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What Are You Crazy About?
“Hobbies” are a great British and American tradition. A “hobby” is a special interest or activity that you do in your free time. Some people have animals as hobbies. They train dogs to do tricks, or keep pigeons. Some are crazy about plants. They try to grow rare tropical flowers in their kitchens or sitting rooms. Others are mad about their car or motorbike. They spend their Saturdays and Sundays washing or painting them. Children and teenagers like collecting things.
A “hobby” is usually a thing that a person does alone. But American and British families sometimes like to do things together.
Related topic: “Hobbies”
1 What hobbies are mentioned in the text?
2 Who is especially interested in collecting things? Do you agree with it?
3 What are you interested in?
4 Do you have a hobby? What is your hobby?
5 When did you take it up? Why?
6 How much time do you spend on your hobby?
7 What is the best/the most interesting thing your hobby has given to you?
8 Do you think your hobby will help you choose a profession? Explain.
9 Do your parents and friends approve of what you are doing?
10 If you were given a lot of money, would you spend it on your hobby? What would you do?
Text 27
BOXING DAY
The name of the day goes back to medieval times, more than 800 years ago, when boxes were placed at the back of every church to collect money for the poor.
Historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with Christmas boxes.
The tradition of giving money still continues today. It is customary for householders to give small gifts regular visiting trades people (the milkman, dustman, coalman, paper boy etc.) and, in some work places, for employers to give a Christmas bonus to employees.
Related topic: “Holidays in Britain”
1 Do you think holidays are important? Why?
2 Are there many holidays in Britain? Name some of them.
3 Which of them are Bank Holidays?
4 Why are they called Bank Holidays?
5 Do the British give each other presents on holidays?
6 Who is usually given gifts or tips on Boxing Day?
7 What is the origin of Boxing Day?
8 Are houses and streets in Britain usually decorated on holidays?
9 What festivals and celebrations are popular in Britain?
10 Which of the British holidays would you like to be celebrated in Russia? Why?
Text 28
OLYMPICS 2014
The city of Sochi will be the host city for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014. Sochi was elected on 4 July 2007 by the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the 119th Session in Guatemala City. Paralympic Winter Games will be held there too.
Sochi, who beat Salzburg and Pyeong Chang for the right to host the Games, says it will aim to stage a unique Paralympic Winter Games and further strengthen and promote the Paralympic Movement by providing excellent conditions for athletes to compete.
Related topic: “Olympic Games”
1 When was Sochi chosen to host the XXII Olympic Winter Games?
2 What countries did Russia beat in this competition?
3 What movement is going to be strengthened and promoted in Sochi?
4 What do you know about Paralympic Games?
5 How often are Olympic and Paralympic games held?
6 Do you know when the XX1 Winter Olympic Games were held?
7 What winter sports are usually in the programme of Olympic Games?
8 What summer Olympic sports do you know?
9 When and where did the last Summer Olympics take place?
10 Why are Olympic Games very important?