Look through. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the ages.

Average Age

<10> Ten is the year of the closest friendships — though not with the opposite sex. It is also the year when relationships with particular people or groups are the strongest. The ten-year-old usually gets on well with parents but needs more time alone. Personal talents begin to show.

<20> In the United States twenty is the average age for the first marriage for women, although probably only a third marry at this age because they want to; the others marry because of social pressure. The human brain is at its finest at twenty. It is the age when people can vote in Denmark, Japan, Norway and Switzerland. And in Japan it is the minimum age for buying alcohol.

<30> For optimists thirty is one of the happiest ages, for pessimists it marks the end of feeling young. At this age you need to take a little more care with your body than when you were younger. Young people who enjoyed an all-night party at twenty will feel much worse the next day at thirty. In Britain it is the youngest you can become a bishop.

<40> Forty is the year of the 'middle-aged', although nobody who is forty wants to admit the fact. Bob Hope said that you are middle-aged when your age starts to show around your middle.

<50> Fifty is an age when old friendships get closer and relationships with colleagues and relatives warmer. According to old proverbs, fifty is the age when you should be rich. George Orwell said, «At fifty everyone has the face he deserves».

TEXT 4. Read and translate the opinions. Write out and learn words describing character. Be ready to tell about your/ your friend’s/ relatives’ personal qualities and characteristic features.

Personal Quality Meter (Speaking about characters)

Lily, student: As for my character, I think, I am a calm, well-tempered person and rather modest. I am not sure but my friends say that I have good sense of humour. Actually, I love telling jokes and making my friends smile. I am quite sociable and talkative and I like being around people. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances. But sometimes I feel sad and want to stay alone. I think that’s OK because everybody has such moments. And I always try to find positive moments in life. I like to help people around and see how they become happy. I like kind, honest, polite, reliable and responsible people. And I hate when people are rude and aggressive.

John, postgraduate: The proverb says: «No man is useless while he has a friend». It’s good to have a friend who has fine features of character: generosity, being reserved, reliable, intelligent, persistent in studying, straightforward, reasonable, decent, honest, polite, punctual, kind, faithful, warmhearted.You can be always sincere with such a friend, you can think aloud with them. I hate selfish, flattery, lazy, indifferent, boastful, false and greedy people.

Kelly, teacher: The greatest value that guides me in my life is kindness, and it’s no wonder. Usually kindness is harmoniously connected with other good qualities. If a person is not kind, if he’s selfish, if he cares only about himself, then his other qualities - courage and will-power are worthless. You can see what a person is worth through his attitude towards others. If he is devoted to people, he is devoted to his work. Kindness is the main thing, the essence of what is best in a human-being.

Helena, shop-assistant: It’s unpleasant to deal with unreliable people and there is no doubt in it. Such people don’t possess the feeling of duty, they can let you down at any moment, they cannot be friends in need. When people are stubborn, it’s also no good. They don’t respect the point of view of other people, they are sure that they are always right, they don’t follow advice of other people. Sometimes it’s dangerous to deal with such people, you can’t rely on their support.

Richard, businessman: I think it’s good to develop persistence and confidence in oneself, because if a person is not reliable, he is unable to make conclusions and come to right decision in proper time. A person can prove to be a personality by his deeds, not by his words. The proverb says: «Actions speak louder than words».

Sally, personnel manager: Personal qualities are characteristics of an individual. They are what make up one's personality. For example, responsibility and patience are qualities that employers would like a good worker to have. Other qualities employers value are: honesty, assertiveness, flexibility, problem solving, friendliness, intelligence, leadership, enthusiasm, and a good sense of humor. Most employers want people who are dependable and who get along with others. Though skills are important, an employer will select new employees based on their personal qualities as well.

TEXT 5. Read and translate the opinions. Speak on your hobbies and interests.

My Hobbies and Interests

▪ I enjoy horror movies and books. I love bowling, playing darts, watching ice hockey, swimming. As a kind of home entertainment I prefer my playstaion! I like dancing, being wined and dined, socializing with friends, going out.

▪ Who am I? Well, that's simple, I am keen on arts – music, theatre, museums and I also love to dance and keep myself fit. I like walking in the countryside where I do most of my thinking.

▪ I’m mad about all sports associated with water - sailing, diving, surfing.

▪ Snow skiing in the French Alps is a must annual holiday for me – I am ready to teach a 'first-timer'. I love cooking and entertaining. Going out to the theatre, ballet or opera is another sphere of my interests.

▪ I love socializing, going out for meals, drinking, travelling, or quiet nights in with a good film snuggled up on the couch - preferably not on my own.

▪ My interests are cultivation of flowers, talking over the phone and swimming.

▪ I’m crazy about shopping, fashion, design of wear.

▪ There are many things I would like to deal with. I like reading and watching good films, as well as opera and jazz. I am extremely fond of dancing, painting and art. I like acute senses and beauty of nature, communication and travelling.

▪ I’m interested in cooking, reading and travelling very much. I have visited already some countries, but I hope to visit much more. I adore cars and driving, long walks with my friend and of course, music.

▪ I’m keen on driving. I go to fitness-club and study foreign languages.

▪ I am fond of reading books, sport, travelling. I speak English not very good but I try to do my best.

▪ I love to go to the movies, theatres, concerts, art museums. I enjoy nature and hiking, travelling, sport. I like moonlight walks, candle light dinners.

▪ I like new meetings, wild nature walking, dancing. I like fashion, arts, design, movie, cooking, sports, learning something new. I enjoy Life.

▪ I like lots of things - I like to socialize as it helps me to understand life and other people better, I like travelling as it broadens my outlook, I like people, animals, different types of music, cinema, theatre, watching sporting events. I love spending time with small children and I'm interested in psychology.

▪ I go in for sports (jogging, mountain climbing, shooting), learn languages, love to explore culture and history of other countries, good literature, movies, rock’n’roll, blues. I like all kinds of outdoors.

▪ I am interested in literature, music, sport. I like aeroplanes, sports cars. I like to ride very much. Horses are my real passion!

TEXT 6. Read and translate the text. Speak about your working day.

 

My Working Day

I am sure that every person prefers weekends to working days, but they are inevitable in our life. I have my working days from Monday to Friday. And they are practically the same. But in my opinion, everything depends on the person, so I do my best to make them more interesting.

My working day starts like this. I usually get up at 7 o’clock. Though I am not a lazy-bone, in autumn and winter it is always difficult for me to wake up early. I hate cold that's why I try to stay in bed as long as possible. Sometimes I lie for a while deciding whether to pretend being fatally ill, but then I give up this idea because only little children practice it and besides, this trick usually doesn't work. But in spring and summer I usually feel full of energy.

I think it wouldn't be fair to say that I do my morning exercises regularly. I have a shower, get dressed and brush my hair. Then I go to the kitchen. My mother is an early-bird and I know that breakfast is already on the table. A cup of tea, some ham or cheese sandwiches are enough for me to be full. After breakfast I snatch my bag. Frankly speaking I find my habit of packing the bag in the morning quite irritating, because I always leave something important at home, but I can't make myself do it in the evening. And then I rush for university. Unfortunately I live far from the university. It takes me about forty minutes to get there.

Our classes start at 8.30. Usually we have 3 or 4 periods a day and 15-minute breaks between them. And we are lucky to have a large break in the middle of the day which lasts half an hour. During this break we go to the canteen to have a snack. When I don't manage to do all my homework at home the large break is mainly the time when I have an opportunity to finish it.

At 15.30 when my classes are over I stay at the university to play volleyball. Our university administration arranged some extra-class activities like concerts, debate clubs and sports competitions. Honestly I’m not an active participant, but I take part in them from time to time. Usually I am back home later than 5 o'clock. On my way home I go to the baker's to buy some bread, biscuits and cakes. In the evenings I am busy doing my homework.

At about eight o'clock we usually have supper. I should mention that it is the only time when we can see each other and talk about different things. We share the news and discuss our plans.

When late evening comes and I have some free time left, which happens very seldom, I go for a walk with my friends. I rarely sit in front of the TV set, as I prefer meeting friends to watching TV. Besides I'm keen on music. Listening to music makes me feel relaxed. Sometimes it even helps me to do my homework. I am in the habit of doing two things together, for instance, listening to music and at the same time reading a book or writing a composition.

At about 11.30 I usually have a bath and then I go to bed. I usually fall asleep at midnight.

Generally I try to plan my working day. I think it helps not to waste time and do all the things at a time. And I'd like to say I'm happy to live a busy life. When you are busy life doesn't seem to be boring.