What is better? it’s up to you to decide.

Life in town and in country-side differs. No objections! Each place of living has its advantages and disadvantages. There are localities on our planet with a population more than several millions of people: Tokyo, Moscow, Rio-de-Janeiro New York, London Paris, etc. Little towns – little problems. Large cities – large problems. Let’s start with disadvantages. You can hear the continuous noise and cracking in the streets. There are a lot of machines and vehicles, a lot of roads and car accidents. Yes, the noise is maddening, crowds – everywhere. Smog and polluted water poison our life. Unfortunately, our contemporaries have turned our land into a desert of concrete and stone. Stone jungles. The forests have been cut down, the rivers are hidden in the underground pipes. The birds are captured and sold in pet shops. Nature has been spoilt for ever.

And what about our security? It’s dangerous to go out for a walk late in the evening. Criminals do what they want. You may cry but people shut their doors and windows and pretend to be blind or deaf. The man’s nature is spoilt by fear.

People are crazy about making money here. Everything is pretty expensive: things, service, transport, education, sport clubs, amusement. People are tired and nervous, ill and busy. The fantastic speed of life!

But town life has its attractiveness. You have everything at your disposal to get the best education, to rest in full comfort, luxury facilities matter a lot. You have a chance to widen your outlook in art galleries and museums, concert halls and opera houses. You may go in for sports and become a champion here. You can find a wonderful occupation for yourself and a good flat. But any busy town takes your health, your strength, your free time. And you dream of leaving the city to find a quiet month to yourself to relax, to gain strength and balance.

It’s high time now to speak about a village. Let’s start with its advantages. We hope that ecological problems there are not so sharp. Rivers used to be so marvelous and full of fish! Air used to be so pure and fresh! The blue sky, white little houses, smiling people look incredible! We enjoy picturesque places. Nature cures us. In short, early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Domestic animals are so funny! You avoid getting hot-tempered, you feel cheerful and keep smiling. Fancy sightseeing, sunbathing, mountain climbing or simply just walking make you really happy. But… citizens are too idle for a village hard work from morning till night. There are no wonderful schools, universities, hospitals, swimming-pools, etc. You also face the problem of leisure and modern facilities, the lack of opportunities for self-perfection. That is the main reason why young people leave their village and go to look for their happiness in a city. Cities have a wide choice of opportunities, but a modest village life has none of them.

In conclusion, I should say that tastes differ, and all people choose their own way of life and consider it the best. May be they are right.

Exercise 4.

a) Give the Russian equivalents to the English words and word combinations:

Favourable conditions, due to, to live in the suburbs, parks and avenues, to be overcrowded, well-to-do people, in rush hours, cultural level, to connect with, citizens, to enjoy fresh air, to have the possibility, to get by bus, administrative and industrial center

b) Translate the word combinations from Russian into English:

спортивные сооружения, простираться на 20 км, в ближайшем будущем, был разрушен, благоприятные условия, благодаря чему-либо, становиться известным, линии метро, парки и проспекты, развиваться как порт, делиться на несколько районов, добираться на чем-либо, жить в пригороде, связывать с именем, посетить выставку.

Exercise 5. Answer the questions:

1. Are there many big cities in the world?

2. Are modern cities beautiful or not?

3. Do people feel safe in a city?

4. Why young people prefer to live in a city?

5. Why are there problems of leisure and education in the country side?

6. Why are people so nervous in a big city?

7. What are the advantages of living in a village?

8. Do your parents or grandparents have a country house? Is it pleasant or problematic?

9. Are you used to a village work?

10. Where would you like to live? Why?

Exercise 6. Make your own sentences with the given word combinations;

At your disposal, to be pretty expensive, to be so marvelous, to cut down, to turn into, to be tired and nervous, speed of life, to avoid getting, the lack of smth, to look for happiness, to choose his(her) own way.

Exercise 7. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1. Это не только административный и культурный центр, но и промышленный.

2. Большие города всегда переполнены, особенно в часы пик.

3. Дружеские связи соединяют наш город с разными странами.

4. Только состоятельные люди живут в этом районе города.

5. Множество библиотек и музеев позволяют повышать горожанам свой культурный уровень.

6. Жители городов имеют возможность заниматься спортом в различных спортивных сооружениях.

7. Вы можете наслаждаться свежим воздухом и реками, полными рыбы.

UNIT 3.

Exercise 1. Read and translate the words from English into Russian without a dictionary:

Universal, original, hero, nature, population, capital, centre, multinational, civilization, architecture, list, classical, poet, composer, sculptor, administrative, commercial, industrial, transport, factory.

Exercise 2. Read the text and discuss with your group mates why it is worth living in St. Petersburg: