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Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions.

UNIT 1

Why do people keep pets?

Section 1 Warming-up

1.1. Have you got a pet? What is it? Do all members of your family like it and take care of it? Does it take time, money and effort to have a healthy and happy pet? What animals do people traditionally keep in their houses as pets? Does any of your friends or relatives keep an exotic pet? Do you know anything about Great Britain as a country of animal-lovers?

Britain is traditionally considered really crazy about pets. Fifty per cent of British families own a pet. There are 5.3 million dogs in 4.5 million households 4.6 million cats in 3.3 households. The British are so mad about animals that they started a society on 16 June 1824 to prevent cruelty to them. Today it is called RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The first royal supporter of the society was the Duchess of Kent in 1835. The RSPCA inspectors investigate complaints about cruelty to animals In 2011, the RSPCA received 159,759 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 119,126 animals. The members of the organization inspect livestock markets where animals are sold for food; give talks at school, painlessly put down animals that are old or sick. They also find new homes for unwanted pets.

 

ü Almost half (45 per cent) of British pet owners believe their four legged friends share their human emotions and can sense when they are upset or unwell.

ü 5 per cent of those questioned admit they love their pet so much that they have their dog or cat’s image as their own Facebook profile picture, and a quarter (25 per cent) have a picture of their pet as their office PC screensaver.

ü Forget traditional names like Spot and Scrappy, 33 per cent of the nation would rather give their animal a human name such as Dave, Alan or Sharon.

ü One in five pet owners (19 per cent) always sign greetings cards with their pet’s paw print, and one in 10 (8 per cent) even throw their dog’s or cat’s annual birthday party, inviting their pets’ best friends over for their favourite pet food cake.

ü 9 per cent confess to telling their pet a personal secret that they would not have dared to share with their closest friends;

ü 41 per cent of dog owners feel that their pet loves them more than their partner;

ü 24 per cent admit they would rather spend spare time with their animal companion than with their husband or wife.

Were you impressed by the facts? Which of the described practices do you find the most interesting\ amusing \ unbelievable \ worth adopting in this country? Describe them. Do Russian people treat their pets in the same way?

Choose the lexical units from the box bellow which in the most precise way reveal the attitude of The British to animals.

to be fond of to be crazy about to dote on to love to adore to be keen on to treat pets as equals can’t do without pets to be attached to to be devoted to to be mad about can’t imagine their life without pets to have close emotional ties with pets     to be interested in




Section 2 Listening

Vocabulary list:

to wag one’s tail – âèëÿòü õâîñòîì

to lick - ëèçàòü

to chase – ïðåñëåäîâàòü

bowl – ÷àøà

shell – ðàêîâèíà, ñêîðëóïà, çä. ïàíöèðü

Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions.

A lap dog, a distressing reason, individualistic society, to socialize, fulfilled life, strain in life, work pile-up, bill.

Say whether the following sentences true or false. Give supporting arguments to your answer.
Old people have pets in their houses not to feel lonely.
Animals help people to make new friends.
Animals may serve a status-symbol.
All animals require much attention from the part of the owner.
Pets relieve stress.


Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1660


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