The importance of English weather

It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather. They tell each other, what each already knows, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm. This is a good English tradition.

The weather really is a national weakness. All the jokes and anecdotes which are told about this are totally justified. Every English conversation really does turn around this subject, even semi-formal letters from organizations will contain some remark about good or bad weather. And as for private conversation, the weather is simply inevitable. In a little English church, two charming middle-aged (but certainly not old) English ladies, upon hearing that you are from Russia will almost certainly say “Lovely weather today, don’t you think? So much better than yesterday.” Having found strength in this meaningful remark, they then carry on the conversation on a different subject (for example, how is the weather in Moscow? Cold as usual?).

In Europe talking about the weather means that you are 1. making polite conversation, 2. bored, 3. fulfilling the requirements of formal politeness, 4. talking to people you do not know or to officials. For the English, talking about the weather is entirely different, it is 1. interesting, 2. important, 3. necessary, 4. affects everybody. Every morning the English greet their neighbours with the phrase about the weather and swap this important information. There is also the greeting “How are you?” but everybody knows that you do not need to answer as it is not interesting.

In pubs, museums, hotels, wherever you run into the English, you need to be ready to start your conversation with the phrase about the English weather and then follow that up (since you are a foreigner) with a conversation about the weather in Russia. Surprisingly enough the English react in exactly the same way when they meet with their compatriots and even with close friends. Even if you saw each other last night, you need to be ready for the inevitable “It’s a bit chilly today, isn’t it?’ Do not be offended, this does not mean that they are dismissing you and putting you in your place, just accept it as part of English life. The ability to hold a conversation about the weather is always seen as a sign of good upbringing.

There is one golden rule for discussing the weather in England, and it was formulated by Hungarian called George Mikes who made England his home. He wrote: “You must not conflict anybody when discussing the weather. Should it snow, should hurricanes uproot the trees from the sides of the road and should someone remark to you: “Nice day, isn’t it?” – answer without hesitation: “Isn’t it lovely?”.

 

3.2.3. Прочитайте текст ещё раз. Найдите в тексте ответы на данные вопросы (работа в парах)

1. What is the topic of conversation when two Englishmen meet?

2. How do they usually describe the weather?

3. What is thought as a national weakness?

4. Why do even semi-formal letters contain remarks about the weather?

5. Why is the weather an inevitable subject of private conversation?

6. What do the English think about the weather in Russia?

7. And what does it mean when you are in England?

8. How do the English greet their neighbours?

9. What greeting doesn’t need an answer in Britain?

10.What is the right answer to the question “Fine day, isn’t?” when the weather is nasty in England?

 

Выпишите из текста слова, отражающие основную идею текста.

 

3.2.5. Составьте план текста на английском языке.

 

Напишите небольшое сообщение на английском языке по теме текста.

Раздел 3.3.

3.3.1. Прочитайте текст. Дайте ответ на данный вопрос? “ Why is Christmas so peculiar for the English?”

Notes:

1. we would wake up – мы бывало просыпались

2. at the bottom of the bed – в ногах кровати

3. in the years up until then – в предыдущие годы до этого возраста

4. dip in - зачерпнуть

5. a sit-down meal – застольe

Christmas at my parent’s house was quite a big event for the children especially, and I remember when I was very small it was so exciting. We would wake up at 6 o’clock or earlier on Christmas morning, and immediately look at the bottom of the bed, where there would be a pillow case at the bottom of the bed, which supposedly Father Christmas had brought. It was full of little present and fruit and nuts and all kinds of little things. I don’t remember when we stopped getting them, I suppose I was about fifteen, but in the years up until then we used to get them. However, towards the end they got smaller and smaller, so that in the end it was just a sock, maybe with an orange and a walnut in it.

As I got older, the big parties used to be on Christmas Eve, on the 24^th, when my two brothers with their girlfriends and all my cousins would come around. It would start at maybe 8 o’clock in the evening, and we’d make a big punch, which consisted of red wine, vodka, orange juice and fruit, and put it in the hall so people could dip in and have a drink if they wanted to. We would also have a cold buffet with crisps, chicken, sausages and quiche, so it wasn’t a sit-down meal but just snacks really. When everyone had had enough punch to drink, we started playing games, just silly party games. For example, we used to play “pass the orange”, where you have two teams, and you all stand in a line and have to pass the orange under your chin to the next person, who would take it under their chin. It sounds really boring, but for some reason it gets really funny, because it’s quite difficult, as the orange tends to travel down your chest. Then we would also play charades, where again you have two teams and you think of a film, a book, a play or a TV program, and you give the title to the other team who then have to act it. It’s quite simple but also quite difficult, as there are lots of different signs you can use, but you mustn’t speak. That would go on all evening.

There’s Christmas Day, the 25^th, which is a big day, a big event. While the turkey was being cooked in the morning, everyone would open their presents, and then usually hang around in the kitchen and annoy my mum who’d be trying to cook. We would have a turkey with bacon on the top, which was really nice, and sausages, stuffing – two kinds of stuffing, chestnut stuffing and a kind of sage and onion stuffing – roast potatoes, sprouts, gravy, and bread sauce, which my cousin really liked. We would have Christmas pudding, which is an incredibly rich, very sweet, very heavy pudding made from all kinds of dried fruit, like raisins and sultanas, with a lot of alcohol in it. We had mince pies, which are small dried fruit-filled pies. So it’s an incredibly heavy meal. Everyone eats that for about an hour, and then we have to watch the Queen’s speech, which is at two o’clock, and a kind of tradition. My father insists that we all have to sit down and watch the Queen as she speaks for five or ten minutes about the year that’s gone by, and then, usually, everyone just carries on watching television all afternoon.

The Christmas weather in England is so uninspiring, either rainy or cold, so after such a huge meal people just sit down, flop in front of the television and watch old films until evening. When evening comes, we have tea. We have a cup of tea and some Christmas cake – a very rich, heavy cake which my aunty Patty always makes, with sultanas, raisins, nuts, cherries and all kinds of dried fruit in it. After that, nobody does anything other than maybe open a few more presents, if there are any left, or play with the children, to keep them entertained until it’s time for them to go to bed.

 

3.3.2. Выберите заголовок, наиболее соответствующий содержанию текста:

1. Christmas Presents

2. Christmas Eve

3. Christmas

4. Dishes at Christmas

 

Ролевая игра.

В международном студенческом лагере вы оказались в одной комнате со студентами из разных стран. Расспросите друг друга о традициях и обычаях народов ваших стран.

Раздел 3.4.

3.4.1. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms/Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

At the lesson/ is often/ asked/ he/. He is often asked at the lesson.

1. Are usually closed/ at this time/ the shops. 2. In June/ are examined/ the students/. 3. Such bills/ every month/ are paid. 4. Every evening/ is cleaned/ the office/. 5. Are published/ in Italy/ these books/. 6. Is always opened/ in the daytime/ the museum/. 7. French/ at school/ are taught/ the children. 8. Is always told/ she/ is always told/ the news/ at work/. 9. He/ to the parties/ is seldom asked/ 10. Is often invited/ she/ to dinner/.

 

3.4.2. Письменно составьте общие вопросы. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

He is often asked at the lesson. Is he often asked at the lesson? Yes, he is. No, he is not (isn`t).

1. The shops are usually closed at this time. 2. The students are examined in June. 3. Such bills are paid every day. 4. Our office is usually cleaned every evening.

3.4.3. Письменно составьте специальные вопросы (кроме вопросов к подлежащему). (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

He is asked every day. How often is he asked?

1. These books are seldom published in Italy. 2. Such a museum is always opened at eleven o’clock. 3. The children are taught French at school. 4. She is often told the news at work.

 

3.4.4. Письменно составьте вопросы к подлежащему. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

Such houses are built in our city every year. What houses are built in your city? Such houses are.

1. He is seldom asked this question. 10. She is often invited to dinner. 3. Such watches are made in France. 4. Such cars are sold in Germany.

 

3.4.5. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

yesterday/ was asked/ he. He was asked yesterday.

1. Was excited/ by the news/ she /yesterday. 2. Was prepared/ coffee/ some minutes ago. 3. He/ for this position/ a week ago/ was chosen. 4. We/ last weekend/ to the party/ were invited. 5. Was answered/ this letter/ yesterday. 6. Was asked/ Carol/ about the accident/ when she came to the police station. 7. Were taught/ they/ last term/ economics. 8. A year ago/ was published/ this book. 9. This shop/ after lunch time/ yesterday/ was closed. 10. Quickly/ the dinner/ when we returned home/ was cooked.

3.4.6. Письменно составьте общие вопросы. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

He was asked yesterday. Was he asked yesterday? – Yes, he was. No, he was not (wasn`t).

1. She was excited by the news yesterday. 2. Our coffee was prepared some minutes ago. 3. He was chosen for this position a week ago. 4. We were invited to the party last weekend.

3.4.7. Письменно составьте специальные вопросы (кроме вопросов к подлежащему). (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

These shops were closed last Sunday. When were these shops closed?

1. This was answered yesterday. 2. Carol was asked about the accident when she came to the police station. 3. They were taught economics last term. 4. This book was published a year ago.

 

3.4.8. Письменно составьте вопросы к подлежащему. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

My friend was examined by the doctor yesterday. Who was examined by the doctor yesterday? My friend was.

1. This shop was closed late in the evening yesterday. 2. The dinner was cooked quickly when we returned home. 3. Yesterday at this time I was called to the director. 4. He was taken to the museum last Sunday.

 

3.4.9. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

Tomorrow/will be asked/he/. He will be asked tomorrow.

1. Will be closed/ the library/ tomorrow/. 2. The plan/ tomorrow/ will be improved/. 3. Next month/ will be published/ the article/. 4. The problems/ will be solved/ in two days/. 5. In a quarter of an hour/ will be served/ the dinner. 6. My friend/ next week/ for the position of Sales Manager/ will be chosen/. 7. He/ at the next lesson/ will be asked/. 8. Next Monday/ the goods/ will be sent/. 9. In a week will be invited/ he/ to the conference/. 10. The report/the day after tomorrow/ will be corrected/.

 

3.4.10. Письменно составьте общие вопросы. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

He will be asked tomorrow. Will he be asked tomorrow? Yes, he will. No, he will not (won’t).

1. The library will be closed early tomorrow. 2. Our plan will be improved tomorrow. 3. The article will be published next month. 4. The problem will be solved in two days.

 

3.4.11. Письменно составьте специальные вопросы (кроме вопросов к подлежащему). (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms/ Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

She will be taken to the cinema tomorrow. Where will she be taken tomorrow? When will she be taken to the cinema?

1. The dinner will be served in quarter of an hour. 2. My friend will be chosen for the position of Sales Manager next week. 3. He will be asked at the next lesson. 4. The goods will be sent next Monday.

 

3.4.12. Письменно составьте вопросы к подлежащему. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

My sister will be taken to the theatre next Saturday? Who will be taken to the theatre next Saturday? My sister will.

1. He will be invited to the conference in a week. 2. The report will be corrected the day after tomorrow. 3. The house will be painted in summer. 4. My article will be published next month.

 

3.4.13. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

Is being asked/ he/ now. He is being asked now.

1. Is being examined/ he/ /now. 2. The text/ at this moment/ is/ in the auditorium/ being translated. 3. The lunch/ at present/ is being served. 4. The book/ now/ in the reading-room/ is being read. 5. The report/ at the moment/ is being made/ in the office. 6. Now/ the articles on inflation/ being/ are written. 7. To London/ the message/ at the moment/ is being sent. 8. This book/ in Oxford/ is being published/ at present. 9. Are/ the tests/ being checked/ now. 10. what has happened/ they/ are/ now/ being told.

 

3.4.14. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

When she came/was being asked/he. He was being asked when she came.

1. In the dining room/ the lunch/ was being served/ at a quarter past noon. 2. Last year/ they/ at this time/ on banking/ were being trained/. 3. The whole month/ before she went to Paris/ was being taught/ she/ the French language/. 4. This novel/ when it happened/ was being written/. 5. The new house/ was being built/ when they arrived/. 6. In the morning/ from eight till eleven/ was being repaired/ the car/. 7. When I came into the office/ was being discussed/ the problem/. 8. When it happened/ were being given/ the students/ a lecture on economics/. 9. When they saw the dean/ were being asked/ the students/ about the results of the exam/. 10. At this time yesterday/ were being watered/ in the garden/the flowers/.

 

3.4.15. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

Has already/ been/ invited/he. He has already been invited.

1. To London and Liverpool/ the message has been sent/. 2. Have been sold/ all the books/. 3. Near the hospital/ has been built/ such a house/. 4. On TV/ this film/ twice/ has been shown/. 5. This article/ in the Times/ has been published/. 6. In Paris/ has been opened/ the exhibition/. 7. Two contracts/ this week/ have been discussed/. 8. Their advertisement/ on TV/ has been shown/. 9. Has been served/ dinner/ in the dining - room. 10. To the chief/ has been introduced/ the new manager/.

 

3.4.16. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

By three o’clock/ yesterday/he/had been/. He had been examined by three o’clock yesterday.

1. Abroad/ he/ had been sent/ when she got their letter/. 2. Had been done/ the work/ by last weekend/. 3. The program of the concert/ when he bought the tickets/ had been changed/. 4. When she asked us for dinner/ had been invited/ to the party/. 5. The house/ had been painted/ when the rain began/. 6. Had been published/ the article/ when new information was got/. 7. By the time they came back/ in the dining room/ had been served/ the dinner/. 8. By this time yesterday/ had been made/ the decision/. 9. Had been translated/ when he returned from abroad/ the book. 10. When I came to the gallery/ had been closed/ the exhibition/.

 

3.4.17. Письменно составьте утвердительные предложения из данных слов и словосочетаний. (Используйте таблицы «Структура английского предложения» на странице 101 и таблицы «Tense Forms /Passive Voice» на странице 103.)

By tomorrow/will be/ examined/he. He will be examined by tomorrow.

1. By five tomorrow/ will have been finished/ the work/. 2. By noon/ will have been sent/ to Liverpool/ will have been sent/ our message/. 3. Will have been written/ the test/by two o’clock/.4. The books/ to the library/ by July/ will have been returned/. 5. Will have been checked/ by Friday/ all the documents/. 6. By the beginning of October/ will have been signed/ in London/ this contract/. 7. When the sales manager comes/ the article on marketing/ will have been translated/ into Russian/. 8. By tomorrow/ the goods/ will have been tested/. 9. When the manager calls/ will have been changed/ the date/ of our departure/. 10. Will have been built/ a new shop/ in our district/ by next month/.