22. What sort of people tend to be unpunctual? Read the following text and check your ideas.

It is Never Too Late to Be Punctual

People who are unpunctual fall into three categories. The first, and saddest comprises the hopelessly incompetent and inefficient who worry about being on time and never are. The second lot are, strange as it may seem, impatient people who cannot bear to be kept waiting, and who make sure they don’t arrive before the appointed time, thus guaranteeing that others must wait for them. If they are outmaneuvered and compelled to wait for someone, they are the first to express disapproval of the bad manners of the latecomers. Finally, there are the egoists determined to impose their own personality on others and to impress their sense of importance on them. An easy way to do this is to keep everyone waiting until the star makes an appearance.

23. Give personal information.

1. How punctual are you? Do you always arrive late, early or on time?

2. Do you think you manage your time wisely? Do you manage time, or does time manage you?

3. Do you schedule out what you have to do every week?

4. Do you make a schedule for every day?

5. Do you have enough time to do things you want to do?

6. What is the most time-consuming thing you do in your life?

7. What do you like doing in your spare time?

8. What would you do if you had a few extra hours in a day?

9. Which time of day do you feel you are most productive in your work or study? Are you a “night owl” or an “early bird”?

Reading

24. Read the text and do the task below. Use your dictionary to help. Paul brown's daily routine

Friday morning. The alarm clock goes off at 7. Paul usually gets up easily but not this time. It’s not simple to wake up so early if you go to bed at 3 in the morning. He can hardly open his eyes. Half an hour passes before Paul finally makes himself get up. He is still sleepy. He slowly gets dressed and looks out of the window. It’s drizzling¹ and the sidewalk is wet. There’s nobody in sight². The campus looks deserted. But Paul goes jogging every morning, whatever the weather³. He sighs⁴, puts on his sneakers and goes out. Twenty minutes later he comes back and takes a long shower. As usual jogging and a cold shower do him good. He is wide awake now. Paul looks at the clock. It’s 8.15. Time for breakfast. He goes to the kitchen to make coffee. A cup of coffee is always reviv­ing⁵, especially after the party like yesterday’s. He smiles at the thought of that delicious birthday cake. But the smile vanishes⁶ the moment he remembers his schedule for today. He’s got three classes on Friday.

9.00–10.30 – German Class

11.00–12.30 – Political System of Germany

14.00–15.30 – German Literature

Anything else? An appointment with his tutor at 4 o’clock. He completely forgot! And there’s an essay to finish! When in the world can he do that? He suddenly remembers: lunch time (12.30—14.00). Well, he can’t afford⁷ a regular lunch today, just a quick snack. It gives him at least an extra hour more to finish his essay and get ready for the discussion. His tutor is always very critical of his students’ homework. You must know your subject well enough to answer his tricky questions.

8.50. Paul rushes out of the house. It doesn’t take him long to get to the college. So at 8.55 he is at the universi­ty. All the students in his class are already there. They’re very glad to see Paul. And so is he. At 9 o’clock Mr Lewis comes in and the class starts. Mr Lewis’s classes are Paul’s favourite ones. Time flies quickly. He enjoys the class so much that the end of the class at 10.30 always comes as a surprise. 10.30–11.00. Coffee break. Paul and the other students go to a coffee bar to have a chat over a cup of coffee. 11.00. Back to another class. It’s rather difficult for Paul to concentrate on the subject, all the more so he doesn’t like it too much. It isn’t as in­teresting as Mr Lewis’s German Class. Honestly Paul finds it boring.

12.30. Lunch time. Everybody hurries to the dining hall. But Paul doesn’t. At lunchtime he is at his desk in his room. So much work to do and so little time! Paul opens his essay book and starts writing. When he looks at the clock, it’s ten minutes past 2. He is late for the class but he feels great. His essay is ready! The thought is very comforting. Friday’s last class is German Literature, an­other of Paul’s favourites. It’s always very interesting and instructive. After the class Paul has got half an hour to look through the essay and his notes. He is no longer afraid of the coming meeting. He feels sure of himself.

The session goes well. The students discuss their es­says. The tutor makes some critical remarks but on the whole he’s quite pleased with their work. Finally he sets work for them to do and they part till next time. On his way home Paul drops in at the student pub. He takes a glass of beer and sits down at the table next to his friends. He looks around. The pub is crowded, as usual at this time. Everybody is laughing and talking. Loud music is playing. But nobody is dancing. It’s too early for that. Paul suddenly feels very tired. He says good-bye to his friends and leaves the pub. The thing is that there is a concert of a Spanish guitar player at the club at 8. Paul doesn’t want to miss it but he needs some rest. The con­cert finishes at 11.30. When Paul comes back home, it’s nearly midnight. At long last the hard day is over! He takes off his clothes and goes to bed straightaway. 5 min­utes later he is fast asleep.

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¹ drizzle – мелкий дождь; моросить

² in sight – в поле зрения

³ whatever the weather – в любую погоду

⁴ sigh – вздыхать

⁵ reviv­e – восстанавливать (силы, энергию)

⁶ vanish – исчезать, пропадать

⁷ afford – (быть в состоянии) позволить себе