About_Myself_-_for_students

2. Read and translate the text.

My Family

I am Alex Sidorov. Alex is my first name and Sidorov is my surname. I am seventeen years old. I want to tell you a few words about my family. My family is large. I have got a mother, a father, a sister, a brother and a grandmother. There are six of us in the family.

First of all some words about my parents. My mother is a teacher of biology. She works at a college. She likes her profession. She is a beautiful woman. She is a brown-eyed dark blonde. Mom is in her forties but she looks much younger.

My father is a computer programmer. He is very experienced. He is a broad shouldered, tall man with brown hair and grey eyes. He is forty-six. My father often sings and when we are at home and have some free time, I play the guitar and we sing together. My father is good at gadgets and likes to repair them. He is also handy around the house. When he was small, he liked to take everything apart. Grandma told me a story that once Dad tried to "repair" their kitchen clock. He managed to put all the gears and screws back together - but the clock did not work. They had to give it to a repairman. But that happened a long time ago. Now he can fix almost everything: a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, a fridge and what not. He's got any spare parts he keeps in the closet.

My parents have been married for twenty-six years. They have much in common, but they have different views on music, books, films, sports. For example, my father likes horror films and my mother likes "soap operas". My father is fond of tennis. My mother doesn't like sports. Although my parents have these differences they have the same opinion about my education and upbringing.

My parents are very hard-working. My mother keeps the house clean and takes care of my father and me. She is a wonderful cook and good with her hands. She is very practical. My father and I try to help her around the house. I wash the dishes, go shopping and tidy up our flat.

My grandmother is a pensioner. She lives with us and helps to run the house. She is fond of knitting.

My sister Helen is twenty-five. She is married and has a family of her own. She works as an accountant for a joint venture company. Her husband is a scientist. They have got twins: a daughter and a son. They go to a nursery school.

My brother Boris is eleven. He is a schoolboy. He wants to become a doctor but he is not sure yet. Three months ago he dreamed of being an astronaut.

As for me I am a first-year student of the Vologda State Technical University (VSTU). I am fond of programming. I’m good at special subjects and yet I'd like to know English better. It’s a very useful language for my future.

I think I take after my father. I'm tall, fair-haired and even-tempered. I am going in for sports, twice a week I play basketball with my friends. I always try to have a good mood.

We have got a lot of relatives. We are deeply attached to each other and we get along very well.

3. Answer the questions to the text above.

1. What is the first name of the boy? What is his surname?

2. How old is he?

3. Is his family large or small?

4. Has he got any brothers or sisters? How many of them are there in the family?

5. What are his parents?

6. Where do they work?

7. What does his mother look like?

8. What does his father like to do?

9. Alex’s father can fix almost everything, can’t he?

10. Do the parents have much in common?

11. Both of them like sports, don’t they?

12. What sort of things do Alex and his parents do together?

13. Who runs the house in this family?

14. What are Alex’s chores?

15. Is this family united? Why do you think so?

4. Tell the students in your group about yourself using speech patterns.

My name is…

My surname is…

I am …years old.

I was born in …

I live in …

I live with my parents.

My family is … (large, small, not very large)

There are … (4, 5, 6) in my family.

My mother’s name is …

My mother is a … (teacher, doctor, engineer, librarian, housewife, bookkeeper, manager…)

She is … (37, 40, …)

She doesn’t look her age.

My father is a …

He is …

He works at a …(hospital, office, bank …)

I am the only child.

I have a younger/elder sister/brother.

My elder brother (sister) is 5 years older than me.

My younger brother (sister) is … years younger than me.

He/she is …

Our family is very close/not very close.

I’ve got a lot of friends too.

We often go for walks or to the disco or simply talk.

My favourite occupation is …

I am fond of …(playing computer games, watching TV, …)

My favourite sport is …

This year I have left school and entered the VSTU.

Now I am a first-year-student.

I study at the Faculty …

I hope to become a good specialist.

5. Act out the situation “Acquaintance with your groupmates”. Use the questions below.

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your surname?

3. How old are you?

4. When is your birthday?

5. When and where were you born?

6. Where are you from?

7. Where do you live?

8. Do you live in a private house or in a block of flats?

9. Do you live with your parents?

10. Are you living in a dormitory or renting an apartment?

11. Have you got a family of your own?

12. Is your family large? How many people does your family consist of?

13. Have you got any brothers or sisters?

14. What are your parents?

15. Where do they work?

16. Do they have much in common?

17. Do you spend a lot of time with your family?

18. What sort of things do you do together?

19. What relatives do you have in your family (parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, etc.)?

20. Have you got pets?

21. Do you work?

22. Who is your best friend?

23. How old is he/she?

24. What does he/ she look like?

25. What are the main traits of his/her character?

6.Read and translate speech patterns.

Introducing People and Answering an Introduction

7. Tell about a person using the topical vocabulary:

a) your friend or relative

b) a famous person

Name: surname / family / second name, forename / last name, first / given / personal / Christian name, patronymic / middle name, full name, pet name, nickname, pen-name, pseudonym, married / maiden name namesake, name, call, give / bear / use a name, be christened, be baptized, take one's name from, under the name of.

What is his name? How is it spelt?

Origin: race, be from, come from, foreign, foreigner, native.

Where is he from? / Where does he come from?

Birth: be born, place, give birth (to), date, be alive, be dead, birthday, region, area, district.

When and where was he born? What is his native town / country of residence? What is his nationality? – He’s Russian/ American/ German.

Relations by birth: parent, mother/mom/mommy, father/dad/daddy, daughter, son, sister, brother, twins, triplets, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, cousin, grandparent, grandmother/grandma/granny, grandfather/grandpa/granddad, great grandfather, great grandmother, grandchild, grandson, granddaughter, etc.

- How many are you in the family? -We are four. I have a mum and a younger brother.

Marital status: (un) married, single, divorced, separated, widowed, bachelor, marry, get married, be married (to), be engaged, divorce, give a divorce

Relations by marriage: husband, wife, spouse, fiance, fiancee, relative, be related, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepsister, stepbrother, stepparents, half-brother, half-sister, etc.

- Are you related to Mr. Dickson? - Yes, he is my father-in-law. - Are you and Mary relatives? -Yes, she is my niece.

Sex: male, female, man, woman, member of the opposite sex, gentleman, lady

Age: baby, toddler, kid, child, teenager, adult, grown-up, generation, young, old, middle-aged, elderly, be in one's early/mid/late 40s, be under/over 40, at the age of, be/come of age

John has (got) two elder brothers, Jim and Tom.

Jim is three years older than John. Tom is the eldest in the family.

- Is your brother of age yet? How old is he? -No, he is 18. They come of age at 21 in Great Britain.

Appearance: attractive, good-looking, pleasant-looking, slim, sturdy, lean, fat, plump, stocky, pretty, tall, short, middle-sized, well-built, short-sighted, etc.

Character: active, cheerful, calm, serious, clever, smart, educated, talented, timid, strict, sociable, good-natured, well-mannered, responsible, lazy, talkative, honest, etc.

Religion: Orthodox, Catholic, Christian, Presbyterian, Muslim, trust, believe (in), God, service, faith

8. Say how do you call a person:

who is 10 months; who is about a year; who is a year and a half; who is 16 who is 18; who is 25; who is 38; who is 42; who is 70

(in his mid twenties; in his late thirties; in his early forties; an elderly person; a baby; toddler; a kid; a teenager, in his teens; he has come of age)

9. Translate the following collocations with the prepositions by and of. Use them in the sen­tences of your own.

Example: A relative in-law means a relative by marriage.

a) by name, by birth, by origin, by marriage, by nationality, by profession, by telephone, by himself, by mistake;

b) of your own, of the same age, of the opposite sex, a friend of mine / his / ours, a family of his own, at the age of six, a kid of two.

10. Explain the meaning of the following words and word combinations: to be separated, to be divorced, to remarry, to be related, an immigrant, a for­eigner, a widowed woman, to be in one's twenties.

Begin with: It's a person who ...; It's a period (condition) when ...

11. Read and translate the dialogue about the Lamberts.

The Lamberts. An Interview

Interviewer: Good morning, Mrs. Lambert. I'm a reporter for the local newspaper. I called you yesterday and you agreed to give us an interview. Have you got time to talk to me now?

Jenny: Yes. Won't you sit down?

I.: Thank you. So, you are married and have got three children.

J.: That's right. Peter, aged 15, Kate, aged 13 and Bill, aged 10. They all go to school.

I.: And your husband? What does he do?

J.: My husband is six years older than me and he is a computer programmer. He enjoys his work very much and paid well, too. We met when I was 24 and we got married two years later. We worked for the same company at that time but when the first baby was born I gave up my job.

I.: Do you come from a large family?

J.: Yes, quite large. I've got two brothers and a sister. My big brother works in a bank. He lives in London. My younger brother is an archaeologist. He travels all over the world. And my sister teaches maths at school.

I.: Are they all married?

J.: Both my brothers are married and have got children. I've got two nieces and two nephews. My sister is single. But she's got a boyfriend, who is very nice. He teaches at the same school. They plan to get married by the end of the year.

I.: And what about your parents?

J.: Both my parents are alive. My dad is 75, and my mum is about ten years younger. They live in the country. We go to visit them several times a year, usually at Christmas and some time in summer. The children like to spend their holidays with their granny and granddad.

I.: They say a typical English family is husband and wife and 2.4 children and a dog and a cat.

J.: We've got two cats and a dog. Perhaps my parents' family is typical.

I.: In what sense?

J.: Well, my mother never worked. She was a housewife and brought up the children. My father was the breadwinner and the head of the family.

I.: What did he do?

J.: He was a businessman. He's retired now.

I.: Do you want to resume your career after your children grow up?

J.: No, I don't think so. There's a lot of housework.

I.: Do your children keep in touch with their cousins?

J.: Yes. They see them, their aunts and uncles when we all meet at Christmas in my parents' home.

I.: And your husband's parents?

J.: Unfortunately, they passed away long ago.

I.: I see. Thank you very much for your interview.

12. Read the dialogue again and decide whether the statements are true or false.

Mrs. Lambert is married and has got two children.

Her husband is four years older than her.

He works as a computer programmer. He loves his job.

They met when Mr. Lambert was 30 and got married when he was 32.

They didn’t work for the same company at that time

When her first baby was born she gave up her job.

Mrs. Lambert comes from a family of 4 children.

Her brother works at the post office.

Her younger brother travels a lot.

Her sister teaches English at school.

Both her brothers are married and have got children.

She’s got four nieces and nephews.

Her sister is not married.

Her husband’s sister has got a boyfriend.

Both her parents are alive. Her dad is 75, and her mom is about five years younger. They live in London.

Her children like to spend their holidays with their grandparents.

Lamberts have got two parrots and a dog.

Mrs. Lambert wants to retire after her children grow up.

At Christmas the Lamberts see their relatives.

13. Read and translate the dialogue.

What does she do?

(Scene: an old lady in an armchair. Her grandson is running into the room).

Philip: Hello, grandmother.

Grandmother: What?

Philip: I said "Hello". I've got a girlfriend coming to dinner.

Grandmother: What have you brought for dinner?

Philip: Oh, nothing. I said I had got a girlfriend coming for dinner.

Grandmother: A girlfriend? What's her name?

Philip: Her name's Janet. She's charming.

Grandmother: She's what?

Philip: Granny, I said she was charming. You'll like her.

Grandmother: I’ll what?

Philip: I said you'd like her. She's a very interesting girl. She trains animals in the circus.

Grandmother: What does she do?

Philip: I said she trained animals in the circus.

Grandmother: Good heavens! A girl training animals. Other реople's grandsons meet lovely teachers, nurses, dressmakers, actresses, secretaries... And my grandson meets an animal trainer. Of all people! What animals does she train?

Philip: She's got bеаrs and an elephant.

Grandmother: Bears and a what?

Philip: And an elephant.

Grandmother: Let's hope she's not bringing her pets to dinner too.

Philip: She is, in a way.

Grandmother: What?

Philip: They'll all be on the TV program today. We'll watch them.

Grandmother: We'll what, dear?

Philip: Oh! Never mind, grandmother, she'll be here in a minute.

14. Read and translate these descriptions. Can you match Philip’s relatives with their description?

a) mother b) sister c) uncle d) grandmother e) elder brother f) girlfriend g) father h) nephew i) cousin j) younger brother

1) She is just starting to show signs of old age - her hair has turned grey and her face has a lot of wrinkles. She is a bit hard of hearing. She is over 69 but she is still an energetic and active person.

2) He is 23. He is of medium height. He has an average build. He is a bit stocky, but a strong man. He has long straight shoulder-length hair and doesn't want to cut it. It's fashionable in Britain at the moment for men to grow their hair. Usually he wears a comfortable T-shirt and jeans. He doesn't really care how he looks like.

3) She is a pretty girl of 25. She's tall and slim, slender and stylish. She has got lovely dark hair and looks like a teenager. She is married and has a baby.

4) He is very tall, he towers above me even though he is only 15. He does quite a lot of sport. So he is quite strong and has well-developed muscles. He has straight brown hair which refuses to lie flat and is always sticking up.

5) He's about 25, medium build and he's got wavy brown hair, and the last time I saw him he had a bushy moustache. He has been a researcher at the University for three years, so he looks very serious and academic. In fact I'm pretty sure that he wears glasses now.

6) He is tall. He has short, dark, curly hair and a small beard. His arms, legs and chest are hairy. He's a cheerful person. He wears spectacles (glasses) and you can't see his eyes, but I know they are steel gray. He's 43. He usually wears jeans and shirts or sweaters. But for work he wears a suit and a tie and looks every inch a teacher.

7) She's a bit short. She tries to hide her age and it’s quite successful. She has long, straight, fair hair and dark eyes. She has a beautiful smile. She likes to be well-dressed. Her favourite colours are red and light blue. She is an even-tempered person.

8) She is beautiful. She is thin, with slender arms and elegant legs. She likes pink nail-varnish, high-heeled shoes and fashionable clothes. She uses lots of make-up, is always going to the hairdresser's and has fantastic hairstyles. She has long eyelashes which she darkens with mascara. Her full lips are always red. She has dimples and rosy cheeks. She's open-minded and nice.

9) He is still just a toddler; he can't speak yet, but he's very selfish and he bores me.

10) He is an elderly man, rather short and stout. His hair is grey and thin and he's bald on top. He's clean-shaven. He has a double chin. He's always immaculately dressed: a white shirt, a dark well-creased suit with a matching tie and black leather shoes. He's a serious and punctual man, doesn't talk much and seems not overgenerous.

15. Describe your friends/groupmates. The others will try to guess who you are describing. Does the person agree with your description?

16. Now in the same way, describe somebody very famous, e.g. a movie star and see if someone else can guess who you are describing.

17. Role play the conversation and make up similar ones.

Missing person

Police officer: Police Department. May I help you?

Woman: I'd like to report a missing person - my grandmother.

Police officer: Your grandmother? OK.

Woman: Yes, she went out at three o'clock this afternoon. It's already past midnight and she hasn't come back.

Police officer: Uh-huh. What's her name, please?

Woman: Mrs. Rose Baker.

Police officer: And... how old is she?

Woman: She's seventy-eight.

Police officer: OK. Now can you describe her?

Woman: Yes, she's about five feet tall.

Police officer: Five feet, uh-huh.

Woman: She has curly gray hair and she wears glasses.

Police officer: And what is she wearing?

Woman: Let me see. A red and a white jacket.

Police officer: A red dress and a white jacket.

Woman: Oh, and a little with flowers on it.

Police officer: All right. We'll call you...

Woman: (Clock strikes three) Oh, Grandma, it's you! I was so worried about you. It's three o'clock in the morning.

Grandma: Why were you worried? I was out on a date.

Woman: A date? With who?

Grandma: Mr. Franklin - my new boyfriend. He's only eighty-three!

18. Imagine that you’re talking to a detective. You think you saw the people who’ve robbed your neighbor’s flat. Describe them.

19. Turn the following descriptions into dialogues.

Model: My younger brother Jim is a schoolboy. He spends a lot of time at his computers. He is only 15, but very serious for his age. Jim is not very sociable. He is hardworking and does well at school.

- I think your brother Jim is very serious for his age.

- Yes, he spends a lot of time at his computers and he is not very sociable.

- But he seems to be hard-working and does well at school.

- You are right. He is the best pupil in the group.

1) Jack is my cousin. He is a nine-year-old boy. He likes noisy games and his teacher says he can't behave in class. Sometimes even his mother can't manage him. He is lazy about doing his homework and sometimes tells lie. In spite of all his faults everybody likes him.

2) This man is always complaining about everything around. It gets on my nerves. He is a real bore and hasn't got any sense of humour at all. If you spend more than five minutes with him you just want to sleep.

3) Jane is a practical young woman. She is good at housekeeping. Jane is an excellent cook and is happy to do housework. Jane is a sociable person and makes friends easily. She is a very good companion.

4) Moll has the irritating habit of biting her nails but apart from that she is always welcoming and positive. If you don't know her well, you may think she is a bit arrogant, but she isn't really. Actually, she isn't all that bright and often appears puzzled by life.

20. Show the difference in meaning between these sets of adjectives by placing them in the correct position on the scale.

1) clever, silly, crazy, wise

2) violent, quiet, shy, irritated

3) hard-working, lazy, passive, studious

4) polite, rude, impolite, good-mannered

5) active, passive, energetic, indifferent

6) cold, angry, friendly, open-hearted

7) arrogant, modest, shy, snobbish

8) talkative, boastful, sullen, reserved.

21. Comment on the following proverbs and sayings. Give Russian equivalents for the popular sayings if there are any.

1) The leopard cannot change its spots.

2) No man is wise at all times.

3) One person's meat is another person's poison.

4) Still waters run deep.

5) A friend in need is a friend indeed.

6) Empty vessels are the most noisy.

7) Where one is wise, two are happy.

8) Love is blind.

9) When poverty comes in the door, love flies out at the window.

10) Law favours the rich.

11) The wolf may loose his teeth, but never his nature.

12) Fortune favours the fools.

22. Answer the questions. Give your reasons.

1) What are the traits of an ideal man/woman?

2) Do you think it’s good to live with an ideal?

3) What do you think is more important: beauty or character?

4) Do you agree with the proverb “Handsome is as handsome does”?

5) What traits of character in your opinion do employers appreciate in a job applicant?

6) Do you think the appearance is important when you want to get a job? Why?

24. Read and translate the text.

Hobbies

Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have a hobby that fits your taste and your style you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. Hobbies are divided into four large groups: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things.

The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to travelling and from chess to volleyball.

Gardening is one of the oldest hobbies. It is a well-known fact that the Eng­lish are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses.

Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different types of computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it is becoming more and more popular.

Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, creating handicrafts. Two of the most famous hobby painters were great wartime leaders. The 34th President of the USA Eisenhower and Britain's prime minister for most of the Second World War Sir Winston Churchill were both good artists. Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments. Ex-President of the USA Bill Clinton, for example, plays the saxophone.

Most people collect something at some point in their life: stamps, coins, match­boxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches. Some collections have no real value; others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many world-famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. At times such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might enjoy seeing them.

No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity to learn from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.

25. Answer the questions.

1. Tastes differ. Can you say the same about hobbies?

2. Which hobby groups do you know?

3. The most popular hobby group is doing things, isn't it? What kind of activities does this group include?

4. Do you know any hobbies of the famous people?

5. What can be collected?

6. Do you know of any private collections that were given to museums or art galleries?

7. Do you agree that learning can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby? Why?

26. Read, translate and memorize speech patterns.

1

What is your hobby? My hobby is collecting old coins.

What is your hobby, Jane? Dancing. I'm crazy about dancing.

What is your favourite hobby? I like chatting with my old friends.

2

I usually stay at home in the evening reading books and papers.

She usually stays at home after work watching television.

He usually stays at home cooking and cleaning.

3

Do you often go fishing? No, not really. About once a month.

Do you often go skiing? Oh, yes. Almost every Sunday.

Do you often go shopping? Of course. Every other day.

4

It's the process of collecting that is important.

It's the process of collecting that interests me.

It's the process of driving that matters.

5

Your hobby seems to be very useful.

Your pastime seems to be both practical and interesting.

He seems to be carried away with his hobbies.

She seems to be sick and tired of collecting these useless things.

27. Act out your own microdialogues in pairs using the words below.

- What is your hobby, Bill?

- My hobby is cooking. I enjoy it very much.

(sports, motoring, music, dancing, collecting postage stamps, read­ing, fishing, football, gardening)

-They say you are a famous collector. What do you collect (if it isn't a secret)?

- I collect postage stamps.

(post-cards, old coins, badges of different countries, match-box la­bels, old books, old medals and orders)

-What do you usually do in the evening?

- I usually stay at home cooking and washing up.

(watching television, playing chess with X., reading books and pa­pers, listening to records, making things of wood)

-Why did you choose hiking as a hobby?

- It's difficult to answer, it seems healthy.

(reading, skiing, carpentry, fishing, travelling; interesting, useful, practical, instructive, entertaining)

28. Read and translate.

My Friend’s Hobby

My friend Nick is very busy and he doesn't have much time to spare. He is free only on the weekends. A few years ago Nick was fond of collecting stamps. I know that his mother had started collecting stamps long before he was born. When he was five years old his mother had six albums of stamps. She didn't let him touch the stamps until he was twelve. She gave him the albums as a birthday present and he continued collection on his own. He learned a lot about other countries and other peoples' traditions, the world's flora and fauna. Maybe that's why he was good at geography and biology at school. He used to bring the albums to school and we looked at his stamps with great in­terest and envy. Sometimes he exchanged stamps with his schoolmates.

Last summer Nick's parents bought him a CD player and Nick de­cided to collect CDs. He is fond of listening to music. Nick has a good ear for music and likes jazz very much. Besides jazz, Nick also likes rock music, pop music, classical music. He doesn't like techno, metal and rap. He himself says that he likes any good music. Now Nick collects CDs of his favourite groups and singers, he carefully studies the information printed on the disc booklets. He also tries to find out everything about the singers he likes. That's why he reads a lot of specialized magazines and never misses MTV shows. He thinks he must keep up with what’s happening in the world of music. He even send e-mails to some fan-clubs in other countries, so he has to brush up his English. He never misses a concert of his favourite groups (if they come to our country). He brings his CDs to the concert and asks the singers for their auto­graphs.

In spite of his new hobby, Nick sometimes sits in his room and looks through his albums of stamps (with his earphones on, of course).

Vocabulary

29. Answer the questions.

1. What is your best friend's hobby?

2. Which of your friends collects stamps (records, compact discs, etc)?

3. What are the usual hobbies of Rus­sian students?

4. Do you take part in any specific clubs?

5. What do you do for fun?

6. How do you spend your weekends?

7. Do you think cooking or doing house work may be a man's hobby?

30. Imagine the end of the situation.

Model:

- Robert has been collecting old bottles for 20 years. Now he says he'll start playing sports. I think...

- … I think he got sick and tired of collecting bottles. Sports seem more healthy for him.

1. When Gleb and I used to meet, he spoke German with me though I always said I didn't understand him. Now when I see him, he speaks French. I think... 2. Aunt Polly's hobby was making post­cards. She created hundreds of them. Now she only makes a few every year. I think... 3. Susan was crazy about dancing. She used to dance almost every night. Now I never see her at any dance. I think...

31. Read the dialogues in pairs. Act them out changing the underlined words with other expressions.

1

A: What is your hobby, Peter?

B: I collect books published in the XVIIIth century.

A: How very interesting! Have you got many in your collection?

B: There are almost eight hundred of them.

A: Quite a number, I should say! I wonder whether you have managed to read them all.

B: Yes, but reading is not essential. It's the process of collecting it­self that matters (that interests me).

2

A: How do you usually spend your evenings, Paul?

B: Well, I spend them playing chess with my father-in-law. But my wife says I should try to do something more useful.

A: Well, chess isn't so bad, after all. It's an interesting game. George is in a worse position. He usually stays at home cooking and cleaning. He says it's his hobby

В: What about his wife?

A: His wife is a modern woman. She believes in equality between men and women. She's always busy sitting in a cafe and dis­cussing women's rights with her friends.

3

A: What is your hobby, Miss O'Brien?

B: Photography. Wherever I go (I also like travelling) I always take a camera with me. Would you mind my taking some photos of you?

A: Go ahead. You're welcome to take a photo.

B: Thank you. They say it's no use being photographed by amateurs because you'll never get the prints. But that isn't the case with me. You can count on it, believe me. I'll send them by e-mail to you.

A: It's very kind of you. Write down my e-mail address, please.

B: Would you like to take my e-mail too?

4

A: What is your favourite hobby, Boris?

B: Fishing. I enjoy fishing very much.

A: Do you often go fishing?

B: Well, yes. I make a point of spending a few hours by the river every weekend.

A: Do you usually catch much?

B: Well, it depends. Last Sunday, for instance, I caught so many fish that my wife cooked a fish dish for the whole family.

5

A: What are the most common hobbies of Englishmen?

B: Well, that isn't an easy question. Many Brits like sports and games; others gardening or collecting different things. I, for one, enjoy carpentry, just making shelves, boxes, stools and so on.

A: Your hobby seems to be both interesting and useful for the house. Your wife must like your hobby, eh?

B: Oh yes. When I come home after work she's ready with some "orders" to repair this or that.

6

A: What do you usually do after work, Susan?

B: Oh, a lot of things. There's always a lot of work to do around the house, cleaning, doing the rooms, ironing, mending clothes…

A: No, I don't mean that. What's your favourite hobby?

B: Again - nothing very special. Sometimes I read a little, watch television or listen to music. When Jane calls, we go to the cinema, very seldom, though, to the theatre.

A: I see. What about dancing? Do you like it?

B: Oh, very much. Actually I'm crazy about dancing. Are you invit­ing me to a dance?

A: Yes, I'd like to. There's a very good band at the College Club.

32. Read and translate the text.

Sports

Sport is an important part of the modern way of life. It is popular among people of any age all over the world. It unites people of different classes and nationalities. When you listen to the radio you can always hear sport news. When you open a newspaper you will always find information about sport events. TV programs about sports are shown every day. Watching sporting events and participating in sports is not the same.

Sports not only help people to keep in good health, to become strong and attractive but also make them more organized and better disciplined in their daily activities. Many people ski, skate, swim, play table tennis, volley-ball, football and so on. Children and adults do morning exercises or jog in the morning. Some exercise in clubs and even take part in competitions. All necessary facilities are provided for them: gymnasiums, stadiums, sport grounds, swimming pools, skating rinks, skiing stations, football fields and other locations if needed.

We all need exercise. Regular exercise gives us more energy. It makes us feel and look better.

Here are some opinions:

Anna: As for me I go jogging every day in summer and I attend a fitness center 3 times a week. But I am not crazy about sports. I am much happier sitting on the sofa with a book or in front of the computer.

Oleg: I'm a football fan. Since I was a kid I’ve been crazy about watching football matches on TV. When I was small I often played with my friends in the yard. Then I became a player for our varsity team and took part in different sports competitions. Now I play football for the university where I study.

Alexander: As long as I can remember I was always keen on swimming. I go to the swimming-pool twice a week, but in summer I prefer to rest by the lake or the river and swim there.

Olga: I have been playing tennis for five years, but the more I play, the more I like it. I enjoy taking part in competitions or simply playing with my friends. I watch closely all tennis competitions and championships. There are a lot of them, but my favourite championship is Wimbledon because old tennis traditions remain there as they are.

Lena: To tell the truth I don't like sports. In the morning I do some exercises just to wake up. In summer I like swimming, biking or horseback riding, but in winter I usually do not play any sports. I don't like skiing or skating very much. I am not a person who is fond of sports.

33. Answer the questions.

1. Do you have much free time?

2. What else do you do besides studying?

3. What do you usually do after your studies?

4. How do you usually spend your leisure time? What is your favorite things to do in your spare time?

5. Are you fond of listening to music?

6. What kind of music do you prefer?

7. Do you play any musical instruments?

8. Do you like computer games?

9. Are you fond of making things?

10. What sport do you participate?

11. Do you like playing chess (…….or smth else)?

12. How often do you exercise or play sports?

13. Do you like fishing/hunting/swimming/skating/skiing?

14. Have you got a hobby that fits your taste?

15. What is your hobby?

16. Have you ever collected anything?

17. What do you collect now?

18. How long have you been collecting it?

19. Is it easy or difficult to collect old coins (stamps, etc.)?

20. What do you know about gardening/ fishing/ hunting/ swimming/ skating/ skiing?

34. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Чем вы увлекаетесь? 2. Как вам больше всего нравится проводить свободное время? 3. Мое увлечение - музыка. 4. Я очень люблю спорт, особенно зимние виды спорта: коньки, лыжи. 5. После работы я люблю встре­титься с друзьями и поговорить с ними. 6. Я часто играю в шахматы со своим братом. 7. Сколько компакт-дисков в вашей коллекции? - Около трехсот. 8. Я увлекаюсь фотографией. Куда бы я ни ехал, я всегда беру с собой фотоаппарат. 9. Мой друг любит путешествовать. Каждый свой отпуск он проводит где-нибудь на севере или на юге. Он посещает также зарубежные страны. Путешествия - его хобби. 10. Мое увлечение - ино­странные языки. Я уже изучил французский и немецкий язы­ки. Сейчас занимаюсь английским. 11. Я обычно остаюсь вечерами дома, читаю книги, готовлю и убираю квартиру.

35. Describe the situations. Discuss and develop them.

1. My friend Boris was an old collector. His hobby was African ritual masks. About 40 of them were on the walls of his room. Last month I returned from a foreign trip and I brought a new mask for him. When I called on him the other day I was sur­prised. Boris had no masks.

1. Who is Boris? 2. What did he collect? 3. Why were you sur­prised? 4. Dramatise your talk with Boris.

2. My groupmate Kostya goes in for basketball like me. He always takes part in all local competitions. He is a good player. I wonder why Kostya missed the last training session though he knew how important it was.

1. Who is Kostya? 2. Is he a really good player? 3. Dramatise your talk with Kostya.

36. Develop the situations:

- you ask your new friend how he spends his free time;

- you talk to an English (American) student about hobbies, interests and favourite pastimes of young people.

37. Do you know what are the typical hobbies of Englishmen (Americans)?

38. Tell about your hobbies or interests using the topical vocabulary.

39. Read and translate the text.

The Vologda State Technical University

I study at a technical University. It is one of the largest institutions of higher education in this part of Russia. Studying at our University gives students the solid background they need. After their education they have a well rounded education and are prepared for work.

The VSTU was founded in January 1965 as a branch of the North-Western Extramural Polytechnic Institute. Ten years later it was rearranged into an independent institution and in 1999 it became a University. Nowadays it is а large school where more than 8,000 students are currently enrolled. Most of them are full-time students, like mе, and the rest are students of distant education and part time students. There are also graduate stu­dents, who conduct independent research work. Since the first class thousands of engineers, economists and civil engineers have graduated from the University.

The University's departments have over 400 academic staff with a wide range of professional and academic experience. It also has extensive capabilities and a flourishing research program. National and international scientific conferences are continually held at the University.

The Vologda University is located in six buildings within the city limits of Vologda. It has all the advantages of modern science laboratories and up-to-date equipment, a computer center, and other facilities. There are many large lecture halls that can fit three or four classes together at one time for a group lecture. These classes together can include more than a hundred students. The acoustics in such large rooms is very good, but when students chat during the lecture the room is very noisy.

There's also a large library with three reading halls for the students and faculty members. The library provides them with textbooks, instruction manuals and literature on different subjects. Apart from scientific and specialist's collection it contains a collection of fiction.

The university also includes sports facilities: a sports center with a weight training room, a gym, a multipurpose sports hall and outdoor stadium with tracks and playing fields. The University also possesses a health center in the city and a recreation camp in the countryside. With all these facilities, one can find many different ways to exercise and rest.

For lunch, during a midday break, students may go to any of several cafes at the university and nearby. My favourite one is located in a nearby building and people say that the food there is tasty and very affordable.

There are also several dormitories where students from out of town live. But some students don’t live in a dormitory – they rent an apartment.

There are 7 faculties here: Power Engineering Faculty, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Faculty, Faculty of Management and Economics, Faculty of Industrial Management and Innovative Technologies, Humanities Faculty, Faculty of Distant Education. These faculties of the University provide training for industry and commerce in a variety of different fields.

41. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give reasons for your opinion.

1) Larger schools are better than smaller ones.

2) It is impossible to enter the university if you haven’t attended preparatory courses.

3) The best professors are the oldest ones.

4) Professors always know more than teaching instructors.

5) It is better to live in a dormitory than to rent an apartment.

42. Read and translate the text.

My Studies

I study at a technical University. I have chosen to pursue a degree in electric power engineering. I am a first year student. In 5 years when I graduate from the University I shall be able to work as an engineer at a plant, a factory, or an office.

The academic year begins, as a rule, on the 1st of September and ends in June. It lasts ten months: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May and June. The academic year has two terms: the autumn term and the spring term. The autumn term begins in September and ends in December. It lasts about four months. The spring term begins in February and ends in May.

During a term we attend lectures, have seminars, classes and consultations on different subjects such as higher mathematics, technol­ogy and strength of materials, drawing, designing and many other subjects. Among these classes we also study foreign language and participate in physical training. A student should not miss any lec­tures or seminars so as not to lag behind his group mates.

Each term ends with final exams. The examinations take place in January and in June. I think one must work very hard to pass all the exams successfully. Some students if they are given permission will take them in advance. When the examinations are over, we have our summer and winter breaks. Some students who failed a test may have extra classes. They must retake exams before the deadline passes so as not to be expelled.

We have two breaks a year – winter break and summer break. The summer break is longer, it lasts two months. In the winter it is much shorter. They last only two weeks. It’s time for us to rest from studying. There are many ways in which we can spend our spare time. Some of us go to the country, others stay in town. During the break we go to the cinemas and theatres. We play sports. We spend a lot of time outside. Those students who do not live at home are able to go and see their parents. They leave for their native towns and villages.

43. Find the words and expressions with the similar meaning:

lecture hall, semester, external student, go out of town, department, term, faculty, to pass an exam, up-to-date, college, vacation, teaching staff, day department, to conduct, correspondence student, state-of-the-art, students of distant education, dormitory, extramural courses, hostel, to carry out, present-day, correspondence courses, holidays, faculty members, go to the country, lecture theatre, to take an exam.

44. What can you tell about studies?

45. Tell about yourself.

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 1756