

Steve: I won't! Cheerio, Terry.

//. Translate into English:

1. Приходи сегодня вечером. Мой приятель будет рассказы­вать о своей поездке в Англию. 2. — Когда он летит в Париж? — На следующей неделе. 3. Никуда не уходи. Поезд прибывает через несколько минут. 4. Давай поторопимся. Через минуту начнется дождь. 5. Я не буду писать ему. Он приезжает на сле­дующей неделе. 6. — Летом вы опять будете путешествовать? — Да, мы поедем на Кавказ. 7. — Что ты будешь делать завтра? — С 10 до 2 я буду работать в библиотеке. С 3 до 7 у меня заня­тия в институте.

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UNIT 22 TOPIC: WEEKEND. PASTIME.

GRAMMAR: REVIEW OF TENSES.

PART A TEXT. WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THEIR SPARE TIME

At weekends in England people like to relax. You can relax in many different ways. Some people like to stay at home with their families, and others like to go out and enjoy themselves. Young people enjoy going out to pubs, to the cinema or to nightclubs. Many young people also like to play different kinds of sports. Tennis is very popular in England in the summer when you can play out­doors Other popular sports are badminton, football, basketball and cricket. Cricket is a very traditional English game. It is played a lot at schools and in villages in the summer.

If you have children, you often go on day-trips to the seaside or take your children to amusement parks or perhaps to the zoo. In the summer, many parents like to take their children on picnics in the countryside, especially if they live in a big city. It is nice to get away from the noise and the traffic at weekends and relax in the country.

If you have a house in the country you probably spend a lot of your time in the garden. Gardening is another very tradi­tional English pastime. People are very proud of their gardens and spend many hours trying to grow beautiful flowers and rare bushes.

English people usually have about 5 weeks' holiday a year, apart from public holidays like Christmas and Easter. Many people like to go abroad for their holidays because the English weather is not always sunny. People want to lie in the sun and swim in the sea. So they cross the Channel and go to France, Spain or Ita­ly. Some people fly, but a lot of people drive in their cars to the beaches in Southern Europe. However, many people also enjoy staying in Britain and visiting other regions of their own country. They like going to the sea-side in the south of England or the Lake District in the north. Many people also go to Scotland. It all de­pends on what you enjoy doing. You can relax in many different ways in England.

Comprehension

/. Listen to the text " What People Do in their Spare Time" and answer the questions:

How do people relax at weekends in England? What sports are popular in England? Where do people spend their holidays?

232

//. Read the text and analyse the language peculiarities of the text. Do some exercises in the next section to remember them.

Special Difficulties

/ Ask and answer questions. Use the verb "enjoy".

e.g. you/skate

— Do you enjoy skating?

— Yes, 1 enjoy it very much.

1. Your son/read. 2. Mike/the picnic 3. Mary/dance. 4 You/the party. 5. you/watch films on television 6. Peter/the concert. 7 You/ /classical music. 8. Your friend/ski. 9. You/tish. Ш. Lucy/play tennis.

//. Complete the utterances using the word combination "enjoy oneself (oneselves)":

1. My brother usually spends his holidays in holiday camps, and he always ... 3. We ... in the country last weekend. 3. — I'm going to a party tonight.— ... ! 4. — We were at a concert yesterday. — ... you ...? 5. The Parkers went on a picnic on Sunday. They say they ... very much. 6. — My sister spent her holidays in Spain.— ... she ... ?

///. Paraphrase using the verb "enjoy":

1. Mike likes boating. 2. Helen liked the film very much. 3. We had a good time at the party. 4. I'm fond of gardening. 5. Did you like the book? 6. He likes walking in the forest. 7. Do you like In­dian films? 8. You are fond of playing chess, aren't you? 9. We liked swimming in the lake.

IV. Say that you or some other people are proud of smb/smth:

e.g. Mrs Smith/her son

Mrs Smith is proud of her son.

1. Mr Baxter/his wife. 2. We/our children. 3. George/his brother. 4. Ann/her daughter. 5. Mr. Collins/his collection of stamps. 6. The boss/his office.

V. Make up your own sentences using the verb "spend" + Par­ticiple J:

e.g. My son/read detectives

My son spends hours reading detectives. 1. My father/fish. 2. Jack/play football. 3, Marian/work in the garden. 4. David/listen to pop music 5. My daughter/do her homework 6 She/play the piano.

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VI. Fill in the gaps with, either "other" or "another" (self-check) :

1. Will you have ... cup of tea? 2. Where are the ... boys? 3. There are some ... people waiting for you. 4. This pen is broken. Give me ... . 5. He is busy now, ask him about it some ... time. 6. I don't like this suit. Show me ... . 7. What is the ... man's name? 8. One of the hats is mine, the ... is Mr. Blake's. 9. I am worried about Helen. I'm going to send her ... telegram. 10. Give me some ... books. 11.... people saw him there, too.

VII. Translate into English (self check):

1. Тебе нравятся французские фильмы? — Да. 2. —Мне не понравился концерт. А тебе? — Мне тоже. 3. Один из ее сыно­вей летчик, другой — дипломат. Она очень гордится ими. 4. — Этим летом мы отдыхали на юге.— Вы хорошо провели вре­мя? — Да, погода была великолепная. Мы наслаждались, ку­паясь в море и загорая. Мой муж проводил много времени за рыбалкой. Это его хобби.

Text Exercises

/. Ask and answer questions on the text.

II. Speak on weekends and holidays in England.

III. How do you usually spend your weekends? Do you go in for sports? What is your favourite sport? Where do you usually go for your holidays? Why?

PART В

Conversation Practice Harry's Weekend

Harry is American He works as a sound engineer in a recording

studio in San Francisco.

Interviewer: Harry, could you tell me something about your week­ends?

Harry: Sure.

I: Are they busy, or ... don't you do much?

H: No, they tend to be very busy. I don't have much spare

time during the week, so when the weekend comes, we try very hard to have a good time.

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I; So what sort of things do you do?

j-j_: Well, let's see. It begins on Friday night, of course,

er ... we maybe go to a bar but we usually go to the theatre. Saturday morning, that's the time for clea­ning the house, washing the car, doing the laundry. After lunch we go for a walk on the beach, or play tennis, or go for a run. In the evening we sometimes go to a movie, but usually we go to watch a band.

I: Oh.

H: Yea. Not, not in a concert, in a bar — you know bars

in America are more like clubs.

I: Oh, yes. So plenty to do on Saturday. Mmm. What

about Sunday?

H: Well, on Sundays we get an enormous pile of newspa-

pers, and we just sit in the garden over a cup of coffee with maybe a continental breakfast and read the newspapers.

I: Relax. What about Sunday evening then?

H: Well, Sunday evening we quiet down a bit. It's time

to get ready for Monday. Another week. So we usually have an early night. Maybe watch a little television.

I: Oh, that's very interesting, Harry. Thank you very

much.

I. Listen to the conversation "Harry's Weekend" and answer the questions:

Are Harry's weekends usually busy? What do they do on Friday night? on Saturday morning (evening)? on Sunday?

//. Listen to the conversation again. Tell about Harry's weekends.

III. Situation: You and your friend are speaking about your weekends.

What are You Doing this Afternoon?

Roger: Hi! It's me.

Peter: Oh, hi! How are you?

Roger: Fine. Tell me, what are you doing this afternoon?

Peter: I'm not sure. I'll probably stay home and read a book. How

about you?

Roger: Well, I'm planning to go fishing. Would you like to join me? Peter: Sure. I'd be happy to. Going fishing sounds a lot more

exciting than staying home and reading a book. Roger: Good! I'll pick you up at around one o'clock. Peter: See you then.

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/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

Where is Roger planning to go this afternoon? What does Pe­ter prefer: reading a book or going fishing?

//. Listen to the text again and pick out the phrases expressing a future action.

III. Act out the conversation.

A Picnic

Tim: Hullo?

Mary: Hullo, Tim. This is Mary. Alan and I are going on a picnic.

Do you want to come? Tim: Isn't it going to rain, Mary? Mary: I don't think so. The sun's shining and there isn't a cloud

in the sky. Tim: Well, I've got some work to do, but I suppose I could put

it off till tomorrow. Where are you thinking of going? Mary: Near Stroke. There's a nice spot by the river with some

tall elm trees.

Tim: It is just before Stroke, on the left of the road? Mary: That's right. It's very easy to find. Tim: I'll come, and I might even go for a swim. Are you taking

any food or drink? It's a pity you didn't mention it yesterday.

I don't think there's any beer in the house. Mary: Don't worry. We've got some bottles of beer and lemonade

and there's half a chicken in the fridge. Tim: Right then. See you there in about an hour.

/. Listen to the conversation "A Picnic" and answer the ques­tions:

Where are Mary and Alan going today? What is the weather like? Does Tim feel like going to the country?

//. Read the conversation and analyse its language peculiari­ties.

III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the fol­lowing:

Куда вы думаете поехать? Это место легко найти. Жаль, что вы не упомянули об этом вчера.— А дождя не будет? — Не думаю. Возможно, я искупаюсь. Не беспокойтесь. На небе ни облачка. У меня есть работа, но думаю, что я мог бы отложить ее до завтра. Вы берете с собой еду и напитки? Хорошо. Встре­тимся там приблизительно через час.

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IV. In one paragraph of about 50 words give a brief account of the conversation.

V. Act out the conversation.

VI. Tomorrow is Saturday. Your friend phones to invite you to the country for the weekend. You are free tomorrow and would like to come. Your friend has a car, he is going to pick you up at 7 a. m.

On a Phone

Mary: Extension seven five three.

Jim: Hi, Mary! It's Jim here.

Mary: Oh, it's you again.

Jim: Yes, what shall we do this evening?

Mary: What do you suggest?

Jim: I don't know. You decide.

Mary: What about a game of tennis?

Jim: No. Not today. How about going to the cinema instead?

Mary: Oh, good idea! We could meet at the box-office. At a quarter

past seven? Jim: OK. Let's do that.

/. Listen to the conversation "On a Phone" and answer the questions:

What does Mary want to do this evening? What does Jim sug­gest? What are his exact words?

//. Listen to the conversation again, reproduce the phrases expressing suggestions.

III. Act out the conversation.

IV. Situation: Your friend and you are staying in town this weekend. At the moment you are making plans for the coming weekend.

Do you Want to Come with Me?

Angie: Colin? It's Angle.

Colin: Oh, hi, Angie! How are things?

Angie: О. К. thanks. Listen, are you doing anything on Saturday?

Colin: Saturday? I'm not sure. Why?

Angie: Well, it's the international athletics meeting at Crystal

Palace. I've got two tickets. I think it is going to be good.

Do you want to come? Colin: It sounds fun. I'll check in my diary. Hang on.

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Angle: О. К.

Colin: Let's see. Oh, that's a pity!

Angie: What's wrong?

Colin: I am playing in a college football match that afternoon,

I'm afraid.

( Angie: That's a shame! Who else can I ask? Colin: You could ask Mike. He's quite keen on athletics. Angie: Yes, О. К. What's his number? Colin: I can't remember. But I know he is going to be at college

this afternoon and I'll ask him to phone you. Angie: Fine. I'll call you home about nine. Colin: О. К. Angie: Thanks. Look, I'd better go now. I'll be late for work if

I'm not careful. Bye for now! Colin: Bye, Angie!

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

Where is Angie going on Saturday? Why can't Colin come with her? What do they agree to do?

//. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases expressing a future action.

III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the follo­wing:

Он увлекается легкой атлетикой. Послушай, у тебя есть ка­кие-либо планы на субботу? Как дела? Я не уверен. Какая жа­лость. Мне бы лучше поторопиться. Не клади трубку. В чем дело? Это звучит интересно.

IV. Express regret in response to the following statements:

e.g. — Donald won't come to the party.

— That's a pity, (or That's a shame)

1. Robert failed in his chemistry exam. 2. I'm afraid I can't lend you any money. 3. I lost 20 pounds yesterday. 4. I couldn't get the tickets for the match. 5. Roger won't take part in the discus­sion. 6. We have no vacancies.

V. Give advice in response to the following statements:

e.g. — I've got a cold, (stay in bed)

— You'd better stay in bed.

1. I haven't enough literature for my report, (go to the library) 2. The train is leaving in an hour, (take a taxi) 3. It's 6.30. (start at once) 4. The dress is both cheap and nice, (buy) 5. I don't know what's the matter, (ask her) 6. I am going to travel by plane, (go by train) 7. Susan doesn't know about the picnic yet. (phone)

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VI. Use the conversational phrases from the text in response to the following utterances.

1. How are you getting on? 2. The airport is far away from here. 3. We are going to the seaside for the weekend. Do you want to come with us? 4. Are you free on Tuesday evening? 5. The Browns won't be coming to the party. 6. It's 10 o'clock. 7. What shall we do this evening³

VII. Write the note to Mike which Colin leaves on the college notice board to tell him about Angle's telephone call. Start like this:

Dear Mike,

Sorry I missed you but I've got a message from Angie: She's got... I can't go myself because ... She wants to know if you ...

VIII. Act out the conversation "Do you want to come with me?'.'

IX. Situations: a) Mike has read Colin's note and he is phoning Angie to tell her he would like to come, b) Your friend calls you to invite you to the theatre some time next week. But you've got a very busy week and you can't find a suitable day and time. You agree to go to the theatre the week after next.

Listening A Picnic in the Country

A week ago the Smith family went for a picnic in the country. It was early spring, so they thought it was too cold to go to the seaside. Mrs Smith packed a large basket of food and David put it in the back of the car.

They set off early after breakfast and drove about 30 miles into the country until they came to the woods. The sun was shining brightly and the ground was dry. Susan put the blanket on the ground, so that they could sit on the grass. David took the food out of the car. Mr Smith made a fire and Mrs Smith made tea. "Isn't it beautiful here?" said Mrs. Smith. "It's very quiet and green". David had a kite, and soon he was running across the grass with it. "Be careful", shouted his mother, but it was too late! David fell over the basket of food and everything fell out. "Look!" cried Susan. "There are ants in the food!" Yes, there were. There were hundreds of them. The blanket was on the ants' nest!

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions'.

239

Where did the Browns go for the weekend? What was the weather like? What happened after they came to the woods?

//. Imagine you are David. Tell about your last picnic in the country. Give more details.

III. When did you last go to the country? What was the weather like? What did you do there? Did you enjoy yourself? How are you going to spend your next weekend?

Weather Reports

Weather reports are often misleading. They report what hap­pened yesterday or the day before yesterday and not what is going to happen today.

I remember a Sunday in autumn that was spoiled because of the weather report in the newspaper. "Heavy rains and thunder­storms today", it said and we had to give up our outing and we stayed at home all day waiting for the rain to start.

In the morning the sun was shining brightly and there was not a cloud in the sky. People passed our house on their way to the country. "Ah,", we said, as we stood looking out at them thro­ugh the window, "Won't they come home soaked?

At 12 o'clock it became very hot and we began to wonder when those heavy rains were going to come. "They'll come in the after­noon", we said to each other. But not a drop of rain ever fell, and it finished a grand day and a lovely night after it.

The next morning we read that it was going to be a fine warm day and we went out without our raincoats and umbrellas. Half an hour later it began to rain heavily and a cold wind blew so that we came home with bad colds and had to go to bed.

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:

What does the writer think about weather reports? How did the weather reports spoil the writer's weekends?

//. Do you share the writer's opinion that weather reports are sometimes misleading?

A Wet Night

Late in the afternoon, the boys put up their tent in the middle of a field. Not far from the tent they made a fire and cooked a meal. They were all hungry and the food smelt good. After a wonderful meal, they told stories and sang songs by the camp fire. But some time later it began to rain. The boys felt tired so they put out the

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fire and got into their tent. Their sleeping-bags were warm and comfortable, so they slept soundly. In the middle of the night, the boys woke up and began shouting. The tent was full of water! They all got out of their sleeping bags and hurried outside. It was raining heavily and they found a stream in the field. The stream ran across the field and right under their tent.

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions.

Where did the boys put up their tent? What did they do then? What happened at night?

//. Ask your friend questions about his last picnic т the country.

Iff. Tell about a picnic in the country you enjoyed.

Cycling

David likes cycling very much. He belongs to a cycling club, and almost every Saturday afternoon, he goes off on his bycycle with his friends. In summer he takes his little tent and his bike with him, and camps in some beautiful places of the country When it rains, it is not very pleasant, but when the sun shines and the weather is warm, camping is very nice. David and his friends cook their meals on their little stoves, make a fire and then sing round it until it is almost midnight. Then they get under their blankets in their little tents and go to sleep.

Sometimes there are bicycle races, and David goes to see them. They are very interesting. Sometimes David's big brother George rides in these races. Once he won a race and got a beautiful silver cup. David was very happy.

David wants to take his bicycle to Germany next summer. He will go from England to Belgium by ship and then ride to Cologne on his bicycle. He will go with some of his friends from the cycling club They will camp every night. Cycling and camping are quite cheap, and David's father will give him money for the ship. He will have a very good time, I think.

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:

What is David's hobby? How does he spend his weekends? What is David planning to do next summer?

//. Tell about David's hobby.

III. 1. Are you fond of cycling? Did you use to cycle when you were a child? 2. They say camping is very pleasant. What do you think of it? 3. What is your favourite pastime?

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Hobbies

My hobby is collecting stamps. When I began, I collected the stamps of all countries, but there are too many, so now I collect only Greek and Indian ones, because I have friends in Greece and I live in India. Some of my stamps are very pretty, and they are all interesting. When you look at the stamps carefully, they teach you a lot about the history of their country.

My small brother's hobby is watching trains. He goes to our station and watches them there. When an engine goes through the station, he writes down its name and number. He likes train-watching very much, but I don't. I went to the station with him one day but it wasn't interesting, I thought.

My big sister's hobby is sewing. She makes most of her clothes and when I tear my shirt or my trousers, I take them to her and she mends them.

My father has a hobby, too. It is gardening. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and sometimes on other summer evenings, too, he digs, or plants flowers, or cuts the thick grass.

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:

What is the boy's hobby? What is his brother's? sister's? fa­ther's hobby?

//. 1. Do you collect stamps? Do you think it's an interesting hobby? 2. Are you fond of gardening? 3. What is your hobby? Do you spend much time on your hobbies? 4. What hobbies do the members of your family have? Do you think it's good when all the members of the family have the same hobby? 5. I have no hobby. What hobby would you advise me to choose?

Self check

/. Put the verbs into the correct tense forms:

It (be) Sunday. I never (get) up early on Sundays. I sometimes (stay) in bed until lunch time. Last Sunday I (get) up very late. I (look) out of the window It (be) dark outside. "What a day"! I (think) . "It (rain) again". Just then, the telephone (ring) It (be) my aunt Lucy. "I've just arrived by train", she (say). "I (come) to see you". "But I (still, have) breakfast," I (say). "What (you, do)?" she (ask). "I (have) breakfast", I (repeat). "Dear me," she (say). "... you always (get) up so late? It (be) one o'clock!"

//. Translate into English: 1. — Что ты собираешься делать сегодня вечером?

— Ничего особенного.

3.

— Пойдем в кино.

— Хорошая идея.

2. — Я не смог вчера купить билеты на этот фильм.

— Какая жалость!

— Ты любишь играть в теннис?

— Да, это мой любимый вид спорта.

4. — Ты поедешь в этом году на юг?

— Нет, в этом году у меня отпуск в ноябре. Ноябрь на юге дождливый и прохладный.

5. Мой отец очень увлекается содоводством. У нас хороший сад,

и он им очень гордится.

6. В прошлое воскресенье мы ходили в ресторан праздновать

годовщину нашей свадьбы. Мы хорошо провели время.

Fluency

/. Talking points

1. What do you think is the best way of spending a weekend? Why? 2. What are the most popular hobbies? What do you think of them? 3. I think watching television is a pleasant pastime. Are you of the same opinion? Why do you think so? 4. Are you tor or against spending your next weekend in the country? Give reasons. 5. There is no point in making plans for anything. You never know what may happen tomorrow. What do you think of this opinion?

//. Situations:

1. With two or three other students discuss where you might go for the weekend. Before you start you should each write down brief answers to these questions: Where shall we go? How shall we get there? How much can I afford? How much will it cost? What shall we do there? What arrangements do we need to make? 2. You don't like your friend's suggestion for an evening at the theatre. How would you suggest an alternative? 3. You've made plans to' go to the country with a friend in your old car. Your car has just gone wrong and will cost too much to repair. Phone your friend, explain the situation and make an alternative suggestion about the weekend arrangements. 4. You and your friend are speaking about your pastime and hobbies.

///. Look at the pictures. Say what the people in the pictures are doing. What is the weather like?

IV. Write a postcard to a friend describing your last weekend.

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U N I T 23 GRAMMAR: SIMPLE PRESENT AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS