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Do you prefer live music?
Many people say that going to a concert and seeing your favourite group play is a thrilling experience, and one which cannot be compared with listening to recorded music. The special atmosphere at a live concert makes it more enjoyable. The excitement of the crowd adds to your own excitement.
Other people disagree with this point of view. They say that recorded music is more convenient: you can listen to it whenever you want. Portable player also means that you can carry the music around with you.
Related topic: “Music”
1 Have you ever been to a concert?
2 Which point of view given in the article do you share? Give your reasons.
3 Is live or recorded music more popular in our country?
4 How much time do you spend on listening to music?
5 What music do you prefer?
6 Who are your favourite musicians?
7 Is there kind of music that you hate?
8 Do you like singing? Have you ever taken part in singing competitions?
9 Can you play any musical instrument?
10 If so, what do you play: easy songs, serious music? How long have you been playing?
Text 15
National Flag Day
National Flag Day, a holiday introduced in 1994, is celebrated with marches and public events throughout Russia. On the 23 d of August not only Moscow becomes a scene of numerous events. For example, last year activists in the Far East held a motor rally to bring in the flag of Russia from Kunashir Island to the centre of Vladivostok.
The flag of Russia is a tricolor of three equal horizontal fields, white on the top, blue in the middle and red on the bottom. They symbolize freedom and indipendence (white), faith (blue) and statehood (red).
Related topic: “Holidays in Russia”
1 What do the three colours of Russian Flag symbolize?
2 How long has National Flag Day been celebrated in Russia?
3 What other national Russian holidays do you know?
4 Which of them are connected with the history of our country? How are they celebrated?
5 What holidays are very popular with Russian people?
6 Are they celebrated in other countries too?
7 Do you know any interesting traditions for these holidays?
8 Which are your favourite holidays? How do you celebrate them?
9 Do you like to celebrate holidays with your friends or with your relatives?
10 Do your family celebrate holidays in a traditional or in a special way?
Text 16
A National Passion
Think of your favourite sport. Whatever it is, there is a good chance that it was first played in Britain, and even better chance that its modern rules were first codified in Britain. That` s why sport probably plays a more important part in people’s lives in Britain than it does in most other countries. For a very large number, and this is especially true for men, it is their main form of entertainment. Millions take part in some kind of sport at least once a week. Many millions more are regular spectators and follow one or more sports. There is a lot of sport on television. Every newspaper devotes several pages entirely to sport.
Related topic: “Sport in the UK and in Russia”
1 Why do you think sport is so popular in the UK?
2 Using the facts from the text prove that sport is the main form of entertainment in Britain.
3 Do you think sport is as popular in Russia as in the UK? Explain.
4 What are the most popular summer and winter sports in Russia?
5 What sport facilities are there in Russia for those who like sport?
6 What are the most popular sports and games in the UK?
7 Do you know how to play such games as cricket, polo, rugby?
8 Which of them are popular in Russia too?
9 Can you say that the British are the best in the world at particular sports?
10 What about the Russians?
Text 17