Study John’s family tree. Describe it using the words from the box below.

TOPIC 1. MY FAMILY

 

Study John’s family tree. Describe it using the words from the box below.

 

relatives husband wife father mother parents daughter son sister brother uncle aunt cousin grandfather grandmother grandparents niece nephew mother-in-law father-in-law sister-in-law brother-in-law

 

WRITING A LETTER

 

Study the following example of an informal letter to a pen friend. Note the structure. Write your own letter to an imaginary (or real) friend living abroad.

 

38 Clifton Gardens London NW6 27 September 2012   Dear Maria   I’m very pleased that we’re going to be pen friends. I’ll tell you a little about myself.   I live in an area of London called Maida Vale. It’s quite near the centre, but there are parks nearby where I take my dog, Mickey, for a walk. I live with my parents and my younger brother, Paul. My father works for the post office and my mother has a part-time job as a nurse.   I go to the local college, where I have a lot of friends. I like most subjects, but not all of them! In the evenings I sometimes visit friends or stay at home and listen to music and at the weekends I like going swimming or horse-riding.   At the moment I’m working very hard because I have exams soon, so I’m spending a lot of time in the library!   I’m looking forward to hearing from you! Write soon!   Best wishes, Francis Jones.

ROUND-UP

 

Translate the sentences from Russian into English. Use the Active Vocabulary.

1) У моего лучшего друга очень большая семья. Он живет в большом доме с родителями, бабушкой, дедушкой и двумя сестрами.

2) Старшая сестра Джона замужем и у нее есть сын. Джон проводит много свободного времени со своим племянником, они играют в баскетбол на школьной спортивной площадке.

3) Твои дальние родственники живут с тобой в одном городе? – Нет. Тетя моего отчима работает в международной компании и живет в Германии.

4) Анна каждое лето ездит в США навестить свою племянницу Кейт, которая живет в Лос-Анджелесе.

5) Твоя бабушка на пенсии? – Да, она не работает. Она занимается садоводством.

Draw your family tree. Write sentences about your relatives. Include information about their age, profession, daily activities and free time. Use the Active Vocabulary.

Exchange your family trees with a partner. Ask questions to find out more information about your partner’s relatives. Then write a paragraph about his/her family.

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Family relatives husband / wife father/ mother/ parents daughter/ son sister/ brother uncle/ aunt cousin grandfather/ grandmother/ grandparents niece/ nephew mother-in-law/ father-in-law sister-in-law/ brother-in-law close/ distant relatives stepfather/ stepmother stepbrother/ stepsister	Work accountant doctor assistant secretary technician nurse work for a company work hard earn money work in an office get to work by car/ bus/ metro
Activities keep the house look after somebody spend free time together go skiing/ skating take long walks play outdoor/ indoor games leave school baby-sit go horse-riding go swimming/ fishing listen to the music play football/ tennis do gardening go to the cinema/ restaurant/ pub visit friends entertainment	Additional vocabulary adult middle-aged person elderly person teenager retired person/ retiree old man/ old lady single/ married/ divorced/ widowed get on well bright good fun

 

TOPIC 2. APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER

Put the following words into the correct groups.

pretty beautiful tall old young slim handsome short thin beard medium height ugly overweight moustache plain elderly fat dark blonde middle-aged attractive straight curly plump wavy

Height:

Weight:

Hair:

Age:

Looks:

Fill in the gaps in the sentences.

1. He’s only one metre 52. He’s quite …………

2. Very ………… people are often good at basketball and volleyball.

3. Models are usually …………

4. She’s only twelve. She’s very …………

5. If I eat too much I’ll be …………

6. My grandmother is in this hospital. It’s a hospital for ………… people.

 

3. Write down the names of three people you know. Then write about:

- their height

- their hair

- their eyes

- their looks

The British character

People say that Irish people talk a lot. They say that the Welsh are great singers. The Scots, they say, are not a very happy or fun-loving nation, and they are also very careful with money. Generally these descriptions are not true! But it is true that there are some very good Welsh actors and singers like Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom Jones.

Foreigners have ideas about what is “British”. But some of these things are not part of most ordinary people’s everyday life. The great English breakfast and afternoon tea, for example, are mostly found in hotels and “bed and breakfast” places for tourists. And the British do not only drink tea these days. Coffee is popular, too. They drink, on average, 3.39 cups of tea each day and 1.65 cup of coffee.

It takes time to know a British person well. British people are generally quite shy, and they do not make friends with strangers easily. Perhaps this is because they live on an island!

British people spend less money on clothes than the people of other European countries. Most of them are not very interested in clothes. Many British people wear suits to the office during the week, but at weekends they prefer to wear jeans.

 

b) Answer the questions.

1. Are there any good Welsh actors?

2. Do all British people have their afternoon tea every day?

3. How much coffee does an average British person drink every day?

4. Why don’t British people make friends easily?

5. What do they wear to work?

 

8. a) Several teenagers answered the question: “Do you worry about your appearance?” Read their answers.

George, United States

Do I worry about my appearance? Yeah, I do. In high school I didn't worry about it at all, but coming to college I really became self-conscious about my image and I tried to reinvent myself in a way.

Jess, England

Yes, I do. I wish I didn't but I do. I spend quite a lot of time shopping, choosing clothes, doing my hair, fixing my make-up, getting my nails done, so yeah, I spend quite a lot of time on my appearance.

Christophe, Belgium

Well, actually, I don't really worry about my appearance. I've already been telling myself to go to the hairdresser's for two months, and I still didn't go, so maybe I should worry a little bit more because my hair really looks awful right now.

Chrystal, United States

I don't. I think I'm OK. I used to be really worried when I was a kid because I've been called “four-eyes” when I was in school by boys and I used to be bullied. But right now I like my glasses, and I like my appearance, so I'm not that worried anymore.

Hanna, Australia

I think everybody worries about their appearance to some extent. I don't worry about my appearance a lot but I think even in our society you're often judged by the way you look, so to be part of society at least you have to worry about your appearance.

b) Do you worry about your appearance? Why (not)? Write a paragraph in your notebook.

 

9. a) Translate the signs of the zodiac. Learn to pronounce them correctly.

Aries [ˈeəriːz]

Aquarius [əˈkweəriəs]

Cancer [ˈkænsə]

Capricorn [ˈkæprɪˌkɔːn]

Gemini [ˈdʒemɪnaɪ]

Leo [ˈliːəʊ]

Libra [ˈliːbrə]

Pisces [ˈpaɪsiːz]

Sagittarius [ˌsædʒɪˈteəriəs]

Scorpio [ˈskɔːpiəʊ]

Taurus [ˈtɔːrəs]

Virgo [ˈvɜːɡəʊ]

 

b) Read the information about the signs of the zodiac. Fill in the gaps with the correct zodiac signs.

The signs of the zodiac

Some people believe that the time of year that you were born has an effect on your character because of the positions of the stars and the planets. They divide the year into 12 periods of time, and these are known as “signs of the zodiac”.

People born under different signs are thought to have different characteristics.

 

……………………. (21 March – 19 April) People born under the sign of …………… are extremely energetic and adventurous. They can also be aggressive.

 

……………………. (20 April – 20 May) People with the sign of ………… are always calm and patient, but also very materialistic.

 

……………………. (21 May – 20 June)   People born under the sign of ………… are very witty, but they tend to be a bit impatient.

……………………. (21 June – 22 July) People with the sign of ………… are very kind and helpful. But they can sometimes be very moody.

 

……………………. (23 July – 22 August) People born under the sign of ………… are very sociable, but may often be vain as well.

 

……………………. (23 August – 22 September) People born under the sign of ………… tend to be hard-working, but also a little fussy and very critical.

 

……………………. (23 September – 22 October) People born under the sign of ………… are usually artistic. But they also tend to be indecisive.

 

……………………. (23 October – 21 November) People born under the sign of ………… are often passionate, but sometimes a little cruel.

 

……………………. (22 November – 21 December) People born under the sign of ………… are always cheerful and optimistic, but they often tend to be reckless.

 

……………………. (22 December – 19 January) People with the sign of ………… are sensible and organized, but are sometimes conceited.

 

……………………. (20 January – 18 February) People born under the sign of ………… are very loyal, but they can be a little insensitive at times.

 

……………………. (19 February – 20 March) People with the sign of ………… can be very romantic, and are always sympathetic if you have a problem. But they can also be extremely pessimistic.

 

c) Which of the character traits from the descriptions are positive, negative and neutral? Complete the table.

Positive trait

Negative trait aggressive

Neutral trait

 

d) What zodiac sign are you? Do you agree with your sign description? Why/ why not? Discuss with a partner.

I agree. I think I’m organized because …

I don’t agree. I don’t think I’m indecisive. I always …

I disagree. I am not …

ROUND-UP

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

 

Appearance pretty/ beautiful/ handsome/ attractive/ good-looking tall/ short old/ young slim/ thin beard medium height ugly overweight/ fat moustache plain/ ordinary elderly/ middle-aged dark/ fair skin blonde hair straight/ curly/ wavy plump height weight (n) weigh (v)

Character character trait generous/ mean hard-working/ lazy nervous/ relaxed popular/ unpopular confident fit friendly intelligent fun-loving happy careful shy energetic adventurous aggressive calm patient/ impatient materialistic witty kind helpful moody sociable vain fussy critical artistic indecisive passionate cruel cheerful optimistic/ pessimistic reckless sensible organized conceited loyal insensitive romantic sympathetic

Additional vocabulary signs of the zodiac Aries Aquarius Cancer Capricorn Gemini Leo Libra Pisces Sagittarius Scorpio Taurus Virgo foreigner bed and breakfast on average make friends I agree. I don’t agree. I disagree.

WRITING ABOUT YOUR HOME

ROUND-UP

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Types of buildings block of flats apartment detached house semi-detached house terraced house bungalow country cottage two-storey house	Rooms bathroom bedroom dining room living room hall kitchen study lounge balcony back garden/ front garden
Furniture armchair bookcase carpet chair curtains cupboard desk sofa dining table wardrobe fireplace coffee table	Equipment dishwasher fridge cooker music system laptop microwave shower sink washing machine central heating lift
Describing a house quiet/ noisy near a shop/ restaurant/ public transport on the ground floor/ first floor with a view of the park dark/ light expensive/ cheap huge/ tiny clean/ dirty modern/ old-fashioned draughty/ stuffy in good condition	Additional vocabulary live in a council estate/ on the outskirts/ in the suburbs/ in a residential area/ in the city centre mortgage rural area/ urban area city dweller neighbours privacy comfort own a flat/ rent a flat

 

 

TOPIC 4. DAILY ROUTINE

 

ROUND-UP

 

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Routines get home/ come home/ leave home get up early/ go to bed late go to university have breakfast/ lunch/ dinner chat on the phone check your email do exercise/ homework go for a walk go clubbing/ jogging do nothing take/ catch a bus/ a train wake up have a shower/ a bath clean the house have a rest meet the boss have a break play tennis/ football get to the office drive to work make a phone call make the bed do the housework/ the shopping

Additional vocabulary in the morning in the afternoon in the evening at night at midnight at noon at 6 o’clock a.m. at 3 o’clock p.m. at half past 4 at a quarter to 7 every Monday on Friday at the weekend on weekdays make a mistake

TOPIC 5. Free time

Answer for yourself.

 

· If you have friends around, what do you like to do?

· Does anyone come to stay at your house/ flat?

· What do you like to read most?

· How often to you phone your friends?

 

ROUND-UP

 

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Activities cook go for a walk go shopping (for clothes) go to a concert/ to the gym/ to a cafe listen to music meet friends play football (or another sport) play games online play the guitar (or another instrument) read a book/ a magazine sunbathe surf the Internet text friends watch TV/ videos do gardening stay in/ go out relax go to the cinema/ movies go skiing/ windsurfing

Additional vocabulary hang out with friends soap opera series sitcom episode recipe have friends around/ over for a party have a good time keep in shape be outdoors/ indoors be stuck at home play board games party animal couch potato culture vulture

 

TOPIC 6. Education

The Faculty of Physics

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) is the oldest university in Russia. It was founded in 1755 and originally consisted of three faculties: law, medicine and philosophy.

The tradition of physics research at Moscow University goes back to the very foundation of the university when a physics laboratory was established at the Philosophy Faculty. Since 1757 lectures on experimental physics have been delivered and experiments have been demonstrated. In 1859 the Physics and Mathematics Faculty was founded. In 1933 the Physics Department became an independent Faculty.

Today the Faculty of Physics is the major centre for Physics teaching and research in Russia. There are six divisions which deal with experimental and theoretical physics, solid state physics, radiophysics and electronics, nuclear physics, geophysics, astronomy. A separate division provides complementary educational programs. As of September 2012, the Faculty has 41 departments carrying out research and covering educational courses in practically all fields of fundamental and applied modern physics.

The Faculty of Physics has a unique way of training specialists. Teaching at all levels is undertaken by staff with a real command of their subject. The faculty offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc), Specialist, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (DSc). Degrees gained by our graduates are highly regarded by employers and are valued all over the world. You may start your career as a professional physicist, but can also enter many other professions as a person who has been trained to understand complex data, think logically and critically and communicate ideas effectively.

 

1. When was Moscow State University founded?

2. When did the Faculty of Physics get its present status?

3. What divisions are there?

4. How many departments does the faculty have?

5. Why did you enter the Faculty of Physics?

ROUND-UP

 

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Education system nursery school kindergarten elementary/ grade school primary school secondary school junior high school high school sixth form college technical college university state school/ private school faculty department division student/ pupil teacher/ professor undergraduate/ graduate/ post-graduate student BA/ BSc MA/ MSc PhD/ DSc

Subjects medicine engineering architecture agriculture law psychology politics philosophy sociology business studies economics languages physics IT history geography chemistry music maths biology Arts Sciences Humanities experimental/ theoretical physics solid state physics radiophysics electronics nuclear physics geophysics astronomy fundamental/ applied physics

Additional vocabulary carry out research deliver a lecture on … demonstrate experiments a field of science staff train specialists start/ finish/ complete education leave school enter a university graduate from a university/ high school do activities compulsory education be divided into … take/ pass/ fail exams/ a test GCSE A-levels at the age of … grade/ form attend school/ lectures semester/ term get marks/ grades earn points/ grades G.P.A. take/ pass a course do a subject/ course get a scholarship/ grant get a degree alumni

 

TOPIC 7. Sports

Complete the sentences.

· The letters NBA mean ……………………, the association which controls basketball in the United States.

· A rugby ball is similar to the ball used in football, but there is one important difference: the shape. A football is …………, but a rugby ball is …………, like an egg.

· The Winter Olympics happen every ………… years.

· The sport of judo is now popular all over the world, but it began about 120 years ago in ………….

· The ………… player always starts in a game of chess.

· A soccer referee signals the end of a game by giving ………… long blows on his whistle.

· An ………… match has three periods of twenty minutes – that’s sixty minutes in all.

· The leader of the Tour de France wears a ………… shirt.

 

Sports in Great Britain

English people are fond of all kinds of sports. During autumn and winter shooting and fox-hunting are the great sports in Great Britain. Boxing is very popular especially in large towns and important boxing matches are attended by many spectators.

Horse-racing is also a great national sport. Among games football and cricket take the first place in public interest; huge crowds watch matches between the most important clubs, while practically every school or large business firm has its own cricket and football clubs.

Tennis is another very popular game while golf has firmly established itself and there are golf-links all over the country.

The numerous rivers offer excellent opportunities for swimming and rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, in which crews from these two universities compete, takes place every spring on the Thames.

 

1. What are the great winter sports in Britain?

2. What games are especially popular?

3. What sports event takes place every spring on the Thames?

 

b) Work in pairs. Write a similar text about sports in Russia using the underlined words and word combinations.

10. a) Read the text and complete the sentence.

This text is about ………………………………………………………………………

The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began more than 2000 years ago in Greece. The Greeks were very fond of music, plays and all kinds of physical exercises. The games took place every four years at Olympia. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to take part in the Olympic Games. The strongest athletes ran, jumped, wrestled, threw a discus, and boxed. There were also chariot races.

The Games were very popular, thousands of Greeks used to watch them. It was a tradition to stop wars during the Olympic Games. The competition lasted five days. The winners got olive wreaths. It was the highest honour. When the champions came home people greeted them with flowers.

For a long time from 394 till 1896 there were no Olympic games. Since 1896 the best athletes of the world have met again every 4 years. The games have always been exciting. The winners who show the best results are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

 

b) Answer the questions.

1. When were the first Olympic Games held?

2. What did the strongest athletes do during the competition?

3. What was the highest honour for the winners?

4. When were the Olympic Games revived?

5. What awards do the winners get?

11. a) Read the text and translate the text.

My first big match

The first football match I went to was a few years ago, when a friend gave me a ticket to the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Liverpool. I had never been to such a big stadium before, so it was a new experience for me.

I remember being a bit nervous on my way into the ground because there were so many people everywhere. But once we had found our seats I began to relax and enjoy myself. The atmosphere was really great, and it got even better when the teams came out onto the pitch.

It turned out to be a good game. Both teams played well and there were lots of chances at both ends of the pitch. Arsenal scored first, only twenty minutes from the end, but Michael Owen scored twice in the last ten minutes for Liverpool. The supporters went crazy and when the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match the noise was incredible. I’ve been to quite a few matches since then, but none of them has been as exciting as my first Cup Final.

 

b) Answer the questions.

 

1. Have you ever been to a sports event? If so, can you describe it?

2. Do you play any sports? Have you been doing much sport lately?

3. Do you belong to any local sports club?

4. Do you love watching sport on television? What are your favourite sports programmes?

5. Do you support any particular team in football, volleyball, basketball, or any other sport?

12. a) Read the following interviews in pairs. Change roles.

Interview 1

Gym assistant: Hello. We’re doing a survey of our customers. Can I ask some questions?

Lisa: Yes, that’s OK.

Gym assistant: Thank you. First, what’s your name?

Lisa: Lisa. Lisa White.

Gym assistant: And how often do you come to the club, Lisa?

Lisa: Three times a week, usually.

Gym assistant: Do you use the running machines?

Lisa: Yes, I do.

Gym assistant: Right, can you run ten kilometers in an hour?

Lisa: Oh no, I can’t. Maybe in 70 or 80 minutes.

Gym assistant: That’s good. And do you work out in the gym?

Lisa: Yes, I do, twice a week.

Gym assistant: OK, and what weight can you lift?

Lisa: Well, I don’t usually lift a lot, but I can lift 35 kilos.

Gym assistant: Do you use the swimming pool?

Lisa: No, I don’t.

Gym assistant: Really? Why not?

Lisa: Well, I can’t swim, so I don’t use it.

Gym assistant: Can’t you? We offer lessons here, you know.

Lisa: I know, I know, but I’m scared of water.

Gym assistant: I see. Well, I’m sure our trainer can help you…

 

Interview 2

Gym assistant: What’s your name?

Dan: Dan. Dan Tobin.

Gym assistant: And how often do you come to the club, Dan?

Dan: Twice a week, usually.

Gym assistant: Do you use the running machines?

Dan: Yes, I do.

Gym assistant: Can you run ten kilometers in an hour?

Dan: Oh yes, I can. Easy. I can run that in about 30 minutes.

Gym assistant: Really? That’s fast! And do you work out in the gym?

Dan: Yes, but only once a week.

Gym assistant: OK. What weight can you lift?

Dan: I can lift 50 kilos.

Gym assistant: That’s good. And do you use the swimming pool?

Dan: Yes, I do. I usually swim two kilometers, but I can swim five kilometers.

Gym assistant: Really?

Dan: Oh yes, I’m super fit!

Gym assistant: Yes, clearly. Can we test your fitness today? We have a machine…

Dan: Oh, is that the time? I can’t stay, I’m afraid, I have an important meeting. Bye.

Gym assistant: But I have… oh…

 

b) Make changes to speak about yourself. Practise your interview with a partner, then role-play it in front of the class.

ROUND-UP

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Sports play basketball/ football/ tennis go running/ swimming go to the gym dance ride a bike ski/ skate do yoga/ aerobics/ gymnastics table tennis/ lawn tennis archery ice hockey badminton judo cycling fencing sailing rowing golf cricket horse-racing boxing shooting fox-hunting

Verbs hit/ pass/ catch/ kick/ head the ball win/ lose the game beat the team score a goal set a record/ break a record show results be awarded a gold/ silver/ bronze medal hold a competition wrestle throw a discus/ javelin take part take place do (physical) exercises compete watch a match attend an event be fond of … take up a sport give up a sport be good/ bad at … take smth seriously do smth for fun blow the whistle belong to a sports club support a team

Equipment/ place racket court bat pitch net club training shoes whistle helmet ball pool skates goals rink stick golf-links stadium

Additional vocabulary sports facilities olive wreath athlete crew spectator competitive ticket to … draw

 

 

British eating habits

One of the most famous English dishes is fish and chips. Traditionally, people go to fish and chip shops where the food is served wrapped in paper, and they take the food away to eat either in the street or at home. It’s usual to have a lot of salt and vinegar with fish and chips.

But if you ask an English person what their favourite food is, lots of people would now say curry, which has almost become England’s national dish. Italian, Chinese and Thai cooking are also very popular, and in the big cities you can eat food from just about anywhere in the world.

Some people think that the English start their day with a “full English breakfast” of bacon, eggs, mushrooms and fried bread. In fact, people are much more likely just to have cereal or toast.

 

Japan

The Japanese diet is very healthy, and it is not surprising that Japanese people live longer than almost anyone else in the world. Japanese dishes are usually low in fat, and therefore very good for you. For example, “sushi” has almost no fat at all, and consists of raw fish or vegetables on boiled rice.

Japanese meals often include rice, pickled vegetables, and a bowl of “miso soup”, which is made using soy bean paste.

“Soba” (a type of noodle) is often eaten as a kind of fast food. People eat it quickly in noodle bars.

 

b) Answer the questions.

1. What is the most famous English dish? How is it served?

2. What is the favourite food of an English person? Why?

3. What is one of the reasons why Japanese people live longer than other nations?

4. What are some of traditional Japanese dishes? Have you ever tried any of them?

5. What are most famous traditional dishes in Russia?

6. What is your favourite national cuisine? Why? What dishes do you like?

 

9. a) What do you know about organic food? Write several key words that can be used to speak about it.

b) Read the text. Are your key words mentioned?

Why eat organic food?

It is easy to criticize organic food. It is more expensive. It often doesn’t taste very different from ordinary food, and it doesn’t keep well, because it has fewer preservatives in it. Some people like to buy it because it is the fashionable thing to do. So why should we choose to buy organic food?

Organic food is free from harmful chemicals, for example, chemicals used to control weeds and insects. Although ordinary food costs less to buy in the shops than organic food, there is another hidden cost. This cost is the damage that is caused to the environment and to people’s health.

Some people say that we need to continue to produce food in large quantities using non-organic methods, in order to feed people in the developing world. In fact, the uncontrolled use of chemicals and factory farming methods in developing countries can cause the land to become useless for cultivation in only a few years.

For all these reasons, it seems better to choose organic food, so that we can protect our environment for future generations.

c) Where can you buy organic food in the place where you live? How much does it cost? Is the choice big? Discuss with the class.

10. a) Read the text and complete the sentence.

This text is about ……………………………………………………………………

To have a balanced healthy way of life is very important for every person. Here are some tips to follow if you want to be healthy.

1. Daily regime with enough of sleeping hours, regular meals, proper time for work and relaxing.

2. Healthy meals. A well-balanced diet will bring your body exactly what it needs. There should be a balance between the pleasure from your favourite meals and their usefulness for your body.

3. Getting rid of bad habits including oversleeping and overeating. Your mind and body should master your habits, not vice versa.

4. Keeping fit will help you to be in good shape and feel more energetic after work. Good variants are morning exercises, gym, swimming pool, jogging, aerobics, yoga, fitness training.

5. Good mood. Positive mood is not just good emotions, it’s very powerful healing energy for your mind, body and soul.

Following a healthy way of life makes you more energetic, active, gives you new emotions and changes to the best all aspects of your living.

 

b) What advice does the text give? Write in your notebook:

 

You should have a regime.

You should sleep …

You should …

 

c) Answer the questions.

 

1. Which of these tips can bring the most benefit for you?

2. Which of these tips do you already follow?

3. Are there other aspects of making your life healthier?

4. What is your idea of a healthy life style?

 

11. a) Read the mini-dialogue in pairs.

A: Where’s Tony this evening?

B: He’s not feeling very well.

A: Really? What’s the trouble?

B: He’s gone down with the cold.

A: Tell him I hope he soon feels better.

B: That’s very kind of you. He’ll be pleased to hear you asked after him.

 

b) Read and translate the following sentences. What lines of the mini-dialogue can they replace?

I haven’t seen Tony lately. How’s he?

He’s been off work for a day or two.

He hasn’t been too well recently.

What’s wrong with him?

I’m sorry to hear that. What’s the matter?

Oh dear! What’s up with him?

I think he must have eaten something.

I think he’s been overworking.

Give him my regards.

I hope he soon gets over it.

Let me know if there’s anything I can do.

Thank you very much. I’ll pass it on.

 

c) Work in pairs. Make up your own mini-dialogues, then role-play them in front of the class.

ROUND-UP

 

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Health problems have a flu have a headache/ earache/ stomachache/ toothache/ backache break an arm/ a leg have/ catch a cold have a sore throat have a pain in the chest feel sick have a food poisoning have a high temperature/ a fever have a high/ low blood pressure have an illness have an injury have symptoms be unconscious oversleep/ overeat hurt one’s back feel nervous/ stressed hurt a bruise a burn a cut   Additional vocabulary healthy lifestyle get into a fight scratch healthy/ unhealthy food follow tips regime regular meals relax get rid of … bad habits vice versa keep fit be in good shape feel energetic go jogging heal bring benefit for … call an ambulance take medicine contain … consist of … wrap serve

Food fatty/ sugary/ spicy/ salty food local/ staple/ organic/ takeaway/ fast/ junk food dish cuisine pickled delicacy speciality/ specialty a well-balanced/ low-fat diet recipe curry order fibre rich in vitamins cereal raw fish boiled rice a bowl of … noodles

TOPIC 9. GREAT BRITAIN

Britain – The Right Names

Britain – or Great Britain (GB) – is the name for England, Wales and Scotland. Britain is the eighth largest island in the world. The British Isles is the name for England, Scotland, Wales, both parts of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The United Kingdom (UK) is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The British government is the government of the UK.

People who live in Britain are called British. Many people think that ‘English’ is the same as ‘British’. But England is only one of the four nations in the UK. The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are British too. They sometimes get angry when they are called ‘English’.

There are also millions of British people whose parents first came to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s from the Caribbean, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and other places. Their homes are mainly in the big English cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester.

1. What does the name Great Britain refer to?

2. What does Great Britain include?

3. What does the political term the United Kingdom mean?

 

b) Which of these people are British: an Englishman, a citizen of the Irish Republic, a Scot, a Welshman?

c) Which of these capital cities are the capitals of independent states: Edinburgh, Belfast, London, Dublin, Cardiff?

 

Climate

Great Britain enjoys humid and mild marine climate with warm winters and cool summers and a lot of rain throughout the year.

The winds blow from the south-west. As these winds blow from the ocean, they are mild in winter and cool in summer.

All parts of the British Isles receive rain at any time of the year. Still autumn and winter are the wettest seasons.

As to temperature, Great Britain has warmer winters than any other district in the same latitude. It is due to mild south-west winds. Another factor is the Gulf Stream, which flows from the Gulf of Mexico and brings much warmth from the equatorial regions to north-western Europe.

Weather

Here are some facts about the weather in Britain.

Ø The climate is temperate, neither very hot in summer (average temperature 15 centigrade) nor very cold in winter (average temperature 5 centigrade).

Ø The weather often changes rapidly during the day.

Ø There is no dry season.

Ø The west of Britain has much more rain than the east.

Ø Britain lies in the zone of contact between tropical and polar air. This makes its weather very complex and difficult to predict.

Ø There are at least 150 weather forecasts every week on the five main British television channels.

Ø In winter there is often heavy snow on the hills and mountains, but little or none in the lowlands.

Ø In summer the sunniest and warmest places in Britain are on the south coast.

Ø In winter, the east of Britain tends to be colder than the west.

1. What is the climate like in Britain? What are the characteristic features of this climate?

2. Which are the wettest seasons in Britain?

3. Why does Great Britain have warmer winters than any other district in the same latitude?

4. Why is British weather called changeable?

5. Why is it difficult to predict the weather in Britain?

6. Where is there heavy snow in winter?

7. What part of Britain gets more sunshine in summer?

8. Where is it warmer in winter in Britain, in the east or in the west?

7. a) Read and translate the text.

The Monarchy

Britain is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the monarch, at the moment Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State. The Queen is also head of the judiciary (all the judges) and of the Church of England, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Her face is on all British bank notes, coins and postage stamps.

The Queen’s constitutional role, however, is mainly symbolic. True power lies in the hands of the Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet. It is the Queen who formally opens Parliament every autumn, but the speech she makes from the throne, giving details of the government’s future plans, is written for her by politicians. It is the Queen who officially appoints the Prime Minister, but traditionally she always asks the leader of the party with a majority in the House of Commons.

b) Answer the questions.

1. Who is the Head of State in Britain?

2. What are the Queen’s duties?

3. Who does real power in Britain belong to?

8. a) Read the text and complete the sentence.

This text is about ……………………………………………………………

The British Parliament has two houses, or chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is the most powerful and decides national policy, but the House of Lords can ask the House of Commons to rewrite certain parts of a bill before it becomes a new law.

The House of Commons consists of Members of Parliament, MPs. Each MP is elected by voters in one constituency (region). There are 651 MPs, or seats, in the House of Commons. The 1234 members of the House of Lords are not elected. Some are life peers: they are members of the House of Lords, but their sons or daughters cannot be members. Life peers are usually former members of the House of Commons. There are also a number of judges or bishops. The majority, however, are hereditary peers, the heads of aristocratic families. This means that most members of the House of Lords are there because of something their ancestors did. The head of both Houses of Parliament is the Queen, but she has very little power.

The party with most MPs forms the government. The leader of the winning party automatically becomes the Prime Minister and appoints the Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet are the leading government ministers. The Prime Minister is the most important person in Parliament. The party who comes second is the Opposition and forms its own Shadow Cabinet.

British Prime Ministers have lived at 10 Downing Street since 1731.

b) Answer the questions.

1. How many chambers are there in the British Parliament and how are they called?

2. How many members of Parliament are there in the House of Commons?

3. Who can be members of the House of Lords?

4. Who forms the government?

5. Who becomes the Prime Minister?

6. Who are the members of the Cabinet?

c) Retell the text using the words in bold type.

9. a) Read and translate the text.

The Royal Family

For more than a thousand years Britain has always had kings or queens except for the ten years between 1649 and 1659. In the past, kings had great power and they really helped to make history. They started wars, made laws, and did things in their own way. But gradually more and more power went to Parliament. What does the Queen do now? Why does Britain need monarchy? And does it?

Elizabeth II calls the Windsor family a ‘Firm’. She thinks of it as a business rather than a family. And the main business of the royal family is … well, probably being royal. And they are paid for it. The Queen is one of the richest women in the world and yet she gets about 8 million pounds a year to be Queen. But many people agree that she does her job well and she deserves her salary.

Being Queen is a really busy job. Elizabeth II gets up early and begins the day by looking through the newspapers. Then she reads letters from the public (she gets more than 1000 each week), and tells her staff how she would like them to be answered. The Queen has daily meetings with her Private Secretary who helps her to go through her paperwork, and lots of meetings with ambassadors, new judges, and bishops.

In the afternoon Elizabeth II often goes out on public engagements – she gets thousands of invitations each year. She opens new hospitals, bridges and factories.

Once a week, the Queen has a meeting with the Prime Minister and they discuss government business and important things that are happening in the country.

In the evening the Queen reads the report of the day from Parliament. She isn’t a politician, and in modern Britain the power belongs to the government, but she must agree to every new law. It’s a formal agreement: no king or queen has refused a new law since 1701!

Being a Queen is not a 9 to 5 job, and Elizabeth II has to work from early in the morning until late at night. And people watch her all the time.

Of course, she has some free time, and some private life, but less than most people.

In her spare time Elizabeth II enjoys horse racing, fishing, and walking in the countryside. She also enjoys photography and likes taking photos on her travels.

Many people think that the Royals are useless and monarchy is outdated. But… the British people seem to like them that way. They like to read about the royal family, royal scandals and shocking secrets. They like to watch royal ceremonies, they are proud of the tradition of monarchy. Britain has had kings and queens for a thousand years – probably they’ll have them for another thousand.

b) Write an outline of the text made of Wh- questions (When? Where? Who? Why?) Use the outline to retell the text.

c) Choose one of the members of the Royal Family and make a report.

10. a) Read the text and make up headings to the paragraphs.

London

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London is the capital of Great Britain. London is more than two thousand and five hundred years old. More than eight million people live there. The river Thames divides London into two parts. There are three main parts in London: the City, the West End and the East End. The City is a very small part of London but it is known as the heart of business and financial life of the country. St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was built by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century, is situated in the City. It was destroyed during World War II and then restored.

____________________

 

Trafalgar Square is in the centre of London. It is the finest place in the city. It is the place of meetings and demonstrations. Nelson’s column is in the centre of the Square. This column was built in memory of Admiral Nelson. He destroyed the French fleet in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and became a national English hero.

____________________

 

The West End is the richest part of the capital. Large museums and art galleries, most theatres and cinemas are to be found here. The famous Hyde Park is also situated in the West End. Here one can see Westminster Abbey where all British kings and queens are crowned. Many great Englishmen, Newton, Darwin, Dickens and others, are buried there.

To the west of Westminster Abbey there is Buckingham Palace, the residence of the English Queen. Some guardians stand on guard in front of the Palace. It is very interesting to see the Changing of the Guard. It is a tradition.

Not far from the Abbey you can also see the Houses of Parliament with the famous Big Ben and a huge clock. Everybody knows the British Museum with its finest collection of books from all over the world.

____________________

 

The Tower of London is on the Thames. Since the 11^th century it was a royal palace and a fortress. It has played an important role in the English history. For many years English kings and queens lived there. Then it became a prison. Now it is a museum. The famous collection of jewels is kept here. Every night at 9.53 pm the chief warder locks up the Tower. This is known as the Ceremony of the Keys and it has been taking place almost without any break for 700 years. A number of ravens have their home at the tower. They are on guard here.

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The East End used to be the poorest part of London. Now it is home to small industries, blocks of flats and many houses. It has become a desirable place for business.

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On Sundays most Londoners do not work. Some people spend their weekend at home, some go to Hyde Park, where they can lie on the grass, ride on horseback or listen to speakers at the Speakers’ Corner.

There is so much to see in London that even Londoners can always find new sights. They like to say, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”.

b) Answer the questions.

1. Where is London situated?

2. What are the main parts of London?

3. What is the financial and business center of the country?

4. What places of interest can be found in the West End?

5. Where is the residence of the English Queen?

6. What are the Houses of Parliament famous for?

7. What is the role of the Tower of London in the English history?

8. Where do most Londoners prefer to spend their weekend?

9. What is the East End?

c) Write sentences using the following words and word combinations:

the Thames the City

the West End the East End

Trafalgar Square Buckingham Palace

St Paul’s Cathedral Hyde Park

Westminster Abbey the Houses of Parliament

the British Museum the Tower of London

 

d) Use the Internet to find out about other famous sights of London. Choose one of them and prepare a report.

 

ROUND-UP

Britain is a multicultural society, so the British government wants to create a new holiday, Britain Day. They say that the holiday would celebrate the contribution every nation gives to the British society. Read what these people think.

“People in Scotland think they’re Scottish, not British, so what’s the point?”

“It’s a great way to bring people together, to celebrate what we have in common.”

“Any celebration of Britishness would need to include all our other identities. I’m a Londoner, a Muslim, and I have Bangladeshi roots.”

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

 

Proper names the British Isles the United Kingdom Northern Ireland/ Scotland/ Wales/ England British/Northern Irish/ Scottish/ Welsh/ English the Republic of Ireland Edinburgh/ Belfast/ Cardiff/ London Dublin the Union Jack the Cabinet Westminster Abbey the Houses of Parliament the House of Lords the House of Commons Trafalgar Square Windsor MP Big Ben Hyde Park the Thames Prime Minister Buckingham Palace Downing Street the City the West End the East End St Paul’s Cathedral Nelson’s column the Tower of London the Speakers’ Corner

Additional vocabulary constitution politician party bill law state monarch/ monarchy throne have power royal government elect vote life peer/ hereditary peer judge bishop aristocratic family appoint majority/ minority chamber national policy temperate climate change rapidly dry/ wet predict/ forecast weather hills/ mountains/ lowlands on the south coast go through paperwork ambassador public engagement private life outdated ceremony bury/ be buried residence fortress prison raven on guard industry

 

TOPIC 10. HOLIDAY

 

Elein’s holidays

I’ve had all sorts of holidays in the last few years. My favourite was last year when we went camping in Yosemite National Park in California. The campsite was near a river, and we did a lot of hiking to see the beautiful waterfalls.

Two years ago, I went to New York with my parents. We stayed in a really good hotel, and enjoyed all the restaurants and nightlife. We did a lot of sightseeing – we went to the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, and visited some interesting museums. The best part was seeing a Broadway musical!

This summer, I’m having a working holiday in a mountain resort. The resort is right next to a lake. I’ll be working in one of the restaurants in the evenings, and in my time off I’ll be able to go hiking and try some watersports.

After I finish college, I would like to go back-packing around South-East Asia, and probably Australia and New Zealand as well. My brother did that four years ago and had a really good time.

c) Answer the questions.

1. Where did Elein go camping?

2. Where did she spend her holidays two years ago?

3. What did she enjoy in New York?

4. What kind of holiday is she having this summer?

5. Where would she like to go after she finishes studies?

d) Write a similar text about your holidays in the last few years. Use the underlined words and word combinations from the text.

7. a) Read the mini-dialogues in pairs.

At a hotel

 

A: Have you got a single room for two nights?

B: Yes, but only on the top floor.

A: What price is it?

B: 34 pounds with service and TV.

A: Fair enough. Can you show me the room, please?

B: Of course. Would you like to follow me?

 

Finding a room

 

A: I believe you take in foreign students.

B: Yes, if you don’t mind sharing.

A: How much is it?

B: 39 pounds per week including heating.

A: Could I have a look at the room, please?

B: Come in by all means, but it’s in a terrible mess.

 

b) Read and translate the following sentences. What lines of the mini-dialogues can they replace?

At a hotel – Can I book a double room from now until Friday? – Have you got a twin-bedded room for one night? – Yes, I can offer you Room 24 on the first floor. – You can have Room 33, overlooking the sea. – How much is it? – What’s the price? – What does it cost? – 25 pounds a night excluding service. – Can I see it, please? – Can I have a look at it, please? – Can you show me something a little cheaper? – Certainly. Would you take a seat for a moment? – Yes, of course. Come this way.

Finding a room – A friend told me I might find some accommodation here. – I wonder if you can help me – I’m looking for a room. – Yes, I’ve got a spare single. – Yes, I’ll have a room free after the weekend. – What’s the price of the room? – 37 pounds for bed and breakfast. – Do you mind if I come in? – Would it be convenient to see the room? – We’re having it decorated at the moment. Will Friday do? – Can you call back later? We’re right in the middle of lunch.

 

c) Work in pairs. Make up your own mini-dialogues, then role-play them in front of the class.

FILLING OUT FORMS

ROUND-UP

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Types of holidays sightseeing holiday package holiday beach holiday walking holiday camping holiday coach tour skiing holiday city break working holiday

Preparation accommodation book a holiday/ a room/ a flight family room/ double room/ room with a sea view chalet arrange a trip all-inclusive expensive/cheap/ reasonably priced stay in a hotel $50 a night/ a week beach hut

On holiday eat in restaurants stay on a campsite go for walks swim in the sea go shopping lie/ laze around on the beach try local food go to cafes stay in a hotel make new friends go mountain biking/ scuba diving/ wind-surfing have a hiking trip visit a painting class go to a concert/ dance show entertainment get away from it all paradise unforgettable experience go back-packing do watersports visit museums/ galleries go sightseeing/ do the sights enjoy nightlife

Additional vocabulary holiday-maker travel on a budget adventure rent a cottage go on a cruise take a safari trip learning holiday shopping tour sunbathe

 

 

The bus passenger

I always take the bus to work. There’s a stop right outside my house, and the buses are very frequent in the rush hour. Usually there’s one every 5 minutes. Most days I can get a seat and read a book or newspaper. Sometimes I see someone I know on the bus, and we have a chat. One thing I don’t like is all the litter. Some people just leave their food all over the floor or on the seats. Another thing is people listening to personal stereos. The noise they make can be really annoying when they have it on very loud.

 

The cyclist

I use my bike because it’s the quickest way to get from A to B in the rush hour. All the cars are stuck in traffic jams, and you can go straight past them. My journey to work usually takes about 20 minutes door-to-door. It’s a good way of getting your daily exercise. The thing I don’t like about cycling is all the pollution. I don’t like breathing in exhaust fumes from cars and buses. It can also be rather dangerous, and you need to watch out for people opening car doors or coming out of junctions without looking.

The car driver

I normally go to work by car. I’d say my average journey time is about 50 minutes. When I’m in my car it’s very comfortable, like being in my own living room. I can turn on the stereo system and listen to my favourite CDs or listen to the car radio. There are some things though I don’t like about driving. The traffic keeps getting worse, and other drivers sometimes behave very badly. I know I should use my car less because it is bad for the environment, but it is much more convenient than public transport.

 

The train passenger

I generally take the train to work. It’s quick and convenient, and I can be in my office in about 35 minutes. In winter the service can be rather erratic, and I sometimes find myself waiting on the platform at the station in freezing cold weather, wishing I was in a nice warm car. The other thing I don’t like is people in my carriage with mobile phones, who talk loudly and say thing like “I’m on the train”. The good thing about taking the train is that someone else does all the driving, and I can just relax and read my newspaper.

 

Travelling by plane<