7.4 Answer the questions.

1. What does almost everybody in Britain dream of?

2. What does the saying “An English-man’s home is his castle” illustrate?

3. Why is a detached house is dear to the hearts of many British people?

4. Why do most people try to avoid living in blocks of flats?

5. Can you point out the reasons for witch the ‘communal’ living is unsuccessful in Britain?

8. Writing

8.1 You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen-pal Tom who writes:

…In Great Britain most young people want to become independent from their parents as soon as possible. Could you tell me what you and your friends think about not relying on your parents? Are you ready to leave your family immediately after you finish school? Is it easy to rent a house or an apartment for students in Russia? As for the latest news, I have just returned from a trip to Scotland…

Write a letter to Tom.

In your letter:

− answer his questions

− ask 3 questions about his trip to Scotland.

8.2 Write a letter to your pen-pal Mary, who has just moved to a new house. In your letter ask Mary about her new place of living.

8.3 You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen-pal James who writes:

I hope you are happy with your new house. What is your bedroom like? Is there plenty to do in your new neighborhood? I’m going on holiday with my family next week. I think it will be great fun.

Write a letter to James, tell him about your house and ask him questions about his holidays.

UNIT 3 LEISURE (SPARE) TIME

Vocabulary

leisure (spare) time – свободное время, досуг

to have spare time – иметь свободное время

to spend leisure time – проводить свободное время

to rest – отдыхать

to occupy one’s precious leisure time – занимать чье-либо драгоценное время

pursuit – занятие, дело; профессия

to prefer – предпочитать

favourite occupation – любимое занятие

hobby – хобби, увлечение, любимое занятие, страсть

activity – деятельность

entertainment – развлечение

to run a hobby – иметь хобби, увлекаться

to feel bored – чувствовать скуку

to go in for sport (swimming, etc.) – заниматься спортом (плаванием и т.д.)

to lead an active way of life – вести активный образ жизни

amateur – любитель, непрофессионал

to do sport (for fun) – заниматься спортом (ради удовольствия)

for exercise – для тренировки, в качестве зарядки

to keep fit – поддерживать (сохранять) хорошую физическую форму, укреплять здоровье

to cheer for one’s favourite team – болеть за любимую команду

to prefer watching sporting events on TV to attending them – предпочитать смотреть

спортивные соревнования по телевизору, а не посещать их

to pass away one’s free time – коротать свободное время

stay-at-home (person) – домосед

to spend day and night (doing smth.) – проводить круглые сутки (занимаясь чем-либо)

endless number of soaps – бесконечная вереница мыльных опер

the perfect way to spend free time – идеальный способ провести свободное время

to range from … to … – приобретать различные формы (варьироваться) от … до …

to be extremely popular – быть чрезвычайно популярным

to be tired – уставать

to need some time to relax – нуждаться в каком-то количестве времени, чтобы

расслабиться (отдохнуть, сделать передышку)

in this case – в этом случае

to switch on – включать

CD-player – плеер

mini-system – музыкальный центр

to have background music while working – работать под тихо звучащую музыку (под

музыку, звучащую на заднем плане)

teenager – подросток; юноша или девушка (в возрасте от 13 до 19 лет), тинэйджер

to attract smb. by voice or appearance – привлекать кого-либо голосом или внешним видом

to drive smb. crazy – сводить кого-либо с ума

to such an extent – до такой степени

to be ready to follow smb. to the ends of the earth – быть готовым следовать за кем-либо на

край света

fan – болельщик, фанат, почитатель, любитель

to join a fan group – вступить в группу фанатов, присоединиться к группе фанатов

to network with other hobby enthusiasts – переписываться по Интернету с другими ярыми

поклонниками этого хобби

to share interests – разделять чьи-либо увлечения (интересы)

art gallery – картинная галерея

to go to the theater (to the cinema) – ходить в театр (в кино)

to be widespread – быть широко распространённым

to be mad about smth. – быть без ума от (чего-л.) , быть помешанным на (чём-л.)

motorbike – мотоцикл

fishing – рыбалка

to be popular among stronger sex – быть широко распространенным среди представителей

мужского пола

a pastime – времяпровождение

to do a crossword puzzle – решать кроссворд

to train one’s brain – тренировать мозг

to be keen on smth. – (страстно) увлекаться чем-либо

to make up one’s own puzzle – составить свой собственный кроссворд

according to one’s mood – в соответствии с настроением, по настроению

the world of fashion – мир моды

to develop fast – быстро развиваться

to be gradually replaced by smth – быть постепенно замененным чем-либо

to spend a lot of time in World Wide Web – проводить много времени во «Всемирной

паутине»

to get information – получать информацию

moreover – сверх того, более того, кроме того

way of communicating with people – способ общения с людьми

to chat – непринужденно болтать, беседовать, разговаривать

to explore the Internet all day long – целый день копаться в Интернете

both grown-ups and children – как взрослые, так и дети

to be fond of (doing smth.) – любить, увлекаться чем-либо

to play different computer games – играть в различные компьютерные игры

relatively – относительно, сравнительно

to breathe fresh air – дышать, вдыхать

to travel – путешествовать

to escape from daily routine – вырваться из будничной жизни

to discover new things – открывать для себя (узнавать) новые вещи

to deal with - иметь дело с (кем-л.)

to include – включать (в себя), содержать (в себе)

handicraft – ремесло, ручная работа

to fix as a hobby – выбирать в качестве хобби

stamp – (почтовая) марка

coin – монета

record – видео- или аудиозапись (на любом виде носителя), грампластинка (виниловый

музыкальный диск)

postcard – открытка

a good deal of money – много денег

to collect paintings – собирать художественные полотна (картины)

rare – редкий

art objects – произведения искусства

in this case – в этом случае

to be a rather expensive activity.

to exist – существовать

quite a different sort of leisure activities – совсем другой вид проведения досуга

to bet – держать пари, спорить на деньги

to gamble – играть в азартные игры

to give hope for a huge prize – давать надежду на огромный приз

to arouse a sense of excitement – пробуждать (вызывать) чувство возбуждения (волнения)

consuming passion – всепоглощающая страсть

intention – намерение, стремление

to make money from a hobby – "делать" деньги посредством хобби

to lead to a trouble – приводить к беде

to be wise – быть мудрым, благоразумным

to put down a hobby – отказаться от хобби

as soon as possible – как можно скорее

1. PHONETIC EXERCISES

1.1 Mind the pronunciation of the following words.

biathlon [ baɪˈæθ.lən] genre [ ˈʒɑ:nrə]

billiards [ ˈbɪliə(r)dz ] gymnastics [ dʒɪmˈnæstɪks]

enthusiast [ ɪnˈθjuːziæst] leisure [ ˈleʒə(r) ]

equipped [ ɪˈkwɪpt] require [ rɪˈkwaɪə(r) ]

equipment [ ɪˈkwɪpmənt] pleasure [ ˈpleʒə(r) ]

1.2 Consult a dictionary and write the following literary genres in phonetic transcription.

comedy historical novels psychological novels

crime fiction legend science fiction

detective stories love story sea stories

fairy tales mystery short stories

fantasy myths thrillers

1.3 Practise the pronunciation of the - ing form in the names of hobbies.

boating fencing skiing

body building figure skating skydiving

bowling power lifting sledding

camping rowing snowboarding

hiking sailing hunting

cycling shooting wrestling

diving skateboarding speed skating

2.1

Leisure Time

Nowadays people work all day long and rarely have spare time to rest and to do something they like. But when time allows they try to occupy their precious leisure time with the pursuit they prefer. A favourite occupation of a person in his free time is his hobby. At present it’s even hard to name all the activities, entertainments and hobbies that people run in their free time. There are a lot of things to do that can help you not to feel bored.

Many people prefer to go in for different kinds of sports and lead an active way of life. But most of them are amateurs and do sport just for fun, for exercise and to keep fit. Aerobics is one of the most popular sporting pursuits for women. Many men like to go to the stadium and to cheer for their favourite team there. But a growing number of people prefer watching sporting events on TV to attending them.

Watching TV is, by the way, a very popular pursuit that people choose to pass away their free time. Stay-at-home persons spend day and night watching different informational, educational and sports programs or an endless number of soaps.

Nowadays the perfect way to spend free time is listening to music. People’s musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular at present, especially among young people, to classical music and opera. Very often a person is so tired that he can’t move any longer and his brains need some time to relax. In this case he may switch on his CD-player or mini-system with favorite music. Some people like to have background music while they are working. Many teenagers have pop idols that attract them by their voice or appearance and drive them crazy to such an extent that they are ready to follow them to the ends of the earth. Many music fans join various fan groups and network with other enthusiasts of this hobby with whom they share their interests.

Other popular occupations are visiting museums, art galleries and going to the theater or cinema. Shopping and cooking are widespread among women. A great number of men are mad about their cars or motorbikes. They spend their Saturdays and Sundays washing them, painting them or buying new bits and pieces to make them go even faster. Fishing is also very popular among stronger sex.

An interesting and useful pastime is doing crossword puzzles. It trains your brain. Those who are keen on this activity sometimes try to make up their own puzzles, which is not less interesting.

Reading books, papers and magazines is also a way of spending leisure time. You can choose a genre according to your mood and read whatever you want. From magazines and papers you know the latest news in the world of politics, fashion, cooking, technology, etc. But technology is developing so fast that this way of getting information is being gradually replaced by the other one. Nowadays a great number of people spend a lot of time in World Wide Web getting information there. Moreover the Internet is a way of communicating with people. And people all over the world sit at the computers chatting or exploring the Internet all day long. Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it is becoming more and more popular.

But some people prefer to go to a country to breathe fresh air or to travel somewhere. People like to visit other places to escape from daily routine and discover new things that they can never see or learn at home.

There are a lot of hobbies dealing with making things. They include drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts or DIY and others.

Collecting things is also an activity that many people fix as a hobby. Almost everyone collects something at some period of his life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches and other things. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. In this case it is a rather expensive activity.

But there exists quite a different sort of leisure activities, betting and gambling for example, which give thousands of people hope for a huge prize, arouse a sense of excitement, a consuming passion and intention to make money from the hobby. That sort of consuming passion may lead to a trouble and it is wise to put those hobbies down as soon as possible.