Text for reading and translation An Englishman's day

It begins when he sits down to breakfast with his morning paper.

After breakfast except on Sunday and Saturday which are holidays, he goes to work by train, tube, bus, car, motorbike or even on his own two feet.

At midday everything stops for lunch. Most offices and small shops close for an hour, say from 1 to 2, and many people hurry to cafes. Factory workers usually eat at their canteens.

The usual midday meal consists of two courses – a meat course with plenty of vegetables, then a sweet dish, perhaps fruit pudding with tea or coffee.

Then back to work again, with another break in the middle of the afternoon for tea or coffee, sometimes with a cake or biscuit.

The working day finishes at time between 4 and 6. On arrival home many Englishmen like to inspect their gardens before their evening meal, usually a meat course and then a cake or tea. When this meal is over, the Englishman can do a little gardening and then have a walk to the nearest beer house. There is a lot of lively company there and he can play dominoes, billiards or discuss the weather or the current situation.

But if the Englishman stays at home, he can listen to the radio, watch TV, talk, read or enjoy his favorite hobby.

Then between 10 and 12 he will have a drink and a snack and then off to bed ready for tomorrow.

Ask each other all sorts of questions to the text “An Englishman's day".

Topic III My day-off

Most people work five days a week, but students and pupils work six days. They have only one day off. It is Sunday.

I like this day very much. You needn't hurry anywhere and you may go wherever you like after your week's work. On this day I wake up later than usual. But sometimes I don't get up till 9 or 10 o'clock. I read morning newspapers or listen to music.

As soon as I get up I air the room, make my bed and do morning exercises. Then I have breakfast, clear away the dishes and wash up. Two more hours for getting ready with my homework, and I'm free.

In fine weather we like to be out of town. We find a nice place somewhere in the forest or on the bank of the river, we lie in the sun, play different games and swim.

I'm fond of music and I like to go to the concerts. I take a special liking to the music of the Russian composers and I try not to miss solo concerts or symphonic orchestras by our famous conductors. I like piano concerts, especially Chopin's waltzes. I like the violin too. My sister has a good ear for music; she goes to school for violin lessons. She accompanies me all the time when I go to the conservatoire or to the concert hall. We enjoy music very much.

But sometimes we go to the cinema. On the way home we usually discuss the films we've seen.

In the evening all the members of our family get together. We have our dinner, make plans for tomorrow, watch TV or read books. Sometimes we receive guests at our place or go for a walk. I enjoy my days off very much.

Vocabulary

Day-off – выходной день

Discuss – обсуждать

Enjoy – наслаждаться

Composer – композитор

A good ear for music – музыкальный слух

To get together – собираться

Pastime – времяпровождение

To receive guests – принимать гостей

Speak about your days off (weekends). You may need these words and phrases:

to go for a walk

to walk / go on foot

to stay at home

to go out for dinner / discotheque

to spend a lot of time (doing something)

occasionally = from time to time

Answer the following questions:

1. How many days-off a week do you have as a rule? What are they?

2. Do you spend your weekends with your family?

3. Do you often visit your friends? Do you like to invite them to your place?

4. What is your favourite pastime?

5. Do you help your parents about the house?

Act out the following situation:

You say that the best way of spending a weekend is sleeping later than usual, reading books, watching TV or at least going to the cinema. Your colleague says he completely disagrees with you there. He is fond of sports and traveling in general.