- •Climate, weather, seasons – student’s book units 4-6
- •Unit 4: climate and weather in great britain
- •Task 29. Decide if the following statements are true or false. Give good comments for each statement. Follow the example.
- •Климат Великобритании
- •Climate and Weather in the United States of America
- •Statements
- •Unit 5: seasons
- •Us Nature in Winter
- •Us Nature in Spring
- •Us Nature in Summer
- •Us Nature in Autumn
- •Part 1
- •Part 2
- •Part 3
- •In order to help yourself prepare the presentation, listen to the following sites and do all the activities in them:
- •Unit 6: weather forecasts and weather reports
- •The Weather Forecast
- •Questions
- •Report 1: easy
- •Report 2: of medium difficulty
- •Report 3: difficult
- •Joke 1
- •Joke 2
- •Joke 3
- •Joke 4: Knowing Weather with a Dog
- •Joke 5: Daddy’s Advice
TASK 36. Fill in the gaps in the texts with the words and expressions that fit best and read about the weather and seasons in some other countries. Options are possible. Be ready to translate the texts into your mother tongue.
Part 1
In Scandinavia, the ___________ (1) days of autumn soon change to the cold days of ___________ (2). In the morning, ___________ (3) covers the grass of the green lawns with a white blanket. Then the first ___________ (4) arrive, and the roads become icy. Rain turns into ___________ (5) and then into snow. During the day the sun can still be warm and the slow melts into brown ___________ (6) and slosh under passers-by’s feet. But soon real winter ___________ (7) in, with its severe snowstorms and ___________ (8). In the far north, freezing weather often continues until May or even June, when the ground starts to ___________ (9) and the ice ___________ (10) again.
Part 2
The single greatest influence on Japanese weather is the wind. During the summer it ___________ (1) from the Pacific, causing ___________ (2) and humid weather, but in winter, the north-westerly ___________ (3) from Siberia are very cold and it ___________ (4) heavily on the mountains of the north-west. The south-eastern parts receive cold dry air. Between June and mid-July, there is a ___________ (5) of wet weather when the rice fields get the water vital for growth. After that, there is less ___________ (6) rain, but the air is still ___________ (7). Autumn, however, is drier, and usually very pleasant.
Part 3
The weather changed that one day towards dusk when I was ___________ (1) by a storm. I had seen the great dark ___________ (2) massed in the North-West, but after a while I left sometimes strange in the ___________ (3) and looking up saw that the dark clouds were on a sudden ___________ (4) down upon the forest. The rain came suddenly and then the ___________ (5), not a single ___________ (6) but roll upon roll reverberating down the sky, and ___________ (7) that blinded me, darting and slashing fiercely. I was deafened and confused by the ___________ (8), and the lightning startled me. The rain fell not as in our ___________ (9) zone, but with angry vehemence, in sheets, storming ___________ (10) as though the heavens were emptying themselves of ___________ (11) lakes.
(after S.Maugham)
TASK 37. In every language, there are a lot of proverbs and sayings connected with the weather, climate or seasons.
Step 1. Find Russian or Ukrainian equivalents to the proverbs and sayings given below.
English
Ukrainian
Russian
1
After rain comes fair weather.
After rain comes the sun. After a storm comes a calm.
2
There is no bad weather, there are bad clothes.
3
Everything is good in its season.
4
Every cloud has a silver lining.
5
Come rain or shine. / In all weathers.
6
It never rains but it pours.
7
A storm in a teacup.
8
Like a weathercock in the wind/whirlwind.
9
To put by (to save) for a rainy day.
10
Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind
11
From dawn to dusk
12
Pie in the sky
13
to be on cloud nine
14
to have one’s head in the clouds
15
to be under a cloud
Step 2. Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with one of the English proverbs and sayings. Options are possible.
Any talk of getting reasonable response from terrorists is just ______________.
I am not sure I will be able to work ______________ like the local do every day. Will you?
Both husband and wife are trying to present their quarrel as ______________, but it is evident that their disagreement is much more serious.
At that moment, and perhaps for an hour afterwards, I was ______________ — in a state of happiness, contentment, euphoria, joy and utter peace such as I have never experienced before or since.
I want to get those decisions as quickly as possible, but they must be the right decisions because unless they are, the future of British farming will be ______________.
With his silly answer to his father, Wilson had ______________; he was now to ______________.
Every morning at about 5am, ______________, James Zarei leaves his South Croydon home for his morning run.
John's head is ______________ again. He's constantly talking about winning the national lottery.
Even when I had money in the bank, I would buy cheap and cheerful clothes, books, food and other essentials — and ______________, which thank God never came.
Felix was so anxious that all his opinions, all his feelings, were spinning round and round ______________.
It looks like everyone in our department is sick again, and all at the same time. - What can I say? ______________.
Baths were taken in the main block, which meant that pupils from Douglas’ dormitory had to cross two playgrounds, ______________, clad only in pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers.
I found a new job after losing my last one and I like this one more. So you see, ______________.
Step 3. Can you think of any other English proverbs or sayings referring to weather? What are their equivalents in Russian or Ukrainian?
Step 4. Prepare and tell your group a story from your own experience to illustrate one of the English proverbs or sayings about the weather.
TASK 38. There are also many idioms and similes in any language of the world that involve weather and nature words.
Step 1. Complete the following idioms by choosing an ending.
1
as bright
a
as the weather (a weather-cock, the moon)
2
as changeable
b
as an eel
3
as cold as
c
as a drowned rat
4
as cool
d
as the wind
5
as slippery
e
as day (noonday)
6
as warm
f
as snow
7
as loud
g
as thunder
8
as wet
h
as ice (marble, a frog, a stone)
9
as white
i
as wool
10
as quick
j
as a cucumber
Step 2. Find corresponding Russian or Ukrainian idioms or similes for the English ones.
Step 3. Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with one of the similes from Step 1.
Len leaps up the six flights of stairs and arrives at the top ____________, followed by a very out-of-breath police officer.
She had to cross the road again to get back to their apartment; now that her eyes were used to the darkness it seemed ____________ out of doors, and her blue cotton dress seemed white.
I don’t know how to behave with the boss these days, his mood is ____________.
In the dark, I stepped on a twig, which made a noise that seemed ____________, and I ran back across to my hiding place.
Outside, the sky was dusky-black and the air ____________. I immediately got hot and took off my coat.
Thomas did not answer Linda immediately, just continued to watch her across the table, his blue eyes suddenly ____________.
The woman's face had turned ____________, and her mouth was opening and shutting like a fish out of water and giving out a series of strangled gasps.
The man the police wanted was a New Zealand-born criminal, sought in a dozen countries but ____________.
When Samantha came in out of the rain, she was ____________, and I rushed to her with several towels to dry her up.
Just call us right now and your pizza will be delivered to you ____________.
Step 4. Tell your partner about any experience in your life in which you could have used one of these idioms or similes.
TASK 39. Make up questions about each of the weather conditions given below and ask them to your partner. Follow the example.
Example: When does summer weather really set in in your part of the country? – Well, of course, it differs but in general, it usually happens at the end of May when the day temperature goes up to 25°C and the night temperature keeps at about 15°C.
floods
rainy weather
thunderstorms
heat waves
frosty weather
changeable weather
tornadoes
puddles
snowdrifts
icicles
winter months
dawn and dusk
humidity
fog and mist
wind and breeze
TASK 40. You are going to listen to a presentation about seasons in the USA.
Step 1. Before listening, study the vocabulary given below.
sledding (noun): the activity or sport of ridding on a small vehicle that has a flat bottom or long, narrow strips of metal or wood on the bottom and that is used for moving over snow or ice, e.g. I took the kids sledding yesterday down a real fun hill, and we had a great time.
to hover (verb) ['hɔvə]: remain somewhat steady; to float in the air without moving in any direction, e.g. You should be prepared from cold weather this weekend because temperatures will hover around freezing.
to stroll (verb): take a leisurely walk, e.g. During the early spring, you often see couples strolling through the park.
to soar (verb): rise quickly, e.g. The weather forecast predicts that temperatures will soar in to the 100s by the middle of the week.
Step 2. Listen to the presentation on the site http://www.esl-lab.com/seasons/seasonsrd1.htmand choose the best answer to the questions given below.
This presentation was most likely part of which type of recording?
a TV weather program on seasonal changes
an informal discussion between friends
an academic speech at school 2. Based on what you heard, how would you characterize the winter season?
January receives about 30 inches in snow.
Winter temperatures hover below freezing for the 3-month period.
Outdoor activities tend to be popular during this season. 3. Which statement is NOT true about the spring?
Spring usually begins at the end of March.
Plentiful wind currents make some outdoors activities possible.
Nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees.
4. What is the summer season like in this area?
mild and breezy b) hot and dry c) warm and humid
5. What is one activity people like to do in the fall?
go and see the fall colors
clean their houses
have a fall picnic
Step 3. Go to the site http://www.esl-lab.com/seasons/seasonfra.htm.Listen to the presentation again and fill in the gaps with the words you hear.
Hello, everyone. Have you ever wondered what the weather is like in other places around the world?
Today, I'd like to talk to you about the __________ (1) seasons in my city, which was the assigned topic for this class.
First of all, the winter season usually begins in December and ends in early March. The __________ (2) month is January, and temperatures can drop below __________ (3) for most of this month. The city usually averages about 30 inches of snow during this entire 3-month period. Occasionally, we have snow __________ (4) that can drop a foot of snow in a very short period of time. Winter activities during this season include __________ (5), skiing, and snowshoeing.
Spring usually arrives in late March, and the temperatures __________ (6) around 50 degrees during the day. It is also a beautiful season because the flowers start to bloom. It is sometimes windy, and this is great for flying kites. People in my city often like to go on picnics, __________ (7) through the parks, and play outdoor games.
Next, summer starts in June, as temperatures slowly rise to around 80 degrees. The summer in my city is very dry with little rain throughout the season, and temperatures can __________ (8) above 100 degrees in August. Fortunately, the weather is very dry with low __________ (9), so it is pleasant even on hot days. Popular activities during this season are hiking, fishing, camping, water skiing, and outdoor sports, including football and soccer.
And finally, summer changes to fall in late September when the weather cools off, and the trees begin to change colors. A lot of people enjoy driving into the mountains and viewing the fall colors. It is also a time when people clean up their yards and __________ (10) in preparation for the winter season.
So, as you can see, my city has a lot to offer no matter when you visit this area.
TASK 41. Answer the questions below. Try to give as much information in your answers as you can.
When does Nature look full of promise?
What are the first signs of the revival of nature?
When does spring usually set in in the place where you live?
In what month does the weather get gradually milder?
What do fields and meadows look like in early and late spring?
What month do the days get longer and warmer (shorter and colder) in the place you live in?
When do fruit trees break into blossom in your parts?
Which is the farmer’s busiest season in your parts? Why?
What do you usually feel when the first hoarfrost glistens in the sun?
When do the leaves in the trees turn yellow and red in the place you live in?
What month is the air transparent in the place you live in?
When do you usually have thunderstorms with lightning? Are you afraid of thunderstorms? Why? Why not?
What season can be called the harvest time in your parts?
Which is the coldest month of the year in your parts?
What happens to the ponds, rivers and streams in winter and spring?
When and why do rivers swell? What happens after that?
When does dew appear on the ground?
When does a rainbow appear in the sky?
What are the roads like after a heavy snowfall?
When mountains have snow-capped summits?
Why do you think poets write so may poems about autumn?
Why do you think some people like winter?
When, in your opinion, does the countryside look its best?
TASK 42. Make a 3-minute presentation on one of the topics given below.
The season you like best/ least of all.
The season you were born in.
The best/worst season in the place you live.
The most/least beautiful season in the place you live.
The best/worst season for a holiday.
The influence of seasons on people’s mood and health.
The change of weather patterns and seasons in the place you live.