Leisure Time and Hobby

Task 1. Read the text and fill in the table. Retell the text.

Many man, many minds. All people are different and so they prefer spending their free time in different ways. What time can be called our leisure time? It’s the period when we are not busy with our daily jobs or house chores.

Leisure time can be spent at home, when you relax in front of the TV or chat with your friends over the phone. Many teens spend most of their free time playing computer games, surfing Internet, blogging or in social nets. Social networks can be a great home on the web, can help you connect with people or reconnect with long-lost friends, and can even help your career by making business contacts. Social networks range from friends-based networks like Facebook and MySpace to music and movie networks like Flixster and Last.FM to business social networks like LinkedIn and XING. Another popular way of spending your leisure time today is skyping with friends, listening or downloading music, sometimes, when your friends come to visit, you may play cards or such board games as chess, checkers, dominoes, Scrabble or Monopoly. Many people relax when they complete the puzzles.

Another popular way of spending your free time is going out in the city or in the country. In the city there are numerous places to go — a park, a zoo, a circus, an aquarium, a botanical garden, a planetarium, a stadium, cinema, theatre, museums and exhibitions. Many people enjoy going to a bowling club, skating rink, eating out, window-shopping, visiting amusement parks or just hanging out with friends.

Task 2. Describe the places of interest in the city using the table and the ‘Key Language’.

Key Language

Positive Adjectives: interesting, intellectual, relaxing, exciting, cultural, educational, emotional, cheap, energetic, rewarding, thrilling, enjoyable, lively, fascinating, entertaining.

Negative Adjectives: boring, dull, loud, tiring, crowded, noisy, upsetting, horrifying, childish, dangerous, cruel, time-consuming, expensive, hazardous, drab.

Task 3. Hobbies.

a) Read and review the vocabulary.

Many people have a hobby to fill their free time. Experts consider hobbies a perfect way of relieving stress. They say hobbies are interesting stress busters. Hobby is the activity which is a break away from the real world of routine and monotony. Hobbies are divided into five large groups: doing things, making things, collecting things, learning things and keeping pets.

b) Read the text about keeping pets and fill in the table above.

Many families have a pet — especially when there are children. Common pets in Ukraine are cats and dogs, but also rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds (such as budgies or parrots) and fish. There are fewer exotic pets, as these are often expensive. People often get a young animal as a pet, some people buy their pet from a pet shop, others take it from friends.

If you have a pet, you’re responsible for its training and welfare. You’ll need to house-train a puppy so that it doesn’t use the floor as its toilet. Cats are much quicker to learn. Just place a cat box with cat litter in it near the cat, and it will almost immediately understand that this will be its toilet.

There are dog-training schools (where your dog can learn how to obey commands like ‘Sit!’, ‘Heel!’ or ‘Fetch!’) as well as behave well with other dogs. Good welfare means feeding your pet properly, and taking it for annual check-ups and vaccinations at a vet’s (animal doctor) or making sure it has regular exercise and stimulation. You’ll need to walk your dog at least once a day, and if you have an indoors cat, it will need toys and scratching posts to prevent it from ruining your furniture.

Task 4. What character traits can a hobby develop in a person?

Task 5. Match the expressions (A–F) to the explanations (1–6).

Task 6. Read the text. For questions (1–14) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

What Is Social Networking?

Social Networking… It’s the way the 21st century communicates today. Want to know what it really means?

Social networking is the grouping of individuals (1) _________ specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighbourhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible (2) _________ person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online.

This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the Internet (3) _________ with millions of individuals who (4) _________ to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information and experiences about cooking, golfing, gardening, developing friendships or professional alliances, finding employment, business-to-business marketing and even groups sharing information about the end of the Mayan calendar and the Great Shift to arrive December 21, 2012. The topics and interests are as (5) _________ and rich as the story of our universe.

When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites (6) _________ as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of Internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share common interests (7) _________ hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.

The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits (8) _________ diversity because the Internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Denmark or India. Not only will you make new friends, but you just might learn a thing or two about new cultures or new languages and learning is always a good thing.

As (9) _________, social networking often involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. (10) _________ there are a number of social networking websites that focus on particular interests, there are others that do not. The websites without a main focus are often referred to as ‘traditional’ social networking websites and usually have open memberships. This means that (11) _________ can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends and eliminate members that do not share common interests or goals.

As I’m sure you’re aware, there are dangers associated with social networking including data theft and viruses, which are (12) _________ the rise. The most prevalent danger though often involves online predators or individuals who claim to be someone that they are not. Although danger does exist with networking online, it also exists in the real world, too. Just like you’re advised when meeting strangers at clubs and bars, school, or work — you are also advised to proceed with caution online.

1 A into B at C with D onto

2 A at B with C in D on

3 A fill B filling C fills D is filled

4 A want B will C must D has

5 A different B variety C various D vary

6 A know B are known C knew D known

7 A similar B likely C as D like

8 A were B was C is D are

9 A gets B involves C has D receives

10 A though B however C so D because

11 A nobody B anybody C every one D somebody

12 A below B at C in D on

Task 7. Your school magazine is running a competition for presenting the most unusual hobby. On a separate sheet of paper write an article describing:

· what type of hobby you are into;

· how long you have been into it; what the outcomes are and what personality features it has developed in you.

· conclude the article by either advising people to take this hobby or not (why people should or shouldn’t take this hobby).