How I spent the week-end

People spend their days off in different ways. Some of them prefer to stay in town and to visit an art exhibition, a museum or a sports event. In the evening as a rule they visit a theatre or go to see their friends. Other people prefer to spend their days off out of town. As for me I also prefer to spend them in the country. Sometimes I take part in sports events, which usually take place during the week-ends. Two weeks ago I took part in the skiing competition of our Institute.

Last Saturday I went to see my sister. This is how I spent the week-end.

Last week I got a letter from my sister inviting me to spend the week-end at her place in the country. I accepted her invitation with pleasure. My sister and her husband live in the country, not far from Moscow. They have a nice little house with a garden around it. There is a forest near their house.

Last Saturday as soon as the classes at the Institute were over, I hurried to the station to catch the four o’clock train. My sister lives about 50 kilometres from Moscow. It took me a little more than an hour to get there. My sister met me at the station. We were very glad to see each other. On the way home we asked each other a lot of questions about our life and studies. When we came home we had tea and then went for a walk as the weather was fine.

It was pleasant to walk in the country in the evening. It was not very cold and it was snowing a little. Everything around was white with snow – the ground, the trees and the houses. The air was so fresh and the moon was shining brightly in the sky! When we came back home we spent the rest of the evening talking, listening to music and watching TV. We had a very good time.

On Sunday we got up later than usual. After breakfast we started on a skiing trip. It was snowing when we left the house. There was a lot of snow on the ground. We went skiing in the forest for some hours enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful scenery around us. When we came back home we were hungry and a little tired. After dinner we had a rest.

I came back to Moscow by the seven o’clock train. After supper I read a little, listened to the 10 o’clock news on the radio and went to bed at 11 o’clock as usual.

Dialogue

B: Hello, Nick. Glad to see you.

N: Hello, Bob.

B: What’s the matter with you? You look so tired.

N: Yes, I’m a little tired. I took part in the skiing competition. It was difficult to ski today because it was snowing hard. Such weather isn’t good for skiing.

B: Do you go in for skiing? You were fond of skating last year.

N: But that was last year! I like different kinds of sport.

B: As for me, I prefer summer sports, such as swimming and tennis. It’s too cold in winter.

N: It’s a pleasure to ski in the forest or in the fields in winter. Trees white with snow look so beautiful and the air is so fresh and clean. And the sun sometimes shines so brightly. I always enjoy such skiing trips. Join us next Sunday, if you like.

B: I am a poor skier, you know. I am afraid to be a long way behind you all the time.

N: Never mind. Let’s go. We are going to ski down the hills and to watch our sportsmen training for the competition.

B: All right. If you say it is so pleasant to ski in the country in winter, I am ready to try this kind of sport too. I am going with you next Sunday. What time do you meet?

N: At 10 o’clock as usual at the Sokol metro station. So long.

B: See you tomorrow.

3. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

Imagine that you are the main character of the text.

1. People spend their days off in different ways, don't they? 2. How do they like to spend their days off? 3. Where did you spend your last Saturday? 4. When did you get a letter from your sister? 5. Did your sister invite you to spend the week-end at her place in the country? 6. Did you accept the invitation? 7. Where do your sister and her husband live? 8. Have they a nice little house with a garden? 9. Is there a forest near their house? 10. How long did it take you to get to your sister’s place? 11. Did your sister meet you at the station? 12. What did you talk about on the way home? 13. What did you do, when you came home? 14. It was pleasant to walk in the evening, wasn’t it? Prove it, please. 15. How long did you ski in the forest on Sunday? 16. Were you hungry and tired after the skiing trip? 17. By what train did you come back to Moscow? 18. What time did you go to bed?