Expressing Preference and Reluctance

Which do you prefer / like better,	cinema or theatre? comedy or melodrama? TV programmes or video films?
What would you rather prefer to watch,	a thriller or an action film?

 

Why don’t we

go to the theatre go to the cinema stay at home and watch a video film

tonight?

 

Expressing Preference

— I prefer...

— I like... better.

 

Expressing Reluctance

— No, thank you. I don’t (really) want to./ I don’t feel like it./ I’m not (really) in the mood.

— Do I/we have to?

— Have I/we got to?

11. Use the words in the list below to express your preferences.

Example:

I prefer reading to watching TV.

I prefer classical music to pop music.

WATCH films (thrillers, action films, comedies, horror films, westerns, science fiction, documentaries, popular science films, etc.), news and current affairs programmes, sports programmes, cultural programmes (opera, ballet), historical programmes, educational programmes, entertainment programmes (serial shows, television series, talk shows, game shows, quiz shows, comedy programmes), nature/wildlife programmes, etc.

LISTEN TO jazz/ rock/rap/reggae/classical/country/etc. music

READ historical novels, psychological novels, autobiographical novels, horror (mystery) novels, adventure novels, short stories, novelettes, detective stories, thrilling stories, love stories, memoirs, science fiction, fairy tales, poems (verse), etc.

PLAY a game of chess, the guitar, basketball/football/tennis, etc.

12. Match a line in A with a line in B.

A	B
1. Which do you like better, Russian or American films? 2. Why don’t you watch “The Adventures of Marco Polo”? 3. Which do you prefer, cinema or theatre? 4. Let’s watch “Underwater World”. 5. How about a musical?	a) Oh, no. I’d prefer something more serious. b) I don’t really feel like it. c) I’d rather not. I’m not keen on nature programmes. d) I like good films. e) None. I prefer TV. f)

 

 

Language Development

13. Give reasons why your friend enjoys doing something.

Example:

I enjoy reading detective stories when I’m tired because it helps me to have a good rest.

— to read before going to bed;

— to go to the country for the week-end;

— to visit my schoolmates on holidays;

— to take a walk in the evening;

— to go to the river on a hot day;

— to stay at home and read a book on a rainy morning.

14. Compare and contrast the two activities (e.g. watching TV and playing football, etc.). Then write a short paragraph using the ideas from the box as in the example:

improve health, build muscles, more energy, entertaining, relax, interesting, team spirit, cooperate with others, educational, exercise

Example:

I like watching TV because it helps me relax. However, it doesn’t give me the opportunity to exercise.

CONVERSATION

15. Work with a partner. Act out the following dialogues.

 

A. What kind of music do you like?

 

Amy:	Paul, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
Paul:	All kinds, but mostly Pop, rock and classical. Why?
Amy:	I have tickets to a show. Do you want to go with me?
Paul:	What kind of music is it?
Amy:	Pop. It’s Mariah Carey.
Paul:	When is it?
Amy:	At 8pm tomorrow night.
Paul:	Yeah, I’d like to go. Do you think we should have dinner first?
Amy:	Yes, that’s a good idea.
Paul:	Let’s eat at the restaurant across the street from my apartment.
Amy:	Oh, I think I know the place you mean. We ate there last month, right?
Paul:	Yes, that’s right. You have a good memory.

B. Going to the library

 

Kevin:	Lisa, would you like to go to the library with me?
Lisa:	OK. Do you think we can go buy a newspaper first?
Kevin:	Sure. First we’ll go buy a newspaper and then we’ll go to the library.
Lisa:	Are we going to walk or drive?
Kevin:	The weather is really nice today. Let’s walk.
Lisa:	The weather is good now, but I think it’s supposed to rain this afternoon.
Kevin:	Alright, then let’s take an umbrella. Is your brother coming with us?
Lisa:	No, he’s still sleeping.
Kevin:	Wow, it’s already 10:00am. He must have been up late last night.
Lisa:	Yeah, he didn’t come home until 12:00am.
Kevin:	I hope he can come later.
Lisa:	I hope so too. I'll give him a call when we get there.
Kevin:	How do we get to the library from here?
Lisa:	It’s straight down this road on the left, next to the museum. It takes about 10 minutes.

SPEAKING PRACTICE

 

16. Think over and develop the situation.

Nowadays it is easy to buy books on various topics. There are many specialized bookshops in big cities and small towns. You can buy books, magazines, journals in the street. But they say the number of people who are fond of reading is becoming low. The readers’ tastes have also changed. How can you comment on these changes?

 

17. Think over and speak about:

• What is your favourite leisure activity?

• What leisure activities are popular among your groupmates?

18. Conduct a role-playing TV “round table” conference on:

1. Young people’s modern cultural standards.
2. Leisure, pastime and their priorities.