Vocabulary

handy – ловкий, искусный

fix (v) – починить

household – домашнее хозяйство

grandparents – дедушка и бабушка

career – карьера

nearby – рядом

especially – особенно

washing machine – стиральная машина

nephew – племянник

niece – племянница

vacuum cleaner – пылесос

fridge – холодильник

favourite – любимый (ая, ое)

right – верный, правильный

abroad – за границей

museum – музей

improvement – улучшение

Vocabulary Notes

averagesized Belarusian family – среднестатистическая белорусская семья

mother tongue – родной язык

spoken Ukrainian – разговорный украинский

business trips – деловые поездки

to be fond of smb. or smth. – любить кого-либо или что-либо

to be like smb. – быть похожим на кого-то

to be retired – быть на пенсии

to retire – уйти на пенсию

to make a choice – сделать выбор

environment protection – охрана окружающей среды

favourite subjects – любимые предметы

to be fond of sports – любить спорт

to send one’s best wishes – передать наилучшие пожелания

to encourage smb. in doing smth. – поддерживать(поощрять) кого-то в чем-то

to take a preparatory course at the University – посещать подготовительные курсы в Университете

to be married – быть замужем (женатым)

to be communicative – быть общительным

Answer the questions:

1. When and where were you born?

2. How old are you?

3. When is your birthday?

4. What are your parents’ occupations?

5. What do you know about your parents’ jobs?

6. Are your parents fond of sports?

7. What are your hobbies?

8. Have you got any brothers/sisters?

9. Is your brother/sister like your mother or father?

10. Have you got a nephew or a niece?

11. Where do your grandparents live?

12. What other relatives have you got?

13. What future career did you choose?

14. Who helped you to make your choice?

15. Are you married?

16. What colour is your hair?

17. What colour are your eyes?

18. Are you communicative?

19. Have you got many friends?

My Working Day

My every day activities are quite routine. They do not differ much from those of any other working person. My working day begins at 7 a.m. when I get up. I do my physical jerks, wash, brush my teeth and comb my hair. Then I have breakfast. For breakfast I usually have toasted bread, fried eggs, corn flakes, tea or coffee and some jam.

At half past seven I leave for work. I work as a nurse on a shift basis at Minsk Hospital No.2, therefore I have to work on my days off too. It takes me 20 minutes to get to my hospital by bus. At 8:30 a.m. I take up my duties at the hospital for the duration of 24 hours. It is my obligation to take due care of the sick people and to treat them according to the required recommendations. I feel tired, of course, by the end of my shift, but I am happy to think that I will have a 2-days’ rest before my next turn. As my week-days are extremely busy I use every opportunity to spend my two-days of rest most usefully. I enjoy meeting my friends, reading interesting books, visiting museums and theaters etc.

I began to think about my future profession at the age of 15. My parents encouraged me in my desire to connect my life with medicine. Becoming a nurse had been the first step in acquiring this profession. Having become a nurse I have come to realize that I am willing to connect my life with biology. This year I have realized my cherished dream to become a student of the biology faculty. I have managed to successfully pass my exams and entered the Belarusian State University. Of course, being a student of such a reputable institution of higher education imposes certain responsibilities upon myself, therefore I reduce sometimes all my entertainments and try to study to the most of my abilities to achieve my life’s ambitions and to justify hopes of my parents. I also hope that I will never regret my choice and get a well-paid and interesting job afterwards. Maybe I will consider my future job connected with genetics problems.

My parents usually return home at 7 p.m. When I am at home we have dinner together, we use the possibility to exchange the news and to make plans for the future.

I used to go to bed at about 11 p.m. Before going to bed I take a shower, clean my teeth and then do some reading. Usually I fall asleep at once as I feel very tired by the end of the day.