The author of an article in a Polish newspaper has counted 1019 personal interests and ways to spend one^’s free time. The most popular hobbies are philately, collecting view-cards, coins, stamps, badges and books. Some people are interested in modern architecture. Others are interested in photography. A useful hobby is collecting cassettes. You may have recordings of operas and pop music, folk music and jazz concerts. It^’s impossible to describe all these 1019 hobbies known in the world. The main thing is that they enrich our knowledge in some particular field, broaden our outlook and help us to relax.

Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting.

Hobbies are divided into fore large classes: 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 from gardening to traveling and from chess to volleyball. Gardening is one of the oldest of man^’s hobbies. Playing computer games is a relatively new hobby.

Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designingcostumes, handicrafts. Some hobbyists write music or play different musical instruments.

Almost everyone collects something at some period of his life. Some collections have no real value. Others become so large and valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many world-famous collections started in a small way with one or two items.

No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity oflearning 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 aspects of a hobby.

Proper Names:

Eisenhower— Эйзенхауэр (президент США с 1953 по 1961г.; знаменитый генерал американской армии во время II мировой войны)

Winston Churchill— Уинстон Черчилль (известный политический деятель, премьер-министр Великобритании во время II мировой войны)

Vocabulary:

character — характер

taste — вкус

according to — по, согласно

to include — включать

variety — разнообразие

activity — занятие

gardening — садоводство

grown-up — взрослый (человек)

relatively — относительно, сравнительно

drawing — рисовать

painting — живопись

sculpture — скульптура

to design — создавать, моделировать, конструировать

costume — одежда, костюм

handicraft — ремесло, ручная работа

hobbyist — любитель, человек имеющий определённое хобби

to collect — собирать

stamp — марка

coin — монета

matchbox — спичечный коробок

record — пластинка

postcard — почтовая открытка

value — ценность

valuable — ценный, дорогой

to house — помещать, размещать

in a small way — в малом масштабе, понемногу

item — предмет

a good deal of — много

rare — редкий

private — частный, личный

to take pleasure in — получать удовольствие от

no matter what kind of hobby a person has — чем бы человек ни увлекался

opportunity — возможность

exciting — увлекательный, захватывающий

aspect — аспект, сторона

1. Переведите подчёркнутые слова и словосочетания на русский язык и выучите их.

2. Закончите предложения, используя правильный вариант ответа:

1. There are … personal interests and ways to spend one’s free time.

A more than two thousand

B 1019

C not many

2. The most popular of all hobby groups is … .

A collecting things

B playing computer games

C doing things

3. Hobbies are divided into … large groups.

A three

B six

C four

4. Gardening is … .

A a relatively new hobby

B the oldest of all man’s hobbies

C the most popular hobby in the world

5. Usually we choose a hobby according to … .

A fashion

B our character and taste

C our friends’ advice

6. Learning things can be … aspect of a hobby.

A the most useless

B the most exciting

C the most valuable

3. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

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

2. Have you chosen a hobby according to your character and taste?

3. What hobby groups do you know?

4. The most popular hobby group is doing things, isn’t it?

5. What kind of activity does it include?

6. Do you like computer games?

7. Are you fond of gardening?

8. Do you enjoy making things?

9. Have you ever collected anything?

10. Do you know any private collection that was given to a museum or a gallery?

11. Do you agree that learning is the most exciting aspect of a hobby? Why?

4. Прочитайте текст ещё раз и разделите его на смысловые части. Озаглавьте каждую часть.

5. Расскажите о:

· Personal interests and ways to spend one’s free time;

· Your own hobby.

6. Выскажите своё мнение о нижеследующем:

Every man has his hobby-horse. – У каждого человека свой конёк.

Tastes differ. – О вкусах не спорят.

The busiest man finds the most leisure. – Самый занятой человек находит больше всего досуга.

7. Сущестсует много различных способов проведения свободного времени. Прочитайте тексты, приведённые на стр.22-28, и расскажите о любом из них.

Books in our life

Books... I think, that we can’t live without them.

I consider, that books are with us during all our life. When I was a child my parents read them to me. I was pleased to listen to the stories and tales. I learnt a lot of interesting things from books. I remember, I liked thick books.

Later I could read myself. I like to read books about animals, nature, and children.

I like to get presents on my birthday. I am happy if it is a book. It doesn’t matter what kind of book it is. I like to read most all the books. If I have got time I like to spend it with my favourite book. When I was 15 I was fond of reading too. But I preferred to read books about travels. I travelled with the heroes of the stories. I saw many interesting places and learned a lot of important facts about other countries and people.

Now I like to read books on science. You can learn many things from books. I am sure, that books play a very important role in my life.

Our family has got many books. All the members of our family buy books and read them. My mother says that books help us in self-education. In ancient times books were written by hand. It was difficult to write a book with a pen. Then printing came into our life. Printing played an important role in the development of literature and culture.

Now there are a lot of books in the shops, there are many books in our flats. But it is difficult to buy all the books which we want to read. That’s why we get books in public libraries.

Sometimes it is difficult to solve some problems of life. I think that books can help us. Last year I read a very interesting book “An American Tragedy” by Theodore Dreiser. This novel was published at the beginning of the 20th century. The novel describes the tragic fate of a boy and a girl, Clyde and Roberta by name. It is a sad story. This novel was written many years ago, but it is popular nowadays. Books must be our friends during all our life.

Vocabulary:

ancient — древний

printing — печатание, печатать

development — развитие

human — человеческий

solve — решать

Theodor Dreiser — Теодор Драйзер (американский писатель, 1871—1945)

Questions:

1. Is it possible to live without books for you?

2. Who read books for you when you were a child?

3. What kind of books do you like to read?

4. You like to read books, don’t you?

5. Do you prefer to read English books?

6. Have you got many books at home?

7. Where can you buy books?

8. Can you buy all the books which you want to read?

9. What is your favourite book?

10. Books are our friends, aren’t they?

Cinema

Cinema plays an important role in the life of any society. It is an available popular form of art. Lots of people find going to the cinema one of the best ways of spending their leisure time. The movie audience is predominantly a young one.

Due to numerous video facilities, cinema attendances have declined sharply. But there is no denying the fact that the cinema-going habit is still a strong one.

No matter how large the place you live in is (whether it's a big city or a small provincial town, or even a settlement) there's most likely to be a cinema there.

There are such genres of feature films as the western, the thriller, the musical, the drama and the comedy. The performance lasts from two or three hours and most cinemas have at least 4 performances a day. There is no doubt that a good cinema show is an excellent entertainment and quite cheap. Late cinema screens in thе country have been dominated by films produced in the USA. And this tendency is growing.

As for me, I'm fond of going to the cinema. It's a pity I don't always have time for it. It's an open secret that we live in a very difficult time now. But people do need something amusing and pleasant, something to laugh at. That's why I give my preference to comedies. The last comedy, I saw, is "Crocodile Dandy". The film tells about amusing adventures of a young lovely woman a reporter and a strong arid brave crocodile hunter. At first, their relations were not friendly. She even looked down on him and he in return neglected her. But after he rescued her out of some difficult situations, their relations became more friendly. A happy end is an essential feature of American films. The same is true of this comedy. The main characters fall in love with each other in the end of the film.

Vocabulary:

to spend one's leisure time — проводить свое свободное время

movie audience — киноаудитория, кинозрители

predominantly — по преимуществу, главным образом

video facilities — видео-салон

to emerge — появляться, возникать

cinema-going habit — привычка ходить в кино

a settlement — поселок

adventures — приключения

grown-ups — взрослые

not without pleasure — не без удовольствия

to include — включать

feature film — художественный фильм

genre — жанр

western — вестерн

thriller — триллер

performance — сеанс

entertainment — развлечение

cinema screens — киноэкран

to dominate — превалировать, занимать ведущее место

to be fond of— любить что-либо, нравиться кому-либо

it's a pity — жаль, к сожалению

it's an open secret — ни для кого не секрет, что...

to give preference to smth. — отдавать предпочтение чему-либо

amusing adventures — забавные приключения

woman-reporter — женщина-репортер

hunter — охотник

to look down on smb. — смотреть свысока, презирать кого-либо ...

to rescue smb. out of smth. — спасти кого-либо

an essential feature — важная черта

to fall in love with each other — влюбиться

Questions:

1. How do lots of people find going to the cinema?

2. Who makes up the movie audience?

3. Why have cinema attendances declined sharply?

4. Is the cinema-going habit still a strong one?

5. What genres of feature films are there?

6. How many performances have many cinemas a day?

7. What films have cinema screens in thе country been dominated by?

8. Are you fond of going to the cinema?

9. In what time do we live now?

10. What do you give your preference to?

11. What does the film you saw last tell?

12. What is an essential feature of American films?

Cinemas in London

London is full of cinemas and cinema clubs, some of them showing a large number of continental films. Cinema-going is a regular habit for a considerable number of people in London; the number of cinema-goers is much larger than that of theatre-goers. Unfortunately, the cinema in Britain is looked upon as rather an entertainment than «the arts». As a result, comparatively few films of international standard of quality are shot in Britain, and if they are, they are often a commercial failure.

If you want to know which films are on, there are many publications to help you. Any daily newspaper will have a short list of films and shows; some newspapers on sale in the middle of the day give the full list of films supplied with the hour when they begin.

Some cinemas show films in the afternoon, early evening and late evening; others have continuous programmes from about two o'clock in the afternoon till late at night.

In case you want to watch a film which is a hit of the season, with a popular actor or actress starring, and can't get to the cinema early enough to get tickets, you can buy them in advance in most large stores and hotels.

Vocabulary:

entertainment — развлечение

a film of international standard of quality — фильм, отвечающий международным

стандартам

to be shot — сниматься (о фильме)

to be a commercial failure — не иметь коммерческого успеха

to have a continuous programmer — проводить непрерывный показ фильмов

a hit of the season — зд.: самый популярный фильм сезона

to star — играть главную роль

to buy tickets in advance — покупать билеты заранее

Art in our life

Art plays an important role in our life. In the variety of its forms — cinema, television, theatre, music, lite­rature — it develops our artistic taste and helps to appre­ciate beauty.

Hundreds of years ago theatre was very popular. But with the invention of cinema, radio and TV theatre has lost its prominent po­sition. Now it is television that attracts millions. Theatre has become the entertainment for the elite. To get tickets to the best theatres where famous actors star is almost impossi­ble.

Some people enjoy occasional visits to the theatre. They look forward to seeing an opera, a ballet, a comedy, a puppet show, a music or a variety show. It goes without saying visiting a theatre is much more a festive event than going to the cinema.

Theatres are very much the same everywhere. Passing through the door you come to the box-office, where tick­ets are sold. If you want to get tickets for the first night you'd better take them in advance. The best seats at thea­tres are in the stalls, the circle and the upper-circle. Then comes, the pit and the last of all is the gallery, where the seats are the cheapest. Boxes of course are the most expensive. Most theatres have good orchestras and popular conductors.

Frankly speaking I'm not so keen on opera my­self. Drama and ballet are more to my liking.

Vocabulary:

variety — разнообразие

to develop — разбивать

to appreciate — оценивать

to invent/invention — изобретать/изобретение

to attract — привлекать

entertainment — развлечение

to enjoy — наслаждаться

occasional — случайный

puppet show — кукольный спектакль

box-office — касса

first night — премьера

in advance — заранее

stalls — партер

circle — ярус

pit — место для оркестра

box — ложа

orchestra — оркестр

conductor — дирижер

to be keen on — страстно увлекаться чем-то

Questions:

1. What are the forms of art?

2. What forms are popular nowadays?

3. Is it easy to get tickets to the theatres?

4. What shows can we see there?

5. Where are the best (the cheapest) seats at the theatres?

6. What form of art are you keen on?

Theatres in Britain

Theatres are much the same in London as anywhere else; the chief theatres, music-halls and cinemas are in the West End, If you're staying in London for a few days, you'll have no difficulty whatever in finding somewhere to spend an enjoyable evening. You'll find opera, ballet, comedy, drama, review, musical comedy and variety. The best seats at the theatres are those in the stalls, the circle, and the upper circle. Then comes the pit, and last of all the gallery, where the seats are the cheapest. Boxes, of course, are the most expensive. Most theatres and music-halls have good orchestras with popular conductors. You ought to make a point of going to the opera at least once during the season, if you can. There you can get the best of everything - an excellent orchestra, famous conductors, celebrated singers and a well-dressed audience. But, of course, if you're not fond of music and singing, opera won't interest you. At the West-End theatres you can see most of the famous English actors and actresses. As a rule, the plays are magnificently staged-costumes, dresses, scenery, everything being done on the most lavish scale. Choose a good play, and you'll enjoy yourself thoroughly from the moment the curtain goes up to the end of the last act. Get your seat beforehand, either at the box-office of the theatre itself or at one of the agencies.

Vocabulary:

opera — опера

pit — партер

ballet — балет

gallery — галерка

comedy — комедия

box — ложа

drama — драма

conductor — дирижер

review — ревю

audience — зрители, аудитория

variety — варьете

to stage a play — ставить пьесу

stalls — амфитеатр

scenery — декорации

circle — бельэтаж

curtain — занавес

upper circle — балкон

box-office — театральная касса

Music in Our Life

I love music; I think people can not live without it. The first thing I do in the morning I switch on my cassette — recorder. We can hear music everywhere: in the streets, in the shops, on TV, over the radio, in the cars, in the parks, everywhere, I think it's really doesn't matter what kind of music you prefer: rock, pop, classical, jazz. A lot of people are fond of music. They buy tapes, go to the concerts, and visit Concert Halls and Opera Theatres. I enjoy listening music because it reflects my moods and emotions. Very often when I'm blue, I play my favourite merry songs and feel much better.

Sometimes I attend music halls and the concerts, when popular groups and singers are there. I like watching music programs on TV. I like to know more and more about popular talented groups and singers I like. One wall of my room is covered with posters of «Bon Jovi», «Scorpions», «Roxette», Russian singers Agutin, Sjutkin, Linda and others.

Some people go to music schools, they play different musical instruments, sing in the chorus, try to compose music.

Unfortunately there are so many ungifted singers on the stages that it makes me sad. To have a good producer doesn't mean to have good ears and voice. I think that only talented people can claim to be singers.

Vocabulary:

to switch on — включать

to cover — покрывать

cassette-recorder — магнитофон

poster — плакат

to reflect — отражать

to compose — сочинять

mood — настроение

ungifted — бездарный

to attend — посещать

stage —сцена

Questions:

1. Do you like music? What kind of music do you like?

2. Are there many people fond of music?

3. Does music help you?

4. Who are your favourite singers?

5. Did you go to the musical school?

Sport in Our Life

People all over the world are fond of sports and games. Sport makes people healthy, keeps them fit, more organized and better disciplined. It unites people of different classes and nationalities. Many people do sports on their personal initiative. They go in for skiing, skating, table tennis, swimming, volley-ball, football, body-building, etc.

All necessary facilities are provided for them: stadiums, sport grounds, swimming pools, skating rinks, skiing stations, football fields.

Sport is paid much attention to in our educational establishments. Gymnastics is a part of children's daily activities in the kindergartens. Physical culture is a compulsory subject at schools and colleges.

Professional sport is also paid much attention to in our country. In city, where I live, there are different sporting societies, clubs and complexes.

Practically all kinds of sports are popular in our country, but football, gymnastics and tennis enjoy the greatest popularity. As for me, I go in for table tennis (ping-pong). It needs mobility, liveliness and much energy. It keeps a person in a good form. I have been playing tennis for five years, but the more I play, the more I like it. I get a real joy taking part in competitions or simply playing with my friends. Sometimes I go to tennis courts. Certainly, there's a great distance between my manner of playing and such favourites as Jim Courier, Stephan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, Per Korda, but I do my training with great pleasure and hope to play as well as our best players do.

Vocabulary:

fit — в хорошей форме

on personal initiative — по личной инициативе

to pay attention to — обращать внимание на

kindergarten — детский сад

compulsory — обязательный

to enjoy popularity — пользоваться популярностью

mobility — мобильность

distance — расстояние

Questions:

1. Why are people all over the world fond of sports and games?

2. What necessary facilities are provided for people?

3. What kinds of sports are popular in our country?

4. What is your favourite kind of sport? Why?

My Institute

I study at the Smolensk Institute of Economics. It’s a branch of the St.Petersburg Academy of Management and Economics (AME). All the specialities here are extremely urgent for our country. At the AME you can get the most prestigious professions of the 21 century. It trains competent managers both for state and economic activity. The AME is one of the most important educational and scientific centers in Russia. It has wide-world international relations with Helsinki, New York, Canberra universities and others. The AME is also a founder and a member of 15 foreign and Russian funds.

Every year new students enter its Smolensk branch. Our Institute offers day, evening, extra-mural and remote and individual programmes as well. Its faculty runs the following specialities: finance and credit, accounting, anti-crisis and city management, tourism and hotel service. The teaching staff consists of professors, lecturers and assistants. The Institute has well equipped computer and language laboratories. There is also a library at the Institute. The time of opening is convenient for those who work as well as study. The reading hall is very popular with our students especially freshers.

There is a specialized form for school leavers who have some profits. The undergraduates are under the control of their Institute Deans who instruct the students and maintain discipline. Once a year our Institute gives an interview for candidates seeking admission. The Institute deals with researching and consulting activity. The Academic year starts in September and has two terms. At the end of each term students pass credits and take examinations in different subjects. They have vacations in January and in summer.

The first graduates of our Institute got their diplomas in 2000 who are specialists of banks and Treasury, different companies and city or region administrations. Our Institute does a good job of preparing young people for life and solving economic problems.

Vocabulary:

urgent — крайне необходимый

relations — отношения

to enter the institute — поступать в институт

branch — отрасль, филиал

to offer — предлагать

extra-mural — заочный

remote — дистанционный

to run specialities — обучать специальностям

accounting — бухучет

staff — персонал, штат

well-equipped — хорошо оборудованный

to be popular with — быть популярным у

fresher — первокурсник

dean — декан

to deal with — заниматься

researching — научно-исследовательский

term — семестр

Treasury — казначейство

to solve problems — решать проблемы