Vocabulary Commentary

Climate is the average weather conditions of a place; it is made up of the average summer and winter temperature, the amount of sunshine, the direction of the winds, the average rainfall.

Climate can be cold, dry, wet, mild, tropical, subtropical, continental.

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time or over a certain short period. Weather is connected with atmospheric pressure, temperature, rainfall, cloudness and wind.

Weather can be good, bad, fine, excellent, beautiful, rainy, snowy, stormy, dry, hot, cold, cool, warm, pleasant.

Weather (n., unc)

Why do people speak so much about the weather?

The weather was fine and we decided to have a walk.

What is the weather like today?

What will the weather be like tomorrow?

Weather conditions

Look at this list of common weather words. Notice that it is very common to form adjectives by adding “-y”.

Noun Adjective Noun Adjective

sun sunny wind windy

cloud cloudy ice icy

fog foggy shower showery

heat hot humidity humid

Cold weather

Chilly (cold but not very), frosts (thin white coat of ice on everything), sleet (rain and snow mixed), slush (dirty, brownish, half-water), blizzards (snow blown by high winds), snowdrifts (deep banks of snow against walls, etc), thaw (change from hard, frozen state to normal), to melt (change from solid to liquid under heat).

e.g. In the north, the chilly days of autumn soon change to the cold days of winter. The first frosts arrive and the roads become icy. Rain become sleet end then snow, at first turning to slush in the streets but soon settling, with severe blizzards and snowdrifts in the far north. Freezing weather often continues in the far north until May or the ice melts again.

Warm/ hot weather

Close /klovs/ (warm and uncomfortable), stifling (hot, uncomfortable, you can hardly breathe), humid (hot and damp, makes you sweat a lot), boiling (very hot, often used in negative contexts), scorching (very hot, often used in positive contexts), mild (warm at a time when it is normally cold).

Note also: We had a heatwave last month (very hot dry period)

Wet weather

This wet weather scale gets stronger from left to right.

damp drizzle pour down/downpour torrential rain flood

Autumn in London is usually chilly and damp with rain and drizzle.

It was absolutely pouring down or there was a real downpour or it was pouring with rain. This phrase is much more common than “it’s raining cats and dogs”.

In the Tropics there is usually torrential rain most days, and the roads often get flooded or there are floods on the roads.This rain won't last long; it's only a shower (short duration).The storm damaged several houses (high winds and rain together).

Thunderstorms

A spell (=period) of very hot weather often ends with a thunderstorm. First it becomes very humid (= hot aid wet), then you get thunder and lightning, and finally, very heavy rain (=it pours with rain). Afterwards, it is usually cooler and it feels fresher.

e.g. The storm damaged several houses (high winds and rain together).

We got very wet in the thunderstorm (thunder and heavy rain).

Lightning. The flashes it lightning were seen in the horizon.

Hailstones were battering the roof of our car (small balls of ice falling from the sky). Hail (uncountable). The sky is a bit overcast (very cloudy). I think it’s going to rain.

Mist and Fog

Haze (light mist, usually caused by heat), mist (light fog, often on the sea, or caused by drizzle), fog (quite thick, associated with cold weather), smog (mixture of fog and pollution: smoke+fog)

Wind

A breeze a wind a strong wind a gale a hurricane

The first word here is very gentle; the last is more than 100km per hour and can be very dangerous. It was a hot day but there was a lovely breeze.

The wind blew my hat off.

There's been a gale morning; it would be crazy to go sailing

The hurricane in Florida destroyed trees and buildings.

The South wind brings wet weather.

The North wind is wet and cold together.

The West wind always brings us rain.

The East wind blows it back again.

Language Development

Ex 2. Match the numbers to the letters.

1. thunder; a stones

2. torrential; b drift

3. down; c storm

4. heat; d warning

5. hail; e rain

6. snow; f wave

7. Gale g pour

Ex 3. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian words and phrases.

пора хорошей погоды; славиться чем-либо; ехать на взморье; дрожать от холода; красивые газоны, ясное голубое небо; два дня подряд; идет дождь круглый год; короткое английское лето; плотный белый туман; в середине дня; какой ужасный день!; в Уэльсе теплее, чем где-либо в Англии; с зажженными фарами.

Ex 4. True or false? If a sentence is false, write a true sentence about the weather conditions in the sentence.

• It often pours with rain in the desert. 2. It gets quite chilly in the desert in the evening. 3. Thunder makes a noise. 4. Lightning can kill people. 5. A shower is a gentle breeze. 6. A spell of hot weather may end in a thunderstorm. 7. If it is humid, the air will be very dry. 8. Below zero, water turns to ice. 9. Heavy rain means that it is pouring with rain. 10. When it's foggy you need sunglasses.

Ex 5. Complete the text with suitable words.

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 (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.

(heavy, snows, hot, humid, blows, spell, winds)

Ex 6. What types of weather are bad and good for doing these things?

e.g.: Skiing: bad - mild weather which makes the snow melt; good - cold, clear days.

1. Planting flowers in a garden.

2. Having an evening barbecue.

3. Going out in a small sailing boat.

4. A day of sightseeing in a big city.

5. Camping out in a tent.

6. Looking at ships through binoculars.

Ex 7. Complete the dialogues.

• A- Oh, goodness gracious! Now, do look up at the sky. I’ve never seen such black clouds. Oh, we'll get drenched!

B- …………………..

• A- What does it look like outdoors?

B- …………………..

• A- The sun is trying to get out. Shall we go to the suburbs?

B- …………………..

• A- The first snowfall of the season! What a beautiful sight! I’m going out. Are you?

B- …………………..

• A-I should like to go to Sochi, but I'm afraid of the heat. How about you?

B- …………………..

• A- What's the matter? You're shivering all over! And you clothes are soaking wet.

B- …………………..

• A- Has it stopped raining?

B- No, not yet. Why?

• …………………..

• А-How do you like it here?

B- London's a wonderful city, but your weather’s terrible!

• …………………..

• A- …………………..

B- The weather forecasts promised a dry, sunny day.

• A- I must be going now. I wouldn't like to get wet through.

B- …………………..

Ex 8. Answer the following questions using the Vocabulary Commentary.

1.In which months is the weather fine in your area? 2.Are you always pleased to have dry weather? When are we not pleased to have it? 3. Would it be wise to go for an outing in wet weather? 4. Is it usual to have occasional rain in September in your region? What about February? 5. Does it clear up quickly alter rain? Is this a feature of any particular season? 6. Where do you get the weather forecasts from? Do you rely on what they say? 7. Would you take a raincoat with you if the forecast said occasional rain? 8. What do you usually do if you are wet through? 9. Which do you like better: when it's cold or hot? 10. What weather do you like best of all? 11. What is the weather like today? 12. What would you like to do on a nasty rainy day? 13. Why is the weather so important if you want to go to the country? 14. What part does the weather play in your plans tor a holiday? 15. Which season is the best in your native town in your opinion? 16. Why do most people prefer summer to any other season of the year? 17. Why do many Englishmen go abroad for their holidays (especially to France, Spain, Greece, Portugal)? 18. Which climate would you like to live in? Why? 19. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each season of the year?

Speaking

Ex 9. Study the following texts and say what in your opinion the advantages and disadvantages of each season are. The phrases given below will help you to express an opinion of your own or ask for somebody else's opinion.

Asking for an opinion

Well? What do you think? Do/Don’t you agree? What’s your view?How do you see it? Let’s have your opinion.What’s your opinion of …?

Expressing your own opinion

I think that; In my opinion; In my view; I feel that; As I see it; My view is that; To my mind

Text A.

In my opinion the pleasantest season is spring. In May the weather is fine and all nature is lovely. The trees put forth little buds and new leaves; the meadrws grow green again; the flowers begin to bloom. The collective farmers till the soil and sow the seed. The nightingale, swallow, cuckoo and other birds come back from Italy or Africa and build their nests all the while singing their merry songs. Meanwhile the new crop is shooting up, and if there are no sharp frosts during the night, nature looks full of promise, and the corn-fields are make bright by blue cornflowers and red poppies.

Spring flowers! The lilacs unfold their pale hearts. There shines the wild daffodil-soft, slim, yellow; there is the starry narcissus, the hyacinth almost lost in the herbs; among them stand tulips-the red bubbles of dark wine; the yellow, more cup-like, the large parli-coloured gold and red; noble and sombre.

Text B.

I, for one, like (the) summer, in fact, I prefer it to any other season. By the end of June, when the days become considerably warmer, summer has come. If the heat gets too oppressive, we can go and bathe in running water. And many people enjoy a game of tennis in summer. In the summer the hot sun ripens the corn and fruit, and the farmer gets ready for the harvest. There are plenty of strawberries, apricots, peaches, plums and blackberries, which are ripe and afford a treat for the old and the young. And what pleasure can compare with that of watching the glorious sunrise and sunset! Clouds? Rain? Well, well, it isn't always cloudy and there is no such thing as perpetual rain.

Text C.

Strange as it might seem, I like (the) autumn. There are some draw backs, I admit,- the shorter days and longer nights for instance. The weather also leaves much to be desired. But is there anything more beautiful than an Indian summer - when we have one! We miss the songs of the birds, you say. Well, I can and do enjoy the sparrow, bluebird, crossbill and the few others than remain with us. Oh, I know what you want to say. The November fogs, and mist, and sleet are not pleasant things. But what should we do without apples, pears, walnuts, grapes, which get ripe in September and October and may be picked. I, for one, could not get along without fruit or nuts, and for the sake of these I'm willing to put up with same discomforts.

Text D.

When autumn is over and winter sets in, I don't mind it at all. I know it is the season of snowstorms, and of ice, of frozen rivers and ponds, and of slippery streets. But think of skating on the ice, or skiing in the country, and the sledging. In snowy weather, tobogganing is my favourate pastime. Then I think of the joy of the children. At the first heavy snowfall, they are out making snowmen, building snowhuts, and pelting one another with snowballs: Of course, if the winter is severe, one must take care not to get frostbitten. To me, winter has its own peculiar interest and beauty, and there is no reason to feel bored to death when there are interesting books, theatres and concerts, and the cinema.

Writing ( weather forecast )

Can you understand the forecasts?

a.m./p.m. ante meridiem / post meridiem (Latin: before/after/midday).

m/ft metres / feet

C/F Centigrade/ Fahrenheit

Max/min Maximum / minimum

N/S/E/W North / South / East / West

SE/SW/etc South-East / South-West / etc.

Temp. temperature

Hr hour/hours

Ex 10. Listen to the weather firecast and talk about the weather in each country (Ex. 7a, p.22, Ent-4).

Ex 11. Have you already listened to the weather forecast for today? Use the information given in the previous exercises to write the weather forecast for today.

Lesson 2.3.2. Planning a holiday

Lead-in

Ex 1. Do you enjoy travelling? What places do you choose to go to on holiday?

What is the process of choosing a holiday?

Ex 2. Match the things from the list to each country. Now listen to the tape and check your answers .

1. Switzerland a. history, museums, exotic evenings

2. Egypt b. fabulous, skiing, excellent food, discos Every night

3. Jamaica c. love Shakespeare, see a play/attend a performance at a theatre

4. England d. sunny, favourite music, golden sandy beaches, clear sea

Reading

Ex 3. Some people are talking about their holiday plans. Read their talk and make a chart listing the reasons for their preferences. Which of these places would you like to visit? Give your reasons.

Maria: George, where are you going for your holidays?

George: I think that I’ll be going to Switzerland.

Helen: Switzerland? It’s always snowing there and it’s far too cold.

Peter: No, it’s not. I went there two years ago and it was fabulous. My skiing improved, I loved the food, and the hotel organized discos every night.

George: That’s everything I want in a holiday. At least I’ll never be bored.

Maria: I know you love sports and discos, but I want entirely different. Egypt is the place for me.

Helen: Why Egypt?

Maria: Well… You all know that I love history and museums and things.

And don’t forget the exotic evenings. Just imagine a midnight stroll to the Pyramids. What a dream!

Helen: Oh, no! I would never go there. There are always sandstorms and it’s far too hot and humid. I love the sun, but not when it makes me clammy. Anyway, I’ve already seen the Pyramids. On television, I admit, but I’ve seen them.

Peter: Helen, you are lazy. You hate sports, and you have no sense of adventure.

Sometimes you can be very boring.

George: Oh, stop arguing. This is supposed to be a very friendly conversation. Where are you going, Helen?

Helen: Sunny Jamaica! It’s the land of my favourite music, reggae, and there are miles and miles of golden sandy beaches. The sea is so clear that you can see the fish swimming. Montego Bay, here I come.

Peter: I knew that she’d choose something lazy.

Maria: Well, we’ve all decided. What about you, Peter?

Peter: Don’t laugh, but I’m broke, so I’m going to stay with my aunt in Stratfort-upon-Avon.

All: Poor you…

Peter: Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m going to have a great time. You know

I love Shakespeare.

George: We know… You never stop talking about his plays.

Peter: Well, the Royal Shakespeare Company is presenting Hamlet and I’ve got a ticket for the play, so I’m going to have the best holiday ever.

Maria: That’s great. We’ve all decided on something different, so let’s keep a holiday diary, and compare notes when we return.

Language Development

Ex 4. Underline the correct item.

1. On the way to Greece, we (stopped, broke, interrupted, paused) in Hungary for three days.

2. They went on a two-day (journey, trip, voyage, tour) to Majorca.

3. The pyramids are of great (antique, ancient, old, historical) importance to archeologists.

4. This morning I received a holiday (leaflet, prospectus, handout, brochure) from the travel agent’s.

5. We dived off our yacht and swam to the (coast, bank, shore, seaside).

6. The tourists bought tickets for a(n) (excursion, expedition, sightseeing, travel) around the town.

Ex 5. Fill in the gaps with one of the words from the list below. Then cover the text and say what the process of choosing a holiday is.

reservation - spot – travel agent – brochures – accommodation – book

Choosing a holiday

The easiest way to 1)............... a holiday is through a travel agency. The procedure usually involves looking through a number of glossy 2) ............. to find a suitable holiday destination. The 3)......... is able to offer valuable information and advice. Once you’ve chosen the ideal holiday 4).............. you can enquire about tickets, length of stay and type of 5) ............... available. If you find what you’re looking for you can pay a deposit to secure your 6) ............. .

e.g. First we need to go to a travel agency where we can look through a number of brochures.

Ex 6. First match the words below with their definitions. Then form sentences with them as in the example:

voyage a. to move/go from one place to another

travel b. a long journey, normally by ship

trip c. going from one place to another normally in a vehicle

break d. visiting a place, usually for a specific purpose

journey e . to get away from everything for a short period of

time, often just for a weekend

e.g. My cousin is a sailor and he went on a voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

Ex 7. Read the following dialogue and act it out. Peter and Jane are at the travel agency.

Peter: Hello! We’d like some information, please. We want to go to Los Angeles.

Agent: Yes, what do you want to know?

Peter: Well, first of all, we want to know the air fare.

Agent: When would you like to go?

Jane: We don’t really know. In May, or perhaps in June.

Peter: Why not in July? Actually, we are not sure yet. It will largely depend on fare.

Agent: I see. Well, in May and June the fare is $235. But it is less in March and April. It’s only $220.

Jane: And what about July?

Agent: It’s more in July, of course.

Jane: How much is it then?

Agent: It’s $262.

Peter: Oh! What a pity! We can’t afford it, I’m afraid.

Jane: Can you give us a brochure, please? Still we want to think about it.

Agent. Yes, of course. Here you are.

Jane: Thanks. We’ll come later.

Agent: You are always welcome.

Ex 8. First number the points below in the order that the matters should be dealt with. Then tell either your partner or your teacher.