Lesson 2. Daily life

By doing nothing we learn to do ill.

English saying

Lead-in

1. Study the following quotations about work and discuss which ones you most, or least, agree with.

1. The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work. (Robert Frost)

2. Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment. (Richard Bach)

3. The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. (Richard Bach)

4. Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. (Aristotle)

5. Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence. (Author Unknown)

2. Read the text and answer the questions below.

PLANNING ONE’S DAILY ROUND

Have you ever thought that 24 hours isn’t enough to do all you have to do? All of us have so many duties and obligations! In addition to the daily routine at offices, schools, hospitals, etc., we have always got some housework to do and shopping, we have to cook the meals and keep the house clean. It is really surprising how much work some people manage to do! But it often happens that we don’t have enough time to do everything and put it off till “some other time”. What do you think is the reason? Why do some people manage and not others?

A lot depends on how you plan your daily round. If you plan your day carefully, you’ll be able to do more and it takes you less time.

Planning the day is especially necessary for people who want to make time for important things. Many outstanding people say that a daily timetable has helped them greatly to achieve what they have.

1. Do you agree that 24 hours isn’t enough to do all we have to do?

2. Do you often put off things till some other time? Why?

3. Do you find it necessary to plan your daily round? Give your reasons.

4. Some people say that a strict timetable makes life dull and uninteresting. What do you think?

Reading

3. Read the text below. Use your dictionary to help.

Paul brown's daily routine

Friday morning. The alarm clock goes off at 7. Paul usually gets up easily but not this time. It’s not simple to wake up so early if you go to bed at 3 in the morning. He can hardly open his eyes. Half an hour passes before Paul finally makes himself get up. He is still sleepy. He slowly gets dressed and looks out of the window. It’s drizzling and the sidewalk is wet. There’s nobody in sight. The campus looks deserted. But Paul goes jogging every morning, whatever the weather. He sighs, puts on his sneakers and goes out. Twenty minutes later he comes back and takes a long shower. As usual jogging and a cold shower do him good. He is wide awake now. Paul looks at the clock. It’s 8.15. Time for breakfast. He goes to the kitchen to make coffee. A cup of coffee is always reviv­ing, especially after the party like yesterday’s. He smiles at the thought of that delicious birthday cake. But the smile vanishes the moment he remembers his schedule for today. He’s got three classes on Friday.

9.00–10.30 – German Class

11.00–12.30 – Political System of Germany

14.00–15.30 – German Literature

Anything else? An appointment with his tutor at 4 o’clock. He completely forgot! And there’s an essay to finish! When in the world can he do that? He suddenly remembers: lunch time (12.30—14.00). Well, he can’t afford a regular lunch today, just a quick snack. It gives him at least an extra hour more to finish his essay and get ready for the discussion. His tutor is always very critical of his students’ homework. You must know your subject well enough to answer his tricky questions.

8.50. Paul rushes out of the house. It doesn’t take him long to get to the college. So at 8.55 he is at the universi­ty. All the students in his class are already there. They’re very glad to see Paul. And so is he. At 9 o’clock Mr Lewis comes in and the class starts. Mr Lewis’s classes are Paul’s favourite ones. Time flies quickly. He enjoys the class so much that the end of the class at 10.30 always comes as a surprise. 10.30–11.00. Coffee break. Paul and the other students go to a coffee bar to have a chat over a cup of coffee. 11.00. Back to another class. It’s rather difficult for Paul to concentrate on the subject, all the more so he doesn’t like it too much. It isn’t as in­teresting as Mr Lewis’s German Class. Honestly Paul finds it boring.

12.30. Lunch time. Everybody hurries to the dining hall. But Paul doesn’t. At lunchtime he is at his desk in his room. So much work to do and so little time! Paul opens his essay book and starts writing. When he looks at the clock, it’s ten minutes past 2. He is late for the class but he feels great. His essay is ready! The thought is very comforting. Friday’s last class is German Literature, an­other of Paul’s favourites. It’s always very interesting and instructive. After the class Paul has got half an hour to look through the essay and his notes. He is no longer afraid of the coming meeting. He feels sure of himself.

The session goes well. The students discuss their es­says. The tutor makes some critical remarks but on the whole he’s quite pleased with their work. Finally he sets work for them to do and they part till next time. On his way home Paul drops in at the student pub. He takes a glass of beer and sits down at the table next to his friends. He looks around. The pub is crowded, as usual at this time. Everybody is laughing and talking. Loud music is playing. But nobody is dancing. It’s too early for that. Paul suddenly feels very tired. He says good-bye to his friends and leaves the pub. The thing is that there is a concert of a Spanish guitar player at the club at 8. Paul doesn’t want to miss it but he needs some rest. The con­cert finishes at 11.30. When Paul comes back home, it’s nearly midnight. At long last the hard day is over! He takes off his clothes and goes to bed straightaway. 5 min­utes later he is fast asleep.

4. Are the following statements true or false? If false, say why.

1. On Friday mornings Paul never gets up before 8.15.

2. Paul always goes to bed until midnight.

3. Paul doesn’t care about the weather when he goes jogging.

4. He almost never has a regular lunch in the after­noon. Instead, he has a quick snack.

5. Paul’s college is a five minutes’ walk from the hall where he lives.

6. Paul doesn’t like all the subjects he’s studying but only some of them.

7. Paul is self-confident because he’s always ready for his classes.

8. He feels comfortable at the thought that his essay is ready.

9. The tutor is displeased with Paul’s work and he tells him to come next time.

10. There’s a student pub not far from Paul’s hall.

11. After classes Paul doesn’t drop in the pub because he is too tired.

12. In the evening he goes to the pub to see a concert of a Spanish guitar player.

5. Render the text in Russian.

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WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO PREVENT TIREDNESS?

(Some important rules suggested by psychologists)

1. Rest before you get tired (not after).

2. Learn to relax. If you are having hard times find a quiet half-hour all for yourself to gain strength.

3. Don’t forget about four good working habits:

• clean your desk of all papers except those you need at hand;

• do things in order of their importance;

• when you face a problem, first analyse the facts, then make a decision;

• learn to organize things.

Put enthusiasm into your work; it’s the only way to enjoy what you are doing.

Remember: no one was ever killed by doing well-organized work.