Vocabulary

favorite past time любимое времяпровождение

to subdivide into подразделять на

to make things создавать, придумывать

to do things делать, выполнять

variety разнообразие

relatively относительно

handicrafts рукоделие

value, valuable ценность, ценный

to house помещать

exciting волнующий

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. What is a hobby?

2. What are the four groups of hobbies?

3. What is the good aspect of a hobby?

4. What hobby do you have? What about your friends?

5. Do you think that every person should have some special interest or activity?

Exercise 2. Read and translate the sentences, paying attention to the words in bold type:

TV, radio, music, video

I watch TV every evening.

Did you watch/see the film about President Putin?

I listen to the radio every morning.

What programs do you like best on TV?

I like watching documentaries on TV. ( or I like to watch…)

I like listening to music when I’m relaxing.

At the weekend, we usually go to the movies.

Hobbies/activities at home

A lot of young people play computer games every day.

Do you use/surf the Internet?

I really like cooking.

Do you like gardening?

We grow flowers and vegetables in our garden.

Reading

I read a lot at home. What do you read?

I read novels.(= long stories)

I like books about nature/different countries, etc.

I like magazines about rock music/sport/cooking.

Do you like novels by Stephen King?

Time with other people

Sometimes we invite friends around.

I often have people/friends to dinner.

My best friend comes to stay sometimes. (= sleeps in my house/flat)

I talk to my friends on the phone every evening.

I ring my friend every evening.

Exercise 3. Fill in the missing verbs:

1. Sometimes I …listen… to music.

2. I prefer to ……….. magazines more than newspapers.

3. I …………… to my sister on the phone every Sunday.

4. A lot of people like to ……………… a sleep after lunch.

5. Do you ever ……………..friend to dinner.

6. The children ……………computer games every evening.

7. Shall we ……….. a DVD tonight?

8. Did you …….the program about splitting of atom yesterday?

9. My father ………….vegetables in his garden.

Exercise 4. Interesting or boring? Put these leisure activities in order, from most interesting to most boring, in your opinion:

Gardening cooking reading using the Internet watching DVD listening to music…sky surfing…hang-gliding

Exercise 5. Speak about your hobby. You can start as follows:

А hobby is а favorite pastime of а person. Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen а hobby to your liking, lucky you are: you have made your life more interesting. Personally, I like … .

Text B. Read and translate the dialogue.

Shopping

It’s eleven o’clock in the morning. Katya is in one of the biggest department stores in the city which only opened a few weeks ago. Many things are bought and sold here every day. Though it’s still early and the store has just opened, there are a lot of customers near the counters: some are buying things, others are just looking round.

Katya: Excuse me. How do I get to the shoe department?

Shop assistant: It’s over there on the left, please.

(In the shoe department)

Katya: I want a pair of boots, please.

Shop assistant: What’s your size?

Katya: Thirty-four, and I want very warm ones, too. It’s very cold outside.

Shop assistant: Oh yes, it’s terribly cold. Thirty-four… You have very small feet. It won’t be easy to find a suitable pair, I’m afraid.

(In a few minutes)

These are nice boots, don’t you think? Will you try them on? How do they feel?

Katya: I think they are a size too big. Perhaps you can find a different pair. Can you give me a size smaller?

Shop assistant: Just a moment. I’ll have another look. You’re lucky. Here’s a lovely pair; but it’s more expensive.

Katya: That doesn’t matter… It feels more comfortable. I think I’ll take it. How much is it?

Shop assistant: Three thousand roubles.

Katya: Where do I pay?

Shop assistant: Over there at the cash desk.

Katya: Thank you.